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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:30:00 -0700

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.

Transformers
The summer's loud, raucus, action-packed robot movie is finally available for consumption on DVD, complete with all the special feature trimmings. In addition to the story of the Autobots vs. the Decepticons, the DVD boasts such extras as a featurette in which Steven Spielberg discusses his love for the franchise, a peek into how the actors were selected for their roles, a look at the military training Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson endured for their roles, a full exploration of how the film came to fruition from initial storyboards to special effects, and much, much more.

A few more new titles to add to your queue, so read more

The Hoax
This DVD is one of my October must-have items because it's one of the smartest, most absorbing movies of the year. Richard Gere plays author Clifford Irving whose false biography of the mysterious Howard Hughes is eagerly believed by his publishers - at first. But soon the weight of having to keep up his charade starts to get the best of Irving. Based on a true story and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, the movie is at times sad or funny, and always riveting.

A Mighty Heart
This film is very thoughtful, respectful and superbly done, but it will also rip out your heart and throw it into a meat grinder. Angelina Jolie turns in a heart-wrenching performance as Mariane Pearl whose journalist husband goes missing in Pakistan in 2002. She soon learns that he has been kidnapped by terrorists and she enters a long, grueling process of chasing down fruitless leads and dealing with infuriating red tape. This is not an easy movie to watch, but it is also an inspiring story of one woman's strength.

Planet Terror
Now, several weeks later, we have the second of the Grindhouse features on DVD. Planet Terror finds Rose McGowan with a gun for a leg, battling crazy zombies. Special features of the 2-disc set include audio commentary by Robert Rodriguez, a peek at how McGowan's leg-gun was fashioned on a low budget, something called "The Badass Babes of Planet Terror," and a featurette about the stunts in the film, among others. Oh, and you also have the option to watch the movie with the "Audience Screening Track."

"Evan" is Almighty at the Weekend Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:30:00 -0700

Not only can Steve Carell get animals to board an ark - he can also entice people to go to the movies. Carell's Evan Almighty took the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office, bumping The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer from its temporary throne. But Evan didn't exactly attract a moviegoing flood of Biblical proportions. Considering that it was said to cost at least $175 million to make, chances are the movie's estimated $32.1 million take wasn't exactly the miracle its producers were hoping for.

Possibly the biggest surprise of the weekend was the John Cusack thriller 1408, which edged out Silver Surfer to take the No. 2 spot with just over $20 million. Variety notes that more than half of its ticket-buyers were women - maybe because it's a creepy but not gruesome horror film, maybe because John Cusack is just kind of awesome.

A Mighty Heart, on the other hand, took in just $4 million to finish in the No. 10 spot. Was the weighty biopic just too heavy for a breezy summer weekend?

Other notable results: Ocean's Thirteen nabbed the No. 4 spot with $11.3 million, while Knocked Up finished in fifth with more than $10 million, bringing its total for the summer to almost $109 million - which, incidentally, is about how much Judd Apatow's The 40-Year-Old Virgin raked in overall. Those Pirates brought in another $7 million to finish at No. 6. Surf's Up, Shrek the Third and Nancy Drew rounded out the top 10.

Source

Which Movie Will Be No. 1 at the Box Office This Weekend?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:30:00 -0700

While there are several new releases coming out this weekend (Evan Almighty, A Mighty Heart, 1408, and others), it's hard to say if any of them will definitely knock The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer off of its box office throne. What do you think?

A Mighty Heart: Sensitive and Weighty

BuzzSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:17:48 -0700

As you could probably guess, A Mighty Heart is difficult to watch. Knowing the true story on which the movie is based - and knowing the outcome of this story - causes a dense, heavy sense of impending doom to sit like a rock in one's belly throughout the film's duration. In fact, there were times when I wondered what I was doing watching this horrifyingly sad tale. In the end, however, I was glad I did. The story is an important one.

