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08-25-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
OUTKAST CONTINUES TO BREAK BOUNDARIES WITH 'IDLEWILD': Andre and Big Boi take folks to 'Church' on their own terms.
*It seems like it has taken forever...foreva eva?...for OutKast's labor of love "Idlewild" to be released, considering the obscene amount of times Universal and HBO Films have pushed back the opening date. But the film is finally in theaters today, and according to early film reviews, the project was well worth the wait.
Set in the 1930s American South, "Idlewild" is an aural and visual feast
from the creative minds of OutKast rappers Andre "3000" Benjamin and Antwan
"Big Boi" Patton - as delivered through the lens of music video director
Bryan Barber.
In a rare joint interview, the childhood friends say they've never
bothered to worry about staying within boundaries in hip hop, as evidenced
by such hits as "Hey Ya," and "Bombs Over Baghdad." Dre said the same
attitude applied to the crafting of "Idlewild."
"The only frame that we had on this movie was the 1930s theme," said Dre.
"We had to remember we were in a certain time period, but we still had to
remember to keep up OutKast as well."
In the film, Benjamin plays a mortician named Percival, who works on the
dead by day at a funeral home owned by his father (Ben Vereen), but comes
alive at night as the piano player for a club managed by Rooster, portrayed
by Big Boi.
The club, called Church, sees some shady doings every night - between the
various patrons who make money off of illegal side hustles, the
larger-than-life owner Sunshine Ace (Faizon Love), the Shug Avery-like
singer Taffy (Macy Gray), the dancers, the showgirls and musicians. Throw
in the influence by a gangster named Trumpy (Terrence Howard) and Rooster
has a lot to deal with. Did we mention his suspicious wife, Zora (Malinda
Williams)?
Dre said it was Barber who decided to plunge all of that drama into a hot
bubbling vat of the 1930s. "I think it was a great choice because we don't
get to see that a lot now. When you go to the theater, you wanna be taken
somewhere. I think it's easier to take somebody somewhere else if you
actually take them to another time.
An aspect of the time period particularly attractive to Big Boi was the
stature and demeanor carried by African Americans. He explains: "It was a
certain type of class; it wasn't so relaxed where you're slouched in your
seat. I mean, you sit up with your back straight and you walk with your head
high and it's really like a distinguished gentleman - from the wardrobe down
to the cars down to how they were dancing back then."
To get into the mindset of young men operating in the 30s, the duo said
they watched such films as "Casablanca" and "Stormy Weather," and looked to
the veteran actors within arm's reach, including Vereen, Cicely Tyson, Patti
LaBelle and Ving Rhames.
"It puts you in another league. It lets you know that this project was
something not to be taken lightly," Dre says of the film's elder statesmen.
"It wasn't like we were begging people to be in this movie. The script was
done and it was circulated, and all these actors said they wanted to be a
part of it. You had Ben Vereen around, and he acted as our set acting coach
almost. And Cicely Tyson, these are people that you grew up with, you know,
little kids watching 'Miss Jane Pittman.' And now you in a movie with these
people."
"Chicken George training Rooster out in the parking lot," Big Boi
reminisces. "It was crazy."
"It says a lot for the work. It says a lot for what's on paper," Dre
says, "because a lot of actors don't even fool with mess."
TERRENCE HOWARD CONTINUES TO BE EVERYWHERE: Actor talks about 'Idlewild,' portraying Thurgood Marshall and new gig on PBS.
*An Oscar nomination will do wonders for one's career, but 2005
nominee Terrence Howard will tell you that his latest string of film and TV
projects is a result of years and years of working his Hollywood grind.
The actor opens today in the OutKast musical "Idlewild," he just
wrapped production on the film, "Pride," where he stars as a swim coach for
an inner-city team of kids, and it was announced yesterday that he has been
chosen to host the 2006-2007 season of PBS' award-winning series Independent
Lens.
"I'm supporting Jodie Foster right now," he adds, referring to the
film he's currently shooting, "The Brave One," and "I go into the next movie
and support Richard Gere" in "Spring Break in Bosnia."
