Zodiac (directed by David Fincher) A series of attacks and subsequent puzzling communiques from the alleged killer to the San Francisco Chronicle terrified the Bay Area during the '60s through the '80s. Director David Fincher grew up in that part of California and uses his childhood feelings of dread and fascination to craft an unconventional thriller. Unlike a more typical detective story with a evil-doer and a single valiant sleuth, Zodiac meanders over a long......

Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (directed by Steven Shainberg): Certain movies while not deserving the monetary investment in a theater viewing are worth catching on DVD, and Steven Shainberg's fictional portrait of artist Diane Arbus is one of them. Arbus's life story--upper middle class '60s housewife takes up photography and an interest in subcultures--is such a fascinating one, it practically demands a biopic. Add to that the importance of Arbus's work on the......

This week at the movies, two actors known for their intensity on (and off) screen have new flicks coming out. The Oscar-winning over-reactor Russell Crowe goes the romantic comedy route with A Good Year about an English businessman softened by life in Provence. With a script by Peter Mayle, a novelist well versed in the French countryside, and direction by Ridley Scott, Crowe as Max Skinner actually comes across as incredibly charming. He's sure to......

Of course the big news in New York movies this weekend is the New York Film Festival which kicks off tomorrow at Lincoln Center. However, in an attempt reserve our NYFF excitement for a full post tomorrow, let's just focus on the regular releases. Here we go. Jon Heder is making a whole career out of this lovable loser shtick. His newest movie School for Scoundrels doesn't feature quite as pathetic a character as he......

Action adventure, animated sci-fi, iconic '80s actresses and French sexual intrigue—this weekend is a good one for movie going in New York. Draw your swords landlubbers, Gore Verbinski's sequel to his bombastic film based on an amusement park ride is out this weekend, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. In this installment, shot at the same time as the forthcoming part III, Johnny Depp's brilliant Jack Sparrow searches for Davy Jones's chest to free......

Gothamist loves movies (especially those by any "Anderson" director). That's why each Friday, we'll highlight the best and worst in both indie and blockbuster movies as well as the latest in trailers (because admit it, they're the best part of the movie-going experience). We will try our hardest to refrain from such overused phrases as "a non-stop laugh riot", "high octane fun" and "so funny I pished myself!" But no promises. Opening this weekend: •Romantic-comedy......

Today at noon, Air America, the liberal radio network, will go on the air, with Al Franken's daily show, "The O'Franken Factor." The Times looks at how the ambitions to bring a liberal voice to radio have outpaced the realities (Air America hasn't bought any stations yet - it's just bought time on five stations) as well as how the network's personalities have to remain enterataining as it competes with conservative voices Rush "Oxy-Contin" Limbaugh......

While researching the Barbie and Ken breakup, Gothamist was struck by a few things: - Supposed new love interest for Barbie, "Blaine," sounds like a loser as well...not to mention gay. - Who knew that one of Barbie's alter-egos was Modern Barbie, which is Barbie as an "independent film producer with a flair for fashion and a crush on Ken, a brooding artist with super stylin' colored hair streaks and a 'thing' for Melody, the......

Tonight, the 92nd Street Y has a screening of the documentary, The Party's Over, which follows Philip Seymour Hoffman as he looks inside the political process during the 2000 Republican and Democratic conventions, with a post-screening question & answer session with Hoffman as well. The film was directed by Donovan Leitch and Rebecca Chaiklin, (produced by Robert Downey Sr., Stanley Buchtal, Robert Downey Jr. and Leitch) and features Susan Sarandon, Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Vedder,......

It's good to know that Winona Ryder is basically like the Welcome Wagon for any semi-cute up-and-coming would-be rocker - at least someone is looking out for the lads. That's why she was the focus of a VH1 All Access:Winona Rules! Truly, it makes sense for Winona to be featured, because as Courtney Love says, as quoted on the show's site, "You’re no one in music until you have feuded with me or until you......