iVillage - Movie Insider http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/ en Copyright 2008 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:48:11 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Must-Rent-DVD: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly E_DivingBell_200.jpg Here's a movie for the top of your Netflix queue: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly , artist/director Julian Schnabel's touching biopic of former French Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby.

Bauby, at age 43 and with a wife, three kids and a mistress, as well as his work, occupying his life, suffered a massive stroke that left him with a very rare condition known as Locked-In Syndrome. Essentially, his mind was perfectly intact, but the only part of his body he could move was his left eye, which he could blink.

Bauby had signed a deal to write a book before his accident, and after concocting a genius, yet tedious way to communicate with his speech therapist, he decided to write a book about his life trapped in the prison of his mind. Via a painstaking system that required an assistant to go through a list of letters while Bauby blinked when he wanted to choose one, Bauby completed the book, which took approximately 200,000 blinks of his eye (and nearly two minutes for him to get out each word).]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/mustrentdvd-the-diving-bell-an.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/mustrentdvd-the-diving-bell-an.html DVD review Kimberly Potts DVD Review Thu, 08 May 2008 11:48:11 -0500 We Chat with Hilary Duff and Marisa Tomei The satirical war movie, War, Inc., written and produced by John Cusack also stars Marisa Tomei, Hilary Duff, Joan Cusack, Sir Ben Kingsley and Dan Akroyd. iVillage had the chance to sit down with Marisa and Hilary at the Tribeca Film Festival, which was screening the film.

I have a great affinity toward both Marisa and Hilary. I was a camp counselor when The Lizzie McGuire Movie came out, and thanks to my campers, I not only have every song from the movie memorized, but I have dances made up for each of them too. (Yes, I just admitted that to the world.) I've also loved Marisa Tomei ever since I was little. I memorized her lines from My Cousin Vinny and I even have a VHS tape (old school, I know) of her movie Untamed Heart. So you can only imagine my excitement when I found out that I'd have a chance to interview both of these ladies.

Marisa Tomei ended up being much more subdued than I expected—I probably still envisioned her as the outspoken Mona Lisa Vito from Vinny—and Hilary Duff was cooler than I could have hoped—she completely came off as a normal, down-to-earth 20-year-old.

Let's start with Hilary. She really did seem like every other 20-something girl I know. She wasn't stuck up or overly egotistical like you might expect. The best part of the interview was when her cell phone started to ring. She couldn't stop apologizing and kept saying how sorry she was. It was such an honest and real reaction. (Side note: her phone looked like something from the year 2075. I had no idea that phones could look so high tech!)

Hilary also gave a brilliant response when asked what advice she'd give to Miley Cyrus about the racy Vanity Fair photos. At first Hilary tried to stay away from the question, but she ended up making the point that if Miley wanted to do the photos, she should own it. "I feel like everyone takes their own path," Hilary said. "People are pressuring you to do something but if you wanted to do it that's a different story, and I don't feel like I'm to comment on whether that's what she wants to do… It's not something I would choose to do, but if she did, then that's fine. I don't know how her fans would feel about it, but maybe she doesn't mind."]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/we-chat-with-hilary-duff-and-m.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/we-chat-with-hilary-duff-and-m.html Jacki Garfinkel New Movie Release Tribeca Film Festival Mon, 05 May 2008 15:21:03 -0500 Iron Man: The Best Super Hero Movie
When Iron Man opens on May 2, you cannot miss it!

Considering I'm not that into comic books and I hated the last super hero movie (Spider-Man 3), I purely saw Iron Man for business, not pleasure.

Well, within minutes of the movie starting, I was enthralled. I could feel myself starting to love it. (By the end of the movie, I was not only obsessed, but I felt myself clapping.)

First of all, let's discuss Robert Downey Jr. Talk about a comeback story! From drugs and jail to starring in the best super hero movie yet, Robert Downey Jr. is not only back on the scene, but he's a force to be reckoned with. Oh, and he looked ridiculously hot in the movie too. Move over, Tom Selleck, there's a new man with a moustache in town!

Whether you're a comic book junkie, love action movies, think Robert Downey Jr. is sexy, like funny movies, enjoy a good hero, or take pleasure in a high-quality romance, this movie is for you... aka, it's pretty much for everyone.

Iron Man draws you in from the beginning and makes you care about the main character, Tony Stark (Downey Jr.). Not only is Robert Downey Jr. incredibly witty in the role right off the bat, but when he first tries to escape his captors in Afghanistan, the audience falls for him. Why? Partly because he's a genius, yes, but mostly because the scene resembles the one where King Kong gets shot by the planes when he's on top of the Empire State Building. There's something fierce about him, but yet you want to hug him and protect him.

]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/iron-man-the-best-super-hero-m.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/iron-man-the-best-super-hero-m.html Favorites Jacki Garfinkel New Movie Release Action Family Film New Movie Thu, 01 May 2008 15:43:48 -0500 Sex and the City: Have Yourself a DVD Marathon SexandtheCityLogo.jpgWanna refresh your memory about all things Carrie & co. before the much (much, much)-anticipated Sex and the City big-screen movie? We're already planning our own little marathon (with pretty pink libations, of course) thanks to HBO's Sex and the City: The Complete Series DVD box set.

