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Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:30:00 -0700

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! In Little Miss Sunshine, Dwayne is unable to fly jet planes because he is _____.

Movie Night: Well-Meaning Dads

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:14:40 -0700

This week I posted my Top 10 Movie Dads - many of whom are notable for their sweetness or bravery or patience. Now for this week's Movie Night, I'm suggesting three movies in which the dads love their kids and are well-intentioned, but don't always quite cut it.

Say Anything
Before he was the grouchy cane-wielding dad on "Frasier," John Mahoney was Diane's (Ione Skye) crook dad, James, in Say Anything. He and Diane have a very special relationship, in fact, they're kind of each other's whole world. It would be intensely creepy if it weren't so cute. And, of course, we love James just as much as Diane does - up until his true actions are discovered and Diane (along with the audience) feels betrayed and disappointed. Still, even at the very end when James has hurt his daughter enormously, you can still see that he loves her more than anything. He just got a little lost.

Two more if you read more

Little Miss Sunshine
Richard (Greg Kinnear) thinks he's being a supportive father to little bespectacled Olive, giving her advice on weight management, etc. Instead, however, he's confusing her and he's on his way to damaging her self-image. He's also mildly delusional and rather insensitive toward his suicidal brother-in-law Frank (Steve Carell). In the end, of course, Richard redeems himself, and his actions finally coincide with his good intentions.

Pretty in Pink
There's a lot of love between Andie (Molly Ringwald) and her dad Jack (Harry Dean Stanton), to the point where it's a little shady. Unemployed and mostly unwashed for much of the film, Jack is like the child in his relationship with his daughter. He loves her - she seems to be all he's got - but he just can't seem to get out of bed to get a job... or to shave, for that matter. And Andie clearly loves him, too, despite his lazy, sleepy ways.

Buzz News Roundup, 3/2

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:30:20 -0800

Thankfully, the Little Miss Sunshine directors' next project won't be a sequel but a Tom Perrotta script about a sex-ed teacher, MTV News reports.
The co-executive producers on "Lost" strike a deal with ABC through 2010, according to Variety.
Also, get used to "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" - it's sticking around for a while, Zap2it reports.
Inexplicably, the new White Stripes album will be called Icky Thump, and Billboard has the details.
Anglophiles, rejoice: The BBC is creating three YouTube channels.
Who's taking over for Big Pussy on "Dancing with the Stars"? Why, it's Cliff from "Cheers," People reports.
Pitchfork has info on the next Bjork album, Volta, which will drop in early May.
Peyton Manning will be hosting "Saturday Night Live" this month, says the Associated Press.
Drastically shifting gears from the controversial play "Equus," Daniel Radcliffe signs on for the final two Harry Potter films, Reuters reports.

What to Netflix: 2007 Oscar Winners

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:00:08 -0800

Now that we know who won at the 2007 Oscars, a lot of you are probably looking to catch up on your Oscar-movie viewing. Well, you're in luck, because most of the winning movies that aren't still in theaters are out on DVD and just waiting to be added to your Netflix queue. Here's a look at all of the Oscar-winning films now available for home viewing.

The Departed
Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, Achievement in Film Editing, Best Director for Martin Scorsese, and Best Picture

Trust me: Just watch The Departed once, and you'll understand what all the fuss is about. The fast-paced drama isn't terribly deep: A good cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover with a mobster (Jack Nicholson), who has his own man (Matt Damon) inside the force. But the intricately woven plot and masterful performances, particularly by supporting cast members like Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin, prove that this movie deserves all of the Oscars it won.

Little Miss Sunshine
Oscars: Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin

Skillfully mixing pathos with absurd comedy, Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of one family's quest to get bespectacled Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine competition on time. In an astounding cast (Alan Arkin, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear), Steve Carrell is perhaps the most impressive as a suicidal Proust scholar forced to live with his sister's bizarre family. As a special bonus, the DVD features four alternate endings to the movie.

Four more, so read more

Babel
Oscars: Best Score

Though it didn't take home the Best Picture trophy, Babel has gotten a lot of buzz for its universal themes and good-looking cast. Set in three continents and featuring five languages, the film follows four different stories revolving around the aftermath of a shooting in the Moroccan desert. The strong performances, compelling story, and sharp cinematography make it a must-see. For a more in-depth look at Babel, check out my review.

An Inconvenient Truth
Oscar: Best Documentary and Best Song

He may have lost the presidential election, but Al Gore can now say he's the only candidate to have ever won an Oscar. Gore's pet project tackles the important issue of climate change with compelling facts and a great soundtrack. Like a great documentary should, An Inconvenient Truth will make you care about the film's concerns while also keeping you thoroughly entertained.

