Styles & Scenes

Mattie and Lance cut loose

Can you spell pathetic?

Having recently ditched two perfectly good girlfriends, the seemingly inseparable fellow Texans Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong teamed up to troll for some fresh tail at the  Shore Club in Miami Beach Monday night. And later they reportedly showed up in BED together. That's another SoBe nightclub as in, 'Hey, wanna go to BED?'

Okay, euuuwww.

Do they seriously think they're gonna do better than their successful, talented, gorgeous and wealthy former flames, Penelope Cruz and Sheryl Crow?

These guys need a reality check, a shower and a little less of whatever's in those plastic go-cups.   

Photo Credit: Matthew (People's Sexiest Man Alive, just ask him) McConaughey and Lance (Yeah, but I've got Tour de France stamina)  Armstrong try their luck at the Sky Bar at Miami Beach's Shore Club.
WireImage/Seth Browarnik

Hollywood's hunt for Lincoln's killer

Who will be Booth?

That’s the burning question as Walden Media and producer Lawrence Bender search for an actor charismatic enough to play actor-assassin John Wilkes Booth in “Manhunt.”

Whoever is chosen will costar with Harrison Ford, who recently presented at the Golden Globes and the People’s Choice Awards. Ford has already signed on to play Col. Everton Conger, who led the hunt for Booth, captured hiding in a Virginia barn. But that George Lucas-like silver goatee Ford’s been sporting may have to grow a bit to portray the heavily bearded Conger.

The period film will be based on Lincoln scholar James Swanson’s just-released, critically-hailed book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” about Honest Abe’s death, the search for the missing murderer and his henchmen in April 1865.

“I just heard a report that they’ve made an offer to someone but I haven’t heard who it is,” said Swanson, from his Washington home. "Johnny Depp would be perfect. But Will Kemp, Orlando Bloom or Christian Bale would also be good. So would Matthew McConaughey. He actually looks very much like Booth around the eyes.”

The actor who will play Booth would also have to grow and then shave off his moustache, which Booth did to avoid capture during his days hiding in swamps.

“The problem with casting someone to play John Wilkes Booth is that you really need to find another John Wilkes Booth,” says Swanson. “Theatrical, incredibly handsome, seductive, an incorrigible ladies man. When he was captured, he was carrying photos of five girlfriends.” Sounds right up Depp's dark, swaggering pirate alley.

New Ecuadorian filmmaker Sebastian Cordero is set to direct Andrew W. Marlowe and Mike Rich’s “Manhunt” screenplay. But seriously, wouldn’t Oliver Stone be a better choice to direct a movie about a conspiracy to shoot the President? Just a thought.

Steven Spielberg's not available. He's already got his own Lincoln movie, "The Uniter," based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, a film rumored to star Liam Neeson as Abe. Last time Spielberg worked with Neeson was in that little Oscar-winning picture called "Schindler's List."

Which Lincoln movie will hit theaters first? My money's on "Manhunt" if only to take advantage of the book's big buzz. Also, according to producer Kathleen Kennedy, Spielberg has another movie ahead of "Uniter." "We're definitely going ahead with the project but the Lincoln film won't be the next film Steven does," Kennedy said at the BAFTA/LA Tea Party last month.

Photo: Can Harrison Ford find Lincoln's assassin in "Manhunt," after his recent David Letterman Show appearance?
(James Devaney / WireImage)

Photo: Is this the face of John Wilkes Booth — Johnny Depp, seen here at the Golden Globes?
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

McConaughey's backstage action

Matthew McConaughey was definitely feeling his oats Tuesday night after winning Best Male Action Star at the People’s Choice Awards.

Asked backstage by a reporter, ‘How’d you get so sexy,” the "Sahara" star replied, “Mom and Dad and going in the jungle.” O-kay.

Asked "What do you have that the other nominees don’t?,” he grinned and held up his big crystal trophy.  Well, that does about sum it up.

Matthew was fine with all the fawning and flattery. Asked how it felt to win, he admitted,  “I worked very hard on this film for three years and people seem to enjoy it. So I appreciate that. We don’t always win every day so when we do, it's appreciated.”

But when a People scribe asked him what was the most audacious thing he’d ever done at an audition, McConaughey visibly bristled, “At an audition? Be careful. Remember what you’re here for. Next question.”

McConaughey's steady girlfriend, Penelope Cruz, was not around. Word is she was staying at the Plaza Athenee in Paris, perhaps checking out awards worthy couture collections with her pal Salma Hayek. Maybe that's why McConaughey was trying his luck with the ladies.

Backstage sipping champagne, he bear-hugged Jenna Elfman, who looked hot in a short black Vera Wang frock, while her husband Bodhi Elfman, watched nervously from the sidelines.

Then M & M cornered ex-"American Idol" and People's Choice favorite female performer winner Kelly Clarkson outside the press room. Still holding his glass of bubbly, he effervesced to the young singer about what a huge fan he is and how many times he called to vote for her on the show.

He stayed uncomfortably close to Clarkson, wearing a Randolph Duke gown. Although she kept smiling, she was also noticeably backing away to create her personal ZOC (zone of comfort).

”Thank you. And I love… your movie…'Sahara,' by the way,” she replied, trying to return the compliments. “In fact, I like all your movies.”

Noticing that people were watching her Close Encounter with the Creepy Actor Kind, she sputtered, “I feel so awkward with everyone watching. Well, um, okay, I really feel like an idiot,” she said, trying to end the horror. “So...it was very nice meeting you,” she said, holding out her hand.

But McConaughey was not to be deterred. He moved in and slowly, very slowly kissed Clarkson on both cheeks before she could turn and escape to the press room.

Once inside, the poor girl stepped on the podium to face questions about McConaughey’s attentions.

“So do you think Matthew's hot? And do you have a boyfriend?" a reporter yelled.

“He's very cute,” admitted a red-faced Clarkson. “I don’t have a boyfriend. It’s too hard to keep a relationship going, not just because I’m famous, but because relationships are just hard in general.”

One can’t help but get the feeling that having a relationship with McConaughey would be darn near  impossible.

Photo Credit: Matthew McConaughey just loves the ladies- Jenna Elfman and Kelly Clarkson - backstage at the People's Choice Awards.
(Kevin Mazur/WireImage)