Former Mouseketeer Gosling's Music Video ... Watch It!

We thought he was just a brooding actor. Turns out Ryan Gosling's a brooding singer, too.

The former Mousketeer -- he was part of the Mickey Mouse Show crew that also brought us Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera -- is apparently getting back into the music business.

Check out a Gosling Mousketeer Clip

Gosling is the lead singer of the indie rock band Dead Man’s Bones, with bandmate Zach Shields on the drums. The band's first video features the ballad “In The Room Where You Sleep,” with the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music Children’s Choir.

According to the band's MySpace page, their influences are “Disney Haunted Mansion, Doo-Wop and 60s Girl Groups.”

An album is in the works, and the group will perform at the label’s showcase at the SXSW Festival this spring in Austin.

And now, Gosling's brooding first video:
In The Room Where You Sleep

Sultry Former Catwoman Kitt Dies

One of the original “sex kittens” has passed on.

Singer/dancer/actress Eartha Kitt, who rose from the Southern cotton fields to captivate audiences around the world, died of colon cancer on Thursday at the age of 81, Reuters reports.

The cancer was detected about two years ago and treated but recurred after a period of remission. "She came back strongly. She had been performing until two months ago," Andrew Freedman, a long-time friend and publicist told Reuters by telephone from Los Angles. "We had dates booked through 2009."

Slinky, sensuous and cat-like, Kitt described herself as a "sex kitten" and used her seductive purr to great effect, especially when she played Catwoman on the 1960s Batman TV series.

But Kitt had the greatest success as a singer and dancer. Her hit songs included "C'est Si Bon," "Let's Do It" and "Just an Old Fashioned Girl." She also was widely associated with Christmas because of her hit "Santa Baby."

Kitt also loved to perform in front of a live audience. "She loved cabaret performances," Freedman said. "If there was ever an opportunity to do a small intimate venue with about 150 people, that was always her preference."

She was born to a black-Indian mother and a white father on a plantation in South Carolina in 1927, Reuters reports. She once described herself as "that little urchin cotton picker from the South, Eartha Mae" and often spoke of a tough childhood in the impoverished segregated South.

Maybe it was growing up with such hardships that made her so confident in later years. In an interview with The Times of London in April, Kitt described her approach to performing by saying: "I do not have an act. I just do Eartha Kitt ... I want to be whoever Eartha Kitt is until the gods take me wherever they take me."

Ben Stiller Breaks a Hand

Ouch!

Ben Stiller has pulled a Shia LaBeouf.

The actor took a tumble this past weekend while snowboarding and broke his hand.

No further officials details have been released, except that Stiller was taken to New York's Mount Sinai hospital, where a top hand specialist was called in to patch him up.

He is expected to be fully healed in time for the publicity rounds for his next movie, Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, due in May.

Celebs' Last-Minute Holidaze

Celebs wait ‘til the last-minute to do their holiday shopping, too!

And this was all at one store: Samantha Ronson, Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate Olsen, Juliette Lewis, Kelly Osbourne, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron were all spotted Tuesday at L.A.’s Barney’s New York, according to PerezHilton.com.

Just to clarify, this wasn’t a group outing but a sort-of revolving door, with the entertainers swinging by throughout the day.

Olsen was overheard in the elevator, saying, “It's really sad -- the recession is everywhere. But at least they are having good sales,” reports Perez.

Gesturing to a new hat, she added, "That's where I got this! The recession!"

In other celeb shopping news, Anne Hathaway noticed the recession as well and is doing Christmas on the cheap this year, according to ShowBizSpy.com.

She explains, "I'm doing a lot of research right now on cool gifts for under $50. The Real Simple Magazine has an amazing gift guide right now. You have to see it. It's so good "

One year she attempted to make gifts but admits, "I'm a willful crafter, but I'm kind of a C student when it comes to the crafts.”

Pamela Anderson is giving everyone on her list the same gift, including outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush and his successor Barack Obama, reports MSN.com. That will definitely cut down on shopping time!

Anderson was so impressed by Ingrad Newkirk’s book One Can Make a Difference, saying, "I've found a wonderful book I'm giving everyone ... It's a collection of 50 inspirational essays -- not boring 'strive to be better' sayings, but real-life stories that are truly amazing."

Tina Fey = Entertainer of the Year

Ah, the power of Sarah Palin.

You can credit the GOP veep candidate for this one: Her impersonator Tina Fey has been voted the Associated Press' Entertainer of the Year.

Fey was selected by members of AP, newspaper editors and broadcast producers across the country as the performer who had the greatest impact on culture and entertainment in 2008, reports the -- yes -- AP.

The former SNL regular beat out Robert Downey Jr. and Heath Ledger -- who came in second and third, respectively.

Was there any doubt Fey wouldn't walk away with this win based on her past year -- taking the lead in the hit Baby Mama (which grossed $60 million at the box office) and winning three Emmys for her critically lauded NBC sitcom 30 Rock, which she created, stars in and writes?

The AP credits Fey with impressing voters largely with her indelible impression of Gov. Sarah Palin, driving SNL to record ratings and eventually drew an appearance from Palin herself.

She is applauded by her fellow writers:

"Tina Fey is such an obvious choice," said Sharon Eberson, entertainment editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "She gave us funny when we really needed it and, in a year when women in politics were making huge strides, Fey stood out in the world of entertainment."

"She simultaneously entertained us with her wit and put a mirror up to the nation during the election and made us think about what was going on," said Scott Shive, assistant features editor at the Lexington Herald-Leader. "She is the epitome of the smart kid coming out on top for once.

Hudson Plans First Appearance

Jennifer Hudson will likely make her first public appearance in February, since the tragic deaths of her mother, brother and nephew last October.

The Dreamgirls star is scheduled to perform Neil Diamond songs, along with fellow Grammy nominees, at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala on Feb. 6, just two days before the 51st annual Grammy Awards where she could take home up to four statues.

Earlier this month, Hudson’s brother-in-law William Balfour was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion.

No Lung Transplant for Jacko

There’s always a little truth to a rumor … it has to come from somewhere, right? Well … not necessarily.

Claims that Michael Jackson needs a lung transplant because of a rare respiratory disease are a "total fabrication," according to a statement from Jackson's "official and sole spokesperson, Dr. Tohme Tohme" (yes, you read that right!), Reuters reports.

Word of Jackson's suffering from Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency circulated after a writer, at work on an upcoming Jacko biography, was interviewed in Britain's Sunday Express newspaper.

The author, Ian Halperin, said that Jackson's supposed lung condition -- which affects only one in 5,000 Americans -- has been difficult to treat because of the associated health problems. He said: "For years, Michael has been working with his own doctors to try to make sure it doesn't progress. He has been on many medications that have stabilized him."

"Concerning this author's allegations, we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorized 'biography,'" said the statement attributed to Tohme.
"The writer's wild allegations concerning Mr. Jackson's health are a total fabrication," the statement said.

Sopranos’ Actor Cleared of Cop Killing

Today was a good day for Lillo Brancato. The Sopranos actor, who played an aspiring mobster on the HBO drama, was cleared of second-degree murder in the shooting death of an off-duty police officer.

The actor and his accomplice Steven Armento broke into a Bronx basement apartment in search of prescription drugs back in Dec. 2005 after a night of drinking at a strip club. Officer Daniel Enchautegui, 28, came over to investigate the disturbance when Armento shot him in the heart with a .357 magnum.

