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What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:30:59 -0800

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores. So I take a spin through each week's music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

Live and well: You know who I haven't been able to catch live in a while? My Morning Jacket. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that iTunes has a special live performance EP that was recorded at The Palms in Las Vegas. I love hearing songs like "Tonight I Want to Celebrate With You" live, and there's even an unreleased track included titled "Dear Wife" (it's pretty!).

B.I.G. is back: The Notorious B.I.G biopic will hit theaters this week (stay tuned for my review) and today the flick's soundtrack is out. The album includes rare recordings of songs from Biggie's demo tape given to Bad Boy Records including "Microphone Murderer" and "Guaranteed Raw." There's also a remix of "One More Chance" that features Biggie's son Christopher (who also appears in the movie) rapping along with his dad - adorable and heartbreaking.

One more up next so read more.

File under spooky: Fever Ray is the name of the solo effort by Karin Dreijer Andersson who is better known as one half of the Swedish duo The Knife. Her album features a seriously spooky track titled "If I Had a Heart" (the video is one of the creepiest things ever) and a song I've listened to twice already, "Seven." She's not for everyone, but it's definitely something a little different to check out.

First Look: Notorious

BuzzSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:30:03 -0700

There's a teaser trailer for the Notorious B.I.G. biopic making the rounds lately, and I kinda like it. The music is great, there's a grandly dramatic, dangerous tone to the whole thing, appropriately. It starts out soft and low and builds to a flashy finish.

After an exhaustive search, the filmmakers and Biggie's mother Voletta Wallace cast Brooklyn rapper Jamal "Gravy" Woolard for the title role last March. Other cast members include Angela Bassett as Biggie's mother, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, and Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur. Notorious opens Jan. 16, 2009. To check out the teaser, read more.

Brooklyn Rapper Chosen to Play Notorious B.I.G. in Biopic

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:30:37 -0800

Last summer I posted about the interesting way filmmakers were casting the Notorious B.I.G. biopic: via Internet submissions. Apparently the folks behind the project felt that Hollywood lacked good choices for the role, and opened up auditions to the world wide web in the hopes of finding someone more authentic than a big-name star. At first I thought this might be more of a publicity stunt than a sincere search for the right fit to portray Biggie, but through this process they actually appear to have found their man.

The film's producers and Biggie's mother Voletta Wallace conducted an exhaustive search auditioning thousands of men before finally choosing Brooklyn rapper Jamal 'Gravy' Woolard for the role. Wallace is thrilled with the results, and recently stated:

Finding B.I.G. was a task in itself, and I'm honored that so many young men came out to audition for the role . . . However, it was Jamal's charming personality, warm spirit, wonderful sense of humor and beautiful smile that won my heart. He is a talented and charismatic actor, and I am excited that he will bring Christopher's character to the big screen.

Set for release in January 2009, the movie will also star Angela Bassett as Biggie's mother, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, and Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur. Though there seems to be a lot of care involved in doing justice to Biggie's life story, there have been early reports of weaknesses in the script. Let's hope some strong direction and a newcomer's fresh energy will make this a film to remember.

What do you think of this project?

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Link Time! 2/26

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:31:46 -0800

Deadline Hollywood Daily talks to Tilda Swinton's agent - you know, the one with the buttocks of an Oscar.
Popwatch seeks out answers to some of our most burning questions about this year's Oscars, like what Gary Busey was thinking when he accosted Jennifer Garner.
Give Me My Remote speculates about Karen Filippelli's upcoming return to the office.
There have been plenty of actresses who have tried to cross over into music, with Scarlett Johansson and Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester being some of the most recent attempts. PopUK wants to know what you think of actors releasing albums: Yay or nay?
Vulture checked out the screenplay for the Notorious BIG. biopic - and they're not optimistic.
The TV Addict gets excited for the return of Back to You by interviewing star Patricia Heaton.
Cinematical analyzes the new poster for the Indiana Jones movie, in which Shia looks like he "has a bad feeling about this."
Want to mimic Katherine Heigl's cool decor? CasaSugar found her chandelier.

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Unknown Actor Sought to Play Notorious B.I.G. in Biopic

BuzzSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:15:32 -0700

For probably the first and last time, Notorious B.I.G. has something in common with Anne of Green Gables: Both are the central characters in a movie and both characters will be played by unknown actors found through online video submissions.

