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Hours After Fireworks, Pacifica Aired Michael Moore Saying Americans Will Be Rejected from Heaven

Pacifica Radio, funded in part by federal grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, has a habit of ruining the patriotic holidays with their programming. On Memorial Day, their show “Democracy Now” hosted radical leftist Noam Chomsky railing against the “grand criminal” Ronald Reagan . On July 5, while many were still warmly recalling the Independence Day fireworks displays, “Democracy Now” aired a special interview with leftist filmmaker Michael Moore , who concluded by suggesting taxpaying Americans (even anti-war taxpaying Americans) aren’t getting into Heaven due to their government’s warmongering. Moore said he would tell President Obama to withdraw all U.S. troops now from Iraq and Afghanistan, because the wars there were immoral: I just wonder sometimes, who do we think we are as Americans, that we’re not going to have to answer for this someday? You know, whether we answer for it here or there, or if you’re a religious person and you think there’s a life after this, you know, what do you think is going to happen up at the Pearly Gates when they check your citizenship and go, “Oh, you were an American? Ha, well, here’s your list of crimes”? “Oh, yeah. No, I was against the war! I was against the war!” “Did you pay your taxes?” “Well, yeah, you got to pay your taxes.” “Well, then you helped fund this, didn’t you?” “Oh, yeah.” “OK, well, you know, turn around. You’re not coming in the Gates. ” I just—I think that there’s so much good that we could do. You know, if you travel the world, you know that people like us as people, as individuals. There’s something charming about our naïveté and our, you know, right? I mean, you know, “Hey! Hey! How ya doin’! Hey, yeah! I’m from Detroit! Yeah!” They could spot us coming. But I think we’re capable of a lot of good. And when you have a billion people on this planet that tonight cannot drink a cup of clean water, two billion who don’t have clean sanitation, what if we used our money to do that? I read this crazy statistic—and I have not fact-checked this, I’ll just throw this out there—but it was something like, for $15 billion or something like that, we could dig so many—x number of wells in the third world that would greatly reduce that number of how many people don’t have clean water. And I’m thinking, $15 billion is what we’ve been spending almost most every month on Iraq and Afghanistan. So, one month of the killing machine could give clean water to virtually all the people that don’t have it? Wouldn’t you rather be known as, you know, a citizen of a country that a child 10,000 miles away, while growing up, drinking clean water, saw that plaque on that well that said, “Brought to you from your friends in the United States of America”? That’s how I’d like to be known. Earlier in the show, Moore thanked the nuns who foiled his school newspaper career since he wrote the Catholic Church was a “woman-hating institution.” He said he showed his film “Sicko” to elderly nuns in Michigan and “nuns are great, because they know the [bleep] that goes on in the Catholic Church, and they were always more radical and more antiwar and all that, because obviously they were suffering their own oppression being nuns and just taking it out on the rest of us.”

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Hours After Fireworks, Pacifica Aired Michael Moore Saying Americans Will Be Rejected from Heaven

‘Predators’ Star, Director Would Love To Do Sequel

‘If ‘Predators 2’ was to come around, or ‘Predators-es,’ I’d jump at the opportunity,’ director Nimrod Antal says. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Todd Gilchrist and Josh Horowitz Adrien Brody Photo: MTV News When Robert Rodriguez sat down in the mid-’90s to script the next installment in the ‘Predator’ franchise, he ended up laying out far more than just one movie. “You could have split it up into three pictures,” Rodriguez told MTV News recently.

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‘Predators’ Star, Director Would Love To Do Sequel

Four Directors Up For Wicked Movie, But What Would Their Versions Be Like?

As my estimable colleague Kyle Buchanan reported yesterday , producers of the new Wicked movie musical have zeroed in on four possible directors for the film: Star Trek ‘s J.J. Abrams, Walk the Line ‘s James Mangold, Glee ‘s Ryan Murphy and Chicago ‘s Rob Marshall. But fortunately, my sister is dating a guy who is cousins with a girl who went to camp with this one dude who works in Universal’s mailroom, and was able to get me each director’s pitch for their vision of Wicked . Click ahead to experience the wonder.

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Four Directors Up For Wicked Movie, But What Would Their Versions Be Like?

