MTV News |
- Madonna Calls <i>M.D.N.A</i> 'Action-Packed'
- President Obama Boosts Al Green's Sales Almost 500 Percent
- 'One For The Money' 'Not Just A Chick Flick,' Stars Say
- Ramiro Garcia Brings 'Grace' To 'American Idol'
- Demi Moore Has Ashton Kutcher 'Deeply Concerned'
- Will Beyonce Join The Ranks Of Celebrity Mommy Moguls?
- 'Avengers' Villain An Infinite Mystery
- 'American Idol' Season 11: Where Are The Bad Singers?
- Justin Bieber Fans Prepping Charity Single In His Honor
- 'Red Tails' Proves All-Black Cast Can Soar At Box Office
- Demi Moore Released From Hospital
- Is 'Hunger Games' YA's Best Chance For A Best Picture Oscar?
- Rihanna's 'Thug Life' Joins List Of Hip-Hop Tattoo Tributes
- Chris Brown Drops New Single 'Turn Up The Music'
- Liam Neeson Talks Surviving A Plane Crash In 'The Grey'
- Sundance 2012: Our Favorite Interviews
- Will Madonna Duet With Cee Lo Green At Super Bowl?
- Bow Wow Calls Fatherhood 'The Illest Feeling'
- 'The Office': Five More Spin-Off Ideas
- Too $hort, Lil' Kim Tried To Make 'Musical Sex' On 'Call Me'
| Madonna Calls <i>M.D.N.A</i> 'Action-Packed' Posted: 27 Jan 2012 03:53 AM PST Queen of Pop tells MTV News most of her upcoming album is more 'high-energy' than award-winning 'Masterpiece.'
Madonna has teased fans not only inadvertently with a leaked demo of her first single for "Gimme All Your Luvin," but also with "Masterpiece" (which also appears on the soundtrack for her film, "W.E."). So far it seems that the two very different tracks show the two very different sides that the Queen of Pop is pursuing on her next studio release, M.D.N.A.
While "Gimme" plays up Madge's playful, upbeat persona, "Masterpiece," as she explained to MTV News, is a different story. " 'Masterpiece' is one of the few kind of more down-tempo songs, more reflective," she told MTV News at the New York City premiere of "W.E." "I think the majority of the record is more action-packed," she teased. "More high-energy." It seems, then, that what fans have heard of "Gimme" is more of what they will hear on the album. The album will reportedly get a March release date. It features production from Martin Solveig on its lead single, which gets some presumably sassy assists from two fierce female MCs, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. Both ladies will reportedly take the stage with the pop icon to perform the track at the Super Bowl halftime show. Madonna also worked with longtime collaborator and Ray Of Light producer William Orbit, who produced the Golden Globe-winning "Masterpiece." "We've worked on stuff for so many years that we kind of finish each other's sentences. He knows my taste and what I like," she explained at the premiere. "Magic happens when we get into a recording studio together."
At the Globes, Madonna recalled how "Masterpiece" came together. "[My manager Guy Oseary] harangued me for the entire time I was filming and editing my movie to write a song," she said during her acceptance speech for Best Original Song. "And I said, 'Please, Guy, I'm trying to focus on being a director and I want people to pay attention to the film and I don't have time.' So then I finished the film and I started making my record and somehow magically and miraculously the song emerged, 'Masterpiece,' so thank you, Guy Oseary, for being so irritating." What are you looking forward to on Madonna's next album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| President Obama Boosts Al Green's Sales Almost 500 Percent Posted: 27 Jan 2012 05:10 AM PST Obama's 'Let's Stay Together' upped Al Green's sales.
Sure, clean energy, the return of manufacturing, a boost in education spending and saving the domestic car industry are awesome ways to revive the American economy. But another tactic President Obama might consider is more singing. Because a week after the falsetto singer-in-chief unleashed his version of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at an Apollo Theater fundraiser, sales of the good Rev.'s most iconic hit have taken off. According to Billboard magazine, the viral video of the President singing the first line of the #1 hit from 1972 boosted sales of the song by 490 percent. In fact, the tune had its best week since SoundScan began tracking digital sales in 2003, with 16,000 downloads. The YouTube video of the impromptu recital has been viewed more than 4 million times. It was likely the second surprise this week for Green, who was present at the Apollo event where Obama acknowledged the soul singer's presence in the room from the stage. "Those guys didn't think I would do it," Obama laughed while pointing to his staffers at the side of the stage. "I told you I was going to do it. The Sandman did not come out." Fans also rushed out this week to snatch up music by Etta James, the soul legend who passed on January 20. According to The Hollywood Reporter, James' sales were up 378 percent over the past week. One compilation, The Best of Etta James -- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection shot up from #162 to #46 on sales of 8,000, giving James her highest chart position ever. For the week ending January 22, James' overall catalog sold 30,000 copies, a jump of nearly 378 percent over the previous week when her collected album sold just over 6,000. Related Artists |
| 'One For The Money' 'Not Just A Chick Flick,' Stars Say Posted: 27 Jan 2012 03:53 AM PST 'There's explosions and there's shooting! You're gonna like it too,' Katherine Heigl tells MTV News, selling her new movie to men.
NEW YORK — Since parting ways with "Grey's Anatomy," Katherine Heigl has established herself as a queen of romantic comedies, starring in several "chick flicks" such as "27 Dresses," "Life as We Know It" and "New Year's Eve."
