Jessica Simpson Proud Of Learning Lines, Making Faces For 'Blonde Ambition'

Jessica Simpson is no dumb blonde — she knows she has to pay her dues to climb the Hollywood ladder.

So to become a full-fledged movie star, the singer/actress worked a few entry-level jobs — slinging some hash as a waitress in "The Dukes of Hazzard" and ringing up receipts as a cashier in "Employee of the Month" — but she's ready to be taken seriously with her next film, "Blonde Ambition."

"I don't want to sound conceited or brag or anything, but I really did do a good job," Simpson said shortly after the film wrapped. "I am so proud of myself."

"Blonde Ambition," due this summer, has been described as a remake of the '80s classic "Working Girl," which starred Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford and earned Griffith an Oscar nomination. But Simpson's version is less a remake and more a reimagining of the movie's theme. "It's basically about a young woman's journey into the corporate empire," producer Justin Berfield told MTV News. "She starts at the bottom and works her way to the top."

That means Simpson is in plenty of humiliating situations as an Oktoberfest-style beer girl and a bike messenger. "There are so many Lucille Ball moments," Simpson said. "Dane Cook taught me how to do that; he used his body language a lot. And the women who do that, like Goldie Hawn or Meg Ryan, do that so well, and it just makes the comedy so much better. Jim Carrey is obviously the best at it; he does all the different faces. But I have so many different faces in this movie that I never knew I had before."

Helping Simpson get the laughs this time around are Luke Wilson (who she screen-tested with for "Dallas") and her old pal Willie Nelson, who co-starred as Uncle Jesse in "The Dukes of Hazzard" (see "Jessica Simpson — In A Bikini — To Wash The General Lee In 'Boots' Video"). This time, Nelson plays Simpson's grandfather.

Plus, Andy Dick — who had a lick-tastic time in Simpson's "Public Affair" video (see "Jessica Simpson Finally Goes 'Public' With Longoria, Seacrest In Ratner-Directed Video") and also appeared with her in "Employee of the Month" — thwarts Jessica's Katie character in her efforts to get noticed on the job. "Remember the Sigourney Weaver part, the mean boss?" Dick told MTV News, referencing the original film. "I'm her assistant. I'm more present than the boss. I'm the evil one. It's going to be good."

The mere thought of her insane co-star had Simpson smiling. "I love you, Andy, I love you so much, but he's crazy out of his mind!" Simpson laughed. "He's a genius, I believe that. He is just so great behind the camera and makes everybody on the set laugh so hard."

A little levity was definitely needed since Simpson started feeling the stress early on in the production. "The hardest thing about 'Blonde Ambition' was that I'm carrying the weight of the movie on my shoulders," she said. "I was in every shot, pretty much, and it was very time-consuming. You don't really understand until a week after you're done shooting, and you're like, 'Oh my gosh, I memorized all those lines! Wow!' "

Letting her own blond ambition guide her, Simpson's ready for the challenge of her next movie, "The Witness," which she plans to shoot by the end of March. And no, that's not a Harrison Ford remake either. "I don't want to be typecast," Simpson laughed. "But if I were, it would just make me want to prove myself even more."

Can 'American Idol' Hopefuls Skate By On Looks, Personality Alone?

"It's a singing competition," Paula Abdul repeatedly declared on Thursday's "American Idol," frustrated that two of this season's weakest singers — Antonella Barba and Sanjaya Malakar — survived another week.

But is it?

Clearly, singing is the focus of "Idol," but even those closest to the show know there's more to it. "I've never wanted it to be a singing competition," co-executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said. "This is called 'American Idol.' And we would like the next one to be an idol. They need to be a great singer, but they also need a great personality if they're going to succeed. This isn't only just about having a great voice, it really isn't."

"Think about how many stars there are today that have great personalities that can't sing at all," added judge Randy Jackson. "I think the public falls in love with that. It's very infectious, the personality, and it plays a big part."

That might explain Malakar, a 17-year-old from Federal Way, Washington, who so innocently tagged along on his older sister's audition only to be brought to tears (all on camera) when he out-survived her.

But what about Barba, the 20-year-old from Point Pleasant, New Jersey? She's been tracked from the beginning — when she auditioned with her best friend, who didn't make it past the Hollywood round — but her personality hasn't exactly shined. Could it be that she built up a fanbase through the exposure (no pun intended) she received last week, when racy photos of her spread across the Internet (see "Sexy Pictures Won't Get Barba Booted From 'Idol' — But Wednesday Night's Song Could")?

"There's a certain hype that comes with her, and that's not really something I understand," said "Idol" semifinalist Leslie Hunt, who was voted out Thursday (see "Booted 'Idol' Hopeful On Antonella Barba's Sexy Photos: 'Get Over It' "). "It doesn't excite me that she has pictures like that. I mean, who doesn't? Whatever, get over it. But I knew getting into this that it wasn't just about singing."

Of course, Barba also survived the first week, before her pictures made national news, indicating that her fanbase was already strong. So perhaps it's fitting that the judges have praised her beauty each week before ripping into her singing.

"Cuteness goes a long way on 'Idol,' " season-three finalist Jon Peter Lewis said. "I mean, we're not really there for the music."

"As far as looks, Simon does constantly remind viewers about the image of an 'American Idol,' but thus far, there haven't really been any 'knockouts,' " added Entertainment Weekly's Shirley Halperin, who has covered "Idol" for several years. "In reality, I think viewers tend to relate more to the ones that aren't beauty-pageant perfect, the ones that remind you of yourself."

Debra Byrd, a vocal coach on "Idol," believes the cream does rise to the top, but the good-looking hopefuls do fare well too. "That cute factor plays," she said. "I mean, look at when you buy a CD. It's like, 'I like that person, I like their voice, I like their look, the whole nine yards.' "

For his part, co-executive producer Ken Warwick disagrees that looks play a part in the voting.

"In series one, we took a lot of heat because everyone was saying, 'They're looking for the perfect little pretty package that is going to sell records and that's the whole reason behind it,' " Warwick said. "And then we absolutely dispelled that with the second series. ... You can't honestly say ever with any criticism that we were going for the perfect-looking-little package with Ruben Studdard."

Settlement over Smith's Baby Near?

HOLLYWOOD - Anna Nicole Smith's companion Howard K. Stern is reportedly in secret talks with her former boyfriend Larry Birkhead to reach a settlement regarding the custody of her daughter Dannielynn.

According to media reports, Stern is trying to negotiate a deal where he would continue to play a part in the five-month-old's life and oversee her finances.

According to Fox News, Stern is working quickly to hammer out a deal before the results of DNA tests are released, which could reveal that Birkhead is the baby's biological father.

Stern is also pressuring Birkhead to sign contracts with TV shows Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, in which the two would appear together for exclusive interviews.

A source explains, "Howard wanted Larry to sign so that it looked like everyone was in agreement, and that it wasn't just Howard benefiting from these deals.

"Larry said the baby's guardian (Richard Milstein) should sign the papers for him and the baby, but (Milstein) wouldn't. So then Larry wouldn't."