But at the present moment for Howard it's all about Trumpy, the
colorful mobster he portrays in the long-awaited "Idlewild." Set in the
1930s, the musical revolves around a night club in the South, its piano
player Percival (Andre 3000) and manager Rooster (Big Boi). Circumstances
surrounding a shooting places Trumpy in the lofty position of controlling
the influx of liquor into the juke joint, which, in turn, plunges Rooster
into turmoil.
"I got to do a Clark Gable hairdo. How many people get to do that?"
Howard said of his role, which included the peculiar coiffure as well as a
memorable array of tailored suits. He says his wardrobe in the film reflects
an era "when accessorizing meant everything - with the hat, the shirt, the
suit and tie the stature, the manliness, the respectability in how you said
hello to someone, taking your hat off - all of those things make it easier
for you as an actor to believe what you're doing. When you can look in a
mirror and see 1930 in everything you have on - the hair, the costume - I
love that."
Howard will leave the 30s behind for more contemporary looks in a
slew of upcoming projects, including supporting roles in "The Brave One,"
where Foster is a woman seeking revenge on the man who brutally attacked her
and Howard is a homicide detective on her trail; and "Spring Break in
Bosnia," starring Gere as one of two journalists (with Jesse Eisenberg)
heading to post-war Bosnia on an unauthorized mission to find a notorious
war criminal. There's also "August Rush," in which Howard takes on another
supporting role in the story of an orphaned musical prodigy who uses his
gift as a clue to find his birth parents.
"I got to work with little Freddie Highmore," Howard gushed about the
film's star, who received critical acclaim for his roles in "Finding
Neverland" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
And although the ink isn't dry on the contract, Howard says it's
pretty much a lock that he'll portray Thurgood Marshall in "The Crusaders,"
a film about his work on the historic "Brown vs. Board of Education" case,
which led to the desegregation of public schools in the United States.
"He's been so layered in history. His contribution is what we live by
today as a staple of our freedoms," Howard said of the eventual Supreme
Court Justice, adding that Marshall's place in black history will give him
insight on just how to portray the pioneer.
"I'm not going from some strange place, like wow, I gotta create
this character," he explains. "All I have to do is follow the path of
historic truth and the moral values by which he lived and my job is done. Do
I have to imitate his voice perfectly? No. I have to find the spirit of his
voice and it will all fall right into play."
In the meantime, Howard just completed a starring role in "Pride,"
about the true story of a man who starts a swim team for troubled teens at
the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. He has also been recruited by PBS
to host its upcoming fifth season of "Independent Lens."
Howard said of the honor: "In this season alone, our filmmakers take
us from Ethiopia to Cuba to small-town USA, with portraits of people as
diverse as the jazz genius Billy Strayhorn, the people behind the Enron
scandal, and a man who saves a flock of wild parrots -- even teenage beauty
queens who skin muskrats for their talent competition. I hope everyone will
join us for the amazing season ahead."
TYLER PERRY’S ‘HOUSE OF PAYNE’ SOLD TO TBS AND FOX: Madea creator signs distribution deals said to be worth $200 million.
*Tyler Perry’s television show “House of Payne,” which was taken out
for a test drive this summer in such cities as Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago
and Dallas, has inked distribution deals with TBS and Fox reported to be
worth about $200 million.
The Lionsgate's Debmar-Mercury sitcom sold 100 episodes to cable’s
TBS, which will get exclusive rights to the show starting in June 2007.
Beginning September 2008, four Fox-owned stations will have syndication
rights for the series. Seventy-five episodes will be available to TBS by
June, with 25 additional episodes to be ready by the time the Fox deal kicks
in for fall 2008.
Perry decided to circumvent the five main networks by using his own
money to produce a two-week test run of the sitcom in 10 major markets. The
filmmaker decided to go this route after realizing that a network deal would
mean he’d have to give up control and ownership of the series.
Debmar-Mercury, acquired in July by Lionsgate Entertainment Corp.,
paid for marketing costs and convinced the test stations to promote the show
as though it were a regular series in exchange for getting the test episodes
for free.
