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The Wire Gets a Hip-Hop Heavy Soundtrack

BuzzSugar — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:00:04 -0800

The Wire, the gritty HBO series that returns for its fifth and final season in January, has been renowned for its unflinching portrayal of Baltimore. Now, that faithfulness to its setting is expanding to a soundtrack stuffed with music from the show's five years - including several tracks from underground Baltimore hip hop and club artists.

The soundtrack, ...And All the Pieces Matter, will be released Jan. 8, two days after the show's season premiere. So far, it sounds like a great selection of songs, with the Baltimore tracks joining "The Body of an American" by the Pogues, "I Feel Alright" by Steve Earle, and "Fast Train" by Solomon Burke. The album will include a booklet of essays by hip-hop journalists and author (and Wire writer) George Pelecanos.

I might be most excited about getting to hear all the versions of the show's theme song ("Way Down in the Hole" by Tom Waits) together. Each season has had a different rendition of the song, including a group of Baltimore teens who recorded the theme for the education-focused fourth season. In fact, their take on the song might be my favorite; you can check it out over here.

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Desperate Housewives Rundown, "You Gotta Get a Gimmick"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:30:00 -0800

After a cataclysmic plane crash and a series of odd flash forwards, we're finally getting back to normal on Desperate Housewives. If "normal" includes a Susan Delfino striptease, that is. I thought this week had a nice balance of the goofier antics that we love the show for, along with more serious subject matter as Lynette tries to cope with the loss of her unborn child and Gaby reflects on her own self-loathing.

Are you ready to break it all down by character? Just read more.

Susan: Following last week's death of her ex-husband Karl, Susan attends the reading of his will and ends up with his lucrative secret business - a strip joint named Double D. She scouts it out, and upon talking to a dancer named Destiny, Susan discovers that Mike patronizes the place (to do their plumbing, so he says). She gets on Mike's case, and he lashes back, telling her she can't tell him what to do. To prove a point, Susan gets on the pole herself and strips in front of Double D's customers. Mike promises to never go back.

Gaby: Gaby and Carlos are trying to get Juanita into an exclusive private school, but the head of the program only seems to be interested in their daughter for her Mexican heritage. Problem is, Juanita doesn't even realize that she is Mexican. Gaby and Carlos begin to question whether they've deprived their daughter of their cultural background, so when she gets in, Carlos wants her to attend a school in a more Hispanic area instead. Gaby raises a fuss because she's ashamed of her past growing up Mexican and poor, but ultimately they decide to tell Juanita about their history.

Lynette: In typical fashion, Lynette doesn't want to allow herself any time to grieve after the death of one of her twins last week. When Tom offers to step in for her at work until she recuperates, she immediately feels threatened of being replaced at her job. Carlos tells her that Tom suggested that she might want to stay at home with the new baby. Reeling from this news, Lynette faces Tom, and he says that he thought she'd want to spend time with this new child given all that she's gone through. Lynette is falling to pieces, but it's obvious that Tom is also having a hard time. If they don't lean on each other soon, you can tell that things are only going to get darker for him in the episodes to come.

Bree: Bree admits to her church pastor that she had an affair with Karl, and he suggests that she try a penance of sorts by caring for a now handicapped Orson. Just one thing: Orson doesn't want her back anymore. Bree tries to appeal to him, but when he won't listen, she takes him back by force - right out of the McCluskeys' home, where he was planning on staying (by the way, how funny but gross was that line about the McCluskeys' naked floor?!). Orson finally agrees to stick with Bree, but he asks her to wait on him hand and foot.

Danny: No sign of Angie in this episode, but Danny pops up in a side storyline with Julie. Ana confesses to Julie that she has the hots for Danny, so Julie suggests that they all go to a comic open mic night for Eddie. Ana seizes the chance to come on to Danny; he responds by saying she's too conceited, and she bites back by bringing up his suicide attempt. A new teen romance on Wisteria Lane, perhaps?

Did you enjoy this week's episode? I think we know where most of the storylines are headed from here - eg, you can tell that Orson is out to make Bree's life miserable - but what do you think is going to happen with Lynette and Tom? They're one of my favorite TV couples, so I hate to see them face yet another challenge to their relationship (even if it does make for an interesting plot). Oh, and how about the exchange with Mrs. McCluskey and Lee talking about their mutual fantasy over Tom's khaki shorts? Loved it!

