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Movie Preview: Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:36:05 -0800

The trailer for Crazy Heart notes that both stars Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal have been nominated for Oscars, and the solemn, raw tone of the film looks an awful lot like awards show bait for these two big talents. Jeff Bridges stars as Bad Blake, a grizzled, hard-livin', lovin', and drinkin' country singer/songwriter who's known for his amazing music, and Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the journalist he eventually falls for.

We don't see a ton of plot in the trailer, but the story seems like a familiar one, complete with introspection and a soft country anthem that fits the title. Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall also star in the film, which features original songs by celebrated songwriter T-Bone Burnett.

To see the trailer and predict for yourself if this is one you're going to be seeing in the Oscar race, just read more.

The Men Who Stare at Goats: Glaringly Unfocused

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

I went into The Men Who Stare at Goats with high expectations. How could a film possibly disappoint when you have the acting trifecta of George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, and Jeff Bridges? But unfortunately, while the pros work hard to generate laughs - and they do deliver at times - the film on the whole is all over the place.

Goats is based on the non-fiction book by Jon Ronson. That's right - non-fiction. The film opens with the line, "More of this is true than you would believe," which is a nice reminder, because the plot is intentionally convoluted. At first, this far-fetched quality makes the story feel fun and quirky, but as time goes on, it gets mucked up in its own self-aware confusion and starts to feel stale. To see what I mean, read more.

McGregor stars as the movie's hero, Bob Wilton, a small-town journalist whose wife has just left him for his editor. So Bob decides to do what most men do when they're heartbroken - he goes to war. Or at least he tries to, but he only gets as far as a hotel pool bar in Kuwait. That's where he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a former "Jedi warrior" with the U.S. Army - or simply put: soldiers with superpowers. (Yes, note the coincidence: McGregor and Jedis.)

Lyn begins to tell Bob about the former founder of his unit, Bill Djanjo (Jeff Bridges), a vet who goes to find himself after Vietnam in the drug and orgy, peace and love '70s. Armed with a new, zen persona, Bill returns to the Army to share his more peaceful point of view and take charge of a new special force that uses mind control over traditional weapons. That's when Lyn comes in. As a new recruit, Lyn is exceptionally psychic, and he quickly gets a reputation for being able to find anyone, including terrorists, strictly using his mind.

So Bob and Lyn begin on a journey into Iraq. Where they're headed, Lyn's not exactly sure. He just assumes he'll find it, thanks to his extra sixth sense. As for the audience, we're sort of in the same boat - along for the ride without any real direction.

The movie tries to comment on the inhumanity (and stupidity) of war, but has a difficult time making its point alongside the slapstick elements. The actors are great with comedic timing and deliver one-liners to entertain the audience in many moments, but that was ultimately the only aspect that held my interest. (That and Jeff Bridges's sweet hippie braided hair.) What had the potential to be a funny, original story or a satire instead starts to feel boring. The characters wander aimlessly, the flashbacks float in and out, and without a clear focus, you stop caring. And that's not an easy feat where Clooney's usually concerned.

Buzz News Roundup, 9/11

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:30:37 -0700

Jeff Bridges is in talks to star in a Coen Brothers remake of True Grit. - Variety
Abigail Breslin will star in Janie Jones, as a girl abandoned by her mother at a rock concert. - The Hollywood Reporter
Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Jason Bateman will reunite for a Hancock sequel. - Variety
Texts From Last Night will be made into a TV show. - GeekSugar
Edward Norton will guest-star on ABC's Modern Family. - Entertainment Weekly
Barry Manilow's music is being made into a romantic comedy. - Variety
Casey Wilson dispelled the rumors that SNL fired her for being fat. - Zap2it
Members of Nirvana are not pleased with Kurt Cobain's appearance in Guitar Hero 5. - Billboard
Augusten Burroughs's novel, SelleVision, is being adapted into a one-hour comedy for NBC. - The Hollywood Reporter

Movie Preview: Timberlake and Bridges in The Open Road

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:30:50 -0700

Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake make a pretty cute father-son pair in The Open Road, a road trip movie that also stars Kate Mara and Mary Steenburgen. It looks predictable (a mismatched pair is forced to hit the road together and after some wacky adventures they learn to respect each other!), but the cast is still rather adorable. Bridges seems to be doing much of the heavy lifting, though Timberlake seems to do alright as the average guy who has to deal with his estranged (and strange) father.

I won't be rushing out to see this one when it opens Aug. 28, but it'll probably be a fine rental somewhere down the line. What do you think? To take a look at the trailer, read more.

