BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 6/24

BuzzSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:30:39 -0700

Zac Efron will star in and executive produce an untitled "sexy thriller." - The Hollywood Reporter
Bobby Cannavale will reprise his role on Cold Case. - TV Guide
Daniel Craig is in talks to star in Dream House, a psychological thriller set up to be directed by Jim Sheridan. - ComingSoon
Simon Cowell could become TV's best-paid star, topping Oprah. - Financial Times
After a decade of saying no, John Grisham has made a movie deal for his 1999 bestselling novel The Testament. - Variety
MTV has officially picked up Audrina Patridge's new reality show. - Entertainment Weekly
Fringe has cast Meghan Markle as an "attractive, brash" junior FBI agent. - The Hollywood Reporter
Craig Robinson, Heather Graham, Johnny Knoxville, and Camilla Belle will star opposite Kevin Spacey in Father of Invention, an ensemble comedy that Spacey is independently producing. - ComingSoon
Callum Blue will be Smallville's Zod. - E! Online

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Buzz News Roundup, 12/3

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:30:17 -0800

Folk music legend Odetta has died at age 77. - AP
Shia LaBeouf will play the title role in the big screen version of John Grisham's upcoming legal thriller The Associate. - Variety
In addition to Reaper, the CW's midseason schedule includes 13: Fear Is Real. - Zap2it
Kanye West edged Guns N' Roses and Taylor Swift for the top spot on the Billboard charts. - Billboard
VH1 has picked up a matchmaking reality series from Drew Barrymore's production company. - Variety
It's possible that Kevin McKidd will star as Thor in Kenneth Branagh's film project. - ComingSoon
John Malkovich and Hugh Laurie will be the final two Saturday Night Live hosts of the year, Malkovich this weekend and Laurie on Dec. 13. - The Futon Critic

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The Informant!: Funny If You Can Focus!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:00:38 -0700

What would happen if Michael Scott were dropped into the movie Michael Clayton? If you're wondering what to expect from Steven Soderbergh's The Informant!, the visual of Michael bumbling his way through a corporate thriller is a good place to start.

The movie is campy right from the start, almost making an announcement as cheesy music plays over the neon bubble letters of the credits. There's even the rarely seen "Matt Damon IN... The Informant" - Soderbergh isn't trying to hide anything here, though the move is set in the early '90s despite the '70s ambiance. While many of the jokes hit you over the head, don't expect the key plot elements to have the same effect.

To see what I mean, just read more.

Matt Damon literally transforms himself into Mark Whitacre, the vice president of real-life lysine developing company ADM. On the surface, Whitacre fits right into the upper-middle class Midwestern stereotype; he's an overweight, mustachioed man who sits down to dinner with his wife and sons every night. In what seems to be a sudden attack of conscience, Whitacre takes it upon himself to rat out ADM's price-fixing schemes to two FBI agents (played by Scott Bakula and a straight-laced Joel McHale). The more involved Whitacre gets with the FBI, the more eager he is to help take down the company that made him rich. The agents (and the audience) quickly begin to wonder - what's in it for him?

Most of my laugh-out-loud moments came from Whitacre's inner monologue. At first his thoughts give us clues about the decisions he makes - he seems to be obsessed with John Grisham novels and conspiracy theories, so it's no surprise that he's relishing in his involvement with the FBI. As time goes on, however, his stream of consciousness shifts from wacky observations about the world at large to ways he can manipulate it to his own benefit.

Soderbergh has a solid lineup of supporting comedians (Patton Oswalt and Tony Hale also make appearances) but Matt Damon is the mastermind here. He shines through all that hair, makeup, and extra pounds to deliver a highly enjoyable performance that keeps you guessing. Damon's no stranger to comedy, but his role as Whitacre is a far cry from Stuck On You.

The movie has a sluggish start, and loses its focus towards the middle - but try not to doze off, since almost every loose end is eventually tied up. While only a manageable 108 minutes, the film still feels like it's a half hour longer than it should be. If I had been watching it at home, I may have been tempted to turn it off, which is a shame since many of the laughs and most of the excitement happens in the end.

There's fun to be had here, if you manage your expectations. This is not your typical comedy: the humor is dry, but the laughs are there - just try not to lose focus along the way.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Buzz News Roundup, 5/21

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:37:03 -0700

Variety reports that Spike Lee plans to make a feature-length documentary about Michael Jordan to premier at next year's Cannes Film Festival.
The Telegraph reports that the voice cast members of The Simpsons will receive $500,000 per episode for the next 22-episode season.
According to Hollywood Reporter, John Grisham's bestseller Playing for Pizza will be adapted for the big screen.
Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta and others have joined Michael Cera for the comedy Youth in Revolt, writes ComingSoon.
CBS will stream a number of archived television shows online, including Twin Peaks and The Love Boat, reports The Wall Street Journal.
According to Variety, there will be a Rupert Wainwright-directed indie drama titled Waco, based on the 1993 stand-off at Waco, Texas.
Janet Jackson is gearing up to do a tour, kicking off in Vancouver on September 10, Billboard writes.
Will Smith will produce a remake of France's smash hit comedy Welcome to the Sticks, Zap2It reports.
Reuters reports that Sharon Osbourne has signed on to star in VH1's reality show Rock of Love Girls: Charm School, teaching contestants "about etiquette, fashion and manners."
Zap2It has the news that John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor are in talks to join Roland Emmerich's apocalyptic thriller 2012.

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