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Movie Preview: Women in Trouble

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:30:29 -0700

Every few years, a woman-heavy ensemble hits the theaters, and I always hope it's going to be as good as the standard, Steel Magnolias. This year's flick, Women in Trouble, stars Carla Gugino, Connie Britton, Marley Shelton, Emanuelle Chriqui, and Sarah Clarke as the various women from different walks of life. One's a porn star, one's a masseuse, one's a flight attendant, and many of them are in their bras in this trailer. As you can tell from the title, they're each in some kind of personal trouble and the film looks like a Crash-like melange of the ladies' intersecting lives.

There's also a wee bit of testosterone with a few actors who are easy on the eyes: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin, and Simon Baker. The cast seems pretty promising, but I worry it'll veer into the same stale territory as last year's The Women.

To see the trailer, just read more.

Movie Preview: A Nightmare on Elm Street

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:42 -0700

Enough of you are into slasher flicks that I think you'll appreciate this trailer for the latest installment of A Nightmare on Elm Street. What's different about this one, set to release in 2010? Freddy Krueger is played by the genuinely creepy and genuinely good actor Jackie Earle Haley.

Billed as a re-imagining of the horror classic and produced by Michael Bay, the movie's trailer opens with a sad, evocative image of a younger Freddy being chased into an accident, precipitating his fate as a cold-blooded killer. The fact that the trailer can make you feel empathy for one of pop culture's greatest villains is a feat unto itself and makes me think this movie will be about more than just gory, creative ways to kill someone.

To see the trailer, which also stars Kellan Lutz, Connie Britton, and Melrose Place's Katie Cassidy, just read more.

Five Minutes With Connie Britton

BuzzSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:30:35 -0700

At every NBC TCA event, Connie Britton is one of my absolute favorite people to find. Once again, the Friday Night Lights actress took some time this Summer to talk about the upcoming seasons four and five of FNL. Read on for highlights:

On some of the drama in the upcoming season: "I'm still at the school that basically ousted my husband, so I think that we're going to have a lot of interesting conflicts in terms of that and the people in the town. I think that some of the Dillion High students are going to be moved to East Dillon and that might be a problem - infighting about the football team."
On having Tami become principal in season three: "I was so excited about her being principal and then it ended up being such a challenging year. . . . There were issues I had with, oh, you know, 'I feel like Tami would do this differently.' But at the end of the day, it was such a rewarding season. There were so many highs and lows and I feel like being principal added a dimension to all of the things that Tami had to deal with, being a wife, being a mother, being sort of a person in this town who people look to for things, and then on top of that having this sort of bureaucratic, political role where she's really idealistic and trying to do good.
On what's next for her relationship with Julie: "I just feel like this season we are really going to see her grow up, which is going to be great. I think that's going to be exciting, to see her really come into her own. And I imagine there's going to be some letting-go struggles. As a parent that would be heartbreaking. It would have to be."

To hear Britton's thoughts on the departing seniors and which character she'll miss seeing in season four (a little spoilery, that one), just read more.

On seeing the graduating seniors again: "I think it's going to be an interesting mix of the old with the new in that great Friday Night Lights subtle way as only our writers can do. . . . I'm assuming that everybody will be back in one way or another. At the end of the day, it's a small town, so people always come and go. Because that's the great thing, too - these characters that we know and love, even though they're graduating and can't be at the school all the time, they'll come back to town, cause that's what you do."
On Adrianne Palicki, whose character became a big part of Tami's life: "I'm going to miss her a lot. She is going to be shooting Red Dawn the exact same period of time that we're shooting, but [the writers] do intend to have her come back in season five. So she will get her good-bye arc, but we're not going to get her this season."

Link Time! 6/23

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:30:22 -0700

Rest in peace, Ed McMahon. - PopSugar
Will Kristen Wiig be the next Amy Poehler? - TV.com
A former Seinfeld writer talks about "writing" Bruno. - Cinematical
Happy birthday, Joss Whedon! - Popwatch
And happy 60th birthday, Meryl Streep! Here are 60 ways to celebrate Meryl. - The Film Experience
Seems like the UK is getting all the good TV shows these days. - Vulture
Watch as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog wreaks havoc at Bonnaroo. - Stereogum
Connie Britton talks seasons four and five of Friday Night Lights. - Ausiello Files

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Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 13, "Tomorrow Blues"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:30:55 -0700

This season's final episode of Friday Night Lights is all about the seniors. It's five months after the football season, and college decisions are in, setting many of our Panthers and Panther faithful on new paths. Meanwhile, Coach's contract comes up for renewal, which means he's once again staring down Joe McCoy and his merry band of moneyed followers. To talk about the end of this season - and what it means for seasons four and five - just read more.