Sam Worthington Talks ‘Clash Of The Titans’ Sequel, 3-D

‘Today an audience demands a lot more from its 3-D, and they’re going to keep demanding more,’ actor says about ‘Clash’ sequel. By Todd Gilchrist Sam Worthington Photo: MTV News Less than two years ago, Sam Worthington was being touted as Hollywood’s next big star, thanks to high-profile roles in movies like “Terminator: Salvation,” “Clash of the Titans” and, of course, James Cameron’s long-awaited comeback, “Avatar.” Now that those movies have introduced him to audiences, however, it’s time to see if it’s the actor or just his projects that brings people out to the theater. During a recent conversation at Radical Studios, where he also discussed his Full Clip Productions comic book imprint, he offered a hint about what he’d like to take on in the forthcoming sequel to “Clash of the Titans.” “I want the Minotaur maze,” he said when asked which myth or monster he’d most like to see brought to life in the follow-up. “That’s it, simple. I reckon that would be a damn cool sequence.” “Clash of the Titans” was released in March of this year and earned almost $500 million worldwide, due not only to Worthington’s increasingly ubiquitous presence but also the post-production conversion of the film from 2-D to 3-D. It was also that last-minute box-office-driven change that netted the film some harsh reviews, although Worthington said that the sequel would fix that problem by starting production in 3-D rather than implementing it as an afterthought. “When we do ‘Clash 2,’ I think we’re going to shoot it in 3-D ,” Worthington said. “That’s the smartest way to do it, you know? I could see what Warner Brothers was doing by converting it — they went for it and they tried to accommodate an audience. But today an audience demands a lot more from its 3-D, and they’re going to keep demanding more.” Since the overwhelming success of “Avatar,” advanced 3-D technology has enabled filmmakers launching their projects to capitalize creatively on Cameron’s foundation and push their efforts even further. Worthington indicated that neither “Clash 2” nor a potential “Avatar 2” would move forward without a clear and comprehensive strategy for moving the technology and its eventual presentation even further. “With something like ‘Clash 2,’ we’re going to have to try and push the envelope to get the audience back in,” Worthington said. “It’s the same with ‘Avatar 2’ — Jim isn’t going to start on that unless he knows how to push it a bit further. And that’s the whole point: These audiences demand more, and it’s our job as filmmakers or storytellers to keep giving them what they want.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Clash of the Titans.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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Sam Worthington Talks ‘Clash Of The Titans’ Sequel, 3-D

‘The Lottery’ Exposes Truth About Public Schools

The children eager to attend Harlem Success Academies don’t care about partisan politics or ideological turf wars. They just want the best education possible. “ The Lottery ,” a new documentary by Madeleine Sackler, showcases families desperate for an alternative to the New York Public School system. The film, playing an exclusive engagement through July 15 at the Starz FilmCenter in Denver , follows four such families who enter a lottery system so their children can attend a prestigious charter school. Strip away the interpersonal dynamics and you’ll find a full-throated argument on behalf of charter schools. And those who think only Republicans support school choice measures will be surprised to see a large  number of Democrats eager to give charter schools a try. It’s an alternately fascinating and maddening film experience, and Sackler delivers the material with an elegant touch. It’s also a must-see for parents with school-age children – or just taxpayers saddened at the thought of children not reaching their potential. The families included here put a human face on the issue, but the film would be better served if we got to know them a little better. The quick glimpses at their lives – and dreams – tell us just enough about the stakes at play. Sackler intersperses sobering statistics throughout her film, showing how the charter schools in question offers a major upgrade from the status quo. But the film’s twin highlights come when Eva Moskowitz, the articulate founder of Harlem Success Academies, takes on her critics at two public forums. Viewers may lunge for their blood pressure meds as union lackeys play fast and loose with the facts, and double down on the race card, in order to defend a broken system. “The Lottery” is the second recent documentary to slam teachers unions. “The Cartel” examined New Jersey’s disgraceful public school system, blaming unions for much of the waste and horrific grades. “Waiting for Superman,” another documentary trumpeting the need for educational reform, will be released this fall. It’s hardly an accident. Parents are fed up with the sorry state of modern education and see school choice as a possible way out. And documentary filmmakers are following suit. “The Lottery” doesn’t traffic in the bait-and-switch stylings of a Michael Moore opus, but it’s still a one-sided affair. It isn’t entirely Sackler’s fault. The director recently told this critic she tried – and tried – to include union backers in the film for an entire year. But those sources refused to participate. Still, more neutral education experts might have added context to the arguments on display. And while Moskowitz is an ideal spokeswoman for the charter system, she’s given too much screen time given her intimate connection to the school in question. “The Lottery” is the kind of film that could very well change some stubborn hearts and minds. Political ideology – and knee-jerk sympathies – fall aside when you see families crying in relief as their names are plucked from “The Lottery.” Crossposted at Big Hollywood

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‘The Lottery’ Exposes Truth About Public Schools

‘Predators’: The Reviews Are In!

