Sugar News

Predictions are a crap shoot, but anticipation's more like blackjack - not so much a gamble as an investment, because at least you can see some of the cards you're dealt.

Half Nelson writer/directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck 's new film It's Kind of a Funny Story begins production in New York City this week.

Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden are the sort of creative team you can't help but love.

Video Event of the Week: Is it Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death , a new 30-minute episode in Nick Park 's ongoing and hilarious animated series, from Lyons/Hit Entertainment? Might Paramount's new Blu-ray set of Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection , with all four TV movie spin-offs starring Patrick Stewart make ...

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Regency Oaks, 2720 Regency Oaks Blvd., will host Active Aging Expo 2009.

Expect some changes in Zach Galifianakis ' career. The mostly-comedic actor is set to play a more dramatic, meatier role in It's Kind of a Funny Story , due to begin shooting later this year.

Galifianakis and Emma Roberts are in talks to appear in a new coming-of-age dramedy called Funny Story .

A mature adult thriller such as State of Play is rare today. So it is worth celebrating its DVD and Blu-ray debut this week.

How was your Labor Day weekend? Judging by the box-office returns , you probably didn't spend it at the movies, but that's OK.

Few feature films have the pedigree of a "State of Play." Consider the movie's screenplay - composed by Bill Ray , Matthew Michael Carnahan and Tony Gilroy - superb cast - Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams and Ben Affleck - and its talented director - Kevin MacDonald .

"State of Play": The big-screen version of the acclaimed 2003 BBC miniseries "State of Play" loses a lot of the original's nuance but still manages to offer some solid, sophisticated entertainment.

You loved the movie, what about the DVD? Find out as we examine the extras on this week's best movie DVDs.

Russell Crowe is an old-school investigative reporter and Helen Mirren is his editor in "State of Play." "State of Play" *** 1/2 Forgive it the dull title.

This week's DVD releases include a sharp thriller starring Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck, a beautifully photographed nature film and a foreign drama that casts a new light on America's pastime.

Warren Clements Last updated on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 04:26PM EDT S tate of Play Where British television spent six hours telling this story of political intrigue, director Kevin Macdonald is asked to do the job in two.

State of Play Universal, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.98 The big-screen version of the 2003 BBC miniseries "State of Play" loses a lot of the original's nuance but still manages to offer solid, sophisticated entertainment.

"Sugar" approaches with tender care the story of a kid from the Dominican Republic who has a strong pitching arm and a good heart.

From Thursday to Sunday at the Landlocked Film Festival, Iowa City area residents will have a chance to watch the work of dozens of independent filmmakers from throughout the world as well as participate in discussions with film professionals dedicated to helping develop the state's fledgling film industry.

Focus Features will finance, produce and distribute the next film from the writer-director team behind the 2006 drama "Half Nelson," which garnered a best actor Oscar nomination for Ryan Gosling.

Husband and wife directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden , who previously brought us indie hits Half Nelson and Sugar , are working another project that they will write called It's Kind of a Funny Story next.