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Few films embody the term "lightning in a bottle" quite like Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Eleven." This remake of the famous Rat Pack flick of the same name was a surprising pick for Soderbergh's follow up to his blockbuster 2000. Having broken onto the scene with the Palme d'Or winning "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" in 1989, Soderbergh worked his way through the studio system making a series of film's that struggled to recapture the heat of his debut picture.

That all changed in 2000, when Soderbergh didn't just blow up the box office not just once, but twice. First, with the Julia Roberts vehicle "Erin Brockovich," telling the true underdog story of a paralegal with a push up bra taking on the powerful California gas company Pg&e, followed shortly thereafter with "Traffic," a three-pronged story about the illegal drug trade in the United States.

Both films grossed over $250 million worldwide. "Erin Brockovich...

a two part piece on Short Cuts (1993) to relaunch our Robert Altman tribute

by Eric Blume

It’s a joy to rewatch Robert Altman’s 1993 masterpiece Short Cuts over thirty years later. I hadn’t seen the film since seeing it in theaters, back in the sweet days where Fine Line Features was the “arthouse” division of New Line Features, a mini-studio from which so many fine films sprung.

Upon revisit, it’s easy to see how this film is a perfect illustration of Lightning in a Bottle. Among its incredible cast of actors are future Oscar winners, past and future nominees, plus some other terrific actors who are always rapturous to watch. And then pepper in Tom Waits and Huey Lewis! The talent in this movie is off-the-charts and each actor feels individually inspired. I’m not sure what Altman did to get them so invested in their small,...

When people decide to get into theatre, the audience is typically a major reason why they do it. For as personally gratifying it is to deliver a well-crafted monologue, belt out a brash 11 o'clock number, or nail a complicated tap dance routine, the reason all that work is worthwhile is getting an audience to applaud, to laugh, to cry, to gasp, or whatever you are performing is hoping to elicit from the people in the house. This is particularly true in musical theatre, where shows are literally designed to have designated moments for the audience to shower the performers in applause.

Anna Kendrick was a bona fide theatre kid, appearing on Broadway at the early age of 12 in a stage adaptation of the 1956 movie musical "High Society" (which in turn was a musical adaptation of the 1939 play "The Philadelphia Story"). She played the precocious younger sister to the show's leading...

Reel-Important People is a monthly column that highlights those individuals in or related to the movies that have left us in recent weeks. Below you'll find names big and small and from all areas of the industry, though each was significant to the movies in his or her own way. Gregg Allman (1947-2017) - Singer, Songwriter, Musician. As a founding member, singer, songwriter and keyboardist for The Allman Brothers Band, he can be heard on many soundtracks. He also acted in the movies Rush and Rush Week and appears in the documentaries Lightning in a Bottle and Muscle Shoals. A film about his life titled Midnight Rider after one of his most famous songs was canceled during production due to a deadly accident during filming...

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You may be surprised to hear Ashley Tisdale‘s never been to Coachella, especially considering her celeb Bff Vanessa Hudgens is such the festival’s unofficial queen. But that’s all changing this year, since the 31-year-old actress and singer plans on joining her best friend this year for the epic desert event.

“My girlfriends are a little bit more into more indie so the reason why I’ve never really gone to Coachella is because part of the time I really didn’t know who was playing there,” Tisdale told PeopleStyle. “This time I’m going because obviously, Beyoncé.

Happy birthday weekend, Adam Levine!

Behati Prinsloo wished her husband, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, a happy 38th birthday on Saturday with a series of adorable photos.

Exclusive: Adam Levine Looks Back on One of His Favorite Maroon 5 Hits: 'It Was Lightning In a Bottle'

"The love of my life. Happy birthday," the Victoria's Secret model captioned a silly black-and-white snap of the couple.

Prinsloo, 27, then followed up with two more birthday images of The Voice coach — one of him in midair during a sold-out concert and another of the "Sugar" rocker donning an endearing animal hat.

The happy couple welcomed their first child, Dusty Rose, back in September. Levine recently revealed that the couple is battling it out over the 6-month-old girl's first words.

Related: Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo Are in a 'Battle to the Finish' Over Daughter's First Words

"I've been working 'dada' hard. You work on it really hard and you...

Dufur, Oregon massive What The Festival has announced its 2016 lineup, and bass music fans from all over the Northwest ought to flock to the gathering in droves. For its fifth edition, the festival’s organizers have pulled out all the stops to put together an especially Lightning in a Bottle-esque roster of talent.

Names like Djemba Djemba, Bonobo, Gaslamp Killer and G Jones jump out from those listed on the announcement. To be sure, artists like Claude Vonstroke, JackLNDN and Claptone will still appeal to the house heads in attendance, with acts like Thievery Corporation and Hippy Sabotage falling somewhere in between.

