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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:30:48 -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 now rent the Diane Lane thriller Untraceable, Francis Ford Coppola's Youth Without Youth, and Mad Money.

The Great Debaters
The Great Debaters stars Denzel Washington (who also directs), Forest Whitaker and newcomer Nate Parker in a movie that is maybe formulaic but also poignant and powerfully acted. As I pointed out in my review, the film borrows the the same elements of storytelling you find in underdog sports movies and inspirational teacher movies. However the film, based on a true story, is no less inspiring thanks to some moving performances.

The movie takes place in Texas circa 1935 when schools were segregated and economic times were hard all around. A group of young black college students work to become a debate team worthy of challenging Harvard. Washington plays the hard-driving debate team coach who encourages his students to succeed. You've definitely seen this all before in one form or another, but it's a great family rental with an inspirational message. The movie was honored earlier this year with an NAACP Award to boot.

Special features include deleted scenes and featurettes titled, "The Great Debaters: An Historical Perspective," and "Learning the Art: Our Young Actors Go to Debate Camp."

One more release to go so read more

Autism: The Musical
I have been curious about this documentary ever since it showed at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and I'm so glad it's out on DVD now, as I missed its airing on HBO a couple of months ago. The film has earned high praise and was even one of the Academy's 15 documentaries considered for an Oscar nod.

As Netflix puts it, the documentary follows "five autistic children as they develop and rehearse The Miracle Project, an original musical about autism." Between this flick and The Great Debaters I'd say you've got yourself a great family movie night here.

Special features include deleted scenes, a featurette called, "About Autism Speaks" and a filmmaker biography.

The Great Debaters Wins Big at NAACP Image Awards

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:08:18 -0800

The Golden Globe-nominated drama The Great Debaters won big Thursday night at the 39th NAACP Image Awards. The NAACP, which uses the annual Image Awards to honor outstanding achievements and performances by people of color and individuals and groups who work to promote social justice, recognized the film with four awards, including Best Motion Picture, Best Actor for Denzel Washington, and Best Actress for Jurnee Smollett.

Talk To Me also nabbed a couple of awards, including one for director Kasi Lemmons. On the television side, Grey's Anatomy won for Best Drama, while Tyler Perry's House of Payne won three awards, including Best Comedy. Alicia Keys won four awards in the music categories, and American Idol alum Jordin Sparks took home the award for Best New Artist.

To see a complete list of winners from Thursday's awards, just read more.

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Motion Picture
The Great Debaters

Actor in a Motion Picture
Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters

Actress in a Motion Picture
Jurnee Smollett, The Great Debaters

Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Denzel Whitaker, The Great Debaters

Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?

Directing in a Motion Picture
Kasi Lemmons, Talk To Me

Writing in a Motion Picture
Michael Genet and Rick Famuyiwa, Talk To Me

Independent or Foreign Film
Honeydripper

Documentary
Darfur Now

TELEVISION CATEGORIES:

Comedy Series
Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Actor in a Comedy Series
LaVan Davis, Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Actress in a Comedy Series
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Lance Gross, Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Vanessa L. Williams, Ugly Betty

Directing in a Comedy Series
Ken Whittingham, The Office, "Phyllis's Wedding"

Writing in a Comedy Series
Ali LeRoi, Everybody Hates Chris, "Everybody Hates Guidance Counselor"

Drama Series
Grey's Anatomy

Actor in a Drama Series
Hill Harper, CSI: NY

Actress in a Drama Series
Regina Taylor, The Unit

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Omar Epps, House

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

Directing in a Dramatic Series
Seith Mann, Friday Night Lights, "Are You Ready For Friday Night?"

Writing in a Dramatic Series:
Shonda Rhimes and Krista Vernoff, Grey's Anatomy, "A Change is Gonna Come"

TV Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special
Life Support

Actor in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special
Wendell Pierce, Life Support

Actress in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special
Queen Latifah, Life Support

Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Kristoff St. John, The Young And The Restless

Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Christel Khalil, The Young And The Restless

News/Information, Series or Special
In Conversation: The Senator Barack Obama Interview

Talk Series:
Tavis Smiley, "Crisis in Darfur"

Reality Series
Run's House 4

Variety Series or Special
Celebration of Gospel '07

Children's Program
That's So Raven

Performance in a Youth/Children's Program, Series or Special
Raven-Symone, That's So Raven

RECORDING CATEGORIES

Album
Alicia Keys, As I Am

Song
"Like You'll Never See Me Again," Alicia Keys

Male Artist
Chris Brown

Female Artist
Alicia Keys.

