BuzzSugar

The Results Are In: Recast Empire Records

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:35:44 -0700

Every other Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

I'm glad to see everyone shared in my enthusiasm for one of my favorite movies out of the '90s, Empire Records! These are really fun characters to recast and I'm sure young actors in Hollywood would die for a part in a movie like this.

I liked that both daisydidi and lookwhatimade suggested Mandy Moore for the character Liv Tyler played, Corey. Mandy is someone I could see in an independent record store, yet she gives off a "once I'm done here I'm off to the Ivy league" vibe.

I was also totally thrilled to see Olivia Thirlby's name pop up many times; I think she'd be right at home in a movie like this.

For the boys, I liked Whip's idea for Joseph Gordon-Levitt to play A.J. (he's another one of those actors whose name makes me smile), and my friend Citizen's pick for A.J., Michael Rady (a.k.a. the cutie from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and now Swingtown), is great too.

In the end, I went with the cast that's hard to argue with: Congrats to Mary_Sofi!

To see who she chose, along with a new cast photo, read more.

Mary_Sofi's cast list:
Corey - Nikki Reed
A.J. - Adam Brody
Gina - Blake Lively
Debra - Ellen Page
Lucas - Josh Gad
Mark - Andy Samberg

Recast Empire Records and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:31:33 -0700

Every other Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

This week I was totally inspired by the American Teen soundtrack and chose for this week's recast challenge the movie with a soundtrack that rocked my world as a kid: Empire Records! Though I haven't seen the movie in a few years, I remember being completely envious of Liv Tyler's hair, being in love with Ethan Embry, and vowing to work at a record store and/or own one when I grew up.

But I digress. Let's recast this movie! Who would play the employees of this independently owned record store? There's the smart and leggy Corey (Tyler), cute A.J. (Johnny Whitworth), sexy free spirit Gina (Renée Zellweger), moody Debra (Robin Tunney), cute stoner Mark (Embry) and the quirky kid that tries to save the store, Lucas (Rory Cochrane).

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, July 22, complete with a "new" cast photo.

To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt, read more.

Characters to recast
Corey (Liv Tyler)
A.J. (Johnny Whitworth)
Gina (Renée Zellweger)
Debra (Robin Tunney)
Mark (Ethan Embry)
Lucas (Rory Cochrane)

The BuzzSugar t-shirt

Source

What to Netflix: Worthwhile Renee Zellweger Movies

BuzzSugar — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 12:30:14 -0800

Earlier this week I posted a preview for Renee Zellweger's latest project, Miss Potter, and it got me thinking about Zellweger and her career. She seems to be a very hit-or-miss actress, veering between funny and likeable and silly or one-dimensional. While I'll have to see Miss Potter to decide whether she's right for that part, I know for sure that there are some movies in which Zellweger truly shines. Check out my picks for some of her best work, and let me know your thoughts.

Empire Records
Zellweger is young and endearing in this teenage angst-y dramedy about an independent record store in danger of being absorbed by a large chain. The motley crew of misfits who work at the store must think of ways to raise enough money for Empire Records to remain independent. Zellweger gives a spot-on performance as the promiscuous Gina, contrasting hilariously with the sweet, lovestruck Corey (played by a nubile Liv Tyler). Best part: Gina and Corey's fabulously screechy teen girl fight.

To see the other two movies, so read more

Chicago
In this film version of the hit Broadway musical, Zellweger plays Roxie Hart, a fame-hungry woman who ends up in jail for killing her boyfriend when he won't make her a star. Catherine Zeta-Jones co-stars as Velma Kelly, imprisoned for having murdered her husband and sister after finding them in bed together. Velma's slick lawyer Billy Flynn (played smugly by Richard Gere) makes the duo into a tabloid sensation, and they cattily compete for the public spotlight. To me, Renee Zellweger epitomizes Roxie Hart: proud, greedy, girlish, beautiful and insecure, and the film is completely entertaining from beginning to end.

Cold Mountain
I went to see Cold Mountain for two reasons: Jude Law's hotness and Anthony Minghella's directing. This cinematic take on The Odyssey follows a soldier (Law) as he makes the long journey home back to his beloved (Kidman), who is struggling to keep the family farm going with the help of a spunky young wanderer played by Zellweger. At first, I was afraid that Zellweger might distract from an otherwise stunning film, but her polished performance and flawless Southern accent were two of the best things about the movie.