BuzzSugar

What Was Truly the Best Movie Kiss of the Year?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:01:07 -0700

This Sunday June 1, the MTV Movie Awards will strike again and while they aren't the most prestigious awards around, they at least get creative with their nomination categories. My favorite: Best Kiss.

Here are the nominees:

Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey, Enchanted
Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman, Step Up 2 the Streets
Shia LaBeouf and Sarah Roemer, Disturbia
Ellen Page and Michael Cera, Juno
Daniel Radcliffe and Katie Leung, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I would love it if Ellen Page and Michael Cera won and then reenacted their kiss during the acceptance speech. But I have a feeling The LaBeouf will take that win.

Anyway, is it just me or were there some way better kisses this year than these nominees? There's a great scene in Waitress where Kerri Russell's character imagines a gorgeous kiss with her doctor friend (Nathan Fillion, anyone?) for example. Or hello? The library kisses between Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in Atonement!

Do you agree with this list or are there others you would add? What were some of the great on-screen kisses of the year (and by "this year" I guess we're talking all or most of 2007 since Disturbia came out in April of that year)?

Source

The Votes Are in: Best Romance and Best Girl Friendship of 2007

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:30:00 -0800

This roundup of my best of 2007 polls include your final picks for the best onscreen movie romance and the best friendship/relationship between women in a movie. And the winners are...

Best Movie Romance: Giselle and Robert, Enchanted
Looks like many of you were swept up into the magical romance shared by Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) in the sweet Disney princess story Enchanted. However, after that the votes are outrageously close for the second place winner. As of right now, the relationship between Jane (Anne Hathaway) and Tom (James McAvoy) in Becoming Jane is beating out the relationship between Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Will (Orlando Bloom) in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End by exactly one vote.

I voted for the relationship between Lars and his real girl, Bianca, because there truly is something so lovely and pure about that relationship, as strange as it sounds.

Best Girl Friendship: The three waitresses, Waitress
There weren't a ton of great depictions of friendship (or sisterhood) between women in this year's crop of films, but of the options available, you all favored the sweet, quirky friendship between the trio of waitresses in Waitress. The relationship between sisters Alison and Debbie in Knocked Up followed behind, and the adorable friendship between Tracy and Penny in Hairspray was a close third.

I joined the voters picking the women of Waitress, as I found those relationships to be both heartwarming and true-to-life.

Source and Waitress photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:30:00 -0800

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 also now check out the Bratz movie on DVD, if you are so inclined.

The O.C. - The Complete Series
Okay, so this one's not so much to rent as to buy: the entire collection of DVDs from The O.C.'s four-season run can now be purchased in one massive collection - just in time for Chrismakkuh. The set includes the show's 92 episodes on 28 discs and two discs of bonus content.

In the immediate future, you can catch Melinda Clarke - a.k.a. Julie Cooper on tonight's episode of Reaper playing (who else?) the Devil's girlfriend.

Two more new-on-DVD selections, so read more

Waitress
Finally! If you've been reading Buzz fairly regularly, you'll know I've been anxious for this movie to come out on DVD so I can add it to my library. It was one of my November Must-Haves as well as one of my suggestions for gifts to give your mom this holiday season.

Keri Russell plays Jenna, a pie-making waitress who finds out she's pregnant by her not-so-nice husband (Jeremy Sisto). Then she meets her hunky gynecologist Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion) and everything suddenly seems a bit brighter. Cheryl Hines plays Jenna's hilarious and loyal friend.

This was sadly the last film writer/director Adrienne Shelly completed before her untimely death last year, which lends a bittersweet quality to the whole thing.

The Namesake
Though this is certainly a case of the book being superior to the movie, the film version of The Namesake by director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair) is lush, beautiful and stirring. Kal Penn, in an extremely non-White Castle role, plays Gogol, a young Indian-American who was named after his father's favorite author.

