Many of us who watched the 2011 Academy Awards found the hosts to be somewhat...underwhelming. James Franco appeared stoned and practically asleep next to hyper, overzealous Anne Hathaway. Since then, the two have been getting panned right and left for their odd and ultimately not very compelling performance, but one man is speaking truth to power about the whole incident. more ›

Art and freedom go hand in hand, and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center is celebrating that happy coupling this month with F.A.I.R.: Art of Action. Part of LGBT Pride Month, Art of Action is being hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Center along with gay rights group F.A.I.R. (Freedom Action Inclusion Rights). It will feature an original work by Shepard Fairey, as well as prints of Fairey's LOVE UNITES poster that have been customized by celebs. more ›

Last night's Oscars failed to gain viewership despite the months of promotion and hype leading up to it. Certainly some of it can be blamed on the performances of the hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, but they were only an item on a long list of problems that is becoming typical of the Academy Awards. more ›

In these weeks leading up to the Oscars, many a conversation throughout our fair city has posed the same query about this year's hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco: "Aren't the Oscar hosts supposed to be funny?" And indeed, we have come to expect some level of humor from emcees of the esteemed awards. more ›

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has asked James Franco and Anne Hathaway to co-host the 83rd annual Academy Awards, according to an official Academy press release. Both youngsters are currently starring in Fox features (Franco in Searchlight's 127 Hours, Hathaway in big Fox's Love And Other Drugs) and Franco is likely to be Oscarly nominated for Best Actor. more ›

Big hair fans have plenty to be thankful for. The Disney camp brings three dimensions of follicles with Tangled, their CG take on Rapunzel. Screen Gems' Burlesque offers a fantastic turkey recipe: stuff with Cher, baste with Christina Aguilera and stick in the oven until it glitters golden brown. It's A Star Is Born by way of The Pussycat Dolls, and I can't get enough. more ›

I walked into Alice in Wonderland prepared to be completely underwhelmed. Something about Burton + Lewis Carroll + Depp seemed too on the nose for my taste. And yet -- mostly due to the fantastic performance of Mia Wasikowska -- I enjoyed the film far more than I ever expected. more ›

Despite a mediocre critical reception, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland demolished Avatar's opening weekend record for a 3-D film by taking in a mammoth $116.3M at the box office. Fellow newcomer Brooklyn's Finest was a very distant second with $13.5M, just edging previous stalwart Shutter Island ($13.3M | $95.8M). After that it was the painful Cop Out ($9.1M | $32.3M) and heavyweight Avatar ($7.7M | $720.1M). more ›

I confess to being a little confused by the enthusiasm for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland since my enjoyment of Burton's work has steadily waned over the years. For me, he peaked with Ed Wood. Despite all the lovely visual filigree that decorates his work, I find that I'm never particularly surprised by any of his films anymore. Sure, I'll see Alice in Wonderland, but that's mostly to see if Mia Wasikowska is as good an ingenue as she appears to be. What I certainly will see is Brooklyn's Finest. Despite mediocre reviews, I'm a total sucker for cop movies (Street Kings -- yes, fucking Street Kings -- has been on heavy rotation at my place lately.) It will be good to see Richard Gere back in uniform after the awesome Internal Affairs. Long overdue! more ›

It marks a sad state of affairs when the horrible Bride Wars is the "big" DVD release of the week. I get that Kate Hudson does this sort of crap to bankroll her extravagant lifestyle, but I thought better of Anne Hathaway. Annie, please get back to doing things like Rachel Getting Married! Or, better yet, Havoc! All that said, I'd probably still rather watch Bride Wars than Hotel for Dogs. Nothing but the Truth got whacked when its distributor went bankrupt. It's definitely worth a look on DVD. Another quality flick is JCVD where Jean-Claude finally proves that -- yes -- he can be a pretty good actor (especially when making light of himself). more ›

Let the Right One In was a fiendishly good reimainging of the vampire story. Naturallly, it is now being re-made into what will surely be an inferior, American film. I thought Mickey Rourke gave the performance of the year in The Wrestler, but Sean Penn was almost as impressive with his rendering of the late Harvey Milk. Speaking of fine actors, Anne Hathaway stirs my drink. While I liked Synedoche, New York, I was let down by it because of my absurdly high expectations for Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut. Role Models was better than it had any right to be. I'm still amazed that Seann William Scott is the sole survivor of the American Pie crowd. more ›

After a month in limited release, Gran Torino finally rolled out nationwide and easily won the weekend box office crown ($29M/$40M). The sexist Bride Wars finished a distant second ($21.5M) followed by yet another dull PG-13 horror flick, The Unborn ($21M). Marley & Me slipped from the top spot but still had a decent weekend ($11.3M/$123.7M) as did Oscar favorite The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($9.4M/$94.3M). more ›

It ain't Pixar, but . more ›

Disney's decision to move the ($6.9M/$78.1M) which continues to perform well despite my most fervent prayers. more ›

How can you resist a movie written and directed by Charlie Kaufman? | Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics more ›

Presaging the imminent arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, ($5M/$5.5M). more ›

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist looks like an ideal date movie for confused and annoying teens. The presence of the awesomely talented Michael Cera, however, insures my aged presence. Beverly Hills Chihuahua looks so awful that it will probably be hilarious. Stoned. I don't much like Bill Maher, but I do like that Bill Maher exists and has a platform on which to vent his spleen. That said, Religulous feels an awful lot like fishing with dynamite. I mean, making fun of the devoutly religious? Is this really cutting edge material? more ›

Given the choice of two-profile comedies, audiences chose had a dismal debut ($14M) and will struggle to be profitable. The Alba curse continues. more ›

Steve Carrell is one of the funniest guys on television but it looks like he's dropped another turd on the big screen. It's never a good sign when the preview to a comedy is unable to generate more than a few, soft giggles from audiences, but that appears to be the case for Get Smart. Anne Hathaway is a marvelously appealing actress, but she looks awfully uncomfortable in the role of an action hero. And Dwayne Johnson? Pass. more ›

When was the last time an actor executed a more profound career turnaround than Casey Affleck? Gone Baby Gone is his second superb performance of the year. If you don't see it for him, see it for Amy Ryan's breakout, Oscar-nominated turn. The mere presence of the divine Anne Hathaway makes was released? Greatest poster ever? more ›

8:00pm So You Think You Can Dance FOX - Two dancers get the boot 9:00pm Fat March ABC - The fat marchers have made it all the way from southeast Massachusetts to Connecticut. The men face a strength challenge. but wait! there's more! 9:00pm Hell's Kitchen FOX - Finalist hell! The final challenge!!! The winner becomes the new head chef at one of Gordon Ramsay's Las Vegas restaurants! 10:00pm Weeds SHOWTIME - Season premiere!... more ›

I could write a movie review of Knocked Up -- and maybe I still will -- but it will just be a long list of hilarious moments (there's the part where he does this one thing... and then she says this other thing...) in a movie overflowing with hilarity. Trust me on this: you will walk out of the movie floating on fluffly pink cloud of funny-ness, and I don't want to spoil a second... more ›

I love movies. I love clothes. And because I don't watch enough reality TV shows to have an unhealthy dose of schadenfreude in my life, I love stories about evil bosses who receive their comeuppance. So I was, of course, dying to see The Devil Wears Prada. I am a girl after all. My lady friends who were lucky enough to have attended advance screenings or rushed to the theater on opening weekend all... more ›

Who doesn't love the dramatic skills of Meryl Streep? Who doesn't think Anne Hathaway isn't the cutest thing? And who doesn't think the director of several episodes of "Sex and the City" and "Entourage" (including the pilot) will probably put together a good film? more ›