MTV News |
- Madonna Teases 'Pom Poms' For Super Bowl, New Video
- Obama's State Of The Union Tackles Education, Energy
- Demi Moore Hospitalized
- Lana Del Rey's <i>Born To Die</i> Leaks
- How Did 'Cosmopolis' Top 'Twilight' In Our Movie Brawl?
- Beyonce's Baby Is 'So Beautiful,' Kelly Rowland Says
- T.I. And Young Jeezy Join Tyga's All-Star 'Rack City' Cast
- Emilio Rojas Links With DJ Green Lantern For Big Break
- 'Muppets' Music Man Calls Oscar Nod 'A Big Surprise'
- The Rock Says 'Pain And Gain' Is 'On The Right Track'
- Oscar's Best Song Category: Why Only Two Nominees?
- George Clooney, 'The Artist' Are Odds-On Oscar Faves
- Chris Rock Perplexed By Spike Lee's Sundance Tirade
- Octavia Spencer Wasn't Expecting An Oscar Nomination
- Oscar 2012 Nominations: Biggest Snubs And Surprises
- Viola Davis, Alexander Payne Celebrate Oscar Nods
- Madonna's Greatest Tunes: 'W.E.' Cast Weighs In!
- Selena Gomez Locks In Next Film Project
- Common Brings 'LUV' To Sundance
- Michelle Williams 'So Grateful' For Oscar Nod
| Madonna Teases 'Pom Poms' For Super Bowl, New Video Posted: 25 Jan 2012 03:53 AM PST 'Give Me All Your Luvin' collaborators Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. might join halftime show, Queen of Pop tells MTV News.
Madonna is nearing both the release of her "Give Me All Your Luvin" music video, as well as her highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance. And it seems that these two milestones will have a few things in common.
First off, there's a good chance Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. will not only play parts in the video for the first single off Madge's M.D.N.A. release, dropping later this year, but as heavily speculated, they might take the stage with the Queen of Pop during the February 5 halftime show. In true Madonna fashion, when MTV News caught up with her at the New York premiere of her film, "W.E.," she played it cool regarding rumors about the performance. Asked whether the ladies will join her at the Super Bowl, she coyly responded, "I am not saying 'Yes,' and I am not saying 'No.' " The only tease she wanted to give was, "Pom poms. That's all I can tell you." When Madonna takes the halftime stage next month, her performance will be "imagined" by Cirque du Soleil and Madonna's longtime choreographer and creative director Jamie King. According to reports, the set list for the show will include "Luvin" as well as the Madonna classics "Ray of Light," Vogue" and "Music."
Of course, fans won't find the theme a far stretch for the Michigan native, who was a cheerleader back in her high school days. "I have eight minutes to set up my stage, 12 minutes to put on the greatest show on earth, and I have seven minutes to take it down so that football field is clean for the second half of the game," she told ABC News about the performance. "That's the challenge. How do you do that? I actually wanted to have 100 drummers come from the ceiling, a drumline from the ceiling." So, what else will the Super Bowl show and her Megaforce-directed clip have in common? Madge simply told us, laughing, "Pom poms." The video was shot in December with both Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. on set. The already buzzed-about shoot made headlines after Minaj tweeted that the icon had kissed her. Related Artists |
| Obama's State Of The Union Tackles Education, Energy Posted: 24 Jan 2012 08:02 AM PST President wants to require every student stay in school until graduation or they turn 18.
The president's State of the Union address is meant to give the nation an update on what has been accomplished and what is still left to be done. But in a re-election year, the televised appearance before Congress cannot avoid being seen as a sales pitch to the nation for four more years, and on Tuesday night (January 24), during his third such speech, President Obama laid out his vision for the future should he get the job again in November.
Touching on everything from education reform to a call for reviving American manufacturing, clean energy, immigration reform and a return to civility in Washington, Obama discussed his successes while challenging his Republican cohorts to pave the way for more opportunity for a middle class that has been hit hard by lingering economic uncertainty and unemployment. Obama opened by reminding voters that he recently welcomed home the last troops from Iraq and oversaw the killing of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden and many of al Qaeda's top lieutenants. "Imagine what we could accomplish if we were to follow their example," he said, praising America's warriors for working together and not being divided by their personal ambitions. In a week when the Megaupload site was taken down, the president promised to stop the piracy of American movies, music and software overseas. With tens of millions out of work, Obama also said he wants to train 2 million workers with skills that will "lead directly to a job" through partnerships between community colleges and local businesses. In another step away from the Bush administration's "No Child Left Behind" program, Obama praised the value of good teachers, saying, "Stop teaching to the test [and] replace teachers who just aren't helping kids learn." He also called on every state to require students to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18. To further their education, Obama urged Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling as scheduled in July, extending the tuition tax credit and double the number of work-study jobs in the next five years. In a firm challenge to colleges and universities constantly raising tuition rates, the president warned that if they can't harness technology and redesign courses to help students finish more quickly, they will face less taxpayer funding. Speaking to the thousands of students brought here as children who aren't American citizens, the president said they should not live under the threat of deportation because Congress can't agree on a comprehensive immigration plan. "If election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let's at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses and defend this country," he said. "Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it right away."
