MTV News |
- James Durbin Doesn't Think He 'Failed' On 'American Idol'
- Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Is A 'Bold Move,' Co-Producer Says
- Nas Talks Making Peace With Mobb Deep's Prodigy
- Kings Of Leon Frontman Caleb Followill Marries Lily Aldridge
- Rihanna Gives Fans 'Another Twist' In 'California King Bed,' Director Says
- Chris Brown Recalls Embarrassing Tour Memories On 'When I Was 17'
- Prodigy Reveals How He And Nas Made Up
- Producer Cardiak Talks '600 Benz'
- 'Priest': The Reviews Are In!
- Lil Wayne's 'John' Video Has Some 'Crazy Stuff' In It, Director Says
- 'Bridesmaids': The Reviews Are In!
- 'Hesher' Star Joseph Gordon-Levitt Raves About Producer Natalie Portman
- James Durbin's Exit: 'American Idol' Experts Weigh In
- Faith Evans Calls Son CJ Wallace An 'Accidental Movie Star'
- Khloe Kardashian Talks Lamar Odom, 'Frustrating' Lakers Fans
- James Durbin Gets Some Advice From Daughtry Producer
- Ashton Kutcher's Path From 'That '70s Show' To 'Two And A Half Men'
- Angelina Jolie Confirms Talks With David Fincher To Direct 'Cleopatra'
- Lady Gaga Confirms That She's Single
- James Durbin Fans Shocked, Upset At His 'American Idol' Ouster
| James Durbin Doesn't Think He 'Failed' On 'American Idol' Posted: 13 May 2011 02:19 AM PDT 'I'm still clicking up the track,' latest castoff says of his post-'Idol' career.
James Durbin had a weird feeling when he got to the "American Idol" studios on Thursday. "Something was off with the kinetic energy," he said Friday (May 13) during a call with reporters. "I felt it in people's body language. ... There was a real somber feeling."
Asked if he was blindsided, then, by the news that he would be going home in fourth place on the show later that night, Durbin paused and said, "I'm not going to lie, I definitely was." He said he "freaked out" a bit just before the show went on air and had a feeling that his ride might be over. With less than an hour of sleep since his surprise ouster, Durbin said the hours since his elimination had been a "whirlwind" of emotion. "I've been really thinking about why I came on this show and why I even auditioned in the first place," he said. "It's for my family and to try and give a voice to a genre of music that seems like it's slowly fading away. I really accomplished a lot on the show, and I'm grateful for the opportunity." While other fourth-place finishers, including rocker Chris Daughtry, have said not winning "Idol" was probably the best thing that ever happened to them, Durbin said he understood that sentiment, but "winning would have been just great too." He said his first instinct when host Ryan Seacrest broke the news was to think about how badly he'd wanted to win and fight back the feeling that somehow he'd failed. But after some time to reflect, Durbin said he'd come around on that thought. "I haven't failed at all," he said, adding a refrain often heard from "Idol" finalists. "This is just the beginning." The singer, who provided one of the most emotionally engaging moments of the season with his tearful farewell, compared the journey on "Idol" to a roller coaster, saying it has loops and corkscrews and that while some people think of elimination as the first step toward the crazy ride down the other side of the fame hill, he sees it differently. "I'm still clicking up the track," he said of his wild ride yet to come. "I'm really, really stoked." While some of his castmates have hooked up with movie starlets, Durbin said one of the biggest celebrity perks he enjoyed on "Idol" was becoming close to professional wrestler and "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Chris Jericho, whose show is filmed at the same studio as "Idol." For the lifelong wrestling fan, who always idolized Jericho, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And given that Jericho fronts his own metal band, the boys bonded over body slams, life on the road and all things hard rock. Given the Hollywood-ready arc of his story — from his Asperger's and Tourette's syndrome to the death of his musician father from a drug overdose when James was 9 years old — someone asked who the singer might like to see portray him in a movie. At first, he was speechless and then said he might want to do the honors himself. But then he suggested Matt Damon, since some people have said he resembles the actor, and maybe Steven Seagal for his older incarnation, since he used to rock a Seagal-like ponytail back in the day. Durbin has lots of plans for his debut album. He'd like to work with Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy, reunite with guitar legend Zakk Wylde and bring out his "secret weapon," his best friend from home who is a shredding guitar player. As he's said before, James wants to bring back the classic metal sound, starting with an iconic singer/guitarist pairing along the lines of Wylde and Ozzy Osbourne or Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. And given the chance, he'd like to re-create the sound of his favorite record, the 1983 debut from late Black Sabbath metal screamer and solo star Ronnie James Dio, Holy Diver. He wouldn't give any details, but Durbin said he heard the song that might be his first single Thursday. "I really dig it," he said of the unnamed tune. "It's something I can really work." He described it as having a heavy edge, but also being radio-friendly enough to get airplay. With no regrets, Durbin did point out his one potential misstep on the show when asked why his number might have been called Thursday. Referring again to his friendship with wrestler Jericho, he noted that the last song Jericho danced to on "Stars" was, yes, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." " 'Don't Stop Believing' eliminated James Durbin, Chris Jericho and Tony Soprano," he said with a laugh. Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Is A 'Bold Move,' Co-Producer Says Posted: 13 May 2011 03:18 AM PDT 'This record is all heart,' Fernando Garibay tells MTV News about the sax-driven record.
Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory" is an undeniably pure pop track. The Born This Way single dropped earlier this week, and the song's co-producer, Fernando Garibay, says he's still "very surprised," "floored," even, by the song's release. "You know what's crazy, as we were making the record ... 'Born This Way' is a statement song, but here with 'Edge of Glory, it's very personal to her," he explained. "It is very personal and very real; it's a real moment. This record is all heart." Garibay worked on "Edge of Glory" with Gaga and DJ White Shadow, who also revealed some details about the song to MTV News before its release, calling Gaga's vocal delivery on the track particularly moving. "This song's had room for her too ... this is her natural tone. The vocal was one take," White Shadow said. "The whole thing from top to bottom was her, just backstage singing it all the way through." At the pop star's request, Garibay threw in a heartbeat and made sure during production that it was clear Gaga's "finding acceptance in the bridge." He added, "It's a bold move on her part to put this out there the way it is, where the full version is intact [on the radio]. When was the last time you heard a musical solo sax break in the middle of a song on the radio? It was innovative as a song and it was totally guided by the emotions and the heart. That's what we did here. She wanted to put sax on it ... Her references were E Street Band and Bruce Springsteen, so the isolation of what the sax represents in the music dichotomy, what it represents in the whole spectrum of music," he said of the saxophone section, which is actually played by E Street's Clarence Clemmons. "And that's how we captured that feeling. It's like that moment of acceptance and letting go. ... She said, 'Dude, there's no boundary, go all the way.' Her soft side is just as intense and as emotional as her intense, hands-in-the-air side you see onstage," he added. Garibay couldn't even imagine what a video for the song might look like. "We're all excited," he said. It's always a surprise, but whatever it is, it's going to be epic. ... In this case, it's edgy because it's not edgy." What's your favorite Born This Way single so far? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Nas Talks Making Peace With Mobb Deep's Prodigy Posted: 13 May 2011 04:02 AM PDT 'I guess he just wanted to clear the air on some past things that don't mean anything today,' Nas says of Prodigy's post-jail phone call.
The relationship between Queens rappers Prodigy and Nas has had its fair share of ups and downs. There have been collaborations and dis records over the years, and in the new book "My Infamous Life," Mobb Deep's Prodigy touched on his relationship with God's Son, starting with the first time they met during a battle in New York's Queensbridge housing project. In a recent interview, Prodigy told MTV News how he called Nas to make peace after he was released from his three-year prison bid this past March.
During an exclusive sit-down with Sway, the Illmatic rapper spoke about P's call. "He called me as soon as he got out of jail; he got in touch with me. We talked about some things," Nas said. "I didn't know he had a book. He didn't tell me that. I guess he just wanted to clear the air on some past things that don't mean anything today." After patching things up, Nas agreed to collaborate with Prodigy on the Mobb Deep record "Dog Sh--," which was leaked onto the Internet in April. "I just jumped on the record; put that to the past or whatever ill feelings he had towards me," Nas told Sway. "I think he was misinformed about things, like I was a negative guy or like I was trying to harm him in any kind of way. I think maybe he just grew up a little bit." Prodigy was proud to continue the Nas/ Mobb Deep legacy. "When we make songs together, man, it's another level, it's incredible music. It just gives you that feeling, like nostalgia almost," Prodigy said of the Mobb and Nas' past collaborations. "The music is just real powerful when Mobb Deep and Nas work together. So I said, 'We gotta keep that feeling going, man. We would be fools to stop doing that because of whatever petty bullsh-- that was going on.' " With "Dog Sh--" in the can, Nas wasn't sure if and when any more Mobb Deep collaborations would surface. "At the moment, I just got back into the studio, and my focus right now has been just starting to work on the album, so who knows?" he said. As far as Prodigy's book, Esco didn't even know it existed, though he is mentioned in it quite a bit. While Prodigy insists that all of his accounts of Nas were in a positive light, the QB MC doesn't seemed bothered either way and gave general advice for any would-be authors. "Tell the truth if you're gonna write a book. Tell the truth to the best of your ability, that's all I would say to anybody. Just tell the truth," he said. "Do what you wanna do, I had books written about me before, and it is what it is." Are you glad Nas and Mobb Deep have put the past behind them? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kings Of Leon Frontman Caleb Followill Marries Lily Aldridge Posted: 13 May 2011 04:25 AM PDT Couple are planning a 'big party' to follow family-only ceremony.
It wasn't the heavily hyped, hours-long event that was the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but on Thursday, a King married his queen. Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill married Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge early Thursday evening at an intimate ceremony held at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. According to People magazine, the couple exchanged vows before an audience of only family members at 5:30 p.m. but have plans to celebrate their nuptials by way of a "big party" at a later date. "It was a perfect day," Followill said of the event. Followill, 29, met Aldridge, 25, when she appeared in the band's video for "Use Somebody." The couple had been together for more than two years when Followill popped the question last September. The magazine also reported that the bride wore a custom-made strapless Vera Wang gown with layers of chantilly and corded lace appliqué and raw-edge swirling chiffon detail at the back. The groom wore a Gucci suit. Followill's brother and bandmate Nathan, who married singer Jessie Baylin in 2009, served as best man. For the ladies keeping score at home, there are still two eligible Kings on the market: Jared Followill (Caleb and Nathan's brother) and Matthew Followill (their cousin). It's been another busy year for the Kings, following the release of their album Come Around Sundown and rock documentary "Talihina Sky." According to their website, they head back on tour at the end of the month for a two-month sweep through Europe and return Stateside in July. Share your well-wishes for the newlyweds in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Rihanna Gives Fans 'Another Twist' In 'California King Bed,' Director Says Posted: 13 May 2011 01:41 AM PDT Anthony Mandler discusses working with the superstar singer, with whom he's collaborated more than a dozen times.