In her latest movie, "One for the Money," based on the best-selling Janet Evanovich novel, Heigl takes on the role of Stephanie Plum, a tough Jersey girl who becomes a recovery agent sent to track down a murder suspect — who just so happens to be her ex-boyfriend. If it sounds like the perfect recipe for a ladies' night out, not so fast. At the movie's New York premiere, Heigl promised that "One for the Money" will keep women and men on the edge of their seats. "I wouldn't qualify it as a romantic comedy. It's got [romance] and it's got comedy, but it's mostly about this sort of murder-mystery undertone that keeps it moving and keeps the pace going," Heigl told MTV News. "I always feel like I'm selling it to men, like, 'There's explosions and there's shooting! You're gonna like it too, I promise!' " Lending her comedic chops to the flick, "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd agreed with Heigl's assessment: "It's a lot of action and it's a lot of fun. It's something that I think my husband, who is 6-6, 280 pounds, would love. So no, it's not just a chick flick; it's a fun film." Now, if the ladies of the film haven't convinced non-female moviegoers, they may want to take some advice from their male co-stars.
"There's action sequences," Daniel Sunjata said. "There's definitely a healthy enough dose of testosterone and really good storytelling that I think the guys will have a great time at this movie too." Heigl's love interest in the film, Jason O'Mara, added, "I think if the guys come and see it, there's gonna be lots in it for them. This is not a frilly romantic comedy. With all due respect to Katie's past work, this is not '27 Dresses.' There's something kind of edgy, something kinda blue-collar about this that gives it a bit of a realism, and I think it's cool. Whether you're male or female, I think you're gonna have a good time." Check out everything we've got on "One for the Money." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Ramiro Garcia Brings 'Grace' To 'American Idol' Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:59 AM PST Cortez Shaw, Kristine Osorio and Skylar Laine also make an impression on the judges during Texas auditions.
The "American Idol" judges have mostly seen eye-to-eye (to eye) so far this season, with the majority of contestants being passed through to Hollywood or sent back home by unanimous vote. But on Thursday's (January 26) episode, we saw several disagreements between the judges, with Jennifer Lopez giving singers a passing grade while Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson flunked them. It was implied but not explicitly spelled out that the boys were voting on looks more than voices, angering Lopez to the point where she mock-stabbed Tyler in the head with a pen.
The dissension continued with contestant Linda Williams, whose version of Alicia Keys' "Fallin' " seemed shaky, though it was good enough — or her looks were — to earn "yes" votes from Tyler and Jackson. "Wake up! Honestly, I feel like somebody slipped you something," Lopez told Jackson, as she could sense which way he was leaning. It wasn't enough to dissuade the Dawg, and after Williams was passed through to Hollywood, Lopez moaned to her fellow judges, "That was awful. That was awful!" Let the drama begin! The latest episode did its best to ramp up the drama factor, taking a detour from the happy-go-lucky vibe that has purveyed over the first four episodes of the season. Even though the Galveston, Texas, auditions gave out 54 Golden Tickets — more than any other audition city so far this season — the show highlighted fewer of those winners than any other episode, instead introducing viewers to oddballs and wannabes, in keeping with years past. Is this the producers' way of reacting to the show's slipping ratings? The night's warmest story belonged to 28-year-old Ramiro Garcia, a worship leader in Houston who was born without ears and was told he would grow up mute. After several surgeries, doctors discovered his ear canal ,and he taught himself to not only speak but to sing. His husky, smoky version of "Amazing Grace" was a standout. Tyler told him, "I like your insides" — a weird compliment, to be sure, but it was enough to give Garcia a pass through to Hollywood. Another standout was 20-year-old Cortez Shaw of Garland, Texas, who put a warm R&B twist on Adele's "Someone Like You" and instantly won the favor of the judges, who implied they'd heard far too many botched versions of 2011's #1 sob song. Shaw said he grew up bouncing between his friends' homes while his single mother struggled with homelessness, but he put a positive spin on everything and came out ahead. And he's not lacking for confidence: "I'm gonna win 'American Idol,' " he said after earning his Golden Ticket to Hollywood. "OH MY GOD!" Kristine Osorio also sang an Adele song — "One and Only" — and equally wowed the judges. The 28-year-old mother of three from Amarillo, Texas, was praised by Tyler for her upper register, and her slick hairdo and tattooed upper body give her a strong, unique look. Also graduating through to Hollywood were 17-year-old Skylar Laine from Brandon, Mississippi, a deer-killin', ATV-ridin' country gal who was more than convincing singing Pistol Annies' "Hell on Heels," and Baylie Brown, a 21-year-old who made it through to Hollywood back in season six and return this year on the strength of her country-fried rendition of Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses." "American Idol" is back Wednesday to put a bird on it with a trip to Portland, Oregon. What did you think of Thursday's "American Idol"? Let us know in the comments! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Demi Moore Has Ashton Kutcher 'Deeply Concerned' Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:10 AM PST 'He still cares about her and wants the best for her,' a source tells People following Moore's hospitalization.
