“A Star is Born” or Dead in the Water? Beyonce Drops out of Remake!
There are some movies that you hear about in the news all the time, but they never seem to go anywhere (um, “Ghostbusters 3,” anyone?). Now, it appears that Oscar-heavyweight and empty-chair-embracing Clint Eastwood’s remake of “A Star is Born” is the latest casualty to fall into the abyss of development hell – and he might have a former Destiny’s Child to blame.
For the past few years, it had been rumored that Eastwood’s update of the classic had snagged none other than the girl with the golden voice herself, Beyonce; filming had originally been scheduled to start in February 2012. However, cameras never rolled – you may have heard, Beyonce got pregnant – and unfortunately for Dirty Harry, his muse has now been forced to drop out due to “scheduling issues.”
According to our friends over at Collider, the actress/singer who made such a splash when she graced the screen in the 2006 Oscar-winning film “Dreamgirls” was reportedly forced to pass on the role in order to commit to other projects with confirmed start dates. In short: Beyonce says that Eastwood liked it, but he never put a ring on it.
Rumor now has it that Eastwood is eyeing Grammy-winning jazz musician Esperanza Spalding to possibly take on the role.
Beyonce’s exit is not the first speed-bump the production has encountered, as it has failed to secure its leading man despite courting some serious Hollywood heavy-hitters, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, and Bradley Cooper. In denial of his potential involvement in the project, Cooper shot down the whole concept, saying “there are like three versions already.” Touché, Mr. Cooper, you do speak the truth. “A Star is Born” first graced the screens in 1937, with the more popular Judy Garland-starring version following in 1954, which was then succeeded by the 1976 Barbra Streisand yarn. And that’s not even counting the “Star” rip-offs ranging wildly from “Glitter” and “Burlesque” to “The Artist” and “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.”
Despite it being old and familiar territory, Eastwood – who has won 2 Best Director Oscars for 1992’s “Unforgiven” and 2005’s “Million Dollar Baby,” does not seem swayed from making his passion project a reality. With no confirmed casting or start date though, it’s fair to say this one may end up staying in Tinseltown purgatory for quite some time.
Is Christina Aguilera Leading Us All Back to a Simpler Sexy Time?
At the recent American Music Awards (AMA) nominations press conference in Los Angeles, Christina Aguilera celebrated her full-figure yet again by flashing buxom blonde curves in a form-fitting purple dress and silver platform shoes. Needless to say, the look has raised many eyebrows.
Recent photos posted by the UK’s Daily Mail showed “The Voice” judge and pop icon standing proud and confident, as if she was channeling her inner goddess. In a series of poses showing Aguilera from many different angles, the proud star beamed a new confidence very reminiscent of famed silver screen legend Mae West, almost as if she was channeling the film legend herself.
Is this the beginning of a new movement? With folks like Aguilera and Christina Hendricks speaking out against the “full figure” label recently, perhaps it’s time to look back on Hollywood’s original bombshell.
Like Aguilera (who was born in Staten Island), the Brooklyn-born Mae West was a multi-level star, as a singer, actress, and dancer, and was also not shy about showing off her buxom body and sexual prowess. In the early 1900’s, screen actresses like West, and Jean Harlow made the “buxom blonde” look famous, and appealing to both men (who wanted them) and women (who wanted to be like them). Crowds would line up around the corner to see the platinum blondes show off their electrifying curves on the big screen.
West (1893-1980) was so controversial in her day that here curves and razor-sharp double-entendres often encountered censorship. She released classics like “Klondike Annie” and “My Little Chicakadee,” with WC Fields, probably the role that has aged best and remains her most visible on-screen achievement. In 1933, she asked Cary Grant to “Come up and see me sometime,” pushing that era’s sexual boundaries in a way Aguilera would perfected decades later in Dirrty leather chaps.
Women like West and Harlow set the path for many highly-desired women to follow, but as time passed “blonde” remained but “buxom” began to fade and Hollywood’s obsession with “thin” evolved. Many women have tried to banish the unrealistic celebrity expectations to be model-thin, but most have failed.