Rihanna showed off her pale-hued softer side in her "California King Bed" video. A sweeping, romantic look at the demise of a relationship is perfectly encapsulated in the Anthony Mandler-directed clip. Rihanna and Mandler are certainly not strangers when it comes to collaborating, having made more than a dozen clips together, ranging from the fun "Only Girl (In the World)" to the dark "Russian Roulette." When MTV News recently spoke to Mandler, he noted that he and Ri brought out a whole new side to the always-changing singer. "I think it's something that is so unique about Rihanna whatever she's doing, whatever character she's playing, whatever side of herself she's showing, she's in it 1,000 percent," he explained. "They're all twists and variations on herself, and in each of them, the way she pushes the visual and the way she pushes the styling and the look of it, she really kind of gives them another twist on Rihanna. "And I think the song and the theme of this song, she wanted to obviously show a softer side, a lighter side, one that's caught in maybe a tumultuous relationship," he continued. "But not let the tumultuous relationship dominate the visual, really counterbalance it with tension-filled chaotic beauty." Instead of finding a scenic location on which to shoot the video, they built their own set in order to have control over the elements of the video. Rihanna gave Mandler a "basic foundation," and from there, he put his magic on what he describes as a "really pure beauty video with a story line underneath." Having shot both a softer-edge Rihanna and a harder-edged one, Mandler weighed in on which he prefers. "There's so much variety with her and it's been such a journey with her," he said. "It's hard to say which one I enjoy more than the other. I just enjoy working with her, so whatever that means. ... There are gray shades that are brilliant that I'm constantly discovering." Related Artists |
| Chris Brown Recalls Embarrassing Tour Memories On 'When I Was 17' Posted: 13 May 2011 02:27 AM PDT Singer shares his on-the-road stories, including a hotel-flooding incident.
It's only been a few years since Chris Brown first experienced the superstar lifestyle as a teenager, but he sure has his share of stories to tell. On the latest episode of "When I Was 17," Brown recalls a few embarrassing memories from his early career.
"When I was 17, I was going around touring around the world performing, and for the kickoff for one of our tours, I was eating the food that gave me food poisoning," Brown laughingly says on the upcoming episode, premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV. "So I got, like, midway through the show, and I just remember my stomach starting bubbling." Despite his bodily warnings, Brown remained a trouper, telling himself to "hold it" until his performance was over. Unfortunately, the singer learned a hard lesson that day: Don't deny nature's calling. "So I just remember dancing and onstage in the midst of all that, I ... is it like sharted?" the pop star asked with a smile. "The crowd didn't know it, and I had like an outfit change coming up, so I said, 'Yeah, I can hold it out one more song,' and this is real disgusting and too descriptive, it was just ... I just remember it running down my leg." Even though Breezy was busy on the road to promote his debut album, the singer tells MTV that he also had experienced plenty of "reckless" fun, especially one time when he flooded his hotel room during soundcheck with a BB gun. "We were shooting the guns. We had the couches flipped up. The catering was knocked over," Brown said of his showdown with his cousins, adding, "It was like a war zone in our room." "I'm just like, getting hit left, right," Chris' spinner DJ Babey Drew added. "I see people squatting down military-style, trying to shoot me. It was crazy." At one point during the battle, Chris admits he got "shot in the face" and "cried under a table," until he pulled the trigger to a shot that would soak his entire crew. "I waited and then I got up and I acted like I was in a movie. ... I tried to shoot at the fire extinguisher thing. I'm at least 15 yards away, so I'm thinking, 'I don't have a chance at hitting this thing,' " Breezy revealed. "So I shoot ... the whole room is engulfed in water." "When I Was 17" — this week featuring Brown, Selita Ebanks and Joe Jonas — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Prodigy Reveals How He And Nas Made Up Posted: 13 May 2011 02:55 AM PDT '[Nas is] the man out there,' the Mobb Deep rapper tells MTV News about his frequent collaborator.
Nas and the recently reunited Mobb Deep have a longstanding relationship, but it hasn't always been all good. Since breaking out of New York's Queensbridge housing projects in the mid-1990s, Nas and Mobb Deep have sometimes collaborated and sometimes beefed through the years. In an exclusive interview with MTV News, Mobb Deep rapper Prodigy revealed that while he was imprisoned and writing his new autobiography, "My Infamous Life," he and Nas weren't seeing eye to eye. Though Pee didn't elaborate on their past problems, he did say that they have since patched up their differences.
"When I was writing this book, when I was locked up, Nas and myself we weren't on good terms," explained Prodigy. "That didn't make me write anything crazy about him, I just told the story how I seen it. If you read the book, you'll see that I gave Nas crazy love ... He's like my mentor if you read the book. I look up to him through the whole book, from beginning to end." In "My Infamous Life," however, Prodigy does write about the differences between him and Nas' affiliates, as well as the run-ins that their respective crews have had together. Prodigy also recalls battling Nas as youngsters in Queensbridge. Through the years, the two acts have collaborated on songs like Mobb's "Eye for an Eye" and Nas' "Live N---a Rap." There have been a number of barbs thrown back and forth, as well, particularly on Nas' 2001 song "Destroy and Rebuild." After coming home from his three-year prison bid this past March, Prodigy called Nas and extended an olive branch. "When we make songs together, man, it's another level, it's incredible music. It just gives you that feeling, like nostalgia almost," Prodigy said of Mobb Deep's past collaborations with the God's Son rapper. "The music is just real powerful when Mobb Deep and Nas work together. So I said, 'We gotta keep that feeling going, man. We would be fools to stop doing that because of whatever petty bullsh-- that was going on.' " Nas agreed and together he and Mobb Deep recorded "Dog Sh--," a song that was leaked onto the Internet in April. According to Prodigy, fans can expect to hear more new music from the Queens MCs. "We put that aside and was like, 'All right, let's start doin' some music.' We had the 'Dog Sh--' and made a couple of other joints that's crazy." With their differences seemingly behind them, Prodigy gives Nas the ultimate respect and paid homage to his legacy. "Nas is like King Queensbridge, he's the man out there." Are you excited to hear more collaborations from Nas and Mobb Deep? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists |
| Producer Cardiak Talks '600 Benz' Posted: 13 May 2011 03:13 AM PDT 'When I produced the track, I was actually thinking of Meek Mill,' Cardiak tells Mixtape Daily.
