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FABTV: Fiona Apple "Across the Universe"

FabSugar — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:00:22 -0700

I still haven't gotten around to seeing Across the Universe, but here's another take on the Beatles song. Fiona, intense as always, did a cover of the song for the movie Pleasantville - which I loved. Her rendition is sleepy and beautiful, and slow. Even though this video is shot in black and white, a main theme of the movie's plot, and slowly pans around creating a soothing effect, there is complete mayhem in the background. It seems Pleasantville extras are wrecking havoc on the local diner. The camera style is an assuage to the violent behavior. Juxtaposition at its best.

Oscar Nominee: Across the Universe for Best Costume Design

BuzzSugar — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:00:51 -0800

In the days leading up until the Oscars, I'll be featuring the nominees in the various visual categories. This week, I'll be looking at the nominees for Best Costume Design. This category plays a huge role in film making, as costumes can make or break the authenticity of a film, convey things that words cannot, or just add to the overall magic on the big screen. Today's featured movie is Across the Universe.

Though some criticized the overall job Julie Taymor did converting the beloved Beatles songbook into a musical, it is hard to deny the quality of the film's feast for the eyes. Taymor became one of the most innovative forces on Broadway when she brought the Disney animated film The Lion King to the stage in a way no one had ever seen before (think: giant puppets). So it's no suprise that the costumes in this film reach beyond the traditional period piece decadence and into effects that include background dancers dressed in larger-than-life, puppet-like pieces. The overall effect is extremely, well, trippy - which is exactly what a movie musical nostalgic for the psychedelic mood of the '60s should invoke. No wonder Oscar took notice.

To check out a bunch of pictures from the film, read more

View 12 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

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.

Movie Preview: Across the Universe

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Directed by Julie Taymor, Across the Universe seriously seems to defy categorization. It's dramatic, romantic, musical and historical, though there are some pretty out-there elements to it as well. As you can probably guess from this image featuring Eddie Izzard, the style is rather whimsical to the point of being, well, trippy.

According to an IMDB description, "An original musical film, Across The Universe is a fictional love story set in the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and civil rights, mind exploration and rock and roll... A combination of live action and painted and three-dimensional animation, the film is paired with many Beatles songs that defined the time."

After viewing the trailer, I've decided that if I had a shroom-induced dream set to Beatles songs, it would probably look a lot like this. The movie is now playing in select theaters, so to check out the weird, but not altogether terrible trailer, read more

Across the Universe photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Home Library: A Girl's Guide to Decorating

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:00:07 -0700

When I think of interior designer and stylist Abigail Ahern, who also owns one of London's leading interiors stores, there are a few things that come to mind. One is the Neo Baroque Chandelier in her collection - one of the most breathtaking and showstopping pieces I have ever come across. And the other is her perfected and signature use of Farrow & Ball's "Downpipe" paint from floor to ceiling - which inspired my own gray(-ish) kitchen. And last, her playful use of both scale and vibrant colors, evident in both her own home (which you can tour here) and her sister's, which was featured in the New York Times. What this all adds up to is that the girl's got serious design skills.

So it's no surprise that Ahern's new book, A Girl's Guide to Decorating, is filled with plenty of inspiring and helpful design advice, not to mention gorgeous photos. Want to hear about it? Then read more.

The book covers a few of the fundamentals of decorating, including planning, color, light, texture, and accents, what she calls "glamorous personal touches."

When it comes to planning, some of her tips may feel irrelevant if you're not doing any renovating, but overall her advice will apply to renters and homeowners alike, with words on arranging multi-use rooms and using different types of mirrors to your advantage.

Throughout the book, Ahern offers tried-and-true how-to advice on things like putting up shelves, hanging mirrors, and making over your kitchen cabinets - task that are never as easy they seem. This might be my favorite element of the book.

As for those glamorous touches, she advocates using eccentric and rare finds and mixing-and-matching to give your home that X-factor. She offers various routes for arranging display items on a shelf, as well as artwork and pictures. And to finish it off, she recommends switching out door handles and drawer knobs.

Since we might not all be sold on "Down Pipe," Ahern considers the effects of colors warm and cool on your mood, and attempts to conquer the query of good vs. bad color combinations. Color, as you know, is a personal, subjective choice, but Ahern manages to handle it analytically. With so many swatch options out there, this is a relief. Beyond that, she gets down to the bottom of paint finishes and their effects, which can be illuminating for some of us.

She continues this combination of technical, practical advice mixed with her own design tips through her chapters on light and texture. And all the while, she pulls easy and universally affordable style advice from the photographs of dozens of beautiful, unique rooms - including the home of former Domino editor Rita Konig. This terrific tome is equal parts informative and inspiring, and both are bound to help even a "dude" decorator.

