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07-25-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
TERRENCE HOWARD RELEASES STATEMENT: Actor responds to Bill Cosby interview about original 'blackball' story.
*Terrence Howard's rep released a statement Thursday addressing the drama sparked by a WENN article that quoted the actor as saying Bill Cosby blackballed him from Hollywood.
On Wednesday, Cosby called EUR's Lee Bailey to refute the story. The veteran entertainer said Howard assured him in a recent telephone conversation that he "tells people" about the "invaluable advice" Cosby gave him that day, when he confronted the comedian about being cut from the show – a sentiment that was echoed in his statement.
"I have the utmost respect for Mr. Cosby. That story that ran is incorrect," Howard said through his publicist Michelle Benson. "The advice he gave me nearly 20 years ago was invaluable and still resonates with me today. I would never imply that he blackballed me, because it certainly was NOT the case."
Cosby said he didn't remember the alleged exchange with the then 19-year-old Howard, nor did he ever tell the show's casting agency to refuse to take his calls.
Before yesterday's statement, Howard's camp had declined to release an official denial of the original WENN story.
LIL WAYNE SUED OVER ROLLING STONE LYRICS: Rapper allegedly altered group's 'Play With Fire' without permission.
*Lil Wayne may be the hottest MC in music right now, but not to the members of the Rolling Stones.
Abkco Music Inc, a musical publishing company that owns the rights to the band's song "Play With Fire" sued the rapper in Manhattan federal court Thursday, saying he released an altered version of the song without permission.
The company is suing Lil Wayne, his guest artists and his record company, a unit of Universal Music Group, of copyright infringement and unfair competition.
Abkco also said that Lil Wayne's version uses "explicit, sexist and offensive language" and could lead the public to believe the company and the Rolling Stones approved of and authorized the new version.
50 CENT SUES TACO BELL OVER AD: Rapper accuses fast food chain of 'diluting the value of his good name.'
*Rapper 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, is suing the Taco Bell fast food chain for running an advertising campaign that he claims fooled customers into thinking he had endorsed the restaurant.
Filed in Manhattan federal court, the $4 million lawsuit accuses the company of circulating a letter, addressed to 50 Cent, that asks the rapper to change his name to "79 Cent," "89 Cent" or "99 Cent" in promotion of the company's "79-89-99 Cent Why Pay More" campaign, while avoiding the multimillion-dollar fee the rapper might have charged to use his name.
"Without seeking or obtaining Jackson's authorization, defendant Taco Bell made him the star and focus of its nationwide advertising campaign by using his name, persona and trademark to promote Taco Bell's business and products," court papers said, according to Reuters.
The lawsuit said the Taco Bell letter was eventually sent to the rapper, but only after it had been circulated to reporters.
"As Taco Bell intended, many customers believed that 50 Cent had agreed to endorse Taco Bell's products. Indeed, postings on numerous Internet 'blogs' castigated 50 Cent for 'selling out' by his apparent endorsement of Taco Bell," the lawsuit said.
Rob Poetsch, a spokesman for Taco Bell Corp, said, "We made a good faith, charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89, or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell, and we would have been very pleased to make the $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice."
KANYE WEST AND MTV VISIT WAR VETS: Rapper joins network's "Choose or Lose" campaign for upcoming special.
*Kanye West and MTV host Sway Calloway paid surprise visits to newly-returned Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans for the next installment of the channel's "Choose or Lose" campaign.
The one hour documentary, "Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming," tells the stories of war veterans and the difficulties they face once they arrive back on U.S. soil.
"I know my music inspires and helps a lot of people, but you can always do more," West said via a statement. "I teamed up with MTV and took the opportunity to share the spotlight with these veterans and hear their stories. I went to their homes to listen and get their firsthand experiences. I wanted to hear their stories."
West and Calloway give each veteran a financial gift -- paying off their debts, taking care of their rent or funding their tuition -- on behalf of MTV and the Dr. Donda West Foundation.
UNCLE LUKE BECOMES HUBBY LUKE: 2 Live Groom ties the knot in Dallas, Texas.
*Luke Campbell, who stars in the upcoming VH1 reality series "Luke's Parental Advisory," got married to his fiancée Kristin Thompson Saturday in Dallas at the Saint Luke Community Methodist Church.
