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Away We Go: Happy to Come Along

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:15:09 -0700

Away We Go starts with a sex scene. There's no nudity, it's not overtly graphic, but it's unexpected and a bit jarring. It's certainly not the overture I was predicting. But just as I was starting to get uncomfortable, the moment becomes quite humorous. The hilarity of the scene is grounded in the screenplay (which was written by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida), but brought to life by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. Known for their respective work on The Office and Saturday Night Live, the duo's comedic chops may not come as a surprise, but here these two are playing it pretty straitlaced. It's this juxtaposition that makes the film so good - seeing funny people playing serious roles with serious situations that end up being funny.

It's a formula that's worked before. As I guessed from the trailer, the film is very similar in tone to Garden State and Juno. All three are quirky little gems with heavy subject matters and great soundtracks (seriously, check out Alexi Murdoch if you haven't already). If I had to fault the film with anything, it would be that it didn't feel particularly fresh, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.

To learn more about the film, and its cool costars, read more.

The story follows Burt and Verona (Krasinski and Rudolph) on their quest to find a place to call home. They're about to have a baby and because Burt's proximately close parents (played by Jeff Daniels and the always hilarious Catherine O'Hara) are moving to Belgium, the two find themselves looking for someplace to live. Verona's parents are dead, so they decide to visit friends and relatives in various parts of North America and Canada where they could potentially set down roots. What ensues is a road story that finds the couple in Phoenix, Tucson, Madison, Montreal, and Miami.

Along the way we meet a variety of characters who run the gamut from looney and hilarious (specifically Allison Janney and Maggie Gyllenhaal's characters) to more subtle and subdued. And this goes back to the overall tone of the film: serious sprinkled with a dash of silly. It works most of the time, but occasionally the antics of Janney, Gyllenhaal, or O'Hara seem a little too far-fetched for what is ultimately a dramatic film. But these missteps are mostly forgivable as the actresses are so hysterically funny.

Then again, maybe these women's characters aren't supposed to be realistic or relatable. Maybe we're supposed to identify solely with Burt and Verona as they navigate through their journey. I certainly did. I also identified with the film's key message - that home is truly where the heart is. It's a refreshing idea coming from the director of the great but depressing American Beauty and Revolutionary Road.

Bottom Line: If you're looking to escape the typical Summer fare, Away We Go is a solid option.

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

Kate Goes Away To NYC With Sam, John and Allison

PopSugarUK — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:25:16 -0700

Kate Winslet was out in New York last night for a special screening of hubby Sam Mendes' new movie Away We Go. It stars John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph and Allison Janney, and is the story of a couple expecting their first child, who go on a journey around the US to find the perfect place to raise a family. My girl Buzz has a preview of the movie for you before it comes out in the UK in September. Don't Kate and Sam look happy on the red carpet!

To see more photos of Kate, Sam, John, Maya and Allison at the New York screening, just read more.

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Kate Helps Sam, Maya, and John Send Off Away We Go

Molly — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:00:00 -0700

The cast of Away We Go and some special loved ones hit the red carpet at a screening in NYC last night. Kate Winslet looked gorgeous in her LBD out to support her husband, director Sam Mendes. In the movie Maya Rudolph plays a pregnant woman, and her real-life baby bump is growing as she prepares for number two. John Krasinski looked cute smiling with his costars after spending the weekend visiting his family and showing off the film back in his hometown Boston.

To see more from the premiere including David Schwimmer, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney, and others, just read more.

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Images include: John Krasinski, Kate Winslet, Maya Rudolph, Sam Mendes, Allison Janney, David Schwimmer, Victor Garber, Joseph Cross, Jim Gaffigan, Melanie Lynskey, Chris Messina, Carmen Ejogo, Jeff Daniels

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Movie News: Allison Janney, Paris Hilton and Pee-Wee?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:30:15 -0800

Weeeeird. . . There's no title yet, and plot details are limited, but this movie news caught my eye today because it's a bizarre collection of people. Apparently, there's an indie movie in the works that:

. . . will be directed by Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Happiness).
. . . will star Allison Janney, Charlotte Rampling, Paris Hilton and Paul Reubens (known to many as Pee-Wee Herman).
. . . is described as "a dramatic comedy about family against the backdrop of a war. The movie will take off on elements from the director's breakout Happiness, in a project producers are describing as a 'part-sequel, part-variation' on that film."

Any Todd Solondz fans out there? Think this could be kind of awesome in a twisted sort of way? Should Paris be in movies?

Again: Weeeeird.

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Pop A DVD In: Juno

PopSugarUK — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:08:34 -0700

One of my favourite recent movies – Juno – is released on DVD on Monday, and I'm super-happy I can add it to my collection.

If you didn't catch it at the cinema, it's a warm-hearted film centered on 16 year old Juno Macduff (Ellen Page). She's an uber-hip girl who finds herself pregnant after sleeping with her best friend Bleeker (Michael Cera) and decides to give her baby up for adoption to a perfect couple.

The characters are awesome and adorable, the soundtrack is fab, Allison Janney and JK Simmons play Juno's parents (surely a nominee for best on-screen parents ever?) and the film made me laugh and cry. My girl Buzz totally agrees, and gives more details, for those who haven't seen it.

Ellen Page was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the film, and Diablo Cody won for her original screenplay. As a side note, Diablo's book Candy Girl – about her time stripping – is a really interesting and funny read.

