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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

Tell Us All About Your Favorite Products in Our Review Group

LilSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:30:05 -0800

It's a-okay to pick a favorite...product, book or toy that is. When it comes to testing goods we know mother does know best, which is why we want you to join our Product Reviews group and share your experiences with other mamas. That way we can help all new moms enter the boutique knowing Cybex 2.Go combines the best of all baby carriers.

Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Our LilSugar Community offers a place for you to hang out, vent, brainstorm, and showcase your talents. What fits your fancy? Check out and join some of our hottest groups!

Mom-Me Time: Pick Up a Copy of The Help

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:30:49 -0800

If mama's got a few minutes to herself and is looking for something that will take her mind to another world, she needs not look further than this gold and purple hardback book. The Help ($12) is a quick read that will steal her attention and her affection and leave her wanting more. Kathryn Stockett's first novel, the book about the relationships between mothers and the women that help them (nannies in particular) will have mommy laughing out loud, tearing up in the eyes, dog-earring pages with special passages and thinking about how she relates to some of the closest people in her life.

Just pages into the lengthy text and I was hooked. Unlike any book I've read in recent times, the characters in these pages immediately come to life and fully color the imagination. You can picture their hair, dream up their clothes and hear their voices like they're sitting on the bus right next to you. While they may be fictional muses, I wish I could meet them, thank them, reprimand them and have a tall glass of sweetened iced tea with them. Though the book is set back in the early '60s, some of the conversations and lessons are timeless. For the rest of my review, read more.

Centered around the lives of three caretakers, the hired "help" who tend to high society's children may occasionally be called "mama" as they often forge a closer bond with the child than his own mother. And while some women may have their best friends to rely on, the housekeeper frequently knows and cares more than her "best" friends -the phrase "dirty laundry" having a double meaning when it comes to life behind closed doors. In the end, it is a story about women taking extraordinary measures to right some wrongs, even if it means risking it all. Of all the lessons to be learned from this rich novel, the golden rule speaks loudest - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Maybe that's why she wrapped it in a glowing cover.

Before this goes to the theaters, which it surely will, buy it, read it and gift it to everyone you know. It will not disappoint.

Share your favorite books, products, toys and trends with other parents. Join our Product Reviews group over in the LilSugar community!

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Lives Up to Its Title

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0800

For the past five years, Wes Anderson's wide fan base has been waiting for his first fully animated film. Would his adaption of Roald Dahl's children's book, Fantastic Mr. Fox appease the same crowd that holds Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums near and dear to their hearts? The answer is an emphatic yes, and the best news is that you don't even have to enjoy Anderson's other work to fall in love with this film.

The story follows the wily Mr. Fox, a professional robber turned family man (er, fox) who just isn't satisfied with his quiet life working as a newspaper columnist. Even a move to prime real estate isn't enough to satiate his appetite for a little trouble making, and Mr. Fox (or "Foxy" as his friends call him) decides to take on the biggest adventure of his life. That's just the tip of the iceberg though, so read more.

Mr. Fox isn't your average wild animal; in fact he's just the opposite. He lives a civilized life with his wife Felicity (Meryl Streep) and 12-year-old son, Ash, making an honest living as a newspaper columnist. Like a kid who can't sit still, Mr. Fox has trouble curbing his desires to rebel and go back to his life stealing squab and running into trouble. Against his wife's wishes, Mr. Fox convinces his dim-witted but trusty sidekick Kylie (Wally Wolodarski) to take on one last hurrah. The crime? Ripping off the three biggest (and meanest) farmers around - Boggis, Bunce and Bean. When Mr. Fox starts an all-out war, he is forced to join forces with his family, friends, and neighbors - and that's where the fun begins.

The film's brilliance lies in the fact that Fantastic Mr. Fox is a movie for grown-ups disguised as a kiddie flick. Even with Anderson's name stamped all over it, there's no denying the furry animals dressed as humans. The animation makes the plot play out like a story book come to life; we're taken deep into the fox hole and beyond in a world that looks like a dollhouse made for fuzzy creatures. Kids will love the adventure and the colors, but the witty dialogue and quirky characters are made for the grown-ups.

The movie features a crew of lovable characters who deliver hilarious one-liners when they aren't breaking into impromptu dances. There's nothing new about a movie featuring animals acting like humans, but the actors make the movie the gem that it is. Jason Schwartzman playing a crabby 12-year-old but using his regular deep voice is genius. Clooney and Bill Murray (as badger, Mr. Fox's lawyer) bantering back and forth but replacing swears with the word "cuss" never gets old (as in "This place is a cluster cuss" and "What the cuss is wrong with you?").

