BuzzSugar

Music in the Movies: Sad Brad Smith's "Help Yourself"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:30:20 -0800

Have you ever been in the middle of watching a movie when you hear a new song that you immediately fall in love with? This happens to me on a regular basis, and I often find myself rushing home to try to download the song before I forget the tune entirely. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend an advance screening of Up in the Air, when one of those moments hit. I quickly learned that the song is called "Help Yourself" and was written just for the movie by a guy called Sad Brad Smith.

The song is simple, sad, and sweet - not unlike many of Elliot Smith's songs. It's featured during one of the most poignant scenes of the movie and the lyrics fit the story like a glove, though I won't give away much more than that. The movie's soundtrack won't be available until December 1st, but you can listen to the song right now and let me know what you think.

Like the film itself, this little ditty is already getting whispers of an Oscar nod. To check it out, just read more.

Buzz's Picks For Fall Movies: Dramas

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:22 -0700

I've already given you guys a look at the comedies and romance flicks that are on my radar for Fall, but now it's time to tackle the heavier stuff: the dramas. There are definitely a few Oscar contenders in this list, so check 'em out.
Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight, Sony Picture Classics, IMDB, and Lionsgate

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First Look: George Works That Clooney Charm in Up in the Air

BuzzSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:00:45 -0700

UPDATE: When I posted yesterday, we only had a clip from the movie. Now there's an official teaser trailer, so check it out after the jump!

Start saving your movie money, because we've got a Clooney-intensive season ahead at the theater. A couple of weeks ago, we got our first taste of his wacky character in The Men Who Stare at Goats, and here's your first look at a very different Clooney in Up in the Air. In the film, directed by Juno's Jason Reitman, Clooney plays a charming corporate businessman who makes his career by downsizing companies and racking up frequent flier miles. In the scene below, we watch Clooney smirk and flirt his way through a conversation with a woman he meets in a hotel bar (Vera Farmiga) who shares his love of the many perks of jet-setting.

The film was a hit at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend and is already garnering Oscar buzz even though Reitman apparently only finished it a few days ago. It hits theaters on Dec. 4, so check out the clip and trailer when you read more.

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Buzz News Roundup, 3/2

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:30:05 -0800

Alexis Bledel will play a new intern in the ER series finale. - TV Guide
Jason Bateman will join George Clooney in Up in the Air, directed by Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You For Smoking). - ComingSoon
Two more Virgin Megastores are scheduled to close: The Union Square location in New York City at the end of May and the Market St. store in San Francisco at the end of April. - Billboard
Alyssa Milano has landed the lead in an ABC comedy - just months after the network scrapped her last one. - Zap2it
David Foster Wallace's unfinished third novel will be released in 2010. - New York Times
The French film industry honored Dustin Hoffman and saluted Sean Penn Friday during a ceremony that saw its coveted Cesar for best film going to Martin Provost's Seraphine. - AP
Speaking of France, MGMT are suing French President Nicolas Sarkozy, accusing him of using its hit "Kids" in online videos without permission. - NME
The producers of The Sarah Silverman Program (including Silverman herself) are threatening to quit over budget cuts, leaving season three up in the air. - Reuters

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Buzz News Roundup, 11/24

BuzzSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:30:10 -0800

The stage musical version of Irving Berlin's White Christmas will come to Broadway this Winter, offering seasonal competition to The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. - Variety
Shopgirl director Anand Tucker will direct Amy Adams in the Dublin-set romantic comedy Leap Year. - ComingSoon
The Screen Actors Guild will ask its members to authorize a possible strike. - Zap2it
Another one joins George Clooney in the cast of Jason Reitman's (director of Juno) next project, Up in the Air: Vera Farmiga will play the romantic interest for Clooney's character. - Variety
Horatio Sanz and Jessica St. Clair have joined the cast of ABC's In the Motherhood. - TV Guide
Jay-Z and Coldplay will play a few tour dates together next year. - Pitchfork
Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein, Notes From the Underbelly) has joined Grey's Anatomy as a patient for a multiepisode arc. - Entertainment Weekly
Screenwriter John Michael Hayes, nominated for Academy Awards for the classic Alfred Hitchcock film Rear Window and for Peyton Place, has died at age 89. - AP

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George Clooney and Jason Reitman - Team Awesome?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:30:47 -0700

I'm really happy about this movie news: George Clooney and director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You For Smoking) may be teaming up for the film adaptation of the Walter Kirn novel Up in the Air. Variety has details:

Clooney will play an unapologetic corporate downsizer whose untethered life is consumed by collecting air miles. . . . Reitman had separately been infatuated with the book and came into Montecito [Picture Co.] with 30 pages that showed how he saw the film. He has been writing it on and off for five years, putting it down when he read Diablo Cody’s Juno script. Reitman returned to the project in the Spring. He completed the script weeks ago and just showed it to Clooney.

It's clear that this is a labor of love for Reitman, and now he's got the dapper Clooney on his side. I can't wait to see what these two cook up.

Source, source and source

Oprah Will Say Goodbye to Her Talk Show in 2011

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:22:18 -0800

If getting a chance to sit in on Oprah is something you've always wanted to do, you'd better start looking into tickets - the queen of daytime talk shows is closing up shop. Winfrey will announce on her show tomorrow that her last episode will air on Sept. 9, 2011. Harpo president Tim Bennett released a statement saying,

"Tomorrow, Oprah will announce live on The Oprah Winfrey Show that she has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history. The sun will set on the Oprah show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011."

Oprah's show has been on the air for as long as I can remember, and while I'm more of a sporadic watcher, it's hard to imagine the television industry without her favorite things and high-profile interviews with A-listers and beyond. What do you make of this news - will you miss Oprah or is it time for her to go?

Jason Lee - Love Him or Leave Him?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:30:15 -0800

Jason Lee has been keeping a low profile since My Name Is Earl went off the air, but he's about to make a return to TV in the upcoming TNT series Delta Blues, which is executive produced by George Clooney. Lee is set to play Dwight Hendricks, a police officer by day, Elvis impersonator by night.

I loved Lee in pretty much every Kevin Smith movie - from Brodie in Mallrats to Banky in Chasing Amy - but I could never warm up to Earl (or that absurd mustache). This role sounds like it could be be great for him though, the perfect combination of serious and wacky. How do you feel about Jason Lee?

TV Holiday Episode Sneak Peek!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:19 -0800

I always looked forward to the annual Friends Thanksgiving episode, and though it's off the air now, I can still rely on some of my current favorites to celebrate the holidays. I can't wait to see what the gang on HIMYM and Gossip Girl will be up to from behind their servings of turkey, before Christmas comes early to Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. If you can't wait either, check out my slideshow of sneak peeks from upcoming holiday-themed episodes!

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My Little Pony Trotting Back to TV

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:30:00 -0800

The beloved '80s toy turned movie turned TV show, My Little Pony, is getting resurrected with a series set to air on the new Discovery-Hasbro kids channel.

Makes sense since My Little Pony is a Hasbro creation, but I have mixed feelings over this news. I was nutty for the toys growing up - I even had a tiny plastic pony tent that I used to pitch in my living room. And while I'm glad to see an old familiar friend make a comeback, I hope they don't turn it into some newfangled 2.0 version meant to look more slick, like so many other cartoons nowadays. Don't mess with a classic, people!

What's your take on My Little Pony's TV update? Were you a fan of the original?