[Shia doing press from "Transformers" in Madrid, Spain]

Shia LaBeouf is taking over Hollywood slowly and we are cheering for him all the way. Working on the New “Indiana Jones” and just releasing the widely anticipated “Transformers” which is in theatres today, the round-the-way kid with big acting chops has been busy!

The actor just turned 21 last month and already has a ton of movies under his belt. “Disturbia” was a huge success in theatres and he stays consistently working. Unlike the typical 21 year-old, LaBeouf said he’d be staying away from the beverages for his birthday celebration because he wants to stay focused on work. Having attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with his father, he knows that it’s not always about party time. The mega-talent says:

“I know what it does if you get out of control. I know how hard it was to get my life to where it is. There’s so much riding that those small little joys of the high are not interesting to me.”

We appreciate his focus and some of his younger & older Hollywood colleagues could take note and learn a few things from the young star on the horizon! Keep the talent coming Shia!

Last night was the premire of Dreamworks’ Transformers during the Los Angeles Film Festival. The film’s leading men—Tyrese, Josh Duhamel and Shia LeBoeuf—looked debonair and classy on the red carpet!

Rachel Taylor plays the leading lady, and there are apperances by Bernie Mac, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson and Darius McCrary in the movie. A movie this big meant the red carpet would be full of celebrities to catch the first full look at one of the summer’s biggest blockbusters.

Michael Bay, the film’s director, has probably hit gold with this one. His style is flashy and explosive—literally—and this is the type of movie that will only benefit from extensive bombs, guns and robots! Will Transformers take over the box office during what was previously known as Big Willy Weekend? We’ll see when it drops on July 3th! Check out the trailer:

Live Free or Die Hard is here to make it’s summer stand. Bruce Willis returns as John McClane to save the country one more time! Justin Long (famous for his MAC/PC commercials) will be making his biggest screen debut to date & is rumored to be the next “it” boy on the rise.

[Mac Vs. PC]

Michael Moore is at it again. He is now doing a thorough exploration and interrogation of the American healthcare system. Educate yourself and get another take on the American medical conglomerate that is closely related to big business and politics. Can’t wait!

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Go pick up your copies of theses DVDs today! *Double Kisses*
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I had the opportunity to attend an exclusive screening of Hairspray last night, and let me tell you it was absolutely amazing from beginning to end! I couldn’t stop laughing and when I wasn’t laughing, I was enraptured by the beautifully orchestrated musical numbers!

Nikki Blonsky was by far the stand out new star. She was destined to play Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with super-sized hair and a huge heart, who has only one passion—dancing! Her dream is to make an appearance on “The Corny Collins Show,” Baltimore’s hippest dance party on local TV. Tracy is a great dancer and seems to be a natural fit for the show except for one not-so-little problem—she doesn’t fit in. John Travolta was hilarious as Edna, Tracy’s loving but overly protective plus-sized mother, who tries to shield her from the rejection that she might experience if she tries out.

Okay, I will let you watch the movie to find out the rest of the plot, but I have to mention one more person from Hairspray, Elijah Kelley, who opens Tracy eyes to the bigger issue other than the latest new hairdo or dance move—racial inequality. Elijah is a true triple threat serving you up soulful vocals, exciting dance moves, and an innate acting ability.

Words can’t express how much I love Hairspray. Watch its trailer (below).

Please mark your calenders love muffins Hairspray comes out July 20th! It’s simply the best thing since apple pie!

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Thanks to my friends at the The Karpel Group!

The new Daniel Pearl based movie, A Mighty Heart, will probably be a success due to its subject matter and lead actress—Angelina Jolie. Ever since the announcement of Angelina Jolie’s appearance as Mariane Pearl—Daniel Pearl’s wife—there has been flack from black activists and movie goers alone who are miffed at her playing the role of a black woman. The upset stems from the fact that there are so many black actresses waiting for their opportunity on screen, especially a noteworthy one in a powerhouse film, and the glass ceiling is too hard to break. Usually black female roles are hard to come by, and normally they are filled by the same people over and over, but it’s rare that you see them handed over to someone of another race.

In a released statement, here’s what Mariane had to say about the casting decision:

“I am delighted that Angelina Jolie will be playing my role in the adaptation of my book,” Pearl said in a statement. “I deeply admire her work and what she is committed to.”

The interesting thing to keep in mind is that Halle Berry was also cast in Dreamworks’ new film Class Act. It’s based on the life of a Nevada teacher, Tierney Cahill, who was challenged to run for Congress in 2000 by her sixth grade class. Tierney Cahill is a white woman. Take note that equal resistance has not been posed about her playing such a character. A Mighty Heart hits limited release on June 22 here in the States, so we’ll see if Angelina proves herself to her critics. She is talented, and being that she is who she is, controversy will only fuel the buzz, not squash her success.

So this raises the question about the industry and race. When is acting about acting alone? At what point, if ever, is it important to draw distinctions between who could play a role because they are talented and who should play a role because it makes more sense? Who can pin point the difference where granting a black woman a breakthrough role is indeed a breakthrough and doing the same for a white woman is disrespectful? What do you think?