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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:30:38 -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.

The Reader
If you didn't catch this provocative movie about the Holocaust (and so much more), now is your chance to do so. This is the performance that won Kate Winslet the Golden Globe and the Oscar and if you bring this movie home it won't be hard to see why.

She's mesmerizing as Hanna Schmitz, a German woman who strikes up an affair with a teenager named Michael Berg. In college, Berg learns that Hanna harbors many secrets when she goes on trial for Nazi war crimes. Ralph Fiennes plays an older Michael who struggles to reconcile his feelings for the woman he had an affair with, while comprehending the crimes she's committed.

Special features include deleted scenes, "Adapting a Timeless Masterpiece: Making The Reader," Kate Winslet talking about how to play an aging Hanna Schmitz, and the trailer.

One more up next so read more.

The Spirit
First of all, that's kind of a funny DVD cover, right? Scarlett looks a little out of it, Eva is windblown in a way that makes me laugh, and it's like Samuel L. Jackson needs a gun in each hand to do some hard thinking. Anyway, Director Frank Miller has a way of dividing people so if you weren't a fan of Sin City you likely won't enjoy this movie. If you do like the look and feel of this guy's movies, then you may want to add this title to your queue.

Here's the description of the plot: "After rookie Central City cop Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht) is murdered, he's mysteriously reborn as masked superhero the Spirit. Setting out to rid the streets of crime, he finds his archnemesis in the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson), whose quest for immortality imperils the entire city."

Special features include a never-before-seen alternate ending to the film.

The Spirit: A Flashy Story Lacking Soul

BuzzSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:30:50 -0800

From dime-store digests to lush graphic novels, the comic-book genre has fully established itself as part of high culture. Along with the literary upgrade have come equally artful films, including The Dark Knight and Sin City. But for all its highbrow hopes, The Spirit plays like a B movie.

Written and directed by Frank Miller of Sin City and 300 fame, The Spirit is no Sin City or even the less cerebral 300. As both artful sketch and pure entertainment, The Spirit is lacking. For all the highs and lows, read more.

With its black-and-white brushstroke canvas and film-noir narration, The Spirit starts with promise. In cahoots with the local cops, the Spirit (Gabriel Macht) is a slain policeman turned subdued superhero and ladies man who feels indebted to keep watch over his city.

Our hero has a campy rivalry with the requisite villain, a theatrical mad scientist known as the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) with a genetically engineered posse of doofus henchman. When one brute gets killed off, Octopus and his evil assistant (Scarlett Johansson) just make more, all in pursuit of an urn containing the blood of Heracles that the Octopus needs to secure his immortality.

The plot is fairly simple. Yet with each new character who is introduced- a devoted doctor smitten with the Spirit, an angel of death draped in a sparkly veil, a jewel thief who is the Spirit's childhood love (Eva Mendes) - the movie gets ever more spiritless. Despite its loftiest constructs, mythic undertones, and bizarre Nazi imagery, The Spirit is almost cool but mostly just awkward. The aesthetics look impressive, but the tone is all off. It's like the comic-book film equivalent of a one-camera sitcom without a laugh track that just isn't funny enough.

Photos Courtesy of Lionsgate

The Spirit Looks Good, Watchmen Looks Freaking Awesome

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:33:41 -0700

Yeah, another dispatch from Comic-Con today but I just had to share because I attended the panels for Watchmen (see: photo below) and The Spirit today and both were so exciting. The one for Watchmen in particular was not only coolest in terms of the footage we got to see, but also because of the funny, laid-back vibe of the panel. I think Zack Snyder with his friendly, boy-next-door ways pretty much set the tone for that.