Source

Buzz In: Who's Your Favorite Movie President?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:30:57 -0700

Sometimes movie presidents are so much more fun than real life presidents. With a team of talented screenwriters and directors behind them, they often make the kind of grand, inspirational speeches that can be pretty rare in the real world. And they seem to get away with a lot of stuff, too.

Take Kevin Kline's character in the movie Dave, for example. He isn't even supposed to be president, he's just a doppelganger subbing in, which is totally against all the rules and stuff. But you know what? He has a good heart, and that's what matters in movie presidents.

Of course, things get all meta and mind warpy when you start to think about biopic movie presidents, but they count, too, for these purposes. So, who is your favorite movie president? Do you agree with a recent poll that Harrison Ford in Air Force One is the best? I personally like Jeff Bridges (pictured) as President Jackson Evans in The Contender. He nominates a - gasp! - female vice president and all hell breaks loose.

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How to Lose Friends and Alienate People: Not Alienating, Just Not That Funny

BuzzSugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:00:53 -0700

It’s hard to care too much about someone as obnoxious as Sidney Young, the main character of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, played by Simon Pegg. Having a main character as unlikable as Sidney is one of the key things that doesn't work in it. There are some things that do work - a few funny bits, some great comedic performances - but they don't quite make up for the experience of watching the movie as a whole, which ends up being just kinda "meh."

The character of Sidney Young is based on the real Toby Young, who wrote the memoir on which this movie is based. In the film, Sidney is a cynical British writer who is obsessed with the notion of celebrity while simultaneously finding it ridiculous. He puts out a magazine in England called Post Modern Review, full of snarky pieces about famous people. Amused by this, Clayton Harding (Jeff Bridges), editor of Sharps magazine in New York offers Sidney a job and the bumbling, uncouth Sidney sets off for glamorous New York. Once at Sharps, however, Sidney discovers that he's expected to write only "safe" celebrity profiles, and that his sarcasm and brutal honesty are unacceptable. Thus, Sidney struggles to succeed at Sharps - as a writer, but also as a boorish guy in a glamorous magazine world - without relinquishing his identity altogether. Of course, there's a love story tossed in, too, so for more on that and everything else, read more.

At Sharps, Sidney meets Alison Olsen (Kirsten Dunst), a droll aspiring novelist who has no problem calling Sidney out on his impertinence. They often engage in that sarcastic banter that is actually flirtatious, but Sidney's not interested in Alison because he's too busy drooling over the beautiful young starlet Sophie Maes (Megan Fox). This storyline is so obvious and predictable, I was certain it would surprise me in the end but alas, there's not a ton of surprise at the end of this movie in general.

I really like Simon Pegg, and his uniquely awesome comedic abilities sometimes save the day here, especially in the beginning when it's funny to watch someone so socially inept act inappropriately at all times. It can be refreshing to see Sidney call out the pretentious charade of American celebrity, but we don't really root for him to succeed because he's kind of a jackass. And then, when he starts to really try to succeed, we certainly don't want him to do so by selling out and writing the crap that Clayton insists he write. But then everything you could have predicted (but didn't truly want to have happen) happens - including the incredibly generic rom-com stuff - and it's a total disappointment. Like the pitiful kid at the party, the colorful balloon of the movie deflates, and we’re left disappointed and sleepy. But then again, after a nap we'll probably forget the entire thing ever happened.

Photos courtesy of MGM

Clooney Assembles the Men Who Stare at Goats

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:30:37 -0700

George Clooney is producing and starring in Men Who Stare at Goats, based on the book by Guardian columnist Jon Ronson. The cast is shaping up nicely, with a few more solid actors joining Clooney: Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor and Jeff Bridges. The Hollywood Reporter has more about the project:

Goats is set in Iraq and centers on Bob Wilton (McGregor), a desperate reporter who stumbles upon the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady (Clooney), who claims to be a former secret U.S. military psychic soldier who was re-activated post-9/11.

Goats chronicles the two men's travels through Iraq and offers glimpses into the supposedly real secret Army unit tasked with creating soldiers with paranormal powers.

Bridges will play Bill Django, the founder of the psychic soldier program and Lyn's mentor. Spacey will play Larry Hooper, a former psychic soldier who is running a prison camp in Iraq.

Normally I'm not quite so intrigued to see military movies but the paranormal/psychic element of this story - and the fact that it's based on a work of non-fiction - has seriously piqued my interest. What do you think? Curious? Or would you go see it anyway since Clooney and McGregor are in it?

Source and source

The Official Trailer: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:35:34 -0700

"Based on the true story of a real idiot."

