BuzzSugar

Farewell to The Wire: Five Seasons of Montages

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:32:50 PDT

I still haven't stopped thinking about Sunday's finale of The Wire. It wasn't a fade-to-black talker of an ending, Tony Soprano-style, but I did think it was a fitting conclusion to five years of examining the rise and fall of the police, union workers, drug lords, government officials, school teachers, and newspaper reporters of Baltimore.

Specifically, I've been playing the show's final montage over and over - both in my head and in real life. The Wire is known for ending every season with a montage showing what comes next for various characters and stories, and I'm so glad that tradition continued for the final episode. So, as a final farewell to the show, I've gathered up all five montages from The Wire's five seasons. Note that there's some violence and spicy language (we are talking about hoppers, bangers, and poh-leese, after all), but if you want to check them out, just

Season One:

Season Two:

Season Three:

Season Four:

Season Five:

Source

TV Tonight: The Wire Series Finale

BuzzSugar — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:00:06 PDT

After five relentlessly gritty seasons of exposing the highs and lows of Baltimore and exploring creator David Simon's thesis that people today matter less than ever, HBO's great series The Wire comes to a close tonight. I tore through all the previous seasons on DVD this Fall so I could be here tonight, watching the finale live alongside the show's other fans. But, as I wrote when I asked about your favorite series finales the other day, now that the moment's arrived, I'm feeling overwhelmingly ambivalent. Fact is, I'm just not ready to let Bunk, McNulty, Kima, Lester, Bubbles, Carcetti, and even Marlo go. And I can only imagine how fans who watched and dissected each season over the past five years must feel.

There are so many plot threads still unraveling, and so many stories yet to be connected, that I doubt there's any way tonight's 95-minute finale can tie them all up. Will Lester's shining drug bust end up falling apart? Will Scott's lies grow bigger? Will McNulty recover from his latest downward spiral? I think I may leave the show with as many questions as answers. But in a way, that's exactly how a sprawling series like The Wire should end: messy and complicated, just like it's always been.

HBO has been putting episodes On Demand a week early all season, but the network held the final episode back (and yes, it leaked online - no spoilers in the comments, please!) so fans would watch together. As a result, a very funny preview aired On Demand, featuring Clay Davis and his signature catchphrase: "Sheeeeeeeit." You can watch it, plus the promo for the final episode, if you just

Source

Could The Wire Live On as a Movie?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:30:00 PST

It's hard for me to believe there are just three episodes left before The Wire goes off the air for good. But is the show's March finale really it forever?

In a recent interview with the LA Times, Dominic West (Jimmy McNulty) said he and some of the show's other main actors are trying to persuade creator David Simon to continue exploring Baltimore through a Wire movie. He said:

There’s just so much material and so many plot lines to go on, and I think Wendell [Barry, who plays Bunk] thought, why not make a movie? There’s a ready-made audience, and I think a lot of us feel it will be a long time before we get to act such great writing and with people we like as much as we all like each other.

West also said Simon "doesn't need persuading" to make a movie, but he does need a story - and he's apparently said it would need to be a prequel, which just makes me even more curious to see how the series ends.

It seems a little far-fetched; if Simon had five strong seasons planned out for The Wire, I'd hate to see him go messing with it by adding on. Then again, the prequel idea is interesting, and there were those back story videos made to promote this season, which revealed there's a lot more to these characters than what Simon has let us see on screen up till now. Could you imagine The Wire continuing in film form? Or do you think it's best to just leave the series be when it reaches its planned end?

Source

Soapbox: Give The Wire a Chance

BuzzSugar — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:00:00 PST

Here's how much critics love The Wire: The show's Wikipedia page has has a running list of major publications, including Time and Entertainment Weekly, that have called it the best show on television. Yet the show, which kicks off its fifth and final season of exploring the darkest side of Baltimore on Sunday, has been mostly ignored by both awards shows and viewers.

As a relatively recent convert to the show myself, I can understand why it's had a tough time. The show doesn't hold your hand; it throws you headfirst into a world with dozens and dozens of characters, from drug dealers and their bosses to city government to dock workers to middle schoolers to the cops who step in when things go horribly wrong. I had to watch the pilot twice before I knew a single character's name, and it wasn't till the halfway point of the first season that I was confident I knew what was going on. The show is also unflinchingly realistic - which can make it seem brutally bleak. People are shot and killed, for any reason and no reason; sometimes good triumphs, but the picture is usually murkier than that.

Still, it's not all darkness and destruction, so

For one thing, the show is funny - it's a subtle humor, an ironic humor, but it often makes me laugh out loud. For another, the main characters are complex but ultimately sympathetic; Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) has made more bad decisions than I can count (and I'm only partway through the third season!), and yet I can't help but root for him. And the show certainly deserves credit for its ambition, exploring what makes a modern city run - and falter - one piece at a time.

This final season focuses on the media, with segments set at creator David Simon's old employer, The Baltimore Sun. I'm rushing through my DVDs on Netflix so I can be ready for the series' finale; will any of you be watching with me? To watch a preview for this season, just

Photo courtesy of HBO

HBO Delivers Prequels to The Wire

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:30:00 PST

In preparation for ending The Wire this winter, HBO is telling us more about how the show began. A series of prequels showing the characters earlier in life have hit the Internet, and they'll also be available On Demand starting Dec. 15.