More on that later. First, some thoughts on Frank Miller's film version of Will Eisner's The Spirit:

There are two things that I really loved about The Spirit footage we saw and the panel itself. For one, the movie truly looks like a comic book, and it's a lot of fun to watch. Jaime King described it as visually "intoxicating," which I could see. Secondly, Samuel L. Jackson was at the panel and he was a great interviewee. He chuckled when the topic of his Spirit character's Nazi costume came up. "That was awesome. I was a Nazi! Nick Fury became a black skinhead."
That said, there was something about both the movie and the panel that was a little empty and detached. Miller completely admits that if a woman is in his movies, she's gonna be hot and wearing tight clothing. And that's fine. His choice, etc. But there's a line between making an artistic choice and objectifying women, and Miller skates that line.
Finally, there's the issue of the Spirit himself, played by Gabriel Macht. I think Macht is an incredibly cute guy. And the character of the hero of the film is an important one to cast. On this topic, Miller mentioned that Hollywood has many fine male actors, but "not many men." Which is why, he says, we hold onto the Bruce Willises and Harrison Fords and Clive Owens (his examples, all). And then. . . he chose Gabriel Macht to be his manly hero? I thought the footage they showed us from the movie would explain this a little more, but not so. Onscreen as the Spirit, Macht is likable and funny and cute, but he's not the heroic "man" that Miller referenced earlier, which struck me as odd.

For some of my thoughts on Watchmen sneak peek, read more.

As I mentioned, director Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead) has this easygoing, affable manner, and it really set the tone for the panel, which included all the main actors: Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode and Patrick Wilson. All of them seem to be deeply passionate about the film, and about doing justice to the original source material by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
Snyder said he knew an adaptation of Watchmen - which has been said to be the one work that is "unfilmmable" - was in the works, and he decided to direct it mostly out of fear that someone else wouldn't do it well enough.
And it appears that Snyder brought it to life stupendously. The clip montage we were shown was completely wordless, set to that ominous-sounding choral music (as opposed to the Smashing Pumpkins song in the trailer, "The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning"), so it's mostly a series of images. If you know what's going on in the story of the Watchmen, it's really, really freaking cool. All the effects aren't completely done, they were careful to say, but so far, Billy Crudup's bright blue Dr. Manhattan looks super cool, and Rorschach's ever-morphing face mask is totally mesmerizing.
Speaking of Rorschach, Jackie Earle Haley said that he gained inspiration and knowledge about how to play Rorschach by looking at online fan sites and blog threads and reading what all the fans believe Rorschach is like. "I learned a lot about him from you," he said. At an event where a lot of the movie panels seem to be mostly about stroking and re-stroking certain egos, this deferential comment - specifically toward the very types of people who attend Comic-Con - was really refreshing.

The Spirit Gets a New Trailer

BuzzSugar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:00:39 -0700

The new trailer for the upcoming film The Spirit brings fans of Sin City back to the world of Frank Miller and his surreal,
noir-ish style. The description of the plot (based on a popular comic by Will Eisner) on IMDB is this: "Rookie cop Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces in Central City."

In the trailer we find a man in a Zorro-like mask (Because I Said So's Gabriel Macht) being tormented by the hot women in his world who all seem to want to have sex with him. . . or something. But apparently, this is a bad thing. And then Samuel L. Jackson storms across the screen in several crazy get-ups that include something of a Nazi uniform.

In other words: It's probably just the thing you'd expect from this director and I think his fans will be pleased.

The movie also stars Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, and Jaime King and will be released in theaters on December 25. To see the new trailer for yourself, read more.

Source

What Do You Think of Frank Miller-Directed Movies?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:30:16 -0700

There continue to be posters, images and recently a teaser trailer for the Frank Miller-directed adaptation of Will Eisner's comic The Spirit. Everything we've seen so far features Miller's distinctive style - oozing with sexiness, promising violence, and rendered mostly in shades of black, white, and red.

Miller (who wrote 300) also wrote and directed Sin City, which I liked well enough (though some claim it's on the misoginystic side) and I think the teaser for The Spirit looks pretty cool. I know plenty of people who don't like this sort of thing and certainly won't be lining up to see The Spirit. I also know there are lots of fans of the comic who are salivating over every new poster we get for this project that isn't even set to hit theaters until December 25.

Where do you fall in the spectrum? Are you interested in The Spirit?

Source and source

Scarlett Johansson Lands 3 More Roles and She's Not That Into You

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:29:33 -0700

Scarlett Johansson has been super busy lately, readying herself for the premiere of one movie next Friday (The Nanny Diaries), working on Woody Allen's latest project and scoring herself three more roles.