Behind the Beats: Cardiak In the grand scheme of things, Cardiak is new to the game. But the Willingboro, New Jersey, rap producer has already amassed some major hits. After making his biggest splash on Lloyd Banks' 2010 Kanye/ Swizz Beatz/ Fabolous collab cut "Start It Up," Cardiak has gone on to land beats with 50 Cent, Fab and Red Cafe. Mixtape Daily caught up with the N.J. boardsman on the set of Maybach Music Group's "600 Benz," another track that he crafted.
"When I produced the track, I was actually thinking of Meek Mill," Cardiak said of "600 Benz." "He had first got signed to Maybach Music, so I was like, this would be the perfect track for him and Rick Ross to hop on. So I had sent the beat to Spiff and Spiff hit me back like, 'Yo, Wale and Ross did the joint.' " Not only did Cardiak land a single off of MMG's upcoming compilation Self Made, he also produced the cut "Rise," which features Pill, Wale, CyHi da Prynce, Curren$y and singer Teedra Moses. "That track is more like a mellow track, 'Maybach Music' type of feel," he said. "It's not like the trap sound, it's not like '600 Benz.' It's something totally different." With all that he has accomplished for the young beat maker, it seems that the best is yet to come. He has since worked with 50 Cent, giving the G-Unit general the beat for his 2011 Internet freestyle "6 out of 6 (Get Gully)" and hints at an upcoming Fif single tentatively titled "Outlaw." In the meantime, fans can enjoy Cardiak's production on Fabolous' The Soul Tape ("Y'all Don't Hear Me Tho") and Red Cafe's Above the Cloudz ("We Get It On," featuring Omarion). He got that work. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Posted: 13 May 2011 02:38 AM PDT Critics haven't warmly welcomed the comic adaptation's delayed arrival.
Long in development, shuffled schizophrenically from release date to release date and given a post-production conversion to 3-D, "Priest" is finally here. Critics, alas, haven't seemed to welcome its belayed arrival very warmly. Based on a manhwa that never really connected with comics readers, the film has been dinged for its hackneyed dialogue and shallow story development. Yet "Priest" is not without its fans. Some reviewers have praised the movie's popcorn-action pleasures and starkly beautiful visual aesthetic. Weak reviews aside, the vampire flick finds itself facing off against a fanboy favorite in "Thor," and the God of Thunder (even in his second week in theaters) will easily vanquish the bloodsuckers of "Priest." Read on for a deep dive into the reviews — the good, the bad and the ugly — of "Priest." The Story The Action The Performances The Visuals The Final Word Check out everything we've got on "Priest." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Lil Wayne's 'John' Video Has Some 'Crazy Stuff' In It, Director Says Posted: 12 May 2011 10:51 PM PDT Colin Tilley says Wayne wanted a vibe similar to Chris Brown's 'Look at Me Now' clip.
After last month's false start, Lil Wayne's "John" video is finally ready for public viewing. In April, an unfinished version of the video featuring Rick Ross leaked to the Internet but was quickly pulled. The finished version was released Friday (May 13) on Lil Wayne's Vevo page. Earlier in the week, MTV News caught up with the video's director, Colin Tilley, to get his take on the clip.
"When I first talked to Wayne about the video, we had just done the 'Look at Me Now' video, and he really liked the whole feel of that video, how there was just so much goin' on and just the whole energy and colors and all that," Tilley said of the Chris Brown clip that he and Tunechi worked on together. "That's pretty much what they gave me when they gave me the song. They were like, 'We just love that energy and we want that whole vibe from it.' " Filmed in Miami, "John" finds Weezy and Ross performing inside an abandoned warehouse and outside on a dock. For a good portion of the video, Rozay raps from a wheelchair with spinners on its wheels. Tilley said there was no specific reasoning behind placing Ross in the chair, it was just what he envisioned when he first heard the song. Tilley, who was bothered when the video leaked, said that as a director, he ultimately just had to "live with it." But he did talk about the differences between the early release and the finished product. "To me, it's night and day, just because every single shot in the video has something different," he said. "It's got some kind of surprise for everybody's eyes. I like to create an experience when you're watching video. It's got different animals, just crazy stuff." Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Bridesmaids': The Reviews Are In! Posted: 13 May 2011 01:47 AM PDT Critics overwhelmingly praise film's boundary-free humor.
Call it a Judd Apatow-for-chicks comedy or his laugh factory's finest effort since 2007's "Knocked Up" — and many critics have done both — but the bottom line is people have been loving "Bridesmaids" in early screenings.