Marie Antoinette
Oscar: Best Costumes

The bright, beautiful period clothes featured in Sofia Coppola's stylized depiction of the young Marie Antoinette are impressive enough to warrant a viewing of the film. Kirsten Dunst stars as Marie, the naive Austrian princess who became the Queen of France at age 19. The film follows her betrothal to Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman) at age 15, through her reign as Queen and the eventual fall of Versailles.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Oscar: Achievement in Visual Effects

While I can't recommend this movie for its compelling plot, the second film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has plenty of eye candy, including star Johnny Depp and astounding special effects. (It was also nominated for art direction.) In this well-conceptualized fantasy world, you get everything from regal, tall-masted ships to creepy sea monsters and nautical costumes, all of which help give the special-effects-heavy movie a unified look and feel.

Little Miss Sunshine and Half Nelson Have Spirit (Awards)

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:00:17 -0800

The big ol' Oscars get all of the attention, but the Film Independent Spirit Awards are the a nice little antidote to all of the Academy Awards' grandness. Held on the Saturday night before the Oscars, this year's ceremony honored one major Best Picture nominee (Little Miss Sunshine) and some great little pictures that could, like Half Nelson. Here's a list of the 2007 Spirit Awards winners.

BEST FEATURES
Little Miss Sunshine

BEST DIRECTOR
Jonathon Dayton & Valerie Faris, Little Miss Sunshine

BEST SCREENPLAY
Jason Reitman, Thank You For Smoking

To see the rest, read more

BEST FIRST FEATURE
Sweet Land

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(For the Best Feature made for under $500,000)
Quinceañera

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Frances McDormand, Friends with Money

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Shareeka Epps, Half Nelson

BEST MALE LEAD
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillermo Navarro, Pan’s Labyrinth

BEST FOREIGN FILM
The Lives of Others

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Road to Guantanamo

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Best Picture Breakdown: Little Miss Sunshine

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:08:01 -0800

From now until the 2007 Oscars air this Sunday night, I'll be breaking down each Best Picture nominee and giving you the scoop on why certain movies might win and why others probably don't have a chance. Yesterday, we looked at Letters from Iwo Jima, and today's featured movie is Little Miss Sunshine.

This film is a classic case of an indie darling that became a surprise mainstream hit. The movie's heartwarming charm tinged with grim reality makes it hard to resist, and the widespread appeal was most likely a factor in its Best Picture nomination. For a look at Little Miss Sunshine's chances in the Best Picture race, read more

Why It Might Win

The well-crafted story about family quirkiness and solidarity appeals to most everyone. It's refreshing to see a family that is equally, or likely more bizarre than your own.
The screenplay is remarkably thoughtful in terms of plot, character development, and dialogue. The story itself has it all: drama, suspense, pathos, dark comedy, intellectual comedy, and physical comedy. That could, however, simply score Sunshine a screenwriting award.
It is supremely well-cast. Abigail Breslin is guileless in her performance, achieving things many adult actors never have. Alan Arkin is always enjoyable, as is Toni Collette. Greg Kinnear is spot-on, and Paul Dano turns teen angst into something not entirely cartoonish. Steve Carrell is, of course, many peoples' new favorite comedic actor, which makes it particularly painful to see him so darkly sad. As an ensemble, they basically kick ass.

Why It Might Not Win

It's way too feel-good for the Academy, which may simply recognize its merits with the Best Picture nomination and stop there.
While it's impressive that these first-time filmmakers created such a successful movie, they're still not nearly as accomplished as some of the other big guns behind the other Best Picture nominees.
The Academy tends to favor films that are either "important" (like Million Dollar Baby or Crash) or visually spectacular (Lord of the Rings, Gladiator). Little Miss Sunshine is rather homespun in comparison.

Chances of Winning: Slim

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We Love the Writers Guild Awards

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:52:17 -0800

As a writer, I feel particularly passionate about Hollywood writing awards, and yesterday's 2007 Writers Guild Awards ceremony suggests that one of my favorite scripts this year, Little Miss Sunshine, might really be the little movie that could when it comes to screenwriting nods at the Oscars. Held in Los Angeles and attend by Tina Fey, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Mo Rocca, the awards honored achievements for movies, TV, and radio. Here's a look at the TV and movie winners.

