Marisa Tomei

After films like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Surfer Dude, and Fool's Gold, Matthew McConaughey hasn't exactly had the best track record as of late. So can a movie about a money-grubbing lawyer with a license plate that reads "NTGUILTY" actually be the way to break his pattern of bad movies? The answer is yes: The Lincoln Lawyer is an entertaining thriller that does more than put the actor's charm on display.

Based on the novel by Michael Connelly, the film centers on Mick Haller (McConaughey), a smooth-talking criminal attorney who's a hustler to his core. He represents the underbelly of LA — bikers, prostitutes, druggies — and his methods of doing business are anything but conventional. Instead of an office, Mick prefers to work from his car (a Lincoln town car per the title) where he wheels and deals. As one character remarks, Mick would've done pretty well for himself on the streets; he knows whose palm to grease to get what he wants whether it's a photographer with valuable video or a local cop. That may make Mick sound like a two-dimensional sleazeball and sometimes he is, but there's also more to him than meets the eye.

Find out more about why the film is worth seeing when you read more

This trailer for The Lincoln Lawyer is trying way too hard. Matthew McConaughey stars as Mickey Haller, a lawyer who works from the back of his Lincoln Town Car, hence the title (the license plate reads NTGUILTY, groan). His clients are from the underbelly of L.A., the kind of people who prefer to pay their legal fees in unmarked envelopes — and Mickey is all too happy to accept their cash. But when he takes on a Beverly Hills client (Ryan Phillippe) charged with a woman's murder, Mickey may have bit off more than he can chew.

It's been a while since McConaughey has taken on a dramatic role, but I'm not sure this film will pack the same punch as A Time to Kill. The trailer is wrought with slick camera effects, and is trying really hard to be gritty. To its credit though, it's based on a best-selling novel, and the acting ensemble includes William H. Macy and Marisa Tomei in supporting roles. Perhaps this is just the case of a preview that doesn't do the film justice? Give it a look, and share your verdict when you read more

Ryan Gosling brought a special lady, his mom, Donna, as his date to the second annual Governors Awards in LA on Saturday night. The birthday boy celebrated his 30th at Disneyland on Friday, and while he's had plenty of memorable onstage moments in the past, the evening was all about the honorees like Francis Ford Coppola and Eli Wallach. Sofia Coppola came out to support her dad alongside Natalie Portman in a gorgeous purple Lanvin gown, a Marchesa-wearing Hilary Swank, and Elle Fanning in Valentino. The ladies were joined by guests Stephen Dorff, who recently showed off his shirtless physique, Justin Long, and Josh Brolin, who stuck by his red-hot wife, Diane Lane.

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Matthew McConaughey showed off his toned arms and pearly whites between scenes on the set of The Lincoln Lawyer in LA yesterday. His costar, Marisa Tomei, joined him for filming and Ryan Phillippe showed up later in the day sporting his leg brace. Matthew started shooting scenes with Ryan last week and while the guys both look good, most of you agree on who you think is the hotter leading man. Matthew may not be the sexier of the two, but he's still in competition with Josh Brolin for a role opposite Hilary Swank in Dreams of a Dying Heart.

To see more Matthew on set, just read more