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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:30:00 -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 the thriller We Own the Night starring Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg. Also on DVD today is Romance and Cigarettes, a musical that's definitely not for the High School Musical set.

Gone Baby Gone
For his directorial debut, Ben Affleck brings together a talented ensemble cast that includes his brother Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Amy Ryan. The film is set in the Affleck brothers' hometown of Boston and is adapted from a novel by the author of another dark Boston tale, Mystic River.

Casey plays Patrick Kenzie, a private detective hired to help bring home a missing 4-year-old girl. In the process, he discovers a complex and disturbing underworld based on the broken dreams of families living in one of the country's toughest neighborhoods.

Relative newcomer Amy Ryan earned herself an Oscar nomination for her portrayal as the little girl's drug addict mother, and our very own Boston native Molly really enjoyed this heart wrenching flick so it's a pretty safe bet for your Netflix queue.

A little depressing? Two more lovey titles are next so read more.

No Reservations
It's often the charming, warmhearted little films like No Reservations that slip off peoples' radars in the summer movie season due to the noise that giant big-name mega-blockbusters make that time of year. If you missed this sweet romance starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart I highly recommend warming up some delicious treats and settling in for the night with this movie that I really enjoyed.

Based on the the German film Mostly Martha, the movie follows a hard-hearted top chef, Kate (Zeta Jones) whose sister dies suddenly, leaving Kate's little niece (an adorable Abigail Breslin) now resting in her care. As Kate struggles to adapt to parenthood, she also soon finds herself involved with the new chef in her kitchen (Eckhart). Special features include a Marc Summers visit to the set to talk to the film's stars for an episode on his Food Network Series.

Why Did I Get Married
Tyler Perry sets aside his alter-ego Madea, but preserves his keen ability to create relatable characters in this drama exploring the ins and outs of married life. The movie stars Perry himself, along with Malik Yoba, Sharon Leal, Michael Jai White, Denise Boutte, Lamman Rucker and music hit-makers Janet Jackson and Jill Scott.

Based on one of Perry's plays, Why Did I Get Married? follows a group of married friends that gather in a mountaintop resort to confront their various marital issues. Perry's trademark melodrama and preachiness combined with a more serious subject matter proved to be a very potent mix that really hit home with audiences.

We Own the Night: Hardly New York's Finest

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I wandered into We Own the Night expecting stellar performances that would rescue an otherwise so-so movie. And though the movie was definitely so-so (really, a few notches below), I can't blame the actors. After all, the script - riddled with clichés and sorely lacking any dramatic tension - didn't give the typically talented performers anything to work with.

Set in late '80s Brooklyn and Queens, We Own the Night stars Joaquin Phoenix as Bobby Green, the manager of a wildly popular mega-club. His real name is Grusinsky, and his dad, Burt (Robert Duvall), and brother Joseph (Mark Wahlberg) are devoted servants of the NYPD. But taking up his mother's maiden name keeps Bobby's background from interfering with his hobbies, such as recreational cocaine use and hanging with his hot girlfriend, Amada (Eva Mendes).

But guess what? Dad and Joseph are investigating a drug ring run by a Russian mobster who frequents Bobby's club, and they want Bobby to help smoke him out. The plot reads vaguely like The Departed, but the similarities end there, so read more

Bobby has no interest in being a rat, until his brother is shot and injured by the mobsters. Then he decides to go undercover to capture the bad guy, and the action unfolds from there.

Unlike The Departed and many other gripping police dramas, We Own the Night is neither gripping nor dramatic. The familial bonds that are supposedly so central to the story are hardly felt, since we learn very little about the characters or their motivations. The plot progresses in a very predictable arc, and for anyone who doesn't find it predictable, there is a lot of obvious foreshadowing to help us along.

