BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:32:02 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the selections below you can also check out the fourth season of House, Street Kings starring Keanu Reeves, and the HBO movie, Recount which I chatted about with Citizen here.

Gossip Girl: Season 1
Try to ignore for a moment that nobody on that DVD cover looks like a character I recognize from the show. Am I right? That is some wacky Photoshopping there. But anyway, the first season of Gossip Girl is now out on DVD so you can get your collection started and catch up if you haven't seen all the episodes. I'm sure some of you will appreciate this as the CW was not great about putting all their episodes on the Web, especially during the latter part of the season, so you may have missed some pivotal episodes.

I'm excited to relive the early GG days - especially the pilot - but I'm most looking forward to the special features. They include unaired scenes, featurettes titled "The Beginning, XOXO: Concept to Execution," "Gossip Girl Couture," "A Gossip Girl Wedding," and "LOL: Gag Reel." The DVDs also include music videos from The Pierces. How sweet is that?

Three more good ones, so read more.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
What do you get when you blend Frances McDormand with Amy Adams and sprinkle in Lee Pace? A no-brainer Netflix pick!

I adored this little movie about Guinevere Pettigrew (McDormand) an out-of-work governess who sort of accidentally becomes the social secretary of American cabaret singer Delysia Lafosse (Adams). The energy of the two women plus the solid acting from the men who make up the rest of the cast make this movie a total delight. If you didn't catch it in the theaters, it's high time you treated yourself.

Special features include deleted scenes and featurettes titled "Making an Unforgettable Day" and "Miss Pettigrew's Long Trip to Hollywood."

The Life Before Her Eyes
I was so intrigued by the trailer for this film adaptation of Laura Kasischke's book, I made the novel my April Buzz Book Club selection. House of Sand and Fog director Vadim Perelman paints a beautiful portrait with this movie starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood as the older and younger versions of the same woman. The plot might leave you a bit dissatisfied, as it did me (though he changed some aspects of the book that I found jarring, so I may be biased), but it's visually lovely, and not a bad choice for a thought-provoking movie at home.

Special effects include deleted scenes, a behind the scenes featurette and, most intriguingly, an alternate ending.

Dexter: Season Two
If you missed this season (or the entire series thus far), now you can catch up with the new second season DVDs - and not with the neutered episodes on CBS . Dexter (Michael C. Hall, who was nominated for an Emmy for this role) continues with his serial killing - but only picking off the truly evil ones, of course. Meanwhile, he works to maintain a pristine image at home. This season, FBI agent Frank Lundy's (Keith Carradine) work threatens to expose Dexter.

It's worth catching up with Dexter before the new season starts on Showtime September 28.

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:00:36 -0700

I can't tell you how much fun I had at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. In addition to making new friends, I saw some terrific (if quirky) movies, like The Wackness, Trucker, and Bart Got a Room. I also gave a word of warning for the bleak and disturbing Savage Grace which still makes me feel kinda icky.
I saw The Life Before Our Eyes, a movie adapted from my April book club selection and I found the movie to be visually gorgeous but also puzzling. Ah well, the book was still a lovely read. Which reminds me - check out my May selection for the book club.
The title Made of Honor confused me and much of the blogosphere this week. Baffling non-puns aside, the movie was, well, boring. All is not lost, though, because it gave me an excellent picture for the Caption It contest.
Woo-hoo! May is going to be a fun month! I've rounded up some of my must-haves for the month, including the Sex and the City movie. Speaking of which, I put together a slideshow all about the essential episodes to catch before the big movie release on May 30.
American Idol was shaping up to be a bit of a snoozer with the Neil "Sparkly Tops" Diamond songbook. But then, just when I was about to doze off, PaulaGate came crashing through. What did you think about her little on-air hiccup?
So now that shows like Gossip Girl and Grey's Anatomy are back in full swing are you still watching as much TV? Or are there some shows you've quit?
There were some cool and even moving music videos out this week, like this one from R.E.M. and an important message from Radiohead. Coldplay even gave us a glimpse of a song from their upcoming album.
Finally, if you're looking for entertainment this weekend I highly recommend seeing Iron Man in the theaters and settling in Sunday night for the season premiere of This American Life on Showtime.

