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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:30:15 -0700

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 also catch up on season four of Desperate Housewives and the first season of Eli Stone.

The Office: Season Four
There are a handful of TV shows that I love to own and have handy for when I need a pick-me-up, and The Office is definitely one of them. Hurray for the release of season four and more of "The World’s Greatest Boss!" The season started out slow for me but got a lot better as it progressed, and Jim and Pam tentatively entering into a romance was a definite highlight.

Special features include deleted scenes, outtakes, commentary on "Did I Stutter?" and featurettes titled "The Office Convention: Writer's Block Party" and "Goodbye, Toby Music Video."

Two more movies, so read more!

Then She Found Me
I added this little gem of a movie to my must-haves list for the month of September, but I wanted to remind you again - it's just that good. Then She Found Me stars - and was directed by - Helen Hunt and features a really talented cast including Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick, and Bette Midler.

Based on a book of the same name, the movie follows April (Hunt), a middle-aged elementary school teacher who is adopted but, when faced with trouble getting pregnant, refuses adoption as an option for herself. Her issues only get more complicated by marriage problems, a death in the family, and the introduction of her biological mother (a sparkling Midler). If you didn't catch this in the theater, I highly recommend it!

Special features include director's commentary with Helen Hunt, cast interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and the theatrical trailer

Married Life
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this dark drama starring Rachel McAdams, Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, and Pierce Brosnan, including the acting, the sweet and uplifting ending, the fantastic costumes, and the way the movie captures the 1940s atmosphere. Overall, it's not a perfect film, but it's definitely worth adding to the old queue.

Extras include commentary with director Ira Sachs and three alternate endings.

Married Life: Original, Well-Acted But Low-Impact

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:30:07 -0700

There are a lot of things I like about Married Life, a character-driven dramedy starring some seriously heavy-hitting actors. It's incredibly dark, but ends on a sweet and uplifting note. The actors are phenomenal. The costumes and 1940s atmosphere easily sweep us away to a different time period when a night on the town was dancing, nightcaps and movie tickets purchased with a coin or two. Yet despite all the good points, there's a flimsiness to the movie that makes for a mostly forgettable experience.

The storytelling format of the film is a satisfying one: Richard Langley (Pierce Brosnan) narrates as though giving his confessional tell-all, with all the ruefulness of present-day wisdom as he casts his thoughtful glance backwards. He begins by telling us about his good friend Harry Allen (Chris Cooper), a stable, predictable man in a comfortable marriage with Pat (Patricia Clarkson). Soon, however, Harry quietly reveals to Richard that he wants to divorce Pat and marry his mistress, Kay (Rachel McAdams). Harry finds it important that Richard like Kay and he encourages Richard to spend time with Kay when he cannot, as a slightly paternal way of ensuring that Kay is cared for in his absence. This is problematic, however, when Richard falls in love with Kay as well. This triangle soon turns into more of a web, though, so read more.

Being a sensitive guy who genuinely cares for his wife, Harry decides he would rather his wife die than have to live a miserable existence as a divorcee. Unbeknownst to everyone else, Harry plots his wife's murder, believing it will provide him with the peacefulness he needs to marry Kay. At the same time, Richard determinedly works on wooing Kay, and whittling down her loyalty to Harry. This sets up a frightening race against time: What if Kay decides she'd rather be with Richard - after Harry kills his wife? It sounds extraordinarily dark - and it is - but there's something very funny about this film the keeps it from becoming mired in real-life horror.

The movie's strengths lie in the high-quality performances by a talented cast. Yet, in many ways it feels like a stage play that's been videotaped, and I'm hard-pressed to figure out why, in fact, it was made into a movie instead of a play (besides the idea that more people will be able to see it if it's a film, but then again it has such a limited release, this may not prove true). The actors are superb, particularly Chris Cooper as the everyman having a moral meltdown, and Rachel McAdams, whose soft-spoken gentleness and natural beauty make it impossible to take your eyes off her. In many ways the film has all the trappings of a modern-day classic, and yet it falls flat. I was interested in the story as I watched it and then soon forgot all about it.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Movie Preview: Rachel McAdams, Patricia Clarkson in Married Life

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:28:59 -0800

Kay: "We can't build our happiness on the unhappiness of someone else."
Harry: "What other way is there?"

