Hail to the chief celebrity? That's politics mixed with entertainment

Sometimes you have to wonder if the presidential candidates are running to be First Celebrity or maybe Entertainer of the Year. Watching the campaign, you can just about imagine that come Jan. 20, Ryan Seacrest will be on the steps of the Capitol swearing in either John McCain orBarack Obama as the next American Idol.

Hef's the centerfold in 'Mr. Playboy' biography

Delivering a shocking, stripped-bare book about Hugh Hefner is a bit like promising an expos on Madonna. In the case of both pop culture icons, every salacious turn has been well-documented, if not by the media then by the subjects themselves.

The truth about 'Lies': It's intriguing but unfocused

Body of Lies is a tautly paced, well-acted espionage thriller with the requisite explosions and action sequences. Still, it ends up leaving the viewer rather cold.

'RockNRolla' is pure, gritty Guy Ritchie

RocknRolla (* * out of four) takes director Guy Ritchie back to London's gritty streets, and thankfully as far away as possible from the soggy island landscape of his 2002 film Swept Away.

Critic's Corner weekend

E-mail Robert Bianco at rbianco@usatoday.com

Judge orders Redmond O'Neal into detox

A judge has ordered the 23-year-old son of actor Ryan O'Neal back to rehab weeks after he and his father were arrested on suspicion of drug possession.

Davis biopic 'The Express' doesn't fumble the telling

The Express recalls a bittersweet fantasy that football fans of a certain age have never forgotten: For a brief moment, Syracuse University superstars Ernie Davis and Jim Brown were set to play in the same Cleveland Browns backfield.

New on DVD: Jenkins drums up great performance in 'The Visitor'

Orson Welles' 1958 classic has some great extras. Also out this week: Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty from 1959.

Coming attractions: When Neil Young was young and going solo ...

Music

'City of Ember' burns brightest when young stars lead

City of Ember is at its best when sticking to a classic sci-fi-fantasy format. But when it tries to be a generic thrill ride, it loses its originality and peculiar charm.

'High School'-ers share their heroes

The High School Musical 3: Senior Year invasion is on. As the Oct. 24 movie opening nears, the film's stars have started appearing in magazines. USA TODAY rounds up what they say about celebs they admire.

'Happy-Go-Lucky' will keep you smiling and thinking

Describing a movie as an analysis of the state of happiness makes it sound tedious, or at the very least, scholarly. Happy-Go-Lucky is neither. It is a decidedly clear-eyed exploration of the challenges of being happy. And, as such, it's both an enjoyable comedy and a fascinating character study.

Pitt's first 'Make It Right' homes complete in La.

The first homes in Brad Pitt's Make It Right rebuilding project are complete, and some three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, 68-year-old grandmother Gloria Guy was on hand to give the actor a big hug.

Slash to play at Rock Hall's tribute to Les Paul

Slash couldn't miss a chance to pay tribute to his own guitar hero, Les Paul.

French novelist Le Clezio wins Nobel for literature

French novelist Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, who lives part of the year in Albuquerque, has won the 2008 Nobel Prize for Literature.

A Fey-Palin comedy summit? Stay tuned

It seems like the inevitable comedic summit of this fall's presidential campaign: the real Sarah Palin coming on Saturday Night Live to meet her look-alike impersonator, Tina Fey.

Brolin speaks about July arrest

In Los Angeles Tuesday, W. star Josh Brolin spoke about his July 12 arrest in Shreveport.

'Mars' gets off to stellar but not alien start

There's only so much credit you can give a copy.

At best, 'Eleventh Hour' is adequate

There's nothing wrong with Eleventh Hour that premiering five years ago wouldn't have helped, if not precisely fixed.

NBC's imported 'Kath & Kim' is just dumb & dull

Here's a shocking new idea for NBC: How about actually trying something new?

Roiphe's 'Epilogue' is a window into grief

"Here, not here, not returning." That is the hard reality of death, Anne Roiphe writes in Epilogue, a searing memoir that details her struggle to cope with the loss of her husband three years ago.

Heroine of 'Dragon Tattoo' leaves a distinctive mark

Sometimes a mystery succeeds because of one indelible character. Consider Miss Marple.