BuzzSugar

Grey Gardens: Appropriately Bleak, Yet Illuminating

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:30:30 PDT

It takes serious moxie to make a feature film from an excellent documentary, especially one as cultishly beloved as Grey Gardens. But, hey, it worked for Milk, and dare I say, it works for the new HBO movie, premiering this Saturday night and starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange.

Like the 1975 documentary by Albert and David Maysles, this Grey Gardens zooms in on "Big Edie" (Lange) and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale (Barrymore), aunt and first cousin to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The story follows the pair from their flossy socialite (if emotionally unstable) beginnings to the bizarre codepedence of little Edie's adults years, spent living with her mother in their decaying Hamptons mansion, surrounded by diseased cats, feral raccoons, and armoire-size mounds of filth.

The making of the documentary is a plot point in HBO's rendition, so die-hard fans will appreciate the movie's ability to illuminate the once dark and murky parts of the Beales' story. For what I thought,

Speaking of die-hard fans, I suspect Barrymore is one of them: she turns out an eerily accurate portrayal of Little Edie that is authentic, disarming, and far from impersonation. At times, I forgot it was Barrymore, which is something I've never thought before about her acting. Her face perfectly conveys Edie's flightiness and fear, as she feels obliged to stay with her mother yet lacks the wherewithal to live another life.

Like the documentary, Grey Gardens succeeds by not being strictly linear, flashing backward and forward to form the story's beginning, middle, and end. As Big Edie's husband leaves and the meager allowance runs dries, Little Edie's shaky big city dreams are dashed; on the night she returns, her mother's first question is, "Did you get the cat food?"

In Jackie O. accents, the movie answers a question asked by anyone who has seen the documentary: how did it get this bad? Watching the HBO movie, we learn that it got even worse before their famous cousin (portrayed in a cameo by Jeanne Tripplehorn) bails the Beales out. Unfortunately, but perhaps expectedly, the updated film can't match the raw masterpiece of the original. In its musical score and its vision, Grey Gardens lacks the artfulness of its source. To see this movie without also seeing the documentary would be like not reading Lolita because you already saw the movie. Both offer very different interpretations and, taken together, they form a fascinating biography.

Photos courtesy of HBO

This Weekend: The Cutting Edge 1, 2, and 3 (Yes, 3!)

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:30:37 PDT

"Toooooe piiiiiick!"

If that still ranks among your all-time favorite movie quotes, then you might be interested to know that The Cutting Edge franchise is basically taking over ABC Family this weekend. The reason: the premiere of the third (yup, third) movie in the series, The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream, which airs Sunday night.

By now, you know the basic story. This time, it's hot skating bachelor Zack Conroy (Matt Lanter) who brings a hockey player Alejandra "Alex" Delgado (Francia Raisa) into the figure-skating fold after his former partner - and, naturally, ex-girlfriend - breaks her leg. I assume gold medals and whiffs of romance ensue. Oh, and their coach this time is none other than Jackie Dorsey (Christy Carlson Romano), star of The Cutting Edge 2 and the daughter of the couple from the first Cutting Edge. Way to keep it in the family!

Like all Cutting Edge movies, I'm expecting the third installment to be awesomely over-the-top. The original airs tonight at 8 p.m. EDT and PDT, with The Cutting Edge 2 following at 8 p.m. Saturday. They'll also air back-to-back starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, leading into the premiere of The Cutting Edge 3 at 8 p.m.

I've got the trailer for the new movie, plus clips from the previous two for old time's sake, if you just

The Cutting Edge 3:

The Cutting Edge 2:

The original:

Source

Always a Bridesmaid: The Best Onscreen Wedding Parties

Maggie Pehanick — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:30:30 PDT

Weddings are about more than just the bride and groom - they're about the whole wedding party! After all, what would a ceremony be without the tuxes, ties, and taffeta that go along with the bridesmaids and groomsmen? We've already relived the many onscreen vows from over the years, but now we're celebrating our favorite wedding parties. From Blair, Serena, and the gang in the many weddings of Gossip Girl to the uproarious bridal party in Bridesmaids, check out the top wedding parties in movies and on TV!

With additional reporting by Shannon Vestal and Becky Kirsch

Rewind: Who Will Play Christian Grey?

