No film could ever capture the inner despair and hopelessness that pervades Cormac McCarthy's magnificent novel, The Road. Still, the film is a despondently faithful adaptation that should please -- if depress -- cineastes. Never before has society's apocalypse felt so hauntingly real. There's only one, maybe two good reasons to watch HBO's moronic True Blood, right? Of all the classic authors I read in college, I return to D.H. Lawrence more than any other. Why hasn't there been a fantastic film adaptation of Sons and Lovers? more ›

I have often criticized Steven Soderbergh for wasting his time, talent and energy on crap like the Oceans series. If only he would dedicate his life to things like The Informant!, which looks incisive and hilarious. Matt Damon, on the other hand, will likely never hear an unkind word from me. All he does is make superb and brave choices. Seriously, when was the last bad or dull movie in which Damon starred? Jennifer's Body looks like cynical, wordy, pseudo-clever tripe to me. Diablo Cody -- go away. Megan Fox -- go away. more ›

The opening shot of The Burning Plain is a stark one: a fully engulfed trailer in the middle of the desert, backed by rocky, dry mountains. The next scene is equally strong, as Charlize Theron awakes to gloomy surroundings, sporting a hangover and nothing else. There’s a moment where she makes it to a window, topless, in time to see a few school children notice her as they scurry off down the wet pavement. And then the next shot is...and then...followed by.... more ›

. Never have. Never will. I mean, don't people realize that it's Kiefer Sutherland up there on the screen. Anyone really scared of facing down Kiefer in a bar fight? Does anyone still think Jon Stewart is funnier than Stephen Colbert? David Lynch's films don't always work for me, but I love that he exists. more ›

The American Food & Wine Festival kicks off tonight. / Photo by pink_fish13 via LAist's flickr pool. more ›

In a pathetic display of media-generated conformity, audiences rewarded the witless finished a distant third, as Jolie's hot, naked ass only managed to garner $20.6M ($90.7M) in its second frame. more ›

If you don't want to deal with the crowds that will invariably shuffle mindlessly into , but here he shines as a petty drug dealer pursuing the transcendent Olivia Thirlby. more ›

To no one's surprise, , underperformed with only $4.7M in its debut. more ›

LAist caught up with Ben Lyons from E! to tell us what Park City is really like during the Sundance Film Festival. From Charlize Theron to Diddy, Ben's time at the festival is jam packed with screenings, interviews, and parties. We asked him to fill us in on his favorite films, his obsession with "Beverly Hills 90210", and going bobsledding with Ivan Radcliff. more ›

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Today in major LA Fire Department events: an early morning structure fire in North Hills sending smoke into the flight path of Van Nuys Airport, a big rig with a trailer overturned on the Southbound Harbor freeway causing a Sig Alert, and a medical emergency in the Hilton Hotel at Universal City where staff mixed ammonia & bleach solutions creating hydrochloric acid (oops!). Is it the second Thursday of the month? Ah, it is!... more ›

Tonight - Friday - February 2nd, 2007 more ›

A Word or 12: Dirt - I forgot to mention Dirt yesterday, someone just kill me please. Tonight - Wednesday - January 31st, 2007 The Spiral Staircase (TCM, 5:00 p.m.) This nifty thriller from the '40s features a strangler that follows a mute maid through a dark New England mansion during a storm. Lakers @ Celtics (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) Monster (IFC, 6:00 p.m.) Charlize Theron transorms herself in an Oscar winning performance. Worth watching just... more ›

Houston Sams is a fashion stylist who prefers to work in print doing editorial and advertising, but once in a while relents for a cool project, like Weezer's videos for "Beverly Hills" and "Perfect Situation." She says "I love fashion for the art of it, for the art of expressing one’s ideas through clothing, and the fact that it’s form and function together." more ›