Amazon.com
7/31/00
The Beach: Original Motion Picture Score

If you looking for the certain CD to complete your collection. Try this new release "The Beach: Original Motion Picture Score" You can listen to some of the tracks, and purchase it from the following link.

Listen & Purchase here
###

Hollywood Reporter:
7/31/00
DiCaprio on wrong side of law for D'Work

Leonardo DiCaprio is going on a crime spree. DiCaprio has found his next picture: DreamWorks' "Catch Me If You Can." The actor agreed late Friday to star in the true-life story of the youngest man ever to make the FBI's 10 most wanted list. The actor will segue into "Catch Me" in March 2001, after he completes his turn as a gangster in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" for Miramax Films and Initial Entertainment Group. Gore Verbinski is the frontrunner to direct "Catch Me," but no deal has yet been negotiated. Other directors -- including David Fincher -- are said to still be circling. Following a meeting Friday afternoon, sources said there are no foreseen dealbreakers for DiCaprio's agreement, which is in final negotiations. Verbinski and DiCaprio met on the project just over a week ago, and the actor has been in serious discussions ever since (HR 7/25). DreamWorks' executives are very high on Verbinski, who directed "Mouse Hount" and is directing the Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt-starrer "The Mexican" for them. It's not clear who will produce the project. "Catch Me," scripted by Jeff Nathanson ("Rush Hour"), is based on the memoirs of Frank Abagnale Jr., who from 1964 to 1966 successfully impersonated an airline pilot, a doctor, an assistant attorney general and a history professor. He also cashed over $6 million in fraudulent checks in 26 foreign countries. After he was captured by the FBI, Abagnale went on to become a consultant to the bureau. After the director deal closes, the filmmakers will next turn their attention to fill the lead role of the FBI agent, who is key in the cat-and-mouse story. DreamWorks executive Glenn Williamson is overseeing the project. DiCaprio next begins production on "Gangs of New York" in August in Rome. "Gangs," set during the era of the Tammany Hall political corruption in the 1840s, traces the history of Irish crime gangs in New York. DiCaprio stars as gangster Amsterdam Vallon, a man who organized gangs in an effort to control the city's street wars between Italian and Irish immigrants. Nathanson is repped by UTA's Andrew Cannava. DiCaprio's deal is being negotiated by his manager Rick Yorn at Artist's Management Group and by his attorney, Steve Warren.
###

Variety:
7/31/00
DiCaprio DreamWorks' "Catch" of the day

Leonardo DiCaprio, last in theaters with "The Beach" is in final negotiations to star in DreamWorks' "Catch Me if You Can," a con man tale that will likely begin production by mid-March 2001. "Catch Me" tells the incredible but true tale of Frank Abagnale Jr., who impersonated so many people and kited so many checks between 1964 and 1966 that he won the dubious distinction of being the only teenager ever placed on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. The charming rogue passed himself off as a Pan Am co-pilot, and flew more than 2 million miles without paying a cent. But then, Abaganale often had good reason to make a speedy getaway: during that same time he also pretended to be the chief resident pediatrician at a Georgia hospital, Louisiana's assistant attorney general and a professor of American history at a French university. By the time he was apprehended, Abagnale had written $6 million in bad checks in all 50 states and in 26 foreign countries -- all before his 18th birthday. DiCaprio will make "Catch Me" his next picture after shooting Disney's "Gangs of New York" for director Martin Scorsese, which begins shooting in Rome in August. With Hollywood preparing for a possible actors' and writers' strike by next June 30, DreamWorks' production chiefs Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald have taken the unusual step of personally serving as producers on the project in order to make sure the film is finished in time. While Gore Verbinski ("Mouse Hunt" and the upcoming "The Mexican") is the front-runner to direct the picture, David Fincher ("Seven" and "Fight Club") is also a possibility. The "Catch Me" script was written by Jeff Nathanson ("Rush Hour").
###

NY Post:
7/31/00
KEVIN BACON'S JOY OF SIX ON WEB

By now, everyone's heard of "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," a game that connects any other actor to Bacon, through the movies he's appeared in, in six or fewer associations. While the game has driven cinephiles to distraction for years, Bacon himself has never played. The star of "Hollow Man," opening Friday, claims he wouldn't be very good at it. "I'm not much of a movie buff, and you really have to be one to play," says Bacon, who after 43 films admits to being amused by his status as the hub of the entertainment universe. "I can remember the movies I was in, and I can usually remember who was in the movies that I was in, but it ends there. "Some kid came up to me on the street the other day and said, ‘Oh dude, I was just playing your game. You've got to help me out. You and Leonardo DiCaprio - I'm stuck.' "I was like, ‘You're asking the wrong guy.'" As it turns out, most actors are only two or three links away. (Bacon is just two links from Elvis Presley, three from Bela Lugosi.) Can you make the link? Test your movie knowledge by playing the game at the :

University of Virginia Web site
###

US Weekly:
7/28/00
DiCaprio knows where to prowl

Leonardo DiCaprio knows where to prowl when he’s on the streets of Manhattan. The Titanic star’s regular Tuesday night stop is Spa, a downtown nightclub. But word has spread: The joint was crowded on a recent night when he stopped in with belle Gisele Bundchen to quaff Belvedere vodka and dance on the sofas to hip-hop music. Celebrity gridlock ensued, thanks to the presence of Benjamin Bratt, Sandra Bullock and Sean “Puffy” Combs.
###

LA Times:
7/28/00
'The Beach' Surfaces on DVD

"The Beach" was much ballyhooed earlier this year as Leonardo DiCaprio's first film since "Titanic." Well, just like the legendary ocean liner, "The Beach" sank at the box office. But Leo's legion of female fans might want to check out the collector's edition DVD (Fox, $35) of the drama, which concerns a young American who finds that an isolated community off the coast of Thailand isn't quite paradise. The disc features the wide-screen edition, theatrical trailers and TV spots, a short featurette on the making of the film, All Saints' music video of the song "Pure Shores," and a storyboard gallery. There are numerous deleted scenes, each with commentary by director Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting")--including a far more entertaining opening, which celebrates the Thailand culture, and a more violent ending. Boyle also supplies the rather pedestrian audio commentary on the making of "The Beach"--too bad he didn't explain why the film is so disappointing. Full story
###

Chicago SunTimes:
7/28/00
DiCaprio data . . .

Memo to all you Leonardo DiCaprio fans, who haven't had much Leo celluloid fixes lately. He is angling to play the youngest man to make the FBI's Most Wanted List (Frank Abagnale) in the film titled "Catch Me If You Can."
###

Fox 411:
7/27/00
Dana Giacchetto: The Fibbing Continues

Dana Giacchetto, the jailed money manager for Leonardo DiCaprio, got himself into trouble by stretching the truth. He told people he had a Harvard MBA — in fact he'd taken extension classes there. That sort of thing. www.giacchetto.com Now Giacchetto — even in jail, mind you — is stretching the truth. On the Web site launched by his mom, www.giacchetto.com, someone has posted a picture of Dana featured in Paper magazine. He's posing with his pet bird and it seems as though he had once been on the cover of Paper. His headline is: "Man of the Millennium." Well, it seems that that picture with the Paper logo was taken from a charity book — one in which Paper bought an ad saluting Dana, who'd been trying to raise money for Sweet Relief. "He's never been on the cover of Paper," editor David Herskovits tells me. "It's completely misleading. I've emailed the people who run the Web site to change it, but so far I haven't heard anything." All I can say is, Giacchetto's trial should be pretty amusing. I'm ready, are you?
###

NY Post:
7/27/00
Double or nil

DANA Giacchetto refuses to accept a plea offer that would mean a four-year sentence. The money manager who allegedly mishandled funds for the likes of Leo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller insists on going to trial, where he faces about eight years if convicted of fraud, foxnews.com's Roger Friedman reports. Meanwhile, when he gets out, David Hershkovits will be waiting. The Paper magazine co-publisher/editor is irked that Giacchetto posted on his website a bogus Paper cover proclaiming him its "Man of the Millennium." The cover was a mock-up made last year for a benefit which feted Giacchetto. "It's a misrepresentation of Paper," Hershkovits told us. "He was never ‘Man of the Millennium.'" Giacchetto uses the website to solicit donations for his legal defense fund.
###

Seattle Times:
7/27/00
Ovitz lines up first two movies

The cameras are rolling for Michael Ovitz. The Hollywood talent manager who's seen his share of behind-the-scenes corporate dramas is finalizing details for his first two film projects with new partner StudioCanal. Ovitz has committed to a horror flick called "Godsend," with screenwriter Mark Bomback, who's working on two movies for producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("Top Gun," "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Gone in 60 Seconds"). Budgeted at about $50 million, "Godsend" is expected out in two years. Sources also said Ovitz is close to doing "The Discrete Charm of Charlie Monk," a scientific thriller written by British author David Ambrose, who's also an Ovitz client. Ovitz could have even larger ambitions for Ambrose's book about a James Bond-like superspy because it has the potential to become a franchise for his fledgling studio. The films mark the first projects stemming from the $750 million venture between Ovitz' Artists Management Group and StudioCanal, a division of French conglomerate Vivendi. With his new partner, Ovitz is hoping to ramp up his moviemaking to as many as 15 films during the next three years. He's also looking to tap into the talent represented by his management firm, which handles such stars as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Robin Williams, and directors Martin Scorcese, Sidney Pollack and Barry Levenson.
###

NY Daily News:
7/26/00
Itemizing

Leonardo DiCaprio is talking with DreamWorks about playing the youngest man to make the FBI's most-wanted list. In "Catch Me If You Can," he'd star as Frank Abagnale, a forger who became a consultant to the bureau, according to The Hollywood Reporter
###

NY Post:
7/26/00
CASSANDRA GROUP GOES BUST

The investment fund run by accused swindler-to-the-stars Dana Giacchetto has filed for bankruptcy - and named a slew of A-list celebs as potential creditors. The Cassandra Group said in court papers filed in Manhattan Bankruptcy Court that it has assets of less than $25,000. The filing included a 16-page list of unsecured creditors - the rich and famous clients of the firm, which allegedly looted millions from accounts, Variety reported today. Those named include movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Cameron Diaz, Courtney Cox Arquette and Matt Damon. Directors Kathryn Bigelow and Ed Burns are on the list, along with two of Bob Dylan's kids, filmmaker Jesse Dylan and singer Jakob Dylan. Other creditors include Christopher Cuomo, son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo, artist Ross Bleckner, hotelier Andre Balazs and rockers from the Afghan Whigs and Phish. Some of Cassandra's prominent clients were not listed - including actors Ben Stiller, Tobey Maguire and Lauren Holly, artist David Salle and Hollywood exec Mike Ovitz. It was unclear if they were left off because they recovered the money they invested with Giacchetto. If they did lose money, they can make a claim against the firm. The filing did not list the amounts owed to the creditors, but at his height, Giacchetto managed $100 million for about 300 clients. He was indicted in Manhattan federal court in April on charges he swiped $9 million from the accounts to finance a lavish lifestyle and "loans" to his celeb pals. Prosecutors say he was running an elaborate shell game, moving money out of some accounts to cover deficits in others while his firm hemorrhaged cash. For example, he allegedly took $500,000 from singer Alanis Morisette's funds to pay back Phish, which lost $5 million in the scheme. Initially free on $1 million bond, Giacchetto was re-arrested at Newark Airport and tossed behind bars in April after prosecutors claimed he planned to flee the country. He has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. The case is set to go to trial in September.
###

