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New York, I Love You: A Jigsaw Puzzle That Doesn't Quite Fit

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

As a city with so much personality and penchant for possibility, it's no surprise that the follow-up to Paris, Je t'aime heads to New York. New York, I Love You is a tale of the connections and personal missteps that occur every single day in the city that never sleeps. It plays out like a movie version of a song mash-up: some story lines are linear and independent of the rest while other characters wander in and out of each other's lives. Throw an all-star cast in there, and you could possibly have a recipe for perfection.

Unfortunately, the ingredients don't blend together as well as I had hoped, and instead we're left with an engaging but bland look at a handful of trials and tribulations in relationships. To see what I mean, just read more.

Made up of a series of short films, New York, I Love You is an homage to the city as well as the residents who hold it near and dear to their hearts. The "anything can happen" theme is alive and well, as strangers become acquaintances and friends, putting so much emphasis on each and every interaction that we take part in on a regular basis.

You meet a few characters that represent New York well enough; Bradley Cooper is the guy who's constantly jumping into a cab the same time as someone else, Orlando Bloom is the struggling musician who turns to Central Park for inspiration, Hayden Christensen is the pick-pocket who's as sexy as he is dangerous. But sometimes it feels just a little too forced; like the film is primarily concerned with proving that New York is a melting pot. Rather than seeing a few love stories shine through stereotypes, I was more distracted by the fake accents.

As with Paris Je t'aime, some of the stories shine brighter than others. Natalie Portman directs a sweet piece about a relationship between a father and daughter; Olivia Thirlby and Anton Yelchin are refreshing as a younger pair who makes the prom a night to remember. The lighter films are breaths of fresh air amongst others that are trying too hard to be hip and stylized.

The ensemble cast certainly gives the movie a boost; even when it's not provoking the deepest of emotions, the film always had my attention. There are solid performances all-around, particularly from Chloris Leachman and Eli Wallach as an aging couple who are still bickering when they aren't helping each other cross the street. It is the most hopeful of the scenarios, and by far the sweetest and most touching.

The film provides plenty of the standard money shots of Manhattan: a typical day in Grand Central Station in fast forward, subway rides, hours of people watching in a coffee shop. The encounters feel authentic and realistic, but the failure lies in the inability to make us feel something on a deeper level. Sometimes you can relate to the characters, and sometimes you feel sorry for them, but it doesn't squeeze your heart nearly enough - and with a title like New York, I Love You, this a disappointment.

Buzz's Picks For Fall Movies: Romances

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:29:39 -0700

Fall movies are upon us, and I'm making it easier for you to sift through all the theatrical releases by giving you my Fall flick picks. I told you which comedies I'll be in the audience for, and now I'm tackling those movies with a bit more heart: the romances.
Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures, Apparition, The Weinstein Company, and IMDB

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I Think I Might Already Love New York, I Love You

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:30:24 -0700

It happened to Beth Cooper and, um, "Man," and next year it'll happen to Phillip Morris, but today the latest profession of love in a movie title is for New York. The collection of vignettes in New York, I Love You is a New York-set version of Paris, je t'aime. It's a kind of love letter, using various stories about love itself, to the city that never sleeps.

The movie features performances by a zillion different well-known actors, including (but seriously not limited to) Natalie Portman, Julie Christie, Andy Garcia, Robin Wright Penn, Chris Cooper, Rachel Bilson, Orlando Bloom, Bradley Cooper, and Shia LaBeouf. The list of directors is also impressive.

After the jump there's an endearing new trailer for the film, which opens Oct. 16 in limited release. A movie about love, in all its glory and pain, set in New York City? I already kind of love it. To watch the trailer, read more.

Movie Preview: New York, I Love You

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:45:37 -0700

I really enjoyed the movie Paris, je t'aime, partially because so many of the actors in it are wonderful, but also because I like the format of it. It's a bunch of short stories, each one set in a different neighborhood of Paris. Now there's a trailer for a follow-up to Paris, je t'aime, focusing this time on the romance/craziness/magic of the Big Apple: New York, I Love You.

