Pan's Labyrinth is a Great (Albeit Gory) Film

I was able to sneak in time this past weekend to see Guillermo del Toro's new film Pan's Labyrinth which I had been dying to see. It's one of those films that came out over a month ago in L.A. and New York and only made it to one theater in D.C. just this past weekend.

The movie is fantastic in both its originality and cinematography. Del Toro weaves a strangely realistic fairy tale set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. A small girl named Ofelia has to battle both the monsters in her backyard labyrinth as well as the evil stepfather who is a captain in Franco's army.

The film gets a bit cluttered in characterization and does meander a bit, but overall it comes together well. And for those who hate fantasy films, Pan's Labyrinth may have a faun, and a giant toad, and a monter or two lurking about, but it's not meant to be a Lord of the Rings movie. No, it's firmly grounded in a bloody, terrifying, landscape of modern war. If anything, the gore is what was most surprising.

But for me, the real shocker is when the man with no eyes lifts his arms toward Ofelia and we see the strange eyeballs on the palms of his hands. Even though this scene was in the preview, I still think everyone in the theater gasped.

Grey's Anatomy Cast Member Lets Loose Again

Notice I used the words "cast member" not "star." And that's simply because Grey's Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington is probably the least integral, least stealthy actor on the show. Everything he does is over the top.

Kind of like when he and Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy) came to fistacuffs a few months ago after Washington called T.R. Knight (George) a faggot. All sorts of things happened: T.R. came out of the closet. The cast was banned from talking to the press.

Well this Monday Isaiah took the microphone during a Golden Globes post-show interview and suddenly yelled "I did not call T.R. Knight a faggot." The guy is nuts. Crazy. They just won best drama at the Globes, a great feat and moment for the cast and this moron taints everything in his bizarre and awkward attempt to save face.

The worst part is that he's a liar. T.R. Knight tells it like it is on Ellen Degeneres today. Grey's should dump Isaiah on his ass.

Notes on a Scandal

I haven't had a chance until today to talk about Notes on a Scandal which I saw this past weekend after Children of Men. As you would imagine, it contains superb performances by both Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett--two actresses I'd almost say can do no wrong.

I went in thinking it was going to be a prep school love story between a teacher and student, kind of having a sad nostalgia about it. But I couldn't have been more wrong. The movie is a tense drama, almost a thriller, where the tension builds and builds and builds until something finally has to collapse.

The powers that be are selling the movie in an odd way, with barely a glimpse of the movie and just suggesting you should see it for Dench and Blanchett alone. But my guess is that if they better diplayed the movie's tension and drama, they might get more than just an arthouse crowd. And I have to say that though Judi Dench has never looked uglier in a role (purposefully, I'm sure), where she goes dramatically was surprising as hell.

Trump Ratings Low, Rosie Screams at Barbara

I don't want to spend much time on this at all except to gloat that Trump's Apprentice debuted to its lowest ratings yet. It got beat by Desperate Housewives, Without a Trace, and Brothers & Sisters. Too bad Trump can funnel some of that crazybig ego into some solid ratings. Instead, he fires Carolyn and gets mean with Rosie, but to no avail.

Rosie herself got mean to Barbara Walters on Monday, or so PageSix says. The paper reports that the day she returned to the show after vacation she screamed at Barbara behind the scenes. Rosie said that Trump was telling the truth, and that Barabara regreeted hiring her. That's why Barbara never really defended her, or stood up to Trump and said he was lying.

Children of Men

I went into the scifi thriller Children of Men this weekend not really knowing what to expect. I love Julianne Moore and Clive Owen, but the movie seems to be completely under the radar. Maybe every once in a while a tv commercial will come on that says, "A Bladerunner for the 21st century," but that's about it.

But I'm glad I gave the movie a chance because was riveting. It was terribly difficult to watch and completely stressful, but also thought-provoking and mezmerizing. I'm convinced more than ever that Clive Owen is a brilliant actor. He does just as well in this sort of "every man" action role as he does in the very character-specific dramatic roles of say Gosford Park or Croupier.

When you go to the theatre to check out this film, you'll find yourself immersed in a world of decay and violence. There are images that seem just out of of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, and scenes of terrorist bombings that could be taking place in almost any major city today. This "future" is so bleak that humans have even lost the ability to have children.

