Scanning in July

Date: 19th January 2006

After being tumbled around quite a bit, Richard Linklater's much anticipated pseudo-animated offering A Scanner Darkly has been fixed for a July 7th release, as announced recently by Warner Independent Pictures.

Based on a Philip K. Dick novel, the movie follows Keanu Reeves as a dealer for a space-age drug who's being harassed by a cop. The plot thickens when the cop turns out to be the product of the drug's split-personality effect.

Fans of director Linklater await the film eagerly for it's daring use of animation directly over live-action footage, a process he perfected with 2001's Waking Life. Fans of Sci-Fi great Dick will simply be happy to finally see the story brought to life, after passing through the hands of Terry Gilliam and Charlie Kauffma

Axl Rose Breaks His Silence

Gn'R mastermind talks "Democracy" at L.A. party

People will hear music this year," says Axl Rose, puffing on a cigar in the early hours of Saturday morning at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

The notoriously reclusive rocker is of course referring to Guns n' Roses' decade-in-the-making Chinese Democracy, arguably the most anticipated album in rock & roll history. "It's a very complex record," says Rose, a surprise guest at Korn's tour announcement bash. (Others in the house: Jessica Alba, cast members of The OC, and members of Linkin Park, Good Charlotte and the Used.) "I'm trying to do something different. Some of the arrangements are kind of like Queen. Some people are going to say, 'It doesn't sound like Axl Rose, it doesn't sound like Guns n' Roses.'" He then smiles and adds, "But you'll like at least a few songs on there."

[snipped for Keanu]And he maintains that that's exactly what he is. "The only time people ever write about me is when I go out to a strip club, because I don't chase the paparazzi down," he says. And, when he's out of the spotlight, Rose says you'll find him doing average-guy stuff: reading books and watching movies. His favorite book is Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly. "I was a little scared when I saw they were making it into a movie starring Keanu [Reeves]," he says. "But I guess if he can handle The Matrix, he can do this."

The Strokes Rock Low-Key Troubadour

by: Sam Farzin
The line stretched from a kung-fu dojo past an anonymous brown fading building and wrapped around the corner of Santa Monica and Doheny. It consisted of a motley crew of desperate kids from “the scene,” 20-somethings whose musical obsessions had gotten the best of them and those rare, lucky few who had the day’s golden ticket.

A band like The Strokes doesn’t play shows in venues like West Hollywood’s Troubadour. They could easily sell out L.A. venues like the Greek Theatre and the Gibson Amphitheater, let alone a tiny 300-capacity venue like the Troubadour. All 100 or so people in line at 4 p.m. knew this.

A lot of the people in line didn’t have a ticket. They still stood strong and optimistic, waiting for the opportunity to get in by way of almost anything short of going to jail.

One determined gentleman held up a sign in stoic perseverance. He never got in, but his optimism held up throughout the day.

Almost everyone who did get in (except for those who got their tickets through the KROQ give-away) had a story. A tall, lanky, bearded male in front of me got in via an impromptu conversation with an L.A. Weekly photographer in line (he became his “photography assistant”). Another group of kids had been at the Strokes’ new album launch at midnight at the Virgin Megastore on Sunset Boulevard, and had subsequently found themselves at a bar with Mr. Fabrizio Moretti (the Strokes’ drummer) and his famous girlfriend, Drew Barrymore. Their ticket into the show? “See you guys on Friday.”

We all packed ourselves like sardines in a crushed tin can into the Troubadour’s pit. Looking up at the balcony, someone in front of me asked:

“Hey, is that Neo?”

“Yeah, that’s Keanu [Reeves]. He kind of looks like a bum.”

Famous KROQ DJ Mr. Rodney Bingenheimer came out onstage soon after our entrance. He proudly proclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Strokes!”

This was highly anticlimactic, as they didn’t come on for another 20 minutes.