Produced by Apatow, directed by Paul Feig and starring "Saturday Night Live" star Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids" opened Friday (May 13), and while it won't duel with "Thor" for the top box-office spot, it does have the distinction of being one of the most critically adored major releases of the year (currently 91 percent fresh on the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator). Critics have lauded the film's consistent laughs, Wiig for her breakout big-screen turn and the cast of uproarious supporting players. Read on for those critiques and more in our "Bridesmaids" review roundup: The Story The Laughs The Apatow Effect The Dissenters The Final Word Check out everything we've got on "Bridesmaids." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| 'Hesher' Star Joseph Gordon-Levitt Raves About Producer Natalie Portman Posted: 13 May 2011 02:19 AM PDT 'I've always wanted to work with her,' actor says of his co-star and her debut as movie producer.
For those who have followed the acting career of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it has become more and more apparent that he has a knack for choosing unique and diverse projects that, whether intentional or not, have helped him showcase a wide range of acting abilities. Over the last few years, Gordon-Levitt has portrayed a hopeless romantic ("500 Days of Summer"), a supervillain ("G.I. Joe"), a debonair dream master ("Inception") and now a detached drifter in "Hesher."
When MTV News caught up with the character chameleon recently, we asked him what he liked about portraying a seemingly heartless, detached and destructive individual and what new things the role allowed him to explore. "What new things did Hesher allow me to explore? Well this is a guy who's really detached from any material possessions," Gordon-Levitt explained of the titular character. "Or the future of where he's going or the past of where he comes from, or any stuff like that. He just lives in the here and now," he said. "I think that was pretty illuminating for me to spend time in that kind of headspace." The film, which premiered at Sundance in 2010, is told through the perspective of a 12-year-old boy named TJ, whose life is suddenly interrupted, in a way, by Hesher. He is a tattooed, stringy-haired nihilist who moves in, unbidden, with TJ and his father (Rainn Wilson), a broken family deep in depression over the sudden death of the mother. In addition to enjoying the freedom and devil-may-care attitude that came with playing the role, Gordon-Levitt also welcomed the opportunity to work with actress Natalie Portman, who also served as a producer on the film. "Natalie and I met for the first time on 'Hesher,' " Gordon-Levitt revealed. "I've always admired her work. People like her, beautiful young actresses, I think get pigeonholed so much. And she just shatters that box over and over again because she's a real artist and does such great work. So I've always wanted to work with her," he said. "Also, she produced Hesher, and it's the first thing her production company has ever produced," Gordon-Levitt explained of Portman's Handsomecharlie Films. "What a cool movie to produce if you're Natalie Portman, not some huge moneymaker, but like, 'No this is a great story, I believe in it, I'm gonna see to it that it gets made.' I admire her for that." Check out everything we've got on "Hesher." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| James Durbin's Exit: 'American Idol' Experts Weigh In Posted: 13 May 2011 01:05 AM PDT 'Durbin's rock act had become predictable and cartoonish,' one writer tells MTV News.
While the elimination of James Durbin on Thursday's "American Idol" practically broke Twitter thanks to the wild indignation of his disappointed nation of fans, longtime "Idol" watchers said the demise of season 10's resident rocker was both a huge surprise and kind of predictable.
"I was shocked. I thought there was no way Haley wasn't going home," said Richard Rushfield, author of "American Idol: The Untold Story." In light of the sassy backtalk from Haley Reinhart in the wake of judge Randy Jackson's harsh comments, Rushfield said he was sure the singer was going home after her disastrous cover of Michael Jackson's "Earth Song." But even so, he thought voters got it right and that Reinhart deserved more time to get her act together. "Durbin's rock act had become predictable and cartoonish," Rushfield said. "Despite the raves from the judges, performing one of the most familiar rock songs with 'Don't Stop Believin' ' and doing what was, in the end, truly a nothing-special, sound-alike version was a bad mistake at the point when you need to stand out with every song." And, as much as writers love to point out the excitement of having a "rocker" make it far into the competition, Rushfield said there still appears to be an anti-rock bias given the similar fourth-place departures of Allison Iraheta and Chris Daughtry. Entertainment reporter Shirley Halperin, author of "American Idol: Celebrating 10 Years," agreed with Rushfield, noting that Durbin's performances had been slipping in recent weeks, and instead of amping it up, he "grossly miscalculated" with a series of questionable song choices. "This has been the most unpredictable seasons of 'Idol' ever," she said when asked if viewers got it right by sending Durbin home. "What America is looking for in an Idol is clearly open to debate. But if the finale ends up being Scotty vs. Lauren? Well, let the 'Nashville Star' jokes begin." Halperin said what ultimately did James in was a combination of bad song choices and ... Lady Gaga? "I think Gaga brought a lot of votes to Haley because, after choosing 'You and I,' it was almost like an endorsement," she said of the superstar's pretaped performance of that new ballad on the show a week after Reinhart was knocked by the judges for picking an unreleased song. "Plus, James was clearly uncomfortable around Gaga — and even said so after the show in interviews with reporters — so how is he supposed to fit into a roster that includes freaky artists like Gaga, Marilyn Manson and the like?" Both agreed that Durbin can likely have a career if he follows the path of fellow fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry, but Rushfield wondered if he'd ever play arenas again after this summer's "Idol" tour. " 'Give metal a chance' is a nice slogan, but it's not what's played on the radio these days," Rushfield pointed out. "We'll see if he tries to take it in a more mainstream-rock, Nickelback/Daughtry direction, or if he tries for something poppy, which might be a tough fit." Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Faith Evans Calls Son CJ Wallace An 'Accidental Movie Star' Posted: 13 May 2011 12:49 AM PDT Evans' son with Notorious B.I.G. stars alongside Will Ferrell in 'Everything Must Go.'
