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Jennifer Aniston Starts Production Co., Announces Projects

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:29:46 -0700

Brad Pitt can have his Plan B - Jennifer Aniston will do just fine with her own production company, thank you very much. Joining forces with producing partner Kristin Hahn (who served as executive producer on The Departed), Aniston is creating Echo, a production company with a first-look deal at Universal Pictures. Variety has more:

Echo's emphasis will be on producing grounded, relatable material, the partners say. . ."We're drawn to stories about people finding their voice and finding their way because they help us as listeners and viewers do what we feel we're all trying to do, which is making sense of our lives through the stories of others," Aniston said. "That's why we chose the name Echo, to echo back an idea, a challenge, something that resonates through all of us."

The busy duo has already acquired several projects for Echo, some of which sound pretty great. Of course, there's the singing Texan female prisoners movie Goree Girls which will also star Aniston. And then there's my favorite of the bunch: "Chemistry, a David Sussman-scripted dramedy centered around the fact that romantic love and obsessive compulsive disorder demonstrate similar brain chemistry." For a list of the other movies Echo will be handling, read more.

Getting Rid of Matthew: "[Jane] Fallon, a veteran U.K. TV producer who is married to Ricky Gervais, will adapt her novel about a hard-charging publicist whose lusty affair with a married man is ruined by his decision to leave his wife and two children for her. She invents a new persona, befriends the spurned wife and attempts to patch up the marriage up so she can be rid of him. In the process, she develops a thing for his oldest son."
The Divorce Party: "As a husband and wife reach their 35th wedding anniversary, they hold a party to announce their divorce. It creates complications for their son, who returns home with his commitment-shy fiancee."
Counter-Clockwise: "A true story based on a study conducted by Harvard prof and psychologist Ellen Langer in which she tried to reverse the aging process of subjects by re-creating the era of their prime."
Love: Todd: "A drama about an aging tennis pro-turned-coach who gets schooled by a precocious teen tennis phenom."

Source

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:29 -0800

Time for more Tuesday entertainment! I've already shared a few new DVD releases to give your movie library a shot in the arm, but now, let's amp up your iPod. Big-name albums hit shelves today, so be sure to read up on these three. (And if you want to see your own music reviews featured on Buzz, submit them in the Music Review Group in the community!)

Fan-pleasing pop: American Idol fans rejoice: you've said that you're interested in post-AI albums, and now Kris Allen's anticipated self-titled debut is finally here. The song selections started a bit bland for me, but Allen picks up momentum with "The Truth" and the soft but moving ballad "Bring it Back." Both songs get needed oomph from orchestral accompaniment to create a sweeping sound that's sure to make Allen aficionados swoon. As for the rest of the album, it's predictable, but likable, much like the singer himself.

Why the sad face? Listening to John Mayer's latest, Battle Studies, you've got to wonder who ripped his heart out - Jessica Simpson? Jennifer Aniston? Every song is about a hurt guy who doesn't want to love again. Sensitive crooning isn't anything new to Mayer, but this time, it feels like mundane easy listening. I long for the days of "No Such Thing" when we had a more upbeat Mayer, or the Mayer who can riff on the guitar like nobody's business. But we don't really get either here. Still, it's worth noting his collaboration with Taylor Swift on "Half of My Heart," and my personal fave, "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye."

See one more release when you read more.

Diva in training: Leona Lewis burst onto the scene two years ago with "Bleeding Love," and now she returns with her sophomore follow-up to Spirit, Echo. Lewis hits the high notes - and she'll once again draw comparisons to Mariah Carey - but the lyrics don't always pack the same punch, and they often feel like recycled love musings. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see Lewis branch out of her usual comfort zone with the dance track "Outta My Head" and "Can't Breathe," which goes heavier on the R&B. If you've seen those Precious promos, you've heard another song from the album, "Happy," but it was recently announced that Lewis will be providing the title track for the film Avatar, so listen for her voice to show up there, too.

It's Official: Steven Tyler Is Out of Aerosmith

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:33 -0800

Joe Perry has taken to his Twitter account to break the news that Aerosmith is looking for a new lead singer. Steven Tyler has apparently dropped out amid rumors that he's looking for a solo career - which the front man alluded to himself in an interview earlier this year. Perry assured fans that the band is not breaking up tweeting, "You just can't take 40 years of expiriance and throwitinthebin!"

