September, 2008

I already gave you the low down on all the great style at the Emmy’s. Now let’s talk hair and make-up.

America Ferrera channels her retro beauty with side pinned curls and bright red lips. The look pairs nicely with her dress and compliments her skin tone.

Cable hit, “Mad Men” made heads turn with the number of Emmy nominations. But, its starlet, January Jones glowed with Ruby lips, pink cheeks and porcelain skin.  Her sleek blonde hair was up and accented with Kwiat diamonds.

No medical mystery here. Another “House” star, Jennifer Morrison turned heads. The actress is golden. Her hair is delicately pulled back, accents her icy eyes, rosy cheeks, and light pink lips.

Twice the compliment. Debra Messing adds to her gorgeous look with her signature sizzling, red locks, softly curled and pieced with waves.  It makes her green eyes stand out and, ladies, Debra proves there is no such thing as too much mascara.

43-year-old, Kyra Sedgwick proves age is just a number.  Sedgwick looks hot in a white, L’Wren Scott dress, showing off her great legs.  But, her sculpted curls and smoky eyes with rosy lips are what finish the look.

For those who believe The Godfather Trilogy is the holy trinity of Gangster movies (it’s really much more than that; if such a thing is possible), the news that The Godfather series is coming out in blu-ray high def is some very welcome information. It hits stores on September 25 in a special Coppola restoration giftset.

The original Godfather is really the greatest movie of all-time, featuring a young, charismatic Al Pacino and a hauntingly charming Marlon Brando as the formidable Don Vito Corleone. Brando’s performance ranks among the best in the history of cinema. The Godfather would also serve as a blueprint for every gangster movie to come out for the next four decades. It may never be surpassed artistically but its sequel comes very close. The Godfather Part II is much more than a crime story; it’s an epic statement on love, loss, betrayal, and tragedy.

Michael Corleone (Pacino’s character) has since supplanted his father as the new head of the Family in Part II and the film chronicles his incendiary rise to power. Michael intends to rule with an iron hand, one that is unflinching and divisive, hence legitimizing the Corleone‘s as the most revered (and feared) Mob family. The movie channels the past, present, and future of the Family seamlessly – unlike anything rivaled in film. Part III puts the finishing touches on this epic trilogy, featuring Michael Corleone in his later years. 

The great thing about Blu-ray is that a whole generation of younger viewers will now see the films for the first time. Thus, becoming enthralled with the Corleone Family saga for years to come. In its most essential form.

Want to go on adventure, but just can’t? Perhaps these suggestions for the best travel movies (according to many top ten lists) will fill in for a while, or maybe even give you the motivation to just buy that plane ticket.

1. Into the Wild – This movie, release just a couple years ago is based on the book by Jon Kraukauer about a young man learning what it’s like to live in the wilderness.

2. Around the World in 80 Days – Join Jackie Chan on a fun adventure around the globe by hot air balloon – lots of laughs and lots of stunts. A great choice whether you watch the one made more recently or the original

3. The Painted Veil – In this movie, Edward Norton plays a scientist who travels to China during a cholera epidemic in search of a cure along with his wife, played by Naomi Watts. Together they face challenges that along with the beautiful scenery revive the passion in their relationship.

4. Motorcycle Diaries – This is a great piece about the beginning of the life of Che Guevara (played by acclaimed Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal) as an activist, chronicling his journeys through South America with his best friend and family member, Alberto (played by Rodrigo De la Serna). Throughout their journey Che learns where people truly need help and how he can give it.

5. Coming to America – This movie starring Eddie Murphy as an African prince and Arsenio Hall as his servant is good for laughs and for noticing differences in culture. All around good movie about learning to adopt to a new kind of world.

6. The Bourne Ultimatum - In this movie Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon) is back and fiercer than ever in his search to discover his identity, but can he do it? he races around the globe, hunting and being chased…this movie is a definite must if you’re looking for adventure. Just don’t try the things that he does at home!

Writers Suggestion: Elizabethtown – No, this movie is not solely a travel movie but it’s a great tearjerker about love, retracing one’s roots, and learning to move on in time’s of crisis.