Biggest Headline of 2009: New Moon Mania

BuzzSugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:00:00 -0800

After Twilight blew up the box office a year ago, the fan base for Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance series seemed to explode exponentially - suddenly everyone was rabid for developments about the sequel. Yes, 2009 was dominated by New Moon - whether you liked it or not, the movie and its stars were everywhere.

The pressure on the movie's studio, Summit, to make a bigger and better sequel was high, resulting in some shakeups behind the camera as well as in front. First, Summit dumped director Catherine Hardwicke for Chris Weitz, who'd be more adept at the special effects for the werewolves of New Moon. Then it was rumored that Taylor Lautner, who had originated the role of Jacob Black in Twilight, might be recast. This prompted the actor to put on almost 30 pounds of muscle to mirror his character's transformation, which helped secure his part in the second movie.

To read about the rest of New Moon's 2009 time line, just read more.

Other casting rumors came fast and furious. Many proved false, as in the case of both Madonna and Vanessa Hudgens, but some came true: Dakota Fanning scored the part of vampire villain Jane. Other Volturi casting news followed, with the likes of respected actor Michael Sheen and up-and-comer Jamie Campbell-Bower scoring parts.

As production on the film motored on, tidbits of information began leaking out prompting me to theorize five reasons the movie might be good. Then suddenly we had more than a few pieces of the puzzle: we finally got an official poster to gaze at, and a first official trailer. Then, stills started pouring out, and pouring out, and pouring out - to the point where I had to ask if spoilers were ruining New Moon.

However, saturated we were with movie news, it seemed everyone was still hungry for more - another trailer premiered at the VMAs with additional footage. It wasn't all just eye candy, either; I was excited about New Moon's soundtrack when the track list was revealed, along with a preview of Death Cab for Cutie's original song, "Meet Me on the Equinox." When it premiered in October, I gave it a listen and a positive review.

As the movie's premiere date got closer, the cast began stepping out for promotions, landing on magazine covers, late night talk shows, and red carpets (and chatting with me!). While we all speculated on Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's real-life relationship, the cast nailed down new parts. (I also gave you a peek at what they were doing in their pre-New Moon days).

Finally, November 20 arrived and New Moon premiered in theaters. I reviewed the movie, telling you why I liked it more than Twilight. But, it didn't matter what I or any other critics said - New Moon was on its way to break box office records. First, it shattered the record for midnight ticket sales, then single-day sales, settling in at the number one spot at the box office with the third biggest weekend opening in history.

There's still a bit of madness floating around from this year's vampire and werewolf mania, but things are quieting around the Twilight camp . . . until the Eclipse craziness starts in 2010, anyway.

Don't forget to check out all of my Best of 2009 stories and polls as we get closer to the end of year!

90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:12 -0800

This week's CW drama block may have its share of cool guest stars like N.E.R.D. and Samantha Ronson, but, on the whole, it's a total mess. On the one hand, you've got the unstable girls of 90210 having emotional breakdowns at the drop of a hat; on the other, the Melrose Place residents are busy sneaking around to cover up their crimes. Personally, I was a bit annoyed by all the over-the-topness - especially you, Annie. Oh, and you, Ivy. But hey, at least it gives us a few surprising moments.

Ready to dissect each show and decide which packed more punch? (Warning: major spoilers!) Take a peek at my arguments and then weigh in with your own when you read more.

90210 point: Sasha is officially a nut job. First she tells Dixon that she's pregnant, but when Debbie gets wind of it, she questions Sasha even further to catch her in her baby lies. But the best part? When Debbie says the line, "It starts with you're not pregnant, and it ends with stay away from my son." Oh, snap! Congrats Debbie, you just went up a notch on the list of cool TV moms. Sasha backs off, telling Dixon she had a "miscarriage."
Melrose Place counterpoint: Did David kill Sydney? They sure try to make it seem that way. David tells Ella that he was blackout drunk that night after finding out that Syd was sleeping with his father - and then he has a flashback where he wakes up with blood all over himself and a knife in his hand. I gasped a little over the big reveal, but I'm not entirely convinced that David wasn't set up by someone else.

