November, 2008

There aren’t many actors out there who shrug off their new movie as “just a film,” but Diego Luna does.

The 28-year-old told People at the premiere of his newly released film, “Milk,” that his almost four-month-old son, Jeronimo, changed his perspective on life.

“I’m here just talking about a film – it’s just a film – everything now is just what it is,” he said. “It can’t be so important. Now, there’s just one thing that really matters.”

Luna was born in Mexico City, Mexico to an English mother and Mexican father, but sadly his mother died in a car accident when he was two. Luna, whose father is a celebrated theater, cinema and opera set designer, began acting at an early age and became friends with fellow actor, Gael Garcia Bernal.

Luna got his big break in 2001 when he starred with Bernal in the critically acclaimed Mexican film, “Y tu mama también,” and he has gone on to star in films such as “Frida,” “The Terminal” and “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.”

In his latest role in Gus Van Sant’s “Milk” he falls in love with Sean Penn’s character, Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay elected official. “Milk” has earned rave reviews from critics and is already garnering Oscar buzz.

Making great films is something Luna cares a lot about even starting a production company with Bernal. They will next be producing a documentary directed by John Malkovich about illegal aliens.

But it seems films will be a little lower on his priority list these days because of Jeronimo.

“There is just one reason for you to be here,” he told People. “It’s to make sure someone else is happy, and has everything he needs. It’s as simple as that.”

The Killers “Day & Age” is like a 00’s new wave (technically “old” wave?) mishmash of New Order and The Smiths with front man Brandon Flowers channeling his inner Morrissey. It’s an idiosyncratic, operatic pop album and an ambitious one at that.

“Day & Age” has an arena heavy sound with songs that build and build to thrilling conclusions. The album features soaring synthesizer driven anthems, the highlights here being the one-two punch of “Spaceman” and “Joyride.”

Despite all its idiosyncrasies (Flowers rambling off-the-cuff intonations, over-the-top orchestral arrangements), “Day & Age” is a brilliantly executed pop/rock album; another “killer” one, indeed, for The Killers.

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

-Kris

MTV’s The Hills stars, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, exchanged nuptials in a secret ceremony in Cabos San Lucas, Mexico, on Nov. 20, Us Weekly reports in its newest issue.

It wasn’t the first time the couple had wedding planning on their minds. In 2007, Pratt popped the question (after just eight months of dating) with a diamond-encrusted platinum band set with a purple stone that he’d purchased from the mall.

Montag broke it off after only a few months because Pratt apparently wasn’t ready to give up his bachelor lifestyle hitting on other women in a club.

“I’d just turned 21, and it was scary because I was so young,” Montag told Us following the split. But the pair gave it another (evidently successful) try in May 2008.

“The minute we said our vows, I couldn’t stop crying,” Montag, 22, tells Us.

Though, it seems that everyone in the family won’t be quite as thrilled about the nuptials, particularly Montag’s mom.

“I called her right before the ceremony, sort of hinted that something that happened, but her reaction was to ask me if we were breaking up! I told her it might be something else, and she said, ‘Well, if you ever plan on getting married just know that your stepdad is really upset that you want your father to walk you down the aisle,’” Montag tells Us.

“She was starting so much drama, it kind of pushed me toward wanting to get married without that,” she adds. “I don’t know when I’ll tell her.”

At long last it’s the holiday season. The turkeys are about to go in the oven, the tree’s are about to get lit up, and the Christmas tunes are going to start up any minute now. But don’t forget about holiday TV. Gather with your family to watch classic holiday fare like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and stick around for Hallmark’s new movies to give you some holiday cheer.

Tuesday, Nov. 25: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC, 8/7 c) It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Snoopy and the Peanuts gang kicking off the holiday season with their annual cartoon. It also makes us thankful we’re not eating Charlie Brown’s serving of toast, pretzels, popcorn and jelly beans for our dinner.

Thursday, Nov. 27: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC, 9 am/8 c) Wake up Thanksgiving Day to the Today show crew presenting giant balloons, floats, bands, and celebrities including David Archuleta, Kristen Chenoweth and Miley Cyrus.

Thursday, Nov. 27: CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute (CNN, 9/8 c) Anderson Cooper’s second annual tribute to America’s best Samaritans makes us thankful for their good deeds and to know there’s good people out there.

