MTV News |
- Is South Carolina Primary A Must-Win For Mitt Romney?
- Nicki Minaj Delays <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</i>
- Taylor Swift Supports Ethel Kennedy Doc At Sundance
- Lana Del Rey's 'SNL' Set Defended By Andy Samberg
- Beyonce Mourns Etta James
- Obama's Singing Gets Raves From 'American Idol' Coach
- Fun. Say Making 'We Are Young' Video 'Was Terrifying'
- Big Sean, Willow Smith To Get Jahlil Beats Treatment In 2012
- Thomas Gold Breaks Down 'Eyes Wide Open'
- South Carolina Primary: Five Things To Watch
- 'West Of Memphis' Offers New Evidence In West Memphis Three Saga
- 'Underworld: Awakening': The Reviews Are In!
- 'Hunger Games' Meets Robert Pattinson In Movie Brawl Finals
- Lana Del Rey Moves Past 'SNL,' Plans U.S. Tour
- Etta James Remembered By will.i.am, Hayley Williams
- Peter Jackson Explains 'Hobbit'/'Lord Of The Rings' Link
- 50 Cent Wants To Release Back-To-Back Albums
- SOPA Anti-Piracy Bill Withdrawn
- 'Red Tails': The Reviews Are In!
- Kardashian Magazine, Barbie Deals Fall Apart
| Is South Carolina Primary A Must-Win For Mitt Romney? Posted: 21 Jan 2012 04:51 AM PST A clear victory could all but secure the nomination for Romney, but a close call or loss would be detrimental, experts say.
No Republican has ever won his party's presidential nomination without notching a win in South Carolina. That's just one reason former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is hoping that when the dust clears Saturday night (January 21), he will be celebrating his second primary win in a row and, in theory, the key to his party's nomination.
South Carolina was expected to present Romney with his biggest challenge to date, due to its heavy Evangelical population. The man vying to be the Republican Party's first Mormon presidential nominee was up by anywhere from 11 to 15 points in polls taken in the week before Saturday's vote, with some predicting he'd get more than 40 percent of the vote. By Friday morning, however, a number of polls had him in either a dead heat with or trailing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Both men were well ahead of former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Congressman Ron Paul. In addition to his eroding poll numbers, Romney suffered a series of unfortunate events Thursday when a further analysis of the vote in Iowa revealed that Santorum had actually won the too-close-to-call Iowa caucus by 34 votes, erasing Romney's razor-thin eight-vote win and his bragging rights for going 2-and-0. A short time later, Texas Governor Rick Perry abruptly dropped out of the race, throwing his support behind Gingrich. "If [Romney] wins South Carolina, it depends by how much. If he wins by 15, I would say, yes, he's [the presumptive nominee]; if it's in the close single digits, he's not running at a pace to get the majority of the delegates," said Columbia University professor of political science Robert Y. Shapiro, an expert in voting and political behavior. "All Gingrich has to do is stay in and if can run close enough and continue to raise money he could keep running." Romney, who still has his solid New Hampshire win in pocket, has been taking heavy fire from Gingrich over the past few weeks. The former congressman has taken Romney to task for what he has deemed his opponent's "vulture capitalist" ways while running the investment firm Bain Capital, where Romney oversaw the shuttering of a number of businesses, resulting in numerous layoffs. Romney has hit back at Gingrich for what he labeled an attack on "free enterprise," accusing him of sounding like a Democrat in his criticisms. Larry Parnell, an associate professor and program director of the graduate school of political management at George Washington University, said the net effect of a potential Romney win and a possible shift in Perry voters to Gingrich could turn what he described as a "circular firing squad" of GOP nominees into a duel between the two men. "If [Romney] wins South Carolina, he will still have to deal with Gingrich, and it could slow him down," said Parnell, a former press aide for the presidential campaign of Democrat Jimmy Carter. In terms of appearances, Parnell said even with a win in South Carolina, Romney is not likely to declare himself the presumptive candidate, because it could draw even more fire from his remaining opponents. "It's in his best interest to keep conducting himself the way he has," he said. "To say that now he's ready to take on President Obama is just waving a red flag in front of Gingrich." As long as he continues on the slow-and-steady path of wins, Parnell said, Romney should be able to weather the storms and likely come out on top.
After the now-narrow loss in Iowa and a more convincing win in independent-leaning New Hampshire, observers have been looking to the solidly red state of South Carolina as the first test of whether Romney can convince traditional Evangelical voters that he is the right choice for the party. Parnell said that given South Carolina's record in picking the eventual establishment candidate, any deviation from that norm (i.e., a too-close-to-call Gingrich finish or win) could cause some serious problems for Romney. A win, however, would prove Romney is a viable national candidate and ease the pressure on him to win over the party's still-reluctant-to-commit base. Over the past week, Gingrich urged Santorum and Perry to drop out of the race so conservative voters can rally behind just one "anti-Romney" candidate, arguing that he is the only remaining candidate who knows how to build a national campaign. Even as his poll numbers jumped, though, Gingrich faced another obstacle Thursday when his second ex-wife appeared in an ABC News interview in which she claimed the former speaker had urged her to have an "open" marriage so he could continue an affair with his then-mistress, now-wife Callista. Both men agreed a solid Romney win in South Carolina could all but ensure his eventual path to the nomination, though a close Gingrich finish could propel the ex-congressman to Florida's primary January 31. Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary races and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season. |
| Nicki Minaj Delays <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</i> Posted: 20 Jan 2012 06:12 AM PST Young Money rapper softens the blow of sophomore album's delay by premiering her 'Stupid H--' video.
