Moviefone News

'Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2': Edward, Bella And Jacob Character Posters (PHOTOS)

Alex Suskind — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:55:48 EDT

Woo, new "Twilight" character posters! The new images feature your favorite characters -- Bella (with vampire eyes!) Edward and Jacob -- staring ahead, with the cryptic word, "Forever" written next to them. (The first photos from the film premiered last month.) "Breaking Dawn, Part 2" is the final movie in the billion-dollar franchise, which is based on the books by Stephenie Meyer. Take a look at the posters from the film below. "Breaking Dawn Part 2," starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning and Cameron Bright, hits theaters November 16.

'Men In Black 3' Unscripted: Josh Brolin Doesn't Know Will Smith's Song 'Summertime'

Jessie Heyman — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:18:54 EDT

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but Will Smith really loves the '90s. After singing the "Fresh Prince" theme song on the "Graham Norton" show last week, then telling fans what he missed most about the decade, Will's now touting the importance of his hit 1991 song "Summertime" During Moviefone's "Men in Black III" Unscripted session, "MIB" co-star Josh Brolin asked Smith, if he were to come into contact with aliens on earth, where's the first place he would take them? (Will first explained that because he has acted in so many extraterrestrial flicks, he is genuinely concerned that aliens would specifically approach him for intel.) His answer? He'd go to "Fresh Prince" co-star and former collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff's house, where they would perform the song "Summertime." This took Brolin by surprise, who ~~clearly doesn't know what the song "Summertime" is~~ momentarily forgot about his favorite song. (Hey, he just hasn't listened to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince in while!) Anyway, cue the "High-five, point-back, snap. "Pssh!" Take a look at the video above and check back this week for more "MIB III" Unscripted clips. "Men in Black III" hits theaters this Friday. PHOTOS:

Will Smith's Strangest Moments: Guest Starring On 'Blossom,' Eating Sushi And Getting Slimed

Alex Suskind — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:16:42 EDT

Last week, at the Moscow premiere of "Men in Black 3," a red-carpet reporter tried to kiss Will Smith. In return, Smith gave the man a nice little slap on the face. A week later, the actor was on "Letterman," where he -- in typically smooth Will Smith fashion -- joked about the situation. "It was just awkward, Dave... They were like, 'Oh, no, we're sorry, you know. It's just his 'schtick,' you know. And I said, 'Well, that's why his a** got schtuck.'" Yes, only Will could completely diffuse a journalist-slapping incident. To paraphrase his character from the first "Men in Black" movie, Smith can make anything look good. Since 1985, he's seamlessly moved from rap star to TV star to movie star, without breaking a sweat. Now one of the most bankable celebrities on the planet, Will Smith is synonymous with smooth -- at least when it comes to the stuff mainstream audiences know about. Unfortunately, having been in the business for almost three decades, Will's managed to rack up a variety of very un-Will Smith moments. From slurping down sushi on a Japanese game show to rapping about cross-dressers to playing video games with Bill Gates, the actor's done his fair share of the unexpected, strange and downright bizarre. With "Men in Black 3" opening this weekend, let's take a look back at some of Will Smith's most surprising moments.

Russell Crowe, Elvis Costello, Sing Elvis Presley And Johnny Cash In London

Alex Suskind — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:01:08 EDT

Perhaps this is a taste of what's to come from Russell Crowe? Last night in London, the Oscar winner -- who is set to appear in the big-screen adaptation of the musical, "Les Miserables" -- got on stage and performed with Elvis Costello. Crowe was a surprise guest at the Royal Albert Hall show, where he sang "Trouble" by Elvis Presley, than strapped on a guitar and played Johnny Cash's famous "Folsom Prison Blues." Crowe confirmed his appearance in a tweet this morning:

It is true, sang with Elvis Costello and the Imposters at Royal Albert Hall last night. What a privilege.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) May 24, 2012

Russell is set to use his pipes once again when he portrays Inspector Javert in "Les Miserables," which hits theaters this Christmas. You can watch the video of Crowe performing above (the fun starts at around the seven-minute mark). [via YouTube]

Zero Dark Thirty: Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Given Secret Access By CIA For bin Laden Film

Alex Suskind — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:55:26 EDT

Apparently Rep. Peter King was on to something when he raised concerns back in January about director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Marl Boal potentially being leaked classified material to make their upcoming Osama bin Laden movie. According to a report from Judicial Watch, Bigelow and Boal were given unprecedented access by the CIA to make "Zero Dark Thirty," a film that tells the story of the hunt for the world's most wanted man. Documents obtained by the foundation through the Freedom of Information Act show that the filmmakers were allowed to meet with -- and learn the identity of -- a "planner, Operator and Commander of SEAL Team Six,” the team responsible for the capture and killing of bin Laden. A meeting transcription states that Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers told Boal and Bigelow, “The only thing we ask is that you not reveal his name in any way as a consultant because . . . he shouldn't be talking out of school," adding that "this gives him one step removed and he knows what he can and can't say, but this way at least he can be as open as he can with you and it ought to meet your needs.” The two were also given access to "the Vault," which Judicial Watch describes as "the CIA building where some of the tactical planning for the bin Laden raid took place." Emails also state that the Obama administration had a hand in providing access to Bigelow and Boal. In a statement provided to HuffPost Politics, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor denied any wrongdoing:

“When people, including press, authors, filmmakers, documentarians, who are working on projects that involve the President ask to speak with administration officials, we do our best to accommodate them to make sure the facts are correct.," he said. "That's hardly a novel approach to the media. We do not discuss classified information. The information that the White House provided about the bin Laden raid was focused on the President's role in that decision making process. The same information was given to the White House press corps.”

This isn't the only trouble "Zero Dark Thirty" has had since its inception. While filming in India, Bigelow and her team faced backlash from local Hindus over making the set area appear Pakistani. "Zero Dark Thirty," starring Chris Pratt, Jessica Chastain and Joel Edgerton, is currently slated for a December 19 release date. [via Judicial Watch b/w THR]

'Transformers 3' Extra Receives $18.5 Million Settlement For Injury

Alex Suskind — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:42:29 EDT

It appears producers are going to have to cough up some of the $1.1 billion that "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" made. According to NBC Chicago, Gabriella Cedillo, an extra on the film, will receive $18.5 million from filmmakers after being injured on set. The 26-year-old had originally sued Paramount and DreamWorks' Studios after suffering a head injury during filming in 2010. The accident occurred while Cedillo was behind the wheel of a stunt car, which was attached to the cable of another vehicle. However, the cable eventually snapped, slicing through the windshield and hitting her head. Despite being airlifted to a nearby hospital to undergo surgery, Cedillo ended up with permanent brain damage. Gabriella's attorney stated that a "completely inadequate superficial weld had been applied in a failed effort to secure the bracket to the [stunt] car." According to the lawsuit, the movie studios "did everything they could to avoid payment," even after saying that they would take care of the medical bills. "Dark of the Moon," which hit theaters back in 2010, ended up grossing the most money of the "Transformers" trilogy. [via NBC Chicago b/w TMZ]