Like so many presidents before him, Obama also called for a comprehensive energy strategy that's "cleaner, cheaper and full of new jobs," touting a supply of natural gas that could last the nation nearly 100 years and which could create 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. "I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy," he said. "I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here." Earlier in the day, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, standing in front of a giant sign reading "Obama Isn't Working," offered a "pre-buttal" of the president's address. Before hearing the speech, the former Massachusetts governor predicted it would be "more divisive rhetoric from a desperate campaigner in chief ... it's shameful for a president to use the State of the Union to divide our nation." But, in closing, Obama returned to his theme of public service. "Those of us who've been sent here to serve can learn from the service of our troops. When you put on that uniform, it doesn't matter if you're black or white; Asian or Latino; conservative or liberal; rich or poor; gay or straight," said the commander in chief who ended the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. "When you're marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails," he continued. "When you're in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind. So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I'm reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes. No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This nation is great because we get each other's backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard." What did you think of the president's State of the Union address? Let us know in comments below! Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary races and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season. |
| Posted: 24 Jan 2012 07:16 AM PST Her rep cites 'exhaustion,' while TMZ reports substance abuse is behind actress' trip to the hospital.
Demi Moore was reportedly admitted to the hospital for a brief health assessment late Monday night after paramedics responded to an emergency call made to 911 from the actress' home in Los Angeles. There are currently two conflicting reports surrounding the specific illness that caused Moore's brief hospitalization. According to TMZ, Moore was taken to the hospital to be treated for substance abuse; People magazine, however, describes the cause of the illness as exhaustion.
"Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health," her rep said of Moore's condition in a statement. "She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends." After enduring a very public and emotional split from husband Ashton Kutcher back in November, it's easy for fans and the media to assume "the stresses" her rep's statement refers to are most likely the emotional fallout from her impending divorce. Moore publicly announced the breakup with "sadness and a heavy heart" after months of not-so-quiet rumblings that Kutcher was unfaithful. Check out photos of Demi and Ashton from happier times. Earlier this month, Moore was back in the spotlight, but this time for positive news: It was announced that she had signed on to play feminist icon Gloria Steinem in "Lovelace," one of two upcoming biopics about adult-film star Linda Lovelace. Unfortunately, due to this setback with her health, her rep told People she will no longer be working on the project. |
| Lana Del Rey's <i>Born To Die</i> Leaks Posted: 24 Jan 2012 03:40 AM PST A quick listen to her much-discussed major-label debut finds an artist going big, often.
You remember that meme from a couple years back about how everything seems more epic when it's set to Sigur Rós music? That's a pretty nice way of summing up how I feel about Lana Del Rey's Born to Die album, which leaked Tuesday (January 24) and which you may very well be listening to on your computer/ mobile device at this very moment.
Simply put, it is a record that is positively brimming with atmospherics — soaring, sonorous strings, echoing electronic boom-bap, morose, maudlin guitar crescendos — all of which imbue it with a truly epic (if not unnecessarily dramatic) scope. Del Rey's critics will undoubtedly point out that scope as nothing more than cover for her perceived shortcomings as a performer, but it still makes Born to Die a rather thrilling headphones experience. This is an album that sounds like it cost a million bucks to make — mostly because it probably did. This is not to say that Born to Die is a bad album — far from it. In fact, it's certainly w-a-a-y better than most would've expected (tellingly, even less will admit to that fact), and Del Rey does showcase some rather deft songwriting prowess — or at least a knack for penning a catchy chorus — particularly on the album's few bright moments, like "Off to the Races," "Diet MTN Dew" and "Radio." The majority of the tracks you've already heard — "Born to Die," "Blue Jeans," "Video Games" — are prominently placed at the front of the album, and the back half does tend to drag a bit, though, aside from all the additional ephemera (which does leave the album sounding a bit same-y, not to mention cribbed from the Portishead playbook, circa 1997), those are perhaps my biggest criticisms about the album.
Other folks, of course, may have a different opinion. The biggest dart fired at Del Rey seems to be her perceived lack of authenticity, and it's admittedly difficult not to think of criticism like that when she's cooing lines like "Every time I close my eyes/ It's like a dark paradise." Particularly on an album where she spends so much time singing about material excesses (top-shelf booze, glimmering swimming pools, fashion, etc.). Still, no matter how you view her, you've got to give Del Rey and her team credit for creating an album that fills the room and the headphones. Regardless of how they got to this point, it's been a pretty compelling thing to watch come together. Have you checked out Lana Del Rey's debut album yet? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| How Did 'Cosmopolis' Top 'Twilight' In Our Movie Brawl? Posted: 24 Jan 2012 05:43 AM PST This week's 'Twilight' Tuesday takes a closer look at why fans chose Robert Pattinson's indie over 'Breaking Dawn - Part 2.'
Over the course of the "Twilight Saga" movies, we at MTV News have come a long way in understanding the franchise's very passionate fanbase. So when we launched the MTV Movie Brawl 2012, I thought there was a very good chance "Twilight" fans would vote "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" through to the championship round and into the championship slot, no problem.
I was wrong. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" was ousted early, in the second round, by eventual champ "Cosmopolis." Yes, the two films share a very popular star in Robert Pattinson, but compared with the millions upon millions of "Twilight" fans who have read all of Stephenie Meyer's books, we're guessing not as many are familiar with "Cosmopolis" through its source material by Don DeLillo. So here's what I think: All of you wonderfully dedicated Pattinson fans are in it for the long haul. You're choosing to grow and evolve right along with Pattinson and the ebbs and flows of his chosen profession. That sentiment is exemplified perfectly by this poignant comment by MTV community member and Pattinson fan, Lior: "VOTE COSMOPOLIS! Support Rob's new, professional career! SEE HIS TALENT BEYOND TWILIGHT."
