BuzzSugar

Oscar Nominee: Elizabeth: The Golden Age for Costumes

BuzzSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:30:36 -0800

In the days leading up until the Oscars, I'll be featuring the nominees in the various visual categories. This week, I'll be looking at the nominees for Best Costume Design. We've already taken a look at the costumes in Across the Universe, Atonement, La Vie en Rose, and Sweeney Todd. As a final treat, check out the breathtaking creations from Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Of all the nominees in this category, this movie provides the most stunningly impressive costumes. The first Elizabeth movie also earned an Oscar nomination in 1999, but ultimately lost out to Shakespeare in Love. For a second time, costume designer Alexandra Byrne has dazzled moviegoers with her lush fabrics and vibrant colors to create the regal fashions of the times. I wasn't a big fan of Elizabeth: The Golden Age overall, but these costumes are magnificent. The brilliant colors and pleasing shapes - especially when paired with Elizabeth's pale skin and bright red hairpieces - look good enough to eat. Byrne truly made creations fit for a queen.

Many more images to ogle from Elizabeth: The Golden Age if you read more.

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Elizabeth: Sloppy But Beautiful

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:09:23 -0700

Cate Blanchett, in some of the most sumptuous costumes and outrageous hairpieces, can do her best to growl and roar through this follow-up to the 1998 soapy historical piece Elizabeth, but unfortunately she can't save the faulty script and sloppy pacing that is The Golden Age. This is a shame because the more Blanchett and her equally amazing costars (Clive Owen, Geoffry Rush, Abbie Cornish) plunge into this material with all they've got, trying to compensate for the film's many flaws, the more the movie veers into camp. Thus, the mediocrity of this Elizabeth sequel is not Elizabeth's fault. It's everything else, from the uneven direction to the eye-rollingly preposterous "history lite" storylines.

Taking place 27 years into Queen Elizabeth's reign, she is, technically speaking, 52 years old, though you certainly wouldn't know if from looking at the lovely, spry Blanchett. There is a lot going on in Elizabeth's life which starts to resemble a tangled web of melodrama, not unlike an episode of The Young and the Restless. The Queen is now dealing with both a jealous Mary Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton) and a righteous King Philip II of Spain (Jordi Mollà). Add to this mix the roguish explorer Walter Raleigh who needs the Queen's support to continue his expeditions and you've got yourself a slushy spittoon of fantasy/history. To see what I mean, read more

The smart, saucy Queen's getting it from all sides here, strategizing wars and wrestling with her conscience when it comes to approving death sentences. Then, of course, there's her crush on Raleigh who flatters the Queen to her face and seduces her favorite lady-in-waiting, Bess (Cornish) behind closed doors. For a while it looks like the Queen simply can't win, and then, of course, she does, and it's all very neat and tidy.

In conversations with other people after the screening, the puzzling question on everyone's lips was "Why?" Why make another Elizabeth movie? It's possible any one of the storylines explored in the film could have made for an intriguing tale. But smashing them all together in one movie simply doesn't work in this case. Thus, there are really just two reasons to see this movie that is so disappointing it hurts my feelings: 1) If your love for Cate Blanchett is so blinding you ignore all other aspects of a film, or 2) to gape at the absolutely marvelous costumes that will surely receive an Oscar nod in '08. Otherwise, rent Elizabeth again and let well enough alone.

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What's Buzzworthy? Movies With Great Costumes

BuzzSugar — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:00:47 -0700

As we ease into October I've been thinking a lot about Halloween and the idea of costuming and masquerade. Many people gain inspiration for Halloween costumes from the clothing they find in movies. For this week's Buzzworthy challenge, let's take a look at those movies that feature some of the best costumes ever. They can be Oscar winners, like Amadeus or Lord of the Rings, or just movies where you admired the costumes, like Elizabeth or even Clueless.

Team members KerryG and tdamji already got us started a while ago by bookmarking a ton of movies with great costumes, so check out their picks, second the ones you also love, and add your own!

Just use Buzzsugar's cool bookmarking tool to bookmark your favorite costume flicks online and tag them with the phrase costume movies. I'll post some readers' picks here next week.

