why the Hollywood writers strike matters

The Writers Guild of America — the people who first create the television shows and the movies that you love — are on strike. They’re on strike because the networks and the studios treat them like shit, treat them like their contribution is incidental to the production of shows and films that fine people like … more…

Ron Livingston on ‘Holly’ and ‘Music Within’

Music Within A few weeks back I was all hot ’n’ bothered over the prospect of seeing two new movies in one week starring Ron Livingston. So you can imagine how much infinitely more, ahem, interesting it was when I managed to snag an interview with him about those films. Yes, interesting is the word. … more…

Cameron Diaz: hideously old, and ugly too?

Speaking of hating the Farrelly Brothers… What the fuck? Malin Akerman, the actress who plays Ben Stiller’s crazy girlfriend in The Heartbreak Kid, is a very pretty gal, but she’s absolutely terrifying in one regard: she’s a damn near clone of Cameron Diaz, who, waiiiiit just a second, was Stiller’s costar nine years ago in … more…

rethinking Josh Hartnett and Ryan Reynolds…

It may sound weird, coming from someone who’s, you know, professionally — and sometimes vociferously — opinionated, but I love discovering that I’ve changed my opinion on an actor or a writer or a director. It means it’s still possible for The Movies to surprise me, and to be surprised is what I’m constantly hoping … more…

Olive Stone, cinematic madman, and his new ‘Alexander’

Consider me the time-traveling National Guardswoman for the Movies: I spent a weekend with ancient warriors on ancient battlefields. After my third look at 300 on Saturday, I spent Sunday with Alexander the Great. Well, Alexander the Not So Great. Okay, Alexander the Toga Ken Doll. As I mentioned recently over at Film.com, Toga Ken … more…