Mostly, the movie, though unconventional, is disappointingly dull; it feels like an amateur filmmaker trying to make a serious movie. Thankfully, a few elements rise above mediocrity: Director James Gray does an excellent job of visually capturing the bleak but indulgent mood of the New York drug scene in 1988, and a climactic car-chase scene through the blinding rain is expertly crafted. Otherwise, We Own the Night comes dangerously close to made-for-TV fare.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Eva, Joaquin & Mark Own the Night in NYC

Molly — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:33:22 -0700

Mark and Joaquin were handsome on the red carpet, but Eva Mendes stole the show in white at last night's We Own The Night premiere in NYC. I mean, she was almost upstaged by Joaquin's metallic suit (someone got Adrien's memo!) and Mark's manjoyment-ness, but in the end her million dollar smile won. Many of Mark's recent movies deal with crime and crooked cops (and he himself is no stranger to the justice system), but in real life being a dad is the most important thing these days. He said, "Being a father keeps me focused and reminds me to not break the law. I'd like to work here and there, but I don't want to work to put food on the table. The focus has been on me long enough. My kids are the priority." Awww, he's come a long way from the Funky Bunch. We Own The Night comes out this Friday so check back at the end of the week to read Buzz's review of the film.

To see the rest from the premiere including Adam Goldberg, Robert Duvall, Beth Ostrosky, Rain Phoenix and more just read more

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Images include Adam Goldberg, Alicia Witt, Beth Ostrosky, Eva Mendes , Jewel, Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Marley Shelton, Robert Duvall, Ty Murray and Rain Phoenix.

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Fall Movie Preview: Bad Boys

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:15:00 -0700

We may not be getting the crisp fall weather just yet, but we are getting previews for tons of movies opening in the fall. In preparation for this autumn and winter at the theaters, I've broken up the lengthy list of upcoming movies into many small themes for my Fall Movie Preview series. This way, you'll be in the know when the chillier months roll around, bringing a whole new crop of new films. Today's list of upcoming titles features some men behaving badly - and some good guys - and all of them looking very nice all the while.

Shoot 'Em Up
If you've been reading Buzz in recent months you know that I've been breathlessly awaiting the release of this movie which stars Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti. Luckily, there's not much more waiting to go since Shoot 'Em Up opens September 7. My Comic-Con correspondent Phasekitty got to see some scenes from the movie while in San Diego and this is what she reported back: "t is some of the most exciting action I've seen in a long time; very similar to the Transporter series, though with a new comedic element. Clive Owen's character is protecting a woman and a child from a hit man (Paul Giamatti), and spends most of the action sequences out-shooting people with one hand and carrying the infant baby in the other." Granted, I will watch Clive Owen do just about anything, so it's all the more enticing when I get to see him kicking butt and saving babies. Check out the awesomely done trailer here.

Eva and Joaquin Own the Night

Molly — Sat, 26 May 2007 09:24:51 -0700

As we mentioned with the photocall pics, it's so great to see Joaquin Phoenix with a smile on his face. He just lights up! Very cute, a far cry from his Walk the Line brooding. As for Eva, she glows no matter what she's wearing, but she looked especially stunning at the premiere of their movie, We Own the Night. When asked about filming her very first on screen sex scene with one Mr. Phoenix, Eva had this to say:

"I wasn't comfortable at all. They were very sweet and they poured me a vodka and orange juice and then I was fine. I'm very professional and I don't usually drink on the job but that morning I had a little vodka and OJ."...Asked if it helped to think it was her character and not her up there, Mendes said: "My boob is still my boob." She paused, then added: "Wow, that sounded really stupid."

First sex scene ever alongside Joaquin? Not a bad gig. Unfortunately Cannes is winding down, but hopefully there will be at least one more big party to bring all these beautiful folks together. Or at the very least a little more Joaquin? Is that too much to ask?

To see more pics from the premiere, including more of Joaquin and goregous Eva, plus Robert Duvall just read more

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Joaquin Gets An Honorable Mention

PopSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:57:35 -0700

Joaquin Phoenix was looking pretty darn cute at a photocall for his new movie, We Own the Night at Cannes. The movie, which also stars Eva Mendes and a sadly absent Mark Wahlberg, is about two brothers who get involved with the Russian mafia. At one point Eva and Joaquin were battling on-set dating rumors even though she has had a long time boyfriend. We could understand the temptation but unfortunately, we're sad to report Joaquin didn't make it on to BuzzSugar's Boys of Summer List. It's pretty hard to compete with Johnny & Orlando but we'd like to give him an honorable mention.

