Rising star Taylor Momsen makes her indie film debut next month in PARANOID PARK, Gus Van Sant’s totally enthralling new film that has critics (and regular people who were lucky enough to catch it on the festival circuit) raving.

Fourteen-year-old Momsen, who recently shot to enormous fame with her role as Jenny on the Gossip Girl , invited us to chat with her about her role in this moody, adolescent drama that will make you glad you’re not in high school anymore.

Watch our exclusive interview with Taylor below.

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PARANOID PARK opens March 7 @ the Angelika New York and March 14 @ the Angelika Dallas and Houston.

In honor of Radiolab’s season premiere episodes entitled LAUGHTER, the Angelika brings you more exclusive video clips. In our first clip, we watch Joe Randazzo, associate editor of The Onion, and Radiolab host Jad Abumrad discuss the evolution and anatomy of the laugh (and watch as they demonstrate some of their favorite laughs).

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This second clip is best left to be explained by Abumrad: â??The first episode of our new season is all about why we laugh. I know, it seems like a stupid question. We laugh because something is funny, right? Actually, the scientists we talked to say that laughter has little to do with humor. It’s usually about social interactions, and, more specifically, power. Tyler Stillman, a psychologist at Florida State University, used a joke about a two muffins in an oven to show that a bad joke can get a big laugh, so long as a boss is telling it to an employee. Sadly, it doesn’t work the other way around. It seems the person in power laughs least. Here at Radio Lab, we like to test things out for ourselves. So we used the WNYC offices as our own little laboratory, and tried to find out if it’s true that our bosses are funnier than us, even when they aren’t. Here’s what we saw.â?

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Don’t forget about the listening premiere this Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Angelika New York.

In anticipation of Radiolab’s listening premiere at the Angelika New York, we thought we’d post some video extras from the featured episode entitled LAUGHTER. Check it out below.

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Radiolab is holding its Season Premiere Listening Party, au gratis, on Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Angelika New York – first come first serve and hope to see you there!

Radiolab, the syndicated, top-rated NPR program is premiering its 4th season at the Angelika New York on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7pm. The free “listening premiere”, held in conjunction with WNYC public radio, is open to the first 203 lucky fans to arrive at the theater – attendees will be treated to some pretty cool guests, including one of The Onion’s hilarious editors, an underground musical act and the chance to meet the Radiolab hosts themselves!

Hosted by award winning, cult-journalist heroes Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, Radiolab airs locally on WNYC and takes an accessible, documentary-style, intelligent (and kind of odd) approach to tackling existentialist-friendly topics and current events (past shows have featured such titles as Morality, Beyond Time, & Who Am I).

For more info, visit the Radiolab Website. And keep checking back at our blog for exclusive media from a some of the [wacky] participants….

IN BRUGES, a fresh, twisted take on the hit-man genre, opened this year’s Sundance Film Festival to plenty of rave reviews. Academy Award winning director (for the short film Six Shooter) and Tony nominated playwright Martin McDonagh makes his full-length feature-film debut with this medieval black comedy starring Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleason.

The ever-entertaining McDonagh sat down with us in Dallas to discuss the film and stayed for a Q&A with our audience after screening the film. Check out the video below, and don’t forget that IN BRUGES opens 2/8 at the Angelika New York and 2/15 at the Angelika Houston & Plano.

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Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker and JUNO phenom Ellen Page star together in the upcoming film SMART PEOPLE. Fresh out of Sundance, this sharp black comedy centers on an isolated, acid-tongued college professor whose crush on a former student, combined with an unexpected visit from his derelict brother sends his life spinning out of control.

SMART PEOPLE opened to rave reviews at Sundance last week, and we’ve got a few exclusive clips to prove it. SMART PEOPLE opens April 11 @ the Angelika New York, Dallas & Plano.

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The 80th Annual Academy Award nominations were just announced and it looks like we couldn’t have picked them better ourselves. Below are some of the highlights:

ATONEMENT – Nominations Best Motion Picture of the Year Adapted Screenplay Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Achievement in Art Direction Achievement in Cinematography Achievement in Costume Design Best Original Score

CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR – Nominations Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

JUNO – Nominations Best Motion Picture of the Year Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Best Director

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL – Nominations Best Original Screenplay

MICHAEL CLAYTON – Nominations Best Motion Picture of the Year Best Original Screenplay Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Best Director Best Original Score

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Nominations Best Motion Picture of the Year Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Best Adapted Screenplay Best Director Achievement in Cinematography Achievement in Film Editng

PERSEPOLIS – Nominations Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE – Nominations Best Documentary Feature

For showtimes and ticket information for any of the above nominees, visit us at www.angelikafilmcenter.com, and for a complete list of nominees, visit the official Academy Awards website.

Michael Haneke does Michael Haneke in this stunning remake of FUNNY GAMES, his own 1997 German cult film. Re-done in English and re-branded FUNNY GAMES U.S., the film may have some people squirming in their seats and some leaving them altogether – but those who stay will be treated to a daring onslaught of excruciating suspense and implied violence.

Director Haneke has assembled a top notch ensemble for this shot by shot remake: Naomi Watts and Tim Roth are stellar, but the revelation in casting is Michael Pitt – that pretty boy face conceals a sadistic monster that is somehow simultaneously alluring and horrifying.

FUNNY GAMES U.S. opens at the Angelika New York and the Angelika Houston on March 14. Don’t miss it.

TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE is undoubtedly one of the most important documentaries of the new year. The film is both a terrifying and enlightening experience for anyone unaware of the state of U.S. military prisons overseas, and writer/director Alex Gibney (ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM) sat down with us to discuss the making of the documentary and what he most wants audiences to take away from it.

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TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE opens January 18 @ the Angelika New York. Visit www.angelikafilmcenter.com for more info.

Thankfully, our Oscar contest at the Angelika Plano was not derailed by the writer’s strike, and we are excited to announce the winners! Below are your top 6 picks and the official schedule. Hope to see you there!

1/17 â?? ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOâ??S NEST
1/24 â?? THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI
1/31 – LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
2/7 â?? ALL ABOUT EVE
2/14 â?? GONE WITH THE WIND
2/21 â?? BEN-HUR

*All shows are scheduled at 7:30pm. Don’t forget to join us at the Angelika Dallas on February, 24 to watch the 2008 Oscars live on the big screen.