Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Are Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Ready To Get Married?
Lady Gaga - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Lady Gaga
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Selena Gomez, Kat Graham Reveal Fave Britney Spears Tunes
Victoria Justice, Christina Milian and more pick a range of Brit classics like 'Slave 4 U' and new-school bangers like 'Till the World Ends.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias
Selena Gomez
Photo: MTV News
On Wednesday night in Los Angeles, Britney Spears' supporters gathered to help the star raise funds for the St. Bernard Project. The Louisiana-based nonprofit helps those affected by Hurricane Katrina to rebuild their homes and their lives. And while much of the talk focused on the good the charity does, MTV News also asked the celeb guests which of Spears' songs would make the final cut on their playlists.
Britney fanatic Selena Gomez said, "Oh goodness! 'Slave 4 U,' that will always be, 'cause that was when it was like, 'Oh, she's not a girl anymore, she's a woman.' The controversy, I loved it!"
Christina Milian preferred one of Brit's more heartfelt songs. " 'Everytime,' it's emotional, and she's beautiful," Milian told us on the event's red carpet, where we saw a number of stars, including Kim Kardashian and Kellan Lutz. "She sang it great."
Spears' "Crossroads" co-star Taryn Manning knew Spears way back when, but her favorite song is a more contemporary Britney tune. " 'Till the World Ends' is incredible," she dished. "I think it's seriously one of her best songs, probably the reason why she went platinum like that."
Sabi, Spears' "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" collaborator, who's set to hit up some Femme Fatale Tour shows this summer, said, "Really, my favorite song had to be 'Toxic' or Slave 4 U. It's between those two. I just think those two are like so sexy, badass songs."
Hilary Duff found it hard to narrow it down. "I like everything," she said. "I liked the whole 'Toxic' thing. I really liked 'Womanizer'."
When Victoria Justice listens to Spears, she likes to kick it old school. "I'm a really big fan of her older stuff," she told us, "So, like, 'Overprotected' and 'Lucky'."
"Vampire Diaries" star Kat Graham enjoys both old and new Britney Spears. "I like 'Hold It Against Me,' I must say. I'm just kind of in with the times right now," she said. "But '... Baby One More Time' is always a classic."
What's your all-time favorite Britney song? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsMonday, May 30, 2011
Lady Gaga 'Started To Cry' When She First Heard 'Marry The Night'
'Imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is,' she says of Fernando Garibay-produced Born This Way track.
By MTV News staff
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
Lady Gaga has been working with producer Fernando Garibay for years, with the first fruits of their labor being the Fame Monster deep cut "Dance in the Dark." But, as Lady Gaga put it in MTV's "Inside the Outside" documentary that premiered Thursday, the pair had yet to "conceive" a hit record when she began work on Born This Way.
That all changed when Gaga heard the church-bell-filled sounds Garibay had concocted while on the road for the Monster Ball Tour.
"He goes, 'Your show is a religion and your fans are a cult,' " Gaga recalled. "It's this epic music. It's just so big. And I started to cry. He said, 'What's wrong?' And I said, 'I can't believe that you hear me so big.' "
Gaga sat down, and lyrics for what would become the Born This Way track "Marry the Night" just started pouring out: "I'm gonna marry the night/ I won't give up on my life."
"It's like Whitney, but imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is," she said. "And that was it! We made a baby. Finally. After all that fornication, miserably long and tedious, Fernando and I finally conceived."
When MTV News sat down with Garibay, he told his side of the "Marry the Night" conception. "I just kind of got on the American leg of the tour — this was after Australia — and she goes, 'I want to write another song that can define where I'm at with this album and my life.' "
So Garibay listened again to their first collaboration, "Dance in the Dark," and tried to top that energy. "I remember being backstage and hearing the concert start, so I go out there and hear 'Dance in the Dark' open up the whole concert, and I wanted to outdo that feeling. I wanted to outdo that moment that opens up the show. I'm just that way."
Garibay did his thing while Gaga was onstage doing hers. "I go back to the studio bus; I'm just like working on parts, working on parts, and then, two hours later, she comes offstage, and she goes, 'Do you have something to play me?' " he said. "And I go, 'I do, actually. It's a little different, but I think you'll like it.'
"So I played her the instrumental for 'Marry the Night,' and she goes, 'I love it, but can you change this?' So she starts changing around a few chords, and then she goes, 'Open up a mic.' ... She starts laying down the whole song, like, off the cuff. She didn't have time to live with it. She kind of meditated a few minutes, and then it's like, 'OK, I'm ready. Let's go.' And right offstage, using the energy of that crowd and going into the studio, it was amazing. I can't compare it to anything."
That incomparable feeling was exactly what Gaga was aiming for with Garibay: "I kept saying to him, 'I don't want to do anything I've done before, I don't want to sound like anything I've done before, I don't want to feel like anything I've done before. I want it to be new.' "
Do you think "Marry the Night" tops "Dance in the Dark"? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSunday, May 29, 2011
Taylor Swift, Rihanna Dress To Impress At Billboard Awards
Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez also make fashion splash on red carpet, as showgirl style rules at the Las Vegas event on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena
Taylor Swift at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images
On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in the music industry hit up the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas and decided that sparkles and sequins make for the perfect additions to any red carpet get-up. Well, it is Sin City after all.
Taylor Swift always seems to bring some of that Nashville sparkle to any red carpet. She arrived at the show in a pale-hued, sequined Elie Saab gown. Nicki Minaj showed off her signature sense of style in her baby-blue, body-hugging spandex Mark Fast catsuit.
Selena Gomez turned up the style dial in a sexy, cut-out black Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with red strappy sandals with sparkly bow detailing. Like Gomez, Ke$ha opted for some cut-out detailing in her sparkly, slate-gray dress with tulle skirt. Rihanna looked white hot in her men's tailored Max Azria suit, which she kept sexy and feminine by not buttoning her shirt all the way.