Hollwood Reporter:
7/25/00
DreamWorks tries to 'Catch' DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is in ongoing discussions to star in DreamWorks' "Catch Me If You Can" from screenwriter Jeff Nathanson ("Rush Hour"). DiCaprio is seriously considering playing real-life criminal Frank Abagnale, the youngest man to make the FBI's most-wanted list for forgery who later became a consultant to the bureau. Gore Verbinski, who directed DreamWorks' "Mousehunt" and just completed helming the studio's "The Mexican" starring Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, is being eyed to step behind the camera again. DreamWorks executive Glenn Williamson is overseeing the project.
###

Fox 411:
7/25/00
All-Star Bankruptcy Is Filed

Dana Giacchetto's Cassandra Group filed for Chapter 7 on Friday. The list of creditors reads like the guest list for the best Hollywood party ever. It includes big players: Leo George DiCaprio; Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (as well as their former financial adviser, Jerry Chapnick and members of his family); Something About Mary star Cameron Diaz; Benicio del Toro, of Usual Suspects; Friends star Courteney Cox Arquette; TV actor Dan Cortese; Brothers McMullen director Edward Burns; magazine editor Gabe Doppelt; and artists George Condo and Ross Bleckner. Bob Dylan's family: Jakob, of the Wallflowers (as well as brothers Jesse and Sam and sister Anna); two Leonardo Di Caprio posse members: magician David Blaine and Evening Shade actor and Leonardo Di Caprio posse member Jay Ferguson; 20/20 correspondent and former DiCaprio adviser Christopher Cuomo; the rock groups Phish and Afghan Wigs; Swingers star Jon Favreau; director Kathryn Bigelow; hotelier Andre Balazs and wife Katie Ford, whose family owns Ford Models; singer Peter Himmelman; and Marianne Boesky (former wife of Ivan, whose family once owned the Beverly Hills Hotel). According to the receiver, Cassandra has $50,000 in debts and an equal amount in assets, so good luck to all those above. Now word comes to me that Dana has turned down an offer from the U.S. Attorney's office to spend four years in jail rather than stand trial. According to my sources, Giacchetto could easily get a prison term of eight years if convicted on various counts of fraud. Remember that Giacchetto is currently in jail awaiting his trial after trying to flee the country. Prosecutors say he either mismanaged or stole anywhere from $10–$20 million from clients like best friend Leonardo DiCaprio and superagent Michael Ovitz, as well as lots of lesser known hard working people. The receiver for Cassandra, attorney Steven Cohen of the highly conservative New York law firm Kronish and Lieb, has also had his own troubles. When he filed with the court to get his fees paid — a paltry $24,000 considering that he's had to go through 60 boxes of papers — the bank that has Cassandra's account turned him down. First Citizen's Bank, formerly known as US Trust (not the big international US Trust, but another bank with a similar name), refused to fork over the funds. A court ruling overruled them and now Cohen has his money. But back to Giacchetto, who's launched a Web site in his own defense (of course) and seems glued to the idea of going to trial. "He's living in his own reality," says a source. "There have been man attempts by those close to him to make him see what's going on, but so far nothing has shaken him. He keeps saying there's art in his apartment that's worth millions, and bearer bonds, too. But there's nothing there. It's a fantasy." Other sources tell me that "plea negotiations are ongoing." Giacchetto's trial is set to begin September 6 at the federal court in Lower Manhattan.
###

NY Daily News:
7/25/00
DiCaprio makes cut

Hollywood loves lists. Whether you're mentioned as hot or as not, the only crime is not to be listed at all. That is why Tobey Maguire, Matthew Broderick and "Friends" co-stars Courteney Cox Arquette and Matthew Perry might want to consult their shrinks in late August, when St. Martin's publishes James Ulmer's "Hollywood Hot List: The Complete Guide to Star Power." Julia Roberts leads the way in attracting financing for films. They don't make the cut of the 200 stars Ulmer ranks according to their ability to attract financing for a film — "bankability," the Left Coast calls it. Number one, according to Ulmer, is Julia Roberts, followed by Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Brad Pitt, Meg Ryan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith at No. 10. The 10 at the other end of the scale begins with Helena Bonham Carter at No. 191, followed by Halle Berry, Jean Reno, Vince Vaughn, Andy Garcia, Elisabeth Shue, Greg Kinnear, Geoffrey Rush and Ian McKellen. Steven Seagal occupies last place at number 200. Author Ulmer also laces into Demi Moore and Sylvester Stallone for demanding expanded entourages and unnecessary goodies like gym equipment and extra trainers on shoots. In her heyday, he writes, Moore "presented one indie company with a perks package costing around $900,000, most of which was for the entourage." And at the top of his fame, Stallone would have 11 people with him, including a golf pro with whom — between takes — he would smack balls into a huge net set up on an adjacent sound stage, the book says. Phoenix Pictures chairman Mike Medavoy thinks celebs have become overly paranoid about the need to surround themselves with so many hangers-on. "Let's face it," Medavoy tells Ulmer, "there is no such thing as a legitimate entourage. Period. I find these people with all their security and all that bull---- ridiculous. Because if somebody really wants to harass or kill any of these people, they will. They'll find them, they'll kill them. Nobody can prevent that. The President of the United States has been shot."
###

Variety:
7/25/00
Giacchetto's group files for bankruptcy

The Cassandra Group, the investment fund run by jailed celebrity money manager Dana Giacchetto, has filed for bankruptcy protection in Manhattan U.S. Bankruptcy Court showing assets of less than $25,000. The once high-flying Cassandra fund is expected to face claims from creditors in the millions of dollars, representing money that was diverted out of client accounts. In keeping with Giacchetto's reputation as money manager to the stars, the schedule of potential creditors, filed Friday, reads like a Hollywood party list. Among the 16 pages of unsecured creditors are the now-familiar client names: Ben Affleck, Cameron Diaz, Courteney Cox Arquette, Ed Burns, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and several children of Bob Dylan including filmmaker Jesse Dylan and singer Jakob Dylan. Also listed as potential creditors are film musician Bruce Broughton; director Kathryn Bigelow; producer Michael Besman; Marianne Boesky, daughter of disgraced Wall Street investor Ivan Boesky; Christopher Cuomo, son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo; artist Ross Bleckner; Andre Balazs, owner of the Chateau Marmont hotel; and members of the rock groups Afghan Whigs and Phish. Phish is a secured creditor with a judgment against the fund. The initial filing, made by the court-appointed receiver, lists Cassandra's assets as $10,000 in a Citizens Bank account and $12,991 in Chase Manhattan Bank. Those sums do not represent client accounts, but rather assets owned by Cassandra as a business. Stocks of undetermined value in Paradise Music, Bust Enterprises and AT&T are also on the schedule of assets. A potential claim against Citizens Bank is listed as an asset. Citizens bought U.S. Trust, the bank that allowed Giacchetto to endorse his clients' checks in his own name and deposit them into the Cassandra account. The list of creditors is by no means definitive. The list simply represents the receiver's best estimate of likely creditors. "Just because a person is listed as a creditor doesn't mean they will make a claim," said Debra Grassgreen, a bankruptcy lawyer at Pachulski, Stang, Ziehl & Young in Los Angeles. "By the same token, creditors who are not identified on the schedule can also file claims. The filing serves as notice." In fact, several prominent investors are not listed as creditors, including Artist Management Group principals Mike Ovitz and Rick Yorn; actors Ben Stiller, Tobey Maguire and Lauren Holly; and artist David Salle. They are not, however, prevented from filing claims if they lost money. It is not clear whether they recovered their investments with Giacchetto. The filing, which one expert described as "skeletal," does not list the amount each creditor is owed. One source speculated that the filing may be so minimal because Giacchetto can't or won't supply further information. Giacchetto was charged by criminal complaint on April 3 of looting accounts belonging to clients of his Cassandra Fund. On the same day, the SEC filed a related action and a court froze Giacchetto's assets. Now that the Chapter 7 filing is under way, a trustee will collect assets and pay claims. One allegation in the related government cases is that Giacchetto paid some of his celebrity clients at the expense of less powerful clients. Under certain circumstances, the trustee has the power to get back that money. "The trustee can seek to recover payments made to creditors within the 90 days preceding the bankruptcy if those payments constitute a preference," Grassgreen said. "But based on the timing of the appointment of the receiver, it doesn't appear that there were any payments made during that period." The section of the filing that would show payments to creditors in the past 90 days is left blank.
Full story
###

MSN:
7/25/00
Hugh Hefner He swings. He misses

Hugh Hefner, who is too harmless to offend anyone these days, is surely giddy about the Playboy Mansion party brouhaha. During the Democratic Convention, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., will host a fund-raiser at Hef's Los Angeles castle for her Hispanic Unity USA political action committee, which promotes Latino voter registration. Hef, who will spend $75,000-$150,000 to throw the bash, has supported Sanchez since she challenged and defeated Playboy nemesis Robert Dornan in 1996. The event has turned into a Democratic debacle. Republicans are gleefully mocking the Democratic-Playmate alliance. Democratic leaders are appalled at the idea of Hef, resplendent in a silk bathrobe, all four girlfriends by his side, emerging from the Grotto to bless the party. Al Gore's spokesman sternly declared that the vice president does not "condone" Sanchez's party and won't attend it. (The Hef tiff has deflected attention from the really demoralizing fact about the fund-raiser. Click here to see what that is.) Sanchez and her aides, perhaps embarrassed by the Playboy connection, won't return phone calls about the dinner. Hef and his deputies, on the other hand, have worked themselves into delightful indignation about their martyrdom to American prudery. They are loving being bad boys again. "I am surprised at the Democrats. We have supported them over the years. This really shows the Puritanism in this country," waxes Playboy Executive Vice President Richard Rosenzweig. The dinner will be a "classy"—and bunny-free—formal affair, he insists. "I don't know what people think goes on at the mansion—[oh yes you do, Richard]—but it is a stately setting and we have the most elegant parties," Rosenzweig declares. This squabble marks another step forward in Hef's bizarre renaissance. In 1998, Hef separated from his wife, discovered Viagra, hooked up with his concubine quartet, and began waging a relentless campaign for attention. The glossy media obliged. Vanity Fair, Details, and Esquire have slobbered over the 74-year-old hedonist. A major biopic about Hefner is planned. Harper's Bazaar crowned the Playboy Mansion the coolest spot in the United States. Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz won't miss Hef's parties. They schmooze among the peacocks with old mansion stalwarts like James Caan and Jack Nicholson.
Full story
###

Official DiCaprio Web Site:
7/24/00
LEONARDO DICAPRIO COMPUTER CENTER

The Los Feliz Branch - LA Public Library recently opened. Located on the site of the DiCaprio family home. Here are some excerpts from the Library Foundation of Los Angeles Newsletter:
...In Los Feliz
Hundreds of residents filled Franklin Avenue to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the new 10,5000-square-foot Los Feliz Branch Library. Among the many dignitaries and community leaders who attended the opening were Mayor Richard J. Riordan, City Council President John Ferraro, City Librarian Susan Kent, and Lucy McCoy, President of the Board of Library Commissioners. Thanks to the generosity of The Walt Disney Company Foundation and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the branch opened as a state-of-the-art "virtual library," complete with a computer center devoted to teens, and multimedia computer workstations throughout the rest of the library. T.J. Baptie, Executive Director of The Walt Disney Company Foundation, and Irmelin DiCaprio, Leonardo's mother, also participated in the dedication. The new branch is located on the former site of the DiCaprio family home. The Disney Company Foundation has been the "Adopt-a-Branch" partner for this library since 1997. In addition to the computers, the branch also features a collection of 45,000 books, a special reacding area for children, and the Helen Bernstein Community Room, named in memory of the beloved community leader. Designed by architect Barton Phelps, the branch has windows angled to provide views of the Griffith Observatory and an installation created by local artist Joyce Dahl. The Los Angeles Public Library has been providing service to the Los Feliz community since 1924. The new branch, a project of Proposition 1, the 1989 library bond, is located at 1874 Hillhurst Avenue.
Link with pictures
###

LA Times:
7/24/00
Sunset Strip Unconfidential

The Westside Weekly has taken a people-oriented look at the Sunset Strip: a simple sociology of a time and a place.

