BuzzSugar

Movie News: Penn, Fiennes, Swinton, "Thor," and More

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:30:16 PDT

There's a lot happening in the film world today! So much so that some of the more intriguing projects are making up one whole post. Check out the film buzz in Tinseltown today . . .

What's Wrong With Virginia: One of Dustin Lance Black's next projects after winning the Oscar for penning the Milk screenplay will be directing Liam Neeson and Jennifer Connelly in What's Wrong With Virginia, which Black also wrote. In the film, "Connelly will play the charming but psychologically disturbed mother of a 16-year-old son. Her 20-year clandestine love with a sheriff (Neeson), who is running for the state senate, is tested when her son begins a relationship with his daughter."

This Must Be the Place: Speaking of Milk, Oscar-winner Sean Penn is in talks to star in Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino's first English-language feature film, This Must Be the Place. If finalized, Penn will play "a wealthy rock star who becomes bored in his retirement and takes on the quest of finding his father's executioner, an ex-Nazi war criminal who is a refugee in the US."

For news about Thor, a Shakespeare adaptation, more emotional dramas and an "embarrassing" comedy,

Thor: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth (pictured, top left) is in talks to play Thor in Marvel Studios' feature film adaptation of the character. Set to open May 20, 2011 and directed by Kenneth Branagh, the story follows the Norse god of thunder as he "develops a protective affinity for humans after his father Odin banishes him to Earth, in order to teach him a lesson in humility. From then on, he's often seen wielding his massive hammer and fighting alongside the Avengers (comprised of Iron Man, the Hulk and Captain America)."

Coriolanus: The wonderful Ralph Fiennes will make his directorial debut with an adaptation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, "a study of the way power corrupts, set in the early years of the Roman Republic." Fiennes will play the lead role and he is now joined in the cast by William Hurt, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jessica Chastain.

After the Wedding: Sound familiar? Danish director Susanna Bier's drama is getting an English-language remake with Tom Wilkinson and Camilla Belle now attached to star. The movie follows "an expatriate social worker who runs a Mumbai orphanage on a tight budget and receives a mysterious multimillion-dollar donation from a Western businessman." The director of the remake, Michael Caton-Jones, says, "It's a simple yet terrifically emotional story that asks us deep questions about our lives, families, and responsibilities."

We Need to Talk About Kevin: Yet another Oscar-winner, Tilda Swinton, is lining up a new project. Based on the novel by Lionel Shriver, this movie will tell the story of "a smart, educated New York mother who does her best to raise a son she never wanted in the first place. He turns out to be extremely difficult and is at the center of the woman's marital breakdown before going on a killing spree at his high school with a crossbow."

Terms of Embarrassment: Now this one sounds funny. Written by (and possibly starring) Rita Wilson, the comedy "revolves around a middle-aged couple who wind up attending the same college as their son."

Source

Sam Mendes' "Relationship Comedy" Gets A Title - And Allison Janney!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:35:53 PDT

Update: As of Dec. 9, this movie is officially titled Away We Go.

This project already had so much going for it: Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) directing, a script by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida, John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph playing the lead characters and Toni Collette recently cast in a supporting role. Now, the previously untitled "relationship comedy" has gotten a title - and Allison Janney!

In the tentatively titled This Must Be the Place, Janney will play "a loud, brassy, decidedly un-PC woman who admittedly has a few screws loose. She reunites with a former employee in Phoenix, where the expectant mother/employee (Rudolph) begins a tour of the country with her husband (Krasinski) to find the best place to raise their child."

Now, while I still can't wait for Mendes' adaptation of Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, I'm also insanely curious to see how he does with this comedic material and phenomenal cast. Also in Janney's future is a role in an Eddie Murphy movie A Thousand Words in which she'll play Murphy's boss, "a savvy, money-grubbing head of a literary agency."

Source

20 Totes to Take You to the Beach and Beyond (With Everything You Need in Tow) - All Under $100

Laura Marie Given — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:35:57 PDT

Thanks to extra daylight hours and plenty of warm-weather plans, Summer tends to be the season of running from place to place. Your must-have accessory to carry you through the chaos? A versatile, take-anywhere tote that's big enough to stash your beach reads, farmers market finds, or office essentials all season long. Whether you're into stripes and straw or brights and colorblocking, we've found 20 perfect finds to make toting your stuff easy and chic - and nothing's over $100. From neutral canvas weekenders to fresh florals - they're all inside. Click on for our favorite ways to "carry all" this Summer.

3 Ways Walkers Can Benefit From Going Barefoot

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:57:41 PDT

If you're into running, there's no doubt you've heard the buzz about barefoot running. It's become trendy for a reason: running barefoot can help you have better form and technique, preventing injury and pain. Runners aren't the only ones who can benefit from ditching their footwear. If walking is your exercise of choice, here are some reasons you'll want to try going barefoot.

Active and engaged muscles: Slipping on shoes may protect your feet from dangers, but it also means the muscles in your feet don't have to work as hard. The cushioned sole of a shoe absorbs all the sensations and pressures, which means your feet have become more passive over time. Because weak muscles are more prone to strain, pain, and injury, walking barefoot allows you to engage your body more, making feet stronger and better able to handle workouts.
Better walking form: One way a walker can have incorrect form is by roughly pounding the ground with each step. Cushiony sneakers absorb the force, so you're not even aware that you may be walking incorrectly. Remove your shoes and you'll instantly walk lighter, causing less jarring impact on your joints. Even though walking is considered a low-impact sport, it's still hard on your feet. Improving form means less risk for injury.
Busting through the walking plateau: Walking the same way, day in and day out, means using identical muscles every time you head out for a walk. Your body quickly strengthens the muscles in use, easily adapting to the demands placed on them. Without the opportunity for new challenges, muscles won't become stronger and can actually become injured from overuse. Walking barefoot forces your body to use other muscles not normally used when walking with sneaks, which helps you achieve a more effective and different type of workout. You'll especially feel the difference when walking barefoot on different surfaces.