In the days following Demi Moore's surprising hospitalization Monday night, the details that have emerged are even more perplexing, particularly the latest reports that Moore was inhaling nitrous oxide from aerosol cans, also known as whip-its, the night the 911 call was placed from her home in Los Angeles. And although Moore has been released from the hospital, People magazine reports that the actress' health scare has her soon-to-be ex-husband Ashton Kutcher very worried about his wife of six years. "Ashton is deeply concerned for Demi," a source told the magazine. "He still cares about her and wants the best for her. But their marriage is ending and they are both moving on with their lives." Check out photos of Demi and Ashton in happier times. Kutcher has yet to make any official statement about Moore, nor has he expressed anything about the matter via his frequently updated Twitter account. The "Two and a Half Men" star was out of the country working on an ad campaign when news of Moore's hospitalization broke. He is reportedly back in L.A. to return to work on "Men." The theories about why Moore turned to nitrous oxide in the first place all relate back to her very public and emotional split from Kutcher back in November, when Moore announced the breakup with "sadness and a heavy heart" after months of not-so-quiet rumblings that her husband had been unfaithful. Demi Moore's hospitalization caps a rough patch for the actress. Friends have said that shortly after her split with Kutcher, the 49-year-old began to have trouble sleeping and developed a severe problem with prescription drugs. |
| Will Beyonce Join The Ranks Of Celebrity Mommy Moguls? Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:39 AM PST Celebrity mom Kimora Lee Simmons and other experts discuss balancing motherhood and business.
Now that Beyoncé has added a new job to her résumé — mom — there's a slew of potential new projects the pop-star mogul might add to her ever-growing empire. Gwen Stefani, Madonna and Victoria Beckham are just a sampling of pop stars who have managed to write a whole new chapter into their careers thanks to motherhood.
These celebs have expanded their personal brands to include children's clothing lines, books, songs and movies and have even revitalized themselves in their image as super-glam supermoms. As Beyoncé looks to the future and her role as Blue Ivy's mama, mommy mogul Kimora Lee Simmons and Christopher Gavigan, who works with Jessica Alba on her Honest brand, talked to MTV News about the balance between parenthood and the business world. "I always tell people I'm not the glamorous Hollywood mom," said Simmons, who continues to expand her own fashion brand to include the Shinto Clinical skin-care line. "I'm not the kind of celebrity that lives in the spotlight. I'm famous from work that I do. I've always been in the business and raised my family in the business so it's like a second nature for me. I think that's the key is striking a balance. For me it's always about prioritizing." What's Simmons' advice for new celeb moms looking to follow her lead? "I think it's about choosing what you want and going after that. Do the best you can, but you don't have to be Superwoman." And Simmons isn't the only Hollywood A-lister trying to do it all. Alba launched Honest with Gavigan to give moms a place to find eco-friendly products for their babies. "Jessica is like every other mom. Every other mom is a major multi-tasker," Gavigan said of working with the star. "Jessica was very in line with everyone, the average mom and dad out there." "Find what you're passionate about and go do that," he advised to any future mom moguls. "You articulate that in a brand or in a way you feel from a business perspective that you feel you get your focus articulated in some meaningful or special way. A lot of it is partnerships and leveraging the greatest assets of each other." With all that advice in mind, some celebrity experts weighed in on what B just might do now that she is a mom. "I think it's going to come very naturally for Beyoncé to emerge as this celebrity mom, just given all the current existing brand extensions she has," said David Caplan, who has worked at Star and People magazines. "Having a child will give her legitimacy, obviously, to the moms, and clearly there's lots and lots of money to be had there. So, I think you will see her lend her hand in the baby arena, whether it's her brand extensions intentionally or just emerging as some sort of Hollywood celebrity mom icon, which happens sometimes with these celebrity mothers. "Whether it's intentional or not, I think she's definitely going to emerge as a celebrity mother icon," he continued. "And I'm sure she'll take advantage of that and invest in her brand." A suggestion from another expert fits right in line with the first move her hubby, Jay-Z, made when he dropped his track "Glory" just says after Blue's birth, which features his baby girl. "I think that this is a woman that has tried terribly hard to keep her private life private," HuffPost celebrity columnist Rob Shuter said. "I think it'll be the same with her baby. I can't imagine her doing a Bethenny Frankel move." How do you think motherhood will affect Beyoncé's career? Share your thoughts below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Avengers' Villain An Infinite Mystery Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:38 AM PST MTV News speculates on which Marvel Comics baddie will be joining forces with Loki when 'Marvel's The Avengers' assembles this summer.
"Marvel's The Avengers" promises to pit Earth's Mightiest Heroes — Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, in case you've somehow forgotten — against the trickster god Loki, as well as another nemesis that remains unidentified. Popular theories have long pegged the Skrulls, Marvel's shape-shifting alien menace, as the likeliest group to join forces with the disenfranchised Asgardian prince. Many fans are also expecting to see another possible foe, "Captain America" villain Red Skull, based on his inclusion in an upcoming "Avengers" action figure line.
