Thursday, June 7, 2007

Lindsay-rehab seems to be doing wonders...NOT

It's nice to see that rehab is working for Lindsay Lohan. Apparently the starlet will be getting out of rehab in time to celebrate her 21st birthday. I can't imagine there will be any alcohol consumed at the event (yeah right--earlier in the year it was rumored that a vodka company would be sponsering the event!). I rant about this because earlier this year I read an interesting article talking about the up-and-coming batch of young starlets and the career decision they will have to make. One of those decisions is whether or not they will join the party crowd. The next generation of hollywood starlets-Hayden Panettiere, Emma Roberts, etc. have to decide whethere they want to follow in the footsteps of Lindsay Lohan and take the underage drinking/partying route, or follow in the footsteps of Hilary Duff and take the goody-two-shoes route. If I were a member of young Hollywood I would take the Lindsay route too. Why? Lindsay's career has been boosted by her "extracurricular" activities. There is no doubt. The squeaky clean image hasn't done anything for Hilary Duff. Granted she has been succesful in movies and music, but she has admittedly had a difficult time crossing over that "Disney" line and into more serious acting roles because of her goody-two-shoes past. Lindsay, on the other hand, had no problem jumping ship from her Disney days thanks in part to her partying. Disney doesn't want the partying starlet attached to their projects and other companies love the fact that Lindsay is attaching herself to an older fan base. Let's also note the consequences of Lindsay's actions. Exhibit A) Rehab. Yeah that has been a blow to her publicity blitz-NOT. Landing on the Maxim top 100 list at number one was her reward for bad behavior. Exhibit B) A written repremand from her boss while working on Georgia Rule. She wasn't fired, and in the aftermath has still managed to maintain her role as one of HOllywood's most sought after youngsters. Yup that's punishment all right. So put yourself in Lindsay's shoes...what would YOU do? Yeah that's what I thought. I'd be throwing myself one hell of a 21st b-day party too.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Brooks not Bad, Hilton finally behind bars

I'll start with the positive (hey I'm an optimistic gal...)... I went and saw Mr. Brooks last night. It was clever, original, intriguing, and suspensful. The acting was superb and lifted a so-so script to higher levels. Kevin Costner and Mel Brooks were phenominal. Dane Cook was alright, you could tell it killed him to have to play a serious role for once. The surprise of the show, for me anyways, was the performance of Danielle Panabaker. The young actress was really good, and underused. The plot line containing her was my favorite part of the movie and it begged to be expanded upon. It could almost be made into a killer sequel (pardon the pun). While Mr. Brooks won't get near as much attention as the other blockbusters of the season, if you are sick of Spidey and not a fan of Ocean's 13 than I suggest giving it a go.

Now for the nasty part of my column. Ok I'm not NASTY, I'm just honest. Paris Hilton is FINALLY in jail. Honestly I thought the whole thing was a joke, some publicity scam, I never thought she'd actually wind up in jail. I really just want the whole ordeal to be over with so entertainment reporters everywhere can go back to talking about things that actually matter. That wont' happen though, because joining Paris will soon be Lindsay Lohan who has once again checked into the celebrity hotel called rehab. I laugh when I talk about LL...people hyped her up to be the next big thing. And she is, she has the looks, the drama, the (dang I almost said talent)... People think that Lindsay has more talent and star potential than her former feud/squeaky clean tween queen Hilary Duff. Let's compare the two:
Lindsay:
MOVIES
*Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
-Is there anything positive to say about this Disney disaster?
*Herbie: Fully Loaded
- Wow she starred in a movie with a talking car...and it tanked
*Mean Girls
-I loved it...I think Rachel McAdams and the rest of the supporting cast were the reason for the movie's success but I'll give credit to Lohan for her spunk.
*Bobbie
-one of the best films I've seen in a really long time. Lindsay had nothing to do with it's success though. Her role was small and overshadowed by the bigger names appearing in the movie.
*Prairie Home Companion
-Did you see it? I sure didn't. Maybe my grandma did though...
*Just My Luck
-I was lucky, until I spent money to see this movie. Bad just doesn't do it justice.
*Georgia Rule
-I want to see it...mostly due to the controversy surrounding Lohan's behavior while working on the film. I doubt it will win any awards though.
MUSIC
*I think she's had two albums. I don't know because after SPEAK things went downhill fast. Her song Rumors won over the club scene but there hasn't been much noise from her since. Although, I hear drinking ruins your vocal chords so she probably sounds like a horse now anyways.
I have to interject here because the female anchor at the station I am working at just came in yelling "Prince is on. Prince is on. He's my boyfriend. Look at him...he is one sexy MOFO". That was worth sharing. I don't think Prince and "sexy" have ever been used like that in a sentence before.