"We selected 10 stations across the country and we said, 'Let's let
the audience choose and if they don't like it, fine,"' Marcus told the
Hollywood Reporter. "This breaks a lot of barriers."
The ratings success of the test episodes allowed Debmar-Mercury to
sign up TBS and WCIU-TV in Chicago for the first run, and News Corp.-owned
Fox stations in New York, Houston, Dallas, and Washington D.C. for
syndication.
“Let me say thank you to all of you, especially to the ten cities who
helped me with “House of Payne,” Perry wrote in his latest e-mail to fans.
“Again, thank you to all my folks in, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas,
Houston, Miami, New York, Philly, Raleigh and D.C. You made this show work
and now the rest of the country gets to see it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
you.”
“House of Payne” stars Allen Payne as a member of a multi-generational
family living under one roof.
DMX PULLS A ... DMX!: Flakey rapper stiffs troops in Iraq and Kuwait.
*We knew they were asking for trouble when they booked him, but hey,
we figured they don't read the EUR or any publication for that matter, but
their decision came back to haunt them. So what the hey-all are we talking
about you're asking? Read on.
Earl Simmons, who performs as rapper DMX, cancelled a week-long tour
to entertain troops in Kuwait and Iraq. He offered no explanation, reads a
press release from the USO, the organization that booked him. Here's the
rest of the release:
"Simmons was scheduled to depart on his tour Aug. 22, but delayed his
departure until Aug 23. His representative agreed to add a day to the
original schedule. However, on Aug. 23, he failed to appear on time for his
flight to Kuwait.
'We are extremely disappointed that DMX decided not to complete the
tour he asked us to arrange for him,' said John Hanson, USO senior vice
president for marketing and communications. 'When we announced this tour,
troops were extremely excited about the possibility of seeing a performer
they admired. We understand their disappointment.'
The USO and the military worked on an extremely tight schedule to make
it possible for DMX to travel when it was convenient to him. 'Typically, it
takes up to 45 days to arrange transportation, housing, production
assistance and country clearances for entertainment tours,' Hanson said.
'This tour was put together in just under two weeks, because we know how
much service men and women appreciate his performances. Mr. Simmons let a
lot of people down.'
The USO listens to the troops and does its best to provide the kinds
of music and entertainment they request. Celebrities who have performed on
USO tours over the last few years include 50 Cent, Toby Keith, Master P,
Lil' Romeo, Jessica Simpson, Shinedown, Chely Wright, Shaggy, Drowning Pool,
Lil' Mo, La Mafia and Ludacris.
Entertainers on USO tours volunteer their time to perform and meet
with U.S. service members around the world. "We will continue to provide
quality entertainment to the people who defend us daily around the world in
some remote and often dangerous places," said Hanson. "Fortunately, most
performers honor their obligation to perform once they make the commitment."
Like we said, the USO folks obviously don't read EUR or any other
publication or they would've known that this just might happen to them. Oh
well.
BERNIE MAC INKS DEAL WITH LIONSGATE: Comedian expected to develop concert film and series of celebrity roasts.
*Now that his Fox sitcom is history, comedian Bernie Mac is moving
forward with a vengeance to secure employment for at least the next two
years.
Mac and his producing partner Steven Greener have formed the
production company MacMan Entertainment and have signed a two-year,
first-look production deal with Lionsgate that will include the development
of a concert film and a series of Dean Martin-style celebrity roast DVDs.
The deal, which involves film projects, has an option for a third
year and marks the first time Lionsgate has partnered with an actor's
production banner, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The first order of business under the new deal is to complete the
concert film. Afterward, Mac will focus on producing a minimum of four roast
DVDs, with himself as the host.
Lionsgate gave Mac his first dramatic role in "Pride," a 1970s-set
inspirational drama in which he co-stars with Terrence Howard in the story
of a swim coach who inspired his team of inner city kids. The movie recently
wrapped production.
BEYONCE’S DADDY IS TOO THROUGH: Mathew releases statement defending daughter and ‘all the ridiculous rumors.’
*Mathew Knowles wants to ring the alarm on all Bey-haters who have
spread rumors about his beloved daughter, Beyonce, as well as her
forthcoming album “B’Day,” due in stores on Sept. 5.
In a statement responding to all of the rumors currently
circulating, Daddy Knowles puts his proverbial foot down on the chatter
about Rihanna, the online petition to dead the “Déjà Vu” video, the
competition with LeToya’s album and more. (He forgot to add the buzz about
taking credit for LeToya’s success, which came from his now famous quote: "I
couldn't help but smile. I'm proud of her and her work ethic, something I
know comes from [Destiny’s Child’s] early boot camp days.")
Here’s Mathew Knowles’ statement in its entirety:
It is apparent that there is a consistent plan by some to create
chaos around Beyonce's B'Day album release on Sept 5 in the US. First, it
was a petition against the single, “Deja Vu”, then a rumor regarding
conflict between Beyonce and Rihanna, seizures caused by the "Ring the
Alarm" video, putting out a single to compete with LeToya's album and now to
add to all the ridiculous rumors, is my plan to postpone the release of her
B'Day album. What will be next? Beyonce's cut off all her hair? Dyed it
green? Maybe she's singing the songs in reverse with some hidden subliminal
message!
Unfortunately, what it shows is that anyone can go on the internet and
create rumors and the media in some cases will pick up these stories and run
with them which influence the consumer’s perception.
Beyonce has sold over a 140 million records as an artist. Over half
sold outside of America. 2500 responses for a petition on the internet
(which really represents often the same people responding 2-3 times) go
online with a petition regarding “Deja Vu”, and it's national news? Think
about that for a minute. 140 million records sold versus 2500 responses
about a video. Does that really equate to a major concern? The answer is No!
I couldn't be happier with where “Deja Vu” is on the charts. It’s a
Top 10 song on Billboard 100 and #1 on this week’s R&B charts. Mid-week
numbers in the UK is trending at #1 for the 'Deja Vu" single for this week.
Records have broken in Japan regarding ringtone sales of “Deja Vu.” It is
one of the most ever streamed videos at Yahoo. “Ring The Alarm” was added to
TRL on its first day of airing and it is on the R&B charts this week which
gives Beyonce two singles on the charts at the same time.
Our plan is to have three singles on the charts together. For this
album we have a unique strategy. Rather than concern ourselves with purely
chart positioning we are focusing on the combine audiences who are listening
and are aware of the singles on the album. That strategy is based on the
combine belief of Beyonce, SonyBMG and Music World. This is unique, creative
body of work on B'Day (spelling corrected B'Day) and every song is a
potential single.
After all what do we know? Some weeklies reviewed "Independent Women"
and gave it a "D-" and Beyonce’s first album “Dangerously in Love,” a "D".
And just for the record, Beyonce’s success or failure for me is not
based on the number of records she sells. For me it's based on how proud I
am that she is a genuine good person (Ask anyone who's worked with her).
That she always has a kind word for others. That she is respectful and
honest. That she gives back to her community and that she has so much love
for her family. That she has grown to be such a leader. And lastly, she has
the confidence not to be bothered by these planned distractions.
LYFE JENNINGS’ ‘PHOENIX’ RISES TO NO. 1: Album tops R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart; Cherish lands at No. 4.
*Lyfe Jennings debuts atop Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
with his sophomore Columbia effort "The Phoenix," which sold 136,000 copies
in its first week on the street.
The set enters The Billboard 200 album chart at No. 2 behind
Christina Aguilera’s double-disc RCA set "Back to Basics." The first-week
sales for "Back to Basics" are the most for a solo female artist since Mary
J. Blige moved 727,000 in December with "The Breakthrough," reports
Billboard. Aguilera's current single, "Ain't No Other Man," has peaked at
No. 6 on the Hot 100 thus far.
