Drew Barrymore might be a reformed wild child who has a respectable career acting, writing, directing and generally pulling in a lot of box office dinero — but she still knows how to throw the kind of party that pisses off her neighbors.
Drew Barrymore Can Still Throw the Kind of Party That Pisses Off Her Neighbors
Holiday Box Office Review: It's All-American!
Though Friday estimates indicated that Machete might win the weekend, it was George Clooney's subdued The American that ultimately topped the box office. Despite the purported presence of Lindsay Lohan's titties, Machete only managed to bring in $14M, far shy of The American's $16.3M ($19.5). The resilient Takers placed a strong third ($13.5M | $39.9M), well ahead of The Last Exorcism ($8.7M | $33.5M) and Drew Barrymore's latest catastrophe Going the Distance ($8.6M).
DVD Tuesday: Keats Deserved a Masterpiece!
As the preeminent Keats scholar in my small cadre of illiterate friends, let me say that I was mostly outraged at the shabby treatment accorded the poet by director Jane Campion (LAist review here). I had such high hopes for this film when I entered the screening, but everything was dashed in short order. Gone was any indication of Keats' magnificent intellectual gift. Rather, he was rendered as little more than a simpering poet chasing after Fanny Brawne. Campion would have been better served focusing on Keats' last days in Rome with Joseph Severn. That would have made for some marvelous cinema. I probably liked I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell more than most, but then again I do fucking rule! Tucker Max is obviously a cretin, but the film is mostly a genial, albeit raw rendering of a bachelor party gone terribly south (LAist review here; LAist interview with director Bob Gosse here). It's definitely worth a peek on DVD (assuming there is tons more nudity).
Box Office Review: It's Zombieland!
In a bit of a surprise, Zombieland roared to the top of the weekend box office. Despite a relative lack of stars, the black comedy pulled in $25M to easily top powerhouse Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ($16.7M | $82.3M). The re-release of Toy Story | Toy Story 2 in 3D proved potent as the Pixar dinosaurs raked in $12.5M in their re-debut. Ricky Gervais continues to struggle as a big-screen star as his Invention of Lying brought in only $7.3M in its opening frame. High-concept bomb Surrogates rounded out the top 5 ($7.3M | $26.3M).
Weekend Movie Guide: Serious Men
Can we officially say that the Coen Brothers are the best filmmakers in America? Can we also say that A Serious Man is the best film released so far this year? Yes and yes. My gut told me that the zombie genre had run its course after the great 28 Weeks Later, but Zombieland finds new ground to cover. Well, not really but it is a hell of a lot of fun and not just because of the huge, unexpected and delightful surprise in the middle of the film that I won't ruin for you (though even mentioning its existence does sort of spoil it, huh? Oh, well!)
Local Derby Dolls Team Loses to San Diego, Upcoming Game Scheduled on Weekend with Drew Barrymore's Premiere
As excitement builds for Whip It, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut in October, the Los Angeles Derby Dolls this weekend took on a new team from San Diego. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Sirens lost to the undefeated Swarm... and by a lot: 104 to 51. Ouch.
DVD Tuesday: Hauntings, Love and Music
A Haunting in Connecticut gets props for casting the radiant Virginia Madsen (and bad-ass Elias Koteas), but significant demerits for wussying out with a PG-13 rating. Once again -- all horror movies should be rated R! Just like in the good old days! As perhaps the world's biggest (and only) Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller fan, I naturally queued up to see Edge of Love when it briefly played in theaters. The movie's not much, but the bathtub scene with Knightley and Miller is definitely worth the price of a rental. Did anyone else tune out like I did after the first season of Mad Men? Grey Garden offers further proof that Drew Barrymore is perhaps the worst successful actress in the universe. Leverage isn't half-bad. Tim Hutton should work more.
DVD Tuesday: He Just Wants to Have Sex with You
I'm still angry at how much mileage Greg Behrendt has gotten out of the whole He's Just Not That Into You thingie. Seriously -- this guy is a millionaire because of a fucking phrase! Not only that, but it's a phrase that other people were saying long before this jack-off codified it. It was in common usage for years! It would be like me publishing a book called Who Farted? and suddenly being rich. Don't buy this DVD! Instead, buy Weeds: Season 4 and help honor the American entrepreneur! Looking for a downer evening (or maybe a starting point for the whole "yeah, we should get divorced" conversation")? Revolutionary Road will do the heavy lifting for you.
