BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:30:32 PST

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 my selections below you can now add Bottle Shock and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa to your queue.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
I still smile when I think about this movie starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks because it's so silly and raunchy and yet manages to be somewhat heartwarming. But it should come with a serious warning: This is pretty graphic stuff so you should avoid watching with say, a boss, or a brother, or even maybe your roommate's boyfriend. It's a series of really awkward movie moments just waiting to happen. It's also hysterically funny in parts, though, so don't hesitate to add this one to your queue.

The special features both frighten and intrigue me. They include deleted scenes; a "making of" featurette; something called "Money Shots Webisodes"; outtakes, ad-libs and bloopers; and "Seth vs. Justin: Battle for Improvisational Supremacy."

Two more up next, just

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Juno has been playing on HBO a lot these days and I've been flipping to it during commercial breaks for little bits of Michael Cera goodness. Well, I'm just about Juno-ed out now, so I'm glad the adorable Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is finally out on DVD. I may be a little biased because I read the book but the movie is also super-duper cute due to Cera and his awesome co-star Kat Dennings. Good music, good actors, boys and girls having crushes on each other - what's not to love?

Special features include outtakes, deleted scenes, "Middle Management" music video by Bishop Allen, and "A Nick & Norah Puppet Show" by Kat Dennings.

The Secret Life of Bees
Zack and Miri, Nick & Nora, and now Bees?! Clearly I won't be hanging out with other humans this weekend because my couch and I are booked. This screen adaptation of the beloved bestseller is a satisfying tale of female friendship that might not be getting a lot of awards or attention, but will touch your heart nonetheless. The movie's dreamy cast includes Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Queen Latifah. I'm glad it's finally time to watch this again at home.

Special features include the director's extended cut, eight deleted scenes, and lots of featurettes including one titled "Adaptation: Bringing the Secret Life of Bees to the Big Screen."

Wahlberg Feels No Payne at the Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:30:34 PDT

Mark Wahlberg had a good weekend. His movie Max Payne was No. 1 at the box office, with an estimated $18 million. Plus, it looks like he made nice with Andy Samberg, after things got tense last week.

Second place turned out to be what Variety calls a "photo finish" between those dancing dogs and The Secret Life of Bees. Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua just barely eked out a second place finish its third weekend in theaters with an estimated $11.2 million with Bees close behind with about $11.1 million.

Oliver Stone's biopic W also did well, coming in at No. 4 with an estimated $10.6 million its first weekend out followed by Eagle Eye at No. 5.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

The Secret Life of Bees: Just Sweet Enough

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:30:43 PDT

When I left my screening of The Secret Life of Bees I felt comforted and content, and it took me a while to understand why: This movie calls back to older, Southern-set, empowering movies like Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes. Those films celebrate womanhood and the importance (and potency) of female friendship, all against the unique backdrop of the American South. The stories are beautiful and sentimental, with tragedy and heartache going hand-in-hand with love and humor. This is what The Secret life of Bees is like, while also including the tension of race relations in South Carolina in 1964 and a coming-of-age story. I've sometimes wondered mournfully if movies like these were no longer relevant or could not be made well in this day and age, so it is with relief that I report to you: They can, and have.

Dakota Fanning plays Lily, a 14-year-old girl in South Carolina whose mother died when she was young, leaving her in the care of an abusive father (Paul Bettany) and a kind housekeeper named Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). Lily decides to run away from her father and her small town, and she takes Rosaleen with her. Included in her mother's belongings, Lily has a piece of wood with an image of a black Mary holding a black infant Jesus and the name of a town written on the back. So, Lilly and Rosaleen head off for this town and discover that the image of Mary matches the labels on some locally-made honey. Further investigation brings them to a bright pink house where the honey is made. It's more than just a brightly-colored house, though, so

The pink house is home to the Boatwright sisters: May (the magnificently endearing Sophie Okonedo), June (Alicia Keys) and August (Queen Latifah). The sisters take in Lily and Rosaleen, though the suspicious June doesn't think it's a good idea. In the peaceful Boatwright home, Lily learns the secrets to making honey - and secrets to her past. Lily also discovers the story behind the Boatwright sisters' attachment to the black Mary, and watches as the women pray to Mary and worship her. Of course, no place is a utopia (even a bright pink house), and trouble seems to follow Lilly wherever she goes. But in the end it's a sweet and soulful little movie with a strong message of hope.

From time to time the movie veers into some Hallmark-y schmaltz, but the issues of the times - discrimination, violence at the dawn of great change - temper any silliness. The setup (three black women with a successful business taking in a little white girl and her caretaker) is also bizarre enough within this time period to somehow negate the possible cheesiness.