Smith was buried in the Bahamas on Friday after being found dead in a Florida hotel suite last month at the age of 39.

Cowell 'Couldn't Stand' 'American Idol' Winner Hicks

HOLLYWOOD - Music mogul Simon Cowell has blasted the most recent American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks, for lacking the talent to become a pop superstar.

Cowell , who is a judge on the hit reality TV show alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, confessed last Thursday he wanted to axe Hicks early on in American Idol last year.

And British Cowell isn't surprised 30-year-old Hicks has struggled to sell records, while fellow contestant Chris Daughtry has.

He says, "They (Abdul and Jackson) loved him. I couldn't stand him. I didn't get it.

"At the end of the day you have to find a bona fide recording artist. Just because you win the show doesn't mean you will sell a lot of records. Chris is the one who sold the albums, not Taylor."

Electra Snubbed by 'Baywatch' Movie Producers

HOLLYWOOD - Actress Carmen Electra is furious she hasn't been asked to star in the forthcoming Baywatch movie.

The 34-year-old actress found fame starring as lifeguard Lani McKenzie on the drama series between 1997 and 1998, but--despite appearing in 2003's reunion, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding--Electra hasn't been invited to join the new feature-length film.

She says, "I'm out. I've only heard about it through the press and nobody has contacted me to be in the film. I really enjoyed the reunion show we did, though--it was fun to meet all the team again."

Lohan: 'I Would Have Died If It Wasn't for Rehab'

HOLLYWOOD - Lindsay Lohan checked herself into rehab earlier this year after being told she would die young if she didn't stop her hard-partying lifestyle.

The Mean Girls star recently checked out of the Wonderland Center in Los Angeles after completing a month-long stay.

And party girl Lohan admits she needed the stark warning to turn her life around.

She says, "I was really sick. I went to hospital and had people sit me down who said, 'You are going to die if you don't take care of yourself.'

"I heeded what they were telling me."

Travolta Donates Money to Tornado Victims

HOLLYWOOD - John Travolta donated $15,000 to victims of a tornado in Florida at the premiere of his new biker film Wild Hogs on Friday night.

The actor presented a personal check to Mayor Max Pullen of Lady Lake, Florida, where a string of tornadoes killed 21 people in the area on Feb. 2.

Travolta, who has lived in nearby Ocala for four years, said, "These things happen in Florida and when they happen we all have to do something to help.

"I just felt the time was right. We're promoting a movie. I think the best movie openings and promotions are when you can do it for charity and help people. I live here. These are my people."

Pullen added, "This means a lot and helps lift the spirit of our people. When they know somebody as big a star as John Travolta cares about them, it makes a difference."

The screening of the biker comedy raised an additional $15,000 and Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers presented the star with a key to the city.

Wild Hogs, which features an ensemble cast including Tim Allen, William H. Macy and Martin Lawrence, also scored big at the box office over the weekend, taking in $38 million.

'Desperate Housewives' Execs Furious About Longoria Leak

HOLLYWOOD - Desperate Housewives bosses are furious with star Eva Longoria for revealing confidential storylines during an interview on national TV.

The star, who plays Gabrielle Solis on the show, leaked secret storylines while making an appearance on talk show The View.

(SPOILER ALERT!) When asked about what viewers could expect on the show, she revealed her character's husband, Carlos, won't leave the show as rumored and that they will suffer through stormy times but will ultimately have a 'surprise' lovers' reunion next season.

Show executives were furious because storylines from the show are kept top secret to keep viewers tuning in.

According to the National Enquirer, executives have issued a stern warning to writers, producers, directors and show staff to not reveal any information regarding the show to Longoria.

Jolie to Adopt Young Male Orphan

HOLLYWOOD - Angelina Jolie is hoping to adopt a young Vietnamese boy, an adoption official has confirmed.

Vu Duc Long, director of the Southeast Asian nation's Ministry of Justice's International Adoption Department, announced on Friday that the actress had filed papers through a U.S. adoption agency to take custody of a child.

On Saturday, he released further information, confirming the child is a male and is younger than her current adopted son Maddox and older than her adopted daughter Zahara Marley and biological daughter Shiloh Nouvel.

Long said, "She has made an application to adopt a boy aged between three and four years old and her paperwork will be processed according to the regulations like everyone else.

"Normally it takes about four months to process an adoption request but if she has found the child, it could take much less."

Jolie, her partner Brad Pitt and their family visited Vietnam in November in between filming of A Mighty Heart in Pakistan.

Jolie adopted Cambodian-born Maddox in 2002 and Ethiopian-born Zahara in 2005. She gave birth to Pitt's child Shiloh in Namibia last May.

For The Record: Quick News On Anna Nicole Smith, C-Murder, 'Idol,' Timbaland, Nas, Angelina Jolie & More

Anna Nicole Smith — in an extravagant dress — was buried in the Bahamas on Friday (March 2) next to her 20-year-old son, Daniel, The Associated Press reports. The former model's coffin was covered in pink rhinestones, and her favorite color was also fully represented inside the church where a memorial service was held. Guests told the news outlet that Slash was among the fewer than 100 guests who attended the service, and that country singer Joe Nichols performed two songs. ...

C-Murder can breathe a little easier: A Louisiana judge eased her gag order on the rapper on Thursday, saying C-Murder can promote his new CD and novel but can't discuss the second-degree-murder charge being levied against him, AP reports. Corey Miller must stay at his grandmother's house until his new trial, for which a date has not been set, and must abide by the previous house-arrest rules. Judge Martha Sassone has had a gag order in place to minimize pre-trial publicity in the case, which involves the January 2002 shooting death of a 16-year-old. ...

Antonella Barba weathered a photo scandal and a less-than-stellar attempt at a Celine Dion hit to keep her spot in the "American Idol" running, but four other contestants weren't as fortunate Thursday night. Nick Pedro — who performed "Fever" on Tuesday and left the competition early on his own last year — was the first to be eliminated Thursday, followed by Alaina Alexander, who sang the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice" during Wednesday's performance round. AJ Tablado and Leslie Hunt — who each performed Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" this week — were also sent home. Sixteen singers remain in the competition. ...

Rapper and producer Timbaland will host a fundraiser for New York Senator and presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton on March 31 in Miami. According to The Miami Herald, the event is planned for the last day of the first-quarter fundraising period for presidential candidates. Hillary's hubby, former President Bill Clinton, is also scheduled to appear at the bash, which will cost $1,000 to attend. ... Nas kicks off a monthlong theater tour April 2 in Cleveland. The 23-date Hip Hop Is Dead run will hit cities including Baltimore, Atlanta, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver and Los Angeles before wrapping up May 2 in San Diego. ...

Angelina Jolie filed papers this week to adopt a child from Vietnam, an adoption official for the country told AP Friday. There's no word yet on whether Jolie and Brad Pitt — with whom she already has three children, two of which were adopted — will be united with the child. ... DNA samples of James Brown's body have been collected, AP reports. Tomi Rae Hynie, who claims to be the deceased singer's fourth wife, mourned in front of Brown's open casket on Thursday, before the samples were taken. She did not say when or where Brown would be buried, however. ...