Fergie went S&M chic in her little black bandage-type dress by Hervé Léger. Nicole Kidman also wore black. She paired a casual braid hairstyle with a long black gown and Keith Urban. British pop cutie Kyle Minogue looked funky in her little black lacey dress. Inside the show, Britney Spears sat in the audience wearing a skimpy black dress of her own, her hair in loose curls, with little-to-no accessories.
While some stars kept the color scheme low-key, Keri Hilson decided to stand out in her billowy little yellow dress paired with a turquoise-colored belt. Kelly Rowland showed off some of her best assets in a body-hugging, bright pink bandage dress.
The fellas also looked tight on the carpet. Joe Jonas wore all black with white sneakers, Ne-Yo paired his periwinkle suit with a Yankees cap and Justin Bieber wore black tuxedo pants with a gold-lamé tuxedo jacket.
Which stars' styles caught your eye at the Billboard Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsFirst Look: Jennifer Lawrence & Liam Hemsworth Surface On The Set Of ?The Hunger Games?
Adam Lambert's 'Whole Lotta Love': The Story Behind The Cover
Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.
By Gil Kaufman
Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSaturday, May 28, 2011
Beyonce Reveals 4 Album Track List
Pop powerhouse begins revealing one song title an hour from the 12-song disc via Facebook.
By James Dinh
Beyonce's <i>4</i>
Photo: Columbia
After two showstopping performances of her song "Run the World (Girls)" earlier this week, Beyoncé knows how to keep the anticipation surrounding her new album, 4, high. On Wednesday morning (May 25), the superstar singer began to unveil the track list for the new LP via Facebook in a title-by-title hourly countdown.
Rounding out the 12-song album is B's lead single off the project, the Major Lazer-sampled tune "Run the World (Girls)." And Team Beyoncé was glad to know the track was still included in the set. "I love it. It's not usual Beyoncé but that's what makes her HOTT!" LaTisha Davis wrote. "B, you can make ANYTHING a hit! Loooove the track! Much respect Beyoncé! U KILLED it @ the Billboard Awards. Love u!!!"
Additional tunes on the album include "I Was Here," "End of Time" and "Countdown."
Fans likely already got a preview of the "End of Time" cut when a previously unheard Beyoncé song titled "Till the End of Time" hit the Internet late last week. If the songs match up, it'll satisfy many of the singer's admirers, including fan Kendra Long, who wrote, "I looooooove this song. This may be wrong to say, but I'm glad it leaked!"
King Lds Clandler was happy to hear the drum-heavy tune made the final cut, writing, "I love the song. I had it for a week and listen to it 20 times a day."
As for what else fans can expect from the pop titan's new album, Beyoncé previously stated in a press release that she was inspired by Afrobeat music pioneer Fela Kuti and lots of '90s R&B. "I listened to a lot of Jackson 5 and New Edition, but also Adele, Florence and the Machine, and Prince," she said. "Add in my hip-hop influences, and you can hear how broad it is. I also gave myself more freedom to really belt out some songs and bring soul singing back. I used a lot of the brassiness and grittiness in my voice that people hear in my live performances but not necessarily on my records."
Keeping her promotional bandwagon steady, the singer is reportedly set to perform on the highly anticipated season 10 finale of "American Idol" on Wednesday night (May 25).
What is your favorite song title off Beyonceé's 4 so far? Tell us in the comments.
Related Artists
Friday, May 27, 2011
First Look: Jennifer Lawrence & Liam Hemsworth Surface On The Set Of ?The Hunger Games?
Janet Jackson Thrills Fans With Greatest Hits, Michael Tribute At Radio City
Singer covered songs ranging from classic 'Pleasure Principle' to 2008's 'Feedback' at New York show.
By Vaughn Schoonmaker
Janet Jackson (file)
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
NEW YORK — Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set of her greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall. Monday night marked the last of three sold-out shows at the historic venue on her monumental Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour.
Up-and-coming boy band Mindless Behavior opened the show with songs including "#1 Girl," "Future" and their debut single, "My Girl." With their Usher-esque dance moves and shouts like "Where the ladies at?" the boys brought the tween girls out of hiding, judging by the shrill screams escaping various corner of the music hall.
At 9:00 sharp, the lights went down and Janet's fans were on the edge of their seats, watching music videos for "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Rhythm Nation" projected on big screens across the venue. A small shadow drifted toward center stage, and when the colorful lights came up, Jackson, wrapped in a shoulder-padded catsuit, complete with slick short hair, blasted into "The Pleasure Principle," dancing as hard and intensely choreographed as she did when the song first came out in the 1980s.
With barely a spare second between songs, Janet dazzled her way through her biggest hits, including "Miss You Much," "All for You" and "Nasty," and more recent hits like 2008's "Feedback."
Videos displayed during Jackson's costume changes included vintage clips from "Diff'rent Strokes," a funny scene from "Poetic Justice" where Jackson slyly rejects the advances of Tupac Shakur's character, and a rather heavy scene, as Jackson's character in "Why Did I Get Married" destroys her husband's house with a golf club, screaming hysterically.
Considering the tough couple of years the Jackson family has faced, the dark moments in the video seemed fitting, and everyone was beside themselves with bittersweet joy when Michael Jackson's face popped up on the big screen and she performed their hit single "Scream."
Janet emerged for her encore in a tight white one-piece disco suit, and performed "Diamonds," "Make Me" and "Together Again," which appeared to be the biggest hit of the evening. As Jackson graciously bowed out, her straight face transitioned into a smirk, suggesting that despite the hard times she has experienced recently, we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future.
"Its amazing!" Janet fan Elena Mercantini gleamed afterward. "It's like she's still 20 years old!"
"She's hot, she's amazing and she's still got it after all these years" added Alison Klinger of Long Island. "Best concert I've ever been to!"