This exchange pretty much sums up the dark tone of the trailer for Married Life, a romantic drama starring Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan and the ever-creepy Chris Cooper. Cooper plays Harry, a man who decides he needs to kill his wife (Clarkson) in order to spare her the pain of him leaving her for the young, beautiful Kay (McAdams). As he sets about planning the "merciful" murder, Harry's friend Richard (Brosnan) falls for Kay.

Set in the 1940s, the film has a rich, sultry look to it, especially McAdams' shockingly white-blond hair. Married Life is set to open in limited release March 7, so to check out the trailer, read more.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Jay Baruchel and Nate Torrence Talk Dating, Their Own Number Ratings, and Scenes They Hate

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:30:00 -0800

In She's Out of My League, Jay Baruchel plays a guy who inexplicably starts dating a gorgeous girl who friends have rated a "hard 10." Nate Torrence plays one of his friends, and the two very funny actors recently sat down to talk about the movie, becoming friends on set, and the controversial scenes they wish had never made it in the film.

On whether they knew each other and their other costars before filming:

Nate: No, we didn't know each other at all. But that's what's nice, you spend six weeks in a city, you get along pretty well. That's what was cool with this movie - the four guys specifically, TJ [Miller], Mike Vogel, Jay and me. We got to hang out quite a bit and we like each other. What we've been talking about is how that really plays into the movie, that you can kind of tell that we all got along and have the same sense of humor, and that makes for some fun moments.
Jay: It's kind of cheesy, but my happiest thing about the movie is that I came away from it with a bunch of best friends. I really enjoy this kid's company like crazy. I have to say I was a bit of a fan of his before the movie.
Nate: It's not like I had this long resume . . .
Jay: I can do every Capital One character.
Nate: And I would do Million Dollar Baby for him.

To read the rest of the interview (warning: hilarity ensues) just read more.

On whether they've dated anyone "out of their league.":
Nate: I'm currently married to someone way more attractive than me. We've been together since we were 17 - we got married when I was 20 - and I remember being like, I am proudly not going to ever get anyone more attractive. I do remember going, "Wow, this is pretty neat." So I will definitely say that I relate to She's Out of My League. I do actually believe a lot more in my character's point of view in movie than what the other friends are trying to say. I don't think it's all about numbers.
Jay: I don't either, and for my money, I'm a catch.
Nate: For a long time, he thought it was 15, not a 5. That was a really hard day, breaking it to him.
Jay: The movie we were making in my head was completely different.

On assigning themselves number ratings, like the characters in the movie:
Jay: Oy.
Nate: I will say, I'm a little intimidated by the advertising.
Jay: It's terrifying.
Nate: Did you see they put me as an eight?! I'm in Hollywood at Wilshire and I thought it was going to be, like, a three. And I love myself, but I wasn't ready for that. Because that's when you have the trolls come out and say, "Why's he an eight?!"
Jay: I think unfortunately, I have to echo what he said. I agree with his character's view of things: You are what you are in your heart.
Nate: You're a ten no matter what.
Jay: You're a ten no matter what.

