Movies

Everyone's favorite tween hussies are hitting the big screen.

That's right, come August 2007, "Bratz: The Movie," a live-action version of the creepy dolls, will indoctrinate a slew of unsuspecting young girls into the belief that empowerment comes from being ultra-skinny, wearing tight slutty clothes and piling on enough makeup and eyelashes to become card-carrying members of the Tammy Faye Fan Club.

Flighty American Idol judge Paula Abdul has been brought onboard as executive producer and will appear in the film in a major role. Paula will also put her fizzy dizziness to work in multiple creative areas, including music, choreography and fashion. It is unknown at this time whether or not Paula will have her eyes surgically altered to match the dolls.

Hide the children, the Bratz (and Paula) are coming.

The choreographer-turned-actor was romantically linked to Britney in 2003, while his wife was seven months pregnant -- see a trend here, Shar Jackson, anyone?

While promoting his new film "Stomp the Yard," "Tom Joyner Morning Show" entertainment reporterJawn Murray asked Short how it felt to have a life that didn't go "the way of the Federline." Audibly surprised by the question, Short replied, "I believe in my talent ... not to diss Kevin, he's a boy of mine ... I'm grateful in the career decisions that I've made and God directing my path." No kidding.

If only K-Fed had learned a thing or two from this one ... we could have all been spared PopoZao.

The "Basic Instinct 2" actress stormed The Ivy for lunch and Mr. Chow's for dinner -- L.A.'s two most paparazzi-laden restaurants. Say cheese!

With her new film "Alpha Dog" opening Friday, the world awaits Sharon's personal media blitzkrieg to reach Kitson and Hyde before the week is up. Sharon invented the crotch shot in "Basic Instinct," we just hope her press junket doesn't include any Britney-esque panty raids.

Breaking News: Matt Dillon discharged the Endeavor agency today, and sources tell TMZ that he appears to be headed towards Creative Artists Agency.

(Then again, he might take a meeting or two; whatever the case, Endeavor is in his rear-view mirror.)

Regardless of where Dillon winds up, his departure elicited the funniest agency remark of the day: Said one rival agency wag, "Why'd he leave Endeavor? Well, when Kevin Dillon is hotter than Matt Dillon, it's 'Houston, we have a problem.'"

All kidding aside, Dillon tried the 'make interesting pictures at cut-rate prices' route: "Crash" won Best Picture last year largely because of his performance as a lecherously racist L.A. cop. Now it might be time to do better than execrable stuff like "You, Me and Dupree" and make some watchable studio movies at a new shop.

Is director Rob Cohen about to get sprung from movie jail?

Our spies tell us that Cohen, the director of Vin Diesel action hits like "The Fast and the Furious" and "XXX," is in negotiations to direct the third incarnation of "The Mummy" franchise at Universal Pictures.

A director with those two mega-credits under his belt normally wouldn't be available to do yeoman's service on the third iteration of a Brendan Fraser franchise, but Cohen took the blame for the bloated, plotless special effects stinker that was "Stealth" -- a $100 million bomb that that fell out of Sony Pictures' skies back in 2005.

After a mess like that, you're in "movie jail" - the equivalent of purgatory for directors. Performing well on an established franchise would go a long way toward rehabbing your rep, and clearly, insiders say, Cohen's hip to this fact.

Look for Universal to make the formal offer to Cohen sometime later this week.

One time "Karate Kid" turned Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. The two-time Academy Award winner has definitely come a long way since her role as "Julie Pierce" in "The Next Karate Kid" -- something one fan was quick to note at the ceremony.

Though she'd probably like to forget those days (as well as her turn as a single mom on "Beverly Hills 90210"), Swank was ecstatic about her star. In old-Hollywood style, she even signed photos for fans after the unveiling.

The stars of "The Pursuit of Happyness" stirred quite a scene as eager fans swarmed the onscreen father/son duo as they made their way into LAX. Nice guy that he is, Will made sure to accommodate the excited fans by taking time to say hi.

Jaden took the easy route by hitching a ride on dad's back.

So, once again, Daily Variety has announced that a fourth "Indiana Jones" is looming for next year, via "Spider-Man" screenwriter David Koepp.

You'll forgive me if I don't speed-dial to Moviefone to reserve tickets. Here's why: To give you some perspective on what this means, the newborn being nursed on Enfamil by the mommy two rows in front of me during a showing of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" back in '89 can now legally buy a pack of Camels.

Just as well, because in the eighteen years that have passed, it's been "Smoke 'em if you got 'em!" as Hollywood waited around for the next crack of the bullwhip. Despite numerous announcements in Daily Variety, screenwriters have literally died waiting to see the fourth "Indy" movie get made.

So here, dear TMZ readers, follows a short "Indiana Jones 4 is coming" announcement time-line:

* May 24th, 1989: Made for $48 million, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" opens to $47 million in box office.

* October 18th, 1995: "Jeffrey Boam ("The Lost Boys") is also working on scripts for 'Indiana Jones IV' and 'Lethal Weapon 4." As for "Indie," he says Steve Spielberg wants the pic to shoot here in L.A. Only one week will be on location, probably in Honduras. Russia had first been planned. 'And,' added Boam, Harrison Ford will play his own age, 'so he can limp and/or wear glasses!'"