In 2002, journalists Daniel and Mariane Pearl were reporting from Pakistan. Five months into Mariane's pregnancy, the two decided to leave Pakistan, but Daniel had one more interview he wanted to conduct. He left for the interview, and disappeared. Kidnappers contacted Mariane and her team of journalist allies and U.S. officials, demanding the release of certain Guantanamo prisoners in return for Daniel's release. Of course, this is not the end of the story, so read more

Ultimately, when the prisoner exchange did not happen, the kidnappers beheaded Daniel and sent out a video of the brutal act. Daniel's story received widespread media coverage, and the video of his murder was sent around the Internet. Mariane Pearl went on to write the book A Mighty Heart in the hopes of giving her son Adam the chance to know a father who died only months before Adam was born.

Thankfully, the Hollywood types did not take this opportunity to gratuitously show the real footage or even reenactments of the footage, perhaps because Mariane herself has never watched the video. Still, I was concerned that the movie was going to pull every manipulative string it could to emotionally destroy its audience members, focusing on graphic violence more than was necessary. Instead, director Michael Winterbottom set out to simply tell Mariane Pearl's story, which he does with honesty and compassion.

Winterbottom's true-to-life direction style is exhausting. There are countless scenes of the bustling city of Karachi, so many car horns blasting and jostling camera work as the characters race to find Daniel that it leaves viewers dizzy with frustration and helplessness. This is not a glamorous story, and it's not glamorized. There is even a rather alarming suggestion that torture is a viable - and successful - means of deriving information. Winterbottom neither sugarcoats nor does he go too far in revealing the graphic horrors of this story. In aiming for such truthful storytelling, he also got a great deal out of Jolie. His way of following actors closely with the camera and encouraging improvisational behavior works superbly on film: Jolie's aggravation is extremely palpable.

Yet viewers going solely to gawk at Jolie in her brown contacts and wig will be sorely missing the point. Yes, she's remarkable at capturing Mariane's struggle and strength, in addition to her unique accent and charisma. But this movie isn't about Angelina Jolie. In fact, I left with the sense that many of the little things in life that we concentrate on are painfully insignificant.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Vantage

Cannes Reviews: A Mighty Heart

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:07:55 -0700

Admittedly, I was nervous to read the reviews for A Mighty Heart, a movie based on the horrific story of journalist Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped in Pakistan in 2002 and ultimately beheaded. The real-life story is heartbreaking, and I worried that a movie might trivialize rather than honor Daniel Pearl's story.

So far, the reviews have been positive with critics giving kudos for the respectful way in which the Pearls' story is told, though also mentioning that the movie presents moments of discomfort having to do with such ripped-from-the-headlines tales of torture and terrorism. Jolie is being lauded for her sensitive and accurate portrayal of Mariane Pearl, tasked as she was with the precarious challenge of playing a person who is still alive. So far, the only reviewers to write about A Mighty Heart have been from Variety and Hollywood Reporter - though over on Popwatch, the reviewer was too moved to write a review yet. UPDATE: New excerpt from the Guardian's review after the jump.

Variety:
“But this is ultimately - and very intimately - Mariane Pearl's story, and much of it rests on Jolie, who fits comfortably into the naturalistic mold that shapes the entire ensemble... this isn't the sort of commanding star turn in which the performer vanishes behind a well-known celebrity mask, but rather a subdued, carefully considered portrait of a woman caught between premature grief and persistent hope.

Jolie plays Mariane as sharp and prickly, but also highly principled and completely devoted to her husband. Wisely, Winterbottom opts to shoot her more high-pitched outbursts from a distance or in near-darkness, as if refusing to milk more histrionics than necessary."

First Look: A Mighty Heart

BuzzSugar — Sun, 06 May 2007 23:34:38 -0700

One of the most intriguing dramatic movies of this summer looks to be A Mighty Heart, the story of Mariane Pearl's search for her kidnapped husband, journalist Daniel Pearl, in Pakistan in 2002. I've been anxious to see a trailer for this movie which opens June 22, and lo, the trailer is now available.

The dramatic retelling of this real-life story looks to be absolutely gut-wrenching. Already the trailer itself is very moving. To watch it, read more

Which Summer Drama Are You Most Interested to See?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 06:10:39 -0700

Yesterday I gave you a rundown of some of this summer's dramatic movies as Part 2 of my Summer Movie Preview. These films promise a lot of romance, death, a little violence and some salsa music. Some look better than others, though, so check out my list and tell me: Which summer drama are you excited to see?

