Movies

The actress (?) hasn't been partying through the night like everyone is accustomed to seeing her do. Since filming began on "The Hottie and the Nottie," Paris has been knee-deep in work and focused on her acting career. Yesterday, a source said the heiress spent close to 10 hours filming on the docks in San Pedro, just south of Los Angeles.

At this rate, unreliable Lindsay will be out of a job and Paris will be taking over the box office. Maybe.

While Lindsay Lohan attempts to get clean and sober, TMZ has learned the details of one of her out of control drinking binges less than two weeks before checking into rehab.

As TMZ's Claude Brodesser-Akner reported yesterday, a rep from Lindsay's current film "I Know Who Killed Me" confirmed that filming would not be halted and that Lindsay's rehabilitation plans would include an outpatient program at Wonderland. However, sources inside the actual facility reveal that Lindsay's stay will be at least thirty days.

According to our source, the first seven days at Wonderland Center are dedicated to detoxification. After that, the process of determining each individual's length-of-stay is based on numerous factors, including severity of addiction, medical and psychiatric history, treatment experience and career/family obligations.

As Lindsay detoxes in Wonderland, TMZ has the inside scoop of one of her pre-rehab nights:

On January 5, just one day after having her appendix removed, Lohan was already out partying at the trendy Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. A source tells TMZ that Lindsay lined up mulitple shots in a row behind her so no one could see. Lohan would then drink the shots when no one was looking. Well, almost no one. At another point that same evening, Lindsay retreated to the ladies room and downed an entire cocktail. A few nights later, Lindsay was at it again, partying with three male friends at the new West Hollywood lounge, Winston's. Lindsay's mother, Dina, said in December that her daughter had been attending AA meetings.

Reuters is reporting today that "China's movie censor will not approve Golden Globe-honored film "The Departed" for domestic cinematic release..." because the film's plot involves a Chinese plan to buy highly sophisticated computer chips on the black market.

So, why are we issuing an Irony Alert?

The Chinese government's heavy-handed move will stop no one in China from seeing the movie if they so desire: "The Departed" has already been heavily pirated, using -- what else? -- highly sophisticated computer technology, and is widely available throughout the Chinese black market.

Also amusingly enough, the Chinese news service People's Daily Online goes to extra-special lengths to slap around the Globes' parent organization, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, offering this indisputable but oddly-timed parting shot in its coverage of Scorsese's Globe win.

Viz, "However, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which gives the awards, has drawn criticism for its small size of 85 members, which theoretically makes it more susceptible to influence by studios and publicists, the absence of members from internationally renowned publications, and the practice of some members of posing for photographs with stars, which would be an ethics breach at most U.S. publications."

For his big screen debut in "Alpha Dog," Justin Timberlake had to bulk up considerably -- damn he looks good!

To play Frankie Cassavetes, a physical trainer in the real world, the slim Justin had to get to the gym and start flexing his muscles -- beginning with just 5 lb. weights. The hardest part -- building his core before starting to lift real weights. "You first look at it like, it's five pounds, it's a girl's weight," Timberlake told Moviefone, "and then all of a sudden, you feel like a girl."

Cameron Diaz is definitely missing out now!

Original Broadway scorer Henry Krieger, as well as songwriters Anne Preven, Scott Cutler and Beyonce are credited on the soundtrack as the writers of the song and were submitted as such to the Academy.

As it states in the Academy's guidelines, it is customary for up to two people to be credited as writers of any given song, but under special circumstances, if it is found that the there were more than two equal contributors, an exception could be made. The Academy made the exception for Preven and Cutler, but not for our girl B.

No word as to why Beyonce didn't make the cut.

Nominations will be announced on the January 23.

After gang violence and a shooting at one of his theaters last month, the CEO of a theater chain said today that he won't screen "Stomp the Yard," a new Screen Gems movie about step dancing at an African American fraternity that opens on 2,000 screens this weekend.

Asked if the decision was a question of race, theater owner Tony Kerasotes told the Springfield State Journal Register: "You could phrase the question that way, but to me, it's a question of gangs. It's about gangs. It's not about race."

Still, Kerasotes' decision has sparked a fierce debate with the NAACP -- both within the small-town Illinois community and nationally -- about whether the decision to pull the film is racist, or simply a common-sense public safety measure following an unsolved attempted murder.

True, the shooting occurred at a nominally "white" horror movie, ironically entitled "Black Christmas," prompting some to argue against linking racial demographics to a movie's title. One reader of the Journal Register posted a comment arguing, "The shooting, while sad and disappointing about the safety of our society (sic), had nothing to the with the movie being shown!! If anything, the movie was 'Black Christmas' (which was a white movie) had nothing to do with gang violence."

Well, not quite: As lily-white as its cast was, "Black Christmas" likely attracted a majority of non-Caucasian audiences, at least according to exit polls. Indeed, according to horror specialist New Line Cinema's own market research, horror movies, like "Jason vs. Freddy" and the like, have always had black and Latino audiences vastly outnumbering white theatergoers. Primarily targeted at black audiences, "Stomp" should mirror or even exceed the black demos of a horror flick.

What's more, as Newsweek points out, the general president of the fraternity depicted in "Stomp the Yard," Alpha Phi Alpha, accused the filmmakers of using the frat's symbols "without authorization, and juxtaposing the organization with gang activity." As early as November, he urged fraternity members not to participate, long before the Christmas Day shooting in Springfield. (In the end, producers for "Stomp" had to digitally remove all symbols and references to Alpha Phi Alpha.)

With all that in mind, Kerasotes' decision might be over-cautious, but it hardly seems ill-conceived or overtly racist, but that this is happening in Springfield is beyond ironic: Not many may remember, but Springfield, Illinois is approaching centennial of one of the worst race riots in U.S. history, a repugnant event which ultimately gave birth to the NAACP. Sadly, a hundred years later, Springfield's race fires are clearly still smoldering.

As Will, Jada and son Jaden walked the red carpet at the Paris premiere of "The Pursuit of Happyness," Mr. Smith showed the City of Lights just how it's done in their household.

Je t'adore Will!

Eva Mendes has nothing but love for her good friend and fellow Cubana, Cameron Diaz.

Mendes tells the new issue of Maxim, "If I were a guy I'd ask Cameron to marry me. She's got the greatest spirit and she has the cutest, tighest butt. Her butt is so cute I can't take it." Please stop Eva, neither can we!

Don't worry fellas, because the stunning beauty is all about the menz, and raves about her hunky male co-stars too. "I'd be blind as a bat not to have chemistry with Johnny Depp, Will Smith and Denzel Washington." Hey, what about Matt Damon in "Stuck on You?"

In the upcoming film "Ghost Rider," Eva stars opposite Nic Cage (sorry) and admits she is willing to do whatever it takes get into character. "The original Roxanne was blonde and blue-eyed, but also had huge bajoongas. If I gain weight it goes to my boobs and my butt. I figured since I can't be blonde and blue-eyed, I'll at least have her bra size. So the bajoongas got big. They were out of control." Thank you Jesus.

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."