'I sounded like a jackass,' 'The Romantics' actor says of telling KStew to 'quit' the acting business. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Adam Brody Photo: MTV News
It was the comment that launched a thousand hate e-mails and lit up "Twilight" message boards across the World Wide Webs. Previously adored, charming guy-next-door actor Adam Brody backhandedly told Kristen Stewart to "quit" acting if being famous bothered her so much.
The firestorm was sparked by an interview Brody gave on Diablo Cody's online chat show, "Red Band Trailer." When Cody asked Brody whether he enjoyed his celebrity or if he would prefer to be known as just "an actor," referencing Stewart's comments about wanting to be left alone, his response was a bit testy.
"It's only gotten worse, I'm sure, being a celebrity," Brody, who is in the "Scream 4" cast, said. "At the same time, I don't have a lot of patience for people who moan about it too much. Because there are many things you could do. ... It's like, quit ... you don't need to be an actor, so it's like, if it's that much of a problem ... there's the door."
And with that, the hate-on-Adam-Brody campaign began. When MTV News caught up with the man in question to talk about his upcoming ensemble flick "The Romantics," we asked him whether his response might have been taken out of context.
"I, no, I just, I, this is horrible," he started, seemingly uncomfortable addressing the hot-button issue. "It wasn't taken out of context. I saw [the episode] and thought I sounded like an idiot. I did," Brody admitted. "Regardless of how anyone else took anything, I would think that sounds very ungentlemanly and I sounded like a jackass."
A Hollywood actor who publicly acknowledges a gaffe? Well done, Mr. Brody. Points to the former "O.C." star for his honesty!
What do you think of Adam's latest response to the KStew flap? Tell us in the comments!
'In this movie, I have a lot more guns,' Milla Jovovich says. By Kara Warner
Milla Jovovich Photo: MTV News
While much has been made of the current pop-culture obsession with vampires, there has been an equally fervent fixation on zombies (e.g., "Zombieland," "28 Days Later," "30 Days of Night," AMC's upcoming "The Walking Dead"), and this week marks the release of the fourth "Resident Evil" film.
In this latest installment, "Resident Evil: Afterlife," the story picks up roughly six months after "Resident Evil: Extinction." Alice (Milla Jovovich) is desperately searching for survivors — first near a small town in Alaska, where she finds Claire Redfield (Ali Larter), and then in desolate, undead-ridden Los Angeles. Despite being the fourth film in the franchise, "Afterlife" contains a couple of notable firsts: the appearance of Chris Redfield (Wentworth Miller) and an Alice vs. Albert Wesker fight sequence.
Speaking of fighting, when we caught up with the film's two leading ladies recently, we asked them to share their preferred method/weaponry for eliminating zombies.
"I like to get in there," Jovovich said. "In 'Resident Evil 3,' I had my cookeries. I like the hacking, chopping bit. It's nice to hit some flesh and bone and [hear the] crack. It made me feel really strong and powerful," she revealed. "In this movie, I have a lot more guns, that was fun too."
Jovovich went on to compare the shooting of machine guns to playing guitar. "I never realized shooting guns is a lot like playing guitar — you need calluses for it," she said. "After a day of shooting machine guns, I got blisters on my fingers. It's like, 'Oh, I need to practice a bit more and get those calluses going," she said. "But thank god I don't have to shoot machine guns every day."
Co-star Ali Larter agreed with Jovovich's preference for hacking things, but admitted she has a special place in her heart for fancy Italian firearms.
"I get to use an Italian Beretta in this film that's never been on camera before, so that's fun," Larter bragged. "I also like using my knife and getting at Wesker. That's pretty cool."
Larter went on to say that she and her co-stars were pretty bruised and battered by the end of the shoot as a result of the intense action sequences.
"We spent a lot of time with stunt coordinators, with the weapons experts, making sure that we were doing it right and we were doing it safe. When you have five actors lined up and you're shooting blanks — it's one thing if everyone is 50 feet away, but when you're within 3 feet of someone, you can really get hurt," Larter explained. "It's making sure that with all of us you really take the time to be professional."
"You also want to look real," she added. "I don't want to look like a sissy with a Beretta. I want you to believe that I will take your ass out."
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
Photograph in Interview magazine shows Manson dressed as character Kenny Powers. By Jocelyn Vena
Marilyn Manson as Kenny Powers for <i>Interview</i> magazine Photo: Interview Magazine
Marilyn Manson has made a career out of creating creepy music, so it might come as a surprise to many that he has a funny side and is in fact a huge fan of the HBO series "Eastbound and Down," starring Danny McBride as Kenny Powers. Interview magazine spoke to the director of the hilarious series and learned about Manson's obsession with the show.
"Yeah, Marilyn Manson, he's f---ing obsessed with the show," David Gordon Green explained. "He goes so far as to dress up like Kenny."
"I think David's actually frightened for Danny," said Adam Bhala Lough, who is directing Manson in the flick "Splatter Sisters," due out next year. "Because Manson wants to kidnap Danny on some King of Comedy sh--. Danny should be scared.
"Whenever I see Manson, he's repeating entire chunks of dialogue and dressed like Kenny," Lough continued. "He just walks around dressed like this and f---s with people on the street. If a waiter or valet tells him, 'Have a nice day,' he'll respond, 'Don't tell me what to do.' Stuff like that. He's even dressed like this when I'm at his house watching Béatrice Dalle films and 'Hoarders.' " Lough managed to get a hold of a photo of Manson out of his makeup and dressed as Kenny Powers; the photo is featured on the Interview website.