'Men in Black 3': Pros And Cons

Eric Larnick — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:50:34 EDT

This weekend, "Men in Black 3" finds Will Smith donning the Ray Bans once again for another intergalactic adventure as Agent J. In the threequel, J must travel back to the year 1969 to prevent the assassination of his partner, Agent K. With the Apollo 11 mission looming in the background, J works alongside a much younger -- but still surly -- K (Josh Brolin) to ensure that the timeline remains unchanged. It's been ten years since we last saw the MIB, and that cinematic outing was poorly received. Despite the new installment's well-documented script problems can the new flick follow suit? Let's find out in this week's Pro-Con. (MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW) PRO: It's better than "Men in Black II" The second movie was one of the most unnecessary, forgettable and humorless viewing experiences ever. This is a much more harmless attempt at a sequel. CON: That's not saying much Number three isn't awful, but it isn't very good either. It would be a perfectly acceptable way to waste an afternoon on TV, but you expect something more momentous from a Memorial Day blockbuster. PRO: If you love Will Smith, you'll be in heaven This isn't a buddy team-up so much as it is a chance for the Fresh Prince to spend 90 minutes cracking wise at aliens, '60s culture and his partner (to be fair, he does have a few good jokes). CON: Will Smith's acting It appears as if Big Willie Style either had no direction or "didn't need it," because he's in two modes for the entire movie: For comedic scenes he riffs on everything to the point of distraction, and for dramatic scenes he's locked in that teary-eyed moment right before he said "How come he don't want me man?" PRO: Josh Brolin His Tommy Lee Jones impression is spot-on and he gives the movie's best performance, delivering a lively and charismatic depiction of a young Agent K. CON: Tommy Lee Jones He's in the movie for about ten minutes and has never looked more glower. PRO: The villain's first scene The movie opens with a hokey -- in a fun way -- prison breakout involving the movie's time-traveling, one-armed bandit Boris the Animal. "Flight of the Conchords" star Jemaine Clement brings a Tim Curry-like energy to his villainy, and the make-up effects from Rick Baker give Boris a uniquely disgusting presence. CON: Every other scene with the villain While Clement is worlds better than "2's" Lara Flynn Boyle/Johnny Knoxville combo, he still pales in comparison to the first movie's Edgar (played by Vincent D'Onofrio). It's not Clement's fault, but the story fails to make the villain anything more than a background character that pops up occasionally. PRO: Cameos If you're a fan of "Arrested Development" or "SNL," you'll be happy to see some familiar faces. CON: Michael Stuhlbarg as Griffin The "Boardwalk Empire" star is not a bad actor by any means, but his character -- the last of an alien species whose time-warping abilities are pivotal to J and K's mission -- is an anchor that weighs everything down. Griffin conveniently delivers all the important plot info but doesn't actually do anything to move the story forward; plus his character's hook is too annoyingly similar to Robin Williams in family-film mode. PRO: The movie's alien design One thing the "MIB" series has never gotten wrong is creature design: Rick Baker's imagination is on full display with memorable-looking extraterrestrials that can't help but catch your eye (even if they're just walking in the background). CON: The movie's use of time-travel When K is killed in the past and history is altered, J is the only one who remembers how it was supposed to be. Why does he still remember? Because he's caught in a "temporal warp." How did he get caught in a temporal warp? Because... (Crickets chirp) The script does a half-hearted job at explaining how the time shenanigans work -- which only raises more questions -- and then they break their own rules in the final action scene. PRO: The idea of Emma Thompson in this movie Thompson takes over for the departed Rip Torn as the new leader of the MIBs, and she's as entertaining as always. CON: The use of Emma Thompson in this movie As the movie's main female character(?), she's pointless in the grand scheme. PRO: The idea of added backstory We learn a lot about who J and K were, before they became a bickering earth-saving duo. CON: The use of added backstory It contradicts things that happened in the first movie, and like the time-travel rules, the moment you think about the implications, it just creates more questions. PRO: The 3D doesn't look bad Remarkably, it didn't hurt our eyes. And this is one of the first movies in the new 3D wave to actually use brightly-lit scenes that don't get muted by the gimmicky effect. CON: You do not need to see this in 3D It doesn't add to the experience at all. It's just lucky it wasn't headache-inducing. CON: Pitbull's song for the soundtrack, "Back in Time" It's no "Men in Black" theme. PRO: That gives us an excuse to listen to the "Men in Black" theme right now. "Men in Black 3" opens nationwide on Friday.

Samuel L. Jackson As Darth Vader In Hilarious 'Star Wars' Spoof

Alex Suskind — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:09:29 EDT

Here's a change to the "Star Wars" universe George Lucas wishes he could take credit for: Motherf*ckin' Darth Motherf*ckin' Jackson ... motherf*cker. BuzzFeed recently unearthed an awesome YouTube compilation of Darth Vader clips from "Star Wars IV: A New Hope," where Vader's sinister dialogue has been replaced with famous Samuel L. Jackson quotes from "Pulp Fiction," "Jurassic Park" and more. Jackson played Mace Windu in the prequel "Star Wars" films, and was [SPOILER ALERT] killed by Anakin Skywalker in "Revenge of the Sith." However, this video allows us to imagine a galaxy far, far away, where Windu, in a remarkable twist, becomes the Dark Lord. Not that drastic changes are foreign to the "Star Wars" franchise: Lucas, who created the series, has made numerous alterations to the original movies, from the digitally inserted tacky hologram of Hayden Christensen's Anakin at the end of "Return of the Jedi," to the "Who Shot First" debacle between Han and Greedo. Then again, with the rest of the "Star Wars" films coming out in 3D over the next five years, you never know what Lucas will do -- or do not -- next. [via BuzzFeed]

Kristen Stewart's 'Snow White' Message To Girls: 'Don't Be A Vain Idiot'

Jessie Heyman — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:36:49 EDT

"Snow White and the Huntsman" is a modernized version of the fairytale classic -- and now it appears co-stars Kristen Stewart and Sam Claflin are similarly updating their press tour. The "SWATH" leads recently took to the magic of the Internet, answering questions about their upcoming movie via Google+ group chat. While Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth and Stewart previously regaled us with their explicative-laden Moviefone Unscripted sessions, here, Stewart gets a little more family-friendly, discussing how physically taxing the film was to make. "I was excited to challenge myself physically. I knew I would hurt myself every day. I pulled every muscle below my waist. I destroyed my thumb," Stewart said. And while Claflin plays Pince William, Snow White's knight in shining armor, the actor said that the thought of riding a horse made him "cry inside." As for what girls will take away from the new tough look for "SWATH," K-Stew says the message is clear: "Don't be a vain idiot." Take a look at the whole chat over on Cambio. "Snow White and the Huntsman" hits theaters June 1. [via Cambio]

'Anchorman 2': Why Will Ferrell Made The Announcement On 'Conan'

Alex Suskind — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:26:27 EDT

Two months ago, Will Ferrell set the movie world on fire when he showed up on "Conan" -- in full Ron Burgundy attire -- to announce the long-awaited sequel to "Anchorman." Despite several failed attempts to get the project off the ground, "Anchorman 2" came together fairly quickly, as did the announcement on Conan O'Brien's show. As Ferrell reveals in this week's Hollywood Reporter cover story on O'Brien: "We had 24 hours to do something before the news leaked... Conan was our first call." Unsurprisingly, the video of Will showing up and surprising the audience went super viral. (It was posted on the "Conan" site ahead of the show's normal 11 p.m. slot.) According to THR, the clip "generated 3 million Internet views within 24 hours on 700 unique sites." Ferrell added that "Conan's show had the perfect vibe for that kind of announcement... We were really happy for him to reap the benefits." O'Brien also discussed the decision of uploading the video onto the web beforehand:

"At TBS, we're masters of our own pirate ship. It's about so much more than who watches the show at 11 p.m. Who watches it at 1 a.m.? Who watches the clip online the next day? Who sees the ad with that clip? This is where it's all going, so let's get ahead of it rather than pretend it's still about America gathering around the TV to watch Roots or Ed Sullivan. That simply isn't the case anymore."

