BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 7/17

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:30:36 -0700

Latest Twilight news: Australian actor Xavier Samuel has been cast as Riley, the first new role to be cast for Eclipse. - Hollywood Reporter's Risky Biz
Ed Helms will follow The Hangover by playing a "sad-sack insurance agent" in the comedy Cedar Rapids. - ComingSoon
John Goodman is returning to the small screen for The Station, a new CIA comedy series directed by David Wain and produced by Ben Stiller. - The Hollywood Reporter
The latest Harry Potter movie cast a $104 million spell over worldwide box offices during its first day in theaters, setting a new record. - Reuters
NBC has picked up Persons Unknown, a drama series from Christopher McQuarrie, the Oscar-winning writer of The Usual Suspects. - Reuters
Michael Hirst, creator of The Tudors, has been hired to adapt Bernard Cornwell's best-seller Agincourt, all about Nicholas Hook, the humble archer who fought the French alongside Henry V in 1415. - ComingSoon
Patrick Dempsey will play a race-car driver in a film adaptation of the novel The Art of Racing in the Rain. - Variety
Former Shark actress Sarah Carter has joined the cast of CSI: NY as a regular. - The Hollywood Reporter

Sarandon, Goodman Join Pacino in HBO's Dr. Kevorkian Movie

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:30:54 -0700

HBO Films' biopic of Jack Kevorkian, You Don't Know Jack, already has its Dr. Kevorkian in Al Pacino. Now Pacino has castmates in Susan Sarandon and John Goodman. The biopic is loosely based on the book Between the Dying and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian's Life and the Battle to Legalize Euthanasia. Goodman will play one of the authors of the book, Noel Nicol, Kevorkian's friend and co-worker whose "medical training as a corpsman and laboratory technician enabled him to assist Kevorkian on many occasions, while his laboratory supply company often provided materials for Kevorkian's efforts."

Meanwhile, Susan Sarandon will play Hemlock Society activist Janet Good "who becomes one of Jack's staunchest supporters, working side by side with him to make humane suicide available to the terminally ill and suffering. After she is herself diagnosed with terminal cancer, she avails herself of Kevorkian's services, choosing her own time to die, surrounded by her friends and loved ones."

Sarandon and Goodman already starred together in last year's Speed Racer, though this project will obviously be quite the drastic departure from that one. It is good to see great actors getting some substantial roles, though I'm awaiting this particular project with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety.

Are you interested in seeing a Dr. Kevorkian biopic?

Movie Preview: Deschanel and Dano in Gigantic

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:45:51 -0800

This trailer for the movie Gigantic may not be the cutest Zooey Deschanel trailer I've seen recently (that would probably be the one for her recent Sundance film) but it’s definitely pretty cute. Gigantic features a romantic pairing that, interestingly, I reported on a year ago almost to the day: Paul Dano (just a few years after Little Miss Sunshine, he's all growed up and playing a man) and Zooey Deschanel. Dano plays Brian, a mattress store employee who hopes to adopt a baby, and Deschanel plays Happy, a woman who falls asleep on one of his mattresses and interrupts his normal little life. John Goodman seems completely lovable as Happy’s overprotective father. It really warms my heart to see John Goodman playing the adorable dad in so many movies recently. He’s just so believable in these roles.

Gigantic opens April 3, and you can check out that cute trailer I mentioned if you read more.

Source

Confessions of a Shopaholic: Worth Every Penny

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:30:21 -0800

The irony of releasing a movie about shopping right as the nation's economy is flailing is not lost on many. Confessions of a Shopaholic could have probably gone in one of two ways: Exacerbating the general sense of frustration and helplessness, or providing us with a fun, satisfying escapist's jaunt. Thankfully, it's pure escapism - and not just because of the script, which is surprisingly tight, or the editing which makes the narrative clip along briskly, rarely dwelling in sentimentality. No, this movie is wonderful, happy escapism largely because of Isla Fisher in the role of Becky Bloomwood: Bumbling, adorable, joyous shopper extraordinaire.

Fisher plays Rebecca Bloomwood, a journalist with an intense shopping habit. Like a drug addict or alcoholic, she literally appears to have no restraint when it comes to spending money - even when she is thousands of dollars in debt. Her practical friend Suze (Krysten Ritter) tries to help her rethink her financial situation, but Becky's addiction runs deep and it's going to take a great deal to make her hit rock bottom. The stakes are raised when Becky ends up working at a financial magazine - with a dashing cutie of a boss, Luke (Hugh Dancy) - and receives acclaim for being able to explain money matters in layman's terms. But as she gains more fame, an ornery debt collector (Robert Stanton) is hot on her trail, harassing her about her debts and posing a threat to her new image as a sensible financial writer. You'll have to see the film (and I hope you do!) for all of the funny storylines, but for more of my take, read more.