The Life Before Her Eyes: Beautiful But Puzzling

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:30:06 -0700

The film adaptation of Laura Kasischke's lovely novel The Life Before Her Eyes begins with close-up images of gorgeous, colorful flowers shifting and morphing, one blossom blooming as another one dissolves. The symbolism of this - birth, bloom, change, eventual decay, and rebirth - shows up in a variety of ways throughout the film, both in visual metaphors and in the action and language within the story. It's a beautiful film, full of water and flowers and food and cats, but it all gets to be a bit too much by the end. And the end - for anyone who has read the novel, which was my April book club book - is rather baffling.

The story hinges on one fateful day in the lives of high school best friends Diana (Evan Rachel Wood) and Maureen (Eva Amurri) when a classmate brings a gun to school and goes on a rampage. He enters the girls' bathroom and tells Diana and Maureen that he will have to kill one of them. From here, we flash to an adult Diana (Uma Thurman) living a wonderfully steady life: a beautiful young daughter, handsome husband, spacious house. But the adult Diana begins to notice strange things happening, quirks about her daughter that seem off and other occurrences that leave her unsettled. The narrative bounces from scenes of adult Diana to scenes from before the day of the shooting which fill in some of the story of Diana's friendship with Maureen, and her adolescence in general. Every so often, we return to the girls' bathroom and learn another tiny piece of what happens on that terrible day.

To see what else I thought about the movie, read more.

Uma Thurman's journey in this film is layered and intimate. Some of the most powerful scenes feature a confused and agonizingly haunted adult Diana fighting like mad to keep it together as her perception of reality unravels. Evan Rachel Wood is equally arresting in her portrayal of a young woman testing out the bad girl's life while fiercely loving and secretly admiring her born-again Christian best friend, Maureen.

It takes a true visual artist to interpret Kasischke's dreamy, poetic language into vivid painting-like images that burst with color, texture and emotion. For this, I commend director Vadim Perelman. In regard to the story and the adaptation of Kasischke's work, there are aspects I loved, like the honest-feeling friendship between the young Diana and Maureen. But some parts - particularly certain deviations from the story and some hammer-over-the-head symbolism ("The heart is the body's strongest muscle" is repeated way too many times to count, for example, in case we missed the double meaning the first time) left me feeling frustrated.

For the trailer and video clips from The Life Before Her Eyes, check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Buzz Book Club: The Conclusion of The Life Before Her Eyes

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:30:09 -0700

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! I am really excited to chat about the conclusion of The Life Before Her Eyes, especially now that the movie is out in theaters. And check it out: the Buzz Book Club is mentioned on the movie's website! We're famous!

If you're new to the Book Club, here's what we've been up to: Every week I've suggested chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, has been every Friday in April). In these weekly Book Club posts, I posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.

If you're just discovering this specific book today I highly recommend you stop right here, find a copy for yourself and dig in before you read my final thoughts and/or see the movie. The language is remarkable and the book's haunting effect will keep your mind churning long after you put it down. You can go back and see what we talked about section by section here.

For everyone who's finished the book, ready to discuss? After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I finished, so read more.

How about that ending, huh? What did you make of it? Were you surprised? Confused? Frustrated? Was it too ambiguous? Were you satisfied with the ending? Or were you left wanting more?
Do you think that that final parade was her life before her eyes as well, as she experienced it in the girls' restroom, or was she in some kind of a coma?
If you weren't surprised by the ending, when was the first time that you started to believe Diana was dead, comatose, or somehow not living a normal life?
In Diana's imagined future life, in which pretty much everything is perfect and wonderful, why do you think she imagines that her handsome husband would cheat on her? Is that her guilt coming out? Or does young Diana already know, at her age that nothing is ever really perfect?
In regard to the movie version of the book, do you think Uma Thurman, Evan Rachel Wood and Eva Amurri make sense in these characters' roles? Or did you imagine entirely different people?

Buzz Book Club: The Life Before Her Eyes, Section Three

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:30:32 -0700

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! At this point in The Life Before Her Eyes it's pretty clear something is seriously "off" with Diana. I have a few guesses as to what is going on but again, I'm trying to just enjoy the prose and the dreamlike quality of the imagery without skipping ahead.

If you're new to the Book Club, here's the drill: Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in April). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.

Of course, you are always welcome to read beyond the weekly chapters, but please don't spoil anything in the comments! This is particularly important with this book because each section reveals more about these mysterious things that are happening to Diana. After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

The next assignment: Read from the start of Part Four, to the end (just in time for the movie, which opens in some cities today)! We'll chat about this final section and the book in its entirety on Friday, April 25.