Armento was convicted of first-degree murder and given a life sentence without parole, while Brancato was convicted of attempted burglary. Although he faces a minimum three-year sentence, he could get credit for time served, since he has been behind bars since the arrest.

"There was never going to be smiles," his defense laywer Joseph Tacopina told the Associated Press. "This is not a case that warrants that."

Lillo found fame in 1993 with A Bronx Tale alongside Robert DeNiro and later with his recurring role as Matt Bevilaqua on The Sopranos.

Bronx Mowgli Wentz's Baby Picture!

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are in the giving mood.

"We decided to share the best gift we could ever receive with you: Bronx Mowgli Wentz. We couldn't be happier," they wrote in a post on the Fall Out Boy's blog at FriendsorEnemies.com.

Check out the first Bronx Photo

In return, Ashlee and Pete ask that their friends and fans make a donation to thse worthwhile foundations:

http://www.theirc.org/
http://www.roomtogrow.org/
www.richiemadden.com

Johansson's Snot Raises Thousands

Scarlett Johansson gets credit for being original in her fund-raising efforts.

Johnansson's used tissue, created last week during her appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, sold for $5,300 on eBay, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Proceeds will go to USA Harvest, an organization that works with restaurants to distribute unsold food to those in need.

Johansson appeared on Leno's show Dec. 17 to promote her new movie, The Spirit, in which she co-stars with Samuel L. Jackson. She told Leno she had caught a cold from Jackson, whereupon Leno handed her some tissues and encouraged her to deposit her nasal secretions there for posterity. Afterward, she put the tissue—complete with a lipstick smear—into a bag and signed it for auction.

66th Annual Golden Globe Nominations

A Golden Globe is ... kinda like an Oscar.

Nominations for the second-best award in Hollywood were announced today.

Films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and TV shows such as HBO's In Treatment lead the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations, announced by HFPA President Jorge Camara, along with Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Terrence Howard and Rainn Wilson, Thursday, at 8:30 a.m.EST/5:30 a.m.PST

Here are the complete list of nominations:

FILM

Best Motion Picture-Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Revolutionary Road
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess

Best Director
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road

Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare, The Reader
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt

Foreign Language Film
Gomorrah
I've Loved You So Long
Waltz with Bashir
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Everlasting Moments

Animated Film
WALL-E
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda

Original Score
Defiance
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
Changeling

Original Song
“Down to Earth” from WALL-E
“Gran Torino” from Gran Torino
“I Thought I’d Lost You” from Bolt
“Once in a Lifetime” from Cadillac Records
“The Wrestler” from The Wrestler

KEEP READING: The nominees for TV!

Box Office Analysis, Oct. 12: 'Body of Lies' Loses to the Chihuahuas

HOLLYWOOD - When I read the novel Body of Lies, by Washington Post political columnist David Ignatius, my first though was not, "That’s a movie." Instead, my reaction was, "Can U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East really be that wrongheaded and misguided?" That may be why the new film adaptation has had trouble getting traction with audiences in pre-release tracking surveys and why its opening weekend is softer than you might expect.

Despite the star power of Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and three-time Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, Body of Lies (Warner Bros) has managed just a lukewarm $17.15M opening, losing out to Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney). The reviews are just so-so for Body of Lies (54 percent Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), and this one would need to rely on word-of-mouth to hit a decent domestic number, however, it will probably top out at $34M-$37M. (With almost no awards buzz, it will not benefit from Oscar season the way that Warner Bros’ Syriana did in 2005.)

With a stellar pedigree, including a script by Oscar-winner William Monahan (The Departed), two big movie stars (let’s call it two and a half since Russell Crowe gained a reported 50 pounds to play this role) and Ridley Scott at the helm, coming off of his commercial and critical success with American Gangster, how could Body of Lies go wrong? The problem is not pedigree. It is subject matter.

Sir Ridley’s new spy thriller is the latest attempt by Hollywood to say something important about the war on terror, and Body of Lies is actually strongly outperforming efforts like last year’s A Mighty Heart ($3.9M opening), Rendition ($4M opening) and Lions For Lambs ($6.7M). The two most successful post-9/11 spy thrillers have been 2007’s excellent Peter Berg-directed The Kingdom ($17.1M opening - $47.5M cume) and this year’s Vantage Point ($22.8M opening - $72.2M cume). The difference here is that The Kingdom had a strong, conventional narrative and Vantage Point’s Rashomon-style puzzle-work was actually fun. Moviegoers have shown less interest in what I am sure are more realistic espionage scenarios like the one played out in Body of Lies.

Let’s face it. With the Dow down 18 percent this week, the biggest one-week drop in Wall Street history, ticket buyers are not necessarily looking for a complex, arcane, espionage thriller. With the country arguing over Presidential politics and life seeming very, very serious, a lot of people would rather see a funny movie about a dog in a purse.

It is safe to say that somewhere at Disney, plans are underway for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. Chloe the Chihuahua is a movie star, and her legs are longer than they look. Beverly Hills Chihuahua has added another $17.51M for the three-day, which will give it a second consecutive weekend win, down just 40 percent, and a new 10-day cume of $52.5M.

Sony’s Quarantine, an R-rated horror flick about a rare strain of rabies in a confined apartment building, with lots of shaky camera work and plenty of screaming courtesy of Exorcism of Emily Rose star Jennifer Carpenter, has apparently eked out an impressive Friday win with an estimated $5M on opening day. It played out the weekend better than the standard horror film and finishes as a surprise No. 2 with about $14.2M for a good, solid, low budget hit.

Holdovers Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Sony) will round out the top 5 for the weekend. The Shia LaBeouf high-tech thriller snagged another $11M for a new domestic cume of $70.5M. Meanwhile, Nick & Norah’ managed $6.5M for the three-day and a 10-day cume of $20.8M.

The new football movie, The Express (Universal), is proving to be a little too "been there, done that" for moviegoers. The heartfelt story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, starring Harlem-born, Brooklyn-raised former Amherst College football player-turned-actor Rob Brown and sports movie veteran Dennis Quaid as former Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, fumbled on opening weekend with a disappointing $4.73M and a sixth-place finish.

The other new wide opener is the hardly-screened-for-critics City of Ember (Fox). This odd family fantasy movie from Walden Media and Playtone (Tom Hanks’ company) features a lot of talent including Oscar nominees Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Oscar winners Tim Robbins and Martin Landau , but it is a non-starter in 10th-place with a meager $3.2M.

The Duchess (Paramount Vantage) expanded to just over 1,200 playdates, but has failed to score big. The Keira Knightley-Ralph Fiennes period costume drama delivered a $2,752 weekend Per Theatre Average on Friday for $3.32M (No. 9). The top 3 Per Theatre Averages for the weekend were the brand new Guy Ritchie crime pic RockNRolla ($20,143 PTA), Mike Leigh's brilliant new Happy-Go-Lucky is next with $20,000 per, and Rachel Getting Married is third with a $17,185 PTA.

