A movie about two characters who switch bodies isn’t exactly ground-breaking. It’s been done many times before. But two of the funniest men in Hollywood still jumped at the chance to star on The Change-Up and they explained why in a roundtable discussion this week: because the R rating opened up a world of dirty, fun possibilities. The Change-Up Trailer “It was fun to see this kind of premise – which is usually a PG premise – executed in such a hard way, in such an edge,” Ryan Reynolds said. “It was no-holds barred. It was the first script I’ve read in a long time where I cried laughing.” The Change-Up comes out on Friday. You can check out the official trailer above and read the full roundtable transcript at Movie Fanatic !
Alex Rodriguez should stick to being fed popcorn by Cameron Diaz. For the second time in a few years, the Yankees third baseman is at the center of an underground poker scandal. According to Radar Online, ARod took part in a couple illegal Texas Hold ‘Em games in the recent past, during which cocaine was used and a brawl broke out. Major League Baseball is looking into the allegations and taking them “very seriously,” an insider tells ESPN. The Yankees have won five games in a row without Alex Rodriguez in the lineup. The games were held at the Beverly Hills mansion of record executive Cody Leibel, with the host losing “more than a half-million dollars” at one, a witness told Radar, and violence subsequently breaking out over his refusal to pay. Once things turned ugly, Rodriguez reportedly left the scene and”tried to distance himself from the game,” said professional poker player Dan Bilzerian, who was present that night. “He just shook his head, not knowing what the hell happened,” said Bilzerian. “He didn’t want to deal with it at all. He was like, ‘OK, whatever. It’s your game.’ I would estimate A-Rod lost, like, a few thousand dollars that night. After everything that happened, he paid up and left.” In 2005, faced with rumors that their $300 million investment was taking part in gambling of this nature, the Yankees warned ARod to cease all illegal activity. But it apparently hasn’t sunk in and an anonymous MLB source says: “[Commissioner Bud Selig is] totally fed up with him. It’s like there’s something new with him every day and it’s impossible to keep up with it.” Former Paris Hilton sex tape partner Rick Salomon was also present at the games, an onlooker said. No, really.
Alex Rodriguez should stick to being fed popcorn by Cameron Diaz. For the second time in a few years, the Yankees third baseman is at the center of an underground poker scandal. According to Radar Online, ARod took part in a couple illegal Texas Hold ‘Em games in the recent past, during which cocaine was used and a brawl broke out. Major League Baseball is looking into the allegations and taking them “very seriously,” an insider tells ESPN. The Yankees have won five games in a row without Alex Rodriguez in the lineup. The games were held at the Beverly Hills mansion of record executive Cody Leibel, with the host losing “more than a half-million dollars” at one, a witness told Radar, and violence subsequently breaking out over his refusal to pay. Once things turned ugly, Rodriguez reportedly left the scene and”tried to distance himself from the game,” said professional poker player Dan Bilzerian, who was present that night. “He just shook his head, not knowing what the hell happened,” said Bilzerian. “He didn’t want to deal with it at all. He was like, ‘OK, whatever. It’s your game.’ I would estimate A-Rod lost, like, a few thousand dollars that night. After everything that happened, he paid up and left.” In 2005, faced with rumors that their $300 million investment was taking part in gambling of this nature, the Yankees warned ARod to cease all illegal activity. But it apparently hasn’t sunk in and an anonymous MLB source says: “[Commissioner Bud Selig is] totally fed up with him. It’s like there’s something new with him every day and it’s impossible to keep up with it.” Former Paris Hilton sex tape partner Rick Salomon was also present at the games, an onlooker said. No, really.
Travis Pastrana crashes while competing in the Moto X best trick event at the X Games in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 28, 2011. “Travis can be in a lot of pain and shake it off, like, #39;Let#39;s do it again,#39; ” an X Games producer who witnessed the crash tells us. The “toilet paper roll” was ultimately too tricky for Travis Pastrana Thursday. The motocross star, 27, broke bones in his right foot and ankle after crashing during the Moto X Best Trick event at the X Games in Los Angeles. Pas
Having revealed his inner thespian in 2008’s JCVD , Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme wants to be taken more seriously as an actor. Speaking with Box Office Magazine — ironically, to promote his latest actioner, the hit man thriller Assassination Games (in limited release July 29) — the Muscles from Brussels cited Clint Eastwood as a career role model: “I love action films, and my fans expect action films, but I can act! And I really want a chance to show what I can do.” Note to Jean-Claude: The first step in being taken more seriously? Stop making movies with titles like Assassination Games . [ Box Office Magazine ]
Two months ago, Entertainment Weekly gave readers their first look at Jennifer Lawrence in the main Hunger Games role of Katniss Everdeen. Now, the magazine had done the same for Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, who will portray the two young man both pining for Katniss in the big screen version of this best-selling novel, Peeta and Gale, respectively. Hemsworth, of course, is mostly known for dating Miley Cyrus . But director Gary Ross stands up for the Australian actor in an interview with the magazine and says: “On first glance he’s such a hunk that it’s easy to just sort of ascribe a hunk-like simplicity to him. But this is a phenomenally subtle actor.” For more on The Hunger Games , pick up this issue of Entertainment Weekly – and continue to visit THG all the way through the film’s March 21, 2012 release date!