When Manson isn't dressed up like Kenny, he's busy going back to his darker roots for "Splatter Sisters," a gory road-trip slasher. "His character is named Lars, the leader of a death metal band," Lough said. "He places two beautiful, young drifter girls under mind control to commit heinous acts of murder across the West Coast."
One of those girls happens to be his on-again, off-again fiancée, Evan Rachel Wood. "All of the slaying is for a bizarre 'art project' VHS tape," Lough said. "I'm trying to capture the look and feel of the best 'Skinemax' flicks from my childhood. Manson says he's going to holler at Elizabeth Berkley."
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' will hit theaters again on September 10. By Jocelyn Vena
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in "Eclipse" Photo: Summit
Didn't get a chance to see "Eclipse" in theaters the first time around? No problem! Summit Entertainment is re-releasing the movie on Friday (September 10) in honor of Bella's birthday, which is on September 13.
"Bella Swan's birthday is on September 13! What are you doing to celebrate?" a message on "The Twilight Saga" official Facebook page reads. "In celebration of Bella's birthday, ECLIPSE will be re-released in theatres nationwide this Friday! It's your last chance to see it on the big screen with your friends."
The film, the third installment in "The Twilight Saga," was originally released last June. It follows the love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob as they fend off a group of vampires, led by Victoria, who would like to see Bella out of the picture. In addition to fending off evil vamps, Bella must decide if she wants to stay human and possibly be in a relationship with werewolf Jacob or turn vampire in order to be with her true love, Edward, a choice that Jacob hopes she doesn't make.
"The love triangle is real," Stewart said of the power struggle back in June, just as the film was hitting theaters. "In ['Eclipse'], she is just older and a little bit more [wise]. Now you really believe her. It took a while for her to know herself well enough to make a decision."
After the "Twilight" actors wrap up other projects they are working on, they will head back to the set to film the last two movies in the series, "Breaking Dawn" parts one and two, expected for release in 2011 and 2012 respectively. "Dreamgirls" director Bill Condon will helm the final film adaptations of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling books.
'I'm impressed by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison pulling it off,' director says, confirming she was in talks to helm the 'Twilight' finale. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Sofia Coppola Photo: MTV News
While the "Breaking Dawn" director's chair for both parts 1 and 2 is officially occupied by Bill Condon, "Twilight" fans know that there were several other high-profile names attached to the project before Condon signed on.
Among them was "Lost in Translation" and "Marie Antoinette" director Sofia Coppola. When we caught up with the writer/director to discuss her upcoming Chateau Marmont-set film, "Somewhere," we asked her if there was any truth to the "Dawn" director rumors.
"Yeah, yeah, I talked to them about that," Coppola revealed to MTV News. "I was interested in doing something but I didn't end up doing it. But I love, I'm impressed by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison pulling it off in that whole story," she said. "And my friend's kids love the story so much that I thought it would be fun to make something that they love so much."
Asked what she liked best about the blockbuster vampire franchise, Coppola admitted she goes weak in the knees for romance.
"I just love that it's so romantic," she told us. "I'm always a sucker for a love story and also to do something for teenagers, because I feel like, why not have beautiful cinematography and all these things in a kid movie? Usually it looks like it's not crafted very sophisticated, and I feel like it'd be nice to bring that kind of style into a younger film."
Stars of hit film explain why their characters make critical decision By Shaheem Reid
Chris Brown and Michael Ealy Photo: MTV News
Chris Brown and T.I.'s new film "Takers" had another hefty haul this past weekend, bringing in close to $12 million after last week's $20 million-plus #1 finish. We've given you ample time to see it, so now we can reveal a spoiler. Warning: Stop reading now if you haven't seen the flick. We'll catch you on the rebound.
One of the climactic scenes in the film features brother bank robbers Chris Brown and Michael Ealy having a showdown with the police. The Takers' identities have been discovered, and police officers are dispatched to take them out. At the heist-master's hangout, a jazz club, Ealy arrives and learns that his girlfriend has been murdered by T.I.'s character, Ghost. Minutes later, the police amass in front of the venue. Ealy asks his brother, Brown, whether he wants to leave through the back door or through the front, where a SWAT team is waiting. The duo choose the front, and are subsequently gunned down. You don't actually see them die, but it is highly implied.
So, why not slip out through the back?
"I think it was that inevitable circumstance. We had to be like, 'You know what? We're gonna get caught, and we don't wanna do life in prison,' " Brown explained about the last scene. "We knew the risk we were taking when we did it. 'Let's go out in a blaze of glory.' "
"I had nothing else to live for," Ealy said about his character.
"Yeah. His girl was all dead," Brown added. "That's bad. He didn't wanna see me get locked up."
Ealy jokingly said his character really wanted to take an alternate escape route, but Brown's character wouldn't listen.
"I tried to tell him to go through the back door," Ealy said with a laugh. "But, even the back door, they had us surrounded. There was no getting around it."