The teaser for How to Lose Friends and Alienate People was kinda "meh" and the international trailer was downright odd. Now we have the "official" trailer for us Americans who are curious about this movie starring Simon Pegg, Megan Fox, Jeff Bridges, and Kirsten Dunst, and I have to say it is definitely an improvement. I didn't necessarily laugh at any of the moments that are supposed to be funny, but at least I can figure out what to expect from this film.

Based on the true-life story of author Toby Young, the movie looks a touch forced. Still, I adore Simon Pegg (who I recently got to interview - stay tuned for that!) and want to keep an open mind until it opens October 3.

To check out the trailer, read more.

Source

Bridges, Gyllenhaal, and Duvall Get a Little Bit Country

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:30:03 -0700

A blockbuster superhero movie can certainly get the casting directors interested: Both Jeff Bridges (Iron Man) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) will have won over critics and audiences alike come Summer's end, and now they've added another project to their schedules. Along with Robert Duvall, the two will star in a "music-based drama" based on a book by Thomas Cobb titled Crazy Heart.

The good news. . .
That cast! Love Bridges, love me some Maggie and of course Duvall is a class act, so there you go. Also, the story sounds a little generic, but I'm still curious about it. Variety has the details:

Story centers on a down-on-his-luck, alcoholic country music singer (Bridges) who is able to get his life and career back on track through his relationship and experiences with a female reporter (Gyllenhaal).

The part that makes me wonder. . .
Jeff Bridges is going to perform original songs by famed country producer T Bone Burnett in the film - but can he sing? And can he sing country music? I'm interested to see that. The movie is also being produced by CMT Films which has had a hand in the existence of Toby Keith's Beer for My Horses. So. . .yeah.

Source

Iron Man: The Most Fun Ever

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:30:22 -0700

All hail John Favreau for rescuing the Summer blockbuster! Iron Man is the most fun I've had watching a movie in a long time. Going into the screening, I was wary of a premise centered around a giant robot superhero. I figured it would be a recipe for a lot of CGI and explosions and not much else, something any old director with a giant budget can churn out this time of year. However, as soon as the first scene opened, AC/DC's "Back in Black" guitar riff filled the theater and I got my first glimpse at Robert Downey Jr.'s acerbic smirk, something told me I was wrong.

If Spider-Man's alter ego is a dweeb and Batman's Bruce Wayne is kind of a "Debbie Downer," then the human inside this iron suit, Tony Stark, brings us a new kind of superhero: the coolest cat in the room. I haven't read the Marvel comic the movie is based on, but I think the cool factor has less to do with the original character and more to do with the spin director John Favreau puts on it - along with Robert Downey Jr.'s mesmerizing and nuanced performance.

Can you tell yet that I'm excited about this film? To see what else I loved and what I thought of the other performances from Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges, read more.

Our hero Tony Stark is a brilliant manufacturing magnate who is supplying the United States government with sophisticated and deadly weapon technologies. He has seemingly bought into the party line that without these weapons the world would be thrown into chaos and his company keeps everyone safe. We get to know Stark as a ladies' man who approaches just about everything, including charges that he is responsible for a lot of the world's suffering, with a largely irreverent outlook. He's charming, witty and arrogant, and watching Downey play him during this first part is a whole lot of fun.

This isn't to say that there aren't parts that, upon reflection, are fairly preposterous, like when Stark is captured by the bad guys in the Middle East who order him to make them a weapon and instead he builds a giant robot . . . in the desert. But it's a testament to how fun (and how well-made) this movie is that I totally didn't care about the absurdity.

I know I'm not the first to point out that anyone who has observed Downey's personal ups and downs will be able to see the similarities between him and his character. It's as if someone decided to make an allegorical comic book hero based on his life. Because of this inspired casting choice, Tony Stark's personal transformation into a superhero is more than just believable - it's downright moving. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between Tony and Robert Downey Jr. when his eyes well up and he realizes he should use his life to do good things with his unique talent.

Gwyneth Paltrow is wonderful as Stark's love interest/steadfast assistant, and Terrence Howard makes a great, straightlaced sidekick - first to Stark's hard-partying self, but later as someone who tries to understand his friend's new ambition to destroy all the weapons he supplied bad guys with. And then there is Jeff Bridges, who makes a marvelous, if prototypical, villain. This mature group of supporting actors, combined with a commanding lead actor and a director who leans heavily on story (not special effects) makes this one of the best movies you'll treat yourself to this year.

For the trailer and more videos from Iron Man, check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures