Posts with tag movies

We loved Isla Fisher as the psycho, stalkeresque Gloria in "Wedding Crashers," and we love the fact that she is married to the iconoclast that is Sacha Baron Cohen.

This winter, Fisher gets her first, much-deserved starring role as a likable ditz with a serious charge-it problem in "Confessions of a Shopaholic." (Based on the bestselling book of the same name.)

The trailer just went up this week, and while the story looks a bit stereotypically chick flick-ish, we'll probably go just to witness the wardrobe...and for the scene where Fisher's character bum rushes a cute guy with the line, "You speak Prada?"

We might question some of the pop culture fashion statements that people make these days. For example, do you really want that Chewbacca tattoo? Or do you really need Amy Winehouse inscribed on your molar? When it comes to eye-wear, we can make an exception. We think Zakarias Tipton's laminated film-strip frames are a stylish way for film buffs to represent their obsession.

Tipton collects 35mm and 16mm film from Hungarian movie theaters, laminates them, and then incorporates them into these artsy looking frames. Yes, of course it involves destroying celluloid, but don't worry -- all the film was collected post 1989 (after the fall of Hungarian communism). If you happen to be obsessed with a classic director like Kubrick or Fellini, you're in luck. Tipton does special series of frames honoring larger than life directors. Aside from tipping his hat to the greats, he claims that action movies with tons of explosions make the best frames.

Clearly celebrities spend inordinate amounts of time and money keeping themselves as thin and beautiful as possible. But while some actress (like Jennifer Aniston, for instance) are dropping thousands of dollars a month on beauty treatments, others are working hard...to get fat.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

We'd like you to meet Danielle Hughes, co-founder of Baby Fish Mouth, a line of fashionable wear for budding baby film fans. Inspired by their favorite films, Danielle and her business partner dreamed up kids clothes that offer a unique take on the usual onesies and jumpers.

Michael Buckner is a fashion and celebrity photographer who travels around the world taking pictures on the red carpet. He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the hottest entertainment industry events.



I flew into Wailea Maui on Tuesday afternoon to gorgeous 81 degree and sunny for the Maui Film Festival. Founded by Barry Rivers, the festival is five day outdoor celebration of independent film. They have huge screens set up along the beaches and golf courses where the films are screened. It's not like Venice or Cannes where snobby film junkies don tuxedos and strut along red carpets. Here Tommy Bahama subs for Dior and the red carpet is the fine Hawaiian sand. Celebrities attending will include Virginia Madsen, Pierce Brosnan, Dennis Quaid and Felicity Huffman on top of local celebrities like Laird Hamilton.

I went to the opening festivities at the Fairmont Kea Lani where movie goers washed down their Kobe beef with Heinekens and cranberry cosmopolitans.

Then I walked up the street to the Future Home of Baccarat Wailea Resort & Residences golf course, a spectacular 3-course club, where the driving range was converted to a theater under the sky to see the enormous movie theatre they have constructed.

Barry Rivers, the festival's founder and director, arranged for the energy all the projectors will use to be off-set with solar power. Another example of the film industry's "Going Green."

I'll be here a few more days, so come back for more posts.

Last month, we tipped Audrey Tautou to play Chanel in a new biopic of the French designer. Now we can confirm the rumors are true.

Tautou will play Chanel in a new movie to be called Coco avant Chanel (which means "Coco before Chanel" and which will focus on Coco's formative years, before she became known for her classic sense of style and her wonderful taste in smells). We didn't know much about the fashion legend's early life, but according to Variety, she learned to sew during her time in a Catholic orphanage after the death of her parents, and earned the nickname Coco after performing as a cabaret dancer - there's some perfect biopic material, right there.

Variety also reports that Tautou was (understandably, being the most famous hip and beautiful young Frenchwoman in Hollywood) the only choice for the role.

Do you ever watch a TV show or see a movie and think to yourself, "Oh my gosh, I loved those outfits?" Well, last night the 10th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards were held to honor the people behind the clothes.

Costume designers receive very little credit for what they do, but the truth of the matter is that they can make or break a movie. I mean, can you imagine Johnny Depp's character in Pirate's of the Caribbean without his amazing pirate get up? Sure, Johnny is an amazing actor and as hot as the sun, so the character would've been good even without the wardrobe. But the clothes and the makeup made Captain Jack Sparrow absolutely magical.

I was so happy to see that Ugly Betty costume designer Eduardo Castro was up for outstanding contemporary television series. He does a great job making Betty look out of style, but still cute. Her clothes are so hideous but still let her potential beauty shine through. Every time I watch the show and see her in a new sweater-vest I just have to laugh. You can't help but love her! And the wardrobe is a huge part of that.

Period movies are another great example of just how important costume design is. If the clothes make you want to go back and live in that era, you know the designers have done a great job. From 2006, watching the movie Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst did that for me. The clothes, oh the clothes! The costumes, designed by Milena Canonera, were so downright gorgeous that I caught myself thinking it would've been worth it to live during that time period, even if I did get beheaded.

From 2007, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, was one of the stars of the year when it came to the period piece costumes. Alexandra Byrne did an outstanding job with the design. But alas, Elizabeth was beaten out by Sweeney Todd at the award show last night. Other winners included Blades of Glory for best costume design in a contemporary film, and The Golden Compass, in the fantasy film category.

Celeb attendance was pretty sparse, but they did manage to get at least one big name to show up -- Katie Holmes. Some gossip blogs are suggesting that the Scientology queen might be pregnant again but it looks to me like they're wrong. I think I can actually see her hip bones sticking out of that dress!