STUDIO THREE-DAY ESTIMATES
1. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney) - $17.55M, $5,442 PTA, $52.5M cume
2. NEW – Quarantine (Sony) - $14.2M, $5,770 PTA, $14.2M cume
3. NEW – Body of Lies (Warner Bros) - $13.1M, $4,841 PTA, $13.1M cume
4. Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $11M, $3,048 PTA, $70.5M cume
5. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Sony) - $6.5M, $2,685 PTA, $20.8M cume
6. NEW – The Express (Universal) - $4.7M, $1,685 PTA, $4.7M cume
7. Nights in Rodanthe (Warner Bros) - $4.6M, $1,790 PTA, $32.3M cume
8. Appaloosa (Warner Bros) - $3.3M, $2,589 PTA, $10.8M
9. The Duchess (Paramount Vantage) - $3.3M, $2,752 PTA, $5.6M cume
10. NEW – City of Ember (Fox) - $3.2M, $1,583 PTA, $3.2M cume

Photo(s) © 2008- Walt Disney Pictures- All Rights Reserved

'Body of Lies' Loses to the Chihuahuas

HOLLYWOOD - When I read the novel Body of Lies, by Washington Post political columnist David Ignatius, my first though was not, "That’s a movie." Instead, my reaction was, "Can U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East really be that wrongheaded and misguided?" That may be why the new film adaptation has had trouble getting traction with audiences in pre-release tracking surveys and why its opening weekend is softer than you might expect.

Despite the star power of Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and three-time Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, Body of Lies (Warner Bros) has managed just a lukewarm $17.15M opening, losing out to Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney). The reviews are just so-so for Body of Lies (54 percent Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), and this one would need to rely on word-of-mouth to hit a decent domestic number, however, it will probably top out at $34M-$37M. (With almost no awards buzz, it will not benefit from Oscar season the way that Warner Bros’ Syriana did in 2005.)

With a stellar pedigree, including a script by Oscar-winner William Monahan (The Departed), two big movie stars (let’s call it two and a half since Russell Crowe gained a reported 50 pounds to play this role) and Ridley Scott at the helm, coming off of his commercial and critical success with American Gangster, how could Body of Lies go wrong? The problem is not pedigree. It is subject matter.

Sir Ridley’s new spy thriller is the latest attempt by Hollywood to say something important about the war on terror, and Body of Lies is actually strongly outperforming efforts like last year’s A Mighty Heart ($3.9M opening), Rendition ($4M opening) and Lions For Lambs ($6.7M). The two most successful post-9/11 spy thrillers have been 2007’s excellent Peter Berg-directed The Kingdom ($17.1M opening - $47.5M cume) and this year’s Vantage Point ($22.8M opening - $72.2M cume). The difference here is that The Kingdom had a strong, conventional narrative and Vantage Point’s Rashomon-style puzzle-work was actually fun. Moviegoers have shown less interest in what I am sure are more realistic espionage scenarios like the one played out in Body of Lies.

Let’s face it. With the Dow down 18 percent this week, the biggest one-week drop in Wall Street history, ticket buyers are not necessarily looking for a complex, arcane, espionage thriller. With the country arguing over Presidential politics and life seeming very, very serious, a lot of people would rather see a funny movie about a dog in a purse.

It is safe to say that somewhere at Disney, plans are underway for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. Chloe the Chihuahua is a movie star, and her legs are longer than they look. Beverly Hills Chihuahua has added another $17.51M for the three-day, which will give it a second consecutive weekend win, down just 40 percent, and a new 10-day cume of $52.5M.

Sony’s Quarantine, an R-rated horror flick about a rare strain of rabies in a confined apartment building, with lots of shaky camera work and plenty of screaming courtesy of Exorcism of Emily Rose star Jennifer Carpenter, has apparently eked out an impressive Friday win with an estimated $5M on opening day. It played out the weekend better than the standard horror film and finishes as a surprise No. 2 with about $14.2M for a good, solid, low budget hit.

Holdovers Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Sony) will round out the top 5 for the weekend. The Shia LaBeouf high-tech thriller snagged another $11M for a new domestic cume of $70.5M. Meanwhile, Nick & Norah’ managed $6.5M for the three-day and a 10-day cume of $20.8M.

The new football movie, The Express (Universal), is proving to be a little too "been there, done that" for moviegoers. The heartfelt story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, starring Harlem-born, Brooklyn-raised former Amherst College football player-turned-actor Rob Brown and sports movie veteran Dennis Quaid as former Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, fumbled on opening weekend with a disappointing $4.73M and a sixth-place finish.

The other new wide opener is the hardly-screened-for-critics City of Ember (Fox). This odd family fantasy movie from Walden Media and Playtone (Tom Hanks’ company) features a lot of talent including Oscar nominees Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Oscar winners Tim Robbins and Martin Landau , but it is a non-starter in 10th-place with a meager $3.2M.

The Duchess (Paramount Vantage) expanded to just over 1,200 playdates, but has failed to score big. The Keira Knightley-Ralph Fiennes period costume drama delivered a $2,752 weekend Per Theatre Average on Friday for $3.32M (No. 9). The top 3 Per Theatre Averages for the weekend were the brand new Guy Ritchie crime pic RockNRolla ($20,143 PTA), Mike Leigh's brilliant new Happy-Go-Lucky is next with $20,000 per, and Rachel Getting Married is third with a $17,185 PTA.

STUDIO THREE-DAY ESTIMATES
1. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney) - $17.55M, $5,442 PTA, $52.5M cume
2. NEW – Quarantine (Sony) - $14.2M, $5,770 PTA, $14.2M cume
3. NEW – Body of Lies (Warner Bros) - $13.1M, $4,841 PTA, $13.1M cume
4. Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $11M, $3,048 PTA, $70.5M cume
5. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Sony) - $6.5M, $2,685 PTA, $20.8M cume
6. NEW – The Express (Universal) - $4.7M, $1,685 PTA, $4.7M cume
7. Nights in Rodanthe (Warner Bros) - $4.6M, $1,790 PTA, $32.3M cume
8. Appaloosa (Warner Bros) - $3.3M, $2,589 PTA, $10.8M
9. The Duchess (Paramount Vantage) - $3.3M, $2,752 PTA, $5.6M cume
10. NEW – City of Ember (Fox) - $3.2M, $1,583 PTA, $3.2M cume

Photo(s) © 2008- Walt Disney Pictures- All Rights Reserved

B.O. Forcast: Will Leo and Russell Reign?

HOLLYWOOD - It is hard to think of a movie with a more impeccable pedigree than Body of Lies (Warner Bros), set for wide release this Friday. Three-time Academy Award nominee Ridley Scott re-teams with Oscar winner Russell Crowe for the fourth time in the film adaptation of the David Ignatius bestselling novel adapted for the screen by William Monahan, the Oscar winning screenwriter of The Departed. Add to the mix Leonardo DiCaprio, with 3 Oscar nominations of his own, and you have a project with exceedingly bright commercial and artistic prospects.

My regular sources tell me that industry tracking is softer-than-expected for this one, and reviews, as of Wednesday night, are a bit mixed (63 percent Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), but I will still put my money on Body of Lies to win the weekend. Four of Scott’s last seven films have topped $100M domestic--Gladiator ($187.7M cume), Hannibal ($165M cume), Black Hawk Down ($108.6M cume) and last year’s American Gangster starring Crowe ($130.1M cume). When Sir Ridley has missed of late, it has been with modern day character pieces like A Good Year starring Russell Crowe ($7.5M cume) and Matchstick Men ($36.9M cume) and his stab second stab at a “sword and sandals” epic Kingdom of Heaven ($47.3M cume). The fact is that Scott is the best when it comes to smart, adult action films.