'It's going to be Gabourey Sidibe and Bruce teaming up, finally,' he jokes. By Kara Warner
Justin Long Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
The last time we heard any news on "Die Hard 5," Bruce Willis assured us that an official green-light for the film was "imminent." Given that small but hopeful tidbit, when we caught up with Willis' "Live Free or Die Hard" co-star Justin Long recently, we had to ask whether the "Going the Distance" star had yet been approached to reprise his role in the fifth film.
"I had a meeting recently at Fox about doing a romantic [comedy]," Long recalled. "And the guy in the office next door, he was in charge of the new 'Die Hard,' [so] I said, 'Do you mind if I pop my head in?' So I met him and I was like, 'Ummm?' " the actor explained, gesturing with his hands in a motion that suggested "What about me?"
"He was equally vague in his gesture back to me," Long said. "So I didn't get a good feeling that I was going to be a part of the imminent 'Die Hard.' I don't know if I'm going to get my hands on it." He added, "I would love to."
Whether the film happens with or without Long is still up for debate. Regardless, Long offered up some unique ideas regarding a possible story line for the fifth film.
"For a while, there was talk of, they were going to combine 'Die Hard' with '24,' " Long said. "It was going to be Kiefer Sutherland's character in it [to which we responded with a very suspicious, raised brow]. I'm not kidding!" Long insisted. "I think there was a script that had been imminent," he said seriously — and then veered off course completely. "Now it's going to be 'Die Preciously Hard,' so it's going to be Gabourey Sidibe and Bruce teaming up, finally," Long joked.
Perfect. Bruce Willis and Gabourey Sidibe in a "Die Hard" movie ... it's about time!
"That's what the fans are saying, it's about time! It's 'Die Hard Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire.' "
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more -- updated around the clock -- visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
"I think it's cool to see stuff fly at your face. The idea of zombies splattering into the lens is exciting for me," Reuben Fleischer tells MTV News. By Eric Ditzian
Jesse Eisenberg in "Zombieland" Photo: Sony Pictures
When MTV News caught up with Reuben Fleischer last week, he was hanging out in a dusty junkyard outside downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was hardly a glamorous day on the set of a studio picture, but that was where Fleischer had chosen to make "30 Minutes or Less," his follow-up to the $75.6 million-grossing "Zombieland."
But, as he oversaw some wacky pyrotechnic displays at the junkyard, he was thinking about the direction for "Zombieland 2" and shared some of his thoughts with us.
First off, Fleischer confirmed he'll shoot the sequel with 3-D cameras, rather than use a controversial post-production process. "When it comes to 3-D, I feel pretty strongly that you should shoot it in camera," he said. "I feel like it just looks so much better. If you're going to make a 3-D movie, go ahead and make a 3-D movie. I would definitely, if we do 'Zombieland 2,' make it in 3-D and want to shoot it in 3-D."
While no stars yet have deals in place, Fleischer said "all the cast is excited to return," including Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin and Jesse Eisenberg, who also stars in "30 Minutes." Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are currently at work on the script, and Fleischer said they're exploring multiple scenarios, from a plot that picks up shortly after the conclusion of the first film to one that begins further into the future. Regardless, though, "Zombieland 2" will likely explore pre-zombie days as well.
"One of the fun things about 'Zombieland' is it jumps all over the place in terms of the storyline," Fleischer said. "It'll go to before zombies to after zombies and all around those worlds. What's fun about the sequel is we have freedom and flexibility to show different periods. We might have scenes before the zombies, or we might have some months after, or potentially stuff further down the road. Through the voice-over and the way the movie is structured, we can really explore all different sides of it."
"Zombieland 2" was announced as a 3-D film back in December, when the heady glow of "Avatar" began to consume all of Hollywood. In the months since, many 3-D films have failed to connect with audiences and a sort of 3-D fatigue has set in among many moviegoers. Yet, Fleischer is not worried about backlash, nor does he agree with what James Cameron said recently about how "Piranha 3-D," a new horror movie, "cheapen[s] the medium."
"I love 3-D" Fleischer said. "I have a hard time saying when it's not done well, because I have almost a childlike experience watching 3-D. It's just so cool to me when stuff comes out of the screen. That may sound naïve, but I really do like the way it looks."
"Obviously, animation works terrific in 3-D," he continued. "I thought 'Avatar' was a complete revolution. But I even love 'My Bloody Valentine 3-D' — the schlockier movies that are in 3-D. I think it's cool to see stuff fly at your face. The idea of zombies splattering into the lens is exciting for me. I understand Mr. Cameron's point as far as not overdoing it and not making it gimmicky. I still go for that stuff. That's the part I'm excited about."
Teen-movie queens spotted filming with Douglas Booth, Ashley Hinshaw and Lina Esco. By Jocelyn Vena
Douglas Booth and Miley Cyrus on location for "LOL: Laughing Out Loud" Photo: Trago/ FilmMagic
Miley Cyrus and Ashley Greene have taken the shoot for their upcoming flick "LOL: Laughing Out Loud" internationally. The ladies were photographed filming in Paris, after being spotted in Detroit earlier this summer.
In stills taken on the set, Greene and Cyrus are pictured with various castmates filming "LOL," which is due in 2011. In one photo, taken Monday (September 6), a smiling Cyrus, embraced at the waist by costar Douglas Booth, is standing alongside a pensive-looking Greene and other castmembers Ashley Hinshaw and Lina Esco. In other shots, Booth and Cyrus are snuggling on a double-decker bus, while Greene is on another bus. Booth and Cyrus also were filmed standing on a bridge chatting.