When The Strokes finally did come out on stage, they got to business without wasting any time. They started the night with the biggest bang they could’ve, a blistering rendition of “Juicebox” that sent the capacity crowd into instant uproar. Limbs flailed and bodies collided nonstop through the rest of the set, which included all the right songs from their first two LPs in addition to more than half of their newest, the somewhat pretentiously titled “First Impressions of Earth.” Highlights included a rollicking rendition of their hit “Reptilia,” a fantastic, incredibly tight version of “Razorblade” from their newest record; and two classics from their first album, “Hard to Explain” and “Last Night,” the latter featuring both a boy stagediving and a 30-something woman climbing up one of the metal columns that flank the Troubadour’s tiny stage.

When they came back for the encore (something the Strokes tend to avoid) the crowd cheered louder than ever. The boys’ encore opened with “New York City Cops” a brilliant song left off of the American release of “Is This It?” due to its sensitive content about, well, New York City cops, in relation to the album’s release date weeks after Sept. 11. They capped their set off with one of the Strokes’ angriest and brashest songs, “Take It or Leave It.” The crowd howled along with frontman Julian Casablancas until the final notes, and with the final hi-hat hit, the NYC kids left the stage to an awestruck audience of persons that was unwilling to accept what they had just witnessed: one of America’s most amazing bands in one of the smallest venues in Los Angeles.

The show was one of four around the country to generate buzz for the band’s new album. The album’s critical take has been widely varying; some reviewers tear it apart and some praise it as The Strokes’ best. Many cite it as a departure from their previous efforts.

I don’t see it though. “First Impressions of Earth” is through-and-through a Strokes album, from Casablancas’ unmistakable drawl (which is no longer distorted beyond recognition), to the pounding rhythms section that shares sonic ground so beautifully with Nick Valensi’s and Albert Hammond Jr.’s intertwined guitars.

The most noticeable difference is evident right from the get-go: one can’t help but notice the change in the album’s production.

Gordon Raphael, the producer of The Strokes’ previous two albums, was once quoted as saying that Casablancas would often communicate his desired sound with eccentric requests like “this sound needs to loosen its tie.” It is clear that the tie on this album was kept somewhat snug.

Casablancas’ vocals can be, for the first time, actually heard. The layers of distortion that previously masked his voice into something of an instrument are gone, for the most part. The result is a voice harsher and more volatile than the one that sang over “Hard to Explain” and “Whatever Happened.” When Casablancas screams on new tracks such as “Juicebox” and “Vision of Division,” it is not that terrifying, nasal scream that is prevalent in musical screams nowadays. It is a barking wail; when he scream the refrain of Juicebox, one can’t help but join in the raving, breaking their voices as they howl along in the safety of their car.

The album is as varying as anything The Strokes have put out. Most of the tracks are up-tempo, musically layered rock songs. There are some new songs that are unlike anything they have previously released. The single “Juicebox” is a musical departure in some ways, with its thundering bassline and almost metal-distortion guitar. “15 Minutes” sees Casablancas belting out his words in a faux-ballad that strikes airs of the 1940s.

Morreti provides incredibly rich, detailed drums to the whole album, truly giving all the floating notes a definable foundation. Nikolai Fraiture gives the music a pulse with his bass. The bass is not often following the guitar lines on “First Impressions of Earth.” Rather, Fraiture is often playing his own distinct but intertwining lines, giving the music immeasurable depth.

The album’s centerpiece is “Ask Me Anything,” three minutes of electronic pulsing coupled with Casablancas’ newfound naked voice. The lyrics are clearly put on the forefront, flowing to the infectiously simple synth. The song is Casablancas’ expose: “I’ve got nothing to say/I’ve got nothing to give/I’ve got no reason to live/Oh, I would kill to survive/I’ve got nothing to hide/Wish I wasn’t so shy.”

“Juicebox” sounds less like The Strokes’ repertoire than any other track on the record; it still manages to be incredibly powerful and fresh. “Vision of Division” is one of the loudest songs the Strokes have recorded, on par with Room on Fire’s “The Way It Is.” The song is impressively built with a very distinct verse/chorus structure, not to mention a solo as amazing as anything Valensi has ever played. “Ize of the World” sees feedback coupled with lyrical parallels. Other standouts include "Heart in a Cage"; the previously mentioned "Razorblade"; and the electric "Electricityscape".

