Sony thrilled they didn't stick with financially riskier, historically accurate all-Asian cast | Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Though the stumble by Leatherheads was the big weekend box office story, I think it's equally significant that little 21--a movie with relatively modest expectations--led the pack for the second week in a row. It's take of $15.1M ($46.5M) easily outpaced Leatherheads which debuted to a weak estimate of $13.4M and may ultimately finish third behind......

What's so amazing about this picture is that John Krasinski is only 5'7" | Photo courtesy of Universal I'll be in the minority when I attend Leatherheads this weekend because I'm not going to see George Clooney. As an increasingly obsessive fan of The Office (I record the repeats on TNT), I'm paying to see my man John Krasinski finally--let's hope--be in a good movie. After mega-stinkers like License to Wed and The Holiday......

Why would Michael Smegal, 42, of Holliston, MA send hundreds of letters to various people around Los Angeles, including Van Nuys Airport informing them of his plans to blow up Van Nuys Airport? The Answer is simple: "The FBI said Smeagal targeted airports because he believed they were connected to the Screen Actors Guild, which he feels had been making disparaging remarks about Foster," according to KCBS. See, makes sense! Federal agents did a search......

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford didn't exactly set the box-office on fire when it landed in theaters. Something tells me, though, that this superb, meditative neo-Western will enjoy a long life on DVD. Across the Universe is the world's longest music video and a treat for any Beatles fan (and only for Beatles' fans!). Elizabeth - The Golden Age was unexpectedly ripped by critics.......

Jennifer Lopez's twins will receive the royal treatment- the mommy to be was seen picking up onesies that read "Prince" and "Princess" - NY Daily News A new feud perhaps? Jessica Simpson reportedly "went nuts" after hearing that her faux BFF Eva Longoria was haning out with ex John Mayer - Page Six Paris Hilton an Oompa Loompa hero? The heiress gave comfort and protection to a dismayed and injured performer dressed as an......

Because he's too shy (and way too busy) to announce it here himself, I am proud to do the honors: Zach Behrens has officially accepted the Editor position here at LAist and he'll be starting on December 17th. BloggingLA has the announcement, as well as a nice picture of the new editor's "Sexy Face." That's how you get your Canadian fanbase, Behrens!!! Rain. Please. Rain. Effects of the strike are starting to ripple out......

FASHION: Inside Project Runway hits Beverly Hills tonight. Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the production, the catfights and, oh yeah, the fashion. Heidi Klum will be there, and organizers promise a few surprise guests. (The main auditorium is sold out, but a few tickets remain for the overflow theatre.) 7 pm // The Paley Center for Media // 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills // $7 for closed-circuit viewing room. OPERA:The LA Opera brings......

Grab a beer friends, we survived the week. I still got hours of junk Tivo'd that I'm supposed to watch but on the calendar it says it's Friday and that's a great thing. Late night TV is super busy tonight, check it out: a free Paris Hilton, Michael Douglas, Seth Myers, Jenny McCarthy. Also, LeBron James is on SNL tomorrow - have a great weekend. 5:00pm-11:00pm Body Switcharoo Marathon TCM - A rock block of......

Jodie Foster's rather inexplicable box-office appeal was on half-display this weekend as The Brave One pulled in a mediocre 14 million dollars to top the charts. Early forecasts had suggested a 17-20 million dollar haul but mixed reviews, an R-rating and rather dark subject matter cut into those expectations. 3:10 to Yuma held strong in its second weekend, stealing an additional 9.15M and raising its treasure chest to 28.5M. The pitifully-reviewed Mr. Woodcock came......

Well known for their masterful tango bowing and plucking skills, Quartet San Francisco will be making their Los Angeles entrada this Friday at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, a non-profit theatre run by Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, a bilingual school that has seen actresses such as Jodie Foster, Claire Danes, Shannon Doherty and others pass through. The school's Theatre, which has a regular season that begins this Friday, is dedicated to French and international......

Protest over national vs. regional chains, the never-ending debate over the place of cars and bicycles in our metropolises, professional sports scandals, remembering a solemn day, and being issued a search warrant - it all happened across our sites this week! Another banner week at Chicagoist started off with daily reports from food writer Lisa Shames on her attempt to eat only locally grown and raised foodstuffs all week as part of a farmers......

It's a fairly busy release schedule tomorrow with a few studio pictures and a bunch of indies hitting the screens. Neil Jordan directs Jodie Foster in The Brave One (or, as it was originally titled, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang: The Lady Bernie Goetz Story). Reviews are mostly positive and it does have the supremely underrated Nicky Katt (and the formerly underrated, now probably properly rated Terrence Howard), so I'll give it a......

The only thing this week means to me is that It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia premieres on Thursday. I've seen some previews and goddam if that shit isn't funny. 9:00pm Dateline NBC - Sensationalist exploitation of the Connecticut home invasion by 2 ex-cons that left a woman and her 2 daughters dead and her husband badly beaten. 10:00pm Saving Grace TNT - For lack of anything better (Dr. 90210 anyone??) I guess the only choice......

John Fogerty, Blind Boys of Alabama, Lowrider Band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, James Cotton, others @ Doheny Blues Festival, Dana Point Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest featuring Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan, Molly’s Revenge, Peter Feldmann & The Very Lonesome Boys @ Paramount Ranch Embrace the Hate Festival starring Demoncy, Nokturne, Sumeria, Crimson Moon, Incursus, Tenebrous, Legions of Asatroth, Ashdautas, Infinitum Obscure @ Knitting Factory Backbiter,......

Bugsy Malone -- Wanna see a movie set during Prohibition where all the gangsters are played by kids and instead of hooch they're warring over custard? Did I mention the film is a musical AND that it stars Scott Baio and Jodie Foster? Directed by Alan Parker, Bugsy Malone is playing as part of a double feature alongside Robert Altman's Popeye. Tonight's the last night, so get your sweet little ass over to the New......

Tonight - Tuesday Lakers @ Bulls (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) (What In) Sam Houston State @ UCLA (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) College Basketball Flames @ Kings (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) "Identity" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) This is the only non-repeat thing on at 8 pm. "Big Day" (ABC, 9:00 p.m.) Back-to-back new episodes, yip..... pee.... "Independent Lens" (PBS, 10:00 p.m.) Profile of 5 Cuban photographers - flickr, go eat your jeart out. "The Little Girl Who Lives Down......

Well, another former child actor crashes and burns -- literally. Last month, Haley Joel Osment crashed his Saturn near his La Cañada-Flintridge home. He suffered a broken rib and a shoulder injury. While we speculated on the cause of the crash, we thought we'd give him a break. But now we learn that The Sixth Sense kid was drunk driving and carrying the ganja. According to the LA Times: Osment was charged with driving......

This LAist contributor would watch a BMW ad if it promised Clive Owen, so we happily handed over the $ to see Inside Man yesterday without complaint. Plus Denzel Washington? Crime thriller — whatever. We know a chick flick when we see one. We kid. It is a crime thriller, and director Spike Lee knocks it out of the park. Everything moves along at a good clip, and it's got some nice twists and......