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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:30:19 PDT

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 now find the third season of TNT's The Closer on DVD, along with the brutal but stunning Brazilian film City of Men.

Mad Men: Season 1
I'm excited for the release of Mad Men's first season because I've been running around town, preaching to anyone who will listen that they should hurry up and watch it before the second season starts Sunday July 27! The series initially flew under the radar, as it was AMC's first venture into original programming, but it much-deserved attention and credibility by winning multiple Golden Globes.

The series is set in 1960s Manhattan, in the heart and soul of the advertising industry. It follows the trials and tribulations of one Madison Avenue firm's employees who (true fact) named themselves "Mad Men." The attention to detail in this show is impeccable, right down to the coned-bras and smoking in the work place. The series is as wonderful to look at as it is dark, and it doesn't flinch from the politically incorrect behavior of the era, including uncomfortable scenes rife with sexual harassment, racism, and anti-semitism. It may leave your soul a bit shattered and battered at its portrayal of America during this time, but it's so well-executed you'll probably recover fast. Plus, Don Draper is among the dreamiest characters to come along in a while (despite the fact that his behavior is often repugnant).

Special features include cast and crew interviews, a photo gallery, Mad Men music, and commentaries on every episode.

Two more great choices up next so

My Blueberry Nights
My Blueberry Nights has a great-looking cast that includes Natalie Portman, Norah Jones, Rachel Weisz and Jude Law. It's the first English-speaking film by Chinese director Wong Kar Wai and while it got an average response from the critics, I'm curious to check it out for myself.

Here's how Netflix describes the plot: "Elizabeth (Norah Jones), a restless young woman, travels cross-country working a variety of waitressing jobs and connecting with an odd assortment of characters along the way, including policeman Arnie (David Strathairn), his unfaithful wife, Sue Lynne (Rachel Weisz), and a flighty young gambler (Natalie Portman). But she realizes that her touchstone is Jeremy (Jude Law), the owner of a café she haunted back home in New York."

Special features include a making of My Blueberry Nights featurette, and a Q&A with director Wong Kar Wai.

Vantage Point
I saw Vantage Point and thinking back on it, it strikes me more and more as a fabulous home movie-watching choice. It's a good thriller-mystery with a decent amount of action, and while it feels gimmicky and familiar at points, those weaknesses probably won't matter with an at-home crowd just looking for a fun escape.

The cast is top-notch and includes Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Sigourney Weaver and Forest Whitaker playing characters whose destinies collide when the US president is shot in Spain. Special features include titles like "Surveillance Tapes: Outtake," and "An Inside Perspective: Interviews With the Cast & Crew."

First Look: My Blueberry Nights

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:15:44 PDT

Not only does France have a definite release date for My Blueberry Nights, but there's also a full-length trailer for the film with French subtitles. So far, there's no U.S. release date scheduled. What's up with that?

My Blueberry Nights stars Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman and Norah Jones in Jones' first big feature-film role. The film screened at Cannes to mixed reviews. Most critics said director Wong Kar Wai did a stunningly beautiful job visually with his first English-language project, but that otherwise the movie lags. Jones plays a young woman who "takes a soul-searching journey across America to resolve her questions about love while encountering a series of offbeat characters along the way." If nothing else, the trailer features Cat Power's lovely voice crooning in the background, so to check it out,

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Cannes Reviews: My Blueberry Nights

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 16:25:10 PDT

Since I'm not able to attend the Cannes Film Festival this year, I'm scouring the Web for reviews of movies that look the most interesting. First on my list: My Blueberry Nights, the first English-language film by director Wong Kar Wai which stars Norah Jones, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Rachel Weisz.