"I waited 47 years to find a special woman and have found that in Kristin," Campbell tells People.com. "I never knew that I could feel love on another level like this until I met her, and I am now honored to call her my wife."
Some 300 guests were on hand for the ceremony, which was followed by a reception at the Opus Grand Ballroom at Hotel Palomar.
Doug E. Fresh deejayed and performed, while such guests as Arizona Cardinal Edgerrin James remained on the dance floor until the early morning. Soul singer Betty Wright serenaded the happy couple. Their first dance was to Brian McKnight's "Back At One."
Thompson, 27, who serves as general counsel for Campbell's company Luke Entertainment, wore a wedding gown by Monique Lhuillier. She and her groom met at Jerry's Deli in Miami Beach two years ago. He proposed to her on Halloween last year.
This is the first marriage for both. Campbell has two children from a previous relationship. The wedding will be featured on the season finale of "Luke's Parental Advisory" in September. VH1 will premiere the series on Aug. 4 at 10:30 p.m.
'AFRO SAMURAI' ADDS LUCY LIU: Actress joins Samuel L. Jackson in Spike TV's two-hour sequel.
*Lucy Liu will lend her voice to Spike TV's two-hour sequel to "Afro Samurai," the animated series starring Samuel L. Jackson in the title role.
In "Afro Samurai: Resurrection," the 39-year-old Asian American actress will play Sio, a seductive and sadistic mastermind out to destroy Jackson's samurai, reports the Associated Press.
"When we first created the character of Sio, we knew that Lucy Liu would be perfect for the role," said executive producer Leo Chu. "We thought we owed it to ourselves to at least ask her, never dreaming that she would say yes."
Mark Hamill is also slated to star in "Afro Samurai: Resurrection," playing a servant and protector to Liu's character.
The movie is set to premiere on Spike TV in January.
NAS PART OF PROTEST AGAINST FOX NEWS: Rapper joined MoveOn.org and ColorOfChange.org in calling network racist.
*Nas has joined members of MoveOn.org and ColorOfChange.org outside of Fox News Channel Wednesday to denounce what they claim is its racist campaign coverage.
About 150 people gathered outside of the network's headquarters in New York with a petition containing more than 600,000 signatures objecting to news coverage by the cable news organization, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
In recent weeks, an on-screen graphic referred to Michelle Obama as "Obama's baby mama." Also, a Fox pundit confused Obama with Osama bin Laden and joked they should both be assassinated.
Another anchor called a televised fist bump between Obama and his wife a "terrorist fist jab," and talk show host Bill O'Reilly discussed calling a "lynching party" to deal with Michelle Obama after criticizing her patriotism.
Interspersed in the crowd were picket signs that had the network's slogan "Fair and Balanced" crossed out and replaced with "Fairly Racist!"
Nas said the Fox coverage inspired the song "Sly Fox" on his new "untitled" album.
"Fox poisons this country every time they air racist propaganda and try and call it news," he said.
A spokeswoman for Fox said: "Fox News believes in all protesters exercising their right to free speech, including Nas, who has an album to promote."
DMX USES COURT DATE TO PLUG ALBUM: Rapper pleads not guilty to ID theft, then performers for reporters.
*Rapper DMX used media attention surrounding his court appearance in Phoenix yesterday to plug his upcoming album and give reporters a free sample.
After pleading not guilty to felony charges of theft and identity theft, he left the hearing and rapped: "If you ever fall down, get back up," reports the Associated Press.
The artist, born Earl Simmons, is accused of using the name "Troy Jones" and a fake Social Security number to avoid paying $7,500 in medical expenses to a Scottsdale hospital in April.
The 37-year-old also faces multiple charges of drug possession and cruelty to animals in Maricopa County. He is due in court August 12th for a conference relating to those charges.
DR. DRE STILL WORKING ON 'DETOX': Producer-rapper now says album should be out by year's end.
*Yet another release date for Dr. Dre's long-gestating "Detox" album has been announced by the rapper/producer. This time, he says the follow-up to his 1999 album "Dr. Dre 2001" should be out toward the end of this year.