Having read the book I had my own vision of this world and the movie is not far off from what I imagined. I was worried that the idea of a religion that worships Mary would come across as silly in the film, as opposed to powerful and comforting. To my relief, it all works fine onscreen. The beauty of this tradition and these women's beliefs is easily conveyed, and it rings as true as any sisterhood (thankfully without any screaming of "ya-ya!"). This truthfulness and comfort stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight

The Secret Life of Bees Buzzes into LA

PopSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:05:00 PDT

Queen Latifah was on SNL this weekend assisting Tina Fey in recreating the VP debates but last night she was cracking up with Will Smith on the red carpet in LA for the premiere of The Secret Life of Bees. Will was there as a producer and to support Jada who embraced Fall's latest lace trend and is an executive producer of the film based on the best-selling novel. Dakota Fanning continues to look all grown up while looking perfectly age appropriate. The recently engaged Jennifer Hudson got gorgeous in navy with matching blue eye shadow. The all-star cast already premiered their movie at the TIFF so if you haven't already checked out the trailer we'd suggest doing so before it opens next weekend.

To see more pictures of Dakota, Jennifer Hudson, Ali Landry and more just

View 20 Photos ›

Images include: Will Smith, Dakota Fanning, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Tristan Wilds, Jennifer Hudson, Nate Parker, Lauren Shuler-Donner, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Joe Pichirallo, Eva Pigford, Nia Long, Ali Landry

Source

TIFF Gives VMAs a Run For Its Money

PopSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:00:03 PDT

The MTV VMAs may have been the talk of the town, but the Toronto Film Festival proved to be just as star-studded. Jennifer Aniston looked fabulous as usual in her mini black dress for Management, while Keira Knightley looked like royalty once again on the red carpet for The Duchess. Brad Pitt showed off his Burn After Reading and talked about how little sleep he's getting these days taking care of six kids. Dakota Fanning wowed us in her black number, looking so pretty and grown-up at the premiere of The Secret Life of Bees with costar Jennifer Hudson.

Mark Ruffalo pulled double duty for Blindness with Julianne Moore and The Brothers Bloom with Adrien Brody, while Anne Hathway looked gorgeous continuing promotions for Rachel Getting Married. Of course, it wouldn't be a festive weekend without a few parties, and Kate Hudson, Diddy, and Lindsay Lohan were just a handful of stars who had plenty of fun without any movies of their own to endorse.

To see over 70 more photos including Queen Latifah, Evangeline Lily, Paris and Benji, Alicia Keys, and tons more, just

View 77 Photos ›

Images include: Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore, Adrien Brody, Danny Glover, Evangeline Lily, Gael Garcia Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh, Dominic Monaghan, Alicia Keys, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, John Malkovich, Kate Hudson, Benji Madden, Petra Nemcova, Tim Robbins, Sir Richard Branson, Renée Zellweger, Gerard Butler, Zac Efron, Jeremy Piven, Claire Danes, Tristan Wilds, Diddy, Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson, Ed Harris, Kiera Knightley

Source

Movie Preview: The Secret Life of Bees

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:44:49 PDT

It's not every day that the film adaptation of a well-loved book appears to capture the same atmosphere and sentiments that the book does, but in my opinion, the trailer for The Secret Life of Bees looks like it might do just that. I loved the novel by Sue Monk Kidd; it was one of those books that left me feeling sad at the end because I had to part with characters I'd come to care about deeply.

The story follows 14-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning) whose mother died, leaving Lily with an abusive father. Together with her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), Lily runs away from her father, and the two wind up at a pink house and under the protection of four smart, strong, beekeeping sisters.

The trailer does seem to veer into sappiness a few times, but is just grounded enough to avoid looking like a Lifetime TV movie. Queen Latifah has a solid, maternal way about her in this role, which is refreshing, and it's really great to see Dakota Fanning playing an older character. Alicia Keys has a good presence onscreen, and I may be most excited to see Sophie Okonedo (who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Hotel Rwanda), whom I find absolutely mesmerizing every time I see her in another movie.

The Secret Life of Bees opens October 17. To see what I'm talking about,

Source

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:30:48 PST

Did you get all my holiday brainteasers this week? Test your knowledge with these trivia questions about A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street" National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Scrooged.
I also have a quiz about holiday music and another quiz about some of those movies that aren't "holiday movies" but feature the holidays, like Love Actually and Beautiful Girls.
Speaking of holiday entertainment, what gets you in the spirit the most: holiday music, movies or TV specials?
I got the incredibly cool opportunity to interview Ellen Page. And she is awesome.
Striking members of the Writers Guild plan to picket the Golden Globes - in full evening wear.
Of course, the biggest movie trailer of the week is the super creepy one for The Dark Knight, but I also really dug the one for George Clooney's Leatherheads.
In Dakota Fanning movie news, Alec Baldwin will be joining her in My Sister's Keeper, and Fanning herself will be at the center of the film adaptation of The Secret Life of Bees.
After this week's last episode of Gossip Girl for a while, are you on Team Blair, Team Serena, or Team Both?.