Saturday, Nov. 29: Moonlight & Mistletoe (Hallmark Channel, 9/8 c) Typical story of a girl searching for her lost Christmas spirit, but it’s a treat to see “Full House’s” very own D.J., Candace Cameron Bure.

Monday, Dec. 1: Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8/7 c) Move over, Grinch. You’re not the only green creature with your own Christmas special. Mike Myers’ Shrek celebrates Christmas as only an ogre can.

Tuesday, Dec. 2: Santa Claus is Coming to Town (ABC, 8/7c) If classic Holiday fare is more of a treat to you, then don’t miss this traditional show with old time Hollywood actors Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney voicing.

Wednesday, Dec. 3: Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC, 8/7c) Get ready for 30 Rock’s giant Christmas tree to light up while Beyoncé, Tony Bennett, David Cook, Harry Connick Jr., Faith Hill, the Jonas Brothers and the Rascal Flatts sing.

Wednesday, Dec. 3: A Christmas Story (TNT, 8/7 c) The holiday season consists of family, yummy meals, stockings, and Ralphie, the leg lamp and the red rider BB gun of course!

Saturday, Dec. 6: The Christmas Choir (Hallmark Channel, 9/8 c) Hallmark not only has the edge on Christmas cards, it’s also the go-to-place for original holiday movies. This one stars Jason Gedrick who – you guessed it – discovers the real meaning of life.

Wednesday, Dec. 10: Paula’s Home Cooking (Food Network, 5:30/4:30 c) Join Paula Deen to learn how to make holiday fare like sugar and nut glazed brie.

The Office – Customer Survey

Rumors start about Michael being engaged to Holly and the team makes him call his mom on speaker phone. She gets it out of him that he’s not getting married.

Once a year Kelly calls the Dunder Mifflin clients and gets their opinions about the sales team. According to Jim, the reports affect their bonuses. Dwight’s first to hear his report feedback and it isn’t good. He believes there is sabotage.

Jim and Pam have bought the world’s smallest blue tooth so they can have each other in their ear throughout the day. Frustrated Dwight doesn’t understand why Jim is talking to himself and making seemingly random comments at Dwight throughout the day.

Jim’s up for his results, which are so bad that he hangs up on Pam (momentarily). He confesses he needs the bonus from the good reviews because he’s buying a house – and Pam doesn’t know.

Andy continues planning his and Angela’s wedding by booking the tent guy who did Giuliani’s first and third weddings. Angela doesn’t want to get married in a tent “like a hobo” but agrees with the conditions that the tent has to be in hand plowed field and other oddities. Andy finds the perfect place, Dwight Schrute Farms. Dwight delivers his sales pitch for the farm and describes what Schrute farms can do for Angela…and Andy.

Due to poor reviews, Dwight and Jim have a re-training session with practice phone calls – Jim is the customer and Dwight is the sales man. It doesn’t go well. Dwight has to put Michael on the phone who saves the fake sale with Jim. After, Dwight gets Jim into his car where he reveals his thoughts on sabotage. Back in the office Dwight accuses Kelly of the sabotage.

Jim runs into Kelly in the break room and Pam helps uncover another piece of the suspect Kelly puzzle – that she doesn’t chat Jim’s ear off. Realizing that neither Jim nor Dwight attended one of Kelly’s parties, Jim puts it together that Kelly is the saboteur and later tells Dwight, “You were right.”

They have a meeting with Kelly where she confesses that she did the fake reports because Dwight and Jim are bad friends. Dwight and Jim leave Michael’s office where he expresses his sympathy for Kelly. Michael tells Kelly that they are going to fake an argument with everyone watching.

Back at corporate and with Jim in her ear, Pam’s friend Alex stops by and lists off all the reasons she should stay in NYC. Pam’s only reason to go back to Scranton is of course Jim. Alex makes a great argument and clearly gives the pair some food for thought.

The Office – Week 7 – Business Trip

Jim is counting down the days until Pam’s return to Scranton. With Pam’s return Ryan will be moved back near Kelley. As they discuss the tension they return their old ways and start to make out. Later both Kelly and Ryan send Darryl a break up text in which he replies “its cool.”

Michael is preparing to go on his first international business trip to … drum roll please… Canada! Michael is able to bring two others, his numbers guy, Oscar and his translator Andy.

Once in the foreign land of Canada, Michael visits the concierge, Marie, who directs the team to some nice restaurants. Later, Michael runs into Marie at a bar, they get to chatting and end up in a room at the hotel that night. In the morning, Marie kicks Michael out. Andy and Oscar end up bonding over drinks, trying to set Oscar up and a drunk phone call to Angela.