One of these is in the oft-reported-on film adaptation of He's Just Not That Into You. In it she joins the all-star cast (now with more Aniston!) as "a pilates instructor/aspiring singer who has an affair with a married man and hopes that he will leave his wife for her."

Next after that project Johansson will try her hand at a comic-book movie, playing a dangerous woman named Silken Floss in Will Eisner's The Spirit, directed by Frank Miller. Apparently, "Floss is a sexy and intelligent secretary with a vindictive instinct that makes her the perfect accomplice to the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson), an evil mastermind."

And finally, she will join the cast of Mary Queen of Scots in the title role. Hollywood Reporter describes the project as a "period indie, a love story based on the early life of the legendary queen (Johansson) that focuses on her relationship with the Earl of Bothwell and her rivalry with her half-brother James." John Curran (We Don't Live Here Anymore, The Painted Veil) is set to direct.

If I've learned anything about the film world today it is that filmmakers love the ScarJo.

Source

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Holidaze"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

As evidenced in my holiday TV sneak peek, this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy puts the doctors on a fast track that starts on Thanksgiving eve and runs through New Year's Eve. As we all know by now, the Seattle Grace surgeons aren't always big on merriment, but the holidays are always the perfect time to bring out the truth in feelings and relationships.

Meredith bonds with the Chief while Mark learns that he has a teenage daughter. Bailey has a confrontation with her father and Teddy and Owen's sexual tension comes to a head. To read all about it, just read more.

As the episode opens, the Chief is trying to justify his drinking to Meredith - explaining that his alcoholism was "misdiagnosed" and that he was actually suffering from situational depression. (Um, right.) It's unclear whether Mere takes his word for it because she believes him or feels like she has to, but she accepts his mentorship. Later she bites off Thatcher's head when he suggests that the Chief shouldn't be drinking, and by NYE realizes that he does have a problem, but continues to keep it a secret. There is one good thing that comes from it: Derek and the Chief finally make amends after duking it out all season.
Bailey does her best to avoid acknowledging the holidays because she's afraid to tell her parents about her divorce. Instead, she gladly dives into work - until her father makes a surprise visit on Christmas Eve. After watching Miranda perform surgery, he delivers a way harsh speech about being ashamed of her decision to "break" her family and put work first. At Christmas dinner (with the whole Seattle Grace crew, no less), Miranda finally puts her foot down and tells her dad that she's not willing to settle for a bad relationship. Did anyone else want to slow clap, at this point? Because I did.
Mark gets a blast from the past when a buxom blonde appears at the hospital claiming to be his daughter. (I kind of love that her name is Sloan). Mark isn't exactly thrilled with feeling old, joking that "death has come to call." Lexie is also troubled by the news at first, and I couldn't blame her for slicing her finger when Mark drops the bomb that Sloan is moving in. Two months later, he hasn't made any progress, and it's clear that his daughter isn't exactly a cup of tea. Just when Mark finally gets the nerve to kick her out, Sloan reveals that she's pregnant with a baby of her own. Instead of contemplating his potential grandpa status (talk about feeling old), Mark's paternal instincts kick into gear with impeccable timing and he comforts her. Sidenote: I find it interesting that Mark handles the situation exactly how Quinn wished her parents had on Glee this week - stroking her hair, assuring her that everything would be okay.
Teddy is already coming between Cristina and Owen's relationship, even if just with pages. Still loving her new cardio god, Cristina is happy to be Teddy's bitch (as Alex calls her) and work as a team - until she catches Owen giving Teddy meaningful glances. Owen confronts Teddy and reveals that he had feelings with her when they were overseas together, and in turn Teddy confesses that she's always been in love with him. They are literally this close to kissing, but Owen says he loves Cristina and runs to her instead. Despite their passionate makeout sesh at the end of the episode, I still have an ominous feeling about Cristina's kiss with Avery (who is still giving her flack about her relationship with Owen).