Related Photos Related ArtistsThursday, May 26, 2011
Lady Gaga's 'Inside The Outside': Meet The 'Perpetual Underdog'
New documentary reveals early struggles, unyielding quest to prove the doubters wrong, in Bigger Than the Sound.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
There is a moment during Lady Gaga's "Inside the Outside" documentary when she refers to herself as "a perpetual underdog," which seems like an odd thing for a woman who's sold more than 15 million albums worldwide to say.
But then you listen to her new Born This Way album, you take a look at her rather astonishing career, her never-ending tour, her collection of over-the-top music videos, and that statement begins to make sense. Lady Gaga truly is a perpetual underdog, at least in her own mind, and there's a surprising amount of evidence to support that claim.
Before she was adored by millions, she was a misunderstood kid, then a rebel, and then she struck out on her own, struggling to get noticed as a piano-playing singer/songwriter and a bikini-clad performance artist/party girl. And then, when she finally earned a small piece of recognition — she was signed to Def Jam at age 19 — she was summarily dropped after just three months. No one, it seemed, believed in her or her music, no one "got it" (as she repeatedly says in the doc), and it hurt. Bad.
In fact, you could argue that her entire career — like all great careers, from Elvis and Michael Jackson (both of whom overcame overbearing parents) to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan (who had to force folks to listen) — has been fueled by that hurt, by rejection, by her belief that she is the eternal long shot. It's why she does everything she does, why she works so incredibly hard. She is eternally trying to prove the naysayers wrong.
That's just one lesson you learn in "Outside," which premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV (and then re-airs again at 11 just in case you missed it), but it's an important one. Because it helps you make sense of Gaga's rapid ascent to the top of the pop stratosphere, a rise that was powered by little more than her undying work ethic and that rather sizeable chip on her shoulder — a rise that you begin to realize wasn't really all that rapid.
In her own words, Gaga reveals that she's actually been working toward her fame ever since she was a child, first barely able to reach the keys of her parents' piano, then meticulously working to master the instrument: Hanon exercises, Bach, Chopin until her wrists ached. Then, after her father promised he'd buy a baby grand if she learned how to play Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road," she spent hours toiling over the intricate progressions. And she got the piano.
As a teen, she longed to play the lead in a production of "Guys and Dolls," but could never warrant consideration because she was a brunette. So she bought a blond wig and she got the part. When she moved out on her own, she haunted the Lower East Side, playing music wherever they'd have her (her first show, she humorously recounts, was 90 minutes long. "I didn't give a sh--," she laughs) and working as a go-go dancer and a waitress to make ends meet. Then she teamed with Lady Starlight and launched the next stage of her career: a theatrical pop star who pissed off local promoters with her homemade pyro. No one got the act, but slowly — by nothing more than sheer determination, it would seem — the duo began to catch on, which eventually led to Gaga inking that deal with Def Jam.
When she got dropped, she was crushed. But, as she says in the doc, she took some inspiration from her grandmother, who allowed her to cry, but only for a day, because after that "you have to go kick some ass." And, not surprisingly, if you've been following along here, that's exactly what she did. Six years later, she is one of the hugest pop stars on the planet, an icon and an inspiration to millions. But she's never truly gotten over those past rejections; they have shaped her into the artist she is today. And though they stung, watching her re-live them, you get the feeling she wouldn't have suffered any other way.
And it's that drive, that compulsion, that makes "Inside the Outside" a truly compelling thing. You learn who Gaga was, and, more importantly, who she is. And in doing so, you even begin to come around to her belief that she is "the perpetual underdog." She's certainly put in the work to prove that fact.
Don't miss "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside" to hear Mother Monster herself open up about the creative forces behind her generation-defining career. Our exclusive documentary airs Thursday, May 26, at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, followed by a live stream on MTV.com hosted by MTV News' James Montgomery and featuring special guests Lady Starlight, Justin Tranter from Semi Precious Weapons, documentary director Davi Russo, producer Fernando Garibay and Gaga's biggest Little Monsters.
Related Videos Related Artists'Hangover Part II' Stars Talk Bradley Cooper's Head-Shaving Skills
'I did such a good job shaving his head they had to mess it up more,' actor tells MTV News of Zach Galifianakis' new look.
By Kara Warner
Bradley Cooper
Photo: MTV News
Those crazy boys of summer are back. We're talking, of course, about Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms, stars of the highly anticipated "Hangover Part II." At the film's NYC premiere earlier this week, the guys told us about the "chaos" of their pre-release press blitz, and now, MTV News takes you inside the chaos of filming the "Hangover" sequel.
When talking about how the photo montages at the ends of both films were compiled, Cooper and Galifianakis ended up in a back-and-forth about Cooper's head-shaving skills.
"It runs a similar course as the filming of the movie," Cooper said when asked about when the photos for the montages were taken. "We would allocate time in the shooting day to do stills throughout the movie, so at the end, you have all the stills, but it's not like we have two days and we shoot all the stills; it's throughout the whole film."
With regard to Galifianakis' shaved head, which occurs during a scene in the film, we wanted to know if the actual clipping was performed by Cooper.
"Yeah," Cooper said. "I did a nice job."
"I mean, it's pretty easy," Galifianakis pointed out.
"It's not that easy," Cooper protested. "Your ears are very tight to your face."
"Bradley, everybody has a template. I mean, look at that picture," Galifianakis said, pointing to the film's promo poster, which features a photo of Galifianakis with a perfectly buzzed coif. "What I'm saying is, it's so easy to shave someone's head."
"I'm telling you, I did such a good job shaving his head they had to mess it up more, right? Tell them," Cooper insisted. "Tell them, Zach."
"Yes. That's true," Galifianakis said, relenting. "He did such a great job they had to mess up my hair more."
"Thank you," Cooper said, sounding pleased to receive the recognition.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hangover Part II."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related Photos'Dark Knight Rises' Adds Matthew Modine, Tom Conti And Joey King
Modine will play character named Nixon, but Conti and King's roles are not yet known.