Not that the excitement for the final chapter in "The Twilight Saga" has lessened in any way, of course, but because there's more mystery surrounding "Cosmopolis," it is the more intriguing of the two films. And let's not forget about Pattinson's other upcoming film, "Bel Ami," which only narrowly lost to "Cosmopolis" in that first round. I would have thought the interest in seeing a lot of RPattz's bare bottom would have easily trumped the film about a young finance wiz taking a day-long limo ride through New York City. But then there's word of a particularly heated scene in the back of said limo, so what do I know? Regardless, consider me pleasantly surprised. What do you think, "Twilight" fans? Why did "Cosmopolis" triumph over "Breaking Dawn - Part 2"? Let us know in the comments or tweet me @karawarner! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| Beyonce's Baby Is 'So Beautiful,' Kelly Rowland Says Posted: 24 Jan 2012 01:47 AM PST 'I just stared at her,' Rowland tells E! News about Blue Ivy Carter.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's little girl, Blue Ivy Carter, is already getting lots of attention from her aunties. B's Destiny's Child sister Kelly Rowland recently gushed about the nearly one-month-old, sharing what it was like to meet her for the first time. "She's absolutely beautiful!" Rowland told E! News about her pal's new bundle of joy. "And I say that with such a huge grin! I'm so excited.
"We all just stared at her," she added about meeting the baby for the first time. "I just stared at her. She is so beautiful." So what did she buy the baby? "That's between me and Blue," she said. "But you best believe her auntie will have her dressed to impress." That sentiment was mirrored by Beyoncé's little sister, Solange, who had tons of adoring words for her baby niece. "This may sound awful, but I'm excited to let the baby do whatever it wants in the same way my sister's done with my son," she said. "I'm going to get her back for all those late-night popcorn sessions and just spoiling my child to no end!" While Rowland isn't talking about what she gave Blue, MTV News did recently get the scoop on the types of baby products the famous kid may have gotten from her parents' friends and family. When Andrea Edmunds, the president of PoshTots, stopped by our offices recently, she revealed that Blue may been hanging out in a Destiny iron cradle, angora booties and the Fantasy Coach Carriage crib. Much like her parents, Blue is already a music star, thanks to an appearance on her dad's track "Glory." "She was on her dad's record," Rowland laughed. "Her first feature is, like, two days old! So yeah, she's musical." Related Videos Related Artists |
| T.I. And Young Jeezy Join Tyga's All-Star 'Rack City' Cast Posted: 24 Jan 2012 01:55 AM PST 'To have two of the legends that I'm big fans of on the record is crazy,' Tyga tells MTV News.
The "Rack City" remix video is shaping up to be quite the all-star affair. If Fabolous and Wale weren't enough for fans, Tyga went ahead and recruited two more rap heavyweights for the clip. Last week, the Young Money solider set up shop in Atlanta and invited T.I. and Young Jeezy to guest on his street hit and its upcoming visual.
"I heard the record, loved it, seen it go crazy in the club. I couldn't visualize it without a Young verse on there, so I just went ahead," Jeezy told MTV News from the video set. "The homey hit me up for the video, and we in the A-Town, we in the city, we here, turnt up." Usually, pulling features from such big names is quite the chore, especially for newer artists like Tyga. But already, the "Rack City" remix features some pretty notable MCs, with the Snowman and Tip just the latest to jump onboard. "I didn't think the song would be bigger than outside of L.A., because that's like an L.A. sound," Tyga said, "So to have two of the legends that I'm big fans of on the record is crazy." When talking about his decision to jump on the record, T.I. was as nonchalant as could be. "For me, I got reached out to. They told me to add my two cents in, so I did just that," Tip said. "When they told me the video was coming, I picked out an outfit."
During a separate January shoot for the same video, Wale joked about the influence Tyga's "Rack City" had on strippers. "I'm just happy that I can be a part of a record that's influencing and making so many young, ambitious dancers so much money," Wale playfully told MTV News while shooting the song's video down in Miami on January 13. "It's very beneficial to so many young women across the country. The strip clubs are stress relief. Welcome to Rack City!" What do you think Jeezy and T.I. will add to "Rack City"? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Emilio Rojas Links With DJ Green Lantern For Big Break Posted: 24 Jan 2012 04:47 AM PST Emilio also enlists J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and V12 the Hitman for his upcoming mixtape Breaking Point.
Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables Mixtape: Breaking Point Headliner: Emilio Rojas Real Spit: Emilio Rojas puts a lot into his lyrics. It's that attention to detail that got him noticed by XXL in December, when the popular rap magazine launched a 50-artist poll for their upcoming 2012 Freshman cover. Though he's a rap newcomer, the Rochester, New York, native has been grinding for years. On Thursday, Emilio will drop his fourth mixtape, Breaking Point, for free online with his mentor DJ Green Lantern.