Keep reading to learn how to start barefoot walking.

One Month Till Memorial Day Weekend! How to Get Bikini-Ready Now

Self — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:12:29 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

With spring in full swing, we've already said goodbye to the winter blues. But as you enjoy the milder weather and longer days, keep in mind that Memorial Day weekend is merely a month away - meaning it's almost time for bikinis and short shorts! So, is one month enough time to score your best body yet?

It sure is, says Jim White, registered dietician, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. But you'd better get started now. "After all the shrieking and gasping about how 'time flies' and it's 'too soon' to be exposing that muffin top, it's time to get realistic and take action," he explains. "A month is not a tremendous amount of time to shed any accumulated winter fat, but before you break out into cold sweats, it is not unreasonable to lose 10 pounds or one dress size in that time."

To make sure you score your best bikini bod before you hit the beach, sign up for SELF's free Drop 10 plan - it'll have you slimmer and stronger than ever in only five short weeks! Then, follow White's basic rules for healthy eating. "Healthy eating is a must if you expect weight loss," he says.

Read on for the one-month plan!

Sugar Shout Out: May Must Haves!

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:55:09 PDT

It's a new month, which means a brand-new crop of our favorites in fashion, home, entertainment, and more! We've rounded up all of our must haves from across the Sugar Network in one place - click through to check them all out now.

A Hollywood Hills Home Gets a Total Makeover in Just Six Weeks: See the Stunning Results

Elka Karl — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:37:57 PDT

Six weeks is the blink of an eye when it comes to completing an interior design project, yet that was the time frame allotted for SFA Design when they redesigned a second home for the family of an international ambassador. Founder of SFA Design, Sue Firestone, told us that the quick turnaround was an absolute must. "We had a short time frame to complete the design and installation as the family was going to be visiting the states and needed a place to stay."

The results are nothing short of spectacular, both inside and out. This Hollywood Hills home went from drab to elegant in a short month and a half, thanks to the expertise of SFA Design. Sue Firestone went on to note that the firm had a very specific agenda for the feel of the home. "Since this is a “vacation home” we wanted it to feel serene and calm. The grays and taupes, in their monochromatism are very peaceful but there is an added dash of elegance and glamour in the crystals, mirrors and shimmers."

Keep clicking to hear more about the project and to take a peek at the gorgeous results!

Things to Never Do While on a Short-Distance Run

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:14:00 PDT

With last week's Boston Marathon kicking off marathon season, there's been a lot of talk about how to tackle long-distance runs and how to recover from an endurance run once it's over. All great advice, but for many of us, a 30- to 40-minute run is all we want to handle. For all you short-distance runners out there, here's a list of things to never do during your workout.

Skip the warmup: Even though you're not running for very long, you still need to warm up your cold muscles. Walk briskly, do some jumping jacks, or run up and down your stairs for five minutes to get your blood flowing and to prepare your muscles and joints for the workout ahead. Skip the warmup and you might as well sign yourself up for a pulled muscle.
Carbo load: Depending on how much you weigh and how fast you're moving, a half-hour run burns 300 calories, more or less. Compare that to someone burning 1,200 on a two-hour run and you'll see that it's not necessary to carbo load beforehand with a huge spaghetti lunch. Follow these tips for choosing an appropriate pre-workout snack, don't eat a thing during your workout, and when you're run is complete, nosh on one of these low-cal post-workout snacks.

Keep reading to find out more short-distance running mistakes to avoid.

Tips For Springtime Running in the Rain

Kristen Hawley — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:06:20 PDT

Spring has sprung and that means moving off the treadmill and into the great outdoors. But since Spring often equals rain showers, an outdoor run could be nearly thwarted by weather. Don't be afraid of the rain - with a few simple adjustments to your normal routine you'll be on your way to a great run, elements and all.

Do not wear cotton. While comfortable, cotton shirts, shorts, socks, basically cotton anything soaks up water quickly, becoming heavy and generally uncomfortable. Stick to wicking materials, and finish your outfit with a waterproof top layer. Check out our Spring running must-haves for wicking gear and rain jackets.
Wear high(er) socks. Speaking of socks, since running in the rain can cause blisters, choose a pair of (non-cotton) socks that reach above your sneakers. I'm not prone to blisters, but one rainy run with too-short socks had me limping to the finish.

Check out the rest of the tips after the break.

Know Your Ingredients: Bamboo Shoots

Sara Yoo — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:36:52 PDT

On my last trip to Tokyo, we hit up a tiny place known for its spicy tonkotsu ramen, those famous skinny noodles topped with a hearty pork bone broth. The guys behind the counter shouted a counting rhyme as they deftly assembled each element of each serving, and when my teeming bowl appeared before me, I was thrilled to see a heaping pile of seasoned bamboo shoots atop the noodles. It's Spring, which means that the crunchy shoots are once again in season, and I can't wait to simmer my own batch for some seasonal stir-fries and soups.

Bamboozled by this Asian ingredient? Keep reading to learn more.