Eric Taylor, coach of the East Dillon ~~Giraffes~~ Lions? With no boosters, no money, no JumboTron, no players, no Buddy Garrity, no state ring? Especially knowing that there are two more seasons coming our way, I think it's brilliant. Coach and Buddy have apparently spent the off-season convincing them to come to Dillon High; little did Coach know he was digging himself a hole. Without the assurance that Wade calls all the plays and JD throws all the balls, Joe's not interested in keeping Eric around. And politics has never been Eric's strong suit; it takes Tami's urging for him to even come to the board meeting, and while his defense of his job is heartfelt, any fan of the show could have done better. I love that final image of Coach and Tami looking out on the run-down East Dillon field, full of dreams dashed and potential yet to be explored.

Eric isn't the only character taking on some scary new territory in this episode: Lyla finds a way to Vanderbilt after all, which doesn't shock me, especially once we learn there's a rich uncle involved. Lyla's hesitant at first - she doesn't want to leave Tim - but Tim's decided college isn't for him anyway. He doesn't want to read those big books; he likes the idea of life at Riggins' Rigs, drinking some beers and fixing some cars and taking care of a steer he and Billy bought at auction. I appreciate that it's Billy - who's really been the one pushing for Tim to play college ball from the start - who tells Tim that's ridiculous; like it or not, a Riggins needs to go to college so future generations know there's something more out there.

If there's a moment of true joy in this episode, it's Tyra opening her letter from UT, squealing and crying and throwing herself into Landry's arms. Just before she got that envelope, things were looking bleak; she'd driven all the way to UT with Landry only to find out her chances were even worse than she'd suspected, and it took one of Landry's patented pep talks just to make her believe she's worthy of a chance. And if there's a moment of sorrow, it's Matt going to the assisted living facility and telling Grandma he's taking her home for good. I wanted Matt in Chicago, and even Julie had accepted that he would probably be gone (even if he did reject her attempt at a breakup). But it's a realistic move: the guy who fears everyone leaves him isn't going to leave someone he loves.

Some other thoughts:

I smiled when Buddy said Smash was doing good things over at A&M. Glad to know he's doing well over there.
I guess the show's partnership with Chevy means Julie never gets that Celica.
I loved seeing Mindy's wedding, complete with the dress with wings that shows a tasteful amount of crack.
Buddy dancing with Tyra's mom at the wedding was a nice touch.

So! Season four! Eric coaching the Bad News Bears of Texas high school football, Matt sticking around, Julie and Landry as seniors . . . I have a feeling we have some good things coming our way. What about you?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 11, "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:30:20 -0700

On this week's Friday Night Lights, the Panthers face their toughest football challenge of the season. That puts even more pressure on JD, who's continuing to defy his father by seeing (or at least texting) Madison. Meanwhile, Lyla remains in her funk over her magical disappearing college money, and Matt's forced to take a hard look at how much he can really do as his grandma's caretaker. There's so much to talk about when you read more.

Way to kill a buzz, Joe McCoy. The Panthers are going to State, and yet there's no victory lap. There's just Joe and JD, screaming and shoving each other in the Applebee's parking lot. JD isn't following orders: He's still seeing Madison (who's even showing up at practices now), and - maybe even worse - he's going against Joe's game strategy. The game wasn't pretty, but he got the team to State; what more could Joe want? A lot, actually: To Joe, that was a travesty and a sign of how JD is going off the rails. And when JD fights back with a "screw you," he finds himself up against the back of the car, his father slapping him - presumably for the first time, given Katie's horrified reaction when Tami tries to comfort her. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been all kinds of psychological abuse going on in the McCoy house. Nothing JD does is ever good enough, and now he doesn't want to see his father again.

There's a little of that going around: Lyla's still on the run from her dad, drinking herself into a good-girl version of a stupor with the Rigginses . When she finally does go home, she finds her acceptance letter from Vanderbilt, the school that Buddy's Landing Strip antics might prevent her from attending. How amazing is it to see Riggins be the good guy? He could take advantage of having his hot girlfriend drunk and in his bed 24/7, but instead, he takes her to church and convinces her that college isn't off the table - and oh yeah, by the way, he loves her. He loves her! Matt, too, finds himself wishing away a parent: Grandma falls out of the car on Shelby's watch, and when the doctor suggests again that Matt consider assisted living, Matt turns it on his mom: Isn't it just like her to shirk responsibility? But oh, Matt's finally realizing he's in over his head. The scene with the slippers gave me chills; this is more than he knows how to handle.