Back in November, Nicki Minaj announced that her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, would debut February 14, giving fans a little something extra to look forward to on Valentine's Day. Now, there's been a change of plans. Just a couple of hours after premiering the video for her latest single, "Stupid Hoe," on Friday (January 20) Minaj announced that the album would be delayed until April.
"New Album Date: April 3rd. Pink Friday: ROMAN RELOADED," she wrote to her throngs of followers on Twitter. "But have no fear. Tons of surprises before then ;). Love Always, HB." Fans weren't thrilled to hear about the delay, but the new video for "Stupid Hoe" was enough to tide them over momentarily. In the colorful clip, directed by Hype Williams, Nicki is in full Barbie mode with bright makeup, her signature pink wig and prosthetic body parts, and she even gets a little ferocious, morphing into a caged tiger. With the sexy, bubblegum effect of the video, it's almost easy to forget that the track throws a few harsh words at her female critics, most notably Lil' Kim. When "Stupid Hoe" originally premiered in December, the song held the first clue that Minaj might perform at Super Bowl XLVI ("2012 I'm at the Super Bowl," she raps), and the video confirms that suspicion. In the midst of the outrageous colors and special effects, the video cuts to a sign that reads "2012 Super Bowl," which means the Young Money rapper will likely perform alongside headliner Madonna.
After premiering the video, Minaj proceeded to retweet the overwhelmingly positive responses from her Barbz, who will likely be thrilled when she releases the album's second video for "Roman in Moscow." In December Minaj told MTV News that the visuals would set the stage for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. " 'Roman in Moscow' is like a teaser to Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded," Minaj said. "When I say it's a teaser, it's like a trailer to the movie, it's like setting the stage, and I just wanted to touch the surface. It's the wackest thing on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded." Did Nicki's new video tide you over until the release of Roman Reloaded? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift Supports Ethel Kennedy Doc At Sundance Posted: 20 Jan 2012 05:23 AM PST Singer was seen in Park City at the red carpet for 'Ethel,' an upcoming HBO documentary.
PARK CITY, Utah — The Sundance Film Festival is no stranger to seeing masses of unexpected celebrities flocking to the snowy hills of Park City, but that didn't stop the surprise appearance of singer/songwriter Taylor Swift from attracting a crowd. The "Back to December" singer hit Sundance on Friday (January 20) to attend the red-carpet premiere of "Ethel," the HBO documentary chronicling the life of Ethel Kennedy. Indeed, a grand total of 23 members of the Kennedy clan were on hand, including the documentary's director Rory, daughter of Ethel.
What exactly prompted Taylor's attendance at the "Ethel" red carpet? According to the musician herself in a recent interview with Vogue, Taylor had an encounter with the 83-year-old Ethel some weeks ago. Describing the woman as "effervescent," Taylor said the meeting with the wife of the late Robert Kennedy left her feeling "starstruck" for the first time in her life. "The only time in my life I have ever been starstruck was meeting Caroline and Ethel Kennedy," she told the magazine. "I got to spend the afternoon with Ethel a couple of weeks ago. She is one of my favorites, because you look back at the pictures of her and Bobby, and they always look like they are having the most fun out of everybody. You know, 11 kids, all these exotic animals on their property. I've read a lot about them." Taylor wasn't the only non-Kennedy who showed up to the "Ethel" red carpet. Sundance founder and legendary actor Robert Redford also hit the scene to show his appreciation and admiration for the project — and to pose for a few photos with Swift. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival is officially under way, and the MTV Movies team is on the ground reporting on the hottest stars and the movies everyone will be talking about in the year to come. Keep it locked with MTV Movies for everything there is to know about Sundance. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lana Del Rey's 'SNL' Set Defended By Andy Samberg Posted: 20 Jan 2012 05:40 AM PST ' 'Video Games' is a great song,' he tells MTV News at Sundance about Del Rey's 'Saturday Night Live' appearance.
PARK CITY, Utah — The critics have not been kind to Lana Del Rey following her recent performance on "Saturday Night Live." "Wack-a-doodle" was how Eliza Dushku described it, while actress Juliette Lewis likened the performance to "watching a 12-year-old in their bedroom when they're pretending to sing and perform." At times, it seems that just about everybody has it in for Del Rey.