What's so harrowing about Alfonso Cuaron's new film is that it is meant to take place only 20 years in our future. Sadly, his vision of 2027 seems fairly convincing--a place where pollution, war, and the suspension of human rights and dignity have created a world in which none of us will want to live. You might even say a world in which none of us would want to bring new life.

Oh the Power of Pop Tarts

I love this story about the Ken Barnes, Jr. (above left), the American who tried to sail alone around the world. Last week around South America's Cape Horn, his boat began to sink and he had to stay afloat and alive in ice-cold Pacific Ocean waters until he was rescued by a fishing boat. He stayed alive by eating Pop Tarts and granola bars.

I can only imagine who will play the good looking sailor when his story is optioned for a tv movie. I nominate cutie actor Richard Ruccolo (above right), though he'll have to get all gruff and sport a beard. But can't you already hear it, "brought to you commercial free by our friends at Pop Tarts."

Mario Lopez News

Hot off the presses...

For those of you missing Mario Lopez since his second place finish (he was robbed!) on Dancing with the Stars, he'll be hosting this year's Miss America Pageant on January 29.

I'd Return to Volver

The spanish word volver is an infinitive that means "to return" or "to come back." And after seeing Pedro Almodovar's newest film, I can easily say I'd retun to check it out again.

Almodovar's movies are always quirky and fun, but their overall effect can be hit or miss. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and All About My Mother were dramatic and funny all at once. But when you examine Bad Education or Talk to Her, you realize that often his over-the-top mentality doesn't lend itself well to telling a compelling story. As much as I loved seeing Gael Garcia Bernal in dripping wet tighty whities, when I left Bad Education I wasn't sad it was over.

But Volver is a movie that sticks with you. It lulls you into its funny spell and by the time it takes darker turns, you're already hooked. Centering on what it means to be a family, the story is both familiar and surprising.

The biggest surprise for me is that Penelope Cruz can really act. She's not just a doe-eyed dark-haired vision, walking through the part. Forget that she once dated Tom Cruise. Don't let it bother you that Almodovar made her wear a prosthetic ass so that her butt seemed more dumpy. Cruz owns her character of Raimunda, and she'll certainly be nominated for an Oscar.

In fact, all the acting is sensational. I'm not sure what strange rock Almodovar looks under to find his let's say "off beat-looking" supporting actors, but they have acting chops as well. And when you take great acting and pair it with a story that feels fresh and new, you get a movie that only adds to Almodovar's already prestigious arsenal.

Courtney Cox's Dirt is the Worst Kind of Unclean

Dirt = vanity project.

It's Tuesday night and I'm in the middle of this new sho and all I can think is "poor Courtney Cox."

This is Courtney's first series post Friends and you have to give her credit because she did go for a new "gritty" show on the cable network F/X. Trouble is, it's horrible. It's about a Hollywood tabloid magazine. It should be hip, and funny, and smart. Like Melrose Place meets The OC with a dash of The Shield.

But instead it's like F/X is trying to remake Robert Altman's The Player for television and it just doesn't work. A show that could be fun and easy digestible is really only a self-important vehicle for Courtney Cox. She deserves better, and so do we.

Dreamgirls is More Like Dreamgirl

I caught Dreamgirls over the holidays and I wish there was some really keen observation I could make that hasn't already been said. But really there isn't.

The movie belongs to Jennifer Hudson. Heart. Soul. Voice. Emotion. All of it. She's nothing short of amazing, and I'm sure she'll be nominated for an Oscar. She may even win.

The movie overall? It's great. Full of heart, with tons of emotion. Who would have thought Eddie Murphy could give a great, dramatic performance? Beyonce is even okay. She starts off a bit too wide-eyed, but she finally nails it toward the end of them movie. Close your eyes and it's uncanny how much she begins to sound like Diana Ross.

The movie only has two real downfalls: 1) It seems to lack some energy. Maybe I'm being picky, but even during most of the showstopping numbers I wanted more. I'm not sure if the cinematography is too intimate, or maybe it is the lighting and staging. But I wanted more pizazz. And again...this is just a small flaw. 2) The only real downfall of the movie can be summed up in two words: Jamie Foxx. He's terrible. Really just awful. A truly wooden, one-note performance. He sleepwalks through the film.

