PopSugar

2012: Apocalyptic Good Times

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

In terms of end-of-the-world movies, 2012 packs it all - a love story, teary family moments, action-packed adventure, over-the-top-CGI, and a ton of recycled film cliches - in a two and a half hour package. That's lengthy by today's standards, but I wasn't bored for a minute. This is pure escapist entertainment.

The film opens in 2009 as a scientist in India and his American associate Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discover that the Earth's core is overheating. His forecast: Tectonic plates will shift, thereby causing a worldwide catastrophe that will wipe out the human race.

Dun, dun, dun! (Doesn't take long to pull you in, does it?) To hear my full assessment, read more.

The real action goes down three years later in 2012 when, according to the Mayan calendar, the Earth will reach its end. The entire So-Cal coast starts crumbling, so our hero Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) and his family begin a journey to China where the governments around the world have supposedly assembled spaceships to carry select humans to safety.

What? You expected this to be plausible?

Of course not, but the film does include tons of cool CGI - volcanos, snow storms, giant tsunamis. It's like every disaster movie you've ever watched combined. (That should come as no surprise seeing as how the director is Roland Emmerich who created The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, and Godzilla.)

As for the characters, we've seen them all stereotyped in other films before, but they're still enjoyable here. (Even though I admittedly winced over a Russian family complete with a fur coat, tiny dog, and an employee named Sasha.) This is thanks to the actors who play their parts with believability, even when the scenes feel ridiculous. Ejiofor portrays a great bleeding heart swept up in a governmental plan that's looking out for No. 1, and Cusack pulls off his father role without being over-the-top or sappy. Also, watch for Woody Harrelson as a nutty conspiracy theorist living in Yellowstone National Park.

2012 is purely meant to be fun, and it succeeds. There's a constant barrage of cliff-hanger moments that never let up, and though you pretty much know where things are headed, it's easy to get sucked in.

(Don't forget that if you see a movie that you'd like to review, you can post your write-up in the Movie Review Group in Community - I may even post it here on the site!)

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Buzz Quiz: How Well Do You Know John Cusack?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:44:42 -0800

I will always have a soft spot for John Cusack thanks to his memorable '80s roles as the sharp but self-deprecating underdog. (You know you love Lloyd Dobler!) As years pass he continues to pop up in movies -whether he's playing the sweet hero in a rom-com (Serendipity), or a record-store owner in the midst of a breakup (High Fidelity). This Friday he'll be a dad facing the end of the world in 2012. Sure, you're probably familiar with his films, but just how sharp are you? Test your I.Q. by taking my quiz!

Take the quiz

Buzz-Worthy Video: Happy Birthday, Say Anything!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:48 -0800

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved film Say Anything. To commemorate the milestone (and its special DVD release), a hoard of guys dressed up as Lloyd Dobler swarmed various areas of New York City to re-create the famous scene set to Peter Gabriel's "Your Eyes." (You know the one - Lloyd wants to win back Diane, so he stands outside of her house with a boombox over his head.)

While these guys can't possibly compare to the original, lovable underdog Dobler (John Cusack), they still make for a pretty charming YouTube video. I only wish I had been there to see them live! Check it out when you read more.

Movie Preview: Hot Tub Time Machine

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:30:04 -0700

Right on the heels of the sweet geekfest that is Comic-Con, we get a little preview for a movie that deals with the space-time continuum. Kinda. (Well, it also references Stargate fan fiction, so there's an uber-geeky tie-in.) In Hot Tub Time Machine, we follow four guys (played by Craig Robinson, John Cusack, Rob Corddry, and Greek's Clark Duke) who get drunk and travel back in time (via hot tub, naturally). This red-band (read: NSFW) preview doesn't show a great deal of the movie but it makes me giggle because a) these four guys together make a silly bunch, and b) I find it funny to hear John Cusack say the F-word. I don't know why.

The movie opens Feb. 26, 2010, and to check out the preview, read more.

Again, the language in this video is NSFW so don some headphones!

2012 - See It or Skip It?

PopSugarUK — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:12:02 -0700

John Cusack stars in the new big budget movie from Roland Emmerich, 2012. Also starring Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Woody Harrelson, Amanda Peet and Jimi Mistry, the movie depicts "an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors." It certainly looks epic from the action-packed trailer, and I'm a John Cusack fan so I'm looking forward to checking this movie out when it hits cinemas in November. But will you see it or skip it? Let me know!

Cusack and Co. Climb Into the Hot Tub Time Machine

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:30:10 -0800

First of all, it's called Hot Tub Time Machine. And that's exactly what we can expect to see in this movie: A hot tub that has the power to bring people back in time. The story will follow "a group of guys who have grown frustrated with their adult lives. They return to the ski lodge where they partied as teens to find answers and are transported to 1987 via their hot tub, a bubbly time machine."