SCREEN WINNERS

Original Screenplay:
Little Miss Sunshine, Michael Arndt

Adapted Screenplay:
The Departed, screenplay by William Monahan; based on the movie Infernal Affairs, written by Alan Mak and Felix Chong

Documentary Screenplay:
Deliver Us from Evil, written by Amy Berg

TELEVISION WINNERS

Dramatic Series:
"The Sopranos," written by Mitchell Burgess, David Chase, Diane Frolov, Robin Green, Andrew Schneider, Matthew Weiner, Terence Winter; HBO

Comedy Series:
"The Office," written by Steve Carell, Jennifer Celotta, Greg Daniels, Lee Eisenberg, Brent Forrester, Ricky Gervais, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Stephen Merchant, B.J. Novak, Michael Schur, Gene Stupnitsky; NBC

To see the rest, read more

New Series:
"Ugly Betty," written by Veronica Becker, Oliver Goldstick, Silvio Horta, Sarah Kucserka, Sheila Lawrence, Cameron Litvack, Myra Jo Martino, Jim Parriott, Marco Pennette, Dailyn Rodriguez, Don Todd; ABC

Episodic Drama, One Airing Time:
"Big Love" Pilot, witten by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; HBO

Episodic Comedy, one airing time:
"Casino Night" ("The Office"), Written by Steve Carell; NBC

Long-Form Original Program:
"Flight 93," written by Nevin Schreiner; A&E

Animation, one airing time:
"The Italian Bob" ("The Simpsons"), written by John Frink; Fox

Comedy/Variety Awards, Tributes, Specials:
The National Memorial Day Concert, Written by Joan Meyerson; PBS

Comedy/Variety (including talk) series:
"Saturday Night Live," Head Writers Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Andrew Steele; Writers Doug Abeles, James Anderson, Alex Baze, Liz Cackowski, Charlie Grandy, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, John Lutz, Lorne Michaels, Matt Murray, Paula Pell, Akiva Schaffer, Frank Sebastiano, T. Sean Shannon, Robert Smigel, JB Smoove, Emily Spivey, Jorma Taccone, Bryan Tucker; Additional sketches by Mike Schwartz, Kristin Gore; NBC

Daytime Serials:
"As the World Turns," written by Jean Passanante, Leah Laiman, Christopher Whitesell, Courtney Simon, Anna Cascio, Lisa Connor, Paula Cwikly, Hogan Sheffer, Judy Tate, Bettina Bradbury, Richard Culliton, Susan Dansby, Judy Donato, Josh Griffith, Elizabeth Page, Melissa Salmons, Charlotte Gibson; CBS

Children's Episodic and Specials:
Premiere ("Just for Kicks"), written by Alana Sanko; Nickelodeon

Documentary, Current Events:
The Dark Side, written by Michael Kirk; PBS Frontline

Documentary, Other:
Marie Antoinette, written by David Grubin; PBS

News - Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report:
"Remembering Lou Rawls," written by Jonathan Kaplan; CBS News

News - Analysis, Feature, or Commentary:
"Crisis Mismanagement" (America's Investigative Reports), Written by Tom M. Jennings; PBS

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2007 SAG Awards: The Winners

BuzzSugar — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:36:41 -0800

The Screen Actors Guild Awards were held Sunday night in Los Angeles, giving us more leading indicators for the Oscars plus the fun "best performance by a cast" nominees. Though most of the wins weren't surprising, I was glad to see so many of my favorite shows honored, and I think the win for Little Miss Sushine is perfectly apt. Here's a list of who snagged SAG honors.

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Helen Mirren, The Queen

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls

To see the rest, read more

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Little Miss Sunshine

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Helen Mirren, "Elizabeth I"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Laurie, "House"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
"Grey's Anatomy"

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
"The Office"

Source

Awesome Opening Title Sequences

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:00:55 -0800

I recently came across this list of the top 10 opening title sequences in movies, compiled by laboratory101.com. Granted, many of them are truly awesome: I have a particular fondness for the opening scenes of Snatch. Yet, I couldn't help noticing that they are basically all crime, horror, or gangster movies: Casino, Dawn of the Dead, Fight Club, Seven, etc. It got me thinking: Aren't there good opening sequences to movies that aren't violent?

Here are some of my picks for really well-done or entertaining opening sequences. What others can you think of?

Love Actually
I know I’ve said this before, but the footage of real people greeting each other at the airport is as heartwarming as a Kodak commercial, and even more so because it’s real.

Drop Dead Gorgeous
One of my all-time favorite films, Drop Dead Gorgeous opens with the promotional video for the Sarah Rose Cosmetics American Teen Princess Pageant, featuring "last year's host," Adam West. I particularly enjoy the programmed robot voice inserting "beautiful Mount Rose, Minnesota" to personalize the video.

To see the next three, read more

Little Miss Sunshine
A fantastic introduction to each of the family members, starting with Olive carefully studying Miss America footage.

The Wedding Singer
Adam Sandler sings "You Spin Me Right Round" while wedding guests enjoy themselves.

Legally Blonde
Yes, that's right, Legally Blonde. It may not be the most life-changing of films, but I find this first sequence silly and entertaining: images of stereotypical sorority life intermingled with shots of Elle getting ready for her date, all to the tune of "Perfect Day." Note the bottle of blonde hair dye on Elle's vanity table!

What Was Your Favorite Movie Comedy of 2006?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 05:37:38 -0800

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