We looked at clubs, stores, coffee shops: Who goes there? What nights are happening? How are people dressed? Who is generating excitement with their presence? We kept an eye out for the person, who looked the most comfortable in the place, and made a beeline to ask them to share their thoughts.

Moving roughly east to west along the boulevard, here's a sample look into a number of culturally significant Sunset Strip spots, Westside petri dishes if you will, circa Summer 2000

DUBLIN'S 8240 Sunset THE SCENE: On any given night, you can find a lot of people having a very good time in this Irish-themed club. Free peanuts are available and their shells are scattered across the floor. "You've got a mixed crowd here," Hollywood resident Joseph Turns said. "Other clubs are black or white. Everyone is welcome here and this place is really alive." Just don't try to wear any type of hat here--especially a baseball cap: they're banned from the club.

SEEN: Lakers Ron Harper and John Sally both came to the VIP room upstairs to party after winning the NBA championship. Other Monday-night regulars include Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Jordan and Monica Lewinsky.

"Anybody you can think of has been in here," Dublin's owner Mark Moss said.

OVERHEARD: Guy trying to pick up girl: "Can we pretend I said something witty and go from there?"

THE STANDARD 8300 Sunset

THE SCENE: The Standard is a pure piece of Sunset Strip history turned on its head. Literally. The outside design of the hotel is an homage to pop photographer Edward Ruscha's famous early 1960s photos of the Sunset Strip, combined with his photos of Route 66 gas stations, including Standard Oil.

This place is Southern California postmodernism. The stepped cacti inside are meant to evoke Joshua Tree. The shag carpet: 1970s suburbia.

Film students, actors, and other creative youth, that are not quite old enough to have made it yet, make up the social fabric, along with older folk checking out the environment.

"I like The Standard because everyone here is too cool to talk to me," said comedic actor and Standard regular Rob Schneider. "Everywhere else I go people hand me scripts and want to talk about my next movie."

The scene mutates and evolves through the evening. The electronic ambient beats concocted by the deejay keep a standard pulse flowing through the crowd. Around 3 a.m. a stream of people flow into the cafe, which attracts after-hour revelers seeking a bite to eat and to dissect the evening.

SEEN: Co-owners Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz are frequently seen inspecting their investment. Also seen Ben Stiller, Renee Zelwiger, band members of Korn.

Full story
###

7/22/00
Kathy Bates talks about Leo on TV

Kathy Bates was interviewed by James Lipton on "Inside The Actor's Studio". She was very excited and animated when Leo's name came up and talked about how amazing an actor he is. J.L. For the three people who haven't seen it, whom did you play in "Titanic"? K.B. The iceberg. But if you blinked, you missed me. No, I got to play Molly Brown. J.L. Now Molly Brown befriends the starcrossed lovers. K.B. Yes, it's true and you know everywhere now I go to buy cosmetics the little girls are lining up, and I know it's not for my autograph. I just want you to know it's only because I was on the boat with him. I'm convinced that's it. J.L. You got him dressed up in a tuxedo. K.B. I did. I touched him; I did. J.L. For the one person who doesn't know, whom are you talking about? K.B. Leo! Leonardo DiCaprio He's so funny. He's just crazy. J.L. He is crazy? K.B. Yeah, he's funny and crazy and he's a kid! It's amazing to me. You see this kid; he's a kid!! You know and then you see -- the camera goes and then he delivers this beautiful performance. He's a phenom! It amazes me; he doesn't shift gears; I don't see where the gears are. He's amazing!!
###

NY Post:
7/21/00
SPINMEISTER SPINS TWO RUDY BOOKS

P.R. guru Ken Sunshine has a conflict-of-interest with the two rival Rudy Giuliani biographies. Sunshine is paid to promote NY1 political pundit Andrew Kirtzman's "Rudy Giuliani: Emperor of the City." Turns out he also has ties to Village Voice scribe Wayne Barrett's Giuliani-bashing "Rudy! An Investigative Biography." Sunshine sits on the board of the left-leaning Community Service Society, which subsidized Barrett's research to the tune of $5000. The CSS board also includes Barbara J. Fife, one of David Dinkins' deputy mayors, and Betsy Gotbaum, Dinkins' parks commissioner. Barrett thanks CSS in the acknowledgments. "This is very surprising to me," Sunshine told PAGE SIX. "I didn't know anything about [the $5000]. It's ironic, because we're working very hard to get Kirtzman's book out, but Wayne is an old friend of mine. It's very incestuous. I think both books are brilliant." Kirtzman says, "It's impossible to find a publicist in this town who understands city politics and who isn't politically connected. I consider myself lucky to have Ken." Kirtzman added, "If he's good enough for [Sunshine client] Leonardo DiCaprio, he's good enough for me." There's no secret where Sunshine stands. Today, he escorts Hillary Clinton to his synagogue in Westhampton for some fence-mending.
###

Official DiCaprio web site:
7/21/00
Dress and undress, Leo

The weekend is almost here. Kick back and have a little fun try out this game on the Official site.

Your going to need Shockwave/Flash to play.

Game link
###

NY Post:
7/21/00
The Beach July 25, release date

Just a reminder that the Beach comes out on DVD and video this Tuesday July 25, get those charge cards ready.

NEW RELEASES

The Beach

An American tourist named Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio, left) alights in Thailand, where he knocks down jiggers of snake blood and persuades two French contemporaries (Virginie Ledoyen and Guillaume Canet) to help him find the perfect beach. On the way they narrowly escape being machine-gunned by marijuana farmers before encountering a pod of like-minded Western hedonists living communally in "paradise." But while Danny Boyle's film has surface tension, Elvis Mitchell wrote in The New York Times, "all of Mr. DiCaprio's charisma and the director's savvy are used to divert us from the fact that there's not much going on."

2000. Fox. $107.37; DVD, $34.98. 120 minutes. Closed captioned. R. Release date: July 25.
###

TNT Rough Cut:
7/20/00
READER OF THE DAY:

The Velvet Cush-ing writes: "I beg to differ, it was Leo and Kate. Even with the corny dialogue, special effects---they made you believe. They could have been on a tug boat. They might not be the biggest stars in the world (Tom Cruise, MI 2 vs. Eyes Wide Shut or Magnolia--audience chose one) but for that movie, they were the reason people went back again and again. Director Kevin Smith on MTV (found at View askew) The Transcript Seg 1: Kevin on Titanic: 'Watching the boat break, I remember thinking for the longest time that some of it wasn't digital, like they were actually dropping people from large heights. But then I found out that a lot of that stuff was just digitally created and I was amazed. Visually it's amazing. When they were making Titanic, everyone talked about the boat...the boat looks amazing, you gotta see the boat. Then around somewhere in the middle of the run it changed. It's like Leonardo DiCaprio, you gotta see him. They don't care about the boat, the big boat breaking, they cared about Jack. So in the end I think your stars and your stories are always going to kind of win out as long as there's something at the heart of it.' "
###

The Sun - Doninic Mohan:
7/20/00
Back with gorgeous model Giselle

I'M out in Los Angeles for a few days to bring you the latest Hollywood news and gossip. The non-stop shoulder-rubbing with celebs started on the flight over, when I sat next to . . . former Man From Atlantis and Dallas star Patrick Duffy. Never mind, once I landed I bagged some biggies, including Leonardo DiCaprio. He's definitely back with gorgeous Brazilian model Giselle - I saw them sneaking out of a West Hollywood bar looking very "together."
###

E! Online:
7/20/00
The Eyes (and Ears) Have It

Tobey Maguire, looking positively kennel-esque in a grimy T-shirt at the Pasadena Playhouse. Leo's favorite sandbox partner was catching Neil Simon's The Good Doctor, though I swear it could have been Disney's Lady and the Tramp, as Tobey's date was--can I have a Growl Roll here please?--none other than Jennifer Love Hewitt, who looked divine in spite of who was on her arm. (Hell, he does better movies, so what the hell do I know?)
###

NY Daily News:
7/20/00
A 'Titanic' Tantrum

Leonardo DiCaprio hasn't overcome his camera-shyness. A bodyguard for the actor pounced on a photographer who took a picture of DiCaprio Tuesday night at Spa. Lensman Rossa Cole says he didn't even know the "Titanic" star was in the club when he snapped a picture. Cole claims that he offered to expose some of the film, but that DiCaprio's protector and friend Richie Akiva "violently ripped out my film and threw it on the floor." Akiva says, "I asked him for it nicely several times beforehand." The scene didn't keep Leo from a good time. A spy spotted the actor chugging from a bottle of Belvedere vodka.

Still camera-shy DiCaprio, seen here at Mann's Chinese Theater at the premiere of his new film, "The Beach," wasn't captured on film at the Spa afterall.