"I'm just now -- over the last couple of months -- starting to feel that it's going to be right and it's something I can be proud of, and everybody is going to love it," Dre told USA Today. "In a perfect world, I'm shooting for a November or December release."
Dre takes special pride in the live instrumentation featured throughout the project.
"We have an entirely new thing going with the drums that's incredible, and we're still developing that," he said.
Guest appearances on "Detox" include Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Nas, among others.
LATIFAH TO RETURN IN 'HAIRSPRAY' SEQUEL?: Cast not finalized, but New Line is working to bring everyone back for newly-inked sequel.
*New Line has signed an agreement with "Hairspray" creator John Waters to write a treatment for a sequel to last year's hit musical film.
None of the original cast, which included Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle and Elijah Kelly as Seaweed, had sequel options in their original contracts. But New Line is hoping to reunite the original cast in a film that will be ready for release by Warner Bros. in mid-July 2010, reports Variety.
The story would pick up the shenanigans of the Baltimore-based Turnblad family following the end of the first film, which was set in 1962.
Confirmed to return are director-choreographer Adam Shankman, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and Tony-winning songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who will write new songs for the film.
"Hairspray" grossed more than $200 million worldwide with John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Christopher Walken, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer and Allison Janney.
OBAMA FAMILY COVERS PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Reporter gets access to their routing on the campaign trail and life in Chicago.
*The new issue of People magazine has Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the cover, along with his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters – 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha.
Interesting tidbits were revealed about life on the campaign trail for the Chicago-based family, who could be moving into the White House on January 20. The girls get a weekly allowance of $1; both have chores and time is set aside for play dates and movie nights.
Obama said of his wife Michelle: "She is the best Hula-Hooper I know. Once she gets the rhythm going, she can drop to her knees! That is one thing you will never see – me Hula-Hooping. I think that's clear."
The following is an excerpt from the People magazine interview with the Obamas:
People: Someone told me today that you don't do birthday presents.
Michelle: No, because we spend hundreds of dollars on a birthday party and movie tickets and pizza and popcorn ...
Barack: That sleepover is enough. We want to teach some limits to them. And their friends bring over presents.
Michelle: They get so much stuff that it just becomes numbing. Malia believes there is still a Santa Claus even though she's a little wary because some of her friends are non-believers. But Malia says, "Ma, I know there is a Santa because there's no way you'd buy me all that stuff." [Laughing]
People: So what does a slumber party at the Obama house look like?
Barack: They're pretty noisy.
Michelle: The older they get, they just talk a lot. But they're at the age where they're pretty self-sufficient. [For Malia's birthday] we're going to go swimming, see Wall-E, make pizzas, have sundaes.
Barack: I usually go for the swim but this time I want to go to the movie just because Wall-E has gotten great reviews. I find actually that children's movies are the best movies these days. But I'll probably, after that, peel off until the cake.
Michelle: [Laughs] "Peel off."
TIMBALAND PREPARES SHOCK VALUE 2: Guests to include Beyonce, Rihanna, T-Pain and even Jonas Brothers.
*Timbaland has a gang of recorded material stocked up and ready to roll on his upcoming album, "Shock Value 2," featuring guest appearances from Rihanna, Beyonce, the Jonas brothers, T-Pain and Jordin Sparks – so far.
There is no release date as of yet, but he tells MTV he wants to avoid using some of the same artists featured on the first "Shock Value" album in 2007, just to keep things fresh.
"Shock Value is really like the Now [That's What I Call Music!] compilation," he said. "That's my goal for this — not [to showcase] me as an artist. Of course I'll do my little part, introduce some people. It gives me room to go tour across the world. People request me. I put on a show. I put on a musical show."
"Right now, I have a song with Madonna that I didn't put on her album. I saved [it] in case I wanna do one for me," he revealed. "Of course I'mma do one with Beyonce. Of course I'mma do one with Jordin Sparks, Rihanna. It's a lot of people. I'mma do one with Jonas Brothers. I'mma try to have 10 major ones."
As for guest rap artists, Tim says he's considering T.I. and expects to recruit Jay-Z.
"Jay was really on the last one, but he wanted to change [the song]," he said. "I said, 'Look, man, I gotta put out an album. You're killing me.'"