By Eric Ditzian
Matthew Modine
Photo: Rob Kim/ Getty Images
Production on "The Dark Knight Rises" is already under way, and on Friday Warner Bros. released the first photo from director Christopher Nolan's film. Now three new actors have officially joined the cast.
Variety reported that Matthew Modine will play a character named Nixon. Tom Conti and Joey King have also signed on, but the exact nature of their roles is being kept under wraps.
While Modine is new to the world of blockbuster comic-book adaptations, Variety noted that the actor has in fact played a Joker before, albeit Private Joker in 1987's "Full Metal Jacket," the Oscar-nominated Vietnam War film directed by Stanley Kubrick.
The Scottish-born Conti himself nabbed an Oscar nod for his turn as a troubled poet in 1983's "Reuben, Reuben." The 11-year-old King played Ramona last year in "Ramona and Beezus" and will appear in this summer's ensemble comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
These three actors join a production expected to jump from locales in India, England and Scotland to domestic stops in Pittsburgh, New York and Los Angeles. They join Christian Bale, who returns as Bruce Wayne (and his alter ego Batman), and newcomers Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle (who becomes Catwoman in comic-book lore) and Tom Hardy as the villain Bane, among many others.
On Friday, we got our first look at Hardy as Bane, thanks to a viral marketing campaign that sent fans on an investigative hunt from the film's website to Twitter and back again. The reaction was immediately positive. "Chris Nolan will do it big again," wrote one MTV News commenter. "One image has never made me so excited for one film. Looks to me like Nolan and company are gonna go out with a huge bang and leave people talking."
Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related PhotosWednesday, May 25, 2011
'Hunger Games' Star Jennifer Lawrence Talks 'Twilight,' Kristen Stewart
Actress tells MTV News she imagines an awkward introduction with fellow book-to-movie heroine would begin with, 'Books! Who knew?'
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Jennifer Lawrence
Photo: MTV News
For those who keep tabs on the world of best-selling young adult fiction and the big-screen adaptations that accompany them as we do, the most exciting story to come out of that world recently is the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' dystopian mega-hit, "The Hunger Games."
Naturally the biggest news was the announcement that Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence had won the highly coveted role of Katniss Everdeen, followed by casting news of key characters Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), then Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinkett and later, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy.
MTV News was lucky enough to score a few minutes with Lawrence recently to talk all about her exciting upcoming projects, including "The Hunger Games" and "X-Men: First Class." While discussing the huge fan-following behind the "Games" trilogy, the topic of comparisons to another popular book series-turned-box-office dominator, "Twilight," and its leading lady, Kristen Stewart, came up.
Given that "The Hunger Games" and "Twilight" have a few similarities, we asked Lawrence if she's spoken to Stewart about the experience, or if she'd want to commiserate in any way about starring in hugely popular book-to-movie franchises.
"No, I haven't spoken to her," Lawrence said, and then playfully acted out a little pantomime scene of what might happen if and when the two ever do meet. To do so, Lawrence used a series of incomprehensible grunts and gestures that could be loosely translated as, "Hi, how are you? You're in those movies. You are, too. Cool."
"I don't really know what we'd say," Lawrence admitted. "[We'd] just be like [gestures to an invisible book in her hand], 'Books! Who knew?' "
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosBritney Spears Drops Official 'Till The World Ends' Remix
New track with Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha follows leaked version, plus Brit tweets single's cover art.
By Jocelyn Vena
The "Till the World Ends" Femme Fatale remix
Photo: Jive
Just days after it was leaked on Friday, Britney Spears and her femme fatales, Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha, dropped their official remix of "Till the World Ends."
The new version of the song was produced by Dr. Luke and Dream Machine. Brit half-whispers " 'Till the World Ends' remix" before the beat kicks in and Nicki hits her verse hard. She spits fierce lines like, "Sniff, sniff, cries/ I done slayed your whole entire f---ing life."
Then Britney's sex-kitten vocals kick in for the song's first verse. "That's Britney, bitch! I'm Nicki Minaj and that's Ke$ha," the Queens MC declares before K sings the chorus. The beat is harder, the loops are sassier and the song is grimier than the original version, which was the second single from Femme Fatale. The newly added dubstep portion takes the one from "Hold It Against Me" to a new level by adding in bass-heavy synths.
Ke$ha, of course, wrote the track for Britney, and the ladies certainly don't seem to mind sharing the spotlight with each other. The official track isn't much different than the version that leaked over the weekend, though Spears did have something brand-new to share with her fans just as the song dropped on iTunes and streamed on her website.
Spears tweeted the artwork for the single, which features the original press photo of Spears along with separate photos of Nicki on the left and Ke$ha on the right. Spears wrote, "@NickiMinaj @Keshasuxx Too much fierceness for one cover! Thanks for lending your voices girls... #TTWEREMIX — Brit"
Spears and Minaj have been hanging out a lot in the lead-up to their summer tour. They hung out at the Factory nightclub on Friday night after Minaj's show in Los Angeles. Spears later wrote, "Early rehearsal after a late night with my girl @NickiMinaj. Can't WAIT to get out on the road with you."
What do you think of the "Till the World Ends" remix? Tell us in the comments!
Related Artists'American Idol' Season 10's Other Winners And Losers
Simon Cowell and Jimmy Iovine didn't fare as well as Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Fox network, experts say.
By Gil Kaufman
"American Idol" Final 11
Photo: FOX
Though it has ruled the TV for much of the past decade, there were no guarantees that "American Idol" would lord the airwaves when season 10 kicked off in January. But with a champion about to be crowned in the battle of the country teens between Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, we thought we'd convene a panel of experts to sift through this year's other winners and losers.
The Winners Fox Network: The most obvious winner, according to The Hollywood Reporter's music editor Shirley Halperin is the Fox network itself. Coming into a season of vast uncertainty following the departure of three-quarters of the judging panel, including anchor Simon Cowell, not to mention a ratings dip, the network had every reason to be concerned.