As for "Anchorman 2," the film's teaser premiered last week in front of "The Dictator." According to David Koechner -- who will reprise his role as Champ -- it was filmed right after the announcement. You can check out the full Conan O'Brien profile over on THR. [via THR]

'That's My Boy': Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg Sit Down For Next Unscripted; Ask Them A Question!

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:51:43 EDT

SNL fans new and old rejoice! Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, who've teamed up as the very unlikely father-son duo in "That's My Boy," are set to participate in an upcoming session of Moviefone's Unscripted next month, meaning you get to ask them anything you want. "Sandberg" (that may be the best nickname out there) fans will have until Thursday, May 31 at 8 p.m. EST to ask whatever they'd like. (Perhaps it's whether Samberg knows the "Hanukkah Song" by heart, or what Sandler's favorite Digital Short is?) You can leave your queries in the comments below, on our Facebook page or on Twitter. Head back to Moviefone closer to the "That's My Boy" release date in June to see the whole thing. "That's My Boy,"starring Sandler, Samberg and Leighton Meester, hits theaters on June 15.

'Ishtar': Seven Myths Regarding The Legendary Flop

Gary Susman — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:49:12 EDT

"If all of the people who hate 'Ishtar' had seen it, I would be a rich woman today." So said Elaine May in 2006, two decades after the Warren Beatty-Dustin Hoffman comedy she wrote and directed had become synonymous with "extravagant flop." (The film grossed $14.4 million on a $55 million budget.) Up until May 22, 1987 (the day it opened in theaters, 25 years ago), advance buzz on "Ishtar" was contentious; it was either a brilliant comic masterpiece or a textbook case of overreach on the part of two giant Hollywood egos to whom no one could say, "No." After the film's release... same thing. To this day, the movie is roundly mocked for its alleged awfulness (often by people who've never seen it), while a passionate cult of fans insists it's a lost work of misunderstood genius that never got its proper due from critics or moviegoers. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. The movie is far from being unwatchable, as its detractors complain; nor is it as unrelentingly funny as its supporters claim. Seen today, "Ishtar" contains some inspired gags, from the hilariously bad songs performed by Beatty and Hoffman's inept lounge duo to the prescient satire of America's ham-fisted foreign policy blunders throughout the Middle East. But it also doesn't really hang together as a film; rather, it lurches along in fits and starts like the movie's fabled blind camel. One thing is certain, however: May was punished for its failure, in a way that Beatty and Hoffman were not -- both of their careers continued to flourish, while she's never directed another film. "You'd have to be offered a movie that's worth your time and your struggle, and I haven't been," she said at a rare screening last year of her director's cut of "Ishtar." As one searches for the truth behind the myths surrounding "Ishtar"'s production -- many of which have to do with how in-over-her-head May was -- it's clear that she made an all-too-convenient scapegoat for the excesses of an entire industry, not just her own. Myth No. 1: May was incapable of working within the studio system. Before "Ishtar," May had directed three movies in the 1970s: the brilliant and underrated "A New Leaf" (1971), a romantic farce in which she also served as writer and star; the classic "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972), a hit Neil Simon comedy that effectively launched Charles Grodin's career; and "Mikey and Nicky" (1976), a largely improvised crime drama starring John Cassavetes and Peter Falk that mimicked the similarly improvisational, acquired-taste movies that Cassavetes had been making with Falk for years. The last of these had cemented May's reputation as a perfectionist, one who ordered take after take and shot hundreds of hours of film, only to spend months or years in the editing room in order to come up with a two-hour movie. But May had also received little support from the studios she worked for. "Every movie I made except for 'The Heartbreak Kid,' the studio changed regimes in the middle of the movie," she said in a 2006 conversation with Mike Nichols (her former sketch comedy partner, who went on to a much more successful directing career). It's not uncommon that, after such a regime change, the new studio chief will disown the movies in production that his or her predecessor greenlit, so as not to be held responsible if they fail. In the cases of "New Leaf" and "Mikey and Nicky," the studios ultimately wrested the films away from May, recut them, and released them without her approval. Myth No. 2: Beatty stabbed May in the back. Given Beatty's involvement 15 years later with "Town & Country" -- another costly comedy flop that he starred in, and whose endless pre-release tinkering seemed to have Beatty's fingerprints all over it -- it's easy to wonder if Beatty's micromanagement of his director wasn't also a source of woe for "Ishtar." For one thing, Beatty (who also produced the film) was the highest paid person on the set (he and Hoffman both earned about $5.5 million for their acting, plus another half mil to Beatty for producing, while May's salary was $1 million), and the salaries of the three principals comprised nearly half of the film's initial $27.5 million budget. (Actually, Beatty and Hoffman had offered to defer their salaries, but Columbia declined.) Plus, Beatty's heavy-handedness seemed evident in his refusal to allow journalists on the set and his reluctance to do interviews to promote its release. Finally, he'd cast his then-girlfriend, Isabelle Adjani, as the movie's female lead. All of this led the press to be skeptical that Beatty was the one really holding the reins and driving up the budget. Beatty and May did clash on the set, often leading to paralysis during the expensive shoot in Morocco. According to Peter Biskind's biography "Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America," the actor/producer and the director differed on staging and setups, particularly when it came to the climactic battle sequence, a bigger spectacle than anything May had ever shot before. But Biskind writes that Beatty didn't want to undermine her authority by contradicting her, lest he tarnish his liberal-feminist credentials. Beatty also refused to let the studio fire her, threatening to walk if they did. Where Beatty and May differed most strongly was in the endless editing process. Their contracts guaranteed a measure of final cut authority to May, Beatty, and Hoffman -- which meant, really, that none of them had final cut. Each of them was working on his or her own cut of the movie at the same time. In the end, Hollywood superlawyer Bert Fields, who represented all three of them, wound up overseeing the editing. Myth No. 3: May didn't know where to place the camera. May has acknowledged, more than once, that, on her first film, she knew so little about directing that she hardly knew what to do with the camera or even to shoot coverage (that is, the same scene from multiple camera positions) so that she'd have alternate footage to build a sequence within the editing room. But it seems unlikely that, four movies and hundreds of hours of footage later, she'd still be as naive. Nonetheless, she clashed frequently over camera placement with the master cinematographer Beatty had hired, Vittorio Storaro. Storaro told Biskind that May would do the opposite of whatever he recommended, to