Christina Aguilera is among the many iconic figures who’s up-and-down weight gain have been the topic of gossip discussion, but in these recent photos a newfound inner confidence seems to have emerged. And as Mae West herself once said: “Cultivate your curves – they may be dangerous, but they won’t be avoided.”
From “That 70’s Show” to Today – How Did Mila Kunis Become the World’s Sexiest Woman?
Esquire’s annual “Sexiest Woman Alive” issue dropped this week, and the crown of most desired female went to Mila Kunis. The Ukrainian-American actress got her start in less sexy days, beginning at age 12 with bit parts on “Days of Our Lives” and long-forgotten sitcoms like “The John Laroquette Show” and “Unhappily Ever After.”
Of course, Kunis’ career blew up when she was cast as sassy teen Jackie Burkhart on “That 70’s Show,” a role she landed at age 14. When Kunis was asked during her audition when she was turning 18, she smartly answered, “on my birthday,” an answer that reportedly helped convince producers she was perfect for the part.
One year later, Kunis continued her hot streak, being cast as mousy Meg Griffin on the hit cartoon “Family Guy,” a role that she still considers a centerpiece of her red-hot career today. Although it’s hard to be sexy when you’re doing a voice for a cartoon character that even horny neighbor Quagmire doesn’t want to sleep with, Kunis’ made strides on the side with decent work in largely forgettable films like “Moving McAllister” and “Max Payne.”
Her big breakthrough, however, may have come with the 2008 hit flick “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Kunis played the new girl who falls for Jason Segal’s character after his titular girlfriend leaves him for a narcissistic rock star. Playing a hotel employee, Kunis’ Rachel Jansen was the girl next door without being bland, down to earth but still strikingly beautiful.
Soon after, she mixed things up, starring alongside Denzel Washington in “The Book of Eli.” Then came a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, becoming the sultry black swan opposite lilywhite Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman. Was she real? Was she imagined? Was she a lesbian? Was she the Id to Portman’s Super Ego? Nobody knew for sure, but this much was clear – Portman won the Oscar, but Kunis left everyone wanting more.
That film’s now-infamous lesbian sex scene between the two starlets grabbed the world’s attention , daring to go farther than most people were expecting. Kunis then filmed “Friends With Benefits” opposite heartthrob Justin Timberlake, a film about casual sex that helped cement her sexy reputation.
Kunis may be small in stature, standing 5’4,” but her wild personality and sultry look have made this USSR immigrant to Los Angeles a vital member of the Hollywood A-list. And in the opinion of at least one magazine, the sexiest woman alive?
What are your thoughts? Should someone else have won the title? Tell us in the comments below!
Hilarious Video Spoofs “The Hunger Games” and “The Hangover”
The newest viral clip from our friends at “Funny or Die” is pretty hilarious, whether you’re a “Hunger Games” fan, a “Hangover” fan or most likely, all of the above.
“The Hungover Games” is 2:41 of satirical brilliance, featuring a bunch of hard-partying young adults unwillingly chosen to curb their drinking activities and instead fight to the death. When birthday party hostess “Carnation Evergreen” is chosen as a tribute but too drunk to participate, her sister bravely volunteers in her place.
Check it out:
With no sunglasses, no water and no headache medicines allowed, The Hungover Games find the “tributes” engaged in such torturous activities as listening to ear-splittingly loud music, getting a leaf-blower in the face, and attempting to balance an egg on a spoon. Come to think of it, some of that stuff wouldn’t be too pleasant even if you were stone-cold sober!
Soon enough, the contestants are at each others’ necks, Instagramming and Dizzy-Lizzying themselves to the verge of vomiting. It’s a really cute clip, and with a combined box office of over a billion dollars for “Hunger Games” and the two “Hangover” movies, there certainly seems to be no shortage of people who will laugh at the FOD mini-movie’s many in-jokes.
Founded in late 2006 by Hollywood heavyweights Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Judd Apatow, Funny or Die quickly became one of the main sources for viral videos on the Internet, especially well-produced ones often staring big Hollywood names. From Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan to Justin Bieber, Jack Black and Emma Stone, the site has given us plenty of big laughs over the years.