Marilyn Manson is exhibiting his latest paintings at Space 39 Modern & Contemporary Gallery in Fort Myers, Florida, from April 1-17. A private reception will be held March 31. ... Cybill Shepherd and Brooke Shields joined Remy Ma, DJ Spinderella and host Downtown Julie Brown at New York's Culture Club Thursday night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Reebok's Freestyle sneaker. ... The original lineup of punk icons Bad Brains — frontman H.R., guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer and drummer Earl Hudson — are wrapping up the recording of their forthcoming album, which will hit stores this spring and is being produced by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch. The yet-untitled album will be the band's first studio release since 2003's I And I Survived. ...

The Arctic Monkeys were the big winners at Thursday night's Shockwaves NME Awards, winning Best Album for their debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, and Best DVD for "Scummy Man." Other winners included My Chemical Romance (Best International Band), Muse (Best British Band), Klaxons (Best New Band), Kasabian (Best Live Band), the Killers (Best Video for "Bones"), Primal Scream (Godlike Genius Award) and MCR's Gerard Way, who was dubbed the Hero of the Year in the poll voted on by music fans. Because it wouldn't be a British awards show without some Pete Doherty drama, the troubled Babyshambles singer and his girlfriend, model Kate Moss, were asked by security to leave the event early after a series of incidents in which they were caught becoming "too amorous," according to NME. The couple reportedly tried to enter a bathroom stall together and were later caught in a dark alleyway behind the building. ...

Guster will release the eight-song EP Satellite April 10. The collection includes an Astronauts remix of the title track, which is the band's latest single, as well as four new songs and two live covers: the Beatles' "Two of Us" and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." ... Who do you trust? Those closest to you, perhaps? This is the question Stars are posing to themselves by releasing Do You Trust Your Friends? on May 22. The release — a remix record of the Montreal pop quintet's 2005 effort, Set Yourself on Fire — uses the same ordered Fire track list and features Metric, the Dears, Final Fantasy, Junior Boys, the Stills and Camouflage Nights with Kevin Drew (of Broken Social Scene), among many others. Stars are currently in a Vancouver, British Columbia, studio recording the Fire follow-up, which is due in the fall. ...

Chopper, formerly of Diddy's Da Band, had a bench warrant issued against him Wednesday for failing to appear at a hearing in Baltimore — because he was jailed in Atlanta. The rapper was charged with assault, battery and obstructing a police officer last week following a dispute with his girlfriend, The Associated Press reports. He is being held without bail pending a March 6 hearing. While incarcerated, Chopper missed a court appearance in Baltimore stemming from a 2001 robbery charge and the presiding judge issued a warrant for his arrest. ... After nearly a dozen years together, California rockers Stavesacre are calling it a day. According to a statement from the band, "Stavesacre as we know it is done. There is no tragic 'Behind the Music' story. We all love each other, and you, as much as we ever have. We just feel that after an incredible 11-year run, it is time to close this particular chapter in our rock and roll journey."

03.01.2007

Britney Spears temporarily left rehab Wednesday, reportedly to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. TMZ.com, one of the many outlets that have followed the pop star's every move in recent months, photographed Spears wearing a wig under a brown hat and smiling as another woman escorted her out of Promises Residential Treatment Center in Malibu, California. She apparently attended an AA meeting and then returned to Promises, although a spokesperson was not immediately available to confirm. Meanwhile, Us Weekly is reporting that Spears entered rehab at ex Kevin Federline's insistence. "He is her biggest supporter," a source close to Federline told Us. ...

Anna Nicole Smith will be buried in the Bahamas beside her son on Friday, The Associated Press reports. The memorial service will include 300 guests, while only 30 will attend the burial, and the casket will most likely be closed. The memorial service organizer told the news outlet that the event will be "over the top," with loads of pink flowers; the burial is expected to be significantly more intimate. ...

Bobby Brown was released from a Massachusetts jail Wednesday night after the singer-turned-reality-TV star paid $19,000 in back child support and court fees. Brown spent three days behind bars for the violation and is scheduled to appear in court later Thursday (March 1). ... In a Manhattan, New York, court on Thursday, Foxy Brown pleaded guilty to violating her probation by leaving the state without proper permission. In mid-February, the rapper traveled to Pembroke Pines, Florida, for show dates and was arrested on battery and resisting-arrest charges after a dustup at a beauty parlor. Brown's probation period has been extended by six months, but Judge Melissa Jackson warned: "I'm reserving the right to re-sentence you to jail for one year" should another infraction occur. ...

Zack de la Rocha will make a rare public appearance March 12 at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel when he inducts Patti Smith into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jay-Z will induct Grandmaster Flash, while Eddie Vedder will do the honors for R.E.M., Keith Richards for the Ronettes, and Velvet Revolver's Scott Weiland and Slash for Van Halen. The ceremony will also honor Rock Hall co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, who died in December, with a surprise performance. ...

Ludacris has signed on to reprise his role as Ice-T's nephew on the season finale of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," according to the New York Post. The episode is set to air May 22. ... Pearl Jam will headline this year's Lollapalooza, 15 years after the band broke into the mainstream thanks in part to an appearance at the same festival, industry sources have told the Chicago Sun-Times. The three-day event will take place in Chicago's Grant Park August 3-5, and additional acts and ticket-sale dates aren't expected to be announced for weeks. ...

Nelly Furtado helped shape the video for "Give It to Me," her collaboration with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, she explained to MTV News. "I remember speaking to Tim on the phone and saying, 'Tim you've got to do like a raw video. That would be so cool.' " Furtado described the clip, which was shot earlier this month at a private pre-Grammy performance the trio staged in Los Angeles, as "really memorable" — and "really cheap." "Everything is getting so shimmering and slick and shiny that it's kind of fun to see three artists just doing their thing and goofing off in a video." ... Ciara, who just released the "empowerment record" "Like a Boy," hopes to shoot another movie after her summer tour. "I actually just met with a director and I read a script the other day, so a couple things may happen," she said. "I can't say what it is, but I will say that some of my favorites are action and comedy and I love scary movies as well." ...

Korn have recruited Clint Lowery, formerly of Sevendust and Dark New Day, as their new touring guitarist. Lowery will replace Rob Patterson, who'd been the band's touring guitarist following the 2005 departure of founding guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. The latest lineup shift for the band follows drummer David Silveria's hiatus, which was announced in December. Silveria has been temporarily replaced by drummer Terry Bozzio, who has been working with Korn on their forthcoming studio album and will travel with the band on its upcoming tour. Lowery is set to make his onstage debut with Korn during their acoustic performance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" Thursday. ... The release date for Chris Cornell's forthcoming solo CD Carry On, which was originally set for May 1, has been moved to June 5. Cornell recently announced his departure from Audioslave. ...