But leave it to Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, to bust both rumors. Speaking with Empire magazine last week, he revealed that the still-unknown secondary baddies are "not Skrulls." Additionally, while it would be nice to see Hugo Weaving's villainous visage at some point down the line, "he's not in this one." So, no Skrulls. No Red Skull. It's Loki, and it's ... someone or something else. But who or what? Feige promised that while Marvel wants to hide the identity of "the alien race" that's confronting our favorite superheroes, their identity is "not impactful," even though they exist in the comic books. One imagines, then, that the Kree are out along with the Skrulls. Perhaps it's as simple as a return of the Jotunheim, last seen in 2011's "Thor." Maybe it's just arbitrary and the identity of these aliens truly does not matter. That doesn't mean the mystery isn't important. And that doesn't mean the aliens are the mystery villain, either. The Latino Review once put forth a report — one that's unverified by all accounts — stating that Thanos, the hulking purple-skinned alien that's frequently dusted up with the Avengers and other Marvel heroes, is the secret villain we've all been wondering about. It's a rumor to be sure, but it's one I'm inclined to believe for a couple of reasons ... and it all goes back to Comic-Con. In July 2010, the Marvel booth at Comic-Con featured a display case filled with items from the studio's upcoming comic book movies. Among them: Thor's hammer Mjolnir, Captain America's mighty shield and the bejeweled Infinity Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is one of the more prominent items in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, one that's virtually synonymous with Thanos. Indeed, its inclusion in the Marvel display case felt like an unspoken promise that Thanos would someday have a part to play in the company's cinematic future. Cut to "Thor" almost a year later, and the Gauntlet appeared as a blink-and-you'll-miss-it Easter egg that came and went when Jotunheim thieves infiltrated Asgard to reclaim their long-lost prize, the Casket of Ancient Winters. Could it be that the Gauntlet only existed as a wink and nod to the fans back home? Entirely possible. But what if Loki, who clearly knows the history and value of the Casket, has information on the other items contained in Asgard — including what the Gauntlet is, and who would do anything to have it? For someone mightily pissed off at his brother and the Earth-dwellers he's become so fond of, that's very powerful information indeed. Consider also that Feige, the same man who kiboshed the Skrulls and Skull, has long said that the cosmic side of Marvel is a big priority for him. In fact, just a few months ago, he revealed that movies based on the "Inhumans" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" were on the docket at Marvel Studios. Fantastic reads both of them, no question, but obscure beyond belief to the non-comic book reader. If Feige is looking ahead at "phase two" of the Marvel plan, as he's called it in the past, are "Inhumans" and "Guardians" really the best places to start? Perhaps they are ... if someone huge, someone massive, someone like Thanos, makes his first appearance in "Avengers," and lives on to stalk the stars (and the screen) another day. It's not the meatiest theory out there. It's based on a rumor, on a taste of what Marvel has given us both on and off the screen, and on a desire to see someone important occupy this oh-so-secretive role. For Feige to come out and say the movie's second villainous force is not the Skrulls and not Red Skull, and that Loki's alien army is "not impactful" in identity ... either he's not telling the full story on who or what this unseen enemy represents, or the big reveal is going to be a massive letdown. Given how Marvel has operated in recent years, and given the importance of "Avengers" to their brand and plans, I just don't see it being the latter option. Here's what I do see. Loki aside, "The Avengers" will have another deeply meaningful foe to fight come May 4, 2012. And my considerably sized gut tells me it's going to be Thanos. Who do you think the secret "Avengers" villain will be? Tell us in the comments section. Check out everything we've got on "Marvel's The Avengers." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| 'American Idol' Season 11: Where Are The Bad Singers? Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:21 AM PST 'Idol' has kept the predictably awful singers to a minimum so far, and we're not sure that's right.
Like casual sports fans who can't wait for the Winter Olympics to revel in the schadenfreude of watching world-class ice-skaters bite it, "American Idol" watchers have been conditioned to expect early audition episodes packed with a healthy mix of decent, great and truly awful singers. In fact, some eagle-eyed "Idol" observers will tell you that there is a whole legion of viewers out there who only tune in to the first few weeks to see the next William Hung, General Larry "Pants on the Ground" Platt or Keith "Like a Virgin" Beukelaer.
But in keeping with the shiny-happy-people vibe "Idol" initiated last year in its first post-Simon Cowell season, through the four audition episodes so far, season 11 "Idol" has noticeably eased up on the so-bad-it's-good factor. Instead, it has focused on mediocre or not laughably terrible singers, with a handful of decent ringers thrown in for good measure. Yes, we saw a man with a fake accent named Magic Cyclops crash and burn on Wednesday night not long after seemingly joke-worthy Angie Zeiderman performed "When You've Got It, Flaunt It" from "The Producers." But she quickly turned it around and won over the judges with a good-enough take on Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou." The bait-and-switch appears to be the new look for "Idol," as evidenced by Ali Shields' cringe-inducing rap/ghetto dance on Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now," followed by a more passable cover of Corinne Bailey Rae's "Like a Star." That kind of rope-a-dope may actually be worse than the plain-old "montage of mediocrity" of the past, because, at best, it's dishonest, and at worst, it makes you wonder how low the talent bar is this season.
The season so far seems to have traded chuckle-inducing singing for outright meanness, as evidenced by the mockery of African immigrant Mawuena Kodjo in the first episode, the sexist baiting of Bikini Girl 2.0 Jennifer Diley, the overly long, indulgent segment on not-that-interesting Ryan Seacrest look-alike Shaun Kraisman and the sniggering at twin Tealana Hedgespeth on Wednesday's show. The latter seemed the most cruel. For a singer whose segment focused on her ego-denting struggle to emerge from the shadow of her multitalented sister, the snide asides from the judges at Hedgespeth's expense just seemed heartless. At least in the past when Cowell called someone a "bush baby" or the judges fell off their chairs laughing, they mostly did their worst out in the open instead of stringing the singers along just to crush them after the audition. I know we're barely two weeks into the cycle, but I won't lie: I love the crash-and-burners. Watching a mind-blowingly horrendous singer (or three) in an audition episode with an equal amount of ear-catching talent is one of the thrills of "Idol." It puts the variety in an audition cycle that is often a dull parade of same-y R&B takes on Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin. For the past couple of years, "Idol" producers have crowed about focusing on the talent rather than the freaks in the auditions episodes. But isn't that what the rest of the season is for? What do you think about the lack of outrageously bad singers this year? Let us know in the comments! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Justin Bieber Fans Prepping Charity Single In His Honor Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:46 AM PST President/CEO of Together We Rise talks to MTV News about song, slated for March release.