Rare is the animated film with this much wit, cleverness, and chemistry between characters, but Fantastic Mr. Fox hits it right on the head. Score one more for Mr. Anderson.

(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!)

Robert, Kristen, and Taylor Are So Very Entertaining

Molly — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner posed together for the cover of Entertainment Weekly leading up to the big release of New Moon one week from today. The theme of the shoot was the love triangle with the two sexy men on either side of their Bella at all times. So, do you think Robert's poses are a little more romantic than Taylor's or not? This week we posted our exclusive interviews - here Robert Pattinson and here with Kristen Stewart with Taylor Lautner coming up soon - as we gear up all the Twilight coverage.

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Disney's A Christmas Carol: A Fun New Spin on an Old Favorite

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 -0800

Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol is, quite literally, a tale as old as time. Hollywood has already turned the novel into countless films, so how do you keep it fresh to entertain old and young audiences alike? You give them a pair of 3-D glasses.

I was a bit skeptical about Disney's newest remake of the flick, even with the super stylized animation and all-star cast behind the voices. But once you put on those glasses, you'll be oohing and aahing right along with the kids, making the film a fun ride. It doesn't tug on the heartstrings the way other versions can, but it's not devoid of emotion either. To see what I mean, just read more.

Robert Zemeckis brings the story we already know and love; old Ebenezer Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey) defines miserly and crotchety, spending his days counting his pennies and bitterly snapping at those around him. On one particularly Christmas Eve, he his haunted by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley. Sporting chains and a ghastly demeanor, Marley warns Scrooge that he will suffer the same miserable fate if he doesn't take heed of three spirits who will visit him over the course of the night.

The film stays very true to Dickens's short novel, borrowing much of the text straight from the book and incorporating some of the darker elements that I hadn't seen before in versions designed for kids. That said, I still feel like some of the scenes waver on the side of being too scary. Marley's introduction with the chains is frightening but funny, whereas the progression of the ghost of Christmas present to the ghost of Christmas future (complete with full decay from giant to skeleton) probably would have given me nightmares when I was younger.

The special effects are all you could want and more; the 3-D pulls you right in, carrying you along with Scrooge as he flies overhead in his nightgown (and later spits in your face). You're in the midst of Victorian England at Christmas time, from the snowstorms to the festive music. It's dazzling - until you hit the emotional stuff.

The tale is one with a great big heart, but the actors can only go so far using their voices alone. In the most sentimental scenes, I found myself just wishing I could see the big name actors (which includes Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Robin Wright Penn) gazing into each other's eyes pointedly. Instead, it feels a bit like watching two mannequins standing face to face. Still, you're never bored for long, and there's always another thrill waiting at every turn.

In the end, Disney accomplishes its goal, producing a film that looks amazing and will entertain kids and adults alike. It may not be the best version of the tale to date, but it will leave you feeling plenty merry on your way out of the theater.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

PetSugar's Street Team: Moochie & Co. Mud Puppies Collar

Pet Community — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:05:54 -0800

This post comes to us from the Street Team group from member kitkatherine.

I've tried three different collars and two harnesses before settling into this, a pink nylon one with a plastic clip buckle, a green leather one from the AKC with the clip buckle, and a red leather belt type collar. None of them held up. The pink one was ragged and tearing easily, the green leather one slipped loose so easily that she could slip out of it after minutes, and she pulled the rivets out of the leather collar from pulling so hard.

Get the product information and the rest of the review when you .

We tried an "easy lead" harness - but instead of encouraging not to pull it ended up being more of a hassle and harming her. She had an orange harness that is good for runs, but you can't keep a harness on forever and a collar is more practical. We needed something for when she goes outside to do her stuff and general stuff. We didn't want it to slip or break easily. This is the perfect thing - it's so incredibly adorable (all their collars are) and the nylon is durable. The plastic grips into the nylon to prevent slipping. We get a lot of compliments on the collar and leash - it's stylish - but it's also affordable and durable.

There's lots of fun stuff going on in our community - join it, check it out, share your posts or advice in the great groups and maybe we'll feature it here on PetSugar!

The Radiance Jacket Keeps You Warm and Charges Your iPod

GeekSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:50:05 -0700

Yesterday, FitSugar brought a fun product over to my desk - this cute bomber style ski jacket. At first glance I thought it was just a jacket, but little did I know that this Radiance Jacket from Mountain Hardwear is outfitted with all the necessary gear to heat up the jacket and to charge your gadgets, you know. . . for those long ski runs in the Swiss Alps. The way it works is the jacket needs a high-tech Ardica power system to perform all of its geeky functions.