Hilary Duff:
MOVIES
*Agent Cody Banks
-the movie was the perfect tween film. Co-starring with Frankie Muniz was ingenious. The movie was bad, but in the best way possible-it banked big time.
*The Lizzie McGuire Movie
-If it ain't broke don't fix it...so Disney didn't fix it, they made it better. They took the successful TV series and blew it up. Not only did Hilary get to act, she got to jumpstart her singing career using this 100+ million dollar earner.
*Cadet Kelly
-The Dinsey Channel original film brought in the most viewers EVER for a TV movie. It eventually made it to DVD where tweens everywhere could relive their favorite military moments.
*A Cinderella Story
-Let's take Red HOT Chad Michael Murray (the star of one very popular ONE TREE HILL) add the comedic talents of Jennifer Coolige and Regina King and you've got a winner. The Cinderella storyline is a proven winner, and the fact that Hilary Duff doesn't sing in the movie (only in the soundtrack to the film) is an added bonus.
*Raise Your Voice
-This movie cracks me up. It was all about the music, but it didn't have a soundtrack. Oliver James was cute, as was Jason Ritter (too bad he died within the first fifteen minutes of the film) but that wasn't enough to carry this tune. It fell flat in theatres but it did work, once again, to promote Hilary as a musical talent.
*Cheaper By the Dozen (1 and 2)
-here is a career move. Team up with Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Tom Welling, Piper Perabo, Eugene Levy, Carmen Electra, and Ashton Kutcher and you will most certainly have a winner. Both of these movies raked it in at the box office. Hilary's parts were huge, but she showed how important a supporting role can be, and she brought in hords of tweens to theatres.
*Material Girls
-Flop doesn't even begin to describe this disaster. Even Anjelica Houston couldn't revive this death wish. The script was written for Mary Kate and Ashley Olson (you know how great their previous films have been) but instead went to Hilary and Haylie Duff. Madonna's Maverick films made the movie, but it almost didn't get to theatres. No one wanted to pick it up. Thank God they did because if not a couple thousand tweens wouldn't have been able to suffer through that horrific piece of film-making.
MUSIC
*Metamorphasis
-this album truly was a change for the teen queen who had previously lent her voice to a number of feature film soundtracks. It went multi-platinum and launched her into an undeniable stardom. All that other junk was well..."So yesterday"
*Hilary Duff
-catchy title for the lady's second album (not included her little Christmas diddy) but it still launched into stores thanks to a catchy single (Fly) and the release of the movie in which three of the songs were featured (Raise Your Voice).
*Most Wanted
-When you are 18 and you have a greatest hits album that says something. This third CD went with her Most Wanted tour that sold out nation-wide. She only put three new tracks on the album that, once again, sold like mad.
*Dignity
-Hil spent some time on this last one. Two years after her last release she had suffered a major breakup, a severe self-image change, and some family drama the Duffster took charge of her career and co-wrote every song on the new album. It worked. Her first single, With Love, is on the Top-40 charts and has been re-mixed for clubs. It was the feature song for her new commercial where she introduces her new perfume (also titled WITH LOVE). The video is sexy, mature, and well beyond what most HD fans are used to.

So who has had the better career up to this point? At times it may be hard to tell. Had Hilary decided to go clubbing and end up in rehab you might say her...the press would have had a reason to be all over her, and her movies would have earned more money thanks to fans who love drama. She didn't, though, and as a result has had to work that much harder to get in the spotlight. When she does land on a magazine cover, or in the chair next to Kelly Ripa, you know it's because she did something big business wise, not because she bonged a beer the night before. Moms have applauded her squeaky clean image with allowing their kids to be a fan... Now, at a mere 19 years old, Hilary has to get the rest of the world onboard. Are you in? If so you'll have a chance to soon catch the much more mature Hilary starring along John Cusack in War, Inc.



Thursday, May 31, 2007

Magic Kingdom won't be so magic for long...

I used to think Magic Kingdom was...well...magic. But in 2009 Disney's theme park will have a new competitor that may just cast a spell over you. Universal Studios has announced plans for the new Harry Potter theme park...complete with Hogwarts and a number of other well-known locations from the books and movies. The lead art designer for the Harry Potter movies is leading the team of designers and with help too from author J.K. Rawling the park is sure to stay true to the world millions of readers and movie goers have grown to love. I would certainly stand in line for a trip aboard the Hogwarts Express!

I screened Knocked Up tonight. I haven't laughed in a movie that hard since the first Shrek came out. My stomach literally hurts right now. Fork over the 8 dollars and get a ticket because this one is really worth seeing in theatres. It's clever, refreshing, sometimes absurd, but most of all it is honest (in that Everybody Loves Raymond sort of way).

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Duff-Lohan make up..bummer

MSNBC is reporting that the Hilary Duff/ Lindsay Lohan feud is over. Apparently the two met and a party and decided it would be better to be friends than enemies...that's no fun. I suspect Lindsay has to use her energy to party rather than feud. The teen starlet is heading back to rehab thanks to a weekend DUI. Here is my thought on this: She makes a few million for every film she is in...can't she afford a taxi when she's drunk? An added piece of dirt...the cops found cocaine in Lindsay's car after pulling her over. My worry is that rehab isn't anything more than a 30 day celebrity vacation. I might check myself into that Malibu, CA rehab center just so I won't have to work for a month (ok that's not funny...people with serious issues might actually be in attendence...but still...).
Pirates plundered box offices this past Memorial Day weekend. I was one of the millions that saw it in its opening week. If you haven't seen it yet and are planning to, I recommend that you watch the second movie first to refresh your memory. The moviemakers didn't waste any time recapping the plot thus leaving me in the dark for the first 30 minutes of the movie.
I almost forgot! Hilary Duff may no longer be fighting with Lindsay...but according to MSNBC she is most certainly feuding with Avril Lavine. The two were supposed to show up at the Maxim Hot 100 party...at seperate times but ended up arriving together (Personally I don't think that was a mistake...). Avril apparently threw a fit and threatened to leave. I love how Hollywood is like an episode of 7th Heaven on steroids (only there are no lessons learned and the religion of choice is Scientology...).