Later, Cyrus, wearing a leather jacket, goes shopping with Hinshaw and Esco, and in another shot, she is alone and soaking wet, running through a puddle. Cyrus and Greene also were filmed walking arm in arm through Paris.
Cyrus has said that in her post-"Hannah Montana" career, she's looking to film more serious, mature movies, and that she intends to take a break from music to pursue her film career.
"I'm working on lots of different films: drama, action, comedy," she explained. "I like challenges, so I'm doing a little bit of everything."
"The more I make music that doesn't truly inspire me, the more I feel like I'm blending in with everyone else," she added. "I'm taking some time off [from music]."
Given those plans, "LOL" seems like a step in the right direction. The film is about a group of young people, led by Cyrus (whose character is named Lola), who try to navigate high school peer pressures and romance in a tech-savvy world. It also stars Demi Moore as Cyrus's mom.
"She's great," Moore said of her co-star, "and I think that she is incredibly grounded. ... [Miley] is a true professional, and she truly has a wonderful family. It really shows."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
New movies from Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Danny Boyle and others are drawing attention at this year's Telluride and Venice film festivals. By Eric Ditzian
Natalie Portman at the Venice Film Festival last Wednesday Photo: Danny Martindale/ Getty Images
Around this time last year, George Clooney's "Up in the Air" opened at the Telluride Film Festival and rode that initial buzz to six Academy Award nominations. A year later, another crop of high-profile films have premiered at Telluride and the Venice Film Festival, including new work from Danny Boyle (director of 2009's Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire"), Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler") and Ben Affleck ("Gone Baby Gone").
Which films will we be feting in the weeks and months to come? Here's a look at the most buzzed-about movies from both fests.
"Black Swan"
Just days before Aronofsky jetted off to Venice to present his follow-up to "The Wrestler," the director confessed to MTV News that he gets very nervous before one of his film's premieres. "When 'The Wrestler' showed at Venice the last time, I walked out in the middle," he said. "I couldn't handle it. I snuck back in the end. It was not a pleasant experience."
Aronofsky may have been nervous, but "Black Swan" was indeed well-received, with rapturous praise reserved for star Natalie Portman that immediately makes her a Best Actress Oscar front-runner. Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood dubbed her turn a "dazzling tour de force."
The film follows Portman as a ballerina ready to take over the lead role in her company's production of "Swan Lake," until a rival dancer (Mila Kunis) shows up and begins to drive Portman toward madness. " 'Black Swan' is a brilliant mind f---," wrote Peter Sciretta of SlashFilm. "It is one of the boldest films I've seen produced by a Hollywood studio in years."
"127 Hours"
Danny Boyle debuted "Slumdog" at Telluride in 2008, a decision that came to be seen as a wise one, and the critical darling went on to sweep the Oscars months later. Boyle's back now with a true story about a hiker (James Franco) who becomes trapped under a boulder in the wilderness and must saw off his own arm to escape. Like Portman, Franco is being discussed as a potential Oscar nominee.
"[Franco] pulls off a virtual one-man show," said Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter. "The actor already has demonstrated tremendous versatility, and just this year, viewers have seen him as one of Julia Roberts' lovers in 'Eat Pray Love' and as Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in 'Howl.' Here he manages to create a radically different character -- an extroverted adventurer who is forced to turn reflective. Expect Oscar to come calling next year."
"The Town"
Ben Affleck's heist drama does not premiere until Wednesday (September 8), but anticipation is high based on the director's past work and the new film's impressive ensemble, including Jon Hamm, Blake Lively, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall and Chris Cooper.
"It's hard to disavow a movie when you've written, directed and acted in it," Affleck told The New York Times. "This is an emblem of the person I want to be going forward."
"The King's Speech"
British director Tom Hooper might not be well- known on American shores, but his new film just might be the buzziest one to debut at Telluride or Venice. Colin Firth stars as member of the British royal family who overcomes numerous obstacles to become King George VI. He's joined by Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush and Guy Pearce, among others.
"After several additional screenings and a rare standing ovation Sunday night as part of a companion tribute to Firth ... the film has provoked talk of widespread awards recognition," said The Hollywood Reporter. "While other films also attracted partisans, 'The King's Speech' was seen as having the broadest support across a broad array of awards categories."
"I'm Still Here"
The questions began early in 2009: Just what the heck was going on with Joaquin Phoenix, with that bushy beard and the unhinged public appearances? Phoenix and Casey Affleck filmed the entire unraveling, and now audiences are starting to decide for themselves: documentary or mockumentary? Trouble is, not everyone is convinced they've come to the right conclusion.
" 'I'm Still Here' finally addresses the question of whether Joaquin Phoenix's decision to give up acting to pursue a hip-hop career was on the level or a setup. The answer seems to be: a bit of both," reports Variety.
Affleck, of course, is not exactly setting the record straight, which only amps up anticipation for the film. "Elliptically, I would say ... I sincerely don't want to influence people's interpretation," Affleck told reporters in Venice, according to The Associated Press. "I can tell you there is no hoax. It makes me think of 'Candid Camera' or something."