90210 point: Annie is getting in way over her head with Jasper, and unfortunately, she seems much too insecure to dig herself out. When Navid hears that Jasper is a dealer, he tells Annie and she confronts Jasper about it. Jasper wigs out, making Annie cry and beg forgiveness. Later, we see Jasper selling drugs to someone, so we know the rumors are true. For more on his buyer, keep reading.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Jonah makes out with Kendra, the hot movie producer, literally within the first five minutes of the episode. (That didn't take long.) He stops things from going further, but when he comes clean to Riley, he gets on her case again for her kiss with Auggie. She apologizes profusely, but the damage has already been done. By the end of the episode, I was thinking, Wait, did they actually just break up?! I don't think so, but if you stuck around for next week's promo, things do not look good for the engaged couple.

90210 point: Jen is back, throwing around her prima donna wicked attitude. She walks in on Ryan during his date with the bartender from the previous episode and goes into attack mode with the verbal jabs. ("You look older closer up.") Ryan is actually turned on by her jealousy, and the two become exclusive. But what I can't understand is why, after he knows that she lies, does he actually trust her story about Liam coming on to her? He totally buys it!
Melrose Place counterpoint: Auggie finally gives his a-hole boss Marcello a piece of his mind, er, fists. Marcello passes off one of Auggie's recipes as his own, and then he makes a few lewd comments about Riley - and you know how Auggie feels about Riley. He starts swinging, knocking Marcello out. Back at the apartment later, Violet shows up, and in a moment of what I can only blame on Auggie's emotional distress, the two finally knock boots. I'm guessing this means we'll be seeing Violet's worst kind of crazy very soon (right before she and Auggie say sayonara).

90210 point: Adrianna is inching closer to her previous life of drug use. It starts when she plays a song asking for Navid's forgiveness. (So cheesy!) He turns her down, so she continues sulking in bed, sobbing. Silver and Naomi want her to go to a meeting so she can stay clean, and with due concern - at the end of the episode, we see her buying from none other than Jasper.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Ella's squeaky-clean client, Jessie, is hospitalized with major cocaine in his system, so she begs Lauren to write a fake report citing an allergy as the cause of his stay. Lauren refuses. (Anyone else confused about why Lauren continues to take the high road, despite her side prostitution gig?) Ella then discovers a wad of cash in Lauren's room and realizes her Pretty Woman secret. Of course Lauren denies the accusations, but no matter - Ella decides to let her star take the fall anyway and promises to never question Lauren again.

90210 had way more melodramatic outbursts, but those ladies were so crazy that it kind of turned me off. (You girls give women a bad name. Even Violet seemed normal this week compared to you.) So I'm giving this week to Melrose by default: I was genuinely shocked at David's bloody flashback and the fact that Jonah has suddenly broken out of his perfect-fiance persona. I expect scandal from someone like Auggie or Ella, but from Jonah? Come on!

Do you disagree? Were you actually loving all of the melodrama on 90210?

Don't forget that you can also keep the conversation going over in the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community. Check it out!

Photos courtesy of The CW

SYTYCD: Reflections From Melissa and Ade

BuzzSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:30:30 -0700

They started the competition paired together, and on Thursday, Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi left So You Think You Can Dance together. Today, the two hopped on the phone with reporters to talk about the toughest dance styles to learn, size up the dancers in the final four, and reflect on their moving piece about breast cancer that many have called the highlight of the season. Here are highlights:

Ade, on leaving with Melissa: "I was actually kind of happy that she left with me. We've been through it, the ups and downs of the whole competition, since day one. It's definitely full circle to end it with her."
Melissa, on her chemistry with Ade: "At the beginning of the competition, Ade and I were kind of unknown. We didn't get a whole lot of press - we didn't even really know each other really well, but we instantly got along. He's a really funny, laid-back guy, and I'm laid-back, too, so our chemistry really worked right away. . . . It was easy to pretend to be in love with him and have him be my Romeo and do the rumba with him."
Ade, on sizing up the remaining guys: "I love how they're so different. Evan's Broadway, and Brandon is just this nonstop contemporary dancer that just powers his way through everything. I think them being in the finale is going to be a good show, just because it's different."
Melissa, on the remaining two girls: "Kayla is very long and flowing with her movement, and Jeanine is just a little powerhouse and has just a crazy personality. It'll be interesting to see who America chooses between them and the boys."

To find out which costume Ade hated and which style Melissa actually hoped to dance, just read more.

Melissa, on moving beyond ballet: "Every style was out of my comfort zone. A lot of the ballroom was really challenging, just to learn a completely different technique. The jazz with Sonya - I've never rolled on the floor . . . the contemporary movement, just to move my body differently was a challenge. . . . I've been in this ballet world for so long and we always kind of do what we're told and put on a smile and make it look easy. It was fun to throw all of that away and have some sass."

