Popsquire

There’s nothing like a joke about Mel Gibson’s DUI past, at least according to Ricky Gervais.

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Popsquire could have sworn it was illegal to ignore Ryan Seacrest, but Brad and the Ange clearly did not…

Technorati Tags: angelina jolie, brad pitt, golden globes red carpet, pop culture law, ryan seacrest

Like a good lawyer, Popsquire has boiled down last night’s Golden Globes to the Top 5 Most Memorable Golden Globe Moments…

5.  J-Lo lecturing the audience like they were her twins;
4.  Colin Farrell clarifying that his sniffles were due to a cold and “not the other thing it used to be;”
3.  Kate Winslet becoming the first person in history to forget Angelina Jolie;
2.  Johnny Depp waking up from a nap on stage; and
1.  All things Slumdog Millionaire!

Honorable Mention: Sally Hawkins professing undying love for everyone.

[Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos]

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Colin Farrell provided one of last night’s most comical collisions between pop culture and law.  While presenting an award, he sniffed and quickly explained it was due to a cold, “not the other thing it used to be.” In legal terms, this may be considered an admission of guilt!  Watch below…

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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association loves the law!

Last night’s Golden Globes provided further evidence that movies with legal themes are winners.  Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, and The Dark Knight were among the biggest winners.  Below is a complete list of the awards these films won.

Slumdog Millionaire
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Best Director, Danny Boyle
Best Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
Best Original Score, A.R. Rahman

The Reader
Best Supporting Actress, Kate Winslet

The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actor, Heath Ledger

[Axelle / Bauer-Griffin.com]

Technorati Tags: dark knight, golden globes, heath ledger, kate winslet, pop culture law, slumdog millionaire, the reader

Congrats to Sally Hawkins on her Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in Happy Go Lucky.  Watch this interview as Sally talks to Popsquire about Oscar buzz…

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Popsquire hates to brag.  Well, not really, but the Golden Globes just keep proving his point — pop culture and law consistently collide.  As evidence, I present you with two big Golden Globe winners tonight:

1. Best Picture, Drama: Atonement. 
2. Best Picture, Comedy/Musical: Sweeney Todd.

Each film explores crime and passion, which clearly present collisions between pop culture and law.  For a complete list of GG winners, click here. 

And, for a daily exploration of the collision between pop culture and law, feel free to subscribe to Popsquire by email (look to the top right of this blog for more details).

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If this is your first day at Popsquire, then you need to catch up on Popsquire’s countdown to the non-Golden Globes.  Each day, Popsquire examines how a nominated film collides with the law.  You can read past discussions here and aqui.

Today’s pick is Juno, again.  I can’t help it.  Juno is a great movie with many legal collisions!  In the scene where Juno is exploring adoption with the potential adoptive parents, Jennifer Garner’s character asks if Juno is seeking any “other compensation.”  Juno says “No.”

Popsquire’s perspective…

Generally, it is both legal and customary to pay for certain expenses incurred by a birth mother, with various limitations and conditions. 

For example, California law provides in Penal Code § 273, that it is legal to assist with a birth mother’s reasonable and necessary pregnancy-related living expenses, for the period of time that she is disabled or unemployable due to the pregnancy.

This payment of expenses must be made unconditionally and as an act of charity — otherwise, it could be considered buying the baby.

If Popsquire were adopting, he’d definitely prefer a birth mother birth mother who lives modestly!  Just like Notorious B.I.G. said, Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems.

If you’re just tuning in, welcome to Popsquire’s ongoing countdown to the non-Golden Globes.  Each day, Popsquire examines at least one GG nominee’s collision with the law.

Popsquire’s pick of the day: Sweeney Todd.  If you haven’t seen this movie, shame on you, but here’s what you need to know…

This Tim Burton film is a dark musical about a man seeking to avenge his unjust imprisonment and his wife’s death.  Amid the singing, the main characters played by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter kill numerous people, chop them up, and make minced meat out of them — literally.

Popsquire assumes every sees the obvious crime of endless murder, but what other unlawful activity do you see in this movie?  Below is Popsquire’s list.  If you have any to add, let me know!

1. False Advertising
2. False Imprisonment
3. Kidnapping
4. Unlicensed Barber
5. Cannibalism
6. Numerous Healthy and Safety Code Violations

Technorati Tags: golden globes, helena bonham carter, johnny depp, sweeney todd

According to Defamer, Axium Entertainment – a widely used entertainment industry payroll agency — has shut down.  Popsquire wonders if, like the non-Golden Globes, this is a casualty of the strike. 

When a company closes, there are numerous legal issues, but today’s post will focus on employee issues, which Popsquire finds to be extremely important. 

Depending on the number of employees, a company that shuts down without warning its employees in advance may be liable to each affected employee for back pay and benefits pursuant to the Federal WARN Act.

In California and other states, employees may be entitled to payment for accrued/unpaid wages as well as vacation pay.

Popsquire will continue to follow this story.  Stay tuned!

[digg=http://www.digg.com/business_finance/Axium_Entertainment_Closes]

Technorati Tags: axium, defamer, employee benefits, employee rights, golden globes, payroll, WARN Act

As promised, Popsquire is counting down the days to the non-Golden Globes with daily examples of how the nominated films epitomize the constant collision between pop culture and law.  First up…Juno (which already won Best Comedy at the Critics’ Choice Awards).

For those of you who have not seen Juno, shame on you, but this is what you need to know…

Juno is a hilarious dark comedy about a high school student who gets pregnant and decides to give the baby up for adoption.  She finds the prospective adoptive parents, played by Jennifer Garner and Jason Batemen, through an ad in the local PennySaver.   

Popsquire’s perspective…

Approximately 34 states permit advertising for adoption, while approximately 17 states permit advertising only by licensed agencies. 

Popsquire’s potential ad…

Snarky attorney/blogger looking for healthy baby to potty train itself, cook own food, study hard, pay for own Ivy League education, and then take care of Popsquire when he’s too old to know any better.

[digg=http://www.digg.com/movies/Non_Golden_Globes_Countdown_Juno]

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Popsquire trusts you already know that the Golden Globes have been cancelled.  Are you wondering what happens to all the contracts entered into for the show?

“Force Majeure” is a standard legal clause in nearly every contract that allows it to be canceled without penalty due to extreme circumstances that prevent the terms of the contract from being fulfilled.  These circumstances typically include “acts of God” such as natural disasters or death, or other situations that are beyond the control of either party. 

In this case, the WGA strike may trigger that clause.

Don’t fret too much, though, because Popsquire will be discussing Golden Globe nominations and their collisions with law all week long.  Stay tuned! 

[digg=http://digg.com/television/Golden_Globes_Gone_Baby_Gone]

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