Orlando Bloom plays a young shoe executive who makes a big mistake in his industry – one that will discredit the rest of his career. However, his worries about his issues are pushed aside when his father suddenly dies and he is forced to go back to his family’s southern roots to deal with the funeral.

It is during his traveling that he meets Claire (played by Kirsten Dunst) who reminds him what’s truly important in life like taking the long road and enjoying the journey.

Speculation is constantly swirling about who is gay and who is straight in the entertainment world. The gay rumor mill is slowing down a bit because Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan have finally acknowledged their very public relationship on the radio and Clay Aiken broke the news on the cover of People magazine.

Samantha had called into Loveline syndicated show on KROQ radio in L.A., to talk about the Learjet plane crash that included former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM Adam Goldstein, when Lindsay got on the line. When asked how long they had been together, Lindsay responded, “A very long time.” This comes as no surprise to anyone who follows entertainment news.

Also coming with little surprise is Clay Aiken with newborn baby via surrogate mother on the cover of People saying, “Yes, I’m gay.” People hits newsstands Wednesday at 7 AM.

National Coming Out Day isn’t until October 11, but these stars are celebrating early. 

If only the Emmys itself was as great as the shows and actors it awarded.

The 60^th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held Sunday night awarded well-deserved shows “Mad Men” and “30 Rock” as Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series, respectively.

So Emmy knows good shows when she sees them – she just doesn’t know how to be one herself.

The major faux pas of the night was having the five nominees for Outstanding Reality TV Host share the hosting duties at the ceremony. Ryan Seacrest, Tom Bergeron, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Jeff Probst may be great hosts; but, their opening gig was so awkward it made us wonder why the Emmys decided to honor them with the new reality TV host category. 

Mandel and Probst rambled for about 10 minutes about how the five hosts couldn’t agree on anything so they “literally have nothing,” while the rest of the hosts uncomfortably stared straight ahead. Were their awkward expressions intentional or unintentional? Either way the audience felt awkward.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy winner Jeremy Piven, who won for the third consecutive year, spoke what we all were thinking: “What if I just kept talking for 12 minutes? Wait, that was the opening,” Piven quipped.

One star who chose to sing rather than speak was Josh Groban who sang snippets of 30 famous TV theme songs in a manic couple of minutes. The normally serious singer showed his silly side and exceptional impressions mimicking “South Park” characters and late night show announcers in an entertaining, nostalgic musical number.

Other funny moments included last year’s Lead Actor in a Comedy Series winner Ricky Gervais “demanding” his Emmy back from always funny Steve Carell. (Gervais didn’t attend last year, so presenters Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert gave Carell Gervais’ Emmy instead.)

Sparse funny moments like these did their best to make up for the dull middle and rushed end of the show, as well as the deserving winners. Glenn Close, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey took home acting awards (Fey also won for writing), and surprise winners included Bryan Cranston and Zeljko Ivanek for Outstanding Lead and Supporting Actor in a Drama, respectively.

Hopefully, the Emmys will award deserving actors next year too. But as for hosting duties, how about no hosts at all?

Really the presenters do most of the work transitioning the show and handing out awards anway, so the host position is almost obsolete. Or instead of the reality host nominees hosting, how about the five nominees for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program host? They’re at least funny.

Dresses, shoes, purses, jewels – Oh My! No ruby slippers here, but the stars glittered at the Emmys. Even if ABC couldn’t make the ratings jump, I certainly did with all the gorgeousness!

Forget Law and Order and hello yellow! I adore this little ray of sunshine dress by Carolina Herrera. Mariska Hargitay has me singing buttercup baby accessorizing with Fred Leighton jewels and Jimmy Choo heels for a golden look.

Kate Walsh, with a sleek bob and red carpet ready Zuhair Murad gown, sauntered her way to the Emmy’s. She finished the look with a Jimmy Choo clutch and, count em’, $1 million worth of Neil Lane diamonds.

This strapless and black silk tulle gown from Monique Lhuillier’s spring collection fits Debra Messing perfectly. Not to mention the Judith Leiber clutch and Fred Leighton diamonds.

