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Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:30:00 -0700

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points!
In addition to her movie and TV appearances, Claire Danes also once starred in a music video. Which band was that video for?

Would You Want to See a "My So-Called Life" Movie?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 05:30:00 -0700

I'm not sure how the topic came up, exactly, but MTV recently interviewed Claire Danes and asked if there might be a "My So-Called Life" movie in her future, which Danes called "a bad idea." So, that's a "no."

But if they were to make a movie follow-up to the beloved TV series, would you want to see it? Or do you agree that that's "a bad idea"?

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Evening: Time to Sleep

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:51:26 -0700

I went into Evening really wanting - nay, expecting - to love it. Look at the cast of respected actresses in this film: Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Toni Collette... the list continues. I hunkered down in the theater, equipped with tissues, readying myself for some heartwarmth and perhaps a cathartic sob or two. What happened instead? I nearly fell asleep.

The story follows the dying Ann (Redgrave), who is beginning to lose her grasp on the difference between past and present. She mentally relives a period of her life that she never shared with her adult daughters Nina (Collette) and Constance (Natasha Richardson) - the time she fell in love with the same man (Patrick Wilson) her best friend Lila (Mamie Gummer/Meryl Streep) also loved. Some other stuff happens that's of consequence though we're not allowed to concentrate on it for long because the daughters' stories are also roped into Ann's story. It sort of has that Beaches friendship 'n death thing going on, but there's so much other clutter involved that it's ultimately unsatisfying. There's more to say, though, so read more

Swathed in the dusky colors of evening-time and employing adorable period costumes, the look and feel of the movie is luscious and pleasant. Some of the performances are excellent, especially given the sloppy script. Toni Collette, in particular, is a breath of fresh air every time she's onscreen, as usual. Vanessa Redgrave is given little to work with, and by midway through the film I had her pattern down: Lie in bed, babble incoherently about things we don't yet understand, drift off to sleep murmuring to self, repeat. Ann's story told in flashbacks with Danes playing the young Ann would have been quite interesting Danes played Ann with any shred of personality at all. Thus, I come to the greatest problem with this movie: Claire Danes.

As I've mentioned before, I actually like Claire Danes. I enjoyed her part in The Hours, found her pleasant to watch in Shopgirl, and of course she'll always have a special place in my heart as Angela Chase. So watching her fail in this film was disappointing. For a movie almost entirely about her character she doesn't manage to keep the audience's attention for more than a minute or so. Most of all, there is a massive disconnect between Vanessa Redgrave's characterization and Danes' lack thereof - not once did I believe the two women to be playing the same character. The resultant feeling is one of muddy confusion and irritation.

Everyone else is more intriguing to watch than Danes, and I was particularly mesmerized by the character of Lila. Lila in general seems more complex than Ann, but Mamie Gummer's performance as the young Lila is also more interesting than Danes'. And then there is Meryl Streep as the adult Lila, whose screen time is quite brief, but for the few minutes she's there she far outshines anything else in the movie. One gets the feeling watching Streep that she has all the world's wisdom in her possession, and is doling it out in tiny increments. I was left desperately craving more Streep, as she was the only truly great thing about the film. But alas, I only got more of Danes until, to my relief, the movie ended.

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Movie Preview: Evening

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 06:30:00 -0700

Back when I was drawing up my summer movie previews, Evening was one of my most highly anticipated dramatic movies. The cast is full of amazing women: Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Toni Collette, Claire Danes, and Vanessa Redgrave, among others.