The undertow working against Body of Lies is that audiences seem deterred by any movie related to the war on terror. Critical disasters on the subject like Lions For Lambs ($15M cume) and Rendition ($9.7M cume) have failed, and even very good films like In the Valley of Elah ($6.7M cume) and The Kingdom ($47.4M cume) deserved better box office results. DiCaprio is 10 years Russell Crowe’s junior, and with recent quality hits like The Departed ($132.3M cume) and The Aviator ($102.6M cume) on his resume along with his Oscar nominated turn in Blood Diamond ($57.3M cume), he brings some much needed youth appeal. I am projecting a possible $16M-$19M for this one, and if you pin me down, I will say $17.5M.

Last week’s winner, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney) will essentially have the family audience to itself again this week. The live action, talking dog comedy with Latino flavor is hitting “the sweet spot” with audiences attracting Under 25’s, Moms and pre-teens, and its weekend dip will be limited to something in the 45 percent range. That would give Chihuahua a very strong $16.6M second weekend.

The Express (Universal), the story of Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, is tracking decently enough. Harlem-born, Brooklyn-raised former Amherst College football player-turned-actor Rob Brown plays the former Syracuse Orangemen star and sports movie veteran Dennis Quaid plays his coach Ben Schwartzwaider. Early reviews are coming in very strong with a score of 83 percent Fresh as of Wednesday night.

Football movies generally open in the mid-teens in the late summer and fall. 2006’s Mark Wahlberg vehicle Invincible scored $17M in its first three days, while Dwayne Johnson’s Gridiron Gang managed a $14.4M opening a few weeks later. It does not appear that The Express has enough traction to match the $20M+ openings for 2000’s Remember the Titans or 2004’s Friday Night Lights. I am pegging this biopic for a possible $14.1M.

There is generally room for an R-rated horror flick at this time of year, and Sony’s Quarantine fits the bill. A rare strain of rabies in a confined apartment building with lots of shaky camera work and plenty of screaming courtesy of Exorcism of Emily Rose star Jennifer Carpenter, and you probably have a decent, little low budget hit. This one could scare up $11.5M or so and a possible fourth-place finish.

The strong-holding Shia LaBeouf thriller Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) is likely to spend another week in the top five. The DJ Caruso-directed blockbuster may bank as much as $10M more, staying on target for something north of $90M domestic. That would mean just a 45 percent drop from its strong 2nd weekend.

The lushly-appointed Saul Bibb period costume drama The Duchess (Paramount Vantage) starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes is poised for a nice expansion to about 1,100 playdates. With strong reviews and a heap of female appeal, this look at 18th-century fame may grab close to $6M.

The other wide release is the Walden Media and Playtone co-production of City of Ember being distributed by Fox. The Playtone name means that Tom Hanks is the producer, but this one will not necessarily appear near the top of his resume. There is a lot of talent in the cast including Oscar nominees Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies) and Oscar winners Tim Robbins and Martin Landau (Ed Wood), but the movie has been barely screened for critics (if at all). This fantastical family film is unlikely to crack $5M and probably has a ceiling of $3.5M.

FINAL PREDICTIONS FOR THE WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 10
1. NEW – Body of Lies (Warner Bros) - $17.5M
2. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney) - $16.6M
3. NEW – The Express (Universal) - $14.1M
4. NEW – Quarantine (Sony) - $11.5M
5. Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $10M
6. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Sony) - $6.1M
7. The Duchess (Paramount Vantage) - $5.9M
8. Nights in Rodanthe (Warner Bros) - $3.9M
9. NEW – City of Ember (Fox) - $3.5M
10. Appaloosa (Warner Bros) - $3M
*Religulous (Lionsgate) - $2.1M
*Fireproof (IDP Films/Samuel Goldwyn) - $2M
*American Carol (Vivendi) - $1.75M
*Flash of Genius (Universal) - $1.3M

Photo(s) © 2008- Warner Bros.- All Rights Reserved

Britney Choses Kids Over Partying For New Years

Britney Spears is forfeiting a night out on New Year’s Eve to look after her children.

The pop star is set to stay home on December 31 with sons Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, while their father Kevin Federline - who has sole custody of the children - parties with new girlfriend Victoria Prince in Las Vegas.

A source close to Britney and her ex-husband Kevin told Britain’s Daily Star newspaper: “Kevin has been getting on much better with Britney recently, so he didn’t want to risk setting their relationship back by mentioning Victoria.

“And he knows she’s desperate to see the boys over Christmas, so he’s letting her visit them at his home over the festive period.

“He then added she could have them on New Year’s Eve, as if it was a great favour.”

It was recently revealed that the 27-year-old singer - who is currently enjoying a successful career comeback following the release of her new album ‘Circus’ - has asked Kevin to rekindle their relationship and move back in with her.

However, Kevin is apparently not interested in giving their romance a second chance.

He said recently: “There were times when I was up and down about it, but I just figure I’ve made all the right decisions.”

Simon Cowell Wants Britney Spears On American Idol

Some of the biggest singer/songwriters in pop history have visited “American Idol” over the past few seasons: Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, Jon Bon Jovi and even Bono.

But while judge Simon Cowell said during a conference call Wednesday (December 17) that the show has never been able to nail down the one mentor it has tried to get “every year” to help the kids on the show — ex-Beatle Paul McCartney — he has big hopes for this year’s slate of mentors. Specifically, he has one name in mind that he would love to see on the marquee: Britney Spears.

“She would, literally, be first on the list as far as I’m concerned in any capacity,” Cowell said. He didn’t actually divulge who would appear as mentors/performers for the upcoming season — which kicks off January 13 — but he said the door is open any week for Britney to drop in. “I would love to see her mentor the contestants, but if she doesn’t want to do that, and she wants to come on the show and perform, I would welcome her anytime.”

Part of the reason Cowell is so open to Spears stopping by is that when she appeared on his British talent show “X-Factor” recently, “The buzz we had on our show when she came on was extraordinary. And even with all the stuff that’s gone on with her the past two years, there was more excitement and interest in her than I’ve seen in anyone in years. She would be very, very welcome.”

McCartney and Spears are at the top of the list, but Cowell said he’d also love to have another recent “X-Factor” guest make her way to “Idol”: Beyoncé. “We just recently had Beyoncé on the British version of the show. … [She] was absolutely incredible. … You want those kinds of artists. I’d like people with personalities.”

He also opened the door for a couple of past judges/mentors he’d like to see come back: Lionel Richie and filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.

Britney On Ellen

Jen Slaps Angelina’s Wrist

Jennifer Aniston has chastised Angelina Jolie for being “uncool” in regards to her comments about how she and Brad Pitt first got together, according to People.com.

In the December issue of Vogue (out Nov. 19), Aniston says Jolie should have been much more circumspect about the romance, which blossomed while Pitt and Aniston were still married. "There was stuff printed there that was definitely from a time when I was unaware that it was happening," Aniston, 39, says of comments Jolie had made to the same magazine a year earlier. "I felt those details were a little inappropriate to discuss. ... That stuff about how she couldn't wait to get to work every day? That was really uncool."

Aniston also chats about her own romantic life, including her much-discussed on-again, off-again relationship with 30-year-old musician John Mayer, who she says has matured since they've been together, theHuffingtonPost.com reports. In fact, she is frankly a little tired of defending the relationship all the time.

"People need to mind their own business! Did you ever think Claudia Schiffer and David Copperfield made sense? Love just shows up."