Overwhelmingly, the critics' message is this: Wong Kar Wai is masterful at creating a visually evocative film, though the dialogue is lacking, thus making the performances feel empty and pointless. Some say the script's shortcomings are a result of language issues, but that in the end none of it matters because the film is so beautiful. Check out these excerpts from various reviews:

Hollywood Reporter:
"Nothing truly profound gets discovered... The director is chasing a mood here - a mood, an atmosphere and feelings... The glue here is Jones, who holds a wispy, wistful film together with a deeply felt, unself-conscious performance that strikes the right notes without ever falling into repetition or banality. She brings her singer's talent of knowing when to go for emotions and when to hold back to her acting. It's a remarkably assured work; one hopes she will further explore acting in other movies."

Variety:
"Jones proves agreeable but bland company in the role; she's attractive, but lacks mystery, emotional vitality and that something special behind the eyes... Visual beauty is a given in Wong's films, as is the use of pop songs and old standards, and nothing has changed on those counts here."

More viewpoints if you

IGN:
"Fans of his work will leave My Blueberry Nights happy that his first English language film is no outright disappointment, but they'll never class it amongst his best work."

Hollywood Elsewhere:
"...A horribly written, woefully banal self- discovery mood piece (the word "drama" really can't be applied)… I don't know which is worse - the whole waitressing-in-Memphis section of the film, or the endless soul-searching section with Law in the pastry shop. But put 'em together and wham, you're looking at your watch and going, 'Holy bejeezus, this is dreadful.'"

Cinematical:
"My Blueberry Nights is so beautifully shot, though, that you'd be excused for thinking that the quality of the performances is almost irrelevant; each scene is a symphony of color and light, each frame exquisitely shaped by the play of pigment and shade. New York is caught in blue, wintry tones; Memphis in deep, relaxed browns; Nevada's casinos come alive in jittery crimson... This is the sort of thing that you would rather see than hear, and My Blueberry Nights is full of these moments – lengthy stretches of film where we're having emotional and thematic meanings spelled out for us like we were slow children....Still, only the hard-hearted will pause to object to those moments; most of us will be swept away by Wong's visions and his depiction of love, loss and life."

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Jessica Brings her Cans to Cannes

PopSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 10:31:39 PDT

Never one to miss a photo-op, Jessica Simpson has made her way over to Cannes to take in some of the great films and parties. Her first stop was the My Blueberry Nights After Party. We're a bit confused as to why Jess is there but perhaps she is promoting Blonde Ambition even though it's not premiering at the festival. Since Blonde and Blonder is being screened, I am starting to think Cannes is lowering their standards these days. No telling whether John Mayer will be meeting her over there but it looks like he's fitting into Jessica's world just fine. He's even got the stamp of approval from Pimp Daddy Simpson. Here's more:

"If Jessica is in love, I love the things she is in love with," Joe Simpson, 49, told PEOPLE of Mayer at the Entertainment Weekly upfront party at The Box in New York City on Tuesday.

"I want her to be happy. I'm always a fan of his. I love him; he's got great music. I think the beautiful thing is that [he and Jessica] don't do the same thing. He's a legend already. There is no competition. He's a guitarist; that's his thing. Jessica is a singer. She doesn't play guitar, so there's no competition."

Hmmm, really? Isn't John a singer too? And perhaps he should have mentioned Jess is an actress now. That is going to be her gig for the summer right?

More pics of Jess in her interesting dress, plus Jude Law and Norah Jones so just

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The Ladies Do the Cannes Cannes

PopSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:32:13 PDT

Besides Jude Law it really is the ladies that are making a splash at Cannes so far. Of course the cast of Ocean's 13 hasn't made an appearance and when they do that's all going to change! Can't say we blame you for it being the Cannes movie you're most excited to see! Until then you know these stunning actresses are loving the spotlight. Elizabeth Hurley is stunning in red on the arm of Valentino. Master of Ceremonies Diane Kruger looked gorgeous and casual in a short white dress earlier in the day, and now she's proving she can glam it up too. Andie MacDowell, Juliette Binoche and Minnie Driver worked the red carpet as well.