But "SNL" castmember Andy Samberg is not so quick to criticize. Speaking with MTV News at the Sundance Film Festival — where he's busy promoting his romantic dramedy "Celeste and Jesse Forever" — Samberg acknowledged the outcry against Del Rey but took the opportunity to compliment her. "People gave her a lot of crap. I saw it online. BriWi," he said when asked about Del Rey, referring to "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams' assessment of the performance as "one of the worst outings in 'SNL' history." "But 'Video Games' is a great song," Samberg added. Also there to offer support was Samberg's "Celeste and Jesse" co-star Rashida Jones, who doesn't envy anybody who has to grace the pressure-filled "SNL" stage. "It's a tough venue," she said. "You're not actually performing in front of an audience; you're performing in front of cameras. But I didn't see it, so I don't know." "Yeah, I didn't see it either, so I can't really speak to it," Samberg quickly added, followed by a long pause and an uncomfortable look. (Perhaps there's something he's not telling us ... )
Samberg and Jones aren't the only two who have come to Del Rey's defense. Daniel Radcliffe, who served as "SNL" host during the singer's appearance, has already condemned the way people criticized her. "It was unfortunate that people seemed to turn on her so quickly," Radcliffe told the British media earlier this week. "I also think people are making it about things other than the performance. ... If you read what people are saying about her online, it's all about her past and her family and stuff that's nobody else's business. I don't think [the performance] warranted anywhere near that reaction. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival is officially under way, and the MTV Movies team is on the ground reporting on the hottest stars and the movies everyone will be talking about in the year to come. Keep it locked with MTV Movies for everything there is to know about Sundance. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Posted: 20 Jan 2012 12:03 AM PST 'She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed,' Beyonce writes on her blog.
Etta James died on Friday (January 20) at the age of 73 after a lengthy battle with leukemia. The singer is being remembered by Beyoncé, who has quite the history with her.
"This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen," Beyoncé wrote on her blog. "Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed." Photos: The life and career of Etta James. B famously portrayed the blond jazz singer in the 2008 biopic "Cadillac Records." Her version of "At Last" from the film's soundtrack would later win a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance. Beyoncé's version of James' iconic ballad once-again made headlines when she performed the track at President Obama's inaugural ball in 2009. The performance was initially met with some criticism from the always-outspoken James, but she later came around. Beyoncé is the latest in a long line of celebrities paying tribute to James. "Showing respect, appreciation and love for all the wonderful music and joy #ettajames brought to the world...#ettajamesforever," Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am wrote on Twitter. Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams recalled how James' music influenced her. "#EttaJames, I will be forever grateful for your voice and your soul. Rest in peace." Rapper Flo Rida — whose latest hit, "Good Feeling," samples James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me" — wrote, "I'm deeply saddened by the passing of the Great Etta James and I will be forever grateful for the gift she Blessed me with." Share your condolences with Etta James' friends and family on our Facebook page. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Obama's Singing Gets Raves From 'American Idol' Coach Posted: 20 Jan 2012 12:49 AM PST 'AI' associate music director Michael Orland tells MTV News in an exclusive that prez's pipes would get him to Hollywood Week.
This week, "American Idol" kicked off its 11th season, and it appears even President Obama is getting into the spirit. On Thursday night at a fundraiser at the Apollo Theater, the commander in chief surprised a star-studded Harlem, New York, crowd by busting out a few measures of "AI" staple Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." Obama's smooth singing voice impressed many — including the Rev. Al Green himself, who told TMZ that Obama "nailed it" — but does the leader of the free world have what it takes to make it on America's #1 singing competition? "American Idol" associate music director and vocal coach Michael Orland certainly thinks so! "I swear to you, if he auditioned for me in the big stadium [rounds], I would have put him through to the producers immediately," Orland exclusively told MTV News. "I think he was really charming and had a great voice, and that's all you can really tell in the a cappella rounds anyway. ... I thought his phrasing was great, how he broke it up and really worked the room while he was doing it." But even more noteworthy was Obama's perfect pitch. "He was in the exact same key [as Al Green's recording]. To pull that out of the air, with everything perfectly in tune, I was really impressed," Orland added. The vocal pro even believes Obama's voice was strong enough to win over ultimate deciders Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. "I guarantee you he would have gotten a Golden Ticket." On his hypothetical "Idol" journey, Obama's next challenge would be the dreaded Hollywood Week, where hundreds of hopefuls are forced to work around the clock, learning group numbers with little sleep and lots of drama. "I think considering the amount of stress he's normally under, he'd do really well," Orland laughed. The "Idol" insider struggled to compare Obama's singing voice to any previous contestants but, ultimately, that's what makes the President a fantastic prospect. "It sounded like him! He sang like he speaks. He has a unique voice, which is all you ever try to find in somebody. ... He didn't try to copy anybody," Orland raved. Still, every singer could use a little constructive criticism — even singers who have the power to start nuclear war — and if Orland were working with Obama on a full-fledged "Idol" performance, he would encourage the President to take a few risks. "When you do one of those really well-known songs, don't be afraid to change it up a little bit," Orland said, jokingly adding, "If they could send Air Force One, I would give him a free coaching!" Alas, Obama is too old to audition for "Idol" by 22 years, but fear not, Mr. President: there's always season two of "The X Factor." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists |
| Fun. Say Making 'We Are Young' Video 'Was Terrifying' Posted: 20 Jan 2012 03:50 AM PST 'There were a lot of moments in the video that ... should have ended a lot worse than they did,' band says.
Fun.'s "We Are Young" video is the kind of thing that practically begs for repeat viewings ... a stirring, swirling collection of slow-motion imagery (bodies flailing, glass shattering and the like) that pops from the screen, it's far and away the first breakout clip of 2012. Thankfully for the guys in the band, it was also the kind of video where repeat takes weren't allowed. Mostly because, well, someone could've gotten hurt.
