Heat vs. Departed

by Mishy Pinchy - Steel Magnolia

I'm so tired of people saying they don't want to see Scorsese's latest work of brilliance The Departed. This is arguably his best film since Goodfellas and
features some of the greatest actors of our time.

The Departed reminded me a lot of Heat, another amazing movie. I think the latter was a bit long and drawn out, true to director Michael Mann's style, but well done nonetheless.

Both movies juxtapose two men who sit on opposite sides of the law. Where The Departed takes this to a whole other level is that these men sit on opposite sides of the law while embedded in each others' environments. The parrallels are obvious but without being gimmicky or cheesy.

First off - Jack Nicholson. It was refreshing to see that somebody other than DeNiro, Pacino, Pesci or Depp could NAIL the gangster role. It was also nice to see the Boston Irish in the spotlight for once and not the usual Itialian New Yorkers.

Although not one of the leading men, Mark Whalberg made the movie for me as an unlikely anti-hero and asshole extraordinaire who provides much-needed comic relief when things get too intense.

Matt Damon does a really good job playing one of those characters that you're not sure if you hate or sympathize with. You're rooting for Leo all the way, but you secretly hope it works out with both of them on top.

Lastly, my beloved Leo...oh how you never fail to disappoint me. Leo is so much more than a childhood crush to me. I honestly believe he is incredible and gets robbed of Oscars year after year. He's come a long way from playing Romeo, and for all he's done, I think we can forgive the epic disaster that was Titanic. In The Departed, Leo shows he can rock the Boston accent but he also embodied a man on the edge. Through Leo we felt the entire film and the intensity and stress of the whole situation.

This movie is what Donnie Brasco tried to do, put couldn't pull off nearly as well - showing a man lost between crime and the law. Here, Scorses proves that you don't need the shock-value, blood and gore to stand amongst the great films that tackle the organized underworld. He uses just enough violence to give us insight into poor Leo's high anxiety scenario. Instead well-written dialogue and superb acting is used to weave in and out of Matt and Leo's stories.

Both Heat and The Departed feature a heavyweight cast and end with a showdown between our ying and yang. If you liked Heat at all, go see this film already! You won't be disappointed - it's entertaining at the very least.

LePaparazzi News Update: Reese and Ryan Call It Quits

LOS ANGELES - America's sweetheart Reese Witherspoon and husband Ryan Phillippe have called it quits after seven years of marriage, their reps said yesterday.

"We are saddened to announce that Reese and Ryan have decided to formally separate. They remain committed to their family," the couple's representatives said in a statement.

The "Legally Blonde" star, 30, and the hunky "Crash" actor, 32, have two children, Ava, 7, and Deacon, 3. They married in 1999 after co-starring in the teen thriller "Cruel Intentions," but they never worked together on-screen again.

One of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses, Witherspoon commands $15 million a picture and won an Oscar for "Walk the Line." Phillippe's paychecks are far slimmer, hovering in the $2million-a-picture range, according to industry reports.

The split comes just weeks after a celebrity lensman spotted the glam couple bickering at the New York premiere of "Flags of Our Fathers" - the Clint Eastwood-directed film about the World War II heroes who planted the American flag at Iwo Jima, in which Phillippe stars.

And it follows months of rumors and magazine reports that their marriage was on the rocks, all of which were repeatedly denied.

"They are completely happy, as everyone saw on the Oscars broadcast," a rep declared last March. But witnesses said the couple avoided each other like the plague at a Vanity Fair-hosted bash just hours after Witherspoon won gold for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in the Johnny Cash biopic.

"He sat by himself looking pretty resentful," a partygoer told Life & Style magazine.

Witherspoon, who met the wavy-haired "Gosford Park" star at her 21st birthday party, had confessed marriage wasn't a picnic. "Marriage is hard," she told Vanity Fair in 2004. "[It's] not about expecting someone to make you happy every day or to complete your life."

Phillippe admitted the couple were in marriage counseling in 2002. "The biggest mistake is not doing that, ignoring it and have the marriage fall apart because of laziness," he told the Daily News.

Therapy obviously didn't work. More hints of disenchantment appeared in Phillippe's recent chat with Interview magazine when he twice bemoaned being away from his kids while filming, but didn't pine for his wife.

Divorce papers had not been filed yesterday, but Witherspoon has reportedly consulted Hollywood heavy hitter Robert Kaufman, who represented Jennifer Aniston, Roseanne Barr and Lisa Marie Presley in their splits, TMZ.com reported.
[Source]

LePaparazzi News Update: Whitney Houstin Back on the Red Carpet

BEVERLY HILLS — She didn't sing, but Whitney Houston's presence alone made her shine among a room full of glittering stars at Saturday's 17th Carousel of Hope Ball.

It was the singer's first step back into the spotlight since seeking treatment for substance abuse and leaving longtime husband Bobby Brown.

"I feel great," said a blond Houston, wearing diamonds and black Armani. Sounding more calm and focused than she has in years, Houston clearly was touched by the outpouring of love.

"She's looking at the light, instead of darkness," said Houston's pal and the evening's honoree, Quincy Jones, who has known the singer since she was 16.

Houston was escorted to the event by music producer Clive Davis, the night's other honoree. He noted, "She's been through emotional trauma, and everybody's rooting for her. We're going to make a killer album."

Houston sat at the main table, where Halle Berry (in gold Elie Saab) was seated with boyfriend Gabriel Aubry. The semi-annual event has raised more than $70 million for childhood diabetes, and Berry, a diabetic, said she has been feeling well and remains hopeful for a cure.

Also in attendance: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Brooke Shields, Teri Hatcher, Sidney Poitier, Minnie Driver, Kristin Davis, Hilary Duff and the evening's host, Jay Leno.

Sharon Stone, who attended an L.A. event last week holding the hand of her Bobby co-star Christian Slater, playfully snapped, "None of your beeswax," when asked about a possible romance. And Candy Spelling, a familiar face at every Carousel Ball with late husband Aaron, attended this year with companion Mark Nathanson. In the silent auction room before the dinner, Spelling said she had bid on "some fabulous trip that's worth $23,000," though she could not remember the location.

Houston's surprise appearance led American Idol's Katharine McPhee to abandon plans to sing her signature Over the Rainbow in place of Houston's I Have Nothing. "It's her first big appearance since the breakup," explained McPhee on the pink arrivals carpet. "I would love to sing with her, but unfortunately all eyes are on me."

Houston nodded her head during McPhee's performance and led a standing ovation.

Afterward, Davis brought McPhee over to meet Houston, who took McPhee's hands in hers.

"She said she was really proud of me," said a tickled McPhee.

The event's founder, Barbara Davis, sparkling in $12.5 million in Leviev diamonds, guided Stevie Wonder over to sit with Houston. "This is my baby," said Houston, taking Wonder's hand. "He's my baby, too!" piped Barbara Davis.

Later, Barbara Davis ran over to Houston and pointed to a large screen replaying one of Houston's previous Carousel performances (The Greatest Love of All). "Look," said Barbara Davis, "that's you!" Houston smiled, appearing pleased with a reminder of her glory years.

Barbara Davis, an American Idol fan, also invited former Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson to preview one of her songs from this December's big-screen Dreamgirls. Idol judge Randy Jackson expressed pride in seeing two of his discoveries invited to share this year's Carousel bill with such established performers as Barry Manilow, Usher and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

As for Hudson's dream, it was one shared by all: "It would be a dream to hear Whitney perform again. She had the greatest voice of all time."
[Source]