The film weaves together both Gogol's story as a child of India-born parents in America, and the story of Gogol's mother Ashima (Tabu), a woman who finds love in her arranged marriage, but struggles with the cultural differences she finds in the States. Most of all, the film is gorgeously shot. For more of my take on The Namesake check out my full review.

Buzz Gift Guide: Mommy Dearest

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:24:30 -0800

For perhaps the most important lady in your life, check out today's holiday gift guide for some sweet ideas that might be right up her alley this holiday season.

If you're looking for something to watch during future girls' nights with you mom, check out the Gilmore Girls complete series collection, which includes all 153 episodes of the show on a whopping 42 discs. Granted, the packaging is a little cheesy, but that's a small sacrifice for the chance to watch this memorable mom and daughter grow up together.

This summer's sweet romantic comedy Waitress stars Keri Russell as a woman who is none too pleased to find out about her pregnancy. By the end, however, she learns that motherhood might actually be just what she was waiting for.

If your mom is the reading type, check out these books that are not only completely worthwhile on their own but will also be adapted for film in the not-so-distant future. So when Revolutionary Road and The Memory Keeper's Daughter hit theaters, your mom will be totally in the know, thanks to you!

Does your mom have a tendency to wax nostalgic about classic film stars like Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant? Check out the Classic Comedies Collection which includes Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story and Stage Door, among others.

BuzzSugar's Must-Haves for November

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Welcome to BuzzSugar's monthly must-haves, where I show off a handful of the things I'm most looking forward to watching, buying, renting and reading. As the air gets chillier and we start to ease into the hectic holiday season, I'll be curling up with the following goodies.

To find out why these seven things are at the top of my list, just read more

Waitress - I so loved this romantic comedy written and directed by the late Adrienne Shelly, I've been anxiously awaiting the DVD release so I can watch it anytime I please. Keri Russell plays a pie-making waitress who becomes pregnant by her abusive husband - and is none-too-pleased about that. With the help of her two girlfriends and a sexy gynecologist, she gets through the pregnancy and learns the meaning of true love. Waitress is out on DVD November 27.
The Brit Box - Fans of the Smiths, The Cure, The Sundays, or numerous other Brit pop bands will be salivating over this four-disc collection of hits, courtesy of Rhino. The set traces the rise of Cool Britannia, from early pace-setters like the Jesus and Mary Chain to superstars like Pulp and Oasis. Plus, the four discs and extensive book come packaged in an adorable box shaped like the classic UK phone booth. Check it out when it hits stores November 20.
Gilmore Girls - Season Seven - Coming out November 13, this 6-disc set is an absolute must-have for any die-hard Gilmore Girls fan! Relive the final season with Rory, Lorelei, Luke, Sookie, Lane and the rest of the Stars Hollow gang.
Listening Is an Act of Love - Four years ago, Story Corps started a national project to record oral histories - of your grandmother, your mother, even the stranger down the street. The group installed recording studios around the country to collect stories, and many of the recordings have since aired on public radio. This book, which will be released November 8, collects excerpts from some of the 10,000 stories recorded since the project began.
Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis - According to Billboard, Warner Bros. is releasing a 1-CD/2-DVD package that encapsulates the Live Earth concerts held last July. Proceeds from the CD/DVD will benefit the Alliance for Climate Protection. You can see a whole track list for the CD/DVD set here.
Nirvana: Unplugged in New York - Can you believe it's taken this long for Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance to be released on DVD? The disc will be released November 20, nearly 14 years from when Nirvana originally did the show. The DVD features four tracks from the band's soundcheck, two unaired songs they performed, and previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage.
Hairspray - This summer's super fun song-and-dance extravaganza will hit the shelves (when else?) November 20.

Variety's Women's Impact Report: Adrienne Shelley

BuzzSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:30:00 -0700

Every year, Variety issues their Women's Impact Report in which they highlight women in the entertainment industry that they think deserve some praise. From industry executives (like United Artists bigwig Paula Wagner) to household names (like Angelina Jolie), the list spotlights some strong, smart, intriguing ladies. For the next few Wednesdays I'll focus on some of the women who I find particularly noteworthy as well.

