AutoShowbiz

VIDEO: Trailer for "Crazy Heart"

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:10:23 -0500

December 23, 2009 - If there's anything that America loves more than a comeback story about a star who had fallen, only to rise again like a phoenix, it's a comeback story involving an aging musician. Preferably a country western musician. JEFF BRIDGES plays a down-and-out has-been whose star once shone brightly; now it's a life that he only sees in his memories. But a cross-country drive in a red-and-white CHEVROLET SUBURBAN from the mid-1970s gives him the inspiration to make melodies again. Sure, it's a hackneyed concept, but we'll pretty much watch anything that Jeff "The Dude" Bridges is in. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "The Last Song"

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:07:56 -0500

December 18, 2009 - Bring the tissues because you're gonna need 'em; not only because this movie is based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, which tend to be treacly weepers, but also because it stars MILEY CYRUS, who tends to bring out the mother in all of us. This teen, who is growing up before our very eyes, plays a teen who's growing up, and finds love and reconciliation with her father during her last summer before college. She's dropped off in her dad's beachy resort town for the summer in her mother's VOLVO 740 WAGON from the mid-80s. It wasn't the flashiest of vehicles, but it was stout and reliable, and kept you safe from ugly outside world, much like a parent. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Death at a Funeral"

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:58:44 -0500

December 17, 2009 - Gather some of the most talented names around a movie about deception involving a corpse, and what do you have? No, not "Weekend at Bernie's 5," but "Death at a Funeral." CHRIS ROCK plays a bereaved son who finds that he didn't know his deceased father as well as he thought; hilarity ensues. And of course, it's not a funeral unless there's a hearse; the one in this movie is a hearse based on a CADILLAC DTS. We've noticed that here in the States, there's only two choices when it comes to your final chariot; the Caddy or one based on the LINCOLN TOWN CAR. We think there's a big market for those who would prefer to make their exit in something flashier. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Wonderful World"

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:28:30 -0500

December 11, 2010 - There was once a time in the not-too-distant past when interracial romance was frowned upon. Now, it's all the rage, at least as portrayed in the movies. In "Wonderful World," MATTHEW BRODERICK plays a down-and-out divorced dad who finds love and inspiration in an African woman. We know life has treated him roughly because he drives a GEO METRO from the 80s. While the Metro was the butt of many an automotive joke (the base model was sold brand-new without any kind of hubcaps), but it was certainly forward-thinking when it came to fuel economy; it was able to get 42 miles to the gallon, comparable to most current hybrid vehicles. - Liz Kim

The Lambo no more-o

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:58:48 -0500

December 4, 2009 - We can just imagine the ribbing around the locker room for the perpetrator of this one, and we sure wouldn't want to be the guy who wrecked the LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4, donated to the Italian polizia by the carmaker. And this isn't just any old $200,000, 552 horsepower supercar. One of only two in existence, it was loaded with "catch the bad guy" goodies, like an automatic number plate recognition system that can track and send plate data in real-time to central control rooms, and the fore trunk outfitted as a first-response medical platform and refrigerated box for high-speed organ transport. Unfortunately even supercars have their weaknesses, and this one was a lowly SEAT that was backing out of a petrol station. -Liz Kim

Trapped Tiger in the Slade

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:51:06 -0500

December 3, 2009 - A dark street in the wee hours of the morning, and a car skids into a fire hydrant and tree. A minor accident, but one that has major repercussions in the sport and celebrity world. TIGER WOODS is no stranger to GM products, as he was a longtime spokesperson for Buick products, but we're sure he really didn't want to his black CADILLAC ESCALADE to be the focus of such intense scrutiny. The fender bender has opened up a whole giant can of worms involving alleged affairs and possible domestic abuse that could possibly damage his once sterling image. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Wayne's World"

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:36:40 -0500

November 30, 2009 - Things we were thankful for this year: family. Our armed forces. Solvency. And classic movies, like this 18-year old goodie. "Wayne's Worl d" enhanced our cultural lexicon with such pearls of wisdom as "Schwing!" and "Sha, right." But it's the scene with the group bopping their heads to "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the mid-70s AMC PACER, nicknamed the Mirthmobile, that left an indelible impression. Like our movie, the Pacer was derided for its terrible performance, but has earned a grudging respect of sorts and a cult following in its antiquity. Perhaps we'll see a resurrection as with other small cars, such as the Mini Cooper and the Fiat 500. - Liz Kim