Justin Bieber's fans are working to give back the same way the pop star readily does. Several of Bieber's biggest fan groups, as well as the nonprofit Together We Rise and Brush Buddies (the makers behind the singing Bieber toothbrush), have all teamed up to work on a charity single. "They're all working on pieces of the video and the lyrics. Right now, they're putting together videos and thank-you's.' We're working on the back end," Danny Mendoza, President/CEO of Together We Rise, which focuses on helping foster children in the U.S, told MTV News about the project.
"It started with a young lady named Vivian, she runs the Justin Crew fan club and she approached it on Twitter. She approached it and she had a lot of fan support," he continued. "She took it upon herself to take a leadership role, and then she contacted me because she needed some guidance. We just decided we'll help you do it. Justin Bieber had tweeted about us in the past and helped us get some recognition, so it was a thank-you to him as well. Proceeds from the song will go toward Bieber's Believe charity drive. It will drop in March, just in time for his 18th birthday on March 1. "I'm almost 100 percent positive that they know," Mendoza said of Bieber's camp's knowledge of the project. "Justin Bieber inspired a lot of young people to give back. It's a thank-you for helping us and we want to give back in your honor." Bieber is certainly not a newbie to the world of charity. Mendoza said that having a pop star like Bieber being so socially conscious has been incredible for the charities he helps bring attention to. "He definitely has the right people around him ... They made it a priority that giving back is more. I think his relationship with [his manager Scooter Braun's brother] Adam Braun and his charity [Pencils of Promise], he was able to see hands on a lot of it." After Bieber tweeted this week about the Trillium Gift of Life Network, the Ontario-based organ donation network has seen registrations skyrocket to more than 1,200 people, four times the amount the network usually receives. What charity do you want Bieber to promote? Leave your comment below. Related Artists |
| 'Red Tails' Proves All-Black Cast Can Soar At Box Office Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:50 AM PST 'I feel like this was a matter of just proving them wrong,' Ne-Yo tells MTV News of the George Lucas-produced flick.
It wasn't easy getting "Red Tails" into theaters, but singer/actor Ne-Yo believes that after opening at #2 at the box office, it was well worth the fight.
"I feel like we definitely did what we set out to do, which was make sure these incredible men, the Tuskegee Airmen, got the recognition that they deserved for the incredible things that they did for this country," Ne-Yo told MTV News of the George Lucas-produced film on Wednesday. "And [we] proved to Hollywood that an ensemble cast of black faces can put asses in the seats, basically," he laughed. "So I feel like we served our purpose." "Red Tails" tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American fighter pilots who battled deep-rooted racism, while fighting in World War II. Both Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. star in the flick, while Ne-Yo, Method Man and Tristan Wilds have supporting roles. The historical piece hit theaters January 20, the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day and opened second behind "Underworld: Awakening." Not bad for the singer/songwriter, who was also named senior vice president of A&R at Motown Records. Considering the movie wasn't especially well-received by critics, "Red Tails" did well in its first weekend, surpassing initial expectations. Lucas appeared on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" earlier this month and claimed that major studios showed no interest in the film when he went to pitch it. "It's because it's an all-black movie," he said. "There's no major white roles in it at all. It's one of the first all-black action pictures ever made."
"We've come a long way from when Martin was marching in the streets and getting rocks thrown at him. We've come a very, very long way," Ne-Yo said. "However, even with that being said, we got a long way to go. As a black person, period, we're kinda constantly in a state of proving, which is something that I came to wraps with a long time ago." Despite the studios' lack of interest in the film, Ne-Yo decided to let the success of "Red Tails" speak for itself. "At the end of the day, you complain about it, or you prove them wrong," he said. "I feel like this was a matter of just proving them wrong." 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 Related Artists |
| Demi Moore Released From Hospital Posted: 26 Jan 2012 12:26 AM PST Actress has reportedly left Sherman Oaks Hospital, where she was admitted on Monday for 'exhaustion.'
Demi Moore has been discharged from Sherman Oaks Hospital, E! News confirms. The actress entered the Los Angeles area hospital on Monday, but it remains unclear exactly when she left the facility. The site further reports that her discharge is timed perfectly with Ashton Kutcher's return to the States. He had been in Brazil shooting a campaign for Colcci along with supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio. His return to the U.S. on Thursday (January 26) had been previously scheduled and was not prompted by Moore's hospitalization. When TMZ cameras caught the actor out and about in Brazil, he said nothing when asked about his estranged wife's situation. There has been a lot of speculation in the days since Moore entered the hospital, including reports that she had been inhaling nitrous oxide from aerosol cans, which then led to seizure-like symptoms. However, her rep explained that she was hospitalized for "exhaustion." A source tells UsMagazine.com that "she has spiraled and gotten to a place where she is struggling too much to function ... Her life is completely in crisis. She is turning 50 and has no idea who she is or what her focus should be." The news of Moore's health scare comes just months after she announced her split from Kutcher. "As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life," she said in a statement. "This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone going through a similar situation." While she will no longer be in the upcoming "Lovelace" biopic, she will appear in the Miley Cyrus film "LOL," out later this year. Related Photos |
| Is 'Hunger Games' YA's Best Chance For A Best Picture Oscar? Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:09 AM PST As Harry Potter weathers his final Academy snub, Hobnobbing wonders if Katniss Everdeen can carry the genre's mantle.
