‘Water for Elephants’ actor accepts Favorite Drama Movie award in button-up and jeans. By James Dinh Robert Pattinson wins Favorite Drama Movie at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards Photo: Getty Images Winning awards isn’t anything new to Robert Pattinson — especially for his role in the “Twilight” franchise. But fans saw the actor in a brand-new light at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards on Wednesday night (January 11) when he accepted an award for his film “Water for Elephants” and showed off his new buzz-cut hairdo. Pattinson appeared casually made his way to the stage in a simple button-up shirt and jeans to accept the Favorite Drama Movie award from Zachary Levi and “Twilight” co-star Ashley Greene. Even without his shaggy, long locks, Pattinson received a standing ovation. “Woah. Thank you very much. I don’t know why they asked me to accept it because it’s really a lot of other people as well,” he chuckled over an echo of screams from the audience. “When I was doing this movie, I was having so much fun doing it that I was saying to everyone I didn’t even care if anyone saw it. But now that people have seen it and they’re giving awards for it, I’m even more thankful for the whole experience, so thank you guys very much.” “Water for Elephants” beat out “The Adjustment Bureau,” “The Help,” “Limitless” and “Moneyball.” Now Pattinson’s love for “Elephants” isn’t exactly a secret. Shortly before it hit theaters last April, MTV News spoke with the box-office heartthrob about his appreciation for the film. “It felt like it was kind of magical in many ways, because we were out in the desert shooting,” he said. “There was nothing from the modern world around. It was a different experience for me. It wasn’t in a studio or anything.” What do you think of Robert’s buzz cut? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Related Videos 2012 People’s Choice Awards Breakout Moments Related Photos Backstage At The 2012 People’s Choice Awards MTV Style | 2012 People’s Choice Awards Red Carpet Photos The People’s Choice Awards 2012
Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Robert Pattinson also took home awards. By Jocelyn Vena Demi Lovato at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards Photo: Getty Images With a touch of sass and Neil Patrick Harris, “The Big Bang Theory” star Kaley Cuoco opened the 2012 People’s Choice Awards and set the tone for a night of good times when the show went live from Los Angeles on Wednesday night (January 11), kicking off what is sure to be an action-packed awards season. The night was a mixed bag of awards for TV, music and movies, with Emma Stone, Demi Lovato and “Castle” as the big headlines of the night. The guys of “The Grey” kicked off the night by handing out the award for Favorite Movie Actress to Emma Stone, who also won Favorite Comedic Actress. “You will literally make me cry,” Stone told the room. “I moved to L.A. eight years ago this week. And it is so insane to be standing up here right now.” Favorite TV Comedy Actress went to “Glee” star Lea Michele, who beat out the night’s host. She dedicated her award to “my amazing cast, my glee club. All of you are my best friends. You guys are the best. And Ryan Murphy for bringing so many of my dreams and making them come true. This is for my fans, and ‘Glee’ would be nothing without you guys.” “The Hunger Games” stars Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence handed the award for Favorite TV Drama Actress to “Vampire Diaries” star Nina Dobrev, who seemed grateful to her fans for helping her win an award she wasn’t originally nominated for. “Wow guys, this is so great. You guys wrote and wrote and continued to write in that they cave in and gave me a nomination that I won!” she said in her lacy emerald green dress. Josh Hutcherson and Vanessa Hudgens welcomed Favorite Pop Artist winner Demi Lovato to the stage. Adam Sandler displayed his signature and vintage charm in his acceptance speech for Favorite Comedic Movie Actor, thanking his teachers for helping him make his frequently critically panned box-offices smashes. Cory Monteith and Julianne Hough shared some banter before they handed Chloe Moretz the Favorite Movie Star Under 25 prize. “I can’t even imagine that I’m in the same category as the whole ‘Harry Potter’ cast and I won,” the 14-year-old said before thanking her fans. Robert Pattinson accepted the award for Best Drama Movie for the sweeping and romantic “Water For Elephants.” “Thank you very much,” Pattinson said. “When I was doing this movie, I had so much fun doing it.” “Once Upon A Time” leading ladies Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison gave the Favorite TV Drama Actor trophy to “Castle” star Nathan Fillion. The show also won for Best TV Crime Drama. “Vampire Diaries” hotties Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley showed their funny side when they presented “Bridesmaids” with the award for Favorite Comedy Movie. “We’d like to thank everyone who voted for ‘Bridesmaids.’ We’d especially like to thank Kristen Wiig,” Producer Judd Apatow said with the female-driven cast behind him, who then launched into a rendition of Wilson Phillips’ classic “Hold On.” “Haywire” star Ewan McGregor had the distinction of handing out the Favorite Movie Icon prize to Morgan Freeman. “When I found out I had been nominated… I decided to look up icon so here’s what I found,” Freeman said, going on to joke about the many definitions of the word, before he said he was “forever grateful for this honor.” “How I Met Your Mother” were the last to take the stage home when the cast accepted the award for Favorite Network TV Comedy. By the end of the night, stars ranging from Rihanna (Favorite R&B Artist) to the cast of “2 Broke Girls” to Lady Gaga (for her album Born This Way ) had nabbed a Waterford Crystal trophy. What did you think of the People’s Choice Awards? Leave your comments below! Stick with MTV News for the People’s Choice Awards 2012 winners, and don’t miss all the fashion from the People’s Choice Awards red carpet ! Related Videos 2012 People’s Choice Awards Breakout Moments Related Photos Backstage At The 2012 People’s Choice Awards MTV Style | 2012 People’s Choice Awards Red Carpet Photos The People’s Choice Awards 2012 Related Artists Demi Lovato Katy Perry
That film along with ‘Man on a Ledge’ and ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ make the actress One to Watch in 2012. By Kara Warner Elizabeth Banks in “The Hunger Games” Photo: Lionsgate We’ve been big fans of Elizabeth Banks for years. She’s such a scene-stealer and so versatile, with roles ranging from blockbusters (“Spider-Man”) to comedies (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Role Models”) to horror/comedies (“Slither”) to hit TV shows (“30 Rock”). The woman can do it all. But the reason she is one of MTV’s Ones to Watch in 2012 is because of upcoming roles in “Man on a Ledge,” the highly anticipated “Hunger Games” (one of the key players in MTV Movies Brawl 2012 ) and the ensemble comedy “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” as well as producing “Pitch Perfect,” a comedy about the world of college a cappella competitions. When we caught up with Banks, we asked for her thoughts on the year ahead. “Obviously, ‘The Hunger Games’ is coming out, and I absolutely love the series. I was a huge, dorky fan long ago; it’s something I’m really gratified to be a part of, the movie. I’m really looking forward to that,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to a real vacation, like a beach with no one around, and hopefully watch movies, because I love movies and I don’t get to see many movies. “I’m Secret-ing some ideas this year,” she added, speaking to the famous self-help book that encourages goal-planning via a “vision board.” “I wrote them out, they’re on my fridge for all to see. I won’t say them here but I definitely have some specific goals. Last year is going to be hard to top. I’m really excited about ‘Pitch Perfect,’ that I produced through Universal that’s coming out and stars all these really amazing young actors [Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Freddie Stroma of ‘Harry Potter’ fame] that I hope will all be Ones to Watch. It’s just a really fun, hilarious, insane movie that I’m really, really proud of.” What are you waiting for? Your must-see movie needs your support. It’s time to show character, poise and heart. Vote for your picks now at MTV Movie Brawl 2012 ! Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos 2012 Ones To Watch
‘Things like this happen all the time,’ producer Mark Burnett says. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry Photo: Getty Images Katy Perry will have to celebrate any People’s Choice Awards wins from afar. On Monday, Perry tweeted that she’d no longer be attending the show, which airs live Wednesday (January 11), following her divorce announcement from Russell Brand. The pop star is up for seven awards, and although it would mark her first public appearance since the New Year’s weekend bombshell , for now it seems fans will have to wait it out to see Perry make her big post-divorce statement. And for PCA executive producer Mark Burnett, that is completely fine. “It’s understandable,” he told E! News about the last-minute shakeup. “Things like this happen all the time.” Burnett went on to say that despite the cancellation, there’s plenty of other stuff in the show to keep fans tuned in, including a performance by Demi Lovato and appearances by the cast of “The Hunger Games” and “Twilight” superstar Robert Pattinson. “The show is so jam-packed you’re thinking how are we going to fit it all in,” he said. Although Perry has been lying low since the divorce announcement, she recently addressed the split on Twitter, saying, “I am so grateful for all the love and support I’ve had from people around the world. You guys have made my heart happy again. Concerning the gossip, I want to be clear that NO ONE speaks for me. Not a blog, magazine, ‘close sources’ or my family.” Perry is scheduled for two concerts later this month, one on January 19 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and another on January 22 in the Philippines, and is up for two awards at the Grammys on February 12. On Tuesday, Brand found himself in the headlines when a months-old video announcement for his November college comedy tour surfaced. In it, Brand slides off his wedding ring and pledges to learn more about college life and sororities. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Katy Perry Related Artists Katy Perry
With roles in ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ and ‘Red Dawn,’ the ‘Friday Night Lights’ alum is One to Watch in 2012. By Kevin P. Sullivan Adrianne Palicki in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” Photo: MGM If 2012 teaches us anything about Adrianne Palicki, it may be that she knows her way around a machine gun. The former “Friday Night Lights” star finds herself pulling the trigger in two high-profile action movies this year, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and “Red Dawn.” Starring alongside big names like Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Hemsworth and fellow Ones to Watch in 2012 honoree Josh Hutcherson in a single year definitely has our attention, but Palicki kicks ass in her own right. We spoke with Palicki about her big 2012 and the difficulties of finding a date — knowing what she does about hand-to-hand combat. MTV : First off, I have to congratulate you on being included in MTV’s Ones to Watch 2012. Adrianne Palicki : Thank you very much. It’s very cool. I’m very flattered. MTV : You have such a huge year coming up. Palicki : Yeah, they keep telling me that. [ Laughs. ] It’s surreal. Part of it is, “Red Dawn” I shot three years ago, so that feels so foreign to know that’s actually going to come out this year. “G.I. Joe,” we literally got off the plane from New Orleans and the trailer was out. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I feel like I’m still working right now. When we were shooting, it was less than a year until it came out. We knew that. It was just shocking. MTV : The fan response to the “G.I. Joe” trailer seemed overwhelmingly positive. Palicki : It was a pleasant surprise, because this is a reboot. It’s scary going into the shoes that have already been worn. We wanted to do something really unique and special. With such an amazing group of talented actors, you don’t want it to fall flat. How many people reached out, it’s unbelievable to hear the comments that they’re so excited, that the trailer is better than the first movie was. Just really cool reactions that you’re going, “OK, hopefully we don’t let you down.” I really don’t think we will. I think it’s going to be a really fun ride for everybody. MTV : It had to be a fun movie to shoot, right? Palicki : Oh my God, it was a blast. Jon Chu, he’s this genius. The thing that’s so special about him is that he might be the biggest G.I. Joe fan on the planet, so that really came in our favor. He’s young and interesting and full of ambition. We really did things that were super exciting and super scary, and I really feel everything’s going to come out really, really well. MTV : What was the scariest thing you had to do on set? Palicki : We did have to scale a wall, but after seeing “Mission: Impossible 4,” I’m like, “Well, I guess it wasn’t that scary.” An 18-foot wall compared to a skyscraper. The fun thing is that we get to do a lot of our own stunts. MTV : Were you a fan of “G.I. Joe” when you were growing up? Palicki : Oh yeah, definitely. I have a big brother, so anything he liked, I liked. He was super big into comic books, so I was super big into comic books. He was super big into G.I. Joe, and I wanted to be Jinx so badly. I don’t know just if it was that she was wearing a red costume or what, but I wanted to be a ninja. MTV : Were you disappointed to be Lady Jaye then? Palicki : Lady Jaye’s a badass. I couldn’t really be disappointed with Lady Jaye. She’s the one chick in the boys club. She can hold her own. She doesn’t get the staff, but she is a weapons specialist. She has that going for her. MTV : What was it like working with two huge action stars, Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis? Palicki : Dwayne is like a teddy bear. I know his fans probably don’t want to hear that. He might be one of the nicest people on the planet, genuinely. Very caring and very giving. Bruce is a kick in the pants. We get along really well, but he definitely came in during the middle of shooting for a week, added some flavor and left. But he was really fun to work with. I really enjoyed him. MTV : How comfortable are you with a machine gun now? Palicki : Between “Red Dawn,” “Wonder