BuzzSugar

TV Casting: Gabrielle Union and Alfre Woodard Book Roles

BuzzSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:30:29 -0700

Here's the latest on two cool women coming soon to a small screen near you:

Gabrielle Union is joining the cast of Flash Forward, playing a criminal defense attorney named Zoey. Zoey will be a recurring character, and she'll also have a romantic arc on the show, though there's no word on which other cast member that will involve. (But wouldn't she be cute with Joseph Fiennes? Just sayin'.) Producer David S. Goyer said he knew the moment he met her that she was their Zoey: "She's witty, soulful and beautiful." Aw!
Alfre Woodard is joining the cast of Three Rivers on CBS. In the medical drama - which stars Alex O'Loughlin of Moonlight fame - she'll play Sophia Jordan, the head of surgery at Three Rivers Hospital, a renowned center for organ transplants. She replaces Julia Ormond, who played the role in the pilot. While Sophia wasn't a particularly major character in the pilot, I could imagine her being a bigger factor as the series goes forward.

Are you excited to see either of these women back on TV?

Could Roseanne Return to TV? Plus, More Casting News

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:30:30 -0700

The matriarch of '90s television comedy wants to make another run at TV: Roseanne Barr is developing a sitcom concept about a family in which, yes, she'd play the mom.

Barr's idea isn't tied to any network right now, though it has been pitched to Fox. She's developing the project with a former Roseanne producer, and the two of them have teamed with an Arrested Development writer to put the script together.

Could you imagine Barr back in prime time? Does Roseanne: The Next Generation have hope?

Meanwhile, a couple of other quick casting tidbits:

Elle Macpherson has signed up for a role on the CW's The Beautiful Life pilot, which also stars Mischa Barton.
Amanda Bynes will play one of the leads in Canned, an ABC comedy pilot about friends who are all fired on the same day.
Brian Austin Green and Gabrielle Union are the latest additions to the CW's Body Politic, joining Minka Kelly and Jason Dohring.
Julia Ormond has joined the cast of Three Rivers, the CBS drama pilot also starring Alex O'Loughlin.

Source

Link Time! 2/5

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:30:36 -0800

It's on: The Sex and the City ladies have signed their contracts for the film sequel. - E!
Check out Diablo Cody's list of her top 10 movie badasses. - MTV Movies Blog
And here's an exclusive interview with Paul McCartney. - Popwatch
Is Gossip Girl stealing plotlines from Anne Hathaway's love life? - The Ausiello Files
Tech talk with Gabrielle Union. - geeksugar
This video short about a Valentine's Day breakup is making me chuckle. - Cinematical
ABC's Cupid remake is so plagued with drama, why even bother? - TV Squad
10 more self-help books imagined as Drew Barrymore movies. - Vulture
Slumdog Millionaire continued its winning streak at the Film Critics' Circle Awards in London. - PopSugarUK

Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema

Cadillac Records: Spot-On Performances Bring Legends to Life

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:30:33 -0800

There's plenty wrong with director Darnell Martin's biopic about Chicago's famous record label Chess Records, including the confusing title: Cadillac Records. What with the production quality that makes the film look like a sound stage, amateurish editing, and a script that bites off too many legends than it can chew, this movie's got issues.

But you know what? I forgive it these faults for two reasons: the performances are out-of-this-world good (Beyonce actually sets the screen on fire), and the awesome music is prominently on display with most of the actors doing most of the singing. The resulting experience is less a cerebral one (it is awfully formulaic) and more primal. The music moved me, and the performances are so powerful they got under my skin and stayed with me for days.

To see what else I so enjoyed about this ensemble cast (including what might be my favorite Mos Def performance ever), read more.