Back when this project was first announced (and Popwatch deemed it the stupidest movie title ever), I figured the cast would be largely taken from the Apatow pool - and though Craig Robinson is one of the men in the hot tub, the other two will be played by John Cusack and Rob Corddry, with Greek's Clark Duke playing Cusack's younger brother.

I truly hope this movie is great and funny because I really like all these dudes. All I know is I'm relieved that this hot tub will have nothing to do with Brody Jenner and the young men with whom he is bromantically involved.

Source

John Cusack Gets His Move On in New McCain-Is-Bush Ad

LibertySugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:30 -0700

Actor John Cusack has filmed a fast and furious political TV ad, challenging viewers to explain how John McCain is any different than President George W. Bush. He brings up issues like the GI Bill, ties to war profiteers, and children's health care. Check it out below.

Move On wants supporters to help raise $70,000 to put the ad in front of swing voters. Do you think John's message can influence swing voters?

With President Bush's approval ratings at an all time low, will voters be able to form an opinion of Republican John McCain? I wonder why McCain doesn't do more to separate himself from Bush on the issues.

Source

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:15:03 -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 fourth film in the Rambo franchise, simply titled Rambo, and Woody Allen's Cassandra's Dream, starring Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell.

Absolutely Fabulous - Absolutely Everything
"Is it Lacroix Darling? I'll love it if it's Lacroix." - Edina Monsoon. While it might not be Lacroix, it's certainly the next best thing. That's because this Absolutely Fabulous box set, just like its title, has absolutely everything. For a series previously available by season only, this box set compiles every episode from 1992 to 2005.

The British comedy follows Edina, who owns a public relations firm, and her best friend Patsy, who doesn't do much of anything. The duo is consumed by the latest fads and fashion and obsessed with regularly putting drugs and booze - and little else! - into their bodies. Edina's daughter Saffron provides the motherly voice of reason for the out-of-control spinsters. Ab Fab is definitely an acquired taste, but if you are a fan of British humor, I recommend the purchase.

Two more titles if you read more.

Lipstick Jungle
I can't believe this is on DVD already! The first season of NBC's Lipstick Jungle (which just concluded at the end of March) focuses on three New York City women striving for success. Brooke Shields stars as Wendy Healy, a movie exec trying to juggle her family life and career. Her friends Nico (Kim Raver) and Victory (Lindsay Price) round out the ensemble as a magazine editor and fashion designer, respectively. The show is based on a novel by Candace Bushnell, who also wrote Sex and the City and our current book club selection, Four Blondes.

Grace is Gone
Grace is Gone stars John Cusack as a widowed husband whose wife dies while serving in Iraq. The film centers on his struggle to tell his two daughters that their mom has died, which he delays doing by taking the girls to an amusement park.

The film did well at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival (where it won the Audience Award in the dramatic category) and it pulled in a very respectable $4 million by The Weinstein Company. I haven't yet seen it, but I'm always up for a John Cusack film and he's supposedly excellent in this one.

Movie Preview: War, Inc.

BuzzSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:30:00 -0700

War, Inc. is one of those head-scratchers where I'm at a loss as to whether or not this movie will be good, or even watchable. Starring John Cusack (who's also a credited writer on the film), it looks like one of those cynical, dark comedies where the goal is to make you think, "That's so absurd! The world isn't like that! Or is it?" See also: Wag the Dog.

Signs pointing to good/watchable movie include: both Cusacks on screen together (I love seeing Joan again!), smart twists on current events, and a darkly romantic sub-plot between the lovely Marisa Tomei and John Cusack.

Signs pointing to maybe not-so-watchable are: a whole lot going on - lots of characters, effects, music, bombs, journalists, etc.; and Hilary Duff playing a "Centeral Asian pop star" with an accent that is just. . .strange. Plus, she drops a scorpion down her pants.

War, Inc. opens in limited release May 23. To check out the trailer for yourself and tell me what you think, read more.

Source

Sugar Bits - Jennifer Aniston Forms Production Company

PopSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:28:18 -0700

Jennifer Aniston and longtime producing partner Kristin Hahn have formed their own production company, Echo Films, and already have a number of projects in the works. - BuzzSugar
A woman was arrested in John Cusack's neighborhood after stalking the actor and violating a restraining order to stay away from him. - AP
Woody Allen is suing American Apparel for $10 million after they apparently did not get permission to use his photo in the company's advertising. - FabSugar
Adam Sandler broke his ankle over the weekend while playing basketball but somehow still managed to win the game. - AP
A Boston radio station has named Dane Cook the "Unfunniest Man Alive" after he beat out fellow comedians in a March Madness-style tournament to determine the winner . . . or loser. - Page Six

Source