Meanwhile, her ex-honey Pitt had to be rescued by a security guard from aggressive paparazzi at the premiere of his upcoming The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Monday night.

People.com reports that according to a source close to the actor, "The paparazzi stormed the theater and were incredibly aggressive, pouring in through all entrance areas. They were hitting bystanders with their cameras. The security guard was merely trying to safely and quickly remove Brad from the melee."

Brad didn’t think much of it. "Though they [the paparazzi] were exceptionally more aggressive than usual," Pitt tells People, "breaking through a security barrier and into a private holding area, ultimately [it was] just another day in the life."

You mean the life of a movie star, of course. Not us normal folk.

MORE NEWS: 14 Toons, 3 Oscars

Leonaro DiCaprio Hand Delivers His PSA

HOLLYWOOD - Leonardo DiCaprio, the force behind a new campaign urging the youth to vote, turned up on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show on Thursday, October 2, to hand deliver the PSA featuring a number of Hollywood entertainers including Ellen.

The Body of Lies star invited a host of celebrity pals to his Hollywood home, where the PSA was shot, to speak their mind about the importance of voting. DiCaprio's PSA advises younger voters by saying, “Don’t Vote.” Don't worry mom and dad, the hope is that they are stubborn and do the opposite.

DiCaprio told DeGeneres, "Forest Whitaker, Tobey Maguire, will.i.am and myself were talking about how soon the voter registration deadline is and it's only days away and, with 35 states in our country, the deadline is October 6th - that's this Monday... so we really wanted to do a PSA to really encourage people to get out there.”

Click Here to View PSA

"This is one of the most important elections of our lifetime and we really need to tell everyone we know to get out and register,” continued DiCaprio. "We have this campaign that's, 'Tell five of your friends,' so if you go online, at least send it to five friends and it's gonna spread like wildfire."

In the PSA, DiCaprio, Whitaker, DeGeneres, Maguire and stars like Dustin Hoffman, Demi Moore and Usher poke fun at those who have not registered to vote, saying, "Don't vote."

Other celebrities join the ad, with Courteney Cox asking, "Who cares about your children's education." And Jamie Foxx and DiCaprio ask, "Who cares about global warming and the fact that our polar ice caps are melting," as Jennifer Aniston chimes in, "I hear polar bears can swim!"

The ad has already achieved it's initial goal, DiCaprio explains on Ellen's show, "In the first hour (of posting it online) we got 10,000 more people registered to vote."

MORE NEWS: Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro Team Up to 'Paint Houses'

Representative Slams Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Split Rumors

HOLLYWOOD - A representative for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has hit out at online rumors the Hollywood supercouple had split.

Internet gossips were sent into a spin earlier this week, September 15, speculating that the superstar pair had decided to end their relationship.

The couple has been together since Pitt's divorce from former Friends star Jennifer Aniston was finalised in 2005. They have five children together, adopted kids Maddox, seven; Pax, four, and Zahara, three; as well as biological children, Shiloh, two, and newborn twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon.

Since the birth of the twins, Jolie has been absent from public life, while Pitt has been seen by himself at several high-profile red carpet events, fuelling rumors of a rift between the pair.

However, a spokesperson for the couple has vehemently denied they are having any troubles with their relationship.

The representative tells Entertainment Tonight that the reports are "absolutely not true".

(c) 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Jennifer Aniston is a Stalker

HOLLYWOOD - Actress Jennifer Aniston is set to stalk Alec Baldwin when she makes a return to the small screen with a stint on NBC's 30 Rock.

The former Friends star will make a guest appearance in an upcoming episode of the comedy show, which stars Baldwin and Tina Fey.

And the star will shock fans by playing a "free-spirited, Fatal Attraction-like stalker" who becomes obsessed with Baldwin's character on the show.

Fey, the series' star, creator and producer, says, "Jennifer is not only incredibly lovely to have around, she also has what the young people would call mad skills'. We're very excited that she's joining us."

(c) 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Fall Box Office Preview: Hollywood's Hopes Riding with Females Under 25

HOLLYWOOD - In movie industry parlance, there are four audience quadrants--Males Under 25, Males 25 Plus, Females Under 25 and Females 25 Plus. A blockbuster tends to have appeal in all four quadrants, which this summer was the case with The Dark Knight, Iron Man and Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull among others. If Hollywood is going to capitalize on its record-breaking summer of 2008, it will need to score huge with one quadrant in particular this fall, and it is not necessarily Hollywood’s “bread and butter” demo.

Young women will make or break the fourth quarter of this year for the movie business. There are three major Disney films that will rely heavily on turning out Females Under 25, and, of course, Summit unleashes the bookstore and internet sensation Twilight for Thanksgiving. The migration of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to next summer has created an opportunity in the release schedule, and several of these girl-geared pictures are rushing in to fill that gap.

There is no media company better at synergy than Disney. They popularized Miley Cyrus on the Disney Channel, then turned her into a box office sensation with the 3D spectacle Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour, which delivered $31.1M on its opening weekend and $65.2M during the course of its domestic run. Disney’s cross-platform promotion will be on full display with its female-fueled fall slate.

It all starts with Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney), opening wide on October 3. With Piper Perabo (Because I Said So, Cheaper By the Dozen 1 & 2) as a caretaker for a mouthy dog in Beverly Hills, I am very high on this movie, and, in my estimation, it has a chance to be one of the big hits of the fall. It will play as a family film, and also, with voices provided by Salma Hayek, Andy Garcia, Cheech Marin, Edward James Olmos, George Lopez and Paul Rodriguez, it will do brisk business with Latinos. But ultimately, when you make a movie about the kind of dog that fits in a purse, you need Females Under 25 to show up in big numbers.

Disney follows with High School Musical 3: Senior Year, already a phenomenon on the Disney Channel, and now a slam-dunk on the big screen starting October 24. Tweens, especially tween girls, are buzzing wildly about this one, and keep in mind, the middle schoolers, who watched the original High School Musical on cable in 2006, are now in high school. The hype will only heighten as the release date approaches. The teens who read Perez Hilton are certain to get plenty of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens news in advance of the release of HSM3.

November 21 will bring Twilight (Summit) to America’s multiplexes, based on Stephenie Meyer’s young adult vampire novels. As Comic-Con attendees found out this summer, teenage girls will be falling over each other to see this film adaptation first. Think of it as Anne Rice for young females, and Kristen Stewart (Into the Wild, In the Land of Women) as protagonist Isabella Swan and Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter 4 & 5) as tragic vampire hero Edward Cullen. The question is, can this movie expand its reach beyond its hardcore teenage female fans to include the girls who have not read the books? That will be the job of the marketing folks at upstart distributor Summit, releasing their first big movie.

Bolt (Disney) also debuts November 21, and although this is technically a family film, it is powered by Disney star Miley Cyrus, who provides one of the lead voices. This is a Digital 3D animated film that also features the voice of John Travolta, an actor that many teenage girls know only as the guy in drag who played Tracy Turnblad’s mom in Hairspray. Miley will be flogging this project everywhere from the Disney Channel to TRL on MTV to Ellen, so Females Under 25 are being counted on to show up in droves.

There are two other fall titles that are counting on younger women. Sony’s Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is set for October 3 with Michael Cera, in his first big role since Juno, and Kat Dennings (The House Bunny) in a PG13-rated movie that looks to be in the tradition of John Hughes. Although teen guys will vuy tickets as well, a high school relationship movie is probably looking for Females Under 25 to drive ticket sales.