Planet Hollywood.com:
7/19/00
The Playboy Bunny Is Back

Sarah Jessica Parker wore one on a necklace in her hit show "Sex and the City." Curvy songbird Jewel had one emblazoned across a form-fitting T at the L.A. gala for MusiCares. And hot designer Stella McCartney put them on "slashed shirts" for her spring Chloe runway show. The Playboy bunny - the long-eared, rabbit-head silhouette - is back, along with suave, pajama-clad, Hugh Hefner style. "Not only is the bunny one of the most recognizable logos around," boasts Helen Isaacson, president of Playboy products and marketing, "unlike some of the other, high-fashion ones, it prides itself on being schmaltzy and jazzy. It shows that you don't take yourself too seriously." Although it's been 45 years since Hugh Hefner started his flesh-baring magazine - with Marilyn Monroe as his first centerfold - he reached the height of hip in the '70s. So after three decades, why is the bunny popping up again on all sorts of clothes and accessories? The 74-year-old Hefner, now dating twin Playmates Sandy and Mandy Bentley as well as Brande Roderick, believes it "has to do with the fascination with retro and a post-feminist embracing of Playboy. I do think it has to do with a changing sexual climate reflected in pop culture." Adds Hefner, who counts Leonard DiCaprio and Ben Affleck as new mansion playmates, "Now, a whole new generation has grown up that missed the '70s and related in a very real way to the Playboy man." But what of those who see the Playboy style and its bunny logo as a representation of the exploitation of women? Cindy Rakowitz, a spokeswoman for Playboy, contends, "The bunny's not a political issue anymore. It's not like years ago, when women were listening to Gloria Steinem and feeling like they were doing a disservice to their sisters if they embraced Playboy. "Now you see it and just think sexiness, fun, glamour. It's a piece of our culture."
###

Planet Hollywood.com:
7/19/00
Neeson Is in Intensive Care

LATEST: Irish superstar LIAM NEESON had to be transferred to specialist hospital in New York after fracturing his pelvis in a motorcycle accident. While his injuries are not life-threatening, the MICHAEL COLLINS star's condition is still "quite serious" in intensive care at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. The actor had just signed up for a plum role playing LEONARDO DICAPRIO's dad in the upcoming MARTIN SCORSESE's movie THE GANGS OF NEW YORK when the accident happened. Neeson's publicist ALAN NIEROB says the actor is expected to make a quick recovery from his injuries.
###

Planet Hollwood.com:
7/19/00
Leonardo Heart-Broken as Gisele Dumps Him for Former Boyfriend

Leonardo Dicaprio is crushed after his new girlfriend Gisele Bundchen ran back into the arms of her former beau. The supermodel used to date Brazilian supermarket heir Joao-Paulo Diniz but dumped the 36-year-old when she met the "Titanic" heart-throb - although now she's changed her mind. Last month Diniz and Bundchen were spotted cosying up during a romantic dinner and a few days later she was caught sneaking out of his apartment building. A friend of DiCaprio says, "Leo's crushed. He's really fallen for this girl. He keeps a picture of her with him. Leo's dated a lot of models but Gisele is something really special. She's back with Joao and Leo's heart-broken." Diniz is worth an estimated $1.5 billion, says the friend, "Leo's going to have to cough up some major dough and do something really spectacular if he wants to impress Gisele and win her back."
###

Rough Cut:
7/19/00
The next evolution of human beings must be spiritual

I'm hardly the first person to write that and I surely will not be the last. But as we have moved from an obsession with Outer Space in the '50s and '60s, our obsession with Inner Space continues to reach new crescendos, it seems, almost daily. It has been my premise from way back that the leap from being a manufacturing-based economy in the U.S. to being a service-based economy meant that there was more time and more energy for distraction. That isn't to say that a waitress or an engineer or even an Internet columnist doesn't work long, hard hours. But the life of the mind is quite a different thing than the life of the lifting of heavy things. While it feels like technology's simplification of our lives is actually adding new complications, the truth is that we are adding them by choice. Each time we add a cell phone or a DSL line or a Palm Pilot to our arsenal of tools for the modern world, we tear away at the comfortable silences of our lives that once came so naturally. We complain about cities like Los Angeles having bad public transportation, but when push comes to shove, those of us who can afford cars each want our own cars. When we talk about exhaustion, it is now more often physical-driven-by-mental rather than the other way around. So how does this have anything to do with movies? Well, we are in a state of obsession now that is certainly at an all-time high. The medium that is the Internet has created the opportunity to focus in a new on powerful way on niches that were once the provenance of only a lunatic fringe. Now, a 20-year-old in New Jersey and a 39-year-old in Montana and a 90-year-old in Sri Lanka can share their eternal fascination about Keanu Reeves every day. In the movie business, the Internet has given rise to a new sense of proprietary relationships with movies long before they even become movies. Star Trek conventions were once a unique phenomena in this country. And as the Star Trek realm got a little weaker, the conventions expanded out to other related programs and movies with which the group who loved Star Trek also connected. Now, the Web has space for all the conventioneers and hundreds of times more. When 5000 people got together in Rhode Island for a Star Trek convention, Paramount cared. Now, if you only have 5000 people on your Star Trek Web site, you are a tiny piece of the pie. Copyright obsession still goes on, but the overall song has changed. Filmmakers are hard working people, physically and intellectually. When you are in the midst of making a film, you are looking at weeks and weeks and weeks of 18-hour days and one day off a week, which you spend working "only" 12 hours, prepping for the next days of work. When a team decides on a script and gets a green light, that project very much becomes a child of their loins. It used to be that the child was gestated, born, reared and then presented at a grandly choreographed coming out party. Now, the very first in-vitro photos are posted on the Internet by people who are interested. This is well before one can tell whether the baby has a penis or not. Those photos go up, too. In fact, there are pages and pages of debates about when the next set of in-vitro photos are going to be taken and whether the 12-year-old in Nevada and the 37-year-old in Louisiana think that there's going to be a penis or not…or maybe the baby will have its legs up so you can't tell, even though something is developing there. The filmmakers are hearing about the conversation and if the general buzz is that the baby is beautiful…even though you can't tell anything like that from an in-vitro photo…the filmmakers are thrilled. And they start telling the studio that the buzz of the fetus is good. During the production, the mother is, of course, as every mother is, vomiting and feeling gross and not really wanting to talk in too much detail about her pregnancy, except to her closest friends, preferably ones who have gone through the process. Still, reports on each episode of puking end up on the Internet because someone on the set finds it amusing to expose the woman who employs him. Finally, the baby is born--the rough assembly--covered in blood and other slimy material, not ready for anyone to see. Most directors say that they are near suicide after seeing that first rough assembly. Everything is wrong. Nothing is right. Of course, you rarely read about that moment on the Internet because some things are too private for prying eyes. But the filmmaker knows that they are going to have to show the baby to someone before too long to find out what parts of the baby are cute and which ones are ugly and if that can be fixed. This is far more dangerous than the eventual coming out party, where the lighting will be perfect and there will be a group of paid professionals to walk around shouting, "Look at the pretty baby!" And now, the studios know that someone in those test screenings will be commenting on this still drooling infant. Of course, those who publish the Drool Reports don't really know or care about the legitimacy of the people sending in those reports. This is the "freedom" of the Internet. Meanwhile, back at the studio, the grandparents, who paid for all of this, also have a lot of opinions. They go to all the coming out parties and examine each one carefully. "Remember that baby that was too long and its feet kept coming out of the blanket and everyone noticed?" "Remember that baby who was smart enough to talk, but a talking baby freaked everyone out and only the critics like it?" "We've seen a lot of babies and if the eyes aren't sparkling when they first see the baby, they will reject it…really, we love the rest of the baby, but can't we do something about the eyes?" And with the evolution of entertainment from being something that the presenter controls to being something that the audience can obtain on demand, who can blame the grandparents foe being paranoid? Well, I guess I can. But you get my point. (I hope.) Is a fast-paced, quick-cut movie that meets all of the audiences expectations all of the time the ultimate in entertainment? Ahhhh…the humanity. No. If you look at the movies that really connect with the huge audiences, they are all flawed and human in ways that could never be packaged. Titanic is by far the highest grossing film in the history of the business. Flawed. Leo DiCaprio is not the world's biggest movie star. Nor is Kate Winslet. And when Jim Cameron finally does a next film, he will have to climb every mountain that he's climbed on every other film. Talented as they all are, it's the movie. As much as we critics hate to admit it, box office does mean something. A film may stink on objective criteria, but if millions of people connect with the film, there is something magical happening there. I may not like it, but I'm an idiot if I just dismiss it.
###

Official DiCaprio Site:
7/19/00
DICAPRIO HOSTS SHAQ BASH

Honoring the recent Laker World Championship, full time Laker fan Leonardo DiCaprio hosted an MVP party for Shaquille O’Neal one week ago, at the Sunset Room in Hollywood, CA. Every bit the party of the week, there were hundreds of guests in attendance. And making every moment count, the throngs of party revelers let off 12 years of championship-less steam, grooving to the tunes provided by none other than legendary rapper/spinner Biz Markie. Of course, O’Neal couldn’t help but dance a little himself. Towering over everyone in the room, Shaq was truly the "center" of attention, resembling a shepherd tending his flock, and if the recent victory is any indication, should be guiding L.A in the right direction for a good long while.
###

Excite News:
7/19/00
Movie Vacation Disasters

With Summer Travel Season in Full Swing, Blockbuster(R) Has List of Movie Vacation Disasters Missed flights, flat tires, stolen cameras and horrible hotels. Vacation disasters come in all types, but at least most of us avoid sinking ships, foreign jails and hook-wielding madmen. To put your summer travel troubles into perspective, Blockbuster has compiled a list of most-rented movies featuring vacations gone awry. From the Griswold's infamous trek to Wally World to a slightly off-center and unwelcome visitor in "What About Bob?," these films feature missteps and misadventure. The most recent addition to this genre of travel nightmares is "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio , available on video beginning July 25. The following films are among the top-renting movies featuring vacation catastrophes, according to rental data compiled by Blockbuster:

-- "Brokedown Palace" (1999, PG-13)

-- "Dead Calm" (1989, R)

-- "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" (1987, R)

-- "The Great Outdoors" (1988, PG)

-- "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" (1998, R)

-- "The Blue Lagoon" (1980, R)

-- "Cliffhanger" (1993, R)

-- "Titanic" (1997, PG-13)

-- "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983, R)

-- "What About Bob?" (1991, PG)

Over 237 million Americans plan to travel this summer*, so there are bound to be more than a few problems. If your summer trip doesn't turn out as planned, perhaps Blockbuster can help. In conjunction with the release of "The Beach," blockbuster.com is giving away a trip for two to Club Med Columbus Isle (Bahamas), including ground transfers and round trip coach air transportation from the airport nearest the winner's home. Visit blockbuster.com for complete contest rules to register for a chance to win the vacation getaway that hopefully will be trouble-free. "The Beach" will be available for rental on VHS and DVD, and is guaranteed to be in stock at participating stores in either format or the rental is free on your next visit. Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE:BBI) is a publicly traded subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) and is the world's leading renter of videos, DVDs, and video games with approximately 7,300 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company may be accessed internationally at blockbuster.com. Viacom Inc. is one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music.
###

NY Times:
7/19/00
Rebel Without a Film Biography ... Until now

The death of James Dean in a car crash in 1955 turned that brooding 24-year-old movie star into a tragic legend and symbol of alienation and hurt among teenagers in the 1950's and 1960's. But while other icons of the era, like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, have been grist for a steady stream of novels, biographies and movies, Dean has, surprisingly, been somewhat ignored, especially in films. It's not for a lack of trying... ...The Dean screenplay had been circulating at Warner Brothers for nearly a decade under the aegis of Marvin Worth, producer of "Lenny" (1974) and "The Rose" (1979). Mr. Worth, who died in 1998, came close to making the film in 1994 with Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Mann as director. But Mr. Mann, director of "Heat" and "The Insider," said that Mr. DiCaprio seemed too young at the time and wanted to wait for a year or so. By that time they had each moved on to other projects. Other directors like Des McAnuff and Marc Rocco, and actors like Stephen Dorff got involved to one degree or another in the project.

