Well, no one who is high profile in Hollywood died this week. So maybe these headlines won’t spark the same vitriol they did last week. Only one way to find out:

• Uwe Boll - director behind such famously bad movies as Alone in the Dark and BloodRayne (really, what did anyone expect from a movie with this title) as well as the only director (that I’m aware of) to challenge his critics to a boxing match - is at it again. It seems there is an online petition calling for him to stop making movies that’s up to 180,000 signatures so Mr. Boll started his own petition and deemed it Long Live Uwe Boll, confidently speculating that it will get a million signatures. Both of these petitions are patently absurd for a number of reasons, one being that ONLINE PETITIONS DON’T DO ANYTHING. But here’s my question: why aren’t these anti-Bollers lobbying the studios. I mean, it’s not like he’s some independent producer…he keeps getting hired. Or, you could just not see his movies and spend your time on something more important, like feeding dogs and rescuing the homeless. Or something.
• Teen horror flick Prom Night was number one at the box office this weekend. I love a good slasher movie as much as the next girl, but I kind of miss the Scream franchise. Where are you, Kevin Williamson? Stop messing around in Palm Springs and make me some more cheeky horror movies!

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An abbreviated obituary for Charlton Heston while I start a preliminary one for UTA…

• Of course, the biggest industry news this week was the death of Charlton Heston who took his arsenal to heaven Saturday night. I guess his next chariot race will be with Helios.
• April 5th, 2008 would have been Bette Davis’ 100th birthday. Today’s starlets could take a lesson from Ms. Davis’ legacy.No shrinking violet, she may have been written off as heartless, difficult and even bitchy but there was no denying that there was unparalleled talent behind those trademark eyes. Whatever happened to class?
• According to the LA Times, Thandie Newton is set to play Condoleeza Rice in Oliver Stone’s ‘W.’ Oliver Stone has *seen* Condoleeza Rice, right?
• In agency news Nick Stevens, co-owner of UTA and Shar….Shr…oh, sorry I almost fell asleep there since I couldn’t really care any less about agency news. But since you might, Stevens along with UTA partners Sharon Sheinwold and Lisa Hallerman are leaving the agency for Endeavor. This put big name clients - mostly from UTA’s quickly dwindling comedy roster - more or less up for grabs, including Judd Apatow, Judd Apatow, Jonah Hill, Amy Poehler, Jasons Bateman and Lee, Paul Rudd and Andy Samberg. My oh my, whatever will these millionaires do?

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Now that everything is back in full swing following the writer’s strike, there is a ton of movie business news going on! I’ve waded through it so you don’t have to.

• The trial of alleged wiretapper Anthony Pellicano continued in L.A. this week. The LA Times reports that the prosecution introduced tapes of Pellicano and ‘Die Hard’ director John McTiernan discussing tapping producer Chuck Roven’s phones to find out what he was saying about McTiernan while the pair were working on the colossal flop ‘Rollerball.’ Corruption and hyper-egotism in the entertainment business? Who’da thunk? Just shut your eyes and try to remember how awesome ‘Die Hard’ was.
• Jim Sturgess (I know, who??) vehicle ‘21‘ was Number One at the Box Office this weekend for some reason. That reason probably being that nothing else is playing. Also, what’s the deal with this poster? It makes me think the movie is about a black jack game at Les Deux.

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This week brings South Park back on the air, along with the popular Top Chef. There are also a couple of premieres that may be interesting. The Pac-10 tournament begins on Wednesday, putting college basketball fanatics out of commission for a few days. This and more in this week’s TV picks.

What to Watch Live

South Park (Wednesday, Comedy Central, 10 PM)

Defying all predictions made at its debut, Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s oft-criticized but much-beloved show has managed to make it to its twelfth season, which premieres on Wednesday night. Join Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman for what promises to be another exciting season.

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10,000 BC was easily number one at the box office this week, raking in $36 million. More than doubling the second place film College Road Trip. As the movie approached its opening day, the #1 question that everyone was asking was “will it live up to the hype?” We’ll I’m here to tell you that it did, kind of. It had its flaws, but over all it was a fun and entertaining movie experience.

*No major spoilers* In the start we hear a prophecy tell us that a young warrior will defeat the demons and bring peace to his tribe. When a little girl, named Evolet (Camilla Belle), with blue eyes is saved from the demons and brought to the tribe, Mother (the tribes spiritual leader) foretells that the warrior that saves them will be this young girls partner. Well there’s no mystery who the warrior will be, cause a young boy named D’leh (Steven Strait) falls in love with her instantly and promises to always keep her in his heart.

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10,000,00 B.C. has proved that people love going back in time with the latest special effects. Apparently the bible belt wasn’t as hard on it as I expected, as it’s hit#1 on the charts. Or else it’s just like all the Jewish people going to see The Passion of the Christ out of curiosity. With College Road Trip right behind it I’m doubtful that anyone out there was looking for any ground breaking films. Juno, No Country for Old Men, and There Will be Blood have all been knocked off the list. To round off our top three is Vantage Point, which in all honesty surprises me, I have yet to see it but have not heard one good thing about it. The Other Boleyn Girl, is the only film that has some sense of reality and history to it (10,000 B.C. is NOT about history - it’s an action flick) but even that’s a bit loose with the details. With Jumper, Step up 2 the Streets, and Fool’s Gold rounding up our top ten, I feel pretty secure stating that this weekend was all about the popcorn.

So here is your box office top 10!