(Boam would actually expire five years later, of complications from a rare lung disorder.)

* May 28th, 1997: "We are totally committed to [making] one," said Spielberg, "if the story is right, of course."

* September 4th, 2002: "Steven Spielberg and myself have reserved time in 2004 to begin shooting." - Harrison Ford

* June 12th, 2003: Frank Darabont also has whipped "Indiana Jones 4" into shape for a 2004 start.

* March 14th, 2004: " 'Indiana Jones 4,' which had been planned for 2005, looks like it won't get to theaters until 2006 at the earliest. (There's still no script.)"

* September 12th, 2004: "As for the Indiana Jones film series, a new writer is working on another episode, George Lucas said, but after six years of failing to come up with a script, 'We're just not going to make it unless it's really good.' "

* February 13th, 2005: "...nothing is imminent for Lucasfilm's other pic franchise, 'Indiana Jones.' Paramount would love to distribute a fourth edition, but, despite the talk since No. 3 in 1989, there are no immediate plans."

* May 30th, 2005: "Jeff Nathanson's draft for "Indy 4" has apparently met with the approval of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. But before Paramount can dust off Indy's signature Stetson and bullwhip, Harrison Ford -- the third key member of the Indy triumvirate -- has to sign off on the script, and he hasn't yet read Nathanson's draft. An earlier effort by Frank Darabont failed to pass muster with the trio."

* January 3rd, 2007: "The trio confirmed Monday that Paramount is set to begin lensing the new Indiana Jones pic in June from a script by David Koepp ("Spider-Man")."

Will these geezers be up to the task? Today, the 64-year-old Ford deadpanned to the trade, "I don't know if the pants still fit, but I know the hat will."

To Ford, we'll offer this exchange, uttered by Indiana Jones to Marion in 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Marion: "You're not the man I knew ten years ago."
Indiana Jones: "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."

The film stars the sometimes foul-mouthed Sienna Miller. Miller, who found interesting ways to prepare for the role, including reportedly painting with her breasts, portrays Edie Sedgwick, a socialite turned actress (was she our first Paris Hilton?) who starred in several Andy Warhol films. Somewhere along the line in her underground film career, Sedgwick struck up a friendship with Dylan and she is thought by some to be an inspiration for a couple of songs on his blockbuster "Blonde on Blonde" record. Rumors swirled that Sedgwick had romantic feelings for the troubadour, but historical coverage on the pair indicates there is no direct evidence of a romantic relationship. However, some think the film links Sedgwick dying of a drug overdose in 1971 to her crushed ego when she learned that Dylan secretly married another woman.

With holiday picks like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas," stars Beyonce Knowles, Jude Law, Flavor Flav and others have told TMZ what they'll be watching on Christmas morning.

In an interview with "Dreamgirls" co-star Beyonce Knowles for Moviefone's "Unscripted" series, Foxx admits fame has its perks. "You can use the fame for certain things that are meaningful, like getting into the clubs," Jamie jokes, "...get me a bottle thrown in. I just like using it for something that is heartfelt."

Isla Fisher, who is engaged to Borat (aka Sacha Baron Cohen), picked up the tight La Perla powder blue swimsuit on Wednesday for her favorite faux-Kazakh, at trendy West Hollywood boutique, Le Bra Lingerie. The $89 trunks are the same body-hugging shorts that new 007, Daniel Craig, wore in the blockbuster film "Casino Royale." We liiike!

Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman may not have had a catchy one-name moniker like Brangelina, Bennifer or TomKat, but the ex-supercouple still felt the pressures of being in a high profile marriage.

Hawke tells Parade magazine, "...to be married to another famous person was a huge pressure -- one I didn't enjoy. And it had nothing to do with her." Ethan and Uma divorced in 2004 and have two children together, 8-year-old Maya and 4-year-old Levon. Regarding fatherhood, Ethan says, "It's the only role that, if I fail, I will consider my life a failure." What about "The Newton Boys?"

While messy divorces aren't uncommon in Hollywood, Hawke never makes disparaging remarks about his gorgeous ex. "She's my children's mother. You have to keep that above anything else." Spoken like a true gentleman. You hear that, Alec Baldwin?!

Check out the entire interview in Sunday's Parade magazine.

Academy voters take note! The sleeper hit is already up for a Golden Globe for Best Picture, and the bus now features the words "Little Best Picture" painted on the side.

The trifecta of hotness; Matt Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, are pulling heists again -- this time with a new recruit.

"Ocean's 13" finds the trio and their band of robbers teamed with nemesis Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) to take on a new bad boy -- played by the one and only Al Pacino. Ellen Barkin fills the estrogen quota, replacing Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the film's leading lady.

Crow received a Best Original Song nomination for her performance of Try Not to Remember from the film "Home of the Brave." Crow says she was moved after seeing a rough cut of the movie, saying "It was really inspiring, I really felt compelled to write about it."

The movie tells the story of returning Iraqi war veterans who have to adjust to life again. "It strikes a cord, a familiarity with the Vietnam War, where you come home from a war and you can not figure out how to fit back into society," says Crow, "you've seen too many images that are too disturbing." Suffice to say, it's definitely a heavy song.