To discuss the second section of The Life Before Her Eyes (in which we read to the end of the chapter titled "Glare"), read more.

In this section, it becomes harder to know what to make of Diana's behavior. It seems like she typed out that disturbing story for Emma and she believes her long-dead cat is back. Diana also talks at several points about her headaches. Is she crazy? Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder? Something else? What are your theories?
We also get a larger glimpse into Diana's troubled youth, though later she thinks of herself as a glass-half-full type and doesn't like morbid thoughts. She feels like a soccer mom and a complete stranger to the teenager she'd been, but she's also clearly haunted by that girl. Does everyone feel such a divide between the girl they once were and the woman they will become? Is this feeling common?
The stark chapter titles stood out to me in this section - "Skin," "Glass," "Glare." Have you been noticing the titles? And do you read anything into how they relate to the stories in each chapter?
Sister Beatrice, God, and the nature of good and evil play huge parts in Diana's thoughts. Sister Beatrice's line in the chapter titled "Skin" seems incredibly meaningful in the grand scope of the novel: "Often there's no explanation for evil and no way to locate its source." There is also the note written by Diana's husband that strikes Diana so much: "Conscience is the voice of God in the nature and heart of man." What do you make of all the references to religion, to God, and to good vs. evil?

Buzz Book Club: The Life Before Her Eyes, Section Two

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:30:13 -0700

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! Are you addicted and intrigued yet by The Life Before Her Eyes? I have to admit I'm having a hard time putting this one down, and though I'm willing myself not to flip ahead, I'm really curious how this will all play out. I also am trying to just savor the haunting and gorgeous images Kasischke brings to life through her poetic prose.

If you're new to the Book Club, this is how it goes: every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in April). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.

Of course, you are always welcome to read beyond the weekly chapters, but please don't spoil anything in the comments! This is particularly important with this book because each section reveals more about what I'm assuming is a surprise ending. After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

The next assignment: read from the start of Part Three to the end of the chapter titled "Glare." We'll chat about this third section a week from today, Friday, April 18.

To discuss the second section of The Life Before Her Eyes (in which we read to the end of the chapter titled "Blood"), read more.

Starting first with the end of the chapter: The image of Diana eating the raw hamburger, savoring its "smooth as pudding, as smooth as ice cream" texture, gave me chills. What do you make of that?
In this section, we learned that, in contrast to the perfect life Diana lives now, her high school experience was much rockier: an abortion, naked photos, getting high before ballet. There are a couple of times where Kasischke juxtaposes a happy high school image right next to a dark one: comparing a scent to "a funeral parlor or a prom dance," for example, or describing her prom corsage as "a pin stabbed just above her heart." What do you think accounts for the differences between Young Diana and Diana now?
This chapter also introduced a strong element of magical realism, with the strange "slut" letter, the suddenly-made bed, the teenagers swimming (or not) in the neighbors' pool. How are you separating fact from fiction? Are you even trying to?
Speaking of the pool, the girl Diana is watching sounds like she is very physically similar to teenage-Diana. She also sees a blonde little girl eating ice cream with her father. It's almost as if she is seeing different versions of herself. Why do think this is - and how does it factor into your overall theory of what's happening to Diana?

Link Time! 4/8

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:30:17 -0700

Kanye West, Jim Henson, and Where the Wild Things Are? Thank you, Vulture.
Cinematical discusses the problem of renting DVDs with your significant other.
Popwatch takes sides in this week's stupid feud: Snoop Dogg vs. Barack Obama.
Give Me My Remote analyzes The Office-centric cover of TV Guide.
The MTV Movies Blog has a clip from the upcoming Uma Thurman-Evan Rachel Wood movie The Life Before Her Eyes (which also happens to be this month's Buzz Book Club selection!).
If you can't wait for Idol Gives Back, TV Squad has a report from the Kodak Theater taping.
Rolling Stone's Rock & Roll Daily explains the keys to a proper viewing of Celebrity Fit Club.
Andrew Bird is magnificent live and YouAintNoPicasso has evidence with an MP3 of Bird performing "Scythian Empire."
In case my Rachel Dratch casting challenge isn't enough, the TV Addict has some other actors who desperately need jobs - including most of the stars of The West Wing.

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Buzz Book Club: The Life Before Her Eyes, Section One

BuzzSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:30:48 -0700

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! Hopefully you were able to get your paws on a copy of The Life Before Her Eyes, which seems to be a very hot property these days, and are all set to discuss the first section.

