BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -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 view Cate Blanchett's award-nominated performance in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Jane Austen Book Club, which I featured as one of my February Must Haves. Additionally, the Jodi Foster thriller The Brave One, which I liked well enough, is now on DVD.

The Assassination of Jess James by the Coward Robert Ford
This movie adaptation of Ron Hansen's acclaimed novel brings to life two infamous personalities of the American wild West. Notorious outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) befriends what amounts to a latter-day celeb stalker, Robert Ford. Played by Casey Affleck who has been nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal, Ford is a man looking for fame and will do just about anything to attain it.

I enjoyed this movie, despite some awkward pacing and artifice. The visualizations of the West and solid performances make this a great choice for home-theater viewing.

It's a fun week for DVDs so read more.

Across the Universe
I once described the look and feel of Across the Universe as a shroom-induced dream set to Beatles songs, and I stand by that description. Using the Fab Four's music, a romantic plot line, and trippy visual effects, director Julie Taymor takes audiences through the ups and downs of the 1960s. The result is an ambitious, psychedelic attempt to capture a moment in time, and I give it an "A" for effort.

The burning question you'll probably have when viewing these crazy visuals is, "How'd they do that?" Thus, the two-disc DVD set is highly satisfying with all its making-of featurettes. Also, the commentary by Taymor gives great background on why she chose the '60s as her backdrop and how the Beatles inspired her.

2 Days in Paris
Julie Delpy wrote, stars in, directed, and composed the music for this comedy that co-stars Adam Goldberg. I had a chance to talk with Delpy about this film, and it was clear she has a serious interest in exploring what makes modern relationships tick. The film follows a neurotic yet lovable couple that spends two awkward days in Paris where Marion's (Delpy's) family forces them to confront their relationship issues, not to mention their cultural differences. Overall, the movie is a charming take on all the work that goes into love nowadays. Special features include five deleted scenes and an interview with Julie Delpy.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Almost Too Artsy

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:14:47 -0700

As a movie, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is not unlike its title: unusual and poetic but also way too long and somewhat contrived. Though it's not the best Western I've seen all year - that honor goes to 3:10 to Yuma - it is worth watching for the masterful beauty that breaks through the somewhat poorly managed pace.

In case you haven't heard, Jesse James stars Brad Pitt in the title role, and as the West is writing its own mythology, James is nearing the end of his illustrious outlaw career. Increasingly paranoid about the reward on his head, he takes up with a gang of petty thieves, including his future killer, Robert Ford (Casey Affleck).

That we know the ending all along doesn't make the story any less compelling, because what makes this movie better than most is its realistic-yet-surreal atmosphere. For the rest of my take, read more

Jesse James is visually stunning in a way that pays tribute to the West while looking unlike any Western I've ever seen. Cinematographer Roger Deakins gives the film a stark, isolated feel by flooding it with natural light, and the dreamy realism is enhanced by the dialog. Listening to it feels like eavesdropping, as the actors deliver each line with casually authentic cadence.

Pitt plays well as the brooding, private James, though at times he seems to forget that he's supposed to be telegraphing inner demons. The supporting cast is also stellar, particularly Sam Rockwell as Robert Ford's aw-shucks brother Charlie and Paul Schneider as gang member Dick Liddel. But the movie really belongs to Affleck, who strikes the perfect balance between painfully ordinary and downright creepy as the James-idolizing Ford. (Unfortunately, the women, including Mary-Louise Parker and Zooey Deschanel, are such minor characters that they barely speak.)

But despite its authentic elements, The Assassination of Jesse James is too contrived for its own good. An anonymous narrator offers literary (and very long) voice-overs, but the rest of the movie, in its attempts to be arty, leaves a lot of details out. Why have a narrator tell us about the complexities of the story and the characters' emotions when the film could show us instead?

Frankly, the main problem with this movie is that it's just too long. Around the two-hour mark, even the beauty of each frame ceased to mesmerize me, and as a result, the movie doesn't pack as much emotional impact as it otherwise should. Like Jesse James, the movie suffers from the size of its own ego.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Movie Preview: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:30:00 -0700

I first told you about this movie in my Fall Movie Preview that focused on the Westerns that are coming out this fall, and gave you all a glimpse of the ever-handsome Brad Pitt playing Jesse James. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck costarring as Jesse James and Robert Ford. From the title, you can kind of tell what happens, so I was intrigued to watch the trailer to find out exactly what else this movie entailed.

The trailer is slow-moving and ominous, with Affleck convincingly portraying Robert Ford - a member of Jesse James' group who becomes resentful of James and vows to get rid of him -as someone with a lot of sketchy stuff simmering just beneath the surface. I'm looking forward to watching these two play off each other (along with the other cast members, like Mary-Louise Parker and Zooey Deschanel) when Assassination opens September 21. To see the preview, read more

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What To Sky+: Friday

PopSugarUK — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0700

BBC1 has Hotel Babylon and Rock 'n' Roll Hotel
BBC2 has Classic Goldie
Ch4 has The Great Piano Scam, Big Brother and The Kevin Bishop Show
Sky1 has The Usual Suspects
Sky Modern/Greats has Bad Boys
Sky Indie has The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

What To Sky+: Friday

PopSugarUK — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:33:37 -0800

BBC1 has QI and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
BBC3 has Being Human
ITV1 has Moving Wallpaper and Pushing Daisies
ITV2 has American Idol
Ch4 has Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA
E4 has Zoolander
More4 has The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Sky Indie has The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Film4 has Dawn of the Dead

Brad Dad Goes West, Wild West

Molly — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:25:04 -0700

Maddox was back in his signature mohawk hand in hand with his mom and dad leaving his Manhattan school yesterday. Brad and Angelina had been all over the place over the past few weeks, selling magazines and whatnot, but this weekend Brad dad returns to his roots - acting on the big screen in that mouthful of a movie, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. I'm definitely curious to see this one because while I hate long movies, I love long movies starring Brad Pitt - well, hellooooo Legends of the Fall. My only gripe with this one is Brad's goatee. Buzz checked out Jesse James, liked Brad, loved Casey and thought on the whole it was pretty good - check out her whole review here.