Full story
###

Billboard:
7/19/00
Moby's 'Play' Approaching Near Ubiquity

You can hear it on the radio, satellite and terrestrial TV, and in the cinema. In fact, Moby's album "Play" (V2/Mute) is taking on a uniquely ubiquitous character due to the fact that all 18 of its tracks have been licensed for mass-media exposure. Released in the U.K. in May 1999, "Play" was a slow-burner that initially peaked at No. 33 before quickly dropping out of the charts. But four tracks eventually worked their way into international rotation. "Honey" was used in two different television soap operas, while "Porcelain" was heard on the soundtrack of the Leonardo DiCaprio film "The Beach," and in TV commercials for a car and a washing machine. "Bodyrock" soundtracked a beer commercial, two different television music programs, and a television sports show, and "Natural Blue" was utilized by a London alternative rock radio station for cinema advertising. Even "Everloving" made it into a candy commercial. "Play," which eventually hit the top of the U.K. album chart nearly one year after its release, has been yo-yoing up and down the upper echelons of that chart for most of this year. This week, it drops from No. 3 to No. 4 in its 34th chart week. On The Billboard 200, "Play" is No. 55 in its 48th week on the chart. For his efforts, Moby won best album of the year for "Play" at the inaugural DanceStar2000 awards in London last month. Speaking about the rumor that Madonna wants to work with him, Moby says, "I am on tour forever, and maybe when it comes time to make my own record, if she wants to help out I'd love to have her involved." Because he's busy with his world tour -- he visits New Zealand and Australia from July 20-28 -- Moby has had to work on songwriting collaborations with Virgin-signed soul singer Kelis via the mail. His tour ends in England with performances at both locations of the V2000 festival on Aug. 19-20.
###

Cincinnati Post:
7/19/00
'Growing Pains' reuniting

Programming notes and happenings at the annual Television Critic s' Press tour: Viewers probably weren't clamoring for a ''Growing Pains'' reunion movie, but t hat's what the show's creators are giving us. Allan Thicke's original TV family from the show that had a seven-year run in the '80s wil l reunite for a two- hour movie to air sometime in the next season. ''Growing Pains'' has never left the air, living on in syndication, and producers admit that part of the impetus for the movie is the new generation that discovered it through reruns on the Disney Channel. One cast member not returning for the reunion is Leonardo DiCaprio . Producers said they never even contacted him, since his character appeared only briefly in the show's last season. Actor David Krumholtz is happy to be jumping into a new comedy to rid himself of his current TV image. He played the crazed killer on ''ER'' who murdered Lucy Knight (Kellie Martin). Krumholtz has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, but he may be best known for his role as the bossy elf in ''The Santa Clause.'' Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts joins the ABC ''Monday Night Football'' team t his year to do the X's and O's next to Dennis Miller's comic relief. Fouts admits his biggest TV fame up until now may be his Miller Lite commercial with former quarterback Ken Stabler in which the two good-naturedly argue the merits of their careers and beer. ''They said, 'If you do this in one or two takes, we'll be out of there,' '' he said. ''Stabler figured out, if we did it in 10 or 12 takes, we'll have a nice buzz going. You can learn a lot from an old quarterback.''
###

AICN:
7/18/00
Set Pics From Scorsese's GANGS OF NY

Hey folks, Harry here... Looks like our fine Italian friends across the pond, have come up with our first look upon the set... as it is currently under construction on GANGS OF NEW YORK. You might remember Sister Satan's SCRIPT REVIEW of that film or Moriarty's Coverage as well. Hopefully all goes nice and easy for Scorsese on this flick.... it's a helluva tale. And damn ambitious... Here ya go...

Link to story and pictures
###

MSN:
7/18/00
20 Colossal Career Blunders of the Stars

It's so easy being a star. Just show up on the set, pretend to be someone else and walk off with a shopping cart full of cash, right? Wrong! As any of the people on this list can tell you, it's tough at the top. Especially when you make a really bad decision about a movie or a part. One day you're King of the World, the next you're washed up on The Beach. Hey, it's a rough town. How rough? Find out with this list of the 20 biggest blunders in recent Hollywood history.

# 3 After the astounding success of Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio seemed to drown in a sea of uncertainty. Instead of committing to a picture that might not live up to the James Cameron blockbuster, he toyed with several projects, from Star Wars: Episode 1--The Phantom Menace to American Psycho. When Leo finally did take a part, it was in The Beach, which washed away in no time flat.

Full story
###

NY Daily News:
7/18/00
Liam's Painful Road to Recovery

Liam Neeson was on the mend last night after going under the knife to repair his broken pelvis. The "Phantom Menace" star is "lucky to be alive," says a friend of Neeson's, whose motorcycle collided with a deer in upstate New York last Tuesday. "His injuries were a lot more serious than people thought. There was significant internal bleeding and other complications." Word is Neeson lost consciousness at one point. "He was very close to going into shock," says the friend. Neeson's primary physician, Dr. Kevin Cahill (grand marshall of this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade), moved the actor on Friday from Lenox Hill Hospital to the Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. David Helfet, head of the trauma section at Special Surgery, spent nearly four hours using pins and rods to reconstruct Neeson's pelvis, adds the pal. The actor is due to have surgery on his fractured heel later this week. "He's doing very well now," said one insider. "He's a strong man. But he'll have to be in a cast and on crutches for probably six weeks." Neeson was riding his 1989 Harley-Davidson motorbike near the Dutchess County home he shares with wife Natasha Richardson and their two children when he crashed into the deer. He was found lying at the side of the road by a neighbor. Calls to Neeson's spokesman and the Hospital for Special Surgery were not immediately returned.
###

Bergen Report:
7/18/00
For Playboy, it's hare there and everywhere

When Hef started socializing, it wasn't long before the up-and-coming-actor set made the mansion its Party Central, says Cindy Rakowitz, Playboy's vice president of public relations and promotions. A meeting called by Rakowitz for the Playmates to discuss the Internet turned into the first party. Soon, the mansion was hosting regular "disco nights." "It was very small, and the word got around young Hollywood that these parties were cool and that we would respect their privacy," she says. " Leonardo DiCaprio wanted to know there wouldn't be news cameras aimed at his face, and we gave him that assurance. You see Martin Landau hanging out with Ben Affleck, and it's kind of like they're passing the torch."

Full story
###

National Enquirer:
7/18/00
SKIN SECRETS OF THE STARS -- WARTS AND ALL!

These are the hot topics tackled by San Francisco dermatologist Dr. Vail Reese on his Internet Web page called "Dermatology in the Cinema." "I'm blowing the lid off Hollywood's flaws -- from a dermatologist's point of view!" Dr. Reese told The ENQUIRER. "Leonardo DiCaprio also has chicken pox scarring on his forehead.

Full story
###

Rolling Stone:
7/17/00
The Week in Weird

Sticks and stones may break a rapper's bones, but mean words -- man, those'll make him cry like a little schoolgirl. At least that seems to be the opinion of Q-Tip arch-rival Kenrick Miranda, whose duo, Slanid, takes multiple cracks at the peacenik-turned-pugilist on a new ditty called "Matter of Time." Tip, who had previously confined his smackdowns to photographers with an eye for pal Leonardo DiCaprio, broke Miranda's jaw in a brawl back in March. Well, now the tables are about to turn, if you believe the hype that warns Q, "It's only a matter of time before he gets popped . . . I'm gonna win by blow out, blow your brains out." Just in case the thousand words aren't clear enough, Slanid's disc also depicts a decapitated head that looks like Tip's being treated in unseemly fashion. Oh yeah, after he's done killing and mangling, Miranda plans to contact a lawyer in order to sue whatever's left -- which sounds more like modern hip-hop to us
###

LA Times:
7/17/00
Too Much Millionaire'? ABC Doesn't Think

ABC officials insisted Sunday that they are not "mortgaging our future" by relying so heavily on one franchise, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," which will expand to a fourth night in the fall. Addressing a group of TV critics and reporters at its twice-annual gathering in Pasadena, ABC stressed that the audience for "Millionaire" differs on each night, with 83 million people tuning in the quiz show during the course of a week and 70% of those viewers watching only one installment in that time span. "There is no such thing as a 'Millionaire' addict," said Larry Hyams, ABC's vice president of audience analysis. ABC offered additional gee-whiz statistics to bolster its case that the network isn't running "Millionaire" into the ground and to dispel other myths about its popularity. These included the expectation that "Millionaire's" ratings among younger adults--whose viewing of the show diminished during the spring--will rebound once the warm-weather months are over, as well as data showing the average household watching the program has an income of $54,000 and at least someone in the home has a college education. Though the ratings successes of "Millionaire" and, more recently, the CBS summer "reality" series "Survivor" have spurred a rush to develop similar projects, ABC Entertainment Television Group Co-Chairman Lloyd Braun maintained there is little evidence TV viewers are clamoring for programs in either genre. "What we're talking about are two shows in 'Millionaire' and 'Survivor' that have done extraordinarily well and surprised everybody," Braun said. Although producers and writers have suggested ABC is squeezing out traditional sitcoms and dramas by allocating nearly one-fifth of its prime-time schedule to "Millionaire," network executives contend that the strategy will actually allow them to better cultivate and launch series by focusing their promotional efforts. ABC will introduce just four new shows in the fall, the fewest of any broadcast network. ABC executives reiterated the pledge that they are ordering series from a variety of sources, even though the vast majority of the network's programming of late has come from its corporate parent, the Walt Disney Co. ABC did announce plans for a two-hour World War II documentary to air Dec. 7--the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor--produced by Steven Spielberg and narrated by Tom Hanks, reuniting the "Saving Private Ryan" tandem. That happens to fit nicely with Disney's "Pearl Harbor," a big-budget feature film due for release next year. Despite the involvement of those Hollywood names, the project is being made under the aegis of ABC News. That oversight is somewhat surprising, because news divisions are generally reluctant to deal with outside suppliers. Moreover, ABC came under criticism earlier this year for sending actor Leonardo DiCaprio to interview President Clinton as part of its "Earth Day" special. The maneuver caused bristling among ABC News staffers, who questioned the propriety of casting a star in the role of journalist. Spielberg is also producing "Anne Frank: The Whole Story" for ABC, a made-for-TV movie based on a recent biography of the famed Holocaust victim. The project will be broadcast during the coming season.
###

Bergen Report:
7/17/00
"Spider-Man"

Spidey is on the fast track at Columbia, where executives have committed to a Christmas season release for 2001. Sam Raimi, whose career began with the low-budget horror movie "Evil Dead," is directing the script about the neurotic college kid who acquires incredible strength and wall-climbing skills when bitten by a radioactive spider. Every young actor in Hollywood has been mentioned for the lead. Apparently Leonardo DiCaprio has taken himself out of the running, though Tobey Maguire and Wes Bentley are still in the game.
###

Irish times:
7/17/00
New York 1860

After playing the eponymous criminal in The General, the busy Irish actor Brendan Gleeson is set to play another gangster known as The Monk. However, this character is an Irish-American operating out of New York City in the 1860s, and the role is a key one in Martin Scorsese's $100 million production, Gangs of New York, which starts filming shortly at Cinecitta Studios in Rome. Gleeson joins a cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis in his first film for four years, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. This week, Gleeson's Dublin-based agent, Teri Hayden, concluded a deal for him to appear in Steven Spielberg's A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), which started shooting on Monday in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles. The secrecy-shrouded project is a science-fiction film which the late Stanley Kubrick had been developing for years - he had been waiting for technology to catch up with his vision of the film. Spielberg's first outing as a director since Saving Private Ryan, A.I. features Jude Law and the 11-year-old star of The Sixth Sense, Haley Joel Osment. Before going to work on the Spielberg film, Brendan Gleeson will participate in a public interview at Galway Film Fleadh tomorrow and he features in the cast of Conor McPherson's Saltwater, which has its Irish première at the fleadh tonight. And Gleeson can be seen at a cinema near you, playing a shady Sydney pharmaceuticals tycoon in Mission Impossible II.
###