Chuck D, former Salt-N-Pepa DJ Spinderella and rapper Jean Grae are among the judges of a teen hip-hop songwriting contest sponsored by Essence magazine and Berklee College of Music. Three winners of the competition, which closes March 9, will win a free program at the Boston music school this summer, while two runners-up will be rewarded with an online course at BerkleeMusic.com. Visit Essence.com/TakeBackTheMusic for contest details. ... Angelina Jolie visited Sudanese refugees in neighboring country Chad earlier this week, AP reports. The actress/ UN goodwill ambassador braved a sandstorm to go to the 26,000-person Oure Cassoni camp in the eastern part of the country. ... Travis will release their fifth album, The Boy With No Name, May 8. Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck) produced the album, which includes the first single, "Closer." ... Ryan Adams' ninth studio album, Easy Tiger, is due June 5. Songs include "Goodnight Rose," "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old" and "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc." ...

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney met for the second day of a hearing on Thursday, with journalists swarming London's High Court upon learning of the meeting, Reuters reports. Although neither the ex-Beatle nor his estranged wife spoke with reporters, Paul McCartney gave a victory salute as he was driven away from the courthouse. ... Sick of It All frontman Lou Koller has been grappling with intense back pain and was taken to the hospital this week because he couldn't move without being in a lot of agony. As a result of the back injury, the band will be forced to miss at least the West Coast portion of its upcoming tour with the Dropkick Murphys. ... Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz has formed his own indie label, Tyrannosaurus Records (T-Recs). The first two albums will come from Chicago's Blacktop Mourning and New York MC Notar, both discovered by Duritz on MySpace.

Kelis Charged With Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest

Kelis was arrested early Friday (March 2) in Miami Beach, Florida, after allegedly screaming racial profanities and rushing toward two female officers who were posing as prostitutes.

The 27-year-old singer and wife to rapper Nas was detained at 4:30 a.m. and charged with two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence.

According to the police report obtained by The Associated Press, undercover officers were posing as prostitutes along the 1400 block of Collins Avenue — the heart of South Beach's famed nightclub district — when Kelis began shouting slurs. (A spokesperson for the Miami Beach Police Department did not immediately return calls.)

She then allegedly charged the officers and had to be restrained by friends. When Kelis charged them a second time, the officers handcuffed the singer, who authorities say resisted arrest.

Kelis, whose last name is Rogers-Jones, was taken to Miami-Dade County Jail, where she was later released on a $1,500 bail bond.

Jared Leto Breaks Nose At 30 Seconds To Mars Concert

True chaos ensued Thursday at the Taste of Chaos tour stop in El Paso, Texas, resulting in 30 Seconds to Mars singer Jared Leto sustaining a broken nose and other injuries.

According to a spokesperson for the band's record label, Leto was injured when he ran into the crowd during "The Kill" and thousands of fans overpowered security and rushed toward him on the floor of County Coliseum.

Along with his nose, which was unintentionally broken, Leto suffered a foot injury and superficial injuries to his face and body.

Leto finished the show and even declared it one of the best of the tour, but eventually checked into a hospital to ensure that none of his injuries would require surgery. 30 Seconds to Mars are scheduled to perform Friday (March 2) in Dallas.

"I've been producing shows for 25 years and this was one of the scariest moments I have witnessed," Taste of Chaos organizer Kevin Lyman said in a statement. "We hope Jared's injuries are all minor and that he has a speedy recovery."

Harry Potter Will Be Played By Daniel Radcliffe In Final Two Flicks

Did some sly wizard slip Felix Felicis into our cornflakes? The magical potion known to make drinkers successful and lucky in all their endeavors is surely responsible for the just-announced news that Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to star in the final two "Harry Potter" films: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

"Daniel signed several weeks ago and is very much looking forward to filming ['Half-Blood Prince'] in September," a spokesperson told MTV News on behalf of Radcliffe's publicist, Vanessa Davies.

Radcliffe's official return as the marked wizard ends weeks of speculation that he would be denied the role due to his performances in "Equus," a daringly adult play by Peter Shaffer known for its stark pessimism and implied violence. As Alan Strang, a young patient with a pathological fascination with horses, the 17-year-old actor was required to get fully nude onstage (see "Final 'Harry Potter' Book's Release Set As Films' Star Fights Controversy").

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth book in author J.K. Rowling's blockbuster series, follows Harry as the wizarding world wages war around him. Primarily concerned with Harry's tutelage into the Dark Lord Voldemort's distant past, "Half-Blood Prince" is considered by many fans to be the darkest of the novels.

While not much beyond fan speculation can be said regarding "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the novel is sure to center on Harry's search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes, the treasured items that house part of the dark wizard's soul and keep him immortal . The book, which arrives on shelves July 21, is also likely to include the prophesied final battle between Harry and He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.

To that end, fans will be watching "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," opening in theaters July 13, with a keen eye toward divining possible plot points for the series' conclusion.

Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who play Harry's best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, have not yet signed on for the remaining two films, although both have expressed interest in doing so.

Muse voted best British band

Last night's NME Awards saw Muse pick up the gong for Best British Band while Wimbledon's Jamie T beat Thom York, Jarvis and once-again snubbed Lily Allen to pick up
Best Solo Artist.

The aftershow party, no doubt still carrying on, was hosted by 1965 Records with The Draytones and It Came From The Sea playing live sets for all the VIPs.

All the winners are as follows:

Best British Band - Muse
Best International Band - My Chemical Romance
Best Solo Artist - Jamie T
Best New Band - Klaxons
Best Live Band - Kasabian
Philip Hall Radar Award - The Twang
John Peel Innovation Award - Enter Shikari
Best Album - Arctic Monkeys, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'
Best Track - The View, 'Wasted Little DJs'
Best Video - The Killers, 'Bones'
Best Music DVD - Arctic Monkeys, 'Scummy Man'
Best Live Event - Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds festivals
Best TV Show - 'The Mighty Boosh'
Best Radio Show - Zane Lowe, Radio 1
Best Film - 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'
Sexiest Man - Matt Bellamy
Sexiest Woman - Kate Moss
Worst Band - Panic! At The Disco
Worst Album - Robbie Williams, 'Rudebox'
Worst Dressed - Lily Allen
Best Dressed - Faris Rotter
Villain Of The Year - George W Bush
Hero Of The Year - Gerard Way
Best Venue - Carling Brixton Academy
Best Website - YouTube

Klaxons scoop best new band award

Congratulations to Klaxons who have won the best new band at the Shockwaves NME Awards. The young threesome were noticeably emotional at the honour as they collected the
award from top Radio 1 girls Jo Whiley and Edith Bowman.

One third of the new rave outfit, Jamie Righton excitedly said, "Jeez, well, thank you so much," said Jamie Righton. "We are indeed a new band! But I'd like to mention how good Tim Burgess looks. Thanks to The View too. Cheers."

They beat off stiff competition from The Fratellis, The Horrors, The View and The Kooks.