"It's a little bit of a different sound. Less sample-based sound, a little more synthy, mid-tempo," Emilio told Mixtape Daily of Breaking Point's production. With beats from the Grammy-winning trio J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and V12 the Hitman, Breaking Point is shaping up to be the perfect follow-up to Rojas' 2010 tape, Life Without Shame. While his last effort boasted appearances from Big K.R.I.T., Killer Mike, Yelawolf and Mickey Factz, Emilio chose to make BP a solo affair. "I feel like the Life Without Shame project had a lot of rap features on it and I kinda just wanted to rap on my own," he said. Rojas did include R&B features for his hooks, but no other rapper was invited to take part in the project. The title track finds the nimble-tongued lyricist pouring his heart out with multilayered bars. When talking about his parents, he gets deep. "My daddy learned she was pregnant and he was so angered/ He tried to end it, I'm no stranger to coat hangers/ He getting livid, sittin' in on the clinic visits... he takes it out on my mama 'cause he was into hittin'/ And that's probably the reason my sister is into women," Emilio painfully rhymes. Not all of Breaking Point is so heavy however. On "I Got it," Rojas explores his wild and ignorant side. "It's gonna catch some people off guard, but it's fun," he teases. On "Pimpin'," ER once again teams with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. At first, Emilio bucked the production trio's direction. He wanted to perform the song's hook himself, but the League's Rook suggested using a seasoned vocalist to sing the chorus. "Rook made me change the hook on ['Pimpin' '], which I wasn't happy about," he said, "but when the hook came in, it was good. Rook made the right call on that." And Emilio Rojas made the right call with Breaking Point. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| 'Muppets' Music Man Calls Oscar Nod 'A Big Surprise' Posted: 24 Jan 2012 02:06 AM PST Bret McKenzie's 'Man or Muppet' is up against 'Real in Rio' for Best Original Song.
There are always plenty of shocks, snubs and surprises when it comes to the unveiling of Oscar nominees each year. Tuesday's (January 24) announcement was met with all of the above, but overall there were more pleasant surprises than not. One of our favorite nominees is "Flight of the Conchords" actor-turned-"Muppets" music supervisor Bret McKenzie, who scored a Best Original Song nod for his "Man or Muppet."
MTV News was lucky enough to get a few minutes on the phone with the still-in-shock McKenzie, who called in from his home in New Zealand. "We're celebrating with breakfast," McKenzie said. "I woke up to the phone ringing nonstop, so then I picked up my phone and saw the news. I was very excited. I don't sound it, but I am very excited. It's a great day." The multitalented New Zealander revealed that while "Man or Muppet" is his favorite song in "The Muppets" and that he is very proud of the earnest ballad, he never expected it to be recognized for anything. "I really wanted it to be hilarious and beautiful, and I feel like we got that combination. It's sincere but ridiculous," he said. "The idea of children singing the song at school cracks me up." McKenzie said that the nomination surprised almost the entire "Muppets" team, except perhaps writer/star Jason Segel, who made an outlandish prediction during production about the earnest tune's award potential. "The night we recorded 'Man or Muppet,' we had a few drinks and Jason Segel was predicting we'd get together at the Oscars, but he was joking," McKenzie recalled. "[Maybe] that guy can see the future." Once the actor/musician gets over the shock of his nomination, he'll have to start preparations for how the song will be performed during the 84th annual awards ceremony. "I was thinking we'll definitely need a man and a Muppet," McKenzie joked. "Yeah, that's what we need."
When asked about his chances, McKenzie marveled at the fact that there are only two nominees, "Man or Muppet" and "Real in Rio" from "Rio." "I was amazed there were only two nominees; I was surprised. It seems unusual, but it's great because the odds are 50-50," he said. "The only thing I guess would be better if there was only one nomination." What song should win the Oscar for Best Original Song? Sound off in the comments section! See the complete list of Academy Awards Nominations. Related Videos |
| The Rock Says 'Pain And Gain' Is 'On The Right Track' Posted: 24 Jan 2012 02:22 AM PST 'The goal would be to shoot this year,' Dwayne Johnson tells MTV News of Michael Bay action flick.
Although director Michael Bay has frequently mentioned that the next movie he will make is his passion project "Pain and Gain," a smaller-budget action flick based on the real-life story about bodybuilders-turned-kidnappers in Miami, there has yet to be any official announcement regarding a production start date or the confirmation of rumored stars Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
It now appears that that announcement is coming very soon as Johnson recently told MTV News that the movie is full steam ahead and that only a few minor technicalities need to be worked out, like Wahlberg's schedule. "It's going. We're on the right train and the right track," Johnson told us recently of the film's production status during the press day for his upcoming film "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island." "Often in Hollywood, it's the right train, wrong track. "It's an awesome project, 'Pain and Gain.' It's been with Michael Bay for several years now. I read it years ago; I loved it and wanted to do it then. He brought it back to me now," Johnson said. "I hear Wahlberg is in talks and it looks like we're going to do it. It's a really, really cool story." The "Fast Five" star went on to say that the film will be shooting this year in order to accommodate the busy schedules of Bay, Wahlberg and Johnson. "The goal would be to shoot it this year because [Bay] has 'Transformers' to make, obviously that's a juggernaut. I can't wait for that. Plus, I've got 'Fast Six' business, I've got to hunt Vin Diesel down and whoever else is on my list."