Are Marathons Bad For You?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:00:57 -0700

With marathon season winding down (NYC marathon is 11/1) there is an ongoing debate in the medical field over the effect the 26-mile race has on the heart. Some scientists are claiming that running a marathon causes long lasting damage to the heart, while others say the damage is only temporary and is brought on by the extreme physical demands of the race.

Last year studies were conducted in Australia, Canada, and Germany measuring the effect running a marathon had on the hearts of elite to novice runners. Tests were given on the participants immediately before and after running a marathon. The end findings were similar across the board - the participants showed marked blood indicators of cardiac damage.

“We measure those same blood markers when someone comes in to the emergency room and we suspect a heart attack,” says Davinder S. Jassal, MD, an assistant professor of cardiology, radiology, and physiology at the University of Manitoba as told to the New York Times. Blood profiles like those displayed by the runners are similar to those in a very mild heart attack.”

Those scientists that oppose the findings, site that the research is premature and the studies were too small. They also say that accurate results cannot be determined since researchers in the original studies did not follow up with any of the participants after the race day. A later second study conducted in Canada seems to support this claim - a week after completing a marathon, researchers followed up with the runners and found none of the initial damage was lasting.

As the debate continues please keep in mind that running long distances is definitely taxing on the heart. Check out our tips to avoid any risks while training and share your own tips with us below.

When Pigs Fly: Airline Travel and Swine Flu

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:00:32 -0700

With schools across the nation back in session, from universities to the elementary grades, swine flu cases are on the rise. This H1N1 virus spreads more quickly among children, teens, and young adults, but reported cases have been mild.

However, this uptick in cases indicates that flu season is coming early, and back-to-school season also means travel season for the business class. If you're flying soon, should you be worried about catching the flu? Read more to find out.

Fab Blab: Lily Cole Talks About Curvy Models

FabSugarUK — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:19 -0700

There are many films that are released this Autumn which I am excited about, but none am I as intrigued about as Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It was Heath Ledger's final movie as he met his untimely death whilst it was still being filmed, but I am also excited to see Lily Cole in her first major acting role.

This weekend, Lily spoke to The Sunday Times about the movie, relationships, the changing face of fashion and studying at Cambridge University. When asked about putting off her education before finally taking up a place on the History of Art course, Lily cooly explained, “People change direction all the time; there’s a lot of value in that. I fell into modelling. It wasn’t a choice; not that I was forced into it. I just got asked one day to do it, and I believe in taking opportunities.”

To find out more about Ms. Cole, just read more.

As well as starring alongside Heath Ledger, Lily's other acting efforts will be unveiled this Autumn as Rage hits cinemas across the UK. This film looks at the modeling industry as she plays a character who suffers from an eating disorder who states, “The way to be big is to be little.” However, this does not reflect her own experiences.

“There’s definitely still a fascination with being thin and skinny in the modelling world. I also think there’s a celebration of curves. I have breasts. I love my breasts. There are models now who have more curves, and that’s seen as a good thing. I was never asked to lose weight. I’m assuming people who are less successful are the ones who are told they need to be teeny to be so.”

She revealed that despite her bohemian nature, she still likes some convention, saying,

"I haven’t got a lot of stability, because I’m running around, but I’m seeking stability in relationships with friends, family and lovers. So in those ways I am quite conventional. And I want to get married and have children."

Are you excited to see Lily's first acting efforts?

Fab Blab: Emma Watson on Burberry, Clothing Line Rumours and the Red Carpet

FabSugarUK — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:00:27 -0700

Emma Watson is certainly having a moment right now as she has been busily promoting Harry Potter across the globe as well as coping with her new status as a style icon. She took some time to chat with WWD about fashion, rumours of a clothing line and plans for the future.

Emma spoke a little about the Burberry campaign and how it came about. She met Christopher Bailey at the Vanity Fair Portraits party and explains, “We just really hit it off.” Emma also added that she was “really excited” about the shoot with Mario Testino, “I’ve done a bit of modeling over the past year so I had practice.”

Most of you have been impressed by her red carpet efforts recently but she admits it's harder than it looks. “You feel like you’re gearing up for a marathon. I’ve really enjoyed having personal relationships with designers. It’s amazing to be able to go to them directly." Despite this, she has no intentions of becoming a designer herself. To find out why, keep reading.

What To Sky+: Wednesday

PopSugarUK — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0700

BBC1 has Celebrity Masterchef and Torchwood
BBC2 has The Wire and The Culture Show
ITV2 has new Gossip Girl
Ch4 has Ugly Betty and Skins
Five has Panic Room with Kristen Stewart
Fiver has Take That: Where Did It All Go Right?
Sky Indie has There Will Be Blood and Across The Universe
Film4 has My Beautiful Laundrette