Finally, Freestyle Releasing is handling The Haunting of Molly Hartley to bow on Halloween. The film revolves around a 17-year-old girl trying to get a fresh start at a new high school, struggling to fit in while she deals with disturbing visions from the dark secrets of her past. Again, the PG-13 rating and a female protagonist indicate that young women will need to drive the box office.

Hollywood Likely to Set a New All-Time Box Office Record in 2008

HOLLYWOOD - The Dark Knight (Warner Bros), which has generated an estimated $315M since opening 10 days ago, has provided a huge boost to the film industry. 2007 was a record-breaker for the business with a total domestic take of $9.65 billion, almost 5 percent better than 2007. The current year is at $5.66 billion so far, which is less than 1 percent behind last year’s pace.

The final five months of 2008 look very strong, and I believe that Hollywood will set a new all-time box office record, proving once again that the movie business is recession proof. Gas prices have led to more “staycations,” and at a national average of just over $7 for a movie ticket, a trip to the local multiplex remains a very good value .

In 2007, the August-thru-December period included 4 films that went on to gross $200M+, 10 movies that ultimately surpassed $100M domestic and 13 titles that topped $75M in U.S. ticket sales.

December 14 - I Am Legend (Warner Bros) - $256.39M
August 3 – The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal) - $227.47M
December 21 – National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Disney) - $219.96M
December 14 – Alvin & The Chipmunks (Fox) - $217.32M
December 5 – Juno (Fox Searchlight) - $143.49M
August 10 – Rush Hour 3 (New Line) - $140.12M
November 2 – American Gangster (Universal) - $130.16M
November 21 – Enchanted (Disney) - $127.8M
November 2 – Bee Movie (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $126.63M
August 17 – Superbad (Sony) - $121.46M
December 25 – The Bucket List (Warner Bros) - $93.46M
September 28 – The Game Plan (Disney) - $90.63M
November 16 – Beowulf (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $82.19M

I am projecting that this year’s August-thru-December period will feature at least 2 films with $200M+, 11 movies surpassing $100M domestic and 2 more that seem certain to get past $75M. Plus, there are seven more “Wild Card” movies with real breakout potential.

$200M+

November 7 – Madagascar 2 (Dreamworks/Paramount)
Everyone at Dreamworks Animation is very high on this one. The original 2005 movie finished with $193M US, and this one has a real shot at $200M domestic.

November 21 – Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince (Warner Bros)
There is a guaranteed $250M in a Harry Potter movie, The last November HP release was Goblet of Fire, which hit $290M. It is fair to expect something in that range.

$100M+

August 1 – The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Universal)
Should easily top $100M in its US theatrical engagements. Industry tracking looks exceedingly solid, and Brendan Fraser has the “family-friendly action star” thing down pat.

August 15 – Tropic Thunder (Dreamworks/Paramount)
I long ago tapped this as the late summer’s biggest hit. Robert Downey Jr. will have his second consecutive $100M, and look out for Tom Cruise, who reportedly steals the movie.

August 15 – Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Warner Bros)
My guess is that anything with Star Wars in the title and the George Lucas seal of approval is good for at least $100M.

October 24 – High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Disney)
No-brainer. The Disney Channel phenomenon comes to the big screen and $100M is a certainty. The on-again, off-again real-life romance of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens will make great copy, and director Kenny Ortega has this formula down.

November 7 – Quantum of Solace (Sony)
Bond is Bond, and Daniel Craig is the best version since Sean Connery. I do not love the title, but my gut says it will be the biggest Jame Bond movie ever.

December 12 – The Day the Earth Stood Still (Fox)
I saw the trailer on the big screen for the first time before The The Dark Knight, and the audience seemed to respond well. I have my reservations, namely Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, but there is always room for an aliens attack/end of the world movie with a lot of great F/X.

December 12 – Seven Pounds (Sony)
Will Smith has 8 consecutive $100M grossing hits, and I do not think that streak will be broken here. Director Gabriel Muccino and the rest of the creative team from The Pursuit of Happyness return with the world’s biggest star in tow, and it cannot miss.

December 19 - Yes Man (Warner Bros)
Jim Carrey is coming off of The Number 23, his weakest live action film since The Majestic, but he is returning to his fool-proof brand of comedy. Funny premise. Life-affirming, feel-good movie for the holidays. Feels like a very safe bet for $100M+.

December 25 – Bedtime Stories (Disney)
In the same slot as last year’s Night At the Museum, Ben Stiller returns in a family-friendly story about a handyman whose bedtime stories begin to become real.

$75M+

August 6 – Pineapple Express (Sony)
Huge buzz. The formerly humorless James Franco reportedly steals the show with an outrageously funny performance. This picture has a shot at $75M-$100M.

October 3 - Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney)
Part of what should be a huge fourth quarter for Disney. Talking chihuahuas, Disney’s marketing machine and an all-star Latino voice cast should bring tweens and families--especially Latino families. Salma Hayek, Andy Garcia, Edward James Olmos, Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez and George Lopez lend their voices along with Drew Barrymore. There is at least $75M in this family film.

WILD CARDS

September 26 – Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount)
Director DJ Caruso and Shia LaBeouf, who scored a surprise hit with Disturbia, re-team on a thriller coming to theatres in late September.

September 26 – Miracle at St. Anna (Disney)
Spike Lee’s WWII drama about four African-American soldiers sounds uplifting, but his venomous back-and-forth with Clint Eastwood has taken some of the shine off of this project. Lee’s last movie, Inside Man, was his most accessible film yet.

October 10 – Body of Lies (Warner Bros)
Oscar winner William Monaghan (The Departed) has adapted the excellent David Ignatius novel of the same name. With director Ridley Scott and Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe in the leads this picture could break out the way R-rated titles like The Departed and American Gangster did the last two years in this release slot.

October 17 – W (Lionsgate)
It is certain to be much talked-about, especially a few weeks before the Presidential election. This is an A-list cast and Oliver Stone’s typically creative version of the truth, and it may score big.

November 26 – Bolt (Disney)
With at least 800 3D locations (probably more by late November) and Miley Cyrus providing one of the voices, this animated movie will be a big family event for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

December 12 – Twilight (Summit Entertainment)
I have not read the books that spawned this film (probably because I am not a teenage girl), but there is no question that there is a huge audience waiting with bated breath for the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s series of novels. Hard to say how big the film will fly, but it certainly has a shot at $75M.

December 19 – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount)
Brad Pitt stars as a man who begins aging backwards. With a script by Oscar winner Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Insider) and directed by David Fincher (Zodiac, Se7en), there is a real Oscar pedigree here, and there could be significant commercial upside.

Salma Hayek & Francois-Henri Pinault Call Off Wedding

HOLLYWOOD - Salma Hayek has called off her engagement to billionaire fiance Francois-Henri Pinault.

The couple announced their engagement and Hayek's pregnancy last year, which was followed by the birth of daughter Valentina in September.

And the couple was expected to marry in $3.5 million next spring. But a spokesman for Hayek has confirmed the couple has called off the engagement.

The spokesman says, "We are sad to announce the engagement of Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault has been cancelled. There will be no further comment."

COPYRIGHT 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved.

Kate Hudson Tops List of Most Beautiful People

HOLLYWOOD - Kate Hudson has topped the World's Most Beautiful People list in People magazine, landing the cover of the annual beauties issue.