Tim said he may produce an entire Jay-Z album in the near future. Until then, he has work featured on CDs from Missy Elliott and Chris Cornell.
CHRIS BROWN TAPPED FOR DANCE COMPETITION SHOW: Mark Burnett behind new series set in world of hip hop and street dance.
*R&B sensation Chris Brown has agreed to lend his star power to a new dance competition series from reality show gurus Mark Burnett and J.D. Roth, via their respective Mark Burnett Prods. and 3 Ball Prods. shingles.
According to Variety, the untitled series will center on the world of hip-hop and street dance culture, with contestants battling each another in impromptu dance-offs. Brown will appear in every episode to help determine which B-boy or B-girl moves on to the next round.
The show is being developed as an hour-long performance series that will have an elimination episode as well. Brown would be at the center, although an as-yet-unnamed host and other judges may also be involved.
A title has yet to be chosen, but "Chris Brown Presents" will likely be included in the name, Variety reports.
"Chris Brown really is a superstar, and someone who lives and breathes music and dance — so his credibility is massive in this arena," said Burnett, who recruited Brown to open this year's MTV Movie Awards. "It's his show; he's headlining it. He's the final arbiter on those who win and those who don't."
Brown adds, "Dancing is more than just a way of moving, it's a different expression of music. That's what I want to focus on with this show."
RIHANNA AND THE 'CITY': Singer hired for 'back to school' ad campaign from electronic retailer Circuit City.
*The infamous Good Girl Gone Bad has been swooped up by Circuit City to star in its new back to school campaign.
Rihanna signed a deal with the electronics retail chain to be the face and sound of new ads that will begin running next week, reports Billboard.com. Commercials will include her latest single "Disturbia" along with clips from the music video, while her image will be featured in online ads for the Richmond Va.-based company.
In addition, a mobile offering, available on circuitcity.com, will let users download a free voice tone of the singer and exclusive wallpaper images. Rihanna will also participate in an online chat on Aug. 20.
"This time tends to a be stressful time for parents. The idea of leveraging technology to stay in touch with friends and family while away at school is in line with how Rihanna does things on her tours," says Troy Yenser, category marketing manager, Circuit City.
JASMINE GUY'S DIVORCE DRAMA: Husband files response to her original April filing.
*There's been recent movement in the divorce case of Jasmine Guy and Terrence Duckett.
The actress, best known for her role as Whitley Gilbert on "A Different World," filed for divorce in April citing irreconcilable differences. TMZ.com reported yesterday that Duckett filed a response last Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, but there's no word on the reason behind his action.
The couple, who are both 46, were married for nearly 10 years. Both are reportedly seeking physical and legal custody of their 9-year-old daughter, Imani. Guy is also requesting that the court deny any spousal support to Duckett, but is asking it from him, reported People magazine.
Guy's original divorce papers also listed two pages of items titled her "separate property," including her wedding ring, paintings, sculptures, her BlackBerry, DVD players, pots, pans, and a toaster.
ROSARIO DAWSON WANTS LATINOS TO VOTE: Actress visited Capitol Hill this week to promote voter participation.
*Actress Rosario Dawson and her boyfriend, Mathieu Schreyer, went to Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Hill Tuesday in an effort to promote voter participation among the Latino population.
"We're targeting the Latin youth vote," Dawson, 28, told People.com. "There's 18 million [people who] are eligible. But we are not showing that up in votes. So our numbers aren't counting. When you actually ... work with local organizations – that makes the biggest impact, and that's what I want to be a part of."
The actress has two films due in the coming months – "Eagle Eye" with Shia LaBoeuf and "Seven Pounds" with Will Smith – but the actress assures people she'll have plenty of time to push her political endeavors.
"I decided I'm not going to be working at all through the fall," she said, adding her plan, instead, is to work at voter drives across the country sponsored by her non-profit Voto Latino.
"The reason why I co-founded Voto Latino is because of my mom," she told the crowd in D.C. "It's because of my grandmother. It's because I was raised to do it yourself. You want that to be better? You do it yourself."
JAMES LESURE, ROSIE PEREZ GET 'JUNGLE' FEVER: Actors take roles in NBC's 'Lipstick Jungle' this fall.