What's your verdict on this week's episode? Are you sad to put Grey's aside for six weeks? Did it put you in the holiday spirit or did it all seem a bit premature? Don't forget to keep the conversation rolling in the Grey's Anatomy McAddicts group in the Buzz Community!

Buzz Interview: Eric Stonestreet on Playing Modern Family's New Dad Cam

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:30:49 -0800

Freshman comedy Modern Family has filled a void in my life - I find myself laughing out loud each week, and I'm not the only one digging it. A huge part of the show's greatness can be attributed to its amazing cast; one of my favorites is Cameron - one half of a same-sex couple adjusting to life with a new baby. Eric Stonestreet, who plays Cam, sat down with me to talk about the show's crazy success and the real-life experience he used to portray a clown in next week's episode, "Fizbo."

On whether he expected the show to be so successful: No. I had a very, very good idea that based on the writers’ history and their very extensive careers that we had a really, really good shot at being something great. Anybody that tells you in this business they knew it was going to be this well-received is crazy. Actually, being this well-received makes you a little nervous.
On whether the success is a surprise: It’s a bit of a surprise with how outwardly supportive the critics have been, but by the same token, how outwardly supportive and sort of in love with the show fans have been. I think that’s the thing that really feels like lightning in a bottle - when you have both of those things in place. Typically, you have huge fan support and the critics tell you it’s the worst thing they’ve ever seen, or you have critical acclaim and the fans are like, 'what is this show, we don’t get it.' So I think the fact that we have both is rare and exciting.

To hear Eric spilling about upcoming episodes of Modern Family and his clown college rejection, just read more.

On his real-life clown experience: I, as a kid, have early documented pictures of me being very intrigued by clowns. The circus came to town in Kansas City every year around my birthday, so naturally my parents took me for my birthday. Once I saw that clowns were people with makeup and funny wigs and costumes, I was in. By nine, I was getting clown suits made for me by my Grandma Louise, at 11 there were articles written about me in Kansas City about how I wanted to become a one-man show performing for senior citizens and kids forever. You’ll see that article in the episode "Fizbo" that was written about me then. I didn’t want to be an actor; I always wanted to be a clown, and acting sort of found me when I was in college. So to be able to bring back what inspired me to act as a kid to prime time is more than I would have ever imagined possible for myself.
On whether he'd be a clown now if he weren't an actor: No. I auditioned for Barnum and Bailey Clown College and they denied me twice. They did not let me in, those clowns.
On what's next for Cameron, Mitchell, and baby Lily: We have an episode coming up where we’re Ferberizing the baby when she won’t go to sleep, and Mitchell is very much committed to letting her cry it out, and Cameron of course can’t for the life of him imagine why you would let a baby cry it out like that, so there’s drama there. It’s what’s great about the show - yeah, they’re a couple of guys raising a baby, but the focus really on that relationship is the challenges of a relationship, the challenges of parenthood, and just trying to find the happy medium of keeping up a relationship while raising a kid.
On the holiday episode: We have the Christmas episode coming up, where you find out that Cameron had created a choir group, a caroling group, a few years back and he was removed and kicked out of his own caroling group by one of the carolers. That episode is really about forgiveness and the Christmas spirit. It’s a very sweet episode.
On his dream guest stars: I can’t imagine who else they’re going to get. That’s the brilliance and awe-inspiring aspect of this show, that people are watching it and people are enjoying it and willing to participate. I can’t wait to see who they find for Cameron’s parents. I have some ideas of who I want, but I’ll be excited to see who’s coming.

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:29 -0800

Time for more Tuesday entertainment! I've already shared a few new DVD releases to give your movie library a shot in the arm, but now, let's amp up your iPod. Big-name albums hit shelves today, so be sure to read up on these three. (And if you want to see your own music reviews featured on Buzz, submit them in the Music Review Group in the community!)

Fan-pleasing pop: American Idol fans rejoice: you've said that you're interested in post-AI albums, and now Kris Allen's anticipated self-titled debut is finally here. The song selections started a bit bland for me, but Allen picks up momentum with "The Truth" and the soft but moving ballad "Bring it Back." Both songs get needed oomph from orchestral accompaniment to create a sweeping sound that's sure to make Allen aficionados swoon. As for the rest of the album, it's predictable, but likable, much like the singer himself.

