BuzzSugar

Christian Bale Movie Night: Serious Actor, Also in Newsies

BuzzSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:29:58 -0800

Though he wasn't nominated for any awards, I believe some of the year's best performances have come from Christian Bale (3:10 to Yuma, Rescue Dawn), and I'm a little sad that he's missing from the red carpet. The man has been honing his craft since he was a wee child and has been working steadily for years since. To properly pay my respects to the talented Mr. Bale this awards season, I'm designating a Movie Night to him. It's hard to choose given his large body of work, but I dug out some gems. In addition to these titles, he also sang his way into my heart in Newsies and freaked me out in American Psycho and The Machinist.

3:10 to Yuma
I've said it before and I'll say it again: 3:10 to Yuma is an excellent retelling of an old Western, reminding us that this dusty genre isn't dead. The lead actors turn in solid performances including Christian Bale who plays rancher Dan Evans, a man down on his luck physically and financially. Evans seizes an opportunity to earn some good reward money by delivering the infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to the Yuma prison via the 3:10 PM train. With Ben's men hot on their trail, their journey to Yuma takes on a power struggle that is ultimately as simple as good versus evil. This film has one of Bale's most arresting portrayals in recent history, and should definitely kick off your movie night.

Two more titles from the deeper confines of Bale's past, so read more

Swing Kids
In this 1993 drama, Bale plays one of three friends growing up in Nazi Germany on the eve of World War II. Alongside Robert Sean Leonard (who you can now catch on House), Bale and friends rebel against the status quo by listening and dancing to American swing music. Eventually though, their teenage rebellions are forced to a stop and the young men are faced with some hard choices.

Though sappy at times, it's fun watching the young, strapping Robert Sean Leonard and Christian Bale together onscreen.

Little Women
Bale first really hit my adolescent radar when he brought Laurie to life in Little Women. I'm just going to say it: I don't think there could ever be a more perfect Theodore 'Laurie' Lawrence. In other news, it's a good wintertime family classic with a great cast, including Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon and a tiny Kirsten Dunst.

Source and Source

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:29:57 -0800

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 these titles, you can also check out the indie comedy Smiley Face, starring John Krasinski and Anna Faris.

3:10 to Yuma
This remake of the classic 1957 Glen Ford Western is a fine example of how to make a Western film that will be palatable to modern audiences. There's action and intrigue, danger and betrayal, with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe providing solid performances.

The film takes place in late-1800s Arizona where struggling rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) finds himself in the presence of famed outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), and with the promise of a sizable reward, Dan agrees to help deliver Ben to the 3:10 PM train that will take him to the Yuma prison. Yet Ben's men are hot on Dan's trail, and the stakes get even higher when Dan's son William joins the group, trying to help his father get Ben on that train.

Special features on the DVD include a making-of documentary, audio commentary with director James Mangold, a featurette on the history of Western film and a featurette on the role of real-life outlaws in the history of the Old West.

Two more new titles, so read more.

Eagle vs. Shark
One of the year's sweetest and most offbeat love stories, Eagle vs. Shark also gets credit for introducing me to Jemaine Clement, the drolly hilarious New Zealander who took TV by storm in Flight of the Conchords this summer. In Eagle vs. Shark, Clement plays Jarrod, a lovable loser who doesn't know he's a loser - and who's bent on exacting revenge on a high school rival. Things get complicated when he meets Lily (Loren Horsley), a gawky oddball who doesn't quite know how to deal with Jarrod's self-important quest. To check out my full review of the movie, along with a trailer, click here.

Sunshine
A favorite among sci-fi enthusiasts, Sunshine follows a spaceship crew (which includes Cillian Murphy and Damages' Rose Byrne) in the year 2057 who have been tasked with reigniting the dying sun.

The DVD features plenty of extras, like an audio commentary by director Danny Boyle as well as an audio commentary by physicist Dr. Brian Cox. There are also deleted scenes, an alternate ending and cast interviews.

BuzzSugar's Must-Haves for January

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:28:27 -0800

Happy 2008 and welcome to BuzzSugar's monthly must-haves, where I show off a handful of the things I'm most looking forward to watching, buying, renting and reading. I'm hoping to start the new year off right with the following goodies.

To see why these six things are at the top of my list, just read more.

