BuzzSugar

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:30:59 PST

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 PDT

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,

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

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:30:37 PST

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?

Source

Link Time! 2/26

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:31:46 PST

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.

Source

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

BuzzSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:15:32 PDT

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 PST

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,"

Kristen Bell Reveals the Big Miracle Moment That Made Her Feel "Insignificant"

Lindsay Miller — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:06:50 PST

In Big Miracle, Kristen Bell plays a young but driven reporter sent to cover a major story unfolding in the Alaskan wilderness. When we recently met with Kristen in LA to talk about the movie, which filmed on location just outside of Anchorage, she told us she was up for the challenges the role presented. Not only did she grow up in Detroit, where the Winters are notoriously harsh, but as an actress, she said she could relate to her character's ambition as well as her career setbacks. Kristen also talked about what it was like to be caught in an onscreen love triangle between Drew Barrymore and her longtime friend John Krasinski, and a magical moment during the shoot that left her feeling "insignificant." Check out our interview and stay tuned later this week to see Kristen's costar, Drew, in our latest episodes of I'm a Huge Fan!

Your Winged Eyeliner Problems Are Solved Forever

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:02:00 PST

Even if you have nothing but a nub of pencil and notoriously shaky hands, you can have perfect winged liner in a minute or so. The following trick makes those concerns a thing of the past. And having your eyeliner ending up completely different on each side? Also no longer a problem. To find out what you need to do to get it right every time, just check out the tutorial now.

8 Love Resolutions We Can Actually Keep

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:01:50 PST

The new year inspires a sense of renewal in everyone; with this fresh start comes the notorious concept of New Year's resolutions. While I'm all for putting pen to paper to map out your goals for the year, half the time we feel more guilty about not keeping our resolutions than we feel inspired during the process of writing them down. With that said, setting goals in your love life that are attainable can bring a lot to your outlook on relationships. Whether you're single or seeing someone, here are eight loving resolutions that can actually stick for 2012.

If you're in a relationship. . .

Practice random acts of relationship kindness. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our work obligations and other distractions that we forget about the people who love us the most. No need to make a big deal about these things to your partner. Simply go out and buy their favorite candy, cook up their most loved meal, or put on a little something sexy just because.
Make a point for quality time. If you're living together, coexisting in the same space can feel safe and secure, but be sure to also try to get out and do some activities together that can enjoy together. Go for a long hike. Check out some local film festivals. Take a cooking class. Planning these special activities together will strengthen your relationship and show your partner that you care.
Update your family and friends on the good stuff too. We all have a tendency to call the people who love us to vent about our relationships and what's going wrong. Make a point to tell your support network about the positive things going on in your relationship also. It will make things easier for you and your partner in the long run when you spend time with your crew. And I know there's nothing that makes my family happier than when I tell them how sweet and good things are going.
Do more double dates. If you and your beau feel like you're spending all your time together, it's probably because you are. Mix things up by socializing with other couples or going out with a big crew. Bringing others into the equation should only make you cherish your relationship more.

If you're single. . .

Stop getting hung up on a bad prospect. Don't waste too much time on someone just because they look good on paper. When you feel it you know. Just because someone is nice or handsome doesn't mean that they're necessarily the right match for you. I'm all about giving everyone a shot. But if you go on a date and you're not into it, the next time he calls, put on your big girl pants and say you're just not interested.
Rethink your dealbreakers. If I had a penny for every time I heard a girl talk about the six-foot rule, I would be a very rich lady. Yes, tall is nice, but there are so many other things that you need to consider in order to build a lasting relationship. Instead of focusing on how he looks, how much money he makes, etc., focus on how he makes you feel and how he treats other people. This is way more telling of how a guy will act in a relationship than how much dough he has in his bank account.
Be cool with where you are. Above all else, if you have any single dating resolution for 2012, I urge you to be comfortable and confident with where you are at. Fixating on lack will only bring more lack to your dating life. Recognizing that you're exactly where you need to be will only make you more confident, secure, and therefore sexy to a potential suitor. And all those people who say, "It happens when you least expect it." They're not lying.
Challenge yourself and try something new. If you feel like you're in a dating rut, stop complaining and put yourself out there. Maybe you've shied away from getting set up on a blind date or the concept of online dating in general, but a new year means a new you. Trying new things with an open mind can only help your dating life.

Are you setting any resolutions this year? Share them in the comments below!

What to TiVo: Saturday

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:59:39 PST

8:00 College Football

8:00 The Big Bang Theory (repeat)
8:30 2 Broke Girls (repeat)
9:00 The Mentalist (new)
10:00 48 Hours Mystery (new)

8:00 Cops (new)
8:30 Cops (new)
9:00 Terra Nova (new)
11:00 Hell's Kitchen (repeat)
12:00 New Girl (repeat)

8:00 Harry's Law (repeat)
9:00 Prime Suspect (repeat)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeat)
11:30 Saturday Night Live (new, with guest Jason Segel and Florence and the Machine)