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Bad Lieutenant: Good Cop Gone Nuts

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:30:49 -0800

Nicolas Cage has said, "There's a very fine line between Method actor and schizophrenic." In Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, he teeters that line maniacally, with an ever-increasing slur and crooked swagger. Cage plays Terence McDonagh, a detective in post-Katrina New Orleans investigating a drug-related murder and his personal threshold for cocaine and heroin.

The first news of Bad Lieutenant was puzzling: famously extreme director Werner Herzog re-imagining a 1992 cult movie, also called Bad Lieutenant, but shifting the action to New Orleans and casting Nic Cage in the Harvey Keitel role opposite his Ghost Rider costar Eva Mendes. Weird.

But in fact, Bad Lieutenant is Herzog's second surprisingly accessible movie in as many years, following 2007's Rescue Dawn. And Cage is brilliant in a role seemingly made for him, so read more.

The noirish, pulpy, desperate, and often hilarious film opens with a good deed: McDonagh dives into a Katrina-flooded jail cell to save a prisoner's life, in the process injuring his back and subsequently getting hooked on Vicodin and then far harder drugs.

As a degenerate cop in a washed-out city, Cage makes Denzel Washington's Training Day villain look like a Boy Scout. He slithers through the streets, confiscating drugs to snort with his prostitute girlfriend (Mendes), hooking up with a drug kingpin played by Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner, and fending off a rising tide of self-created trouble. "Being courteous is really getting in the way of my progress," he croaks before one of his more disturbing moral lapses.

In post-Katrina New Orleans, Herzog has found the perfect setting. He never lets the city look pretty or even charmingly decayed, and he populates it with iguanas and alligators and snakes and fish. At every turn, McDonagh is confronted by cold-blooded animals, as he careens between the call of duty and the cold-blooded instinct of his addiction. It's impossible to ignore the reptilian symbolism, and the effect is perfectly bizarre. Despite its darkest moments, Bad Lieutenant is a remarkably good trip.

Photos Courtesy First Look Studios

Were You Ever Attracted to Bad Boys?

TresSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:15 -0800

With her rocker eyeliner, all-black wardrobe, and perfected eye roll, Gossip Girl's Jenny Humphrey isn't exactly fitting in with the prissy kids at her prep school. It's obvious that she needs a bad boy by her side, and on last night's episode that's just what she gets.

Jenny meets up with a Belgian diplomat's son, who happens to be drug pusher. She seems turned on or at least intrigued by his rebellious side and ends up helping him with some sales. Luckily, original bad boy Chuck Bass (they know his name even in Europe) is there to save Jenny from the dangers of drugs. But now that she's had a taste of the fast life, I suspect she'll be back for more, especially since she already has the wardrobe.

Although Jenny's appearance in the episode is otherwise pointless, it did remind us that sometimes we can be attracted to bad boys - even if it's completely stupid. Have you ever had a thing for troublemakers?

For more Gossip Girl coverage, check out FabSugar, BellaSugar, BuzzSugar, and CelebStyle.)

Photos courtesy of The CW

Listen and Watch Lady Gaga's New Single "Bad Romance"!

PopSugarUK — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

Lady Gaga's new release "Bad Romance" is quite catchy, and this video is definitely for those looking for a fashion fix. She has many a costume change in these five minutes including a heck of a shoe collection (I especially love her metallic Alexander McQueen's)! Watch below and let me know what you think of the song and the video - enjoy!

Paris and Mel Join Eva in Venice For Bad Lieutenant

PopSugarUK — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:00:39 -0700

Having dazzled in a red and black animal print dress at the opening of the Venice Film Festival last week, Eva Mendes was busy with three outfit changes on Friday as she premiered Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans. She posed in a polka dot dress for the photocall with costar Nicolas Cage and director Werner Herzog, before changing into a black number for the premiere, where she was joined by Paris Hilton and Dough Reinhardt plus Melanie Brown and Stephen Belafonte, who produced the film. Mel had a fab time in Italy, saying: "Venice is so romantic, I've loved every minute of it!" Eva rounded out the evening in a gorgeous green dress for the after party on Alberta Ferretti's boat. Which outfit is most fab?

To see loads more pictures of Eva, Nicolas, Paris and Mel, just read more.

View 30 Photos ›

Images include: Eva Mendes, Nicolas Cage, Werner Herzog, Paris Hilton, Melanie Brown, Stephen Belafonte, Doug Reinhardt, Alberta Ferretti

5 Things: To Fight Bad Breath

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Everyone suffers from the occasional bad breath, but it can be an embarrassing problem if you're dealing with it all the time. Of course brushing your teeth, using mouthwash and not smoking are well-known ways to prevent bad breath, but here are a few others.

