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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:30:26 -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 the titles below, you can now rent or own the Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler weepie, P.S. I Love You.

I'm Not There
I'm Not There was a highly buzzed-about film last year with a lot of the attention focusing on director Todd Haynes' unique conceptualization of Bob Dylan's (or, "a musician like Bob Dylan") life through the years. The talent associated with this film was staggering but the untimely death of one of the stars, Heath Ledger, added even more poignancy to Haynes' ambitious endeavor.

In the movie, six different actors emulate Bob Dylan using different names and appearing in different eras. I wasn't the biggest fan of the film, but other folks were enamored with this movie, more willing than I to ignore the annoying parts and focus on the great performances by Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett (who won the Independent Spirit award for her role), and Christian Bale. This is a good addition to your queue if you have been curious about this film but would enjoy the luxury of a fast-forward button.

Special features include commentary by director/co-writer Tod Haynes, red carpet footage, and deleted scenes.

Two more titles if you read more.

Teeth
GiggleSugar watched this oddly funny and scary movie about a teenage girl who, as IMDB puts it, "discovers she has a physical advantage when she becomes the object of male violence" or as Giggle put it, "her vagina has teeth." Giggle found it to be much more than the vulgar horror flick one might expect from this premise, where you simply watch a "vajayjay rip men to shreds" (sorry, Giggle has so many amazing lines in her review I can't stop quoting her). Instead, Teeth is a genre bending, wickedly scripted good time - but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Special features include commentary by writer/director Mitchell Lichenstein, behind-the-scenes footage, and deleted scenes.

First Sunday
David E. Talbert is sort of a creative jack-of-all-trades: playwright, novelist, and - in the case of this movie starring Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan - writer/director. The film follows two amateur crooks as their plan to rob a church goes terribly wrong and they find themselves with a full-blown hostage situation. I've read that it's a bit cluttered but definitely a fun little farce, so I figured I'd wait for the DVD with this one.

Special features include a gag reel, outtakes, David E. Talbert's camera wrap speech, and a "Hood Robbin' With the First Sunday Cast and Crew" featurette.

P.S. I Don't Love the Movie, But Kinda Love Gerard Butler

Molly — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:33:53 -0800

Note: My buddy Molly wrote this review because I was unable to attend the screening for the movie. Thanks, Molly!

To be fair, P.S. I Love You isn't as bad as I feared it would be, but it also wasn't nearly as sweet a movie as the premise could have created. Instead, Hilary Swank further proved that she's far better at serious dramas than slightly endearing romances. Hey, on the bright side, Gerard Butler was on screen more than I thought he would be and he spent much of the time either shirtless or in a tight tank top. No complaints there.

The premise of the movie is nothing more than it seems. A young couple in love is ripped apart when Gerry (Butler) dies fairly suddenly of a brain tumor. But before he passes he writes Holly (Swank) a series of letters and arranges for them to find her in various ways over the course of the year following his death. On the one hand, it's heart-meltingly sweet, the kind of movie that you just know you'll cry watching. On the other, is there something a little sadistic about forcing your widow to wait every day hoping for word from you only to draw out the heartbreak of your death over a whole year? It's an interesting conundrum, and one that P.S. doesn't quite figure out.

To read the rest of my review just read more.

The movie opens on a fight between Holly and Gerry in their Lower East Side apartment. It's dramatic and passionate, as fights between lovers tend to be, and a lot of threats are thrown around. In the end, they make up but don't actually resolve anything, and then, bam! Just like that, in the next scene we're at Gerry's wake. It's an incomplete photo of this love story the viewer is supposed to see as huge and important, but the blanks aren't ever really filled in. We get bits and pieces of their history (and swoon-worthy Gerard moments), but Hilary Swank rarely seems anything but whiny and insufferable.

Kathy Bates, who plays Holly's mother, has her reasons for disliking Gerry and his letter-writing, but mostly seems pretty unsupportive of her grieving daughter. Thankfully, she's a strong enough actress to make it work. Other bit players are all equal parts high and low, Lisa Kudrow is 80% just playing Phoebe, for better or for worse, and Harry Connick Jr. is kind of quirky/sweet, but to be honest he made me uncomfortable.

Overall the movie is fine, but nothing more. It'll make you cry if you're into that sort of thing and it will probably make you roll your eyes at least a few times. To its merit, it doesn't go the easiest possible route with the ending, but along the way there are moments when it seems like the kindest gesture is just too intentionally heartbreaking. I'm sure there will be a few people who love this movie, but for most it's a love story that (like the bad karaoke in the film) just doesn't hit the right notes.