"The first big winner would have to be Fox, because everyone predicted complete doom for 'American Idol' season 10," Halperin said. "Not only are the [ratings] numbers stable, they're just as strong as last season and I have a feeling the finale will top last season."
Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez: Other winners, according to Richard Rushfield, author of "American Idol: The Untold Story," are new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. Surely the two music veterans have achieved exactly what they wanted with their unlikely new roles. For Tyler, the reinvention as America's wacky, loving uncle after four decades in the spotlight fronting hard-partying Aerosmith has not only helped his band move tons of back-catalog songs and albums, but also provided the perfect launching pad for his just-released memoir and debut solo single.
As for Lopez, whose reputation as an imperious diva whose music and movie careers had hit the skids, she has emerged as a less wacky, more loveable Paula Abdul type, whose exposure as a sensitive, caring career striver has helped garner her a smash hit single with "On the Floor" and decent returns on her new album, Love?.
"A year ago they were relatively irrelevant. Not a lot of people were talking or thinking about them," Entertainment Weekly Assistant Managing Editor Dalton Ross said about Lopez and Tyler. "And now both of them are in the spotlight, Steven's got a hit book, Jennifer's got a hit song and they're right back in the public consciousness."
Other winners: James Durbin: Rushfield called him a dark horse, a "weird, wacky" character who managed to go far on the show and make a lot of fans, with Ross predicting that the fourth-place finisher could end up on Broadway in a show like "Rock of Ages" or with some other career that's better than his bar band past.
Country music: Though there are plenty of other shows on networks like CMT that crown new 10-gallon royalty, Ross said you should "never underestimate the country voting bloc," who proved their power this year by putting both McCreery and Alaina in the finale.
Losers Simon Cowell: With "Idol" skating along just fine without him, seemingly on the cusp of crowning a champ who could become the first breakout star since ... well, the last country "Idol," Carrie Underwood, Ross suspected that Cowell is not too chipper these days. As he attempts to build up excitement for his fall "X Factor" launch, Cowell has seen NBC's "The Voice" become the new singing-show darling, and the critical and popular reception of his judging panel — consisting of former "Idol" foil Paula Abdul, little-known British singer Cheryl Cole and former music exec Antonio "L.A." Reid — has been tame at best, if not indifferent. "Everyone was really anticipating 'X Factor' coming, now 'Idol' has kept that audience ... and you look at 'The Voice,' ... it makes people a bit less excited for 'X Factor,' " Ross said.
The viewers: Halperin suggested that the American viewing public may be losing out, even if it's not the fault of "Idol" directly. "There's just too many singing shows coming at them," she said. "They have to divide their time between a lot of other entertaining programs."
Divas: "Idol" pushed a lot of big-voiced divas at viewers this year, but they failed to make an impact and fizzled out from early rounders Julie Zorrilla and Kendra Chantelle to top 13ers Pia Toscano, Haley Reinhart and Ashthon Jones.
Jimmy Iovine: Though you can argue that the savvy Iovine only helped his bottom line by ceaselessly promoting the Beats by Dre brand of headphones and microphones with heavy-handed product placement, as well as getting ample screen time for some of his artists (Lady Gaga, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and Sheryl Crow), Halperin wondered if maybe he was too invested in being a part of the "Idol" mix.
"It has yet to be determined what he will get out of this situation," Halperin said. "What I'm seeing is someone who has a record company to run and is spending half of his week working on contestants whose futures are unknown." In other words, the work for Iovine really begins when the show ends and he has to turn an as-yet-undetermined amount of his new protégés into stars. A few other potential losers:
Randy Jackson: The only remaining original "Idol" adjudicator was not only overshadowed by his new cohorts, but his signature catchphrases sounded even more hackneyed and irrelevant next to Tyler's cryptic quips and Lopez's sometimes useful, insightful career advice.
Longtime "Idol" fans: If you aren't a fan of country music, you're out of luck this year thanks to Wednesday night's showdown between the first country-strong top two in show history. With pop and R&B mostly shunted to the side in the top five in favor of James Durbin's warmed-over metal and Haley Reinhart's pop blues, fans of straight-ahead ear candy were left on the sidelines of this year's competition.
Don't miss a special edition of "Idol Party Live" Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, finale red-carpet coverage and the last "Idol in 60 Seconds" of season 10. Get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related Videos Related PhotosTuesday, May 24, 2011
Michael Jackson - Gone Too Soon
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Director: Bill Dicicco
- Album: Dangerous
Watch: Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez Kiss At The 2011 ?Billboard Music Awards?
Lindsay Lohan Makes Her Way To Miami For A New Photoshoot
Monday, May 23, 2011
Britney Spears - Break the Ice
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Robert Hales
- Album: Blackout
Rachel McAdams Talks Shooting 'Midnight In Paris' With Woody Allen
'I enjoyed being a fly on the wall most of the time,' actress says.
By Kara Warner
Rachel McAdams
Photo: MTV News
For the most part, the summer movie season is all about the big studio blockbuster: the tent-pole multimillion-dollar films full of action, explosions, thrills and chills, designed to take audiences to other realities and dimensions. Woody Allen's latest, "Midnight in Paris," doesn't fit the summer-movie mold in terms of action sequences and explosions (there aren't any), but it does transport audiences to another time and place, in a most charming and delightful way.
In a nutshell, "Midnight in Paris" is about a man's great love for a city (Paris) and the illusion people have that the grass is always greener in someone else's yard. The film features an incredible ensemble cast of A-listers and up-and-comers — Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Adrian Brody, Corey Stoll, Tom Hiddleston and Alison Pill — all of whom jetted off to the City of Light for the film's production.
When MTV News caught up with McAdams and Sheen recently, we asked them if the process of making the movie was as glamorous and wonderful as what appears onscreen.