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more -- updated around the clock -- visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
'We're failing too many kids,' Davis Guggenheim tells MTV News. By Kara Warner
"Waiting for Superman" Photo: Paramount Pictures
"Waiting For Superman," like "Catfish," is a documentary that came out of this year's Sundance Film Festival with major buzz. But the two films couldn't be more different. Directed by Davis Guggenheim ("An Inconvenient Truth"), "Superman" sheds a glaring and startling light on the crippling flaws of America's school system.
MTV caught up with the award-winning director while he was in the midst of a promotional blitz that has included appearances and screenings at schools across the country — one of which MTV was proud to host in conjunction with our Get Schooled campaign. Despite a hectic schedule (which explains why he didn't have the time to do that Justin Bieber concert movie), Guggenheim sat down with us to talk education reform, the reasons why MTV viewers should care about their neighborhood schools and what the average person can do to sustain the conversation he hopes to start with his film.
MTV: Why tackle this subject now?
Davis Guggenheim: Well, I'm a parent and I have three kids. I worry about what education they're going to get. ... Everyone knows the world has changed, but our schools haven't changed. They're not built to prepare our kids for this new economy. Right now, if you don't graduate high school and don't go to a four-year college, your chances are really limited. We're failing too many kids. Kids who watch MTV should be really worried about whether they're getting the right education and whether their friends and siblings are getting a good education, so they can have a good life and a piece of the American dream.
MTV: With a film like this, people feel outrage, depression, etc. What is the message or emotion you want people to take away from it?
Davis Guggenheim: There are two feelings when you see this movie. The movie climaxes in a scene where the kids I follow end up at a lottery and you realize that their future is going to be determined by how a bingo ball bounces, literally. They are there holding a card with a number, but instead of winning a lot of money, you win a chance to have a future in America, and it's heartbreaking and it's really un-American. You say, "Wait a minute. This is not our country; we shouldn't have to play bingo to get a good education." That's the harsh realization, but the other emotion that comes out of the movie is a sense of hope. In the last 10 years, there is a new generation of reformers who are doing an amazing job, in every city across the country. They're starting to break the code on how you can educate kids, even in the toughest neighborhoods. So there's a lot of hope if we focus on these reforms and smart reforms, and put away all the adult problems, we can actually start helping kids.
MTV: Is there a call to action at the end?
Davis Guggenheim: Yeah, there really is. The call to action is, "The stakes are even higher than we thought; it affects all of us. But we can do it and it takes people stepping up, being outraged, and demanding that our schools are great for every kid."
MTV: What is the first thing the average American who sees the film and wants to do something can do?
Davis Guggenheim: The first step is to be informed. What I find is that a lot of people think they know what's going on but really don't. With No Child Left Behind, you can actually go on and learn the scores of your school. But I think that the best way is to go see this movie. Like "An Inconvenient Truth," it became this primer, this experience people had and they shared with each other and became empowered to fight for change. When that happens, anything is possible. Some people might go in and tutor a kid, another might want to become a teacher, other people might want to reform their school district. That's what a film does — it creates a conversation and inspires people to incite change.
MTV: What has the response been like so far?
Davis Guggenheim: Even moreso than "An Inconvenient Truth," and I never thought I'd have an experience that would surpass "An Inconvenient Truth." But even more than [that film], there has been this rallying around the movie. Paramount, a major movie studio, decides to release it. At Sundance there were standing ovations, tears, people are coming up to me and saying "I want to help this one kid, I want to pay for their private school," "I want to reform my district." It's very exciting to see a movie like this have this effect on people.
MTV: Moving forward, aside from having made the film and getting the word out, what is next?
Davis Guggenheim: Well I'm trying to raise three good kids and make sure, even with a private school, that they have a great education. But it's not enough to make the movie, I'm on a campaign to fix our schools. ... Next month I'm in a different city every day getting people to join our conversation on how to fix our schools.
MTV: Well, now it's understandable why you were a little too busy to tackle the Justin Bieber concert movie.
Davis Guggenheim: [He laughs.] I think they found someone more talented than me. [But] my daughters love him and my 4-year-old still thinks she's going to marry him. ... It's so cute. I like his music.
MTV: So it was just a matter of too-busy schedules and timing?
Davis Guggenheim: Scheduling, timing and I needed to serve this movie first. I have to spend the next six months on this.
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films'
biggest stars.
Jolie dropped out of the sci-fi drama last week. By Adam Rosenberg
Natalie Portman Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" premiered at the Venice Film Festival last week, and critics are still buzzing over the ballet-centric thriller and star Natalie Portman's standout performance. Also in the news last week was Angelina Jolie's departure from Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi drama "Gravity," in which she was set to star alongside Robert Downey Jr. With the role vacated, a long list of potential replacements surfaced, including "Swan" star Portman.
Now it seems that Portman may be the top choice to step in for Jolie. The young star received a formal offer from Warner Bros., according to The Hollywood Reporter. The next step is for her to read the script and make a decision.
"Gravity" is an "$80 million [budgeted] 3D survival story," which Cuaron will direct. The male and female leads play astronauts who are stranded after a disaster leaves their space station inoperable. Downey's role is a small one in comparison to the one Portman is now up for — the story primarily revolves around her character's desire to get back to Earth, where her daughter is waiting.