Stardust photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Summer Movie Preview: So Much Drama

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 05:02:07 -0700

Earlier this week I brought you glimpses of some of this summer's big-budget films and then asked you which one interested you most as the first part of my summer movie preview. Now, check out the dramatic films that promise to be most arresting.

A Mighty Heart
This story shocked and saddened me when it first appeared in the news, and while I'm not eager to relive that, A Mighty Heart seems more likely to be a tender homage to the memory of Daniel Pearl, which is important. Pearl was a journalist working in the Middle East in 2002 when he was kidnapped and ultimately beheaded, his murder recorded on videotape and sent around the Internet. A Mighty Heart chronicles his wife Mariane's (Angelina Jolie) desperate search for him when he goes missing. The film opens June 22.

Many more if you read more

Evening
This sentimental-looking drama features some of my favorite actresses: Toni Collette and Claire Danes. I can't help feeling happy when I watch Claire Danes, though I couldn't tell you why. Perhaps she'll always be Angela Chase to me. Anyway, in Evening she plays the younger version of a dying woman who reminisces to her daughters about her romantic past. The trailer is more intriguing than that description, however, so check it out before it hits theaters June 29.

Talk to Me
Wow - two actors I love and admire are in this true-story film: Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor. From the looks of the amazing trailer, Cheadle plays Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who takes over the radio airwaves - and the hearts of a city's people - during a time of social and political unrest. Yet again, Don Cheadle transforms completely into someone the world has not yet seen on screen. Start talking July 13.

Georgia Rule
This is the film that earned Lindsay Lohan reprimands from producer James Robinson for her excessive partying and unprofessional behavior. Jane Fonda and Felicity Huffman are also in it. Lohan plays a rebellious girl who is forced to live with her rules-happy grandmother (Fonda). Watch the trailer before Georgia Rule opens next Friday, May 11.

I Know Who Killed Me
In other Lindsay Lohan movie news, I Know Who Killed Me comes out July 27 - and it's no Georgia Rule. Lohan plays a young woman who is kidnapped and brutalized and then returns home with an alternate personality.

Becoming Jane
Already released in the UK, Becoming Jane features Anne Hathaway in the role of Jane Austen. The story focuses on one of Austen's greatest romances - and one of her deepest heartaches. The movie's website includes the trailer, which looks delightful and sassy in the Jane Austen kind of way. Jane comes to America August 3.

No Reservations
This film may fall more fully into the "dramedy" category, as it has elements of a romantic comedy, yet the premise sounds really sad: Respected chef Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones) has to unexpectedly take in her niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) after the death of Zoe's mother. The rom-com element comes in the form of the new guy at work/love interest Nick (Aaron Eckhart). The film opens July 27.

Bug
The stage play version of Bug is thoroughly creepy - and that's without special effects or jerky editing. Thinking of this in film version already has my skin crawling. Bug is a psychological thriller about an ex-military man who is slowly consumed by paranoia due to his belief that his body is bug-infested. See it May 25 with bug spray in hand.

El Cantante
I'm a little iffy about Jennifer Lopez as an actress, but maybe she'll surprise me with her magnificence in El Cantante. The movie follows real-life Latino singer Hector Lavoe (Marc Anthony) and his lady Puchi (Lopez) as they help to bring salsa music the U.S. in 1975. Watch the trailer and then see the film in theaters August 1.

Stardust
The story description for this fantasy-adventure is this: "In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm."

The all-star cast includes Claire Danes, Ricky Gervais, Robert DeNiro, Sienna Miller and Michelle Pfeiffer who looks gorgeous (er, through most of the trailer anyway). Check out the highly entertaining trailer before Stardust opens August 10.

Check out the trailer:

Bug photo courtesy of Lionsgate
Stardust photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
No Reservations photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
A Mighty Heart photo courtesy of Paramount Vantage
I Know Who Killed Me photo source
Source for all other photos