BuzzSugar

Movie Night: Far-Off Destinations

BuzzSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:30:04 -0700

I've been really inspired by traveling this week - both because of my own itch to go on an adventure and because I have a handful of friends who are either planning their honeymoon or enjoying it right now. As part of my travel urge, I got to thinking about movies that captured a culture and a country so well that they've made me add a new entry to my list of places I have vowed to visit. Come away with me on a mini-jaunt around the globe via this movie night!

Out of Africa
This Oscar-winning classic directed by the late Sydney Pollack starred Meryl Streep and an extremely dreamy Robert Redford, but the biggest star of the film is East Africa. The movie is loosely based on Karen Blixen's 1937 autobiography about her real-life journey to Kenya. The character based on Blixen enters a loveless marriage but then meets Redford's character, a local-game hunter, and an epic romance ensues. The movie was filmed on location and is breathtakingly beautiful. If this doesn't make you consider Africa as a travel destination, I don't know what will.

Two more glorious locations, so read more.

French Kiss
Most people probably don't need their arms twisted to stick France on their travel list, but when a movie comes along that captures that certain je ne sais quoi of the French countryside, vineyards, and coast, it makes not being there feel nearly intolerable. French Kiss is one of those movies, and it stars Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline as unlikely partners in a trek across France. She's on a mission to get her cheating fiance back, and he's a petty criminal who helps her as a means to reach his own goal of buying back a vineyard he lost. Their chemistry is charming, but the way the film captures the spirit and nonchalance of the place is what makes it a lovely vicarious trip abroad.

Sex and Lucia
To call this movie racy is probably an understatement. The word "sex" is in the title for good reason, because there's a lot of it in this mystical Spanish film - and it's pretty explicitly discussed and enacted. You've been warned. That said, nearly five years after I first saw this, what sticks with me are the unbelievably gorgeous shots of nature: the azure skies and ocean set against the snow-white sands of Spain's Balearic Islands. After this movie, this semi-remote location has remained high on my list of places to get myself to.

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Rest In Peace, Sydney Pollack

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:30:46 -0700

Sad news to report today: Director and actor Sydney Pollack died on Sunday at the age of 73. He had been diagnosed with cancer nine months ago.

The hard-working actor and highly respected director is known for a variety of accomplishments. Older generations might recognize him as the Oscar-nominated director of Tootsie and the Oscar-winning director of Out of Africa. He also directed The Way We Were, The Firm and The Interpreter, among other titles.

In more recent years, he took on more acting roles, from Will's dad in Will & Grace to the boss at Michael Clayton's law firm in Michael Clayton to Patrick Dempsey's wedding-happy father in Made of Honor, along with many others.

Clayton costar George Clooney issued a statement about Pollack's death, writing, "Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act. He'll be missed terribly."

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Buzz News Roundup, 8/6

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:44:55 -0700

"Gossip Girl" will premiere earlier than originally planned, Zap2it reports, getting a boost by following the season premiere of "America's Next Top Model" on Sept. 19.
Singer-songwriter Lee Hazlewood, best known for writing "These Boots are Made for Walking," has died at 78, Billboard reports.
Four presidential candidates will visit "The Daily Show" in the next three weeks as Indecision 2008 kicks into high gear, Variety writes.
Cat Power is planning a second album of covers, to be released in January, NME reports.
"America's Got Talent" and "Last Comic Standing" both will be back next year, and the Futon Critic has the details.
Sydney Pollack won't direct the HBO movie Recount because of health problems, writes the Hollywood Reporter; Jay Roach of the Austin Powers movies will direct instead.
Fox has bought a concept drama called "The Oaks" about three generations of families living in the same haunted house, writes the Hollywood Reporter, while Variety reports that CBS is planning a medical drama and a comedy about a couple vacationing with their in-laws.

Photo courtesy of The CW