‘ ‘Predators’ is a B movie that knows its job, and does it,’ MTVNews.com’s Kurt Loder says. By Eric Ditzian Alice Braga, Walton Goggins and Adrien Brody in “Predators” Photo: 20th Century Fox The filmmakers behind the new movie “Predators” decided to pretend the last three movies in the sci-fi horror franchise never happened and instead set their story as if it takes place directly after the 1987 original. That was probably a wise call on their part, seeing as each successive “Predator” installment was less beloved, culminating with the disgraceful mash-up “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.” How beloved will “Predators” ultimately be? With the film opening on Friday (July 9), reviews have been pouring in, and they’re largely positive — if not on par with the original, then respectably, satisfyingly close. Let’s take a deep dive into the “Predators” reviews to see what people are saying. The Story ” ‘Predators’ is a B movie that knows its job, and does it. Which means, among other things, that making sense is not on its to-do list. The picture opens with a group of people falling from the sky into a jungle. What are they doing here? None of them knows. … [T]hey’re all prey on this strange planet, which turns out to be an off-world hunting ground for Predators, whose day-trip spacecraft is invisibly parked nearby. As you’d expect, the picture consists — with the exception of a visit to a batty survivor played by Laurence Fishburne — of each of the human interlopers being put away like finger food by the wily monsters.” — Kurt Loder, MTVNews.com The Actors “Think of it as ‘Avatar’ with more gore, a lot less wit, and Adrien Brody (and his Situation-like abs) as the alpha-male leader of a doomed pack of tough guys, gruffly barking orders as he tries to get inside the mind of you know who. Topher Grace does his signature smart-ass quipster thing, Alice Braga is the tough chick with a big heart, and Laurence Fishburne drops by to lend the film its only bit of unpredictable fun as a loco, Kurtz-like soldier of fortune who’s gone native. These aren’t characters, they’re cardboard clich

Can Lindsay Lohan Make A Comeback? Experts Weigh In

As the actress faces a 90-day jail sentence, industry veterans are divided on what it means for Lohan’s career. By Eric Ditzian Lindsay Lohan in “Georgia Rule” Photo: Universal Pictures Lindsay Lohan’s 90-day jail sentence caps a long history of legal issues reaching back at least to her 2007 DUI arrest and comes at a time when the 24-year-old actress is trying to piece her career back together. The jail time, which is to be followed by a 90-day in-house stay at a substance-abuse clinic, will prevent Lohan from publicizing an upcoming movie and delay production on another one. What’s more, Lohan will be unable to continue promoting her new fashion line, 6126, which is expected to begin shipping to stores this month. So just how much will Lohan’s professional life suffer now that her ability to jumpstart new projects and promote existing ones has been compromised? Will the actress — once a rising star with box-office hits like “Freaky Friday” and “Mean Girls” — survive her current woes and make a Hollywood comeback? “The simple stroke is that she already destroyed her movie career,” said David Poland of MovieCityNews.com. “Is she insurable on a film right now? Probably not. What was a bad reputation has turned into a legally defined problem.” To wit, Lohan has already lost at least one job because of her public notoriety, having been fired from “The Other Side” in April. Writer/director David Michaels explained it this way at the time: “The producers of the movie have reported that financiers have been resistant to finance the movie with Lindsay in the lead role,” adding that Lohan was simply “not bankable.” Still, the director of “Inferno,” a biopic in which Lohan is set to star as 1970s porn star Linda Lovelace, has came out in support of the embattled actress. “I am 100 percent behind Lindsay and can say the same for everyone involved in the production of ‘Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story,’ ” Matthew Wilder told MTV News in a statement after her jail sentence was announced on Tuesday. “Indeed, we are proud to have this remarkable artist work on our film.” Other producers shared the sentiment. The Associated Press reported that Lohan is in negotiations for a part in the upcoming Willie Nelson movie “The Dry Gulch Kid,” and that production would be postponed if she wanted the role. “We’re behind her,” producer Kerry Wallum said. “We’ll wait until all of this blows over.” How long will that take? And will Lohan be able to step back into the limelight? That depends on how she handles herself, both in private and in public, in the weeks and months ahead, according to one Hollywood PR vet. “She can take this and she can learn from it and it becomes a cathartic event in her life,” said Howard Bragman, founder of publicity firm Fifteen Minutes. “The one thing we haven’t heard from Lindsay is, ‘I’m sorry, I have a problem, I’m going to resolve it.’ She doesn’t have PR problems, she has life problems. You can’t fix your problems until you admit you have them. I think she needs a lot of therapy. She needs to let her career be second and her life be first.” Before she can get her life back, though, Lohan is headed to prison, and Bragman maintained that if she deals with it appropriately, she has a shot at resurrecting her career. “I would [tell her to] shut up until she gets of jail,” Bragman said of an ideal approach for the actress. “I would be working quietly on my post-jail career plans and life. Robert Downey Jr. was certainly one who’s overcome some demons and come back in a big way. I think it’s possible for Lindsay. This town is full of people who have overcome problems.” At least one industry insider thinks the widely viewed footage of Lohan sobbing as the judge laid out her sentence will actually help her fortunes. “Is Lohan more marketable now?” wrote Jeff Wells of Hollywood-Elsewhere.com . “Will raising the dough for ‘Inferno’ be a tad easier? I would think so.” “There’s also the matter of LiLo’s acting talent — which she has a fair amount of — and the fact that her addictions have been taking her down and that she really needed a combination wake-up and face-slap,” Wells wrote. “I know that the lives of people who make constant whoopee always turn tragic — hurt careers, disease, early death, financial issues. That judge did LiLo a huge favor.” “Has she hit bottom yet?” Movie City News’ Poland wondered. “Doesn’t seem like it. And once she does, she’ll still have to be in ‘movie jail’ for years before she is allowed a comeback. If she comes back, it will have to be ironic. It’s not like she has a big personality, like Downey. Cute is over. Sexy is already wearing too much makeup. So where is there to go, other than VH1 or ‘The 700 Club’?” Do you think Lindsay can make a career comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos Lindsay Lohan Goes To Court The Highs And Lows Of Lindsay Lohan Related Artists Lindsay Lohan

