"Mirror Mirror" on the Wall, Is Armie Hammer or Julia Roberts the Fairest of Them All?

Duh. Armie Hammer, of course.

Hollywood Bites Reviews: Eat Pray Love

If you're a dude or one of the many readers who found Elizabeth Gilbert to be a whiny, self-indulgent yuppie, the film adaptation of "Eat Pray Love" could probably be re-titled "Sit Bored Leave."

But if you're part of the millions of fans who fell in love with one of Oprah's favorite thiiiiings, Gilbert's uber bestselling memoir of the journey she took after her marriage fell apart, then this film is as highly anticipated as a new "Twilight" flick is for a 15-year-old who shops at Hot Topic.

Starring Julia Roberts and directed by "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy, the story moves from Italy (Eat) to an ashram in India (Pray) to a village in Bali (Love), all the while featuring halo-lighting and soft focus on Julia, who has never looked more ravishing. Purists will be pleased to see that Murphy sticks pretty faithfully to the road map of the book, but that becomes both a help and a hindrance.

Gilbert's inner monologue, which, of course, drives the narrative of her book, often becomes either expository voiceover or lingering shots of Roberts gazing beatifically into a sunset here, neither of which are very engaging. The few times Murphy veers off-course, striking out into new territory, the film hits upon some of its best moments, such as when Elizabeth confronts and makes peace with the guilt she feels about divorcing her husband (Billy Crudup in a small but well delivered role) on a rooftop in India. Thankfully, one of the book's most beloved characters, Richard from Texas, not only remains intact but is brilliantly rendered by Richard Jenkins in a scene-stealing performance.

While it can be difficult to sympathize with a woman spending a year frolicking across the globe, having liaisons with Billy Crudup, James Franco (as her post divorce rebound fling) and Javier Bardem (the man who inspires the Love portion of the story), you'll nonetheless walk out craving pizza, passion and plane travel.

Though not necessarily a second helping of the film itself.

Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock's Pseudo-Scandal

Extra, Extra, read all about it:

“Sandra Bullock Blind Sides Julia Roberts”

“Julia Roberts Furious at Sandra Bullock”

“Sandra Bullock Stole Julia Roberts Career...and Cover”

Seriously, people?

After yesterday’s big reveal of Sandra Bullock’s People magazine cover announcing her divorce and secret adoption, the headlines some websites and news outlets choose to focus on were ridiculous. I won’t even dignify the organizations who deemed “Sandra Bullock Adopts a Black Baby” a newsworthy headline, but everyone else got all in a tizzy because Julia Roberts had been displaced as the cover girl of People’s annual Most Beautiful People issue in favor of Sandra beaming at her new baby boy.

Why the big hoo-hah over a little editorial switcheroo?

Because everyone loves a good celebrity catfight.

“[Julia’s] a bit envious of Sandra,” one outlet reported.

Hmm, what do you think she’s more covetous of? The dissolution of her marriage or the ho-bag women who keep coming forward announcing they slept with her soon-to-be ex husband, Jesse James?

Many people claim the beef between the mega stars stems from The Proposal and The Blind Side, two roles Julia originally filled which eventually went to Bullock. The Proposal went on to gross over $300 million, making it one of the biggest success in Bullock’s career, and The Blind Side, which earned $287 million, won Bullock an Oscar. Meanwhile, Julia’s career has cooled a bit in recent years, a situation sure to be turned around when Eat Pray Love opens August 13.

We think the whole thing is nonsense cooked up in people’s minds. Considering this would have been Julie’s fourth Most Beautiful People cover, it’s not like she’s missing out on her big day in the sun.

What’s so vexing is the idea that whenever two actresses are involved in anything in Hollywood, it’s automatically assumed they’re at odds. If Matt Damon had bumped Ben Affleck or George Clooney off the cover, no one would be talking about it.