Why the sad face? Listening to John Mayer's latest, Battle Studies, you've got to wonder who ripped his heart out - Jessica Simpson? Jennifer Aniston? Every song is about a hurt guy who doesn't want to love again. Sensitive crooning isn't anything new to Mayer, but this time, it feels like mundane easy listening. I long for the days of "No Such Thing" when we had a more upbeat Mayer, or the Mayer who can riff on the guitar like nobody's business. But we don't really get either here. Still, it's worth noting his collaboration with Taylor Swift on "Half of My Heart," and my personal fave, "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye."

See one more release when you read more.

Diva in training: Leona Lewis burst onto the scene two years ago with "Bleeding Love," and now she returns with her sophomore follow-up to Spirit, Echo. Lewis hits the high notes - and she'll once again draw comparisons to Mariah Carey - but the lyrics don't always pack the same punch, and they often feel like recycled love musings. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see Lewis branch out of her usual comfort zone with the dance track "Outta My Head" and "Can't Breathe," which goes heavier on the R&B. If you've seen those Precious promos, you've heard another song from the album, "Happy," but it was recently announced that Lewis will be providing the title track for the film Avatar, so listen for her voice to show up there, too.

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

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Well, I do declare! This week's The Office was silly good fun. Distraught over rumors of bankruptcy, Michael suggests that the employees engage in a murder mystery game called Belles, Bourbon and Bullets to keep their spirits up. Pam's recent bad attitude seems to lift as she gets into character, and Andy uses the opportunity to ask Erin on a date. (I can't wait for when those two finally hook up!)

Ready to take a look at some of my favorite quips from the episode (and share your own in the comments)?

Jim: "With all due respect to everyone here, I think the most worthy opponent of you is you."
Dwight: "That is correct. Unless there happen to be measles present."
How awesomely ridiculous is the opening scene where Dwight tries to fight himself during his own karate instructional?! That right there is why Rainn Wilson gets nominated for Emmys.

For more funny lines, plus a video of the Clue-like antics, read more.

"Your feelings journal? You told me to put it in the time capsule."-Erin
Check out Erin delivering yet another great quote this week! I'm curious to see what the writers do with her character, especially now that they're setting up this will-they-or-won't-they thing with Andy that's slightly reminiscent of another Office couple.

"You can all have jobs at Schrute farms as human scarecrows. It doesn't pay much, and you can't unionize."-Dwight
Leave it to Dwight to concoct a plan when news of the company's money loss hits the Scranton branch.

"Operation got me through my vasectomy, i.e. my operation. I don't think I would've been able to endure my breakup with Holly had it not been for Toss Across."-Michael
Michael explains his use of board games as a coping mechanism to Jim, but my favorite part is when he plays "Lullaby" by Sean Mullins on his computer to wallow in his sadness. Anyone else remember that song? Love the '90s nostalgia!

Kevin: "Now do the Swedish Chef."
Andy: "I'm not familiar, what province is he from?"
Kevin: "He lives on Sesame Street, dumbass."
Andy does such a good job with his Savannah accent using his "molasses" technique that oddball Kevin asks him to talk like the Swedish Chef from Sesame Street. But I have to mention Creed -I was dying when he shows up to the office, hears about the "murder," and speeds off in his car! Also, kudos to the crime scene with Meredith and to Oscar for putting on the strangest accent I have ever heard. Check him out in this video:

"Today is the hardest I have worked in a long, long time."-Michael
Sad thing is, Michael's probably telling the truth.

So what's your assessment of the evening? It sounds like there are tough times ahead for everyone, since David Wallace says the company will be out of money by the end of the year. What do you think will happen? My hopes are that Michael and Dwight will cook up some solution that doesn't involve scarecrows. And what do you make of the Erin and Andy romance - do you want to see it happen?

Don't forget that you can discuss the episode in full over at The Office! group in the BuzzSugar Community! Here are two words to get you started: Tube city.

Photo and videos courtesy of NBC