BuzzSugar

Ford and McAdams and Abrams - Oh, My!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:30:04 PST

This movie news is just delightful. I probably would have never thought to put together the names of these Hollywood folks, but now that I see it, I think it's pretty awesome. Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams (though she's still "in negotiations") will star in Morning Glory, a comedy that will be produced by JJ Abrams and his Bad Robot production company. Notting Hill director Roger Michell will direct. Here's more:

McAdams would play an aspiring news producer who tries to save a failing morning show by getting control of its feuding anchors. Ford will play one of the anchors, and the female thesp playing the other anchor will be set shortly.

There's still that other female anchor to cast, so is there any way to make this cast even better? I vote for Kristen Chenoweth (can you imagine her battling it out with Harrison Ford?!). Any other suggestions?

Source

Cloverfield: Something's Coming. . . And It's Awesome

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:36:25 PST

I am genuinely surprised by how much I love Cloverfield, the JJ Abrams-produced monster movie which, despite being heavily promoted through viral marketing schemes, has largely managed to remain shrouded in mystery up until today's release. The viral stuff was starting to get exhausting - and ridiculous - and I worried that all this hubbub would be for naught, and all of us Abrams fans would be fiercely disappointed. I was wrong. It's not going to win tons of awards, but in the genre of monster movies, this is one of the best I've ever seen.

Filmed in the shaky-cam style of Blair Witch Project, it's a little nauseating at first, but easy to get used to. Enough time has passed since the Blair Witch Project that this seems like a legitimate cinematic technique again. In fact, it works better this time around since technology in everyday life has become more common, every public event nabbed immediately on dozens of cameras and cameraphones. It's not so unusual that a crazy monster attack on New York would be caught on a 20-something's video camera. And this is exactly what happens. To find out what else goes on,

read more. The bulk of the action begins with a surprise bon voyage party for Rob (Michael Stahl-David) being thrown by his brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and Jason's girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas). While prepping for the party, Jason gives his friend Hud (T.J. Miller) the camera, instructing him to take testimonials from the guests. Yet Hud never really puts the camera down, even when the party learns that the city is under attack - by a monster. From here the party spins into panic mode and everyone scatters while the monster slips around buildings, glimpses of it caught in the light of helicopters. A group of partygoers try to stay together and set out to find their friend Beth (Odette Yustman). The best part about the story is also the best part about the storytelling technique. The movie truly begins with the original footage on the videotape: Rob filming his longtime crush Beth in bed, groggily waking up from their night together. Throughout the entirety of the film, this taped-over footage is slipped between super intense monster scenes, providing a jolting - and much-needed - shift from tension to relief, from a horrible present to a happier past. In general, I think Abrams does well with this balancing act, though it's unclear how much of the end product of Cloverfield is him and how much is director Matt Reeves. This balance is probably the best thing about the movie: this perfect combination of tension and relief, anticipation and action, "real-life" drama and humor. They did well to have the cameraperson, our narrator of sorts, be Hud, a bumbling guy whose baffled quips from behind the camera often provide comedic relief. The movie never gets too precious and never takes itself too-too seriously. And still, when that monster is on screen it’s really, really scary. As a sidenote, there are some absurdities that will simply have to be swallowed, like when the group - some of them in heels - walks from Spring Street in Manhattan to 59th Street in very little time and with no physical consequence. There aren't too many of these outrageous things, though, and by the end of the film, all is forgiven. The movie so easily sets up the possibility of sequels (there could be any number of these "recovered videos" from the monster attack, and could even find one from every major city), so definitely expect to see Cloverfields 2-10 or so. There is, in fact, something hoarsely whispered at the very end, after the credit roll (yes, I geekily stayed in the theater through the entire credit roll, made rather enjoyable by the choral piece "Roar!" which was specially composed for Cloverfield), but I couldn't make out the words. If you're a nerd like me and stay through the credits, let me know what you think is said. To see the trailer and more clips from Cloverfield check out movies.ivillage.com. Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

JJ Abrams' Cloverfield Gets a Trailer

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:30:00 PST

After much fan-geek speculation and swirling rumors across the Internet, we finally have an official glimpse of what the JJ Abrams' "monster movie" will entail. Titled Cloverfield for sure, the movie now has an official website and a trailer that has been showing before some screenings of Beowulf. After the jump you can see a real video of the trailer instead of just the shaky bootleg versions taken by people at movie theaters.

Then again, that shaky "real life" sense would be in keeping with the actual movie, so there's something kind of neat and trippy about watching an audience member's filmed version of what looks like other peoples' home videos. But I digress. The movie is like The Blair Witch Project in its shakycam realistic style, making it seem like we're watching found footage of a crazy monster attack on New York. There's not much more to say about it than that. It's pretty creepy, especially seeing things like the head of the Statue of Liberty crash and roll on the street. Yipes! You can check out the trailer below before Cloverfield hits theaters January 18 if you

J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield... If That Is Your Real Name

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:30:09 PDT

Certain film blogs are abuzz with reports that a mysterious teaser trailer for a movie called Cloverfield was shown before some press screenings of Transformers. Apparently the trailer showed a bunch of teens partying and an explosion followed by the Statue of Liberty head falling into the street and then the release date comes up on the screen: January 18, 2008. Filmed all shaky handheld camera-style, it's rumored to be a kind of monster movie, or as Cinematical posits, "basically The Blair Witch Project meets the Godzilla remake."