"It was so lovely," McAdams said. "It was such a great city to be shooting in. I felt like I wasn't working. It was kind of a little getaway."
McAdams added that Allen's directing style is very relaxed. "He doesn't shoot really long hours. They're longer than everyone had said, but he doesn't shoot long hours," she explained. "It was very civilized. There was an easy feeling about things. When you're working with someone who is so good at what they do and they've been doing it for so long, you can relax and let them do what they do and sit back and enjoy watching that happen.
"I enjoyed being a fly on the wall most of the time," she added. "And seeing how he would just set up these beautiful scenes like it was a piece of cake."
Sheen echoed McAdams' sentiments of a luxurious shoot, making us green with envy in the process. "I'm sorry to say it was exactly what everyone would hope it would be, in a way," he said. "We had wonderful dinners, strolls through Paris at midnight in the most romantic city in the world, with wonderful people who know how to enjoy life.
"We were in some of the most extraordinary locations in those places, doing a film that had a wonderful story," he continued. "We had great conversations, we danced in car parks [parking lots], we walked along the river, we sang, we got drunk. It was just wonderful."
Check out everything we've got on "Midnight in Paris."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Britney Spears - Break the Ice
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Robert Hales
- Album: Blackout
Chaka Khan Gets A Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Ernie Halter Talks 'Ridiculously Awesome' Justin Bieber Surprise
'I still can't wrap my brain around it,' singer/songwriter tells MTV News about being joined onstage by the Biebs.
By Jocelyn Vena
Ernie Halter
Photo: Ernie Halter
Justin Bieber joined Ernie Halter onstage to perform Halter's "Come Home to Me" (off his album Franklin & Vermont) on Thursday night in Costa Mesa, California. When Halter got on the phone with MTV News bright and early Friday (May 20) morning, he was still reeling from the experience.
"I still can't wrap my brain around it. It's bizarre," he told us. "I was really impressed with how humble and very sweet him and Selena [Gomez] were to me. They're both incredibly nice people. It's pretty crazy."
He then described how Bieber ended up taking the stage with him. "Well, I mean, him coming to the show, I don't know why I didn't see that coming. I just didn't. I guess I'm slow, but I had no idea until I actually saw him and Selena. I went probably mentally not there for a minute or two.
"I was at the gig last night, which is not close to L.A. at all. He really wanted to go and then I'm talking to someone and out of the corner of my eye I look over and that really looks a lot like Selena Gomez," he continued. "I looked to see who she was with and I went speechless for a couple minutes. I asked him [to perform with me] and he said yes. It was a little bit of a surprise because I didn't think he would do it."
With Bieber's blessing hitting Twitter, the Internet is quickly following and Halter's Internet stock is rising. "I have a tweet deck on my computer and it flashes every second [now] and there's no way I would have been able to envision that," he said. "It's ridiculous. It's ridiculously awesome."
While Bieber has made it clear he's a fan of Halter, is Halter a fan of Bieber?
"Entirely [I get it]. I've been a fan and I really believe he's extremely talented," he said, explaining that his 3-year-old son got him into the Biebs. "The type of reach that he has worldwide is really iconic, on a level that we haven't really seen. I think he's very, very talented."
Related ArtistsSaturday, May 21, 2011
Ke$ha, Adam Lambert, Ne-Yo Have A Few Royal Wedding Gift Ideas
From 'guyliner' to American delicacies like Uncrustables, Kathy Griffin, Mike Posner and more tell us what they'd get Will and Kate.
By Terri Schwartz
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty Images
What kind of wedding gift do you give the royal couple who has everything?
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is on Friday (April 29), so MTV News reached out to some of our favorite Hollywood celebrities — from Ke$ha to Adam Lambert. Fortunately, they had some solid ideas!
"I haven't met them, so it would be kind of awkward," the "Tik Tok" singer admitted to MTV News. "I might paint them something. Maybe I'll paint them a guitar."
Like Ke$ha, other celebs had suggestions that were from the heart, even if they weren't the most practical.
"I will go out on a limb and say these two individuals maybe haven't had Uncrustables before in their life. I would get them a strawberry Uncrustable," Mike Posner said about the pastry.
David Cook followed up on the all-American food idea. "I feel like they have everything except maybe they probably don't have an Applebee's gift card. I'll go [with an] Applebee's gift card," the "American Idol" alum said.
Other stars said they'd gift the British prince and soon-to-be-princess with an item they were personally best known for.
"I'd probably buy William some eyeliner," Lambert said. "He could do that, he could rock that look. I think."
Ne-Yo was more empathetic, saying he would give gifts that could help shield them from photographers and blend in with everyday people. "Three years' supply of sunglasses. Yeah, put them on. A bunch of baseball caps, throw those on, and try to move around like regular people," the singer said. "I can't imagine what it would be like having to live under that big of a magnifying glass your whole life ... and fake mustaches, that's what I'd give them."
Brooke Burke went the more traditional route, saying she would get Will and Kate a journal to record the big event. "I would ask them to really take the time to write down thoughts and phrases and wishes," Burke said. "And not really to lose sight of how they feel about each other now and to really hold on to that feeling."
Kathy Griffin had good intentions but the comedian couldn't resist a puke joke.
"If I had to get the royal couple a gift, I would get them the Royal Couple Vomit Bag, which someone sent me a photo of," Griffin told us. "So you can actually buy vomit bags with their image on it, and I think that that is an honor and I hope that they see it as such."
What would you give to William and Kate? Share your ideas in the comments section!
Related Photos Related ArtistsDave Grohl, Josh Homme, John Paul Jones Unveil Supergroup
Them Crooked Vultures make their debut with a post-Lollapalooza set.
By James Montgomery
Dave Grohl (file)
Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Officially, Lollapalooza ended Sunday night in Chicago's Grant Park, with dueling sets from the Killers and Jane's Addiction. Unofficially, it ended very early Monday morning, across town at venerable rock club the Metro, with a surprise show by Them Crooked Vultures.