Ade, on his "This Woman's Work" piece with Melissa: "Right off the bat, me and Melissa knew this piece was going to be amazing, and it was going to touch different people just because of the subject matter. Seeing the responses of the judges and the audience members the people at home has been incredible, and I don't think we could have asked for anything better. We are privileged to share this piece and bring it to the world."
Melissa, on making it to the end without a hip-hop duet: "I feared [hip hop], and I took classes right before the competition went underway just in case - but as the competition was going, I kind of wanted hip hop just to prove that I could do it. Once we did it in the group number with Tabitha and Napoleon, they kind of gave me confidence."
Ade, on which other couple's routine he loved: "The one that Kayla and Kupono did, [about] addiction, is one of my favorites of the season. So powerful - Kupono killed the character he was in, and Kayla danced from the heart. That piece definitely gives me chills every time."
Melissa, on getting to do ballet: "I was so surprised that I pulled pas de deux out of the hat. If anything, I didn't think I would get ballet - that seemed unfair - but when I thought about it, contemporary dancers get contemporary, hip-hop dancers get hip hop. . . . I was so excited to put my pointe shoes on and do what I do."
Ade, on his best and worst costumes: "My least favorite was probably the cha cha. I can't pull off red pants - I learned the hard way. My favorite probably Sonya's group dance that she did for the top three boys, just because it was kind of different, quirky, weird a little bit with the eye makeup. The pants were comfortable, but they looked good."

Photos courtesy of Fox

SYTYCD: Farewell to Randi and Kupono!

Molly — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:40:42 -0700

Last night we said goodbye to Randi Evans and Kupono Aweau on So You Think You Can Dance but the good news is that both dancers had nothing but wonderful things to say about how far they got and their time in the competition. Randi and Kupono were entirely gracious in their exit interviews. Check out some of what they had to say below and remember to enter to win a chance to this season's finale which is just a few weeks away!

On why she seemed to click better with Evan than Kupono: "It’s almost the 'it factor'. We just hit it off right at the beginning. We only have four and a half hours to get a number together. With Evan I’m not sure what it was, it just happened. I was used to working with Evan, but when we switched partners I feel like we just didn’t have enough time. Kupono is a great guy but it just wasn't the best number of the night."
Kupono on working with Wade Robson on the crash test dummies dance: "I was ecstatic when I got him! Working with Wade, he’s just a positive person. I’m all about energies and that kind of stuff. He told us that he didn’t think there were any other people in the top 20 who could have pulled that off. We found ourselves in the characters he gave us. As weird as his movement is, I feel like I do it best or better than some other techniques. He’s an amazing visionary, a genius."
Randi on what dance she wants to take on tour: "I would love to the number did the first week, our jazz. Also our Mia Michaels routine - the butt dance. I would really like the opportunity to do that again."
Kupono on the Mia Michaels addiction piece: "My father and my sister were meth addicts, when I was a sophomore or junior in high school. It was a really rough time for my family. Thank god they got healthy and thank god they got through it. My best friend, too. My family is that much stronger because of it. As horrible as it was, it got us to where we are today so I’m thankful to that. The crazy thing is, I was telling Mia about it, I feel like she brought stuff out I didn’t know was there. My family is so much better and I’ve dealt with everything, but there was still so much in there. It was like therapy. I needed Mia Michaels. I needed that piece, I needed Kayla. That whole piece was therapy for me and I needed it."
Randi's favorite moment of the experience: "When they announced when I had made the show. I tried to make it on the show for three years now so when they finally told me did - it was unforgettable. It’s hard to pick just one moment; it's really a collaboration of all the moments together."

To read more about what Randi was thinking when she was in the bottom two plus whether Kupono want's his signature move to be the next big thing just read more.

Randi on what she was thinking when they announced she you was in the bottom: "It wasn’t that big of a surprise, I had a feeling that I would be, just because all of the numbers [Wednesday] night had been so great. The other girls I was competing against, I mean look at them, they’re so amazing. Someone had to go and I really feel like I had a really good run. I wasn't really sad, just content. I gave it all I had and had a good run."
Kupono on when he whips out his signature dance move: "I actually might do it at clubs, not knowingly. That’s like, my happy dance. When I’m backstage it's what I do to make people laugh and get my spirits up. When you’re doing it you can’t help but smile. It lifts peoples spirits and I’m all for it. I wouldn’t mind if it was the next big dance craze, I’m not gonna lie!"
Randi's Avice for aspiring dancers: "Perseverance pays off more than you know. Never give up. If you want it bad enough you will get it. You will. Its inevitable. No matter if it takes one year or ten years. The best advice I got from the choreographers was to take risks and don’t be an 'in your box' dancer. Really explore."
Kupono on getting into dance: "In Hawaii I didn’t have much access to studios until I was older and able to go myself and make it happen. Once I did, it cannonballed from there and got bigger and bigger and bigger. It made me happier. It was always in me to be this dancer and I was able to finally do it. Dance made me a happier person."
Kupono on what he wants to be remembered for: "If not for my dancing, which compared to these other dancers - they’re ridiculous - for my fun spirit. I like to think that I’m a cool guy, a cool cat. I’m very positive."
Kupono on what his plans are next: "What’s next? I can’t wait to see my niece. I absolutely miss my family to death, I miss my nieces so much. That’s the next thing on my to-do list, I can’t wait to check it off!"

Photos courtesy of Fox

SYTYCD's Tony and Paris: Happy to Make Top 20 But Sad to Go

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:30:40 -0700

The fifth season of So You Think You Can Dance is in full swing with the first two dancers now eliminated. This morning, Tony Bellissimo and Paris Torres spoke with reporters about how this year's top 20 is perhaps the most talented the show has ever seen, and both contestants seemed really proud to have made it into this group.

They also discussed their disappointment in being the first to go, the pressure of pulling off that hip-hop choreography, and how the costumes didn't exactly help matters. Here are highlights:

Paris, on the caliber of dancers in the top 20 this season: "Oh man, it is insane. Just to see the difference between last year's Vegas and this year's Vegas. Everyone in the top 20 this year could have been the winner. It's just a matter of what style you get each week. The talent level is just amazing."
Tony, on the choreography in their routine: "They gave us choreography that would stand out in the competition. It's not lovey-dovey. I could have [stood] out a lot more than I did. We didn't execute it the right way. It's not really my style of hip-hop, I usually do funk style. But no excuses, it was a great piece that was not executed the right way."

To see what Tony had to say about loving football and dance, and to learn about Paris's thoughts on the costumes, read more.

Paris, on their challenging hip-hop routine: "I've done hip-hop in the past but nothing like what . . . they gave to us. It was jam-packed with different moves. We had threading, we had like, locking, all these different things that were being thrown at me. I tried to attack it as best I could. The costumes were amazing but they actually constricted our movement pretty badly. It was just a lot to take on. It definitely didn't help the stress situation much."
Tony, on whether it was an advantage or disadvantage to get hip-hop first: "I was torn. Is this gonna help me or is this gonna hurt me, you know? I didn't really know what to expect. What do they really want to see? What am I going to do to prove I'm good in this field, you know? I was excited but scared at the same time. It is what it is, it happened, but I don't think I executed it the best of my ability. But I put a lot of time into it and a lot of work into it."
Tony, on his biggest fear going into the competition: "My biggest fear was not being respected as a dancer. I don't know if I was able to prove that because I was cut so early. The audition process in Vegas, they didn't show all the dancing in my solo. I wanted to really prove that I'm a good dancer, a good performer, not just a cute face on TV like the judges said."

Paris, on Nigel's comment that there were better contemporary dancers in the competition: "I knew going into this . . . I knew being through it last year that they are typecasting for the show. They need certain personalities, they need ethnicity, they need certain styles of dance. When Nigel made that comment to me, it actually eased me a bit. They weren't eliminating me solely on the fact that I wasn't a strong dancer. There were eight of us contemporary dancers . . . it was a shame that I had to be the first to go."
Tony, on playing sports and dancing: "I'm very active. I don't want to say I have ADHD, but I have the hyper part of it. I can't sit still. I was always moving. The only time I rested was when I was sleeping. Turned out, I loved the dancing. I got more attention with the dancing than the sports. Dancing I stood out in."
Tony's retort to his football friends who made fun of his dancing: "You guys are tackling guys and I'm picking up girls all day."
Paris's final words to fans: "Thank you so much for everyone who voted for me. It means so much that people pick up the phone and are rooting for me. It's so inspiring that you can be a role model to other people. It's amazing. You feel like a star, you know? It's crazy. The people who are left are wonderful people and I'm so happy for them."

