It’s beginning to look a lot like…well, you know. Less than a month before Santa climbs up on the roof.

In that spirit, our fabulous friends from EW have come out with an enormously detailed gift list for 2009. It’s likely that you’ll either want some of this action or you’ll be ecstatic to purchase something for someone else.

Here are some tasty gems from this compilation…

CDs

PAUL NEWMAN: THE TRIBUTE COLLECTION

Go here and it will take you directly to the main page.

Happy shopping…

If I adore a film, I will see it multiple times and then purchase it on DVD.

How often I see a particular motion picture theatrically varies. It all depends on how much time I have on my hands at that particular juncture, how long it sticks around town and how much time goes by before I grow tired of it.

For many movies, twice is plenty. For some others, you’re still longing to see it again after ten visits.

(Not much more though. My cut off – with one notable exception – always ended at a dozen. No point in getting ridiculous about it.)

EW’S film critic LISA SCHWARZBAUM asked her readers about the movies that distract them to the point that they tend to watch them on a repeated basis.

Though I have a particular fondness for BREAKING AWAY, FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S 1992 version of DRACULA, FIGHT CLUB, BACK TO THE FUTURE and THE PRINCESS BRIDE, there are only five flicks on this list that draw me in again and again.

I own them all…

ALL ABOUT EVE
GOODFELLAS
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
THE SHAWKSHANK REDEMPTION
DIE HARD

To hit the gallery, please go here

PRECIOUS is about love and the acceptance that comes when you put the darkness behind you forever.

It’s about a sick twisted obsession that allows a mother to not only sanction her boyfriend’s sexual, emotional and physical abuse of her own daughter, but it supposedly entitles her to be an active participant as well.

It also concerns a young girl’s search for a real family – and the genuine caring she receives from the people that she meets as she strives to break free from this devastating cycle of bitter hatred.

CLAIREECE JONES (GABOUREY SIDIBE) is sixteen years old and living in Harlem during the late 80s. She was nicknamed PRECIOUS as a child (somewhat ironically) by her own mother.

Her life is full of pain and misery. She had a baby with her mother’s boyfriend and she’s pregnamt again. MARY (Mo’NIQUE) is a nasty combination of poisonous contradictions. She has some positive feelings for her daughter but she also loathes her outright.

She’s a needy, arrogant, ruthless mess who is determined to keep Precious down. Mary feels that she has to have someone to take care of her so she spends every waking minute undermining Precious’ self esteem and peace of mind.

She tells her that she’s ugly and worthless – that no one will ever want her. She throws things at her daughter and beats her. Despite all of her setbacks, Precious is keeping it on a reasonably even keel. She possesses an easy comprehension of math. So her grades are fine even though she’s barely literate. But she’s still stuck in junior high.

Mary is threatened by the girl’s intelligence and eagerness to learn. She wants Precious out of school and on welfare like her. Then her daughter can attend to more important things – like cooking, cleaning and taking care of her children.

But Precious dreams of a better life. She is bright and beautiful – inside and out. Much more than she knows. No matter how horrible things get, she possesses an inner core of strength that never fails her. She will not back down and she will find a way out.

It’s only a matter of time…

It all begins when a counsellor at school calls her in and asks her about her second pregnancy. Precious can admit to that but she refuses to talk about anything else.

The counsellor wants to book an appointment for Mary. Precious knows that there is no way that her mother will agree to come. So the woman tells Precious that she is suspended. She will go to her home and have a discussion with Mary. Precious is fully aware that that can never happen.

When the counsellor arrives outside and starts talking on the intercom, Precious lies and says that Mary has gone out. She tells Precious that she has a lot of potential and recommends an alternative school where she can obtain a GED. She explains where she has to go and when. Then the woman leaves.

Precious is understandably anxious and fearful. Not only does she think she’s not good enough, but she knows exactly what Mary’s opinion will be. With some trepidation, she travels to another section of New York. The educational institute is on the top floor of one of the city’s lesser hotels.

It’s a small class of bitchy caustic girls. However, they’re all determined to make something of themselves.

Precious’ life is changed by a dedicated teacher that wants to see her succeed. MS. RAIN (PAULA PATTON) is her strong protective angel who is there for her whenever she needs her. She never expects anything in return and does it all out of kindness and simple decency.

Precious is shocked to discover that Ms. Rain and her girlfriend KATHERINE (KIMBERLY RUSSELL) are lesbians. Mary always told her to stay away from gay people.

(Even more hypocrisy. In one of her final incendiary confrontations with Mary, Precious exclaims: “You always told me that gay people were bad. What does that make you, Momma?”)

Due to these two courageous young women, Precious feels contentment and serenity for the very first time in a tragically tumultuous existence.

Precious periodically devotes herself to thinking about what it would be like if she had been born into a different set of circumstances. One of her favourite possessions is a glittery red scarf. It’s her connection to glamour and another way of living. When she confidently passes her prized accessory on to another neighbourhood girl, you know that she’s going to be all right.

PRECIOUS is based on the novel PUSH by SAPPHIRE.