“First Impressions of Earth” is not an album where one’s first impressions hold steady. The album grows and connects with the listener immeasurably in repeated listens.

Once you fall in love with the album, you’ll see why you need to see Casablancas and company in concert.

The scene at the Troubadour may have been more fanatical then your usual Strokes show, but they have a wonderful fan base that makes their shows a constant success and an almost definite enjoyable time.

“First Impressions of Earth” is available now, and the Strokes will tour the United States in March.

Keanu sighting

・ There was a cornucopia of celebs at The Strokes show at the Troubadour (1/6) & some even came in pairs. Keanu Reeves arrived with Claire Forlani, Kirsten Dunst & Jason Schwartman came together, also in attendance was John Taylor of Duran Duran, Eva Mendes, Mike D. of Beastie Boys, Drew Barrymore (of course), and the most random was DJ AM leaving solo. The most disturbing yet entertaining pairing was Eva Mendes sitting on Har Mar Superstar’s (you need to search him if you don’t know who he is to get a full appreciation of this) lap at the end of the night.

・ Saw Keanu Reeves today (1/10) at the Griddle. He was by himself at the counter, reading a newspaper and waiting for his to-go order. I don’t think anyone else in the restaurant even knew he was sitting there. Say what you will about him - he sure is easy on the eyeballs!

Iced Maiden

IT IS impossible to ignore the fact that Gwyneth Paltrow is expecting her second child in a few months. Barefaced but still beautiful, with blonde hair arranged loosely around her shoulders, she is clad in superskinny jeans, and even skinnier heels, but from the waist up her five-month bulge billows so that she looks like a tapeworm that has swallowed a football. Any reference to her pregnancy, however, is strictly off-limits, says her publicist.

[Snipped For Keanu]
On the other hand, her background gave her a hotline to the kind of hunk actors other teenage girls could only stare at on bedroom walls. "I do remember having a crush on Keanu Reeves," she chuckles. "And my mother worked with this make-up artist who was going out with him. So they took a Polaroid of him and he signed it for me, but then I just felt retarded. It kind of ruined it."

Scanner Delayed Again

Warner Independent Pictures has bumped the release date of its much-delayed SF film A Scanner Darkly yet again, to July from its most recent release date in March, a spokeswoman told SCI FI Wire's sister publication Science Fiction Weekly.

A Scanner Darkly, based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, was scheduled to come out last September, then was moved to March 31 of this year. In the film, director Richard Linklater overlays live-action photography with advanced animation, as in his 2001 movie Waking Life. Delays in the sophisticated animation process were cited when the movie was pushed to March from September last year.

Set in suburban Orange County, Calif., in a future where America has lost the war on drugs, A Scanner Darkly stars Keanu Reeves as an undercover cop who is ordered to start spying on his friends. He is launched on a paranoid journey into the absurd, where identities and loyalties are impossible to decode, Warner said. The cast also includes Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder and Rory Cochrane.

Awards gala honorees seemed like one big, happy family

Bruce Fessier
The Desert Sun
January 9, 2006

The industry hordes have returned to L.A. after Saturday's Awards Gala, and the focus is again on international film.But Saturday's Awards Gala made it seem like Hollywood is almost one big fraternity.

Breakthrough Performance honoree Felicity Huffman noted how her husband, acclaimed actor William H. Macy, helped "Transamerica" get a U.S. distributor when he called Harvey Weinstein and got him to a screening. Weinstein knows how to campaign for Oscars better than anyone, so Huffman is now an Oscar favorite for her worthy performance as a preoperative male-to-female transsexual.

Viggo Mortensen, whose character showed no fear in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, said he was "terrified" of reading his handwritten speech about Visionary Filmmaker Award winner David Cronenberg in front of this audience. But then he reinforced the director's reputation as David "Depraved" Cronenberg by calling him "certifiable insanity wrapped up in madness."

Keanu Reeves said he realized Desert Palm Achievement winner Charlize Theron was "a fearless actress" when he saw her at a screen test in "Devil's Advocate," based on a novel by Palm Springs writer Andrew Neiderman. Then Theron called Reeves "family."