Photos courtesy of Fox

Allison Iraheta: "I Had Fun, So That's All That Matters"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:30:03 -0700

Allison Iraheta managed to hold down the fort for the ladies for a few weeks on American Idol, but this week, voters sent her home. It was a bit of a surprising elimination after her fairly strong showing on rock night, but on the phone with reporters today, the teenager with the fire-red hair didn't seem too bummed about being out. In the interview, she talked about being the little sister to the remaining contestants, revealed why she finally talked back to the judges, and even said she and Adam are planning to do their "Slow Ride" duet on this Summer's Idol tour. Here are highlights:

On whether her elimination took her by surprise: "I've been in the bottom three so many times, and I was just really prepared for everything. When it was down to me and Danny I was like, 'Well, it's either him or me.'"
On why she finally talked back to Simon: "Every week it was, I'm boring, I have no personality. I was like, 'OK, Simon.' I'm really not the kind of person who talks back, but just - on the show [on Tuesday], he's like, 'Start begging,' and I was like, 'You know what, that's it.' I really just felt it was the perfect time to stand up for myself, and I was like 'All right, I'm not who you say I am! I'm not boring. And you say I don't talk, so I might as well just talk.'"

On getting eliminated in the same position as Chris Daughtry: "It made me feel better. He's done so much. He's done well, and it's really like, if he's done well and he didn't have to make it all the way to the top, it gives me a chance. I hope I do as well as he does."

On her relationship with the older contestants in the house: "It was so fun. Say they were having just a little argument, and I'd be like 'Yeah!' and they'd be like, 'Boo! Stay out of this! You're only 12 years old!' . . . It was like a family. I really felt like all of their little sisters."

To see how Allison responded to comments about her style and learn what was her favorite piece of feedback from the judges, just read more.

On getting so many comments about her style rather than her singing: "It sort of did [annoy me]. I was like, 'Come on, I'm singing here!' But I think overall, they all look for what you're going to do as a selling artist. I know there was a lot of risks I did in the dressing and all of that, but I had fun, so that's all that matters."
On her favorite bit of feedback from the judges: "I really like the fact that they said that I was different. I really liked that because I stayed true to myself, and I reminded myself of that so much being here."
On her farewell performance: "It was funny because I was crying, and I was singing a song called "Cry Baby." It felt so different - I was like, they're not going to judge me on this, so I'm just going to do whatever, and I'm going to give it my all. When I went up to the judges and I was singing to them, I felt really great about it."

Photos courtesy of Fox

Duplicity: Stylish Spy Caper That's a Touch Too Calculating

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:00:55 -0700

It's hard to go wrong with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen in a movie together. The two starred in Closer as a couple in a toxic marriage. This time around they play two corporate spies who are intoxicated with each other. The sexy part comes from the way they look (Owen is tan, Roberts is back with that big ol' movie star smile) and the fact that the characters' day jobs make it hard for them to trust each other, despite the longing between them.

I was expecting Duplicity to be the kind of movie at which I could kick back and enjoy the chemistry between the two stars. You know, the kind of movie in which double-crossing is just a spy's way of flirting, and covert operation lingo is laced with innuendo. I'm sad to report that's not the movie I viewed at all. I'll tell you why if you read more.

I've been intrigued by the idea of Tony Gilroy (the man responsible for the 2007 drama Michael Clayton and writer of the suspenseful Bourne movies) delivering a fun and sexy spy romp starring two of the world's most gorgeous people. I knew to expect a grown-up movie that respects my intelligence, though I was skeptical about how much lightheartedness Gilroy could bring to the screen.

Turns out my skepticism was valid, as I found that the romantic and comedic elements take a backseat to a complex storyline about the corporate spy organizations within pharmaceutical companies. It's all made even more tiresome by a complicated timeline (there are a lot of flashbacks). Instead of asking you to invest in the sexy leads, Gilroy asks the audience to just hang in there through every twist and turn of nonsense in return for a big reveal that will piece it all together for us in the end. Well, by the time I saw the big reveal, I was just glad the movie was over rather than blown away by the cleverness.

