If you've been wondering when Hollywood will finally get its act together and make a major motion picture about George W. Bush, well then, I have some very exciting news for you: Oliver Stone has come to our rescue. The controversial director is working on a new biopic about Dubya, and the film will be titled simply W.

The strangest part about W (aside from the fact that it is actually being made) is that we're all familiar with the people that the movie will be about. They have had the pleasure of being a part of our lives for eight agonizing years.

Photo credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

I don't envy the job of casting agents who have to find actors who will be believable in these roles. I mean sure, we praise their past decisions when they cast Helen Mirren as The Queen and or Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan (and Cate Blanchett actually made Bob Dylan look sexy — is there anything this woman can't do?). But there isn't much artistic freedom when it comes to casting the first family or Bush's cabinet members. They're sort of … well, boring.

We all know who Barbara Bush is and what she looks like, and we've heard all about the drama surrounding Bush's booze-loving daughters, Jenna and Barbara. So it's interesting to see who are the lucky actors who have been cast in these roles. Let's break down some of them, shall we? … continue reading

Olivia Wilde is going to play Jack Black’s love interest in the new biblical-times comedy The Year One. I am going to let the full weight of that news sink in while you stare at a picture of Olivia. Please, take your time. I’ll wait.

And, for comparison, here is Jack Black.

OK, now side by side.

So, yeah, what’s wrong with this picture? God, could there be a better example of the schlubby guy/hottie girl formula that has become the on-screen Hollywood couple du jour? I’ve railed (and railed) against these pairings for what seems like forever now. It’s not just the aesthetic that bothers me. Heaven knows a book is more, so much more, than its cover. But it’s the inequity of this equation that infuriates me. Where are the schlubby girl/hottie guy movies? And, since we’re dreaming big, how about the schlubby girl/hottie girl flicks? … continue reading

Ah, the chick flick. Much maligned. Often contrived. And, every now and then, downright satisfying. To be perfectly honest, I like a good chick flick — emphasis on good, of course. For me, the appeal is built right into the name. Chick: Well, I am one, and I like them. Flick: Well, movies; who doesn’t love movies? Two upcoming releases seek to find just the right chocolate-and-peanut-butter formula that results in the good kind of chick flick we all love to watch on lazy Sunday afternoons when we should be paying bills or regrouting the tub.

Both also fall into what is usually my favorite of the chick flick subgenres: the female bonding movie. Sure, romantic comedies are the more popular subgenre, but you just get more estrogen for your buck with bonding pictures. The films are Bonneville (opening Feb. 29 limited and March 21 wide) and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (opening Aug. 8).

Bonneville, which stars 50-somethings Jessica Lange, Joan Allen, Kathy Bates and Christine Baranski, centers on a cross-country road trip taken by three friends when one of their husbands dies. The trip is done in — you guessed it — a big old convertible Pontiac Bonneville.

Is anyone else getting a decidedly Thelma & Louise feel from that photo? I just hope it doesn’t end the same way. Though, from the trailer, it looks like the ladies have their automotive high jinks in the Utah salt flats, not the Grand Canyon. … continue reading

Consider this the weekend of small lesbian parts. (I know, I know — there are no small lesbian parts, only small lesbian actors.) Several movie offerings include glimpses of gay ladies.

Saturday at 8/7c on HBO, Alicia Keys tries to make her character as straight as possible in Smokin' Aces. (When Keys first got the script, she asked, "What's this gay s---?" — and it all went downhill from there.)

After 30 minutes of that, you can give up and switch over to Cinemax (yeaahhh!) for Primary Colors (8:30/7:30c). Kathy Bates plays a "gay lesbian woman" (I swear that's what she calls herself) with a shotgun and a conscience. And the cast includes Allison Janney and Emma Thompson, too! This thinly veiled Clintonian saga from 1998 might seem like a brand new film, now that the real-life wronged wife has become a presidential candidate.

Finally, starting this Sunday at midnight, the first season of the critically acclaimed Mad Men will be rebroadcast on AMC. The season eventually includes a heartbreaking lesbian scene (is there any other kind?) — you can read all about that here.

And if none of those appeal to you, there's always The Fabulous Baker Boys on Fox Movie Channel at 8/7c on Saturday. No lesbian characters there, unless you count every woman in the audience when Michelle Pfeiffer starts slithering all over that grand piano.

No, they're not dating. No, they're not even playing a couple on-screen. But I sucked ya in, didn't I? Actually, they've both signed on to roles in a movie entitled Personal Effects, which will also star Ashton Kutcher. Kathy Bates will play mom to Kutcher, while Michelle Pfeiffer will play the object of his affection.

The film tells the story of a man (Kutcher) dealing with the death of his sister. He goes looking for answers and instead meets a beautiful older woman (Pfeiffer) who is dealing with a similar tragedy in her past. Cue the dramatic music and ensuing romance. What is it with Kutcher and older women? At least he has good taste. … continue reading

FHM has an interesting list of what they consider the 10 best female movie villains. They also have some disturbing, yet fun, video clips to go along with their choices. And it got me thinking: What exactly makes a villainess a grand dame in the baddie world? So here's my take on the qualities that make a villain truly great.

1. The hotness factor

OK, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I can get swept up by a villain just because she's hot. I'm not alone: Malinda has her own list of baddies who are also hotties. Both Malinda and FHM include the likes of Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct) and Catwoman as played by Michelle Pfieffer. O-Ren Ishii makes the FHM list and mine as well. I'd also like to suggest two more recent villains to add to the "hot" list: Sarah Corvus and Caprica Six (Battlestar Galactica).

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I was just browsing IMDb and happened to notice that two Fried Green Tomatoes stars are celebrating a birthday today: Mary Stuart Masterson is 41, and Kathy Bates is 59.

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