Billy Crystal made his web video debut this week with the 4 1/2 minute When Harry Met Sally 2 at FunnyorDIe. We're all dying to know what happened with Harry and Sally -- right? -- so Crystal and Rob Reiner run with it. more ›

Even Hollywood's been breached by the midterm elections! Gloria Allred, apparently bored with muckraking the governor's race, has her sights set on Conviction, the new Hilary Swank film where the actress goes from low-life to lawyer to defend her brother from a murder rap. Go rattle your own saber at Inside Job, the Wall Street corruption doc in limited release at the Landmark. Propositions 20 & 27 aim to change the process of redistricting - what a perfect time for a cinematic primer on Gerrymandering! LAist's own Farley Elliott reviewed Gerrymandering earlier this week. His conclusion? The film "very smartly peeks open the heavy lid of political dullness", but it often "lacks a clear message". This critique cannot be applied to I Want Your Money, whose trailer boasts Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Fox News clips and a cartoon boxing match pitting Obama against Reagan. more ›

Normally, a 3D family adventure isn't worth a hoot, but Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole may be a bonafide barn storm. The animated film's voice talent includes Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush, Helen Mirren and Sam Neill. Critics are middling, but cite director Zack Snyder's dark tones and violence as high-points, so your kids may grow some teeth in the process... more ›

You know it's a slow week when crap like MacGruber heads the list. Like most Saturday Night Live movies, it's a funny 30-second idea that's ninety minutes too long. If Spread didn't pave the way for Ashton Kutcher's exit from Hollywood, surely Killers will, right? Yeah, nope. Solitary Man isn't a great film, but it's further proof that Michael Douglas somehow morphed from an overrated actor to an underrated one. Not being a huge box-office draw has served his talent well. Sure, The Office has steadily gone downhill since this high point. Still, it's better than every comedy on CBS. Whatever happened to the George Lucas that made THX 1138? more ›

By this time Monday, the dust will have settled and it is possible that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will set a record for largest opening weekend ever. While it's fair to say that the film is the best (e.g. least shitty) of the series, one must also mention that the entire Twilight phenomenon continues to impart awful lessons about emotionally abusive and obsessive relationships to millions of young women across America. It's weirdo Mormon lessons should be alternately shunned and ridiculed. If you are indeed an actual (and not ironic) fan of the series, the same applies to you. Get off my lawn! more ›

State of Play was a mostly riveting throwback to All the President's Men that starred Russell Crowe as a grizzled D.C. journalist caught in the middle of a hell of a lot of sex, intrigue and murder. Naturally, it was a financial disappointment. Help remedy that injustice by picking it up on DVD today. The big-budget, adult-oriented drama must be preserved! Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer can do no wrong in my book (well, maybe McKean can). Add Unwigged & Unplugged (LAist review here) to the top of your shopping list. Both Braveheart and Gladiator look great on Blu-Ray. If only I had an interest in ever seeing them again. My friend Mangoo Jonnycakes Nail loved Sin Nombre when he saw it at Sundance. I can't disagree. more ›

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So I won't go on about how dry and average the Oscars were last night and how the TV ratings reflect that. I will say, however, that I'd like to find anyone involved with the development and production of the movie Enchanted and incinerate them on a pile of every DVD and CD soundtrack copy of that rancid film. A brief burst of carbon emissions and pollutants now will save us from more such dreck in the future. more ›

Live, from in front of our television set, it's LAist's Oscar night liveblog extravaganza. more ›

Yesterday, famed and veteran Los Angeles fashion designer, Mr. Blackwell, talked up his worst-dressed women list, just released this morning, with LAist. He began the annual list 48 years ago. "I was sick of the ugly clothes that were being presented in the fashion industry and as dress designer I wanted to express my opinion. I never expected it to be this big." more ›

When Sharon Stone wears a gown that looks like she's been shot or Lindsay Lohan goes out in public in an insanely sheer dress, Mr. Blackwell considers their candidacy for his annual top 10 worst dressed. Countless actresses and singers made questionable wardrobe choices in 2007. The overexposed, the under-dressed, and the over-the-top take center stage in this yearly ritual. Tomorrow Mr. Blackwell, the well-known fashion critic and designer, will unveil his 48th Annual Worst-Dressed Women list. LAist asked Mr. Blackwell about dressing movie stars, his favorite style icon, and of course our fascination with fashion disasters. more ›

After a week without a sequel, we're back at it with the lovable scoundrels of "Ocean's 13". Sure, watching the same group of guys we've seen plunder Vegas and steal a Faberge egg plan another elaborate heist is rehashing already trodden ground, but I'll be damned if it isn't a good time. Add to that a torture-porn and another insufferable CG toon about penguins and we're in for an interesting weekend. more ›

Tonight - Friday - January 26th, 2007 Paris (the City) Marathon - Paris, When It Sizzles / An American In Paris / To Paris, With Love (TCM, 5:00 p.m.) A mental vacation for you. Winter X Games (ESPN, 6:30 p.m.) Skiing, men's Superpipe final, Snowmobile SnoCross Women's Final - the Australian Open (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.) It's Sharapova vs Serena Kings @ Canucks (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Charlie Rose (PBS, 11:30 p.m.) Oscar nominees Dame Helen... more ›

A Word or 30: Golden Globes redux: was happy that Sacha Baron Cohen won; Forest Whitaker, OK; Alec Baldwin, thank you; but "Cars"? "Grey's Anatomy"? No wonder I hate those award skeet skeet sessions. Tonight - Tuesday - January 16th, 2007 Blues @ Ducks (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) "American Idol" (Fox, 8:00 p.m.) 2 hour season premiere "America's Funniest Home Videos" (ABC, 8:00 p.m.) A two hour death march of fun "The Unit" (CBS, 9:00... more ›

A Word or 42: There's nothing funnier than watching pundits try to fill in the 7 minutes after a Presidential speech ends and before regular programming resumes. Great delivery on the speech though, it reminded me of the animatronic Lincoln I saw at Disneyland in 1977. Tonight - Thursday - January 11th, 2007 "Smallville" (the CW, 8:00 p.m.) Tori Spelling guests "My Name Is Ed"/"The Office"/"Scrubs"/"30 Rock"/"ER" (NBC, 8-11:00 p.m.) ALL NEW "Ugly Betty"... more ›

That film the Beastie Boys adoringly spoofed for this video is the campy 1968 Euro spy movie Danger Diabolik, and it's playing at The New Beverly tonight and tomorrow. Danger Diabolik - If being a super villain really was all about dashing around the globe in the coolest mod clothes and sleekest sports cars while staging elaborate jewel heists before returning to your posh, super-secret lair to shag your blonde accomplice, this movie is... more ›

Friday Night "The Odessa File" (TCM, 5:00 p.m.) TCM presents an evening of spy movies starting with "The Odessa File", followed by "The Quiller Memorandum" "NHL Hockey" (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Blackhawks @ Ducks "NBA Basketball" (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Raptors @ Lakers "Ice-T's Rap School" (VH1, 9 p.m.) Season finale. "Real Time with Bill Maher" (HBO, 11 p.m.) Season finale. "Charlie Rose" (PBS, 11:30 p.m.): The Dixie Chicks and others, well, not other chicks,... more ›