"It was terrifying. There were a lot of moments in the video that I think should have ended a lot worse than they did," guitarist Jack Antonoff laughed. "I watch the video and I think, 'Oh God, we really threw ourselves in some real danger there,' because it's a bunch of stunt people and then us. And it's not necessarily healthy to have cake rocketed at your face from an air cannon, but we did it. And we're in serious tuxedos that are very constricting, so if you want to get away from something quick, you want to be in a sweat suit or something." "There was a palm tree that flips by [multi-instrumentalist] Andrew [Dost's] head, and I was watching and I had no idea how far away that palm tree was from his head," frontman Andrew Ruess added. "I was so scared, for real." Of course, all that danger was just part of what made the "Young" video such a challenge for Fun. The other part? Well, that would be living up to the rather ginormous goals they had set for themselves ... namely, to single-handedly resurrect the music video medium from its current doldrums.
"We were really adamant about getting back to the heyday of music videos, you know, the mid-'90s, when we were growing up," Antonoff said. "Videos like [the Smashing Pumpkins'] 'Tonight, Tonight' and Spike Jonze's slow-motion 'Wax' video ['California'] ... just these videos where it's not some giant narrative, and it's not a mini-movie, it's a cool music video. It's kind of abstract, but to us, it makes sense." And really, that grandiose spirit of just going for it is also what fuels the band's wide-screen, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink album Some Nights (due February 21). It is very much the sound of a band breaking barriers, pushing boundaries and gunning for the big time ... and, yes, Fun. will happily admit to all of those things. After all, they've been working toward this moment for nearly a decade now, and they're going to take full advantage. Even if it kills them. "It's been a long time coming," Ruess said. "And we want it to take over the world." "It all seems like, if you're pop, you go big, if you're indie, you go small and you're self-deprecating. We just think we can do both, you know?" Antonoff said. "If we have a song that sounds like it's meant to be played for 10,000 people, like 'We Are Young,' then we'd like to try to do that, and we'd like to try and make a video that reflects that." Related Artists |
| Big Sean, Willow Smith To Get Jahlil Beats Treatment In 2012 Posted: 20 Jan 2012 02:39 AM PST 'I'ma be working, 2012 you gonna see my name for real,' Meek Mill's producer tells Mixtape Daily.
Meek Mill and Rick Ross' "I'ma Boss" wasn't Jahlil Beats' first production credit, but it is by far the biggest. The track's crashing drum stack and swirling synth line set the perfect pace for the rap hit. Thanks in part to the sound bed that the Chester, Pennsylvania, producer provided, "I'ma Boss" landed at the top of many best-of-2011 rap lists, including our RapFix best songs list.
Now Jahlil, who has already produced for Chris Brown, Soulja Boy and Fabolous, is seeing even more doors open for him. "It's crazy because me and Meek started off from the bottom, from the basement, and for us to get on this type of level where people saying he had one of the best singles of the year and stuff like that, it's just a blessing for me," Jahlil told Mixtape Daily on the red carpet for the reopening of Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in New York on Wednesday night. Last year, Jahlil signed on with Hov's Roc Nation as the label's in-house producer and he's looking forward to a fruitful 2012. "Right now I'm doing stuff for Willow [Smith], Meek, of course. I was just out in L.A. working with No ID on stuff for Big Sean," Beats said. "I'ma be working, 2012 you gonna see my name for real." Who else would you like to see Jahlil Beats work with in 2012? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Thomas Gold Breaks Down 'Eyes Wide Open' Posted: 20 Jan 2012 02:08 AM PST Gold exclusively previews his new collaboration with Dirty South and Kate Elsworth.
Veteran DJ/producer Thomas Gold has surged in popularity in the last two years with a series of hits. Solo bangers "Marsch Marsch" and "Agora" are DJ set staples, and Swedish House Mafia fans know Gold's remixes of Lady Gaga's "Judas" and Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" can electrify a dance mob.
And now, with his "Sing2me" single still on the way, Gold has another hit on his hands with "Eyes Wide Open," a collaboration with Dirty South and Kate Elsworth that was recently previewed by tastemaker Pete Tong on his BBC Radio 1 show. When Gold was recently in New York, he stopped by MTV News in Times Square to break down the elements of "Eyes Wide Open." "Dirty South and me, we did a bootleg together," Gold said. "Dragan (Dirty South) had recorded a vocal with Kate, and we used it for the bootie and we played it out a lot. But in the end we decided to skip the bootleg because we fell in love with the vocal. We both loved it so much that we decided to do a new track around the whole thing."
"Eyes Wide Open," which will be available for purchase January 23, is an effort Gold feels certainly cements the magic that comes from a Thomas Gold/ Dirty South collabo. "Dragan and me, we had a so much fun working (together)," Gold said. "There's a great chemistry between us, and we had a good time. We both love the track. I can't wait to see the reactions on the dance floor." What do you think of Thomas Gold, Dirty South and Kate Elsworth's "Eyes Wide Open"? Watch the video and sound off in the comments below Related Artists |
| South Carolina Primary: Five Things To Watch Posted: 20 Jan 2012 02:48 AM PST Another Mitt Romney win could provide hard-to-stop momentum going into Florida.