Every time you eat, brush and floss your teeth. Food particles that remain in your mouth and in between your teeth collect bacteria. The bacteria emits hydrogen sulfur vapors. So keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in your purse or desk so you can clean your mouth after your morning coffee, your lunch, and your mid-afternoon snack. Not only will brushing and flossing keep your mouth clean, but I know when my breath is minty fresh, I'm less likely to snack between meals.
Certain foods such as onions, garlic, and alcohol can cause bad breath. After they are consumed, they are absorbed into your bloodstream, carried to your lungs and given off in your breath until the food is eliminated from your body. Avoiding these foods can prevent this stinky problem.
If you have allergies, sinus infections, or post nasal drip, the nasal discharge in the back of your throat can cause bad breath (gross I know, but true). Try to figure out the cause of your symptoms. If you are allergic to something, like cats, try to avoid your triggers. Using a neti pot can also help to flush allergens out of your nose. If you have a sinus infection, be sure to take antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

Want to hear what else may help bad breath? Then read more

Dry mouth can also contribute to bad breath since saliva helps to cleanse and moisten your mouth. A dry mouth allows dead cells and bacteria to accumulate on your gums, tongue and teeth. When these cells decompose, they cause that foul smell. (Morning breath is caused by a dry mouth). It's important to note that certain medications such as decongestants and allergy meds can cause dry mouth too. If you have issues with dry mouth, try to drink more water. If you are taking allergy meds, and your bad breath annoys you more than your sneezing and runny nose, then you may want to consider ditching your meds.
Get yourself a tongue scraper. Use it twice a day to clean your tongue and get rid of excess bacteria.

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Bad Relationships Could Damage Your Heart

DearSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Being in a bad relationship definitely breaks your heart, but new research is showing that it can literally harm this important organ. Bad marriages or relationship issues cause stress, and too much stress can raise your risk for heart disease.

In a 12-year study of 9,011 British civil servants (most of them married), those with bad relationships were 34% more likely to have heart attacks or heart trouble than those in good relationships.

A different 10-year study discovered that wives who kept quiet about marital problems had an increased risk of dying compared to those who voiced their opinions. Also, married men were less likely to die during that period than single men.

The bottom line of this research is that good relationships are not only good for the soul, but they keep us happy which adds to our good health. However, if the relationship is negative and causes either person a lot of stress, then it may be doing more harm than just making you sad. Working through problems with a therapist and communicating your needs and feelings openly with your partner may help to heal a bad relationship, all the while keeping your heart healthy.

Source

Book of the Day: The Museum of Bad Art - Masterworks

GiggleSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:00:00 -0700

The Museum of Bad Art, located in a basement somewhere in Massachusetts, describes itself as "a unique institution dedicated to the celebration of artistic effort, however misguided." And by misguided, they mean ill conceived, misshapen, and ridiculously cute. I'm a fan of so-bad-they're-good movies, books, and music. Why not art? Creepy-cute is where it's at! To buy their new book, click here. (Check out the gallery below for some of the masterpieces they've gathered from "curbside trash piles" and thrift stores.)

View 7 Photos ›

Movie Scenes So Bad...They're Good

GiggleSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:00:00 -0700

It's no surprise that this little montage is Web Junk TV's Junk Of The Day. Some film buff compiled six categories of bad movie scenes and completely redeemed them in the process. How? Well, I've learned that bad scripts and bad acting go hand-in-hand (who gives a shrug before they die?); that horses have an amazing capability to roll over and electric slide their way out of trouble when necessary; and that it's perfectly acceptable to be an obnoxious perv on a first date. Who would've thunk?

Good Idea or Bad Idea: Dating your Ex's Friend

DearSugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:45:00 -0700

I get many questions from women asking if their ex's friends are off limits. While every situation is different, this is a touchy subject. The old cliché states, you can't help whom you fall for, but does that ring true when getting between two friends? We all have people we consider "off limits", so do you all think it's a good idea or a bad idea to date your ex's friend?

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How to Prevent Bad Breath

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:00:24 -0700

We've all been embarrassed by occasional bouts of bad breath after eating a roasted garlic pizza or a sandwich piled with onions. If you're dealing with bad breath all the time, though, it can be mortifying. So here are some tips to keep your mouth smelling fresh.

Quit cigarettes if you're a smoker.
Get your teeth checked out by your dentist. Cavities and gum disease can cause bad breath.
Brush and floss during the day, every time you eat. When food particles hang out in your mouth, bacteria collects and emits stinky hydrogen sulfur vapors. So keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in your purse at all times to use after coffee breaks, lunch, and snacks.
Drink more water. It'll help keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum.
Don't mask your bad breath with sugary mints. They'll freshen your breath briefly, but the sugar will only cause more stinky plaque to build up. If you can't brush, go for sugarless gum instead since chewing increases saliva production, which is your best weapon against bad breath.

What else can help prevent bad breath? To find out, read more.

If you suffer from allergies or sinus infections, postnasal drip in the back of your throat can cause bad breath. So get your symptoms under control with antibiotics or allergy meds.
Keep in mind, though, that certain medications such as decongestants or allergy pills can cause dry mouth, which can also lead to bad breath. When your mouth is dry, dead cells and bacteria accumulate on your gums, tongue, and teeth. When these cells decompose, they produce a foul smell. Water helps, but if your symptoms are really bothering you try switching medications.
Eat yogurt. Studies have found that one serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Be sure to eat ones with active cultures.
Avoid certain foods such as garlic, onions, and alcohol. Once consumed, these foods get absorbed into your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs, and are given off in your breath.
To help prevent the buildup of plague, which can cause bad breath, eat crunchy fibrous foods such as apples, carrots, and celery.
Bacterium aren't a fan of foods such as citrus fruits, berries, and melon because they make the environment in your mouth too acidic, so get your fill of vitamin C. Another plus for consuming vitamin C is that it also helps prevent gum disease and gingivitis.
Chew herbs such as parsley, coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cardamom. These all help fight bad breath.
Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper. Use it twice a day to remove bacteria and dead skin cells from your tongue.