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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:30:47 -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 my picks below, you can now watch Beverly Hills Chihuahua as many times as you'd like.

Australia
In my mind, there are many reasons to bring home Baz Luhrmann's Australia. There's Hugh Jackman, the costumes, a lot of cool scenery, and did I mention Hugh Jackman? He's just so gorgeous and manly as an outback cowboy. . . . Anyway, I'm just saying that I enjoyed his performance.

The story follows Kidman's character, Sarah Ashley, who gains sudden control of a cattle station in Australia called Faraway Downs. She relies on a rather motley crew to help her out there, including the sexy, no-nonsense Drover (Jackman) and a mixed-race Aboriginal child, Nullah. Things are grueling enough in the outback for these folks but then the war also engulfs their country, making for a very dramatic and epic cinematic journey. Special features include deleted scenes.

One more up next, so read more.

Wonder Woman
While I will continue to hope for a live-action Wonder Woman film, this animated straight-to-DVD movie about DC Comics's Amazon princess looks like it will suffice for now. Keri Russell voices Wonder Woman, a.k.a. Princess Diana, and is joined by Virginia Madsen, Alfred Molina, Rosario Dawson, Oliver Platt, and Nathan Fillion to tell the origin story of this superhero.

I've read some reviews about it and so far the buzz is pretty great. One reviewer called it "a terrifically entertaining action picture, with fully drawn characters, clever dialogue, and a clear and specific point of view." Also, FYI, the movie is PG-13 which means not necessarily suitable for the kids. And it means I can feel less dweeby about watching this at home.

Special features include commentary by the film's creative team and two in-depth documentaries titled "Wonder Woman: A Subversive Dream," and "Wonder Woman: Daughter of Myth."

Oscar Nominee: Australia For Best Costume Design

BuzzSugar — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:30:24 -0800

As we gear up for the Oscars, I'll be featuring the nominees for Best Costume Design. It's a big year for this category as the films nominated represent several vastly different historical periods. Be it eighteenth century England or San Francisco in the '70s, these films include some gorgeous threads. Today's featured movie is Australia.

Baz Luhrmann's movies are always exceptionally detailed when it comes to the way they look. Once again, it's clear there was a specific vision when it came to the way these characters dress in this epic tale set in the late 1930s/early 1940s. Not only do the costumes look amazing on the movie's two stunning stars (although, Hugh also looks pretty great without any costume) but they also contribute to the narrative, especially in the case of Kidman's character. Eventually her lavish wardrobe gives way to more relaxed frontier wear - a visual cue to the audience that Australia has won her over.

To check out a gallery of the many beautiful costumes on the great-looking actors, just read more.

View 11 Photos ›

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Box Office: The Day the Earth Earned a Lot of Money

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:30:45 -0800

The Day the Earth Stood Still may not have been a critical hit but it is now officially a box office success, earning $31 million over the weekend and topping Four Christmases, which slid into second place. Twilight, Bolt, and Australia followed in third, fourth, and fifth places respectively.

Meanwhile, Variety is reporting that smaller, independent films "delivered one of the best weekends ever for the specialty box office." Movies like Doubt, The Reader and Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino all enjoyed strong debuts, while movies like Milk and Frost/Nixon continue to draw good sized audiences in theaters.

Photos courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Box Office: Audiences Love Christmases

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:30:01 -0800

Reese and Vince proved a potent pair at the box office once again as Four Christmases came in at No. 1 for the second weekend in a row. The holiday comedy earned an estimated $18.2 million over the weekend, bringing its overall total since debuting to $70.8 million. Meanwhile, Twilight continues to plow full steam ahead, coming in at No. 2 and bringing its overall total to an impressive $138.6 million. The top five was rounded out by Bolt in third, Australia in fourth, and Quantum of Solace at No. 5.

There are a lot of "specialty" offerings at the moment, many of which are doing very well given how many theaters they're playing in. Cadillac Records had a decent debut at No. 9, and both Slumdog Millionaire and Milk continue to thrive thanks to great buzz.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Box Office: Four Christmases Wins the Holiday Weekend

BuzzSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:30:35 -0800

I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying Four Christmases starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, and maybe some of the early buzz from others who also liked it helped the holiday comedy win the Thanksgiving weekend box office this year with an estimated $46.7 million since opening Wednesday.

Meanwhile the highly anticipated Baz Luhrmann epic Australia opened at No. 5 after Quantum of Solace in fourth place, Twilight (which passed the $100 million mark this weekend) in third, and Bolt in second place. Gus Van Sant's biopic Milk also did very well for a limited release, coming in at No. 10 over the weekend.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Australia: A Magical, Epic Tale For the Ages

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:45:29 -0800

Every once in a while, a movie comes around that reminds us what going to the movies is all about. It's a spectacle and an adventure and a love story. It’s full of magic, passion, music and breathtaking aerial shots. Australia is like the restoration of a long-lost cinematic art. It's pure entertainment with a human element to it that’s just emotional enough. With Australia, director Baz Luhrmann has brought us the most sweeping, grandiose, and visually stunning epic film of the year.