the extent that he learned to use reverse psychology and recommend the opposite of what he wanted. But May's friend, editor Philip Schopper, suggested that May knew exactly what she was doing. Storaro's painterly eye had framed such dramatic masterpieces as "Reds" and "Last Tango in Paris," but he'd never shot a comedy before, and May was aiming for funny, not pretty. Myth No. 4: May wasted untold amounts of money casting the right camel. The oft-told camel anecdote is justly famous. May's animal trainers searched for a camel with blue eyes (a rarity) to suggest its blindness. They found one priced at $700 but thought they could do better. After days of searching, they couldn't find another camel that fit the bill, so they returned to the dealer who owned the first camel, only to be told, "Sorry, we ate it." Less famous is the denouement: They found a camel, they shot the scenes, and they generated some of the movie's biggest laughs. Recalled May last year, "It was a great actor! We tried camels out; a lot of camels came. But this camel had it, and we cast him." Myth No. 5: May wasted untold amounts of money and time bulldozing dunes. Production designer Paul Sylbert told Biskind that he had spent a lot of time scouting several countries for the perfect dunes that May had requested, only to have her change her mind and decide she wanted the desert to be flat. So he took a union crew and 11 bulldozers and spent 10 days flattening a square mile of desert. A variant of Sylbert's dune-flattening story appears in a New York magazine article published shortly before the film's release. But his story is disputed by "Ishtar" editors Schopper and Billy Scharf, who said there was no bulldozing. "Elaine was too smart to do stupid things like that," Scharf told Biskind, attributing Sylbert's account to his enmity of May. Other crew members echoed Sylbert in suggesting that May frequently changed her mind or seemed unwilling to make decisions. One worker told Biskind, "Directors control in different ways, and she controlled by creating mass confusion." May herself downplayed the obstacles of the desert shoot, saying, "It was a very hard shoot, but I really liked it. I actually have an affinity for the desert." Myth No. 6: The movie had bad buzz well before anyone had seen it. Actually, the three preview screenings went very well. One of them went so well that May took off for Bali, unaware of what was about to happen back home. What happened was a poisoning of the well with bad press about the movie's cost overruns, which ultimately ballooned its budget to $51 million. That, and a delayed release date, due to the lengthy editing process, from December 1986 to May 1987. The press saw both as signs of trouble. Certainly, "Ishtar" was one of the most expensive comedies ever made, and the secrecy surrounding the shoot made reporters wonder what was being hidden from them. But who leaked the budget of the movie? The filmmakers, to this day, blame David Puttnam, who took over Columbia from McElwaine ("Ishtar"'s first casualty) after the shoot finally wrapped. Puttnam had had a longstanding grudge against May, Beatty, and Hoffman for their reputed budget-busting ways; he'd been a producer on "Agatha" and had blamed Hoffman for inflating his own role in the movie to a lead; and he'd been producer of the modestly-budgeted "Chariots of Fire" when it was up against Beatty and May's expensive "Reds" in the 1981 Oscar race. At the time, he'd written an essay criticizing Hollywood for its expensive ways, and now he would be able to put his philosophy into practice. Once in office, he had effectively given "Ishtar" a vote of no-confidence by publicly distancing himself from the supposed boondoggle approved by his predecessor. When articles about "Ishtar"'s expenses began to appear, the three principals felt they were being undermined by their own studio. As a result, Beatty belived, even critics who might have been predisposed to like the movie felt compelled to mention how expensive it was. "There was almost no review that didn't in the first paragraph deal with the cost of the movie," Beatty told Entertainment Weekly in 1991. "That was an eye-opener — about the business, and the relationship of the entertainment press to business. 'Ishtar' is a very good, not very big, comedy, made by a brilliant woman. And I think it's funny." Myth No. 7: "Ishtar" was an instant flop. Actually, it opened at No.1 on the box office chart and stayed there for three weeks. But its opening weekend take was just $4.3 million, only $100,000 ahead of the $4.2 million earned by no-budget, star-free horror flick "The Gate." Ultimately, it earned only about $14 million in theaters, well short of its cost. It was a big enough flop to shake Columbia to its core. Within months, Puttnam followed McElwaine out the door. Within two years, parent company Coca-Cola got out of the movie business and sold the studio to Sony. Nonetheless, Hoffman and Beatty prospered. Hoffman's next role was his Oscar-winning turn in "Rain Man." Since then, the still-busy actor has made about 30 more movies, or about twice as many as he did in the quarter-century beofre "Ishtar." Meanwhile, Beatty turned around and produced, directed, and starred in 1990's lavish comic-strip fantasy "Dick Tracy" (co-starring Hoffman). That turned out to be a huge hit, but it's remarkable that, so soon after "Ishtar," he was able to get another studio (Disney) to spend $46 million on his vision. Beatty went on to make four more movies over the next decade, and not until 2001's "Town & Country," a star-heavy comedy that cost $90 million but earned back just $10 million worldwide, did his career hit a brick wall the way May's did. Since "Ishtar," May has acted in two movies -- the 1990 indie "In the Spirit" (co-written by her daughter, Jeannie Berlin) and Woody Allen's 2000 comedy "Small Time Crooks." She's written two screenplays (1996's "The Birdcage" and 1998's "Primary Colors"), both sparkling and witty, both commissioned by her old pal Nichols. She's also written for Broadway; last year, she and Allen and Ethan Coen collaborated on an evening of three one-act plays called "Relatively Speaking." But she hasn't directed another movie and, having turned 80 last month, probably never will again.

Kristen Stewart 'On The Road' Sex Scenes: Topless More Than Taylor Lautner

Jessie Heyman — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:11:56 EDT

While Kristen Stewart plays an armor-clad heroine in "Snow White and the Huntsman," her role in the upcoming "On the Road" is apparently far more, ahem, revealing. The Walter Salles-directed film, which premiered at Cannes, casts the star in a slightly different light than "Twilight's" Bella Swan. Here, according to Vulture, "Stewart takes her top off so many times that even the perennially shirtless Taylor Lautner would be impressed." As you probably know, the film is the big screen adaptation of the iconic beat novel by Jack Kerouac, which chronicles the tales of three young friends' -- Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund) and his young femme, Marylou (Stewart) -- road trip. What you didn't know is the film's level of unbridled raunchiness. "Twlight" purists, shield your eyes. Vulture writes: "Stewart later takes part in a ménage à trois, initiates road head, and jerks off both Hedlund and Sam Riley while all three are naked in a moving car. She's so horny and curious that when another couple excuses themselves to have sex, a nosy Stewart follows them into the doorway and asks, 'Can I watch you guys screw?'" Apparently, Bella and Edward's bed-ruining consummation was just a warm up. [via Vulture]

'Men in Black 3' Director, Barry Sonnenfeld, Talks Script Problems And 'Men in Black 4'

