BuzzSugar

The Blind Side: An Unexpected Delight

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:42 -0800

It's not that the trailer for The Blind Side isn't compelling; the problem is that it combines Sandra Bullock's twangiest, most-over-the top lines with a heartrending song, which makes it seem schlocky. That's exactly what I expected from the movie, but I have to admit that I was wrong - to my surprise, I found it to be a sentimental gem that's actually quite restrained.

The Blind Side is the true story (based on Michael Lewis's book) of NFL player Michael Oher, who grew up in Memphis's projects with his drug-addicted mother and landed in and out of foster homes. He ended up in a fancy private school and in the home of a wealthy family, the Touhys, led by tough-talking Leigh Anne (Bullock). The weaving of Michael's newfound life in the movie is effective, with sweet bits of humor and just enough emotion.

To see what I liked about the film, just read more.

The movie is full of many surprises: first, it looks like it's going to be mainly about football, but it's not all sports. There is proper attention given to Michael's life before he's taken in and the development of the relationships between the Touhy family members and Michael.

Another nice thing is how smoothly Bullock slides into her role. It's not just her wardrobe and hair that transforms her into the high-maintenance Southern matriarch; her manner as the tough mom who's not completely comfortable showing emotion is very natural - not what I'd expect from the laid-back actress.

Quinton Aaron is also impressive as a sad-eyed orphan turned well-adjusted student and son over the course of the movie. It's not an incredibly complex performance, but his teddy bear presence is irresistible. The supporting players are equally as enjoyable: Tim McGraw, whom I didn't expect much from, is charming, while the Touhy children win you over with their affection for their new brother. The late addition of Kathy Bates (whose role is basically an extended cameo) is hardly needed to bolster the movie, but she adds a nice touch as well.

At two hours and six minutes, the movie is a little too long; director John Lee Hancock seemed intent on fitting in nearly every detail of Michael's journey. Then again, at the end you're rewarded with the payoff: footage and photos of the real-life Touhys and Michael. It's an emotionally satisfying ending to a movie that makes no apologies for being so uplifting.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Movie Preview: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:30:30 -0700

I think it's possible to recognize that something (say, a trailer) has been created to manipulate your feelings and force you to cry, and to still cry anyway. This is what watching the trailer for The Blind Side was all about for me. The movie is based on a book by Michael Lewis which, as I recall from reading it a while ago, focuses a great deal on technical football analysis. Still, Lewis also weaves in the story of the remarkable left tackle Michael Oher, who was a homeless kid in Memphis until he was taken in by a wealthy white family. Soon after, his size and impressive abilities on the football field brought him attention - and recruitment battles - from college coaches. The movie centers on Oher's (played by Quinton Aaron) story, with Sandra Bullock in the role of the mother who takes him in.

I love watching Sandra Bullock and still, I was so engrossed in this trailer that I'd forgotten who she was by the end of it. It may turn out to be a predictable, sentimental film but I'm going to watch it nonetheless. What do you think?

The Blind Side opens Nov. 20. To check out the trailer, read more.

The Proposal: A Predictable Journey But Funny Along the Way

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:30:12 -0700

The story in The Proposal is relatively predictable at every turn, and the basic plotline is tired at best: two people who dislike each other are forced together and feelings blossom between them (to their surprise but not ours). Even just from the previews for this movie we know where the story is going from the very beginning, but before we reach the inevitable conclusion, The Proposal offers up some cute/funny/surprising things along the way.

The story follows ice-queen publishing executive Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) who is a demanding and sometimes cruel boss to her handsome, hard-working assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). She's certainly no Miranda Priestly, but she knows that Andrew is determined to succeed at the company so when Margaret learns that she'll be deported back to Canada unless she takes some drastic measures, she uses a promotion to bribe Andrew to marry her. Nobody's quite buying this relationship, however - including the folks at the immigration office who will send Andrew to prison (and Margaret to Canada) if they find out the relationship is a sham. So, the fake lovebirds travel to Andrew's hometown in Alaska for his Gammy's (Betty White) birthday to make sure anyone who might be questioned will be able to verify that the two really are in love and getting married. All sorts of awkward and weird hijinks ensue, during which the two learn a little bit about each other and themselves. Yeah, read more.

