Between Kanye West's Runaway and Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, ballet is staging a serious cinematic comeback. Black Swan opened at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, and the psychosexual thriller has soared from festival to festival ever since, in the same company as Aronofsky's previous film The Wrestler. more ›

Shutter Island destroyed all comers this weekend, bringing in a huge $40.2M to easily win the box office crown. The debut was a personal best for both Martin Scorcese and Leo Di Caprio...which is kind of tragic actually. Last week's champ, Valentine's Day collapsed in its second frame (yay!), but still brought in a shameful $17.1M ($87.4M) while Avatar doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon ($16.1M | $687.8 Fucking Million Dollars!). Percy Jackson & The Olympians: World's Longest Title ($15.3M | $58.7M) did much better in its second weekend than the unterrible The Wolfman ($9.8M | $50.3M). more ›

I love Martin Scorcese, but frankly I'm just ready for him to collaborate with an actor other than Leo. Their latest joint effort is Shutter Island which, by all impressions, is a meticulously crafted mind-fuck. Will I see it? Yes. Will I love it? That would surprise me. What I could love, though, is Ghost Writer. Edited from his chalet prison in Switzerland, it's Polanski's latest film. Considering how much I've been watching Chinatown in the last year (at least ten times in its entirety), I'm very much in the mood for new Roman. Reviews have been pretty solid, so I'm excited. Trust me on this one -- most of you will resist seeing The 2010 Oscar Nominated Short Films. Trust me on this one, too -- everyone who does will love them. Can we put a stop to Brian Greenberg? I'm just not getting the appeal, folks. The Good Guy is his latest. Alexis Bledel and Trini Alvarado are great, though so maybe it's worth a look. Nah! more ›

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is so expertly crafted that one can't help but marvel at it from a technical viewpoint. As a story, however, the film is just so-so. Sure, it's a provocative premise, but Brad Pitt is almost lifeless as the titular character. Dustin Hoffman is one of the handful of actors whose movies I will always see. Last Chance Harvey is a poignant and wistful reminder that it's never too late to do all for love. What I said about Dustin Hoffman above, same goes for the amazing Michelle Williams. LOOK works better as an idea than an actual movie. Still, Rhys Coiro is fast becoming one of my favorite unknown actors. more ›

In Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood has finally fused his many previous cinema personas into something both grand and elegant. It belongs in the Oscar conversation (plus Clint sings!). Doubt was timelier when it opened onstage years back, but how do you miss anything featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep ( excepted)? The Day the Earth Stood Still might be worth watching if virtually anyone other than Keanu Reeves inhabited the central role. He's a likable schlumpf in a role that demands an actor with a quiet and menacing charisma. Michael Shannon anyone? more ›

In a bit of a surprise, the surrogate pregnancy comedy target audience forgot that the movie was opening and spent their weekend eating a family-size bag of Doritos. more ›

I think it will be hard for Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay to replicate the success of the original seems bigger, more absurd and ultimately less funny. Still, I'll be there. Probably a little buzzed, too. more ›

Reports are surfacing this morning of a secret memorial service held last night in Westwood for Heath Ledger, who was found dead earlier this week in a New York apartment. more ›

Gothamist, parent site to LAist, is reporting the death of Heath Ledger. "Actor Heath Ledger was found dead in downtown Manhattan apartment by the police. Some reports say he died from an overdose." Ledger lived on Broome street. more ›

The Posh and Becks welcome party is still going strong, with a welcome party thrown by their new besties Tom and Katie - Daily Mail more ›

Last night was Emmy Night. So what did first time amateur ghost hunter/enthusiast, Bekka Reed, do? Go ghost hunting at the Chateau Marmont, which is rumored to be haunted. Did she have any luck, or were there just too many celebrities hanging around after the Emmys? You went out to find ghosts, any luck? Felt definite energy, but no manifestations. I saw many celebrities, but I suck with names. If Heath Ledger weren’t so... more ›

Well, it's Red Bulls and vodka for those of you playing the LAist Oscar drinking game. ? Really? That was the one nominated film this contributor has seen, and, as Jason observed months ago, that movie featured well-crafted dialogue, but blatant messages more than subtle insight. But it was the cherry on top of the Academy's Sunday of earnest self-congratulation. more ›

We're bouncing back and forth between the NBC and E! red carpet broadcasts. Woah, Dean Cain is carpeteering for NBC and he still looks like Scott Peterson. Dean, it's time to lose the highlights. more ›