P.S. There is not nearly enough Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

To see the trailer and more clips from P.S. I Love You, check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Movie Preview: Gerard Butler, Hilary Swank in P.S. I Love You

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:30:00 -0700

Back when this movie was a part of my tearjerker movies Fall Movie Preview post, there was no trailer available, but I was looking forward to seeing what the tone of this movie would be. Now, judging from the newly released trailer, it looks a little sappy, but also cute and endearing - if you're in that kind of mood. Plus, I recently learned that Swank injured herself during a scene in which Gerard Butler is stripping, and somehow that makes me like the movie more.

Opening December 21, the movie is based on a novel and stars Hilary Swank as Holly, a young widow who discovers that her husband wrote out messages for her just before he died. Some of the notes include unusual requests, and before long, Holly and her girlfriends (played by Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon, pictured) are going on a string of adventures that Holly's late husband planned for her.

I think the best parts of the trailer feature Lisa Kudrow's character's ill-fated attempts to pick up men (well, those moments and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's extremely adorable smile are my favorite parts), but you can see what you think of the trailer yourself if you read more

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Fall Movie Preview: Heartstrings, Yanked

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:30:31 -0700

We may not be getting the crisp fall weather just yet, but we are getting previews for tons of movies opening in the fall. In preparation for this autumn and winter at the theaters, I've broken up the lengthy list of upcoming movies into many small themes for my Fall Movie Preview series. This way, you'll be in the know when the chillier months roll around, bringing a whole new crop of new films. Today I'm bringing you three movies that may just jerk at the tears and yank at the heartstrings.

The Kite Runner
The trailer for this movie is already enough to start me crying, especially since I've read the moving novel on which it's based. The story follows two childhood best friends: Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. Before Amir and his father flee to America, the boys' friendship is tested by a moment when Amir falls silent as Hassan is brutally beaten. Settled in California as an adult, this moment haunts Amir until he learns of Hassan's death at the hands of the Taliban, and returns to his homeland to search for Hassan's young son. It sounds bleak (and it kind of is), but there's a lot of beauty in this story as well. The Kite Runner opens November 2.

For two more emotional rollercoasters, read more

P.S. I Love You
P.S. I Love You is also based on a novel and stars Hilary Swank as Holly, a young widow who discovers that her husband wrote out messages for her just before he died. Some of the notes include unusual requests, and before long, Holly and her girlfriends (played by Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon, pictured) are going on a string of adventures that Holly's late husband planned for her. I think this premise actually sounds cute, and I like Hilary Swank so I'll be interested to see how it all comes together when P.S. I Love You opens December 21. And now I have that Beatles song in my head.

Things We Lost in the Fire
The trailer for Things We Lost in the Fire, starring Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro and a bunch of adorable children, seems to show the whole story of love, loss and redemption, but I'm still curious to see the film when it comes out October 27. Berry plays Audrey who loses her husband (Duchovny) to a senseless crime. Del Toro is her husband's best friend who is also a heroin addict. He moves in with Audrey and her kids, and then he most likely becomes an irreplaceable member of the family. Awww...

Kite Runner photo source
Other images source

Mad Men, "The Gypsy and the Hobo": This Week's 5 Maddest Moments

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:30:00 -0700

You know how everyone's always talking about how Mad Men is a slowly simmering pot, leaving you waiting for things to bubble to the surface? One of the show's major plot points, Don Draper's identity, bubbles to the top, finally. And how ironic for it to happen on Halloween eve . . .

The show is an intense marvel this week, living up to its Best Drama Emmy, and I'm ready to chat about it, so to see the five maddest moments (spoilers ahead), just read more.

"It's a lie so big": - Betty doesn't let her Don/Dick revelation from last week lie, and she seeks advice from her lawyer, who basically tells her to stay in her marriage unless she feels threatened. I worried that this was far as it would go, until she womans up and confronts Don when he comes home one night. He tells her everything, including that his mother was a prostitute and that his brother Adam committed suicide - and his role in it. Betty is confused, but more sympathetic than I expected.
The life and times of Roger Sterling: - Roger gets a blast from the past when an old flame, Annabelle Mathis, calls on the firm to help her horse farm/dog food company, Caldecott farms. Roger is cool at first, but his dinner with Annabelle reveals that she left him heartbroken as a young man - a rare insight into Sterling's silver fox facade. When she tells him he was The One, and he replies, "You weren't," I said "Ouch" as she says "Oh." Sigh. It seems to be a Roger's love life retrospective, as he even fields a call from Joan. I need more of this.
Roses: Joan asserts herself in an entirely physically aggressive way when she bashes a vase of roses over her husband's head. Why the violent response? He told Joan she never had to give up anything, never had to leave behind a dream. Hey, Joan's last nerve? Greg just found it. (And P.S., it's weird to hear Joan call herself by her married name, Joan Harris, but I love that Roger names Joan's husband "Dr. Cutup.")
Suzanne who? - While Don comes clean of his entire existence to Betty, Susie is waiting in the car. "Did you get caught?" she asks. "It's more complicated than that," he answers. And how. Apparently it's over for now, but we'll see.
Army wife - Greg drops the first real Vietnam bomb of the series, as we wait for the '60s to explode. He's taking a job in the army, and my gut tells me this will not end well for the Harrises.