Elsewhere on the Billboard 200, Cherish opens at No. 4 with the
Sho'Nuff set "Underappreciated," which sold 91,000 copies. After debuting on
top last week, Rick Ross' "Port of Miami" (Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam) slides to
No. 7 with 79,000, a 58% sales decline. Rapper Obie Trice's "Second Round's
on Me" (Shady) debuts at No. 8 with 74,000, while the Jive/Zomba soundtrack
to "Step Up" falls 6-9 with 64,000 copies, a sales increase of 9%.
Jamaican superstar Cham's Atlantic debut, "Ghetto Story" bows at No.
53 with 15,000.
BET ANNOUNCES RETURN OF BLACK COLLEGE TOUR: 2006 run launches Sept. 8 at Virginia State University.
*BET Networks’ Black College Tour returns to 14 historically black
colleges and universities (HBCUs) this fall with the addition of three new
schools and more activities.
BET on-air personalities will host a day of entertainment, games,
contests, product samples and consumer information, as well as live
performances from Universal/Motown recording artists. This year, students
will also be able to participate in a Paramount Pictures “Dreamgirls”
singing contest; Sony Pictures “Stomp The Yard” step show contest; and a
GMMDA (General Motors Minority Dealers Association) football toss.
This year's tour begins Sept. 8 at Virginia State University, which
hosted the third season of BET’s reality show, “College Hill.” The fun will
continue throughout the month of October and reach its final destination,
Alabama State University, on Nov. 10. New schools added to the itinerary
this year include Savannah State University in Georgia; Southern University
in Louisiana; and St. Augustine College in North Carolina. (See complete
schedule below.)
"We are excited to have new schools participate with us as the
success and popularity of the Black College Tour continues to grow," said
Michelle Garner, BET's Advertising Sales Vice President of Special Projects
and Event Marketing. "Every year the tour provides more than 80,000 college
students an opportunity to interact with representatives of major companies
in an informative, engaging and entertaining environment. Adding new schools
to the tour allows us to broaden our reach and provide a positive day of
interaction to as many different students as possible."
BET Black College Tour information will be available and updated
regularly on the Internet at http://www.bet.com/blackcollegetour, including
schedules, photography and video footage.
2006 BET Black College Tour Schedule
September 8 Virginia State University Petersburg, VA
September 14 Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
September 20 Savannah State University Savannah, GA
September 22 Bethune-Cookman College Daytona, FL
September 29 Southern University Baton Rouge, LA
October 6 Clark-Atlanta University Atlanta, GA
October 13 Jackson State University Jackson, MS
October 20 Grambling State University Grambling, LA
October 26 Prairie View A&M University Prairie View, TX
October 27 Texas Southern University Houston, TX
November 2 St. Augustine's College Raleigh, NC
November 3 North Carolina Central University Durham, NC
November 8 Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL
November 10 Alabama State University Montgomery, AL
PAGING FOREST WHITAKER, STAT!: Actor joins ER for five episodes as a stroke victim.
*Forest Whitaker has stepped in to replace Andre Braugher for a
limited run on NBC’s “ER,” which begins its 13th season on Sept. 21.
Beginning Oct. 19, Whitaker will play a carpenter who arrives in the
emergency room with what appears to be a harmless cough, but as he waits, he
suffers a stroke that leads to paralysis despite the efforts of Dr. Kovac
(Goran Visnjic).
Braugher, who received an Emmy nomination for his role on FX’s
“Thief,” was previously announced in the role but had to pull out due to
scheduling conflicts.
Whitaker just completed a riveting season on FX’s cop drama "The
Shield," and will next star as ruthless Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the
feature film, "The Last King of Scotland."
MAMA VANDROSS PUSHES DIABETES AWARENESS: Luther’s mother urges medical checkups for disease that contributed to son’s death.
*Mary Ida Vandross, the 82-year-old mother of late R&B icon Luther
Vandross, is using the publicity surrounding her son’s new album to warn
people against the dangers of diabetes, the disease behind the deaths of
three of her four children and one grandson. (Her fourth child, a daughter,
died after suffering from asthma.)
"It is with me daily that my family was taken from me," Vandross
told Reuters in a telephone interview. "Diabetes is really dangerous. Just
get yourself checked."