Of course, you are always welcome to read beyond the weekly chapters, but please don't spoil anything in the comments! This is particularly important with this book because each section reveals more about what I'm assuming is a surprise ending. After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

The next assignment: Read from Part Two to the end of the chapter titled "Blood." We'll chat about this second section a week from today, Friday, April 11.

To discuss the first section of The Life Before Her Eyes (in which we read to the end of the chapter titled "Footsteps"), read more.

The book opens with a very startling and upsetting scenario in which young Diana and her friend are threatened during a school shooting. Did you find the violence off-putting, or did it draw you into the story? Why do you think Kasischke chose to begin the book this way?
There are several references to a dream life Diana always knew she would have. Sometimes, it seems like she's truly accomplished everything she ever hoped for in life; other times, like when she finds herself alone in the parking lot at Emma's school, it's like she's dreaming (or is a part of someone else's dream). What do you make of Diana's "dream life" so far?
Speaking of which, Diana reminisces about how there probably was a time when she would have considered her "dream life" to be something glamorous, like being an actress. But now, she seems to be quite content as a mom, married to a nice guy in a nice neighborhood, and she occasionally reflects on the choices she made to get there. Do you think she compromised somewhere along the line? Do you see any connection between that and the choice young Diana was asked to make in the prologue?
Kasischke is a poet, and her fluid writing adds to the dreamlike feel of the first section. I couldn't help noting all the references to mirrors sprinkled throughout. Which qualities of Kasischke's writing have stood out most to you so far?

Buzz Book Club: The Life Before Her Eyes

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:30:40 -0700

Hey Buzz Book Club readers! I'll return to our final discussion of Revolutionary Road tomorrow, but since March will soon be drawing to a close, I wanted to give you some time to find the April book club selection before we start discussing it next week. The April title is The Life Before Her Eyes by Laura Kasischke.

I was so riveted by the preview for this movie starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood that when I heard it was based on a book, I immediately ordered a copy. Much has been said about the author's unparalleled ability to create evocative imagery. Even The New York Times showered her with praise:

It is not enough to say that Kasischke's language is "poetic," a word that has come to mean "pretty." Rather, her writing does what good poetry does - it shows us an alternate world and lulls us into living in it."

For those of you new to my book club format, here's how it works:
I'll announce a new book each month. Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in April). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few discussion-provoking questions for you to respond to in the comments section.

By the end of the month, we will have worked our way through this haunting story and we'll be ready to watch the movie (in limited release April 18) to see how it compares. To find out what The Life Before Her Eyes is all about and to get the first assignment, read more.

The synopsis for The Life Before Your Eyes reads:
"This third novel by Michigan author Kasischke opens with a shocking scene from a Columbine-like school massacre. Diana and her best friend are confronted by a schoolmate killer, but only Diana is spared. Fast-forward 20 years: Diana, now middle-aged and still beautiful, is a housewife and artist living in the same idyllic university town with a handsome professor-husband and a young daughter. She has seemingly repressed her memory of the event as well as her survivor's guilt, but her perfect world and her grip on reality are both starting to crack."

The first assignment: Read from Part One to the end of the chapter titled, "Footsteps." (Feel free to read ahead, but no spoilers, please!) We'll chat about this first section a week from tomorrow, Friday, April 4.

That leave you lots of time to get a copy of this book and get reading!

Movie Preview: The Life Before Her Eyes

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:30:00 -0800

I finally got myself over to the theaters to watch The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (which I enjoyed immensely - more on that later), but before I even dove into that goodness, I was captivated by a trailer starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood for a film called The Life Before Her Eyes.

The movie is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Laura Kasischke, and it struck me as a haunting, beautifully shot tale. Uma Thurman plays a woman who is clearly struggling with a terrifying event that happened to her high-school-aged self, played by Evan Rachel Wood (I think they bear a little resemblance, don’t you?). The mood reminds me of The Hours in that there is an eerie tension in the way characters go about the ordinary events of their lives. Also, based on what I've read about the book, there might be a major twist involved with the ending, making me all the more intrigued.

House of Sand and Fog's Vadim Perelman is the director, which gives me hope this movie will be as good as the trailer makes it out to be. I already ordered the book and want to make sure I read it before it hits limited theaters on April 18th. To check it out for yourself, read more

Update: this is the newest trailer for The Life Before Her Eyes:

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