Heath Ledger Autopsy Offers No Answers
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Celeb News, Obituaries,
Twenty-eight-year-old Heath Ledger, who was recently found dead in his New York apartment, still has no official cause of death. The autopsy has been completed, but the results are inconclusive and now hinge upon test results which won’t be available for at least another ten days. Prescription sleeping pills were found near the body, and authorities are currently labeling the death an “accidental overdose.” Investigators say there is no evidence of either suicide or foul play.
At the moment, there are no plans for a memorial service and the Ledger family has asked to be allowed to grieve in private. Fans have been flocking to Ledger’s New York apartment to leave tokens of their sorrow, and Hollywood remains stunned by the news. He was a great talent.
E! Online
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Box Office Breakdown: Cloverfield Attacks the Charts
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Books, Lists, New Releases,
Final numbers for the three-day weekend revealed what many had suspected: Cloverfield toppled New York and the competition. The strong numbers were a result of Paramount’s smart marketing. In addition to the eerie trailers, the film debuted in January - usually a fairly quiet month for decent films. Cloverfield’s $46 million take has already covered the movie’s budget (estimated at around $25 million). That dollar amount also earned the Matt Reeves flick the title for best MLK and January opener ever.
Although 27 Dresses raked in $20 million less than the horror flick, Katherine Heigl had nothing to cry about. Thanks to more strategic marketing - this time by Fox - the film was able to take advantage of those looking for something less dark. Dresses was originally scheduled to debut last week but was repositioned so it could open during the busy weekend.
Unfortunately, female focus on the romantic comedy didn’t help the female-filled Mad Money. The movie - co-starring Queen Latifah, Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes - cashed out in 8th place. This makes two disappointing debuts in a row for the Cruise Clan (the first being Tom’s Lions for Lambs). Let us not forget that Katie opted to do this film instead of the Batman sequel for her post-Tom movie return. Come to think of it, maybe it was for the best. I could just hear Tom telling us now that if he had known Heath was doing drugs, he would have cured Ledger himself.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Cloverfield Attacks the Charts
Yahoo! Movies
More Ticket Troubles with Hannah Montana
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Disney, Music, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,
The concert everyone wanted to see will soon become the movie fans will be forced to miss. Miley Cyrus, star of Hannah Montana and big-selling concert songstress, will soon be on the big screen. The Montana movie comes out February 1, but it’s only scheduled to run for a single week. Tickets have been on sale since December 1, and already fans are treating them like pieces of the true cross. Tickets are selling (and selling out) online and at box offices.
The movie, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour, will feature clips of Miley’s nationwide tour that caused a summer sensation. Meanwhile, Disney has offered no information as to whether the movie will also be released on DVD.
Independent films and other genre films are often released for only one week, and some say such a short release time helps the market from becoming oversaturated. Hannah Montana? Oversaturated? That ship has sailed.
CNN
Another Fanning Finding Stardom
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,
Cute little Dakota Fanning is growing up quickly, and moving into teen roles instead of playing the adorable tyke - and Abigail Breslin can’t do every female kid role available in the movies, right? Enter Elle Fanning, Dakota’s little sis and perhaps the next kid star in the making.
Elle has already appeared in big-name movies (e.g. Babel), but now she’s moved into the lead. This little sis is playing the title role in Phoebe in Wonderland, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Young, troubled Phoebe sees a therapist in the flick, displaying a precocious nature akin to her big sister’s. She signs up to become Alice in Wonderland (that’s how the title figures in), and Phoebe’s imagination takes over.
Reviewer comments on the film have been highly positive.
CNN
Oscar Nominees Talk Strike
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Awards, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Scripts,
The Academy Award nominations have been announced, AMPAS is determined the show will go on in February, and everything seems to be moving toward the big night (the Oscar ceremony). But…is it, really? The Writers Guild is in talks with the producers, and all parties seem to be hopeful this whole strike might end. According to some nominees, that’s the only way they’ll even attend the event.
Tony Gilroy, nominated in the Best Director category, told the Associated Press he “would never cross a picket line ever.” Viggo Mortensen, who received the Best Actor nod, likewise said that if the strike continues he’ll not be on the red carpet. Others, like producer Scott Rudin, said they doubt there will even be an Oscars event if the strike isn’t solved beforehand.
The Academy, however, is sticking to its guns; President Sid Ganis said they will put on the show. That settles that.
Yahoo! News
BREAKING NEWS: Heath Ledger Found Dead
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Obituaries,
On a day when Hollywood should be celebrating movies, actors are instead mourning the loss of one of their own.
Actor Heath Ledger was found dead this afternoon in New York by his housekeeper. The star in this year’s The Dark Knight was only 28. While no official cause of death has been released, it appears it may have been drug-related.