Video: Trailer for "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:17:48 -0500

November 20, 2009 - We can't really relate to the out-all-night-partying lifestyle of the characters of "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" (exactly where are the parents? Are they of the Charlie Brown "wah-wah-wah-wah" species?), but we can certainly attest to young, unrequited love, and the ability and power of music to give a voice and energy to the passion. One of the key players in the movie was an ignominiously yellow YUGO GV from the mid-80s driven by MICHAEL CERA's character. As awful then as it is now, the Yugo (built in then-Yugoslavia, present Serbia under the much more respectable Zavodi Crvena Zastava tag) was billed as America's cheapest automobile. We couldn't believe that the producers were able to source one; we thought they had all been smashed and recycled. - Liz Kim

The Bugatti in the Swamp

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:13:05 -0500

November 18, 2009 - Shock and awe. Those were the only words to describe the appalling fate of the French objet d'art known as the BUGATTI VEYRON, a $1.5 million-plus vehicle that was unceremoniously driven into a swamp by a distracted driver, no thanks to a cursed pelican. One of only about 300 ever made, the Veyron is a tour de force that really can't be compared to other street-legal vehicles; it's more in the class of Gulfstreams and Cessnas. With a 1001-horsepower quad-turbocharged W16 engine, it can get you from zero to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. That's whiplash territory for you and me. Sure, there may be a bit of Schadenfreude at seeing one of the haves in a bit of a bind, but seeing the Veyron in the murky depths is like watching a tagging crew desecrate the Pieta. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "The Other Side of Paradise"

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:45:44 -0500

November 13, 2009 - With every day that passes with our bottoms welded to our chair in front of the computer, the open road beckons with its lure of adventure and self-discovery. Alas, it is only through the movies that we can vicariously live out our fantasies of a spontaneous road trip filled with quirky characters and surprising revelations. "The Other Side Of Paradise" follows two long time friends (ARIANNE MARTIN and JOHN ELLIOT) on a road trip in a mid-80s FORD LTD CROWN VICTORIA station wagon, as they explore their latent feelings for one another. The relationship is probably symbolized in the car, which was a nice vehicle but one of the last behemoth station wagons to be sold before they were all replaced with SUVs: sometimes the timing's just off. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Salt"

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:23:42 -0500

November 11, 2009 - In our humble opinion, there is nothing more appealing to watch than a gorgeous woman whuppin' some asses. And there's no better whup asser alive today than ANGELINA JOLIE. So it's with great anticipation that we await next summer's release of "Salt," in which she plays an FBI agent accused of being a double spy and is framed for a Russian hit on the POTUS. Through the cleverly violent hand to hand combat scenes, we see a NYPD-issue CHEVROLET SUBURBAN meet a spectacular end. Sure, the Suburban has great crash test scores, and you wouldn't want to see its grille bearing down on you in your rearview mirror when you're driving a Miata, but even a full-size SUV is no match for the effects of gravity. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "From Paris with Love"

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:45:53 -0500

November 6, 2009 - A big budget shoot-'em-up between the CIA and bad guys: good. Great car chases through Paris set to heart-thumping tunes: better. Starring a wisecracking JOHN TRAVOLTA: the best. The Travolta character mostly drives around in a black CADILLAC ESCALADE, a brash American vehicle that looks a bit out of place in dainty Parisian streets. We also see lots of Peugeot police vehicles and a silver AUDI A8, but none seems to have the presence of the hulking SUV. We love action adventure films, and when they have all of the above mentioned elements, well, we can't wait the four months until the release of "From Paris with Love." - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Serious Moonlight"