Based on a book by Susan Minot, the story follows Ann (Redgrave), a dying woman who is having vivid memories about a love that changed her forever - but that she never spoke of to her two adult daughters Nina (Collette) and Constance (Natasha Richardson). As Ann dreamily relives this period of her life on her deathbed, her daughters struggle to make sense of their mother's life as well as their own. You may have seen the previews for Evening on TV lately since the movie opens this Friday June 29, and if you're like me you still have Dido's "White Flag" stuck in your head, but in case you haven't seen the full trailer you can check it out if you read more

New Details about "My So-Called Life" DVDs

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:25:10 -0700

The Web site TV on DVD reported a while back that a new "My So-Called Life" DVD set was in the works, thanks to Shout! Factory, the company responsible for the fantastic "Freaks and Geeks" collection. Now, the site has tipped me off to some awesome new details about the set, which is to be released Oct. 30. Here are some highlights:

The six-disc set will be packaged in a keepsake box and priced at $69.99 - so much better than the first DVD release in 2002, which cost about $100 with no extra features.
The set will come with a booklet including fan testimonials from entertainment personalities such as Joss Whedon and Janeane Garofalo.
The heavy-hitters are lined up for interviews and commentaries: Creator Winnie Holzman and executive producers Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz all will be talking about the show. Claire Danes and Jared Leto are also being approached about commentaries, though neither is a sure thing.
Four featurettes covering character profiles and behind-the-scenes insights are in production.
One of the bonus features will incorporate Holzman's ideas for what "MSCL" might have done in its second season.

Needless to say, I can't wait to get my hands on this!

New Stardust Promos Online

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:40:35 -0700

I had no idea how much you loved Michelle Pfeiffer until so many of you chose her as your pick for a theoretical Ocean's Fourteenth. Well, the lovely, classy Michelle will be everywhere this summer between her appearances in Hairspray (opening July 20) and Stardust (opening August 10). For now, the Stardust website is featuring three new TV promos for the movie, each of which has a few more tidbits of sparkly magic.

I can't wait for this movie, what with its fantastical story, humorous wordplay and appealing special effects. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, you should watch that on the website, and then take a look at the TV spots. The third one is my personal favorite - in it we learn that one downside to playing with your magician friends is that they can make your chest droopy, just for kicks, at any time.

Recast "My So-Called Life" and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:28:41 -0700

Every Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

"My So-Called Life" may have enjoyed just a short life span on ABC, but during that time I felt like someone finally understood me and that someone was Angela Chase. I could not get enough of Angela's angst and hip music collection, her reckless friend Rayanne, her gay boyfriend Rickie, the goody-goody Sharon, and the pitiably awkward Brian Krakow. And, of course, Jordan Catalano, who was the perfect crush - aloof to the point of being infuriating... yet irresistible.

If you could recast this show today with modern actors, who would you pick?

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, June 12, complete with a "new" cast photo. To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt, read more

Characters to recast:
Angela Chase (Claire Danes)
Rickie (Wilson Cruz)
Rayanne Graff (A.J. Langer)
Brian Krakow (Devon Gummersall)
Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto)
Sharon Cherski (Devon Odessa)

Leaving off Angela's parents for this recast, for brevity's sake.

The BuzzSugar t-shirt

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Link Time! 3/13

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:37:35 -0700

Popwatch points out that Claire Danes is making Gap ads cute again.
Television Without Pity celebrates its sale to Bravo.
Not that you care, says Idolator, but "I'm From Rolling Stone" is definitely done.
The TV Addict recaps the "Heroes" panel at television's Paley Festival.
The Lennon brothers might finally be reconciling, says Stereogum.
Pop Candy tells us where to watch two episodes of Showtime's "The Tudors."
Best Week Ever points us to the worst-reviewed movies ever.
Give Me My Remote has a video of Karen vs. Pam from "The Office" cast as a Ken Burns-style documentary.
TV Squad explains the new category for viewer-submitted movie spoofs at the MTV Movie Awards.
Defamer has the scoop on an Anna Nicole episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
Merry Swankster announces the first-round winners of its 1990s album showdown.
Fight for Lights is trying to keep "Friday Night Lights" on the air.
With the success of 300, Film Experience predicts there will be much more movie "dude-ity."
Earvolution ponders the top 5 reasons the new Guns N Roses album is delayed ... again.
The Movie Blog wonders: Why did the MPAA try to give the Transformers movie an R-rating?