"The Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence set aside her flaming bow and arrow in favor of a gilded envelope Tuesday morning to announce the 2012 Oscar nominations alongside Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak. And sadly — though not entirely surprisingly for young-adult-literature aficionados — the "Harry Potter" franchise was once again (and for the final time) overlooked for a Best Picture nomination.
Which raises the question: Does the Academy have something against YA adaptations?* Curiously, adaptations have historically been strong performers at the Academy Awards. Past statuettes have gone to the literary likes of "All Quiet on the Western Front," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Silence of the Lambs." And this year's contenders are no different. Six of the nine Best Picture nominees, including "The Descendants," "Hugo," "The Help," "Moneyball," "War Horse" and "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," can be found lining the shelves of your local Barnes & Noble, while five of last year's 10 nominees were also based on bound works, according to USA Today. The side of the equation, then, troubling Academy voters seems to be the "young adult" variable. Though to be fair, there's not much of a precedent for awards recognition seeing as mining teen lit for film fodder is a relatively new phenomenon. Sure, there are exceptions like S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" (made into a film all the way back in 1983, starring Matt Dillon and Patrick Swayze), but for every "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" or "The Princess Diaries" there are tens (if not hundreds) of seminal works, like "The Catcher in the Rye" or "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," languishing in pre-production hell or undeserved obscurity as far as film financiers are concerned. Which leaves us with "The Hunger Games," the latest YA sensation, which blazes into theaters in less than two months. And while it's hard to predict the awards-season viability of a movie we haven't even seen yet, there are at least a few indicators to suggest it could be the first YA novel adaptation to win (or at the very least be nominated for) Best Picture. For one, Oscar's already made acquaintance with many members of the cast and crew. Our friends at NextMovie crunched the numbers, discovering that the actors and technical experts behind "The Hunger Games" boast 30 Oscar nominations — even Effie Trinket couldn't turn her nose up at that. And while a film like "Twilight" (which, let's be honest, won't be sharing a feather-strewn canopy bed with the Academy anytime soon) focuses on a fantastical, star-crossed-lovers plotline, "The Hunger Games" deals more seriously with issues of life, death and government control, likely giving it more credence with voters.
Though most of the above could surely have been said of "Harry Potter," it apparently wasn't meant to be. Hopefully with "The Hunger Games" (and the slew of approximately 4 million teen novels in various stages of adaptation) the Academy will begin recognizing artful YA adaptations as the deserving films that they are. Because we already do. Do you think "The Hunger Games" is blazing a path for YA novel adaptations? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @amymwilk with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! *Whether, in fact, "Harry Potter" constitutes YA is a topic of much debate in and of itself, though for the sake of this piece, I assert that the final novel's dark tone and subject matter secure its spot at the teen table. Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Rihanna's 'Thug Life' Joins List Of Hip-Hop Tattoo Tributes Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:46 AM PST Nas, Snoop and Game have all paid homage to other MCs with body art.
Rihanna has raised a lot of eyebrows this week with her latest body modification: a tattoo that reads "Thug Life", in honor of late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur. While 'Pac had the words emblazoned across his abdomen, Rihanna opted to write them across her knuckles in what appears to be glow-in-the-dark ink. Say what you will about whether the pop princess is living the kind of rising-up-from-the-streets life Shakur was honoring by splashing the name of his crew across his stomach, but she joins a long list of musicians who've used body art to pay homage to fallen homeys or musical inspirations. When hip-hip hookmaster Nate Dogg died last year, his old friend and collaborator Snoop Dogg had an image of Nate's face with the legend "All Doggs Go to Heaven" written on his arm as a remembrance of the G-funk singer. And while Faith Evans once proudly bore a heart-shaped tattoo that read "B.I.G." in honor of her then-husband Biggie Smalls. (After the couple split, however, she added some ink so it read "B.I.G. FAYE.") After his best friend and fellow D12 member was shot and killed in 2006, Eminem filled the space on his left forearm with a giant "Proof" tat encircled with flames. Fellow Detroit MC Kid Rock has the name of his former bandmate, Joe C., on his body as well, in honor of the hype man who passed away in 2000. Drake got in the game last year when he reportedly added a portrait of late singer Aaliyah to his collection of back ink. Well before that, Nas paid a sideways tribute to Tupac with his "God's Son" stomach piece, which paid homage to both the fallen MC and to Nasty Nas' nickname. But an artist doesn't need to have passed on to get the tribute treatment, as evidenced by D12 member Bizarre's love letter to Nicki Minaj, which he added to his collection last year in the form of a head shot of the female MC rocking blue hair. And while Game is no stranger to face-to-toe ink, he made a serious commitment in 2009 when he got the logo from producer/rapper Pharrell's Star Trak label on his arm while he worked with Williams on his The R.E.D. Album. What do you think of Rihanna's knuckle tattoo? Sound off on our Facebook page! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Chris Brown Drops New Single 'Turn Up The Music' Posted: 25 Jan 2012 11:30 PM PST Brown revisits electronic-dance sound for first single from Fortune.