The musical biopic is as formulaic as a Hollywood genre gets these days, and Cadillac Records does nothing to break free of the now-predictable twists and turns. Improbable rise to fame after overcoming hardship? Check. Breakout moment where the artist really becomes a star? Check. Fame that comes with an emotional price to pay? Check. Drug and alcohol use and abuse? Oh, of course. And the men, they will not be faithful to their wives, and the wives, they will be so sad but will stoically love their tortured artists anyway. You can expect all these tiring cliches and more from this movie.

But the story of Chicago's Chess Records is not only compelling, it's important. Founded by Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody), this itty-bitty record label made stars out of folks like Muddy Waters (who Jeffrey Wright plays with a fantastically down-and-dirty swagger). Bursting with talent, each new artist that Leonard takes on struggles with the demons you'd expect to plague anyone who reaches heights they've never imagined in a society that doesn't think they deserve it. The movie portrays a sad time in America's history indeed, when the powers that be even tried to keep the songs on the radio separate but equal. But the music will find a way, and so it did when the raucous, soulful blues pouring out of Chess found an audience.

As earnestly as this movie handles the music-sees-no-color theme (Cedric the Entertainer does some voiceover narration that doesn't help with the hokey factor), I was still deeply moved. This has less to do with the facts of the story and more to do with the raw emotion and pure joy radiating off each of these performers. Beyonce's Etta James is sassy, hardened, and bursting at the seams - physically and emotionally - with feelings of self-hate due to a lifetime of rejection. When she sings, you really do feel her pain and are never sure if she's going to break down midsong in a puddle of tears or punch someone. My other favorite is Mos Def, who plays Chuck Berry with aplomb. He runs off with the scene each and every time he's on the screen.

These were turbulent times, and the pacing of the movie reflects that. It sweats and jams along at a speed that rarely sags, with musical performances that either break out in gun shots, yelling, or a growl. A stronger center would have helped the narrative out a bit, and it seems that that's what they were trying to do with Brody's character. Chess has a nose for business and cares about his artists, but too often the personal and professional collide, resulting in the kind of paternalistic treatment from a white dude that these musicians have endured their whole lives. Unfortunately, this character isn't filled out enough here, which makes caring about him difficult and gives all these plot lines nothing to rotate around. As entertaining as they all are, a movie focused on one, maybe two, of these artists would have sufficed (as it is, it's like Ray times five). This isn't the movie these musical founders deserve, but these are the best performances anyone concerned with their legacies could ask for.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Meet Dave: I Thought It Would Be Worse

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:33:33 -0700

So, full disclosure: I dragged myself to this movie with the lowest of expectations. Things like Norbit and The Adventures of Pluto Nash danced through my mind and I prayed to the comedy gods to spare me a numbingly unfunny experience. I mean, I've just barely recovered from The Love Guru.

And guess what: They sort of heard my prayers. I'm happy to report that Eddie Murphy's new comedy (that even he couldn't bring himself to watch) isn't all that bad. I wouldn't say it's good, either, but my soul is intact and I'm not as worried about the fate of all that is funny, so those are good signs. What's more, I came away with a renewed sense of Eddie Murphy's talent, and I think it's possible he might be back on that screen making me hurt with laughter one of these days.

To see what I think gets in the way of Murphy's hilarity in Meet Dave, making this another one of his forgettable comedies, read more.

When I first saw the trailer, I thought the premise was weird and even kinda gross. Little people running around inside Eddie Murphy? Falling out of his ears? No thanks. Plus I figured it was bound to get real scatological, real fast. Well, turns out it's actually a fairly inspired idea for a movie, and as I watched I saw glimpses of what could have been. Little tiny aliens coming to earth in a space vessel in the form of Eddie Murphy (who also plays the captain in charge of a Star Trek-like crew inside) starts out as a ridiculously silly twist on the extraterrestrial comedy, and I'll be honest, I couldn't help but smile.