On the plus side, the movie looks gorgeous and is delightfully sophisticated. The opening slow-motion sequence on a tarmac is funny and stylized in a way that reminded me of the Oceans 11 movies. Julia and Clive are delightful in Rome and there's a particular moment in which he kisses her neck that satisfied the kind of airy seductiveness I was looking for. There's also a great little sequence with the hilarious Carrie Preston (of True Blood) that is truly alive with comedic timing and wit. But unfortunately, the fun stuff is weighed down by the overly serious corporate saga unfolding. I think the drama is supposed to give us some food for thought on top of the fun, but it's actually just a drag, and it's utterly useless as a parable.

Then there's the matter of Julia Roberts. It's amazing to see this famous siren of the screen back in action. She's all curves with decolletage proudly on display. She's glamorously dressed in European weekend-wear and expensive-looking heels and trench coats. She's middle-aged and it's such a blessing to see a real woman sexily strut her stuff up there on the big screen. But Roberts' performance is distractingly uneven. One moment her eyes are alive with intelligence and wit and the next it looks as though no one is home. When she laughs it's electric, but then other times she just looks drained of energy. It's a strange "comeback" to be sure, but hey, maybe it's just a warm up.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

Chuck Rundown: Episode 16, "Chuck vs. The Lethal Weapon"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:30:53 -0700

Wow, this week's Chuck is jam-packed with action and revelations, including a few moments that may forever change the way we look at Chuck Bartowski. Ever since he became the Intersect, Chuck's been serving on missions at the government's request - but now he's got some more personal matters to attend to, so to chat about the goings-on, just read more.

The scene I can't get out of my head is Chuck staring at his giant chart on the back of his Tron poster, trying to piece together the connections between Fulcrum and the government and the computer in his brain. Our Bartowski isn't just a hapless nerd, after all! This whole time, he's been mapping out cases and missions and code names, hoping something would help him get his normal life back. That Tron poster's been the subject of enough jokes and commentary (including in this episode, when we learn it was a gift from Chuck's dad) that I should have realized there was more to it than just a silly ad for an '80s movie. So this is Chuck's real mission: Using what he's learning with the Intersect in his brain, he wants to get the Intersect out.

And once it's out, he hopes, he'll be with Sarah. He won't move in with her; he couldn't take spending all day, every day, around a woman he's crazy for but can't touch. But then . . . well, might as well let Chuck's own words speak for themselves:

Just so you know, I am going to get this thing out of my head one day. I will. And when I do, I'm going to live the life that I want with the girl that I love. Because I'm not going to let this thing rob me of that. I won't.

Aw, Bartowski. Why you gotta make me feel like that?

This episode really shows how far Chuck's come - and not just because we learn about his secret map. With Cole, he's treated like a real spy. Granted, he can't shoot a gun and manages to maybe break his ankle getting it caught in a window frame, but he's on nearly equal footing. And coming from a man who's singlehandedly taken out nine guys (well, 12, but who wants to brag?), that's saying something. As funny as it is to see Chuck hobbling after the also-hobbling doctor, that slow-moving Chase gives Chuck a real sense of purpose: Maybe Chuck could be a hero to his country and get his old brain back.

Some other thoughts:

Another stellar episode from Jeff and Lester, who launch Operation Repulsion to convince Anna it's not such a good idea to move in with Morgan. Highlights: a very sweaty game of Wii Tennis (in '70s athletic gear); a "Morganuptial" agreement limiting Anna to only string cheese in the house (gouda on weekends); and something involving peanut oil, bubble wrap, "and as much yarn as you can find." Somehow, though, I'm not surprised that Anna is unrepulsible.
The scenes of Chuck and Sarah's first morning in the Bartowski house are awesome - Chuck with the blankets pulled up to his chin, Ellie greeting them both with a giant hug, Awesome's squicky declaration that "you two lovebirds need to find a nest where you can let the worm wiggle free."
Casey, sheepishly, on taking out nine guys: "I'm just saying it's doable."
How much of Morgan and Anna's supposed 16 months together have they actually been together? Three weeks?
Lester on Jeff: "That's 95 percent alcohol!"
Love Chuck offering Cole an Us Weekly, or maybe some soup.
I wonder if this is the last we'll see of Cole. I sort of liked his dashing spy charm, complete with cheesy lines ("just close your eyes and say yes") and romantic music.

So: Does this episode change how you see Chuck? How sweet was his speech to Sarah? And are Jeff and Lester totally stealing the show this season?

Photos courtesy of NBC