There are so many well-known actors in this film, it makes me wonder if the few who are not in it feel left out. Chris Cooper, Julie Christie, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Kevin Bacon, Christina Ricci, Shia LaBeouf, Rachel Bilson, Blake Lively, and so, so many more. You can see the full list here, though as a warning, reading all of it might make your eyes tired. Also just like the French anthology, the short films are directed by some recognizable names, like Mira Nair, Bret Rattner, and Scarlett Johansson.

The trailer looks pretty freaking awesome and, to go along with the famous names involved, utilizes some catchy, familiar tunes. Apparently the film won't open until Feb. 13, 2009, but to check out the trailer anyway, read more.

"New York I love you" Teaser
by Mollyryan

Big Names Sign Up to Show New York Some Love

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:34:11 -0700

Many a filmmaker has made New York City a muse over the years, and some have even fashioned entire careers around a kind of ode to the Big Apple - Woody Allen, for example, or the makers of Sex and the City. Now the city is getting some serious love as dozens of stars and filmmakers begin production on a film anthology called New York, I Love You (not to be confused with I Love New York, mind you).

Based on a similar project called Paris, je t'aime that's part of an emerging franchise of "love" movies, the anthology will consist of a series of film shorts that will be written, directed and performed by some of the biggest names in Hollywood. As one person associated with the project told Variety, New York, I Love You is meant to be a "a valentine to the city." As producer Marina Grasic said:

"With films like Crash and Babel, the approach to narrative has changed. . . . People are getting more sophisticated about watching content in shorter forms."

Does the idea of a bunch of short stories set in New York get your heart fluttering? I'm pretty excited to see how this unfolds myself. To learn more about who's involved with the project and other details about this film, read more

Also according to Variety, directors working on the project include Mira Nair, Brett Ratner and Alan Hughes.
The late Anthony Migehella-scripted shorts that will star Shia LaBeouf, Julie Christie and John Hurt will now be directed by Shekhar Kapur according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Both Natalie Portman and Scarlet Johansson will make their directorial debuts on this project.
Other actors associated with the project include Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, Chris Cooper, Anton Yelchin, Drea de Matteo, Ethan Hawke, Orlando Bloom, Blake Lively, Robin Wright Penn, Olivia Thirlby and Kevin Bacon.
Several other cities will get some "love," including Shanghai, then a city in South America, then somewhere in Africa.

The Office, "Double Date": Best Lines of the Night and Video!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

I knew it was going to be hard to top the koi pond incident (and those Halloween costumes), but I was glad to see this week's The Office return to the storyline with new paramours Michael and Helene. This time, Pam is actually coming around to the idea of her mother dating her boss, but per his usual protocol, Michael is ready with a few blunders to messy things up. We also had a friendly competition between Andy and Dwight and - naked photos? Tsk, tsk Kelly. It's called subtle sexuality, key word being subtle.

Michael provided my favorite quote of the evening, but take a look at my list (spoilers!), and then weigh in with your own favorite zingers.

"If you clench your buttocks together when you're walking, you can really take the pressure off your knees."-Dwight
The who-can-outdo-each-other's-politeness competition between Dwight and Andy was pretty hilarious. Of course neither of their intentions were pure - Dwight wants to be kind so everyone owes him and he can unseat Jim as co-manager; Andy does it...well, pretty much because he has to be better than everybody else.

For more funny lines, plus a video of the parking lot brawl between Michael and Pam, read more.

"The chicken parm is good. It was a big part of my childhood. Oh, maybe Michael will start dating that too."-Pam
Yep, this week saw the return of the Michael and Helene's romance, when he takes his new girlfriend out to a birthday lunch with Pam and Jim. I'm glad the writers reintroduced it, but obviously Pam doesn't share my same enthusiasm.