You can also now make a list of your picks. Here are mine:

Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen in Elizabeth: The Golden Age

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Why you should watch this trailer for Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Cate Blanchett
Clive Owen
It looks gorgeous

This long-awaited sequel to the 1998 Elizabeth, which was also led by Blanchett's forceful presence, will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September as their Gala presentation, which is the festival's highest-profile slot. This chapter of Elizabeth's story follows the queen's relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh (Owen), among other highly dramatic things. The movie is in wide release October 12, but to experience this just-released trailer in the meantime, read more

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Buzz In: What Show Would You Like to Guest Star On?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0800

'Tis the season of guest appearances, and tonight Modern Family gets in on the action with a double whammy - both Elizabeth Banks and Edward Norton will make cameos. These days, an appearance by a celebrity is par for the course; just trying to count all the talented names to hit 30 Rock alone is enough to hurt my brain.

I know we're not exactly A-listers, but let's pretend for a moment that we are. Which show would you want to make a special appearance on? It would be amazing to have a memorable moment on The Office, or get to spend some time singing and dancing with the cast of Glee. One thing's for sure - General Hospital wouldn't be at the top of my list (sorry, James). I know it's a tough decision, but what show would you like to guest star on?

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:50:28 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
Bravo has Legends of the Fall
E! has repeats of Leave it to Lamas, Wildest Dating Show Moments, and The Girls Next Door, and is new with The Soup
FX has Shallow Hal and Grandma's Boy
MTV has repeats of South Park and Real World/Road Rules Challenge
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
VH1 has Rock Docs NWA: The World's Most Dangerous Group
Late-night highlights include Ricky Gervais on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Elizabeth Banks on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; The Pixies on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Ted Danson, Khloe Kardashian, and Lamar Odom on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Rosie O'Donnell and Ian Somerhalder on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Ewan McGregor and Regina Spektor on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS

Before They Were New Moon Stars

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:30:13 -0700

In honor of today's very exciting launch of TwilightSugar, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at what the red-hot actors were doing before they were cast in New Moon. Some were unknown, others were child stars, so let's take a look back at their careers. Plus, now you can brush up on their old projects while you're waiting for New Moon!

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TV Tonight: V Premiere

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:30:28 -0800

The Visitors are coming! Tonight, V invades ABC with an updated redo of the eighties sci-fi series. I'm still somewhat confused over why the network is splitting up the season into two separate installments (the first four episodes now; the rest in March), but you can bet I'll be watching to assess if the show is worth following into Spring.

If you're not familiar with the original - or didn't take a peek at the my video of the first ten minutes - the storyline follows a group of aliens who visit Earth seeking resources in exchange for their advanced technology. But as you might guess, their "good" intentions aren't what they seem. Scott Wolf of Party to Five fame is one of the stars, along with Elizabeth Mitchell from Lost - which is perhaps why I'm already drawing up comparisons to that fan favorite. (Seriously, ABC even has a Peace Ambassador Program online that viewers can join. The Dharma Initiative, anyone?)

I doubt I'll be as addicted to this new group as I am to the Oceanic gang, but I am loving the trailer thanks to Muse's "Uprising" as its theme song. Check it out for yourself, and tell me if you'll be tuning in this evening, when you read more.

Buzz-Worthy Video of the Day: First look at ABC's V

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:30:00 -0700

Fall TV is underway, but there are a few lingering shows that have yet to premiere. On November 3, we'll get to check out the first episode of V, ABC's new remake of the alien invasion series. While we wait for next week, I've got a taste of the new show. In the first 8 minutes, we meet many of the characters we'll be seeing on a regular basis (including Elizabeth Mitchell), and watch as the world stares up at the sky in wonder as a UFO lurks overhead. Just don't get too excited - only the first four episodes will run before the show takes a hiatus until March.

Don't forget to weigh in on whether or not you'll be programming your DVR for this one. To see the video, just read more.

Link Time!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:45:28 -0700

DJ AM's reality show, Gone Too Far, will air on Oct. 12 - Vulture
Californication has been renewed for a fourth season - The Hollywood Reporter
Liam Neeson will join Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks in The Next Three Days - Cinematical
Check out Vampire Weekend's new song and upcoming tour dates - Pitchfork
Take a sneak peek at this week's episode of Glee - Pop Watch
Get the look: An Education's fab frocks - CasaSugar
James Franco is calling his upcoming appearance on General Hospital "performance art." - MTV Movies Blog
Relationship advice from the cast of Couples Retreat - Rotten Tomatoes