On whether guys in real life talk the way the characters do in the movie:
Jay: Yes, but it's not nearly as intricate as in the movie. It's more like yeah, she's good looking and she hasn't gotten bored with me yet. These are the conversations behind closed doors. . . They ring true in that the authenticity is in the intention. They're earnest, you know. I'm not one of those dudes, so I don't talk about that stuff. And I think what we're real proud of about those scenes specifically, is that, unless we failed miserably, we don't come off as douche bags. We very specifically were trying to combat the Alpha-male-misogyny-frat aspect of that because none of us are like that.
Nate: And I think the truth is, too, maybe the judgmental stuff comes from the guys who are rated higher than what our characters are in the movie. When you're a bunch of nine guys hanging out it's like, "Oh she's got too big of a butt!" But you get a bunch of fives around, and it's like, "Wow, she's looking over here." Maybe that's why. We're not models.
On what makes She's Out of My League different:
Jay: I think that there are certain movies that have left a legacy and set the tone for how other movies are made, but how it's changed is, truthfully, the emergence of more of the regular guy, and not just the movie regular guy. In movies it's like clearly, oh, that's the main guy because he dresses a certain way and is cordial to everyone. We're trying our best to show four quintessential average American dudes hanging around. But again I stress that to me what separates ours from other movies is that we're just not crummy guys. Nate's married and has two kids, Mike is married and has two kids. We very desperately wanted to be genuine and authentic and as crass as boys get. But I'm also a momma's boy; I live two blocks away from my mother so I didn't want to do anything that would upset her.

On whether there were any scenes they wish hadn't been cut:
Nate: I just watched a blooper reel, and I guess the thing is, most of the things that get cut are just different ways to say a line. But as far as actual scenes -
Jay: There are scenes that I wish weren't in the movie. I really wish that my mother never had to see me prematurely ejaculate!
Nate: I'm with you: There are scenes a man should never have to show his son.

Let's Get Lost: "Sundown" Recap

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:30:00 -0800

Alright, ABC, you got us. You promo'd this week's Lost as so incredibly shocking you couldn't even show us the footage. Well, it has its share of jaw-dropping moments (especially the last five minutes!), but mainly, it just serves as a nice connection episode, ready to set us up for when the real drama hits the fan. And boy, is it about to.

The storyline focuses on Sayid as he finally confronts Dogen about why he's trying to kill him. A four-star fistfight ensues - seriously, Jason Bourne, eat your heart out - which kick starts another battle of good against evil, but this time, with Sayid as the pawn. Plus, in a nice flip to the sideways world, we learn more Sayid's family and the woman he loves. I don't want to give too much away, so let's get down to it. Relive the episode (and share your theories to some of my questions!) when you read more.

In the alternate reality, Nadia is alive! The downside: she's married to Sayid's brother. So why aren't they together? Sayid tells her that she's too good for him, which makes me question how his past has changed. He definitely still served as an interrogator, as his brother asks him to ward off money thugs whom he owes money to. Sayid declines, but when his brother gets mysteriously mugged, he second guesses his decision (note: remember Nadia once was mugged, too). The loan men show up - and they're the mercenary henchmen Martin and Omar! - and Sayid turns the tables by killing them all. Then in another twist, Sayid finds another man they were holding hostage, and it's Jin. I love the crossed paths between the characters, but I'm curious to watch how Sayid and Jin will come together. Got any ideas?
After last week's glimpse of Dogen in the sideways world, we hear more about his history. As I mentioned, he fights Sayid in the show's opening, but when he has the chance to take Sayid's life, Dogen turns him away instead while staring at a baseball. I don't know about you, but I immediately thought of Jack and his connection to his father and the Red Sox. Dogen later explains himself, saying that he once drank too much and picked his son up from baseball practice, killing him in a car accident. Jacob supposedly came to him in the hospital offering him his son's life back in exchange for working on the island, which Dogen obviously agreed to. I enjoyed this larger look into Dogen's life, but unfortunately all we get is a peek. You'll know why if you keep reading.
Interesting to note: Dogen's explanation of his test for Sayid. He says that for every man there is a scale - one side's good; the other evil - and that Sayid's tipped the wrong way. Perhaps that also plays into the scale that we saw in the cave?