Given the fact that Wahlberg is still in talks and trying to work out his schedule, we asked Johnson if he's thought about sending the "Contraband" star any special gifts in order to get the film solidified and officially greenlit. "No. Here's my gift: It's The Rock, that's my gift. It's me," he said with a devilish grin. "All of this man and a half." Are you excited for "Pain and Gain"? Leave your comment below. Related Videos |
| Oscar's Best Song Category: Why Only Two Nominees? Posted: 24 Jan 2012 02:39 AM PST Complicated voting rules shut out songs by Elton John, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige and Pink.
Tuesday morning's (January 24) announcement of the 2012 Oscar nominations delivered plenty of surprises. Michael Fassbender ("Shame"), Albert Brooks ("Drive") and Charlize Theron ("Young Adult") were overlooked in the acting categories, while Melissa McCarthy ("Bridesmaids"), Rooney Mara ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo") and Max von Sydow ("Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close") scored surprise nominations. But perhaps no category was more head-scratching than Best Original Song.
Despite the fact that a short list of 39 tracks were eligible for nomination, only two were named — "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" and "Real in Rio" from "Rio" — leaving tunes from Elton John and Lady Gaga, Pink, will.i.am, Zooey Deschanel, Elvis Costello and Mary J. Blige shut out of the competition. Many Oscar-watchers were left wondering why the Academy would opt away from the traditional five contenders in favor of just two little-heard songs. Well, a closer look at the Oscar rule book shows it's probably less a case of choosing to nominate only two songs than it is simply a case of a single song scoring enough points to secure a nod, and then bringing its closest competition along for the ride. Oscar nominations are arrived at using a very complicated weighted system in which members of the Academy, voting exclusively for members of their own branch (i.e. actors chose the acting nominees, directors vote for directors, etc.), rank contenders in order of preference. From there, a "magic number" is determined that relies on the number of ballots cast for a category, along with a specific mathematical equation. Ballots are tallied and contenders are eliminated through several rounds in a process that tabulates factors like first-place mentions and so on. Once a contender reaches the magic number, they are an Oscar nominee. (The folks over at EW's PopWatch break down the selection steps in great detail.)
So this is how the nominees are determined — with one exception: Best Original Song. In 2009, when the Academy opted to up the number of Best Picture nominees to 10 (the voting body has since altered that number), it also changed the rules for Best Original Song. As Billboard points out, members of the Academy's music branch now "assign each song a numerical score between 1 and 10, and if no song receives an average of more than 8.25, there are no nominees. If only one song tops the threshold, as clearly happened here, the next highest vote getter secures a nomination as well." This year's Best Original Song category boils down to this: either Bret McKenzie's "Man or Muppet" or "Real in Rio" by songwriting trio Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown and Siedah Garrett secured a score of 8.25 or better, earning a nomination and pulling the #2 vote-getter into the fray. Simply put, members of the music branch didn't award any other song, including John and Gaga's duet "Hello Hello" or Blige's "The Help" track "Living Proof," a score high enough to secure a nomination. But lest you think that this means the category is all but locked, think again. While selecting the Oscar nominees is an intensely mathematical process, picking the winners is much easier. Once the nominations are decided, every member of the Academy can vote in each category and the nominee that receives the most votes wins. Easy enough. And since actors are the largest voting block of the Academy— and would have had nothing to do with the tracks selected to contend for Best Original Song — it's anyone's game. See the complete list of Academy Awards Nominations. Related Artists |
| George Clooney, 'The Artist' Are Odds-On Oscar Faves Posted: 24 Jan 2012 01:18 AM PST We leave the Oscar odds up to the professionals, in Bigger Than the Sound.
My buddy Corey (this is him; and no, I'm not sure why he's standing like that either) doesn't watch movies because "they're a waste of time," which sort of explains why, A) he once told me his favorite film of all time was "American Beauty," and B) he owns the "Jackass" trilogy on DVD. For years, I made fun of him for all of those things, but now, well, I'm not so sure he wasn't onto something this entire time. Because on Tuesday (January 24), when nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards were announced, I was left feeling very Corey. The two most-nominated films, "Hugo" and "The Artist," were also perhaps the most anachronistic (in that they are a love letter to a long-deceased French filmmaker/illusionist and a silent movie, respectively), a move that is sort of like the Grammys bestowing Album of the Year nods on wax cylinders and eight-tracks. Sentimental, sure, but, I mean, come on. While I'll leave the business of snubs and surprises to the folks that know these things best, I found it rather interesting that, after talking to a bunch of my movie-loving co-workers, I quickly discovered that, among cineastes, the Oscars are sort of regarded much the same way die-hard music fans view the Grammys: They are, to say the very least, a slightly silly, thoroughly incomprehensible thing. And given this year's list of nominees, I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. So given all that — not to mention the fact that my two favorite films of 2011, "Drive" and, uh, "Warrior" racked up a grand total of two nominations — you can understand why, when my editors told me they were looking for an Oscars odds column, I sort of panicked. Needless to say, I was not the expert they were looking for — thankfully, given my insatiable wagering addiction (DON'T CALL IT A "PROBLEM"), I know some folks who were. So I reached out to the brain trust at Bovada.lv — yes, that's a real Web address — who gave me the inside track on this year's Oscar favorites (which was incredibly nice, considering sportsbook manager Kevin Bradley told me "we are incredibly busy with the Super Bowl coming up"), and not surprisingly, they really think "The Artist" has the best chances. So here, straight from the pros themselves, are some Oscar odds. And for the record, Corey wasn't eligible to participate, as he didn't see a single nominated film this year. But he did want it to be known that he still finds the entire Academy Awards to be "stupid-ass." Some things never change. Best Picture Best Actor Best Actress Best Director See the complete list of Academy Awards Nominations. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Chris Rock Perplexed By Spike Lee's Sundance Tirade Posted: 24 Jan 2012 01:10 AM PST 'I just asked a normal question,' Rock tells MTV News about what prompted the director's passionate criticism against Hollywood.
