A common complaint I heard from parents last year who took their kids to see Where the Wild Things Are was, "It was too dark for a kids' movie." To these parents I say, "You are fucking morons." The only kids for whom this movie is too dark are stupid and ordinary kids, and who cares what they think anyway. For me, Where the Wild Things Are was the latest oddball entry in Spike Jonze's increasingly awesome canon. Don't rent it; buy it. The same goes for the latest from grand master Hayao Miyazaki, Ponyo. In fact, while you're at it pick up Totoro and Kiki's, too. 2012 is disposable garbage, but if you're in the mood for that you could do worse. Cold Souls might have been considered a brilliant movie if it had come out before Being John Malkovich. Instead, it's just derivative (but still pretty good). Who will stand up and end the MILF onslaught? more ›

Back in June I wrote, "Movies open every week in Los Angeles, and LAist always tries to let you know about as many of them as possible. Some films, though -- at least I think so -- deserve a special mention because a) they don't have a huge marketing budget supporting them; b) they are the kinds of provocative films that more people should see and c) they are the kinds of films that the worst toadies in corporate America don't want you to see." The film I was referring to was Food, Inc., and it is available today on DVD. It changed the way I eat. It may just do the same for you. On to lighter fare: G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra was a horrible, horrible film, but at least it wasn't as bad as Transformers 2. That's got to count for something, right? Proof that studios can still make big-budget films that are actually good: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. more ›

The anti-slavery organization Free the Slaves is holding its Freedom Awards tonight at USC’s Bovard Auditorium at 7 pm. The nonprofit frees slaves around the world, helps them rebuild their lives, researches solutions to the root-causes of slavery, and enlists businesses to clean slavery out of their product and supply chains. The awards provide winners with financial support to continue their work on the issue. Actresses Demi Moore and Camilla Belle, singer Peter Buffett, author Isabel Allende, football great Emmitt Smith, and Olympic Sprinter Maurice Greene are expected to attend and pay tribute to the people working on the frontlines to free slaves worldwide. Entrance to the event is free, but guests will need a ticket to enter. Request here and will be reserved based on availability. more ›

If you've been to the New Bev as often as I have, you've found that the theater isn't run by a staff so much as a family. Friday, they pull out all the stops for one of their own, Julia Marchese, as she makes her big screen debut in the thriller Golden Earrings. Of course, for every sweet Julia, there are a plethora of bastard stepchildren. more ›

As you can see below it's slim pickins tonight. Last Friday the Wall Street Journal ran an article about all the smoke that the networks are blowing with their overuse of the word "new" as it applies to their programming. ABC's "all new (but partial) season of Lost" and the "all new funny" Carpoolers, which would be a welcome change for that sub par offering. I guess we're supposed to be excited about this and the fact that Victoria's Secret will be running it's first Super Bowl ad since 1999, mark your calendars. more ›

Believe it or not, Ocean's Thirteen actually out-Grindhouses Grindhouse. Not in violence or cursing or explosives per se, (it does have a PG-13 rating), but in hearkening back to the good ol' days when movies were fun, dagnabit, Clooney and co. have Tarantino beat. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Thirteen is the most kinetic and most fun of the Ocean series, and there are far worse ways you could spend two hours... more ›

A Word or 54 (or so): I know that there are some folks who are happy to be getting a few new episodes of the doomed Studio 60 - enjoy it while you can. Funny how there is no cohesive letter-writing campaign to save that one, at least not a campaign that is getting any press. Tonight - Thursday - June 7th, 2007 Dodgers @ Padres (KCAL, 7:00 p.m.) Pirate Master (CBS, 8:00 p.m.)... more ›

A Word or 53: Idol and Lost finish up tonight. Am pleased to see Apolo win DWTS - 24 ended with a 'blah' and as you can see we have very little in the way of new programming. Enjoy the unending Dukefest on TCM. I guess this time of year is why we have baseball to watch. Tonight - Wednesday - May 23, 2007 John Wayne's 100th Birthday (TCM, ALL DAY) Nothing but John... more ›

- Mike Tyson spotted at the Arclight? - Defamer more ›

The Capitol Years, National Eye, Earl Greyhound @ Silverlake Lounge more ›

Last night we caught Eddie Izzard at the Coronet Theater, where he is appearing all week and trying out new material. While he claims to use no drugs, we want whatever pumps through his bloodstream in ours. The man of a thousand tangents took us through evolution (the original title of Darwin's book was "You're a Fucking Monkey"), bees and honey (we can't replicate his "worker bee song" here, but it's worth it), torture (couldn't we just stare at people in an odd way to get them to confess?), and how to properly use a microphone stand. more ›