Actresses Kristen Chenoweth, Ginnifer Goodwin and the beautiful Geena Davis were also in attendance. Click through the gallery to see pictures.

In case you haven't heard, the world's foremost famous-for-nothing fashionista is starring in a new movie. The Hottie and the Nottie (trailer above) looks, um, awful. However, if the tiny snippets of Paris Hilton's acting performance are any indication of how she does throughout the film, it might be worth it -- especially if you're the kind of person that stops to look at car wrecks, or watches videos of skiing accidents for a good time.

It makes you wonder -- why does anyone think that models and designers (or, in this case, someone who's barely either one of those) will be able to act?

Because they have acting coaches! Teachers like Ivana Chubbuck help Paris remember sad stuff from her personal life so when she has to get upset on screen it looks halfway believable. Fortunately for Paris, she has a lot to draw on when utilizing this highly-technical acting technique. She tells People:

"actors are really great if they've lived the life of a lot of things happen to them. I've had a lot happen to me in my life. Now I've learned to use those experiences in my acting."

Wait, I take it back. This movie is going to be awesome.

Oh, the drama! Mariah Carey, in what can only be described as an unfortunate attempt to reinvent a fledgling career, has taken a part in the upcoming movie, Tennessee. Imagine Mariah's surprise when she got on set and discovered they didn't want her to be her ultra-glamorous self, but rather someone else. You know, like an actor.

More specifically, the costume people wanted Mariah to ugly-up with a schnoz and bushy eyebrows. The pop diva immediately called her people, and -- after being advised against the nose and 'brows by whoever she talked to -- refused to alter her appearance.

I'm sure Mariah said no because she thought looking ugly on screen would be bad for her career (or maybe she's just insecure). But does she really think people are too stupid to understand that she's wearing make-up? No one made fun of Nicole Kidman when she wore that enormous nose to play Virginia Wolf -- as a matter of fact, she got an Oscar!

So...am I missing something? Is Mariah being a crazy diva, or are her concerns justified?

Are you a Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha or Miranda? Now you'll be able to take the obsession with your favorite Sex and the City character one step further -- by wearing their underwear.

Not the Underoos worn by the actresses playing the characters (that'd be creepy), but rather lingerie inspired by those fictional divas, created by the Italian fashion house Cosabella. The line, which is set to hit stores when the film is released this Spring, will have a group for each of the leading ladies -- so you can wear a Samantha set when you're feeling like a vixen, a Charlotte set when you're feeling cutesy, etc.

I'm still waiting for the line of SATC boxer shorts for guys, inspired by Mr. Big. Something tells me I shouldn't hold my breath.

Ah, Carrie Bradshaw -- arguably the most recognizable women's fashion icon of the past decade. The sassy single antics of Bradshaw and her Sex and the City crew created a huge following for the star -- so much so that, even though her personal foray into fashion design has been a little lackluster, the actress' new movie is a perennial hot topic on fashion blogs.

Big news today, as the first preview for the new movie has hit the Internet. Nothing gets revealed that you didn't know already -- but it's enough to get fans even more pumped about the movie's release date: currently set for May, 2008.

Check it out!

Love him or hate him, you have to admit that Spike Lee is an amazing director. (Inside Man and 25th Hour are my faves)

That's why we're all going to have to trust Spike's instincts with his latest film project, which happens to star Naomi Campbell.

According to British Vogue, the film tells the story of a regiment of black soldiers stationed in Tuscany during World War II. Campbell says her role is small (phew), but she's still looking forward to working with Lee on the film.

The plot sounds interesting, and it's certainly encouraging to hear that Campbell's appearances on screen will be limited. Naomi can pull off many things (assault and battery, 4-inch heels, a bob), but I'm not sure carrying a dramatic period piece is probably not one of them. (See King, Jaime in Pearl Harbor)

If there's a style from the movies that is recognizable the world over, it's that from Breakfast at Tiffany's. More than 40 years later, the upswept hair, the black sheath dress, and a strand of pearls is a classic "look" that can never be bad. Don a pair of oversized sunglasses with your evening ensemble, and you're ready to go, Holly.

A cigarette holder and long black gloves might be overdoing it a little, though.

You've seen her. She's the one in line two customers in front of you at the grocery store wearing this season's Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, a matching pair of Manolos, carrying whatever It bag hasn't even hit the stores yet, and hair swept up without a strand out of place. She's one of those women. All-too-perfect, all the time.

Or maybe you haven't seen her because those women wouldn't even do their own grocery shopping anyway.

Either way, whether you've actually witnessed this type of woman, or she exists in your imagination, you're making fun of her, because these days, according to a story in the Washington Post prompted by the movie "Nanny Diaries," being too perfectly dressed is "seen as shorthand for self-absorption, vapidness and thoughtlessness."

What do you think? Is being perfectly polished something fearless, or now faux pas?

First there were portable DVD players, then iPods that played video, and now the Home Theater Watch -- specially made on-the-go movie fans who have really good eyesight!

It seems stylish enough. The straightforward black band will go with most of your stuff, and the sleek, modern design will keep your new gadget from looking like a geeky sports-watch. And best of all, it holds up to 2GB worth of stuff, so you can watch a full-length movie wherever you want.

Waiting at the doctor's office? Killing time during an oil change? Stuck in traffic? Just pull up your newly downloaded copy of your favorite feature film, or a couple episodes of that hot new TV show, and you'll never have to be bored again.

Best of all, it even tells time.