Yet, details are sketchy and even the title is shrouded in secrecy, with many people believing Cloverfield to be a fake title. Firstly, there was the speculation that this project is actually Stephen King's Dark Tower movie that J.J. Abrams is working on, rumored to be operating under the title Cloverfield, but that was quickly denied by King's people. Now Ain'tItCool is claiming to know a few facts about the movie: Matt Reeves, former writer on "Felicity" and writer/director of The Pallbearer is directing, while J.J. Abrams' own production company, Bad Robot is helping to produce.

Also, one of the movie's writers (Drew Godard) has collaborated with Abrams on "Lost," leading to this highly intriguing speculation which I think would be pretty damn cool: Perhaps the movie will be some kind of companion piece to "Lost." January 18 is around when the next season of "Lost" is starting up... Just saying.

15 Ways to Annoy Your Boss

SavvySugar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:11:08 PST

Whether you're hoping to get ahead at work or just trying to build healthy relationships, it's important to understand how your boss works - what she appreciates, what she respects, and what she can't stand. Create a strong connection with your manager and avoid irritating her by steering clear of these 15 ways to annoy your boss:

Arrive late, coffee in hand. If you waltz into the office 20 minutes late, clutching a Starbucks cup, chances are it's not going to be well-received. If you're running short on time, skip the coffee shop and head to the office coffeemaker instead.
Dress inappropriately. Your boss doesn't want to feel like your parent, so she won't be thrilled if she has to regularly address your workwear. Keep things professional and remember to err on the conservative side.
Regularly bring up your accomplishments. Patting your own back is fine every once in a while, but high-fiving yourself for every little victory is sure to frustrate both your co-workers and your boss. Save the boasting for your year-end review and always note your successes with a purpose - as in, say, while negotiating salary.
Say you'll "try" instead of you "will." When you're asked to finish something, that means you're expected to finish it. Form your responses carefully, as even small tweaks can have a huge effect. Instead of saying, "I'll try to get to that," nod and assure your boss by saying, "No problem, I will get to that as soon as I've finished this."
Ask personal questions. Your boss will offer personal information as she sees fit, so refrain from asking anything too intimate. Small talk is fine, of course, but remember to maintain professional boundaries during conversation.
Tattle on other employees. Most information finds its way through the grapevine, so chances are your boss will find out about any significant scandals from someone else. Nobody likes the office tattler - and telling your boss someone else's secrets would say more about your character than theirs, anyway.
Reply to all her tweets. You may be Facebook friends, but that doesn't mean you need to "like" every status or comment on every one of her pictures. Keep the interactions minimal so that you don't aggravate her with hourly notifications that say you've commented on five more of her Instagram photos.

Keep reading for more ways to annoy your boss.

Daily Tech: 10 Celebs We Cyber Stalk on IMDB

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:42:19 PST

IMDB lists highest ranked pages and most popular celebs - Newser
So you got an Xbox 360? Here's where to begin - Tecca
6 fictional villains who accidentally saved the day - Cracked
Alien-tinged Prometheus teaser trailer is live - Geek Out
How to remove ads from your Kindle - Geek
Amazon builds 42nd fastest supercomputer in the cloud - GeekoSystem
Bad Robot releases effects app to turn your life into an action movie - Slashfilm

Doctor Who Recap: The Girl Who Waited

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 05:36:00 PDT

Previews of this week's Doctor Who episode "The Girl Who Waited" exclaimed the story central to Rory and Amy's relationship and a tearjerker. Truth be told, I was wary of these proclamations as I haven't felt connected to the depths of the Pond team. Sure, they grew up together, fell in love, and now travel space and time with one another, even having a half-Timelord baby, but something seemed missing. Their roles rounding out the Doctor's escapades and creating an entertaining ensemble are certain, but a tear-inducing love story was a stretch - until now.

Tearjerker, indeed. An emotional story complicated with Amy's separation from Rory and the Doctor by dual timestreams, this episode solidifies the love of the Ponds despite a climactic, painful choice. Tell me what you thought of Amy and Rory's story after reading more.

Buzz Blabber: Hunger Games Teaser Disappoints

BuzzSugar — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 03:05:00 PDT

A lot of famous musicians took to the MTV VMA stage this week, but it was the teaser trailer for The Hunger Games that aired during the show that got you guys talking. You guys also had a lot to say about the legion of mini me Britney Spears dancers that participated in the Vanguard award tribute to the pop star, as well as the latest episode of True Blood, which ran during the same night as the VMAs. Check out what readers had to say about about each topic.