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:42:17 -0500

November 5, 2009 - As we all know, being married to a woman who does everything well is a great reason to cheat on her. Or so states the premise of "Serious Moonlight." MEG RYAN plays the wronged wife who zooms up to her house in a black BMW 650i convertible, only to find that her husband had plans to rendezvous with his mistress, who drives a treacley cute VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE convertible. She makes him stay, literally, by duct taping him to the toilet. No, the path to love is never easy, even for someone like Ms. Ryan, but this movie reminds us of the lyrics to the .38 Special song, "Hold on Loosely." - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Chevy Malibu in "Modern Family"

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:41:36 -0500

October 30, 2009 - The nuclear family, as in "Leave it to Beaver," has gone the way of the dodo. "Modern Family" explores the humorous shenanigans of an unconventional clan, complete with stepmothers, adoptive kids and same-sex couples. The two stylishly flagrant dads (JESSE TYLER FERGUSON and ERIC STONESTREET) in this sitcom navigate their way around doting parenthood; they mistakenly lock their infant daughter in the vehicle with the keys after a visit to the doctor. Thankfully they are the proud owners of a CHEVROLET MALIBU, equipped with OnStar telematics, which is able to unlock the vehicle remotely. We also heard a recent news story where a carjacker was thwarted in his heinous deed because the engine was disabled through OnStar. Big Brother may be watching you, but at least he takes care of business every once in awhile. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "The Blind Side"

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:48 -0500

October 28, 2009 - You know what they say about BMW drivers. Selfish, rude, terrible drivers, a sense of entitlement the size of Texas. In "The Blind Side," SANDRA BULLOCK plays a BMW 7 SERIES-driving, coddled housewife who embodies all of these wonderful attributes. But a chance encounter with an oversized, underprivileged youth makes her realize what's truly important in life; redemption is achieved, and a there's a happy ending for all. A large costar calls for a big car, and BMW's flagship large sedan delivers; at almost 200 inches in length and with a 400-horsepower V8 under the hood, it lets you know that the car means business. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Tooth Fairy"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:24:36 -0500

October 23, 2009 - In terms of moneymakers, it seems like the only sure bets these days are Apple stock and kid movies. And since Arnold Schwarzenegger is still busy with his gig in California, the plasticine THE ROCK is the go-to guy for scary looking guys playing lovable characters with hearts of gold who intimidate the baddies with their physiques. In "Tooth Fairy," he plays a hockey player who gets an attitude adjustment in the form of spell conjured to transform him into the dental sprite. In front of his house is a red first generation MAZDA MIATA from the mid-90s. Some may question if the tiny little two-seater can fit someone the size of the Rock, but you'd be surprised at how accommodating the convertible is. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Motherhood"

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:00:52 -0500

October 21, 2009 - Will there ever be a winner in the Mommy Wars? Not bloody likely. As women battle the pros and cons of employment versus staying at home to raise the kids, there will always be conflicts, name-calling, jealousy and condescension, because deep down we'll always wonder if we're doing the right thing. "Motherhood" is a look at the ins-and-outs of a stay at home mom, played with homely gusto by UMA THURMAN. Shedding her glamourous persona, she dons a housedress and glasses, minds her squirmy brood and drives a ratty VOLVO 200 SERIES station wagon from the late 1980s. Personally, we prefer station wagons to the block-of-cheese-on-wheels called minivans that are de riguer for families today. --Liz Kim

VIDEO: Jim's Subaru in "The Office"

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:59:58 -0500

October 16, 2009 - We think that it was the sweetest, funniest "The Office" episode in years; after five seasons of "will they or won't they" waffling, Jim Halpert (JOHN KRASINSKY) finally made an honest woman out of Pam Beesley (JENNA FISCHER) in a gonzo episode full of laughter and painful wincing (Andy Bernard rips his scrotum). We see that the happy couple is driving a brand new vehicle to their pending nuptials, a 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. Jim seems to be a big fan of Subarus, as he was previously seen driving a SUBARU IMPREZA WRX and a SAAB 9-2X, which is a rebadged SUBARU IMPREZA. The Outback is a very useful wagon, and is, in fact, the first crossover vehicle that combined SUV attributes with car-like handling; and its nimble handling characteristics is more than capable of ferrying your open-scrotumed colleague to the emergency room. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: The Buick in "The Good Wife"