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Can Lindsay Lohan Make A Comeback? Experts Weigh In

Ridley Scott Plans User-Generated YouTube Documentary

Scott and director Kevin Macdonald will compile footage from users all over the world for ‘Life in a Day.’ By Eric Ditzian Ridley Scott Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage After working with Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Susan Sarandon and Russell Crowe, Ridley Scott is gearing up for a new film project, and apparently he wants you to be his star. Really. Scott, in a producer role, and director Kevin Macdonald (“The Last King of Scotland”) announced on Tuesday their plans to team with YouTube to generate what they’re calling “the first user-generated feature-length documentary.” Called “Life in a Day,” the film will be made entirely of footage shot during the 24 hours of July 24, 2010. Anyone in the world can participate and then upload their content to YouTube.com/lifeinaday . Participants will be credited as co-directors if their footage makes it into the finished film. The doc will premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and 20 of the participants will be flown to Park City, Utah, for the event. ” ‘Life in a Day’ is a time capsule that will tell future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010,” Macdonald said in a press release. “It is a unique experiment in social filmmaking, and what better way to gather a limitless array of footage than to engage the world’s online community.” Scott’s production company has teamed with Rick Smolan, CEO of Against All Odds Prods., a California-based operation that helps execute large-scale global projects, to deliver cameras to remote areas of the world to guarantee that the doc will represent as wide a swath of the human experience as possible. “A vital part of our mission is to support individual storytelling around the globe and to provide a platform for expression and experimentation,” Sundance director John Cooper said. “This is a great way to engage the YouTube community and to provide festival audiences with something new and unexpected.” What would you film for your own “Life in a Day” movie? Are you going to participate? Talk about it in the comments. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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Ridley Scott Plans User-Generated YouTube Documentary

‘Predators’ Star Adrien Brody Reveals Fiery Effects Scene

‘Explosions are happening and you’re running through walls of fire,’ the actor says of on-set effects. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Adrien Brody Photo: MTV News “I know that I’m not one of the guys on the studio’s list for this movie,” Adrien Brody told MTV News in March of his starring role in “Predators” . But his craft and his commitment to the role — he packed on 25 pounds of muscles to play ex-military man Royce — convinced director Nimrod Antal and producer Robert Rodriguez that the Oscar-winning Brody was in fact the right guy for “Predators.” They wanted to find a balance between a Schwarzenegger-esque action hero and a more grounded take on what a modern-day solider actually looks like . That emphasis on realism extended from the cast to the actual production, which eschewed CGI fireworks for a practical approach to effects work. Almost everything you’ll see in the film — from furious explosions to out-of-control fires as Royce and his crew battle those vicious alien predators — was executed on set rather than within the safe confines of a computer. And even with that extra weight on his frame, those practical effects made for a harrowing shoot. “Explosions are happening and you’re running through walls of fire with flame-retardant gels on,” Brody told us recently. “It’s hot. You see the flame bursts.” One scene in particular, in which Royce finds himself caught in the laser sights of the aliens, required such an inferno that the entire crew had to don protective gear just to get it done. “That epic shot — it’s also a great trailer moment — where all the lasers are on us and on Royce , we shot that indoors in the studio space and the entire crew had respirators on and masks,” Brody said. “It was supposedly not hazardous, but I doubt it.” Not that he’s complaining. “I think it creates a very exciting environment,” he added. “You’ve got to do it and get the hell out of there.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Predators.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Predators’

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‘Predators’ Star Adrien Brody Reveals Fiery Effects Scene

Buzz Break: Zach Galifianakis Has a Funny Story for You