With the field of candidates cut down by half from just one month ago, the Republican presidential nomination could very well hinge on the results tomorrow in the South Carolina primary. Leading nominee Mitt Romney went into the first contest in the South with a historic double win in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. But on Thursday, Romney's razor-thin eight-vote victory over former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum was essentially vacated when the final tally put Santorum up by 34 votes. The reversal didn't have any real impact on Romney's status — delegates from Iowa won't be decided until a later date — but it robbed him of bragging rights.
With former House Speaker and Newt Gingrich surging in the polls leading up to the South Carolina vote and Texas Governor Rick Perry dropping out Thursday (while throwing his support behind Gingrich), suddenly Romney's path to the nomination has a few more roadblocks. In a race that has seen more twists and turns than anyone could have predicted, here are five things to look for in Saturday's primary: Margin of Victory Post-Primary Polling His continuing stumbles on the release of his tax returns and a quip about how the $374,000 he earned in speaking fees last year was "not very much" might eat into his leader status. Exit polls could also give Romney a sharper picture of how much of the Evangelical vote he is drawing and whether he has a chance of siphoning those ballots away from Gingrich. Where Gingrich Lands Exit polls could also reveal whether the interview aired by ABC News on Thursday night with Gingrich's second ex-wife, Marianne, had a strong impact on his appeal to female voters. In it, Marianne Gingrich, whom he divorced in 2000 after he'd already begun living with his current wife, alleged that the former congressman had proposed they have an open marriage so he could continue his affair with his now-third wife. Gingrich, who proposed to Marianne before his divorce from his first wife was finalized in 1981, has faced questions during his entire run about whether conservative voters might show distaste for Gingrich's two divorces and admitted infidelity. The Colbert Factor The Tea Party Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary races and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season. Related Videos |
| 'West Of Memphis' Offers New Evidence In West Memphis Three Saga Posted: 20 Jan 2012 01:22 AM PST Peter Jackson-produced documentary, premiering Friday at Sundance, contains new info about the murders.
PARK CITY, Utah — The Peter Jackson-produced documentary "West of Memphis" premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday (January 20), chronicling the conviction, imprisonment and eventual release of West Memphis Three defendants Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, who were convicted in 1994 of brutally murdering three young boys in Arkansas, despite an overwhelming amount of reasons to believe otherwise.
Though Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were released from prison in August, they have still not been exonerated for the murders. "West of Memphis" aims to present new revelations about their innocence and another man's role in the crime, and as such, the documentary is something of an ever-evolving work — so much so that a new, crucial interview was just shot and added to the documentary in the last week. "Some witnesses came forward a very short time ago," Jackson told MTV News about the new revelations. "[Director Amy Berg] was able to interview them about six days ago. We only just managed to get that particular interview with two young men into the movie, in time for the screenings today. It's some fairly serious eyewitness statements that I think are going to hopefully push the resolution of the case a little bit further." Though the documentary is set to make its world premiere at Sundance, Jackson insists that the story is far from over. "This is a story that has not come to an end yet. In fact, it's very much not ended," he said. "We have three guys that were released from prison but not exonerated, even though they did not do the crime. We have three young boys who were murdered in 1993, and the killer still walks free. So absolutely, this is not the end of the story. It's ongoing. It's literally developing on a daily basis right now." "West of Memphis" isn't the first documentary about the trial. The "Paradise Lost" trilogy of documentaries — the last of which made its TV debut last week on HBO — also aimed to prove the West Memphis Three's innocence. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival is officially under way, and the MTV Movies team is on the ground reporting on the hottest stars and the movies everyone will be talking about in the year to come. Keep it locked with MTV Movies for everything there is to know about Sundance. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Underworld: Awakening': The Reviews Are In! Posted: 20 Jan 2012 01:22 AM PST Critics aren't too impressed with the latest entry in the series.
After taking a movie off, Kate Beckinsale slips back into her impractically tight leather unitard to battle werewolves — excuse me, Lycans — once again in "Underworld: Awakening." The film didn't screen in advance for critics, but some reports from midnight showings have trickled in, and the consensus is pretty bad. Some critics dismissed the film entirely, while others complained it's just more of the same from the series. Here is our roundup of reviews for "Underworld: Awakening":
The Story Kate Beckinsale The Outfit
The Look The Final Word Check out everything we've got on "Underworld: Awakening." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'Hunger Games' Meets Robert Pattinson In Movie Brawl Finals Posted: 20 Jan 2012 12:24 AM PST RPattz's indie 'Cosmopolis' takes on the fresh franchise in MTV Movie Brawl 2012 — vote now!
It started three weeks ago with a simple question: What is truly the must-see movie of 2012? Everyone's got an opinion. Maybe you're a "Hobbit" guy who can't believe that, after years of delay, Peter Jackson is set to deliver the first part of his series in December. Or perhaps you're a "Dark Knight Rises" gal with an insatiable itch to see how Christopher Nolan wraps up his Batman trilogy. Or, hey, possibly you're thinking, "Screw all these studio-driven tentpoles! I can't wait for indies like 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' to hit and show us Emma Watson in her first post-'Harry Potter' role!"