PARK CITY, Utah — The old refrain of "more money, more problems" seems to apply to Spike Lee's "Red Hook Summer," the director's new drama he unveiled at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday.
During a Q&A session following the screening of the filmmaker's religion-focused feature, actor and comedian Chris Rock (at Sundance for his new film "2 Days in New York" from Julie Delpy) asked Lee if he would have done anything differently had he "actually gotten... studio money" for the film. Lee's response was a fiery one, fueled with comments that condemned the Hollywood studio system for knowing "nothing about black people." "We never went to the studios with this film. I bought a camera and said we're gonna do this mother[bleeping] film ourselves. I didn't need a mother[bleeping] studio telling me something about Red Hook! They know nothing about black people," Lee said in response to Rock's question, according to the New York Post. "And they're gonna give me notes about what a 13-year-old black boy and girl do in Red Hook? [Bleep] no!" Lee's response was nothing short of perplexing to Rock, who told MTV News that he "just asked a normal question." "I just asked him how it would have been different if he'd had it financed by a studio. If he had more money," he continued. "That was it. That's all I said. Everything else, I don't know. You gotta ask Spike." In "Red Hook Summer," Lee tells the story of a young boy sent by his mother from Atlanta to spend the summer in Red Hook, Brooklyn, with his grandfather, a strict preacher he's never met. The film stars Clarke Peters, Jules Brown and Thomas Jefferson Byrd. Do you think Spike Lee's criticism at Sundance out of line? Sound off in the comments section! 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 |
| Octavia Spencer Wasn't Expecting An Oscar Nomination Posted: 24 Jan 2012 01:23 AM PST 'It feels like I'm eating a bunch of cake right now,' Spencer tells MTV News about her awards-season recognition for 'The Help.'
PARK CITY, Utah — Octavia Spencer needs no "Help" when it comes to feeling the love during this awards season.
Having already won a Golden Globe for her turn as sassy maid Minny Jackson in "The Help" on top of numerous other nominations, Spencer can add another notch to her increasingly impressive belt Tuesday (January 24) — because, to the surprise of precisely no one, the 41-year-old actress has earned a well-deserved Best Supporting Actress nod at this year's Academy Awards. "I am never presumptuous, because these sorts of things are beyond our control and I didn't want to be set up for disappointment," Spencer said in a statement reacting to the nomination. "A lot of us actually went to dinner last night and slept over and wanted to be together when we found out, so in case we didn't get that call we wanted to be nice and hungover." Earlier in the week, MTV News caught up with Spencer at the Sundance Film Festival, which she attended as part of the cast of the alcohol drama "Smashed." When asked for her views on her probable nomination, the always humble actress revealed that she wasn't even giving the possibility any thought.
"I've been very good about not thinking about Oscar," she told MTV's Josh Horowitz. "I know I'm going to the BAFTAs, and I know I'm going to the SAGs. It would be nice to go to the Oscars. "That little movie was about something that resonated with people, and it became a phenomenon," she said of her experience with "The Help," adding that she hopes moviegoers will embrace her new movie "Smashed" with an equal amount of passion. "Hopefully I'll continue to get more roles like this, in extremely wonderful and very relevant films. ... It feels like I'm eating a bunch of cake right now!" 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 |
| Oscar 2012 Nominations: Biggest Snubs And Surprises Posted: 24 Jan 2012 08:55 AM PST 'Harry Potter,' Albert Brooks passed over, while Gary Oldman finally gets his due.
We now have the answer to one of awards season's biggest questions: We know who has been nominated for the 2012 Academy Awards. All we need to know now is who wins. This year's Oscar nominations didn't offer any enormous surprises, but a few of the snubs have some people gasping.
