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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:30:29 -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 also rent the complete fifth season of Reno 911 as well as the Raven-Symoné comedy (and that's being generous) College Road Trip.

The Bank Job
I wouldn't be surprised if you missed The Bank Job while it was in theaters because it may have been written off as yet another bank heist flick. Now that it's out on DVD I think it deserves your rental/Netflix queue consideration.

Like I said before, it's an entertaining movie that is supposedly based on a true story. It centers around a group of crooks led by Terry Leather (Jason Statham ), who catches wind of a vulnerable vault of safe-deposit boxes. Little does Terry know, however, that the heist will end up having much farther-reaching implications involving several parties with a keen interest in this particular vault. It's not rocket science, sure, but it is a whole lot of fun and smartly directed. I highly recommend you check it out for yourself.

Special features include commentary with director Roger Donaldson, actress Saffron Burrows and composer J. Peter Robinson, and an "Inside The Bank Job" featurette.

Two more fun picks, so read more.

Meet Bill
Even though I didn't hear much buzz surrounding Meet Bill originally, I still hoped to see it. But time flies when you're watching everything else, and here it is, already out on DVD. It's possible that we didn't hear much about it for good reason, though I still want to give it a shot because I really like Aaron Eckhart, not to mention Elizabeth Banks.

Netflix sums up the plot as such: "Beleaguered bank employee Bill (Aaron Eckhart) has his hands full with his wife's (Elizabeth Banks) infidelity with a local television reporter (Timothy Olyphant), his oblivious father-in-law (Holmes Osborne) who runs the bank, and his own frustrated attempts to change careers in this screwball comedy. But when he's persuaded to mentor a teenager known as the Kid (Logan Lerman), things just might turn around for Bill."

Penelope
Me? I wasn't in love with Penelope but that isn't to say it doesn't have its charms and depending on the mood your in, could be just the anecdote to all these summertime superhero blockbusters.

The move stars James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon, and Christina Ricci and tells the fanciful story of a girl cursed with a pig nose. In order to break the curse she must find "one of her own" (i.e. a "blue blood") to love her just as she is and marry her. What follows is a fanciful story that is visually lovely and sometimes touching.

Special features include "The Making of Modern-Day tale" as well as a Twilight sneak peek.

Box Office: Semi-Pro Semi-Beats Out Competition

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:30:00 -0800

Despite earning the top spot at the box office, the predictable laughs in Will Ferrell's Semi-Pro only earned $15.3 million over the weekend. This is considered a disappointing sum, especially compared to opening weekends of other Ferrell films like Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory. Variety reports that this underwhelming performance by the basketball comedy may have been due to mediocre reviews and an R-rating.

Vantage Point was only bumped down one spot to No. 2 over the weekend followed by The Spiderwick Chronicles at No. 3. The adaptation of Buzz Book Club's February selection The Other Boleyn Girl took the fourth spot earning an estimated $8.3 million. Penelope starring Reese Witherspoon and Christina Ricci also opened this weekend coming in at No. 8 behind Jumper, Step Up 2 The Streets, and Fool's Gold.

Filling out the top ten were Oscar-nominated films No Country for Old Men and Juno.

Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema

Penelope: Fanciful But Not Fantastic

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:45:03 -0800

There are some intriguing issues buried within the story of Penelope: what it means for a woman to love and accept herself the way she is, the way beauty ideals are - sometimes cruelly - passed down from mother to daughter, society's eagerness to vilify those who are different and then, just as quickly, to embrace them as "cute" upon discovering that they're harmless. These things are touched on, but mostly with a glazing brush, leaving the pretty film with adorable people lacking anything resembling "oomph."

The story follows Penelope Wilhern who, due to a curse put on her wealthy socialite family long ago, was born with a pig nose. In order to break the curse, she must find "one of her own" (i.e. a "blue blood") to love her just as she is and marry her. Only then will the spell break and her nose take on a normal shape. Desperate to break the curse and have a normal daughter, Penelope's mother (Catherine O'Hara) devotes her life to finding Penelope a husband, but the men who meet Penelope keep jumping out the window at the sight of her. Meanwhile, a one-eyed journalist determined to get a photo of "the pig-faced girl" and a selfish blue-blooded young man pay a down-on-his-luck musician (James McAvoy) to try and woo Penelope. For more about the movie than just this plot - some spoilers ahead - read more.

Visually, the fanciful made-up world providing the backdrop for this modern fairy tale is endearing and at times quite lovely. The performances are mostly great - I especially enjoy Reese Witherspoon in her funny, tough girl role as Penelope's friend, a wonderful departure from Witherspoon's bright and sometimes two-dimensional rom-com stuff. James McAvoy is lovable as always, and Catherine O'Hara as Penelope's hysterical mother sometimes steals the show.

My favorite performance comes from Peter Dinklage who plays the desperate journalist. Not only is he a master of deadpan humor, but he's perhaps the only person in the film who goes on any kind of identifiable emotional arc. We're supposed to be on Penelope's journey, but Ricci has a hard time fluctuating the tone of her performance beyond a steady whine. Thus, the few good performances can't make up for Ricci's low-octane delivery and a disappointing cop-out ending.

This tired, predictable ending features Penelope learning to accept herself and being rewarded with what she's always wanted. The message within this is frustrating. Penelope's final, hard-won self-acceptance, once found, is rendered useless and thrown out the window because that's when she becomes "normal." Phew! Now she no longer needs to like being different. Normal is still best. How refreshing.

Bottom line: It's a modern fairy tale that still supports age-old beauty ideals and doesn't really try anything new or interesting.

