BuzzSugar

Link Time! 6/10

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:32:59 -0700

I honestly can't stop laughing at Best Week Ever's list of the top 10 New Kids on the Block pictures "you should never forget."
Uh-oh. Those who are viewing M. Night's latest feature, The Happening, continue to be distinctly unimpressed, writes FilmExperience.
Yay! Ted Allen is getting his own TV show, says YumSugar.
Stereogum relays the news that you can currently stream all of The Hold Steady's latest album, which is titled Stay Positive.
Popwatch is inciting the wrath of. . . just about everyone with their list of the biggest mistakes ever made in the sci-fi movie genre.
Idolator wants to talk about the purpose of music videos in 2008.
TV Squad has a list of the top 10 best recurring Arrested Development characters. Bob Loblaw!
Dexter actress Jennifer Carpenter has an awesome tipi in her backyard, and I agree with CasaSugar that it looks so comfy.

Precious: A Dark Tale With a Hopeful Light

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0800

When Precious first caused rumblings at Sundance, I thought, "There is no way I'm seeing this film." There are certain things that I find uncomfortable to watch - pregnant teens, abuse, Mariah Carey. But I'm so glad I did. Because despite its drawbacks on paper, Precious provides a big payback to those who watch it. It's one of those few unforgettable films that stays with you days later - for better and for worse.

Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Precious follows the story of Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), an overweight high school student who is pregnant for the second time by her father and living with her abusive mother, Mary (Mo'Nique). She struggles at school, because on top of her circumstances, she's also coasted through the system without ever learning how to read. So after the news of her recent pregnancy reaches the administration, she enrolls in a special program to get her GED.

I realize that by now you're probably nixing this one as a weepy, formulaic melodrama, but hear me out. As you may have gleaned from my interviews with its stars, the film is indeed a hopeful story at its heart, so to see what I mean, read more.

Part of the story's positivity is thanks to Precious's new teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), and an almost unrecognizable Mariah Carey as her social worker, Mrs. Reiss. Both women reach out to Precious and uncover a girl with joy despite her abuse - but the tension at home with her mother continues to climb.

As you might expect, many of the scenes between Precious and her mother are incredibly difficult to watch, but the saving grace is director Lee Daniels. He weaves in daydreams during the most brutal scenes, transforming Precious into a movie star or a popular girl with a good-looking boyfriend. These diversions are how Precious copes, and like her aspirations, you begin to yearn for her happy ending, too.

Newcomer Gabby Sidibe portrays Precious with an understated realism that's remarkably convincing, and Mariah Carey delivers a restrained performance. But the real eye-opener here is Mo'Nique. As Precious's mother, she is raw, always spitting out vile words - and she is easily one of the most bone-chilling villains of the year. Mary truly believes that Precious deserves the hand that hits her due to her own mixed-up past.

After you leave the theater, Precious will have made an impact on you. You will feel uncomfortable in parts, you will cringe, and you may just hate it for putting you through the turmoil. But keep watching, because there is strength and spirit to be found even in the bleak subject matter - and perhaps a few award nods.

Where the Wild Things Are: A Passionate Ode to Childhood

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:30:00 -0700

There's been a bit of a controversy over how to market Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, Where The Wild Things Are. Is it for kids? Adults? Adult hipsters?

The answer is anyone who wants to feel what it's like to be a child, and not in the fun-loving, no-responsibilities way. As adults, we tend to forget the insecurity and fears we had as kids, which the film's young character Max is in the throes of. There's just enough exposition before the fantasy begins: Max has a single mom (Catherine Keener) and an older sister who has recently outgrown him. His first few acts at home show his innocence and the savage emotions under the surface. He knows it as being "wild."

Where the Wild Things Are isn't a heavy-handed allegory, or an edgy children's movie; it's a loyal tribute to the way kids think and feel. To see what else I thought of the film, just read more.

Max reaches the world of the wild things after throwing a particularly heinous fit, prompting his mother to yell, "You're out of control!" After running away, Max finds himself on a boat that finally brings him to a strange land. This is where the wild things are. The creatures Jonze has created are aesthetic wonders: creepy, hostile, and huggable at once. These aren't Jim Henson's Muppets, but real characters, led by Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini). The rest of the group is comprised of Lauren Ambrose as aloof KW, Catherine O'Hara as prickly Judith, Paul Dano as timid Alexander, Chris Cooper as Douglas, and Forest Whitaker as Ira.

Each creature has a fully realized personality, with flaws and varying temperaments; their faces are so emotive and their dialogue so human that their scenes with Max are as real as those with his mother. This group is not easily classified as friend or foe - they're dysfunctional in their relationships and don't always treat each other well. One of the most successful elements of the movie is the dialogue of the wild things, which is rooted in Max's head.

In many ways, screenwriter Dave Eggers's job was tougher than Spike Jonze's, because it's imperative to remember the way children think. Max's interactions with Carol and his new clan are made up of the kind of things a kid would hear from his parents and peers and then internalize. In fact, in the wild world, Max declares himself king to bring order, and he summons up speeches from the authority figures that he's pulling away from in his real life. Naturally, he's too young to recognize how his subverted position is significant.