Chicago Sun-Times:
7/17/00
Thriller's author spent years on the lam

Catch Me if You Can is a breezy thriller about author Frank Abagnale's years as a check forger and con artist who passed himself off as an airline pilot, doctor, university instructor and prosecutor. Sounds like a movie. At least DreamWorks thinks so, and cameras will roll next January, when Leonardo DiCaprio becomes available for the starring role. Published in 1980, the book is being reissued not to hype the movie--Simon & Schuster sold the rights long ago--but because it's been selling on the Internet for $100 a copy, Abagnale said in an interview. The book covers his exploits between ages 16 and 21. If it's to be believed, he made out like a bandit, in both the romance and larceny departments. Abagnale is now 52, and, in the storied tradition of setting a thief to catch a thief, has spent the latter half of his life teaching cops how to catch criminals. On behalf of the FBI and paying his own travel expenses, he does freebie training for law enforcement groups around the country on how to combat forgery, counterfeiting, embezzlement and Internet fraud. "It's by way of paying back the government" for releasing him from prison after serving one-third of a 12-year sentence, he said. Abagnale also runs his own firm, dispensing his expertise to paying clients. "What I did 35 years ago is 200 times easier to do today," he said. To forge an airline check in 1965 required an expensive press and high-resolution negatives. "Today you can design it on a PC or go to Kinko's and make a color copy." But his best masquerade, as a pilot, wouldn't fly today. Hijacking and bombing have made security too tight. Abagnale traveled the world free in a Pan Am uniform that, along with his 6-foot height and prematurely gray hair, made him look much older than his 16 to 18 years. "It was a great front for passing checks," and he billed the airline for posh hotel accommodations. But he stayed out of the cockpit. Under a different alias, Abagnale slipped into a doctor's role and supervised medical students and nurses on the night shift at a hospital in Marietta, Ga. Then, pretending to have a Harvard law degree, he found work as an assistant state attorney general in Louisiana. Next he spent a summer semester teaching sociology at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. "You just read a chapter ahead of your students," said Abagnale, a high school dropout. "They never suspected." Always on the lam, he couldn't overstay his welcome. "When people got too inquisitive, I'd just leave." Overseas, he offended the authorities in half the countries of Europe. He spent a very unpleasant six months in a French jail and a pleasant six months in a Swedish lockup. In the book's last chapter, Abagnale makes a couple of imaginative escapes seldom seen this side of fiction, exiting the last page a free man. In real life, he soon landed in a U.S. prison, where he languished until the FBI found better uses for him. Catch Me if You Can, written with Stan Redding, is a racy and rollicking read. But Abagnale is glad those years are long past. "I'd love to tell you that I'm a born-again Christian, which would be untrue, or that prison rehabilitated me, which would be absurd," he said. The truth is that he was almost glad to get caught. Straight life agrees with him. The father of sons 21, 19 and 16, Abagnale lives in Tulsa, Okla., with his wife of 24 years. "I'm sure Hollywood will make a glamorous movie," he said. "But it was a very lonely life. You really have no friends. They believed me to be someone I wasn't, and they were being deceived."
###

The Star:
7/15/00
Party boys

Leonardo DiCaprio surprised his best friend Tobey Maguire with a 25th birthday party at an L.A. club – but the real gift was the 3-to-1 ratio of girls to guys! Tobey recently split up with his model girlfriend Rashida Jones, Quincy Jones' daughter, and Leo knew he could use some cheering up. So, to increase the odds of Tobey meeting a nice new lady, Leo invited mostly gals and told everyone they could bring a female friend. The party planners ended up with about 75 girls and 25 boys. Tobey was delighted and invited all his favorite new friends to an after-party at his house.
###

Official DiCaprio Site:
7/14/00
INDEPENDENCE DAY !

Rockets ignited like giant, psychedelic snowflakes, and sparklers flurried like cream spewing sprinklers. No, it wasn’t a hippie movie from the 60’s but the sky overhead Leonardo DiCaprio’s private 4th of July party for family and friends. In an intimate setting, the small group got together for a barbecue and daylong toast to the birth of the nation. Music, along with the fiery, airborne spectacle was more than enough to wet the senses of those who attended. Among others in attendance were good friend, Tobey Maguire and seven-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater. In all, it was a rousing observance of Independence Day, leaving all those who attended ripe with anticipation for the next one.
###

Fox 411:
7/14/00
Will De Niro Sub for Liam in Gangs?

The confusing saga of Miramax's Gangs of New York just got a little more confusing. Liam Neeson, scheduled to play Leonardo DiCaprio's father in the epic gangster drama, is now recovering from a broken pelvis and other serious ailments that resulted from a motorcycle crash last weekend. Neeson is in New York's Lenox Hill Hospital, licking his wounds. (Or maybe wife Natasha Richardson is licking them, I don't know.) This is what we call a big problem. This week, Miramax honcho Harvey Weinstein and director Martin Scorsese are in Italy scouting locations for Gangs. The other stars, Daniel Day Lewis and Cameron Diaz, are all set. But Miramax had successfully wooed Neeson to replace Robert De Niro as Leo's dad. De Niro begged off based on family issues — his contentious divorce from his current wife, Grace Hightower, included a custody battle over their 2-year-old son, Elliott. So De Niro decided to stay in the U.S. and avoid trouble. Even so, Miramax sources told me as recently as three weeks ago that they were hoping De Niro would take some role in the film. Now that may be a possibility. If Neeson is unable to travel to Rome in four weeks when shooting starts up, De Niro may be called in as his sub.
###

Fox.com:
7/14/00
Catwalk Cuties

Gisele Bundchen, the South American bombshell who, according to gossip reports, is sharing a house in the Hamptons with Titanic star Leonard DiCaprio, was a Model Look discovery in 1994.

Full story
###

SF Gate:
7/14/00
Wax Figures Move Into A New Home

Reopened museum puts icons in a more flattering light The fancy new Wax Museum has a fine replica of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio standing on the bow of the Titanic, just like in the movie. But at Fisherman's Wharf, the ship is beneath the sea -- and there isn't an iceberg in sight. That's because the entire museum, which officially reopens today, stands 9 feet below bay level. About 15 feet of bay mud and water were excavated to build the new 100,000-square-foot, $18 million building that houses the expanded Wax Museum, the e-commerce company BlueLight .com, the huge Rainforest Cafe and other retail spaces. Designed by the Alameda firm MBH Architects, the imposing four-story structure is a major addition to the tourist-rich Wharf. It replaces the ramshackle old wax museum, a century-old grain warehouse razed in 1998. The new building is clad in sand-colored brick, with twin towers capped by gray zinc domes. It's adorned with faux-iron metalwork, the playful maritime imagery of which, such as the crab-leg and kelp forms that appear in fixtures and railings, adds a Jules Verne touch. The design draws on French Victorian public architecture -- Wax Museum president Ron Fong fell in love with the Gustave Eiffel-designed train station he saw in Santiago, Chile -- and the look of San Francisco's arched pier buildings. Most of the 280 wax figures on display were in residence at the old museum. They include familiar characters such as Fidel Castro, Frankenstein, Jesus, Gandhi, Bette Davis, Bogie, Jezebel, Muhammad Ali and Vincent Van Gogh (with half a wax ear lopped off). They have never looked so good, thanks to the elaborate new tableaux in -- which they've been placed. The Fong family, which owns the building, spent about $2 million on all-new sets, murals, music and sound effects to create a more dramatic experience. ``We have bigger and more epic sets that encompass your whole environment,'' says Wax Museum vice president Rodney Fong, son of Ron and grandson of Thomas Fong, who founded the museum in 1963. ``Before, we didn't have that. You looked at these picture windows. Now, you're kind of walking into the pictures rather than just looking at them.'' After 38 years, he adds, some of the figures ``were packed in like sardines. We had John Major standing near Hitler, and it just didn't match. Now they're better categorized. Major is with world leaders and Hitler's with dictators.''
###

E! Online:
7/14/00
Cameron Cashing In?

Is Cameron Diaz the next Julia Roberts? Diaz, who just wrapped shooting Charlie's Angels with Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, is in final negotiations to star in Columbia Pictures' The Untitled Nancy Pimental Project. If she signs on, she'll reportedly receive a whopping $15 million for her efforts, sources close to the actress say. If the young actress, whose cachet went supernova after There's Something About Mary, nabs the whopper of a check, it will not only be her biggest paycheck thus far, but will also put her on the road to the coveted $20 million paycheck Roberts recently achieved for Erin Brockovich--the first woman to do so. Diaz would join a short list that also includes Meg Ryan and Jodie Foster of women who can command such big bucks in testosterone-dominated Tinseltown. Neither Diaz's reps nor studio reps would comment on financial matters. If Diaz agrees to take the money and run with the offbeat comedy, she would begin shooting next March for director Roger Kumble (Cruel Intentions) and producer Cathy Konrad (Girl, Interrupted). It's a busy schedule for Diaz, who starts shooting Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York in Rome next month with Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson. (That's if Neeson has recovered from his broken pelvis in time to join in on the $90 million-budgeted film.) The Untitled Nancy Pimental Project, which will definitely get a snazzier name before it's released, was first purchased as a spec project for $1 million from South Park staff writer Nancy Pimental last year. The film is said to be a bawdy tale about a girl who teaches herself the ins and outs of capturing a man's heart during her search for Mr. Right. Diaz also stars in the upcoming Showtime feature Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her and Fine Line Features' Invisible Circus.
###

Arkansas Democrat Gazette:
7/14/00
Big Ear gets the boot

The Big Ear wonders what future there is in being a body part. He vaguely remembers an old comic book hero called the Flaming Orb or some-such, who turned himself into a big eye on fire. The comic strip L'il Abner had a character that was nothing but a big arm that buzzed around with a beany propeller. Now, there is the nose spray that advertises itself with a big nose. Except for big heads, though -- Leonardo DiCaprio's and others -- nobody ever got to be a media star without a body, did they? The Big Ear is listening.

Full story
###

Hollywood Reporter:
7/13/00
Record $15 mil for Diaz in Col Pimental film

Cameron Diaz is in final negotiations to star in Columbia Pictures' offbeat romantic comedy "The Untitled Nancy Pimental Project" for what sources said is around $15 million. The deal marks the biggest payday to date for the actress, who next stars in the studio's "Charlie's Angels." The project is slated to go before cameras in March for director Roger Kumble ("Cruel Intentions") and producer Cathy Konrad ("Girl, Interrupted"). Diaz will segue into the project in March after she wraps Martin Scorsese's $90 million-budgeted "Gangs of New York," scheduled go into production next month in Rome with Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson also starring. Diaz recently wrapped "Charlie's Angels." "Untitled Nancy Pimental" was originally purchased as a spec for $1 million from "South Park" staff writer Nancy Pimental last year (HR 7/29). The story, a somewhat bawdy take on the traditional genre, is about a girl who finds that she is forced to educate herself on the etiquette of wooing the opposite sex when she finally meets Mr. Right. The studio's senior vp Ricky Strauss would oversee the production. Diaz, who is repped by ICM and Artists Management Group, next stars in the Showtime feature "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her" and Fine Line Features' "Invisible Circus." Columbia reps declined comment on "Pimental."
###

TNT Rough Cut:
7/13/00
OUCH!