Sayid strikes a deal. Dogen sends him to kill Locke, and Sayid attempts to do so - but OMG, Locke yanks out the dagger, and he's still standing. He explains the obvious: Dogen thought Locke would kill Sayid for him. Instead, Locke recruits Sayid, telling him he'll get the woman "who died in his arms" (Nadia or Shannon?) if he convinces the others to join – and if he kills Dogen. Sayid follows orders, drowning Dogen in the temple pool. Lennon walks in, exclaiming that Dogen was the only one who could save them from him (Locke, duh). Oh, then Sayid kills Lennon, too. Why do you think Dogen was the only one who could protect them? What is, er, was his role?
With Dogen dead, Locke turns into the smoke monster, storming the temple to kill everyone. It's a bloodbath, but from the mass of bodies, Claire, Sayid, and Kate emerge, along with a few others who've now changed sides. Why is Kate spared? Since her name isn't in the cave that Sawyer and Locke visited, I'm guessing she's not a "candidate" - so what does Locke want with her? And will Claire try to kill Kate for taking Aaron from her?
Another woman that has me curious: Ilana. We know she came to the island for Jacob, but towards the end of the episode she pops out of nowhere with Ben and Frank to bring them to safety inside the temple wall. And she actually knows which hieroglyphic to choose on the door. She just knows too much! So what is her story? And for crying out loud, what do those hieroglyphs mean?! Supposedly the one on the escape door is a Shen ring, which represents eternal life and dual concepts of time.

The episode closes with Locke having his new army of followers, as he ventures out into the jungle - no doubt looking for Jacob. It feels like we're revving up for a battle of epic-sized proportions, but till then, let's start swapping thoughts about "Sundown." I'm dying to hear your theories about Kate's involvement and Illana! Post them in the comments or head on over to Lost Fans in community to chat some more.

CupcakeGal10's Favorite Movie Families

BuzzSugar — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:30:00 -0800

This post is from BuzzSugar Community user CupcakeGal10, who added her favorite movie families to the Movie Lists group. Check it out!

50 First Dates: Such a sweet and silly movie, and it warms your heart to see Lucy's (Drew Barrymore) protective dad and "little" brother trying so hard to keep her happy by recreating the same day for her everyday. That's love!
Anne of Green Gables: I will never get tired of watching this movie. It goes to show that your real family in life doesn't need to be connected to you by blood, but by heart. Watching Anne, Aunt Marilla and Matthew become a family and discover their love for one another is a beautiful tear-jerker that I am always willing to re-watch.
Best in Show: Dogs (and pets in general) are perhaps the most important family members - they are unconditionally loyal and loving, no matter how crazy their owners may be!
Bridget Jones' Diary: Anyone who has ever been embarassed and depressed by eccentric relatives will feel a friend in Bridget's horrific parents, particularly when Bridget's mother uses her daughter as a sounding board for her sex life outside of her marriage.
Father of the Bride (w/Steve Martin): Such a cute story, and a wonderful film for any daughter who has a slightly exasperating, over-protective, frugal father who she loves. I think it's a general rule that at least one family member is guaranteed to freak out when you're about to get married.

To see the rest of her picks, read more.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Hilarious family dynamic that hits on certain truths - why do youngest siblings seem to get away with EVERYTHING??!
Liar Liar: Classic Jim Carrey, and a fun reminder to always put your family first, no matter how busy you are.
Little Women: I don't have a sister, but every time I watch this I understand why so many of my acquaintances name their sisters as their best friends. This is a timeless story that shows that family members can be as different as night and day and still find happiness and common ground.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: I've never watched this movie with anyone without having someone say, "That character is JUST like my Aunt/Uncle/Cousin So-and-So..." This movie shows that no matter how crazy your family makes you, love and eccentricity is the spice of life.
Pride and Prejudice (BBC version): Along the same theme as Bridget Jones, but it's somewhat comforting to know that the elegent young women of Jane Austen's era still had nutty family members to deal with.
Return to Me: This chick flick would be a lot more forgettable if it wasn't for the ADORABLE Italian-Irish grandpa and his jolly cohorts, who all care for Grace (Minnie Driver) as if she was their own daughter. A bonus is Bonnie Hunt's character, a mother whose life with her husband and rambunctious kids is hilariously hectic.

