It's a very Kate Winslet week on home video. We've already told you about HBO's Mildred Pierce, but she's also got Steven Soderbergh's star-studded medical disaster flick, Contagion available on dvd, blu-ray and two disc combo pack starting today, January 3. We talked about it extensively prior to its theatrical release, but in case you missed it, Contagion is an action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease, apparently being spread by birds (don't we have an actual 'bird-flu'? Is this a more virulent strain? Can I get vaccinated for this? OMG, I'm already paranoid!) and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak. It stars Winslet, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard and Laurence Fishburne.  Fun stuff! You'll want to douse yourself in Purell and live in a bubble by the end of it!

Special Features include

 - Contagion: How A Virus Changes The World

- The Reality of Contagion

- The Contagion Detectives

This is actually a pretty good week if you've a mind to watch movies in the comfort of your home. Puncture, which we've talked about recently, starring Chris Evans, is out today as well. Puncture is a legal drama about a drug-addicted lawyer who takes on a health supply corporation while battling his own personal demons. It costars Michael Biehn, Brett Cullen, Vinessa Shaw, one of the directors, Mark Kassan and Jesse L. Martin.

The complete list of this week's releases:

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (Katie Holmes, Rated R)

The Guard ( Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong Rated R) I HIGHLY recommend this one (expect to see it on my Year End Favorites LIst) You probably missed it at the theater in its very limited release. It's a black comedy about the worst policeman in Ireland, played by Gleason, who teams up with an American FBI agent (Cheadle) to thwart some drug smugglers played by Strong, Liam Cunningham and David Wilmot. 

The Greening of Whitney Brown (Brooke Shields, Rated PG)

Chateau Meroux (Barry Watson, Rated PG-13)

Removal (Billy Burke, Rated R)

Scarlett Johansson stole the spotlight at the Iron Man 2 premiere in Los Angeles last night looking quite glamorous in a beautiful white dress and silver shoes.  She could have given Gwyneth Paltrow some fashion pointers. Shorts seem to be the latest thing to walk the red carpet in, which is fine as they probably cost a ton but I think the footwear Gwynny chose to go with the outfit do not work.  What do you think?

Mickey Rourke’s girlfriend Anastassija Makarenko looks stunning.  LOVE her shoes. The rest of the cast:  Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell also attended as did Jennifer Grey, Adrien Brody, Olivia Munn, Samuel L. Jackson and others.

Mickey Rourke talked about preparation for his role in the movie included spending time in Russia’s Butyrka prison:

“I saw a lot there at the prison – and I got a lot more. I talked to a guy at Russia, in my hotel, who had just gotten out two weeks earlier – we spent a couple of hours together, and in those two hours he took his clothes off and showed me all the crazy tattoos he had.”

Okie dokie.

Pictures after the break

(more…)

Brooklyn’s Finest premiered at the AMC Lincoln Square Theatre in New York last night where the stars of the movie attended:  Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Wesley Snipes.  Now that’s a stellar cast!  The movie is about:

Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths

Besides actors, some housewives, hosts and rappers attended the premiere:

• Bethenny Frankel
• Kelly Bensimon
• Ja Rule
• Cedric
• Richard Belzer
• Sherri Shepherd
• Star Jones
• Ludacris

This action movie hits theatres March 5.

Pictures after the break

(more…)

I wish there was a better picture with both of them looking at the camera, but clearly Ben Affleck is bent on whispering in his boo’s ear instead. 

BFF’s Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite for the 3^rd Annual Ante Up For Africa No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournament  that began yesterday afternoon in Las Vegas.  It’s nice to see these two together again and I’m going to point out the obvious, and what I know you’re thinking:  Matt Damon is looking mighty hot, yes?

The annual event was hosted by poker star Annie Duke and actor Don Cheadle at the Rio Hotel in Vegas.  The event will be aired August 11, 2009, 8-10 pm E.T. on ESPN.  All players are being asked to donate half of their winnings to Enough and Refugees International.  These organizations are helping the citizens of Darfur and Sudan as they enter their 6^th year of dire crisis.  The Ante Up for Africa site can be accessed here

Other celebrities helping the cause:

• Charles Barkley
• Cedric
• Mike Tyson
• Sarah Silverman
• Dean Cain
• Nelly
• Jennifer Tilly
• Brad Garrett
• Human Nature

Lots of pics after the break

(more…)

Poker is big business nowadays and the celebs are only to happy to get in on the action!   Celebs attended  The 7th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational held at Commerce Casino – Inside Los Angeles yesterday with a who’s who of celebs:

• Don Cheadle
• Jennifer Tilly
• Marlon Wayans
• Kristy Swanson
• Shannon Elizabeth
• Derek Hough
• Tia Carrere
• Daniel Baldwin
• Ray Romano
• Billy Burke
• Nicky Hilton
• Benji Madden
• Jimmy Van Patten
• Mekhi Phifer
• Jonathan Schaech
• Roger R. Cross
• Lloyd Eisler
• Mimi Rogers
• Lou Diamond Phillips
• Danny Masterson
• Jon Hamm
• Ricki Lake
• Camryn Manheim
• Carlos Bernard
• Brad Garrett
• Shanna Moakler
• Victoria Pratt
• Katie Gill
• Sara Rue

Lots of pics after the break

(more…)

Heather Graham looks gorgeous at the BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards in Los Angeles.  The ladies were dressed to kill at this event.  Julia Kurbatova looks beautiful.  Also in attendance:

• Tilda Swinton
• Angelica Houson
• Gavin Rossdale
• Don Cheadle
• Sean Penn

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Photos:  WENN