BuzzSugar

Gerard Butler - Love Him or Leave Him?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Gerard Butler has had a rough couple of weeks - critics panned his film Law Abiding Citizen and his appearance on Saturday Night Live didn't win rave reviews either. On top of everything else, there are rumors about him and Jessica Simpson getting cozy floating around. There is some light at the end of the tunnel though: he just announced in an interview that he'd be joining Shakespeare's Coriolanus with Ralph Fiennes for his next film.

It's nice to see Butler take on a project with some serious acting teeth. While he's always easy on the eyes in romantic comedies like P.S. I Love You or The Ugly Truth, I've never really liked the films themselves. (The possible exception being The Phantom of the Opera, since you know I love movie musicals!)

Maybe you disagree with me though? Law Abiding Citizen did take No. 2 at the box office, and I know that several of you liked the movie despite my review. So what do you think of Gerard Butler - love him or leave him?

Law Abiding Citizen: Deserves a Death Sentence

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:30:13 -0700

Oh, Gerard Butler, what were you thinking? You might be able to forgive the 300 actor for starring in this horror flick disguised as a meaningful thriller, but he also served as producer to help finance the train wreck. Did he not even read the script?

Law Abiding Citizen opens with Butler as Clyde Shelton, a devoted father and husband who witnesses the murder of his family by two psychopaths after a break-in. When his lawyer, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), strikes a deal in the case that lets one of them free, Shelton begs Rice to reconsider. And that’s where Shelton's deadly resentment - and the slasher flick stuff- begins.

To hear more about what I mean, read more.

Ten years later, Shelton returns to seek vengeance against Rice and the entire Philadelphia legal system through a series of mass killings and car bombs. The man is understandably still distraught over his family’s deaths, but he’s clearly gone cuckoo.

This is when the movie becomes less of a drama and starts resembling the Saw franchise instead. While Shelton starts off as the good guy, he's later partaking in gruesome torture scenes that leave him completely in covered in blood like the prom scene in Carrie. To make matters worse, Shelton throws out bad jokes as he's wreaking havoc for a few cheap laughs. It negates any possibility for the audience to feel sympathy for Shelton, and the attempted shock value also completely ruins the movie's credibility.

The film wants to make us question the inner-workings of law - when dealing with a killer, is it better to leave things to the justice system or take matters into your own hands? Really though, it would’ve worked better as a cheesy horror movie. It has all of the requirements: splattered body parts, a giant chain saw, abandoned warehouses, goofy wigs and costumes, creepy music, the obligatory muffled voice on the end of the phone - and loads of plot holes. Like, why is Shelton rich enough to buy all of his assassin-style supplies and how does he know how to use them all? The film attempts to answer the question for us later in the film, but it feels tacked on and much too late.

In other words, if you do go see this film, don't try to think too much about it. Foxx and Butler do their best with what they're given, but the film is only good for a couple of thrills that make you jump in your seat. As for me, I just wanted to walk out.

P.S. Don't forget to check out the Movie Reviews community group if you want to weigh in about your own weekend film picks.

Which SNL Host Are You Most Excited About?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:00:06 -0700

Love her or hate her, Megan Fox is unavoidable these days, and we'll see her yet again tonight hosting the season premiere of Saturday Night Live. Most of you aren't that psyched to see her flex her comedic muscles, but the great thing about SNL is that there's always a new host just around the corner. Ryan Reynolds, Drew Barrymore, and Gerard Butler will follow Fox this season, so tell me - which of these hosts are you most excited about?

Movie Preview: Gerard Butler in Gamer

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:30:53 -0700

Labor Day weekend is still technically Summer, and Gamer, set for release September 4 and starring Gerard Butler, looks like a total Summer action flick. Its concept is kind of disturbing - set in the future, people play a video game called "Slayers" where they manipulate real-life prisoners in battle. Of course, the "soldiers," led by Butler, feel like slaves and it's clear that it's only a matter of time before they break out of the game.

It's a relief to see Butler back in action mode, rather than in half-baked rom-coms, but I'm more intrigued by Michael C. Hall as the eccentric billionaire who thought up the "Slayers" game. Check out that Southern-fried accent! Ludacris, Kyra Sedgwick, and Amber Valletta also star.

To see the trailer, just read more.

Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

Movie Preview: Foxx, Butler in Law Abiding Citizen

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:30:57 -0700

After starring in the romantic comedy The Ugly Truth this Summer, Gerard Butler is doing a complete about-face with Law Abiding Citizen. In the movie, Butler plays "a man who, 10 years after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered, returns to extract justice from the assistant district attorney [Foxx] who prosecuted the case against their killers. His vengeance threatens not only the man who allowed mercy to supersede justice, but also the system and the city that made it so."