Director LEE DANIELS has fabulous instincts and he’s an incredible actors’ director. The film is filled with stylistic touches that make this story mesmerizingly watchable. It could easily have been too harrowing, horrendous and heartbreaking.

But it is infused with so much warmth, humour and humanity that it’s a greatly engaging cinematic experience.

There has been some grumbling about the fantasy sequences. But they are all extremely well integrated and they provide a much deserved break from the somber subject matter.

There is excellent acting from all of the major cast members – newcomer XOSHA ROQUEMORE, SHERRI SHEPHERD, LENNY KRAVITZ and an impressive (almost unrecognizable) MARIAH CAREY.

But there are three magnificent powerful performances at the centre of this tremendous film.

PAULA PATTON is enormously moving and an exceptionally elegant presence.

If anyone is familiar with Mo’NIQUE’S comedic work or standup routines, they are aware of what a warm, witty, hilarious person she is.

There is not a trace of any of those characteristics in MARY. In the final scene in the welfare office, all of her fury, hubris and savagery disappear. She is a monster. No question. But the mask is gone – leaving a pathetic creature who is emotionally scarred and driven by her own misguided selfishness.

Men like Mary’s boyfriend should be castrated without anesthetic. Women like her deserve worse. But when you view that sequence you can understand how it all happened.

Finally, there have been a number of majestic movie debuts where actors have done extraordinarily memorable work. GABOUREY SIDIBE gives such a performance. She’s fantastic. People will be talking about her for decades.

She’s gorgeous and wonderfully talented. She is going to be a very important character actor – at the very least.

PRECIOUS is more than a frightening glimpse into one teenager’s personal hell. It’s a movie with heart and supreme grace.

It should not be missed by anyone.

There are a wide variety of famous women that adore REEM ACRA.

It’s not difficult to understand why. These clothes are spectacular and make quite an impression.

Well known aficionados include: ANGELINA JOLIE, VIOLA DAVIS, FELICITY HUFFMAN, OLIVIA WILDE, JENNA FISCHER, TAYLOR SWIFT, HALLE BERRY, KATHERINE HEIGL, GABRIELLE UNION and CHRISTINA APPLEGATE.

To find the IN STYLE gallery, please go here

I imagine that news of an artistic nature will start slowing down.

Right about…now.

It did last year as I recall. But there will still be plenty of movie reviews to publish.

The festive season is upon us. There’s Christmas. Nominations and awards for various film honours will also be presented in the coming weeks.

I adore this time of year.

So, in the spirit of the splendid and ridiculous 60s, here’s another awesome song from PIRATE RADIO: ELEANORE by THE TURTLES.

Have a lovely weekend.

See you tomorrow…

Gazing at these beautiful exquisite pieces (which are actually more like works of art) just makes my mouth water.

What I’m dying to know is: did the actors get to take any of it home?

I would have had that written into my contract. It’s all just too gorgeous to pass up.

CHOPARD has tempted Hollywood’s leading women with its spectacular adornments for decades.

Now the Swiss jeweller will light up the big screen in the movie NINE – starring an A list cast including SOPHIA LOREN, JUDI DENCH and NICOLE KIDMAN.

“After meeting with Colleen Atwood, the Academy Award winning costume designer working on NINE, I immediately understood the need for a very personalized look for each of these very different roles,” remarked CAROLINE GRUOSI SCHEUFELE in a press release.

“Colleen explained her stylistic inspiration for each of the women and together we created a very special Haute Joaillerie collection – tailor made to reflect the style and personality of each character.”

NINE is based on the original 1982 TONY AWARD winning Broadway production, which takes its inspiration from the iconic Fellini film 8 1/2.

Added HARVEY WEINSTEIN in regard to his company’s film: “We were looking for a jewelry brand to work with our costume designer Colleen Atwood and I knew Chopard would work seamlessly.”

NINE opens in theaters nation wide on CHRISTMAS DAY.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

In a decade of dwindling record sales, NORAH JONES has been one of the few artists to reliably sell millions and millions of albums.

Since her 2002 debut COME AWAY WITH ME, listeners have followed NORAH to the tune of well over 37 million records sold around the world.

And yet, she said she’s not immune to the industry’s latest tactic for imploring the public to actually shell out real dollars for music.

“These days – in the weird world of the music industry – everybody wants an extra song,” NORAH commented in a recent telephone interview from her home in New York.

“A bonus track for iTunes, a bonus track for Amazon – it’s like you have to make two records all the time.”

Indeed, the increasingly urgent push for bonus content has become somewhat taxing for musicians who have also been feeling the financial crunch of an industry in transition.

But the demand for extra material has also forced some artists to do what they do best: Get creative.

Unlike some other musicians, NORAH hasn’t commissioned anything elaborate for her recently released fourth record THE FALL.

She spent the past couple of years labouring over the 13 tracks that comprise her new album and initially, she didn’t savour the idea of having to generate a knot of new tunes for multiple retailers.

“So, we thought that a really good way to lessen the pressure on me to have a bunch of extra songs would be to get some remixes done.”