But back to the movie – I'd highly recommend you either rent or buy the movie when it comes out on Monday. There's a whole bunch of fun featurettes, screen tests, a commentary by Director Jason Reitman and Diablo, deleted scenes, gag reels, and a fun cast and crew jam! I'll leave you with Juno and Bleeker in song...

Would You See 9 to 5 on Broadway?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:30:15 -0700

The recent casting news about Allison Janney reminded me that Janney is also set to perform in the Broadway musical version of the 1980 movie 9 to 5, which starred Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin. The stage musical will premiere in Los Angeles in September and then move on to New York.

I gotta say, I'm pretty excited to see this show! I love the movie, and I can see it becoming a really fun musical. What about you? Do you think this will be a great movie-to-Broadway musical adaptation? Or will it just be silly?

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Sam Mendes' "Relationship Comedy" Gets A Title - And Allison Janney!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:35:53 -0700

Update: As of Dec. 9, this movie is officially titled Away We Go.

This project already had so much going for it: Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) directing, a script by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida, John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph playing the lead characters and Toni Collette recently cast in a supporting role. Now, the previously untitled "relationship comedy" has gotten a title - and Allison Janney!

In the tentatively titled This Must Be the Place, Janney will play "a loud, brassy, decidedly un-PC woman who admittedly has a few screws loose. She reunites with a former employee in Phoenix, where the expectant mother/employee (Rudolph) begins a tour of the country with her husband (Krasinski) to find the best place to raise their child."

Now, while I still can't wait for Mendes' adaptation of Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, I'm also insanely curious to see how he does with this comedic material and phenomenal cast. Also in Janney's future is a role in an Eddie Murphy movie A Thousand Words in which she'll play Murphy's boss, "a savvy, money-grubbing head of a literary agency."

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Buzz News Roundup, 3/5

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:31:00 -0800

Though she seems slightly young for the role, Joan Cusack will be playing the mother to Isla Fisher's character in the Shopaholic movie, Variety writes. John Goodman has been cast as her dad.
Allison Janney will voice a character in Fox's proposed animated series The Pitts, Zap2it reports.
Paris Hilton will star as herself on My Name is Earl when the show returns April 3 with a one-hour episode, the Associated Press reports.
The CBS '70s-set swinger drama Swingtown will premiere in May, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Janet Jackson's new album topped this week's charts, Billboard reports.
According to Variety, Away From Her and Eastern Promises were the big winners at Canada's big award ceremony, the Genies.

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Spirit Awards 2008: The Ceremony

PopSugarUK — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:02:22 -0800

Hey, this awards ceremony looks almost as fun as the Brits! It's good to see that Rainn Wilson didn't put a serious host-face on for the Independent Spirit Awards ceremony, as you can see from these pics... Allison Janney also brought the funny, arriving on stage with dollars hanging out of her cleavage, and Javier Bardem shared a passionate embrace onstage with Julian Schnabel. Cate Blanchett dedicated her award to Heath Ledger, simply saying "This is for him."

To see a list of the winners as well as a good deal more pics from the ceremony, featuring Ellen Page, Javier Bardem, Meg Ryan, John Waters, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Kimya Dawson, Lisa Kudrow, Zach Braff, Kate Beckinsale, Dustin Hoffman and others, just read more

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Independent Spirit Award Winners:

Best Feature: Juno

Best Director: Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Male Lead: Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages

Best Female Lead: Ellen Page, Juno

Best Supporting Male: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Talk To Me

Best Supporting Female: Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There

Best Screenplay: Tamara Jenkins, The Savages

Best Foreign Film: Once

Best Documentary: Crazy Love

Best Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Bests First Screenplay: Diablo Cody, Juno

Best First Feature: The Lookout

Robert Altman Award: Todd Haynes, Laura Rosenthal and the cast of I’m Not There

John Cassavetes Award: August Evening

Truer Than Fiction Award: The Unforeseen, Laura Dunn

Producers Award: Neil Kopp, Paranoid Park, Old Joy

Someone to Watch Award: Ramin Bahrani, Chop Shop

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MJ Kicks Off Fashion Week With an Homage to Himself

Molly — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:00:47 -0800

Marc Jacobs threw a little party in New York last night to celebrate the premiere of a documentary about himself - Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton - perfectly timed to kick off Fashion Week, which officially starts today. The man of the hour, MJ himself, looks like he made the rounds (with a red purse) like a good host, saying hi to party guests like Heidi, Helena, Ellen, Lil' Kim, and Rachel Zoe. Take off your hat and stay a while, Josh. I'm thinking that we'll be seeing a lot more of all these faces as Fashion Week rolls on. Fab and Bella are once again in NYC covering all the action both here on the Sugar sites and at Elle.com, so don't miss all the fun. Oh, and if you want to watch the Marc Jacobs documentary to see the man working his magic, check it out Monday night at 8 p.m. on the Sundance Channel.

To see more from the party including the awesome Allison Janney, Heidi, Helena, Josh, Ellen, Rachel Zoe, Katie Lee Joel, Lydia Hearst, Sophia Bush, Lil' Kim, and others just read more

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Images include: Allison Janney, Anne Hathaway, Ellen Pompeo, Heidi Klum, Helena Christensen, Josh Hartnett, Lil' Kim, Marc Jacobs, Natasha Richardson, Rachel Zoe, Tommy Hilfiger, Katie Lee Joel, Lydia Hearst, Sophia Bush

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