Her appeal coincides with the release of a nationwide survey of
2,000 Americans that found a growing number of adults aged 18 to 40 are
living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes – a disease caused by genetic
factors and often brought on by obesity and lack of exercise.
Luther Vandross, who died last year due to complications of the
disease, never fully recovered after suffering a stroke two years earlier.
His weight fluctuated often, peaking at over 300 pounds.
Vandross’ new CD of hits, “The Ultimate Luther Vandross,” includes
two new songs recorded right before his stroke called "Shine" and "Got You
Home."
BANK OF JAMAICA ISSUES MARLEY COINS: One thousand were made; price tag is $100 each.
*Last year, Bank of Jamaica was supposed to issue 1000 commemorative
Bob Marley coins to celebrate what would’ve been the reggae legend’s 60th
birthday, but because of an unexplained delay, those coins are being
released now.
Produced by the British Royal Mint, the gold and silver ducats
feature the late artist’s dreadlocked likeness and are being sold for $100
each, bank spokeswoman Jacqueline Morgan said Wednesday.
"We've received quite a bit of interest already," Morgan said,
according to the AP.
In 1995, Bank of Jamaica issued coins bearing Marley's likeness to
commemorate his 50th birthday, but those “have totally sold out," Morgan
said.
Marley, who died of cancer in Miami at age 36 in 1981, was born in
Jamaica's rural St. Ann parish and was raised in the tough shantytowns of
Kingston to record such global anthems as "No Woman No Cry" and "I Shot the
Sheriff." His lyrics promoting "one love" and social revolution made him an
icon in developing countries worldwide.
PORTRAITS OF MIJAC ABANDONED: Singer orders pricey paintings of himself,
then never shows up with payment.
*Two huge paintings of Michael Jackson, commissioned by the
entertainer but never picked up, may end up going to the highest bidder on
eBay.
According to MSNBC.com columnist Jeannette Walls, the singer owes
thousands of dollars to an art-gallery owner in Santa Ynez Valley,
California for requesting the paintings and then refusing to pay for them.
According to the August/September issue of Santa Barbara magazine,
one of the murals depicts the King of Pop frolicking with Peter Pan; the
other has him dancing on a rainbow of colors.
“I don’t know what to do with these murals,” the gallery owner, who
asked to remain anonymous, told the magazine. “Maybe I’ll put them on eBay
and see what I can get.”
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules - Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening August 25, 2006
by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Beerfest (R for sex, nudity, expletives, substance abuse and crude humor)
Over-the-top comedy about a couple of brothers who travel to Germany to
scatter their grandfather’s ashes during Oktoberfest only to end up
participating in a centuries-old rowdy ritual known as the Olympics of beer
drinking. Cast includes writer/director/co-star Jay Chandrasekhar,
co-collaborator Kevin Heffernan, Mo’nique, Cloris Leachman and Jurgen
Prochnow.
How to Eat Fried Worms (PG for bullying and crude humor) Based on Thomas
Rockwell’s popular, children’s novel of the same name, this kiddie adventure
revolves around the efforts of an 11 year-old boy (Luke Benward) to earn
respect at his new school by accepting a bully’s bodacious dare to eat ten
worms in one day.
Idlewild (R for profanity, nudity, sexuality and violence) Musical
melodrama, set at a speakeasy in the South during Prohibition, about the
efforts of a cabaret singer (Big Boi) and a piano player (Andre’ 3000) to
keep their nightclub free of mob influence. Expanded cast includes Terrence
Howard, Paula Jai Parker, Faizon Love, Macy Gray, Bill Nunn, Ving Rhames,
Cicely Tyson and Ben Vereen.