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:54:23 -0500

October 14, 2009 - Politics and sex go together like peanut butter and jelly. So it's not surprising that a the newest lawyer drama, "The Good Wife," involves a career wife (JULIANA MARGUILES) who heads back to the workplace after her district attorney husband is caught cheating with a prostitute and using government funds to cover it up. While the scumbag rots in jail, the litigator uses her native intelligence to win cases for her clients. The whiff of scandal always make for good entertainment, and so does the blatant promotion of the 2010 BUICK LACROSSE, driven by the title character. Buick's newest sedan gets as much on-air time as the title character, so it's a good thing that it's a good looking automobile. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: The Lexus in "Cougartown"

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:22:41 -0500

October 9, 2009 - We've always heard that age ain't nothing but a number, so nonplussed by the phenomena of cougars; that is, affluent women in their 40s and beyond seeking the companionship and services of men in their 20s. After all, older men have been dating ingénues since, oh, the inception of time. But such is the premise for "Cougartown," with COURTNEY COX as the main feline. Parked in her driveway is the 2009 LEXUS IS-C, the newest convertible from Toyota's luxury brand. It can go from coupe to topless in under 20 seconds, which we hear is commensurate to most cougars partying at Miami clubs. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Men Who Stare at Goats"

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:39 -0500

October 7, 2009 - One of GEORGE CLOONEY'S great talents, and we think that he has many, is the ability to utterly lose himself in a role. Whether it's gaining 50 pounds or learning a new language, Clooney can have us nodding along as he plays a grizzled fisherman or a gaspy, has-been lawyer, although he still looks most at home in a tuxedo. For "Men Who Stare at Goats," a movie about CIA agents who work with psychics, Clooney inhabits a man who would actually drive a beige FORD TAURUS from the mid-90s. We can't quite imagine him driving anything but a shiny, exotic sports car or a sleek motorcycle, so it requires quite the suspension of disbelief. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: The Womanizer in the Maybach

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:42:49 -0500

Britney Spears - New Music - More Music Videos

October 2, 2009 - It is with as much alarm as curiosity that we note the phoenix-like re-resurrection of the phenom known as BRITNEY SPEARS. No matter how many times the pundits have written her off, she seems to rise again like some thong-wearing bowling pin. In her latest incarnation, she's writhing in a steam room, on a Xerox machine, and the back seat of a MAYBACH 62 with a bland-looking paramour in standing. With 57.2 inches of rear leg room, there's plenty of room for hanky panky, and the rear separator glass keeps privates private. Of course, she plays the chauffer, so there wouldn't be much use for it. And with its cool half-a-mil price tag, it stands out as much as Britney does with a new hair do. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Youth in Revolt"

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:48:35 -0500

September 30, 2009 - Is there anything more adorable than a puppy wearing a Halloween costume? How about MICHAEL CERA in a fake moustache? The consummate sweet, clueless teen takes on the challenging dual role as a gawky teenager and his suave doppelganger in the upcoming "Youth in Revolt." Among the cars shown in this trailer is a CHEVY NOVA SS from the 70s and a previous generation BMW 3 SERIES, but we're especially intrigued by the white, open-top LINCOLN CONTINENTAL from the early 60s (like the infamous presidential limousine in Dallas). We're not really sure what Mr. Cera's future will hold once his voice deepens and the vestiges of his callow youth disappear; but then again, maybe Ralph Macchio can give him some pointers. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: "The Office:" Stanley's 300

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:44:46 -0500

September 18, 2009 - Whodathunkit? The ever so stationary Stanley Hudson (LESLIE DAVID BAKER) is caught in an extramarital tryst by "The Office" interns, setting off a chain of gossip around the water cooler that culminates in the announcement that Jim and Pam are expecting. We thought that Stanley would play the straight man forever, but it looks like his character will have a bit more depth this season. We also found that he's driving a new car; he used to be the owner of a LINCOLN LS, but he was driving a white CHRYSLER 300C. Perhaps he needed the back seat of the full-sized sedan for his rendezvous. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: "Glee:" Kurt's Navigator

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:16:04 -0500

September 23, 2009 - Whether you're a fan of high school dramas, song-and-dance numbers or acerbic comedies, an hour of "Glee" will do you good in a way we haven't seen since the untimely demise of "Arrested Development." Last week's episode included the outing of a member of the Glee club, a "well, duh" moment if we ever saw one; the vivacious Kurt Hummel (CHRIS COLFER) admits his crush on the school jock. We get a glimpse of his home life while talking about his LINCOLN NAVIGATOR; it was apparently a bribe from his father to be a little less flamboyant.