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Sandra Bullock Really Didn't See That Oscar Nom Coming

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:39:28 -0800

Earlier today I was lucky enough to chat with some of this year's Oscar nominees at the annual luncheon in their honor - Pop's got lots of photos here. After Gabby Sidibe professed her love for Steve Martin, Sandra Bullock got serious about her career, football, and why she truly didn't expect a best actress Oscar nod for her role in The Blind Side. Here's what she had to say:

On her personal motto: I don't really have a mantra. I've learned to just go with the flow. I was very much a control freak where every minute of my life was planned out and nothing ever went according to plan. So the day that I sort of said, "You know what? If I get up and I'm breathing, and I'm happy, then I know it's gonna be a good day." I had a little Post-It by my bed for many years that said, "Expect as good as you give." And that's been really helpful, because if you really expect as good as you give, you either step up your game or expect others to match your level, so that's a good one.
On whether she believes that she deserves a nomination: That's such a hard question because you are setting us up to fail with that question. I know I work really hard. Just because I work hard doesn't mean the elements come together to make a good performance or to make a good film. So when that happens, when all those elements come together, I'm always shocked, and so happy, and amazed. It's always unexpected to me. I expect to fail, so that's why I work even harder. Does anybody expect a nomination? I certainly didn't. I literally was asleep when the phone rang. I don't think that anyone expects it, but if they do - how great must that feel when they get it? I am really very amazed and thankful to be here. Because I'd like to work hard for another 10-15 years. If this is what that means, then bring it.
On loving football after The Blind Side: I was a football fan, but not for the right reasons before. It was usually who was playing football who I was interested in. And I married a football player and my brother-in-law was a ball player. And I knew very little, and I'm a huge football fan now. Just, athletically, I love athletes. I always wanted to be a professional athlete on some level. So now I have a really good idea of what they do, football players, and I love the game. I love it.

To see what else Bullock had to say about her career path, just read more.

On if her success has given her confidence: It scares me more than anything, because you think, "What do I do now?" And I think I was in that place before this came, and it happened several years ago, "What do I do now that I don't step backwards, that I step forwards?" I've been thinking a lot about that. "What do I do next?" I don't know what could possibly compare to this moment, or this energy, so I've decided not to look at work until this is all over, so I can make a real judgment and judge the way I always have, which is produce interesting films and produce some really special ones. I don't want to stop that because I really feel like there's some things I'd still like to do. But now I feel like, because of this honor, and what I've been given these last couple of months, I really have an obligation not to step back, even the smallest bit. I really have an obligation to better my work, and keep at it. Keep saying no and expecting as good as you give.
On changing her film choices: Everyone says "Oh, I don't care about money," but look: I've been blessed with crazy money, but a lot of times it was attached to films that weren't great. And then I decided to stop several years ago, and start from scratch, and that started with a little film called Crash. I feel more comfortable now, saying, "Why don't we just take it on the back end?" If the film is successful, you don't have to pay me the money upfront, we'll just sort of divide it up in the back end. So everyone who put faith in the project gets rewarded for it, and if it doesn't work, we don't get the crazy money. Which, to me, makes more sense - it's an investment to work. But I can say that, having made pretty good money. But then that pretty good money allows me to do other things like help other people who don't have the help. It's crazy money so it should be used in wonderful, crazy ways. As long as I'm happy, that's what matters to me.

Sundance Snapshot: Blue Valentine

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:30:16 -0800

I'm sadly back in San Francisco after a lovely stint in Park City, but I've still got plenty of goodies from my Sundance experience to share with you guys. I've been profiling each of the movies I've screened with my Sundance Snapshots, and today I'm keeping the ball rolling with Blue Valentine.

Who's behind it? Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play the leading couple under director Derek Cianfrance.
What's it about? Gosling and Williams play Dean and Cindy, a married couple who are starting to realize that their fairy tale romance isn't exactly shaping up to the life they imagined. The film shifts back and forth between their current relationship and their initial courtship, giving the audience a side by side look at how different they've become over just a few years.

To see my two cents, just read more.