Liam Neeson's pelvis may be causing a lot of problems for two major productions in the next few months. No, Liam's pelvis is not being censored at a David Letterman taping at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. It's broken. Big Liam hit a big deer with his big motorcycle, fall down, go boom. The deer ran off, but died of the injuries a little later. Liam's pelvis was broken. No word on the status of the cycle. But Martin Scorsese and George Lucas both look to be at a bit of a loss when shooting their movies, Gangs of New York and Star Wars: Episode 2, with a gimpy hipped Neeson. Of course, Lucas may just take the opportunity to shoot Neeson in a green screen hospital bed and CG his hip in later. Scorsese just set the deal for Neeson to play Leo DiCaprio's father in his picture, but I'm guessing the "act of God" clause just went into effect. I guess this is why casting directors in big name movies get paid so well.
###

Mr. Showbiz:
7/13/00
Liam Neeson Hurt in Crash

Academy Award-nominated actor Liam Neeson broke his pelvis and suffered numerous cuts after hitting a deer while riding a motorcycle near his home in upstate New York, police said today. According to the Dutchess County Sheriff's Department, Neeson, 48, was zipping along on his 1989 Harley Davidson motorcycle Tuesday afternoon when he struck the deer. Thankfully, Neeson was wearing a helmet and was thrown off the motorcycle just before it smashed into a nearby tree, the Associated Press reports. The actor suffered a fractured right pelvis, a chipped left pelvis, and sustained multiple abrasions to his legs, police said. After a passing motorist found Neeson crawling along the roadside, he was taken to Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Conn., and later transferred to Lenox Hill hospital in New York City. Neeson's publicist said the Northern Ireland-born actor is in good condition and resting comfortably. "We're expecting a quick recovery," Alan Nierob stated. Let's hope it is. Neeson just accepted a plum role as Leonardo DiCaprio's father in Martin Scorsese's long-awaited, epic Gangs of New York. Filming is due to start in Rome Aug. 30. Neeson starred in last year's blockbuster film Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace and was nominated for an Oscar for best actor for his role in Schindler's List in 1993. He owns a home in Washington, N.Y., with his wife of six years, actress Natasha Richardson. In addition to being a motorcycle enthusiast, he's an avid fisherman.
###

London Evening Standard:
7/13/00
Go on, let your hair down

Over the past couple of months, thanks to Downing Street summits on body image, the news that park attendants are turning a blind eye to topless sunbathers (should it ever warm up enough for them to take off their survival blankets) and the prurient interest aroused by Kathleen Turner's disrobing in The Graduate, it's been demonstrated beyond doubt that bodies are the big issue. Bosoms, bottoms, slim hips, long legs, these are the obsessions of the moment and success, not just with the opposite sex - but in life, in drama, in tennis - hinges on the possession of a toned, honey-coloured set of assets. Or does it? Let's take a quick inventory of the women who have dominated the headlines in recent weeks: Anna Kournikova, whose particular charms prompted the Wimbledon authorities to warn ballboys not to get mesmerised by her legs during play. Gisele Bundchen, the Brazilian model, never long out of the picture, being the world's favourite cover girl but now featuring on the gossip pages too, on account of her rumoured relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio. Liz Hurley, likewise golden photo opportunity, especially looking post break-up fresh and fabulous on her doorstep, or in a courtside mixed doubles grouping with Kournikova and their respective partners. Full story
###

S.F. Gate:
7/13/00
Evil Has an Accent

The English are also tapped to play evil Americans. Apparently no American was quite psycho enough to star in ``American Psycho,'' so Christian Bale was recruited. He also played the most repellent character in ``Shaft.'' Earlier this year, there was ``Up in the Villa,'' with Kristin Scott Thomas surrounded by a lot of stuffed shirts -- and Sean Penn, as the American good guy. And don't forget ``The Beach'': Leonardo DiCaprio was a nice American with a nice French girlfriend (Virginie Ledoyen), and Tilda Swinton played the power-mad village chief. Full story
###

NY Observer:
7/12/00
The Perfect Swarm: A Hamptons Weekend

...what are the Hamptons like in the Summer of '00? On the weekend following the Fourth of July-a weekend when there was no particular reason to be there, except to be there-The Observer sent four reporters out to hang out on Long Island's East End and to ask the people they encountered what they really thought...

Andrew Sasson leaned against the host stand outside of Jet East, the nightclub he owns, and dealt with a crisis that had just erupted at the rope line. A large pack of men stood about 15 feet away behind the rope waiting for the honor of getting a table on the dance floor of the club, which looks like a dilapidated clam shack set down in a dusty parking lot. Recently, the town of Southampton took Mr. Sasson to State Supreme Court for nuisance issues, Mr. Sasson agreed to move the entrance of the club to the back, build a six-foot-tall fence around property line, and construct a sound-deadening wall around three sides of the old club. Mr. Sasson, who is 30, British, and was dressed in a black Hugo Boss suit and metallic grey shirt, looked over at the guys and shook his head. The doorman at the velvet rope approached him. Whispering into Mr. Sasson's ear, he explained one of the guys who was trying to get in was the cousin of a regular. "He's got all these guys and two ladies ... " "No," Mr. Sasson said, not letting the doorman finish. "He wants to buy a table," the doorman continued. "Want to hit him for three bottles?" The doorman was referring to the practice of making club patrons who are seated buy bottles of liquor at inflated prices. A $20.00 liter bottle of Absolut vodka goes for $295.00. Penny pinchers can settle on a $10.00 Robert Mondavi Chardonnay for $150.00. "Don't take 'em," Mr. Sasson said, even though several tables in his club were still empty, and one of his best tables in the house was occupied by three sweaty men in their fifties who had been joined by three young women whom one Jet East cocktail waitress had identified with certainty as prostitutes. The doorman explained that the hostess had already agreed to seat the party of men and the two women who were waiting behind the rope. "She decided that?" Mr. Sasson said. "She decided that? Than why did you come and ask me?" The doorman-who was twice Mr. Sasson's size-stumbled over his words. "The communication could have been much better," he said. "Stick them on the upper deck," Mr. Sasson said, of the group that was about to spend in the neighborhood of $1,000 dollars in his club. As the men bounced past him like they were about to go on Space Mountain, Mr. Sasson gnashed his teeth. "She should have never accepted that many gentlemen," he said. "Once you are gone, I will give her a tongue lashing." Mr. Sasson went on about how to create a perfect room, how getting the power elite, the Keith Barishes and Ronald Perelmans into his club was just as important as bringing in the Leonardo DiCaprios and Martha Stewarts-who, by the way, had been to Jet East, and was, by Mr. Sasson's estimation, "perfect." Just then, one of Mr. Sasson's regular clients, a round-faced man, breezed past the rope. As he passed the host stand, Mr. Sasson grabbed his hand. "Ah, the good doctor!" Mr. Sasson said." How's the dental practice?" The man lit up. "Always thrillin', drillin' and billin'," he said. Full story

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
7/12/00
Bucks' Allen answers casting call

The fix is in for Milwaukee Bucks guard Ray Allen. Allen has been cast in a film titled "Harvard Man," which is a story about a college basketball player who conspires with organized crime to fix a big game. The movie is to be directed by James Toback, who also wrote the screenplay. Toback, a 1966 Harvard graduate, has been trying to get the project produced for years. Allen, who co-starred in Spike Lee's 1998 film, "He Got Game," joins a cast that includes Eric Stoltz, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Joey Lauren Adams. The initial word about Allen being cast in the movie does not make clear what part he will be playing nor the scope of his role. Like Lee's movie, Toback's "Harvard Man" won't be running on the Disney Channel any time this century. No one at McDonald's restaurants will be building a marketing campaign around this one. Like "He Got Game," the themes of "Harvard Man" are all grown up. The main character in "Harvard Man" is a drug addicted student-athlete who throws a game. (Take away the drug addiction part and you have the makings of "Northwestern Man," but that's a cheap-shot aside that absolutely has no place in this column.) "The main character's involved in a deep sexual relationship with his philosophy professor and also with a Boston College cheerleader, who is the daughter of a mobster he owes money," Toback told Harvard magazine. According to the magazine, Toback tried to convince a studio to cast Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead in "Harvard Man," but that was before "Titanic." Toback said the studio did not think DiCaprio was marketable. Other studios wouldn't touch the movie because it was "obsessive, quirky, and drug-addled," according to the magazine. Many of Toback's films, including his most recent one, "Black and White," have sports figures in the cast. Jim Brown, Darryl Dawkins, Mike Tyson and Allan Houston have been cast in Toback's movies, often in parts in which they play themselves.
###

The London Evening Standard:
7/11/00
Costes effective revolution

The significance of the Costes cannot be underestimated: in four years, since the opening of their Hotel Costes, complete with its own clubby soundtrack mixed by DJ Pompougnac, on rue St-Honoré, their name has acquired the international prestige of a new Ritz; now-voyagers (ie, DiCaprio, Depp) make sure they're seen here. And the Costification of the restaurant scene is as welcome as it is inevitable. "They are the only ones in Paris who make restaurants glamorous," says Paris socialite Hermine Clermont-Tonnerre. "It's bistro food without all the tra-la-la of the grand chefs." Full story
###

DVD Review:
7/10/00
DVD Beach review by Review by Guido Henkel

DVD Shrine:
7/10/00
DVD Beach Review

US Weekly:
7/8/00
League of their own

Basketball season is over, but Leonardo DiCaprio has found another reason to wear his Lakers jersey: the NBA Entertainment League. The so-called league is actually a revolving pickup game in which Leo shoots hoops with Tobey Maguire, Freddie Prinze Jr., Will Smith and Mark Wahlberg, among others. But not just any movie star can show up and play -- games are held at undisclosed locations and invitation is by word of mouth. Rumor has it some games have actually been played on the Lakers' home court at the Staples Center.
###

Salt Lake Tribune:
7/7/00
Mother, Daughter Antique Dealers Who Supplied Vintage Clothes for 'Titanic' Killed

Mother and daughter antiques dealers who supplied vintage clothes for movies such as "Titanic" were found slain at their homes. The daughter's ex-husband was arrested for the murders. Susan Varner, 50, was found dead in the kitchen of her Cumberland County home around 7 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after her mother, Suzanne Arena, was found slain in her home in neighboring Prince Edward County. Reginald Varner, 53, was arrested after a police officer stopped him for speeding and saw blood and a weapon in the car, police said Thursday. Police gave few details of the slayings, but did say Susan Varner apparently had been struck with a blunt instrument. Reginald Varner was being held without bond, and a hearing is set for Monday. The victims owned Suzi's Antiques in this south-central Virginia town, which supplied vintage clothing for movies and television movies with historical themes. They did extensive work for "Titanic," which won an Academy Award for best costumes. Among the many items they provided were the black beaded dress that Kate Winslet wore when she threatened to jump off the stern of the ship early in the movie and the jacket that Leonardo DiCaprio threw to the deck as he rushed to save her. "When I saw the movie -- I'm so jaded, because I'm so overworked -- it was like my heart skipped a beat, I could not believe how beautiful they were," Susan Varner said in 1998. "We were just stunned." The women spent about half their time traveling around the country in a van buying clothes.
###

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
7/7/00
Gang flick may be scene of turf war