The padded heater goes into the back of the jacket (I'm not gonna lie, she is a bit heavy), and the tiny square Moshi power system connects to the USB port which is accessible from the lower left pocket in the jacket. With the heater, you can get up to nine hours of heat on its lowest setting and three when it's on high. When charged up, the Moshi power unit can connect to a variety of devices, thanks to its handy adapters, and at the end of the day, you can just directly plug it into the wall to recharge it for another day. FitSugar took the jacket for a test drive, so you can see what she thought of it by reading her full review here.

To see my overall thoughts about the jacket, just read more.

You know I appreciate a teched-out jacket as much as the next geek, but I just don't know if it's worth the additional $150 for the high-tech features (the base price of the coat is $230 and for the additional gadget gear, you have to pay $150 on top of the original price). Also, the insulated jacket feels nice and airy, and well, lightweight, until you slip in the big battery powered energy pack. I'll give it an A+ for its geeky coolness factor, but I can't say I'd want to invest so much money in something I may not get a lot of wear out of.

Cybex 2.Go Combines Best of All Baby Carriers

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:30 -0700

Wear your baby in style! Though Baby Bjorn made carriers mainstream, companies like Ergo, LilleBaby and Belle, not to mention all of the sling manufacturers, have given mothers many options.

When we took our first look at the European import Cybex last Spring, we were interested in the 2.Go baby carrier – a cross between the Baby Bjorn and Ergo that comes in bright colors. Working with orthopedists and midwives, the company designed the carrier to place 70 percent of the weight distribution on the hips, rather than the back and shoulders. With five different carrying positions – allowing parents to use it when their child is between eight and 40 pounds – the 2.Go proves versatile.

To see what really impressed us, as well as some photos of how the 2.Go works, read more.

The 2.Go's seat and headrest can be expanded to accommodate growing bodies - with a simple unzip, the seat converts into the spread-squat position that doctors recommend for infants. The zipper can also be closed to move the hips closer together for older tots. The well-padded straps didn't dig into my shoulders and the removable bib made for easy laundering. The all-in-one carrier also makes it an economical purchase for mamas tightening their purse strings!

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Share your favorite products, toys and trends with other parents. Join our Product Reviews group over in the LilSugar Community!

Lil's Top Three Favorite New Mom Shows!

LilSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:33 -0700

Set your DVR or put the kids to bed early so you can turn on the boob tube and enjoy some mom-me time watching LilSugar's three favorite new mom shows! After hearing all the hype about the networks' most anticipated sitcoms and dramas that centered around matriarchs, we tuned in and then narrowed down the choices to our top three must sees. Check out our picks! Drum roll please . . .
Second Runnerup: The Middle
Why we like it: Patricia Heaton is back on the small screen as Frankie Heck, a mom of three who has more than her share of realistic haggard-mom moments.
Why we love it: While all of the characters are lovable, Brick's creepy habits, from talking in a low voice to "soothe" himself to copping feels on his teacher, make him the center of attention. Just when a viewer's skin begins to crawl, the youngster tells his mom that she's his hero, and it's impossible not to melt.
Rating:

To see which shows got the second and top spots, read more.
First Runnerup: The Good Wife
Why we like it: We've all wondered why real-life women like Elizabeth Edwards and Silda Spitzer stood by their men despite being humiliated. Julianna Margulies's character, Alicia Florrick, give us a better understanding.
Why we love it: Alicia is both a strong and sympathetic woman. While her circumstance is one most women hope to never find themselves in, Alicia is someone we all can relate to, because despite the enormity of some of her issues, she also deals with the everyday stuff like protecting her children from the media, enduring an overbearing mother-in-law, and competing with co-workers half her age at the office.
Rating:

Best New Mom Show: Modern Family
Why we like it: The sitcom showcases three related families: a "traditional" couple raising three tween and teenagers, December/May newlyweds who have a young son, and gay partners with an adopted baby girl.
Why we love it: The show had us in stitches through its entirety. Each family has been so carefully crafted that there's no clear favorite. And, in all of the hilarity, there are sentimental moments interspersed that hit viewers in their heartstrings. Rating:

If you have strong opinions on other moms of the small screen, mosey on over to the Television Moms group on the LilSugar Community, a place to discuss the parenting styles and practices of the small screen's matriarchs along with the topical issues from recent episodes of shows.
Photos copyright 2009 ABC, Inc. and Photo courtesy of CBS