The fifth edition of What The Festival will take place from June 17th-20th at Wolf Ranch in Dufur, Oregon. After taking a look over the artists on the lineup, let us know if you’ll consider working the gathering into your 2016 festival itinerary by making a...

If you’ve found yourself growing tired of what passes for a festival lineup in recent years, Lightning in a Bottle makes for a welcome departure from the live music event status quo. Between a carefully curated audiovisual experience and an unparalleled community aspect, the event is ideal for anyone looking to venture off the beaten path – and it just released the kind of lineup that proves it.

While artists like Mija, Cashmere Cat and Chet Faker stand out as the more recognizable ones on Lightning in a Bottle’s roster, the true appeal of the festival lies in its more obscure artists – like Polish Ambassador, Autograf or G Jones. For our money, though, The Woogie stage is where it’s at; DJ/producers like Guy Gerber, Lee Burridge and Josh Wink are more than qualified to fill the house and techno quota of any party.

Below is the full...

Reel-Important People is a monthly column that highlights those individuals in or related to the movies that have left us in recent weeks. Below you'll find names big and small and from all areas of the industry, though each was significant to the movies in his or her own way. John Bradbury (1953-2015) - Drummer. As a member of The Specials, he can be seen in the documentary Dance Craze and can be heard on many a movie soundtrack. He died on December 28. (BBC) Natalie Cole (1950-2015) - Singer. She can be seen performing on screen in De-Lovely and Lightning in a Bottle, and she provided the singing voice for one of the for Jasmine Guy's character, Sawyer, in Cat's Don't Dance (see/hear below). She died on December 31...

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Now in its second year, Wonderfruit Festival is boasting a mouthwatering lineup including legendary electronica troupe The Faint. Set against the backdrop of Pattaya, Thailand, this transformative festival has rapidly asserted itself as the premier lifestyle festival of Asia, seamlessly blending sustainability, music, arts, wellness, and more into one incredible event.

Phase 1 of the lineup already boasts The Faint, Desktop Error, Howie B, The Submotion Orchestra, Jon Hopkins X Chris Levine’s IY_Project, and many more. Be sure to check back with us for Phase 2 of the lineup, as it’s sure to drop soon.

Amongst its various workshops, speakers, performances, and adventures, Wonderfruit offers a plenitude of opportunities to get involved, from vending, jamming on an art car, and of course, volunteering. There are renown chefs and mixologists turning the farm fresh victuals into gourmet cuisine for a festival wide feast, and the organizers propagate the idea of...

The trailer for “Back to the Future” doc “Back in Time” has the film’s current-day cast, crew and famous fans reminiscing about the movie that defined their shared past — and a generation. For starters, star Michael J. Fox recalls a premiere event where Princess Diana was seated directly next to him: “I’m like a fake yawn and an arm-stretch away from being on a date with the princess of Wales,” he remembered. Steven Spielberg called it the best time-travel movie ever, opining: “Lightning in a bottle tends to stick around for a long time.” Later the executive produced...

After a tantalizing performance at Shambhala Music Festival, we had the chance to speak with the luminous Dream Rockwell, Creative Director of the Lucent Dossier Experience.

Loosely translated to mean “collection of light,” witnessing a performance by the Lucent Dossier Troupe is certainly an experience. The avant-garde display has gained international acclaim, and is as much a visual feast as aural bliss. The musical accompaniment has been produced by numerous artists over the years, including Nikita Sorokin, Metaphase, Kraddy, and more, all under the collective name, Lucent Dossier Experience.

Apart from surreal soundtracks, the aesthetically rich performance aims to bridge the gap between the artists and audience, utilizing dance, aerial performance, flow-arts, and interactive exhibits. But, above all, “Lucent Dossier hopes to be your guide into a fantastical realm where brilliance and insanity fuse together in an exotic kind of ecstatic bliss.”

Also a founding member of The Do Lab,...

Dan Fogler and friends will be embarking on an awesome road trip through California to promote his new film, Don Peyote.

Their road trip will make stops in numerous cities to screen the film, and to engage with fans via live Q&A’s following each screening!

Below is some more detailed information on each stop:

Fri 5/16 Los Angeles

10:00pm La opening at Arena Cinema, 1625 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood

Sun 5/18 Oakland

6:00pm screening at The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St., Oakland

Tue 5/20 Big Sur

8:00pm screening at Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Hwy 1, Big Sur

Wed 5/21 San Luis Obispo

7:00pm screening at Downtown Cinema, 888 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo

Thu 5/22 Santa Barbara

7:00pm screening at Camino Real Cinemas, 7040 Marketplace Dr., Goleta

Sat 5/24 Temecula

10:00pm Screening at Lightning in a Bottle Festival in Temecula

http://dandeentertainment.com/don-peyote-2/trippin-tour

Ticketing information for all dates (both the...

