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Watch, Pass or Rent Movie Reviews: Precious, A Christmas Carol, The Box and The Men Who Stare at Goats!

BuzzSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:00:24 -0800

We have an exciting new weekend video feature - our PopSugar Rush Watch, Pass or Rent Movie Reviews! This week we're giving you the bottom line on Precious, The Box, A Christmas Carol and The Men Who Stare at Goats. Check it out now and let us know what you think in the comments!

Dev, Freida, and Emily, Weekend Movie Reviews of Precious, Carol, The Box, and Men Who Stare at Goats!

Molly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:34:28 -0800

It's the weekend which mean it's time for our PopSugar Rush Watch, Pass, or Rent Movie Reviews! We're looking at Precious, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Precious, and The Box. Plus, we were on the red carpet at last night's BAFTA awards, so check out Emily Blunt, Dev Patel, and Freida Pinto! There's Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and more. Watch the PopSugar Rush Weekend Edition now!

The Box: An Inadequate Package to Unwrap

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:56 -0800

I so wanted The Box to be a worthy successor to Donnie Darko, director Richard Kelly's first film and much-appreciated cult fave. Unfortunately, I didn't exactly get my wish.

The Box is a highly stylized, good-looking thriller, from the retro 1976 Virginia setting to the Barbie and Ken looks of leads Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. They play husband and wife Arthur and Norma Lewis, who run into a bit of a financial jam when a strange opportunity conveniently presents itself. A creepy, disfigured man (Frank Langella) offers them a million dollars if they push a button inside a box - but a stranger will die if they do.

Kelly has all the right elements and the creativity to give us a hip, entertaining thriller, but there are a number of blatant missteps that make the movie unsatisfying. To see more about what I mean, just read more.

Kelly puts his stamp on everything, namely the constant eerie atmosphere and the random sinister characters (apparently an old person standing still in the road is his trademark). Though many questioned the casting of Cameron Diaz and her requisite Virginia accent, there was a similar doubt when Drew Barrymore and Patrick Swayze were cast in Darko, and it ended up working. With Diaz, it's not that I would say that she nailed the part, but that the accent and greater aspects of the plot are very campy. And I like campy, but I don't know if that's what the film is going for.

If you're not taking it seriously, the movie is a pretty good time, with some frightening scenes and jumps. There are also many parts that are supposed to be creepy, but they're so labored that they come out as funny. Like, laugh out loud in the theater funny. I wouldn't call that a failure, I'd just invoke the term I used before campy.

The major problem the movie runs into is when it begins exploring these sci-fi and supernatural angles, which end up being red herrings. For instance, much is made of Arthur's job at NASA and Mars, which made me think we were in for a weird, wild sci-fi ride. I was ready to embrace something really out there (I'm a big David Lynch fan, after all), but you don't really get it. There are so many elements that are introduced but never followed to a conclusion, so you're left shrugging your shoulders when the movie ends. It's even more perplexing because the mystery of The Box itself is explained, but you're left with all these details that went nowhere, in retrospect. It's one thing to leave things open-ended, but you have to give the audience something to work with.

Honestly, if you're a Kelly fan, you'll probably find it enjoyable. But if you want complete resolution, I'd wait for the director's cut.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Which November Movie Do You Want to See the Most?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:30:21 -0800

There are only two months to go in 2009, which means Hollywood is quickly rolling out the rest of its heavy-hitters. November offers up a wide selection of comedy, drama, action and indie, but tell me - which film is at the top of your list?

Link Time: Hugh Jackman Not Hosting the 2010 Oscars

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:30:24 -0700

Hugh Jackman has declined to host next year's Oscars - Moviefone
Spoon has announced their next album, Transference, due in January - Pitchfork
Fox has renewed American Dad for a sixth season - Coming Soon
This Is It has been certified fresh by critics - Rotten Tomatoes
Need a last-minute Halloween costume? Check out these ideas inspired by TV characters! - TV.com
Cop the '70s style from upcoming movie The Box - CasaSugar
John Rhys-Davies isn't going to be in The Hobbit prequel as a dwarf - MTV Movies Blog
Glee's Matthew Morrison, AKA Mr. Schuester, has plans to release a solo album - Access Hollywood
The first Lost promo for season six is not terribly exciting - Vulture
Get a load of the Today show hosts as the cast of Star Wars! - Best Week Ever

2009 Comic-Con: Sherlock, Wild Things, The Box, and More!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:35:29 -0700

Today at Comic-Con, Warner Bros. provided a closer look at some of its most-anticipated upcoming films. In a packed 90 minutes, we got sneak peeks at Where the Wild Things Are, The Book of Eli, The Box, Jonah Hex, and Sherlock Holmes. The panels were chock-full of celebs, which made for a lot of fan excitement and some interesting questions (including multiple marriage proposals for Megan Fox and Cameron Diaz). Here are my thoughts:

Where the Wild Things Are: We didn't get a full panel and Q&A for this one, but the clips were more than enough to satisfy fans who have been dying to see more of Spike Jonze's newest project. I was so excited to find that the scenes were just as touching and mesmerizing as as the film's trailer. Basically, I can't wait for Oct. 16!
The Book of Eli: This morning I showed you all the trailer for the movie, but having the cast on hand was even better. Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman seemed to have a great relationship - the perfect balance of mutual respect mixed with a lot of goofing around. When asked what it was like to work together, they quipped:

Washington: "It was like good sex. We had a ball together. Sometimes we do the scene as English gentlemen . . ."
Oldman: "Sometimes you do it with the slang African-American, sometimes it's the English gentleman, sometimes it's the thespian . . . like good sex."

It should be awesome to see these two duke it out on the big screen. Oh, and Oldman also revealed that he'll start filming the next Batman next year - adding "But you didn't hear it from me."