SATC Box Set All 94 episodes of the series are contained in this delicious box—a rose-colored velvet photo album package—which also contains a full disc of bonus features worthy of the most devoted SATC fan. Like...

  • The "En-Sex-Lopedia," a guide to all things SATC
  • "Location, Location, Location!" a guide to all the real-life New York City hotspots that popped up in the SATC reel life
  • "Sex Essentials," a video jukebox of SATC quips on love, life, sex and, of course, fashion
  • "You Can Quote Me on It," an SATC quote game
  • "The Guest List," a trip down memory lane with the series' many famous faces guest stars
  • Three alternate endings to the series finale
  • Bloopers and outtakes from all six seasons of the show
  • "Behind the Seams," a feature on costume designer Patricia Field
  • Deleted scenes and audio commentaries by producer Michael Patrick King for 18 episodes; and
  • An interactive Sex and the City trivia game
And another reason now is the perfect time to snag one of the DVD sets for your very own self: Movie Cash! Each set marked with a special Movie Cash sticker includes a voucher for $10.50 worth of said Movie Cash, which can be redeemed in select theaters for a ticket to the SATC movie! Yes, even in swanky Manhattan, that should be enough to cover the cost of one movie admission...

P.S. In other SATC movie news, the whole cast, including Mr. Big himself, Chris Noth, are gathering on Oprah today to discuss the movie. Will they shed more light on all the rumors swirling around the movie's plot? Here's hoping.

By the way, which of the following SATC movie rumors do you believe:
  • Mr. Big leaves Carrie at the altar?
  • Charlotte dies?!?
  • Samantha dies?!?
  • Mr. Big dies?!?!?!?
  • None of the above?


]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/sex-and-the-city-have-yourself.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/05/sex-and-the-city-have-yourself.html DVD review Favorites Kimberly Potts New Movie Release New Movie Sex and the City Thu, 01 May 2008 14:58:22 -0500 My Tribeca Film Festival Diary: Day 3 Day 3 began with Sissy Spacek's latest film Lake City. I was really excited for this film, not only because I think Sissy's brilliant, but also because Rebecca Romijn and Dave Matthews were appearing in the film. This meant it had to be fun, right? The flick, which features a mother and son who must reconcile their past in order to save themselves from violent criminals, was good, but I didn't think it was anything special. I found it a bit typical and Lifetime-esque, and it was hard to care too much about the characters. Again, it wasn't bad; it was just simply good.

E_HilaryDuff_89.jpgLater I headed over—in the pouring rain, leaving my hair a mess!—to the War, Inc. press junket with Marissa Tomei and Hilary Duff. I can't wait to tell you about it, but you'll have to wait until later in the week, when I'm able to transcribe the interviews! E_MarisaTomei_89.jpg

Finally I went to the best movie I've seen yet at Tribeca: Bart Got a Room. The comedy starred William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines, who played a very wacky soon-to-be ex-husband and wife. The clock counts down as their son Danny tries to find a date for prom. William H. Macy was a riot and the casting of the kids in the film was terrific. I also loved all the little details, like the tons of old people in Florida (where the film took place) and the crazy relationships between the adults. I truly think this is a film for people of all ages, and if you want to laugh, you definitely need to see it.

Tomorrow I'm heading to a panel led by Christiane Amanpour and then an afterparty for Matthew Broderick's new film Finding Amanda. Fingers crossed that Sarah Jessica Parker shows up! ]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/my-tribeca-film-festival-diary-2.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/my-tribeca-film-festival-diary-2.html Jacki Garfinkel Tribeca Film Festival Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:45:46 -0500 My Tribeca Film Festival Diary: Day 2 Bitter & Twisted. The film, which begins with the death of a young man and then flashes forward three years to see the toll his loss of life took on his family, was a good movie. It didn't have much of a storyline—there was no beginning, middle and end—instead it felt like a snapshot into a family's life.

E_JohnCusack_89.jpgNext up I went to a more "star-studded" film—War, Inc.. John Cusack wrote, produced and starred in the movie, along with Hilary Duff, Marisa Tomei, Sir Ben Kingsley and Dan Akroyd. War, Inc. is a satirical movie about the first war to be completely outsourced to a private company. It could be considered a bit heavy for the times we're in, but it also says a lot about the way war is handled. Get ready for more on this film soon—I interviewed Marisa Tomei and Hilary Duff, and will have all the deets on that for you soon!]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/my-tribeca-film-festival-diary-1.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/my-tribeca-film-festival-diary-1.html Jacki Garfinkel Tribeca Film Festival Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:41:29 -0500 My Tribeca Film Festival Diary: Day 1 a lot of movies. Being such a newbie to the Fest, I even had to call the press office to see what the dress attire was (jeans and a t-shirt)! After picking up my credentials, I headed to my first film, Seven Days Sunday.

According to the Festival guide, the movie is about: "Teenage dropouts Adam and Tommek pass their days hanging out and drinking in their grim housing complex, but as grinding boredom combines with Adam's insecurity and Tommek's penchant for petty crime, they make a bet that plunges them into violence. Based on actual events."