Actor Peter Sarsgaard challenged Desert Palm Achievement winner Jake Gyllenhaal like a school pal, but he got him to sing and the audience got to see Sarsgaard do a silly dance.

And only someone who knows and loves Shirley MacLaine could have gotten away with laughing at her as Kathy Bates did when the lifetime achievement winner said in all seriousness she's not ambitious.

Bates knows MacLaine may not play Hollywood games to get plum roles, but she chooses her roles carefully and shows great ambition in getting them right.

Film fest gala a hit

The Desert Sun
More than 1,200 people at the 17th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala toasted the stars at the Palm Springs Convention Center tonight.

Award winners including actors Shirley MacLaine, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Charlize Theron, Felicity Huffman, composer Thomas Newman, director David Cronenberg and producer Michael London were showered with praise, applause and good-natured ribbing from their equally famous friends.

As Shirley MacLaine gave her acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award, and said "I've never been an ambitious type," her good friend and award presenter Kathy Bates burst into peals of laughter offstage.

The gala, with tickets starting at $300 a piece, is one of the highlights of the two-week film festival that was started by late Palm Springs Mayor Sonny Bono. Now in its 17th year, the festival will present 231 films from 70 countries through Jan. 19.

Hundreds of people watched the stars arrive on the red carpet at the newly renovated Palm Springs Convention Center beginning at about 5 p.m.

Actor Viggo Mortensen, of "Lord of the Rings" fame, strode into the building with his friend director David Cronenberg, who directed his work in "History of Violence."

Actor Gary Sinise, of CBS' "CSI: New York," was a celebrity attendee.

He told television reporters outside the convention center that he liked attending the Palm Springs Film Festival. "It's great because it's easy. You just drive down from Los Angeles."

Congresswoman Mary Bono, looking radiant in white, said "It's about showcasing the city of Palm Springs. It's a great festival. Sonny would be so proud," as she stopped on the red carpet to talk to CBS2's "Eye on the Desert."

Actor Keanu Reeves, Ludacris, Peter Sarsgaard and actress Virginia Madsen were amongst the star-studded awards presenters at the gala.

See Sunday's Desert Sun for four pages of coverage and photos from the gala, the special section guide to Sunday's film festival events and an exclusive interview with filmmaker John Waters about his work on the featured documentary on the Salton Sea.

Watch www.thedesertsun.com later tonight for columnist Darrell Smith's reports from the Harper's Bazaar after party.

Stars shine on gala

It was the culmination of founder Mayor Sonny Bono's dream for the festival.

The night included appearance by stars like Keanu Reeves, Kathy Bates, Viggo Mortensen and rap artist Ludicris, in addition to honorees such as Shirley MacLaine, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron, Terrence Howard and Felicity Huffman.

For the honorees and their industry friends, it was a party that got crazier as the evening went on. Michael London, who was presented the Producer Award by one of his "Sideways" stars, Virginia Madsen, called the evening "fantastic."

"Jake (Gyllenhaal) and Peter (Sarsgaard) were definitely the highlight of the entertainment," he said before MacLaine accepted her Lifetime Achievement honor as the last award of the evening, "but for a producer to be honored like this "

The evening was definitely a party by the time Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaard did their schtick. They danced and sang - between more sentimental reflections - and Gyllenhaal exhorted the crowd for being "raucous!"

It really started going that way after Theron accepted the Desert Palm Achievement, Female, Award from a bearded, long-haired Reeves.

Her tribute began with a video clip showing her receiving an award at another ceremony and going into the audience to kiss MacLaine's rear end in homage to the Oscar-winning actress. Afterwards, Theron looked into the audience and said, "Where's Shirley? Where's my lady of the night? Shirley, room 406."

Less than an hour later, after Bates' loving yet humorous introduction of MacLaine, the Lifetime Achievement honoree looked at Theron and quipped, "Charlize, Room 204 - the three of us. Everyone else in this town is doing it!"The desert environment was a prominent character in this big production. Director David Cronenberg, receiving the Sonny Bono Visionary Filmmaker Award after introductions from Mortensen and Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, said he liked the idea of a film festival in the desert, but said receiving a visionary award in the desert was a little scary.