Tons more pics including crazy Bai Ling, Kerry Washington, Billy Zane and lots lots more so just

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Images include Jude Law, Norah Jones, Minnie Driver, Bai Ling, Andie MacDowell, Toni Collette, Juliette Binoche, Kerry Washington, Gong Li, Harvey Weinstein, Elizabeth Hurley & Valentino, Billy Zane.

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What Cannes Movie Are You Most Interested In?

PopSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 11:59:41 PDT

Jude & Norah showed off their best toothless smiles for the paps in Cannes today. Their movie My Blueberry Nights is kicking off the festivities, but there are tons of films that we can't wait to hear about. What movie at Cannes are you most excited about?

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Cannes Kicks Off With My Blueberry Nights

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 04:32:38 PDT

Today the Cannes Film Festival kicks off in France, and starting things off is Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai's first English-language film, My Blueberry Nights. The movie is about a lovelorn road trip and stars Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman and... Norah Jones?

Yup, Norah Jones. Apparently, Kar Wai specifically sought out the musician for the starring role. More details if you

Variety has the scoop:

She admits she knew little about the director's work when she first met Wong over lunch in New York.

"I thought maybe he wanted music," she says. "And he asked if I wanted to act! I knew his reputation as a director was very unconventional and very different, and I knew what his movies looked like, and it just seemed like a really good time to say yes and try something different with somebody I trusted."

In "My Blueberry Nights," Jones is the central character, a young woman working her way across the country in the wake of a romantic breakup.

Jones goes on to gush that her costars were extra-supportive, knowing she was nervous, and treated her like their "little sister." I found these richly colorful stills from the film on RopeofSilicon and I must say this movie intrigues me, so I'll be scouring the Web for reviews as soon as Nights is screened. Oh, to be at Cannes!

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Jude Dresses Down for My Blueberry Nights

PopSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 10:42:34 PST

Jude is looking a little out of sorts on the set of his upcoming film My Blueberry Nights. The film is a romantic comedy starring Norah Jones (yes, the singer) as a woman who goes on a soul-searching journey to resolve her questions about love. It should be interesting to see Jude in a more offbeat role, we just hope he doesn't look this disheveled in the final cut!

View 5 Photos ›

Splash

Tested! The GOOP Detox

Fit Community — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:30:44 PDT

FitSugar reader amusebouche tried the GOOP detox and Clean Program and shared her experience in the Get Fit For 2011 community group.

I've never been one for detoxes, cleanses, or fasts. As everyone says - including FitSugar! - your body is naturally wired to detoxify itself. But in the new year, I'd been feeling like nothing but an old lady: sluggish, tired, ridden with problems from nighttime allergies to a hard time focusing. I work in the food industry, and between tradeshows and heavy meals, I felt nauseated whenever I even smelled rich food. My digestive system hated me.

I was inspired by Michele's experience with the Remove program. I was inspired by how she'd felt, but didn't have a few hundred dollars to spare. I came across an old edition of GOOP, Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter, that talked about a 7-day detox sans coffee, sugar, alcohol, gluten, dairy, soy, fatty nuts, red meat, shellfish, and nightshade vegetables. Before I knew it, I'd committed to myself to trying it out.