2008 Sundance Film Festival - Not so much a "must-have" as a "must-go," the lineup for the Sundance Film Festival this year has me drooling. I can't wait to be in Park City, Utah in a few weeks, getting a first look at the industry's best independent films.
The Magnetic Fields: Distortion - This album, out Jan. 15, is the band's first since 2004's i. While this album doesn't have an obvious theme, the two songs I've heard so far, "Three-Way" and "California Girls," hint at a new musical direction - with Stephin Merritt's acerbic lyrics blissfully intact.
3:10 to Yuma - Though it didn't make the cut as one of my top 10 favorite movies of 2007, I pretty much loved every minute of the remake of the old Western film 3:10 to Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. You can read what I loved about the movie, but you may as well just rent it when it comes out on DVD January 8 and see for yourself.
Cat Power: Jukebox - I can't wait to hear Chan Marshall's sultry voice take on a new set of cover songs on this album, out Jan. 22. Jukebox, Cat Power's second covers record, includes songs originally recorded by artists including Janis Joplin and Frank Sinatra, along with two originals. A deluxe edition includes a second disc with five bonus tracks.
Duma Key: A Novel by Stephen King - I don't totally love everything Stephen King does but that won't prevent me from checking out his next novel, Duma Key, which will hit bookstore shelves January 22. The supernatural story follows a disturbed man whose paintings take on a terrifying life of their own.
Cashmere Mafia - The buzz has been building since ABC picked up the show last May; now, Cashmere Mafia is finally getting its premiere. The show's first episode airs Jan. 6 at 10 p.m., then moves into its regular Wednesdays-at-10 time slot. In addition to giving us some relief from the writers' strike, it also sets up the battle (with NBC's forthcoming Lipstick Jungle) for the rights to be the heir to Sex and the City.

Box Office: The Game Plan Lands No. 1 Place

BuzzSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:30:00 -0700

In a surprising turn of events - even for people behind the movie itself - The Game Plan, a PG-rated family-friendly flick starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, came in at No. 1 at the box office this weekend. The Disney movie far outpaced the action-war film The Kingdom, which took in $17.7 million and the No. 2 spot. Variety speculates whether The Kingdom's weak opening is an indication of audiences' reluctance "to see films addressing the consequences of the war on terror."

Favorites from last weekend held over: Resident Evil 3: Extinction came in third place with Good Luck Chuck following it at No. 4. 3:10 to Yuma continued to hold its own in its fourth weekend, coming in at No. 5. Feast of Love didn't even make it into the top ten and brought home a slim $1.7 million.

This weekend we'll see if Ben Stiller and Co. will be breaking any hearts at the box office with The Heartbreak Kid.

Source

Box Office: It Takes a Brave One to Be No. 1

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

The Jodie Foster/Terrence Howard thriller The Brave One reached the No. 1 spot at the box office over a relatively slow weekend, bringing in approximately $14 million. Variety reports that the main audience for the film was older women, and that its continued success will depend on whether men will be drawn to see it as well.

3:10 to Yuma just barely beat out Mr. Woodcock for the No. 2 spot, with the Western raking in $9.15 million while the gym teacher comedy grossed $9.10. Dragon Wars (or D-War) came in fourth place and Superbad continued to please audiences (and, consequently, studio heads), taking the No. 5 slot.

This weekend looks like it offers a little bit of something for everyone, from The Jane Austen Book Club and Resident Evil 3: Extinction, to Good Luck Chuck and Sydney White. Oh, and that other Western flick with good-looking men, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford also opens this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

3:10 to Box Office Gold

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:30:47 -0700

I wasn't the only moviegoer wowed by the remake of the Western 3:10 to Yuma this weekend as the movie took the No. 1 spot at the box office. According to Variety, the film "appealed primarily to men over 25" but, um, I'm pretty sure there was plenty there for the ladies to enjoy as well.

Halloween continued its killing spree at No. 2 while the ever-entertaining Superbad followed up in third place. Balls of Fury is funny enough to come in fourth place and, of course, The Bourne Ultimatum has yet to be knocked from the top five, coming in fifth place this weekend with $5.4 million. Surprisingly, my man Clive Owen and his totally entertaining, bloody movie Shoot 'Em Up opened in sixth place to the tune of just $5.45 million. Hopefully the second weekend's the charm for the lovely Clive and his gory, funny movie.

Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

3:10 to Yuma: Best Western

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:31:32 -0700

How does one make a Western film, one of them dusty, twangy pictures of old that don't seem to have a place in today's cinemas, appealing to modern audiences? Director James Mangold took on incredible challenges with making 3:10 to Yuma, a remake of a 1957 Western which starred Glen Ford and Van Heflin. How to keep viewers interested? How to make them care?

The answer is this: A Western is made appealing to modern audiences by creating a character-driven film, utilizing quick edits and a few dazzling explosions, finding some sexy cowboys, and sticking to the clean, basic plotline of good versus evil. Plain and simple, 3:10 to Yuma is good storytelling made even more captivating by solid performances by the lead actors. In many ways, it's as close to flawless as I've seen in a long time. To find out more about why, read more

The story follows rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale), struggling financially and physically, having lost part of one leg in the Civil War, who finds himself in the presence of famed outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe). With the promise of a sizable reward, Dan agrees to help deliver Ben to the 3:10 PM train that will take him to the Yuma prison. Yet Ben's men - especially the insanely evil Charlie Prince (Ben Foster) - are hot on the trail of Ben and his captors. Joining Dan on the journey to bring Ben to the train is Dan's son William who is hateful of Ben while also slightly starstruck by the notorious outlaw. Throughout the film Dan and Ben grapple with a back-and-forth power struggle, calling into question what it means to be a man... and a father.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Westerns, and as a genre I'm surprised that it's enjoying a comeback. 3:10 to Yuma, however, has changed all that, mixing together the perfect proportions of ingredients - palpably tense scenes, intriguing dialogue, fleshed-out characters, exceptional performances - to make a perfectly updated, and I daresay award-worthy, modern-made Western.

Photos courtesy of Lionsgate

Which Gun-Toting Handsome Man Will You See This Weekend?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:00:00 -0700

Decisions, decisions! This weekend we have not one, but two movies opening in the theaters that feature supremely handsome men wielding guns. If you had to pick between seeing Christian Bale in the Western 3:10 to Yuma and watching Clive Owen raise hell in Shoot 'Em Up, which would you choose?

Fall Movie Preview: The Westerns

BuzzSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

We may not be getting the crisp fall weather just yet, but we are getting previews for tons of movies opening in the fall. In preparation for this autumn and winter at the theaters, I've broken up the lengthy list of upcoming movies into many small themes for my Fall Movie Preview series. This way, you'll be in the know when the chillier months roll around, bringing a whole new crop of new films. Today I'm focusing on a curious surge of new takes on an old genre: the Western.

The Assasination of Jesse James by That Coward Robert Ford
The title kind of says it all, huh? Brad Pitt stars as Jesse James in this story about Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) who "joins Jesse James's gang, only to become resentful of the legendary outlaw and hatch a plan to kill the fastest gun in the West." The trailer on the movie's website doesn't give a whole lot away, but this movie had me at "Western" and "Brad Pitt."

Giddyup! Two more dusty, gritty Westerns when you read more

3:10 to Yuma
If you've been checking Buzz lately you know I'm looking forward to this Western remake that stars Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster and Peter Fonda. In 3:10 to Yuma, "a small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who's awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher." Check out the tension-filled trailer.

No Country for Old Men
Though this latest Coen Brothers' project didn't take home as many of the accolades it was expected to at Cannes this year, the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Apparently the film is full of the typical Coen darkness, strangeness and humor, and even the plot description sounds familiar: "Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande." They must be doing something right, though, because critics adore this film, and I can't wait to catch it on the big screen myself.

All images Source

First Look: Christian Bale, Russell Crowe in 3:10 to Yuma

BuzzSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:30:00 -0700

In certain circles there has been much anxious anticipation for the remake of 3:10 to Yuma, the next project to come from James Mangold, writer/director of Walk the Line and director of Girl, Interrupted. From the trailer it looks like the film utilizes some slick cinematography and some famous faces (Christian Bale, Russell Crowe) to make what looks like it could be a successful modern-day Western.

The movie was supposed to come out in October but the studio recently moved the date to September 7 so Yuma would be the first Western flick of the fall (the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men and Brad Pitt's The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford also come out in the fall). And for those of you aiming to get your fix of dreamy men, there's no need to leave the theaters the weekend of September 7, as Clive Owen's Shoot 'Em Up also opens that day. To watch the dusty, dirty trailer, read more

Source