My smile only widened during scenes in which Eddie Murphy takes those funny muscles and gives them a good workout. In the beginning when the aliens are learning how to get their human to stroll down the street, his brilliant herky-jerky walk is like a lesson in physical comedy. There is also a running gag in which the aliens decide that it's best to make their vessel just copy human behavior when they're not quite sure of the proper response. So when a good-natured character shakes hands with "Dave," Murphy does a pretty hilarious imitation right back at him that's akin to the "white man's over bite" in how dorkishly affable it is.

However, there is a "but," and it's a big one. Despite a handful of shimmering moments of good old-fashioned comedy, the movie crumbles under mostly idiotic jokes (he poops money, for example) and a plot so cliched you could bet $100 pooped dollars every 10 minutes on what will happen next and walk out rich.

Bottom line: Meet Dave will remind you that Eddie Murphy made hilarious movies once upon a time, but will make you wonder why he makes movies that are beneath him - and you.

Photos courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Ugly Betty Rundown: Episode 14, "Twenty-Four Candles"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:30:52 -0700

It may come last in my list of rundowns today, but Ugly Betty came first in my marathon of TV viewing list on Thursday. What better way to kick off the evening than with that eternally upbeat go-getter Betty Suárez? Hopefully you were able to refresh your Betty memory before last night. It was pretty easy to pick up from where the show left off, and I thought the opening dream sequence (something in the writers' water? Gossip Girl opened the same way this week) was adorable and fun. Here are my thoughts:

Amanda didn't have a lot going on this episode, but she was still funny reveling in her Gene-Simmons'-daughter-dom by hilariously dressing like a rabid Kiss fan, wagging her tongue, and uttering little "hardcore" lines like this one to Gio when he asked if she gave Betty a message: "I’m a receiver, not a giver."
Back to Betty's birthday dream: For some reason, when Henry showed up with a horse carriage and Betty asked him where they were, his answer made me laugh and reminded me of something people said in my dreams when I was 12 years old: "We're in the best place ever!"

For more of my thoughts on last night's Betty, read more.

Hands down my favorite moment of the night was when Hilda showed up at Charlie's door to regulate (aka deliver cupcakes and tell Charlie she sees right through her little game to break up Betty and Henry). I loved when she shoved her fake nails in Charlie's face, yelled, "These are not just decorative!" and then proceeded to scratch the wall out as she exited the apartment.
Claire Meade's magazine about "extreme adventures for the over 50 set" called Hot Flash is still making me giggle. Plus, Claire's little tender moment with Betty in the bathroom was so adorable! The best was when she exited a bathroom stall and apologized to Betty with the line, "I try to keep up the appearance I never use the bathroom."
Speaking of the bathroom scene, we got a very earnest little speech from Betty to Claire (who was disheartened by the fact that Alexis won't support Hot Flash) about picking yourself up and - this part was so adorably nerdy - utilizing your resources! It totally inspired Claire, so in return she gave Betty her earrings as a b-day gift. Aww.
The Henry-Betty-Gio love triangle seems to be building some major steam, and I'm confused about which guy I'm supposed to root for. On the one hand, Betty seems to really love Henry, but he irritated me with how easily he allowed Charlie to pull the "I'm carrying your child" card. Really, ditching your girlfriend for a baby seminar? And Gio was lovably charming in his working-man kind of way and definitely saved Betty's big day, so right now, I'm leaning toward him.

Now we know Renee's big secret: She has to see a therapist and take pills to stay mentally stable. And since this is Ugly Betty, and since we got a little sneak peek of next week's episode, this clearly won't be a little garden-variety depression. No, Renee is going to take a sharp turn onto Psycho-Possessive Lane and park it for a while at Violent-Lashing-Out-Ville. I can't wait for next week.
Aaaand turns out Daniel didn't forget Betty's birthday after all. It kind of killed me she didn't open the gift. I'm still really curious.

So was the return of Betty everything you hoped it would be? Are you as annoyed with Henry as I am or do you, like Betty, feel like he should be cut some slack because of the baby? Does Gabrielle Union look more and more like Vanessa Williams to you every episode? They seriously look like sisters. Also, do you really think that a baby born of stolen, dead-man semen will really count as a Meade heir? This plan strikes me as fundamentally flawed on many levels.