Box Office Review: Society goes to the dogs...
Presaging the imminent arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, ($5M/$5.5M).
Weekend Movie Guide: It's Nick and Nora
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?
Irksome and Insufferable 2: The Ten Most Annoying Actors
A few weeks ago we ran a story called "Irksome and Insufferable: The Ten Most Annoying Singers". Given that actors are just as capable of being annoying as musicians, I thought it would be worthwhile to throw out 10 names for public review. I avoided the easy ones (Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, etc.) and tried to cobble together a list of actors who--for whatever reason--are actually considered to be pretty good by the masses. But not by me! In their own ways, each one of these actors makes me anxious whenever I watch them.
Drew Barrymore Gets Hit, Stalks Car
After being involved in an accident that turned into a hit-and-run in West Hollywood yesterday afternoon, Drew Barrymore followed fleeing vehicle obtaining the license plate number.
Sunday Book Review: The Fug Awards
One of the most enjoyable aspects of celebrity fashion is what I’ll call the superiority factor. You know, the sneering satisfaction that you or I can take in seeing someone who has all the money and fashion consultants in the world and still looks like they got dressed in a lightless closet stocked with Salvation Army rejects. On Oscar Sunday, your television screen will offer the best opportunity to see which stars haven’t gotten it right.
Dude, You're Not Adam Sandler
Come on Jimmy Fallon, just because you're some washed up SNL'er with a frightfully unlucky film carreer, and no chance of making anyone laugh, that does NOT give you a license to keep on pretending you're the Adam Sandler mini-me. Fallon is going to marry Drew Barrymore's business partner of ten years, after meeting on the set of that movie where Jimmy was doing a Sandler role. I'm sure she's a nice lady, whoever she...
Albert Hammond, Jr. @ House of Blues, 5/21/07
Entering into the House of Blues last night, standing in the Industry Entrance line, behind the well to do hipsters of Los Angeles, I see this smallish woman with red hair, grabbing Foundation Room bracelets in her hand after putting her shiny black gloves back on. She turns around and I realize that it is Drew Barrymore. Who else, right? She was dating Mr. Hammond Jr's bandmate Fabrizio Moretti. Seeing her and a certain...
Sarah Silverman on Maxim and other Celeb Quickies
- You've come a long way baby. Maxim ditches the usual suspects (models, actresses, hookers, waitresses) and celebrates the sexiest comedian of our time, next to Gallagher of course - egotastic - Talk about burying the lede... magician du jour Criss Angel spotting partying with Cameron Diaz AND Drew Barrymore. If that dude has any magical powers he would have dressed up as Lucy Liu and played Charlie's Angels 4 with the pair all...
TV Junkie: Drew on Letterman; Robin Williams on Conan; New 'Lost'; 2 Get the Boot on 'Idol'
A Word or 4 dozen : Somehow I totally missed posting that the Shield was on last night and again it was good. I think one would be hard-pressed to find more raw and compelling performances on any other show available on the networks or basic cable. Being a former SF resident, I haven't been able to get enough of Conan's broadcast from the Orpheum theater on Market Street- too bad that's still bum-junkie...
LAist Crashes the Year of the Dog Red Carpet Premiere
Year of the Dog's Laura Dern and Molly Shannon with writer/director Mike White OK, so we were invited to the Paramount lot -- but wouldn't it be more dramatic if we crashed it? Could additional drama even be necessary at the premiere of a movie about relationships, work, death, and dogs, with a tagline begging the question: "Has the world left you a stray?" Year of the Dog hits theaters next Friday, the 13th....
