Julia Roberts was honored by American Cinematheque with the help of her pals and co-stars Tom Hanks, and Natalie Portman.
Julia said:
“I think I came along at a kinder time in the business. It wasn’t about fashion, and there weren’t so many media outlets, it was just kind of different. You could really cultivate your work a little more gently.”
More pics after the jump.
50 Cent perpetuates his pointless feud with Oprah. You know she can have you killed right?
Boston Legal and Ugly Betty get some new cast members. I love Christopher Gorham! Remember that show Popular?
Yes! Kathy Griffin’s reality show My Life On The D-List has been picked up for another season.
Lindsay Lohan is starring in a film adaptation of a Tennesse Williams play.
Toni Collette says “we’re living in an age of sheep”. Go ahead girl! She needs an Oscar. Now.
Damn…Scary Spice still looks good after all these years. Reunion please!
Christina Aguilera is pissed at Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. Oh shit.
Yesterday American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler was the guest co-host on the catty gabfest The View, and she did a wonderful job. EW’s Michael Slezak suggests we replace the conservative robot Elizabeth Hasselbeck with Kellie–and I’m all for it. Kellie has more personality in her cute little ruby red pump than Elizabeth has in her whole George Bush-loving body.
But as the Pickler announced on the show yesterday–she has a record deal with Sony/BMG Nashville, and has a single coming out in September with the album dropping November 14–so it looks like that’s not a possibility.
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In Housewives news, not only is Mischa Barton trying to get her way onto the show (which, if that happens I’ll be throwing my television out of my 23rd story Manhattan window), but Heist star Dougray Scott is in talks to play Susan Mayer’s new love interest (since Mr. Mike Delfino is now comatose).
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Yesterday we told you that The Practice’s Lara Flynn Boyle has a new project coming up on TNT, well another star from David E. Kelly’s love child, Camryn Manheim will be on TV again as well.
She’s joining the cast of The Ghost Whisperer as Jennfer Love Hewitt’s new sidekick (since Aisha Tyler was done being the Robin to her Batman). Hewitt tells the press that funnyman Jay Mohr will also be joining the cast.
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The CW network announced Friday that Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg will be guest starring on the Golden Globe nominated comedy Everybody Hates Chris.
The network says:
Goldberg will appear in two episodes of Everybody Hates Chris, which premieres October 1 (7:00-7:30 p.m. ET). She will play Louise, a woman from Queens who moves in next door to Chris’ (Tyler James Williams) family, and whose granddaughter is the latest object of Chris’ affections.
I’ve missed me some Whoopi.
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Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johannson will join Natalie Portman and Eric Bana in a new film directed by Justin Chadwick.
The film, The Other Boleyn Girl, is based on Philippa Gregory’s historical novel, and focuses on two ambitious sisters who were rivals for the bed and heart of King Henry VIII. Obviously, Johansson and Portman are the sisters, and Bana is the king.
That’s a pretty tough choice–you have to pick Johansson or Portman? Sheesh. I think I’m going with Johansson. You can’t beat the lips.
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Out.com just posted a poll declaring the “Return of the Divas!”.
They ask which diva’s summer comeback single are you most excited about. Among the choices are Christina Aguilera’s Ain’t No Other Man (currently in second place), Nelly Furtado’s Promiscous, and Beyonce’s Deja Vu.
But the most hilarious choice (and the only male listed)–but ironically the number one song in the poll with nearly 30% of the votes is Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack. I know Justin’s been a gay icon since his ‘Nysnc days–but since when is he a diva?
I just found this video where MTV asks Justin if he’s a gay icon. Apparently he has no idea.
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My thoughts on Entourage, The Closer, and Meryl Streep’s Oscar hopes later today.
‘Closer‘ stars Jude Law and Natalie Portman are to join Rachel Weisz and singer Norah Jones in ‘My Blueberry Nights‘, the first English-language film from director Wong Kar Wai.
Variety reports that the film tells the story of a young woman (Jones) who is travelling across America to find the meaning of love and who meets unusual people en route.
Wong will begin pre-production on the film when he completes his service as jury president at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
‘My Blueberry Nights‘ is set to shoot across the US this summer.
Audiences were in a rebellious mood, lifting the action tale “V for Vendetta” to the top spot at the weekend box office with a $26.1 million debut.
The Warner Bros. film, which stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in a story of revolution against a totalitarian British government, bumped off the previous weekend’s box-office leaders.
Paramount’s romantic comedy “Failure to Launch,” which debuted at No. 1, slipped to second place with $15.8 million, raising its 10-day domestic total to $48.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Disney’s family remake “The Shaggy Dog,” which premiered at No. 2, fell to third with $13.6 million, lifting its 10-day total to $35.9 million.
This weekend’s other new wide release, Paramount’s “She’s the Man,” opened in fourth with $11 million. The romance stars Amanda Bynes as a teen disguising herself as a male to play on a boys’ soccer team in a modern update of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
Fox Searchlight’s tobacco-industry satire “Thank You for Smoking” opened to huge numbers in limited release, grossing $260,066 at five theaters for a whopping $52,013 average a cinema. By comparison, “V for Vendetta” averaged $7,767 in 3,365 theaters.
Starring Aaron Eckhart as a spin doctor for cigarette companies, “Thank You for Smoking” gradually expands into nationwide release through April 7. The film was directed by Jason Reitman, son of filmmaker Ivan Reitman (”Ghostbusters“).
Overall box office revenue continued a monthlong decline, with the top-12 movies taking in $93.8 million, down 11 percent from the same weekend last year, when “The Ring Two” opened with $35.1 million.
“V for Vendetta” was adapted by Andy and Larry Wachowski, creators of “The Matrix” franchise, from a graphic novel about a masked freedom fighter battling British fascism in the near future. The film was produced by Joel Silver, who also made “The Matrix” flicks, and directed by James McTeigue, a protege of the Wachowski brothers.
Critics generally gave thumbs up to “V for Vendetta,” calling it a smarter-than-average, visually impressive action thriller. The movie touches on disturbing notions in a post-Sept. 11 world, raising questions about when violence is justified and examining definitions of freedom-fighting vs. terrorism.
“Here we have a movie about a guy who wears a mask the whole picture, with controversial subjects, some hot-button issues. Not the standard-fare movie, and we did a strong opening and attracted a huge amount of people,” producer Silver said.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. “V for Vendetta,” $26.1 million.
2. “Failure to Launch,” $15.8 million.
3. “The Shaggy Dog,” $13.6 million.
4. “She’s the Man,” $11 million.
5. “The Hills Have Eyes,” $8.1 million.
6. “16 Blocks,” $4.7 million.
7. “Eight Below,” $4.2 million.
8. “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion,” $3 million.
9. “The Pink Panther,” $2.5 million.
10. “Aquamarine,” $2 million.
Natalie Portman only took her role in Garden State because she had no other job offers. Portman, who experienced a slowdown in her career after starring in the Star Wars films, found it extremely difficult to find challenging roles.
The 24-year-old Closer star became so desperate to work that she agreed to the role of Sam in Garden State, which was written by Scubs star Zach Braff.
Portman says, “After I’d done all the Star Wars movies, a lot of people were thinking of giving me the dramatic challenges I was ready for. I mean no offence at all to Zach, but I wanted to work so badly.”
Have I ever told you all how much I love Natalie Portman? She’s fucking amazing and I haven’t seen a single movie of hers that I haven’t liked. Well…except the Star Wars shit but I’ll forgive her for that.
Her new movie V For Vendetta looks so awesome–she even went bald for it–so hopefully it’s the shit. Here’s a little of what you can expect from Natalie on March 17.