A road block – Pam failed one class and has to stay in NY. She calls Jim to break the news and he encourages her to stay and pursue her dreams. At the end of the work day Jim finds Pam in the parking lot waiting for him. She confesses that graphic design and logos aren’t her dream, her dream is to have a life with him. This is followed by Dwight asking her to make copies in the morning and handing her a stack of papers.

Survivor Week 8 – The Apple in the Garden of Eden

At Fang’s camp Sugar realizes her true alliance is with Kenny with Ace gone. Crystal offers Matty a clean slate. The tribe bans together to keep the Immunity idol secret and decide to “start over.”

Treemail hints at a merge, feast and beach party. Everyone is hugging and starving when they arrive at the feast. On the table there’s a clue, which is read out loud. It’s for an immunity idol and a hunt begins. They find it quickly and decide to set it afloat so no one will have it.

Randy declared himself King of Gabon and Marcus is his Prince saying that he got ten people to throw away an idol, so he must have some pull within the group. After they are done eating they choose numbered rocks and SPLIT into two new tribes – no merge. The new Kota tribe – Crystal, Bob, Ken, Susie, and Marcus and Fang is – Matty, Randy, Sugar, Charlie, and Corinne. The Kota six is evenly split and stick the original plan.

Fang starts plotting immediately and plans to vote out Sugar with a blind side. Matty tells Sugar what really happened with the vote for Ace in which she got duped by Crystal and Ken.

At Kota Susie is the swing vote and Marcus talks to her about it where she says she could switch her alliance at any time.

It is time for the first challenge, which is for immunity. With arms outstretched the Survivors are to use the tops of their hands to hold up polls, the slightest move and the polls drop. The last person out gets immunity for their whole team. It becomes a show down between Matty and Bob – Matty wins immunity for the new Fang and the new Kota is off to tribal council.

Kota once at camp starts the plotting. Marcus talks to Crystal about voting out her alliance mate Ken. Crystal sees through Marcus’ nice guy routine. Marcus and Susie talk about voting out Ken first also. Crystal fills Ken in on the inside scoop. Crystal and Susie discuss Marcus and his scheming. Susie is the decision maker essentially and both alliances want her.

At Tribal Council Ken calls out Marcus on his calculating. And they discuss whether keeping the tribe physically strong is part of the plan. Once the votes are cast the first member of the jury is Marcus – the 9th person voted out of Survivor Gabon.

Survivor Week 9 – The Brains Behind Everything At Kota, Kenny’s ego grows with the two blindsides he’s orchestrated and Bob starts thinking strategy.

At Fang, they are out of food and everyone is wondering about the merge. Unknowing about the previous Tribal Council, Corinne says, “The Kota alliance from the get go was me, Charlie and Marcus. As long as that’s intact, I don’t really care who goes home.”

The first challenge is a slingshot golf tournament. Winners receive a Gabonese village trip for a ceremony, meal and sleep over. When teams arrive at the challenge Ken and Corinne argue about who “deserves” to stay and/or go. Once the game starts Kota’s Bob and Fang’s Matty compete in a tight game. It is Kota’s Kenny who sinks the first ball and scores the first game point.

The second hole is back and forth and Matty ties the game with a point for Fang. The third hole is neck and neck too. Randy nags Matty about his shot, but Matty remains calm and sinks the ball. Fang wins, but Randy is angry no one listened to him. Fang chooses Bob for Exile.

While on reward, Charlie and Corinne discuss Marcus being gone and not having anyone else to turn to now.

At Kota, Ken gets three fish and feels good about his place within the tribe and game. On Exile, Bob continues to search for the idol but makes a fake hoping to throw people off if they see he has it. He says, “It’s sort of like when you’re holding up a bank. You don’t necessarily need a gun, but if they think you’ve got a gun, they might leave you alone.”

At the second challenge Jeff reveals it is time to merge and hands out new buffs. This challenge is simple, make a fire and burn a rope, first person to do so wins the coveted individual immunity necklace. Surprisingly, Susie wins by a landslide. The new tribe heads to Kota’s camp to come up with a new name and sign.