Source

Cast of Secret Life of Bees Set, Dakota Fanning Strikes Again

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:32:28 PST

In yet more book-to-movie news, the bestselling novel by Sue Monk Kidd The Secret Life of Bees will be adapted for film and they already have a cast mostly in place. The young girl at the center of the story will be played by - who else? - Dakota Fanning. With the addition of this project, Fanning has six movies in various stages of production. When does she have the time to come-of-age in real life?

Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah and Sophie Okonedo have also signed on for the project and Alicia Keys is apparently in talks to join as well. According to Variety:

Set in South Carolina in 1964, story centers on Lily Owens (Fanning), who escapes her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father by running away with her caregiver and only friend (Hudson) to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Latifah, Okonedo and Keys would play the three sisters.

I liked the book very much so I hope they don't make it into a silly Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood kind of thing. What do you think? Are you interested in a big-screen version of The Secret Life of Bees?

Source and source

Glee-Ful Highlights From Episode "Saturday Night Glee-ver"

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:49:48 PDT

It turns out that disco isn't dead after all - it's alive and kicking on this week's episode of Glee. In search of an assignment and a way to get through to a few of his troubled students, Mr. Schue finds the answer in the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. So what does that mean for us? A little Bee Gees, a little hustle, and a lot of white polyester.

As we get closer to McKinley High's graduation day, the seniors are getting more antsy about their future plans. Even Mr. Schue is starting to get worried about a select three - Finn, Santana, and Mercedes - because they don't have anything set in motion yet. Ready to break down all the big moments? Just

Disco isn't exactly my favorite genre (is it anyone's anymore?), but the episode kicks things off on a good note with a performance of "You Should Be Dancing." Even if it seemingly comes from nowhere, the number got my attention thanks to featuring the three best dancers - Blaine, Mike, and Brittany - in an upbeat number.
If you were missing Mr. Schue's sweet, sweet falsetto, then this episode provides a special treat. Not only does Will lend his pipes to "Night Fever," but we also get to sample some of Sue's moves. I know that Sue is on Team New Directions now, but something about her smiling and grooving out on the dance floor felt bizarre.
Mercedes uses a performance of "Disco Inferno" to prove that she's not just a wayward sheep: she's got big dreams of following in the footsteps of the likes of Mariah and Aretha. The only problem is that she's too scared to act. Luckily, Sam's there to be her white knight with an iPhone. He takes a video of her performing and puts it on YouTube, which gives her a much needed self-esteem boost. It also wins Sam a big smooch for being so supportive. It's about time those two crazy kids got back together!
My favorite performance of the night doesn't even come from the gleeks. It's courtesy of Wade (played by The Glee Project's Alex Newell), who worships Mercedes and Kurt. After he meets them, he decides to perform at Regionals as his female alter ego, "Unique." Oh, and did I mention that he's a member of Vocal Adrenaline? Kurt and Mercedes are conflicted about whether or not they should let Wade go through with it, but in the end he takes the bull by the horns and brings the house down with "Boogie Shoes." Jesse St. James is not pleased, but something tells me that Unique will be the new secret weapon of Vocal Adrenaline.
Mercedes isn't the only one with someone in her corner. Santana's dead set on becoming famous, but Mr. Schue is skeptical about how she'll get there. Brittany steps in to help, except for Brittany, "helping" means making a sex tape that's hilariously called "Two Girls One Cat," featuring Lord Tubbington of course. Santana's a little peeved, but I was surprised at how well she takes the news that everyone in school is talking about her. The whole mess gets cleaned up in no time, because Brittany and Sue have conspired to get Santana a full cheerleading scholarship in college. That's two gleeks who have gotten someone else to fill out college applications for them. Just once, I would like to see that happen in real life.
Rachel and Finn recover from their fight about the future, but Finn's still having serious doubts about whether or not he can make it in the real world as anything other than a competitive eater. He's basically convinced that he peaked in high school, but all it takes is one magical viewing of Saturday Night Fever to make him realize his dream of going inside the actors studio. He tells Rachel that he's ready to go to New York with her, and struts around to "Stayin' Alive" to show off his newfound confidence.

Though this isn't my favorite episode, the scenes for next week's Glee already have me looking forward to a whole lotta Whitney Houston. How'd you feel about the disco flashback?

Photo courtesy of Fox

What to TiVo: Saturday

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 Wipeout (repeat)
9:00 Norbit (repeat)

7:30 NCAA Basketball Tournament
10:00 48 Hours Mystery (repeat)

8:00 Cops (new)
8:30 Cops (repeat)
9:00 America's Most Wanted (new)

8:00 Harry's Law (repeat)
9:00 Law & Order: Los Angeles (repeat)
10:00 Law & Order: SVU (repeat)
11:29 Saturday Night Live (repeat, with guests Jeff Bridges and Eminem)

More TV to watch when you

8:00 Speed

10:00 Joe Dirt

9:00 The Secret Life of Bees

8:00 40 Days and 40 Nights