With its gigantic, shiny chrome grille, the Navigator isn't exactly the most modest vehicle in the world, but it sure makes a good backdrop for a song number later on in the show.

- Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "When in Rome"

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:12:02 -0500

September 18, 2009 - From "Roman Holiday" to "Only You," we love light romantic comedies set in Italy. So it's with much anticipation that we await "When in Rome," (starring KRISTEN BELL) to be released in January. We see that they've made good use of a very esoteric vehicle: the VESPA 400. Yes, the well-known maker of scooters made a foray into the world of cars back in the 1950s with this two-seater microcar; its petite dimensions of 112.5 inches is stubby enough to stuff into an elevator. Originally equipped with an 18-horsepower engine that achieves its top speed of 50 mph in about 25 seconds, it's really more of an enclosed scooter than an actual motorcar. But its fuel economy of 50 mph is more on par with high-tech hybrid vehicles of today. Those Romans - always thinking ahead. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Clip from "The Beast"

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:51:41 -0500

via The Insider

September 16, 2009 - For some reason, this is not a good summer to be an entertainer, as the list of the untimely deceased grows at an alarming rate. In the waning days of September, we are saddened to learn that PATRICK SWAYZE has succumbed to pancreatic cancer, leaving us forlorn for the gravelly-voiced, gyrating actor who leapt into our fantasies in the Civil War miniseries "North and South" and the boyfriend who protects from beyond the grave in "Ghost." Even after the diagnosis, Mr. Swayze insisted on continuing his career; his final performance can be seen in "The Beast," in which he plays a CADILLAC CTS-V driving FBI agent. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "Ironman"

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:49:16 -0500

September 11, 2009 - Sure, there's room for the philosophical "what is good and what is evil" equivocations of "Batman Forever." But we also like the blow-up-the-unquestionably-bad-guys excitement of a good old-fashioned superhero movie, and apparently, so do others; "Ironman" opened to rave reviews and millions of dollars at the box office when it was released last year. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. plays genius billionaire playboy Tony Stark, who likes his cars the way he does his ladies; fast and gorgeous. So it's no wonder that his ride of choice is the German supercar, the AUDI R8. With 420 horsepower spinning all four wheels, he can zoom from zero to 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds; that's slightly less time that it takes him to know a woman in the biblical sense. - Liz Kim

VIDEO: Trailer for "I Love You, Man"

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:25:16 -0500

September 9, 2009 - In the world gone mad with out-of-control Bridezillas and the whiny beeatchs on "The Hills," manly men know that there's still a place you can go where bros come before ho's, where relationships are imbued with more stability and depth than if it were one that is accompanied by a mere bauble in a robin blue box. That world is the bromance, the realm of Judd Apatow and embodied by movies like "I Love You, Man." PAUL RUDD plays a hapless betrothed in desperate need of male company; as the driver of a VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON, we know that he's way to sensitive and artsy for his own good, and will soon be "cured" by a restorative dose of testosterone. - Liz Kim

Nick Chauffeur's Mimi Around in Style

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:14:45 -0500

September 8, 2009 -- NICK CANNON and MARIAH CAREY are coming up on their one and a half year anniversary, and they seem stronger than ever. In these pictures of the couple leaving Mr. Chow, Nick looks to be unable to take his eyes off his Grammy-winning wife. It's good to see he's still enamored by Mrs. Cannon. What we can't take our eyes off of is Nick's pitch-black, specially tuned MERCEDES BENZ SL. With either a V8 or V12 engine propelling the stunning coupe down the road, the luxury sports car is the perfect ride in which to chauffeur a diva to dinner.

--Alison Lakin