PEOPLE
Cruise files for divorce; wants things amicable Barely two days after announcements of their separation, Tom Cruise fired the first legal shot Wednesday in Los Angeles. Yep, he crooned the ol’ standby, “irreconcilable differences,” in the Superior Court petition filing for divorce from soon-to-be-former wife Nicole Kidman. “It is Tom…
KILL AND KILL AGAIN; “HANNIBAL” EXPOSES OUR FORBIDDEN PASSION FOR THE SERIAL MURDERER
When Anthony Hopkins met with Jonathan Demme for his casting as Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs,” the actor had to ask, “Why me?” The director, who had seen him as the doctor in “The Elephant Man,” admired Hopkins’ humanity in the part. “I think Hannibal Lecter has…
PEOPLE
How about a birth with breakfast? When a television executive producer says something like, “I can promise you good taste will prevail,” you’re just wondering when Judge Judy will throw open her robe and start doing a pole dance to perk up her ratings. All right, nothing that horrid has…
TAKING ON WIND, COLD, VERMICELLI
I worked hurriedly against the light. It was Day Two of our adventure and the bosses would soon arrive in their SUVs, their windows steamed from the heating and their cups of Peet’s latte. Across the concrete turnaround in front of our camp, I laid out jagged branches like spikes…
‘WEDDING PLANNER” GETS THE JOB DONE; JENNIFER LOPEZ TURNS OUT TO BE A NATURAL FOR THE TITLE ROLE IN THIS COMEDY WITH MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY STARRING AS HER CLIENT’S FIANCE
When a woman becomes a bride-to-be, strange things happen. Her perception of color becomes skewed, with an emphasis on shades of peach and teal. She experiences an increased sensitivity to noise and opposing opinions, and can only be soothed by saccharine tunes like “I Honestly Love You” and “A Groovy…
“MY FELLOW CITIZENS”; FAMOUS FIRST WORDS FROM EARLIER PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL SPEECHES
George Washington confessed his anxiety. Thomas Jefferson felt humble but took the opportunity to declare the United States as having the strongest government on earth. Andrew Jackson, who later pushed the Indians west of the Mississippi River, promised to adhere to a just and liberal policy to the tribes. George…
PEOPLE
Sources say Madonna, Brit producer inspiration for “Hill” film More tight-lipped than a reality show contestant, screenwriter Richard Curtis has refused to divulge the real-life celebrity romance that inspired the unbelievable affair in “Notting Hill” between Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Supposedly, even the leading lady was not privy to…
PEOPLE
Timberlake facing lawsuit from fan of the boy band A 15-year-old girl has filed a suit against ‘N Sync heartthrob Justin Timberlake, accusing him of false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress in a St. Louis hotel after a Nov. 19 concert, reports E! Online. Danielle McGuire says after…
PEOPLE
Ritchie and Madonna’s sly wedding upsets press The covert operation otherwise known as the Madonna-Guy Ritchie wedding had at least one good side effect: It made those British newspapers cry like baby weasels when the newlyweds stiffed them of their tabloid photographs. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie must be snickering up…
If you can exercise, read about it
If you’re feeling inspired, it’s better to actually go for a hike, stretch your hamstrings or shoot some hoops than it is to lounge around reading about sports, fitness and the outdoors. But your life is sure to include a few rainy afternoons and head colds during the coming New…