He says, Scorsese: The New York Daily News reports possible creative differences between Martin Scorsese, who is directing Gangs of New York, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who is starring in it. An unnamed "insider" says Leo got crosswise with Marty by making too many suggestions, noting, "Marty is used to actors genuflecting before him." However, a representative for "Marty" insists, "Marty wants an actor to participate." And DiCaprio's representative similarly notes: "Leonardo has long dreamed of working with Martin Scorsese. He's very committed to his vision." Eye, eye. Father of the year? Sylvester Stallone has built a sprawling playground in back of his Beverly Hills home for daughters Sophia, 3, and Sistine, 2. The private park has every kind of swing you can imagine, a teeter-totter, a carousel and a ride that carries the kids from one end of the yard to the other. Friends who remember Stallone as an international womanizer are stunned by his conversion to superdad. Nevertheless, he's drawing the line at letting his girls have llamas. His mother, Jacqueline, donated a couple to his old Miami estate, but he banished them to a children's hospital after they made a dinner of some rare trees. Meanwhile, Stallone presses on with the renovation of his current spread. A friend tells us that he's on the third version of his screening room, having scrapped two designs. He has also installed a kitchen worthy of Wolfgang Puck, even though he and his wife of three years, Jennifer Flavin, have a caterer deliver most of their meals. "They defrost everything," says a pal. "The only one eating fresh lettuce is the kids' bunny, Lucy." Unless, of course, he's nibbling something on the Sly. Short takes: US Weekly reports that Samuel L. Jackson is on his way to Australia to start work on Star Wars: Episode II. "According to [director] George [Lucas], it sounds like I'm going to get to turn my light saber on," Jackson says. Lucas only notes that Jackson has "a great fight in the next one. I won't tell with who. Somebody good." May the Force be with him. And from the same source, Jim Carrey has reportedly agreed to star in a drama called Phone Booth, playing a man who answers a ringing pay phone on a Manhattan street and is told he'll be shot if he hangs up. Joel Schumacher directs; no word on who's on the other end of the phone.
###

The Hollywood Reporter:
7/6/00
Neeson joining Scorsese 'Gang' as DiCaprio dad

Liam Neeson is in final talks to star in Martin Scorsese's $100 million period crime movie "Gangs of New York," starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, he said at the Taormina Film Festival. "I am pretty sure I will be in 'Gangs' as the character who plays Leonardo DiCaprio's father," said Neeson, who is among the fest's guests of honor. The costume gang picture, produced by Disney, is expected to start shooting in Rome's Cinecitta Studios next month. Oscar-winning Italian costume designer Dante Ferretti, who worked with Scorsese on the Disney-produced "Kundun," is busy reconstructing the New York of the 1800s. Neeson said that if negotiations are finalized, he will be at Cinecitta by the fall.
###

Variety:
7/6/00
September trial date set for celebrity fund manager

A federal judge Wednesday set a Sept. 6 trial date in the government's criminal case against celebrity fund manager Dana Giacchetto, who is charged with stealing $9 million from his rock and movie star clients. U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson, who will preside over the trial, set the date during a hearing in Manhattan federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lewis said he expects the government's side of the case will last about six weeks because of the amount of testimony from victims. Giacchetto's defense lawyer Ronald Fischetti told reporters after the hearing that his client was not in settlement talks with the government and instead will probably testify on his own behalf during the trial. "My client is not interested in pleading," Fischetti said. Giacchetto, 37, the president of Cassandra Group, once represented such top names as super agent Michael Ovitz, actors Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Cameron Diaz, and the rock group Phish. Giacchetto was indicted for looting some $9 million from client accounts to pay for everything from loft space in New York's trendy Soho district for Cassandra's operations to his own personal expenses for travel, dining and entertainment. The fund manager had originally been released on a $1 million personal recognizance bond that was secured by his parents' $500,000 home in Massachusetts. However the bond was revoked when he was arrested for violating bail terms that restricted his travel. He was nabbed in Newark, New Jersey, with $44,000 worth of airline tickets to Tokyo, Singapore, Frankfurt and Rome plus an expired passport that had been altered to appear valid. Fischetti said he plans to submit another bail proposal to Patterson next week.
###

U-Wire:
7/6/00
Carmen Electra sizzles in 'Scary' parody

The teen-slasher genre comes full-circle with the soon-to-be-released "Scary Movie," a parody of "Scream" and several other popular slasher-flicks of the late '90s, many of which were rip-offs/homages/parodies of the slasher flicks of the'80s. Confused? Adding to the fun is the fact that "Scary Movie" was the original title of "Scream," the film which kick-started the renewed interest in hip-horror films with its 1996 release. None of this seems to faze "Scary Movie" co-star Carmen Electra, who feels as if she was destined to participate in the film. "When I got the script, I just kind of knew that this role was for me, just because of the way that it was written and some of the humor in it. I thought I would be sort of the perfect person to throw into the part ... and when I got the part I was just really excited," Electra said. "It was just a pleasure to do - so much fun to work on. A lot of cool special effects too." As a long time fan of the Wayans brothers and their work, Electra had no trouble hitting it off on the set with the film's director, Keenen Ivory Wayans. "I love comedy, I just think if you can work on a scene and laugh and have a good time, it's the best, it's the best way to work, and working with Keenen we were laughing the whole time. The movie's so funny. It's sexy, it's funny, it's scary, it's a great combination and I think it's going to be a great summer movie." As is the case with most horror films, the plot is being kept under wraps and those involved are forbidden from dishing out specifics on the story. And although Electra was unable to divulge her exact character, she did mention that she appears in the movie's opening scene, something which doesn't bode well for her being around come climax time. Along with her acting duties on the big screen, Electra has kept busy working on a television pilot slated to be paired up with "V.I.P." sometime in the near future. "I just got a new television series with Sony, the name of the series is 'Electra's Guy,' so I'm excited," Electra said. According to Electra, the show contains "a lot of action, a lot of bombs going off, a lot of fighting, and a little bit of comedy." When asked to cite her sources for inspiration, Electra mentioned The Artist and old movie stars. "I loved the fact that they sing and dance and act. I think that's cool," Electra said, and added that she's interested in appearing in a musical sometime down the road. In the future, Electra would also like to share the screen Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt because "they're extremely hot guys, I think every female actress would love to work with either of them." But until that day comes, she'll have to stay satisfied with scaring audiences across the country. And in case you're keeping score at home or just to save you the phone call, Carmen's favorite scary movie is "The Exorcist."
###

NY Daily News:
7/5/00
Web-cast from Synergy House

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen won't be letting Web-heads peek at them at play. Widespread reports have it that DiCaprio has agreed to join other celebs in a Web-cast from Synergy House in the Hamptons. DiCaprio's rep tells us he has no plans to take a house there, much less join Bundchen on the Net
###

NY Post:
7/5/00
THE ADONIS COMPLEX

IRONICALLY, a muscled torso is not what women say they're looking for in a man. "Most men surveyed about their image of an ideal body image added about 28 pounds of muscle to the average build," says Pope. "But women actually don't want a particularly muscular male. They prefer a physique that's much closer to the regular guy." That might help explain why Leonardo DiCaprio and Hugh Grant are romantic ideals for women, and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone have the pumped-up action-hero bodies that men desire.

Full story
###

Irish Times:
7/5/00
The Beauty and the Billionaire

The Oscar-nominated actress Terry Moore, who was married to Howard Hughes from 1949 to 1956 and wrote the 1984 book The Beauty and the Billionaire about their relationship, is working on a script about the reclusive tycoon. Moore, an Oscar nominee for Come Back Little Sheba in 1952, claims she is frantically fending off calls from Hollywood stars wanting to play him. George Clooney, John Cusack, Nicolas Cage and John Travolta are among the actors who have expressed interest in playing Hughes, she says, adding that Travolta even bought Hughes's old plane, while Cage told her he has been taking flying lessons. Film-makers who have considered bringing the Howard Hughes story to the screen include Michael Mann, who has been working on a project with Leonardo DiCaprio, and Warren Beatty.

Full Story
###

NY Post:
7/5/00
WAHLBERG: STORMY PAST TO PERFECT FORM

During the course of a checkered career, Wahlberg has risen from Boston street thug to controversial rapper, to underwear model, finally landing among the ranks of Hollywood's most critically praised actors. "I thought if I did the real work, I could become a respected actor - that's all I wanted to accomplish," says Wahlberg, who followed up a breakthrough performance opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in 1995's "The Basketball Diaries" with "Boogie Nights" and "Three Kings," which also starred Clooney.

Full story
###

Sydney Morning Herald:
7/5/00
Is tennis any the better for Anna?

While Kournikova is essentially a tennis player, she has a star quality that is only tangentially related to talent. This can happen in any profession and is bound to be galling to serious practitioners. I remember going to the opening of the movie The Man in the Iron Mask, which was attended by several distinguished members of the cast such as John Malkovich and Gabriel Byrne. Plus Leonardo DiCaprio. The film was interrupted by hysterical shrieks from the audience whenever DiCaprio crossed the screen. He was by no means the best actor, but he had youth and charisma which, short-term, counts for more. The only compensation for those who take a pride in their trade is that it blows over. DiCaprio, like Kournikova, is a phenomenon rather than a talent.

Full story
### ###

AFP:
7/5/00
Battle over DiCaprio's "Beach" heats up

The battle between 20th Century Fox and Thai environmentalists who accuse it of wrecking the idyllic island where the movie "The Beach" was filmed has erupted again in court, reports said today. The agreement that gave the company the right to alter Phi Phi island and use it as a set for the Leonardo DiCaprio film was illegal, a law expert told a court hearing yesterday, the Nation daily said. "The agreement between (Thailand's) Royal Forestry Department and 20th Century Fox to make sweeping changes" to the beach where the film was shot "was illegal," former law school dean Panom Eiamprayoon said. "The agreement violated the 1961 National Park Act because the department's director-general allowed Fox to alter the landscape," said Panom, the first expert witness to state that Fox and the Thai department broke the law. The hearing was called after Somsak Kittithorrakul, administration chief in the southern province of Krabi where "The Beach" was filmed, sued the film company, Thailand's agriculture minister and the Royal Forestry Department. Somsak and other environmentalists claim Fox was given the go-ahead to film without the necessary environmental and social impact studies being carried out. They said the studio ruined the island's fragile ecosystem with alterations designed to paint Maya beach, a strip of sand on Phi Phi island, as their idea of a paradise island. Vegetation that held the dunes together was removed and coconut palms planted instead, causing severe erosion, they said. The plaintiffs have sought compensation of about 100 million baht ($A4.4 million) in the ongoing trial. Maya beach was closed on April 1 for restoration, which local authorities say proves the area was damaged during filming, Fox has said foreign academics were brought in to ensure the beach's environment was restored to its natural state and argued it looked better now than before. DiCaprio has repeatedly defended the use of the Thai island. The "Titanic" star has also insisted producers improved Maya beach and said the movie would boost tourism. The star said 20th Century Fox took "meticulous" care to safeguard the island's natural heritage and had cleared tonnes of garbage off the beach. Ironically, "The Beach," based on the cult novel by Alex Garland, rails against the destructive environmental and social impact of heavy tourism. It tells the story of a traveller whose infatuation with Thailand leads him to a remote island inhabited by a community of displaced Westerners. Released worldwide earlier this year, "The Beach" has grossed over $US100 million ($A168 million) in global receipts.