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Martin Scorsese Is A Big iChat Fan

GeekSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:00:12 -0700

Apple's iChat can be quite addictive when chatting with friends and family, but who knew that an Oscar winning director could use it for work? In The Departed, Martin Scorsese used iChat to help him direct the final "rat shot" scene from a Mac in New York.

According to Macenstein, in an interview with visual effects supervisor Rob Legato, he explains how Scorsese wanted to do a reshoot of a scene filmed in LA, even though he was in New York at the time. So Scorsese and the director of photography, Michael Ballhaus, used a Mac to watch the shoot. Legato says "A speaker connected to the Mac was placed on the camera dolly, and iChat allowed Scorsese to direct the scene with the crew listening to him in realtime."

This calls for a "lights, camera, iChat, action!"

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What 2007 Oscar-Winning Movie Do You Want to See Next?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:22:29 -0800

Now that the 2007 Oscars have come and gone, I am anxious to catch up on my movie viewing! Though I've seen most of the winners, there are a few Oscar movies I missed.

What 2007 Oscar winner have you not seen that you really want to see next?

What to Netflix: 2007 Oscar Winners

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:00:08 -0800

Now that we know who won at the 2007 Oscars, a lot of you are probably looking to catch up on your Oscar-movie viewing. Well, you're in luck, because most of the winning movies that aren't still in theaters are out on DVD and just waiting to be added to your Netflix queue. Here's a look at all of the Oscar-winning films now available for home viewing.

The Departed
Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, Achievement in Film Editing, Best Director for Martin Scorsese, and Best Picture

Trust me: Just watch The Departed once, and you'll understand what all the fuss is about. The fast-paced drama isn't terribly deep: A good cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover with a mobster (Jack Nicholson), who has his own man (Matt Damon) inside the force. But the intricately woven plot and masterful performances, particularly by supporting cast members like Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin, prove that this movie deserves all of the Oscars it won.

Little Miss Sunshine
Oscars: Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin

Skillfully mixing pathos with absurd comedy, Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of one family's quest to get bespectacled Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine competition on time. In an astounding cast (Alan Arkin, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear), Steve Carrell is perhaps the most impressive as a suicidal Proust scholar forced to live with his sister's bizarre family. As a special bonus, the DVD features four alternate endings to the movie.

Four more, so read more

Babel
Oscars: Best Score

Though it didn't take home the Best Picture trophy, Babel has gotten a lot of buzz for its universal themes and good-looking cast. Set in three continents and featuring five languages, the film follows four different stories revolving around the aftermath of a shooting in the Moroccan desert. The strong performances, compelling story, and sharp cinematography make it a must-see. For a more in-depth look at Babel, check out my review.

An Inconvenient Truth
Oscar: Best Documentary and Best Song

He may have lost the presidential election, but Al Gore can now say he's the only candidate to have ever won an Oscar. Gore's pet project tackles the important issue of climate change with compelling facts and a great soundtrack. Like a great documentary should, An Inconvenient Truth will make you care about the film's concerns while also keeping you thoroughly entertained.

Marie Antoinette
Oscar: Best Costumes

The bright, beautiful period clothes featured in Sofia Coppola's stylized depiction of the young Marie Antoinette are impressive enough to warrant a viewing of the film. Kirsten Dunst stars as Marie, the naive Austrian princess who became the Queen of France at age 19. The film follows her betrothal to Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman) at age 15, through her reign as Queen and the eventual fall of Versailles.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Oscar: Achievement in Visual Effects

While I can't recommend this movie for its compelling plot, the second film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has plenty of eye candy, including star Johnny Depp and astounding special effects. (It was also nominated for art direction.) In this well-conceptualized fantasy world, you get everything from regal, tall-masted ships to creepy sea monsters and nautical costumes, all of which help give the special-effects-heavy movie a unified look and feel.

Oscar Video: Martin Scorsese Accepts His Oscar

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 11:29:28 -0800

There were so many great moments at last night's Oscars that it's tough to choose a favorite. But after watching Martin Scorsese's acceptance speech again, I have to say, it's definitely one of the high points of the ceremony. He strikes such a perfect balance between self-deprecating humor and genuine excitement over his victory that it makes me even happier that he finally won. To watch the clip from his speech, read more

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All About the Oscars: My Rants and Raves

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:10:47 -0800

Were last night's Oscars some of the best in years or what? Not only were the winners a mix of deserving and surprising, but the ceremony was also one of the most entertaining - if still overlong - I've seen in a while. You can read my insta-commentary from last night, or if you prefer a more reflective look at the awards, here's a recap of some of the biggest shocker and more entertainment moments. (Or, check out the full list of 2007 Oscar winners.)

Biggest Surprises

After all the pre-Oscar hype, Babel won nothing but Best Score.
The on-stage banter was actually funny.
Happy Feet beat Cars, proving that the Academy likes penguins even more than it likes Pixar.
The Lives of Others took home the award for Best Foreign Film, renewing my hope that the Oscars aren’t just a popularity contest.
A good Melissa Etheridge number beat out all three of Dreamgirls' shameless attempts to score a Best Song Oscar.

For more highlight and tons of photos, read more

Totally Unsurprising But Totally Awesome

Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren taking home the top acting honors. Their acceptance speeches alone proved what pros they are.
Martin Scorsese finally gets his directing due.