Chris Brown is getting the club banging with "Turn Up the Music." The first single from Brown's upcoming album, Fortune, was released Thursday (January 26), and much like his 2010 hit "Yeah 3x," Brown revisits an electronic-dance sound that is destined to get people in the clubs and on the dance floor. The track, which was written and produced by the Underdogs and will be available at all digital music stores February 14, is a house-inspired song with a pulsing beat that has Breezy singing, "Turn up the music, 'cause the sun just came up/ Turn up the music if they try to turn us down/ Turn up the music, 'cause I'm trying to hear the speakers blow/ Turn up the music, fill your cup and drink it down," followed by repeated chants of "If you're sexy and you know it, put your hands up in the air."
With a release date for Fortune to be announced soon, Brown is in the studio putting the finishing touches on his fifth studio album, the follow-up to 2011's F.A.M.E. Back in October, Brown reached out to Team Breezy via Twitter, revealing a single from his upcoming album. "STRIP [from Brown's Boy in Detention mixtape] is one of the singles off of FORTUNE so request at RADIO!" Brown tweeted. Fans can't expect Brown to be doing much more than tweeting about this album: Earlier this month Brown's manager, Tina Davis, told Billboard magazine that the singer wouldn't be doing any interviews in 2012. "We're not trying to be rude, selfish or disrespectful to anyone in any way," she told the mag. "If people are going to judge anything, judge him for his talent. He signed up to sing and entertain, not to talk about his personal life." What do you think of "Turn Up the Music"? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Liam Neeson Talks Surviving A Plane Crash In 'The Grey' Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:39 AM PST Film shows what happens when an oil-drilling team goes missing, and no one comes looking for them.
In most movies where the main characters find themselves stranded after a shipwreck or a plane crash, the survivors take solace in the fact that someone must be looking for them. "The Grey" isn't like most movies.
In the new film, which hits theaters Friday, Liam Neeson plays a member of an oil-drilling team that gets into a plane crash somewhere near the Arctic Circle during their journey home. Many die in the incident, and the remaining members soon realize that no one is coming for them. Unless you count the wolves. Neeson told MTV News that the rougher edges of the characters in "The Grey" are what make the film something new and resonant. "They're definitely flotsam and jetsam of society. One of them says after the mishap with the airplane that 'Nobody's going to care about us,' " Neeson said. "Nobody's going to send out reconnaissance planes to try and find these guys because who cares? You know?" During the course of the film, one of the characters makes reference to "Alive," the Ethan Hawke film about a rugby team stranded in the Andes. Neeson's co-star Frank Grillo described how their film and co-writer/director Joe Carnahan took a different road. "The element of survival is different because these are just much different men, as opposed to being civilized," he said. "They're not real civilized guys, and I think that's what Joe [Carnahan] tries to show you in the beginning of the film." Even if the realization that no one will look for these men is devastating, Neeson believes that's ultimately what keeps the characters going. "It's from that sadness that they realize who they are and what they are and how they're just a speck of dust in society," Neeson said. "But that somehow empowers them to continue on with this crazy journey for freedom and solace and to get out of this predicament. It actually gives them strength, the fact that they're nondescript." Will you see "The Grey" this weekend? Leave your comment below! |
| Sundance 2012: Our Favorite Interviews Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:23 AM PST Drake and Spike Lee among MTV News' favorite sit-downs at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
The Sundance Film Festival is still raging on in Park City, Utah, but the MTV Movies team is back home safe and sound after a weeklong journey filled with movie screenings and high-profile interviews. If you're interested in hearing about the films that caught the most buzz at Sundance this year, never fear: We've got you covered. But there's more to enjoy at Sundance than just the movies themselves; there are also interviews with countless actors, filmmakers, musicians and other stars for you to chew on. From the absurdly hilarious to the cool and informative, here are our favorite interviews conducted by MTV News at Sundance this year: Check out photos of everyone from Paris Hilton to Taylor Swift on the ground at Sundance.
5. AnnaLynne McCord Don't miss all our Sundance Film Festival coverage. 4. Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones Watch: Aaron Paul tells us at Sundance that he knows how "Breaking Bad" will end. 3. Spike Lee
2. Drake 1. Paul Giamatti Bonus: Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim Stick with the MTV Movies team as we roll out more coverage from the Sundance Film Festival! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Will Madonna Duet With Cee Lo Green At Super Bowl? Posted: 26 Jan 2012 07:40 AM PST Sources say Madge will be joined by 'The Voice' judge during halftime performance.
Madonna might already have M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj on the stage with her for her big Super Bowl halftime performance; now comes word that she could also be joined by Cee Lo Green.
According to sources, the singer has asked "The Voice" judge to perform with her at the February 5 show. "The Insider" reports that he's been flying to New York to rehearse with the pop icon. The sources add that he will contribute his signature flair to some of her classic tunes. The pairing would make sense given that the new season of "The Voice" premieres right after the Super Bowl next month. Reps for both performers did not respond to MTV News' request for comment by press time. MTV News caught up with the Queen of Pop at her "W.E." premiere earlier this week in New York, and the singer only had one tease about the Super Bowl gig. "I am not saying 'Yes,' and I am not saying 'No,' " she replied when asked whether Minaj and M.I.A. would take the stage with her. She added, "Pom poms. That's all I can tell you." When the singer 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 new single "Give Me All Your Luvin" as well as the Madonna classics "Ray of Light," "Vogue" and "Music." "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 drum line from the ceiling." In addition to her Super Bowl performance, Madonna's fans are awaiting the release of her next studio album, M.D.N.A., out later this year. Related Artists |
| Bow Wow Calls Fatherhood 'The Illest Feeling' Posted: 25 Jan 2012 11:48 PM PST 'I'm not Bow; I'm daddy,' MC tells 'RapFix Live' about spending time with his daughter, Shai.