Ledger, a Best Actor nominee for 2005’s Brokeback Mountain, leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter. Matilda’s mother, actress Michelle Williams, met Heath in 2004 on the set of their Oscar-nominated movie. Although it was often rumored the two were married, the couple parted ways last September. Prior to Williams, Ledger had been in an on-and-off relationship with another former co-star, Naomi Watts.
In addition to this year’s Batman sequel, Ledger’s work can currently be seen in I’m Not There (co-starring recent nominee Cate Blanchett).
Mel Gibson - Heath’s co-star in 2000’s The Patriot - just released this statement to Entertainment Tonight about the tragic news:
“I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
People
Thousands Sign Petition to Save HD DVD
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Corporate Shakeups, Home Entertainment, Technology,
Impassioned high-definitionites are still fighting to save their precious HD DVD with an online petition. Beginning January 5, the outcry had hoped to urge Warner Home Entertainment to reconsider its recent decision to go Blu-ray, after long-time indecisiveness regarding the format war.
Petitioners also hope the two remaining studios, Paramount and Universal, will see that HD DVD has many supporters and shouldn’t be relegated to history along with Betamax.
Many people have left comments vilifying Warner for allegedly choosing money over consumer choice. Some even swore to never buy another Warner-related film. To be sure, the decision dealt a mighty blow to HD DVD owners; it is clear they feel passionately.
As of this writing, the petition had topped nearly 14,000—not bad considering its short existence—though one wonders what it would take to convince a monolithic conglomerate like Warner.
If you want to do your part to keep HD DVD alive, or if you simply like the competition, sign the petition. Or if you’re ready for the format war to end— eschewing consumer choice and embracing monopoly—you can always sign the Let HD DVD Die Petition.
2008 Academy Award Nominations
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Picturehouse, DreamWorks, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Miramax, Lionsgate, Picturehouse, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Warner Independant Films, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Independent, Period, Political, Romance, Comedy, Awards, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Lists,
The nominations for the 80th Annual Academy Awards were announced bright and early Tuesday morning from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Assuming the ceremony goes on as scheduled, you can see the live broadcast Sunday, February 24th on ABC.
Notable additions/omissions from today’s announcement:
- Based on the major categories alone, it looks like Michael Clayton may be the frontrunner. It received six nominations.
- Aside from one nod each in the Best Supporting Actor category, both Into the Wild and Charlie Wilson’s War were virtually shut out from the top prizes.
- Sweeney Todd - winner for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globes - was shut out for Best Picture. Johnny Depp’s nom was the only major accolade for the film.
- A much-deserving Amy Adams did not receive a nom nor did her film, Enchanted.
- Atonement - the movie with the most nominations at the Globes - only received 3 in the major areas. The two main stars (Knightley, McAvoy) were also shut out.
- Cate Blanchett earned two nominations this year (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I’m Not There).
- Angelina Jolie was not recognized for her heartbreaking performance in A Mighty Heart.
- And last but not least, great news for (my personal) standouts this year: Ellen Page (Juno), Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) and screenwriter Click to continue reading 2008 Academy Award Nominations
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Oliver Stone to Tell the Tale of George W. Bush
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Political, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,
In the history of the United States of America, no president has become a star of pop culture quite like George W. Bush. In his two terms in the White House, there have been more SNL skits, more jokes, tons of movies and more clips of his press conferences than you can shake a Bill of Rights at. Now, director Oliver Stone will create a full length feature film depicting the Presidency that changed our Constitution. Stone has previously created movies about JFK and Nixon, and promises reporters this new movie will tell the true tale of Bush’s time in office.
Currently, the director is in talks with actor Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) to play the title role. If all goes well and production begins on schedule, the movie will be released in November during the heat and hostility of election time. If this timetable can’t be met, Stone is hopeful he can have the movie in theaters the following January (when the new Pres is being inaugurated).
In his own words, Stone says he will make a movie that is “a fair, true portrait” of our current president. So…it’s going to be a tragic comedy, right?
Yahoo! News
2008 Razzie Award Nominations
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Awards, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip,
The Razzies, which is sort of a tongue-in-cheek antithesis of the Oscars, recently released their nominations for the worst of the worst. Celebs who topped the list include recently wed - no wait, unwed - Eddie Murphy and Lindsay Lohan.
Alright. Lindsay has taken a lot of flak for her multiple roles in I Know Who Killed Me - the film which received a Razzie nom for Worst Movie in 2007 - but let me say again that I liked the film. (But then, I’m a Lohan fan.) Meanwhile, Murphy picked up several nominations (okay, eight) for his duplicity in Norbit, giving him a record-breaking number of Razzie nods for 2007. No one’s ever received that many before.
Bratz, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and Daddy Day Camp also received nominations while Jessica Alba was included in the Worst Actress category for three movies (though rumor has it Lohan will give her stiff competition for that particular award).
Winners will be announced February 23, a day before the Academy Awards.
Yahoo! News
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