Once there they find food and enjoy a quick meal before talking shop. Randy talks with Charlie insisting Crystal be voted out. Charlie states the alliances are Randy, Charlie, Corinne and Bob against Matty, Ken, Susie and Crystal. Charlie and Corinne try to convince Sugar to vote Crystal first then Randy. In another mastermind scheme, Ken persuades Crystal, Susie and Matty to blindside Charlie and attempts to persuade Sugar.

Eventually, the team comes together to create a new name. Ken suggests “Nobag” which is Gabon backwards. The tribe likes it and puts it on their flag.

Tribal Council – Crystal and Randy argue. Charlie hassles Randy for not thinking before he speaks. Once it’s time to vote, we see that Sugar sides with Ken and Charlie becomes the 10th person voted out of Survivor Gabon and the second member of the jury joining former alliance buddy Marcus and leaving Corinne with the hated Randy and the underdog Bob.

Associated Press reports that Kanye West is previewing his new CD, “808s & Heartbreak” on MySpace Music.

Kanye is just the latest of a bevy of artists (among them: Guns N’ Roses and Beyonce) who have previewed their albums on MySpace before the actual release date.

“808s & Heartbreak” will officially hit stores next Monday. It is Kanye’s fourth album.

When it comes to her men Madonna’s like a praying mantis. Having only recently announced her impending divorce from husband number two, Guy Ritchie (Sean Penn was number one), London’s High Court has already granted a preliminary divorce on the part of Madonna, who filed for divorce, citing “unreasonable behavior” on Ritchie’s part. (Apparently it’s quite unreasonable for a husband to express displeasure at his wife’s infidelity. Yeah. Whatever.)

Madonna seems all-too-eager to move on, no doubt with some baseball giant nicknamed ARod. I’m not one to pass judgment (not my job), but even I can admit that the thought of Madge and ARod, while a little creepy, is far less traumatic than the Dennis Rodman image which I couldn’t get out of my head. I guess I could close by saying, “Madonna, go forth and conquer!” but if you know Madonna (and who doesn’t?) she’s going to do that anyway.

You probably either like or don’t like Charlie Kaufman films. He’s the unconventional genius screenwriter behind greatly absurdist films like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Adaptation,” and “Being John Malkovich,” that give your brain and your eyes a great feast but can also drive you crazy.

Kaufman’s got a supremely unique way of telling a story through its nonlinear narrative structure and visual oddities, which “Synecdoche, New York” has no shortage of.

His directorial debut is the story of Caden Cotard (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), a miserable small-town theater director whose unraveling psyche is complemented by his physical ailments. Both his mind and his body are deteriorating. His artist wife, Adele (Catherine Keener), finally leaves him by jetting off to Berlin for good with their young, precocious daughter, Olive.

Caden becomes platonically involved with Hazel, the box office girl, (Samantha Morton) who lives in a house that’s always engulfed in flames, and then he marries one of his actresses, Claire (Michelle Williams), and has a daughter with her but confuses her with Olive because he can never move on from his previous life.

Meanwhile Caden is awarded a MacArthur Foundation Grant and uses it to build a huge warehouse acting as a life-size replica for New York City, which he uses to figure out where he went wrong in his life. He begins production on a play by hiring characters to portray the people in his life – even himself − and he walks around the warehouse watching characters acting while he takes notes. Soon it becomes a story within a story within a story where replicas of Caden, Hazel, and Claire abound and intertwine.

The play never goes before an audience and Caden never finds happiness. It’s a depressing movie but also a really worthwhile movie with great, subtle performances and an even greater poignant message about our mortalities and how we should go about living before it’s too late.

You’ll be glad you visited “Synecdoche, New York.”

Suri Cruise ranked number one for Forbes.com’s second annual “Hollywood’s 10 Hottest Tots.”

The two-year-old daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes beat out the other 50 A-list contenders (five-years-old and younger) based on the amount of media attention she received and her parents’ popularity.

Topping the rest of the list was most of the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie clan. 

Coming in second was Shiloh, 2, (who ranked number one last year); third was Zahara, 3, and Pax came in fourth. 

Forbes.com acknowledged the rest of the family, noting that seven-year-old Maddox was too old, and twins Vivienne and Knox were too infrequently seen to qualify for the list.

Filling in the top 10:

Sam Alexis Woods, daughter of Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin

Cruz Beckham, son of David and Victoria Beckham

Matilda Rose Ledger, daughter of Michelle Williams and the late Heath Ledger

David Banda, son of Madonna and Guy Ritchie

Sean Preston Federline, son of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline

Sam Sheen, daughter of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen