Source: James Devaney / Getty Since ‘The Donald’ has effectively gone from celeb to leader of the free world, countless other entertainers have thrown their hats in the ring in consideration for eventual presidential bids. Could the Fresh Prince be next? Via | HotNewHipHop Would you vote for Will Smith? Donald Trump has convinced the nation that celebrities can get elected. Trump isn’t the first celebrity to become a president, but he is by far the most divisive. Since the last election, several celebrity names have been thrown into the hypothetical presidential race including Dwayne Johnson, Oprah, and Will Smith. Smith recently performed his first stand up act ever at the Peppermint Club in Los Angeles at an event held by Dave Chappelle. The two legendary celebrities were approached about a possible presidential run, and their answers were positive.
Look at this shit! It’s Wednesday afternoon, and time for The Franco File , Movieline’s daily — at least for this week — coverage of James Franco’s genre- and gender-bending multimedia artistry. On Monday, I brought you, “Hangin’With Da Dopeboys, ” the JF-directed video from Florida rapper Dangeruss, who inspired the actor’s Alien character in Spring Breakers . On Tuesday, it was time for another Franco-helmed clip for his band Daddy. And today? Another clip! But this one’s more of a rap video, in which Franco does a turn-off-your-cellphones PSA for the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX that riffs on one of Alien’s Spring Breakers monologues and references key moments from Pulp Fiction and Spider-Man . The video has like three endings, too, which is part of Franco’s I’m-flying-on-instruments genius. Look at this shit! Now, look at this shit: Thighs Wide Shut has put together a most excellent Oz The Great and Powerful meets Spring Breakers mash-up video that will most surely make Franco jealous that he did not think of it first. It’s called Oz Breakers: That was fun, with a capital F, as in…Franco! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings. Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
“Everyone knows amnesia is bollocks,” snarls one of the thugs in Trance . Hypnotism, on the other hand, is fair game in this brash, beyond-belief psychothriller from director Danny Boyle , who seizes on a script co-written by Joe Ahearne and longtime Boyle collaborator John Hodge as a chance to play elaborate mind games with fans of his early work. A trippy variation on the dream-within-a-dream movie, Boyle’s return-to-form crimer constantly challenges what auds think they know, but neglects to establish why they should care. The pic’s flashy style, plus its stark violence and nudity, ought to transfix male genre auds. More of a conceptual exercise than a conventional film noir, Trance demonstrates Boyle’s determination to continue to overcome seemingly impossible filmmaking challenges. After painting himself out of a physical corner with 127 Hours , the director now confronts a psychic obstacle in attempting to tell a complex genre movie from within the confines of one person’s consciousness — even as others noodle with the same character’s subconscious. A charismatic, yet miscast James McAvoy plays the mark, a clean-scrubbed auction-house employee named Simon who snaps into action during the attempted theft of a Goya painting. Back in the day, all it took was a bit of muscle and some nerve to rob art from auction, Simon explains in a stretch of Scottish-lilted, direct-address narration that not only recalls Hodge’s earlier scripts ( Shallow Grave , Trainspotting ), but suggests a younger, softer-edged Ewan McGregor . To whom is Simon speaking: The audience? A hypnotist? The cops? Doesn’t matter. The film takes place mostly in Simon’s head, so it’s his experience auds see unfolding. After establishing how staff have been trained to protect the auction-house assets in the prologue, Simon springs the pic’s first twist: He was the caper’s inside man. Problem is, after removing the Goya from its frame, he sustained a blow to the head, and the crucial memory of where he stashed the painting is beyond his reach. Torture doesn’t work to bring it back, so underworld tough guy Franck ( Vincent Cassel , terrifically unpredictable) suggests hypnotism, allowing Simon to pick his own mesmerist. He opts for Elizabeth Lamb, played by Rosario Dawson , whose sultry power over men makes plausible how easily her character manages to put Simon under. While neither the film nor its goons puts any stock in amnesia, both encourage a willing suspension of disbelief when it comes to far more elaborate feats of mind-control. In that respect, Boyle seems to be asking whether he too can play the hypnotist. Using dynamic, visual storytelling, slick cutting and a propulsive electronic score, can he successfully convince rational auds to buy into an increasingly far-fetched story? The stunt works for a time. On Simon’s second session with Elizabeth, she pounces, demanding to see the men who put him up to this — and offering her services for a share in the prize, should they find the painting. It’s at this point in the film that things start to get really weird, as the narrative starts to fold back on itself, blurring the lines between reality and the hypothetical. Each time Elizabeth puts Simon in trance, she takes him to a new location in his mind, making it increasingly difficult for auds to tell fantasy from memory from lived experience. As Simon’s sense of danger grows, these scenes become more fragmented and violent, which allows the pic to introduce and instantly erase shocking homicidal behavior, but puts a strain