Duo or Group
Eddie and Gerald Levert

New Artist
Jordin Sparks

Jazz Artist
Herbie Hancock

Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin

World Music Album
Angelique Kidjo, Djin Djin

Music Video:
"Like You'll Never See Me Again," Alicia Keys

LITERATURE CATEGORIES:

Fiction
Blonde Faith, Walter Mosley

Nonfiction
Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond, Don Cheadle, John Prendergast

Debut Author
The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir, Victoria Rowell

Biography/Autobiography:
Obama: From Promise to Power, David Mendell

Instructional
The Covenant in Action, Tavis Smiley

Poetry
Acolytes: Poems, Nikki Giovanni

Children
Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson, Sue Stauffacher, author; Greg Couch, illustrator

Youth/Teens
More Than Entertainers: An Inspirational Black Career Guide, Charles B. Schooler, author; Gary Young, illustrator

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Sugar Bits - Obama and Huckabee Win in Iowa

PopSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:35:37 -0800

Big win for Barack Obama last night at the Iowa caucus. He won with 38 percent followed by John Edwards and Hilary Clinton. On the Republican side Mike Huckabee beat Mitt Romney, despite the former Massachusetts governor out spending the Arkansas one by millions of dollars. Britney may have stole their thunder, but we bet both campaigns are still celebrating right now as they head to New Hampshire. - CNN
Pamela Anderson will be proceeding with her divorce from Rick Salomon after all, as she served him with divorce papers on Dec. 28. Not too shocking considering her solo NYE in that too-revealing dress. - Us Weekly

Natalie Imbruglia and husband Daniel Johns, of the band Silverchair, are separating after four years of marriage because they "have simply grown apart." So sad to hear this couple is "torn" apart! - Reuters
It looks like those twins J Lo is expecting might be a girl and a boy, as her friends are shopping for baby items in both blue and pink. Somehow we have a feeling that the wardrobe of J Lo's children will go beyond just blue and pink. - Page Six
Jay Leno was scolded by the Writers' Guild yesterday after the monologue he used on Wednesday's show violated their rules. He (a union member) admitted that he wrote it beforehand and did the same thing again last night. Sounds like he may not have much respect for the strike after all. - People
Some details in The Great Debaters, which claims to be based on a true story, were changed in order to make the film more compelling. For example, in the film Denzel's debaters face off against a team from Harvard, but they were actually from USC. Hardly seems like a scandalous lie considering other things Hollywood has fabricated in the past.- Page Six

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The Great Debaters: Good Story, Not-So-Great Film

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:28:51 -0800

Even in a movie as formulaic as The Great Debaters, Denzel Washington manages to create a character who keeps us guessing. The truth-based tale of a debate team at a small Southern black college in 1935 borrows familiar elements from both underdog sports movies and inspirational teacher movies, but Washington's portrayal of the complicated debate coach is anything but clichéd. His performance, combined with equally subtle character renderings from Forest Whitaker and newcomer Nate Parker, makes this predictable movie worth watching.

Though its plot devices are very familiar, The Great Debaters, also directed by Denzel, benefits from an inspiring story and a unique premise. It's set in segregation- and Depression-era Texas, when middle-class blacks attended college even as lynching was still a fact of daily life.

It is both a hostile and fitting backdrop for a determined team of college debaters: the graceful Samantha (Jurnee Smollett), who aims to be a lawyer; well-read but angry young man Henry (Parker); and the optimistic and overachieving 14-year-old, James Farmer Jr., played by the improbably named Denzel Whitaker (no relation). We get the requisite scenes of Tolson's tough training techniques, as well as a budding romance, family drama, and plenty of impassioned speeches as the Wiley College debaters handily defeat a string of opponents. After a victory over the much larger Fisk, Prof. Tolson sets out to get a match against Harvard, who eventually extends an invitation.

Unfortunately, the script isn't as smart as I would have liked it to be; the supposedly brilliant debaters aren't given very poignant lines to work with. But, particularly because the story is based on fact, you can't help but get caught up in the characters' astounding ambition and victory over seemingly impossible adversity. Of course, the phrase "victory over adversity" should suggest that this isn't the most original movie ever, but it's a fitting feel-good drama for the holidays.

To see the trailer and more clips from The Great Debaters check out movies.ivillage.com.

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Denzel Knows the Power of a Good Debate

PopSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:33:32 -0800

Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker showed off The Great Debaters in NYC last night. Newlyweds Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman were also in the house but there was no sign of Oprah this time around. In the movie, Denzel plays a professor who helps get a debate team started at all-black Wiley College in Texas in 1935 and apparently he was still feeling his character's spirit this week. On Tuesday it was announced that he had donated $1 million to re-establish the debate team at Wiley. Sounds like Denzel's new movie can still teach us a lesson, even many decades later.

More pics including Candice Bergen, Jill Stuart and Cady Huffman so just read more

View 30 Photos ›

Images include: Cady Huffman, Candice Bergen, Denzel Washington, Denzel Whitaker, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Missoni, Jill Stuart, Jurnee Smollett, Liz Lange, Marshall Rose, Nate Parker, Pauletta Pearson, Sondra Nielsen, Sharon Jones, Zuleikha Robinson, Harvey Weinstein, Georgina Chapman.