It looks like a fairly generic thriller about revenge, but I'll probably still be curious to see how it all plays out. I'll give it a shot when it opens Oct. 16. To check out the preview, read more.

The Ugly Truth: A Misogynistic Mess

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:30:14 -0700

When reviewing The Ugly Truth, it's impossible to ignore what Katherine Heigl had to say in 2007 about her film Knocked Up:

"It paints the women as shrews, as humorless and uptight, and it paints the men as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys. It exaggerated the characters, and I had a hard time with it, on some days. I’m playing such a b*tch; why is she being such a killjoy? Why is this how you’re portraying women? Ninety-eight percent of the time it was an amazing experience, but it was hard for me to love the movie."

For a very similar reason, it was hard for me to love The Ugly Truth.

The ugly truth about The Ugly Truth is that it's, well, ugly. At its core, the film is a love story that tries to prove that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. What it actually succeeds at is much more sleazy, belaboring the point that men only want sex (read: women who eat hot dogs seductively) and women only want love (read: men who drink red wine and prefer cats to dogs). You don't have to be Katherine Heigl to find these stereotypes offensive.

To dig a little deeper, read more.

These types of movies aren't always bad. When Harry Met Sally became a modern classic with its examination of differences between the sexes. But that movie does so smartly - it's more subtle, more nuanced, more quaint. And while When Harry Met Sally has its fair share of risqué content (who could forget the infamous deli scene?), it's tame compared to what we see in The Ugly Truth. Case in point: this scene. It's almost a carbon copy of the notorious Meg Ryan performance, except this time the leading lady is actually climaxing at a table because her vibrating underwear is being controlled by a child with a remote. Classy.

Beyond being offensive, the movie is just boringly predictable. If you've seen the trailer, you've likely figured out the entire plot. Not to mention which, that two-minute clip is actually better than the film! The acting isn't the problem here: Heigl and Gerard Butler are great in their roles, as are many of the supporting characters. The two leads carry the film easily - it's just not a film worth carrying. Frankly, they should have known better.

I can't wait to see what Katherine Heigl has to say about this in the future.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

How Well Do You Know Gerard Butler?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:30:09 -0700

Gerard Butler has quickly become one of Hollywood's rising stars, but he's more than just a pretty face. He's proved his range with the variety of characters he's portrayed over the years, trademarking that swoon-worthy smirk in the process. His new movie, The Ugly Truth, hits theaters today, and I thought it would be fun to gear up for the romantic comedy with a little quiz all about Gerard.

Take the quiz

Watch, Pass, TiVo or Rent: The Ugly Truth

PopSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:30:15 -0700

This Friday we'll see if Katherine Heigl can add another hit romantic comedy to an impressive resume (that already includes Knocked Up and 27 Dresses) when The Ugly Truth hits theaters. Heigl stars as a TV show producer who squares off against the network's hot new relationship correspondent (Gerard Butler). They squabble over courtship ideals - which of course only puts their obvious chemistry and attraction to each other on display.

So, are you ready for a break from Summer's explosive blockbusters and set to take in a little romance at the theater? Or will you hold off on making the decision on this one until the movie is on TV or DVD?

One-sheet courtesy of Sony Pictures

Buzz News Roundup, 12/10

BuzzSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:30:37 -0800

ABC will show Wipeout opposite the Super Bowl. - The Hollywood Reporter
Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler are in negotiations to star together in an untitled comedic bounty hunter movie. - ComingSoon
Five people, including Martha Plimpton, have joined the cast of Matthew Perry's Showtime pilot. - Zap2it
Kiss has decided to hit the studio next year to record its first new album since 1998's Psycho Circus. - Billboard
And speaking of circuses, Britney Spears's album topped the charts this week, making it her fifth No. 1 album. - Billboard
John C. Reilly has signed on to play the love interest to Marisa Tomei's character in an untitled comedy. Jonah Hill will play Tomei's son who comes between the two lovebirds. - Variety
A commencement speech by David Foster Wallace will be turned into a book. - New York Times
Keanu Reeves will play a samurai swordsman in the epic period film 47 Ronin. - ComingSoon

Movie Preview: Gerard and Katherine in The Ugly Truth

BuzzSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:30:09 -0800

As you can see from this helpful poster, men and women are different. So different that when a "romantically challenged" woman (Katherine Heigl) can't seem to find love, a chauvinistic (though incredibly handsome) buffoon (Gerard Butler) is just the person to instruct her on how to attract a man.

The trailer for The Ugly Truth, a romantic comedy (presumably) about opposites attracting, is actually more amusing than its flimsy premise would have you believe. Butler is usually charming onscreen - even when his character is a total jerk - and while I may be alone in this opinion, I actually really like Heigl in roles like this one. The Ugly Truth opens April 3. To check out the new trailer and let me know what you think, read more.

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