Becoming a dad changes things. After a lot of rumors and speculation, Bow Wow admitted last year on his website that he had fathered his first child, a baby girl named Shai.
At first, the 24-year-old rapper hid the truth because he was "nervous" about how his fans, who have been following him since he first debuted at 13 years old, would look at him. On Wednesday's "RapFix Live," Bow (real name: Shad Gregory Moss) had no reservations about opening up about fatherhood. "For me, it's just the quality time I get. I'm Bow Wow all the time. To the world, I'm Bow Wow. When I leave here and I go to L.A. and I go to my daughter's house and I sit with her, I feel like Shad. I'm not Bow; I'm daddy," he told MTV News correspondent Sway. "It's, like, the illest feeling in the world. I feel like I'm away from everything." The feeling has even spilled over into the studio. On his upcoming album, Underrated, Bow said he will include "Boy or Girl," a previously released mixtape track on which he rhymes about being a dad. "The record just hit home, because it was just honest. Right then, I was like, 'Yo, I have to make honest records. I gotta be more personal, I gotta be more honest,' " Bow said. "That's what music is about." On January 8, Jay-Z joined the ranks of famous rapper dads when he and wife Beyoncé welcomed Blue Ivy Carter into the world. It seems like, more than ever, MCs are opening up publicly about their children. Jay released "Glory," a single that featured baby Blue crying at the end; T.I. stars in a new reality show with his wife and their six children; and Fabolous has been getting more personal in his music since the birth of his son, Johan. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'The Office': Five More Spin-Off Ideas Posted: 25 Jan 2012 10:31 PM PST In light of Rainn Wilson's impending new show, the MTV News team has compiled its own wish list of TV spin-offs.
"The Office" is reportedly following the "Battlestar Galactica" model of launching a spin-off of its very own: a show following Rainn Wilson's maniacal assistant to the regional manager, Dwight Schrute. In the spirit of Dwight leaving Dunder Mifflin for greener, beet-ier pastures, the MTV News team has created its own wish list of TV spin-offs. Dwight's permanent relocation to the Schrute family beet farm is a controversial move, certainly, but also a potentially awesome one. Think about all the television characters from your favorite series, both canceled and ongoing, that you would want to see in a show of their own. Peter Dinklage's Tyrion Lannister yukking it up with mercenary buddy Bronn all over Westeros? "True Blood" hunk Eric Northman's days as a Viking before arriving in Bon Temps? There's simply no way that these shows would not be incredible, or, at the least, wonderfully epic failures. Read on for our highest hopes, and drop your own wishes in the comments section! "Full Measure" "Masuka: Forensic Investigator" "Lost: The Hurley Years" "The Ugly Truth" "The Smash" Tell us the TV spin-offs you want to see in the comments section! |
| Too $hort, Lil' Kim Tried To Make 'Musical Sex' On 'Call Me' Posted: 26 Jan 2012 09:52 AM PST 'We tried to, like, have sex on the song,' Too $hort tells 'RapFix Live' of his and Lil' Kim's 1997 collabo.
Too $hort has built quite the reputation with the ladies in his 30-plus years in rap. Songs like "Freaky Tales" and "I'm a Player" expertly showcase Short Dog's ability to seduce women with his raps, so when his record label requested that he work with Lil' Kim on the 1997 single "Call Me," Kim's then on-and-off boyfriend the Notorious B.I.G. was more than a little concerned.
"I paid for the tickets for Kim and her manager to come to Atlanta and I went to pick them up to take them to the studio and who gets off the plane? No Lil' Kim, it was Biggie," Too $hort recalled with a laugh when he appeared on Wednesday's episode of "RapFix Live." Though $hort and B.I.G. had built a good rapport before the Brooklyn great was slain in 1997, prior to recording with Kim, they didn't really know each other. Too $hort remembers B.I.G. coming off the plane on a pair of crutches that he was forced to use after he was involved in a car accident. The two sat down to talk, and according to $hort, the Notorious one inquired about the Oakland rapper's intentions with his artist and sometime love interest. "So what's goin' on with you and Kim? What's happenin'?" Too $hort remembered Biggie asking. After $hort explained to Big that he only was interested in recording with Kim for his single, the "Juicy" rapper approved the collaboration. "He wanted to know what was goin' on with his little thang before he let it happen," $hort said. "So I explained it to him... and sure enough she showed up on the next flight. We got in the lab and we worked it out." Kim, who titled her 1996 debut album Hardcore, had become known for her sexually explicit lyrics, just like Too $hort, but the first version of "Call Me" didn't quite meet expectations, $hort revealed. "Believe it or not, we did the song and everybody said, 'Man, it's not dirty enough,' " $hort laughed. Eventually they re-recorded the dirty version that fans have come to know. "We tried to, like, have sex on the song," he said. "It wasn't physical sex, but we tried to make musical sex. I think we achieved it." Did you catch Too $hort on Wednesday's "RapFix Live"?Share your thoughts on the interview in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
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