While I enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's novels as silly fluff, I wasn't always very sympathetic toward Becky, and at times I didn't even really like her. But it's impossible not to like Isla's Becky. Even when she's being ridiculous, even when you know full well that her debt crises are disturbingly stupid in comparison to the challenges facing families across the nation right this minute (and challenges they didn't willingly bring upon themselves, as Becky has) - still Becky earns our sympathy with her well-intentioned silliness and her big, teary eyes. Indeed, she is often endearingly naïve - but thankfully, she doesn't stay that way forever. In a scene in which Luke buys Becky a fan, she sifts through the fans with a childlike excitement, trying to decide on one. It's cute - she's so cute - but in this film, at last, childlike behavior has consequences when you're a grown woman. Contrary to what so many movies (particularly modern films aimed at a young female audience) would have us believe, women actually aren't children, and shouldn't be treated as such.

This is the most refreshing difference between this movie and others that are similarly billed - there is at least some recognition that shopping can be meaningless, or an indication of a deeper problem. That it can be a problem at all is a new and shocking concept for this kind of movie. In other similar films there's a smugness, or defiance about the idea of overspending (the kind that's far beyond just treating oneself occasionally), as though there's always a way to excuse it. Finally, here's a story that sheds a humorous light on it, showing how absurd and truly empty it can be.

What's more, there's way more love (and there's more to love) in this movie's "labels and love" theme. Becky earnestly and deeply loves to shop. She visibly enjoys it. Instead of just a montage of wedding dresses for the sole purpose of listing off a bunch of fancy names, there's Becky's lit-up face, her ecstasy at finding wonderful things and buying them. We see how outrageous this can be, instead of the actual suggestion that buying expensive stuff is something we should want to do all the time.

There is also the character of Becky's best friend, Suze, providing a sensible contrast to Becky's blithe ignorance of all things financial. Suze acts as the straight man in many ways, and I found myself grateful for a female voice of reason (and a strong, funny voice of reason, too - not that of the "unattractive," grumpy, manless friend, a device that might (maybe? Hopefully?) be retired for now). Not all women are psychopaths who would physically harm another woman to get a sale; look at the reasonable Suze. But Becky is that hysterical label-hungry woman at times and it's funny to watch. At long last, there is some self-awareness in this kind of story. It's satirical, and it's about damn time.

And still, even as we recognize that we're laughing at Becky's absurd hijinks and over-the-top addiction to the shopper's high, we can't disparage her. She's too damn lovable! Sure, she's materialistic, but she's also vibrantly warm, loyal and pulsing with a bright light. There's so much more to her than just the constant buying of stuff, and by the end of the movie, to our great satisfaction, she learns that, too.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Buzz News Roundup, 7/30

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:30:46 -0700

The Hollywood Reporter has news that CBS will remake the 1970s cop series The Streets of San Francisco.
ComingSoon reports that Guillermo del Toro is producing a remake of the horror-thriller telefilm Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.
After a legal battle, John Goodman is back on board for the medieval drama Pope Joan, Variety writes.
Speaking of legal battles, the New York Daily News has an update on the Project Runway proceedings - including the shocker that Tim Gunn didn't get paid for the first season!
Alicia Keys will sing the next James Bond theme song, which was written by Jack White, E! reports.
Miley Cyrus's album Breakout debuted at the top of the charts this week, reports Variety.
In other remake news, The Hollywood Reporter writes that ABC has won the rights to remake the French comedy Do This, Don't Do That.
Josh Lucas will star in the Showtime pilot Possible Side Effects, Zap2it reports.

Source

Speed Racer: One Long Hangover

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:31:25 -0700

My eyeballs hurt. My head hurts. I feel tired. Watching Speed Racer has me feeling all the nastiness of a hangover but without any of the hard-partying fun. I tried coming up with other analogies for the experience of seeing this nauseating, candy-colored whirlpool of a movie, with most of my attempts having to do with sugar, dizziness and a resultant sad, empty feeling, but it appears that most other reviews have already done the legwork in this regard.

Some of the descriptions with which I most heartily agree include the following:

From MSNBC's Alonso Duralde:
"Imagine someone pouring hot, melted Starburst candies into your corneas, and you just begin to approximate the experience of Speed Racer, an ice-cream headache of a movie."
From The New Yorker's Anthony Lane:
"The entire movie, indeed, is what Tom Wolfe would call a Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, complete with achingly blue skies, customized deserts, fantastical mountains, and everything from Goodman’s shirt to Ricci’s fingernails daubed in lollipop hues; it makes the world of Pee-wee Herman look like Anselm Kiefer. So how did this rainbow of velocity end up bleached of fun?"
From Film Journal International's Frank Lovece:
"It's all a bombastic mishmash that makes you feel like you've been stuffed inside a kaleidoscope and shaken for two hours."
From The New York Observer's Rex Reed:
"I can sit through just about anything, but I draw the line at two hours and 15 minutes of fuchsia vomit. To suffer through this kind of hell, movie critics deserve combat pay."
And my very favorite, from New York Magazine's David Edelstein:
"The film is like a nightmare in which you’re trapped in an arcade with screens on all sides and no eyelids."