The performances are what make this film good. Oscar Nuñez (Oscar from The Office) has a surprising role, woven delightfully into the narrative. He provides wonderful comedic relief during the more "dramatic" moments, and though he's used often, I almost wished we'd see even more of him. He was an inspired addition to an already fantastic and likable cast.

And, of course, Betty White steals a few scenes with her blithely sweet "but I'm just an old lady!" innocence - which of course masks a wicked sense of humor and mischievous streak. It's not a totally new device (the old woman who gets away with hilarious things because she's old and people underestimate her), but when Betty White does it she has such an endearing brightness you just want her to stay on screen forever. I wonder if I'll ever tire of Betty White's adorable bubbliness. I probably won't.

The first two-thirds of the movie, in which the snarky, thinly veiled disdain between our two protagonists (along with the fact that this is a professional relationship, so the usual rules of decorum that are ignored here make things even more awkward), are the most worthwhile. Or, worthwhile at all. These silly, jokey-joke moments are also the parts in which Reynolds and Bullock truly shine. They're both very comfortable with this material, and they excel at playing off one another as workplace acquaintances or even as buddies when their relationship begins to warm up. The sparky dynamic between them when they're trading barbs and trying to keep up appearances with gritted teeth is solidly entertaining. It's the real sexual chemistry that's lacking. As we come into the home stretch of the movie, all the tension, excitement, and fun of the previous hour or so comes to a screeching halt. Suddenly, words like "love" are being tossed about, as though they mean something in this situation. But while there's a clear fondness between the two characters by the end it's impossible to think of them as having deep feelings for one another.

All this doesn't negate the fact that there's some great stuff leading up to the ending. I just wish I'd had a fast-forward button for the last half-hour or so because it lags. And then we get to the credits, during which we're treated to some of the funniest parts of the whole movie. All in all, this will make the absolute best airplane movie: it's inoffensive, cute, and just entertaining enough to keep our attention.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

How Well Do You Know Sandra Bullock?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:00:48 -0700

Sandra Bullock seems to have it all: charisma, talent, and beauty. When her name is attached to a project I am automatically interested. Sure she's had some misses but that's par for the course when you've been around as long as she has. I thought I'd celebrate her long career and the release of her newest movie, The Proposal, with a quiz.

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Take the quiz

Buzz News Roundup, 2/20

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:30:32 -0800

Sandra Bullock will star in football drama-comedy The Blindside, based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game. - Variety
Project Runway filmed its season six finale today, even though it's unclear if or when season six will air. - AP
In the latest pilot casting news, Jenna Elfman will play a movie critic, Amy Smart will play a future presidential contender, and Jason Clarke will play a federal prosecutor. - The Hollywood Reporter
There's a new museum in Hollis, Queens, devoted to hip-hop - and it serves cheap hamburgers. - AP
Chiwetel Ejiofor has signed on for and Liev Schreiber is in talks to star opposite Angelina Jolie in the spy thriller Salt (also known as Edwin A. Salt). - ComingSoon
Robert De Niro, Tina Fey, and Cameron Diaz are among Jimmy Fallon's first Late Night guests. - NBC
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is in negotiations to topline an adaptation of the DC-Vertigo comic book The Losers. - Variety
The ABC Family show The Middleman will continue in comic book form. - TV Guide

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Movie Preview: All About Steve

BuzzSugar — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:30:56 -0800

I've dragged my feet a bit in putting up this trailer for the comedy All About Steve, despite (or maybe because of) my love for Sandra Bullock. I think of Bullock as a funny actress and I enjoy so many of her comedic roles. But this? Um. I'm just not sure how I feel about it.

