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Spike Lee vs. the Coen Bros: Valid Point or Unfair Characterization?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:30:15 -0700

The folks covering Cannes over at Cinematical highlighted some statements made by director Spike Lee about certain directors. I was specifically struck by the comment he made about Joel and Ethan Coen (who just won a batch of Oscars for No Country for Old Men):

I always treat life and death with respect, but most people don't. . . Look, I love the Coen brothers; we all studied at NYU. But they treat life like a joke. Ha ha ha. A joke. It's like, "Look how they killed that guy! Look how blood squirts out the side of his head!" I see things different than that.

While it may not be the fairest charge leveled against the Coen Brothers, I do think a discussion about the role of violence in filmmaking (and other forms of entertainment) is one that needs to take place and Lee has a point when he implies that no one is willing to ask the hard questions.

Do you agree with what Spike Lee is saying or do you think it's an unfair bin to toss the Coens into?

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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the titles below, family-friendly flicks Bee Movie and August Rush are available as well.

No Country for Old Men
If you haven't heard about No Country for Old Men, the staggering, Oscar-winning adaptation of Cormic McCarthy's novel, you might well be living under a rock. Not for those looking for warm fuzzies, this is the Coen Brothers at their best: entertaining, dark, and thought-provoking. Javier Bardem (um, how scary is he on that DVD cover?) won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Anton Chigurh, a demented serial killer whose evilness will haunt you for days. The film also stars Josh Brolin as a man on the run from Chigurh and Tommy Lee Jones a local sheriff on both of their trails.

Though the film's ending is obscure and has left many scratching their heads, I really thought it worked and I was completely entranced by the suspenseful cat-and-mouse plot. If you haven't yet seen this darn-near-perfect flick, now is your chance. Special features include a featurette about the making of the movie and one titled "Diary of A Country Sheriff."

One more release starring a beloved comedian if you read more.

Dan in Real Life
I will be the first to admit this wasn't my favorite movie of all time but like most people, I really love Juliette Binoche and Steve Carell, and I figured you may like to know that this one is out on DVD.

Dan in Real Life is about an advice columnist (Carell) raising three daughters on his own. Yet he could use some advice himself when he meets and develops "eyes" (as they say) for the beautiful Marie (Binoche) - who also happens to be Dan's brother's girlfriend. Much soul-searching over this and other life issues goes down when Marie joins a vacation with the entire extended family. One of the best things about the movie is the great music provided almost entirely by Sondre Lerche.

BuzzSugar's Must-Haves for March

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:30:26 -0800

March is that kind of in-between month that's still chilly enough to require some cozy movie nights, but also shows the promise of warm Spring and bouncing down the sidewalk, listening to good music. My March must-haves allow for all kinds of weather. To check out what I'm reading, watching and listening to this month, press "Start."

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Box Office: Semi-Pro Semi-Beats Out Competition

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:30:00 -0800

Despite earning the top spot at the box office, the predictable laughs in Will Ferrell's Semi-Pro only earned $15.3 million over the weekend. This is considered a disappointing sum, especially compared to opening weekends of other Ferrell films like Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory. Variety reports that this underwhelming performance by the basketball comedy may have been due to mediocre reviews and an R-rating.

Vantage Point was only bumped down one spot to No. 2 over the weekend followed by The Spiderwick Chronicles at No. 3. The adaptation of Buzz Book Club's February selection The Other Boleyn Girl took the fourth spot earning an estimated $8.3 million. Penelope starring Reese Witherspoon and Christina Ricci also opened this weekend coming in at No. 8 behind Jumper, Step Up 2 The Streets, and Fool's Gold.

Filling out the top ten were Oscar-nominated films No Country for Old Men and Juno.

Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema

Which Oscar-Winning Film Do You Want to See Next?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:30:00 -0800

Well, the results are in, and we now have movies that will forever be known as Oscar-winning. A lot of you said you go see the films once they're nominated, but if you didn't get to all of them before Sunday's show, maybe now's the time. Some people were so smitten with Marion Cotillard's acceptance speech that they want to rush out to see La Vie En Rose for her performance. Others want to check out There Will Be Blood so they know why everyone is talking about milkshakes. What about you? Which Oscar-winner is next on your list of must-sees?

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Box Office: Vantage Point Thrills Audiences

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

The star-studded cast of Vantage Point enjoyed the No. 1 spot at the box office this weekend earning an estimated $24 million. The biggest weekend of the year for Hollywood also helped Academy Award-nominated films, giving movies like No Country For Old Men a significant boost at the box office, Variety reports.

Jumper came in at No. 2, followed by The Spiderwick Chronicles in the third spot. The silly-funny Be Kind Rewind came in at No. 7 followed by Juno, which took in another $4.1 million this weekend. Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins slid in at No. 9 and There Will Be Blood rounded out the top 10.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

What Do You Think About the Best Picture?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:58:21 -0800

Big night for the Coen family - No Country for Old Men won for Best Picture! The movie beat out Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, and There Will Be Blood. What do you think of this win?

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What Do You Think About the Best Directors?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:51:09 -0800

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen won an Oscar for Best Director! Looks like they each received their own statue and don't have to share. They beat out Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Jason Reitman for Juno, Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton and Paul Thomas Anderson There Will Be Blood. What do you think about this win?

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What Do You Think About the Best Adapted Screenplay?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:54:17 -0800

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen just won Best Adapted Screenplay for No Country for Old Men! They beat out adaptations for Atonement, Away from Her, There Will Be Blood and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. What do you think about this win?

Photos courtesy of Miramax

Best Picture Breakdown: No Country For Old Men

BuzzSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:30:04 -0800

The wait is almost over for the 2008 Oscars, which will air on Sunday night. This week, I've been breaking down the five contenders for Best Picture, giving you the scoop on why each film could win and why it might not stand a chance. I've already examined There Will Be Blood, Michael Clayton, Atonement, and Juno. Today, I'm looking at the final nominee in the category, No Country For Old Men.

For this film, the Coen Bros. toned down their usual quirkiness to create a stark, spare thriller that creates an overwhelming feeling of dread. Adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name, the movie tells the story of a crazed killer, a man on the run, and a sheriff who desperately wants to intervene before the worst happens. It's won the most awards of any nominated movie this season by far, and it seems to be the presumptive favorite heading into Sunday's awards. But is it a sure thing? To see how I think the movie will fare in the Best Picture race, just read more.

Why It Might Win

It's the complete package. From the screenplay to the cinematography to the performances to the bold decision to not have a score, there's no weak link in No Country. Every moment seems perfectly calculated to create a particular stark, bleak, terrifying mood that stays with viewers long after they've left the theater.
It has one of the year's most memorable performances from Javier Bardem as the quietly savage murderer Anton Chigurh (not to mention one of the year's most memorable weapons, his air tank). When I left the theater after seeing the movie, my movie-going companion jokingly whispered "careful, he's still out there" - and I actually shivered. Bardem is just that convincing as a serial killer without remorse. The other actors in the movie - Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, most notably - rise to his level.
The Academy likes epics; it also likes smaller, well-told stories. This movie is both.
It's the most lauded film of the year, with a whopping 75 awards to its credit.

Why It Might Not Win

As I noted in my Juno breakdown, there's speculation that it and There Will Be Blood could split the vote, letting another film in.
There have been mixed reactions - among both critics and viewers at large - to the film's ambiguous ending, as well as its decision to skip over what could have been a major dramatic climax. While I thought both things largely worked, I'd understand if others consider them fatal flaws.
The Academy might want to be contrarian. Voters might feel that No Country has already gotten its due and turn its attention elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of Miramax