The Wicker Man (2006) "Some Sacrifices Must Be Made" Click the poster to watch the video. One of the worst remakes of all time becomes one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. This is one of those rare magical films that crosses the line from bad back into good because it is so unbelievably bad. Lightning in a bottle folks. Plot Synopsis: While recovering from a tragic accident on the road, the patrolman Edward Malus receives a letter fr…...

Showtime is getting into the high profile documentary business, possibly to compete with HBO's prolific and successful nonfiction division, and has announced a new series of works made by prominent filmmakers about prominent personalities. Up first is a doc about controversial rap mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight to be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is best known for narratives like "Training Day" but is no stranger to the nonfiction side of cinema. He helmed the popular 2004 blues concert film "Lightning in a Bottle" and produced the 2005 Los Angeles gangs history "Bastards of the Party." This new project should be…...

Vanilla Ice has joined the Adam Sandler/Andy Samberg movie I Hate You Dad. He plays an old friend of Adam Sandler’s character, who is Andy Samberg’s father. It’s reported on some sites that he’ll be playing a gay wedding planner.

The Parent’s Television Council is demanding that the FCC force Comcast to pledge that it “will not use the public airwaves to distribute pornographic material.” The demand stems from reports that their Playboy pilot has nudity clauses in the actor’s contracts, likely for the DVD version and international distribution. In no way has Comcast indicated the slightest intention to broadcast nudity.

Since the Bronx Zoo cobra is now a celebrity, the zoo has decided it needs an actual name. But they’re letting the public do the naming, so if you’ve got ideas, pitch them. We promise they don’t bite.

Hop...

What to expect from Adam Lambert's "If I Had You" music video has been revealed. The "For Your Entertainment" singer opened up that the Bryan Barber-directed clip will "get kind of psychedelic." The video was filmed at Griffith Park, Calif. on May 12 night and during the pre dawn hours on Thursday, May 13. "It's about the love that you have with your circle of people that you surround yourself with," he told MTV about its premise.

On the inspiration, he stated, "I was inspired by the parties that I've gone to in the past, like Burning Man and this other party called Lightning in a Bottle. There's a big kind of subculture in California and around the country of people who are designers and performance artists, just free spirits that like to come together and play dress-up and have a good time."

Adam claimed the clip will be a...

'I was inspired by the parties that I've gone to in the past, like Burning Man,' Lambert tells MTV News of the video.

Adam Lambert

Photo: MTV News

Adam Lambert has already dropped some hints about the over-the-top video for his latest single, "If I Had You." And when MTV News caught up with the singer backstage at Kiis-fm's annual Wango Tango festival in Los Angeles, the former "American Idol" contestant admitted that all he needed to shoot the clip were some old pals.

"The thing about the video [is] there is a love interest: It's all my friends," he explained. "It's about the love that you have with your circle of people that you surround yourself with.

"The 'If I Had You' video we shot in the woods at night," he continued. "I was inspired by the parties that I've gone to in the past, like Burning Man and...

Alex Gibney wrote, directed and produced the 2008 Oscar-winning documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side" and the 2006 Oscar-nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room." His other credits include “No End in Sight" (executive producer); "Mr. Untouchable" (producer), "Who Killed the Electric Car" (consulting producer); "The Trials of Henry Kissinger" (writer-producer); "Herbie Hancock: Possibilities" (producer); "Lightning in a Bottle" (producer); "Wim Wenders' Soul of a Man" (producer) and "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" (producer). His documentary "Casino Jack and the United States of Money," about lobbyist Jack Abramoff, opens May 7 in theaters. Gibney’s current slate of projects include a feature documentary about Lance Armstrong for Sony Pictures; a film about the rise and fall of Eliot Spitzer that played at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival; and “Magic Bus,” a time-travel immersion experience about Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters.

A while back FirstShowing.net posted this story about Jerry Bruckheimer acquiring the rights to a short story written by Wanted and 3:10 to Yuma scribe, Derek Haas. The story is titled Shake was one of many that Haas featured on his short story website PopcornFiction.com.

If you haven’t heard of PopcornFiction.com, it’s a website that Haas created so that he and other screenplay writers/writers could flex their genre short fiction muscles. As a subscriber to the site, I get updated each time a new story is published. I read Shake and actually emailed Haas to let him know how much I loved the story and that I hoped there would be a part two. Crafty devil that he is, he ended the story in a bit of a cliffhanger. The short story deals with an FBI agent who is on the hunt for a...