As for “Hungover Games,” be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the hilarious Kathryn Hahn – perhaps best remembered as the woman who raped John C. Reilly in “Step Brothers” – spoofing Elizabeth Banks’ iconic “Hunger Games” performance as Effie Trinket.
“Dancing With the Stars” Heats Up – But Is Bristol Palin Dancing Herself Off the Show?
Celebrity contestants and professional partners on “Dancing with the Stars” have a rich history of not getting along: Kym Johnson and Jaleel White, Kate Gosselin and Tony Davolani, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and just about everyone he’s been paired with. Now it’s Bristol Palin and her current (and former) partner Mark Ballas who seem to be engaged in a classic “Dancing” feud.
With the upcoming double elimination on the horizon, contestants are bringing the drama, hoping to earn a Week Four spot. And because rumors of a Palin/Ballas meltdown have been circulating in the press, the ABC show was forced to acknowledge it – though, in true “DWTS” fashion, Bristol and Mark tried to downplay the fight by holding onto each other and pretending to make sad, teary faces before their roll-in package aired.
Apparently, Sarah Palin’s controversial daughter is pretty bummed about the low scores that she and Mark have been receiving (and they have been low), and she feels that Mark’s lack of enthusiasm means he wishes he’d been paired with another, more able contestant – perhaps along the lines of Mark’s former partners, “Cheetah Girl” Sabrina Bryan or Olympian Shawn Johnson, who are both competing again this season. She’s also peeved because Mark’s been late to rehearsals lately – and Ms. Palin don’t have time for none of that!
When confronted, Ballas denied all of this and instead tried to get Tripp’s mama to focus on the current dance. Instead, Palin brushed him off (literally) and walked out of the rehearsal – this is always cause for concern, considering it’s a dance competition and rehearsing is kind of a necessity.
After that emotional video, the tensions were high for the pair’s paso doble, which took place on a giant, life-sized chess board with Bristol and Mark dressed like a king and queen chess piece. This makes no sense but come on, it’s “DWTS,” it’s supposed to be a little confusing!
Actually, their dance wasn’t awful. Bristol still needs to work on putting a little more expression in her face, but all in all, their dance was one of their better ones, so maybe a little pre-performance arguing is good for them. They even got their highest scores of the season, although they’re still at the bottom of the leader board.
Now, the big question looms: Will the feuding foot-stompers be able to survive tonight’s episode?
People tend to hate on Bristol, but there is something very vulnerable and likeable about her. She seems like a shy, sweet girl who’s just trying to improve, so people relate to that. She’s obviously not a professional entertainer, and no matter how you feel about her family, if you watch the show with an open mind you can’t help but root for her. She’s the true underdog in this ongoing competition.
Will any of this be enough to keep her hopes of winning afloat? It will be especially tough because of tonight’s double elimination. Time will tell if these two crazy kids will live to dance (and fight) another day.
“Avengers” Sequel Aiming to Get Blunt?
A new rumor is popping up all over the Web: British actresses Emily Blunt (“Looper”) and Ruth Wilson (BBC’s “Luther”) are both vying for the high-profile role of Ms. Marvel in the sequel to this past summer’s “Avengers,” the superhero team-up flick that has become one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
For those of you who aren’t a Marvel-Maniac like myself, here’s a brief lowdown on the relatively obscure character:
Major Carol Danvers, who first debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March 1968), originally had no powers. But when she got caught in an explosion with Captain Marvel (an alien superhero) their DNA became intertwined, thereby giving Danvers super-human abilities…and transforming her into Ms. Marvel.
For a more detailed profile, be sure to check out this Marvel Wiki, which we’re pretty sure Wilson and Blunt are memorizing at this very moment.
Unlike Wilson, Blunt – an Oscar-nominee for her breakout role in “The Devil Wears Prada” – is no stranger to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She had previously been considered for the role as Black Widow in “Iron Man 2.” It didn’t work out, as Scarlett Johansson got the part; but obviously, Blunt made an impression on the powers-that-be at the comics/film giant, and landing the Ms. Marvel role could end up being a lot more fun since Widow has no real super powers.
