BuzzSugar

Sundance Review: The Deal

BuzzSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:30:05 PST

The Deal, a lighthearted industry satire, can be loosely deemed a "romantic comedy," though there's not much romance and the comedy sometimes comes out flat. William H. Macy wrote the screenplay from Peter Lefcourt's novel and the movie is so filled with winky inside jokes about Hollywood and The Film Industry that one grows tired trying to catch them all. Still, it's not without its charms and fun silliness. It isn't a movie I would seek out ever again, but it was certainly a welcome reprieve from some of the more draining Sundance fare this year.

Meg Ryan and William H. Macy serve as the film's core romantic couple who supposedly have passion for one another simmering below all their sassy, contentious banter. Macy plays the formerly successful now deeply depressed filmmaker Charlie Berns whose suicide attempts are interrupted when his bright, upbeat nephew Lionel (the ridiculously cute Jason Ritter) comes to town toting his screenplay about about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli. Suddenly, Charlie is struck with the inspiration to make his nephew's script into a big-budget action flick starring the hot actor of the time: a giant beefcake (LL Cool J) who recently converted to Judaism. From there, it's just a matter of getting a studio to back the project and a couple writers to rewrite the script into Hollywood fluff. Of course, it's not quite that easy, so

read more. Enter studio head Deidre Hearn (Ryan) who struggles to balance the demands of her studio, Charlie's ambivalent attitude, the action star's fickleness and the director's temper. Just when things are looking okay, however, the film's star is kidnapped from the South African set. Like most things since Charlie stopped caring about life, this doesn't faze him at all and he charges ahead with a plan to save the movie. For the most part, Charlie gets a lot of what he wants with this film project because he's basically given up on Hollywood and his life, and has taken to making brash crazy decisions since the repercussions don't really matter to him. It seems like the bottom line here is that the only way to deal with Hollywood is if you're suicidal and don't give a damn about anything anymore. Which, in this case, is actually done in a darkly funny way. The Sundance guide's description of The Deal claims that "The mischievous charm in this smart screwball satire . . . hinges on the wonderfully crackly Tracy-Hepburn chemistry between William Macy and Meg Ryan." This a huge exaggeration, though I can see how someone promoting the film might write that. On paper, the back-and-forth could be seen as funny and electric, and both actors put in a lot of effort to make the chemistry "crackle." But they both just seem tired here and it's hard to buy them as friends, much less sexual companions. It's also mildly disturbing to see Ryan sort of channeling her role from When Harry Met Sally when she currently seems to have a hard time being physically expressive. I like Meg Ryan and I don't want to be unkind, but she can't move her facial features very well anymore, making it hard for those eyebrows to arch in indignation or those eyes to twinkle in joy. Her sweet little voice is still the same, but everything else is just the spooky skeletal remains of the romantic leading lady she once was. It made me sad, and the rest of the film - while humorous - didn't make me laugh enough to make up for it. Source

Sundance Review: Sleepwalking

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:30:29 PST

According to Charlize Theron at the Q&A session after the Sundance premiere screening for Sleepwalking, the movie's script really spoke to her, enough to make her want to produce and star in it. I have to wonder what, exactly, the script said to her that made it seem like a real standout project. It's not that this coming-of-age story with strains of poverty and abandonment is bad, necessarily, it's just forgettable. It didn't make me feel anything in particular except sleepy, which is perhaps appropriate, given the title.

The story follows young Tara (AnnaSophia Robb) whose unemployed, unsteady mother Joleen (Theron) suddenly disappears one day, leaving Tara in the care of her meek uncle James (Nick Stahl). Yet James soon finds that he can't care for his 12-year-old niece as well as keep a job and pay the rent, so when Tara insists they set out to find her mother, James eventually agrees. Their journey brings them to James and Joleen's father's ranch, despite the fact that this is the same gruff father (played by Dennis Hopper) who consistently berated and abused his children. Though the movie mostly seems like Tara's story, it's James who learns the most about himself and his own power, something he thought he didn't possess. To find out more of my thoughts on Sleepwalking,

read more. The story itself is fine enough. It's sweet to see the relationship between Tara and James develop into something meaningful, and to see Tara find moments of childish joy despite her difficult home life. There's one scene in particular that is beautifully done: Tara, wearing roller skates, lounges by a motel pool while two pre-pubescent boys stare at her. Enjoying the attention, she makes a big show of lighting a cigarette, then roller skating around the pool before dramatically diving in. The mixture of youthfulness (roller skates), adult behavior (smoking) and newfound sexuality (performing for staring boys) is both truthful and disconcerting. My main beef with the movie is a filming technique that first-time director Bill Maher constantly employs: the gradual close-up. Maybe Maher thought it would make us care more about the movie if we got closer to things very, very slowly in every scene, but it doesn't work. At some point, it becomes fiercely annoying. Then again, there's nothing so annoying about the film that we hate it - and there's nothing really interesting about the film that makes us like it. If this movie spoke to me at all, I had no other response besides a silent shrug. Bottom line: Middle-of-the-road drama by a new director who managed to work with Charlize Theron. It wasn't the worst of this year's Sundance options, but was far from the best. Source

Sundance Snapshot: Bachelorette

Becky Kirsch — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

There was more than one wedding-themed movie at Sundance this year, and Bachelorette was one of the most buzzed-about. The comedy features a ton of familiar faces, but serves up something a little different from what we've seen in the genre before.