I would love some feedback folks. I feel like I am writing for myself (which I probably am...). If you are reading this LET ME KNOW!!!!! I want to hear what you have to say about Hollywood's hottest stories. Shoot me an email at wolv.ebuzz@umich.edu. Until then....you have just been buzzed~!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Stoneless

So this post is going to stray from the typical Hollywood gossip I usually post. I focus today on a loss to television news journalism. Budget cutting has forced NBC to not renew Dateline anchor Stone Phillips contract at the end of this year. I am personally saddened by this as Stone has always been as much a part of Dateline as Barbara Walters was 20/20. Granted 20/20 has survived without Barbara's presence...but I still vow it isn't even close to being the same program. NBC viewers will suffer that same loss when Stone leaves the show.

Now for my usual tidbit of Hollywood news. If you haven't heard already Nicolas Cage will be back in another installment of National Treasure. I was a fan of the first and am thus looking forward to the December 21st release of this latest feature film.

I am going to vent quickly about a few annoying Hollywood tidbits. A) I am sick of hearing about American Idol. Maybe it's just me but I am feeling like this season's show is getting more press than normal and I can't stand it. At this point I don't even care who wins as long as it is over soon. B) If one more Entertainment show does a feature on Anna Nicole Smith I might just have to give up EBUZZ alltogether. I feel it is an injustice to entertainment shows everywhere. There is still as much press now as the day she died. Was she really that important? Name one positive thing she did for the country...something that could be worthy of all this coverage...anyone? Please?! C) I think the criteria for movie critics needs to change. The movies raking in the most dough at the box office are the same movies that are receiving the poorest ratings. People don't go to films because they have ingenious plots, excellent cinematography, and stellar acting performances. They go when they are a) blockbusters, b) star incredibly high profile actors and actresses, and C) when they have caused a controversy. Why aren't the things people want to see in movies taken into consideration when critics review films? I could write a paper on this subject but I will just let you linger on this thought for now.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Because I Said So

I am sitting in the news room at WZZM TV 13 in Grand Rapids and an Entertainment story just popped up on the wire. It is the DVD sales and rental results according to Blockbuster. I was thrilled to note that Because I Said So was number one on both lists. If I'm not mistaken I did write a previous post claiming that the film starring Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Piper Perabo, Lauren Graham, Gabriel Macht, and Stephen Collins should be a hit. I would just like to point out that according to sales and rentals I am not the only person who thinks so.
On a different note I am excited about Shrek the Third's release today. I fully intend on seeing it this weekend. I just want to know what the kareoke song at the end of the movie is this time. Those are always my favorite. The soundtrack to the Shrek films are always amazing. Well I have to get back to work. Thanks for letting me gloat!

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Caught in Spidey's Web

I did it. I said I wouldn't but I caved. I went to Spider-man 3 in its opening weekend. And...I loved it! I admit going into the theatre I was a pessimist. I wasn't enthralled with the second movie in the series and thus I wasn't really looking forward to this latest edition. I have been so wrapped up in the trailers for Harry Potter, Oceans 13, and Pirates of the Caribbean, that I have overlooked my web-slinging superhero. Shame on me. The edition of Topher Grace to the cast, and the reprized role of James Franco made the movie for me. I wasn't a bit overwhelmed by the sheer multitude of villains, instead I was thrilled with their presence throughout the film. Kirsten Dunst didn't really do much for me, but for once she had a storyline that tested her acting chops and forced her to play something other than JUST the damsel in distress (although she was that too). If you haven't already, shell out the 8 bucks, because this summer blockbuster has set the bar high and will deliver.
While at the theatre I was treated to the trailer of Lindsay Lohan's latest flick- Georgia Rule. It reminded me that Mother's Day is quickly approaching. If you haven't the slightest idea what you are going to get your mom I have something that might just save the day. "Because I Said So" is hoping to bank off its appropriately timed DVD release. This Tuesday you can pick up the movie that had me heading to the theatre for an encore. Starring Diane Keaton (Family Stone), Mandy Moore (American Dreamz), Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly), and Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) this laugh-out-loud comedy may just hit too close to home for some (I know it did for my mom when she saw it!). If nothing else rent it and do a mother-daughter (guys can watch it with their moms too...just be warned it is most certainly a chick flick) movie night. It will be one for the books!

I know this isn't a sports blog (Tim and Paul have that one covered) but I have to give a shout out to the Red Wings because as a Detroit sports fan I am all about the win today in Hockeytown! Go Wings!