People editors chose Hudson as their cover model for her natural beauty, pointing out that the actress "doesn't owe her famous sun-kissed looks to thousands of hours logged at a spa."

Hudson beat Salma Hayek, Mary J. Blige and Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's eldest daughter Rumer Willis, who poses provocatively on a picnic table, wearing a gothic dress and ankle-length dominatrix boots for her People picture.

Also named on the new World's Most Beautiful People list are comedian Sarah Silverman, Christina Applegate, new mom Isla Fisher, the cast of TV phenomenon Gossip Girl and celebrity couples Jessica Alba and Cash Warren and Eva Longoria and Tony Parker.

COPYRIGHT 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved.

66th Annual Golden Globe Nominations

A Golden Globe is ... kinda like an Oscar.

Nominations for the second-best award in Hollywood were announced today.

Films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and TV shows such as HBO's In Treatment lead the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations, announced by HFPA President Jorge Camara, along with Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Terrence Howard and Rainn Wilson, Thursday, at 8:30 a.m.EST/5:30 a.m.PST

Here are the complete list of nominations:

FILM

Best Motion Picture-Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Revolutionary Road
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess

Best Director
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road

Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare, The Reader
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt

Foreign Language Film
Gomorrah
I've Loved You So Long
Waltz with Bashir
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Everlasting Moments

Animated Film
WALL-E
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda

Original Score
Defiance
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
Changeling

Original Song
“Down to Earth” from WALL-E
“Gran Torino” from Gran Torino
“I Thought I’d Lost You” from Bolt
“Once in a Lifetime” from Cadillac Records
“The Wrestler” from The Wrestler

KEEP READING: The nominees for TV!

Awards Mania: Heath, '30 Rock,' More!

And so it begins …

The National Board of Review kicked the award season off last week by announcing their 2008 picks and now the Writers Guild, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association and the Critics’ Choice Awards are following suit.

The Critics Choice folks have pitted significant other against significant other by choosing Brad Pitt’s Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Angelina Jolie’s The Changeling as best picture nominees, along with The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, WALL-E, Doubt, The Reader and The Wrestler.

Pitt got a nod for best actor as well, joining Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler).

The late Heath Ledger is starting his posthumous run by getting a Critics’ Choice supporting actor nod for his work in The Dark Knight, along with Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) and James Franco (Milk).

Actress nods went to Changeling’s Jolie, of course. Also to Kate Beckinsale (Nothing But the Truth), Cate Blanchett (Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Melissa Leo (Frozen River) and Meryl Streep (Doubt).

The supporting actress list includes: Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona); Viola Davis (Doubt); Vera Farmiga (Nothing But the Truth); Taraji P. Henson (Curious Case of Benjamin Button); Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) and Kate Winslet (The Reader).

The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards, voted on by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, are due to be presented Jan. 8.

Meanwhile, the Writers Guild of America choose their top TV picks, including -- comedy nominees The Simpsons, 30 Rock, The Office, Entourage, Weeds -- and dramas The Wire, Mad Men, Dexter, Lost and Friday Night Lights. Word is still out on what movies the WGA will pick.

Lastly, the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association let their voices be heard by announcing their winners straight out.

Along with NBR, the Washington critics anointed Slumdog Millionaire as best picture, a film about an Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Its director Danny Boyle won best director and young star Dev Patel won best Breakthrough Performance.

They gave Ledger his first posthumous award for best supporting actor, while handing their top best actor honors to Mickey Rourke for his stunning performance in The Wrestler.

Meryl Streep received the best actress award for her nun turn in Doubt, stealing some of the awards-season thunder from Anne Hathaway, who was NBR's Best Actress pick for Rachel Getting Married. But Rachel didn't go unrecognized, as Rosemarie DeWitt was named best supporting actress.

Oh, and there’s lots more to come. In fact, the 66th Annual Golden Globes nominations will be announced Thursday, Dec. 11.

Eli Stone Has a Baby Buster

The baby fever keeps spreading.

Angelina Jolie's ex, Jonny Lee Miller and his new bride, Michele Hicks, became first-time parents when their baby son was born on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Miller and Hicks wed earlier this year

The couple has decided to call the boy Buster Timothy Miller, according to People.com.

Another one to go down in the annals of unusual celebrity baby names.

‘Edwin A. Salt’: Cruise Out, Jolie In

The rumors are true; Angelina Jolie will replace Tom Cruise in the upcoming thriller Edwin A. Salt.

The writers of the espionage flick, about a CIA officer fingered as a Russian spy, rewrote the lead character, originally meant for Cruise, when the mother-of-six expressed interest in the film. They also plan to rework the title to reflect the change. Jolie confessed the news to BBC Radio saying, “I’m working on a film called Salt. It’s with Phillip Noyce (Bone Collector). And that’s it.”

The actress recently told reporters she plans to “fade away” from the acting biz in the years to come.

Johnny Depp in Deep at Disney

HOLLYWOOD - Johnny Depp is to play Jack Sparrow once again. At the Walt Disney Studios Showcase, it was announced that Depp will reprise his Pirates of the Caribbean role along with taking up the part of Tonto in Disney's previously announced The Lone Ranger project and, he will play The Mad Hatter for Tim Burton in Alice in Wonderland.

Jerry Bruckheimer will produce Ranger with casting of the titular character underway. He’ll also produce a new National Treasure with Nicolas Cage. Alice in Wonderland, scheduled for 2010, will be shot using 3-D and performance capture technology.

In other announcements, Helen Mirren will play a Mossad agent in Miramax’s John Madden-directed The Debt. The project is set to start shooting in 2009. And, as was reported yesterday afternoon, Oprah Winfrey has joined the cast of the animated Princess And The Frog.

John Lasseter previewed the upcoming animation slate and told the crowd that Pixar has created a series of short films based on Cars.

And, a near-finished version of the 3D animated Bolt and raw footage from The Prince of Persia and the new Tron were also shown.

Johnny Depp and 'Pirates' Director Team Up Again

HOLLYWOOD - Johnny Depp and his Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski are teaming for Rango, an animated film set for a March 2011 release. Variety reports that Depp will voice the lead character, a household pet who goes on an adventure to discover himself.

Depp is slated to start work in January.

The Aviator’s John Logan wrote the script from an original idea of Verbinski’s

Verbinski will direct Rango while also continuing to develop an adaptation of the bestselling Take-Two video game Bioshock for Universal. That film is also being penned by Logan, Variety notes.

Keira Knightley Finished with 'Pirates'

HOLLYWOOD - Keira Knightley has no plans to reprise her role in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.

The British actress shot to international fame after playing Elizabeth Swann in the adventure trilogy, co-starring Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

But the star insists she is ready to explore other film projects saying:

"I think it was wonderful and an amazing opportunity and those films were just extraordinary and I was extremely lucky to be a part of them. But no. I think my pirating days may be over."

(c) 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Johnny Depp to Star in Tim Burton's Adaptation of 'Alice in Wonderland'

HOLLYWOOD - There have been multiple adaptations of the mystical story Alice in Wonderland--Tim Burton is scheduled to put his spin on the classic story with his new film Alice slated for release in 2010.

An unknown Australian actress has won the title role in Burton's eagerly awaited adaptation, according to WENN.

Teenager Mia Wasikowska is set to hit the big time after being picked to play the heroine in the movie version of Lewis Carroll's classic.