For fans, this little tidbit of gossip is juicy, but it should be taken with a grain of salt. Shooting is scheduled for next year in anticipation of a May 2015 release, and the notoriously-secretive Marvel has offered no confirmation that the super-heroine will even be involved in the film’s plot. Then again, Marvel has publicly admitted that through the involvement of Thor, Thanos (teased at the end of “Avengers” as the villain in the next film) and the upcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie, an otherworldly element is being introduced that will allow them to go far beyond the Earth-bound tales of heroes like Captain America and Iron Man.
Also, director Joss Whedon is famed for his strong female characters, from Black Widow to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
If proven to be true, whichever actress lands the role will likely find it to be a true game-changer for her career. In my opinion, the team could use more estrogen, but would you like to see Blunt assemble with the Avengers? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!
Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde – Hot Hollywood Couple, Now Co-Habitating!
Ah love! Romance is blooming between Hollywood’s newest “it couple,” Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis. The funny man and his lady love have been together for a mere nine months, but rumors are circulating that they recently took their relationship to the next step, moving in together.
Wedding bells? Not just yet. The two are in no hurry to walk down the aisle. Both have been married before, and those marriages didn’t go so well. Sudeikis was married to actress Kay Cannon and Wilde to Tao Ruspoli.
However, there have been rumors in the matrimonial direction for Jason and Olivia. Some even say they’re planning their wedding at the Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence, Kansas, which is near to where Jason grew up.
According to US Weekly, a source has told the magazine “They are living together now,” and are “totally inseparable.”
The two are doing the important things, like taking time out of their busy careers to spend time together. Recently, Sudeikis snuck away from his “Saturday Night Live” cronies and took his lady love to a Bon Iver concert in New York.
The relationship between the two apparently began even before they were both cast as the leads for a romantic comedy called “Relanxious,” which began shooting over the summer in Chicago. Co-starring Brie Larson and Fred Armison, the flick tells the tale of an anxiety-ridden girl who falls in love with an agoraphobic guy – but since panic attacks won’t let them meet in person, the duo spend their “dates” on the phone, discussing what they would do if they could go on real dates.
These two make such a cute couple! It’s so nice to see a mixture of beauty, brains and all around fun, and this couple definitely fill the necessary requirements and then some in that department. It will be interesting to see where this relationship progresses.
Most women say that a sense of humor is paramount to a relationship, and Sudeikis most assuredly has that! Lucky girl Olivia!
President Obama Comes West to Visit George Clooney and Katy Perry, Raise Election Funds
President Obama spent much of the weekend in Los Angeles, engaged in fundraising efforts. And as always, Hollywood’s biggest names came out in support.
While in LA, the Commander-in-Chief attended a concert at LA Live and dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, but don’t think for a minute he was on a vacation. The President wasn’t just there to rub elbows with the stars, but to refuel for the final 30 days of his campaign. President Obama lost some momentum after his lukewarm debate performance last week in Denver, CO. He wanted to reassure his biggest supporters (and donors) in Hollywood that he is still the right man for the job.
The President’s LA visit started at the home of Marilyn and Jeffery Katzenberg, the DreamWork’s Animation CEO. While at the Katzenbergs’ house, Obama thanked them for “being tireless and stalwart.” He went on to say the two “have never wavered through good times and bad since my first presidential race, back when a lot of people still couldn’t pronounce my name.” Other guests at the private soiree included former President Bill Clinton and 12 other Democratic donors.
From this intimate affair, President Obama headed downtown to LA Live where he and 6,000 other attendees watched a concert in his honor. The “30 Days to Victory” concert boasted headliners Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, and Earth, Wind, and Fire. There were also speeches from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as well as San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Oscar-winner George Clooney. The president himself took the stage to remind supporters of his first term accomplishments, including the capture of Osama Bin Laden, ending the war in Iraq, and appealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. President Obama couldn’t resist taking a few jabs at his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney. As expected, he made reference to Romney’s infamous Big Bird comments in the debate last week. He even joked that “Elmo has made a run for the border” as Romney comes after public television programming.