I must have missed the part in the description about the violence. Let me tell you, Seven Days Sunday was a very interesting way to start my time at the Tribeca Film Festival. A movie about two messed up teens who decide they want to murder someone? I had to turn my head away from the screen more than once.

/E_JulianneMoore_89.jpgNext I went to a larger screening for the Julianne Moore flick, Savage Grace, also based on a true story. Julianne did an incredible job of playing an eccentric socialite. She starts off as obviously troubled, but when her husband leaves her, and then she falls for a gay men, and then her very own son—yes, you did just read that—I couldn't help but wonder what I had gotten myself into!]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/my-tribeca-film-festival-diary.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/my-tribeca-film-festival-diary.html Jacki Garfinkel Tribeca Film Festival Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:30:15 -0500 Charlie Wilson's War Out on DVD
E_CharlieWilsonsWar_200.jpg
Tom Hanks has proven to us that when he's involved in a period piece movie, it's going to be a success. Think Catch Me If You Can, Band of Brothers, The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan, the recent HBO miniseries John Adams and now Charlie Wilson's War (among others!).

Set in the 1980s during the Cold War, Charlie Wilson's War is based on the outrageous true story of a covert mission in Afghanistan led by Congressman Charlie Wilson (Hanks), Houston socialite and political activist Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) and rogue CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

After seeing the horrific conditions at an Pakistan-based Afghan refugee camp, Wilson manages to increase the CIA's anti-communism budget in order to help the Afghans fight against the Soviets.

The film offers valuable insight into the situation that our country is currently in; though this covert operation helped to end the Cold War, the film presents viewers with the question, "Did anyone think it through enough?" And did this mission then lead to unexpected consequences of the United States' detachment from Afghanistan? This, of course, sparks viewers to wonder if our current war was thought through thoroughly from the onset.

Whether you want to take Charlie Wilson's War as a statement on our country today, or just an eye-opening lesson in history, the acting is superb and the drama is excellent, with just the right amount of comedy sprinkled throughout the story.

Plus, with the release of the DVD, you can view interviews with the cast, director Mike Nichols, Charlie Wilson and Joanne Herring, as well as an intriguing profile of Charlie himself.

Watch the trailer
]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/charlie-wilsons-war-out-on-dvd.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/charlie-wilsons-war-out-on-dvd.html DVD review Jacki Garfinkel DVD Review Historical Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:27:39 -0500 Enchanted Sings Its Way to DVD E_Enchanted_200.jpgEver since watching the Enchanted DVD, I've noticed that I randomly break out into singing songs from the movie. "That's how you knowwwwwwww…."

If you have a special little place in your heart for Disney movies (especially the oldies, like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and Cinderella), then you're bound to appreciate Enchanted.

Enchanted jumps back and forth between animation and real life, as Amy Adams' character Giselle is sent by the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) from animation land to New York City, where she meets Robert (Patrick Dempsey). Of course, her cartoon love, Prince Edward (James Marsden), must find her, and goes on an adventure through New York City to do so.

While the movie is enjoyable to watch, the DVD's special features make this purchase worth it.

In "Fantasy Comes to Life," we see a three-part featurette that details all the fun parts of how the movie was made, from the songwriting, to special effects, to acting.

There's also the typical bloopers and deleted scenes, as well as a Carrie Underwood music video.

For true Disney fans, however, the best special feature includes a section where we learn what aspects of Enchanted were references to older Disney films. Once you see this, it makes you appreciate the movie that much more. That scene of Giselle brushing her hair in the mirror? Totally taken from Ariel in The Little Mermaid!

And what ever happened to the actresses who voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas in Pocahontas? They all make appearances in Enchanted! And of course, Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) provides her voice as narrator.

All in all, as the tag line says, Enchanted truly is a new Disney classic, with a twist.

]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/enchanted-dvd-review.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/enchanted-dvd-review.html DVD review Jacki Garfinkel DVD Review Family Film Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:36:12 -0500 No Country for Old Men Frightens Again on DVD E_NoCountry_200.jpg If there's any movie to buy on DVD this year, it's the Academy Award winning No Country For Old Men.

No Country was the movie that had all of us movie fans—not just the critics—talking incessantly once the movie ended.

Was that Chigurh (Javier Bardem) behind the hotel room door? Why didn't he kill Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) in the hotel room? What did the movie mean? Was it simply a game of cat and mouse or was it deeper, with philosophical points regarding fate and choice?

Watching the No Country for Old Men DVD is one of the best decisions I've made, as it allowed me to stop having all those questions running through my mind. Instead I was able to continuously watch it until I picked up every nuance that had me bewildered.

Okay fine, I didn't get every question answered, but it did give me new perspective on the movie that has put my mind at ease. And I've garnered a whole new appreciation for the film.

What did you think of No Country for Old Men? Did you have as many questions as I did? And if so, have you found the answers to them?

]]> http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/no-country-for-old-men-dvd-rev.html http://movieinsider.ivillage.com/entertainment/archives/2008/04/no-country-for-old-men-dvd-rev.html DVD review Jacki Garfinkel Drama DVD Review Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:33:46 -0500