And in keeping with all the larger-than-life aspects of this production, Hugh Jackman of course embodies the manliest character ever. Playing a drover (a person who moves livestock, like cattle, over long distances) who's only ever referred to as "Drover," he's like a Greek god and John Wayne mixed together - but with an Australian accent. Under Luhrmann's watchful eye, Jackman's beautiful physique and macho charm help create something like an old-fashioned Western. The sunset softly lighting a wide landscape view, the pounding of galloping horses kicking dust up into the air, and a rugged man on horseback all make for a fine-looking movie indeed.

So that's most of what I like about the film - Luhrmann's lovely direction and Hugh Jackman - but there are other things, so read more.

There are essentially two parts to the narrative in this movie. The first has to do with the very prim and very British Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), who gains sudden control of a cattle station in Australia called Faraway Downs, having to get a huge number of cattle onto a ship. She relies on a rather motley crew to help her with this task, including the sexy, no-nonsense Drover and a mixed-race Aboriginal child (sometimes referred to as "creamy"), Nullah. Young Nullah narrates throughout the film, referring to Lady Sarah Ashley as "Mrs. Boss," which adds a sort of innocence and truthfulness to it all.

The second part of the story deals with protecting Faraway Downs from shady folks, and suffering an air strike as World War II rages on. Amidst all this, there is the ever-present danger of having Nullah forcibly taken away by the state in order to integrate him into white society (and to "breed the black out" of him as one character disgustingly puts it). In Australia, the mixed-race children who endured such removals were known as the Stolen Generations, and at some point Lady Sarah Ashley becomes determined to prevent Nullah from this terrible fate. In addition to all this, there are the general story arcs for the individual characters, most notably how the chilly "Mrs. Boss" learns how to passionately love three things: Nullah, Drover, and Australia.

The film is lengthy and there are a few moments when I thought it was over, only to find that there was much more in store for us, and for the first time at a super-long movie I actually hoped it wouldn't end. There are moments of cheesiness (like the frequent metaphoric reference to the movie The Wizard of Oz and its tune "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"), but it's not nearly as campy as Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge nor as over-the-top crazy as Romeo and Juliet. In comparison to those two films, Australia is really just a straightforward tale of romance and adventure in the Outback. Sure it’s incredibly long, but if you have the time and inclination, this movie is well worth the time and money - especially when viewed in all its dramatic splendor on a great, big screen.

Photos courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Buzz News Roundup, 8/29

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:30:27 -0700

The Dark Knight is officially the biggest comic book movie of all time. - ComingSoon
Chuck has been picked up for an additional nine episodes. - Hollywood Reporter
Baz Luhrmann's Australia is the latest film to get a new release date, moving from Nov. 14 to Nov. 26. - Entertainment Weekly
NBC has ordered a fourth season of America's Got Talent. - Broadcasting and Cable
In addition to Jennifer Aniston, 30 Rock has also recruited Will Arnett to reprise his guest-starring role. - E! Online
The Smiths are getting a new two-disc best-of compilation this Fall. - Billboard
After SNL, Michael Phelps will also guest star on Entourage. - Entertainment Weekly

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Another Movie Date Change! Quantum of Solace: Nov. 14

BuzzSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:41:24 -0700

Following all these changes to the Fall movie releases is like a chess game because it has thrown the entire calender into a bit of a tizzy. First Twilight shifted its date based on the Harry Potter news, and now Quantum of Solace, the next installment of the James Bond franchise starring Daniel Craig, will follow suit.

Originally, Quantum of Solace was going to open Nov. 7 and is now being bumped to Nov. 14. Sony chair of worldwide marketing and distribution Jeff Blake states:

We believe Nov. 14 is a great date that allows us to play straight through Thanksgiving and right into Christmas. We believe this decision will give the public a wider opportunity to see the film over the holiday.

In this new slot the James Bond flick will now open the same weekend as Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia. Looks like despite the Harry Potter move to Summer of '09, this Fall is still shaping up to be pretty eventful.

So, let's see here, what does this mean for us? An additional week to ponder the meaning of Quantum of Solace, perhaps? Sure, why not.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Buzz In: Has a Movie Ever Inspired You to Travel?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:30:10 -0700

The other day I found myself saying, "You know where I really want to visit? Greece." Why? Because of that lovable hot mess Mamma Mia! and the upcoming Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Both are set (or, partially set, in Pants's case) on beautiful Greek islands with many sumptuous shots of white sands and sparkling azure oceans. It's like the ultimate product placement: I want to go where that movie is. Now.

Now Baz Luhrmann is fully embracing this idea of movie-as-travel-ad, and will help create a tourism ad campaign to go along with the release of his film Australia.

I've already shared a few movies that have inspired me to travel, so now it's your turn. Which movies have made you antsy to get out and see the world?

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Movie Preview: Baz Luhrmann's Australia

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:31:44 -0700

Baz Luhrmann, the Australian director of Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge has been working on his next film Australia for a while, and now we've got our first look at the project. Although the trailer doesn't give away much of the plot (I think Nicole Kidman makes an attempt, kinda, in the form of a simplified children's story but it doesn't really help much), it appears we're looking at an Australia under attack during the Pacific War with a romance thrown in there for good measure.

Visually, the film looks stunning. I've always had a hunch that if Luhrmann could apply just a small amount of restraint to his trademark movie aesthetic, we would be in for something truly special and this very well may be it. Also, Hugh Jackman as an outback cowboy might be the role he was born to play.

The film is set for release November 14. To see the trailer and let me know what you think, read more.

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