More pics of the cast getting silly, so just read more

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Joaquin Supports Non-Violence (Off the Big Screen)

PopSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:58:46 -0800

Yesterday, Joaquin attended a press conference to reintroduce the Department of Peace and Nonviolence Bill. Joaquin may be a staunch activist in his free time, but his film choices don't always reflect his peace-loving beliefs. That is, unless his next film, We Own The Night, co-starring Mark Wahlberg about the Mob in NY is somehow violence-free. For some reason we're thinking that's not the case.

For more pics, including an almost unrecognizable Amy Smart, just read more

Also pictured are Frances Fisher and Jimmy DeMers.

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Cameron Premieres Her Box and Opens Up About Life

Molly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

Cameron Diaz and James Marsden hit the red carpet together in NYC last night at the premiere of their movie The Box. It hits theaters this weekend, though the buzz has been pretty quiet for the scary looking film with its chic '70s interiors. Cameron has been busy up in Boston filming Knight and Day with Tom Cruise, but she took a break to talk to Parade about her new film. Here are highlights:

On life and being confident: "I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I know who I am. I have my own sense of myself. And the things that I do, I do for myself and to challenge myself and to have my own experience. I'm in a completely different place in my life now and I'm very comfortable where I'm at. I'm looking forward to the future. I'm looking forward to this afternoon and tomorrow and the next day and a month from now."
On being self-deprecating: "I don't think that self-deprecation is healthy for people. I think you should have a healthy relationship with yourself. We all have our up days and our down days. But I'm not going to walk through this world hating myself because somebody doesn't like me or doesn't think I'm pretty or that I should be ashamed that people think that I'm pretty. How am I going to live my life trying to figure out what everybody else feels about me? All I can do is know how I feel about myself."
On heartbreak: "Oftentimes, the way that we learn is to have our heart broken. As many times as we fall in love, our heart gets broken. But heartbreak is always a part of life, from not making a team in your favorite sport to your parents having a fight. Life is full of ups and downs. You can't know happiness without sadness and vice versa. The great thing about getting older is you become wiser and you gain knowledge and you grow. There's nothing wrong with that. That's a wonderful thing."

For more photos from the premiere just read more.

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90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:12 -0800

This week's CW drama block may have its share of cool guest stars like N.E.R.D. and Samantha Ronson, but, on the whole, it's a total mess. On the one hand, you've got the unstable girls of 90210 having emotional breakdowns at the drop of a hat; on the other, the Melrose Place residents are busy sneaking around to cover up their crimes. Personally, I was a bit annoyed by all the over-the-topness - especially you, Annie. Oh, and you, Ivy. But hey, at least it gives us a few surprising moments.

Ready to dissect each show and decide which packed more punch? (Warning: major spoilers!) Take a peek at my arguments and then weigh in with your own when you read more.

90210 point: Sasha is officially a nut job. First she tells Dixon that she's pregnant, but when Debbie gets wind of it, she questions Sasha even further to catch her in her baby lies. But the best part? When Debbie says the line, "It starts with you're not pregnant, and it ends with stay away from my son." Oh, snap! Congrats Debbie, you just went up a notch on the list of cool TV moms. Sasha backs off, telling Dixon she had a "miscarriage."
Melrose Place counterpoint: Did David kill Sydney? They sure try to make it seem that way. David tells Ella that he was blackout drunk that night after finding out that Syd was sleeping with his father - and then he has a flashback where he wakes up with blood all over himself and a knife in his hand. I gasped a little over the big reveal, but I'm not entirely convinced that David wasn't set up by someone else.

90210 point: Annie is getting in way over her head with Jasper, and unfortunately, she seems much too insecure to dig herself out. When Navid hears that Jasper is a dealer, he tells Annie and she confronts Jasper about it. Jasper wigs out, making Annie cry and beg forgiveness. Later, we see Jasper selling drugs to someone, so we know the rumors are true. For more on his buyer, keep reading.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Jonah makes out with Kendra, the hot movie producer, literally within the first five minutes of the episode. (That didn't take long.) He stops things from going further, but when he comes clean to Riley, he gets on her case again for her kiss with Auggie. She apologizes profusely, but the damage has already been done. By the end of the episode, I was thinking, Wait, did they actually just break up?! I don't think so, but if you stuck around for next week's promo, things do not look good for the engaged couple.

90210 point: Jen is back, throwing around her prima donna wicked attitude. She walks in on Ryan during his date with the bartender from the previous episode and goes into attack mode with the verbal jabs. ("You look older closer up.") Ryan is actually turned on by her jealousy, and the two become exclusive. But what I can't understand is why, after he knows that she lies, does he actually trust her story about Liam coming on to her? He totally buys it!
Melrose Place counterpoint: Auggie finally gives his a-hole boss Marcello a piece of his mind, er, fists. Marcello passes off one of Auggie's recipes as his own, and then he makes a few lewd comments about Riley - and you know how Auggie feels about Riley. He starts swinging, knocking Marcello out. Back at the apartment later, Violet shows up, and in a moment of what I can only blame on Auggie's emotional distress, the two finally knock boots. I'm guessing this means we'll be seeing Violet's worst kind of crazy very soon (right before she and Auggie say sayonara).

90210 point: Adrianna is inching closer to her previous life of drug use. It starts when she plays a song asking for Navid's forgiveness. (So cheesy!) He turns her down, so she continues sulking in bed, sobbing. Silver and Naomi want her to go to a meeting so she can stay clean, and with due concern - at the end of the episode, we see her buying from none other than Jasper.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Ella's squeaky-clean client, Jessie, is hospitalized with major cocaine in his system, so she begs Lauren to write a fake report citing an allergy as the cause of his stay. Lauren refuses. (Anyone else confused about why Lauren continues to take the high road, despite her side prostitution gig?) Ella then discovers a wad of cash in Lauren's room and realizes her Pretty Woman secret. Of course Lauren denies the accusations, but no matter - Ella decides to let her star take the fall anyway and promises to never question Lauren again.

90210 had way more melodramatic outbursts, but those ladies were so crazy that it kind of turned me off. (You girls give women a bad name. Even Violet seemed normal this week compared to you.) So I'm giving this week to Melrose by default: I was genuinely shocked at David's bloody flashback and the fact that Jonah has suddenly broken out of his perfect-fiance persona. I expect scandal from someone like Auggie or Ella, but from Jonah? Come on!

Do you disagree? Were you actually loving all of the melodrama on 90210?

Don't forget that you can also keep the conversation going over in the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community. Check it out!

Photos courtesy of The CW

Russell Kisses Katy and Talks About Romance and Kids

PopSugarUK — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:19:05 -0800

Russell Brand was out in LA with Katy Perry over the weekend, kissing her in her car as she dropped him off. The cute couple have been spending a lot of time together lately, and with Katy Europe-bound for the MTV EMAs this week, and Russell in London for a gig tomorrow night it looks like they'll be stealing some moments together over here too! In an interview with the Sunday Times published this weekend, Russell spoke a little about how Katy's changing his life, here's some extracts from his fascinating interview:

On how his life is changing: "I am living in a different way at the moment. Regardless of what happens in my current situation, I am unlikely to be satisfied with the calamitous promiscuity of the preceding five or six years."
On wanting to slow down and feeling broody: "I am [feeling broody], actually. It's seven years since I took drugs. I've made a film. I don't think I have to fight so much. I've grown weary of the carousel... I am more into having jaunts. It's been a while since I've done terrible things like shoplifted or threw a phone..."
On his relationships with women: "I am an only child of a single mother - it probably meant that I'm demanding and have high expectations of women. I look for salvation and redemption, to be utterly embraced.... I don't think you can find it in another human being. It's a ridiculous, romantic and tragic idea that there's someone who's going to save you, that we need our own personal Jesus. Salvation comes from within."

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