The director is reportedly lining up long-time muse Johnny Depp to play the Mad Hatter in the film.

And newcomer Wasikowska, 18, will be treading on the toes of Lindsay Lohan, after the Mean Girls star reportedly begged Burton not to choose an unknown for the role, insisting she was "ideal" to play the part.

Wasikowska says, "I'm so so excited. The book's really intrigued me when I was little and I've always loved the story. I really love (Burton films) Edward Scissorhands and Big Fish."

Earlier this year, Wasikowska was chosen as one of only two Australian actresses to receive a Heath Ledger scholarship, a fund to help young up-and-coming Aussie performers in memory of the late actor.

Baz Does 'Gatsby?'

An Australian to handle the quintessential great American novel? Hmmm …

Nikke Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily is reporting "exclusive" inside information that Baz Luhrmann will make The Great Gatsby for 20th Century Fox as his next project. Finke says the Aussie director is looking for cast members now, Cinematical.com reports.

Luhrmann will have his work cut out for him. First, it might be tough for him to capture that true American, roaring ‘20s spirit. His slick Moulin Rouge tricks won’t work here.

Second, a couple of Gatsby big-screen adaptations have already been attempted -- the 1949 Alan Ladd/Betty Field version and the 1974 Robert Redford/Mia Farrow version -- and neither one were well regarded (although Redford as Gatsby was a good choice).

Lastly, Luhrmann’s sappy, over-budgeted Australia is still trying desperately to make back its money. And that was a movie he did in his OWN country.

Oh well, maybe third time will indeed be a charm.

MORE NEWS: Original Trekker Nurse Chapel Dies

Prop 8 Haters: "Boycott Sundance!"

Gay rights took a huge hit this week in California with the passing of Proposition 8, the banning of gay marriage. Now, opponents of Prop 8 are fighting back with a boycott on Utah and the Sundance Film Festival.

That’s because many believe the Mormon Church, with world headquarters in Utah, poured significant funds into a campaign to pass the proposition. By avoiding the huge draws like skiing, red rock country and Robert Redford’s prestigious Sundance, gay rights supporters could put a dent in the state’s $6 billion a year tourism industry.

"At a fundamental level, the Utah Mormons crossed the line on this one," gay rights activist John Aravosis, an influential Washington, D.C-based blogger, told the Associated Press. "They just took marriage away from 20,000 couples and made their children bastards. You don't do that and get away with it."

While Aravosis calls Utah a “hate state,” Scott McCoy, an openly gay state senator from Salt Lake City told the AP, "Rather than a boycott, I would rather have every gay person in the country come to Utah and show the people of Utah what genuine wonderful people and families we have, and to help educate them that we deserve the exact same legal rights and protections they and their families are afforded under the law."

Director Sydney Pollack Dies

HOLLYWOOD - Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack has died of cancer. He was 73.

Pollack died on Monday afternoon at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, surrounded by friends and family. His death follows a 10-month battle with the deadly disease.

Pollack won critical acclaim and two Academy Awards for his epic romance Out of Africa, starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. The 1985 movie garnered a staggering 11 nominations and won seven, including Best Picture and Best Director.

He was also famed for directing 1973 classic The Way We Were and 1982's Tootsie, starring Dustin Hoffman.

While best remembered as a director, Pollack started out as an actor and continued to perform throughout his career--most recently appearing alongside George Clooney in last year's Oscar-winning movie Michael Clayton and in this year's Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey.

Pollack is survived by his wife Claire, daughters Rebecca and Rachel, and six grandchildren.

COPYRIGHT 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved.

Robert Redford Engaged to Longtime Girlfriend

HOLLYWOOD - Veteran actor/director Robert Redford is set to wed his long-time girlfriend Sibylle Szaggars.

The Lions for Lambs star announced his engagement to Szaggars in an interview with German magazine Bunte, but despite his advancing years, insists the pair is in no rush to arrange a date for the ceremony.

He tells the publication, "We are engaged and very happy with that. She is my fiancée and that says everything, doesn't it?"

The pair has been dating since 1996, and German artist Szaggars, 52, lives with the 71-year-old at his eco-friendly Sundance Resort in Utah.

Redford and his first wife Lola Van Wagenen divorced in 1985. They have three children--Shauna, 48, Jamie, 46, and Amy, 38.

COPYRIGHT 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved.

Yes, a 'Twilight 2' (Surprise!)

You can stop holding your breath.

Twilight, which made some $70 million at the box office this weekend, is getting a sequel. Not much of a surprise, considering (a) the film's cult status and (b) the fact that there are already four books in the series by Stephenie Meyer.

Also no surprise: The second movie vamp-fest will be called New Moon. Just like the book.

The news came in an email to fans from film stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart over the weekend. It read:

"To all of our wonderful, loyal and fantastic fans -- Thank you from the entire cast & crew for your amazing support of Twilight. You've blown away all of our expectations, and we feel so honored to have made a film that means as much to you as it does to us. Without your passion, interaction and support, this film would not be where it is today -- the #1 movie in America! From every city, every stop, every interview we have done, you've made this an unbelievable, nearly surreal experience … and so cool that we were all in this together. We just heard from Summit that we'll be moving forward on New Moon. We look forward to sharing this next chapter with you! Kristen & Rob"

'Twilight' Franchise Gets the Green Light?

While fans eagerly await the Nov. 21 release of Twilight, there is already good news on the horizon. Summit Entertainment is pushing the next three story installments into development.

Summit now has the rights to the next three books in Stephenie Meyer’s popular vampire series; New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. According to Reuters, execs have assigned the first two adaptations to Twilight scribe Melissa Rosenberg, while Breaking Dawn remains unattached.

Twilight revolves around a shy teen named Bella (Kristen Stewart) who falls for her classmate Edward (Robert Pattinson) only to find out later he is a vampire.

Say Cheese: 'Twilight's VF Photo Shoot

Can’t wait to see Twilight on Nov. 21? Then check out the latest cast photo shoot courtesy of Vanity Fair. Photographer Peggy Sirota got some great shots of Robert Pattinson (Edward), Kristen Stewart (Bella) and the rest of the gang during a casual meet up with a field as a back drop. The mag caught the whole thing on video and you can watch it now for a better look at who makes up the cast of the soon-to-be franchise.

Twilight originated as a four-book series by Stephenie Meyer about a teen named Bella who moves to Forks, Wash. and falls in love with a classmate who just happens to be a vampire.

66th Annual Golden Globe Nominations

A Golden Globe is ... kinda like an Oscar.

Nominations for the second-best award in Hollywood were announced today.

Films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and TV shows such as HBO's In Treatment lead the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations, announced by HFPA President Jorge Camara, along with Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Banks, Terrence Howard and Rainn Wilson, Thursday, at 8:30 a.m.EST/5:30 a.m.PST

Here are the complete list of nominations:

FILM

Best Motion Picture-Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Revolutionary Road
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess

Best Director
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road

Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare, The Reader
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt

Foreign Language Film
Gomorrah
I've Loved You So Long
Waltz with Bashir
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Everlasting Moments

Animated Film
WALL-E
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda

Original Score
Defiance
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
Changeling

Original Song
“Down to Earth” from WALL-E
“Gran Torino” from Gran Torino
“I Thought I’d Lost You” from Bolt
“Once in a Lifetime” from Cadillac Records
“The Wrestler” from The Wrestler

KEEP READING: The nominees for TV!