Hump Day Entertainment Quickies
- Howard Stern's regulars Rev. Bob Levy, Sal "Whaaaa I Fell Off The Stage" Governale, Richard Christy, Shuli, Yucko the Clown & Beetlejuice will grace LA with two shows in May. What, no fat Artie? Hi Fred - Killers of Comedy - Art Brut will be coming to the Troubadour on 4/2. Has he moved here yet? - Pitchfork - Jane Pratt outs Drew Barrymore by saying that she and Drew got it on...
Peter Bjorn and John @ Red Eye Fly, 3/14/07
Drew Barrymore's favorite new band, the Swedish trio Peter Björn and John, filled the Red Eye Fly this afternoon as the headliners for the Little Radio barbecue. Hipsters were lined up down the street in the drizzle getting their lo-tops muddy in the puddles, and to be honest, the boys might be super sweet but their music isn't meant for a live crowd. It's mellow, introspective, and not at all partying. The whistle song,...
AM News For Your Day-After President's Day Hangover
- Michael Jackson is being sued again, this time by the family of a woman who died in a hospital in SLO and whose room he popped his head into when he had the flu during his last trial - SLO Trib - Oki Dog has always been an "A" in our hearts, now the Health Dept. has given them the top grade - Los Anjealous - How the Internet Superhighway makes its way...
New Movie Friday: Spies, Soldiers, Single Moms and Flaming Spirits
Academy Award Nominated Short Films - A compendium of this year's live action and animation shorts. Breach - Based on the true story of Robert Hanssen who spent 15 years spying for the Soviet Union, a breach that is one of the worst intelligence disasters in US history. Chris Cooper plays Hanssen and Ryan Philippe plays the newbie agent sent to keep on an eye on him in this cat-and-mouse drama. The Boy Who Cried...
TV Junkie: 'Idol' Semifinalists Revealed; 'Lost' Goes Back to the Old Island; Armstrong on Colbert
A Word or 48: House was pretty good last night and the timing was great what with the blizzard hitting New England today. With the semifinalists declared on Idol and Paula Abdul declaring that she's never been drunk in her life, I get the feeling that show is really coming along now. Today - Wednesday - February 14th, 2007 Breakfast at Tiffany's (TCM, 4:05 p.m.) Holly Golightly, not the band Beauty and the Geek...
TV Junkie: 'Heroes' and '24' Deliver; Lots of New Episodes Tonight
A Word or 116: So I missed the first 10 minutes of the Grammys which meant that I missed the effing Police. I punished myself by watching the rest of the Grammys: a collection of posers I will never go see perform and whose songs I've never heard and will never care to hear. 24 is back with a 2 hour allotment but my understanding is that I'm not supposed to watch 24 anymore...
TV Junkie: Ed Gein Lives; Drew on Leno; the Police reunite on Sunday
A Word or 14: Nothing matters until the Police appear on TV this Sunday at the Grammy Awards. Tonight - Friday - February 9th, 2007 Clippers @ 76ers (KTLA, 5:30 p.m.) Lakers @ Raptors (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) Ghost Whisperer/Close to Home/NUMB3RS (CBS, 8-11:00 p.m.) All new. Mary J. Blige guest stars on Whisperer. Crank Yankers (MTV2, 8:00 p.m.) Season premiere Las Vegas/Law & Order (NBC, 9-11:00 p.m.) A mummy is stolen in Vegas and...
Tongue and Groove @ The Hotel Cafe, 1/28
Tongue and Groove, a monthly spoken word/music happening around town, took place tonight at The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. Coordinated by Conrad Romo, who LA Weekly called "a friend to creatures both great and small", this event included readings from both unknown LA writers, and those who've been around the block, namely Mike the Poet, who has done over one hundred readings in and around LA this past year. He loves Los Angeles and isn't afraid to say it.
Gossip and Celeb Math Quickies
Drew Barrymore - Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti = Us Marilyn Manson + Evan Rachel Wood = People Brad Pitt + Angelina Jolie - condom = Accident Shiloh? - dlisted Kurt Cobain + fight video + Danzig fight vid = CityRag Mandy Moore + DJ AM = I'm Not Obsessed Justin + Scarlett = W.O.W. Kelly Osbourne + Playboy = Star Pulse James Brown's body - grave + rape charges = Socialite Life Paris Hilton...

