A Little of the old In and Out

In: Schwag. 'Tis the season for corporate freebies, that significant cultural phenomenon. As Bruce Fierstein writes in the New York Observer:

"At the Sundance Film Festival, the hills are alive with the sound of freebies, as corporate giveaway condos line the ski slopes, passing out everything from cell phones to Converse sneakers.

"And as Hillary Atkin, a Los Angeles writer who specializes in covering (tabulating?) these things, points out, we�re about to hit the mother lode of swag: the Oscars, where the corporate gift-giving began with the nominations Tuesday morning ($30,000 in assorted merchandise from Michael Kors, Est�e Lauder, Manolo Blahnik, Veuve Clicquot, Victoria�s Secret and Motorola) and culminating on Oscar night itself, when the value of the swag rises to almost $150,000 and includes $7,000 plasma TV screens and free Lasik eye surgery."

The history of schwag here.

Out: Prince Rainier. Being Prince of Monaco is not unlike being the head of a prestigious municipal convention center, only with a significant mention in Debrett's Peerage with a side order of hott starlet ass on the side. Your job is to attend a lot of events and plaster on a big fake ass Kool Aid smile as the convention center rakes in the cheddar; only, his "convention center" (Averted Gaze) is the principality of Monaco. Nice work if you can get it. But you can tell Rainier's heart is not in it this time, he looks like he'd rather take a nap, as the Hello! pics show:



Princess Stephanie, however, who once married a Portuguese circus acrobat, may or may not be looking to supplement her diet with a taste of some more of that fantastic gymnastic ass.

In: Sandino Moreno, Oscar Nominee for Maria Full of Grace. According to indieWire, she learned of her Oscar nomination while at Sundance looking for more work:

"... Crying and screaming after hearing her was name announced live on television, Sandino Moreno said she was talking with her mom when 'Maria Full of Grace' director Joshua Marston called her. He watched the (Academy Award) nominations live in a laundromat in Brooklyn, since he does not have cable. 'That is just so Josh,' Sandino Moreno said, excitedly. Asked if she has any new projects she is working on, Sandino Moreno quipped, 'I am waiting ... I am just working on breathing.'"

Out: Jennifer Garner. That Ben Affleck is a jinx is scientific fact. See what he did to JLo. See! Before she ever got mixed up with the likes of him she was attached to somewhat edgy projects like The Cell. She was Jenny from the block. Apres le Ben?

The woman doesn't even smile, people.

And so with Jennifer Garner. Before Ben, she was hott, had a hott tv show, 13 going on 30 did marginally successful business, she did the CIA website, she was a Sci-Tech geek goddess (or, would fembot be the appropriate analogy as a universe with wedgies cannot be run by a an omniscient benevolent deity)! And now, the Page Sixxies report:

"JENNIFER Garner knew 'Elektra' was going to be a turkey, but she starred in it anyway because she was under contract. That's what her 'Alias' co-star (and former boyfriend) Michael Vartan told Us Weekly the other night in L.A. as he mingled with Kirsten Dunst, Orlando Bloom and Leonardo DiCaprio. Asked if he'd seen 'Elektra,' Vartan replied: 'I heard it was awful.' Us: 'You saw it?' MV: 'No, (Jennifer Garner) called me and told me it was awful.' Us: 'Would you ever make a movie you knew was awful?' MV: 'She had to do it because of Daredevil. It was in her contract.'"

Which explains that dodgy "virus" or "nerve damage" excuse that prevented her from doing extensive promotions for the film. How convenient! (Averted Gaze)

In: Academy Award Speculation. The Corsair's academy Award speculation (WTF?! Paul Giamatti didn't get a Best Actor nod? Was it critics revenge on that really tired joke that said film critics liked him because, well, they look like him?) In the meantime, my bud Case has some thoughts here. And, while we're at it: Who do you think will win Sundance?

Out:Rising violence to coincide with the Iraqi Elections.