Woman” and now “G.I. Joe,” I feel like I could actually go and really harm some people with my hands. I feel like a Navy SEAL. It’s been fun. I mean, I get paid to do this sh–. I get paid to shoot an AK-47 or a .50 cal or punch some dudes in the face or groin or whatever. It’s a really fun job. MTV : What’s it like having “Red Dawn” come out after all this time? Palicki : It’s weird, because I’m so very removed from it. It was such a great experience, and I enjoyed it so much. Honestly, there’s been some disappointment for me because it’s going to be released and then it’s not. It’s going to be released and then it’s not. I’m relieved. I’m really excited it’s coming out, and I’m excited to see it myself. I haven’t seen it in a year, and I’m sure it’s changed quite a bit. MTV : Back then Chris Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson weren’t exactly the huge stars they are today. Palicki : Oh, Josh Hutcherson. I love him so much. It’s crazy. We were babies. It’s going to be so funny to see myself in “G.I. Joe” before playing an 18-year-old in “Red Dawn.” It’s just insane. We’re all just babies. Chris was training to go shoot “Thor” when we were shooting that movie. It’s crazy. It was so long ago. MTV : How does it feel having these two action movies coming out in same year? Palicki : It’s very strange, and it’s like, “OK, I guess I’ll be an action star. Why not?” I will never have a date again, but it’s cool, whatever. Men are going to be afraid of me. It’s really special, and I’m excited. It’s going to be a very busy year for me. MTV : One of your fellow Ones to Watch is … Palicki : Taylor Kitsch . I know that guy! He’s awesome. I miss him. He’s the nicest guy. He’s Canadian, I mean, need I say more? He also has the most ridiculous, disgusting sense of humor than anyone I’ve met. He’s so raunchy, and when it comes out of his mouth, because he’s Canadian and because he’s so nice, it comes out of nowhere. It just makes it that much funnier. MTV : Who’s going to have the bigger year? Palicki : Oh God, I can’t. I think Taylor’s going to have the bigger year. I’m not going to lie. He has a lot coming out this year and all different kinds of movies. I’m really proud of him. He deserves it. He’s worked really hard. I’m excited to see where he goes with his career. The thing is, he’s not just a pretty face. I mean, he has a very pretty face, by the way, but that’s not all he has. What are you waiting for? Your must-see movie needs your support. It’s time to show character, poise and heart. Vote for your picks now at MTV Movie Brawl 2012 ! Check out everything we’ve got on “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Get Ready For MTV Movie Brawl 2012! 2012 Ones To Watch
Tuesday, January 10, 2010 The Metropolitan Atlanta Violence Prevention Partnership (MAVPP) in Cooperation with the King Center, 6 pm – 8 pm, at the King Center, Freedom Hall. Free and Open to the Public. The seminar will highlight areas such as gang, school, and youth violence prevention. Youth will learn ways to become change agents and leaders to upgrade their community and build a healthy future for all Atlantans. For more information contact: James P. Griffin, Jr., Ph.D. (404) 756-1397. Wednesday, January 11, 2010 Kingian Nonviolence Collegiate Leadership Orientation , 9 am – 4 pm at the King Center Limited Space- Free. Pre-Registration Required. This leadership orientation is offered to college sophomores and juniors from Atlanta area colleges and universities. Participants will get an overview of the ideology of Dr. King to heighten the awareness of the “Kingian” approach to nonviolent social change. For more information contact: Barbara Harrison at (404) 526-8911 or programs@thekingcenter.org Thursday, January 12, 2012 State of Georgia Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Program , 10 am at the State Capitol, North Wing, Atlanta. Free and Open to the Public. For more information contact: The Georgia Martin Luther King, Jr., King Holiday Commission at 404-463-1343 “A King Celebration” Concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra , 8:00 pm at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. Open to the Public. Ticketed Event – General Admission: $55.00 – $125.00. The 20th annual musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. honors the legacy of Dr. King in words and music and features the Orchestra with the Morehouse and Spellman College Glee Clubs. For more information contact: or (404) 733-4900 or visit www.atlantasymphony.org ; or aso-info@woodruffcenter.org Saturday, January 14, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast , 9 am at St. Philip AME Church with keynote speaker, Dr. Floyd Flake, pastor of the Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York. Enjoy a free breakfast, but reservations are required. For more information, call Saint Philip AME Church at (404) 371- 0749 or www.saintphilip.org Body Spirit and Mind King Commemorative Health and Fitness Fair, 9 am – 4 pm. at Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA. Free and open to the public. Join hundreds of Atlantans in the “Looking Good and Feeling Healthy” health fair as a call to action to take better care of ourselves. For more information, call Blanche Payne at (404) 523- 9622. The Annual “Salute to Greatness” Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency, Downtown Atlanta. 