Listed under the "Filmmakers" category, Adrienne Shelly was the driving force behind the funny, heartwarming romantic comedy Waitress, which I loved. Not only writing and directing it, Shelly also played the role of Dawn, who ultimately finds love with an unusual man. As Dawn, Shelly's adorable, goofy and endearing, sensitive, cute and honest. On-screen she's completely lovable. Off-screen, she created one of my favorite films of 2007 so far. To find out why, and more about Adrienne Shelly, read more

The movie achieves a delicate balance of dark humor and real pathos. Keri Russell's character is a very realistic kind of gal, and I daresay Shelley got a performance out of Russell that I haven't seen since... maybe ever. I'm not a big fan of the "romantic comedy" genre the way it's come to be understood: empty, pointless stuff like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. And apparently, as a woman, those movies are supposed to be geared toward my sensibilities, somehow. Waitress gave me an earnest newfound hope in the genre as a whole. I identified with the female characters - and I liked them.

This all makes Shelly's story much sadder: late last year, months before Waitress was supposed to be released, Shelly was brutally murdered in her New York apartment. Not only did she not get to see her movie receive stellar reviews and capture the affections of many a moviegoer, but now the world will not get to see anymore Shelley-helmed projects.

Variety's profile of Shelly states:

She wrote Waitress while pregnant with her daughter. The finished product - a frank, whimsical look at an unwanted pregnancy and the joy of cooking - revealed a unique style and a rueful humor that few filmmakers could pull off.

"From her perspective, the work would approach her," says [Shelly's husband Andy] Ostroy. "Nothing could happen for days and then she'd work for 12 hours straight and bang out 30 pages. She was rational enough to know creativity comes in waves."

I'm hoping Waitress will inspire more female filmmakers like Shelley to go out there and influence movie genres, and influence Hollywood. In fact, they now might have some help: In his wife's honor, Ostroy started The Adrienne Shelley Foundation to assist female filmmakers.

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

What's Buzzworthy? Foodie Movies

BuzzSugar — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:09:42 -0700

To my surprise, I actually enjoyed this weekend's new romantic drama No Reservations, all about a chef at a fancy New York restaurant. My enjoyment wasn't entirely dependent upon the fact that there was food involved, but I have found that I am often drawn to movies that include luscious shots of delicious-looking food. Even better are those movies, like Waitress, that use food as a kind of structural device (Keri Russell's character thinks up new pies that reflect what's going on in her life).

So for this week's Buzzworthy challenge, tell me: What are your favorite foodie movies? In addition to Waitress, I also love Big Night and Mystic Pizza, so I've started things off by bookmarking those movies, too. Using Buzzsugar's cool bookmarking tool, just bookmark your own favorites and tag them with the phrase foodie movies. Don't be alarmed when they're added to my widget below, that's just what happens!

I'll post some readers' picks here next week. You can also now make a list of your picks. Here are mine:

' />

To find out how to create a Buzzworthy bookmark, read more

Don't worry: TeamSugar makes it easy to bookmark and capture anything on the Web that you consider "Buzzworthy." If you already have a "That's Fab" button on your browser's tool bar, you can use that to bookmark your Buzzworthy items. If you don't have the TeamSugar bookmarking button on your toolbar, you can learn how to get it by watching this video.

Image courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Honor Your Mom with a Screening of Waitress

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:27:05 -0700

Still looking for a special way to celebrate Mom this Sunday? Fox Searchlight, the studio behind the clever, funny film Waitress, has cooked up something very cool. On Sunday, 100 theaters around the country will sponsor special screenings of Waitress and offer bags of goodies, including a pre-baked Sara Lee pie, to everyone who attends.