Like the Big Love back stories from earlier this year, these prequels don't reveal anything about specific plot lines. Instead, they're just little glimpses into how the characters came to be who they are. One of the three shows Prop Joe as a kid practicing his political skills in the schoolyard; another shows Bunk and McNulty getting hammered together during McNulty's first day in homicide. But my favorite is the one with young Omar, a chilling clip that combines a surprising amount of compassion with his already well-honed gangster side.

To check out the prequels, just

Source

Willem Dafoe, Andrew Stanton, and Dominic West Dish on Their John Carter Journey to Mars

Annie Scudder — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:45:06 PST

With the help of Wall-E director Andrew Stanton, Disney is bringing a new out-of-this-world hero to the big screen in John Carter. We sat down with the cast and director of the movie, which is based on the classic sci fi book series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Willem Dafoe plays a creature on Mars who helps Civil War vet John Carter when he finds himself on Mars, and we got Willem to speak some Martian for us. Dominic West, who plays the villain, opened up about his days in the circus, and director Andrew Stanton told us why he wanted Taylor Kitsch for the title role. Watch our interview with the talented trio now, and don't miss our chat with Taylor Kitsch or Lynn Collins, who plays the Princess of Mars. You can catch John Carter in theaters March 9.

Idris Elba Wins the Golden Globe For Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made For Television

Becky Kirsch — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:58:38 PST

Idris Elba is taking home the Golden Globe for best actor in a miniseries or TV movie for Luther. He beat out Hugh Bonneville, William Hurt, Bill Nighy, and Dominic West. Are you surprised by this win?

Check Out the 2012 People's Choice Nominations Before the Show Airs Tonight!

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:02:20 PST

The People's Choice Awards are tonight, so now's your chance to get a good look at who's up for the trophies. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is dominating the movie categories, especially since there was no Twilight film eligible for this year's awards (though Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson still earned nods because they appeared in other movies). Vampires are still big at the PCAs, at least for the TV categories - The Vampire Diaries and its stars are all over this list. On the subject of the small screen, the awards have brought in another distinction for television: network shows and cable series are now separated (and fan favorite Game of Thrones pops up for its first season).

You'll be able to watch the results when the show airs tonight, and remember: we are LIVE from the red carpet and backstage throughout the show! The live show starts at 5 p.m. PST/ 8 p.m. EST, and you can watch us here.

To get the full list of nominations, just keep reading.

Most Popular Pet Names of 2011

PetSugar — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:15:03 PST

Petfinder has announced the most popular dog and cat names from 2011. "Buddy" continues to dominant the doggy world for the fifth year in a row, and "Lucy" wins again for the first-choice cat name. The Twilight saga seems to influence both dog and cat owners, as the name "Bella" appears high on both lists. Does your pet's name appear on this list? Tell us your pet's name in the comments below!

Rank	Dog Names	Cat Names
1	Buddy	Lucky
2	Max	Smokey
3	Daisy	Bella
4	Bella	Charlie
5	Lucy	Tiger
6	Molly	Oreo
7	Charlie	Daisy
8	Jack	Molly
9	Sadie	Max
10	Rocky	Midnight

Source: Flickr Users Yukari*, Grakus Art, and West Zest

Announcing the 2012 Golden Globe Nominations!

Becky Kirsch — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:00:38 PST

Well, folks, we're finally getting into the heavy hitters of award season, as the 2012 Golden Globe nominees were announced this morning. As expected, award season darlings The Artist and The Descendants led the way with five nods apiece, but there are plenty of surprises here, too. George Clooney is going to have a big night, as his The Ides of March scored four nods, including one for him as a director. Ryan Gosling managed to score two nods for acting, for Crazy, Stupid, Love as well as Ides.

In the TV categories, new shows ruled as nods for New Girl, Game of Thrones, Boss, Episodes, Enlightened, and Homeland made the list - and that's not all. Zooey Deschanel scored a best actress nod, as did Mireille Enos for her work on The Killing and Laura Dern for Enlightened.

We'll be breaking down all of the surprises and snubs later today, but for now, check out the full list of nominees when you

MOVIES

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
The Descendants
Moneyball
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
War Horse

BEST MOTION PICTURE, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week With Marilyn

BEST DIRECTOR
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

BEST ACTOR, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love
Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

BEST ACTRESS, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

BEST SCREENPLAY
Midnight in Paris
The Ides of March
The Descendants
Moneyball
Bridesmaids

BEST ANIMATED FILM
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Artist
W.E.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
War Horse

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
The Flowers of War
In the Land of Blood and Honey
The Kid With a Bike
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Hello, Hello," Gnomeo and Juliet
"The Keeper," Machine Gun Preacher
"Lay Your Head Down," Albert Nobbs
"The Living Proof," The Help
"Masterpiece," W.E.

BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA
American Horror Story
Boardwalk Empire
Boss
Game of Thrones
Homeland

BEST TV SERIES, COMEDY
Enlightened
Episodes
Glee
Modern Family
New Girl

BEST ACTOR, TV DRAMA
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Kelsey Grammer, Boss
Jeremy Irons, The Borgias
Damian Lewis, Homeland

BEST ACTRESS, TV DRAMA
Claire Danes, Homeland
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge

BEST ACTOR, TV COMEDY
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
David Duchovny, Californication
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

BEST ACTRESS, TV COMEDY
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

BEST MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Mildred Pierce
Too Big to Fail
Cinema Verite
Downton Abbey
The Hour

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
William Hurt, Too Big to Fail
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Idris Elba, Luther
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Dominic West, Appropriate Adult

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Romola Garai, The Hour

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce