MTV News |
- Usher Gets 'Emotional' On David Guetta's 'Without You'
- 'The Thing' Star Previews 'Terrifying And Disgusting' Prequel
- Paramore, Gym Class Heroes Pick Best Fueled By Ramen Releases
- Enrique Iglesias Joins 'Two Worlds' With Spanish Lil Wayne Cover
- Britney Spears To Shoot 'Criminal' Video In England
- Lady Gaga, Nas Join 'I Will' 9/11 Commemoration
- Raekwon Classic Debut <i>Cuban Linx</i> A 'Gift And A Curse'
- OK Go, My Morning Jacket Remember 1991: When Rock <i>Rocked</i>
- 'Harold & Kumar' Stars Promise 'Enhanced Nudity' In '3D Christmas'
- Lady Gaga Is 'The Biggest,' Tony Bennett Says
- Eminem, Royce Da 5'9" Success Inspires Slaughterhouse
- 'Tower Heist' Director Hypes Eddie Murphy's 'Genius'
- 'Abduction' Star Lily Collins Talks Taylor Lautner Kiss
- Eddie Murphy To Host 2012 Oscars
- Mobb Deep's Ninth Album 'Monumental' For Duo
- Wiz Khalifa, The Kills, More Bring Eclectic Sounds To Bumbershoot
- Adele Hints At Recording James Bond Theme
- 'Real Steel' Director And Hugh Jackman Find Humanity In Boxing Robots
- Freddie Gibbs To Talk Straight, 'No Filla' On 'RapFix Live'!
| Usher Gets 'Emotional' On David Guetta's 'Without You' Posted: 07 Sep 2011 03:53 AM PDT DJ/producer calls their collabo the 'biggest record' on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.
David Guetta recently told MTV News that the Usher collabo "Without You" is the "biggest record" on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.
It's a rather bold statement, considering his latest album also features Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, will.i.am, Akon, Timbaland, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few. But Guetta has a soft spot for the cinematic team-up with Ush, which he says is equal parts sentimental and hands-in-the-air euphoric. "It's just totally emotional," Guetta said. "Some of the record is a proper ballad, and then it goes to that crazy dance beat. It's perfect for him, because he's famous for his ballads. And he's also now famous for those big club records that he comes with. He's an amazing dancer, so I felt like he was the artist that I needed." Usher and Guetta first previewed the song in Ibiza, Spain, earlier this summer, with the crowd demanding an encore performance of the sure-to-be-hit song. "It was amazing," Guetta gushed. "We were not supposed to do this. I always do these kinds of stupid things, playing records when I'm not supposed to play them. And Usher was so excited for this time to be in Ibiza performing in front of those people. He called me onstage and said, 'Come on. Let's do it.' So we did it, and, yeah, they loved it. We had to do it again! They asked for one more." For some, the combination of Usher and Guetta might seem out of left field. While the DJ/producer works with a variety of artists, he has a pretty tight-knit musical family — but it may come as a surprise that Guetta has known Usher the longest. "I actually speak very often about how thankful I am to will.i.am because he called me to produce 'I Gotta Feeling'; Akon, when we started to work together, because I wasn't famous in America; Kelly Rowland and all those guys that came to me when I was not known yet," Guetta said. "But I have to say that the very first time when someone big from America asked me if I want to work with him, it was Usher. Like, a really long time ago, but we never had the time to do it. So I was so happy to be finally in the studio with him, because he spotted me when I was really not famous yet." Usher and Guetta already shot the video for "Without You" in Ibiza. The song will follow up Guetta's current single, "Little Bad Girl," which features Ludacris and Taio Cruz. |
| 'The Thing' Star Previews 'Terrifying And Disgusting' Prequel Posted: 07 Sep 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'There's one [scene] in particular that stands out to me that's just horrific,' actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead says in our Fall Movie Preview.
It's a horror-movie question almost 30 years in the making: What the hell happened to the Norwegian researchers discovered toward the beginning of the 1982 John Carpenter cult fave "The Thing"?
Kurt Russell and his crew do end up stumbling into some terrifying answers, but Carpenter's flick concentrates on the alien horrors the Americans endure. The 2011 fall movie season, however, is set to uncover what really happened before Russell touched down in the Antarctic, as director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. delivers a prequel story, also called "The Thing," to theaters on October 14. As part of MTV News' Fall Movie Preview, we're not only debuting an exclusive clip and photo from the horror flick about an alien able to mimic the likenesses of other life forms, but we sat down for a chat with star Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays a young researcher confronting the extraterrestrial danger. She spoke about the pressures of remaking a classic, the criticism from some corners about introducing a central female character to the action, and the challenges of reinventing an alien creature while staying true to its original form. MTV: What's the bigger threat for you on set in Canada? Is it losing your voice from screaming all the time or losing your fingers from frostbite? Mary Elizabeth Winstead: I think it was fainting from nearly hyperventilating. That was the biggest thing. Also, by the end of it, we were shooting in the summer and we were acting like it was freezing cold and we were all in parkas and layers and layers of gloves and hats, and it was humid and hot outside. There was a lot of heat exhaustion setting in. It was kind of crazy — we had to act cold. I didn't have to do a lot of screaming in this, which was good. It was just a lot of that kind of heavy breathing, where you're trying to keep your composure and trying not to fall apart. It's that really small, fast breathing and take, after take, after take of that kind of thing, you start to get lightheaded and start to get a little woozy. MTV: There are a lot of remakes and new takes on cult classics, and I think a lot of people feel, "I'm OK with it, if they get it right." For you guys on set, was that sort of pressure on your minds? And do you think you did get it right? Winstead: There was definitely a lot of pressure, because everyone involved is a fan of the John Carpenter version. None of us wanted to mess it up and none of us wanted to sully the legend of the John Carpenter film. We wanted to add to it in a positive way, a fun way, and make something that could go hand in hand with that film. And that's what we did. I think we made a film that's a really great standalone film, but also something that's really cool if you're a fan of the John Carpenter version, just to get a little insight into what may have occurred before. I think it's just a good movie regardless of how you feel about remakes and prequels and all of that. At least you can go see a good film and hopefully put that aside and just be there and go along for the ride. MTV: Since this is a prequel, we presumably know what's going to happen at the end. How did you keep the suspense going? Winstead: I think that it's exciting to wonder who is a Thing and who isn't, and that's really where the suspense lies. A lot of films in the genre, you kind of know it's not gonna end up well. I don't think anyone is really expecting a happy ending. But that kind of going along for the ride and being in the suspense of the moment is what's really exciting. Our story is so great and it's one that could be played out in so many scenarios, and I think with bringing in completely different characters from completely different backgrounds and countries brings a whole other level of paranoia. It takes it into a different direction, having this language barrier between the characters and having a lot of "us" vs. "them" between the Norwegians and the Americans and things like that was an interesting take on it, made it a not straight-up remake. And it was exciting to me to put a girl in the mix, which people have different opinions on it. But for me, that's what differentiates it from the John Carpenter version in a big way and makes it a different film, makes it a unique film and one that stands on its own. MTV: What do you mean by different opinions? Do you think people are skeptical of a woman battling aliens? Winstead: I read a lot of comments, which kind of surprised me, to be honest, of people who were really upset that we would dare put a female in "The Thing" when the John Carpenter version was all men. I do think it was an interesting dynamic to see men, grown men, all living together and dealing with this paranoia and isolation. But I also think it's interesting having a young woman thrown into the mix trying to take control of the situation where nobody trusts her opinion. It's a very different and interesting dynamic and it's not gonna be the same as the original version, but that's what's great about it to me. MTV: Anyone who's seen Ellen Ripley [Sigourney Weaver in "Alien"] do her thing knows that a woman can take on an alien. Winstead: What's cool about it, for this character, a lot of her strength lies in her intellect rather than her muscles. It's not like one of those characters where I come in and act like I can kick everybody's ass. It's not realistic. All these guys are bigger than me, stronger than me. But my character has a really strong intellect, which gets her far in this film. MTV: So you didn't have to hit the gym? Winstead: No, none of that, which was nice. MTV: How does this one build? How long before, you know, sh-- gets bad? Winstead: It's a definite slow burn, which is great. It makes it feel like a classic horror film. You really set up the characters and you really build the fear slowly, and once sh-- hits the fan, it gets crazy and it doesn't stop. It's super-intense, the last half of the film. You just hold your breath and you don't breathe again till the credits roll. That's really great. The first part of the movie is really slow and foreboding, and you feel this slow dread building because you do know what's coming. You know that something crazy and horrible is gonna happen to these people, but they don't know it yet and kind of having that feeling as the audience is one that's exciting and creepy and terrifying. MTV: Carpenter's movie really was horrifying and just gross. Really gross. Are you guys taking the same angle? Winstead: The "assimilation scenes" are definitely terrifying and disgusting and just creepy as hell. There's one in particular that stands out to me that's just horrific. I can't really describe it in too much detail because I don't wanna give anything away. It just blows your mind. Just seeing it being filmed, because we have a lot of practical effects stuff there, which is great and kind of seeing the beginning of it on set was terrifying in itself and disgusting. They just took it to a whole new level, the stuff they added in postproduction. MTV: We get a glimpse of the creature in the trailer. Because it's a prequel, do you guys have to stay very true to the first one or do you have room to play? Winstead: I think they definitely kept the John Carpenter version in mind when it came to the creature design. Definitely it is still that same world, but there is a somewhat new look to it and somewhat different take on it. It's sort of the 2011 version, but still with that spirit of practical effects. It certainly doesn't look exactly like the John Carpenter version. As awesome as those effects are, they are out of a certain period. And when you see that, you can kind of tell like, "Oh, those are really awesome '80s effects." So you can't really go exactly for that. You have to bring a little of the modern element in to it too, but hopefully keeping that real tangible quality the '80s effects had as well. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "The Thing." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Paramore, Gym Class Heroes Pick Best Fueled By Ramen Releases Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:57 AM PDT In celebration of the FBR's 15th anniversary, the label's biggest bands rifle through its back catalog.
In 1996, Fueled By Ramen released the now-famous Take-Out Sampler, a cassette compilation that came packaged to look like it was ordered from your neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Last week, they released Cobra Starship's Night Shades, the 130-somethingth album to bear the FBR name ... and no, it wasn't available on cassette.
Still, that should give you a pretty good idea of just how far the label has come over the course of 15 years. And this week, FBR will celebrate its ongoing legacy with a pair of shows at New York's Terminal 5 — Wednesday night's show, featuring Paramore, the Swellers, This Providence, the Stereo and fun., will stream live on MTV.com beginning at 7 p.m. ET. And we here at MTV News are doing our part to aid in the festivities. We've already brought you some of the label's biggest bands recalling the moment they signed with FBR, and now, those same bands are talking to us about their favorite albums from the label's rather expansive back catalog. From Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco to Jimmy Eat World and Discount, here are their picks. Cassettes not included. Travie McCoy and Matt McGinley, Gym Class Heroes McCoy: "It's beautiful how they kind of hid such dark and demented lyrics in such happy and poppy punk music. Genius." McCoy: "The Academy Is ... Almost Here. Front to back, it's an amazing, amazing album, and it shoots us back to when we used to tour with those guys all the time." McGinley: "Panic! at the Disco's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out!" McCoy: "I remember hearing some of the demos for that album, and I was blown away and when the record actually came out, it was like, 'Wow, these dudes are about to smash, and they tore it up."
Paramore's Hayley Williams: "A really awesome release ... was [the] Jimmy Eat World EP, and it had early versions of the Clarity songs. I think it makes this list because we love Jimmy Eat World so much, and it's so awesome that they released something on our label. We're really proud of that." "My all-time favorite FBR release is the Impossibles' Anthology, it's sort of all the best Impossibles songs, and it's incredible. They're kind of like if Weezer were ska." "When we were writing Brand New Eyes, I sent an email to some folks at the label requesting some music. I actually got back a Discount EP ... they did a cover EP of Billy Brag songs called Love, Billy, and the cover art was really cool, I remember liking that a lot. I just really like Discount. If you don't know who [they] are, you should check them out; I don't know if I'm allowed to say this or not, but it may or may not be Alison from the Kills and Dead Weather fronting a pop/punk band. It's awesome and there's so much cool, raw energy, and her voice is great. I love the music and I think it's very telling of that time in music for pop/punk music. Good stuff." Help MTV celebrate Fueled by Ramen's 15th anniversary on Wednesday, September 7, as we present a live party featuring some of your favorite FBR acts, including Paramore. Check out MTV.com at 6:30 p.m. ET Wednesday to catch all the action! Related Artists |
| Enrique Iglesias Joins 'Two Worlds' With Spanish Lil Wayne Cover Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:44 AM PDT 'He loved the song so much he wanted to do a Spanish translation,' 'How to Love' producer Detail tells Mixtape Daily.
Behind The Beats: Detail
MTV News learned about the translated love song from "How to Love" producer Detail. "I played the song for Enrique. I've been in the studio working on Enrique's album, and I played it. He loved the song so much he wanted to do a Spanish translation," Detail said on the red carpet for BMI's Urban Awards last week. Iglesias' publicist confirmed the Spanish cover of "How to Love" to MTV News. Weezy and Iglesias first collaborated in 2007 on the song "Push" and got together again last year for Enrique's "Dirty Dancer." "I don't know Spanish, but I had a couple of women that speak Spanish, and we ended up working it out," Detail said. "Enrique changed a couple of words to make it work for what he does, and it was a great situation. It was a great opportunity for two worlds to come together." Wayne sang his version of the ballad when he closed out the 2011 MTV VMAs and then released his C4 album right after. A few days earlier, on August 24, Tunechi debuted the song's video and dropped a heavy message about the vicious cycle of domestic and sexual abuse and how it can affect a woman's self-esteem. "When I listen to it, I get goose bumps," Weezy told MTV News' Sway in a May interview. "And I feel like the song is gonna take me somewhere that I've never been musically." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| Britney Spears To Shoot 'Criminal' Video In England Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:02 PM PDT Singer also graces the cover of U.K. Glamour before European leg of Femme Fatale Tour kicks off.
Before Britney Spears kicks off the European leg of her Femme Fatale Tour later this month, she is taking care of a little business in England. Spears took to Twitter to reveal that the country would serve as the locale for her "Criminal" video.
"So excited to stop over in the UK before I start my European tour in a few weeks," she tweeted. "Can't wait! I LOVE London, it's like my second home. Decided to shoot the 'Criminal' video in the streets of merry old England when I get there..." The news of the video shoot comes a week or so after the singer revealed to MTV News that her next single would be the Femme Fatale slow jam. She also teased that she had some interesting ideas for the video. "The song, when I first heard it, it's really different and it's not anything I've heard like this before," she told us backstage at the VMAs. "So I really wanted to deliver this song. I was thinking of a really cool concept for the video just to make it interesting. You'll have to see." Vote for Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go" in our Song of the Summer poll over on the Newsroom blog! Just in time for her Euro trip, Spears also graces the cover of Glamour's U.K. edition. In the magazine, the singer opens up about her next personal milestone: turning the big 3-0. "I think the older you get, the wiser you get," she said. "I can't wait. I'm really excited and definitely gonna celebrate and do something spectacular. I'm gonna be in South America so I'll have to do something pretty fun. A carnival of Britney?" Spears wears a dress with sequins and feathers on the cover, and in the article, she says she'd love to have William and Kate stop by one of her shows in London. "That would be amazing. That would be really crazy and cool. I think they're a beautiful couple," she said. "Unfortunately I didn't get to watch the [royal] wedding, but I heard it was beautiful." Does Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go" have the people's support as Song of the Summer? Check out the video below to find out! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga, Nas Join 'I Will' 9/11 Commemoration Posted: 06 Sep 2011 09:35 AM PDT MTV parent company Viacom recruits DJ Pauly D, Julianne Hough and others to answer 'What will you do to remember?'
All this week, Americans will be taking time out to reflect and remember the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. As part of that commemoration, MTV parent company Viacom has teamed with artists including Lady Gaga, Nas, DJ Pauly D, Julianne Hough and Drake Bell to launch a national day of service campaign that asks, "What will you do to remember?"
The multiplatform public service campaign is designed to inspire Americans to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks by committing to good deeds, charity or volunteer service. Working with MyGoodDeed and HandsOn Network, organizers of this year's September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, the "I Will" campaign asks participants, "Ten years later, what will you do to remember?" Beginning on Tuesday (September 6) through Sunday, Viacom's networks will air specially produced "I Will" public service announcements featuring artists and actors, including Gaga, Fran Drescher, Pauly D, Nas, Hough and Bell, along with Viacom employees. "We were in disbelief," Lady Gaga says in the promo, remembering how she as a New Yorker witnessed the attacks. "We all watched the second tower fall together." "You almost feel a sense of helplessness," Pauly D recalls, before pledging, "I will call all my family members on that day." In addition to airing a series of PSAs across its Viacom networks, the company's digital properties will also support "I Will" with a widget that allows visitors to upload their personal response to the question, "What will you do on 9/11 in tribute?" "Everyone was affected by the tragic events of September 11, which claimed the lives of so many family members, friends and colleagues," said Philippe Dauman, president and CEO of Viacom, in a statement. "A decade later, we hope that our audiences and the entire Viacom family will pause to reflect on the profound impact of that day. We are proud to join this call to action and encourage everyone to make a personal tribute." What will you do to remember 9/11? Share your thoughts below, and visit 911day.org to upload your video response. Related Artists |
| Raekwon Classic Debut <i>Cuban Linx</i> A 'Gift And A Curse' Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:36 AM PDT 'Sometimes people get stuck off of one style I got,' Raekwon tells MTV News about 1995's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. ...
For Raekwon, the success of his 1995 classic debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ..., is a double-edged sword. While the Wu-Tang Clansman celebrated and performed songs from his first album on Saturday at Rock the Bells in New York, he admitted to MTV News that sometimes the OB4CL admiration distracts from his other work.
"It is a gift and a curse, because sometimes people get stuck off of one style I got, and that's cool if that's what you love," Rae said backstage at Rock the Bells before he and Ghostface performed Cuban Linx ... for thousands of fans. "I mean, I wanna be loved regardless by the fans because they help me pay my bills and allow me to still be here, but as long as you know what I'm capable of." The Chef got his start as a member of Wu-Tang Clan in 1993, but after dropping the much-celebrated Cuban Linx..., Raekwon was held as one of New York's biggest rap draws, right along with the Notorious B.I.G., Nas and Method Man. Since then, Rae dropped Immobilarity in 1999 and The Lex Diamond Story four years after that. In 2009, the Staten Island MC returned with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... Pt. II, and last year he released his fifth solo album, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang. Still, having such highly regarded debut can be a lot to deal with at times. "Of course I get tired of people dwelling on that, but at the same time, that's me, that made me a Martin Luther King rap n---a, that put me in a certain box. So if that's what you know me by, as long as you know me from the get-down side," he said. "Other than that, all I can do is keep climbing and keep growing and that's all I been doing." In true Chef fashion, Raekwon used food to draw his perfect analogy, comparing his albums to prime cuts of meat. "Every now and then, it do feel like, 'Yo, check this out, leave that steak alone, that sirloin, and f--- with New York steak or this rib eye or somethin'." On August 1, Rae celebrated the 16-year anniversary of the Purple Tape and spoke with RapFix about its impact. "I knew I had a classic when I formulated with these nine members in this group," he said of his camaraderie with the Wu. "Everything at that time that we was making, we was so sharp, it was supervisual already." Related Artists |
| OK Go, My Morning Jacket Remember 1991: When Rock <i>Rocked</i> Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:25 AM PDT Fugazi's Steady Diet of Nothing and the Jesus Lizard's Goat join list of great albums celebrating their 20th anniversary.
With the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's massive Nevermind just a few short weeks away, much attention is being paid to rock's last great era: 1991, a year that was overflowing with important, iconic (and, in some cases, overlooked) albums from bands both big and small. In a lot of ways, it was the year rock truly rocked, and so, to celebrate that fact, MTV News has been asking some of today's biggest acts to remember their favorites form that truly epic year.
So far, we've looked back at Metallica's Black Album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Dinosaur Jr.'s Green Mind, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, Slint's Spiderland, Pearl Jam's Ten and Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger. Today, we're turning our attention to Fugazi's Steady Diet of Nothing and the Jesus Lizard's Goat — two lesser-known (yet equally important) gems, that are fondly remembered by some high-profile fans. Fugazi, Steady Diet of Nothing As Remembered by Damian Kulash, OK Go: "I grew up in Washington, D.C., and Fugazi was everything. Ian MacKaye, Fugazi, Dischord Records, they were like the Holy Trinity, they were the apostles, they were the entire religion of D.C. Everyone worshipped them, and when Steady Diet of Nothing came out ... Repeater was the first record I had gotten by Fugazi, and Steady Diet was the first one that I could wait for, I could feel it coming out. It was so amazing, it was so musical, it was so timely, it was unlike anything else that was out there. I mean, everything Fugazi did seemed like it was coming out of the earth, you know? Like, the rest of the music in the world was all this crappy, commercial stuff, and they were this. They could not be ignored. The politics, the way they ran D.C., I mean, it was unbelievable. All shows were five bucks, all shows were all ages, it was incredible. I mean, when I was 15, I walked up to Ian MacKaye's house and said, 'Could I borrow some money to start a record label?' And he said, 'Yeah.' Isn't that crazy? Unbelievable." The Jesus Lizard, Goat As Remembered by Patrick Hallahan, My Morning Jacket: "It's one of the best albums of all time. I think, if I'm not mistaken, it starts off with 'Then Comes Dudley,' 'Mouthbreather,' just so great. I'll never forget the first Jesus Lizard concert I ever went to, they were the tightest rhythm section I'd ever seen, and then they had this f---ing amazing jazz guitarist playing on top of this rhythm section. Ear X-Tacy, that's the name of our music store in Louisville, and I was there when it came out. The Jesus Lizard, Goat. One of the best accomplishments of 1991, and there were a whole lot of them that year." Share your favorite memories of 1991's seminal albums in the comments below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Harold & Kumar' Stars Promise 'Enhanced Nudity' In '3D Christmas' Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:19 AM PDT 'The movie is in 3-D because the 'Jersey Shore' is in 3-D,' Kal Penn jokes to MTV News in our Fall Movie Preview.
Last summer, MTV News got a very special, very twisted look at "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas," the third installment of Kal Penn and John Cho's herbaceous buddy-comedy franchise, when we popped by the Detroit set. We can't yet show you much of what we saw that day, but as part of our Fall Movie Preview, we're rolling out a tasty nugget of our interview with Penn and Cho. In between cracking jokes about '80s comedies, MTV programming and potential celebrity cameos, the duo let us know what we can expect when the new film, which focuses on the two estranged friends reuniting during the holidays, hits theaters November 4. Click for exclusive photos from Fall's biggest flicks. MTV: So why is this movie in 3-D?
Kal Penn: The movie is in 3-D because the "Jersey Shore" is in 3-D. John Cho: "Avatar" was in 3-D. I'm not in competition with "Avatar." I'm not in competition with James Cameron. He does his thing. We do our thing. He makes cartoons. I understand he had a good year. I'm just saying, the technology isn't his. Penn: I'm just psyched because "Goonies" was in 3-D and that's why this is in 3-D. You've never seen "Goonies." Cho: I've never seen "Goonies." Penn: That is so crazy to me! That's so nuts to me, dude. It's egregious that you haven't watched "Goonies." MTV: Can we expect 3-D nakedness? Penn: Listen, you're going to see some 3-Deeez nuts. [Sings to the tune of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's "Deez Nuuuts"] Cho: There's enhanced nudity. Penn: Very mature, the way you're saying that. Enhanced nudity. This is not the NPR interview; this is MTV. They just got done watching Snooki get arrested. You do not have to say anything other than "3-D nuts." MTV: Have you had time to enjoy Detroit? Cho: I've been buying cars. I've got a lot of cash, and I'm spending it on automobiles. Lots of '97 Pontiac Firebirds. Lot of Ford Tauruses. Penn: I like shooting in Detroit. If you have not been to Detroit, you should come. People are super friendly. There are a lot of beautiful buildings, and sadly many of them are abandoned. Hopefully the city bounces back. Look at our first film: I loved shooting in Toronto, but it was still a bummer that we had to leave the United States to shoot a quintessential American road-trip comedy. Cho: Also, Toronto had so many foreigners. Penn: We were the foreigners. Toronto is in a different country. Cho: No, we're Americans. MTV: Why have Harold and Kumar grown apart? Cho: They're at different times in their lives. Kumar is looking for a way to stay in his younger existence, and Harold is artificially trying to be more mature and is choosing an excessively old mature friend. MTV: What can we expect in terms of romance? Penn: When the last film left off, Kumar and Vanessa were obviously very much together. Over the next six years, Vanessa moved into Kumar's apartment. They continued their relationship. It was moving down the road toward marriage. And then Kumar lost his job. He couldn't stop smoking weed. It wasn't as much the weed as him completely latching on to still being frivolous and still being down for whatever and not taking Vanessa seriously and taking her for granted. So slowly after he lost Harold to Maria, he kind of grew resentful of the notion that if his best friend could go off and choose this woman over him, then maybe everyone was just out to get him. He drifted further apart from Vanessa. That's where we pick up now. MTV: Besides Neil Patrick Harris, what celebrity cameos are in the works? Penn: Patton Oswalt, Tom Lennon, Paula Abdul, Snooki and Mayor Koch. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lady Gaga Is 'The Biggest,' Tony Bennett Says Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:27 AM PDT 'I'll tell you, I never met anyone with more talent than that lady,' legendary crooner tells MTV News.
Lady Gaga isn't afraid to go jazzy, as fans that saw her version of "Yoü and I" in this year's VMA promo know, and now she's kicking it old-school with Tony Bennett on his new album.
In a new 30-second teaser, Gaga and the legendary crooner sing their rendition of the classic "The Lady Is a Tramp," trading sassy vocals over horns and piano. "I hate California, it's crowded and damp," New York-native Gaga sings, before Bennett chimes in giggling, "That's why the lady is a tramp." Then, just as the teaser fades out, Gaga speaks up to say, "Sometimes I go to Coney Island!" MTV News caught up with Bennett backstage at the 2011 VMAs, where he performed as part of the Amy Winehouse tribute, and he told us he's a huge fan of the Lady. "My favorite is that Lady Gaga," he gushed about the star, who performed that night as her male alter ego Jo Calderone. "She's the biggest. I'll tell you, I never met anyone with more talent than that lady." But Gaga is just one of the many contemporary artists who appear on Bennett's latest album, Tony Bennett: Duets II, dropping September 20: Winehouse, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood and Mariah Carey, among others, also appear. Asked about why his music has been appealing to a new generation decades after he launched his career, Bennett credited music lovers of all ages. "It's a funny situation, I'm 85; I just want to tell you it's a very strange situation," Bennett said. "I always worked live, and ever since 1950, wherever I've played internationally I've been sold out all these years," he explained. "It's amazing. So the public's been on my side all the time." What do you think of Gaga and Tony Bennett collaborating? Tell us in the comments Related Artists |
| Eminem, Royce Da 5'9" Success Inspires Slaughterhouse Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:09 PM PDT 'To have him on our team is only gonna make us better,' Crooked I says of Royce.
NEW YORK — All for one and one for all. Last week, Royce Da 5'9" hoisted his first gold plaque for his and Eminem's Bad Meets Evil EP Hell: The Sequel, and his Slaughterhouse bandmates couldn't be happier for the Detroit spitter.
"It feels great to actually be accomplishing things," Royce told MTV News backstage at Rock the Bells. "Five years ago, I was in jail, so this is phenomenal for me, and I feel like it's starting the machine and it's starting the Shady Records movement, because this is a good springboard to get the Slaughterhouse project off the ground, and we wanna make being lyrical cool again. We want the kids to look at lyricism and feel like that's cool." In January, it was announced that Eminem had signed the quartet — comprised of Royce, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and Joe Budden — to his Shady Records label. While the foursome have been working on their Shady debut, Em and Royce revived their Bad Meets Evil group and dropped Hell: The Sequel in June. Now, three months later, the project has moved more than 500,000 copies, making it Royce's first gold record. For the rest of Slaughterhouse, Nickel Nine's success provides inspiration. "I was actually there when [Eminem's manager] Paul [Rosenberg] came in with the plaque, and that's an ill moment in history, because it's more than full-circle in my eyes; it's like full-circle and then some," Crooked I said. "I proceeded to get drunk off a bottle of Moët entirely to myself." Joell Ortiz is happy things are looking up for his partner and jokingly contemplated hitting him up for a loan. "I'm gonna ask Royce to let me hold something. Things are looking really bright for him right now," he said, laughing. "To have him on our team is only gonna make us better," Crooked said of Royce, "And to have somebody like Em willing to put the spotlight on his longtime homeboy, that speaks volumes, and I think a lot of people can learn from that." What are you expecting from Slaughterhouse's Shady debut? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Tower Heist' Director Hypes Eddie Murphy's 'Genius' Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:37 PM PDT Brett Ratner describes the long road to making the film and finally getting the chance to team up with Murphy, in our Fall Movie Preview.
Ralph Fiennes, Ian McKellan, Phillip Seymour Hoffman — these are just a few of the acting titans Brett Ratner has worked with over the course of his career. But as he told MTV News, the only time he's really had to pinch himself was his first day on the set of "Tower Heist" with Eddie Murphy (who has just signed on as the host of next year's Oscars, produced by Ratner. Murphy is just one of the many all-stars in the cast of "Tower Heist," Ratner's upcoming heist comedy that centers on a New York City high-rise building's staff working together to rip off one of the residents, a wealthy businessman (Alan Alda) who lost all their pension funds in a Ponzi scheme. It's a heavier comedy than some might be anticipating, Ratner said, and it didn't come easily: The movie went through multiple incarnations over several years of development. Now, with the "Heist" finally set to commence in November, MTV News' Fall Movie Preview continues with an exclusive look at the film and a chat with Ratner, who spoke about the project's difficult development process, working with Murphy and the dramatic weight this comedy carries. Click for exclusive photos from Fall's biggest flicks. MTV News: "Tower Heist" took a long time for you to pull off, but now we're finally weeks away from release. Can you walk us through a bit of the process you went through in setting this movie up? Ratner: I was actually developing "Beverly Hills Cop [4]" with Eddie. He called me at my house one day and said, "I have an idea for a movie." He pitched me the idea of a bunch of guys who work in the Trump Tower going and ripping off Donald Trump. To the urban community, Donald represents wealth, and I thought it was such a good idea. We pitched it to Brian Grazer, who came on as a producer, and we sold it to Universal. But it became very difficult to crack. It became very similar to "Ocean's Eleven," just ripping off a rich guy for the sake of ripping off a rich guy. We went through a bunch of writers, just trying to crack it and crack it, and we couldn't crack it. Then this guy Ted Griffin, who I'd hired to write "Ocean's Eleven" before Steven Soderbergh did it — I'd been attached to it, but I never did it, and I missed my opportunity to work with Ted — I sent it to him and asked if he'd give me his opinion. He said, "I have good news and bad news. Good news: I'm going to write it for you. Bad news: I'm throwing the script away." He came up with this pitch about a guy living in a building who does a Ponzi scheme and loses all of the employees' pension funds. We didn't know the economy was going to get f---ed up. This all just coincidentally happened. We weren't looking for [the Bernie Madoff connection], but we loved the idea, and we just had to do it. Ted wrote an incredible heist movie that's reminiscent of the '70s heists, which spend the first 40 minutes setting up the characters, which are different from the heist movies of today that tend to start with these big set pieces. MTV News: Was Eddie still involved at this point, or had the idea moved so far away from what he initially imagined? Ratner: Well, Eddie's original idea was he'd do the movie with Dave Chapelle, Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Chris Rock — all these guys together. [When Ben Stiller came onboard], Ben and I were talking about who we could get to play [the movie's co-lead]. He went, "Wouldn't it be the most incredible thing to have Eddie Murphy?" And I told him that this movie actually was Eddie's idea. And he was like: "What? We gotta go to Eddie!" But I didn't know if Eddie wanted to do it anymore, because [his character] wasn't the lead anymore. It was his idea to be the manager of the building, but there was always a character from the 'hood who'd go out and help with the heist. It was a completely different script. I didn't expect Eddie to [be onboard], but I showed him the script and he said, "I'm in." MTV News: You and Eddie had been planning to work on "Beverly Hills Cop 4" for a while, but obviously, this movie came first. What was it like getting to finally work together on set? Ratner: You know, I've been around some big stars, some of the greatest actors who've ever lived. The only time I ever really had to pinch myself was the first day of shooting with Eddie Murphy. [Laughs.] This guy is a genius! He delivers the lines on point, and he brings so much. He'll give me what's on the page, and then he'll give me stuff ... for instance, the scene in the trailer with him and Gabby Sidibe, that was completely improvised. I just had the idea last minute to put those two together, having her show him how to crack the safe. It was supposed to be one shot, and then I told Gabby that she should flirt with Eddie and see what happens. [Laughs.] And, oh my god, it was just incredible. It was genius! The outtakes of that are going to be some of the funniest outtakes in the history of outtakes. There's stuff I can't even put in the movie of them just going at it. For me, this cast, it was like a dream come true: Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick and all these actors ... I was 12 when Matthew was the coolest movie star in the world, so directing him was like the ultimate. MTV News: It's interesting, because the film does have such a hilarious cast of actors and comedians, but when looking at the "Tower Heist" trailer, this doesn't feel like an out-and-out comedy. Ratner: It's heavier. There are scenes in this movie that would never be in "Ocean's Eleven," and that's what I loved about it. It's like one of these '70s cool movies where there are real stakes. And I really learned that from watching Eddie Murphy movies as a kid: great, real villains with real stakes, real drama, and Eddie does his thing. Eddie's funny in the movie, but everyone is very real. It's funny you bring it up: Eddie's always said that his comedy comes from the characters and the situations they're in. You know, I kind of feel like "Rush Hour" and all my movies were really preparation for this movie, really. To me, as a filmmaker, I feel like I've done my best work. I took all my experiences of working with an ensemble like I did on "X-Men," of doing comedy like "Rush Hour," suspense like "Red Dragon" and brought it to "Tower Heist." Growing up being a fan of Eddie's, and later being a friend of Ben Stiller's, it felt like I just knew what this movie needed to be. I'm hoping people come wanting more than just a comedy, which is what's great about it. There's funny sh-- and people are going to have a great time with it, but people need to care about these characters and get invested. It's not a false thing. You get to know each of these characters; they just all pulled it off. They have such individuality. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "Tower Heist." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Abduction' Star Lily Collins Talks Taylor Lautner Kiss Posted: 05 Sep 2011 10:35 PM PDT Trailer shows only a 'minor part' of steamy scene, the actress reveals in our Fall Movie Preview.