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Christina Ricci's All About Puppies and Penelope

PopSugarUK — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:00:00 -0800

How adorable is Christina Ricci's new puppy, the wonderfully-named Ramon?! The travel buddies, who arrived at JFK Airport in New York yesterday having flown in from LA, matched their coast-to-coast clothes with a preppy feel. Our girl Pet's got the low-down on plaid for pooches and she's also tracked down the cute pet carrier - result!

You can see Christina right now on the big screen, as her film Penelope is showing in cinemas across the country. The modern day fairy tale flick, which also stars James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon, hasn't wowed the critics, but it could be worth a watch as a few British favourites pop up in cameo roles including comedians Russell Brand, Lenny Henry and Ronni Ancona.

To see loads more pics of Christina and her cute pooch just read more

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Doug Meszler / WENN

Reese, Christina and James' Little Piggy Goes to LA

Molly — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:46:28 -0800

Reese Witherspoon, Christina Ricci and James McAvoy brought their quirky little movie, Penelope to LA last night. Reese had on her best businesswoman pants and a big smile on her face posing for the cameras as both a star and producer of the project. Check out how to get her cute look here. Hell, she even stopped mid-red carpet to take a phone call (too funny). Amanda Bynes who is never one to miss a chance to show off those stems these days was around in yet another LBD. While this movie didn't appeal to me right off the bat, it's hard to deny the great trio of Christina-James-Reese. Maybe I'll have to check out that pig snout for myself after all.

To see more from the premiere including Reese, Christina, James, Amanda and others just read more

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Images include: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon, Amanda Bynes, Sissy Spacek, Catherine O'Hara

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Movie Preview: Penelope

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Despite the star power of Reese Witherspoon (and James McAvoy for that matter), it seems like Penelope has been extremely reluctant to come out in theaters, though it has made the festival rounds since the fall of 2006. Even the newest trailer recently came online with as little fanfare as possible. Why, you ask? Perhaps because Penelope is an extremely strange-looking little film.

Christina Ricci stars as Penelope, a girl who was born with a pig snout for a nose. After years of being hidden away in her home by her mother (Catherine O'Hara), she is suddenly expected to find a husband, but all the men she meets run screaming from her. All the men except for Max (McAvoy). After she meets Max, she decides to strike out on her own and experience the world as she has never done before. With all the vibrant colors and the whimsical visual tone, the movie has the look and feel of a sort of dark fairy tale.

If nothing else, the trailer features Reese in the role of a badass and James McAvoy with a funny American accent, so to check it out before Penelope opens February 1, read more.

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"That Girl" Moves Into An Apartment

GiggleSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:00:00 -0700

I think we've all met "that girl" at some point in our lives. The hair-stroking, always talking, insecure girl who compulsively lies to one-up everyone on everything. You like cartoons? Well, she was born a cartoon. You have a cat? Yeah, she gave birth to hers. SNL calls her Penelope, but I call her plain annoying. So... (Thanks, i am bored!)

Penelope Prefers to Chat About Embraces Not Engagements

PopSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:38 -0800

Penelope Cruz was busy in NYC yesterday, first making a stop by The Late Show to chat with David Letterman. She was out to discuss Broken Embraces before it opens in limited theaters this Friday, but Dave was a little more concerned with asking about her rumored engagement to Javier Bardem. She stood her ground and didn't reveal anything about her personal life - check out the video of her interview after the jump. Penelope wrapped things up with Dave and changed into an all-white outfit to attend a Cinema Society screening of her film. Her Nine costars Fergie and Daniel Day-Lewis were there to lend their support as the tight-knit cast continues to support each other's side projects.

To see more Penelope, as well as her video from The Late Show, just read more.

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Images include: Penelope Cruz, Fergie, Michael Pitt, Jamie Bochert, Daniel Day-Lewis, Olivia Palermo

Blake and Robin Have the Stars of Nine Supporting Pippa Lee

PopSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:45:00 -0800

The leading ladies of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee hit the red carpet in NYC on Saturday evening. Blake Lively didn't address rumors she's going into business with Victoria Beckham as she smiled for the cameras, while her boyfriend Penn Badgley mingled with fellow Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford behind the scenes. Robin Wright Penn, meanwhile, showed off her new dark hairdo as she posed alongside Julianne Moore and Keanu Reeves. The film's writer and director, Rebecca Miller, brought along her husband Daniel Day-Lewis. He, in turn, was accompanied by a few of his costars in Nine, like Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard. Both films hit the box office in the coming weeks, but it looks like the two casts have nothing but support for each other.

To see more from the bash, just read more.

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Images include: Andrew McCarthy, Bart Freundlich, Billy Crudup, Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Daniel Day-Lewis, Julianne Moore, Keanu Reeves, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Penn Badgley, Robin Wright Penn, Shannon Elizabeth, Sophia Bush, Zoe Kazan

Fergie, Nicole, Penelope, Marion, and Kate Are Five of the Nine

PopSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:34:44 -0800

The many stars of Nine reunited in NYC today as they gear up to launch a press blitz before their film hits theaters on Dec. 18. Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard were spotted heading out of their hotel solo, just a few days after posing together at the weekend premiere of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. Nicole Kidman traveled to the Big Apple after a recent trip with Keith to Nashville, the place she says they love raising daughter Sunday. Fergie, meanwhile, was fresh off her appearance on Saturday Night Live with the Black Eyed Peas and a date night with her husband Josh, though he's already out on Long Island working on The Romantics with Katie Holmes. Kate Hudson also stepped out into the sunshine this afternoon, as she gets ready to switch gears from supportive girlfriend to leading lady.

More photos of the Nine ladies so read more.

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