The arrival of two Hollywood heavyweights in our fair city has given the local media the perfect opportunity to do what they do best: namely, sneer at the lady while swooning over the gent. Renee Zellweger and George Clooney have been in town this week for the UK premier of the Clooney-directed film, Leatherheads. And the differing reactions to the pair from the ranks of Fleet Street's finest couldn't be more illustrative. Gushing journalists......

As befits a truly global capital, London has established itself as a hub in the important international trade of tourist-attracting human reproductions, importing Chinese warriors and exporting waxwork celebrities. While the first crowds were taking a gander at 20 members of the Emperor Ying’s terracotta court at the British Museum, 51 waxworks produced by Madame Tussauds arrived in Washington DC, naked and apparently ready to party. The likes of Beyonce, George Clooney, Tom Cruise......

This week: Syriana, Kidulthood, and The Matador. Plus a scoop of film news and two Trailers of the Week. We'd have figured after the advance attack of Good Night and Good Luck that George Clooney's other political stab, Syriana, would have been a shoo in for film of the week, but alas no. For Peter Bradshaw the film can't be taken seriously because of the bad guy Arab torturing the good guy American scene:......

George Clooney might be coming to the West End. We say 'might' because this story reads like proper showbiz news ("Oscar nominated star George Clooney is reportedly planning to stage a play in London's West End for his next big challenge," blah blah blah) until you actually read the quote from George himself: "I go to the theatre all the time when I am (in London) and I love it but the buzz now......

Watching Return of the Killer Tomatoes! back in the day it would have taken a brave person to point at the bepermed George Clooney and say "One day he'll be a major Hollywood player... " While we loved him in E.R. doing the buddy buddy thing with Mark, annoying the hell out of everyone else and occasionally punching crappy parents in the chops, he still didn't seem destined for greatness. Then Tarantino arrived, gave......

Good Night and Good Luck, George Clooney's stunning portrayal of journalist Ed Murrow banging heads with Senator Joseph McCarthy opens on Friday (we'll be reviewing it tomorrow - short version: give it all the damn Oscars) which is great timing as Murrow has just been given his own blue plaque. It is mentioned briefly in the movie that Murrow broadcast from London during the Blitz, but the more you read about this enigmatic figure......

George Clooney. Ladies love him. Men can only admire him. Actor, producer, director, heartthrob, clearly there is nothing this man cannot do. Too good to be true? Judging by his exploits last night, quite possibly. The Cloonster was out on the town last night (we're not sure where. Walthamstow Stadium? Probably not. Shepherds Bush? Maybe. Somehere flash in the West End? Almost definitely) and upon exiting his chosen venue he decided to hand all......

Just got back from the press launch of the 49th London Film Festival and it looks like there's even more on offer this year than ever. Amanda Nevill, the director of the British Film Institute (which last year alone screened an astonishing 3000+ films in the UK) kicked things off with a promise that she was "hell bent on bringing you one of the best festivals of world cinema" - no idle threat judging......

The London Film Festival has just announced its opening and closing movies. The Opening Night Gala will celebrate the UK Premiere of Fernando Meirelles' THE CONSTANT GARDENER starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. Based on the best-selling novel by John le Carré, THE CONSTANT GARDENER tells the story of one man's journey to uncover the truth behind a personal loss and a global conspiracy. The strong supporting cast includes Danny Huston and Bill Nighy.......