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Flynet

Casey Affleck Flaunts It Well

Molly — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:32:14 -0700

2007 may go down as the year that Casey Affleck became more than primarily Ben's younger brother. Which isn't to say that he hasn't been the highlight of movies or hasn't been some people's favorite Affleck from the start, but with starring roles (and rave reviews) for both The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Gone Baby Gone, Casey is bigger than ever. Oh, um, and hotter, hotter than ever, too. Both of these points are evidenced by his recent photoshoot for Flaunt Magazine. The interview is hilarious (he says what excites him are, "People...with plastic surgery.") and endearing. And as for the pictures - did I mention he's smoking hot? Here are highlights:

On his level of fame: "I never get recognized. When I've had a hard day, people give me change on the street."
On working with his brother: "It was like working with someone you'd done a thousand films with. Like figuring out who's gonna set the dinner table or something. Ben took to directing really well. He's a natural leader. People almost always like him within the first two minutes of meeting him. And he learns really, really fast...To see [Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris] look to Ben for direction was really impressive....Ben made me jump off a 60-foot cliff into a quarry full of 500-year-old black water, old shoes, car fenders, and corpses. Twice. Then he cut it out of the movie."
On his "leading man" status: "If being a 'leading man' has some significance beyond [getting to be in more scenes], then I am not exactly that. I don't think I have the qualities that people call 'leading man.' I don't think I have them because I am not even sure what they are. And that's OK with me because I have been able to play a few 'leading man' parts while not myself possessing these 'leading man' qualities, then I have achieved something...I would rather be a round peg in a square hole than a square peg in a round hole. The latter is stuck while the former can pop in and out and go back and forth and do it all. I want to have a peg that can change shape and get in as many holes as possible."

I think this article and photoshoot catapulted him into the top of my list. Love him (and naturally, extra points for Red Sox fans) - both Affleck boys are better than ever these days. Though methinks come this award season Casey might have a harder and harder time walking down the street without getting recognized.

To see more of Casey Flaunting just read more

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Brad & Casey's Assassination Hits NYC

Molly — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:12:53 -0700

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (again, mouthful - TAOJJBTCRF? Ha) premiered in the Jolie-Pitt's home-for-now, NYC, last night. Angelina and Brad looked adequately Prom King and Queen-y alongside their friends and costars. Casey was sadly without his pregnant wife, but still hot stuff. MLP took an evening away from her new baby, who I can't wait to see, hobnobbing with the big screen elite. Meanwhile, scrufftastic George is still holding onto his lucky (luuuucky) lady Sarah Larson. How crazy must it be for her to go from reality tv show contestant to A-List arm candy in a few short weeks? Not too shabby, even just for the story. Oh, and the Clooney handsome factor can't hurt. I can't wait to see Brad and Casey take on the wild west. Yowza.

To see more from the premiere including Gloria Estefan, Alicia Witt, Clooney, his girl, Casey, Brad, Angelina and Mary-Louise just read more

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Images include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Casey Affleck, Sarah Larson, George Clooney, Alicia Witt, Garret Dillahunt, Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Lara Spencer and Mary-Louise Parker.

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Brad's Quest For A Quiet Place & A Bigger Bed

Molly — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:10:52 -0700

Brad Pitt is coming to the big screen this weekend in one of this fall's westerns, The Assassination of Jesse James by That Coward Robert Ford (mouthful much?), a role which earned him the Best Actor Award at this year's Venice Film Festival. Naturally with Brad being who he is, when he sat down for interviews to promote the movie, reporters wanted to talk about the frontier he's forging in his personal life instead of the movie. Interestingly, Brad sees parallels between what he goes through every day and his character on screen, who is stalked and killed by a member of his posse. Here's more:

"I understand the essence of paranoia. I understand being hunted, to some degree. I understand a bounty on my head. But the movie is about so much more. The real tragedy is that there was a chance he could have gotten past this moment. He's wrestling with himself and lost that battle."
"It's impossible for us. We're run out of every major city. There's just too many paparazzi. There's always cameras in the kids' faces, yelling their names. Angie gets out of the car, and they take the camera down to the curb and shoot up (her skirt). It's unbelievable." That's why "there's a constant negotiation in how to survive and how to maintain a family life."

On that constant question of more kids: "We're not done. They say, any plans for a fifth? And I say, `And a sixth, and a seventh, and an eighth, and a ninth.' That's my answer. ...We also made a 9-foot-wide bed" that can fit him, Jolie and all four children, Pitt said. "Just big enough. One more and we'll have to go to 11 feet."

While it's scary to hear that Brad feels like he knows what it is like to be "hunted" it doesn't sound like that gets in the way of the happiness he shares when he finds peace with his family. As for that last bit, remember those precious pictures of Maddox in bed with Angelina? Just imagine the whole adorable Jollie-Pitt clan all cozied up together.

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