Eric Larnick — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:41:30 EDT

This weekend, "Men in Black 3," starring Will Smith, hits theaters nationwide. Unfortunately, what should be regarded as a light summer popcorn flick has turned into an entertainment gossip storm. The sequel reportedly went into production before the script was finished, and ended up receiving multiple rewrites. (Filmmakers even took a break from shooting to try and fix the story's problems.) Earlier this month, the L.A. Times reported that the film's budget was -- including marketing -- a whopping $375 million. Obviously, this movie has a lot riding on it -- it can't afford to be a Memorial Day weekend distraction, it needs to be a global phenomenon on par with its two predecessors. Moviefone recently spoke with series director Barry Sonnenfeld about the film's well-documented problems. However, according to him, they aren't problems at all: After all the media attention regarding rewrites and rumored script changes demanded by Will Smith, Sonnenfeld steadfastly explained that it's all been an over-exaggeration that the audience shouldn't be concerned with. The big story surrounding this release is the craziness of the production. Your quote about filming without a complete script was: "If this movie does as well as I think it will, it was genius. If it's a total failure, then it was a really stupid idea." Is that a risk you would feel confident taking again on a future project? I cannot believe that that's what I said because there was never not a finished script. It is impossible to make a movie without a finished script. Within the script there were going to be changes made in some scenes and locations, but we always had a script. We shut down after Christmas -- which we intended to do -- to continue to hone the second act and the first half of the third act. We always had a first act and an ending. But my question to you is: A) What difference does it make in terms of the story and the moviegoers' experience? And B) On every movie that you've seen, can you tell me what their experience was? I've worked on ten movies as a cinematographer and ten as a director, and out of those twenty movies I've only had, what reporters would call, finished scripts on three of them. On the first "Men in Black" -- which is a beloved movie -- we changed the entire plot and ending after we were done shooting with dubbing and subtitles. But who cares? If you can explain to me why the filmgoers need to know it, or why it's different than any movie from "Avatar" to the movies coming out this summer, then I think it's an interesting story. But for some reason, and I think it's because Will Smith hasn't been in a movie in four years, what really is the norm has become a story. So help me understand what your readers need more information about. Well this production came together so fast to accommodate a very tight window with Will Smith's availability. Was there ever a moment where you just thought “This isn't going to happen"? Not really. In every movie there are moments when you realize you are over budget and have to lose some of your favorite scenes, or there's a problem because the availability of the actor you want isn't there. Up until two weeks before we shot "Addams Family Values," [they were] threatening to pull the plug. Right before we started to shoot "Get Shorty," MGM told me we had to lose $320,000 by Monday or we weren't making the movie. It's the nature of the business, but because this one was bigger, expensive and complicated, you had a few times where you thought, “I wonder if maybe they shouldn't make the movie.” It usually happens early in production and you figure it out. I just can't convince people enough of this, so I'm not going to try anymore. The people involved in making the movie felt their version of stress, and that version of stress was just the stress that every filmmaker has every day. It doesn't matter if it's big-budget or small-budget; they're equally stressful, equally important. You don't say, “I better do a better job on this one because it cost more, or because it's got Will Smith.” You all go out there, do your best work and ultimately it comes down to script and casting -- and I think we got it right. When the first movie came out in 1997 the movie industry was very different; Hollywood is now telling stories for a global audience. "MIB 3" is being promoted not only in America, but around the world. What's the biggest challenges you see in making a movie that has to appeal to a global audience but still takes storytelling risks? All the "Men In Black's" have done better globally then in the U.S., but we were never conscious of dumbing down or making it more universal. Universal stories come out of small things, not big things, and they come out of emotion and some sort of comedy. We haven't changed the films based on the globalization of the market. In the second film we made the mistake in thinking that what worked about the first film was comedy; we went to the comedy place too often in the second film, and forgot that our guys needed to be heroes and our villains had to be villainous and strong. I think that "Men in Black 3" to me, is much more like "Men in Black 1." I was on "Men In Black 1" for two years and when I started none of the scenes took place in New York. They were underground in Lawrence, Kansas, they were in Nevada, they were in Las Vegas, they were in Washington, D.C., they were about pheromones. I left the movie after two years cause the script still wasn't right, directed "Get Shorty," came back, got the script right, hired Tommy and Will and made the movie. I didn't read anything about “Four years of script work finally delivers Men In Black 1”. I don't know why this one became about the script so much. We haven't changed the tone or style based on international [audiences]. Although if there was ever a "Men In Black 4," I would suggest that we open up the environment, shoot some of it or make part of the plot take place in China, Russia, Germany. Because the Men In Black protect all of earth and not just the northeast corridor. It'd be nice to do that, but not necessarily for marketing reasons. Although, there's nothing wrong with that either. How serious have discussions gotten about developing the "Men In Black" franchise beyond Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones? There's been no talk about "Men In Black 4" at all, except occasionally Will Smith will come up with an idea while we're flying somewhere. I don't know what goes on within the corporate meetings but I have heard no talk about changing the franchise, doing another one or opening it up to others. If "Men In Black 3" does well, I'm sure there will need to be some strategic discussions about it. I do think that as cool an idea as "Men In Black" is, what makes it work really well is not the big stuff, but the small stuff. That chemistry between Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin is really important. It'd be like deciding to do "48 Hrs." without Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy. I think that the relationships in this movie are the single biggest success.

'Great Gatsby' Trailer: Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire And Jay-Z

Alex Suskind — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:13:01 EDT

You know what the best part of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby" is? When Jay-Z and Kanye's "No Church in the Wild" plays in the background at a party on West Egg. Wait, that never happened? That can't be true -- according to the trailer for Baz Lurhmann's "Gatsby" movie, it did! Yes, the first footage from the upcoming Fitzgerald adaptation has just hit the web, and it's full of dancing, drinking and hip-hop, all set in the colorful, stylized New York community you probably don't remember from the books. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, the film is a (very) updated take on the classic Fitzgerald novel. Looks aside, the movie appears to follow the same iconic story of the wealthy Jay Gatsby and his curious neighbor, Carraway. (Then again, this thing is in 3D, so who knows?) You can check out the full trailer above. (Watch at your own risk, Fitzgerald, fans!) "The Great Gatsby" hits theaters Christmas Day.

