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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:30:11 PDT

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 these three creepy thrillers that join the others on video store shelves today, Wild Hogs also comes out on DVD, as well as David Lynch's Inland Empire.

The Lookout
One of my favorite thrillers of the year so far, The Lookout has Jeff Daniels and Joseph Gordon-Levitt both turning in superb performances as the good-natured blind man Lewis (Daniels) and his mentee Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Chris suffers a severe head injury from a car accident that cut short his promising athletic future. Now working as a janitor at a bank and living with his blind friend, Chris falls in with the smooth talking Gary Spargo and his posse (including the sweet and sexy Luvlee played by Isla Fisher).

Gary lures Chris into his bank heist, preying on Chris' loneliness and desire to feel powerful again. At the last minute, though, Chris has second thoughts. Chilling and suspenseful throughout, The Lookout is a fantastically worthwhile thriller. For more of my take, check out my review.

For two more thrilling titles,

read more Fracture Fracture pits the adorable and arresting Ryan Gosling against the ever-shifty Anthony Hopkins in a capable legal thriller. Gosling plays Willy Beachum, the up-and-coming assistant district attorney tasked with linking Ted Crawford (Hopkins) to the murder of Ted's wife. Hopkins shows nothing new with his performance, relying on his old Silence of the Lambs tricks to once again portray a clever yet disturbed criminal while Gosling does his very best to pick up the slack. It's a decent rental for a spooky night, however, especially if you need a Gosling fix.
Vacancy Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson star in this horror/thriller that takes place at a creepy motel (hence the title). David (Wilson) and Amy Fox (Beckinsale) are forced to stay in the shady Pinewood Motel when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. In the cursed Room 4, they turn on the TV and watch some slasher films... until they realize the low-budget movies were all filmed in their very motel room. Vacancy doesn't break any new ground, but it provides a few good scares if you're in the mood.

The Lookout: Quiet, Dark, Worthwhile

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:00:24 PDT

The Lookout is mostly slow-moving and pretty quiet, which makes the action that much more exciting when it quickly advances, and the denouement that much more satisfying. If one can disregard the tidily wrapped-up ending and some convenient coincidences, the film is a successful piece modern noir featuring a sweet-faced kid and his blind, lovable buddy. Screenwriter Scott Frank delivers a solid product with his first directorial attempt. And in fact, when Frank's script seems weak, the direction and performances step up to fill in the gaps.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (a.k.a. "that kid from '3rd Rock From the Sun'") plays Chris Pratt, a teenage jock whose promising future is dashed when he crashes his car, leaving him with a brain injury that effects his short-term memory. Now Chris works as a janitor in a bank, his hubris replaced with guilt and anger. It doesn't help that Chris's family is unabashedly ashamed of his disability. Chris's main source of support is his blind roommate, Lewis, played by a refreshingly comedic Jeff Daniels. With his protective good-nature, Lewis has confidence in the duo's futures. But of course, it's not that simple, so

However, skeezy bank-robbing Gary Spargo (Matthew Goode) targets Chris as his new best friend, needing Chris's after hours access to the bank and recognizing his obvious desire for power in his life. Ultimately, Chris becomes so entangled in the heist plan that by the time he starts having second thoughts, it's too late. At that point in the film, the tension mounts rapidly, but then after the climactic scene, everything neatly wraps up, and the movie's over.

The thing that separates this noir thriller from the pack is that the main characters' disabilities heighten the stakes considerably, making us root for the characters more fervently than we otherwise would. More than just good vs. evil, there's the sense of injustice that comes from the strong exploiting the weak. Whether this was the intention or not, I left the movie with a new sensitivity toward the "handi-capable." The story's end is predictable from the start, but because it's the ending you're so earnestly hoping for, it doesn't feel like a cop-out. With this ending we can retain a belief in goodness prevailing, which is always nice.

Photos courtesy of Miramax

Isla and Josh are Still on The Lookout

PopSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:58:19 PDT

Young Hollywood up and comers Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Isla Fisher celebrated their new movie, The Lookout, at last night's NY premiere. Luckily, Joseph looks to have healed since last week's LA premiere while Isla continued to shine in a form fitting black number. The Lookout, a dark crime thriller (check out the trailer here), comes out this Friday, but it's already getting good reviews. We can't wait to see these two actors, whom we probably know best from comedic roles (Wedding Crashers for her and Third Rock from the Sun for him), show us their serious acting chops.

For more pics including Jeff Daniels, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Sergio del Zio just read more

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Source

Movie Preview: The Lookout

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:20:32 PDT

Aside from Blades of Glory, the only other films coming out nationwide this Friday are the animated family flick Meet the Robinsons and the neo-noir crime thriller The Lookout. I'm more interested in the thriller, though I won't be surprised if Meet the Robinsons does well at the box office (see: TMNT).

In The Lookout, which marks screenwriter Scott Frank's (Out of Sight, Get Shorty) directorial debut, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Chris, a high school jock whose bright future is demolished when a car crash leaves him brain damaged. Struggling to regain a normal life, he accepts a job as a bank janitor, only to find himself enmeshed in a heist attempt. Jeff Daniels costars as Chris' blind mentor, and Isla Fisher plays a mysterious siren.

The Lookout looks like a real treat for fans of indie film - and for anyone following Gordon-Levitt's career. In Brick, he proved his uncanny noir abilities, and he often reminds me of a young Edward Norton. Watch for my review this Friday and in the meantime, you can check out the trailer if you

Isla is One to Lookout For

PopSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:56:08 PDT

Isla Fisher certainly looked the part of the sexy siren at the premiere of her new film The Lookout last night. Her fiance, Sacha Baron Cohen, was also on hand, but managed to elude photographers and let Isla shine on her big night. Rather than stay home and watch Dirt, Courteney was out on the red carpet too, perhaps the girls stayed in touch after the Borat premiere? Unfortunately it looks like the film's leading man, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, looks like he had a bit of an accident before the big night.

The thriller film stars Joseph as a mentally impaired janitor who is sucked into a bank heist. Isla plays his bad girl love interest, which is a little different than her hilarious character in Wedding Crashers, but we're sure she was up for the task.

For The Lookout trailer and more pics including Jodie Foster, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Carla Gugino, and Matthew Goode just read more

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Images include Courteney Cox, Isla Fisher, Jodie Foster, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Carla Gugino, Matthew Goode

Buzz Time Machine: Ryan Reynolds Gets Schooled by a Teenage Witch

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 PST

Long before Ryan Reynolds was kicking ass and taking names in Safe House, he landed a pretty different gig as a bad-boy jock on the Sabrina The Teenage Witch TV movie. Reynolds played Seth, your standard '90s smooth talker, who becomes the love interest of Sabrina. During a school dance, Seth pressures Sabrina to head to Lookout Point - and I'll let you see what is supposed to go on there. The whole thing looks like a bad after-school special until Sabrina does what she does best. Don't click away without watching Ryan Reynolds get schooled in this video!

Uh Oh! Watch Out For These 12 IRS Audit Red Flags

Kiplinger — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:06:09 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

The IRS audits only slightly more than 1% of all individual tax returns annually. The agency doesn't have enough personnel and resources to examine each and every tax return filed during a year. So the odds are pretty low that your return will be picked for review. And, of course, the only reason filers should worry about an audit is if they are fudging on their taxes.

However, the chances of being audited or otherwise hearing from the IRS increase depending upon various factors, including your income level, whether you omitted income, the types of deductions or losses you claimed, the business in which you're engaged and whether you own foreign assets. Math errors may draw IRS inquiry, but they'll rarely lead to a full-blown exam. Although there's no sure way to avoid an IRS audit, you should be aware of red flags that could increase your chances of drawing unwanted attention from the IRS.

1. Making too much money

Although the overall individual audit rate is about 1.11%, the odds increase dramatically for higher-income filers. IRS statistics show that people with incomes of $200,000 or higher had an audit rate of 3.93%, or one out of slightly more than every 25 returns. Report $1 million or more of income? There's a one-in-eight chance your return will be audited. The audit rate drops significantly for filers making less than $200,000: Only 1.02% of such returns were audited during 2011, and the vast majority of these exams were conducted by mail. We're not saying you should try to make less money - everyone wants to be a millionaire. Just understand that the more income shown on your return, the more likely it is that you'll be hearing from the IRS.

Read on for more red flags.

Shop the Complete KARL by Karl Lagerfeld Collection

Marisa Tom — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:10:40 PST

Now, you can shop and check out the complete KARL by Karl Lagerfeld 70-piece collection; in fact, we even styled up some of our favorite items into one model-worthy look for your early bird perusal. But before you get right into the action, here's what you need to know. Lagerfeld's newest line, aptly titled "Karl" will be available exclusively on Net-A-Porter today at 10:30 a.m. EST. If that weren't exciting enough, you should know that this covetable lineup of goodies falls under "affordable luxury," with prices ranging from $35 to $1350. We spotted sleek leather moto-inspired jackets, silver-metallic infused blazers, athletic-minded vests, and ultra tailored silhouettes. Keep reading for our Karl highlights then click through to see the complete lookbook. Also, let us know what you think of our FabSugar-styled look!

No Karl line would be complete without Lagerfeld's distinctive touch. You'll find the designer's profile subtly emblazoned onto a metal jacket button or pant leg.
We're crushing on the chic assortment of accessories. You'll be treated to a plethora of must-have detachable collars, and for all our shoe lovers out there, Karl does not disappoint with his Spring '12 offerings.
Be on the lookout for a snakeskin-textured leather jacket. It's the perfect combination of biker chick-meets-sophisticated lady and we can already think of a handful of ways to pair it with feminine separates and edgier dresses.

Photos courtesy of KARL at NET-A-PORTER.COM

Two Quick and Easy Organizing Tips From Jillian Harris

Elka Karl — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:28:37 PST

I'm always on the lookout for easily integrated organizing ideas, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer Jillian Harris recently shared a few quick and easy tips pulled from her own home. The best part is, you may already own some of these items - you just need to organize and style them in the manner Jillian suggests.

Bedside Tables: "Always think about storage when selecting furniture. An extra drawer and a shelf can make all the difference for storing linens, spare vases, and bedroom essentials. Stacking seasonal throw pillows brings a pop of color into space and personality without appearing cluttered."

Vintage Suitcases and Chests: "They're not only super hot in a space, they tell a story, are eco friendly, and perfect storage solutions."

See more of Jillian as she hosts the new show Canada's Handyman Challenge this month on HGTV.

Good Food Awards 2012

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:42:32 PST

We weren't the only ones to hit up the Good Food Awards this past weekend; check out what Let's Go San Francisco spotted at the Good Foods Marketplace this weekend.

You can imagine my delight and excitement when I stumbled upon the Good Food Awards at the Ferry Building. For $5 I had all-you-can-eat chocolate, cheese, and coffee (um, seriously a dream come true). Vendors from all over the country came together to show off their award-winning food and beverages. I documented everything I tasted . . . so be on the lookout for these products at Whole Foods and other organic food markets.

Hoping to see more San Francisco food spotting? Check out Let's Go San Francisco for more, then start your own OnSugar blog. You could wind up featured here!