Billboard is reporting that, similar to the Anne of Green Gables casting process, filmmakers of the Notorious B.I.G. biopic will audition actors and non-actors alike via videos submitted to Foxsearchlight.com/notorious or Biggiecasting.com. Apparently, the only Hollywood type they could think of to play Notorious B.I.G. (real name Christopher Wallace) was Forest Whitaker:

"As it relates to the individual Christopher Wallace - his looks, his stature, what he represented, the swagger, the sensibility of the man - all those elements are very difficult to find, no matter where you go," [producer Wayne] Barrow said. "In the typical Hollywood world, no one came to mind outside of Forest Whitaker who could capture that essence genuinely."

However, at 46 years old, Whitaker is nearly twice the age that Wallace was when he died. Thus, they decided to seek out an "average" person for the role, someone who could get down Wallace's "swagger, his style, his energy and smile." According to Barrow, "We thought it would be best to open it up to the world and ... give somebody the opportunity to step into his shoes and fulfill their own American dream."

Wire Image/Chris Walter

Remembering "Big Poppa" - Notorious B.I.G.

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 05:01:57 -0800

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls. Though Biggie's mythic legacy and infamy have often overshadowed his talent in recent years, the frequent Diddy collaborator churned out some stellar songs. If you need a reminder, check out the new Notorious B.I.G. greatest-hits collection, which is now streaming at AOL Music. Or, to hear one of my favorite tracks, "Big Poppa," read more

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The Office, "Niagara": Best Lines of the Night, Plus Video!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:17:58 -0700

OK, I've discreetly wiped the tears from my eyes post-wedding and have to report that I was pleasantly surprised - after all the hype, The Office managed to pull off unconventional and totally touching nuptials for Jim and Pam.

The video sneak peek didn't give away the wedding surprises - or the moments of hilariousness that arose. I've put together my favorite lines of the episode here, so check them out - and for another Office water cooler, join The Office group in the community!

To see the best lines of this week, just read more.

"A three ounce fetus is calling the shots! That's so badass." - Dwight
Dwight is entranced by Pam's pregnancy, but he and the rest of the office are not exactly sympathetic. That is, until Dwight's peeled egg makes Pam barf, then Andy barf, then a full-on chain reaction barf ensues, reminiscent of the notorious scene in Stand By Me.
"Some of us have to be our own grandmother." - Angela
Angela's uptightness kills me in this episode - from her being offended by Pam's pregnancy to honking incessantly at Kevin in the office parking lot. Hilarious.
"A lot of people told me I was crazy to wait this long for a date with a girl I worked with, but I think even then I knew, I was waiting for my wife." - Jim
Obviously this line isn't funny, but it was possibly my favorite one in the whole episode. It's such a sweet, genuinely Jim thing for him to say at the rehearsal dinner and is one of those moments at any crazy wedding where you remember why you're there. Oh and it's the line that's uttered right before Jim accidentally slips that Pam is pregnant and everything comes crashing down.
"I was dancing and I did a split and I landed on my car keys in my pocket." - Andy
Andy's accident actually sets off many hilarious lines, such as "He is in my room icing his balls," Jim's "No! Let's talk for a long time," and "Andy, did I dream that you were crying through the night?"
"What else you got?!" - Erin
Meek receptionist Erin rarely gets a funny line, but her screaming at Andy to show off another dance move after he was so obviously injured is so funny and timed perfectly.
"I bought those boat tickets the day I saw that YouTube video." - Jim
Pretty sure my jaw dropped when "Forever" from the JK Wedding Entrance dance came on. It's just the kind of cheesy disaster that would befall Jim and Pam, but they've already secretly gotten married, so instead of horror, it's joy on their faces watching their co-workers and family groove down the aisle. The fact that they cut in footage from the ceremony at sea? Perfect.

Need to see that wedding dance again? Say no more!

Want even more? Check out Pam's video diary from the big day (starring Jim in his underwear!):

So, everyone's favorite colleague couple is now married, and I was not disappointed by the wedding episode at all. What did you think? Was it a fitting event for Jim and Pam?

Photo and videos courtesy of NBC