"Deserts are known for their history of visionaries and prophets of all kinds," the "Crash" and "A History of Violence" director noted. "I didn't really feel I was (capable) of that kind of artistic invention."

MacLaine said, "There's some very creative stuff going on in the desert."

She said this was the first time she had returned to Palm Springs since her Rat Pack days with Frank Sinatra. She made fun of her reputation for espousing metaphysics by telling Mary Bono she had talked to Sonny. But she also talked about the creativity that can flourish in the desert. She encouraged people to find their "higher self." But her attempts to talk about spirituality were interrupted.

Finally, she conceded, "This is the most interesting gathering I've been to in 5,000 years."

Arlene Rosenthal, a supporter of a dozen Coachella Valley charities, called festival board chairman Earl Greenburg "a genius" and said he and his chairman emeritus, Harold Matzner "brought this to where it is today."

If she had thought another minute she probably would have added accolades for Jackie Lee Houston, the gala committee chairperson who guided the sold-out party for 1,200 or more without a glitch.

Greenburg said the prime benefit for the city's flagship tourism event netted more than $310,000.

Matzner said the important figure was the gross of more than $750,000. But, considering the event used to lose money in the 1990s and that was considered an even exchange for all the media images it generated, a net of more than $300,000 was as significant as the attendees.

Greenburg called the diverse makeup of the celebrities as significant as anything all night.

"I'm just blown away by the whole fantastic evening," he said as well-wishers sought his attention after the gala. "Having people from Ludacris to Shirley MacLaine helps define the festival for the next five years."

The Strokes Play Small NY Gig

by Jeff Ando on 1/8/2006

The Strokes celebrated the US release of their third album 'First Impressions Of Earth' by playing an exclusive gig at Los Angeles Troubadour on Friday night (6 January) for 500 fans and a number of A-list stars.

Taking their lead from the likes of Radiohead, who launched 'OK Computer' there in 1997, and Coldplay, who premiered 'X&Y' with a small-scale show at the venue, the gig drew massive queues around the block.

Hundreds of fans who won tickets through local radio station KROQ turned up hours early to secure places at the front of the stage, while still more arrived begging list holders to sell any spare tickets for upwards of $500 a piece.

Inside, the band took the stage around 45 minutes late, with celebrity onlookers including Matrix star Keanu Reeves as well as actresses Kirsten Dunst, Eva Mendes and drummer Fab's fiance Drew Barrymore.

Other guests included Beastie Boy Mike D, Jet's Chris Cester and Har Mar Superstar.

"Thanks to everyone inside," frontman Julian Casablancas announced when taking the stage. "Are you guys ready to go or what? This is one of the best days in the world. God Bless America."

The band opened with 'Juicebox', following it up with a thirteen song set that included new tracks 'Razorblade' and 'Red Light' alongside classics 'Someday' and 'Hard to Explain'.

'First Impressions Of Earth' is set to enter the UK album chart at Number One today.

interview with Isaac Mizrahi on his show on Style Network

Date: 2006-Jan-9
From: Entertainment Weekly ( United States) - January 13, 2006
(The detail is here)

interview with Isaac Mizrahi on his show on Style Network

This week's Entertainment Weekly January 13, 2006 has an interview with Isaac Mizrahi on his show on Style Network (USA).

From the interview:

Which Celebrity Guest Would You want on the Show?

"Keanu Reeves is a dream [guest]. He really doesn't talk much. I would like to have him on and open him up. He's also like the cutest thing in the world."

There is also a quarter sized picture of Keanu with a short beard and longish hair.

Star Wars III tops 2005's movie goof-ups list

London : What do the movies 'Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith', 'War Of The Worlds', and the remake of the hit 1933 movie 'King Kong' have in common? Well apart from the fact that they have been some of the biggest winners at the box-office, they also share the dubious role of having the most number of goof-ups.

