· Vogue's got behind-the-scenes pictures from the set of the newly-delayed Nine.
· Mia Wasikowska, who has the title role in Tim Burton's upcoming Alice in Wonderland, is in talks to play the female lead in Gus Van Sant's Restless. If you're curious about her character, we've got more where that came from.
· The independent film crunch has claimed as a casualty Picture This!, the distributor dedicated to foreign and gay cinema like Come Undone.
· TNT is developing a 90210-like revival of Dallas.
· The Jim-and-Pam wedding nudged The Office up a bit last night, but the heavily-hyped episode wasn't even this year's highest-rated. Wolf shirts only have so much power.
With great sadness, Movieline reported two weeks ago that Law & Order: Criminal Intent was discharging several key characters from its force including Goren and Eames, the beloved lead detective team played by Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe. Instead of sitting tight while Criminal Intent writers transition Jeff Goldblum's ivory-tickling, ethnic food loving, matinee-catching detective (and whichever actor they recast as his straight partner) as the program's top bananas, Goren/Eames fans are banding together. On October 16, USA Networks will be deluged with jars of marshmallow filling, the same Fluff fans allege they will be watching if the network does not renew D'Onofrio and Erbe's contracts.
more »
Sad news for fans of functional lesbian celebri-couples, as 24 star Cherry Jones has announced her split from actress girlfriend Sarah Paulson. "We're not together anymore, but we're still dearest of friends," Jones told Us this week. "It's the happiest break up that's ever been. We grew so much together and now we can send each other off with a kiss and great love." Lesson learned, Sarah: You can throw Hollywood's hottest script across the room in frustration, but be careful who it hits. [Us]
After hinting at pursuing another genre exercise during his recent live-ish appearance at the New York Film Festival, filmmaker Lars von Trier today officially announced that he will follow Antichrist with the sci-fi offering Planet Melancholia. Details are typically sketchier-than-sketchy about von Trier's plot, though he offered this helpful clue: "No more happy endings!" Which, of course, is such a relief coming off the upbeat bloodbath that concludes his recent masterpiece.
more »
Our deepest regrets go out to lingerie model and on-again, off-again Ratnerian squeeze Alina Puscau, who'se been superceded by a middle-aged cartoon character on the cover of the November Playboy. Still, it's about time that America's favorite SILF has graced the pages of the world's most iconic tittie mag, and so here, for your ghlghghrlghhing pleasure, is said cover -- a recreation of an iconic shot of a similarly be-afro'd Playmate concealed by a bunny chair. Don't get any donut sprinkles on it!
After the jump, that other skin-friendly cover we teased in yesterday's The Last Word.
more »
After announcing via Twitter this week that she would undergo heart surgery, 77-year-old Elizabeth Taylor tweeted the operation's success from her hospital bed on Thursday. "Dear Friends," she wrote. "My heart procedure went off perfectly. It's like having a brand new ticker. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes." And moments later: "I know they all helped. Love you, Elizabeth." Aw! Love you, too. Now turn your phone off in the ICU, for heaven's sake. [via Reuters]
· In news that will no doubt pitch a million fanboy tents, Kristen Bell has signed on to play Christina Aguilera's nemesis in the upcoming musical drama Burlesque. The film will feature Bell losing her mind and baring her claws when Aguilera's up-and-coming dancer overtakes her spot as the main attraction at a Los Angeles burlesque joint. Cher also stars as the new girl's mentor, a role originally thought to comprise a number of life lessons but is now reduced to one-half corner man and one-half reattaching clumps of torn-out hair to Aguilera's scalp before her 11 p.m. performance. [THR]
Great news for the TIFF sensation Chloe, Dan-O will be doing more booking, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.
more »
Welcome back to Movieline Attractions, your regular guide to everything new, noteworthy and all over the map at the movies. This week promises something for everyone, though you won't find the real gems at the multiplex; read on for a fail-safe tip sheet to digging up some of the shiniest rewards fall is best-known for.
more »
· Dropping by The View today, Paul Schaffer passed on Joy's inevitable crack about whether or not he's slept with Dave by reminding her that like Star Jones -- who he then reached over and patted on the knee -- he too is the son of a lawyer. Problem #1: Star Jones hasn't worked for The View in some years. Problem #2: Paul didn't even mistake her for Sherri Shepherd -- he mistook her for Ugly Betty star Ana Ortiz. Who really cares, though? Paul's the best. Here he is telling Dave the story behind the gay anthem he wrote for The Weather Girls, "It's Raining Men."
more »
If Penelope Cruz's legs were positioned like clock hands to count down the release of Rob Marshall's musical Nine, they just got yanked into a more uncomfortable position by the Weinstein Company. A rumor making its way around the web today alleged that Nine was pushed back from its November berth; now, a source very close to the film can confirm that new release date to Movieline.
more »
It's said that history is written by the winners. But as it pertains to this week's Australia vs. United States blackface-controversy culture-clash debacle, history is really written by hundreds of pundits, commenters and other blogger agonistes -- an international community for whom the appearance of "the Jackson Jive" on an Aussie TV special was the equivalent of setting global race relations back between 200 and 400 years (depending on whom you ask). Harry Connick Jr. started things off with his sincere complaint, but once the story hit Movieline's pages, it yielded an outpouring of angst we haven't seen since, like, ever.
It took a while to muddle through it all, but now, for posterity, here is your abridged tale of the Great Aussie/U.S. Culture War of 2009 -- the fury, the rationalizations, the name-calling and hopefully closure -- as told to Movieline by you. Table of contents after the jump.
more »
If you tweet it, he shall come: Twacy.org has succeeded in their short-lived and passionately advocated campaign to bring Tracy Morgan onto the Twitter airwaves. Calling itself RealTracyMorgan and already boasting a following just under 11,000 strong, the 30 Rock star and, some believe, reincarnation of Buddha's ne'er-do-well little brother has boldly announced his arrival in the Twitterverse around three hours ago.
more »
Curious about Stitch N' Bitch, the HBO project announced today that's coming from the unlikely trio of Ellen Page, Alia Shawkat, and Har Mar Superstar (or, as the trades ID'd him, "Sean Tillman")? Sure, all three were technically on screen during the latter's cameo in Whip It, but for a much better indicator of the Page/Har Mar collaborative mystique, why don't you check out this unlikely video ode to Canada they debuted online this week? It references "Canadian Twilight" and lobs four-letter words at Celine Dion, and it's after the jump:
more »
America's most famous TV doctor was sued yesterday by a former female patient who claimed that during a therapy session two years ago, Dr. Phil trapped her in his office, brainwashed her, forced her to look at a naked man, and continued to grope her. The alleged victim, Shirley Dieu, is also suing Paramount Pictures, the company that produces his show. Dieu released a statement yesterday: "I don't want the limelight. I want the limelight on Dr. Phil for what he did. I don't even care about money." At least this gives Letterman more sex scandal material for his monologue jokes. [E! Online]
· In Contention's got the poster for Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones. Click for bigger.
· Kevin Smith is over everybody thinking he's a Star Wars nerd just because he used to mention it in his movies: "I'm happy it's in there...but at the same time, it launched 15 years of bad birthday gifts for me. All I get is Star Wars s--t."
· Having Hank and The Middle as lead-ins is not really helping Modern Family and Cougar Town.
· On last night's Real World/Road Rules Challenge, contestant Shauvon injured her breast implant. I think we all knew this day would come.
· Broadway actor Cheynne Jackson is being added to 30 Rock's show-within-the-show. Dude, whatever happened to Josh? Anyone?