But we got to wondering: What's the consensus pick? What's the collective viewpoint across the globe? So we launched MTV Movie Brawl 2012, a fan-driven tournament to determine the year's most-anticipated film. Millions of votes have been cast thus far. The debate has echoed from the pages of MTV News to the updates of the Twitterverse and beyond. Now just two movies remain: "The Hunger Games" and "Cosmopolis." One is a fresh franchise with a huge fanbase. The other is an indie drama featuring one of the biggest stars on the planet. And less than one day into the action — with hundreds of thousands of votes already cast — it's anybody's guess what is going to happen. And we couldn't be more psyched about it. As of this writing ,"Hunger Games" is up by less than 2 percent over Robert Pattinson's "Cosmopolis." It's been an unlikely run for RPattz's cerebral drama, having entered the Brawl bracket as a #4 seed after an impressive run in the play-in round. From there, "Cosmopolis" dispatched another Pattinson flick in "Bel Ami," then shockingly dispatched his own "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2." "The Dark Knight Rises" proved to be no match for "Cosmopolis," and so the movie came to face "Hunger Games." Jennifer Lawrence's film, which hits theaters in March, was a front-runner from the beginning, and it has not disappointed. Both "John Carter" and Daniel Radcliffe's "Woman in Black" could not trip up the win-at-all-costs run of "Hunger Games." So we wonder: Can Pattinson accomplish what no other star has so far in the Brawl? Can he fell the mighty "Hunger Games"? All will become clear when the polls close Monday at 5 p.m. Until then, the vote totals are being closely guarded. It's up to the fans to keep voting for their fave flick and to make sure their must-see movie is crowned the champion of MTV Movie Brawl 2012.  Vote For Your Favorite Upcoming Flick In MTV's Movie Brawl 2012! What are you waiting for? "Hunger Games" and "Cosmopolis" need your support. It's time to show character, poise and heart. Vote for your pick now at MTV Movie Brawl 2012! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lana Del Rey Moves Past 'SNL,' Plans U.S. Tour Posted: 20 Jan 2012 12:08 AM PST Singer also looks forward to the release of her major-label debut.
It's been a rather interesting couple of weeks for Lana Del Rey, beginning with the rather robust online debate over her "Saturday Night Live" performance, and then the subsequent fallout following that performance, in which everyone from "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams to comedian Whitney Cummings weighed in, voicing both derision and support for the singer.
Not surprisingly, Del Rey would prefer to put the matter behind her and focus instead on her upcoming major-label debut, Born to Die (due January 31). As she told MTV News, the album represents her attempt to "re-create myself in song form," a majestic, maudlin collection of dramatic torch songs that recalls everything from Thomas Newman's "American Beauty" score to "[Bruce] Springsteen's summertime sadness." "Sonically, I always knew exactly what I wanted," Del Rey said. "That's really the only thing I do know. The rest of it was sort of up in the air. I've been a writer for a really long time, and a sort of bad composer, but a composer nonetheless. It was something I did alone for some time and then became a collaborative effort as I met better and better people." Those people include Brit Justin Parker, who composed much of the music on the album, Philadelphia legend Larry Gold, who's arranged strings for the likes of Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, and producer Emile Haynie, best known for tracks by Kanye West and Eminem. Del Rey calls them "her crew," and they helped shape her ideas into an album that mixes both the light with the dark, the sadness with the sweetness. "Justin started lacing the tracks with melancholic chords, brought out the bittersweetness that I wanted, and Emile kind of kept it really dark and f---ed up with his heavy beats, and Larry kept it soaring and gorgeous with his strings," Del Rey explained. "Everyone knew the direction I was going in, and it was very much a collaborative effort." And of course, though she's been suffering the slings and arrows of her critics following her "SNL" performance, Del Rey is most definitely planning on spending the next few weeks promoting Born to Die with a spate of TV appearances. And she's also making plans for a full-blown tour tentatively scheduled for October — one that she's already making special arrangements for. And given the past few weeks, perhaps that's a good idea. "I'm capping every venue at 900 [capacity], because I don't want to perform for more [people] than that," she said. "So what I want to do is do three nights in New York, at like Irving Plaza, and then three nights at the El Rey in L.A., and then, in between, do 15 cities, and cap it at 900 venues. And everybody [at her label, Interscope] is onboard, so that's what we're going to do." What did you think of Lana Del Rey's "SNL" performance? Sound off below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Etta James Remembered By will.i.am, Hayley Williams Posted: 19 Jan 2012 11:05 PM PST Late blues singer also mourned by Flo Rida, whose latest hit, 'Good Feeling,' samples James' 'Something's Got a Hold on Me.'
As the world mourns the loss of Etta James, many of her celebrity fans are taking to Twitter to remember the soul singer, known best for songs like "At Last," "All I Could Do Was Cry" and "Tell Mama." Adam Lambert, Mya, Keri Hilson and Russell Brand kept their reaction to a simple "RIP," while others decided to remember the singer in more personal ways. "Showing respect appreciation and love for all the wonderful music and joy #ettajames brought to the world...#ettajamesforever," Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am tweeted.
"Rip [to] Etta James," the Roots' ?uestlove wrote. "I will hold the torch high for The Roots name in your honor." Photos: The life and career of Etta James. Proving that her soulful voice and influence spanned generations and genres, Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams recalled how James' music influenced her. "#EttaJames, I will be forever grateful for your voice and your soul. Rest in peace." Christina Aguilera, who clearly picked up some tips on fierce singing from Ms. James, sent a statement to MTV News: "Etta James was a force to be reckoned with. A true gift to music and a woman of great spirit and courage. Her raw tone and the passion she put forth on a record spoke to me at a very young age and has continued to influence and inspire me throughout my career. She will NEVER be forgotten, her voice will forever live on and she will inspire talent for generations to come." British pop singer Jessie J reacted to the news as well, saying, "Just been told the legend that is Etta James has passed. Thank you for your voice your dedication to us and your gift. Your voice is timeless and will forever live on. I will always look to you for inspiration. R.I.P." Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill tweeted, "RIP Etta James. One of the greatest voices of all time. Thanks for the many romantic moments your music created." Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan called James "a WARRIOR of a woman. A talent without equal."
Rapper Flo Rida — whose latest hit, "Good Feeling," samples James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me" — added, "I'm deeply saddened by the passing of the Great Etta James and I will be forever grateful for the gift she Blessed me with." And like Flo, EDM artist Avicii uses the same sample, on his song "Le7els." That song's executive producer, Ash Pounouri, sent a statement to MTV News about James' death: "She had one of the most amazing and standout voices in the world and we are so glad she got to hear our interpretation of her work. 'Le7els' will always be a big milestone in not only our career, but for Electronic Dance Music as a whole genre — so many people around the world have embraced her lyrics in this track, especially the generations that would otherwise have risked missing out on acknowledging her incredible vocal talent." "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe noted how "inspirational" James has been to young singers. "One of the #IDOL finalists just sang 'I'd Rather Go Blind' yesterday," he tweeted. "We were saying how great Etta James was and now we've lost her." It's not just the music community bidding the singer a fond farewell. "Pretty Little Liars" star Shay Mitchell wrote, "R.I.P Etta James. I'll keep playing your records over and over again, especially this song," tweeting a link to her iconic track "At Last." "Vampire Diaries" actress Candice Accola tweeted, "Oh Etta, you live on in our hearts and leave us dreaming of a Sunday kind of love. Rest in peace." "Glee" diva Amber Riley added that the jazzy singer had "such a unique & beautiful voice." James died Friday (January 20) after a lengthy battle with leukemia. She was 73 years old. Share your condolences with Etta James' friends and family on our Facebook page. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Peter Jackson Explains 'Hobbit'/'Lord Of The Rings' Link Posted: 19 Jan 2012 11:54 PM PST Director tells MTV News at Sundance how he plans to keep his latest journey to Middle-earth consistent with the 'Rings' trilogy.
PARK CITY, Utah — The first trailer for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" made it quite clear that Middle-earth hasn't changed much in the years since Peter Jackson concluded his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. That's not a complaint, mind you — fans have come to know and love Jackson's interpretation of the J. R. R. Tolkien fantasy epic with the same passion they have for the source material. When it comes to "The Hobbit," in other words, change is not necessarily welcome. Speaking with MTV News at the Sundance Film Festival, Jackson explained that it was always his intention to keep "The Hobbit" tonally and visually consistent with the "Lord of the Rings" films.
"We wanted it to be a part of the five-film series," he explained. "Fortunately, Tolkien wrote a lot of extra material in the appendices of 'The Lord of the Rings,' where he himself kind of tied the two stories together, 20 or 30 years after the publication of 'The Hobbit.' So we've been able to use some of that material." But even though Jackson's "Hobbit" isn't "as much of a children's story as the original book was," he's worked hard to make sure the films still "have some humor" to them. For example, Jackson promised that "some of the songs [from the novel] have made their way in there." Fans can get their first taste of those tunes in the "Hobbit" trailer, when the dwarves gather in Bilbo Baggins' humble abode to sing a somber song. Finding that balance between staying true to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy while allowing the "Hobbit" films to stand on their own has been an enjoyable challenge for Jackson, who is more than thrilled to once again be dabbling in dwarves and dragons. "I'm enjoying the movie [as much as the fans], which is the thing that I'm really excited about," he said. "I love going to work every day. I love shooting it. In February, we start another 100 days of shooting, so by about July, we're done. We will have shot both movies by that stage." "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" storms into theaters December 14. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival is officially under way, and the MTV Movies team is on the ground reporting on the hottest stars and the movies everyone will be talking about in the year to come. Keep it locked with MTV Movies for everything there is to know about Sundance. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 50 Cent Wants To Release Back-To-Back Albums Posted: 20 Jan 2012 09:58 AM PST 50 tells Forbes he has 'recorded so much material' since last album in 2009.
50 Cent may be fighting with his record label to release his oft-delayed fifth studio album, but that hasn't stopped the G-Unit general from planning for his sixth LP. Still no word when G-Unit and Interscope will release Fif's next album, but when they do, the get Rich or Die Tryin' MC wants to hit the shelves again instead of hitting the road.