R&B star Faith Evans caught up with MTV News' "RapFix Live" on Wednesday and spoke about Christopher Jordan "CJ" Wallace, her son with late husband and rap legend the Notorious B.I.G. The "I Love You" singer checked in via Skype from Los Angeles, where she was recording new music, and discussed CJ's role in the new Will Ferrell film "Everything Must Go," which opened in limited release Friday (May 13).
"Everybody that gets a chance to check that out, yeah, CJ is doing his thing in there," Evans said. CJ has a prominent role in the film playing Kenny Loftus, a neighbor of Nick Halsey (Ferrell) in the comedy/drama. CJ's first role on the big screen was playing a younger version of his father in the biopic "Notorious." The budding actor was only 3 and a half months old when his father died, and Faith said the film helped CJ realize just how important his father was to the hip-hop community. "I think that once he did ['Notorious'] and us being in Brooklyn every day... that kind of took it over the top, that whole experience," Faith said. "Him being able to be part of the movie and then also seeing it on a whole worldwide level with it, it's actually in the movie. He has to understand how important [his father] was to everyone else on a bigger scale as well. That was a great experience for him." The proud mother then admitted that her son's newfound success as an actor was purely happenstance. "It's funny, 'cause he wasn't the seasoned little actor," Faith said. "He never had lessons or anything like that. He just auditioned, and they liked him, so he's kind of become the little accidental movie star in our household." Check out everything we've got on "Everything Must Go." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Khloe Kardashian Talks Lamar Odom, 'Frustrating' Lakers Fans Posted: 13 May 2011 12:56 AM PDT 'They want to blame, if [the Lakers] have a bad game, on the show,' the 'Khloé and Lamar' star and NBA wife tells MTV News.
Week after week, fans are getting to know what marriage is like for Khloé Kardashian and Lamar Odom as they work out the kinks on their E! spin-off, "Khloé and Lamar."
With Khloé's younger brother, Rob Kardashian, living with the duo, drama seems to follow them. But the biggest drama might be the backlash from fans of Odom and his L.A. Lakers. "I was really excited about the whole [spin-off show]. We were filming for so long [and] we stopped before the playoffs," Khloé told MTV News at a John Frieda Destination tour stop in New York City on Friday (May 13), where she and sister Kourtney were getting their beauty on. The Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs on Sunday. "That's the one thing that is annoying, though, about having it and having Lamar play basketball, is people. "In our contract, I have it carved out that Lamar can never film during a game day ... and we have to be done before the playoffs," she continued. "I had so many caveats, but viewers don't know that so they want to blame, if [the Lakers] have a bad game, on the show. That's the one frustrating thing about the shows, 'cause it has nothing to do with the show." All that aside, the one thing Khloé loves most about her reality series — and all of the E! Kardashian shows — is catching up with her family by tuning in. "I love doing any of our shows. I love watching it. [Kourtney] was just saying, 'cause they were in New York when we were filming ... she gets to see what we were up to, which I think is cool," she explained. "But also, like, if my brother's filming or doing something and I'm not there, it's fun to watch it together, 'cause there's a lot of stuff [that airs] that I'm not there with them." And that means, of course, that Kourtney is a loyal viewer of "Khloé and Lamar." Kourt added, "And you don't tell everyone every second of your day, so when I watch it I see so much that I just didn't even know about." Have you been watching "Khloé and Lamar"? Tell us what you think of the show in the comments! |
| James Durbin Gets Some Advice From Daughtry Producer Posted: 13 May 2011 12:37 AM PDT 'He could bring metal back to the mainstream if he was coached right on the production,' Howard Benson says of 'American Idol' castoff.
Now that James Durbin is off "American Idol," he's going to face one of the biggest decisions of his life. While he has vowed to bring back heavy metal with his debut album, a producer who knows a thing or two about taking a rock artist from fourth place on "Idol" to superstardom counseled the singer to step back a bit and really think about what kind of career he wants before getting in the studio and cranking up the double kick drums and speed-metal guitars.
"I think it's a tricky moment for James where he might not want to hear what people have to say to him, but I'd be very clear and tell him there are two kinds of success: personal and commercial," said rock producer Howard Benson, who helped shape the smash debut from fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry and who has worked on albums by everyone from My Chemical Romance to Theory of a Deadman. In a conference call with reporters Friday (May 13), Durbin said he wants to make an album like late rock icon Dio's 1983 screaming-metal debut Holy Diver or one that sounds like the records Ronnie James made with Black Sabbath. "If you want to be commercially successful and you're going in this [old-school metal] direction, that's a huge gamble," Benson said. "It's OK to make that gamble because it's your career. But if it doesn't work, you have to be prepared for that." Watching Durbin on "Idol," Benson said he thinks the singer is genuinely good at the showy metal stuff, but cautioned James to really think about what 17-year-old metal fans are really listening to these days and chances are it's not someone who was on "Idol," which means his target audience might not show up for his debut. "They're into bands we've never heard of on small indie labels," he said of today's metalheads. "He has a shot at selling to the over-30 crowd who loves that music and might buy his album if the songs are un-f---ing-believable." In which case, it comes down to that similar refrain you hear from producers all the time, not to mention "Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine and the show's judges: It's all about the songs. "Regardless of what he wants to do, you need great songs," Benson said, advising Durbin to not worry about how "metal" his album is, but about the songs first. Benson said if he were asked, he would sit down with Durbin and explain very clearly to him why metal fans might not buy his record, and why he might find more success tapping into the enormous audience he's acquired through being on the show. Taking the example of Daughtry, who is still considered a successful rock artist even though his songs are not played on rock radio that much, Benson said Durbin can be a rock artist but still get play on pop radio. "The thing he has going for him is that he's popular now," Benson said, noting that someone from Universal, the label that has a deal with "Idol," called him recently and lamented that pop radio doesn't play rock artists. "I agreed, except in the case of 'American Idol,' " he said he told them. "That's a totally different thing. He is a pop artist, because he's on the most popular show on TV. That makes him a pop artist by default." Benson said the first thing he'd do is convene a weeklong songwriting camp to get Durbin in the room with proven writers like Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Daughtry, Buckcherry) or even former "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi and pop maestro Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Britney Spears) and have them tap into the singer's rich, emotional story. "They might make him realized how to be more accessible," he said. "Durbin could make something really interesting. He could bring metal back to the mainstream if he was coached right on the production. But you can't go back to the past and try to remake things that have already been done." Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Ashton Kutcher's Path From 'That '70s Show' To 'Two And A Half Men' Posted: 12 May 2011 10:25 PM PDT Following the news that Kutcher is replacing Charlie Sheen in the hit sitcom, we take a look at the actor's successful career.