Didn't the last line from the neighbor asking, "Who are you supposed to be?" to Don and Betty hit hard? What did you think of the Draper's tense conversation? Oh, and if you want to talk more about the show, join the Mad Men group in the community!

Photo courtesy of AMC

Gerard Butler - Love Him or Leave Him?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Gerard Butler has had a rough couple of weeks - critics panned his film Law Abiding Citizen and his appearance on Saturday Night Live didn't win rave reviews either. On top of everything else, there are rumors about him and Jessica Simpson getting cozy floating around. There is some light at the end of the tunnel though: he just announced in an interview that he'd be joining Shakespeare's Coriolanus with Ralph Fiennes for his next film.

It's nice to see Butler take on a project with some serious acting teeth. While he's always easy on the eyes in romantic comedies like P.S. I Love You or The Ugly Truth, I've never really liked the films themselves. (The possible exception being The Phantom of the Opera, since you know I love movie musicals!)

Maybe you disagree with me though? Law Abiding Citizen did take No. 2 at the box office, and I know that several of you liked the movie despite my review. So what do you think of Gerard Butler - love him or leave him?

Mad Men: This Week's 5 Maddest Moments

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:30:33 -0700

Far fewer feet were cut off in this week's episode of Mad Men, but there's still intense imagery. The way the episode kicks off, with a bloody Don, Peggy in bed, and Betty on a fainting couch, you know this installment, "Seven Twenty Three," is going to be explosive.

To talk about the episode and see my five maddest moments (spoilers ahead!), just read more.

The Flash Forwards: Peggy, Don, and Betty are all shown lying down somewhere in vastly different situations - clearly these are the three paramount plot lines for the episode. I have to say, I really liked the subtle drama of the flashes.
Old Yeller: What's with Don yelling at the women in his life? Peggy is the first victim of his wrath when she dares to ask for a spot on the Hilton account. Then he shouts at Betty at home for having an opinion about his contract. What crawled up his gray flannel suit?
Duck, Duck, Peggy: When I wondered how Duck Philips would turn up this season, I did not think it would be in bed with Peggy. Duck's seduction of Peggy really only seemed like it was to get her to Gray; I didn't see a sexual thing coming. I mean, his name is Duck. He's not exactly the smoldering Lothario that Don is. Listening to his dirty talk is weird - even though it's pretty clean, it still scandalized me. The two tense encounters Peggy has with the main men in her life - Pete and Don - seem to be what make her vulnerable enough to have a "go-round" (I know, what?!) with Duck, who's sort of the anti-Don (Très has even more questions about this one-night stand). P.S. I love that no one notices that Peggy comes to work the next day in the same outfit she wore the day before. Classic.
Burt Blackmails: Am I dense for just not caring that much about the Conrad Hilton account? It's kind of cool to see real-life people integrated into the storyline, but he only appears to be there to press the contract issue. Right when I was telling my TV, "We get it Don, you don't like to be tied down," little old Burt Cooper shows up in Don's office and makes a reference to his knowledge of Don's true identity. And by making a reference, I mean he blackmails Don into signing the three-year contract. Burt's play is the most interesting thing about the contract; I'm glad it's finally wrapped up.
Don and the Bad Scene: You know you're having a bad trip when your dead, abusive dad shows up, tells you hillbilly jokes, and insults you. From the flashes of Don bloody and face down in a motel room, you know Don's headed for trouble when he leaves the house. He really sticks his foot in it this time; somehow, taking two barbiturates washed down with whiskey while driving seems excessive, even for Don. Fine, Don: no one can control you. Getting punched in the back of the head and then robbed is what his flash built up to; is this some kind of a rock bottom, or is he still on the way down? (By the by, it's realistic by now, but the fact that there's no fallout with Betty when Don takes off, stays out all night, and comes back with a facial wound cracks me up.)