"The only time you should care about a woman's age is if she's too young for you. And I am not robbing the cradle. If anything, I'm robbing the grave."-Michael
Ah Michael, always so sensitive to a woman's feelings. I loved watching him gradually panic as he realized Helene was older than expected. But dumping her on her birthday, in front of Pam and Jim? That was low, even for him. Such an ageist. Pam exacts her revenge though by beating him up. Check out the video of their showdown:

"What if Dwight dies and I still owe him something? That is the recipe for a ghost."-Andy
Can't blame Andy. I wouldn't want the ghost of Dwight Schrute after me either.

"What a waste of a day. I could've grown poison mushrooms that would've been this high by now."-Dwight

Dwight feels bummed that he couldn't get back at Jim - all that work going to New York just for bagels! - but I'm sure he'll concoct something for the next episode to take Jim down. Perhaps that's what the mushrooms are for?

"I saw my life flash before my eyes. I have four kids, and I have a hover car and a hover house. My wife is a runner and it shows."-Michael
Such a dreamer that Michael. After Pam slaps him across the face for calling things off with her mom, he starts imagining his future. I was really hoping that they'd drag out the coupling between him and Helene for at least a couple more episodes - do you think their romance is really dunzo?

What did you think of this week's installment? Were you sort of pulling for a relationship between Michael and Helene? Tell me (along with your favorite lines) in the comments.

Want to keep swapping opinions on this episode? Check out The Office! group in the BuzzSugar Community!

Photo courtesy of NBC

SYTYCD's Brandon and Ariana Talk About Being Cut First

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:30:15 -0700

This week's ousted dancers from So You Think You Can Dance were the first to go since the top 20 were selected. Brandon Dumlao and Ariana Dubose got on the phone with a few reporters this morning, including me, to chat about how they feel after last night's elimination.

Brandon

On the timeline of replacing Billy Bell: I got the call on Friday at 11 in the morning and they told me that I was able to replace another dancer, and it was Billy, in this case. I got on a plane two hours later, it was an hour flight, I landed, got picked up, I went to the studio, found out Pauline was my partner in front of everyone, and then we went straight to rehearsal for Smooth Waltz with Jason Gilkisen. It was such a whirlwind; it was really crazy, but it was such an amazing experience.
On Russell being in the bottom with him: I was so surprised because Russell is of course a fan favorite, and I’m sure the judges love him too. When he was announced, I kind of knew in a way that I might have been going home, because he is amazing and this cast is amazing. Billy - his were such big shoes to fill that I felt it was unfair to take another guy’s spot. I was happy the way it turned out, because I didn’t think it was unfair for me to come in and take another guy’s spot.

To hear what else Brandon had to say and Ariana's thoughts on her dismissal, just read more.

On Nigel's offer of coming back for season seven: I did not expect him to say that. I really thought that that was my only chance to be in the top 20, and I wanted to make the most of it, so for him to propose that to me and let me come back for season 7, if that’s possible, that’s really crazy. Right after I got cut, I went and got into some ballroom classes and took some more hip hop. I’m ready and I’m going to keep taking classes if I can come back next season.
On whether he thinks he may have done better if he'd originally been in the top 20: I think I might have had a better chance just because the judges would have known I’d set the same standard as everyone else, because when I did the waltz they kept saying "you didn’t have enough time," "you didn’t have enough time," because they knew I’d replaced Billy. So I feel like I would have done a better job, and they would have seen I’d done a better job, and would have taken that into consideration with the results. But I’m really happy the way I did and I'm really happy the way everything turned out, because this cast is so amazing; I can’t pick who’s going to win - everyone is going to do so well.

Ariana

On her next plans and whether she'll pursue a career in L.A.: Actually, I’m more focused on New York. I want to dance on Broadway. I also sing and act, and I was singing and acting and dancing before I even auditioned for the show, so the show was just really another path for me. So I’m going to head to New York for a little bit and audition for shows and commercials and movies and just see what happens.
On rumors she could replace Noelle, who was injured this week: I have not heard from Noelle; I hope that she’s doing well. Noelle and I come from the same studio, so honestly I would probably feel a little funny about taking her place. I mean, who doesn’t want a second chance, but honestly I wouldn’t want to be eliminated again.
On her predictions for the season six winner: Honestly, it’s a crap shoot - forgive my language there. Everyone’s fantastic and I don’t think you can count anybody out; it’s going be a week-by-week thing.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Clive Owen had a big week: He landed a new project, and he was promoting his current film The Boys Are Back all over the place. I snagged an interview with him - and I have the video footage to prove it!
The New Moon soundtrack just came out, so I poured over it to choose a few favorite songs.
Before you hit the theater, check out my reviews for Law Abiding Citizen, New York I Love You, and Where the Wild Things Are.
Love a good bromance? Check out my top 12 favorites!
The fourth (and final) round of my Scariest Movie Bracket just started, so vote!
Channing Tatum gave us a misty-eyed performance in the trailer for Dear John - and Buzz and Woody are back for Toy Story 3!
Hollywood was giddy over a new film in the Jack Ryan series with Chris Pine, so I rolled out a few picks for the Hollywood men I'd like to see in the famous role.
My Caption It feature moved over to our BuzzSugar Community, so check it out!
As a spinoff to last week's 10 Most Influential Male Characters on TV, I gave you my picks for the 10 Most Influential Women. Take a peek at the list.
Ironically enough, I asked you which So You Think You Can Dance judge you were going to miss - and then Mia Michaels up and left.
Speaking of SYTYCD, don't miss your chance to go the finale! Take this quiz to win.

New Moon Soundtrack Out Today! What to Sink Your Teeth Into

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:44:25 -0700

The film version of this Fall's sequel to Twilight isn't all fans have been rabidly anticipating - the New Moon soundtrack picked up enough steam to be released today instead of next Tuesday. It's no wonder it was rushed out; Death Cab for Cutie's video for "Meet Me on the Equinox", premiered to much fanfare, as did the tracklist, revealed barely a month ago.

The wait is over, and you can go buy the disc, download it, or stream the soundtrack on MySpace for free today. I've been listening for the past couple of days, and like my feelings for Robert Pattinson, I'm crushing pretty hard on it. Music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas did a great job compiling songs - all originals for the soundtrack - that evoke the teenage heartbreak vibe of New Moon while featuring a roster of talented bands.

Find out what's worth the iPod space when you read more.

I'm a pretty big Death Cab fan, but "Meet Me on the Equinox" doesn't do much for me - instead, The Killer's "White Demon Love Song" is the better rocking, evocative love song.

It was interesting to me when people were perplexed about Thom Yorke's appearance on this soundtrack, when there was an awesomely-placed Radiohead song over Twilight's end credits. Yorke's solo effort, "Hearing Damage" has the same edgy feeling as "15 Step," and I'm definitely trying to figure out when it will play in the movie (it sounds ideal to break down to).

It's fun to play the where-does-this-song-go game; "Monsters" by Hurricane Bells has to be played when things are good between Bella and Jacob, while "The Violet Hour" by Sea Wolf is another one of the few upbeat songs on the album. I'd bet the relieved-sounding ballad "Shooting the Moon" by OK Go ends up being one of the movie's last songs.

Considering the movie's plot, there are the expected mournful tunes, such as the remarkable "Possibility" by Lykke Li, who came into my consciousness last year and is about to hit everyone else's this year. Grizzly Bear's Slow Life also beautifully illustrates Bella's sad sack mood (total break up song).

Stephenie Meyer's favorite band Muse of course appears with "I Belong To You" - and it's a lively, bittersweet track (I'm betting it's wrapping up the credits).

Have you gotten a chance to listen to the New Moon soundtrack? Tell me what songs have caught your ear below, and to talk more album reviews, join the Music Review Group or the Movies of Twilight group in the community!