on McAvoy, who seems too nice to harbor such demons. Boyle has cited Nicolas Roeg as an influence on the film’s disorienting style, and sure enough, Trance shares the jagged subjectivity of Performance and Don’t Look Now , along with the director’s raw treatment of anger and arousal. The deeper things go, the kinkier they get, as Elizabeth finds herself seducing both Franck and Simon — but are these fantasies real or projections of their jealous imaginations? They’re certainly real enough for audiences, who won’t soon forget the sight of a denuded Dawson, or the erotic art history lesson that explains her carefully sculpted appearance. Superficial pleasures aside, however, the convoluted script jumps and dodges so often, it soon loses the thread of its own story. This isn’t Inception , where layers of experience are nested neatly one inside the next, but rather a frittata, its ingredients distinguishable only by the various hyper-saturated colors that seem to define each scene. The lost painting is just the first of multiple MacGuffins, after which Simon’s missing memory becomes the thing they all so desperately need to recover. And then, quite abruptly, Simon finds himself on the margins, and Elizabeth takes centerstage — an opportunity for which Dawson proves more than ready — leading to a succession of reversals that seem a bit too dependent on enormous gaps in logic only half-excused by the pic’s record-skip storytelling style. With all its trickery, the film presents a sexy distraction, but proves a mind is a terrible thing to waste. More on Trance : Train In Vain Spotting: Danny Boyle Picks His Favorite Clash Albums − And Disses Phish
Don’t worry, no Prometheus spoilers here, just a peek into the brain of Sir Ridley Scott , who opened an interview with press by musing on… tape recorders. And Star Trek . And light speed. Naturally. From Bloody Disgusting : Ridley enters and sees our tape recorders. “Look at this technology. Jesus Christ. 40 years ago when Kirk said ‘Beam me up, Scotty’ we used to think that was fucking ridiculous, remember? Seriously, that’s been 40 years and then when he says the ‘disintegration’ of his matter into the ‘reintegration’ of his matter in the next space, that right there is light speed. So they touched on light speed. I’ve talked to NASA about this and they’ve said that’s light speed. So ‘Can you do it?’ They said ‘Yeah. Have you got seven glasses of water?’ I go ‘Not the seven glasses of water trick, please.’ There were all scientists in the room and he started to explain to me the relativity and the speed of light. ‘Can you do it?’ ‘Yeah.’ He said the only barrier is ‘us.’ He said, I can mathematically explain how, but we haven’t gotten there with that.” Actual Prometheus spoilers and hints , discussion of the film’s evolution from Scott’s idea called Alien: Paradise , and the moment when he forgets Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s name (you know, “the Frenchman”) in the full chat courtesy of Bloody Disgusting, if you dare… [ Bloody Disgusting ]
Movies are by no means the most relevant topic discussed last night on Piers Morgan when Harvey Weinstein filled in as guest host and interviewed former President Bill Clinton about politics, kids drinking soda, and how much ass Hillary is kicking these days, but the parts in which the Hollywood powerhouse and the ex-Prez talked movies were some sort of bizarrely fascinating colliding of worlds. So what is Clinton’s favorite movie? Clinton shared his childhood memories of moviegoing between discussions of more compelling (okay, real) issues. His trip down memory lane included vivid recollections of the good old days. “You could go to the movies for a dime, and I’d get 20 cents — I think you could get a Coke and a candy bar for a nickel.” (Well, he is over a dozen years older than Wilford Brimley was when he was the same age as Tom Cruise shooting Cocoon , or whatever.) Now, the hypothetical Weinstein-produced Clinton biopic — there’s an idea. Meryl Streep as Hillz? If anyone could make that happen, it’d be Weinstein. Better question: Who’d play Ryan Gosling ? [via CNN ] [Photo: President Clinton and Harvey Weinstein at Hillary Clinton’s birthday party circa 2000 via Getty Images]
‘You gotta go with the original, and I just would not mess with Tommy,’ director Barry Sonnenfeld tellsMTV News of which Agent K would win in a fight. By Josh Wigler Tommy Lee Jones in “Men In Black 3” Photo: Columbia Pictures NEW YORK — Even if the cast and crew of “Men in Black 3” can’t exactly wrap their heads around time travel , the mind-boggling plot device was well worth executing if only for one reason: the creation of Young Agent K, played by Josh Brolin. The actor delivers a shockingly spot-on turn as a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones’ iconic man in black, to the point that co-star Will Smith was “shocked” at Brolin’s “amazing” work . Brolin’s incredible performance aside, however, it’s widely believed among the “Men in Black” family that given the right circumstances, Jones’ Agent K would kick the ever-loving slick out of Brolin’s younger version. At the “Men in Black 3” red carpet in New York earlier this week, MTV News asked Smith, director Barry Sonnenfeld and more to weigh in on the hypothetical battle of the Ks, and the votes were almost unanimously in Jones’ favor. “At the end of the day I’m going to go with Tommy Lee Jones,” said Sonnenfeld. “You gotta go with the original, and I just would not mess with Tommy. He knows some mean moves.” Smith agreed: “When Tommy Lee Jones comes up [to you], feel his arm. That’s a cattle man right there. You don’t want to creep up on Tommy Lee Jones.” But even as the odds-on favorite to win against his younger counterpart, Jones himself wasn’t so sure of who would come out on top. Asked to weigh in on the theoretical clash, Jones was taken aback. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to answer a question like that.” With Jones unable to endorse his K over his ’60s-era self, the stage was set for a Brolin comeback. Alice Eve was the first to cast her vote in the future “Oldboy” star’s favor. “Josh Brolin, obviously,” she said. Even when it was pointed out that everyone else had thrown their support behind Jones, Eve remained committed to her pick. “I’m right. Have you met Brolin? Look at him!” When it came time for Brolin to toss out his two cents on the K-on-K action, we expected him to stump for his version of the straight-laced alien-investigator. To our surprise, he sided with Smith and Sonnenfeld’s opinion. “Older K for sure,” he grinned. “He’s got the experience, he’s got the moves, and he’s got the look. I’m a dilettante compared to him.” Which Agent K would win in a fight, Brolin or Jones? Let us know in the comments section below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Men in Black 3.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Men In Black 3’
Amid reports that NBC is trying to secure a book deal for Casey Anthony in exchange for an interview… not a lot of publishers are showing interest in such a deal. The biggest names in publishing want nothing to do with “Tot Mom” (copyright Nancy Grace), with one even calling this hypothetical book deal “blood money.” Check out the statements of three prominent publishing houses: “We are 100% not interested. We are NOT NOT NOT interested. Simon & Schuster is not publishing, and has never intended to publish, any book by Casey Anthony, her family, attorneys or any member of her team.” – Simon & Schuster “We are still planning on publishing the prosecutor’s book who was involved in the Casey Anthony case, so we have no plans in releasing a Casey Anthony book. We’re sticking with the prosecutor.” – Harper Collins “We have no plans on doing a book deal with Casey Anthony.” – Penguin Another publisher that asked not to be named had this to say when asked if they would be interested in such a project: “Hell no … it’s blood money.” Tough break, Case. You could always start a blog.
Reports of the demise of Anthony Weiner’s marriage to Huma Abedin may be premature. Just days after sources claimed the horny former Congressman was headed to rehab , while his pregnant wife was taking time apart from her troubled man, witnesses spotted the couple together on July 4. And seemingly content! Spotted at the Organic Market near their Forest Hills apartment, Weiner and Abedin “looked happy,” a witness told The New York Daily News . “Huma was laughing and they were talking and having fun and looked totally normal, like nothing was wrong,” the insider said. “They were affectionate with one another and talking about what supplies they should pick up for the Fourth.” Sources even say the two are shopping for a bigger place in Manhattan together. They do have a child on the way.
It’s already been quite a long time since Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham has been ready for romance. And it may be a long time still to come. After ex-boyfriend Derek Underwood died in December 2008, the teen put dating on hold so she could focus on raising their daughter Sophia. According to the reality star, now 20, that will change. Just not yet. “I’m pretty positive you might see me on a date again,” the single mom says ahead of this evening’s Teen Mom season premiere. “The fun thing is I get to go on dates and meet random guys and not be so serious.” “I get emails and letters at home like, ‘Find me on Facebook,’ but how many of those guys are really sincere?” muses the mother of Sophia, now 2. There are plenty of obstacles in her way, it’s true. In addition to the commitment of raising a child, Farrah Abraham finds it difficult to meet Mr. Right now that she’s on the MTV show (she, Maci Bookout , Catelynn Lowell and Amber Portwood all return for season three). “I feel like I have my independence right now, so I might as well take full advantage and work harder. When the right person comes, then I’ll accept him into our lives, but right now I’m not trying to have a relationship,” she adds. “Dating is more fun than a relationship right now for me.” When she’s ready, we don’t imagine she’ll lack for suitors. [Photo: Fame Pictures]
In a verdict many feel is on par with the stunning decision to acquit O.J. Simpson, Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her two-year old daughter today. The result has left one avid viewer of the proceedings in shock: Kim Kardashian. The daughter of one of Simpson’s lawyer Tweeted this afternoon: “WHAT!!!!???!!!! CASEY ANTHONY FOUND NOT GUILTY!!!! I am speechless!!!” In between X-Raying her ass, Kim Kardashian found time to weigh in on the Casey Anthony trial. Kim later added: ”I am truly sick over the Casey Anthony verdict! So if the courts don’t believe she is guilty then who do they think killed this little baby?” “Is this now an open case? Do they attempt to arrest someone else? I am so confused! How do these jurors not believe she’s guilty????” We’re as stunned as anyone, but just to answer Kim’s hard-hitting questions: 1. That’s not how a court case works. The jury deals with the defendant on trial, not the hypothetical questions of who else could be responsible; 2. Yes, of course it’s an open case now. By the way, O.J. totally killed his ex-wife and her boyfriend.