Dirty Pretty Things new album in the pipeline

Dirty Pretty Things have started work on the follow up album to Waterloo to Anywhere, according to the NME. They’ve written a bundle of new songs with several likely to appear on the new recording. Guitarist Anthony Rossamondo revealed, "We're not interested in making some archetypal self-indulgent second album. Every band feels pressure for their second album because it's supposed to be an elevation from the first one, but we've seen a lot of second albums come out over the past year and most of them aren't really about anything, they're just about trying really hard to write hits. We'd like to be able to do what Nirvana did which was to write songs that were popular but also have integrity. So we're trying to do that I guess. Everything's got to happen naturally, if it doesn't it's just bullshit and people will see through it. We're
not concerned with being massive we just want to be integral."

The NME further reveal that Rossomando only now feels like a proper member of Dirty Pretty Things. "I actually feel for the first time since the last tour that it's my band just as much as Carl's. He's really fucking cool about that. That's what The Libertines were about, in the beginning anyway, it was about that bouncing off each other and collaborating."

The US Vs John Lennon DVD

Before Iraq, before the Bush Administration, before the Dixie Chicks, Bruce Springsteen, and Pearl Jam… there was John Lennon, the celebrated musical artist who used his fame and his fortune to protest the Vietnam War and advocate for world peace. In Lionsgate’s critically-acclaimed theatrical release, The U.S. vs. John Lennon, which makes its DVD debut this February, filmmakers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld trace Lennon’s metamorphosis from lovable “Moptop” to anti-war activist to inspirational icon as they reveal the true story of how
and why the U.S. government tried to silence him. .

Beloved by critics nationwide, The U.S. vs. John Lennon was called “an immensely important and engrossing film that should not be missed under any circumstances” by Maxim Magazine while the Wall Street Journal hailed it as “a fascinating documentary” and Rolling Stone said “Lennon’s spirit, like his music, shines through this movie like a beacon.” Providing unparalleled insight into the legendary musician and political figure, the documentary features appearances by a slew of influential figures from the time including Carl Bernstein, Noam Chomsky, Walter Cronkite, Mario Cuomo, John Dean, G. Gordon Liddy, George McGovern and more. In addition, a one-of-a-kind soundtrack features more than three dozen songs by John Lennon, Yoko Ono Lennon, and The Beatles while compelling DVD extras include over 50 minutes of additional documentary footage.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
• Additional Documentary Footage includes:
o Becoming John Lennon
o Power to the People
o Dissent vs. Disloyalty
o Then and Now
o Walter Cronkite Meets The Beatles
o The “Two Virgins” Album Cover
o “Sometime in New York”
o “Imagine”
o The One To One Benefit Concert
o Yoko Ono Lennon’s Letter To The Parole Board
• DVD-Rom Exclusive – Interview with John and Yoko Ono Lennon courtesy of Tariq Ali, reprinted from his book, Streetfighting Years: An Autobiography of the Sixties.

Beastie Boys to headline Bestival 2007

New York rappers Beastie Boys have confirmed a headline slot at the Isle of Wight’s cool festival, Bestival. The event is scheduled for September 7-9 at Robin Hill Country Park,

Newport.


Other acts lined up include:

GREGORY ISAACS, THE LEVELLERS, THE ORB, BILLY BRAGG, THE MACCABEES, THE CUBAN BROTHERS, DUB PISTOLS, CALVIN HARRIS, MR HUDSON & THE LIBRARY, SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO, BONDE DE ROLE, CAGEDBABY, HORACE ANDY, JAH WOBBLE, ZION TRAIN, FUJIYA AND MIYAGI, KATE NASH, FIONN REGAN, FIELDS, DAEDALUS, SKA CUBANO, REMI NICOLE, DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP, SUPER NASHWAN, THE SHAKES, ADJAGAS AND MANY MORE LIVE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

PLUS DJs: FRANCOIS KEVORKIAN, GILLES PETERSON, TIM WESTWOOD,
ROB DA BANK, DAVID HOLMES, JUSTIN ROBERTSON, EROL ALKAN,
BEN WATT, ANDY C AND MANY MORE DJS OF THE HIGHEST CALIBRE

Plus the world’s biggest fancy dress party, Bollywood cocktail bar, Laughter Clubs, Farmers market, Kids area, Morris dancing, magical moments and much more…Should be a corker of an event.

Shields Reaches Out to Spears

HOLLYWOOD - Actress Brooke Shields has offered help to Britney Spears, amid reports the troubled singer is suffering from postpartum depression.

Reports last week claimed Spears had been reading Shields' 2005 book, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression, during her current stay in at the Promise rehab center in Malibu, California.

Shields wrote the book after successfully conquering postpartum depression with the aid of counseling and the antidepressant Paxil following the birth of her first child, Rowan, in 2003.

Shields tells TV show Access Hollywood, "I hope she's fine. I believe she's going to be fine, and she just needs the support and her kids. She's their only mom, and she'll earn that back in her own mind.

"(If she is suffering from depression) then it really needs to be reckoned with, and it's very common, and she'll get through it.

"If she is reading my book, I hope it's helping her. If it's not, and she wants to talk to someone, I'm available. She is followed every moment of her life, and she's documented every minute of her life."

Hudson and Whitaker Triumph at Image Awards

HOLLYWOOD - Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson picked up acting prizes at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday, just six days after their Oscar wins.

Whitaker was named Best Actor for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, while Hudson garnered Best Supporting Actress for her role as Effie White in Dreamgirls at the star-studded ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Accepting his award, Whitaker said, "Doing this role gave me so many blessings. One was being able to go back to Africa and touch my roots."

Hudson gushed, "There is nothing like being recognized and honored by your own."

Keke Palmer picked up the coveted Best Actress award for Akeelah and the Bee, while Djimon Hounsou was named Best Supporting Actor for Blood Diamond, after losing out in the same category last weekend at the Academy Awards.

Will Smith's movie The Pursuit of Happyness won the Best Motion Picture honor, and Spike Lee was named Best Director for Inside Man.

In the TV categories, Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington received Best Actor for a Drama Series and his costar Chandra Wilson accepted Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Other winners in TV included Vanessa Williams for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for Ugly Betty--which was named Best Television Comedy Series--Tyler James Williams for Actor in a Comedy Series in Everybody Hates Chris, and Tracee Ellis Ross for Actress in a Comedy Series in Girlfriends.

In music, Prince and Mary J. Blige picked up Male Artist and Female Artist, respectively, The Roots in the Group category, and Gladys Knight for Jazz Artist.

Comedian Bill Cosby was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame and U2 frontman Bono received the Chairman's Award for his tireless campaigner against world poverty and debt.

The Image awards are given out annually by America's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The Host - Movie Review

Story
Irrepressible 10-year-old Hyun-seo (Ko A-sung) comes home furious at her rather irresponsible father Gang-du (Song Kang-ho) for missing another parent-teacher conference. Yelling at him at his food stand by the Han River, the two are oblivious to the fact a crowd of people have gathered to stare at a monstrous bat-like creature that has perched upside down underneath the bridge, who then dives into the water and disappears into a sea of bubbles. Suddenly, it bursts out of the water and begins eating and crushing people. Gang-du does his share to save people, but he loses track of his daughter and watches as the creature grips her in its tail and dives under the river. With his remaining family around him and the media clicking pictures, the grieving father gets a phone call interrupting the funeral for his daughter. It's Hyun-seo, saying she is alive, but she fears that she won't be for long.