Lily Collins is just two years into her burgeoning film career, but the 22-year-old actress has already racked up an impressive collection of A-list co-stars, including Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts. And, of course, "Twilight" hunk Taylor Lautner, who stars alongside Collins in the upcoming "Abduction." Click for exclusive photos from Fall's biggest flicks. The action-thriller centers on Lautner's Nathan, who goes on the run with classmate Karen (Collins) to uncover his true identity after he discovers he's actually a missing child. In anticipation of the September 23 release, we called up Collins to chat about this latest action-packed role, doing her own stunts and ... that smooch with Lautner.
MTV: Where does your character, Karen, fit on the spectrum of damsel in distress to kickass heroine? Lily Collins: We meet her in high school at the beginning of the story, and she's had some sort of awkward past with Nathan that is alluded to, and they're really awkward with each other at the beginning. She's [a] cheerleader-kind of popular girl in school. And through this school assignment, she's thrown into this crazy on-the-run journey with Nathan. And she starts out a young high school student and she grows into a woman quite fast during the story. She ends up kicking butt. MTV: We've seen Lautner sliding down buildings and generally being badass in the trailer, but how physical was this role for you? Collins: I get physical in the film but also use my surroundings and take note and use my mind to get out of things, like my female smarts. I got to do pretty much all of my own stunts. Ever since "Priest," I've gotten really into stunt training. For "Snow White," it's been very intense fight training and fencing for a few months, but not for "Abduction." I didn't have training. I'd get to try things out a couple of times before we actually shot it. For me, I love just kind of diving into it. I don't mind if I'm bruised or bumped or whatever. I feel like the more bumps and bruises I get, the more into it I'm getting and the more real it's looking. MTV: We have to talk about that hot train kiss between you and Taylor. You know MTV likes to give out Golden Popcorns for such things. Could you see "Abduction" scoring a Best Kiss honor at the Movie Awards? Collins: [Laughs] Well, let's just say the trailer only shows a minor part of that scene. So I think when people see the entire scene and where it starts and where it ends, I think people will get a little bit more excited about the scene when they see the entire thing. It was a crazy, funny scene to shoot, and Taylor made everything very comfortable. We'll see what people say. Like I said, the trailer shows only a minor part of it. MTV: Perhaps you just answered this next question, but what was your favorite scene to film? Collins: [Laughs] No. [It's when] the house explodes and we have to jump into the pool and we have debris falling on us. We did a separate day when we filmed solely underwater because we're thrown into this pool, and the camera goes underwater and fire is everywhere. I'd never done something like that. You know, holding your breath for however long it was and having fire in the swimming pool we shot in and stuff falling on you, it was really so in the moment and energetic and very crazy to be shooting like that. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "Abduction." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Eddie Murphy To Host 2012 Oscars Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:01 AM PDT Academy Awards executive producer Brett Ratner directed Murphy in the upcoming 'Tower Heist.'
After trying out a pair of young Hollywood stars for last year's Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has settled on a seasoned vet to helm the 84th annual Academy Awards: Eddie Murphy. "I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others," Murphy said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with [producers] Brett [Ratner] and Don [Mischer] on creating a show that is enjoyable for both the fans at home and for the audience at the Kodak Theatre as we all come together to celebrate and recognize the great film contributions and collaborations from the past year." Ratner is equally excited to re-team with Murphy, whom he directed in the upcoming "Tower Heist." "Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," Ratner said. "With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances — especially on stage — I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February." In other Oscar-related news, rumor has it that veteran host Billy Crystal will also be incorporated into the show. We still haven't heard much from new Oscars producer Ratner, however, other than his initial statement that the gig is "a dream come true." "This wasn't even in my dreams, it's so far out," he said last month. "This is something I never could have imagined." The filmmaker, who directed Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in the "Rush Hour" comedy trilogy as well as 2006's comic book adaptation "X-Men: The Last Stand," isn't wasting any time in getting started on his plans for the show, which will air live from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on February 26, 2012. "Work begins now," he said. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| Mobb Deep's Ninth Album 'Monumental' For Duo Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:22 PM PDT 'We got a lot of music ready to go,' Prodigy tells MTV News of upcoming self-titled LP.
Mobb Deep are free agents no longer. On Friday, the Queens, New York, rap duo announced their new deal with Sony's RED Distribution.
Under the terms, RED will distribute Havoc and Prodigy's Infamous Records, where they'll drop their self-titled album (their ninth), with Infamous Records functioning much like an independent. "The way we structured it is as a distribution deal basically, so we run our own label, Infamous, and we gotta do the daily ins and outs of everything. We gotta handle all the record company business and they get it in the stores for us, basically," Prodigy told MTV News backstage at Rock the Bells in New York City on Saturday. "It's been a long time coming," Havoc added. "We've been in the game for a minute and the object of the game is to control your own business." While allowing the veteran street-hop group to be their own bosses, the deal with Sony also puts Mobb Deep closer to their legacy. After the duo dropped their debut album on 4th and B'way in 1993, the Mobb signed with Loud Records, the Steve Rifkind-helmed label eventually absorbed by Sony. "Sony RED is a good company; they basically own our catalog anyway because when Loud sold the company, they sold it to Sony," Prodigy clarified. "So they own all of our albums, basically. When we sat down with them, they basically were like, 'We'd love to do this, we got your catalog anyway.' " For their upcoming LP Mobb Deep, the group aims to continue to build on that catalog, which already features such highly regarded albums as Murda Muzik and The Infamous, M-O-B-B's sophomore album. The pair performed their second LP in full during Rock the Bells. Although the deal was just announced, P revealed that he and Hav have been working on the album since he was released from jail in March for gun possession. "Right now, it's just a monumental thing for us, you know, it's been a long time coming. We're excited about it. We got a lot of music ready to go, we've been working on this Mobb album since I got home," P said. "Everything is just up to par, the production — from Hav's production to our lyrics to all the ideas from videos to everything — we're just really ready to go and get things started." As of now, there is no official release date for the Mobb Deep album. Related Artists |
| Wiz Khalifa, The Kills, More Bring Eclectic Sounds To Bumbershoot Posted: 06 Sep 2011 06:09 AM PDT Ray LaMontagne, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Big Boi and Kendrick Lamar rock Seattle fest over Labor Day weekend.
SEATTLE — Nestled in the shadow of the Space Needle, the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival boasted an eclectic lineup of headliners, with Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs, Wiz Khalifa, and Daryl Hall and John Oates topping each night of the three-day festival over Labor Day weekend. But it was Wiz who ran away with the biggest draw of the headliners, packing the Seattle Center's Key Arena to capacity on night two.
The Pittsburgh MC took the stage Sunday night and announced, "My name is Wiz Khalifa. Y'all ready to party tonight?" If the haze of smoke wafting from the crowd was any indicator, then his Taylor Gang was definitely in the mood. And it was impossible for them to avoid a good time — Wiz commanded the stage with the swagger of a rock star and his entire set boomed with bone-rattling bass. The inclusion of "The Thrill," off 2009's Burn After Rolling mixtape and set to Empire of the Sun's "Walking on a Dream," was definitely a plus. While Wiz held it down on the main stage inside the Key Arena, across the park the Kills unleashed their brand of electro-blues on the Fisher Green Stage. The duo's latest album, Blood Pressures, dropped recently this spring, but the band shared with MTV News that the new material was already taking on a heavier, more aggressive sound. As far as the stage show, singer Alison Mosshart said, "Well we're playing kind of a typical Kills, you know, if we were playing in a club. We're gonna do as much of a club show outside as we possibly can." Guitarist Jamie Hince added, "It's gonna be nice actually, 'cause we'll be able to see that — won't we? — the Space Needle, from the stage. I'm gonna like that." The Seattle landmark wasn't the only iconic presence at the festival. Washington natives the Lonely Forest were in awe of the Key Arena, the previous home of their beloved Seattle Supersonics (frontman John Van Deusen even wore a Sonics jersey onstage). Despite their early set on Sunday, the band pulled a considerably large crowd. Lonely Forest guitarist Tony Ruland was thrilled with the turnout. "It was the first time that we played anything that ends in the word 'arena,' " he said, adding that it was the same venue in which he saw one of his favorite acts, Built to Spill. While Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar was tasked with the same set time the following day, his crowd began much smaller, but it grew as his show went on. "Yeah, I was catching them while they were walking in," Lamar told MTV News later. "They had a crazy response — had a lot of new Kendrick Lamar fans, as well as day-ones in there — so it was like half and half. But that's when I like to catch 'em, you know, when they're early, so I can make them a believer as soon as they walk in. That's my whole thing, catching them one at a time and building from that." OutKast's Big Boi followed Lamar's set and ripped into a medley of classic hits that included "ATLiens," "Rosa Parks," and "So Fresh, So Clean." Daddy Fat Sax had the large crowd inside the Key Arena moving with him, as they sang along to the duo's deep catalog. It was barely noticeable that his counterpart, Andre 3000, was absent from the stage. Sir Lucious Leftfoot even threw in Queen's "We Will Rock You," no doubt in honor of late frontman Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday on Monday. Local acts Brite Futures and Macklemore proved to be the hometown heroes at Bumbershoot, each delivering impressive performances over the weekend. Related Artists |
| Adele Hints At Recording James Bond Theme Posted: 06 Sep 2011 08:35 AM PDT British songstress talks of 007 and her nervous habit of vomiting before shows in recent interviews.
One week after she wowed the VMA audience with her somber, sonorous performance of "Someone Like You," Adele is making headlines for far less glamorous reasons thanks to an interview in October's U.K. Vogue. In her cover story, Adele talks about battling stage-fright — saying she always "freaks out" before a performance — and added that, on a few occasions, those jitters have manifested themselves in more palpable (and sort of gross) ways. "One show in Amsterdam, I was so nervous I escaped out the fire exit," she told the magazine. "I've thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don't like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot. "I puke quite a lot before going on stage. Though never actually on stage," she added. "But then, I sh-- myself before everything ... the bigger the freak-out, the more I enjoy the show." Of course, reverse peristalsis isn't the only reason Adele's been in the headlines recently. Over the weekend, she also appeared on the U.K.'s "The Jonathan Ross Show," where she stoked rumors that she was in line to record the theme for the next installment of the James Bond series, set to hit theaters next year. "I'm going back in the studio in November, fingers crossed," Adele said. When asked by Ross what she'd be recording, she responded: "Well, this is actually a theme, what I've got to do. Wow, that's really giving something away!" When Ross began humming the iconic Bond theme, Adele blushed and covered her mouth with her hand, before saying, "No, it's a concept." A spokesperson for chart-dominating Brit's label could not be reached for comment about the 007 rumors by press time. Adele will return to the states in October for a run of shows added after she scrapped her North American tour due to a bout with laryngitis. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Real Steel' Director And Hugh Jackman Find Humanity In Boxing Robots Posted: 06 Sep 2011 08:35 AM PDT As part of our Fall Movie Preview, Shawn Levy reveals how he created the sci-fi sports drama's authentic boxing matches.
Summer may be over, but the fall season still holds plenty of hot movies worth looking forward to. We're celebrating the coming months of fantastic films all week long with MTV News' Fall Movie Preview, starting with a sports drama mixed with a sci-fi twist: "Real Steel," the robot boxing movie starring "Wolverine" leading man Hugh Jackman and "Lost" babe Evangeline Lilly, which opens on October 7. Click for exclusive photos from Fall's biggest flicks. "Real Steel," which takes place in a future where robots have replaced human athletes in the boxing arena, marks a serious departure for director Shawn Levy, in more ways than one. The director of the "Night at the Museum" films and "Date Night" is most commonly associated with the comedy genre. In "Real Steel," he's stepping into the ring with significantly more dramatic fare. MTV News chatted with the director about his experiences exploring a new genre, how the giant robots of "Real Steel" were constructed (hint: they're more human than you realize) and much more. MTV: This movie feels like a big departure for you in a lot of ways, Shawn. Your past work has focused mostly on comedy, but "Real Steel" takes on a decidedly different tone. Was that the appeal for you, trying on something new?
Shawn Levy: You know, comedy has been really good to me, but this was a deliberate departure. This is the kind of movie that I've been waiting to do. When I was editing "Date Night," the call came in from ["Real Steel" producers] Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider, and they said, "We've got this underdog sports movie with boxing robots." Already when you have [those two] on the other line, you're inclined to nudge towards "yes." But I've always loved sports movies, I've always loved that kind of iconic underdog story which sports movies tend to service so well. This was a deliberate step and an exciting chance to stretch some new muscles. MTV: Well this definitely does fall into the sports drama category, but when you're throwing giant robots into the mix, you're getting something just a little bit different than what we've seen from the genre before. Was it tricky trying to service that sports drama audience while keeping the sci-fi elements in the forefront as well? Levy: Honestly, it was an every day balancing act, from the six months of working on the script, the eight months of preparing the movie and the four months of shooting it, and another six editing it. It was every day, making sure you're servicing just the crazy, balls-out action of robots wailing on each other — and thankfully we had [boxing legend] Sugar Ray Leonard as our consultant for the fights, which was a really great guarantor [of quality]. I'll digress for a moment, but what's cool about this movie is that this isn't computer animation. This is motion capture with real fighters in a real ring, consulting in the ring with me and Sugar Ray, wailing on each other in full contact. We took that captured fight as data and we converted it into robot avatars. That was a big thing. To do the movie as mo-cap instead of animation was a big choice. Mo-cap allows the director to direct a performance; it's not left to the imagination of an animator that sometimes you don't even meet. It was huge. Every day we were making sure the robots were cool-looking in terms of design and full-contact fighting. On the flip side, we could never forget that the movie is about Hugh Jackman's character, first, last and always. The movie is really only 30 to 35 percent robot-based fighting, but it's 100 percent anchored in Hugh Jackman playing this bot corner man and how he uses these machines to eventually get a shot at redemption. MTV: Which is interesting, because when you see Hugh in these movies with huge action elements, he's usually very much at the center of those scenes. But that's not exactly the case in this film, is it? Levy: Without giving too much away, he's at the center in that ... our hero robot, he ain't the biggest, he ain't the newest, he's not state of the art. What he has is this connection that I won't give away to Hugh's character, such that Hugh plays a former boxer [named Charlie] whose knowledge of the human sport that used to exist is the advantage that his robot has over the others. Every robot in the movie is built with one gear: full-on ground and pound. This robot fighter is informed more by Charlie's boxing history. So there's a nuanced human flair, resulting in this robot and his connection to Jackman, who's able to win fights he has no business winning. MTV: As a director, how did you establish that connection between Hugh and his fighter? These are the two leads of the film, really, but only one of them is played by an actual person — unless you leaned on motion-capture for most of the robot's appearances? Levy: Well, this is where it gets really cool. In my first meeting with Steven Spielberg, he said to me, " 'Jurassic Park' was a long time ago, before computers could do everything. We built real dinosaurs that moved. I know it's an old-fashioned notion, but consider building real, fully animated animatronic robots." So that's one big difference on this movie: We built real robots. In the fight scenes, it's me and Ray directing human boxers. But in every scene in the movie where Hugh is interacting with one of his robots, if that robot isn't walking or boxing, it was a real, big, massively tall robot in the room on set and in the movie. It's unreal. What happens is, whether you're 10 or 40 years old, if you're a guy, and you're face to face with this robot that's literally shadowing everything you do — it's actually robotically operated from a remote feed — it's just unbelievably cool, and it affects the performances in a way that you just don't get ... if you're acting opposite a tennis ball on a stick. There's no comparison. That was really the co-star. ATOM in particular was in the room with us every day. I'd direct ATOM, his puppeteer, in much the same way that I'd direct Hugh. It was really cool to work with [something practical] in this day and age, where everything that can be computer-generated usually is computer-generated. MTV: We've talked a lot about the technical side of making "Real Steel," but let's go back to the beginning: You wanted to carve out a different type of movie for yourself. How did you find the experience of going from the comedy world to something significantly more dramatic? Levy: The irony is that though I've made thankfully a number of successful comedies, if I were to name my top 20 favorite movies, maybe you'd find one comedy on there. My career has gone one way, but my tastes have always run another. Those tend to be dramas, action, sports. So what was really amazing was to do a movie where the pacing, tone and, most importantly, the aesthetics and performances, where all those elements were not in the service of the almighty laugh. They were in service of themselves. When you do comedy, the laugh always comes first. Maybe you'll find a scene or sequence — and I can point to this in "Date Night" — where you'll bracket it off and slow down the movie with something a bit more poignant. But to do a whole movie that was not first and foremost in the service of laughs was very, very different, and very, very liberating. From "Abduction" to "Muppets, "Moneyball" to "Breaking Dawn," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2011 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars. Check out everything we've got on "Real Steel." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Freddie Gibbs To Talk Straight, 'No Filla' On 'RapFix Live'! Posted: 06 Sep 2011 09:24 AM PDT Gary, Indiana's own Gangsta Gibbs will swing through on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
The real is back! On Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, "RapFix Live" returns with Freddie Gibbs, who will hit the couch to discuss everything from coming up in Gary, Indiana, to signing with Young Jeezy's CTE label to his upcoming project Cold Day in Hell.
While rap has diversified its cast of characters to include MCs from all walks of life, Gibbs has remained unapologetically gangster. Originally signed by Interscope in 2005, Gangsta Gibbs struggled to get the label to see his vision and was eventually released from his deal in October 2007. But in 2009, Freddie proved that there was room for his brand of music. With his The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs and midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik, Gibbs made fans take notice. His grind paid off, and in 2010, Freddie earned himself a spot on XXL magazine's 2010 Freshmen cover. He went on to drop the independent release Str8 Killa No Filla on Decon Records. In April, the Midwest MC made his biggest move yet when he inked with Young Jeezy's CTE (Corporate Thugz Entertainment). Since the signing, the pair have released quite a few songs, including their hustle ode "Run DMC," "Do It for You" and "Rough," a song off of the Snowman's latest mixtape, The Real Is Back 2. "RapFix Live" will also bring you backstage at the Rock the Bells tour stop in New York City this past weekend. On Saturday, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Slaughterhouse and Mobb Deep all performed, and "RFL" has all the exclusives for you as well as our regular Get in the Game and Weekend Rotation segments. Catch Freddie Gibbs on "RapFix Live" Wednesday, September 7, at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com! Related Artists |
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