In the MTV Newsroom, we tend to think of Ashton Kutcher as one our own. Maybe it's because he launched "Punk'd" on MTV back in 2003. Or maybe because reruns of "That '70s Show" still air daily on the channel. Whatever the case, we were happy to learn Kutcher will be returning to the small screen for a role on "Two and a Half Men" — airing on CBS, like MTV, a Viacom-owned property — replacing Charlie Sheen after that actor's epic flameout.
Kutcher's move back to TV marks yet another unpredictable choice in a career defined by them. Back in 2003, for example, he was almost cast as Superman in director Brett Ratner's big-screen adaptation of the superhero story. As Kutcher would tell us years later with a laugh, "It did not feel right. I hadn't worked out or done anything right. ... I was like a rail with fake muscles. It looked funny." Other movie projects worked out better. "Dude, Where's My Car?" performed modestly at the box office but became something of a cult hit on home video and cable. In 2003, Kutcher starred in "My Boss' Daughter" opposite Tara Reid and in "Just Married" with Brittany Murphy, with whom he eventually struck up a relationship. "I learn something from that girl every day," he told us at the time. "She makes me smile every day. She shows me something about my job every day. She's the best, man. I'll do anything with her, any movie, hands down." That same year, Cameron Crowe cast Kutcher in "Elizabethtown," his highly anticipated follow-up to "Almost Famous" and "Vanilla Sky." Crowe, however, eventually recast the part and hired Orlando Bloom. No matter, as Kutcher's time-travel drama, "The Butterfly Effect," topped the box office early in January. And he stepped into voice acting for the animated tale "Open Season," another #1 hit at the box office. By that point, Kutcher had already tied the knot with Demi Moore. But married life didn't change the goofy essence of who he is, as we found out during a 2008 press day for "What Happens in Vegas ..." "When you're in bed, and you're married to someone, don't fart under the covers and trap her under the covers, because she gets pissed," he cracked. In 2010, Kutcher went on to star in the ensemble romantic comedy "Valentine's Day" — another #1 hit and another opportunity to expand on his relationship philosophy. "I really, really do believe the only way you're really going to catch somebody off-guard on Valentine's Day is when they're waking up," he explained. "By waiting till the end of the day, now you have to compete with what everyone else has done throughout the day." That's some good advice ... as was the knowledge he kicked to us days before the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. "How does Robert Pattinson not win every award ever invented?" Kutcher asked us, adding, "Like, I almost got up onstage this year at the Grammys when he didn't win and almost kicked Taylor Swift off. Because I'm like, 'What's up? Robert Pattinson should have won this.' " More rom-coms followed, first alongside Katherine Heigl in 2010's "Killers," and then opposite Natalie Portman in "No Strings Attached," which opened at #1 earlier this year. Before the "Two and a Half Men" news broke, Kutcher had already lined up a number of new film projects, including the ensemble comedy "New Year's Eve" to a potential collaboration with Justin Bieber called "What Would Kenny Do?" Through it all, though, Kutcher has never forgotten his MTV roots. As we found out, the guy is a huge fan of "Jersey Shore." "I was on the 'Jersey Shore' bandwagon really early," Kutcher revealed in January. "A good friend of mine started showing me all these pictures of all these guidos online, and then she was like, 'Oh my God, you have to see this show,' and so I started watching. I'm a huge fan of the show. I haven't missed an episode." What are your favorite Ashton Kutcher career highlights? Tell us in the comments. |
| Angelina Jolie Confirms Talks With David Fincher To Direct 'Cleopatra' Posted: 12 May 2011 11:40 PM PDT 'Fincher's been an old friend, so we've always been looking for something to do,' she tells MTV News.
Last time we caught up with Angelina Jolie, we ran through a slew of potential projects for the A-list star, pumping for details about her rumored onscreen collaboration with beau Brad Pitt, a potential project with Darren Aronofsky and the possibility (now squashed, thanks to Anne Hathaway) of playing Catwoman in "The Dark Knight Rises."
Meeting back up with Jolie at the Cannes Film Festival this week while she was promoting "Kung Fu Panda 2," we again touched on a few of her upcoming projects. First, there's "Cleopatra," a 3-D retelling of the ancient Egyptian queen's life. For a while, it seemed James Cameron might take on directorial duties, and then Paul Greengrass' name entered the conversation. Then in March, David Fincher — who's been consumed with production in Sweden on an adaptation of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" — reportedly became the latest helmer to set his sights on the film. So will Jolie and Fincher be teaming up for "Cleopatra"? It seems that way. "Yes, we just don't know," she told us, "It's all very early. Fincher's been an old friend, so we've always been looking for something to do." From there, we hit on another cinematic retelling of historical figures, this one focusing on the political and personal relationship between Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt. Earlier this month, Anthony Hopkins exclusively revealed to MTV News that he was looking to play Churchill for a project Jolie is producing. But after directing her first feature — a love story set during the Bosnian War — we wondered if she might also helm that project. "Right now, I'm just producing it," Jolie said. "Just want to see it get done." When asked if she'd found a Roosevelt to go head-to-head with Hopkins' Churchill, she answered simply, "No." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Lady Gaga Confirms That She's Single Posted: 12 May 2011 11:21 PM PDT 'I'm not dating. No, there's no boyfriend,' Gaga says on 'The Graham Norton Show.'
Lady Gaga is back on the market. The "Judas" singer announced on the BBC's "Graham Norton Show" that she is no longer dating longtime beau, New York bartender and diet book author Luc Carl. In an episode airing Friday night (May 12), Gaga appears on the show in an avant-garde wedding gown and confesses, "I'm not dating. No, there's no boyfriend. I'm miserably pathetic in my wedding dress." "I haven't been on any dates recently because I have been working so hard and I get very bored very quickly with men. I guess they would get freaked out by this wedding dress," Gaga said, according to The Daily Mirror. Gaga and Carl dated before she became an international sensation several years ago when she was performing on the Lower East Side, where he bartended, but they later split. They subsequently rekindled their romance, and Gaga reportedly told Grazia magazine that Luc Carl changed her views on sex. "I never actually enjoyed sex until two years ago. It was a proper monogamous relationship in which I felt free enough to trust and I had enough self-love," she explained. "Sex is the ultimate expression of vulnerability, and for me it was important to know that it was a proper relationship so it was sex as a source of love and nothing else." In a recent interview with E! News, Gaga opened up about her single "Judas" and how it was inspired by some of the loves in her life. She explained that the tune is "essentially about me going back to an ex-boyfriend and still being in love with someone that betrayed me, someone that was bad for me." Related Artists |
| James Durbin Fans Shocked, Upset At His 'American Idol' Ouster Posted: 13 May 2011 08:19 AM PDT 'James is already an Idol!' wrote one fan following the dismissal of the reality show's resident metal screamer.
James Durbin wasn't the only one who was shocked and awed by his surprise dismissal from "American Idol" on Thursday night. The sensitive California rocker shed tears and gave an emotion-choked send-off performance after host Ryan Seacrest broke the bad news, but his fans gave him an even bigger tearstained goodbye, sending hundreds of messages of support to MTV News in the wake of his booting.
After being tipped to possibly face off against country favorite Scotty McCreery in the finale two weeks from now, Durbin was instead sent to the showers, prompting many of his fans to inundate MTV News with their howls of disbelief. "Done with 'American Idol' ..now that James is gone no need to watch," wrote an upset Pamela. "Can't wait for his CD!!" Diane couldn't have agreed more, aiming some of her ire at survivor Haley Reinhart while writing, "I am so done with 'Idol.' The voting system needs a major overhaul. It is too bad that 'Idol' has stooped so low as to support a girl with such a disrespectful attitude that should have been bounced instead of Pia. I will follow James and his great career and will now support Scotty, he will get my votes." In fact, it seemed like the ladies in particular were worked up about the situation, with Maria giving an "amen" and adding, "Seriously, James is already an Idol! He is one hell of a performer! The 3 left have a long way to go before they could even measure up to James! I think that is why the show got rid of him!" Many of the commenters said they were done watching the show for the season (though, to be fair, there are only two weeks left), but Robert perhaps voiced the many gripes best when he wrote, "America proved they would rather vote for karaoke singers who try to sing the songs close to the original rather than those who show talent and creativity." Others encouraged James to keep his head up and think about all the other top finishers who've gone on to successful careers, such as Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson. The finger-pointing was varied, with many blaming the voting system — which this year allowed online voting, and which "Idol" executive producer Ken Warwick said may get an overhaul in the off-season — as well as new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. Some even took aim at America itself for being too conservative and not opening space in its heart for a metal singer. And, as usual, there were some conspiracy theorists who claimed that the voting system was "hacked" and that votes for James were mysteriously going to Reinhart, who took the brunt of the negative feeling from disappointed Durbinites. It wasn't all love and puppies, though. One commenter wasn't surprised at all that Durbin didn't make the final three. "I don't understand how anyone can say this is a shocker," Bberzin wrote. "James has been over-pimped all season. Not one of his pitchy performances has been criticized. The judges praised his mediocrity all season, and this is the result. No one should be shocked. The other result of the judges refusing to give honest, constructive criticism, is that James actually thinks he was the best thing that ever happened to Idol. He BELIEVES what the judges have been telling him all these weeks! What has he done that's never been done before? Maybe special effects, but as far as talent is concerned? NOTHING! James is certainly entertaining, but he has a long way to go, and a lot to learn before he could live up to all that hype. If he's willing, and wants to work for it, I'm sure he will succeed. In my opinion, however, he should have been voted off before this." What did you think about Durbin's ouster on "Idol"? Let us know in comments below. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| You are subscribed to email updates from MTV News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar