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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:30:32 -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 my selections below you can now add Bottle Shock and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa to your queue.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
I still smile when I think about this movie starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks because it's so silly and raunchy and yet manages to be somewhat heartwarming. But it should come with a serious warning: This is pretty graphic stuff so you should avoid watching with say, a boss, or a brother, or even maybe your roommate's boyfriend. It's a series of really awkward movie moments just waiting to happen. It's also hysterically funny in parts, though, so don't hesitate to add this one to your queue.

The special features both frighten and intrigue me. They include deleted scenes; a "making of" featurette; something called "Money Shots Webisodes"; outtakes, ad-libs and bloopers; and "Seth vs. Justin: Battle for Improvisational Supremacy."

Two more up next, just read more.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Juno has been playing on HBO a lot these days and I've been flipping to it during commercial breaks for little bits of Michael Cera goodness. Well, I'm just about Juno-ed out now, so I'm glad the adorable Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is finally out on DVD. I may be a little biased because I read the book but the movie is also super-duper cute due to Cera and his awesome co-star Kat Dennings. Good music, good actors, boys and girls having crushes on each other - what's not to love?

Special features include outtakes, deleted scenes, "Middle Management" music video by Bishop Allen, and "A Nick & Norah Puppet Show" by Kat Dennings.

The Secret Life of Bees
Zack and Miri, Nick & Nora, and now Bees?! Clearly I won't be hanging out with other humans this weekend because my couch and I are booked. This screen adaptation of the beloved bestseller is a satisfying tale of female friendship that might not be getting a lot of awards or attention, but will touch your heart nonetheless. The movie's dreamy cast includes Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Queen Latifah. I'm glad it's finally time to watch this again at home.

Special features include the director's extended cut, eight deleted scenes, and lots of featurettes including one titled "Adaptation: Bringing the Secret Life of Bees to the Big Screen."

Celebrate Female Solidarity With The Secret Life of Bees

PopSugarUK — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:00:00 -0800

Set in South Caroline in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees is a moving tale about female solidarity in the face of discrimination, based on Sue Monk Kidd's novel. 14-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning) is trying to deal with her guilt over her role in her mother's death. When Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), Lily's housekeeper, is physically beaten when she tries to vote, the pair run away from Lily's abusive father (Paul Bettany) in search of a safe haven and answers to Lily's questions about her mother.

They follow their only clue, a piece of wood with an image of a black Mary and the name of a town, and find themselves at the pink house of the Boatwright bee-keeping sisters: May (Sophie Okonedo), June (Alicia Keys) and August (Queen Latifah).

To find out more, watch the trailer and see stills from the film, just read more.

Lily starts to learn the secrets of bees, as well as the secrets from her own past, during her time with the Boatwright sisters. Like my girl Buzz, I was concerned that the scenes where the women worship Mary could have come across as too bizarre and silly, but Gina Prince-Bythewood directs the entire film with such a gentle touch to bring across the power and beauty. The film also portrays the practicalities of living in the Civil Rights era, with more drama resulting from Lily's burgeoning relationship with August’s godson, Zachary (Tristan Wilds). It is slow in places, and feels longer than its already considerable 110 minutes running time, but on the whole I remained interested, and I cared what happened to the characters.

The most outstanding aspect of the film is that every actor gives an amazing performance. Alicia Keys has quite a tough role to pull off, as an independent music teacher who isn't as welcoming as her sisters, but she gives a rounded performance and provides some awesome cello playing. Queen Latifah is the beating heart of the house and the film, as the motherly and kindly August, while Sophie Okonedo steals the movie for me as the deeply moving childlike May. Paul Bettany brings tension into every scene, and his accent is surprisingly convincing, while Dakota Fanning convinces as a girl on the cusp of adolescence looking for answers about everything. Paul Bettany and Sophie Okonedo attended the UK premiere at the London Film Festival in October, and I found their performances the most affecting of all.

The Secret Life of Bees is released today, and is one of several big films to hit our screens this month. Take my slideshow poll and tell me which you plan to see.

Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox

See It or Skip It Poll on December Films

PopSugarUK — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:00:00 -0800

As the days get colder, the cinema is a cosy prospect. Several big films are released this month, from romances and comedies to dramas and children's movies with that crossover-appeal. I'd love to know which you're excited about, and which you'll avoid, so take my slideshow poll and tell me if you plan to see or skip each film.

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Paul and Sophie Share The Secret Life of Bees with London

PopSugarUK — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Paul Bettany and Sophie Okonedo wrapped up warm for the premiere of The Secret Life of Bees at the London Film Festival last night. The movie's other stars who attended the LA premiere couldn't make it to London last night, but director Gina Prince-Bythewood was there to celebrate the UK premiere. Gina also wrote the screenplay, adapting Sue Monk Kidd's book for the screen, and the novel is one of my possible future PopUK book club reads: be sure to let me know what you'd like to read! Already number three at the US box office, the film opens here in the UK on 5th December - check out the trailer after the jump and let me know if you plan to see it.

Remember to enter our LFF giveaways: win a year of films or tickets to Easy Virtue!

To see more pictures plus the film's trailer just read more.

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Images include Paul Bettany, Sophie Okonedo, director Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood.

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Future Reads For the PopUK Book Club

PopSugarUK — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:00:00 -0700

I've been looking ahead to what we could read together in our PopUK Book Club. Several film adaptations are coming up, so I've selected a range of such titles as possible future reads. Some have been published recently while some are classics, and different genres are represented, from the short story to children's fiction to chick lit. Be sure to let me know what you think!

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Wahlberg Feels No Payne at the Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:30:34 -0700

Mark Wahlberg had a good weekend. His movie Max Payne was No. 1 at the box office, with an estimated $18 million. Plus, it looks like he made nice with Andy Samberg, after things got tense last week.

Second place turned out to be what Variety calls a "photo finish" between those dancing dogs and The Secret Life of Bees. Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua just barely eked out a second place finish its third weekend in theaters with an estimated $11.2 million with Bees close behind with about $11.1 million.

Oliver Stone's biopic W also did well, coming in at No. 4 with an estimated $10.6 million its first weekend out followed by Eagle Eye at No. 5.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

The Secret Life of Bees: Just Sweet Enough

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:30:43 -0700

When I left my screening of The Secret Life of Bees I felt comforted and content, and it took me a while to understand why: This movie calls back to older, Southern-set, empowering movies like Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes. Those films celebrate womanhood and the importance (and potency) of female friendship, all against the unique backdrop of the American South. The stories are beautiful and sentimental, with tragedy and heartache going hand-in-hand with love and humor. This is what The Secret life of Bees is like, while also including the tension of race relations in South Carolina in 1964 and a coming-of-age story. I've sometimes wondered mournfully if movies like these were no longer relevant or could not be made well in this day and age, so it is with relief that I report to you: They can, and have.

Dakota Fanning plays Lily, a 14-year-old girl in South Carolina whose mother died when she was young, leaving her in the care of an abusive father (Paul Bettany) and a kind housekeeper named Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). Lily decides to run away from her father and her small town, and she takes Rosaleen with her. Included in her mother's belongings, Lily has a piece of wood with an image of a black Mary holding a black infant Jesus and the name of a town written on the back. So, Lilly and Rosaleen head off for this town and discover that the image of Mary matches the labels on some locally-made honey. Further investigation brings them to a bright pink house where the honey is made. It's more than just a brightly-colored house, though, so read more.

The pink house is home to the Boatwright sisters: May (the magnificently endearing Sophie Okonedo), June (Alicia Keys) and August (Queen Latifah). The sisters take in Lily and Rosaleen, though the suspicious June doesn't think it's a good idea. In the peaceful Boatwright home, Lily learns the secrets to making honey - and secrets to her past. Lily also discovers the story behind the Boatwright sisters' attachment to the black Mary, and watches as the women pray to Mary and worship her. Of course, no place is a utopia (even a bright pink house), and trouble seems to follow Lilly wherever she goes. But in the end it's a sweet and soulful little movie with a strong message of hope.

From time to time the movie veers into some Hallmark-y schmaltz, but the issues of the times - discrimination, violence at the dawn of great change - temper any silliness. The setup (three black women with a successful business taking in a little white girl and her caretaker) is also bizarre enough within this time period to somehow negate the possible cheesiness.