Who's behind it? Kirsten Dunst, Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher, and James Marsden lead the funny cast. First-time director Leslye Headland also penned the script.
What's it about? A group of high school BFFs reunite for the wedding of their friend Becky (Rebel Wilson). There's uptight, prissy Regan (Dunst), who begrudgingly accepts her role as maid of honor despite her bitterness that her less-attractive friend is getting married before her; cynical Gena (Caplan), who's determined to confront her high school ex (Scott) at the wedding; and ditsy Katie (Fisher), who is actually depressed beneath her bubbly exterior.
What did I think? Comparisons to Bridesmaids are inevitable, but the movies really are quite different. For starters, Bachelorette is darker, edgier, and has a lot less slapstick (think coke binges instead of food poisoning). Some of the more dramatic undercurrents go a bit too far, particularly Katie's downward spiral through the course of the night, which don't exactly jive with some of the cheesier, warm-and-fuzzy scenes. Though it's a bit uneven, the stellar cast makes the film entertaining, even if it's not worth a standing ovation.

Sundance Snapshot: Your Sister's Sister Puts the Fun in Family Dysfunction

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

Director Lynn Shelton made her Sundance premiere with Humpday, and she returned to the festival this year with Your Sister's Sister. The film has a tiny cast - in fact, most of the scenes are between just three actors - but this little indie is one of the most memorable films I caught at the festival. Here's why:

Who's behind it? Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Mark Duplass make up the cast. Lynn Shelton (who also directed Duplass in Humpday) is behind the camera.
What's it about? Duplass plays Jack, a guy who's on a bit of a downward spiral a year after losing his brother. Jack's still close friends with his brother's ex, Iris (Blunt), who suggests that Jack spend some time in solitude at her father's rustic lakeside cabin. When Jack arrives at the cabin, he's surprised to find Iris's sister, Hannah (DeWitt), and when Iris pops up for a visit, a very tangled web is woven between the three characters over the course of a few days.
What did I think? This is a little gem of a film; all three actors turn in nuanced performances, making the complicated relationships between the three feel incredibly authentic. Duplass gets most of the laughs as Jack bumbles to keep the peace between Iris and Hannah, but it's Blunt and DeWitt that really shine as siblings that love each other through and through, but can't help pushing each other's buttons. The Seattle cabin setting also adds extra charm, and really makes the audience feel like you're trapped in the conundrum between the characters, isolated away from the rest of the world.

Sundance Snapshot: Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg Are Adorable in Celeste and Jesse Forever

Becky Kirsch — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:22:56 PST

Celeste and Jesse Forever was one of the first films I checked out at Sundance this year, and I'm so glad I did. The cast, which features Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg as the titular characters, was enough to pique my interest, but the smart, relatable, script is what won me over. Here's more on what I thought of the film.

Who's behind it? The film stars Andy Samberg, Rashida Jones (who also cowrote the screenplay), Ari Graynor, Elijah Wood, and Emma Roberts. It was directed by Lee Toland Krieger.
What's it about? Jones and Samberg are Celeste and Jesse, high school sweethearts who have recently decided to separate. The only problem is that they're still BFF: he's living in her guest house, they're still spending all of their time together, and are still living in their own little world (much to the confusion of their circle of friends). Though it's clear that they're not ready to fully let go of each other, an unexpected circumstance forces them both to confront their feelings and make a final decision about their relationship.
What did I think? This movie made me laugh and broke my heart, thanks to Jones and Samberg's chemistry and performances. There are plenty of amazing jokes and one-liners, but more than that, there's a very real story and commentary about how hard it is to let go of someone you love. Jesse and Celeste are so easy to root for, but the film is careful to keep the story real rather than veering into romantic comedy territory. It's also a breakout role for Samberg, who we've mostly only seen doing straight comedy. He's still a lovable goofball here, but he also proves that he's got the chops to handle more serious material. The film was bought by Sony Pictures Classics, so keep an eye out for it in theaters in the next year.