So, you're probably getting the picture, but still, read more.

Speed Racer tells a fairly convoluted story of greed, the evils of capitalism, family and car racing. Speed is a boy (played by Emile Hirsch) whose sole interest is driving a race car. He idolized his brother Rex until Rex apparently brought shame to the sport and died in a fiery crash. Now Speed loyally races for his father's motor company and he ignites the rage of crazy corporate tycoon Royalton (Roger Allam) when he refuses to race for the Royalton company. Royalton is a shady organization that forces its racers to cheat and demolishes anyone who threatens to beat one of their own, since a Royalton loss would bring down Royalton stock value. See? There is a whole subplot about stocks! I'm not even a kid and I was so bored by so much of this film.

The performances are more or less fine (I think?) given the situation, though the actors often appear to be cracking under the immense strain to breathe real life into a world that literally doesn't exist around them. Clocking in at two hours and 15 minutes, this assault on the senses is way too long to hold the brief attention span of a child, and it's frankly just not enjoyable for adults. So, aside from the visuals (which are cool for about twenty minutes, but what to do with the last 115?), I frankly can't recommend seeing this movie. There's just no point.

To see the trailer and more videos from Speed Racer, check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Buzz News Roundup, 3/5

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:31:00 -0800

Though she seems slightly young for the role, Joan Cusack will be playing the mother to Isla Fisher's character in the Shopaholic movie, Variety writes. John Goodman has been cast as her dad.
Allison Janney will voice a character in Fox's proposed animated series The Pitts, Zap2it reports.
Paris Hilton will star as herself on My Name is Earl when the show returns April 3 with a one-hour episode, the Associated Press reports.
The CBS '70s-set swinger drama Swingtown will premiere in May, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Janet Jackson's new album topped this week's charts, Billboard reports.
According to Variety, Away From Her and Eastern Promises were the big winners at Canada's big award ceremony, the Genies.

Source

Trippy New Trailer For Speed Racer

BuzzSugar — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:30:00 -0800

I have to say, Emile Hirsch was totally right when he told me during our interview that the Wachowski siblings' high-octane family action movie Speed Racer would be "pretty kooky. Pretty groovy. Very psychedelic." Indeed, the new trailer for the film, in theaters May 9, looks like a candy-colored trip. I got a little dizzy watching it, but it's also pretty darn cool looking.

To make things more interesting, the cast is awesome, from Susan Sarandon to Matthew Fox to John Goodman. I'm not too precious about the old Speed Racer cartoon series, so I'll be curious to find out how the Wachowski siblings have updated it for modern moviegoers. To check out the crazy trailer for Speed Racer, read more

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 8/29

BuzzSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:29:15 -0700

Scott Baio will be back for another year on VH1, despite being neither single nor 45 by then, Zap2it reports.
Jon Bon Jovi will produce a film adaptation of the Jessica Blank book Almost Home, Variety reports.
"Army Wives," "Making the Band" and "Big Love" all had their best ratings of the season for their finales on Sunday, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
ComingSoon brings us news that John Goodman will provide the voice of Paul Bunyan in the CG-animated family adventure Bunyan & Babe.
The New York Times reports on the death of Hilly Kristal, founder of legendary New York punk club CBGB.
The LA Times examines Hollywood's love for the Black Best Friend.
According to ComingSoon, Heather Locklear will guest star on "Rules of Engagement" this season.
Say Anything and Hellogoodbye will headline the first MySpace Music Tour, Billboard reports.
It will be a "Seinfeld" reunion when Jason Alexander guest-stars on "The New Adventures of Old Christine," E! reports.

Photo courtesy of VH1

Recast "Roseanne" and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:32:09 -0700

Every 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!

For this week's challenge, let's take a look at "Roseanne," a TV family that got much closer than most to portraying real life. If you could recast this lovable, working class family with new actors, who would you choose to play snarky Roseanne and her crew of kids? What about Roseanne's husband Dan and her sister Jackie?

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, August 7, 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:
Roseanne (Roseanne Barr)
Dan (John Goodman)
D.J. (Michael Fishman)
Darlene (Sara Gilbert)
Becky (Alicia Goranson/Sarah Chalke)
Jackie (Laurie Metcalf)

The BuzzSugar t-shirt

Source