Right off the bat, it must be addressed. Albert Brooks was not nominated for his delightfully evil turn in "Drive." Both Brooks and the film have a passionate following, so Max von Sydow's nomination for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" over Brooks can't come as welcome news for the movie's many fans. Brooks hilariously responded to the snub over Twitter, saying, "I got ROBBED. I don't mean the Oscars, I mean literally. My pants and shoes have been stolen." That's it, Al. Kill them with laughter. But let's not focus on the negative. A great injustice was righted with the nominations. Gary Oldman's nod for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" didn't come as a complete surprise, but it was a welcome one. Shockingly, the famed British actor had never been nominated before now. After decades of memorable characters, Oldman has finally gotten his due. He and the Best Actor category's other surprise, Demián Bichir from "A Better Life," edged out category favorites Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar" and Michael Fassbender for "Shame." Two dark horses, "The Tree of Life" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," shocked with major nominations after staying near the rear of the pack for most of awards season. Both earned Best Picture nominations, bringing the total number of nominees to nine, one less than the maximum limit. The elusive Terrence Malick scored a nomination for directing "Tree of Life," and film legend von Sydow made the cut for his supporting role in "Extremely Loud." Rooney Mara's Best Actress nomination made for a minor surprise. Her nod was the only major nomination for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," which was passed over for Best Picture, Director and Writing. Perhaps the biggest oversight from "Dragon Tattoo" was the hypnotic score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, last year's Best Score winners for "The Social Network." The nomination that may have brought on some of the biggest cheers around the country was the Best Supporting Actress nod for the breakout star from "Bridesmaids," Melissa McCarthy. She had been passed over for a Golden Globe nomination, but she made the Oscar cut along with her co-star Kristen Wiig, who was nominated for co-writing the screenplay. Not everybody took the Oscar hopes for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" seriously, and indeed, the biggest movie of 2011 failed to earn a nomination for Best Picture. Fans had also made a push for a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Alan Rickman, but he didn't make the cut either. You couldn't have given that tenth Best Picture spot to the boy who lived, Academy? See the complete list of Academy Awards Nominations. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Viola Davis, Alexander Payne Celebrate Oscar Nods Posted: 24 Jan 2012 12:55 AM PST Directors of 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' and 'A Separation' also revel in their Academy Awards recognition.
As Academy Awards nomination day rolls on, so do the excited and deliriously happy reactions from the nominees. You can almost see and feel two-time nominee Viola Davis smiling via her statement. "It's an honor to be nominated a second time. It is a personal accomplishment and triumph for women and women of color," Davis said of her Best Actress nomination for "The Help." "I'm so glad the film has been recognized. It was a labor of love from the moment it was conceived, and it is rewarding to see the impact it is having."
Davis was previously nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in 2008's "Doubt." What were the biggest shocks and snubs from this year's Oscar nominations? Triple-nominee Alexander Payne, who's up for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on "The Descendants," took the time to shine the spotlight on his collaborators on the film, particularly his editor and fellow nominee, Kevin Tent. "There's no denying that Oscar nominations for one's film are exciting, if only for the joy they give to everyone who worked so hard on the film," Payne said in a statement. "I'm particularly happy for the recognition of my longtime editor Kevin Tent. He really deserves it." "I'm deeply honored that the Academy recognized 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' as well as Max von Sydow," director Stephen Daldry said of the film's Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor nominations. "The entire team behind our film felt the enormous responsibility in taking on this project, and it is deeply humbling to have the Academy recognize it in this way."
Steven Spielberg also chimed in about nominations for a film he directed ("War Horse") and one he produced ("The Help"). "I am thrilled with our multiple nominations for 'The Help' and 'War Horse.' It is the first time that I have experienced two Best Picture nominations in the same year," Spielberg said in a statement. "One is a high honor. Two is humbling but very exciting. It is a tribute to all those who joined with Stacey Snider and our DreamWorks Studios team to develop and make these two films with stories that we passionately felt we had to make." Multi-talented writer/director/producer Asghar Farhadi was also very happy to have scored his second Best Foreign Language Film nomination, along with a Best Original Screenplay nod, for the critically acclaimed film "A Separation." "This is cheerful news for me and for the family of cinema in Iran, specially the nomination for the Best Original Screenplay," Farhadi said in a statement. "It seems that although people speak different languages around the world ... there is one common universal language which everyone understands: The Language of Cinema." Fun fact about the film's Best Original Screenplay nomination: It is the first screenplay written in Farsi to receive a writing nod. See the complete list of Oscar Nominations. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Madonna's Greatest Tunes: 'W.E.' Cast Weighs In! Posted: 23 Jan 2012 11:39 PM PST From 'Like a Prayer' to 'La Isla Bonita,' stars pick their favorite songs by the 'W.E.' director.
NEW YORK — At the latest premiere of Madonna's film, "W.E.," it seemed like everyone just wanted to know what it was like to work with the pop icon as she embarked on writing and directing the film, based on the historical romance between King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson.
But between doting words about their director, the cast also weighed in on their favorite Madonna songs of all time. "It's like you'd have to be living under a rock to not be aware and to really know her work. I always liked 'La Isla Bonita,' " Oscar Isaac told MTV News. "It's a good one." That particular song got a co-sign from Isaac's co-star James D'Arcy. "I'm the generation that grew up with her in the '80s," he said. "It's not the first time I've been asked that question, unsurprisingly. I'm not sure it is my favorite, but it's the one that I can't stop thinking about when I get asked that question." David Harbour showed some love to "Open Your Heart," adding, "Bravo! And I like 'Like a Prayer' too." The film's leading lady, Andrea Riseborough, couldn't nail down one moment in Madge's career as her favorite. "I think she's wonderful, and now I have a completely different relationship with her," she told MTV News. "They're all incredible, they all mark different periods in culture, don't they?" When the cast wasn't gushing about Madge's musical career, they were giving her props for her role as the film's director. "She is really funny, really detail-oriented, meticulous, well-versed in her craft, really impressive," Isaac said. "[She] demanded the best out of everyone." "Truly I had so much to learn from her because she's been really in front of the camera and behind it her whole life," Riseborough added. "I always felt on this particular project there was nobody better to [tell] this story of a couple who were really hounded. She's also incredibly instinctive, and emotionally she knew what tone to pick." D'Arcy noted that as a director, Madonna is "absolutely first-rate. She was exemplary. She knew exactly the story she wanted to tell, she had a clear vision. She was good fun. You can't really ask for much more."