Tyra, meanwhile, runs smack up against her vision of her future at Mindy's "classy" tea shower. She's gotten her SAT scores back, and they're better but not enough better. Even Landry can't even manage to seem overjoyed, but he does tell her that he's proud of her for not coasting by on her beauty. And yet, we see Tyra wondering why she's not just coasting on her beauty. I wouldn't have expected Angela Collette to be the parent in this episode who steps up, but there we have it: She says Tyra has surprised her from day one, and if she just keeps working, eventually she'll surprise herself, too.

Some other thoughts:

I have a feeling this whole redistricting debate is setting up some interesting stuff for the potential fourth and fifth seasons - a new cross-town rival, the loss of a ton of Panther players, the gain of several new prospects. And there's also Coach's lie to Tami about the boosters redrawing the district border. Lying to Tami never ends well.
Something I never thought I'd see: Billy Riggins wearing lingerie.
I have to chuckle at some of JD's George Michael Bluth-ish comments, like telling Madison it's pretty warm on the field when she comments on how hot he looks at practice. He doesn't have much of a personality, but he's never been allowed to.

Are you excited for the upcoming trip to State? Or do you, too, feel a sort of ominous cloud hanging over the Panthers' season?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 10, "The Giving Tree"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:30:45 -0700

Have you ever read The Giving Tree? This week's Friday Night Lights made me want to go dig out my old copy, as Landry delivers one of the sweetest/saddest monologues I've ever heard on the topic. OK, it's one of the only Giving Tree-related monologues I've heard, but still! Meanwhile, the rest of the episode focuses a lot on fathers and children, both in the actual and metaphorical senses. Ready to talk about it? Just read more.

Let's talk about sex (baby). Specifically, let's talk about sex and dating in the universe of FNL. Because there's a lot of that in this episode, and none more painfully than what happens with Julie and Matt. First of all: Close the door! (Which is what Matt says when Landry asks him what he's learned; Landry's hoping for "don't have sex with the coach's daughter.") But second, I love the way the show plays that scene and the aftermath, with the actual discovery revealed only by Julie's squeal and Coach's hasty exit. He wisely doesn't try to talk to her about what happened, leaving that to Tami, who calls the conversation they have about sex Julie's only punishment. And oh, it's so sweet, with Tami trying to be so tough - like, my daughter is 17, and she's having sex, and really, I'm fine with that, really - and Julie acting aloof until she realizes Tami is crying. Once again, FNL gets it right.

It's an interesting reflection of the two other father/child stories in this episode. Taking Buddy first, he's done a very bad thing, and it's become several very bad things: He's gotten himself arrested, and he's lost a big investment, which also happened to be Lyla's college fund. And that's the last straw for Lyla; she's stuck by Buddy through a lot, but this is too much. How tough must it have been for Buddy - not that he didn't deserve it - to hear from Riggins that Lyla would not be speaking to him right now? Meanwhile, JD actually has a girl interested in him, but as soon as Joe gets wind of it, he decides the relationship has to end. Girls will be lining up for him, Joe says, as soon as he wins State. But once again, Riggins tells JD what he needs to hear: If he can't even make dating decisions without daddy's help, how can he lead a football team? So JD and Madison sneak out, much to Katie's delight - but that look on Joe's face scares me.

On the football field, Coach gets ejected from a big game, leaving behind his struggling team. That puts Wade in charge, and with Coach's attempts to guide him foiled by cell phones and crowd noise, he leads the team to victory. Coach must feel a little of what Matt felt about JD earlier in the season, with the TV broadcast showing a winning Wade lit in an almost heavenly glow, but he doesn't look too upset. He even smiles a little, like he's managed to teach his young protege well.

In other news:

The Giving Tree! Landry finally tells Tyra - who just pops up "at the most random times" - that he's done letting her use him. And Julie tells Tyra that Landry's right: He does her all kinds of favors, and in return, he's merely allowed to be seen with her. So Tyra tries to set things right in her own sweet but twisted way, getting Crucifictorious a gig. And you know what? They're actually not so bad - better than season one, anyway.
Love Madison pouring JD milk in a wine glass: "You're like this young, wholesome, milk-drinking quarterback."
Apparently the Sopranos aren't the only ones who have business meetings at strip clubs!
As real as Tami and Julie's sex-talk moment is, so is Coach and Matt's own exchange, with Coach spitting out serious words about respecting women in between taking out some massive aggression on the grill.

So: One more game, then State. Then what? Oh, this show. Only three episodes left - help me deal in the comments!