Best Quotes

"I think I see a few Americans as well. Of course, I'm talking about the seat fillers." - Ellen DeGeneres, in her opening monologue.
"Sound editing is like sex: It's usually done alone, at night, and surrounded by electronic gadgets." - Steve Carrell
"Wait, somebody dropped their rolling papers. Oh, here, it's the band." - Ellen DeGeneres, while vacuuming the theater floor.
"Scorsese calls it 'the first movie he has ever done with a plot.'" - Diane Keaton, as Martin Scorsese came to accept his Best Directing Oscar.
“To be standing here where the Queen just stood, and Idi Amin, is incredible.” - Graham King, accepting the Best Picture award for The Departed

View 40 Photos ›

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Oscar Roundup: Best Picture Breakdowns

BuzzSugar — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 07:45:16 -0800

This week I've been breaking down the good and bad qualities of each 2007 Best Picture nominee. Just in case you need a refresher, here is a recap of all five Best Picture breakdowns; hopefully they will help you make an educated guess on the Oscar ballot!

Letters From Iwo Jima
The Academy are suckers for these historical dramas - and for director Clint Eastwood - yet there are no other big names involved and not many people actually saw it.
Chances of winning: Moderate

The Queen
Having already won tons of critics' awards, the film may or may not be just a vehicle for Helen Mirren.
Chances of winning: Slim to Moderate

Three more, so read more

Little Miss Sunshine
Well-crafted and uplifting, the movie did wonderfully with both critics and viewers, if not in box office sales. However, it actually might be too uplifting for the Academy's often somber tastes.
Chances of winning: Slim

The Departed
All-star cast, esteemed director, good screenplay, and critical acclaim make for an impressive package, but it being a violent almost-action film (quite different from a bloody war film, mind you) reduces the movie's chances for the top award.
Chances of winning: Good

Babel
Some critics adore this film while others loathe it; it could go either way, but the Academy does like to reward these big theme dramas.
Chances of winning: Good

Letters and Departed photos courtesy of Warner Bros.
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Oscar Poll: What Movie Should Win Best Picture?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:58:34 -0800

Well, after a week of Oscar-related polls, we've finally arrived at the big one. So tell me, what movie do you think deserves the best picture prize?

Get Oscar Fit (and Tough): The Departed

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:09:15 -0800

Apparently the Sugar girls are not the only ones totally obsessed with the Oscars...

I recently came across this great old fashioned, street style workout based on the Oscar nominated movie The Departed from Gregory Joujon-Roche who thinks that being mob fighting ready (like Leo's character) is more about the brute strength that comes from growing up on the tough streets (not from a fancy gym).

"Want to pretend you're gearing up to fight the mob? Shake up your regular fitness routine by giving these moves a try. (Note: This workout is intended for people who regularly strength train. If you're a true couch potato, start slowly and work your way up to this challenge.)

On the first day, work on sheer strength with bench presses, straight bar curls and military presses. Don't worry about counting set and reps. The goal is to go heavy and feel the power.

On the second day, tone and condition with rear dips off the end of your bed or coffee table -- dozens of them -- to blast your triceps and upper back. Then do old-fashioned sit-ups and pull-ups -- as many as you can, and then a few more.

Repeat this cycle over the next two days, and then rest on the fifth day."

Now say it with me: Arggggggghhhhhh! Too Demi Moore, GI Man-ish for you? Check out this less intense workout based on last year's Best Picture winner, Crash.

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Oscar Worthy Gadgets: Technology in The Departed

GeekSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 09:03:20 -0800

The Departed is not only an Oscar nominated action-packed film with some of the greatest actors of our time, but it is also a gadget-packed movie featuring some of the most advanced technology of our time! Here is a shot from a sting set up, where the police are equipped with high-tech laptops and headphones to help them combat Jack Nicholson's organized crime ring. Some interesting techie tidbits: When Colin Sullivan, played by Matt Damon, is switching Sim cards in the phone booth, he is using a Sprint RL7400 cell phone, which doesn't actually use Sim cards in real life. Also when Colin uses Captain Queenan's phone (played by Martin Sheen), the close-up shows the blood transferring from his finger to the left side of the talk button but the wide shot shows the blood on the right side. One last thing - try watching the movie again and pay close attention to the recording of cell phone conversations. Near the beginning Nicholson puts something into his cell phone. Turns out this must have been the device used to record the conversations. To watch a phone clip from the movie, just read more

Have you filled out your Oscar ballot? The winner will score a fabulous Prada bag, runners-up will get $50 to $500 gift cards Neiman Marcus, Sephora and The Apple Store. Get your votes in! Good luck! For official rules click here.

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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:45:53 -0800

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I'll sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.

The Departed
Every time I revisit the trailer for The Departed, with Jack Nicholson's narration over the opening notes of "Gimme Shelter," I get the chills - not because this movie was disturbing, but because it was such a fun ride. The drama isn't terribly deep: A good cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover with a mobster (Jack Nicholson), who has his own man (Matt Damon) inside the force. But the intricately woven plot and masterful performances, particularly by supporting cast members like Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin, prove that Scorsese really does deserve the directing Oscar for this one.

Also, I highly recommend seeing the Hong Kong film trilogy on which the The Departed was based. If you haven't yet, you're in luck, because one of those films also releases on DVD this week, so read more

Infernal Affairs 2

Though technically the second film in the trilogy by directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, Infernal Affairs 2 is a prequel whose plot provides most of the basis for The Departed, explaining how these two young men ended up in their respective undercover roles. I actually saw part two first, and it totally stands on its own even if you haven't seen the first Infernal Affairs. Like The Departed, this film oozes with intrigue, comic relief, and standout performances. And with its tendency toward melodrama, it pays homage to another example of great American cinema: The Godfather trilogy.