Portman already has a 2011 jam-packed with work. She'll be promoting three features — medieval stoner comedy "Your Highness," romantic comedy "No Strings" and Marvel superhero summer blockbuster "Thor" — and continuing development on the adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," which David O. Russell is writing/directing and Portman will produce/star in. THR also reports that Terence Malick is after the young actress for a role in a "Jerry Lee Lewis-related project" that he is developing with Brad Pitt, and that Tom Stoppard is seeking her out for yet another project.
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As people said goodbye to summer across the country, box-office activity was relatively quiet throughout the Labor Day weekend — but many of the moviegoers who did manage to find their way into theaters made sure to honor the "American" way.
George Clooney's "The American" was the weekend's first-place finisher, yielding a respectable if not overly lucrative $16.4 million haul from Friday through Monday. The film got a head start on the competition with its Wednesday opening, bringing the moderately priced thriller's total to $19.5 million in less than a week. Made on a reported $20 million budget, "The American" is nothing short of a modest success.
Hot on the heels of "The American" was "Machete," the self-professed Mexploitation revenge flick from the deliciously deranged mind of co-director, producer and writer Robert Rodriguez. An extended version of the trailer filmed for Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's "Grindhouse," the Danny Trejo-starring "Machete" sliced and diced its way to a $14 million debut. Just like "The American," "Machete" is virtually guaranteed to recoup its $20 million production budget, and the door is wide open for possible sequels to the R-rated action movie down the line.
Rounding out the weekend's newcomers was "Going the Distance," Drew Barrymore and Justin Long's romantic comedy about a couple's struggle to maintain a long-distance relationship. Long and Barrymore's chemistry wasn't enough to go the distance, however, with the rom-com settling for an $8.6 million fifth-place finish.
Last weekend's top performers "Takers" and "The Last Exorcism" proved their staying power with $13.5 million and $8.8 million, respectively.
Upcoming Releases
Next weekend sees the return of Milla Jovovich as Alice in "Resident Evil: Afterlife," the fourth entry in the video game movie franchise directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
"The American" staged a last-minute takeover of the weekend box office after sliding into second place on Friday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, George Clooney's turn as a hitman dodging danger in Italy to carry out one last mission, raked in an estimated $12.9 million, besting "Machete" at the close of its first weekend in theaters.
After landing in third place on the Friday kickoff of Labor Day weekend, last week's #1 movie, "Takers" also toppled Robert Rodriguez's graphic Mexploitation pic. Featuring hip-hop and Hollywood names like Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and T.I., the action flick about a smash-and-grab job by suave crew of thieves, snatched up $11.4 million in ticket sales for second place.
After barely edging past "The American" on Friday, "Machete" will wrap up its debut weekend right behind "Takers" with a third-place finish. Featuring Jessica Alba and Danny Trejo, and boasting a much-hyped appearance from Lindsay Lohan, the film pulled in $11.3 million.
"The Last Exorcism" held steady in the top five with $7.5 million. The fourth-place picture, which follows a film crew charged with documenting the creepy developments at a rural exorcism, has made a total of $32.3 million since hitting theaters last week.
Drew Barrymore and Justin Long's date-night pic, "Going the Distance," lagged behind stronger debuts like "The American" and "Machete." The rom-com, featuring the two real-life, off-and-on lovers playing a couple working to keep a long-distance romance afloat, rang up $6.9 million in ticket sales to land in fifth place during its opening weekend.
"Machete" was a cut above the competition in a close Friday box-office race crowded with new releases. According toreports, the sexed-up, action-packed Robert Rodriguez-directed film took first place with $3.9 million on Friday.
However, the star-heavy caper, which boasts performances from Jessica Alba and Danny Trejo, and a buzzed-about screen turn from Lindsay Lohan, just barely slipped past The American." The George Clooney thriller, which revolves around an assassin who lands in Italy for a final job, kicked off the weekend with $3.8 million. Friday's haul bumps the film's cumulative take to $7 million since the movie landed in theaters on Wednesday.
The horror movie "The Last Exorcism," which nabbed the second-place slot in a photo-finish box-office race against "Takers" last week, slipped to the #4 spot. The creep-fest raked in $2.3 million during its second Friday on screens, which nudged its total gross to $27 million.
In celebration of the upcoming season of highly anticipated films, we've compiled a little list of the films the Hollywood set is most anxious to see.
"I am a huge Harry Potter nerd," Chloe Bridges ("Camp Rock
2: The Final Jam") told us at the premiere of the Disney sequel. "To obnoxious levels, it's kind of sad, you have no idea, but yeah, I'm very excited for it. Part 1 of 'The Deathly Hallows'!"
" 'Tron' for sure," director M. Night Shyamalan said of the film he's most looking forward to. "Because I don't know what it's going to be, and that's so exciting. I know it's based on the original movie, but I'm starving for original stuff as an audience member," he said.
"Gulliver's Travels" star Jack Black begged to differ on the "Tron" excitement, however.
"Yeah, that one's not gonna be any good," he said. "I don't wanna see that." And moments later Black changed his tune. Literally. He busted out a few bars of the original "Tron" theme for us.
"Look, I'm a 'Tron' guy," Black confessed. "Yeah, I like 'Tron.' I played the 'Tron' video game when I was a kid. Yeah! I'm in, I'm a nerd."
Black went on to say that he is equally excited for Jeff Bridges' other fall film, "True Grit."
"Jeff Bridges plus the Coen brothers equals genius," he said. "If you saw 'The Big Lebowski,' you know what I'm sayin."