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Movie Preview: The Great Debaters

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:26:01 -0800

Right as everyone's buzzing about Denzel Washington's award-worthy turn in American Gangster, we get a trailer for The Great Debaters, another movie that has Washington's magical charm all over it. Add to that an inspirational historical plot fraught with race tensions, and a tight-looking cast - which includes another Oscar favorite, Forest Whitaker - and you've got the makings for a huge Hollywood success.

Washington plays Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at the all-black Wiley College in Texas in 1935. He helps form the school's first debate team which goes on to challenge Harvard's team in the national championship.

Weird sidenote: One of the young actors in this movie is actually named - and I'm not kidding - Denzel Whitaker. He's not a relative of either Denzel Washington or Forest Whitaker, though he was named after Denzel. Weird, right?

To watch the heartwarming trailer for The Great Debaters which opens December 25, read more

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Bad Relationship, Great Sex?

TresSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Is it possible to have great sex with someone you hate? That was the hot and heavy debate on last night's Parks and Recreation, when mustachioed Ron reunites with his ex-wife Tammy. The toxic couple can't talk without fighting - and the fighting inevitably leads to sex. Sex that Ron compares to "doing peyote and sneezing slowly for six hours."

Ron eventually learns that hooking up with a toxic ex can be a very bad idea: "It took years of intense, focused hatred to get over her, and now I've undone all that great work." Have you ever had amazing sex with someone you couldn't stand? Or hooked up with an ex only to discover it was a terrible idea?

Body Knowledge: Cold Hands, Warm Core?

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:00:31 -0700

The cooler temps of late Autumn spark what we call in our house the thermostat wars. Although the preferred temps in my home seem to vary greatly by gender, there is no clear-cut answer which sex tolerates cold better. Studies have found that women have a higher core temperature than men, but colder hands. I can vouch for the cold hands thing - can you? Although a warmer core temp means women are better able to protect their vital organs, all housed in the torso, cold hands mean less blood flow to extremities, creating an increased perception of cold. Then there is the theory that Aunt Ruby affects a woman's perception of cold. The changes in body temperature that accompany the menstrual cycle can affect the way a woman perceives cold temperatures. This theory is still under debate, but might be something to pay attention to when you reach for socks in the middle of the night.

Berlusconi Insults Women Again - And They're Fighting Back

TresSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Feminism is back in vogue in Italy. Some say it lay dormant in spite of a vibrant '70s feminist movement, but thanks to raging misogynist Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, largely silent Italian women have had enough and are speaking up.

"[T]he scandals surrounding the prime minister have been like a violent slap in the face for millions of women who are just now waking up from a state of passivity," said political scientist Francesca Izzo.

A favorite tactic of the 73-year-old Berlusconi is to disparage the looks of his female political opponents. In a heated debate with 58-year-old opposition party member Rosy Bindi, he said, "You're more beautiful than you are intelligent," to which the annoyed politician shot back, "I am not a woman at your disposal." (Perhaps she was referring to his multiple girlfriends, which finally led his wife to file for a divorce.)

Many American women claim they aren't feminists, but I wonder if they'd change their tune if the president were speaking this way every day! To find out how Italian women are fighting back and to see a clip of a documentary about how women are represented on Italian television, read more

After Berlusconi's nasty comment to Rosy Bindi, pissed off women drafted a petition saying that his sexism was an insult both to women and to democracy. 11 days later, more than 100,000 women had signed it, claiming that Berlusconi participated in the "cretinization of women."

It took long enough for more women to speak up, but it's great they finally did it. Alas, Italian feminists have more than Berlusconi and his rhetoric to fight. In the following clip from filmmaker Lorella Zanardo's documentary Women's Bodies, you'll see that almost all the representations of women on Italian television depict them as sex objects.

Top Official: Burqa Not Part of France's "National Identity"

TresSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Cheese. Wine. Baguettes. These are all seemingly welcomed signifiers of French identity. Burqas? Not so welcome.

France has been debating a ban on the head-to-toe garment for some time now. Most recently, the country's immigration minister Eric Besson said yesterday that burqas should not be worn on French streets because they are not part of the country's "national identity."

Besson wants the government to reaffirm national pride by having a "great debate" about what it means to be French. With more than five million Muslims living in France (the largest Muslim population in Western Europe), doesn't French identity include Muslim traditions? It sounds like Besson, who was born in Morocco, disagrees. Based on his previous statements, being French means speaking better French if you're an immigrant and having more opportunities to sing the national anthem if you're a kid in school.

Do you think the French government has a right to dictate dress codes under the guise of "maintaining tradition," or should it be more accepting of minority and immigrant group influences? Would you worry if US officials organized a meeting to decide what it means to be American?