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Before any of you start to freak out, don’t worry this is not going to be a movie review. I understand SPOILERS & how dangerous they can be, so you won’t have to fear that kind of shit from me. I just want to address actor/director Jon Favreau’s upcoming Iron Man flick. Within the halls and corridors of Hollywood it’s widely known that Favreau is an incredibly comic book savvy individual who prefers a “story first” approach to the traditional CGI and teen-sales angle taken on by most studios.

Over the past several years film audiences have been bombarded with comic book hero films and remakes to the likes of which I’m sure no one ever expected. So, because of this massive influx, literally tons of otherwise un-producible movies have been shown the light of day. The sad reality is that at least 75% of all these flicks are wash out teen-action popcorn movies. Now, I know you’re thinking, comic book movies, aren’t they all popcorn movies? Sure there is a youth contingent but you’d be wrong to assume that only kids like comic books or for that matter movies about comics.

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There is a lot to choose from this weekend. No huge releases, but plenty to keep you entertained. 10,000 B.C. (which is sure to get some people’s knickers in a twist) comes out tomorrow. It looks like it have amazing special effects, with possibly a little bit of history thrown in. The Bank Job is yet another shot um up, clever, action movie with Jason Statham. Sadly, I don’t think this will be another Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but it is getting some good reviews. CJ7, is basically a Japanese version of Flubber. College Road Trip is Martin Lawrence not at his best. Cheezy joke, after cheezy joke. I bet it does well. Married Life is about a husband who loves his wife so much, that he has to kill her in order to marry someone else. At least it sounds interesting. My pick for the week is Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, with Amy Adams and Frances McDormand, how could you go wrong? Snow Angels may be hard to find but is supposed to be amazing, so if you can, try to make some time for it.

Here it is, you’re movie list, reviews, ticket information, and trailers for the week!

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If any of you people out there still like to watch GOOD movies, then Mr. Brett Morgen has got something for you. If you’re a little bit confused about whom I’m referring to you’ll have to think back 2002 and try and remember a film entitled The Kid Stays in the Picture. A splendid Doc about legendary Paramount Studios film producer Robert Evans and his Hollywood rise & fall, then eventual rise again.

What a truly entertaining and technically breakthrough film, up until that point no filmmakers had revolutionized still image manipulation to create a feel of movement and a three-dimensional reality. If you haven’t seen it then you need to Netflix it or go to Blockbuster and check that shit out.

Now you know who I’m talking about and that’s important because next I’m going to tell you about his latest project Chicago 10. The Chicago 10 was a group of 60’s political radicals and lawyers that were put on trial for inciting a riot in Chicago, at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. It’s no secret today that the trial was a complete BULL SHIT media circus that resulted in a railroading instead of a verdict. But I feel most people, up until now, with Brett’s film, haven’t really exposed how the whole event went down.

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There is some good stuff to choose from this week! You have Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro starring in Danish director Susanne Bier’s first American production Things We Lost in the Fire (which just happened to open the same weekend that wildfires swept through Southern California last year). Sean Penn’s critically acclaimed adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 1996 non-fiction bestseller, Into the Wild. Then you have the Sidney Lumet’s 1957 directorial debut 12 Angry Men being released for it’s 50th anniversary. There’s the Two-Disc Platinum Edition of Disney’s original 1961 animated film 101 Dalmatians, featuring the character Cruella de Vil and the obligatory 101 dalmatians.

• 101 Dalmatians | Review | Buy Now
• 12 Angry Men | Review | Buy Now
• Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!  | Buy Now
• Into the Wild | Review | Buy Now
• Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium | Review | Buy Now
• My Kid Could Paint That | Review | Buy Now
• Saturday Night Live Lost & Found: In The ’80s | Buy Now
• Things We Lost in the Fire | Review | Buy Now
• Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs & A Baby | Buy Now

Well, Ferrel and Semi-Pro win the weekend. I’ve been hearing mixed reviews so we’ll see if it stands the test of time. I’m surprised to see Vantage Point in the top 3, especially since all I’ve heard it that it’s laughably bad even with it’s amazing cast. The Other Boleyn Girl did resonibly well, at least the cast is more believable than the Tudors on Showtime. I was excited to see the Academy Award winning film No Country for Old Men finally make it to the top ten. Although There Will be Blood, got knocked off, Juno is sticking in there grossing more than what most of the big blockbusters will ever see. Penelope, the movie about a girl with a pig nose, which is whoring out James McEvoy who shot it before Atonement, managed to sneak into the top 10. Although it has an amazing cast, I doubt we’ll be seeing it for too much longer.

Your Top 10:

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Remember when action movies were rated R? Remember when Don Johnson was the shit? Phil Blankenship at New Bev Midnights does, and he pumps out the hits. Made to capitalize on the Reluctant Hero 80’s, “Harley Davison and the Marlboro Man” follows Mickey Rourke as a biker with a soul to to bleed. He hooks up with Don Johnson. They tear shit up. The end.

Writer/Producer Don Michael Paul will be present for Q & A. Tonight - Midnite - New Beverly - Tickets at the door, 15 minutes before - Map

Before there were reluctant heroes, there was “Rocky.” He fought for love when all the world wanted was hate, and I think he’s cooler than Jesus. You decide - Arclight Sherman Oaks - Monday March 3, 7:30 - Tickets - Map

And then there was the man who loved to hate, Charles Bukowski. Are you an intelligent alcoholic? Come join the flock for rare Bukowski movies - Wednesday, March 5 at 8:00 - 7 Dudley Cinema - Venice - Arrive Early, it’s free - Map

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