Hot Topic

'Up in the Air': A Movie for the (Recession) Times

December 7, 2009
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Under: Hot Topic
By: Nicholas White

Has there ever been an Oscar contender quite as topical as Jason Reitman's latest critical juggernaut 'Up in the Air'?

Named Best Film of 2009 by the National Board of Review last week, 'Up in the Air' is "a timeless movie that's utterly of its time," trumpets the Washington Post.

Revolving around a corporate downsizer (George Clooney) who jet sets around the nation laying people off, the acclaimed dramatic comedy (comedic drama?) features numerous gut-wrenching scenes of employees swallowing the bad news.

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South African Actors Up in Arms Over Jennifer Hudson's Casting as Winnie Mandela

December 7, 2009
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Under: Movie News, Hot Topic
By: Harley W. Lond

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson, recently cast to play Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 'Winnie' -- a new film about the wife of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president -- has come in for some flack for being cast in the role. But it's criticism that's not very well founded.

According to AFP and other sources, the Creative Workers Union of South Africa, a group representing that country's actors, said "using foreign actors to tell the country's stories undermined efforts to develop the national film industry ... It can't happen that we want to develop our own Hollywood and yet bring in imports," the union's president Mabutho Sithole said in the Citizen newspaper.

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Morgan Freeman's Hand Sparks Debate

December 4, 2009
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Under: Movie News, Hot Topic
By: Sharon Knolle

Recent photos of Morgan Freeman with his left hand heavily bandaged and sometimes gloved have spiked an Internet searching frenzy as people wonder: Is that thing real?

The 72-year-old, who's currently starring in 'Invictus' (in theaters Dec. 11), suffered a broken arm and elbow in an August 2008 car accident in which he lost control of his car, flipping it several times. He underwent surgery to reconnect nerves and repair damage in his left arm and hand but as recently as January, he told Access Hollywood, "I wound up with a lot of nerve damage in my arm, so the hand is still paralyzed."

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Robert De Niro Shows His (Really) Soft Side in 'Everybody's Fine'

December 4, 2009
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Under: Hot Topic, Fall Movies
By: Ronnie Koenig

Tough. Violent. Psychotic.

These are words that we normally associate with Robert De Niro characters. We remember him as Vito Corleone, head of the Mafia family in 'The Godfather Part II,' a gun-toting depressive in 'Taxi Driver,' an animalistic boxer in 'Raging Bull' and a psychopathic rapist in 'Cape Fear.'

But in the Kirk Jones-directed family dramedy 'Everybody's Fine,' a remake of Giuseppe Tornatore's 1990 movie of the same name, he plays a sad and aging widower who tries to reconnect with his children after his wife's death.

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Watch MTV's 'Avatar' Webcast Live on Moviefone

December 3, 2009
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Under: Movie News, Video, Hot Topic
By: Thomas DiChiara

As reported earlier this week, MTV is hosting a live Webcast this afternoon at 3 PM EST with 'Avatar' director James Cameron, stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, and producer Jon Landau. And you can watch a live, real-time feed of the roundtable right here one Moviefone.

Moderated by MTV News managing editor Josh Horowitz, the Webcast gives fans the opportunity to ask the director, stars and producer their own questions, and offers a peek at never-before-seen footage from the groundbreaking 3-D sci-fi action adventure.

Watch the Webcast live after the jump.

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A Year in the Life of Brangelina

December 1, 2009
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Under: Star Spotter, Hot Topic
By: Kevin Polowy

Believe everything you read on magazine covers, see on E! or breeze through online? A recent study shows that makes the size of your brain grow larger.

In terms of celebrity "journalism," there is no subject more scrutinized or obsessed over than the world's most famous couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But of course if 'Brangelina' is the world's most popular (and most outrageous) soap opera, then we can't possibly forget Best Supporting Actress Jennifer Aniston.

Think 'Days of the Lives' is ridiculous? Take a trip through 2009 in Brangelina news: the below are actual stories reported. Godspeed.

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What's Hot on Inside TV: Nicole Richie Gets a New Show, White House Crashers Defend Themselves, and William Shatner Reveals His Plan to Become the Sexiest Man Alive

December 1, 2009
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Under: Hot Topic
By: Lauren Metz

We get it -- you're swamped with holiday planning and don't have time to keep up with all the gossip surrounding your favorite shows. No worries! Here's what's happening over at Inside TV today:

Nicole Richie will produce and star in a new comedy for ABC that she pitched herself. The series will show the grown up 'Simple Life' star juggling being a mom of two and constant tabloid fixture.

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Is Sandra Bullock Bigger Than Ever?

November 30, 2009
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Under: Hot Topic
By: Marina Zogbi

It's not a complete surprise that the true-life sports drama 'The Blind Side' is doing brisk box office business, having surpassed the $100 million mark and still going strong. The movie boasts several major audience-pleasing elements: true underdog story, warm and fuzzy family values, big-time happy ending, and, not least of all, Sandra Bullock.

Even before 'The Blind Side' was released, there was some major buzz about Bullock's role. It was obvious from the trailers that the part of sassy socialite do-gooder Leigh Anne Tuohy was a really good fit for America's one-time Sweetheart, now 45. The film's other lead, Quinton Aaron, is a relative newcomer, so this was clearly a star vehicle for Bullock. And it seems to be driving her to heights of popularity she hasn't enjoyed in a long time, specifically 1994, when she was the breakout star of the blockbuster action flick 'Speed.' As the Los Angeles Times noted, 'The Blind Side' "could, and should, put Bullock firmly in the race for Best Actress. This could be her 'Erin Brockovich.'"

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Satellite Award Nominations 2009: 'Nine,' 'Precious' Lead Pack

November 30, 2009
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Under: Hot Topic, Awards
By: Allyssa Lee

Adding its early voice to the growing roster of best year-end movies is the International Press Academy, who recently announced the nominees for their 14th Annual Satellite Awards.

Leading the pack is the film adaptation of the Broadway musical 'Nine,' with 10 nominations, including notices for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, Best Director (Rob Marshall) and nods for stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Marion Cotillard, as well as supporting actress Penélope Cruz (Cruz was also nominated in the best dramatic actress category for Pedro Almodóvar's 'Broken Embraces.')

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And the Oscar Buzz Goes to ... Ben Foster in 'The Messenger'

November 27, 2009
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Under: Hot Topic, Oscar News
By: Sharon Knolle

Even in supporting roles, Ben Foster has been hard to ignore, cornering the market on crazy-intense parts such as the manic addict in 'Alpha Dog.' He scored some (unrealized) Oscar buzz for his role as Charlie Prince, the dandified but dangerous cowboy in '3:10 to Yuma.'

While his character's snakeskin jacket was memorable, the actor's ability to draw focus from such intimidating leads as Russell Crowe and Christian Bale was the real showstopper. In otherwise forgettable films like 'Hostage,' and '30 Days of Night,' Foster's few scenes seem to come from a different (and far better) movie altogether.

Now the 29-year-old steps into the well-earned spotlight in a much less showy but just as riveting role, that of Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery in the indie drama 'The Messenger.' Will returns home from a devastating tour in Iraq and is assigned the task of notifying next of kin that their loved ones have been killed in the line of duty. He's partnered with a senior officer (Woody Harrelson) who's an old hand at this thankless duty.

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