DVD Blu-Ray: 'The Secret World of Arrietty,' 'Lethal Weapon' Collection

Eric Larnick — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:07:50 EDT

Moviefone's New Release Pick of the Week "The Secret World of Arrietty" What's It About? This adaptation of the beloved fantasy series "The Borrowers" deals with a young sick boy named Sho, who befriends Arrietty, a member of a secret race of little people that live underneath the floorboards. Sho and Arrietty must preserve their friendship while also protecting the family of Borrowers from suspicious humans. See It Because: Studio Ghibli, the world renowned Japanese animation studio behind "Arrietty," have never made a bad movie. Seriously. "Arrietty" is an adorably cute modern fairy tale that never feels saccharine, and features lush atmospheric animation. Moviefone's Blu-ray Pick of the Week The "Lethal Weapon" Collection What's It About? The entire Riggs-Murtaugh saga is packaged together in one convenient box set, bringing "I'm getting too old for this sh*t," Jet Li's kicks, "It's just been revoked" and Gary Busey into the world of glorious high definition. See It Because: In addition to all four movies, the collection comes with loads of bonus content: deleted scenes, outtakes, behind-the-scenes features and commentary on all films by series director, Richard Donner. Watch an Exclusive Clip from the "Lethal Weapon" Collection - New on DVD & Blu-ray "Certified Copy" (Criterion Collection) What's It About? Juliette Binoche stars as a French antiques dealer who meets a British writer in Tuscany and decides to spend the day with him. During the course of their date, their conversations change so much, that you're not sure if this was really their first date after all. See It or Skip It: See it, if you're up for philosophical discussions about what's real and what's fake. (Also Available on Amazon Instant Video) "Mutant Girls Squad" What's It About? A mutant girl joins up with a band of rebel mutants (a squad if you will) to fight back against the humans that abused them. Be prepared for splatterific levels of over-the-top gore involving chainsaws, weird body appendages and bodily fluids. See It or Skip It: See it, if you already dig the craziness of J-Horror. "Perfect Sense" What's It About? Ewan McGregor and Eva Green star as two lovers living in a world where a strange virus is robbing people of their senses, and they must learn to go on without sight, sound or touch. The film may not perfectly balance the love story in the wake of impending disaster, but it's a well-acted exploration of the premise. See It or Skip It: See it. (Also Available on Redbox | Amazon Instant Video) "Red Tails" What's It About? George Lucas' passion project, an action-adventure take on the Tuskegee Airmen, has the same flaws as his other projects (corny dialogue, stilted performances) but it's loads better than the "Star Wars" prequels and shows that he still has some fire, when working on something he cares about. See It or Skip It: See it. (Also Available on Amazon Instant Video ) "This Means War" What's It About? This action-romance about a love triangle between Reese Witherspoon and CIA agents Chris Pine and Tom Hardy tried to appeal to men and women, but misfired completely. See It or Skip It: Skip it. Watch an Exclusive Clip from "This Means War" - (Also Available on Amazon Instant Video) "The Woman in Black" What's It About? It's nothing revolutionary -- and not without its eye-rolling cliches -- but the old-school British haunted house movie starring Daniel Radcliffe is enough of a crowd pleaser. See It or Skip It: See it. (Also Available on Redbox DVD & Blu-ray | Amazon Instant Video ) New to Blu-ray In addition, to "Arrietty," two Studio Ghibli films are released on Blu-ray for the first time. "Castle in the Sky" is a dazzling fantasy adventure, involving pirates, magic crystals and young heroes, set in a sky-bound world. "Whisper of the Heart" is a sweet summer romance concerning an adorable bookworm who gets separated from the object of her affection and vows to write a grand fantasy novel before he returns. New to Redbox "Contraband" DVD & Blu-ray "Pariah"

Terminator Wanted Poster: FBI 'Searching' For Arnold Schwarzenegger Character

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:25:00 EDT

In hilariously asynchronous movie news, the FBI is currently searching for "The Terminator" -- at least according to a fake Wanted poster taped to the side of a poll in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The photo, which depicts Arnold Schwarzenegger dressed as his most famous character, was recently spotted by Instagram user mrgilly. The flyer details a brown-haired, brown-eyed man wanted on multiple counts of homicide and desperately searching for a "Sarah Connor." (I guess no one told him the "Sarah Connor Chronicles" was canceled three years ago?) The original "Terminator," which was released in 1984, marked Ah-nuld's first turn as the infamous time-traveling assassin. The movie was followed by the highly successful "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," in 1991, and the 2003 sequel "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines." (The fourth film, "Terminator Salvation," which starred Christian Bale and a naked Arnold Schwarzengger body double, was released in 2009, the same year the "Sarah Connor Chronicles" wrapped up.) Since then, things have been quiet on the Terminator front. As for Mr. Schwarzengger, he will make his anticipated big-screen return in "The Expendables 2" on August 17, followed by "The Last Stand," "The Tomb," "Ten," and "Unknown Solider," all within the next year (that is, unless the FBI finds him first). [via SlashFilm]

Johnny Depp Joins Comanche Nation Indian Tribe

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:01:04 EDT

From his boozy romp in "The Rum Diary" to his gothic tribute in "Dark Shadows," Johnny Depp is no slouch when it comes to character research. But his upcoming role as Tonto in Gore Verbinski's "Lone Ranger" might take the cake. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Depp has been initiated into the Comanche Indian tribe, a New Mexico-based group of Indians. The actor was invited to join after they learned about his involvement in the role. “I reached out, and Johnny was very receptive to the idea," LaDonna Harris, president of Americans for Indian Opportunity, told the website Indian Country. "He seemed proud to receive the invitation, and we were honored that he so enthusiastically agreed... He's a very thoughtful human being, and throughout his life and career, he has exhibited traits that are aligned with the values and worldview that Indigenous peoples share.” From the looks of the first photo, Depp has already breathed new life into the role of Tonto, finding inspiration in Native American portraitist, Kirby Sattler. “I thought: Tonto's got a bird on his head," Depp told EW. "It's his spirit guide in a way. It's dead to others, but it's not dead to him. It's very much alive.” "The Lone Ranger" -- starring Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham Carter, William Fichtner and Tom Wilkinson -- hits theaters May 31, 2013. [via THR]

Martha Stewart Wants To Be In 'Avengers 2': 'I Want To Play The Hulk's Girlfriend'

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:24:34 EDT

With "The Avengers" securing the seemingly unshakable top spot at the box office, speculation abounds for what will be included in the sequel. But, no matter how much you let your imagination run wild, reality has done you one better: Martha Stewart wants in. The ubiquitous host -- whose acting resume widens this month with appearances on "2 Broke Girls" and "Law & Order: SVU" -- expressed interest in assembling in the next superhero flick, after NYMag asked if Stewart had any other gigs in the works. Her answer: "No, not right now," but then reconsidered. "Wait, I do want to be in the next 'Avengers' movie. I want to play The Hulk's girlfriend." No word on how FILM CRIT HULK feels about this. But just picture it: Martha Stewart, looking directly into the eyes of the Hulk and saying "Avengers 2 -- it's a good thing." [via Daily Intel]

'Fast And Furious' Mash-Up: Every Gear Shift In The Series (VIDEO)

Jessie Heyman — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:41:16 EDT

From the archive of "Ridiculous Super-Cuts" comes something you probably weren't waiting for but definitely needed: a mash-up of every gear shift in all five "Fast and the Furious" movies. Yes, some bored/brilliant fan has boiled down the longtime driving series to the nitty gritty. You know how it goes: there's a chase scene, the other guy's gaining speed, shift, shift, someone lets out a "yeehaw" or a "woohoo," and they drive off into the sunset. (That's basically what happens in every "Fast" movie, right?) The clip is just a little taste to tide you over before "Fast and the Furious 6" -- which reunites Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson as consumate engine-revvers -- begins shooting. (Justin Lin is also set to return as director and "The Immortals'" Luke Evans is poised to play the villain.) You can take a look at the mash-up above (because, you probably have nothing better to do than watch Vin Diesel shift gears). [via YouTube and Jalopnik]

'The Intouchables' iPad 2 Giveaway (CONTEST)

Alex Suskind — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:24:00 EDT

This weekend, "The Intouchables" comes to America. The buzzed-about Belgian film has already won several prizes, including best movie at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2011 and the César Award for Best Actor (given to lead Omar Sy). The film follows the relationship between a wealthy tetraplegic named Philippe, and Driss (Sy), a former convict of Sudanese descent. Now, the Weinstein Company and Moviefone are giving you the chance to win an iPad 2 loaded with trailers and other fun content tied to the movie's release. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below, answering the question "What would you do if you got a second chance at life?" You have until Friday, May 25 at 3 p.m. EDT to enter. One grand-prize winner will win a 16GB iPad 2 with 3G. You may enter as many times as you want. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. Good luck! Click Her For Official "Intouchables" Giveaway Rules And Regulations