Acting
Song Kang-ho as the hapless father is both a comedian and a tragic figure, and he balances both of those identities well. In the frenzy to save his daughter, the pudgy irresponsible dad becomes a hero who defies the government, mobs of people, his family and the creature itself. He does it far better than Tom Cruise did in War of the Worlds. Ko A-sung does a nice job, using all her bravery against a giant monster. She shows her own maturity and tenderness when she has to help a young boy who is also captured by the creature and stuffed in a pit with torn-up bodies.


Direction
Director Bong Joon-ho not only comments on the environment in this monster movie, but he pokes fun at the media frenzy of a big story as well as government bungling. The creature is a host to a virus that was caused when a scientist spills chemicals into the river. The creature isn't a typical Godzilla-like reptile but a unique dinosaur hybrid that walks and moves realistically through the city. The director keeps the story surprising, shocking and doesn't take the expected route American audiences usually see. For that reason, The Host is not for the faint-of-heart--or the people who always expect happy endings.

The Last Mimzy (2007) - Coming Soon

Sci-Fi

Starring: Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Rainn Wilson, Joely Richardson, Megan McKinnon, Marc Thomas Musso

Synopsis:
Two children discover a mysterious box that contains some strange devices they think are toys. As the children play with these "toys," they begin to display higher and higher intelligence levels. Their teacher tells their parents that they seem to have grown beyond genius. Their parents, too, realize something extraordinary is happening. Emma, the younger of the two, tells her confused mother that one of the toys, a beat-up stuffed toy rabbit, is named Mimzy and that "she teaches me things." As Emma’s mom becomes increasingly concerned, a blackout shuts down the city and the government traces the source of the power surge to Emma’s family’s house. Things quickly spin wildly out of their control. The children are focused on these strange objects, Mimzy, and the important mission on which they seem to have been sent. When the little girl says that Mimzy contains a most serious message from the future, a scientific scan shows that Mimzy is part extremely high level electronic, and part organic! Everyone realizes that they are involved in something incredible--but exactly what?

The Last Mimzy Trailer

Exterminating Angels (2007) - Coming Soon

Drama, Thriller, Foreign

Starring: Raphaele Godin, Lise Bellynck, Maroussia Dubreuil, Frederic Van Den Driessche, Marie Allan

Synopsis:
Francois, a filmmaker, is preparing a thriller. During screen tests for a brief nude scene with an actress, he discovers the pleasure some women can have in the transgression of minor erotic taboos. Driven by the desire to contribute something new to the cinema, he decides to make a film that mixes fiction and reality and centers on something which unexpectedly becomes an enigma and a taboo: the minor transgressions that are a source of pleasure. His research into eroticism raises basic questions. But like Icarus approaching the sun, he only burns his wings.

Exterminating Angels Trailer

Breach - Movie Review

Story
In February 2001, a highly regarded, long-serving FBI agent was arrested for selling U.S. secrets to Russia over a period of 15 years; Breach tells his story as well as that of the man who spied on him. Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), the now infamous treasonist, led a Jekyll-and-Hide lifestyle, which the FBI would use to ultimately build up a case and arrest him. But first they needed a young, hungry, sly and innocent-seeming up-and-comer to gain Hanssen’s trust enough to just barely cause him to let his guard down. That’s where Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) comes in. O’Neill is just what his boss (Laura Linney) had in mind, and she quickly clues him in: This is the “worst breach in U.S. history,” with Hanssen being responsible for countless American deaths and dollars, and Hanssen’s a sexual deviant. But after spending long days by the agent’s side, O’Neill sees nothing but a misunderstood man and wants to call off the mission. However, after some more inside info from his boss and manifestations from Hanssen himself, O’Neill is onto the cause, even if it means putting his life at risk.


Acting
Playing real-life people is much different from playing fictional characters because real people are extremely complex—neither exclusively good nor, as in this case, exclusively bad. That’s why veteran actor Cooper’s performance is so riveting and his acting so widely lauded: He lends so much humanity to a character he could’ve portrayed as a true villain. In fact, his ability to humanize each of his characters—not only because he looks like an Everyman—is what makes him one of the best, most credible actors of today. Whereas we’re supposed to object to Cooper from the moment he opens his mouth, Phillippe is not supposed to be disliked. It’s hard not to the way he almost struts his attitude, but the Crash star and former Mr. Reese Witherspoon turns in one of his better performances. The real O’Neill might not have looked like a male model, but he must’ve been deeply conflicted and consumed by his mission and Phillippe conveys that much. However, he still seems unable to hit some high notes. And Linney (Exorcism of Emily Rose), in a limited role, adds sheer class and professionalism, as is her career trademark.


Direction
Writer/director Billy Ray will seemingly accept writing gigs for just about any genre (Hart's War, Flightplan, Suspect Zero), but he apparently has his heart set on nonfiction when it comes to directing. His rookie effort, the ripped-from-the-headlines Shattered Glass, evoked superb fly-on-the-wall tension, not unlike Breach. Which isn’t to compare either movie to a documentary, but both are executed rather organically and it speaks volumes about a director’s talent when he or she can pinpoint and articulate the intrigue of a true story, as opposed to contriving a gimmick (i.e., camerawork or special effects) from a fictitious story to arouse viewers’ interest. Ray clearly has no interest in tricking viewers at all, and yet Breach remains engrossing throughout. It’s the ultimate testament to the success of his no-frills filmmaking. It can be said that neither of the main characters is explored deeply enough, but (a) that’s what books are for and (b) such is the constraint of the medium of (taut) film.

Daddy's Little Girls - Movie Review

Story
Daddy's Little Girls is a more serious tome than Perry’s other films, but it still goes for some cheap laughs when it's convenient, even without the Madea character. Divorced single dad Monty (Idris Elba), a mechanic who dreams of owning his own shop, is good with his three daughters, tending to their needs as best he can. Monty also has a second job, driving uber-attorney Julia Rossmore (Gabrielle Union) around, but he loses that job when he handles a family matter on her time. Monty’s life changes, however, when the girls’ grandma dies, and their troubled mother Jennifer (Tasha Smith) storms back into their lives with the means to take legal custody. With nowhere else to turn, he goes to Julia for help, and she realizes he is not the low-life baby daddy she thought he was. They form a bond, and although the romance has obstacles, they manage to overcome their differences.


Acting
Elba (HBO’s The Wire) is a real discovery. As a likeable everyman struggling to get by in a bad situation, he doesn’t play Monty for pity. Instead, he projects integrity and nobility with moderate doses of humor and anger when appropriate and is the only character in the film who has any amount of measure. As the greedy mom, Smith (ATL) is also quite good--almost scary crazy, showing just how unstable and unhinged her character can get. But unfortunately, Union is just doing her uptight Deliver Us From Eva character again--to the extreme. Her jittery stress is just uncomfortable to watch. It's likely she was asked to dial it up for some attempts at comedy but the performance seems forced overall. Also phoning it in are Tracee Ellis Ross and Terri J. Vaughn as Julia's friends, the ultimate shallow stereotypes. They hook Julia up with total losers with no money, who cheat on their families, but they have issues with a mechanic who's up front about his kids? It doesn’t make sense and hard to believe an educated lawyer would take advice from these two.