*NBC's '"Lipstick Jungle" will have some new faces when its second season premieres on Sept. 24. The drama has signed on Rosie Perez and James Lesure to appear in multiple episodes.
Perez will play Dahlia, a publicist for fashion designer Victory Ford (Lindsay Price). Dahlia's aim is to pull Victory out of her funk and bring a "successful attitude" to her life.
Lesure, formerly of NBC's "Las Vegas," will play a "new boss," according to executive producer Oliver Goldstick.
Other actors making guest appearances next season are Mary Tyler Moore as the mother of Brooke Shields' character; and Carlos Ponce ("7th Heaven") as a love interest for Victory.
THICKE DOES A LIL 'SOMETHING' ON THE ROAD: Crooner heads out on tour to promote his forthcoming album.
*R&B singer Robin Thicke will embark on a short tour next month to preview material from his forthcoming album, "Something Else," due Sept. 9.
The singer/songwriter will kick things off Aug. 9 and hit clubs and theaters around the country through Aug. 18. Cities include Las Vegas; Tempe, AZ; Englewood, CO and five dates in California.
Thicke told the magazine he would describe the sound of his new album as "classic Philly, Motown and '70s black disco meets the creativity of The Beatles and Bob Dylan."
Below are Robin Thicke's tour dates:
August 2008
9 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
10 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
12 - San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine
13 - Sacramento, CA - Empire Events Center
14 - West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
15 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
16 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
18 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre
MARIAH CAREY TALKS TOUR, NICK AND MARRIAGE: Singer unloads on MTV; says tour may begin by year's end.
*Newlywed Mariah Carey says she plans to tour behind "E=MC2" sometime in November, sporting a huge production to rival the outing for her previous album, "The Emancipation of Mimi."
"I'm thinking elaborate," Mrs. Nick Cannon tells MTV of her forthcoming tour. "I like elaborate. We only do substantial. That's what my jeweler says. I haven't gotten the looks in mind just yet, but we're going to figure it out soon enough."
As for the likelihood that she'll stick to a November start date, she says: "Please don't hold me accountable if it turns out to be December 5 or December 7 or January 18!"
Meanwhile, Mimi also spoke to MTV about her lifelong losing streak at the annual Video Music Awards. While it remains to be seen whether she will perform, she hopes to at least attend – and maybe even win for the first time.
"I don't own a Moonman [from] this country," she said. "Isn't that an abusive situation?"
She has two statues from MTV Japan, for the International Video Icon Award in 2005 and for the Video Vanguard Award in 2008. But in America, she has yet to accept the trophy. This year, she's hoping fans will vote for her "Touch My Body" video to win for Best Female Video.
"I have faith in my fans," she said. "I believe they will come through for me, because they always have. My house is not complete without an American Moonman, and I would say 'Touch My Body' deserves one. Brett Ratner directed it, I have a unicorn in there, I have ['Guitar Hero'] in there — who else has that?"
Carey has also dismissed rumors that her marriage to Cannon has been in trouble.
"It's good," she affirmed. "Life is beautiful, and things are going well."
When she hears talk that "things are rocky and hazy and messed up," she stops to wonder why. "I'm like, 'Why would we have gotten married to do that?' " she said. "People are going to say what they say, but what would be the purpose? I guess other people do those things for a purpose, but I don't know. I'm ecstatic, so be ecstatic with me! Be happy with me. Can we celebrate?"
ITTY BITTY BITS: Calrissian returns; Godspell's Henry; Tiger's absence; Foxx No. 6; 'Black' clips; Albright's clips; 'Philly Summer Jam.'
*Billy Dee Williams will reprise his "Star Wars" role as Lando Calrissian in the Cartoon Network's animated "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II," a follow-up to Adult Swim's George Lucas-sanctioned special that not only earned actor-director Seth Green an Annie Award for Best Direction but also a recent Emmy nomination for Best Animated Show, reports E! Online. The sequel will premiere on the network's Adult Swim block Nov. 16.
*Joshua Henry ("In the Heights") has joined the cast of the upcoming Broadway revival of "Godspell," appearing alongside previously announced Gavin Creel as Jesus. The actor will play Judas in the Biblical 1971 musical by Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked") and John-Michael Tebelak. "American Idol" finalist Diana DeGarmo has also joined the cast.
*Networks broadcasting golf tournaments without Tiger Woods are suffering from low ratings. The golfer announced last month he would sit out the rest of the season to recover from surgery, but networks airing Tiger-less events are the ones feeling the pain. CBS' overnight ratings for the fourth round of the Buick Open was down 12%, from a 1.7 last year to a
1.5 this year, reports the LA Times. Overnight numbers for the A&T National's fourth round on CBS were down 48%, from a 2.9 to a 1.5. ABC's final round of the British Open Sunday fell 14.6%, from a 4.1 to a 3.5.
*Jamie Foxx ranks No. 6 on a new poll of Hollywood's top bachelors from celebrity news show "The Insider." George Clooney took the No. 1 spot, followed by Leonardo DiCaprio at No. 2, Matthew McConaughey at No. 3 and Ryan Seacrest at No. 4. Vince Vaughn followed at No. 5. Rounding out the top ten were Owen Wilson, Orlando Bloom, Bruce Willis and John Mayer, at 7-10 respectively.
*DimeWars.com claims to have clips of CNN's "Black in America" special that has aired for the past two nights. A rep for the site says part one ("The Black Woman and Family") and part two ("The Black Man") are available for viewing at:
http://www.dimewars.com/NewestVideos/CNNBlackAmerica.aspx.
*Gerald Albright's wife Glynis Albright featured her low-fat desert business "Just Sweet Enough" on Tuesday's broadcast of CBS' "The Early Show." The segment promoted the Food Network's new TV show, "Road Tasted With the Neelys," in which Glynis and her company appear on Aug. 5. Featured will be her Sweet Potato Poundcake and the Early Grey Mrs.
Albright's TeaCakes. Three of her products will also be featured at the Denver Jazz and Blues Festival, which Gerald will headline on Aug. 23 during the Democratic Convention. The Albrights have been married for 27 years.
*Philadelphia will throw the first annual "Philly Summer Jam" tomorrow (July 26) to celebrate hip hop and fashion and support the "stop the violence" movement, reports Allhiphop.com. Artists scheduled to attend so far include DJ Jazzy Jeff, the Roots, Jermaine Dupri and Philadelphia rapper Beanie Sigel. The event, being held at the National Constitution Center, is the product of a partnership between business owner Stevie G and Island Def Jam executive Lenny S. A portion of the ticket proceeds will be disseminated among neighborhood basketball teams throughout the city.
BLACK DOLL HEAD SEEN ON NYPD CAR IN HARLEM: Residents said white officers had it on their antenna.
*The New York Police Dept. is dealing with racism charges after two white officers were allegedly spotted driving through a Harlem neighborhood with the head of a black doll on their car's antenna.
State Sen. Bill Perkins says he was at a restaurant Tuesday when neighborhood residents noticed the head on the unmarked police car, reports the Associated Press. He says one resident attempted to photograph the head but a plainclothes officer removed it and threw it in the car's trunk.
Perkins called the incident "another display of racism" by police. But the officers reportedly said they were unaware the head was on the antenna until a pedestrian pointed it out. They say it was discarded it immediately.
The NYPD says it's looking for surveillance video that may show someone placing the head on the car's rear radio antenna while the officers were inside a school.
OPENING THIS WEEK - Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening July 25, 2008 by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
American Teen (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, smoking and alcohol consumption, all involving teens) Coming-of-age documentary traces ten months in the lives of four high school seniors, a popular jock (Colin Clemens), a nerdy band geek (Jake Tusing), a spoiled prom queen (Megan Krizmanich) and an artsy bohemian (Hannah Bailey) in the tiny town of Warsaw, Indiana.
Brideshead Revisited (PG-13 for sexuality) Emma Thompson stars in this WWII era tale of forbidden love set in England and based on Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel about a Protestant of humble birth (Matthew Goode) who becomes infatuated with the sister (Hayley Atwell) of a college classmate (Ben Whishaw) from an aristocratic Catholic family when brought home to their palatial castle over vacation.
The Longshots (Unrated) Overcoming-the-odds sports saga chronicles the real-life tale of a pigtailed, 11 year-old tomboy (Keke Palmer) who, with the help of her uncle (Ice Cube), became the first girl in league history to play Pop Warner football. Cast includes Tasha Smith, David Banner and Earthquake.
