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Archive for November, 2008

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Natalie Portman Stymied by Celibacy

In Movies, Show Business, celebrity, film on November 30, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Why would actress Natalie Portman turn down the chance to be in a film with Oscar winning Meryl Streep?

The answer lies in Portman’s attitude toward Roman Catholic vocations.

“Doubt,” a film adaptation of the successful play by John Patrick Shanley (who, incidentally, directs the movie), tells the story of two nuns (Meryl Streep and Amy Adams) that confront a priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) whom they suspect of abusing an altar boy. Themes of religion, morality and authority punctuate the dialogue.

Portman reportedly wanted to co-star in the movie but turned down the part for what seems like a fairly flimsy reason, considering that she’s supposed to be a professional.

“We asked Natalie Portman, and Natalie was very interested but kept saying she had a problem. And we finally nailed down as to what the problem was: she basically said she didn’t understand celibacy,” Shanley told the GossipSauce Web site.

If it took so much brainpower to understand celibacy, Portman probably could have benefited from a class in abstinence.

Instead she’s likely to find out that she made a bad career move by ultimately denying herself what actors lust after most, and that is prestige, which in Hollywood comes in the form of a little gold statue.

“Doubt” opens in limited release on December 12, just in time to qualify for Oscar’s attention.

James Hirsen, J.D., M.A. in Media Psychology, is a media analyst, teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University and professor at Trinity Law School.

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Rosie O’Donnell and Barbara Walters Duke It Out

In Television, celebrity on November 24, 2008 at 3:37 pm

The rumors were true after all.

Rosie O’Donnell will be the executive producer and host of a variety-special pilot for NBC called “Rosie Live.”

Could it be that O’Donnell is craftily promoting her show by picking a fight with former “View” boss Barbara Walters?

If so, Walters has played right into O’Donnell’s hands.

Through her Rosie.com Web site, press statements and appearances, O’Donnell has been pushing her new project hard.

She recently told the press, “I didn’t want to be paid to fight. When I started and took that job it was with the idea of speaking for the millions of mothers whose voices weren’t heard on television.”

She added that after leaving “The View” in 2007, Walters “wanted everyone to believe and think and act” as if everyone on the show got along with one another and were “really good friends. And you know, that’s just not the reality.”

In an apparent attempt to counter Rosie, shortly after the O’Donnell comment Walters took co-hosts Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg to a highly visible dinner at Le Cirque. She also used the opening of “The View” to grumble about “some people who have done this show” and then have disparaged it after they leave.

“I resent it,” Walters said, referring to O’Donnell’s comments. “So if the shoe fits, lady, get on with your life.”

Rosie responded to Barbara with a new video on her blog titled “Lady,” which opens with a photo of O’Donnell posing with Walters. “I do not know what Star Jones and Debbie Matenopoulos did, but oooooh, lady… she is pissed off!” Rosie says in the video post.

O’Donnell went on to appear on “Late Night” with Conan O’Brien where she said that she experienced “post-traumatic stress disorder” from her time co-hosting on “The View.”

The end result of all the fuss has been gobs of free publicity for O’Donnell and her new TV program.

Coincidentally, the debut of her new variety show just happens to be right around the corner.

James Hirsen, J.D., M.A. in Media Psychology, is a media analyst, teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University and professor at Trinity Law School.

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Davi Creates Compelling Entertainment with ‘Dukes’

In Celebrities, Hollywood, Movies, entertainment on November 20, 2008 at 12:25 pm

“The Dukes” brings back elements of cinema entertainment sorely lakcing from the current Hollywood fare.

Even if you don’t know the difference between Doo Wop and Hip Hop, it is worth your time to catch Robert Davi’s directorial debut of “The Dukes.”

Here’s the little movie that could, a potent directing debut for actor Robert Davi.

The old-fashioned story is aided by surprisingly smooth direction, as well as likable performances from Davi himself, Chazz Palmintieri, and a perfectly cast Peter Bogdanovich.

“The Dukes” is a wry comic tale of a down-and-out Doo Wop band who take a bumbling detour into burglary in their endless quest to make good on their dreams. Featuring an accomplished ensemble cast and the directorial debut of beloved tough-guy actor Robert Davi, the film is a rollicking caper that is also deeply candid about life, love, friendship and the heart it takes to keep on struggling to find meaning and connection as life takes one absurd turn after another. Punctuated by a retro rock n roll soundtrack, the fun begins as The Dukes – once hit-makers in the 1960s– are barely making ends meet in 2007. Band leader Danny DePasquale (ROBERT DAVI, “Die Hard,” “License To Kill,” “The Goonies”) is horrified by the fact that he can’t even afford to help his ex-wife fix his darling son’s teeth. Meanwhile, his partner, George Zucco (Academy Award® nominee CHAZZ PALMINTERI, “Bullets Over Broadway,” “A Bronx Tale”), drowns his financial sorrows by indulging his passion for plus-size women.

Even as their manager, Lou Fiola (Academy Award® nominated director-producer-writer-actor PETER BOGDANOVICH), searches to find gigs for an act that has gone utterly obsolete, Danny and George take jobs in their feisty Aunt Vee’s (MIRIAM MARGOLYES, “Being Julia,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”) Italian trattoria. The Dukes are determined to resurrect their flagging hopes and self-esteems. They daydream of money-making schemes that would allow them to build an updated Doo Wop nightclub from which they could stage a fresh comeback. Then, opportunity knocks. When they hear of a shady dentist’s lab brimming with cavity-filling gold, the temptation is irresistible. After recruiting a semipro safecracker (Emmy winner BRUCE WEITZ, “Hill Street Blues”), the heist is on!

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Elton John Slams Prop 8, Lauds Civil Unions

In Culture, Politics, celebrity on November 16, 2008 at 9:39 pm

Elton John and David Furnish may have had a ceremony to solidify their commitment, but John recently let the world know, “We’re not married. Let’s get that right. We have a civil partnership.”

John distanced himself from the protests that are taking place in cities across the U.S. “What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage,” he said.

John and Furnish came to the U.S. for the annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“I don’t want to be married. I’m very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership,” John advised.

“The word ‘marriage,’ I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships,” John added.

The dinner-fundraiser was hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, who hasn’t yet indicated whether he agrees with the legendary rocker or not.

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Carrie Underwood Down On Celebrity Politicking

In Celebrities, Culture, Politics on November 10, 2008 at 9:01 am

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Like the rest of us, Carrie Underwood watched as Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lindsay Lohan, Matt Damon, Bruce Springsteen and Sean “Diddy” Combs publicly campaigned for our new president-elect, Barack Obama.

The country star didn’t much like what she saw and has voiced her opinion about fellow celebrities who use their fame to bring attention to political candidates.

“There is someone I do support, but I don’t support publicly. I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate,” she told TV Guide.

According to Underwood, voters ought to make up their own minds rather than listen to the recommendations of the famous.

When celebrity endorsements are taken too seriously, Underwood suggested that “it’s saying that the American public isn’t smart enough to make their own decisions.”

She then noted, “Music is where you go to get away from all the BS.” click for more…

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Nyuk Nyuk: The Farrelly Brothers Push ‘Three Stooges’ Remake

In Uncategorized on November 7, 2008 at 1:12 pm

The Farrelly brothers, best known for directing “There’s Something About Mary,” have inked a deal with MGM to bring Larry, Moe and Curly AKA “The Three Stooges” to a multiplex near you.

The studio is shooting for a Thanksgiving 2009 release.

Actors names that have been floated include Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe.

When asked whether they would appear in an updated version of the comedy classic the actors reportedly responded, “Cewtainly!”