Check the list of theaters here, and if it's playing in your area, you can invite your mom - or favorite mother-figure - with an e-card right from the site.

I love this idea. Waitress is a a lovely "female film" - not "chick flick," please - and just the right way to celebrate the loving, powerful women in your life.

Waitress: Simply Lovable

BuzzSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 14:52:44 -0700

Not long ago, the New York Times published an article wondering why Hollywood is "short on female power," stating that while there are some "female films" out there, it's still a "boys market." Agreeing with half the article (the "boys market" part), Cinematical writer Monika Bartyzel responded specifically to a female producer's comment bemoaning the fact that there aren't as many Devil Wears Pradas or The Break Ups thusly: "Maybe that's because women are more than flipping crazy ex-girlfriends or girls starving their already-thin frame to fit into the latest fashions? Could it be, perchance, that women want films that give them more credit?"

I wholeheartedly agree with Bartyzel's indignance, and, happily, I think movies like Waitress could be the kind of "female films" we need: films that are funny, creative and not too "floofy" (to borrow Bartyzel's term). To see what I mean, read more

In Waitress, Keri Russell plays Jenna, an inventive pie-baker and waitress in a small Southern town. She's married to the hissably villainous Earl (Jeremy Sisto) a possessive man whose controlling manner borders on insane. While Jenna dreams of owning her own pie shop, Earl takes her earnings and makes her parrot back terms of endearment. Her waitress friends, Dawn (writer/director Adrienne Shelly) and Becky (Cheryl Hines, who brings a lot of funny) have their own romantic issues, but once they learn about Jenna's unwanted pregnancy, Jenna takes the cake (er, pie) for having the most difficult life.

Enter Jenna's new cute OB-GYN Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion) whose calm, sweet, slightly awkward demeanor is just what Jenna craves. They soon begin an affair that changes her life, though the bliss can't last long - the guilt of cheating starts to eat away at her, yet she's also still stuck in her miserable marriage with a baby she already resents. She finds unexpected encouragement and support from the pie shop's owner Joe (Andy Griffith), a curmudgeonly old man who reads the news and chuckles, "I like to live vicariously through the pain and suffering of others."

Throughout the film, Jenna thinks up new pies - both sweet and savory - that correspond with her feelings (Baby Waking Me Up in the Middle of the Night and Ruining My Life Pie, for example), and these pie ideas interject much-needed moments of comic relief. This tactic is comforting somehow, and we grow to hungrily anticipate her next pie idea, hoping each one is sweeter than the last.

The format of using the pie inventions to reflect what's going on in Jenna's life is clever and whimsical - much like the overall tone of Waitress, even in its darkest moments. I especially like the triumphant choral music that swirls around Jenna and Dr. Pomatter when they kiss, and the cartoon villain music Jenna hears every time she sees a certain unruly child in town. Thus, when the joyful yet absurdly tidy ending came around I was able to truly enjoy it because it certainly wasn't any more whimsical than anything else. The movie is very funny and more than a little touching, and while the gentlemen next to me in the theater seemed to love it, it will probably resound more with women. And I'm happy about that, because this is a great "female film."

Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Movie Preview: Waitress

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 09:01:17 -0700

Way back around Sundance time I told you about Waitress, a sweet little indie film about love and pie. It stars Keri Russell as diner waitress Jenna who bakes pies and gives them endearing names. Unhappily married, she tries to come to terms with her new-found pregnancy when a new man comes to town, turning her little ol' life upside down.

Waitress was directed by Adrienne Shelly who died tragically last November when she was murdered by a 19-year-old construction worker. Thus, the fact that Waitress is being applauded by critics is bittersweet - Shelly would have been so pleased. In her honor, Shelly's husband Andy Ostroy started The Adrienne Shelly Foundation which benefits female filmmakers. The movie opens in select cities this Wednesday May 2. Check out my review later this week, and for now you can watch the trailer if you read more

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight