You guys already weighed in on the couple with the hottest sexual tension on TV but now let's take it to the big leagues — love on film. Some couples were built to last while others fizzled, but there's no denying that 2009 brought a new batch of romances that made our hearts swell. Which is your favorite of 2009?
Don't forget to vote on all of my Best of 2009 polls!
Funny ladies of the big screen always make me happy; they can roll with the best of the boys and manage to be completely captivating doing it. This year's romantic comedies and girl-power anthems gave Hollywood's women plenty of chances to be silly, so let me know who you thought was the funniest this year. And don't stop voting there — check the rest of my Best of 2009 polls!
All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the movies below, there's also Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience and Madonna's directorial debut Filth and Wisdom. Check out this week's picks!
John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph star as an expecting, road-tripping couple in this indie comedy drama directed by Sam Mendes. I loved the quirky humor that came from not only the leads, but a star-studded cast of supporting characters played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeff Daniels, Alison Janney, and Catherine O'Hara. It may not be as laugh-out-loud as the two leads' usual work, but if you're looking for a sweetly funny flick you may like Away We Go. The DVD and Blu-ray have a making-of featurette, a commentary track, and a behind-the-scenes feature about how the filmmakers tried to make the production more environmentally friendly.
See two more new releases when you read more
John Krasinski is making a habit of saying "Away We Go" lately — this time to a new 2,640-square-foot, three-bedroom, four-bath gated mid-century home in LA. His $1.9 million purchase sits high above Hollywood's legendary Chateau Marmont hotel on what real estate agents deem a "celebrity cul-de-sac." So, Krasinski should feel right at home among his VIP cronies. 
I dig the home's architecture from the outside, but I'm not too keen on the contemporary updates indoors, the kitchen and bathroom in particular. I'm also liking the lush tropical plants on the patio, but there doesn't seem to be much space to entertain around the pool — I guess that's what you get for only about a third of an acre of land. I'll give this crib three stars, and that's assuming he'll toss the bachelor pad furniture. What do you think? See photos when you read more
While the conversation in Sam Mendes's new comedy-drama Away We Go looks lively, it's the stylish glass candlesticks on the sideboard of this dining room that caught my attention. I actually own a few of these, and they're a staple at one of my favorite home retailers. Want to know where they're from? Find out when you read more
The rusty blue side table beside Maya Rudolph's character in Away We Go looks like it has seen better days. But I do love its retro charm. It brings character to a little corner of a lush garden beside a comfortable bench. I'd love to have a fresher version though, perhaps in a more versatile color. Luckily, that wish is not far off. To see where you can buy one, read more
John Krasinski stepped out in Scotland earlier today, pulling a few typical Jim Halpert faces as he made his way across the street. John's in the UK for the Edinburgh Film Festival, where he and Sam Mendes kicked things off at the Away We Go premiere. Their movie is getting love back in the States, too — check out Buzz's review here.
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More John so just read more
Away We Go starts with a sex scene. There's no nudity, it's not overtly graphic, but it's unexpected and a bit jarring. It's certainly not the overture I was predicting. But just as I was starting to get uncomfortable, the moment becomes quite humorous. The hilarity of the scene is grounded in the screenplay (which was written by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida), but brought to life by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. Known for their respective work on The Office and Saturday Night Live, the duo's comedic chops may not come as a surprise, but here these two are playing it pretty straitlaced. It's this juxtaposition that makes the film so good — seeing funny people playing serious roles with serious situations that end up being funny.
It's a formula that's worked before. As I guessed from the trailer, the film is very similar in tone to Garden State and Juno. All three are quirky little gems with heavy subject matters and great soundtracks (seriously, check out Alexi Murdoch if you haven't already). If I had to fault the film with anything, it would be that it didn't feel particularly fresh, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
To learn more about the film, and its cool costars, read more
Buzz Interview: John, Maya, and Sam Take It Away I was giddy when I first heard about Away We Go, director Sam Mendes's quirky little film starring Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski. I sat down with the Oscar-winning director, SNL alum, and The Office star to chat about the film, and the trio had plenty to say about the script, breaking out of TV roles, and lots more.
I was giddy when I first heard about Away We Go, director Sam Mendes's quirky little film starring Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski. The movie's sweet trailer only increased my interest, so imagine my excitement upon getting the opportunity to interview Sam, Maya, and John. I sat down with the Oscar-winning director, SNL alum, and The Office star (on whom I admittedly have a bit of a crush) in San Francisco to chat about the film, which is already open in limited release.
The movie follows Burt (Krasinski) and Verona (Rudolph) as they travel across America in search of the perfect place to raise their unborn child. We journey with them as they visit different friends and family, picking up a few laughs and a lot of life lessons along the way. The trio had plenty to say about why they fell in love with the script, breaking out of TV roles, and lots more. Here are some highlights:
On Burt and Verona's relationship in the movie:
John: The thing I responded to most about the relationship is how perfect it was. And by that I mean both characters are dealing with the same world, the same cynical world that I think that we're all living through today. Especially for a time like now, the fact that you've heard the whole "love will conquer all" thing before but now you see it put into play in a real way, and not in a Romeo and Juliet way . . . I think that when you don't have a job and you're about to have a kid, all these real problems need real people and they need real best friends and they need real relationships. And that’s what I think I responded to most, it’s the relationship that I think, for the most part, most people have always wanted. . . . And that's what I thought was so great about the script, is not only did they show that it’s not unattainable, but it’s a lot simpler than we think.
There's more where that came from, so just read more