But none of that really matters in the end. The movie belongs to Jennifer Hudson. Go and watch her shine. It's her music, her voice, her journey. It's even her movie (and her character Effie's)--we're just along for the ride.

P. Diddy Sells Dog Fur Jackets

Granted, Sean Combs probably had no idea that his made-in-China "high fashion" jackets were actually made of dog fur, not faux fur. But I liken this to the Kathy Lee Gifford sweat-shop story.

If you are going to put your name on something, which means you are authenticating it as a product you endorse...then you better damn well make sure that it's up to your standards. Do some background work, or better yet, pay your staff to do the background work. But apologizing later after a horrible discovery has been made just seems too little too late.

Barbara Walters is a Genius

By inviting Rosie O'Donnell to cohost on The View, Babs killed several birds with one stone: a) she got no-talent Starr Jones off the air; b) she improved ratings for The View tremendously; and c) she got people talking about The View--she created buzz for a show that was well past its prime.

The thing I like about Rosie, is that she offers a real opinion. She may put her foot in her mouth, and she may not always have a smart thing to say, but she's honest. This feud with Donald Trump is hilarious simply because Donald is trying to get ratings for his new Apprentice--a show that has also passed its prime. Remember when the last Apprentice came out? Donald attacked Martha Stewart. A month or two ago they release the news that he fired Carolyn. And now he's attacking Rosie.

If anyone is a "bully," it's the Donald. He's a dumbass bore with a bad sense of humor.

Kiefer Sutherland a Cowboy?

Who ever would have thought that hunky Kiefer (one my first crushes) is a bonafide cowboy? After that horrible 1994 Woody Harrelson (ugh) cowboy movie called The Cowboy Way, Kiefer got into roping. He actually won two national roping titles in 1998.

The Lost Room is Over...

....At least for now.

I'm hoping SciFi picks up the miniseries as a bonafide series sometime next year. From the completely unique and quirky plot to the great acting by Peter Krause and Juliana Margolis, it was a fantastic show. If you didn't catch all three 2-hour episodes this week, SciFi is replaying them in a marathon this Sunday. Don't miss out!

The Lost Room

The first 2-hour segment of SciFi's 6-hour miniseries The Lost Room premiered last night and I have to say I was floored. While it was a little slow to get going, the show is fascinating. Part of me wants to compare it to Twin Peaks because the show is so smart and ahead of its time. But whereas Twin Peaks was rife with humor, The Lost Room is awash in paranoia and loss.

It's a great show and I can't wait to see Peter Krause again tonight.

Ellen Rocks My World

When I saw a shorter version of this Ellen Degeneres commerical for Amex the other day, I nearly wet my pants. But the long version is even funnier.

Ellen is a genius.

Catch The Lost Room Tonight

SciFi is airing the first 2 hours of its new miniseries The Lost Room tonight. It starts Peter Krause of Six Feet Under (and Buffy) fame. It looks fantastic, and the network has been promoting the hell out of it.

Let's chat about it tomorrow.

Tyler and James win The Amazing Race...

And finally the boring season is over.

Was it me or were the laughs and fights and general drama too few and far between this season? I'm not sure when it begins again, but I hope it doesn't follow football or baseball or whatever. I barely watched because it never aired on schedule.

Battlestar News

Kristin at EOnline has posted a great chat with Ron Moore, the creator of SciFi's Battlestar Galactica--the best show on tv. Moore discusses everything from the other cylon models we haven't seen to the search for Earth.

But what alarmed me most is that there are only two more episodes before we take a Battlestar break until Spring 2007. Sad...

Project Runway and Tim Gunn

There seems to be an anxious buzz lately about the next season of Project Runway. When will it begin? Is it true that Tim Gunn may not be a part of the show.

Mark my words: Bravo will do whatever it takes to get Gunn back for the next season. Project Runway is the only true bonafide hit that Bravo has, and its buzz is off the charts. There is no way they are going to mess with a winning formula.

Remember how Kathy Griffin was having trouble getting a second (and third) season pickup for her My Life on the D-List? I think Bravo just likes to play hardball to see how much $ they can save. But the thing about Tim Gunn is that Bravo needs him more than he needs Bravo.