Invincible (PG for sports action and mild epithets) Inspirational bio-pic,
based on the real-life, gridiron exploits of former NFL wide receiver Vince
Papale, stars Mark Wahlberg as a 30 year-old walk-on who tries out for the
Philadelphia Eagles despite never having played football in college. Cast
includes Greg Kinnear as Coach Dick Vermeil, and ex-NY Jet-turned
restaurateur Stink Fisher as Denny Franks.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Fratricide (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama, set in Germany, revolves
around the tensions which arise between a couple of Kurdish siblings, recent
émigrés from Turkey. Trouble starts when street pimp (Nurretin Celik)
attempts to recruit his little brother (Erdal Celik) as his apprentice. (In
Turkish, Kurdish and German with subtitles)
LOL (Unrated) Low-budget, Internet Age flick about three friends (Joe
Swanberg, Kevin Bewersdorf, and C. Mason Wells) whose addiction to camera
and cell phones, text and instant messaging, email, porn sites and other
electronic media has prevented them from relating to flesh and blood women.
Princesas (Unrated) “It’s hard out here for a ho” Madrid melodrama examines
the bittersweet friendship between the proverbial hooker with a heart of
gold (Candela Pena) and a trashy streetwalker (Micaela Nevarez) from the
Dominican Republic. (In Spanish with subtitles)
The Quiet (R for nudity, profanity, violence, drug use, and graphic and
disturbing sexuality) Dysfunctional family drama, set in Austin, about a
deaf mute orphan (Camilla Belle) who moves in with her godparents (Edie
Falco and Martin Donovan) and their disturbed daughter (Elisha Cuthbert)
only to discover that they have some sordid skeletons in their closet.
Surviving Eden (Unrated) Wacky comedy chronicles the readjustment to life of
a reality game show-winner (Michael Panes) following winning a million
dollars and enjoying his 15 minutes of fame. Cast includes SNL alumna Cheri
Oteri, Sam (son of Jason) Robards, director Jon Landis and Illeana Douglas.
FILM/TV BITS: Snakes in a Theater update; ‘Project Runway’ outfits for
sale; ‘Crash’ nominations; more Murphy/Mel marriage gossip.
*Police in Phoenix, Arizona are suddenly denying reports of two
rattlesnakes being deliberately let loose in an AMC theater showing Samuel
L. Jackson’s new flick, “Snakes on a Plane.” After several days of the story
being reported on the local news, authorities now insist the prankster part
of the account was all a hoax. Phoenix police sergeant Joel Tranter says a
10-inch rattlesnake was found last Friday in a hallway at the theatre, but
it was thought to have wandered in on its own. Snake handlers had also been
called to the theatre earlier in the day to retrieve another rattlesnake
from outside.
*Outfits designed on each week’s episode of Bravo’s “Project Runway”
are now available for purchase via an online auction. After an episode's
initial airing on Wednesday evening, that week's designs go on the auction
block at http://projectrunway.auction.seenon.com. Fans then have until the
start of the next week's episode, the following Wednesday, to place bids for
their favorite outfit, reports TMZ.com. Recently, Michael's winning Pam
Grier inspired outfit sold for $480. Meanwhile, all of the show’s winning
ensembles are being showcased at Macy's Herald Square in New York.
*It’s been more than a year since the Oscar-winning film “Crash” was
released in theaters, and the racially-charged movie is still collecting
award nominations. The latest, UK’s Screen Nation Awards, have nominated
stars Don Cheadle and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges for International Male
Personality, while Thandie Newton is up for UK Female Performance In Film.
The movie itself will compete for Best International Film against “Get Rich
or Die Tryin’,” “Hustle & Flow,” “Tsotsi” and “U-Carmen Ekha Yelitsha.”
Other nominees include Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje of ABC‘s “Lost” for Favorite
Male TV Star; and Adrian Lester, who was nominated in the UK Male
Performance category for his role in “Hustle.”
*More gossip on Thursday had Eddie Murphy and former Spice Girl
Melanie Brown on the verge of a wedding. A source tells Us Weekly: "They are
looking for the right ring. They are already living together at Eddie's
house (in Beverly Hills)." The couple began dating last May.
SPORTS BITS: Serena unseeded; Bengals’ Johnson covers NFL Street 3; T.O. to
miss another game.