Want to hear about The Box, Jonah Hex, and Sherlock Holmes? Of course! Just read more.

The Box: Cameron Diaz and James Marsden came out along with director Richard Kelly to answer questions about the upcoming creepy sci-fi flick. We got the first taste of the film's eerie score, which is done by The Arcade Fire, and Frank Langella's scarred face was even more haunting than I remembered it from the trailer. Diaz isn't exactly known for supernatural thrillers, but she talked a bit about why she loves the genre. She said:

"What I really love about sci-fi is that it comes from the creative, artistic intellectual who is trying to answer all of these existential questions that we have. When I read Richard's script, I thought, 'There's so much about humanity in this script and so much we're trying to understand about ourselves just pushing a button'. . . It was just so big. . . I loved that about it, and that's what I love about sci-fi. I grew up on sci-fi. My dad was a sci-fi reader. It's always been something I've really enjoyed."
Jonah Hex: This creepy-looking Western doesn't hit theaters until next Summer, but I'm not surprised that it's already garnering interest. Josh Brolin stars as the title character, an intimidating cowboy with swagger, a bad attitude, and a mysterious scar (a hole, really) on the side of his face. Megan Fox plays his prostitute love interest, and while the trailer made me a bit squeamish, I have to admit that I was intrigued. Brolin seemed effusively proud of the project - almost to the point of arrogance - while Fox sat pretty on the panel and tried to dodge questions from drooling fanboys.
Sherlock Holmes: Robert Downey Jr. needed no introduction, and he ate up all the cheers and applause with the charm and charisma that makes him so great. The movie footage was really just an extended version of the trailer, but the panel was more than enough to reaffirm my enthusiasm. RDJ, along with the film's producers (including his wife, Susan Downey) and Rachel McAdams, reiterated again and again how hard they worked on the film. They cited the biggest challenge as staying true to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original portrayal of the characters, but not before Downey joked, "This is how sick I am: I don't think there's anything that can be too challenging for me. I have an illness of confidence."

Stay tuned for more from San Diego all weekend!

Movie Preview: The Box

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:45:42 -0700

I've been watching out for director Richard Kelly's (Donnie Darko) movie The Box for a long time now, and I'm excited to say that while the premise sounds odd/silly, I think this could turn out to be a great film. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play married couple Norma and Arthur Lewis who have a pretty storybook life but eventually run into money troubles. Cue very creepy music and Frank Langella showing up on their doorstep with a box. He tells them that if they push the button in the box someone they do not know will die and they will receive a lot of money.

Again, it sounds silly but so did a movie about a teenage boy who talks to a bunny rabbit named Frank, and we know how well that turned out (really well). The trailer is weird and creepy, and totally smacks of Richard Kelly. Count me in! The movie will hit theaters Oct. 30. To watch the trailer for yourself, read more.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Buzz News Roundup, 5/14

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:32:07 -0700

Point Break is getting a sequel, writes Zap2It, though it's unclear whether Keanu or Swayze will reprise their roles. Also, OMG look at Swayze's hair.
According to the AP, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is thinking of doing an Apprentice-like reality TV show for "young would-be lawmakers."
The "politically charged" Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young documentary will get a theatrical release in July, Billboard reports.
According to Pitchfork, Arcade Fire is scoring The Box, the next movie from Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly, which stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden.
TV Guide has the scoop on the new 90210's daddy casting issues.
According to ComingSoon, Steve Martin will team up with Diane Keaton for yet another project, this time a comedy written by Martin himself.
Hollywood Reporter has the news that Michael Rappaport will be joining Prison Break.
ComingSoon reports that the Transformers sequel will probably be in 3-D.
According to Zap2It, Michael Moore is planning a sequel to his documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 2/27

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:30:07 -0800

USA Today has a gallery of images from the psychological thriller The Box, starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden.
It's official: Hollywood writers approved their new contract with almost 94 percent of WGA members voting in favor of the agreement, the Associated Press reports.
Miss/Guided, the ABC comedy starring Judy Greer, will premiere in March, Zap2it reports.
The next Terminator movie, starring Christian Bale, will open Memorial Day weekend of 2009, Variety reports.
Billboard writes that Justin Timberlake, Lou Reed and Billy Joel are among the people who will induct members of the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class next month in New York.
The New York Times reports that several networks are ready to claim Jay Leno once he's done with The Tonight Show next year.
The Martin Scorsese film Shutter Island, starring Leonardo Dicaprio, just added Emily Mortimer, Jackie Earle Haley and Max von Sydow to the cast, according to ComingSoon.
Variety has the news that Jonathan Rhys Meyers will join Julianne Moore in the supernatural thriller Shelter.

Buzz News Roundup, 11/2

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:30:30 -0700

Variety writes that Fox has set a release date for the second X-Files movie: July 25, 2008.
All My Children star Justin Bruening will be the new Knight Rider, reports Zap2it.
ComingSoon reports that Natalie Portman is starting a production company and will make her directorial debut with A Tale of Love and Darkness.
According to Hollywood Reporter, FX has ordered a fifth season of Rescue Me.
Variety reports that Forest Whitaker will produce a Showtime series called Mr. Untouchable about a "flashy Harlem heroin dealer."
James Marsden will join Cameron Diaz for the thriller The Box, writes Zap2It.
A YouTube series called We Need Girlfriends could become a CBS comedy produced by Sex and the City's Darren Star, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
According to Billboard, Jewel is going country with her brand-new Nashville-based label.
Variety has news about a sequel to Dances With Wolves, titled The Holy Road and directed by Simon Wincer.
Dennis Miller has signed on to host the NBC game show Amnesia; details are at The Futon Critic.

Source