According to website moviemistakes.com, some of the biggest block-busters of the year are riddled with blunders.

The poll of the 'Top Ten Foul-up films of 2005' was topped by director George Lucas' film 'Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith' which had a total number of 142 mistakes, including one where fans spotted Anakin Skywalker apologising to Obi-Wan while his hair changes direction.

It was closely followed by Tom Cruise's hit movie War of the Worlds' at second place, with 111 blunders.

Keanu Reeves starrer 'Constantine' was joint winner of the third spot with which came in third with the boy wizard Harry Potter's adventure 'Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire' who just couldnt help making a total number of 66 mistakes.

The top was rounded off by the remake of the hit 1933 movie 'King Kong' which clocked a total count of 44 bloopers including one where Ann Darrow, played by Naomi Watts, appears soaking wet one minute and bone dry the next, while being led through a group of natives.

Southampton graduate Jon Sandys, who runs the website, said that 2005 was the year with the most number of mistake-ridden movies.

“2005 could well be the most mistake-ridden year ever,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

The list for the Top Ten 'Foul-up films of 2005' is:

1. Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (142)

2. War Of The Worlds (111)

3. Constantine (66)

3. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (66)

5. King Kong (44)

6. The Crow - Wicked Prayer (41)

7. The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (38)

8. The Amityville Horror (33)

9. Miss Congeniality 2 - Armed & Fabulous (27)

10.Mr And Mrs Smith (25)

Film festival opens tonight with 'The New World'

If there was a sign on the door of the Palm Springs High School auditorium tonight it would say "Sold out."And that could be a harbinger of things to come throughout the 17th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, which begins tonight and runs through Jan. 16.

Ticket sales are up 22 percent over last year when the festival reported attendance of 108,000 people, making it the most popular film festival in the glutted California film festival arena, festival board chairman Earl Greenburg said Wednesday.

That could translate to ticket sales of more than $700,000 for what has been called Palm Springs' flagship tourism event.

Just as significantly, the festival will attract 150 to 200 working media people, including national outlets such as People magazine and "Entertainment Tonight," said Los Angeles publicist Steven Wilson.

The city of Palm Springs is the title sponsor with an annual contribution of $350,000.

The festival launches with a screening of the critically acclaimed "The New World," which had its Los Angeles and New York debuts Dec. 25. The Terrence Malick film has been called "an instant classic" although it may not be a commercial blockbuster.

Greenburg said the festival has sold 600 tickets. More than 400 others are reserved for filmmakers and VIPs. Representatives from nations with films featured in the festival traditionally attend the opening night film, and this festival features 231 films from 70 nations.

The star power of opening night always pales in comparison to the black tie awards gala on Saturday, but tonight's opener is expected to attract the film's teenage co-star, Q'orianka Kilcher, who plays Pocahontas to Colin Farrell's John Smith. The film's producer, Sarah Green, is also expected to attend.

Kilcher has already earned a National Board of Review award for Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress.Kilcher also is expected to attend the awards gala Saturday at the Palm Springs Convention Center. That event, hosted by "Entertainment Tonight" co-anchor Mary Hart, is expected to feature such honorees as Shirley MacLaine, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron, Felicity Huffman and Terrence Howard.

Festival officials announced Wednesday that Kathy Bates will present the lifetime achievement award to MacLaine and Paul Haggis and rap star-turned actor Ludacris will present the Rising Star Award to Howard.

Peter Sarsgaard will present the Desert Palm Achievement Award, male, to Gyllenhaal, his co-star in "Jarhead," and Keanu Reeves will present the Desert Palm Achievement Award, female, to Theron.

Andrew Stanton, the writer-director of "Finding Nemo" and "A Bug's Life," will present the Frederick Loewe Award for Composing to Thomas Newman, actress Virginia Madsen will present the Producer Award to London, and actress Fionnula Flanagan will present the Breakthrough Performance Award to Huffman.

Philanthropists are paying up to $15,000 a table for the awards gala, and overall ticket sales to that black tie event are also ahead of last year's sold out gala.

Movie buffs may watch the red carpet arrivals to the events tonight and Saturday.