To see what amusebouche thought of the detox,

The detox is based on a book, Clean, by a western doctor named Alejandro Junger who also happens to believe in the principles of Eastern medicine. I bought his book and thought it was a wonderful read. I'm always looking to reconcile the two schools of thought, and this was a perfect marriage of them both.
The basic principles of the cleanse: Eat a liquid meal for breakfast (juice or a smoothie), a solid meal for lunch (steamed fish or chicken, always all-natural), and another liquid meal for dinner (soup). Be sure to allow 12 hours between dinner and breakfast to allow your body to focus on restoring itself, rather than digesting food. Drink enough water so that you are hitting the bathroom at least once an hour. Also recommended but not required: A shot of olive oil daily to stimulate the liver, slices of raw garlic, herbal laxatives (a bowel movement a day is required), gentle workouts, sauna visits, and skin brushing. I tried to do as many of these as I could.
A typical day's diet included a blueberry, almond milk, whey protein, and probiotic seaweed smoothie for breakfast. Then coconut milk and tea mid-morning, and steamed, wild salmon with steamed vegetables for lunch. Dinner was a puréed broccoli and arugula soup topped with olive oil, sunflower seeds, and pepitas (pumpkin seeds). If I was in want of a snack, I munched on pepitas and sunflower seeds.
The first day, I felt like Charlie Sheen in rehab and wanted to pull my hair out. I had a headache, and felt mentally dull from the lack of food and sugar and caffeine. But by the second day, my body was acclimated to it. By the third day, I'd slept soundly for the first time in ages, and discovered it was easier to wake up and get my day started than it used to be with all the caffeine in my life. For the first time, paying attention to my body in this way allowed me to recognize the difference between hunger and appetite. By the end of the week, I'd felt so great that I decided to continue my detox to make it a total of 14 days.

The advantages: After 14 days, I experienced a ton of benefits. They included but weren't limited to: sound sleep, alertness, little to no energy spikes, no bloating, gas, or off-smells in the bathroom, a smaller appetite, seven pounds of weight loss. Also, I no longer had that undercurrent of frenetic energy I'd always experienced (a negative side effect of all that coffee I was drinking).
The disadvantages: I'll admit that I had cravings that were hard to curb. In fact, one night I spent hours surfing food porn on the web, just so that I could eat with my eyes! Going out with friends was rare and difficult; once I watched a friend down an entire pastrami sandwich while I sat there and drank my water. I disliked the probiotic seaweed powder that I added to my morning shakes, and cooking every single meal from scratch was time-intensive. So was hitting the gym and the sauna daily.
In summary: I'd definitely do this detox again, based on how it made my body feel. It's time-intensive, so be sure to plan ahead and choose a schedule that will work for you - maybe not during Chinese New Year and the Super Bowl, which just happened to be the inopportune time frame in which I decided to do it. But it's well worth the effort.

You too can enter to win our weekly prize of a $100 New Balance gift card and our fabulous grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA. All you have to do is pick a vice (or an unhealthy habit) to give up for a week and then blog about it our Get Fit For 2011 community group. The more you participate, the better your chances of winning!

A Day in the Life of Lee Schrager

YumSugar — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:30:35 PDT

Lee Schrager is the mastermind behind the nation's biggest food events, including the upcoming New York City Wine and Food Festival. Here's what he did on Saturday, Aug. 20.
6:00 a.m.: I was up and ready for the day in East Hampton, waiting for my yoga instructor to begin our morning class. I’ve been doing yoga at the house for the last three Summers with Corey, who is the ex-boyfriend of my regular yoga instructor in Miami. I’ve been coming out to the Hamptons since 1980, when I worked in the cheese department of the first Dean & Deluca on Newton Lane, and used to spend my days at the beach with Edie Beale (of Grey Gardens fame). We've rented this same house for the past six Summers - it’s a gorgeous run-down farm house on a great piece of property, literally three minutes from the center of town.

7:45 a.m.: I headed over to Levain Bakery in Wainscott to pick up some goodies for our house guests. I try and keep away from Levain if possible, as it’s truly addicting. This morning, I waited in line behind Russell Simmons, who literally buys every one of the mini brioche I wanted. I ended up bringing home some scones, blueberry muffins, Nutella-stuffed sourdough rolls and, of course, some walnut chocolate chip cookies for later in the day.

10:00 a.m.: I went over to Bridgehampton for a meeting at the Gilt City Hamptons House regarding the afternoon’s Burger Blood Bath that Ben Leventhal, from NBC Feast, is producing. I am the Chief Lifestyle Advisor for Gilt City and the Hamptons House is a project I proposed months ago, that includes bringing out over 30 of the nation’s top chefs to cook at the house this August. The morning meeting was to discuss set-up, weather back-up plans, sponsorship fulfillment, and registration.

Keep reading to find out whose beach Lee goes to!