5:30 pm Reception – 6:30 pm Dinner. Tickets – $250- $5,000. The Salute to Greatness Awards Dinner is the King Center’s primary fundraising initiative. The award recognizes individuals who exemplify excellence in leadership and have demonstrated a commitment to the principles of Dr. King. For more information Contact: Judy Hanenkrat at (404) 526-8974 or jhanenkrat.thekingcenter.org Sunday, January 15, 2012 Dr. King Weekend “Discovering the New Possibilities” , 11 am at Saint Philip AME Church featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Cornell West, University Professor at Princeton University. For more information, call (404) 371- 0749 or www.saintphilip.org Body Spirit and Mind King Commemorative Health and Fitness Fair, 1 pm – 4 pm at Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA. Free and open to the Public Join them for a second day of healthy life styles in honor of the King Holiday. For more information, call Blanche Payne at (404) 523- 9622. The King Center Book Signing , 3 pm – 5 pm at the King Center, Freedom Hall Auditorium, Free and Open to the public. Dr. Christine King Farris and Dr. Angela Farris Watkins will autograph their published books which includes, “March On”, “My Brother Martin”, and “My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart.” For more information Contact: Barbara Harrison at (404) 526- 8911 or programs@thekingcenter.org Monday, January 16, 2012 The Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemorative Service, 10 am at Ebenezer Baptist Church – Horizon Sanctuary. Free and Open to the Public (Limited Seating). The spiritual hallmark of the King Holiday Observance Week. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Senior Pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. On this day, The King Center encourages the world to engage in volunteer service in tribute to the work and life of Dr. King. For more information, contact: Barbara Harrison at (404) 526- 8911 or programs@thekingcenter.org King Holiday March and Rally , 10 am. The Rally is held on Auburn Avenue in the King National Park Area. The march is from Peachtree Street to Jackson Street. To participate in the March call or email (404)614 – 3233 or cleoorange@bellsouth.net Hosea Feed the Hungry 41 st Annual King Holiday Dinner, 10am – 4 pm at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. Celebrate the holiday by enjoying dinner with thousands of other in observance of Dr. King’s vision of love, unity and service to the poor. For more information, visit www.hoseafeedthehungry.com King’s Birthday Celebration at 10:30 at Imagine It! The children’s Museum in downtown Atlanta. A kid-friendly event to let little imaginations celebrate the legacy and visions Of one of the greatest heroes of our time. Children will make their very own “Live the Dream” Wall Hanging. Dekalb NAACP King Parade and Rally , 12:30 pm at Champion Theme Middle School in Stone Mountain. Bring your family to a downtown parade along Main Street at 12:30 in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. A Peace Rally follows the parade inside the Champion Theme Middle School Gymnasium on Mimona Drive. For more information, call Sara Copelin-wood at (404) 371- 1490 at www.schoolsandcommunity@yahoo.com Georgia Gwizzlies MLK Day Game vs. Columbus Riverballers, 3 pm at the Lynwood Recreation Center in Atlanta. Bring the entire family to enjoy one of Atlanta’s semi-Pro Basketball Teams play their annual King Observance Game. Special Pricing. Buy 1 Adult General Admission Ticket, get 2 people in free. From King to Obama-DuBois and back again , 10 am – 6 pm at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. Enjoy an outstanding art exhibition of art focusing on the African American socio-historical experience in our country. . The King Day of Service Project, All day, Free and Open to the Public. Sponsored by Hands on Atlanta, this offers and opportunity for people commit themselves to make a difference on this holiday by participating in community service projects in honor of Dr. King. For more information contact: Hands On Atlanta at (404) 979-2800 or www.handsonatlanta.org Body Spirit and Mind King Commemorative Health and Fitness Fair, 8 am – 10am at Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA. Free and open to the Public Join them for a third day of healthy life styles in honor of the King Holiday. Keynote speaker, Dan Sims, Principal Tri-Cities High School. For more information, call Blanche Payne at (404) 523- 9622.
