Sam Jackson stalks yet another big payday in an otherwise forgettable movie. | Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Samuel L. Jackson continues to prove he's at least a decent box-office draw as his presence lifted the rote thriller Lakeview Terrace to the top of this weekend's box-office heap ($15.6M). Last week's winner, the Coen Brothers' Burn After Reading, had a strong second week (slipping less than 50%) to finish a respectable but distant second ($11.3M/$36.4M).......

What ever happened to Neil LaBute? | Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Lakeview Terrace looks like such a rote, phony thriller that it's hard to imagine a decent (albeit declining) director like Neil LaBute being able to do much with it. Then again, it's probably Oscar-worthy compared to tripe like My Best Friend's Girl. Is there still an audience for Dane Cook? The Duchess looks like just another wan costume drama after the fiery and......

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox There's a certain kooky irresistibility to Doug Liman. By many accounts, he's virtually impossible to work with and yet the movies he turns out are often very good (Swingers, The Bourne Identity), and one is even great (Go). That said, I'm hesitant to sign on for Jumper. I'm what some would call the opposite of a fan of Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson looks like she has encephalitis.......

We'd like to take credit for this hi-larious story about this Kobe Bryant feature in possible pre-development, but we can't. Check it out here. Photo by lunchbox.......

- From the mouths of babes. 12-year-old Dakota Fanning puts critics of her new film "Hounddog" on Time Out for bitching about a film that would have such a little girl like her get raped. "It's not really happening. It's a movie, and it's called acting." she said. - CNN - Brent Liles, former bass player of Social Distortion died yesterday when a truck hit him while he was riding his bicycle - LA Times......

Park City, UTAH - Don't worry, Dakota Fanning is safe and sound. She hasn't actually been raped. It's the character in her latest film that gets attacked. And thank goodness, because Fanning is the best thing about the otherwise dreadful Hounddog. Although the film's rape scene, which was filmed when Fanning was all of 12, has been getting so much grief (this morning's Sundance screening in Salt Lake City was greeted with protests), it's......

Wednesday - Tonight Lakers @ Mavericks (ESPN, 6:30 p.m.) Jazz @ Clippers (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) "King of Queens" (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Double whammy - 2 new episodes. "The Next Top Model: British Invasion" (the CW, 8:00 p.m.) 2 Hour debut(!) "The Biggest Loser" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) Season finale in mondo 2 hr. episode. "The Lost Room" (SciFi, 9:00 p.m.) Final episode of the miniseries. "One Punk Under God" (Sundance, 9:00 p.m.) If you pay......

More SAG Awards liveblogging. Watch out, Dakota is coming. 8:40 Outstanding actor in a comedic series: Sean Hayes takes it to Will and Grace, leaving William Shatner, James Spader and Larry David behind. 8:44 Ensemble comedy series: Arrested Development, Boston Legal, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Desperate Housewives, Everybody Loves Raymond, My Name is Earl. Which show has the most pretty ladies? Yep, they win. Four lavender dresses &mdashl but nobody told Nicolette. She's in green.(side note:she......

- City Beat looks at high school from the perspective of local high schoolers. - The Gay Marriage bill isn't the only bill the Governor is feeling the pressure on. - Don't you want to buy your own post office? - The City Council can't ignore the Valley if they start meeting regularly there, right? - Sister City has two posts of interest this morning: Many of our first responders that went to help......

Over the holiday weekend, while most people were watching Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning flee from aliens, LAist visited a new day spa in Santa Monica, and had a very earthly experience. The Willow Spa in Santa Monica is housed in a fully restored and refurbished California style bungalow that at one time was home to both a beauty salon, and a gun shop. At the same time. Only in Los Angeles, right? "Hi......

With all the death and destruction currently overrunning society and overwhelming those striving for peace and goodwill, it's nice to know that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is doing their part to bring Los Angeles a rainbow on such a rainy day. That rainbow, just happens to be yet another PR-inspired star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Today (in fact, right around this minute) America's Sweetheart Sandra Bullock (yes, she's the current holder......