BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 4/20

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:30:02 -0700

In the Motherhood and Samantha Who? will end a week earlier than planned, meaning Ugly Betty will be back on April 30. - TV Week
Columbus Short has joined the cast of The Losers, a thriller based on a DC Comics series which follows a Special Forces black-ops group. - Zap2It
Record Store Day traffic and sales were up from last year. - Billboard
Ellen DeGeneres, Desperate Housewives, and Kathy Griffin were among the recipients of the GLAAD Media Awards. - TV Guide
Will Smith's production company is developing a potential series for Sci Fi called Unfinished Business. - The Futon Critic
Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce Lions, Tigers and Bears, based on Mike Bullock’s comic book. - Variety
VH1 is reviving its Divas TV special. - Broadcasting and Cable
The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown will release another novel following symbolist Robert Langdon this September, titled The Lost Symbol. - AP

Cadillac Records: Spot-On Performances Bring Legends to Life

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:30:33 -0800

There's plenty wrong with director Darnell Martin's biopic about Chicago's famous record label Chess Records, including the confusing title: Cadillac Records. What with the production quality that makes the film look like a sound stage, amateurish editing, and a script that bites off too many legends than it can chew, this movie's got issues.

But you know what? I forgive it these faults for two reasons: the performances are out-of-this-world good (Beyonce actually sets the screen on fire), and the awesome music is prominently on display with most of the actors doing most of the singing. The resulting experience is less a cerebral one (it is awfully formulaic) and more primal. The music moved me, and the performances are so powerful they got under my skin and stayed with me for days.

To see what else I so enjoyed about this ensemble cast (including what might be my favorite Mos Def performance ever), read more.

The musical biopic is as formulaic as a Hollywood genre gets these days, and Cadillac Records does nothing to break free of the now-predictable twists and turns. Improbable rise to fame after overcoming hardship? Check. Breakout moment where the artist really becomes a star? Check. Fame that comes with an emotional price to pay? Check. Drug and alcohol use and abuse? Oh, of course. And the men, they will not be faithful to their wives, and the wives, they will be so sad but will stoically love their tortured artists anyway. You can expect all these tiring cliches and more from this movie.

But the story of Chicago's Chess Records is not only compelling, it's important. Founded by Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody), this itty-bitty record label made stars out of folks like Muddy Waters (who Jeffrey Wright plays with a fantastically down-and-dirty swagger). Bursting with talent, each new artist that Leonard takes on struggles with the demons you'd expect to plague anyone who reaches heights they've never imagined in a society that doesn't think they deserve it. The movie portrays a sad time in America's history indeed, when the powers that be even tried to keep the songs on the radio separate but equal. But the music will find a way, and so it did when the raucous, soulful blues pouring out of Chess found an audience.

As earnestly as this movie handles the music-sees-no-color theme (Cedric the Entertainer does some voiceover narration that doesn't help with the hokey factor), I was still deeply moved. This has less to do with the facts of the story and more to do with the raw emotion and pure joy radiating off each of these performers. Beyonce's Etta James is sassy, hardened, and bursting at the seams - physically and emotionally - with feelings of self-hate due to a lifetime of rejection. When she sings, you really do feel her pain and are never sure if she's going to break down midsong in a puddle of tears or punch someone. My other favorite is Mos Def, who plays Chuck Berry with aplomb. He runs off with the scene each and every time he's on the screen.

These were turbulent times, and the pacing of the movie reflects that. It sweats and jams along at a speed that rarely sags, with musical performances that either break out in gun shots, yelling, or a growl. A stronger center would have helped the narrative out a bit, and it seems that that's what they were trying to do with Brody's character. Chess has a nose for business and cares about his artists, but too often the personal and professional collide, resulting in the kind of paternalistic treatment from a white dude that these musicians have endured their whole lives. Unfortunately, this character isn't filled out enough here, which makes caring about him difficult and gives all these plot lines nothing to rotate around. As entertaining as they all are, a movie focused on one, maybe two, of these artists would have sufficed (as it is, it's like Ray times five). This isn't the movie these musical founders deserve, but these are the best performances anyone concerned with their legacies could ask for.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Movie Preview: Cadillac Records

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

Well, here it is, folks: A real look at Cadillac Records, the musical biopic people have been buzzing about lately - especially since we first caught a glimpse of Beyonce as Etta James. The movie focuses on several legendary greats, like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, and Leonard Chess, portrayed by the likes of Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, Mos Def and Adrien Brody.

The story chronicles the rise of Chess Records in 1950s Chicago when, as the voiceover explains, "Sex had a sound. Danger had a rhythm. And freedom had a music all its own." Cadillac Records opens Dec. 5. To check out the trailer, read more.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 8/13

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:29:06 -0700

Channing Tatum and Columbus Short are signed on to star in an untitled buddy action flick, says Hollywood Reporter.
Instead of Harvey Keitel, Joe Mantegna will replace Mandy Patinkin on "Criminal Minds," Zap2It reports.
"Saturday Night Live" folks Rachel Dratch and Chris Parnell will join the cast of Harold, which includes Nikki Blonski and Ally Sheedy, says ComingSoon.
Billboard is reporting that Jennifer Lopez's next album will be in English, titled Brave, and will be released October 9.
ComingSoon reports that Corey Feldman, Corey Haim and Jamison Newlander will all be in the Lost Boys 2 straight-to-DVD movie.
Fox has purchased "Drop Dead Diva," a drama script about a dead beauty queen whose soul enters the body of an unattractive lawyer, Mediaweek reports.
According to the LA Times, New Line is eager to patch things up with Peter Jackson so he will direct The Hobbit.
Variety is reporting that "The Sopranos"' James Gandolfini will return to HBO to play corporate sports scout Sonny Vaccaro, who signed Michael Jordan to the first million-dollar shoe deal at Nike.