Step Brothers (R for crude humor, sexuality and pervasive profanity) Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly co-star in this dysfunctional family comedy about a couple of immature slackers still living at home with a single parent who suddenly find themselves forced to coexist under the same roof when one’s mother (Mary Steenburgen) marries the other’s father (Richard Jenkins).
The X-Files: I Want to Believe (PG-13 for mature themes, violence and disturbing content) David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their lead roles as FBI Agents Mulder and skeptic Scully in second screen adaptation of their hit TV-show about paranormal phenomena. This installment, a sci-fi thriller set six years after the end of the series, co-stars Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly and Xzibit.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Back to Normandy (Unrated) Nicolas Philibert directed this documentary chronicling his return to the village of La Faucterie in Normandy to find out what became of the local peasants who had starred in the historical crime drama which he had shot there thirty years earlier. (In French with subtitles)
Baghead (R for nudity, profanity and sexuality) Horror farce abut four struggling actors (Ross Partridge, Elise Muller, Greta Gerwig and Steve Zissis) who retreat to a cabin in the woods to collaborate on a screenplay about a stalker wearing a bag over his head only to find themselves on the run from a madman with the same modus operandi.
Boy A (Unrated) Flashback flick about the frustrations encountered by an ex-con (Andrew Garfield) who paid his debt to society as he tries to make a new life for himself after having served a 14-year sentence for a monstrous murder he committed as a minor. Principal cast includes Siobhan Finneran, Peter Mullan Shaun Evans and Katie Lyons. .
Bustin’ Down the Door (Unrated) Edward Norton narrates this “Hang Ten” documentary recounting how the sport of surfing was revolutionized, popularized and corporatized in the Seventies in the wake of the arrival in Hawaii of a half-dozen, brash young beach boys from Australia and South Africa.
Canary (Unrated) Docudrama revisits the events surrounding the release of a deadly gas in the Tokyo subway system by members of a religious cult. Fact-based plot revolves around the friendship forged between a 12 year-old refugee (Hoshi Ishida) from the apocalyptic sect and a young runaway (Mitsuki Tanimura) escaping an abusive father. (In Japanese with subtitles)
CSNY: Déjà Vu (R for profanity and brief war images) Combination concert flick and anti Iraq War polemic shot during Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s 2006 “Freedom of Speech Tour.” Featuring an appearance by Comedy Central talk show host Steven Colbert.
Late Bloomer (Unrated) Gruesome horror flick, shot in black & white, about a severely disabled man (Sumida Masakiyo) who goes berserk after an unrequited crush on his caregiver (Mari Torii) turns him into a maniacal misanthrope.
(In Japanese with subtitles)
Man on Wire (PG-13 for sexuality, nudity and drug references) Don’t look down documentary revisits Frenchman Philippe Petit’s daring, death-defying and illegal high-wire walk at 1368 feet in the air between the roofs of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers back in 1974. (In English and French with subtitles)
The Order of Myths (Unrated) Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama is the subject of this documentary about a still segregated city which stages two annual celebrations, one black, one white.
Red 71 (Unrated) Neo-noir, set in an Arizona desert town where a private eye (Nathan Ginn) develops a crush on a mysterious woman (Michelle Belegrin) whose husband (Ted Parks) has just been killed. Plot thickens when the femme fatale’s lover (Justin Kreinbrink) is murdered, too.
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (Unrated) cross-cultural drama about a retired, widowed rocket scientist (Henry O) who travels to America from Beijing to be with his small town librarian daughter (Feihong Yu) as she recovers from the trauma of her recent divorce. (In Mandarin, Persian and English with subtitles)
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"When you get right down to the root of the meaning of the word 'succeed,' you find that it simply means to follow through." — F. W. Nichol
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
July 25: Bassist Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire is 57. Supermodel Iman is 53. Actor D.B. Woodside ("24") is 39.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Read the "real story" beyond Motown's legend and founder of the Supremes, Florence Ballard, in her sister's book "The True Story of Florence Ballard." Visit www.maxineballard.com.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
July 25, 1943: First warship named for a black person, SS Leonard Roy Harmon, was launched in Quincy, MA. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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