"Somewhere" director Sophia Coppola also expressed enthusiasm for "True Grit," as well as Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan."
"I'm excited to see 'Black Swan,' and I know the Coen brothers have a movie coming out," she said. "It's always fun this time of year to go to the movies because there's so much to see."
We couldn't agree more!
Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis share their philosophy on male friendships. By Kara Warner
Jason Sudeikis Photo: MTV News
As a rule, romantic comedies generally follow a pretty standard formula: Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl's relationship is put to the test by brief bit of drama (overprotective potential in-laws, nosy friends, etc.), boy and girl live happily ever after. It's typical and predictable, but also why we love rom-coms!
The latest entrant into the beloved genre is this week's "Going the Distance," starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long as a new couple who try to make their relationship work while living on opposite coasts. The film also features the comedic stylings of Charlie Day ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") and Jason Sudeikis ("Saturday Night Live"), who play a pair of buddies doing their best to keep their close friendship alive, while Long's character tries to distance himself from his pals and make more time for his new romance.
When MTV News caught up with the two funnymen at the film's press day, we asked them to compare and contrast the complicated aspects of real-life guy friendship, a.k.a. bromance, and romance — and whether the two can exist at the same time.
"Well, there's a lot less sex in the bromance," Day offered. "We're bromancing each other, but we're not bromancing each other in bed, so that's different."
Sudeikis admitted that sometimes you need to put the bromance on the back burner. "At some point, you have to let your friend go and your romance will trump the bromance," he said. "You have to let the little bird fly out of the nest."
"A romance and a bromance can happen at the same time — they're not mutually exclusive," Day added. "They can, they absolutely can. Sometimes people think that when the romance starts, the bromance ends, but that's not true."
This comment prompted Sudeikis to theorize that it's a bad sign if the guy friends in question have a problem with their friend's new love interest. "If the bromance really has a negative reaction to the romance, it's probably not a healthy romance," he said.
"There's no reason a good romance can't be perfectly bromantical," Day added.
"Yeah," Sudeikis agreed. "Not all squares are rectangles."
"And not all rectangles are shapes," Day said.
There you have it, philosophies on love and bromance, courtesy of Sudeikis and Day.
The 'Star Trek' captain describes becoming a train operator for the Denzel Washington/ Tony Scott film. By Kara Warner
Chris Pine in "Unstoppable" Photo: 20th Century Fox
Any time Tony Scott and Denzel Washington team up on a film, moviegoers can count on blockbuster-scale action sequences, serious acting and a thrilling plot. Their latest effort, and fourth film together overall, is "Unstoppable," and with "Star Trek" star Chris Pine thrown into the mix, the film has all the makings of a box-office hit when it opens on November 12.
The story, which is loosely based on real events, revolves around seasoned train engineer Frank Barnes (Washington) and newly hired operator Will Colson (Pine). While out doing a training run, they hear a warning of an out-of-control train full of hazardous chemicals careening down the rails on a path toward massive destruction. Barnes and Colson set out on a suicide mission to stop the train before it's too late.
When MTV News caught up with Pine, we talked about the technicalities and dangers of train operation, his out-of-body experience during his first meeting with Scott and Washington, and the inevitable "Speed" comparisons.
MTV: What kind of training did you get with regard to operating actual trains?
Chris Pine: There's a little railroad yard in L.A. that — essentially there are different classes of railroad, and this is, I think, maybe a third-level railroad. So we went to that yard and got a chance to hop on the trains, learn what it was like to be in the cab, and what all the various assorted technical jargon was all about. It was a lot of fun. It was like being a kid.
MTV: What does it feel like to operate the trains? Can you feel the power behind the machines?
Pine: Well, the one thing they keep telling you, and it's so true, is that especially the trains in the yards, they're very quiet, and obviously the trains are thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds, tons of weight. The guys would tell stories about guys who weren't paying attention on the tracks, with their backs turned, and very silently a train would creep up, whether it was working on the yard, or whatever was happening at the time, and would crush someone. And there's no way to stop a train once it's going. If a train's going, a train will not stop on a dime. And pretty much to a T, every single one of the conductors or engineers had stories about hitting someone or maiming someone, and each yard has a therapist in place to deal with that. And more often than not, it's not their fault. People are committing suicide or people are screwed up and accidently left their cars on the tracks. But it can be a pretty grim business.
MTV: Yikes. What was the stunt work like on the film?
Pine: The stunt work was pretty hairy stuff. Again, you're working with actual trains, obviously, so there's no CG, there's nothing fake about it. You know there's trains going really fast, and you have to hang off trains or jump on the train, and thank god we had a wonderful stunt team behind us. And I had a great stunt double. You know, I would try to do everything I could within reason, but once it got really hairy, that's when I stepped back and went to video village, got my seat, got my drink, and watched the action unfold with everybody else.
MTV: What was your most impressive feat, stunt-wise?
Pine: Well, if I were to tell you that, I think I'd give away some of the movie, [but] suffice it to say, most of it's me. If it gets really scary, you can pretty much guarantee it was my wonderful stunt double.
MTV: What was your experience like with Mr. Washington and Mr. Scott?