Max's relationship with Carol is most telling. As the de facto leader of the group who can't handle sadness, loneliness, or jealousy, he acts out as a mirror of Max while still being his own character. The richness of Carol and the creature cast stays with you; when Max has to say goodbye to his friends, your heart breaks.

Jonze impressed me with his non-conformity; in another movie, Max would have demonstrated the grand lessons he learned from his time on the island, but in this one, he doesn't have to learn anything. He just gets to feel and experience and appreciate his emotionally fragmented new friends. It's devastating as a viewer, especially if you can put yourself back in that childlike place when your feelings were so raw and simple.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Glee-ful Highlights From This Week's Episode, "Vitamin D"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Just when you thought Glee couldn't get any wackier than baby buying and middle-aged students, they go and take uppers. Yup, this week's episode didn't disappoint in the hilarity department, from the A-Rod steroid jokes to Sue's dear diary moment. I do wish there could have been more performances, though there were some serious strides in the story lines, particularly with Will and Emma.

In case you missed it, be sure to take our fun Glee quiz for a chance to win a hangout session with a cast member - at the finale of So You Think You Can Dance! Ready to get gleeky? Just read more.

After laying low on last week's episode, Sue is back with a vengeance. Not only does she convince Terri to take a position at school, but we also get a peek into her psyche during her ~~diary~~ journal-writing session. Call me crazy, but I never pegged her for the pensive writer type. Sue is actually the mastermind behind the boys/girls sing-off, thanks to some words of wisdom she passes on to Will over lunch. Check out her little speech in the video below.
Speaking of the lunchroom, can we talk about Will and Emma for a second? They really kick things up a notch this week, starting with the mustard incident and ending with a teary-eyed moment after Emma breaks the news to Will about her engagement to Ken. I know that Terri is insufferable (not to mention ridiculous), but it still seems out of character for Will to even consider a relationship with Emma - for all he knows, there's still a mini-Schu on the way!
Rachel and Quinn share a very tender, bonding moment by the lockers this week but will it last? They seem to be making headway, but I just can't imagine that they'll stay civil forever - it's only a matter of time before Finn's girl situation ("I like Rachel in a Swimfan kinda way) puts the ladies at odds once again.
It's Finn and his sleepy eyes that bring on the biggest laughs, after a little help from Nurse Terri. From the moment the boys vs. girls competition begins, you know that there are going to be some sneaky tactics involved, but "performance enhancers?" Too good. How amazing are the musical numbers with the kids flailing around on stage, while Mr. Schu has no idea what's actually going on? I particularly loved Rachel's little monologue ("Also, angels!") and Finn's dance moves. Check out a video of the guys' performance below.

I can't help but feel for Mr. Schu at the end of the episode: his wife is a nut, his true love is engaged to someone else, and now he has Sue for a glee club partner. He's punished for the secret that his kids kept from him, and I can only imagine what's going to happen when he inevitably discovers that Terri's been lying to him all this time too; though perhaps that's exactly the exit he needs to finally be with Emma.

So, who would you have voted for in the sing-off? Do you wish Will would dump Terri and just get with Emma already? Chime in with your comments, and head on over to the Glee Club to keep the fun going.

House Rundown, "The Tyrant"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:30:35 -0700

This week's episode of House brought us right back to the usual formula. You know, unknown medical mystery that causes the team to pull together to figure it out. Only this time, the team goes through some internal turmoil, as the person with the ailment is a genocidal dictator - played by an always terrific James Earl Jones.

Personally, I think this episode is the start of a long arc for the season. What did you think? I've got a boatload of questions to ask you (spoilers ahead!) when you read more.

First of all, let's skip to the end. When Dibala's blood work comes up positive, I had a feeling Chase is cooking the results. Were you surprised to find out that Chase is OK with killing him? How do you think this is going to affect the show? I'm assuming that Chase and Cameron's relationship is going to go south because of it. Maybe this is how the writers are taking Jennifer Morrison out of the show?
Now that there's this huge secret between them, how do you think the dynamic between Foreman and Chase is going to change?
Do you think Thirteen is going to come back to Princeton Plainsboro, and is Taub already gone?
Speaking of Thirteen, I am so over her relationship with Foreman. Do you think they'll stay broken up for good this time?
I know he was playing an awful homicidal tyrant, but does anyone else get excited when they hear James Earl Jones' voice?
Did you like seeing House work with the old gang again? I loved it, but as House said, "Oh my god, it's three years ago."
As always, I loved the House/Wilson dynamic. It was fun to see House try to be a better person, although I wished Wilson could've believed him more. And is that a True Blood reference that Wilson utters? I swear he says 'Sookie' after his vampire joke.
While the old team soaks up all the drama, House provides the comic relief. My favorite bit of the evening is when House breaks in and drugs Wilson's neighbor. Did anyone else immediately yell, "OMG! It's like Dexter!"? Although I have to admit, that stuff with the mirror seemed more like magic tricks and not medicine.
This episode definitely looks like it's setting us up for a larger story. Where do you think the writers will take us next?

What were your thoughts on this week's episode? Let me know in the comments below, and to chat more about the show, join the House! group in Community.

Photo courtesy of Fox