'Men In Black 3' Unscripted: Will Smith And Josh Brolin Talk Aliens, Time Travel And The '90s

Alex Suskind — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:51:58 EDT

Yesterday's sneak peak of our "Men in Black 3" Unscripted featured a story about Josh Brolin (accidentally) stabbing Will Smith with a steak knife in Brazil. Luckily, today's video is a little less ... violent. During the full chat with the stars of the sci-fi sequel, they answered plenty of entertaining questions, from what Will Smith misses most about the '90s to Josh Brolin debating if he could solve a real crime to where the two would go if they had time-traveling capabilities. Yes, it's everything you ever wanted to know from two movie stars. (Also something we learned: Josh and Will have way more in common than you'd expect.) You can watch the entire conversation in the video above. Stay tuned to Moviefone the rest of the week for more from our "Men in Black 3" Unscripted session. "Men in Black 3" hits theaters this weekend.

'Moonrise Kingdom' Stars Kara Hayward And Jared Gilman On Bill Murray, Music And Kissing

Eric Larnick — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:28:08 EDT

"Moonrise Kingdom," the newest film from Wes Anderson, tells the story of two young lovers -- Suzy Sharp and Sam Shakusky -- who run away together. Suzy is a disaffected young girl, who enjoys burying her head in books and is prone to fistfights at school. Sam is a troubled orphan, who's been bounced around the foster care system. A unique performance was required to bring these characters to life, and Anderson found exactly what he was looking for in thirteen-year-old stars Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman. Both are newcomers to film and went through an arduous open audition process before landing their parts. Adding to the whirlwind experience was the opportunity for the duo to act alongside such luminaries as Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton. (Not bad for two kids whose acting resume, up until this point, was made up of summer camp performances.) Moviefone spoke with Kara and Jared while they were busy promoting their film at Cannes. Their answers on everything -- from what Bill Murray is like to sharing an on-screen kiss -- are as adorable as you would expect from two precocious stars of a Wes Anderson comedy. I have to confess, I am incredibly jealous of both of you: You got to work with Bill Murray, who is a king among men. What is he like in those moments off-camera? Gilman: He taught me how to tie a tie. I was trying on a specific costume where I had to wear a tie and I didn't know how. All of the people in the room were women so they didn't know either. And Bill just happened to be in the room next to us and said, “Jared, come over here. I'll teach you how to tie a tie.” It was pretty cool. Hayward: We had so much fun together at the Harper's Bazaar shoot. At one point they put a giant tuba on his head and he began to play. I couldn't stop laughing. He used a microphone and sang this song. He's very musical I suppose, because they also handed him a guitar and he began to play and I didn't know that he could do that. But he's Bill Murray, he can do anything. One of the most defining aspects of Wes Anderson's filmography is his soundtrack. If you could control the music, what songs and artists would you like to include? Hayward: Personally, I'd like something rather perky. During a slow motion scene, I'd use some Lana Del Ray; something that is fun and also very indie. Gilman: If it's a shot of some cool kid walking across the hallway, maybe put some Black Keys in the background. How familiar were the two of you with Wes Anderson's movies before "Moonrise" started? Gilman: I had seen "Fantastic Mr. Fox" when it was in theaters and I had heard of his other movies. By now I've seen all of his movies. I love them all. Hayward: I had seen "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The Darjeeling Limited" and "The Royal Tenenbaums," and I adored all three films. When I realized that I was going to be working with the man who made [them], it was such an amazing feeling. What did he do as a director that you've never encountered before? Gilman: Wes is one of the few true artists out there. He really knows how to get an idea in his head and turn it into an amazing script, and then turn that really amazing script into a really, really, really amazing movie. He does this so flawlessly, I feel like it's very rare that you can find a person that actually can do that so well. Hayward: To be honest, when I was at the summer camps performing in plays, we -- the children who were acting -- ran the show. The director watched and if there was something that someone was doing wrong or not believable at all, he would just mention, “Okay, maybe you should do it this way." So Wes was the first director that I really worked with. When you read the script for the first time, was there any aspect of the story that seemed intimidating? Gilman: I was just excited to film the stuff 'cause it seemed so cool. Hayward: I don't think there was anything to be really nervous about because the adventure these two children have was amazing to read about it. Not even sharing a kiss on-screen? Hayward: No, it was a closed set and everything was very carefully choreographed and there weren't too many people around. And we were in character, so this really wasn't Kara and Jared, it was Sam and Suzy. Gilman: The way Wes had us on the set, he handled everything so well that we didn't feel any kind of nervousness and we just felt comfortable about everything. What was the best part of working with each other? Hayward: Having someone else there who was really new to this and they knew exactly how you felt about not being sure sometimes or not knowing where to go or what to do. Gilman: Same here. What actors do you look to for inspiration? Hayward: Other than everyone we've worked with? [Laughs] Two young women who inspire me are Emma Stone and Emma Watson because they are both very talented young ladies who are humorous and intelligent. They've learned to balance everything that they love with their acting career. Gilman: I don't really know who inspires me because I'm a huge movie buff and I like a lot of actors and actresses. There's just too many to name. Well, speaking as a movie buff, what are your favorite movies? Gilman: A movie I just saw that I really, really liked, and is a great piece of cinema, is "Moon" with Sam Rockwell. I loved how they did the thought-provoking parts of it. [Even though] the movie was really low budget, [they] were able to pull off some really nice effects dealing with -- oh that's a spoiler. That's alright. We can leave it at that. Hayward: I connect with "Little Women," the one with Winona Ryder and Kristen Dunst. I love the setting and the beautiful time that they lived in and I also connected with the main character because of her love of writing and her desire to become a famous writer. That is what I had my heart set on doing before I discovered acting. What are your creative aspirations for the next few years? Hayward: I would like to pursue an acting career and it's something that I want to do for a long time to come. I have been looking at some opportunities, but I am still waiting for a project that is just as beautiful and special as this one was. In the future I think writing and directing is something that I would be very interested in. Gilman: Right now, I'm gonna stick with acting and I guess I'll see how I feel about other things like directing and writing in the future. I'll play it by ear. What do you hope to accomplish with with your first visit to the Cannes Film Festival? Hayward: Well first of all, most of the people speak French so I don't understand a word. [Laughs]. But it's so exciting to hear any one of them talk. Hopefully, you get to meet Woody Allen; so you can say you've met Murray and Allen and become the hippest thirteen-year-olds that ever lived. Hayward: I actually met Alec Baldwin the other night at a dinner party! So you got a triple threat right there: Alec Baldwin, Bill Murray and then Woody Allen -- that would just be amazing!