To the unfamiliar, the Vultures might seem like an odd choice to close out Lolla weekend ... until you realize that they're made up of Foo Fighters frontman/ former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme and Led Zeppelin legend John Paul Jones. And their gig at the Metro was their world premiere.
According to some reports, the Vultures actually turned down Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell's request to replace the Beastie Boys as headliners at the festival, opting to debut in front of some 1,100 super-psyched fans at the Metro, rather than 75,000 in Grant Park (tickets for the gig were announced via Foo Fighter/ QOTSA fan clubs). Meaning that, in a lot of ways, this was the most sought-after ticket in town.
Taking the stage just after midnight, the Vultures — Grohl on drums (of course), Homme on guitar and vocals, Jones on bass and keys and frequent QOTSA contributor Alain Johannes on guitar — ripped through 12 songs in 80 minutes, all taken from their upcoming debut, which may or may not be called Never Deserved the Future, and may or may not be hitting stores on October 23 (early "promo" videos touting both those facts were revealed over the weekend to be hoaxes perpetrated by QOTSA fans).
The songs, with appropriately Homme-ian titles like "Scumbag Blues," "Mind Eraser (No Chaser)," "Caligulove" and "Interlude w/Ludes," sounded pretty much how you'd expect, given the band's pedigree. They rocked, hard — Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot described them as "fresh, invigorating and just plain nasty" — delving off into psychedelic, reverb-filled excursions and exploring proggy territory, "both of the old-school Yes variety, and the more modern Tool flavor," according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Jim DeRogatis.
It's not known if Monday's Metro performance was a one-off event for the Vultures — there have been whispers of a full-blown tour, but a spokesperson for Homme had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time. Nor was it clear whether or not they'll have an album out in October.
Early Monday, a Crooked Vultures Twitter account, which had previously posted links to the band's official-looking Web site and the Metro's online ticketing site — posted a link to what appears to be the group's first bit of official merchandise: a Deserve the Future T-shirt. Cost: $30.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsKe$ha Says Her Own Britney-Style All-Girl Tour Will Be All Guys
'Blow' singer is psyched for the summer leg of her Get $leazy Tour with Spank Rock, LMFAO.
By Gil Kaufman
Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News
There's certainly something to be said for girl power. Ke$ha felt it when she hit the road with Rihanna last year, when the two apparently engaged in a variety of high jinks, including some alleged backstage pillow fights.
But when MTV News caught up with the glitter-soaked party girl on Wednesday just hours before her show at New York's Roseland Ballroom and asked her who she might bring along if she were able to put together a Britney Spears-style all-girl tour, Ke$ha didn't hesitate to name her posse.
Sitting cross-legged on a couch in black tights, black cowboy boots, black leather gloves and sleeveless black rocker T-shirt, Ke$ha told us that her all-girl lineup would actually be, well, all guys. "All-girl fantasy tour?" she said, staring up at the ceiling for a moment and contemplating the idea. "I mean, I play nice with chicks. I actually put together my personal fantasy tour and I just announced the second leg of my Get $leazy Tour and that's gonna be: me and LMFAO and Spank Rock."
And while the upcoming outing will be light on the estrogen — much like the first leg of her $leazy tour, on which she is sharing the stage with party-rap dude Beardo — Ke$ha insisted that it still will offer what her fans have come to expect from her shows. "It's not an all-girls tour, but it's gonna be f---ing sleazy," she maintained.
That macho vibe has been on display during to the winding-down first leg of the $leazy fest, which Ke$ha has nicknamed the "I Can Do Whatever We Want Tour." So, what kind of perks come with being a first-time headliner? "Blasting glitter violently at people, even if they don't want it," said Ke$ha. "It's like they don't even have a choice. It is a little volatile, but I do it anyways. I feel like people know me for my glitter and I don't want to disappoint."
Are you planning to see Ke$ha on the next leg of her Get Sleazy tour? Tell us in the comments.
Related Videos Related ArtistsFriday, May 20, 2011
Lady Gaga Reveals One Question 'Changed My Life' In MTV Special
Watch exclusive trailer here before 'Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside' airs Thursday, May 26, on MTV.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
Lady Gaga tracks the moments in her life that helped shape her and make the artistic transition from New York native Stefani Germanotta to Lady Gaga, global pop superstar. In an hour-long exclusive interview, "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," set to air Thursday, May 26, at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, the star opens up about her ties to her past and how they've impacted the woman she is today.
"I'm really quite traditional, actually, contrary to what some people might think about me. I'm quite traditional in the family sense," she says, adding, "My dad was just trying to breathe normally. He's still trying to breathe normally."
While he might still be trying to adjust to Gaga's outlandish pop persona, her father has always been helping her build the musical foundation she now draws on. "My parents got me Stevie Wonder 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' and the Beatles when I was younger," she recalls. "Good choices, mom and dad. Don't spoon-feed me the Beatles and Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen and Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and Elton John and expect for me not to turn out this way.
"These were the words that changed my life: 'Have you ever thought about writing music?' " she reveals in the special, during which she also opens up about other pivotal moments, such as the time she bought her first wig and was cast as Adelaide in her high school's production of "Guys and Dolls."
During the intimate chat, Mother Monster opens up about her rise to fame — from her school days of being bullied by classmates to the moment she decided to pursue her dream of pop stardom. She speaks in-depth about the moments that shaped her as an artist, including the upcoming release of her highly anticipated album, Born This Way, on May 23.
"Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside" also focuses on Gaga at home, spotlighting her close relationship with her family and her life growing up in Manhattan before she made the decision to move out on her own to New York City's Lower East Side. Fans will get to intimately know the girl that became Lady Gaga.
Don't miss MTV News' hour-long exclusive interview, "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," airing Thursday, May 26, at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
Related Videos Related ArtistsDavid Beckham Is Launching A Line Of Bodywear & Fragrances For Men
Thursday, May 19, 2011
'Bridesmaids': The Reviews Are In!
