MOVIES AND CELEBS

The latest local and national television, movie and celebrity news from New Orleans and beyond

AP file photoBritney Spears

Britney Spears is taking her "Circus" act on the road.

In an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America," the pop star announced that her North American arena tour will open March 3 in New Orleans. Her new album, "Circus," arrived Tuesday, on her 27th birthday.

It is Spears' first tour in five years as she gains career momentum and stability in her personal life. Spears, who sang her hit "Womanizer" on "GMA," begins rehearsals next month.

It's time for another Britney Spears comeback: Call this one the remix version.

It was only last year that our damaged diva attempted to put the focus back on her once spectacular music career with "Blackout." A tight collection of sexy club-oriented grooves, "Blackout" was a delight, and had so much hit-worthy material even Janet Jackson could have been resurrected with it.

AP file photoBritney Spears

She did it again: Britney Spears was the most popular search term on Yahoo for the fourth year in a row -- her seventh time topping the list.

Spears bested World Wrestling Entertainment, Barack Obama, Miley Cyrus and the online game "RuneScape" as the five most-searched terms of 2008, the Web portal and search company announced Monday, a day before the singer released her new album "Circus."

A former employee of UCLA Medical Center pleaded guilty Monday to selling information from the medical records of celebrities and high-profile patients, including Britney Spears and Farrah Fawcett, to the tabloid National Enquirer.

Lawanda Jackson, 49, spoke quietly as she entered her plea to the felony charge of violating federal medical privacy law for commercial purposes in U.S. District Court.

She faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for May.

Jason Statham takes care of business in 'Transporter 3.'

After two previous outings, it would seem French filmmaker Luc Besson's high-octane "Transporter" series finally has run out of what little fuel it had.

Like its predecessors, the latest installment in the fanboy fantasy, the unimaginatively titled "Transporter 3" -- this time directed by Olivier Megaton, with Besson producing -- coasts on nicely assembled chase scenes and wonderfully intricate fight sequences. When it comes to storytelling, however, it skids off the road -- and quickly.

Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star in the romantic comedy 'Four Christmases.'

Movie-goers heading to see the romantic comedy "Four Christmases" might want comedy, Christmas cheer and chemistry, but nobody gets everything on his wish list.

As he did in last year's "Fred Claus, " every-dude funnyman Vince Vaughn proves he still has plenty of holiday spirit and that he possesses a boyish, chuckle-inducing charm. Unfortunately, one key ingredient missing from "Four Christmases" is genuine chemistry with co-star Reese Witherspoon, the other half of an on-screen pairing that never generates any real sparks.

Not only is it hard to care whether or not their characters stay together, but Witherspoon's comedic chops are no real match for Vaughn's charming, rambling delivery.

Adrien Brody stars as Leonard Chess and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters in 'Cadillac Records.'

Inside the malls, things might be buzzing. Over at the multiplex, however, the holiday season is getting off to a slow start this post-Thanksgiving week, with only two new major releases slated to bow at local theaters.

You've got your "Cadillac Records," Sony's story of the legendary Chess Records label which shot a few scenes in Louisiana earlier this year -- but, it should be noted, not the one that shot almost exclusively in New Orleans under the working title "Chess"; that one has been retitled "Who Do You Love" and has yet to get a local release date.

And you've got your comic-inspired actioner "Punisher: War Zone."

Beyond that, this week is all about catching up on films you've been meaning to see before they leave theaters.

Here's a rundown on this week's new releases, with links to trailers where available: