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2010 Golden Globes: It's Raining Statuettes

By Pamela Chelin (Subscribe to Pamela Chelin's posts), Posted Jan 18th 2010 1:15AM
Filed under: Made in Canada, The DL From LA


Well, it was the 67th annual 'We Are So Great, Rich and Famous, We Should Receive More Recognition'... er ... I mean, The Golden Globe Awards last night at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles. The Golden Globes are chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press. I am Canadian and living in LA, so I am foreign. Why didn't I get to vote?

As the weather forecasts so accurately predicted, it rained on the Golden Globe red carpet parade. This was not good news for those actresses who had straightened their hair. Sandra Bullock admitted, at the televised red carpet proceedings, that she could end up looking like a Chia Pet if she got any wetter. The abundance of red and white umbrellas on the red carpet made me think of Canada. Sigh. You are so close and yet so far from me.
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The Golden Globes Love 'Nine.' Me? Not So Much

By Pamela Chelin (Subscribe to Pamela Chelin's posts), Posted Jan 13th 2010 11:58AM
Filed under: Reviews, The DL From LA

So, the Golden Globes, the first of billions of entertainment awards shows taking place in 2010, air this Sunday night. In Los Angeles, this ceremony is more important than the most recent presidential inauguration. I just received an email from a company offering me a fake tan via a home mobile service if I am attending the Golden Globes this weekend and need to look golden. Um, no thank you. I live in Los Angeles. I could step outside my door and get a tan from...the sun.

What boggles my mind about the Golden Globes is that 'Nine' earned five nominations. I am not sure how this happened. Were there not enough good films released over the past year? Does a star-studded cast matter more than the film itself? Is there something shady going on? Payola?
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'Youth in Revolt'. OK, Cera, Cera

By Pamela Chelin (Subscribe to Pamela Chelin's posts), Posted Jan 5th 2010 5:01PM
Filed under: Reviews, The DL From LA


"Another coming of age film starring Michael Cera. Yawn. I can't wait."

That's what ran through my head when I was invited to see director Miguel Arteta's ('The Good Girl', 'Chuck & Buck') 'Youth In Revolt,' based upon C.D. Payne's novel. I feel like I've seen Michael Cera come of age so many times now that he should be 45 years old. Reluctantly, I drove to the movie lot to see a screening of the film. When I have to see a movie on a studio lot, I begin to panic. I am directionally challenged. Just seeing a map gives me an anxiety attack. The only way I find my way around Los Angeles successfully is knowing that I live south of the Santa Monica mountains. I am constantly looking for mountains to determine where I am.

When you arrive at a studio lot, filled with sound stages where films and television shows are in production, you are usually given directions like, "The screening is taking place in the "fill in the blank" screening room. Walk straight ahead. When you reach the giant black tarp, turn left. Keep walking. When you see a red sign on the corner of a large brown building, turn left. Walk 76 paces, spin around 5 times and then turn left. Turn right. Turn left. Walk 3 steps on a 37 degree angle to the northwest. Do a half turn to the right and you will arrive at the screening room."
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A Delightfully Un-Victorian Victorian Film

By Pamela Chelin (Subscribe to Pamela Chelin's posts), Posted Dec 27th 2009 1:40PM
Filed under: Reviews, Made in Canada, The DL From LA


When I was invited to see 'The Young Victoria', I wasn't in the mood to sit through yet another grand British period piece. However, since I live in Los Angeles, I realized that this would be the only opportunity I would have to celebrate Victoria Day, since 'they' don't do that down here. After seeing the gorgeously shot film, mostly based upon the early life of Queen Victoria, I highly recommend it. It's neither stuffy nor dry. It's delightful and vibrant.

Our own French-Canadian director, Jean-Marc Vallee ('C.R.A.Z.Y.'), directed the film, which was written by Academy Award winning writer Julian Fellowes ('Gosford Park'). Sarah Ferguson, with her access to historical royal documents, initially pitched the Victorian film idea to Academy Award-winning producer Graham King (fitting last name) who, at the time, was working on 'The Departed'. With the encouragement of director Martin Scorsese, King decided to pursue the project about the queen.
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Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys

By Pamela Chelin (Subscribe to Pamela Chelin's posts), Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:45PM
Filed under: The DL From LA

When I told my best friend Brooke that I was going to see 'Crazy Heart' (written and directed by Scott Cooper, based on the novel by Thomas Cobb), starring Jeff Bridges (nominated for a "Best Actor in a Drama" Golden Globe for his performance) and Maggie Gyllenhaal, her response was, "You mean, 'The Wrestler' except done with country music instead of wrestling?"

Though 'Crazy Heart' is less intense and harrowing, I can see why she said that. At times, as I watched the film, due to the Brooke-planted seed and certain similarities between the two films, I kept envisioning scenes from 'The Wrestler', though during 'The Wrestler' I kept seeing visions of Axl Rose whenever I looked at Mickey Rourke's bloated face.
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Books, Not Screenplays, in LA?

By Pamela Chelin (Subscribe to Pamela Chelin's posts), Posted Dec 15th 2009 3:17PM
Filed under: The DL From LA
If you have seen the darkly comic 'Bring It On', you have never been able to look at cheerleaders in quite the same way again. That's all thanks to screenwriter Jessica Bendinger, a 43-year-old former model who also served as a writer and consultant for 'Sex and the City', Season 4. Bendinger has now released her first book, 'The Seven Rays.' Last night, I was invited to the coming-of-age novel's launch at the swanky, legendary Chateau Marmont hotel on the Sunset Strip. Led Zeppelin drove motorcycles through its lobby. John Belushi died there. Keanu Reeves called it 'home' for a while.

Chateau Marmont, or "The Chateau" as it is commonly known, is an oasis of charm and history nestled in the hills just above Sunset Boulevard. I know that because that's what it says on their brochure. If you'd like to stay there, and you have a spare $3700, you can kick back in the two-bedroom penthouse. If that's too much to spend (keep in mind these rates are American dollars), you can laze in either a poolside bungalow for just $1800, or a simple room for $395.
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Pee-wee Plays House in LA

By Pamela Chelin (Subscribe to Pamela Chelin's posts), Posted Dec 9th 2009 1:09PM
Filed under: Cheat Sheet , Next Big Thing, The DL From LA


On Monday, I woke up to a strange circumstance in Los Angeles. What, exactly, was coming down from the sky? Where was the eternal sunshine? Oh my god. It was raining. I thought I gave up precipitation when I left Toronto. It doesn't rain here. What was going on? It was as if I had woken up in a bizarre, alternate world. Though, that made sense. After all, I woke up early to get downtown to meet Pee-wee Herman (a.k.a. Paul Reubens) and to talk about his upcoming Broadway style stage extravaganza, 'The Pee-wee Herman Show', opening in LA in January.

As I drove through the rain to Club Nokia @ LA Live venue, where the play is going to be staged, I witnessed three car accidents during my 15-minute drive. Amazing. Thank goodness these people don't have to deal with snow. I entered the venue, took my seat in the press section and waited to listen to Pee-wee and the show's production team talk about the play. Though Club Nokia is only one year old, there was a continuous drip of rain water leaking down from the ceiling and landing on the stage. LA seriously can't handle rain. Everything floods and people freak out. More importantly, my hair frizzes.
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