The reality star and new designer shows off her own creation. Lauren Conrad caught my eye with this floor-length, navy blue gown.  Conrad kept it elegant and held the dress together with Hearts of Fire’s precious stones.

Oliva Wilde looks absolutely radiant in her pearl gray Reem Acra gown. The “House” star looks almost statuesque, adding Jimmy Choo heels, Stuart Weitzman clutch and Kwait jewels.

British pop singing sensation George Michael was arrested Friday by police for allegedly possessing class A and class C drugs, according to the BBC.

He was arrested just outside of London in a public restroom in the Hampstead Heath area, according to London’s Metropolitan Police and the E! News Network.  He was giving a warning—what British police call a “caution”.

The authorities did not reveal the identity of the arrestee, which is customary for UK police to not initially name suspects, but a police representative confirmed that a 45-year-old male had been picked up Sept. 19 on suspicion of drug possession.

It hasn’t been acknowledged why he had been given a relatively mild punishment for the possession.

Per the U.K.’s Misuse of Drugs Act, class A includes painkillers such as Oxycodone, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, while class C comprises marijuana and other cannabis-related products.

“I want to apologize to my fans for screwing up again, and to promise them I’ll sort myself out,” he said in a statement issued through his publicist, according to Reuters and Entertainment Tonight.  “And to say sorry to everybody else, just for boring them.”

This isn’t Michael’s first run in with the law for possession.

Wrap that pashmina around your shoulders, Upper East Siders, with the first day of fall comes an official cold front and this bizzo is frigid.

If you are a “Gossip Girl” watcher and missed last night’s episode, get thee to your DVR.

I can’t tell you much, only that it’s good and Serena is back as the Queen Bee.  Previews for next week indicate that there will be a falling out between S. and B.

DON”T READ AHEAD—THERE WILL BE SPOILERS

To recap:

Blair loves the Lord…the Lord apparently has a whole Oedipal/Manchurian Candidate thing going on and does the nasty with his stepmother.

Serena and Dan are no more.  Dan “won” by going on a date before Serena.  Little did he, or we, know that the girl (who kind of looks like British pop star Kate Nash) was a decoy under the employ of our favorite Basshole.

Vanessa thoroughly screwed up Blair’s attempt at blackmail and in the process may have lost Nate.

This is a real quick recap, y’all. Srsly, watch this last episode.

XOXO,

M

“Blindness” is the title of Jose Saragamo’s best-selling and critically acclaimed novel; the adaptation of “Blindness” to the big screen opens September 26 and stars Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. The movie is directed by Fernando Meirelles.

The premise is an unsettling one to say the least. A community is afflicted by a contagious form of ‘white blindness,’ going from normal vision to seeing nothing but white. The community is thrown into a widespread panic and those afflicted are placed in quarantine at an asylum.

The film stars Ruffalo as a doctor afflicted with the blindness (after treating a patient) and Moore as his wife, the only one exempt from the condition and the main protagonist of the story.

One can only imagine the kind of chaos and despair which would ensue from this epidemic. It will be interesting to see how this madness will translate to the big screen. Saragamo’s novel chronicles the moral and spiritual decline of those afflicted. It’s a harrowing read and should be an entertaining movie.

New Zealand designer Rebecca Taylor sends out a fun, feminine collection, including airy, ruffled dresses and bohemian print. I’ll take two please!

Doo RI, known for draped frocks, steps outside of the comfort zone and shows off a woman’s beautiful figure with this hot pink halter.

Nanette LePore has my mouth dripping with desire for her feminine, girly collection. The painterly florals and stripes with tight waists are so flattering.

Classic Marc Jacobs brings innovative, fresh, bold and great shape to his collection. This dress is a daring statement, but one that I want to make!

Sleek silhouettes, elegant florals, ladylike looks all say Peter Som and this black-n-white dress will do just fine.

If you want downtown chic and cool mixed with high waist short, a bomber jacket and awesome peep-toe booties look no further than Rag and Bone. The line was preppy and hipster cool.