After the concert, President Obama was ushered across the street to Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 in the Ritz-Carlton. While concert tickets ranged from $44-$250, the price of admission to the dinner was a whopping $25,000 per plate. Attendees included Clooney, legendary film maven Harvey Weinstein, and newly-named Oscar host Seth MacFarlane.
All-in-all, Obama had a very busy visit out to the west coast. The President is clearly backed by Hollywood’s heavy hitters, along with the cast of Sesame Street. Of course, with the final 30 days of the campaign ahead, both Obama and Romney need all the help they can get – Muppet or otherwise.
Lady Gaga Earns John Lennon Memorial Award for Peace
Lady Gaga is being honored as one of five members to share the LennonOno peace prize for her work on rights for gays, lesbians and transgenders. The grant will be given by Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono, in memory of the legendary Beatles star.
In a statement, Ono said that Gaga is “One of the biggest living artists of our time,” and that her “Born This Way” altered “the mental map of the world.” Lady Gaga will accept the award in person, giving the charitable donation that comes with it to the Elton John AIDS Foundation to support their work combating HIV among US disadvantaged youth.
The other four honorees include jailed Russian punk rock band Pussy Riot, American activist Rachel Corrie (who died in 2003), author John Perkins, and British American writer Christopher Hitchens (who died in 2011). The event will take place on Tuesday the 9th, on what would have been Lennon’s 72nd birthday.
In her statement Ono said of Gaga: “She is not only an artist, she is also an activist, using her art to bring better communication to the world. She is being acknowledged for her activism, and how her album ‘Born This Way’ has widely changed the mental map of the world. And how it has made us deal with the future world, which happens to be here already.”
The celebration will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland. Gaga launched the Born This Way Foundation in 2011 to remedy the effects of bullying, and considers the cause to be very close to her heart. “When you see someone being negative to somebody else, it’s OK to intervene and stand up for someone that needs it … I don’t believe that one person can change the world. I believe that humankind, as a whole, can change the world,” Gaga said during her remarks at Harvard University while launching the foundation last March.
When asked why she felt like she could be the one to help bring about peace and tolerance, Gaga told ABC News: “”I guess I sort of have this feeling that if I can make a song called ‘Just Dance’ really big all over the world, I might be able to make a song that’s, y’know, ‘Just Be Nice!'”
Daniel Radcliffe Gets Horny in First Picture From New Film
Calling all Potter fans! Entertainment Weekly has released the first official image from Daniel Radcliffe’s newest venture “Horns,” a fantasy/horror/drama from “The Hills Have Eyes” and “Piranha” remake director Alexandre Aja. And it the pic he’s looking quite…well…horny.
Although he looks like a creature straight out of the Potter-verse, Radcliffe assures that this role will be quite different than the heroic alter ego that made him famous. “It’s a very, very different type of part than anything I’ve done before,” Radcliffe says, divulging that it will be “deeply emotional and also incredibly outrageous in some ways.”
That seems to be an understatement, seeing as the plot of the film revolves around his character Ig Perrish sprouting those devilish protuberances after the rape and murder of his girlfriend leaves him as the prime suspect. Based on Joe Hill’s New York Times bestseller, the film has Perrish waking up with a bad hangover and the horns – which cause people to confess their sins – and sets out to find the real killer. The film is just now beginning principal photography.
It might all seem a bit shocking to fans of the boy wizard, but this isn’t Radcliffe’s first foray into darker fare.
Last year’s “The Woman in Black” had Radcliffe attempting to display the acting chops to handle more difficult genres and roles. The film received mixed reviews and was a modest box office hit, but it’s debatable whether Radcliffe was the primary attraction or if young viewers would have flocked to see anyone on screen to get their scares. At this point, time will tell whether audiences will continue to accept Radcliffe’s post-Potter endeavors, but he appears to be on the right track if the goal is stretching boundaries.
Director Aja boasts a strong resume of horror-laden hits, including the terrifying 2003 French flick “Haute Tension” that put him on the map and the remakes of “Eyes” and “Piranha.” The film will also star current indie it-girls Juno Temple and Kelli Garner.
Just as we watched Radcliffe age on screen, it will be fun to continue to follow his evolution as a mature and intelligent actor. One thing’s for sure: We’re not in Hogwarts anymore.