BuzzSugar

The Informers: Convoluted and Boring

BuzzSugar — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:30:51 PDT

Greed is good. Sex is easy. Youth is forever.

Or so goes the tagline for The Informers, a new film adapted from a collection of short stories by Bret Easton Ellis. You may recognize Ellis's name from the posters of several films in the past decade, namely American Psycho and The Rules of Attraction (there's also Glitterati, if that ever sees the light of day). If you're familiar with his work, you'll know, loosely, what to expect from his latest venture: Sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. There's plenty of all the aforementioned (hence the tagline), but, unfortunately the end result is more of a melodramatic mess than an examination of the excesses of the '80s.

Don't blame the actors, especially the more seasoned among them. A few - Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke and to a slightly lesser degree Winona Ryder and Billy Bob Thornton - even give memorable performances in a movie that is anything but. The younger newcomers don't fare quite as well with the inane script that contains far too many storylines with far too many unlikeable characters. What's worse, the stories barely intersect, adding confusion on top of disdain.

Let me try to explain what goes down, when you

read more. If you break it down, there are five major plot pieces fighting for attention throughout the movie (apparently a vampire subplot starring Brandon Routh was cut). The most watchable of the bunch are the scenes with Thornton, Basinger, and Ryder. Thornton plays a TV exec who is trying to reconcile his marriage to Basinger's character, while still having an affair with Ryder. Basinger's open to reconciliation, but she's also currently sleeping with one of her son's friends. Which brings in plotline No. 2 involving most of the younger actors of the film. Austin Nichols, Jon Foster, and Amber Heard form a trio of friends who have nothing better to do than drugs and each other. Plot No. 3 has their friend Lou Taylor Pucci fighting off seedy seductions with his gung-ho father (Chris Isaak) in Hawaii. And finally plot No. 4 (don't even get me started on the fifth storyline) follows Mickey Rourke who is trying to sell a kidnapped kid to pedophiles, despite objection from his nephew played by the late Brad Renfro. Confused yet? I certainly was. Bored? That too. Ultimately the film falters in its attempt to cover too much ground, spreading itself too thin with characters not worth caring about. And not that this movie needed another subplot, but a little vampire love could have added some bite to this film without a pulse. Bottom Line: The Ellis fans out there may want to check out this first film for which he (co)-wrote the screenplay, but I'd skip the theatrical release.

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2009 Sundance Spotlight: Brooklyn's Finest, The Informers, 500 Days of Summer

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:30:39 PST

While I won't be heading down to the 2009 Sundance Film Festival this year, I will be sorting through the humongous pile of festival entries to share with you some of the films I think look most promising. From quirky documentaries to talented young filmmaker debuts to a potential runaway hit, Sundance is filled with entertainment possibilities. Here are today's selections:

Brooklyn's Finest
Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), Brooklyn's Finest just became this year's first sale at Sundance. Apparently "Senator Distribution nabbed North American rights . . . on Saturday night, 24 hours after its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. . . Senator says it will release the film in the fourth quarter for awards consideration." According to Senator president Mark Urman, the company "went into aggressive pursuit right after Friday's screening." Wow! All of this spells good things for the cop drama which features a stellar cast (Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin). The plot is described as: "Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths." The guy responsible for the screenplay has a unique and intriguing story himself (you can read about it here). No clips available just yet, but now that it's been purchased I'm sure we'll hear and see much more about this film in the future.

Two more great-looking movies, with talented folks like Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Mickey Rourke, if you

read more. The Informers Well, the long-awaited movie adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's collection of short stories is upon us. The movie, starring a whole lot of people from the '80s and early '90s (most notably Mickey Rourke, continuing his amazing career comeback) is about LA in the '80s in all its beautiful, indulgent, moral-decaying glory. The Informers also includes Kim Basinger, Winona Ryder, Billy Bob Thornton, Chris Isaak, and the late Brad Renfro (his final role). I have mixed feelings about this movie, but then again, any trailer that includes a song by A Flock of Seagulls deserves a chance in my book. FYI: The trailer for The Informers below is not suitable for work due to some topless ladies. Proceed with caution: 500 Days of Summer Oh, man. Could these two be cuter together? I think not. I was so excited when this casting news first came out and I'm even more thrilled that the movie's premiering at Sundance (to not-bad reviews so far) and has a release date (July 24) and now has a super cute teaser trailer (see below!). At first glance, the movie's description sounds like a little tale of unrequited love (boy loves girl, girl doesn't believe in love) but here's the part that got me really curious: "energized by dance numbers, split screens, and two dynamic performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel." Dance numbers? Why not?! Check out the trailer below and for additional clips, click here. Photos courtesy of Sundance

Buzz News Roundup, 10/22

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:03:35 PDT

You were right: After just four days and two episodes, Viva Laughlin is the season's first scripted show to get canceled, writes The Futon Critic.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will produce an HBO dramatic series following disaster-relief workers, and PopSugar has the details.
According to USA Today, we shouldn't believe those spoilers about which new House doctors are sticking around.
ComingSoon reports that Eva Longoria, Jason Biggs and Rob Corddry have signed on for an "elementary school comedy" called Lower Learning.
Paramount and MTV have signed on to create the fact-based drama Bong Hits 4 Jesus, writes Variety.

Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford will host a Bravo modeling competition series called Make Me a Supermodel, Zap2it reports.
Billboard reports that Jay-Z will briefly tour to support his American Gangster album.
Reuters reports that musician Chris Isaak has been cast in the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' The Informers.

Photo courtesy of CBS

Billy Bob, Ashley Olsen, Basinger Are The Informers

BuzzSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:30:01 PDT

Check out this interesting-looking cast.
This film project brings together some interesting folks: Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Ashley Olsen, Brandon Routh, Jon Foster and Lou Pucci are all set to star in The Informers, based on a collection of short stories by Bret Easton Ellis.

What's it about?
Well, in typical Ellis fashion (this is the man who penned American Psycho and Rules of Attraction), I'm betting on a healthy dose of rape, drug use and general depravity. Variety describes the plot thusly: "The drama is set over the course of a week in 1983, in the chillingly nihilistic world of Ellis' youth in Los Angeles. Seven storylines intersect, involving movie execs, rock stars, a vampire and other morally challenged characters."

Ashley Olsen? Really?
Molly thinks this is a mistake, that reporters on this story are mixing up Ashley and Mary-Kate. If this turns out to be true, it will be pretty amusing.

Source, source and source

Safe House: A Standout Thriller

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

While working for the CIA may seem like a dream job, Matt Weston's (Ryan Reynolds) current position at a Safe House is certainly no picnic. He's a new agent, stationed alone in South Africa, waiting for the chance that he will have a "house guest" (someone who is taken prisoner by the CIA.) Matt's desperately trying to get some field experience so he can be stationed in some other city where he can see a little action. After a year of boredom, his wish comes true when Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) arrives.

I was constantly on the edge of my seat throughout the film, and felt everyone in the theater being equally enraptured with what was unraveling before our eyes. Safe House has high-stakes moments cut with sardonic, nonchalant comedy that Reynolds and Washington both pull off nicely. I felt connected to everyone's struggles, but the plot kept me unsure if I wanted the good guy or the bad guy to come out on top. To find out why Safe House exceeded my expectations, just keep reading.

Watch Oscar Nominee Jean Dujardin Audition For Every Villain Role Ever

Shannon Vestal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:34 PST

Best actor nominee Jean Dujardin has a good chance of winning the Oscar for his performance in The Artist, and this Funny or Die video has a very specific idea for his career trajectory. Two Hollywood types inform Dujardin that many foreign Oscar winners go on to play memorable villains, so the good-natured Dujardin agrees to audition for a bad guy role - in every possible upcoming movie. Watch the ultra-charming star and his French accent try out every clichèd villain threat (and catch all the hilarious titles for sequels that aren't real . . . yet).

Jean Dujardin's Villain Auditions from Jean Dujardin

Maternity Essentials: Where to Splurge and Where to Save

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:03:59 PST

Whether the thought of shopping for maternity clothes for the first time terrifies or thrills you, the reality is, if you're pregnant, your body is going to change - substantially. While you shouldn't have to replace each and every piece in your closet, there are a few maternity must-haves that every mama-to-be will want in her wardrobe. In each category, we've provided a "splurge" and a "save" option, so that you can make an informed decision on how you choose to delegate your dollars. Get ready to shop!

Domino Quick Fixes Launches This Spring!

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:07:10 PST

Domino fans rejoice! The dearly departed shelter publication will be brought to life again through a special print edition titled Quick Fixes. Condé Nast will publish a compilation of the magazine's best home-decorating stories, highlighting tricks and tips for easy and affordable ways to dramatically change the look of your home.

Condé Nast editorial director Thomas J. Wallace noted in a press release that "this special edition of Domino is another example of Condé Nast’s objective to bring brands to life across multiple platforms, and give consumers more of what they love in new and exciting ways. Domino Quick Fixes will be a treasure trove of useful and creative information, and a must-read for any Domino fan."

Whether it's sprucing up a tired piece of furniture or breaking down the steps for more elaborate DIYs, like painting a stairwell, the publication will be full of inspiring ideas for weekend warriors. Domino Quick Fixes will be available on national newsstands from April 17 through July 16, 2012, for $11. And if that's not exciting enough, you can look forward to a second special edition scheduled for the Fall!

Manage and Organize Your Bills For Free!

Sponsor — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:00:00 PST

Destiny's Child said it best: bills, bills, bills! And since no one has offered to pay our Saks, Macy's, or Nordy bills, it's high time we got our finances in order. Isn't that what the New Year is all about?

Let us introduce Manilla, which is a free online bill organizer all about helping you keep your finances in order (and a steady flow of shoes into your closet). How? Manilla gathers all of the information you need to manage your bills and accounts and puts them into one easy, organized overview available 24/7. Manilla also keeps you in the know about upcoming payments with automatic reminders (aka lifesavers).

Signing up is super easy and piece of mind is priceless, so get your Manilla before the next billing cycle!

In Season: Turnips

Lizzie Fuhr — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:20:59 PST

Turnips are one of those Winter root vegetables that get little love but can be a truly delicious addition to your next meal. There's little information about their original cultivation, but we do know that back in ancient Rome Pliny the Elder considered the turnip to be one of the most important vegetables of his day. Today, lots of families in the South love stewing up the turnip vegetable or its greens for a warming supper.

If you've never been exposed to cooking turnips, these guys can be a little tricky to choose. To learn more about the cute little turnip, just keep reading.