Harbour had equally high praise for Ms. Ciccone. "She was very exact and really a perfectionist and she worked us all really hard," he said. "So she was a terrifically strong director." The film did garner one Oscar nod on Tuesday (January 24) for Best Costume Design. At the premiere, Madonna said any Academy Award recognition would be a coup for the flick. "W.E." opens on February 3, and the soundtrack — featuring Madge's Golden Globe-winning track, "Masterpiece" — drops on January 31. What's your favorite Madonna song of all time? Sound off in the comments! See the complete list of Academy Awards Nominations. Related Artists |
| Selena Gomez Locks In Next Film Project Posted: 23 Jan 2012 11:45 PM PST 'Wizards of Waverly Place' star is attached to produce 'The Sky is Everywhere.'
As Selena Gomez maps out her post-"Wizards of Waverly Place" career, her projects continue to be more and more diverse.
Gomez is attached to produce and most likely star in the big-screen adaptation of the Jandy Nelson novel "The Sky is Everywhere." Gomez will not only play the part of producer but could potentially land the novel's lead role of Lennie Walker, Deadline reports. Lennie is a 17-year-old nerd-type who loses her older, outgoing sister, Bailey. After Bailey dies, Lennie must step out of her sister's shadow when she falls for two guys (one of whom was Bailey's boyfriend). No word on who is attached to star in the other key parts of the movie. Before she hits the set for "The Sky is Everywhere," Gomez already has some other films lined up. The actress/singer will shoot the darker "Spring Breakers" early this year and has been rumored to be attached to a film called "Hot Mess." When Gomez spoke to MTV News late last year, she shared that she didn't have any big expectations going into 2012. It seems that game plan is working for her. "I feel like this approach of this year, I wasn't expecting any of the things that happened," she said. "And so I just kind of want to go into the end of this year and the beginning of next year just excited and in a good place and not planning anything." Are you looking for to the big-screen adaptation of "The Sky is Everywhere"? Leave your comment below! Related Videos |
| Common Brings 'LUV' To Sundance Posted: 23 Jan 2012 11:50 PM PST Sundance represents an opportunity to '[push] forward with Common as an actor and as a producer,' the rapper tells MTV News.
PARK CITY, Utah — When you're making your debut as a producer and lead actor in a feature film, it doesn't hurt to surround yourself with stellar actors like Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Dennis Haysbert and Michael K. Williams. With talent like that on your side, it's nearly impossible not to produce good work.
That's Common's hope, at least. The rapper/actor makes his first turn as a leading man in a feature film in "LUV," the Sundance Film Festival drama about an ex-con who leaves prison and strives to mentor his troubled nephew upon release. The film represents a lot of firsts for Common: It's his first starring role and it's the first movie he's ever acted in and produced to appear at Sundance. "This is something that is me," Common told MTV News at the fest. "And it's a part of what I want to do pushing forward with Common as an actor and as a producer." The Chicago MC is no stranger to appearing onscreen, of course. He's had memorable roles in movies like "Wanted" and "Terminator Salvation," and he stars on the AMC western "Hell on Wheels." But this is Common's first time in an independent movie, and the differences between the indie world and the studio system became abundantly clear to him very early on.
"Things are just different. But what's still cool about it is you're really using your artistic creativity to come together and make the best thing, because you don't have that many resources," he said. "You don't have the bigger budgets, you don't have the things that [studio films have]. You need to use total creativity to make things rise. "So this is a first for me — and it's a great first," he added. 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 |
| Michelle Williams 'So Grateful' For Oscar Nod Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:52 PM PST 'This role has been the challenge and privilege of a lifetime,' the 'My Week With Marilyn' star says in a statement.
Michelle Williams is getting Oscar love yet again. Williams is nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for "My Week With Marilyn," facing off against screen legends and some fresh blood.
"I am so grateful to be acknowledged by the Academy for my work, which was made possible by the support of our director Simon Curtis and the camaraderie of a terrific ensemble of actors — a special congratulations to [co-star] Kenneth Branagh — and the fearless Harvey Weinstein," she said in a statement. "This role has been the challenge and privilege of a lifetime. I would like to think that the recognition our film has received by the Academy is a testament to Marilyn's legacy." The other nominees in her category are Glenn Close ("Albert Nobbs"), Viola Davis ("The Help"), Rooney Mara ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo") and Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady"). Branagh, who earned a Best Supporting Actor nod for his work in "Marilyn," was equally amped about the recognition. "It was a rare honour to play Sir Laurence Olivier," he said in a statement. "To be recognised by the Academy for doing so is overwhelming. I'm absolutely thrilled." Williams already won the Golden Globe for her role in the film earlier this month. This marks her third Oscar nod after previous nominations for "Blue Valentine" and "Brokeback Mountain," though she has yet to take one home.
Recently, former "Dawson's Creek" co-star Joshua Jackson opened up about Williams' critically lauded career. "It's surreal, in that it would be surreal to see any of your friends [up for an Oscar]. It's amazing. She's an excellent actress," he told MTV News at the Sundance Film Festival. "Of all of us, when we finished that show, she was the one who had the clearest idea about what it was that she wanted to do. To be able to go out and achieve that is no small feat. I just think it's wonderful." See the complete list of Academy Awards Nominations. Related Videos Related Photos |
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