Looks like the old school is going to make a big comeback! According to sports industry insiders Julius “Dr. J” Erving and his son Julius “J. Erv” Erving III, along with Ether Marketing owner Deon Taylor have acquired the rights to the American Basketball Association (ABA) in which Dr. J won 3 championships and four MVP awards while a member of the Virgina Squires. The Dr. and his music executive son own a sports marketing firm call 6 Sports, will re-launch the defunct league (Julius Erving III) Sources say that the resurgence of the ABA will be akin to the feeling of “old school” basketball with a slightly updated style. Hard-nosed play, free-flowing offense, and a overall more exciting brand of basketball minus the antics of an And1 or Harlem Globetrotters type of game. In addition, we are told that there will be a push for celebrities to own the teams outright to help draw attention to league. Of the twelve teams scheduled to participate in Miami, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Toronto, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Baltimore, Los Angeles, etc, high-profile stars like Drake, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga, and others could possibly be the head honchos of their own city’s team. With the impending NBA lockout next year this league could easily be the best brand of professional basketball around in 2012. Players from all realms of basketball from college, current NBA players, to blackballed NBA players like Allen Iverson or Stephon Marbury.From what we understand there already several networks scrambling to retain the TV rights to air the games once everything is in place. Neither Dr. J, Julius Erving III, nor Deon Taylor have commented on the newly acquired league.
One year ago on July 8, 2010 shortly after 9:30 pm NBA superstar LeBron James –arguably the most coveted free agent in sports history–changed the landscape of professional basketball with ten words: “this fall I’m gonna take my talents to South Beach”. Just like that LeBron James was no longer a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers , his hometown team, the team that drafted him number one overall in the 2003 NBA draft. Just like that James, whose image was on par with Yankees captain Derek Jeter (the squeaky clean variety), became a pariah. Cleveland fans ripped LeBron jerseys off their person and burned them in disgust much to the nationally televised horror of King James. The name-calling was relentless utilizing Nike slogans (“Quitness”), his government name (“LeBum”), and his own royal self-proclaimed nickname (“Queen James”). While Cleveland fans were the only people who really had a right to be upset at LeBron, Knicks fans (who swore he would choose the team since the venue of his announcement was in Connecticut), who cheered him every time he step foot in the Garden during the 2009-2010 season, piled on the insults as well. Hall of Fame players took subtle shots at LeBron (Michael Jordan) and direct bullets (Charles Barkley) questioning his leadership ability and his place as an all-time great. His close friend Jay-Z reportedly stopped speaking to James miffed that he was not informed that LeBron would not be coming to the New Jersey Nets . The following night LeBron topped himself successfully alienating the fans of the other 24 or so teams who were not in the running for his services by appearing on stage with his new teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a pep rally/free agent signing celebration where he arrogantly predicted the Heat would win “not 5, not 6, not 7…” NBA championships. Now that the 2010-2011 season has ended in an NBA Finals collapse for LeBron’s Heat, where James himself did nothing in the fourth quarter of all the games, the NBA lockout threatens to shorten the upcoming season and there are rumors that Bosh may be traded to open up more money to bring in better role players. The only question I have is: if LeBron had chosen to stay with Cleveland would he have been vilified the same way for televising his decision? RELATED POSTS: Lebron James Knocks Over Kid After Dunking On Him [VIDEO] Miami Heat Rumored To Be Trading Chris Bosh, He Blames Lebron & Dwyane Top 10 Players Never To Win An NBA Title
The rocker says he’s on the second book of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy, preparing himself to play stylist Cinna. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by James Montgomery Lenny Kravitz Photo: MTV News “The Hunger Games” has an impressive cast of new talent, unknowns and renowned stars that puts any franchise movie to shame, but one of the most surprising casting decisions made by director Gary Ross was to choose rocker Lenny Kravitz to play stylist Cinna . When MTV News caught up with Kravitz to chat about his forthcoming album, Black and White America (due out August 30), he said he’s finally read the first of Suzanne Collins’ “Hunger Games” trilogy. Cinna — whose name often gets misinterpreted as “Sinner” when Kravitz says it, he told us — is one of the most significant secondary characters throughout the “Hunger Games” trilogy. The brilliant costumes he creates for leading lady Katniss Everdeen before the games help give her the confidence that she needs to get through a televised battle-to-the-death with 23 other teens. And his very subtle form of rebellion against the oppressive Capitol is not without consequences. Since he is still only partway through the second novel “Catching Fire,” Kravitz has heard only hints of what would happen to his character in a potential second movie. “People have told me, but I’m on the second one now, so don’t tell me how …” Kravitz said, cutting off any spoilers. “The Hunger Games” will be Kravitz’s second big-screen acting performance after 2009’s “Precious.” When asked how he is preparing for what may end up being quite a dramatic scene in the movie’s sequel, Kravitz simply replied, “I’ll do it as best as I can.” When Kravitz was announced as Cinna, MTV’s Hollywood Crush blog caught up with several “Hunger Games” experts to hear their thoughts on the casting decision. Most of them were behind it, but the main concern was whether the singer had the acting chops for the performance. “I guess the real question people have is, you know, what acting experience does Lenny Kravitz have? I’m confident that he can pull it off and do a really fantastic job,” “Hunger Games” Fireside chat host Adam Spunberg said. “He certainly looks the part, at least in my mind, how I pictured Cinna,” “Hunger Games” Examiner Sara Grundell said. “Lenny Kravitz totally fits that mental image I had. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Photos ‘Hunger Games’ Cast Additions Related Artists Lenny Kravitz
In case you didn’t get the memo, Hollywood really wants Liam Hemsworth to be a movie star. Which is why the potential latest acting choice for Hunger Games ‘ Gale is a bit of a curveball: Thor’s little brother in talks to star in the indie film AWOL , a Vietnam-era romance about a solider (Austin Stowell) who goes AWOL with his buddy (Hemsworth) to win back the heart of the girl who dumped him in America ( Aimee Teegarden ). Hemsworth playing the guy who doesn’t hook-up with the leading actress? Who does he think he is, John Krasinski? [ Variety ]
