Joseph Gordon-Levitt Casts Scarlett Johansson in Directorial Debut

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has graced the big screen for some time and now the 30-year-old actor will be making his feature directorial debut.

Gordon-Levitt wrote, will direct and star in the untitled comedy. Additionally, Scarlett Johansson will co-star.

Production is set to begin in mid April.

Although plot details are under wraps, Gordon-Levitt says the film is “a sexy comedy about about a modern day Don Juan, and his quest to become less of a ‘selfish dick.’”

Are you excited to see the film? Sound off in the comments!

Posted: February 8th, 2012 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson

DVD Review: Drive

It’s shocking that a film like Drive, which featured an outstanding cast, incredible performances and remarkable directing and cinematography did not get as much acclaim as it deserves during awards season.

Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn has seen success over the last 15 years of his career, but with Drive he takes it to another level and brings an intensely thrilling, violent and captivating adaption of James Sallis’ pulp crime novel to the big screen.

Drive follows “Driver” (Ryan Gosling), a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway wheelman for criminals.

Driver makes a connection with his next door neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her son. But things go south when Irene’s ex-con husband Standard (Oscar Isaac) returns home from prison and the entire family is threatened by the mobsters.

Driver helps Irene and her son stay out of danger by helping Standard. However, from there things get bloody when Driver, Irene and her family are caught in the crosshairs of local mobsters Bernie Rose (Albert Brooks) and Nino (Ron Perlman).

For those that are looking for an action film filled with car chases, be advised Drive is not that film.

Drive is the opposite – a serene and quiet thriller. A film that packs a bigger punch with less dialogue.

Gosling and Mulligan shine onscreen and the supporting cast – Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston, Brooks and Perlman give amazing performances.

Disappointing that academy members didn’t take notice.

Posted: February 8th, 2012 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, Carey Mulligan, Drive, Nicolas Winding Refn, Oscar Isaac, Ron Perlman, Ryan Gosling

Brad Pitt Celebrates Oscar Nomination By Making “Pancakes for Everyone”

Brad Pitt plans on celebrating his Oscar nomination for Best Actor with pancakes.

During a call with the Today Show, the 48-year-old actor said, ”It’s gonna be pancakes for everyone this morning!”

Earlier today, Pitt was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Moneyball.

Pitt will face off against George Clooney (The Descendants), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Jean Dujardin (The Artist) and Demian Bichir (A Better Life).

“It means so much considering this film was just dead on the rocks two years ago,” Pitt said. “It took a lot of people, a lot of artisans and craftsmen, to get it to the screen. It’s a great honor, a real tribute to Billy Beane and Oakland A’s organization. I’m really happy.”

The actor is also ecstatic that his costar Jonah Hill was also nominated.

This is Hill’s first Academy Award nomination – he was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category.

“I’m so happy for Jonah Hill,” Pitt said. “I can’t tell you.”

Posted: January 24th, 2012 under Oscars - No Comments. Tags: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Moneyball, Oscars

And the 2012 Oscar Nominees Are…

The 2012 Oscars nominations have been announced today!

Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence and Academy president Tom Sherak read the names of the 2012 Oscar nominees.

Hugo led the pack with 11 nods, followed closely by The Artist with 10.

The 84th Academy Awards will be presented by Billy Crystal on Feb. 26.

Check to see if your favorites were nominated below!

Anyone you wanted to be nominated but wasn’t?

Sound off in the comments!

Actor in a Leading Role

• Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
• George Clooney in “The Descendants”
• Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
• Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
• Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
• Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
• Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
• Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
• Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Actress in a Leading Role

• Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
• Viola Davis in “The Help”
• Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
• Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
• Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
• Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
• Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
• Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
• Octavia Spencer in “The Help”

Hit the jump to see the full 2012 nominations list! Read more »

Posted: January 24th, 2012 under Oscars - No Comments. Tags: 2012 Oscars, Billy Crystal, Hugo, Jennifer Lawrence, The Artist, Tom Sherak

Julia Roberts and Alec Baldwin to Star in The Normal Heart

Julia Roberts and Alec Baldwin have signed on for Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play The Normal Heart.

The film chronicles the rise of HIV/AIDS among New York’s gay community in the 1980s.

Roberts will play Emma Brookner, a wheel-chair bound doctor and one of the city’s few physicians who acknowledges the severity of the disease.

Baldwin will play the brother to Mark Ruffalo’s Ned Weeks. Additionally, White Collar’s Matt Bomer and Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons also have roles in the film.