Bullock plays Mary Horowitz , described as "an eccentric crossword puzzler" (she's so eccentric, you guys, she never takes off her shiny red boots! That kook!) who becomes obsessed with a CNN cameraman (played by Bradley Cooper) and follows him around the world trying to convince him they belong together.

There are some funny moments in the trailer, so check it out after the jump and tell me if it looks like a cute movie after all. I can't decide. . . kinda funny? Or just cheesy-lame? All About Steve opens March 6. To watch the trailer, read more.

Recast While You Were Sleeping and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:30:53 -0800

Every other Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

I was thinking today that one of my favorite rom-coms set around Christmastime, While You Were Sleeping, would make for a fun recast challenge. Sandra Bullock is super adorable in this movie and it's hard to think of replacing her, but let's give it a whirl anyway.

So which headstrong and endearing actress would you cast as Lucy (Bullock), the a lonely fare collector on the Chicago "L"? What dreamy actor could you imagine in the role of Peter Callaghan (played by Peter Gallagher), the commuter whom Lucy admires from afar (well, and eventually up close)? And what about Peter's more rugged brother, Jack (Bill Pullman), with whom Lucy ends up falling in love?

Then there's the quirky Callaghan family, including Peter and Jack's godfather Saul (Jack Warden), the boys' father Ox (Peter Boyle), and their mother Midge (Micole Mercurio). Oh, and I think we ought to recast Lucy's caring (if not a little slimy) neighbor Joe (Michael Rispoli).

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, Dec. 23, complete with a "new" cast photo. To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt, read more.

Characters to recast:
Lucy Ellenore Moderatz (Sandra Bullock)
Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher)
Jack Callaghan (Bill Pullman)
Saul (Jack Warden)
Ox Callaghan (Peter Boyle)
Midge Callaghan (Micole Mercurio)
Joe "Joey" Fusco, Jr. (Michael Rispoli)

The BuzzSugar t-shirt

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Movie Preview: Sandra and Ryan in The Proposal

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:43:08 -0800

Just trust me on this: Ignore the dumb-looking poster for The Proposal and head straight to the new trailer. The romantic comedy stars Sandra Bullock as Margaret, the Canadian-born, hard-driving boss of Andrew (Ryan Reynolds - adorable!) who learns that she is about to be deported. Desperate to stay in the States, she forces Andrew to marry her.

I'm a huge fan of both Bullock and Reynolds, and for once this seems like a satisfying melding of talented actors and funny material. Also: Betty White! Love her.

The Proposal opens June 12. To check out the trailer, read more.

Source

Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock Team Up for Proposal

BuzzSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:33:15 -0700

This news is very cute.
Ryan Reynolds is in talks to costar with Sandra Bullock in the romantic comedy The Proposal.

What's it about?
According to Hollywood Reporter, "The story follows a demanding female boss (Bullock) who suddenly faces deportation to Canada. She makes a deal with her young male assistant (Reynolds) to agree to a sham engagement and marriage."

Despite that, it still sounds cute.
Silly plot description aside, I love Ryan Reynolds. And while I know I may be alone in thinking this, I am of the belief that Sandra Bullock is a naturally funny performer, so I can't wait to see these two onscreen together. It seems like a tired plot line, but hey, at least it's not another blatant remake, right?

Source and source

Buzz News Roundup, 5/25

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:53:58 -0700

Media Post has the apology Fox issued about the "American Idol" running late.
Variety says we now need another new Capone, since Nicolas Cage will not be in the Untouchables prequel.
The Hollywood Reporter has the TV season's overall ratings results. And "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" ranked higher than "Ugly Betty."
Zap2it has the scoop on next season's potential new "Heroes."
Fox is making a movie of The Sims computer game, Variety reports.
Lollapalooza has launched a contest for bands to win performing slots at this summer's festival, says NME.
Sandra Bullock is back to doing the romantic comedy thing, having been cast in Proposal in which she'll go all Mrs. Robinson-y on some young male thing, Variety reports.
Borat will pen a travel guide to the United States and Kazakhstan, E! reports.

Photo courtesy of Fox