The Hunger Games teaser trailer left you hungry for more

"I feel like this teaser accomplished what the pictorial in Entertainment Weekly with her in costume meant to. I believe her as Katniss now, but I wanted more from a teaser trailer. Have you SEEN what Chris Nolan did with the most recent Batman teaser? So much crammed into those few seconds without giving anything away!" - yeokr
"Good teaser, but like everyone else, I wish it had been longer or had more content. Maybe there could have been other character voiceovers instead of just Gale's to increase the intensity of the situation." - larisa5656
"Jennifer is definitely growing on me as Katniss. But yeah, this teaser was exactly that, a teaser. Really didn't give any of us anything to go on other than footage of trees and a person running through the forest." - alyssaaa

Find out what else got you talking when you

"That was awesome. I loved the Britney impersonators. It just goes to remind you of all of Britney's memorable moments. She's really a VMA staple - and she's not even 30!" -genesisrocks
"I loved it! The remixes are great, the costumes are nice memories, loved the dancing." - French Kiss
"Wow, weird but cool!" - littlemunchkin

True Blood fans weigh in on who Sookie will choose

"I for one enjoyed Eric and Sookie's little tête-à-tête on the couch. I don't think she'll be with either of them at the end of the season and am looking forward to seeing how that relationship progresses next season. Lots of angst I am sure." - Bethany0403
"I have enjoyed the nice soft side of Eric and totally understand Sookie's attraction, but I have a strong feeling that relationship will end. I think she will not be with either of them but still fighting the temptation of both since she is connected to both of them through the exchange of blood. I feel like Alcide and Sookie's broken hearts will get it on." - care0531
"I was so happy to have my old Eric back. While I loved his venerable side, I love my bad ass best. Am I the only one on the planet who can recognize the fact that Alcide is simply muscle in a robotic body who is a mediocre character at best? Was not sorry to see Tommy go. He would never have gotten over the fact that he killed his mother. Russell will be back next season at the latest, I want Steve Newlin back; he was such a hoot. Of course Sookie will, in the end, choose Bill. She can't handle a healthy relationship, and while Alan Ball keeps harping surprises at us he is totally predictable where Sookie and Bill are concerned." - asfandancer

Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

Dr. Sears Says Parents Must Make Better Food Choices, Tiger Mom Doesn't Work

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:26:01 PDT

Parenting trends come and go, and in his 30 years serving parents and children, Dr. Bill Sears has seen it all. The pediatrician, author of more than 30 baby and parenting books, and founder of the attachment parenting movement has some strong views on how we are raising our tots today, and he's not afraid to voice them.

I spoke with the doctor at the launch of his new Dr. Sears Family Essentials line of all-natural snacks, beverages, and baby care products. After discussing the importance of adding DHA to kids' diets, our conversation shifted to current parenting issues. See what he had to say!

LilSugar: How concerned should parents be with environmental health issues, and how can parents reduce their effects on kids?
Dr. Bill Sears: Very concerned. But they can talk about it. But the fact of life is, they can make changes in the food issue much quicker than environmental issues.

LS: In all of your years of watching babies and parents, what trends do you find most interesting now, and which do you find most disturbing?
Dr. Sears: The best trend right now is parents finally taking nutrition seriously. They're making the connection between what my child eats and how my child's brain grows, how my child learns to behave. They've always known that, but they're now doing something. For the first time in history, we're seeing an action plan.

The second trend is pediatricians are not being so wimpy. We used to say, "Oh you're child needs to eat healthy," or "Your child's a bit overweight." We don't use the term overweight anymore. We use the term prediabetic. For a mom, sitting in my office, and I say to you, because I care, that Susi is prediabetic, you're going to make a change much more than if I say she's a bit overweight. So that’s a trend that we’re seeing, because the old things are not working.

My concern still is that parents have not gotten the message that my child is what he eats. We cannot blame the food industry. The food industry will make what parents will buy. If you don't buy it, they won’t make it.

Keep reading to see what Dr. Sears had to say about the Tiger Mom movement!

Announcing the 2010 Emmy Winners!

BuzzSugar — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:10:58 PDT

This year's Emmys have come to a close, and I'm still surprised by some of the unexpected winners. The voters gave lots of love to new shows, with Modern Family winning the big award for outstanding comedy series (and a win for Eric Stonestreet!). It was also a night for repeat honorees, with the cast of Mad Men and Bryan Cranston both taking the stage for a third time.

Jimmy Fallon kicked things off with a fun musical number (watch it again here), and the night had several laugh-out-loud moments (George Clooney's Modern Family video cameo was a personal fave). I was in the press room throughout the night, so don't forget to check out what the stars had to say about winning, along with our Emmys coverage from across the Sugar network. Then stop by later as I recap all of the major highlights right here on Buzz. But first onto the lucky honorees. For the full list of 2010 Emmy winners, just read more.