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Tired of dreadful scripts and degrading magazine spreads, the Oscar-winning actress, producer, entrepreneur and activist built an empire on her own taste and work ethic. Now she plots projects all over Hollywood and responds to critics of her paychecks: "Does it bother people when Kobe Bryant or LeBron James make their contract?" "You ready for your eyes to roll back in your head?" The warning comes an hour or so into lunch at L.A.'s members-only San Vicente Bungalows, once Reese Witherspoon has fished her phone from the depths of her designer purse and slid it across the table. There, on her screen, is an illustration that ran four years ago in Time magazine, accompanying a trend piece headlined "Hollywood's New Domestic Divas." The Oscar-winning actress, who at the time had just launched her retail company, Draper James, is in the center, outfitted preposterously with a vacuum, an apron and an evening gown. She's flanked by Gwyneth Paltrow, holding a strawberry shortcake her … [Read more...] about How Reese Witherspoon Took Charge of Her Career and Changed Hollywood

Onstage, they were the personification of unity – even family. The four men dressed the same –in leather motorcycle jackets, weathered jeans, sneakers – had the same dark hair color, shared the same last name. They seemed to think the same thoughts and breathe the same energy. They often didn’t stop between songs, not even as bassist Dee Dee Ramone barked out the mad “1-2-3- 4” time signature that dictated the tempo for their next number. Guitarist Johnny Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone would slam into breakneck unison with a power that could make audience members lean back, as if they’d been slammed in the chest. Johnny and Dee Dee played with legs astride, looking unconquerable. Between them stood lead singer Joey Ramone – gangly, with dark glasses and a hair mess that fell over his eyes, protecting him from a world that had too often been unkind – proclaiming the band’s hilarious, disturbing tales of misplacement and … [Read more...] about The Curse of the Ramones

Last month, just before the holiday season, it was reported that director Denis Villeneuve, who is coming off the critically-acclaimed Arrival and is in post-production on Blade Runner 2049, is in talks to direct the Dune remake for Legendary Pictures. Today we have confirmation from Brian Herbert, author and the son of late Dune author Frank Herbert, that the filmmaker has officially signed on to direct this remake. Here's what Brian Herbert had to say on social media. "It's official. Legendary Pictures has signed the very talented Denis Villeneuve to direct the exciting new Dune series film project." We reported in November that Legendary Pictures has picked up the film and TV rights for Dune, and with Brian Herbert describing this as the "Dune series film project", it seems that Denis Villeneuve is developing both the movie and TV series as well. Brian Herbert wouldn't elaborate further in his Twitter statement, but the director signing on was something the filmmaker has always … [Read more...] about Dune Remake Gets Arrival Director Denis Villeneuve

TIM ARMSTRONG IS RESTING his head in his arms on a tabletop in a back corner of the Bottom Line, a sedate New York showcase club. This is an impressive feat, more formidable a task for Armstrong than for most, since the lead singer and guitarist of Rancid sports a pink-porcupine mohawk. Its 6-inch tines bravely defy gravity (“Knox gelatin: Boil it and stir in an ice cube,” he later reveals), and tonight they’re looking particularly sharp and pointy. It’s late Wednesday evening, and Rancid are watching an almost-somebody female folk singer with a little-girl voice; her tepid set culminates in a smirking cover of David Bowie’s “All the Young Dudes.” Armstrong has dozed off. Drummer Brett Reed and bassist Matt Freeman – together they look like the Laurel and Hardy of greasers – are getting fidgety, having learned too late that there’s no smoking allowed in the club. Only Rancid’s guitarist Lars Frederiksen feigns interest, … [Read more...] about Rancid: The Sweet Smell of Success

A&R guys. you know the stereotype: sleazy, arrogant, loudmouthed, hairy-chested, medallion-wearing, cocaine-snorting lout behind a giant desk who wouldn’t know his Beck from his Bush. In the old days, A&R executives signed acts and always told them exactly what they needed to do if they wanted to be stars. They were the guys with expense accounts, the guys with the “relationships.” Nirvana ate their fancy restaurant meals, accepted their embossed business cards and then mocked them by handing out the cards to crummy lounge acts and saying, “Give me a call.” The Clash had a single called “Complete Control” with a verse that went, “They said we’d be artistically free/When we signed that bit of paper/They meant, ‘Let’s make lots of money/And worry about it later.'” So if Michael Goldstone, the short, trim fellow with the buzz cut and Spock ears who sits glumly at the round wooden table that serves as his … [Read more...] about Michael Goldstone: The Fan