Maggie Pehanick — Sat, 26 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

Amid all the speculation about Fifty Shades of Grey casting, we offered some humble suggestions for the role of Christian. We're also wondering who should play Anastasia.
Meanwhile, Selena Gomez made a hilarious Fifty Shades parody for Funny or Die.
Everyone is abuzz about Leonardo DiCaprio's '20s role after seeing the trailer for The Great Gatsby and the intriguing pictures.
James Bond came back into our lives with the first trailer for Skyfall.
The first teasers for Anchorman 2 have us trapped in a glass case of emotion.
Everyone's got red eye in the new character posters for Breaking Dawn Part 2.
With wedding season on the brain, we recalled all our favorite bridal parties from the small and big screens and reminisced about One Tree Hill's many epic weddings.
Veep star Tony Hale talked to us about his hilarious role as Gary, the vice presidential aide.
May finales are finishing up, and this week alone we watched as Phillip Phillips won American Idol, Glee concluded its third season while Revenge wrapped up its first, and House ended its eight-season run.
The Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, and we got the scoop on Brad Pitt in Killing Them Softly, Gael García Bernal in No, the sleeper hit The Sapphires, and the highly anticipated On the Road starring Kristen Stewart.
The new True Blood characters have us stoked about the series's return.
With Moonrise Kingdom opening, we were reminded of all our favorite movies set at Summer camp.

Wedding Roundup: Maternity Gowns, Bohemian Weddings, Sweet Bridal Advice, and More Inspiration For Your Big Day

Brittney Stephens — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:20:51 PDT

Wedding season is in full swing, and we have everything you need when it comes to dresses, decor, bridal beauty, and more. Whether you're a bridesmaid in need of the best tips, seeking savvy spending advice, or in the mood to check out the most memorable TV and movie weddings, look no further. Click through now to see our ever-expanding 2012 wedding season coverage!

Buzz Time Machine: Matthew Morrison and Zooey Deschanel in Once Upon a Mattress

Maggie Pehanick — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:47 PDT

Seven years ago, before their starring roles on hit Fox series, in a land far, far away, Matthew Morrison and Zooey Deschanel were just two star-crossed lovers in Once Upon a Mattress. Disney's TV movie production may not have been what catapulted the two to fame toward Glee and New Girl, but we sure are glad this exists in the universe. I'm wondering if this song, "In a Little While," was on Morrison's audition tape for the part of Mr. Schuester.

See Britney Spears as an X Factor Judge

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:36:54 PDT

Get the inside scoop on what Britney Spears is like as an X Factor judge - HuffPost TV
What to watch over the Memorial Day weekend - Zap2it
See the X-Men reimagined as Disney characters - BuzzFeed
Watch a clip from Brad Pitt's new movie - ET Online
The best movies about grief you probably haven't seen - /Film
Jon Favreau will star in Iron Man 3 - The Hollywood Reporter
See what critics are saying about Cosmopolis - Rotten Tomatoes
This is some serious Game of Thrones street art - The Frisky
How to throw an awesome Star Wars party - GeekSugar

Photo courtesy of Fox

176 Memorable Onscreen Weddings to Draw Inspiration From

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:44:30 PDT

Wedding season is in full swing, and what better place to find inspiration than from some of the most memorable nuptials in pop culture? Whether the marriages lasted for minutes, months, or never even happened, we've compiled some of the best weddings from TV and movies. Take a trip down memory lane with all of these ceremonies, complete with gorgeous gowns, scenic locations, and sweet kisses!

Watch Andy Samberg Speak at Harvard's Graduation

Becky Kirsch — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:32:10 PDT

Andy Samberg brings the funny for Harvard grads - The Hollywood Reporter
Find out who's hooking up in the new season of True Blood - Zap2It
Justin Timberlake is making music again! - HuffPost Entertainment
More new footage from The Dark Knight Rises - BuzzFeed
You'll never believe what Nicole Kidman does to Zac Efron in their new movie - The Frisky
Will Smith's best movies - Rotten Tomatoes
See which classic horror film is coming to TV -/Film
Here's a preview for the new season of So You Think You Can Dance - ET Online
Jennifer Love Hewitt says The Client List makes her feel like a hooker - TrèsSugar

Nicole, Zac, and Matthew Get Together in Cannes to Talk Paperboy

Lauren Turner — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:48:57 PDT

Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, and Matthew McConaughey met up in Cannes this afternoon to promote their film The Paperboy. The costars chatted about their project on the French TV program Le Grand Journal. Zac's face was freshly shaved after he took off from LAX yesterday with a scruffy mustache. Matthew, meanwhile, was looking handsome for his latest event following an appearance with fiancée Camila Alves at Baoli Beach Tuesday. Nicole traveled to the South of France during a break from filming her newest movie, The Railway Man, in Scotland. There are so many stars at the Cannes Film Festival already, and the fun continues until the end of the week so stay tuned for more from the glamorous overseas event.