‘Hunger Games’ star was up for Best Actress at the 2011 Academy Awards. By Jocelyn Vena Jennifer Lawrence Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Jennifer Lawrence has been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to announce this year’s Oscar nominees. The “Hunger Games” actress will be joined by Academy President Tom Sherak at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on January 24 to reveal just who will be up for one of those coveted gold statues, the Academy announced on Monday (January 9). The show, airing on ABC, is set to take place on February 26 with host Billy Crystal . Lawrence was up for Best Actress at the 2011 show for her star-making turn in “Winter’s Bone.” While she lost to “Black Swan” star Natalie Portman , she made headlines thanks to her body-hugging red dress. She’s next set to star in “The Hunger Games,” set for release on March 23. The same day her Oscars gig was announced, Lionsgate announced plans for pre-sale tickets for the highly anticipated flick , which also stars Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth . For those hungry to get their hands on tickets early, advanced sales kick off on February 22. When Lawrence was first cast in the film, which is based on the beloved novels by Suzanne Collins, fans had some reservations about whether she could fully embody the books’ heroine, Katniss Everdeen. “I wasn’t aware that everybody was so upset until I after I got my hair dyed, and people were like, ‘Oh my gosh, blond hair can turn brown. Wow. It’s a miracle,’ ” Lawrence told MTV News in May of last year. Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Jennifer Lawrence Related Photos Meet Katniss From ‘Hunger Games’: Jennifer Lawrence
Anyone who’s seen Contagion (or, let’s be honest, even just the trailer for Contagion ) knows that Steven Soderbergh is not precious about keeping his biggest stars breathing for the duration of his films. And when you think about it, that is kind of an awesome against-the-tide trend that few directors — okay, few studios — have the wherewithal to attempt. Chatting with the UK’s Independent about Contagion and Haywire , Soderbergh dropped some science on the art of manipulating the very essence of stardom in movies to great effect. “It’s always good to kill movie stars,” he told the Independent. “I think that the two most important things that have happened to that aspect of movies in the last 50 years are Hitchcock killing off Janet Leigh in a way that nobody had ever dreamed of doing – taking his heroine and killing her off after 40 minutes – and… Mike Nichols casting Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate . That changed everything.” “Now it’s back to the way it was before that single decision totally turned the world upside down in terms of what was people’s idea of a movie star. That one stroke ushered in the great actors who followed, De Niro, Pacino and Nicholson.” So how does one shake up audience expectation again in movies chock-full of A-listers? [ Spoilers ] Have them pummeled to a pulp by unknown MMA fighter-ladies! Cut their brains open in the first act! Blame it all on chickens! [ End spoilers ] All hail Soderbergh! Kill your idols! (Figuratively speaking.) [ The Independent via Movie City News ]
Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood is meticulously faithful to the book it’s based on, Haruki Murakami’s 1987 novel of the same name: It takes no significant liberties with the plot, and it captures the novel’s delicate, half-hopeful, half-mournful tone. So why, unlike its source material, does it feel only half-alive? It’s so easy, too easy, to get lost in the book-vs.-movie debate. But a movie like Norwegian Wood is a peculiar case – its intentions are sterling, and it’s hard to pinpoint any technical flaws. The problem, maybe, is that it’s trying too hard; Tran has such firm control over the storytelling that the resulting picture has no room to breathe. Watanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama) is an aimless young university student in late-1960s Tokyo. His closest friend, Kizuki, committed suicide at age 17, leaving behind his childhood love, the fragile Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi, the Japanese actress who made a splash in the 2006 Babel ). Watanabe “inherits” the friendship of Naoko, and it seems that the two might fall in love. But Naoko disappears – the intensity of the blossoming relationship is too much for her, sexually and emotionally, and she enters a retreat-like sanitorium in the country. Though Watanabe continues, sweetly, to pine for her, he also starts tagging along with his more sexually adventurous roommate, Nagasawa (Tetsuji Tamayama). He also embarks on a fledgling friendship with another student, Midori (Kiko Mizuhara) ,who, unlike Naoko, seems boldly certain about what she wants out of life. She is, perhaps, a little too bold for Watanabe: She outlines her idea of the ideal lover (essentially, a man who will be at her beck and call, so she can then turn him away). And she informs him that she already has a boyfriend, anyway. Watanabe continues to visit Naoko in her forest retreat, though his time with her is nearly always supervised by Noako’s half-protective, half-possessive roommate, Reiko (Reika Kirishima). The rest of Norwegian Wood outlines the rather delicate dance between the things Watanabe might think he wants and the things he may actually be able to have. Tran adapted the screenplay himself, with obvious care and precision (though the resulting movie doesn’t do much to address, as Murakami’s novel did, the social unrest among young people