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 9, "Game of the Week"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:30:38 -0700

On this week's Friday Night Lights, the Panthers move into the playoffs and face the pressures of winning or having the season end right then. Lyla does some bonding with an unlikely character, and Matt's grandma and mom continue their standoff. And things really come to a head with Tyra and Cash, culminating in a late-night trip to Dallas. Ready to talk about it? Just read more.

Time and again, FNL has argued that the Panthers are the only thing bringing Dillon together. We see that happen on a small scale in this episode, and it's my favorite moment of the whole hour: Grandma Saracen and Shelby dropping their territorial feud the second they hear Matt's going to play. Now granted, I'm not convinced that Grandma would skip a game - much less a playoff game on national television - even if Matt did say he'd just be on the bench. But it doesn't matter, because it's a fine scene as they rush around gathering up their coats, babbling about how they'll get tickets, and finally treating each other with some civility. No, they still don't like each other, but they do love Matt, and for a few moments, that's enough.

Another story of love in this episode comes courtesy of the Riggins boys, or rather, courtesy of their disgruntled women. Billy's apparently done some unspecified jerky things, leading Mindy to call off their wedding. Meanwhile, Tim's being hotly pursued by a college recruiter who's in town and wants to talk. Lyla loads him up with research, but Tim's not interested in her college blather. And when Lyla realizes she's not being taken seriously, she dumps him by the side of the road. That leads to one of my favorite FNL moments ever: Mindy Collette and Lyla Garrity getting drunk and dancing to Mama Collette's "all men suck" music mix and talking about how they're going to form a no-Riggins force-field. For whatever reason, though, they both end up back with their respective Rigginses by the end of the episode - after both men have finally learned to apologize. So Tim's going to college? I can't imagine he has the grades for it, but I'm sure he's not the first football player to get in despite subpar scores. Love him telling Lyla she was right while she stands there intoxicating him with her morning-after-bender breath.

Meanwhile, we all knew things with Tyra and Cash would get ugly, eventually, and, sure enough, Tyra finds out that Cash is in a bunch of debt. She sees the darker side of him, storming around and leaving her alone in that seedy bar while he goes out - supposedly - for money. Tyra's a strong girl, so things must have been really freaky for her to be terrified. She's had enough daring cowboy adventure; on the phone with Landry, we can hear the relief in her voice. And I'm glad Tami comes to get her, even if it means spoiling her birthday celebration; Coach would have done the same for one of his players.

Some other thoughts:

I love how determined Tami was to continue enjoying her birthday spoils, going so far as to take the champagne with her in the car.
I wish we could have seen more of Landry Clarke: Scholar-Athlete.
Speaking of Landry, how perfect is the look on his face when he realizes Tyra's now used her sick aunt excuse on Julie?
All of these characters have burdens to bear, but Matt's is huge even by those standards. I hope he finds some path to college, even if it means staying near Dillon to keep caring for Grandma.
Favorite part of Tami's delight at Coach's surprise: the look of sheer joy on her face when she found the hotel robes.

Are you amazed that Riggins is college bound? Happy that the Panthers are continuing their playoff march? Rooting for Tyra and Landry to get back together now that her cowboy days are over?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Seven, "Keeping Up Appearances"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:32:00 -0800

On this week's Friday Night Lights, Landry starts to fear that he repels all of womankind, Tami and Coach fight over how to deal with a player whose parents didn't know he was a Panther, and Jason and Herc get into a no-holds-barred fight at their open house that just shows me you don't ever want to mess with a quad rugby player. Put on some Flaming Lips tunes and chat about this episode with me - just read more.

This was one of the episodes I saw earlier this season during the DirecTV run, and it was my least-favorite of the batch. In a season with only 13 episodes to tell a story, "Keeping Up Appearances" sure focuses a lot on characters we've either never seen before or may never see again. That said: Poor Landry. Devin really gets him; she's sweet and awkward and not afraid to embarrass herself singing a Flaming Lips song at the top of her lungs. And when he kisses her in the car, yeah, she kisses back - but then she confesses that she likes girls (and - ouch - kissing Landry was the thing that made her sure of her sexuality). Don't you just want to hug him when he tells Tami he's afraid he's repelling women? Tami's response is fantastic: She tells him that, unlike so many of the people she sees every day, Landry's life is just beginning.