Having read the book I had my own vision of this world and the movie is not far off from what I imagined. I was worried that the idea of a religion that worships Mary would come across as silly in the film, as opposed to powerful and comforting. To my relief, it all works fine onscreen. The beauty of this tradition and these women's beliefs is easily conveyed, and it rings as true as any sisterhood (thankfully without any screaming of "ya-ya!"). This truthfulness and comfort stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight

The Secret Life of Bees Buzzes into LA

PopSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:05:00 -0700

Queen Latifah was on SNL this weekend assisting Tina Fey in recreating the VP debates but last night she was cracking up with Will Smith on the red carpet in LA for the premiere of The Secret Life of Bees. Will was there as a producer and to support Jada who embraced Fall's latest lace trend and is an executive producer of the film based on the best-selling novel. Dakota Fanning continues to look all grown up while looking perfectly age appropriate. The recently engaged Jennifer Hudson got gorgeous in navy with matching blue eye shadow. The all-star cast already premiered their movie at the TIFF so if you haven't already checked out the trailer we'd suggest doing so before it opens next weekend.

To see more pictures of Dakota, Jennifer Hudson, Ali Landry and more just read more.

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Images include: Will Smith, Dakota Fanning, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Tristan Wilds, Jennifer Hudson, Nate Parker, Lauren Shuler-Donner, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Joe Pichirallo, Eva Pigford, Nia Long, Ali Landry

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TIFF Gives VMAs a Run For Its Money

PopSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:00:03 -0700

The MTV VMAs may have been the talk of the town, but the Toronto Film Festival proved to be just as star-studded. Jennifer Aniston looked fabulous as usual in her mini black dress for Management, while Keira Knightley looked like royalty once again on the red carpet for The Duchess. Brad Pitt showed off his Burn After Reading and talked about how little sleep he's getting these days taking care of six kids. Dakota Fanning wowed us in her black number, looking so pretty and grown-up at the premiere of The Secret Life of Bees with costar Jennifer Hudson.

Mark Ruffalo pulled double duty for Blindness with Julianne Moore and The Brothers Bloom with Adrien Brody, while Anne Hathway looked gorgeous continuing promotions for Rachel Getting Married. Of course, it wouldn't be a festive weekend without a few parties, and Kate Hudson, Diddy, and Lindsay Lohan were just a handful of stars who had plenty of fun without any movies of their own to endorse.

To see over 70 more photos including Queen Latifah, Evangeline Lily, Paris and Benji, Alicia Keys, and tons more, just read more.

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Images include: Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore, Adrien Brody, Danny Glover, Evangeline Lily, Gael Garcia Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh, Dominic Monaghan, Alicia Keys, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, John Malkovich, Kate Hudson, Benji Madden, Petra Nemcova, Tim Robbins, Sir Richard Branson, Renée Zellweger, Gerard Butler, Zac Efron, Jeremy Piven, Claire Danes, Tristan Wilds, Diddy, Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson, Ed Harris, Kiera Knightley

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Movie Preview: The Secret Life of Bees

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:44:49 -0700

It's not every day that the film adaptation of a well-loved book appears to capture the same atmosphere and sentiments that the book does, but in my opinion, the trailer for The Secret Life of Bees looks like it might do just that. I loved the novel by Sue Monk Kidd; it was one of those books that left me feeling sad at the end because I had to part with characters I'd come to care about deeply.

The story follows 14-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning) whose mother died, leaving Lily with an abusive father. Together with her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), Lily runs away from her father, and the two wind up at a pink house and under the protection of four smart, strong, beekeeping sisters.

The trailer does seem to veer into sappiness a few times, but is just grounded enough to avoid looking like a Lifetime TV movie. Queen Latifah has a solid, maternal way about her in this role, which is refreshing, and it's really great to see Dakota Fanning playing an older character. Alicia Keys has a good presence onscreen, and I may be most excited to see Sophie Okonedo (who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Hotel Rwanda), whom I find absolutely mesmerizing every time I see her in another movie.

The Secret Life of Bees opens October 17. To see what I'm talking about, read more.

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