Movie Preview: The Perfect Holiday

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:30:00 -0800

I have to say, I love Gabrielle Union, even if she doesn't always get the coolest film projects. So, while her upcoming holiday flick The Perfect Holiday looks slightly cheesy, I still hold out hope for it. If nothing else, the story about Christmastime romance does seem heartwarming and sweet.

Union plays single mom Nancy who just wants a decent guy. Then she and her kids go to see the mall Santa, and meet the single, dashingly handsome - if a little underemployed - Benjamin (Morris Chestnut). Queen Latifah narrates while Terrence Howard and Faizon Love costar. It's a little silly, but there are some genuinely funny lines, so to check out the trailer before The Perfect Holiday hits theaters Wednesday December 21, read more

Source

Writers' Strike Enters Week Two

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:30:27 -0800

The Hollywood writers' strike entered its second week today, and so far, no new talks have been scheduled between the writers and producers. The industry buzz suggests we should get used to it: The strike could be even longer than the five-month strike in 1988. The walkout is hitting non-writing crew members, and the outcomes are starting to look bleak all around (except over at Fox, where executives believe the strike could be good for the network). Here are some of the headlines from the strike's second week:

Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence refused to write an emergency series finale for his show, and it's not clear what would happen to the unwritten final seven episodes of the series if a strike continues.
When The Office shut down production, 102 non-writing staff members were laid off.
Meanwhile, the staffs of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will be laid off at the end of the week unless the strike ends or the shows decide to come back - either with their regular hosts or with guest hosts.
Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof has witten an op-ed for the New York Times about the death of television.
Gabrielle Union was working on a deal to play Wilhemina's sister on Ugly Betty before the strike scuttled those plans.
Here's a very detailed list of how many episodes of various series are yet to air.
Variety explains how the strike could affect next year's Emmy Awards.

Among the newest people trying to explain the issues behind the strike: Buffy creator Joss Whedon. Want to hear him try to make sense of things? Just read more

Source

"Footballers' Wives" Remake Still in Play

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:30:00 -0700

I was pretty surprised back in May when ABC announced its fall schedule without "Football Wives," a remake of the British series "Footballers' Wives" (pictured above). Now, it appears the network is reconsidering its decision to pass on the show: ABC has extended the options on its stars, including Gabrielle Union, Lucy Lawless, Ving Rhames and James Van Der Beek, which is typically a sign that a project is still in the running.

Maybe, the Hollywood Reporter suggests, ABC's sudden interest in the show can be explained by the fact that other networks - Fox and NBC among them - seem to be ready to snag it for themselves if ABC passes for good. After all, between "The Starter Wife" and "Army Wives," it's been a pretty great summer for wives on TV. If you want to see the original, it's airing this summer on BBC America.

Meanwhile, another British import finally has its leading man. Jason O'Mara - who was initially supposed to play the title character in "Marlowe," another pilot ABC passed on - now will star in David E. Kelley's remake of "Life on Mars," about a police detective who mysteriously travels back in time. I watched some of that show's first season on BBC America last summer and really enjoyed it, so I'm curious to see what happens with the American adaptation.

Source

Movie Preview: Daddy's Little Girls

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 07:30:35 -0800

It's bad enough that Daddy's Little Girls is opening on a Wednesday, and it being Valentine's Day doesn't help matters; if it's a good movie it shouldn't need a gimmicky release date. But now, there aren't even any press screenings for it here in San Francisco. According to Forbes, that's not a good sign.

I originally thought this movie might have promise, too, because Gabrielle Union is always a pleasure to watch. She plays a lawyer assigned to help Monty (Idris Elba) gain custody of his three daughters, and romantic drama ensues. Tell me: Do you think Daddy's Little Girls looks like a Valentine's Day treat? You can watch the trailer if you read more