Tami has a few good moments in this episode, actually, another coming when she convinces JaMarcus's parents to let him stay on the Panthers long enough for them see him play. Coach can't help but get confrontational with them (granted, he was dealing with people who were saying his life's work was just a silly game), but Tami takes the right tone, praising Coach and the work he does to make his players be men. Love Coach holding the door for Tami on their way out, a little "thank you for saving my butt" gesture. The JaMarcus story doesn't work for me overall, though, especially because I don't think we've ever seen this kid before. It reminded me more than anything of the Bobby Reyes episode from season one, ultimately just a blip on the radar. I have the same problem with the Garrity kids' story, mostly because I'd nearly forgotten the Garrity kids existed. Sure, it's nice to see Panther football help bring them together, and there's a touching moment with Lyla and Buddy in the car, but it's much more simplistic than what I expect from FNL.

On the other hand, I buy into the Street story completely - even though it also has a few moments of easy resolution. His fight with Herc comes from a very raw place: Of course he wants the money for his family. But more interesting is the hint that Jason might have some hope as a sports agent down the line. Time and again, we've seen him be a great salesman - and putting together the Riggins highlight reel is proof that he might be great at promoting athletes. It's the first time we've seen Jason have anything to hold onto since quad rugby, and it's a relief to see him believing in his future again.

A couple of other thoughts:

Joe McCoy is turning into such a villain. Really, he couldn't find it in himself to ride home from the game with his son - who still won the game? Jerk.
Could anything be more offensive to Buddy than having his son like soccer?
I was surprised to hear Street flat-out tell Billy that Riggins isn't college material. I mean, he's your best friend!

Anyone else less than in love with this episode - or think I'm crazy? Do you think Street has a future as a sports agent? And is Joe McCoy evil, or is he trying to do right by his son?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Six, "It Ain't Easy Being JD McCoy"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:36:34 -0800

In this week's Friday Night Lights, JD McCoy officially takes over the Panthers and gets a little christening, Tim Riggins-style, in his new leadership role. Tyra (finally) starts to doubt Cash after a woman shows up at her house with some disturbing information, and Matt and Julie share a moment at the grocery store that becomes an even bigger moment by the lake. Vague enough for you? I've got all the details when you read more.

OK, I kind of love JD McCoy now. The writers have done such a careful job constructing him - is he a snob? or just sheltered? - and now we have our answer: Dude is awkward. He handles himself OK with adults (his line to his mom about having already proposed to a couple of cheerleaders was funny), but with his peers, he doesn't fit in - and he knows it. He knows that Riggins was put up to taking him on a tour of Dillon (or, more specifically, Dillon's shadiest scenes: "Lisa lives down this road. You'll know"). But when he gets to the party, still in his suit from the school dance, he decides to live like a Panther, and that means drinking his first (and second, and third) beers and babbling to Riggins that he's "like, the last American dude." I wish we could have seen Joe McCoy discover JD either drunk or hung over, but nonetheless, his forced apology to Coach made me both laugh and really feel for the kid.

Meanwhile, with JD in the spotlight, Matt's adjusting to riding the bench. Grandma's not having any of it, though, and so when she and Coach meet in the grocery store, Lorraine gives him a talking-to. That gives Matt and Julie a chance to sneak away and be cute, which leads to Matt proposing a trip to the lake. They're so sweet there, splashing around and debating veggie hot dogs vs. the real deal, and Matt finally works out some of his feelings about his demotion: It sucks to be fired, but it also is nice to be able to wake up on a Saturday and not worry about what he did wrong. And just when it feels like they're going to head home, something else happens, and it's nothing like the awkward deer incident from season one. I love Julie coming home and looking at herself in the mirror, wondering if she's changed in any obvious ways.

Julie also has some great moments with Tyra, who's finally realizing Cash might be bad news. If the "cowboy candy" wasn't hint enough, how about the woman who shows up at Tyra's demanding Cash come out and pay child support? Tyra decides that's it - money for college applications or not - and breaks up with him . . . but then totally takes him back when he promises he'll never lie to her. Suuuure.

Some other thoughts:

There's not a ton of Jason in this episode, but he gets the sweetest moment, singing to his son - both the boy and the girl verses! - while Erin's headed east. Jason freaks out that he'll end up being unable to support his little family, but Coach settles him down: Jason Street is never going to be a deadbeat dad.
The whole subplot with Landry's band tryouts made me giggle, and Devin is a cutie!
Of all the awkward JD moments in this episode, this one might be my favorite: Someone asks JD if he's ready for another midnight run, and JD responds, sincerely, "No, I did my workout earlier this morning."
Tyra's mom in the wedding shop: "Doesn't she look like an angel?" Tyra: "Mindy, I love you, but I can see your crack."

On a scale of one to 10, how naive is Tyra being? Are you happy at the turn things are taking with Julie and Matt? And is JD growing on anyone else?

Photos courtesy of NBC