Critics overwhelmingly praise film's boundary-free humor.
By Eric Ditzian
The cast of "Bridesmaids"
Photo: Universal Pictures
Call it a Judd Apatow-for-chicks comedy or his laugh factory's finest effort since 2007's "Knocked Up" — and many critics have done both — but the bottom line is people have been loving "Bridesmaids" in early screenings.
Produced by Apatow, directed by Paul Feig and starring "Saturday Night Live" star Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids" opened Friday (May 13), and while it won't duel with "Thor" for the top box-office spot, it does have the distinction of being one of the most critically adored major releases of the year (currently 91 percent fresh on the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator). Critics have lauded the film's consistent laughs, Wiig for her breakout big-screen turn and the cast of uproarious supporting players. Read on for those critiques and more in our "Bridesmaids" review roundup:
The Story
"Wiig stars as Annie, the increasingly unhinged maid of honor for her best friend Lillian's (Maya Rudolph) upcoming up-market wedding. They are surrounded by an ensemble of witty twisted sisters who come in all shapes and sizes (both the wit and the sisters, the unrelated kind, just 'doin' it for themselves'), and a director in Paul Feig, who displays a lot of comedic common sense. This creative collective includes most notably Rose Byrne ('Damages') and Melissa McCarthy ('Mike & Molly'), with Wendi McLendon-Covey ('Reno 911!') and Ellie Kemper ('The Office') as the other merry maids. They all work hard to wring the most nonsense out of the clever script. ... The story swings between Annie's everyday struggles and a string of increasingly outrageous wedding plan fiascos [but] what distinguishes the film is the way in which the women relate and the raunch is handled." — Betsy Sharkey, The Los Angeles Times
The Laughs
"The scenes of outlandish slapstick humor in 'Bridesmaids' will surely be the ones viewers are talking about well into the multiplex parking lot: the disgusting aftermath of a spicy lunch in a boutique bathroom, culminating with a tulle-encased Rudolph performing a curb-side act worthy of John Waters at his most appalling; Wiig, hopped up on anti-anxiety meds and booze, running amok on a plane bound for Las Vegas. ... As viscerally funny as these moments are — and as expertly staged by comedy veteran Paul Feig ('Freaks and Geeks,' 'Knocked Up') — it's the smaller, more observant moments in 'Bridesmaids' that make it worth savoring." — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
The Apatow Effect
"It shows some of Apatow's influence. (He ended up producing.) It's a little long, and has the look — with some scenes ending abruptly, or subplots suddenly dropped — of having been re-thought in editing. It's also grosser than it needs to be, with a lot of bathroom 'humor.' There are touches of road-trip movies such as 'The Hangover' here, too, with the promise of a girls-gone-wild bachelorette party. But while 'Bridesmaids' doesn't generate those sort of belly laughs, it does deliver stronger, richer characters." — Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
The Dissenters
"Obviously intended as a femme version of a rude and crude boys-gone-wild comedy, complete with projectile vomiting, inconvenient defecation and fusillades of F-bombs, 'Bridesmaids' sorely lacks the saving grace of being consistently funny. ... 'Bridesmaids' is a sluggish, charmless misfire in which even the most appealing players — including Chris O'Dowd as an Irish-accented cop who inexplicably falls for Annie — must try too hard to make anything close to an engaging impression." — Joe Leydon, Variety
The Final Word
"If this is only a chick flick, then call me a chick. Witty, raunchy and affecting, 'Bridesmaids' crosses boundaries by blithely ignoring them. At one moment it's a broad-gauge farce that examines sex from a woman's point of view. (The findings are mixed at best.) At another it's a sophisticated comedy of manners, and class, that pits two bridesmaids against each other for control of the wedding, if not the bride's destiny. Through it all — the free-form conversations, the brilliant set pieces, the preposterous gross-outs, the flawless performances — Kristen Wiig's forlorn maid of honor, Annie, seeks her own destiny with a wrenchingly cockeyed passion." — Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Check out everything we've got on "Bridesmaids."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related VideosWill 'Twilight Saga' Star Jamie Campbell Bower Join 'Mortal Instruments'?
Bower, 'Eragon' actor Ed Speleers and newcomer Leebo Freeman reportedly are in the running for the role of Jace Wayland.
By Eric Ditzian
Jamie Campbell Bower
Photo: Elisabetta A. Villa/ WireImage
Last week when Lily Collins stopped by the MTV Newsroom, the 22-year-old "Mortal Instruments" star apologized to fans that the casting of her onscreen love interest — the strong-headed Jace Wayland — had stretched on so long and promised that they'd eventually find the right guy.
According to a new report from TheWrap, the fight to become that "right guy" is now down to three actors: Jamie Campbell Bower (of the "Twilight Saga" films), Ed Speleers ("Eragon") and newcomer Leebo Freeman. All three hopefuls reportedly tested with Collins late last week on the Sony Pictures lot.
A rep for Screen Gems, the studio behind the project, told MTV News, "We have no comment other than we are actively casting." Our requests for comments from the actors' reps were not immediately returned.
Back in January, Alex Pettyfer ("I Am Number Four") appeared to be the front-runner for the role of Jace, with reports even suggesting that he'd been offered the part. But nothing solid was nailed down, and now some new names have entered the mix.
"It's been a long process," Collins admitted to us last week. "In the process of casting something like this, where the characters are so pivotal and people are so enthusiastic, we don't want to do it wrong. If you rush it, people aren't as happy. Or you take the time and really seek out the right person to play the role.
"I totally understand everyone wanting to know right away, and I do too — I'm as excited as everyone else," she added. "I'm an avid fan and reader. But there's no way to speed up a process when we want to do it right."
Do you think Bower is a good choice for the Jace role? Share your opinions in the comments.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.