Hot Sheet Week of March 5 Greek Groove Armada Alice in Wonderland

Movies

Alice in Wonderland--Will Johnny Depp do for Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter what he did for that Disney theme park ride? Depp's Jack Sparrow is one of the most deliciously flamboyant, androgynous, and over-the-top characters in film history, and with Depp in the role, something tells me we might get more of the same here. Tim Burton's cast also includes partner Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and gay favorite Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. Expect this film to dominate the box office for weeks.

Brooklyn's Finest--Training Day director Antoine Fuqua has assembled an all-star cast including Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, and Ethan Hawke for his latest film, a gritty crime drama that weaves the three stories of unconnected cops together in a Crash-like fashion. Wesley Snipes appears in a supporting role ... his first film to make it to theaters since 2004's Blade: Trinity.

Music

Black Light by Groove Armada--Ooh, we really like this stalwart of a group. Their last album, 2007's Soundboy Rock, was phenomenally fun. Black Light follows on Soundboy's successful formula, with influences from taste-makers like Roxy Music and Fleetwood Mac. This is tasteful electronica-infused pop.

Hands by Little Boots--Not to be confused with La Roux, another British electro-pop artist (L.R. = red peacock hair; L.B. = chunky blond Shakira locks), Little Boots is synth sensation Victoria Hesketh. Hands has been out since the summer in the U.K., but the album finally made it stateside last week. Highlights include "Earthquake" and "Stuck on Repeat."

Plastic Beach by Gorillaz--One of the most imaginative bands -- and not just because they're animated -- of modern times have a third album (if you don't know them from "Feel Good Inc." or "Clint Eastwood," you may remember their Grammy mash-up with Madonna a few years back). First single "Stylo" is sexy, trip-hop heaven.

DVDs

--Out director Lee Daniels has been feted far and wide for his staggering film about a desperate downtrodden, overweight teen in 1987 Harlem. Despite the subject matter, it's a glorious piece of work by newcomer Gabourey Sibide as the titular character and Mo'Nique, unforgettable as her monstrous mother. Kudos also must go to the underappreciated turns by a de-glammed Mariah Carey as a no-nonsense counselor and Paula Patton as a sympathetic lesbian teacher.

--Robin Wright-Penn gets a workout as the tormented, reflective wife of elderly Alan Arkin in this adaptation of the novel of the same name. Maria Bello, Blake Lively, Winona Ryder, and Monica Bellucci offer solid support, Keanu Reeves remains his handsome, blank self, but it's Julianne Moore (as usual) who makes the strongest impression, as a lesbian fetish photographer.

-- In this critically acclaimed, insightful 2009 dramedy, George Clooney gives his smartest, sexiest performance as Ryan Bingham, a "career-transition consultant" in the throes of an existential crisis. While there's no overt gay content, the story line is universal and, as Carrie Bradshaw once not-so-poetically waxed, "Clooney's like a Chanel suit, he'll always be in style.

--The folks at ABC Family thought it would be clever to name all of the series' DVD releases "chapters" ... problem is, this is chapter 4 from season 2 ... which aired seven months ago. Anyhoo, life in the Greek system is salacious as ever, with good gay story lines courtesy of Dale (Clark Duke), Heath (Zack Lively), and Grant (Gregory Michael) and one of the sorority sisters exploring her lesbian side.

FlashForward, Season One Pt. 1

-- Before FlashForward returns for the second half of its first season (which is what TV does to string you along with these cliffhanger dramas), catch up on all the action with the first ten episodes. The show, which revolves around a blackout causing everyone to see their lives six months in the future, has a number of questions to answer. Like with FBI agent Demetri Noh (John Cho) really be dead? And how did lesbian agent Janis Hawk (Christine Woods) wind up pregnant? After all... with Lost going off the air, something has to fill the "I'm hooked, but I so don't get this crap" void.