She enlisted BECK, THE BEASTIE BOYS and SANTIGOLD to rework some of the songs from THE FALL for a forthcoming EP. It’s a fittingly diverse group to coincide with an album that has amounted to something of a departure – or evolution – for NORAH.

Sure, the hallmarks are there: the clear eyed ballads, long pauses and spotless melodies that announce themselves immediately.

But signs of change are everywhere.

She ditched her longtime band – along with LEE ALEXANDER, her former boyfriend, songwriting partner and producer – in favour of a group of seasoned vets. She played guitar more and piano less, and aimed for a “very different sound.This is kind of time for me to branch out a little.”

“I was really excited to work with some new musicians. I’ve had this great band for so long but I think at the end of the last tour, it became apparent we were all kinda itching to go in different directions.”

What results is something of a hybrid. NORAH pairs some contemplative lyrics with her newly filled out sound.

Ultimately, NORAH found herself inspired enough that she was able to generate enough bonus tunes to please the various stores and services that required them. Some versions of the CD come with an extra disc that feature covers of THE KINKS’ STRANGERS and WILCO’S JESUS, ETC.

THE STROKES lead singer JULIAN CASABLANCAS tried to be similarly creative when putting together a deluxe version of his debut solo record PHRAZES FOR THE YOUNG.

The luxury edition deluxe set of the eight song album will come with a 48 page classically bound storybook – personally signed by JULIAN – containing original and exclusive art work, lyrics and photographs. There’s also a DVD with filmed solo acoustic performances from JULIAN, an interview, album trailer and a music video.

But wait. There’s more…

There’s also an extra CD with demos from the album and B sides, a vinyl LP, a double sided poster and a cult records pin.

It all comes packaged in a beautiful custom designed antique style box, which JULIAN seemed to take particular pleasure in.

“I’m glad it comes in a cool box. You can just throw everything out and use it for jewelry or whatever,” JULIAN asserted.

BLUE RODEO wasn’t immune to the push for bonus content either.

The band created a special iTunes exclusive version of their latest double LP THINGS WE LEFT BEHIND – with interactive album notes, portraits of the band’s most prized instruments, a song by song commentary from songwriters JIM CUDDY and GREG KEELOR and acoustic performances.

“We only have our heads partially in the ground,” GREG laughed.

“We still realize that technology leads the music industry. They go hand in hand. You have to be a part of all of it.”

And JIM said that artists have always been obligated to do a little something extra in some form.

“One way or another, we’ve always done something. When we first started they used to do EPKs, just with talking. We did an interview record once. I think we try to make the stuff that’s given through iTunes, we try to make it musical. We try to either talk about the songs or play the songs in an acoustic forum.”

“I guess with all these things, they’re all ways of communicating with whoever your audience is. We just try to make them so they’re not too, so they lack dignity. We just try to do them so they’re musical and if they are, then that’s OK.”

NORAH, likewise, maintained she ultimately doesn’t mind.

“There’s a lot of bonus content that people want. I’m not against it. It’s just really difficult to come up with that much stuff. I made the album and I thought that that was enough!”

Well, there’s this…

And then there’s this…

God, this makes me happy…

As I’ve said repeatedly, I’m not a BRITNEY fan per se. I simply think that she’s an adorable girl who’s been through hell.

Her music is fun. Not to be taken seriously. It’s the antithesis of profound.

But you don’t need to ponder the big philosophical questions 24/7. Get my irreverent drift, ladies and gentlemen?

Our wondrous friends from EW have provided us with a slideshow of 17 of BRITNEY’S greatest hits. They’ve ranked them in order.

Here are the ones that I think are the most admirably awesome…

17. BOYS
7. PIECE OF ME
4. YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY
2. BABY ONE MORE TIME
1. TOXIC

To get the gallery, please go here

FERGIE discovered first hand the method acting madness of her NINE costar DANIEL DAY LEWIS when she received love letters from the intense actor written as his character GUIDO.

“Daniel is very charming. I’d go into my dressing room and I’d find this little note. I’d open it and it would be Guido’s stationary. He would write me little notes as Guido. They were very cute,” FERGIE revealed at a press conference on November 15 at The Waldorf Astoria in New York.

Billed as STACY FERGUSON, the singer plays the vamp SARAGHINA – performing the song BE ITALIAN as she taunts and teases the filmmaker GUIDO as a young boy.

She dove into the world of NINE watching every variation of the legendary landmark FEDERICO FELLINI film 8 1/2. But her preparation for the role couldn’t subside the nervousness she felt joining amazing actors like SOPHIA LOREN, JUDI DENCH and NICOLE KIDMAN.

“Going into this musical, I’m definitely the singer coming into this A list acting world. So it was intimidating for me flying over and knowing that I was going to be amongst these people who were at the top of their game in their field. I thought maybe I’ll just sit in the corner and kind of be a sponge and not speak and watch how they hone their craft.”

But FERGIE had to push aside her fears quickly.

“The first person I met was Daniel. It was 15 minutes later where I had to belt out the song right in front of him. I’ve admired his work for years and I just had to push through it and say, ‘What the hell…’ I was very hungry for this role and I went after it. I definitely have caught the bug because it’s another way to express yourself – and I’m an artist.”