Bomer will play Felix Turner, Weeks’ boyfriend and gay fashion journalist who unfortunately contracts the deadly disease. Parsons will reprise his role from the Broadway version as a Southern activist for gays and member of a gay men’s health crisis group.

Posted: January 23rd, 2012 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Alec Baldwin, Jim Parsons, Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Ryan Murphy, The Normal Heart

Aretha Franklin Calls Off Wedding

Aretha Franklin, who announced that she was getting married earlier this month to William ‘Willie’ Wilkerson, has called off her wedding.

“Regretfully, To Our Friends and Supporters: Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly. There will be no wedding at this time. We will not comment on it any further because of the very personal and sensitive nature of it. We appreciate all of the many well wishes from friends,” said Franklin and Wilkerson in a statement via People.

The pair had planned to marry this summer.

Posted: January 23rd, 2012 under Wedding News - No Comments. Tags: Aretha Franklin, William 'Willie' Wilkerson

Reese Witherspoon Has Big Eyes for Ryan Reynolds

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds have signed on to star in the indie drama Big Eyes.

Reynolds will play Walter Keane, a national celebrity and talk show fixture in the 1950s who pioneered the mass production of prints of big-eyed kids and used his marketing savvy to sell them cheaply in hardware stores and gas stations across the country.

Although Walter claims to be the artist, he is not. It is actually his shy wife Margaret (Witherspoon) who generates the paintings from their basement, while Walter’s simply contributes by adding his signature to the bottom.

Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski will pen the script, as well as direct the film and Tim Burton will produce.

Posted: January 23rd, 2012 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Big Eyes, Larry Karaszewski, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Reynolds, Scott Alexander, Tim Burton

Heidi Klum and Seal: We Have Decided to Separate

After almost seven years of marriage, Heidi Klum and Seal are separating.

In a statement via People, the couple said: “While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate. We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart. This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition. We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children’s sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy.”

The pair have 4 children – Leni, 7, Henry, 6, Johan, 5, and Lou, 2.

Posted: January 23rd, 2012 under Celebrity Splits - No Comments. Tags: Heidi Klum, Seal

Chris Evans In Talks to Star in Snow Piercer

Captain America actor Chris Evans is in negotiations to star in Snow Piercer, a film that’s set in a world covered in snow and ice and follows a train full of travelers who struggle to co-exist.

Bon Joon-ho is said to direct the film, which he also co-wrote with Park Chan-wook.

Additionally, Tilda Swinton and Jamie Bell are also in talks to join the film.

What do you think of the plot? Something you would watch?

Posted: January 20th, 2012 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Bon Joon-ho, Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Park Chan-wook, Snow Piercer, Tilda Swinton

Beyonce Remembers Etta James

Beyonce, who played Etta James in Cadillac Records is deeply saddened by the news that the iconic singer passed away today.

“This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time,” Beyonce said on her Web site. “I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed.”

Etta died today (Jan. 20) due to her long-time struggle with leukemia.

Posted: January 20th, 2012 under RIP - No Comments. Tags: Beyonce, Cadillac Records, Etta James

Puss in Boots Blu-ray/DVD Release Set for Feb. 24

Paramount today announced that Puss in Boots will be released on Feb. 24 on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.

Additionally, the DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will include features such as the Purr-fect Pairings: The Voices Behind The Legends and deleted scenes, including Humpty Plots With Jack & Jill, Humpty Repays His Accomplices & Puss In Boots Fights The Giant.

For those not familiar – or living under a rock – Puss in Boots stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis and centers around the events leading up to the sword fighting cat’s meeting with Shrek and his friends.

Posted: January 20th, 2012 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Antonio Banderas, Puss in Boots, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis

Liv Tyler to Star in The Side Effect

Liv Tyler is set to star in Ti West’s upcoming sci-fi thriller The Side Effect.

The film follows a woman who spends several months alone in space as an experimental subject for a global pharmaceutical company, and finds herself inexplicably pregnant.

Although the film is pegged as a thriller, West assures that it will stay in the horror genre.

He told Deadline: “Although it is still somewhat of a horror film, it is much more psychological than any of my previous efforts. It was essential that I find an actress who could portray a wide range of emotion and always earn the audience’s sympathy no matter what the situation. As soon as I sat down with Liv, it was obvious she was the one.”

Posted: January 20th, 2012 under Movies - No Comments. Tags: Liv Tyler, The Side Effect, Ti West