Pine: Well, I grew up watching their movies. One of the first movies I ever fell in love with was "Top Gun," and I've been watching Denzel since "Glory," and on and on and on down the line. So, to work with two of my idols was just a dream come true, and I remember a point early on in the process when we all met in Tony's office in L.A. It was me and Denzel and Tony and we're kind of shooting the sh-- and talking about life, and seeing if our schedules were going to work out to be able to do this movie. And then afterwards, I kind of had this out-of-body experience thing — "I just had a conversation with two of my idols, one of the best actors of all time, one of the best directors of all time. We were talking about maybe doing a film together if our schedules worked out!" [That was] one of those times when you really remember just how lucky you are and how grateful you are to be able to be in the position.
MTV: And for audiences who know you from "Star Trek," what are they going to get out of this film?
Pine: It's a lot of fun. Like "Star Trek," it has the genetic code of the summer tentpole movie. It's fun. It's action-packed, and it's got some really interesting, complex characters to kind of anchor the whole thing. And Tony always talked about how the movie was like a train. You know, once it gets going, it just does not stop, and Tony doesn't give you much time to rest or settle in your seat before something happens.
MTV: What do you think about the inevitable "Speed" comparisons?
Pine: Well, it's very much like "Speed" in the sense that ... you have two vehicles that are moving, and they're both capable of inflicting large-scale damage, and it's up to two people to stop it who are initially at odds. Obviously, Denzel and I don't fall in love in this one, but there's a lot of love there for sure.
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
Rae teams with Damon Dash for 'Cash Rules Everything Around Me,' plans to stay behind the scenes for the film. By Mawuse Ziegbe
Raekwon Photo: Roger Kisby/ Getty Images
2010 is turning out to be a major year for Raekwon. After pulling off successful appearances with the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan at this summer's Rock the Bells Tour and jumping on a remix of Justin Bieber's "Runaway Love" with Kanye West, the Chef has been cooking up a lot of buzz. Now, the Wu O.G. is setting his sights on Hollywood. The hip-hop luminary has revealed that he's stepping behind the lens for a new flick.
"I'm working on a movie called 'C.R.E.A.M.' that I co-directed with one of my partners. We teamed up with [Damon] Dash," Raekwon told New York Magazine in an interview published Friday (September 3). "Y'all gonna be hearing more about this movie that we're putting together called 'C.R.E.A.M.' It's called 'Cash Rules Everything Around Me.' It's a lot of things transpiring right now, but I just want to continue to stay in my zone, stay focused and keep working."
The MC didn't divulge too many details about the project, which shares its title with a classic banger from the 1993 Wu LP Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). He did, however, insist that he's going to stay behind the scenes and has no plans to appear onscreen.
"I'm playing the outskirts on this one because I kind of feel like that's where I'm at. You know, I don't know. At this point, I probably won't be in it, but we don't know," Rae said, "I want to more or less capture the scenes from the outside looking in, because I want it to be something that people say is a classic, and they respect the storyline of where we went with it."
Raekwon also announced on Twitter that fans may be getting a taste of the flick very soon. "Believe it or not hopefully this week and nyc we will be shooting a trailer for the movie C.R.E.A.M so lookout for it!" the Wu MC tweeted on Friday.
The Immobilarity lyricist said he's been looking to kick off the project for a minute and believes the time has come to make the film happen.
"This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, even when we was making [the 2009 release] Cuban Linx II, I was already making it my business to obligate time to that, to putting the script together. It's where it needs to be right now," Rae said. "I'm just trying to be a machine. A roller coaster machine, man."
In addition to the "C.R.E.A.M." movie, Rae has been working on his upcoming effort Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang which he's planning to drop later this year.
Aasif Mandvi has a big appetite. A conversation with him will touch on curries and tandoors, the best places to get Indian dishes in New York and London, and the connections between Indian food and family life.
It comes as a surprise, then, that the "Daily Show With Jon Stewart" correspondent actually shed pounds while filming "Today's Special," an upcoming comedy in which he stars as a highly trained Manhattan chef forced to take over his family's Indian joint in Queens.
"That's not because I wasn't eating!" he laughed during a recent conversation with MTV News. "I was eating like a crazy person. But we were sweating our asses off. Those kitchens are incredibly hot. There were flames. You stand there for 12 hours a day, and the first week we were only shooting in the kitchen. It was like Bikram yoga class."
Mandvi did quite a lot of sweating over the project before he stepped into that kitchen too. The film is based on a one-man, off-Broadway play he staged in 1998. It was a six-character drama inspired by his family members and first brought to life in his standup routine. Years later, he returned to the play with Jonathan Bines, a writer for "Jimmy Kimmel Live," and together they sculpted the raw material into the screenplay that became "Today's Special." It's getting a North American release on October 8.
We've seen Mandvi a lot on camera, from hilarious work opposite Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" to his supporting comedic roles in films like "Ghost Town," to more dramatic work in "The Last Airbender" and the CBS series "Jericho." But until "Today's Special," Mandvi has never been able to show off his range as an actor. The film allows him to veer from the broadly comic to the dramatically energized to the tentatively romantic.
For the portrait of his chef, named Samir, Mandvi and Bines pulled from a wide spectrum of celebrity cooks. "He's an amalgam of different chefs," Mandvi said. "When I was writing the script, I went and hung out in Rocco DiSpirito's kitchen. He's got some Emeril Lagasse in him and some Gordon Ramsay in him. Samir isn't a celebrity chef, though. That's part of his problem, I suppose, because he'd probably like to be."
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