I'm sure I echo most people's sentiments when I say this is a sad day in rock 'n' roll. I feel like the group should call it quits, because I can't imagine anyone replacing Tyler's swagger. Joe Perry has done solo projects before, but when it comes to Aerosmith, he and Tyler have always been a package deal in my mind. Although, perhaps I'm being too pessimistic - after all, Van Halen did go on to have a successful run when Sammy Hagar took over for David Lee Roth.

Do you think Aerosmith can (or should) go on without Tyler? Can you name a worthy substitute?

Buzz In: What's Your Worst Movie Audience Experience?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:30:53 -0700

I'm probably an overly conscientious film goer - I'm hyper aware of blocking little kids sitting behind me, and I always try to open candy pre-show, so as not to deal with those noisy plastic wrappers. Unfortunately, not everyone around me upholds the same courtesy. I remember going to a rock-doc earlier this Spring, where two teenagers in front of me had their tongues down each other's throats from the opening sequence all the way to the end credits. And a couple of weeks ago when I was checking out The Invention of Lying, there was a row of men behind me with possibly the loudest echoing laughs I've ever heard.

I'm not trying to be a sour puss here, but sitting near people like that is seriously distracting. In fact, it kind of ruined both films for me, and now I feel like I'll have to go back and watch them on DVD eventually. I was so concentrated on overlooking the horny high schoolers and the guys' cackles that I probably missed some of the best parts. Normally, I'd give them my "death stare" in the hopes that they'd simmer down (come on, like you haven't done that too), but that doesn't always work.

OK, enough of my venting - what's been your most annoying audience experience? Did someone answer a cell phone mid-movie and have an entire conversation? Were you stuck behind a fidgety tall guy? Please share!

Vampire Diaries "Lost Girls": The Good, the Bad and the Bloody

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:30:36 -0700

The cat's outta the bag on this week's episode of The Vampire Diaries, but Elena isn't the only one who has a rude awakening. We also get to see the history on the lives of Stefan, Damon, and Katherine in the 1860s - and the story behind those olden-day photos.

As usual, I've picked the moments from this episode that stand out as the good, the bad, and the bloody, so to see them just (spoilers ahead!) read more.

The Good

Turns out Katherine is a triflin' friend, indeed. Not only is Stefan and Damon's first love as selfish as Stefan mentioned before, but she's actually the vampire who turns both brothers to the dark side - and against each other.
Speaking of turning people into vampires, Damon decides to give Vicki the blood transfusion of her life. Her transition is surprisingly emotional; she cries to Stefan that she remembers things now, and begs to go home. Sorry, Vick, home is not where you're headed.
One of my favorite scenes this week? The dance-like-no-one's-watching sequence for Damon and Vicki. (Except I was watching. And I loved it.) Their slow dance scene is actually pretty cute, too; until, well, Damon breaks Vicki's neck.
On second thought, maybe this Katherine was pretty smart. Living forever in a freaky threesome with Stefan and Damon? Sounds sexier than Big Love.

The Bad

Is it OK that I don't care that much about Elena dumping Stefan and being all heartbroken about it? There's just so much more excitement going on Mystic Falls than Elena finding out her potential boyfriend is a vampire. She's feeling excessively sorry for herself - it's so Bella in New Moon.
Speaking of which, the Twilight parallel gets a little too close for comfort this week with Stefan revealing his secret to Elena. In particular, the scene where he says he's been 17 since 1864 is such an echo of Twilight's "How long have you been 17?" " . . . A while" scene.

The Bloody

Um, let's briefly discuss Damon and Vicki sucking each other's blood from their wrists. It seems sexual, it feels weird. OK, that's enough.
Vampire hunting squad 0, vampires 1. After Logan shoots Stefan with a wooden bullet, Damon actually comes to the rescue for his brother. Even though he says it's because if anyone kills Stefan, it'll be him, there seems to be a little deep-seated loyalty in saving Stefan - something we glimpsed in the flashback sequence before they were undead.
Aw, Vicki's character actually made me like her this episode - the kicker was her sheepish "I'm sorry" after feeding on Logan.

Seriously, this was one of my favorite episodes so far because of the action and the flashbacks. What did you think?

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Photo courtesy of The CW