"This time I'm not sure if I'll tour the world like I did on my last project, 'cause it makes my album cycle two years long," 50 told Forbes in a video interview. "So I think I'd like to launch this record and come right back and launch another record following it." Releasing this fifth album has been a constant battle for 50. The rapper blasted Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre last summer, but later calmed his angst and made peace. Earlier this month, 50 took to Twitter and once gain blasted Interscope after a song slated for his album leaked onto the Internet. "I have lost all faith in the team I'm on," he wrote. A few days later he backed down. "Discovered a computer glitch leaked my song," 50 tweeted on January 8. "Sorry to team at Interscope for over reacting!" Whatever the holdup, there has been a noticeable gap between Fif's retail releases. His last album, Before I Self Destruct, hit shelves in November 2009 and the Queens MC has amassed so many songs since then that he has enough for two projects. "It's been three years since my last album, so I've recorded so much material that I'm really excited about trying to get those ideas to the general public so they get a chance to hear it and appreciate it," he said. What do you hope to hear from 50 Cent's much-anticipated fifth album? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| SOPA Anti-Piracy Bill Withdrawn Posted: 19 Jan 2012 10:24 PM PST Congressman who proposed Stop Online Piracy Act pulled it just days after massive Internet protest.
Two days after protesters staged a massive online blackout to protest the House of Representatives' Stop Online Piracy Act, the Texas Congressman who proposed the bill withdrew the measure from consideration. In a statement released on Friday (January 20), Rep. Lamar Alexander announced that he was postponing consideration of the bill in light of concerns from critics who said it could lead to censorship of the Internet. "I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy," Smith said in a statement, according to The Washington Post. "It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products." Alexander's action came after more than 115,000 sites participated in Wednesday's protest and Congressional support for the act — and its Senate doppelganger, PIPA — began to deteriorate. According to reports, before Wednesday's action, SOPA/PIPA supporters outnumbered opponents 80 to 31, but within 24 hours of the online blackout the numbers had flipped to favor opponents 101 to 65. Holmes Wilson, the co-founder of the anti-SOPA group Fight for the Future, issued a statement in light of the postponements on Friday morning that read, "We sent the MPAA back to the drawing board. But any law that lets the copyright lobby block our websites, censor our search results, or cut off our PayPal accounts — without even going through a judge — will be soundly defeated." As Alexander withdrew his act, Senate Democrat leader Harry Reid announced he would postpone a vote in the Senate scheduled for next week to re-think the measure's wording in light of concerns from companies including Google and Wikipedia. "There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved," Reid said in a statement. "Counterfeiting and piracy cost the American economy billions of dollars and thousands of jobs each year, with the movie industry alone supporting over 2.2 million jobs. We must take action to stop these illegal practices. We live in a country where people rightfully expect to be fairly compensated for a day's work, whether that person is a miner in the high desert of Nevada, an independent band in New York City, or a union worker on the back lots of a California movie studio." The White house had already gone on record as not supporting the bills as currently written, saying that while it shares Congress' concerns about online piracy, it will not sign off on legislation that "reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovated global Internet." Editor's note: Viacom, the home of MTV Networks, continues to be in support of SOPA. |
| 'Red Tails': The Reviews Are In! Posted: 19 Jan 2012 10:54 PM PST George Lucas film gets mostly negative reviews, with many critics citing a poor script as its downfall.
After two decades of trying to get the story on the big screen, executive producer George Lucas finally gets to tell the tale of the Tuskegee Airmen in "Red Tails."
The film, which stars Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr., is not getting the reviews Lucas hoped for, garnering mild to negative reviews from many critics, most citing the film's script as the main source of problems. Here is our roundup of "Red Tails" reviews. The Story The Performances The Script
The Action The Final Word Check out everything we've got on "Red Tails." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Kardashian Magazine, Barbie Deals Fall Apart Posted: 20 Jan 2012 09:45 AM PST Mother Kris Jenner's demands for editorial control reportedly kill family's deal with American Media Inc.
Is the Kardashian brand in a deep dekline? It seems that several of the family's in-the-works projects are no longer in the works.
The New York Post is reporting that Kris Jenner's demands have killed a deal that would have seen publishers American Media Inc., the company behind The National Enquirer and Star, creating a Kardashian-themed magazine. Sources say that mama Jenner tried to play hardball with the publishers, demanding that she get full editorial approval when it comes to Kardashian-related content in any and all of the magazines the company publishes. "AMI chief David Pecker made it clear that there was no way he was going to tell his editors what stories they could and couldn't do," a source explained, adding that the company "balked" at her stipulation. Perhaps in response, Star magazine recently published a cover story claiming that the late Robert Kardashian is not Khloe's biological father. Speaking to MTV News, a source close to the negotiations took no issue with the accuracy of the story, hinting that the deal is indeed dead in the water. A rep for the family told the Post, "Kris has never had a conversation with AMI regarding this issue [of her demands]. But the allegations contained in the Star article about Khloe not being a Kardashian are completely fabricated, false and untrue. Robert Kardashian is absolutely her biological father, so of course she was upset over their story." It's not the only blow the Kardashian brand is being dealt. According to previous reports, the ladies had been in talks with Mattel to work on their own Kardashian-themed Barbie dolls. It seems, however, that those plans have also been shelved. A rep for Mattel told MTV News, "As popular as the Kardashian sisters are, at this point in time we are not manufacturing Barbie-branded Kardashian dolls." Related Photos |
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