So do you think we're going to see more of this Don/Dick Jekyll and Hyde thing? I won't be surprised if we do; the first scene of this season recalled Don's beginnings as Dick. What else were you intrigued by? Betty's involvement with the politician? Miss Farrell's somewhat bizarre interaction with Don about hitting on her? To talk more about the show, join the Mad Men Group in the BuzzSugar community!

Photo courtesy of AMC

Glee-Ful Highlights From This Week's Episode, Including Video!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:30:35 -0700

Just when Kanye West was defending "Single Ladies" as one of the best songs of all time, Glee swoops in with an entire episode dedicated to the tune. We've seen a ton of spoofs of the famous music video - Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg on Saturday Night Live, Joe Jonas - but I've gotta say that I think Kurt's version may be my favorite rendition so far.

This week was Kurt's magnum opus. He and Sue are quickly turning into my two favorite characters, and they both got lots of camera time to keep me happy. Of course it wasn't all about him - the show also included a shocker that should be interesting to see play out. (Big hint: It involves the episode title "Preggers.") Keep reading for my thoughts (warning, spoilers ahead), plus video of Kurt's Beyonce impression when you read more.

Kurt opens up the episode in a leotard (because "they wick sweat from the body") with a reproduction of "Single Ladies" - until his dad walks in. Check out the dance below. I'm a little over the Beyonce parodies, but Kurt's moves are spot-on, and he takes himself very seriously, which makes it all the more hilarious. I'm also kind of loving Mike O'Malley as Mr. Hummel. The scene where Kurt comes out to him gave me the warm fuzzies.

With the exception of "Single Ladies," the episode was fairly light on the musical numbers, which was kind of a disappointment. Where is the early '90s pop, guys? I hope they were just giving their vocal chords a rest after the music-heavy episode last week.
Having the football players dance = awkward and genius. Some of those guys really know how to body roll.

Quinn is pregnant? Ugh. I guess I should've seen that one coming. They don't make a character the president of the Abstinence Club and then not have her get knocked up. I'm a little annoyed with the whole covert adoption that's going to play out with her and Terri, but I can't wait to watch the news erupt that Finn isn't the baby daddy. (Although, if Finn had been paying attention in sex ed, he would've figured that out on his own by now.)
I was dying over Principal Higgins airline steward video for Mumbai Air. When they release Glee on DVD someday, I hope the full version is in the special features. Embolism-reduction stockings are surprisingly funny.
Rachel is wearing thin on me. Anyone else agree? When she gets P.O.'d over Tina's solo, I wanted to give that girl my two cents.
Sue's pro-caning speech on the local news was a highlight of the night. ("Yes we CANE.") I love hearing more from her, but towards the end of the episode, it seemed like they were trying to set up her news spots as a moral-of-the-episode lesson. I hope this doesn't become a regular thing - an earnest Sue just doesn't work for me.
My favorite line of the night was when Sandy says to Sue, "I'm living in a cocoon of horror!" How great is that scene at his house with the kimono and the doll collection? Creepsters. Second favorite: "My body is like a rum chocolate souffle. If I don't warm up right, it doesn't rise." That's courtesy of Kurt, of course.

What did you guys think of this week's episode? Did you like having the focus on Kurt? Did you miss the flashier production numbers? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. If you're a fan of the show, don't forget that you can join Whiplash's Glee Club Community group - then enter our contest to meet one of the cast members!

Photos courtesy of Fox

Buzz In: Which Scary Movies Do You Like - Horror or Thriller?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:30:01 -0700

Paranormal Activity, out today, is a scary movie in the vein of The Blair Witch Project in that it seems to be filmed by the characters in the movie. The characters are a couple who start experiencing some eerie happenings in their hotel room and decide to film it, and word is, it's the most terrifying movie in a long time.

Confession: I'm a bit of a 'fraidy cat, but I love a good thriller with an enthralling plot, which is why I might see this movie (OK, I might wait for it to come to DVD when I can hide behind a blanket in my home, but whatevs). I eat up movies where the scares are based on genuine thrills, but that's as far as I go.

When it comes to the horror genre, though, I'm averse. Gore doesn't scare me in that fun way - it grosses me out and gives me nightmares. However, I know plenty of people who live for the grossest, ickiest, slice-and-dice horror flicks (I'm looking at you, FabSugar). But for me, the Scream movies are the goriest I go - and yes, I'll be seeing Scream IV opening day. Which kinds of scary movies do you prefer?

P.S. Speaking of the most terrifying move ever, I might be asking your opinion about that very thing . . . very, very soon. Stay tuned.