Whitney Houston Last Song: 'Celebrate' Duet With Jordin Sparks Released

Jessie Heyman — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:05:44 EDT

Coming off the heels of Jordin Sparks's "I Will Always Love You" cover is "Celebrate," the final track from Whitney Houston. The song isn't the soulful ballad we're used to from Houston. Sparks, who duets with Whitney on the track, takes the higher notes, leaving Houston to sing the jazzier background. The song was recorded for their upcoming film -- and Whitney's final on-screen appearance -- "Sparkle." Before her tragic death in February, Whitney's career was on the road to recovery: she had a new film on the way and there was talk of a sequel to the 1995 hit, "Waiting to Exhale." In "Sparkle" -- the remake of the 1976 hit -- Houston plays the matriarch of three girls who form a popular Motown group in the 1960s. It marks her first big-screen role since 1996's "The Preacher's Wife." Director Salim Akil revealed his own thoughts on the late singer's performance in the June issue of Vanity Fair. “Nobody is going to be able to say anything more profound than what Whitney says herself on that screen...Her performance is consistent with the gifts that she gave us consistently.” "Sparkle" hits theaters August 17. [via Vulture]

Bill Murray Guide To Life: Lessons From An Acting Legend

Jessie Heyman — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:07:36 EDT

Last week, as the most glamorous cineastes walked the red carpet at Cannes, there was one star who stood out among the rest: Bill Murray. (The "Ghostbusters" actor came dressed in a multi-plaid suit reminiscent of his "Caddyshack" days. He even had a miniature camera to snap photos of the crowd.) This shouldn't come as a surprise. What happened in France wasn't a moment of pure spontaneity; it was pure Murray. Over the years, the actor's on- and off-screen shenanigans have become legend. Whether it's crashing a karaoke session or initiating a dance circle, he knows exactly what he's doing. On Friday, Murray's antics continue in his newest film, "Moonrise Kingdom." Here, Bill plays a shoe-throwing father of a love-crazed tween. In honor of Murray continuing to set the curve for cool, let's take a look at the (long overdue) Bill Murray Guide to Life. Take notes, people! WATCH:

'Chernobyl Diaries' Controversy: Charity Slams Found-Footage Film For Being Insensitive

Alex Suskind — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:49:09 EDT

This weekend, "Chernobyl Diaries" hits theaters. The film tells the story of six tourists who hire a tour guide to take them to Prypiat, the now deserted town near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (the community was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986). There, the group discovers that disfigured humans and other creepy figures still haunt the premises. "Diaries" is the latest in a long line of projects looking to capitalize on the semi-popular found-footage genre (no surprise that it was written and produced by "Paranormal Activity" mastermind Oren Peli). Unfortunately, not everyone finds the movie's plot to be entertaining. "It is terrible that such a tragic event as Chernobyl is being sensationalized in a Hollywood horror film," a representative from Friends of Chernobyl Centers U.S. told TMZ. "Thousands of people have died and over 400,000 people were evacuated from their homes. Today over 5 million people still live on contaminated land. The horror is not mutants running around, the real horror is the effect that Chernobyl continues to have on the lives of millions who have been devastated physically, emotionally and economically." The accident, which occurred on April 26, 1986, started when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant experienced an extreme power surge, causing a series of explosions that sent radioactive material into the air. [via TMZ b/w Movieline]

'Killing Them Softly' Teaser Poster: First Look At Brad Pitt's Hitman Movie

Alex Suskind — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:21:04 EDT

The first picture from "Killing Them Softly," featured Brad Pitt clad in all black, holding a shotgun. The image gave fans a glimpse of what was to come, namely, a tale of a hitman's boss (Pitt) investigating a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game. This shoot-'em-up theme pops up once again in the first teaser poster from the film. The black-and-white image -- which you can see below -- shows a pair of America Flag-covered aviators, with a revolver pointing toward the viewer. Based on the book "Cogan's Trade" by George V. Higgins, "Killing Them Softly" is being directed by Andrew Dominik ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"). Andrew recently spoke to USA Today about Pitt's role and the title of the film: "Brad's character calls what he does 'killing them softly' --- with a minimum of fuss," says Dominik. "It sounded like a movie title to me. Cogan's Trade kind of sounds like a Clint Eastwood title to me from 1972." You can check out an exclusive look at the poster below. "Killing Them Softly," starring Pitt, James Gandolfini and Richard Jenkins, hits theaters September 21. Click to enlarge

'Anchorman 2' Trailer: Will Ferrell And The Channel Four News Team Are Back

Jessie Heyman — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:05:43 EDT

Uncle Jonathan's corn-cob pipe! The Channel Four News Team has reunited in the new teaser trailer for "Anchorman 2," which premiered last week in front of Sacha Baron Cohen's "The Dictator" Willed into reality by fans' bottomless love for 2004's "Anchorman," Will Ferrell confirmed in March that there would be a sequel to the comedy. Speculation was rampant as to how -- or who -- would be returning for the long-awaited installment. Initially, Ferrell was (of course) set to reprise his role as news anchor Ron Burgundy, as well as Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, but the rest of the gang -- David Koechner, Christina Applegate or Fred Willard -- were not confirmed to join. However, the first teaser shows the fearsome foursome -- Koechner included -- back in action. Up until now, details on the story have been scant, with director/writer Adam McKay telling Salon, "Keep in mind we're still writing the story, but I'll say one phrase for you: custody battle... I'll give you that. I'll give you one other one: bowling for dollars." Yes, they're really back. Take a look at the teaser trailer above and bask in the afternoon delight. "Anchorman 2" hits theaters sometime in 2013.

'The Master' Teaser Trailer: Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Film Gets More Confusing

Alex Suskind — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:39:28 EDT

Paul Thomas Anderson fans finally have something to discuss other than rumors regarding the director's upcoming film, "The Master." Up until this point, the only information about the movie was that it was loosely tied to a Scientology-like religion. According to the official synopsis, "The Master" stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as "a charismatic intellectual [who] launches a faith-based organization and taps a young drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) as his right-hand man. But as the faith begins to gain a fervent following, the onetime vagabond finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor." The first teaser, which just debuted over on the film's site, features Phoenix as the aforementioned drifter, being interviewed by a military officer about his current state of mind and violent episodes he's had in the past. (Just a guess, but maybe this interview is taking place after Phoenix's character begins "questioning the belieft system"?) You can watch the teaser above. "The Master," which stars Hoffman, Phoenix and Amy Adams, hits theaters October 12. [via TheMasterFilm]

'The Master' Teaser Trailer: First Footage Of Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Film

Alex Suskind — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:39:28 EDT

Paul Thomas Anderson fans finally have something to discuss other than rumors regarding the director's upcoming film, "The Master." Up until this point, the only information about the movie was that it was loosely tied to a Scientology-like religion. According to the official synopsis, "The Master" stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as "a charismatic intellectual [who] launches a faith-based organization and taps a young drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) as his right-hand man. But as the faith begins to gain a fervent following, the onetime vagabond finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor." The first teaser, which just debuted over on the film's site, features Phoenix as the aforementioned drifter Freddie Quell, being interviewed by a military officer about his current state of mind and violent episodes he's had in the past. (Just a guess, but maybe this interview is taking place after Phoenix's character begins "questioning the belieft system"?) You can watch the teaser above. "The Master," which stars Hoffman, Phoenix and Amy Adams, hits theaters October 12. [via TheMasterFilm]