Direction
There is nothing as broadly comic as the director himself in drag, but Daddy's Little Girls tries to match Tyler Perry's other films in tone. Unfortunately, Perry—who stays behind the camera this time—switches the mood from comedy to ultra-serious in a jarring manner. Storytelling is supposed to guide you. There should be a flow, not just dramatic conflicts so melodramatic, it's beyond soap opera, or comedy so clichéd and unsophisticated, it’s painful to watch sometimes. Take one of Julia's bad blind dates, for example. He wants her to pay, he raps, he screams in an elegant restaurant, he thinks filet mignon is fish, and then he orders scrimps. That’s supposed to be one of the funnier scenes. Perry even inserts a random church sermon, to appeal to his core audience. Ultimately, you end up really missing that sharp-tongued, bullying old black woman.

Bridge to Terabithia - Movie Review

Story
Don’t let the previews fool you—Terabithia isn’t anything like Chronicles of Narnia. Based on the Newbery-Award winning children’s novel by Katharine Paterson, the story is more about childhood friendships and the way imagination can, quite literally, open new worlds. Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) sees himself as an outsider at school—and at home. He really only feels himself when he’s drawing. Then he meets the new kid, Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), who has just moved from the big city. Despite their differences—she’s rich, he’s poor—they become fast friends. Leslie, who likes to spin magical stories, opens Jess’ eyes to the possibilities and together they create the secret kingdom of Terabithia, a mystical place accessible by swinging on an old rope over a stream in the woods near their homes. Interacting with the Terabithian denizens they’ve imagined, both evil and good, Jess and Leslie learn to deal with the pressures of their young pre-adolescent lives—and learn what the power of real friendship truly means.


Acting
The young, fresh cast really make Bridge to Terabithia work. Robb and Hutcherson are already veteran kid actors: Robb is best known for stealing hearts in Because of Winn-Dixie (another kid novel adaptation) and popping chewing gum as Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while Hutcherson played the tough older brother in Zathura as well as Robin Williams’ kid in R.V. Their acting experience clearly shows as they make the friendship between Jess and Leslie both genuine and heartfelt. There isn’t a false moment in their performances, especially from Hutcherson, who at first sends off an I-could-care-less vibe but, through his soulful eyes, becomes more attached to Leslie and their secret place. And as Jess’ little sister, 7 year-old Bailee Madison plays the moppet without any cutesy affectations. As far as the adults are concerned, stand outs include Robert Patrick as Jess’ stern dad, just trying to make ends meet for his family, and Zooey Deschanel, as the kids’ music teacher who Jess has a crush on.


Direction
In 1978, author Katharine Paterson wrote Bridge to Terabithia for her then 11 year-old son, David Paterson, about a special friendship he had. It was an instant hit. Now, David, all grown up, is able to bring his mom’s touching story to life as one of the writers. Talk about a family effort, backed by Walden Media--the geniuses behind Holes and Chronicles of Narnia. Directed by Rugrats creator Gabor Csupo, Terabithia truly captures the essence of childhood imagination even, I dare say, more so than Narnia. Maybe it’s because the idea of Terabithia comes from the minds’ of very real children, who are going through very real emotions as they enter into adolescence. Csupo keeps the imagery simple, allowing audiences to create a fantasy world, filled with mythical creatures, right along with the film’s main characters. And if you haven’t read the book, you might be surprised by the story’s poignancy. In a saturated field of animated duds and kid films better suited as after-school TV specials, Bridge to Terabithia stands out as a one of the better family movies to come around in a long time.

Gray Matters - Movie Review

Story
When people first meet Gray (Heather Graham) and Sam (Tom Cavanagh), they often assume the deeply connected pair are a couple--after all, they live together, spend all their free time together, and even finish each other's sentences. But they're not so much boyfriend and girlfriend as they are brother and sister, and it's high time they broadened their horizons. Enter Charlie (Bridget Moynahan), a bright, beautiful zoologist who sweeps Sam off his feet with her first smile. A whirlwind romance leads to matrimony--and a startling realization for Gray, who discovers that she might feel more than sisterly affection for her brother's wife. From there, the movie follows Gray's journey toward self-acceptance and fulfillment ... in between scenes where she talks the ear off of anyone who will listen, including smitten cabbie Gordy (Alan Cumming).


Acting
Gray Matters doesn't really seem like a stretch for any of its stars. Graham has already done the wide-eyed, neurotic single-girl shtick plenty of times, and--even with its "am I gay?" storyline--the movie doesn't offer anything new on that front. Plus, Gray is so busy yammering on and on about nothing that Graham doesn't have time to do much more than make big gestures and mug for the camera. Cavanagh's brand of goofy charm has been more or less the same Ed, Moynahan's only requirement is to walk around in skimpy lingerie and be irresistible, and Molly Shannon is gratingly broad as Gray's friend/co-worker Carrie. Cumming's Gordy is one of the film's few bright spots; the usually fey Scotsman plays it sweetly (and rather ironically) straight as a new friend who helps Gray cope with the emotional maelstrom she finds herself at the center of.


Direction
Gray Matters is writer/director Sue Kramer's first feature film, so perhaps she deserves a little leniency. Then again... The movie is plagued by unoriginality, from Gray's generic ad agency job to Charlie's drunken Vegas performance of "I Will Survive" to Carrie's rants about body image and Oprah--all are familiar from myriad Hollywood romantic comedies that have come before. The coming-out storyline does set Gray Matters apart, but that doesn't kick in until at least halfway through the movie (which, at just over 90 minutes, still feels long and clunky thanks to the poor pacing). So, by the time Gray is really ready for some self-examination--no thanks to her weird therapist, Sydney (Sissy Spacek, who must have owed someone a favor)--the audience is already thoroughly tired of her monumental insecurity, no matter how valid it is that she feels that way. Ultimately, Gray just doesn't matter.

Amazing Grace - Movie Review

Story
It's the late 18th century, and the African slave trade is thriving in the British Empire, bringing profits to both homegrown shipping centers like Liverpool and far-flung sugar and tobacco plantations in the Americas. All those pounds and pence encourage many bewigged House of Lords members to turn a blind eye to slavery's terrible human cost--until William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) forces them to pay attention. A rich young idealist inspired by John Newton (Albert Finney)--the former slave ship captain who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace"--Wilberforce struggles for more than 15 years to pass a law to end slavery, risking his health and career in the process. He almost gives up, until a fortuitous meeting with beautiful Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai) re-ignites his passion for the cause.


Acting
One of the best things Amazing Grace has going for it is Gruffudd's enthusiastic, heartfelt performance. Probably best known to American audiences as Horatio Hornblower, the Welsh actor is no stranger to period drama, and his ease in knickers and puffy shirts helps ground the film and make Wilberforce an accessible, down-to-earth hero rather than a crusading zealot. Meanwhile, with her arch looks and knowing smiles, Garai gives her relatively thankless role--basically, Barbara is an excuse for exposition-driven flashbacks--a spark of fun. Finney does a little (mostly justified) scenery chewing as Newton, while fellow veteran Michael Gambon has some delightfully devilish moments as Wilberforce's unexpected political ally, Lord Charles Fox. And Rufus Sewell, who often ends up playing smooth baddies, is both witty and wily as fervent abolitionist Thomas Clarkson.