*Former U.S. Open champion Serena Williams will not be seeded going
into the tournament next week because she fell too far in the rankings while
being sidelined much of the season with injuries. Andre Agassi, another
past U.S. Open champion, will also compete as an unseeded player in what
will be his final tournament before retiring. The U.S. Open seeds players
directly according to the ATP and WTA rankings, so No. 1-ranked Roger
Federer and Amelie Mauresmo — the reigning Wimbledon champions — are seeded
No. 1.
*Electronic Arts announced Thursday that Cincinnati Bengals wide
receiver Chad Johnson will appear on the cover of NFL Street 3, the latest
version of the EA Sports Big Football videogame franchise that allows gamers
to break out of the constraints of traditional gridiron football and take it
to the streets and change the game. "This is a big honor to be selected for
the cover for NFL Street 3 since street football was the first step to
learning our moves for our pro careers," said Johnson. "I really like this
game and it is so much fun to play with all the new airborne moves you can
do now. I've always been known to have style when I play but now I can show
how stylin' I am in NFL Street 3."
*Word from the Dallas Cowboys training camp is that new receiver
Terrell Owens will miss his third straight preseason game this weekend due
to a re-aggravated left hamstring injury – which he says occurred by
returning to practice too soon – and he may might not hit the field until
the regular-season opener. The receiver characterized his injury as a
"severe pull" and said he wasn't going to jeopardize his health by rushing
back again. The Cowboys play San Francisco, Owens' original team, on
Saturday night. Their Sept. 10 opener is at Jacksonville.
LOUISIANA SCHOOL BUS DRIVER ORDERS BLACKS TO THE BACK: Nine black kids were told to give up seats for white students.
*Nine black children attending Red River Elementary School in
Coushatta, LA were directed last week to the back of the school bus by a
white driver who designated the front seats for white children.
Vickie Welborn of the Shreveport Times writes that the situation has
outraged relatives of the black children who have filed a complaint with
school officials. Superintendent Kay Easley was to meet with the family
members in her office on Thursday morning.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also
is considering filing a formal charge with the U.S. Department of Justice,
writes Welborn. NAACP District Vice President James Panell, of Shreveport,
said he would apprise Justice attorneys of the situation this week. He's
considering asking for an investigation into the bus incident and other
aspects of the school system's operations, including pupil-teacher ratio as
it relates to the numbers of white and black children, along with a
breakdown of the numbers of black and white teachers employed.
"If the smoke is there, then there's probably fire somewhere else,"
Panell said in a phone interview from New Orleans. "At this point, it is
extremely alarming. We fought that battle 50 years ago, and we won. Why is
this happening again?"
Easley would not comment much on the allegations Wednesday, saying
it is a personnel issue. She acknowledged that she has investigated the
claim. And she confirmed that the bus driver did not run her route Wednesday
or Thursday.
EUR FEEDBACK (MYfeedback@eurweb.com)
*Eddie Laborde (no city given):
"Bryant Gumbel's remarks on HBO is par for him. I'm not a racist,
never have been, but it's people like Gumbel who keep trouble going all over
the world.
HBO Sports should have taken him off the air a long time ago. If he
has a problem with a person, their race, religion etc ... should not be the
reason to bash a person. Mr. Gumbel should never be in a position again
where he can use the networks to promote hate and racial remarks to anyone."
EUR: Umm, Eddie, Bryant Gumbel is definitely someone who speaks his
mind, but we are not aware of him making any racist remarks. In the words of
Arnold from "Different Strokes," "Whatchoo-talkin-bout, Willis?!"
*DeBorah B. Pryor, Southern California:
"As I was watching television the other day, a wonderful trailer from
the upcoming OutKast movie 'Idlewild' came on and lo and behold, out of only
two journalist reviewers mentioned, YOU, Mr. Bailey, of EUR-Radioscope fame,
was one of them.
The movie is a fantastic one (I know this from having seen it as
well!) and I congratulate you and encourage your readers to run, not walk,
when the movie opens today, Friday, August 25. Good work simply must be
rewarded!!!"
EUR: DeBorah, Mr. Bailey thanks you for the props and like you, he
encourages everyone to check out "Idlewild" this weekend.
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