Rewind: Sundance Magic

BuzzSugar — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

We had a blast in Park City this year! Feast your eyes on these beautiful cast portraits from Sundance Film Festival.
Be sure to check out our reviews for Celeste and Jesse Forever and Your Sister's Sister: two of our favorite films of the fest.
The full list of Oscar nominations was released on Tuesday! Read through our snap judgments on the picks, and watch which nominees that surprised us!
New stills were released of some upcoming films we can't wait to see. Click through photos from The Amazing Spider-Man, The Hunger Games, and The Dark Knight Rises to see all we have to look forward to in 2012.
Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, and more rock big bellies in new What to Expect When You're Expecting movie posters.
We took a trip down memory lane, remembering all of Katherine Heigl's leading men through the years.
Check out all of the TV guest stars who will be making appearances on the small screen soon.
The first leg of the journey kicks off February 19 - check out the 11 dynamic duos who will compete on The Amazing Race Season 20.
Cougar Town is almost back! Get psyched for the season three premiere on Valentine's Day with these Cougar Town pics.

Keri Russell Spends a Brooklyn Day With Baby Willa Lou

Allie Merriam — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:30:28 PST

Keri Russell and her husband Shane Deary doted on their newborn daughter, Willa Lou Deary, today in Brooklyn. Shane and Keri welcomed Willa four weeks ago, just after Christmas on Dec. 27. Willa's arrival has made Keri and Shane's oldest, 4-and-a-half-year-old River Deary, a big brother. Keri has been able to spend time with her growing family, and skipped out on heading to the Sundance Film Festival to promote her movie Goats. She stars in the picture alongside Vera Farmiga and David Duchovny, both of who went to Park City, UT. It turns out, though, the early reviews of Goats aren't good. However, Keri's got another project in the pipeline with Austenland currently in post-production.

Sundance Snapshot: Homework Makes the Grade

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:04:34 PST

Freddie Highmore, the British actor who made a name for himself as the adorable Peter in Finding Neverland, is all grown-up now, and his latest film proves that he hasn't lost any of the raw talent that brought us to tears when he was just a boy. Homework, a teen dramedy of sorts, has already been acquired from Sundance by Fox Searchlight, so here's more on the film that will eventually be coming to a theater near you.

Who's behind it? In addition to Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts, director Gavin Wiesen had plenty of stars to fill his supporting cast, including Rita Wilson, Alicia Silverstone, Blair Underwood, Elizabeth Reaser, and Michael Angarano.
What's it about? Highmore plays George, a teenage loner in New York City who refuses to do his homework assignments despite his obviously sharp mind. Consumed with the idea that all people are going to die eventually anyway, George can't find a reason to commit himself to schoolwork and instead chooses to spend class time nurturing his budding artistic skills. When he meets Sally (Emma Roberts), George finds his first true friend, and his world changes as he begins to experience emotions that he never knew he had - but his graduation from high school hangs in jeopardy.

To see why the film shines, just

Sundance Snapshot: My Idiot Brother

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:15:00 PST

I've been excited about My Idiot Brother pretty much since the full cast was announced back in June, so catching the film's premiere at Sundance this weekend was a huge treat. The movie follows Paul Rudd as an unflappable optimist whose devotion to honesty gets him into one sticky situation after another, particularly when he starts couch hopping between his three sisters. Though I had already mentally set the bar pretty high, I was pleased to find a comedy that's smart, fresh, and often very funny. (Apparently I wasn't the only one: the film was snatched up by the Weinstein Company just hours after the premiere.)

Who's behind it? Director Jesse Peretz has compiled a dream cast of characters headlined by Paul Rudd and including Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, Rashida Jones, Steve Coogan, and Adam Scott.
What's it about? Rudd plays Ned, a free-spirited farmer (read: crunchy hippie), whose positive attitude and unyielding faith in the people around him often gets in the way of his sense of judgment. Ned is arrested for selling marijuana to a police officer (who claimed he was having a bad week and in need of a pick-me-up), and is released from prison eight months later. When his girlfriend kicks him off their farm, Ned is shuttled around between his mother and three sisters where he unintentionally meddles in each of their own busy lives and personal issues.

For my thoughts on the film, just keep reading.

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:30:00 PDT

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky in the third installment of the Transformers movie franchise, which has Sam teaming up with the Autobots to try to save the world yet again. This time around, Sam has a new girlfriend (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) and a new foe (Patrick Dempsey). The storyline is more streamlined than the previous Transformers films and the action sequences are better than ever. While this release doesn't have any extras, the special edition slated for release later this year will offer special features.

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The Ledge

Liv Tyler stars as Shauna, a woman who has an affair with her neighbor, Gavin (Charlie Hunnam). When Shauna's husband (Patrick Wilson) discovers his wife's infidelity, he lures Gavin to a high-rise, where he gives him one hour to decide whether he wants to save his own life or Shauna's. Terrence Howard plays the cop who races to save both Gavin and Shauna before it's too late. The film premiered at Sundance earlier this year but received mixed reviews from critics.

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