in late-‘60s Tokyo). His actors have plenty of moments of grace and subtlety, particularly Kikuchi – somehow, she makes us see a deeply troubled soul in Naoko, not just a wan, self-absorbed victim of circumstance. And there isn’t a single frame in Norwegian Wood that isn’t gorgeous to look at: The cinematographer is Mark Lee Ping Bin, who also shot In the Mood for Love (sharing credit with Kwan Pung-Leung and Christopher Doyle), and every inch of the movie’s surface fairly glows. Or, rather, every millimeter glows — the picture creeps along at a very leisurely pace, which shouldn’t by itself be a problem. Norwegian Wood is Tran’s fifth feature. (The director, who was born in Vietnam and who lives in Paris, is perhaps best known for the 1993 The Scent of Green Papaya .) I kept watching Norwegian Wood waiting for that pleasant, wide-awake state of hypnosis to kick in, the slipstream effect that a well-constructed, slow-moving picture sets into gear. But for reasons that are hard to pinpoint, Norwegian Wood seems to be hampered by its own integrity; it’s like a ghost wearing a trailing nightie that’s just too long. Would the movie be more effective if every lingering shot were cut by just a second or two, or if the dialogue between characters had just a little more energy and crackle? Maybe. But whatever it is that’s wrong with Norwegian Wood couldn’t possibly be remedied by any quick fix. That’s both its tragedy and its virtue. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
From Eva Green’s witch, Angelique, to what’s really up with Dr. Hoffman, here are the top things we’re itching to see. By John Mitchell Tim Burton and Johnny Depp on the set of “Dark Shadows” Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures We are just five months away from the release of the hottest vampire movie that doesn’t sparkle in the sunshine, and we’re starting to get excited. Very excited. But unlike the other major movies that have earned themselves a column here at MTV — “The Avengers,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Hunger Games” and “The Twilight Saga” — we are still waiting for a trailer for “Dark Shadows.” And, well, we’re starting to get pretty impatient. So far, director Tim Burton has kept a tight lid on his vampire soap opera — only a few official pics from the set (and one much-discussed paparazzi shot of Johnny Depp in character as Barnabas Collins) have been released. But the new year should bring fresh blood. We know filming has wrapped and that things apparently went so well on set that Michelle Pfeiffer told MTV News while promoting “New Year’s Eve” that working on “Dark Shadows” was “a dream job.” Pfeiffer, who plays family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, added that she hopes the film does well so “we can do a bunch of them, because it was such a fantastic, creative group of people.” Whether that on-set camaraderie will translate into the campy big-screen spook-fest we’re hoping for remains to be seen, and while we hope the trailer doesn’t give too much away, here are a few things we’re hoping to see when it arrives. 1. Eva Green in action as Angelique Angelique Bouchard is the witch who turned Barnabas into a vampire in the late 1700s after their affair went sour. She’s a woman with an axe to grind and has been haunting and cursing the Collins family ever since. So far, the only image we’ve seen of Green in character is the full cast shot, in which she stands in the background wearing modern clothes. We hope the trailer gives us a taste of how the “Casino Royale” Bond girl is going to play the over-the-top villainess. This is a scenery-chewing role that any actress worth her salt would have a field day with. We have faith that the super sexy starlet will do it justice, but a little advance evidence would be nice. We want to see corsets, blood and maybe a voodoo doll or two. 2. A little insight into what Dr. Hoffman is up to For us, one of the biggest mysteries of the film is exactly what role Helena Bonham Carter’s Dr. Julia Hoffman will play in the shenanigans at Collinwood Mansion. The actress has described her character as “an alcoholic psychologist,” and screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith told Entertainment Weekly that Hoffman “has been there for years, working with David [Collins] but not making any progress. He still claims he sees ghosts and talks with his dead mother.” Grahame-Smith goes on to describe the character as “a woman with a lot of secrets herself” who is “interested in Barnabas in more than one way.” What no one has mentioned is Hoffman’s role, in the original series, as a blood disorders specialist who attempts to cure Barnabas of his vampirism. We’ll be watching this trailer very closely to see if HBC is carrying more vials than she is notepads. 3. Collinwood Mansion We got a glimpse of the manor in the cast shot, with its Gothic windows and ancient-looking rugs, but we’re excited to see the rest of the haunted mansion. Overlooking the Atlantic from Collinsport, Maine, the house contains a room that is a gateway to a parallel time, for goodness’ sake. Given that so much of the action of the series takes place within the walls of the mansion, we’re really hoping that Burton and his first-class team of art directors, set designers and cinematographers got it right and captured the regal horror of the place. What will you be looking for in a “Dark Shadows” trailer? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me at @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! Check out everything we’ve got on “Dark Shadows.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