Direction
Considering that director Michael Apted is the man behind the series of groundbreaking British documentaries that began with Seven Up!, Amazing Grace is almost quaintly straightforward and sincere. There's no question that William Wilberforce fought for a good cause or that he was a decent man who used his influence to make the world a better place. But, at least in the movie, that world doesn't have too many shades of gray in it, which--while it helps keep the story on track--isn't exactly realistic. Some of the movie's most intriguing scenes follow Wilberforce and his gang of fellow activists as they desperately lobby for votes--proof that the political process hasn't really changed that much in the last 200 years. Had the movie delved more deeply into the complicated back story of Wilberforce's long struggle, it might have delivered a message that modern audiences aren't already sold on.

The Number 23 - Movie Review

Story
The Number 23 starts off with mild-mannered Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) receiving a mysterious novel from his wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen). Suddenly, his idyllic life is thrust into an inferno of psychological torture as he becomes more and more obsessed with the story about a detective named Fingerling. Cutting between scenes with the real Walter and the fictitious Fingerling (also Carrey), they both delve deep into obsession over what the significance of the number means to them. Now, had the The Number 23 just stuck with that idea--how 23 somehow permeates our very existence--then it may have worked better. Instead, the action veers off into Walter’s past, as he starts to unlock suppressed memories and unearths an unsolved murder mystery, which doesn’t really have anything to do with the number. And you feel gypped. Is it a curse (divide 2 by 3 and you get .666)? Does it predict the future (the Mayans believed the world will end Dec. 23, 2012 [20+1+2=23])? Or is it just one of those numbers that haunts you the more you try to figure it out? We want to know more, dammit (that last sentence is 23 characters without spaces, by the way).


Acting
Yes, Carrey plays it straight, and this may be his darkest turn yet, but it’s not like he’s never done it before. Carrey is a consummate actor, folks. He’s pretty good at doing whatever he sets his mind to. He played the straight guy in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind just fine, allowing Kate Winslet to be kooky instead. And as Walter, he resolutely indulges in murderous, obsessive-compulsive behavior while including a few moments of his unique comic stylings. Meanwhile, Madsen is playing her second loving and supportive wife of this week (she plays one in The Astronaut Farmer as well), but that’s fine. She does it effectively. But what she also gets to do in Number 23 is portray a saucy, sex-craved alter ego from the novel, who likes to have dangerous and kinky sex with Fingerling—and she plays it to the hilt. Give this woman more juicy parts!


Direction
Director Joel Schumacher knows how to make a Hollywood movie--that’s why the studios love him. Sure, he’s made more than his fair share of stinkers (Batman Forever AND Batman & Robin) but he has also made some finely tuned thrillers such as Phone Booth and A Time to Kill. Number 23 sort of falls somewhere in between. Schumacher takes some creative license when we are in Fingerling’s world, which makes for some arresting and stylistic visuals, but he and newbie screenwriter Fernley Phillips really stretch things to make the whole murder-mystery subplot work within the context of the premise, opting for cheap thrills and a standardized ending. Honestly, it nearly ruins the whole movie—until you drive home and notice the number 23 EVERYWHERE! Number 23 is still gonna stick with you.

Black Snake Moan (2007)

Drama

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, John Cothran Jr, Michael Raymond-James

Synopsis:
There was a time when Lazarus played the blues; a time he got Bojo's Juke Joint shakin' back in the day. Now he lives them. Bitter and broken from a cheating wife and a shattered marriage, Lazarus' soul is lost in spent dreams and betrayal's contempt--until Rae. Half naked and beaten unconscious, Rae is left for dead on the side of the road when Lazarus discovers her. The God-fearing, middle-aged black man quickly learns that the young white woman he's nursing back to health is none other than the town tramp from the small Tennessee town where they live. Worse, she has a peculiar anxiety disorder. He realizes when the fever hits, Rae's affliction has more to do with love lost than any found. Abused as a child and abandoned by her mother, Rae is used by just about every man in the phone book. She tethers her only hope to Ronnie, but escape to a better life is short-lived when Ronnie ships off for boot camp. Desperation kicks in, as a drug-induced Rae reverts to surviving the only way she knows how, by giving any man what he wants to get what she needs--until Lazarus. Refusing to know her in the biblical sense, Lazarus decides to cure Rae of her wicked ways--and vent some unresolved male vengeance of his own. He chains her to his radiator, justifying his unorthodox methods with quoted scripture. Preacher R.L. intervenes, but it is Lazarus and Rae who redeem themselves. Unleashing Rae emotionally, Lazarus unchains his heart, finding love again in Angela. By saving Rae, he frees himself.

Black Snake Moan Trailer

Wild Hogs (2007)

Comedy

Starring: John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H Macy, Tichina Arnold

Synopsis:
A comedy-adventure about a group of middle-aged friends who decide to rev up their routine suburban lives with a freewheeling motorcycle trip. Taking a long, dreamed-of breather from their stressful jobs and family responsibilities, they can't wait to feel the freedom of the open road. However, when this mis-matched foursome, who have grown far more used to the couch than the saddle, set out for their once-in-a-lifetime experience, they encounter a world that holds far more than they ever bargained for. The trip begins to challenge their wits and their luck, especially during a chance run-in with the Del Fuegos, a real-life biker gang whose members are less than amused with the suburbanites' novice approach. As they go looking for adventure, they soon find that they’ve embarked on a journey they will never forget.

View Trailers Clips:
Wild Hogs Trailer

Ghost Rider (2007)

Action, Thriller, Horror, Adaptation

Synopsis:
Long ago, superstar motorcycle stunt rider Johnny Blaze made a deal with the devil to protect the ones he loved most: his father and his childhood sweetheart, Roxanne. Now, the Devil has come for his due. By day, Johnny is a die-hard stunt rider--but at night in the presence of evil, he becomes the Ghost Rider, a bounty hunter of rogue demons. Forced to do the Devil's bidding, Johnny is determined to confront his fate and use his curse and powers to defend the innocent.

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Wes Bentley, Eva Mendes, Matthew Long, Peter Fonda

Ghost Rider Trailer

Zodiac (2007)

Thriller, Period, Crime, Adaptation

Synopsis:
From 1966 to 1978, the Zodiac Killer claimed victim after victim in the San Francisco Bay area, repeatedly taunting law-enforcement authorities with direct messages bragging about his deeds. The killer is officially blamed for six murders, but claimed to have killed some 37 people and could have been responsible for as many as 50. When Zodiac starts killing again, the son of the broken journalist who tracked his every move and the retired cop who never caught him, continue the search to find the notorious serial killer.

View Trailers Clip:
Zodiac Exclusive Clip: "Don't Tell Mom"