What did I think? As you can imagine from the description, the movie is one heartbreaking and sad story juxtaposed with a hopeful and sweet one. Gosling and Williams have incredible chemistry in both versions of Dean and Cindy's life; their initial flirtations are tender while their arguments are filled with palpable emotion. Gosling and Williams deftly transform from starstruck young lovers into cynical adults, but make it easy for the audience to root for their relationship even when they are on the brink of divorce.

The film's beauty lies in its veracity; the most difficult part about watching it is that we've all had our own fair share of difficulties in relationships. It's a story we've all seen before in some capacity, but the film tugs on the heartstrings without leaving a sour taste in your mouth.

Robert Pattinson and Sean Penn Jump In to Water With Reese

BuzzSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:19:31 -0800

In today's "casting news that makes you go 'Oooo,'" Robert Pattinson and Sean Penn are in talks to star in the film adaptation of Water For Elephants, the Great Depression-era story by author Sara Gruen. The novel follows a veterinary student who leaves his schooling after his parents are killed, and instead takes up with the circus. He "sees the brutality of circus life while falling for the wife of an abusive animal trainer." Reese Witherspoon is already attached to the project; throw Penn in, and Pattinson has officially landed himself in legit A-lister territory.

Assuming that Pattinson plays the lead role and Witherspoon and Penn are the married couple, it sounds like Reese and Robert will be a pretty interesting (pretty hot?) onscreen couple. Do you think Pattinson has the talent to keep up with acting heavyweights like Oscar winners Penn and Witherspoon?

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Blink"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:30:00 -0800

Secrets! Scandals! Surgeries! Grey's Anatomy is back this week after a loooong hiatus and wastes no time getting into the good stuff. Mark and his daughter grow closer as he and Lexie drift further apart, and Derek tries to figure out what's up with the Chief. Meanwhile, Addison is back in town, and Karev tries to move on from Izzie.

The whole episode leads up to a very exciting last five minutes (before bleeding into this week's episode of Private Practice), so to get down to business, just read more.

With Meredith spending so much time in mentor sessions with the Chief, Derek is starting to wonder why the Chief is mysteriously busy whenever he's needed in surgery. The problem comes to a head when Bailey has to sub in for the Chief, and eventually Derek gets Meredith to 'fess up. I was so happy she did - I'm admittedly enjoying the more optimistic Mere, and it's nice that she and Derek are so drama-free these days, especially since the other couples are a mess.
Mark and Sloane are making serious headway in their father-daughter relationship now that her pregnancy is out in the open, but Lexie is out in the cold. She's clearly fed up with living with a teenager, and the situation worsens when Mark asks her to do a sonogram for Sloane. Lexie seems touched when Mark steps up and starts parenting Sloane about her baby's complication, but she's less than thrilled when Mark invites Sloane to stay with them permanently. At the end of the episode, Lexie confesses that Mark's building a life she doesn't want and they break up . . . only to bed new partners, like, five minutes later (Lexie sleeps with Karev, Mark sleeps with Addison).
Cristina gets her first solo cardio surgery, but it doesn't come easily. Teddy watches in amusement as Cristina has to talk her patient through choosing between different animal valves. When Cristina finally lands the procedure, she runs into trouble - and Teddy just lets it happen. Hunt tries to intervene, but Teddy insists that she's just trying to be a teacher. In the end, Cristina pulls it out, but Teddy decides that she can't work with Owen anymore and decides to leave. Cristina gets all emotional about Teddy being the only doctor who pushes her and begs her to stay - forcing Teddy to reveal that she's in love with Owen. Awkwaaaard.
Reid and Karev continue their love/hate merry-go-round, and Reid takes it up a notch by pretty much offering to sleep with Karev in exchange for a surgery. Charlie's jealousy is thinly veiled and he tries to intervene, while Meredith reminds an angry Alex that he's still married to Izzie. Both Reid and Alex respond negatively (Reid even lays the smack down with Meredith) and they come this close to making out right in the middle of the hospital. Instead, Charlie breaks them up and Alex convinces Lexie to hook up with him instead.

How'd you like this week's big return? Are you sad that Lexie and Mark didn't last? Do you think Izzie and Karev will patch things up next week?