6 movies in casting or pre-production

The International, w/ Clive Owen, Naomi Watts:
An Interpol agent (Owen) attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring.

Step Brothers, w/ Will Ferrell, John C Reilly:
Two spoiled guys (Ferrell and Reilly) become competitive stepbrothers after their single parents get hitched.

First Man, w/ Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep:
A business mogul puts his career aside to run his wife’s presidential campaign.

Need, w/ Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman:
A prosperous New York therapist (Watts) discovers that one of her patients, a suicidal woman (Kidman), is having an affair with her husband.

The Birds, w/ Naomi Watts:
A remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 thriller about a flock of birds that take over a quiet Northern California town.

State of Play, w/ Brad Pitt:
Based on the BBC mini-series of the same title, a team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try and solve the murder of a congressman’s mistress.

Source: All summaries from IMDb

Lance Ass?

Recent emails to Perez Hilton indicate that singer/actor Lance Bass may not be as nice as he tries to appear.  A reader called Claudio sent in an email indicating that he met Lance in a NY club.  Lance reportedly reacted to Claudio’s greeting with

“If you’re gonna try to get a picture don’t even think about it” accompanied by an eye roll.

Another reader-Betsy, having seen that post, set in a message saying she had met Lance in Nashville TN and

“When I asked if I could take a picture with him, he said ‘not tonight’ and totally turned around with his back to me.”

Certainly not proof.  But one does wonder.

Source: Perez Hilton
First Email (Claudio)
Second Email (Betsy)

Oxygen levels ‘incompatible with life’

Officials at the Crandall Canyon Mine have conceded that there is little to no chance the six missing miners are alive.  The oxygen reading taken Sunday indicated readings at 12% at the maximum, far too low to support life.

The news has angered familes of the victims, who accuse officials of abandoning their loved ones.

“We feel that they’ve given up and that they are just waiting for the six miners to expire,” said Sonny Olsen, a spokesman for the families…

I can’t begin to imagine how the families feel–and to be honest, I hope I never know.  But it’s time to face a tragic reality.  Fifteen days have passed, with no indication of life.  The mountain frequently shifts and three rescuers have already died.  A cost-benefit analysis comes out on the side of ending rescue operations.

Source: Fox News

Crandall Canyon Mine: It’s about over…

Barring any indications that the trapped miners are alive, there will be no more digging for them.  Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) officials have determined that the mine is too unstable for further digging, the risks are too great.  One of the three rescuers killed in a secondary collapse during rescue operations was an MSHA official.

It’s been 15 days now since the collapse.  If the survivors survived the initial collapse, they would have to contend with lack of food, oxygen-poor air (the percentage of oxygen collected from the area the miners are believed to have been was around 16%, survivable, but much lower than the typical 21%), and an unknown water supply.

Families are understandably upset about the decision to halt digging, pleading with officials to use a top-down method, such as that used at the Quecreek Mine in 2002.  But even that could be too dangerous to risk, without a positive indicator that the trapped men are alive.  The conundrum is, if miners are alive, they may be to weak to provide that positive response.

My heart goes out to their families and friends.  But for the sake of protecting others, I agree that digging should cease.  I hope someday the bodies are recovered to give the families closure.

Source: CNN

8 movies in casting or early pre-production

A Cold Case, w/ Tom Hanks:
Before he retires, investigator Andy Rosenzweig vows to solve a case that has haunted him for his entire career – the 27-year-old murder of his friend.

Old Dogs, w/ John Travolta, Robin Williams:
Two friends and business partners find their lives turned upside down when strange circumstances lead to them being placed in the care of 7-year-old twins.

The Time Traveller’s Wife, w/ Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams:
A man with a time-traveling gene crosses paths with his lover at different points in her life.

South of the Border, w/ Salma Hayek, Drew Barrymore, Jamie Lee Curtis, Edward James Olmos:
While on vacation in Mexico, Chloe, a ritzy Beverly Hills chihuahua, finds herself lost and in need of assistance in order to get back home.  [Looks like live action with CGI, b/c some actors are credited with voice work].

Assassination of High School President, w/ Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton:
At a Catholic high school, the popular girl (Barton) teams up with a sophomore newspaper reporter to investigate a case of stolen SAT exams. Once the duo target their suspects, a larger conspiracy is unearthed.

Bond 22 (007), w/ Daniel Craig:
The latest installment of James Bond.  No synopsis is available; the title will change.

Wolverine (X-Men), w/ Hugh Jackman:
Wolverine lives a mutant life, seeks revenge against Victor Creed (who will later become Sabertooth) for the death of his girlfriend, and ultimately ends up going through the mutant Weapon X program.

Shantaram, w/ Johnny Depp, Bradd Pitt:
Based on the novel written by Gregory David Roberts. The plot deals with the story of an Australian convict Lindsay who escapes from prison Down Under and goes to India. In India he lives in the slums of Mumbai where he gets involved with the underworld and pretends to be a doctor. The story deals with the transition that Lindsay goes through, from Australia to India and ultimately ending up fighting alongside the insurgents in Afghanistan against Russia.

more to be posted later

Paris Ink?

Did you sigh from relief when Simple Life was cancelled? You know–know more Paris. Well, there anyhow?

Then you may not be so delighted to hear (I know I wasn’t) that Stan Lee (of comic book fame) wants to bring us a cartoon Paris. He told Cindy Adams

The plan is to make an animated cartoon show with her on TV. A hip comedy in the superhero comedy-adventure genre.

Oh well, at least on TV they can do something she can’t- make her look smart.

Source: NY Post

No, Yes, No, Yes, No

Skanky Wino has done it again.  Perez sez that Amy Winehouse and hubby have left rehab a second time.

They had screaming matches with each other whilst there, disturbing other participants, then finally caught a taxi to an exclusive London hotel.

It’s looking from all reports that she would much better if she dropped her husband (perhaps off a pier into the ocean?).  His behaviour has made him unwelcome at the hospital to which Amy was taken after her overdose (now said to be caused by speedballing-inhaling or injecting a mix of crack and heroin), at The Causeway clinic (the rehab they just left), and (most likely) with Amy’s family.

Apparently hubby has a way of making everything about him which interferes with her treatment.

The wisdom of a couple going to rehab together should be questioned.  I understand they both need help.  But part of the purpose of rehab is to separate yourself from the things and people that influence as you get treatment.  By bringing your partner, you are bringing one of the influences (in this case probably the biggest one).

Source: Perez Hilton

Canadian MP has same sex wedding

Congrats to Scott Brison and his husband!  Scott, a member of Parliament in Canada wed his partner this weekend.  He is the first member of Parliament to do so.

Gay marriage was legalised two years ago in Canada (I think we need to get with the times in the US).

Source: Perez Hilton

I wonder if he got twice as many presents?

Happy birthday to Robert DeNiro–twice!

He first celebrated his birthday Friday in Melbourne Australia; when he flew back, he crossed the international date line and landed in Hawaii on Friday.  (Hawaii is approximately 19 hours behind Melbourne time).

I love little idiosyncrasies like that!

Source: StarPulse

God save the Brits…

Paris H appears to be in talks to appear on UK’s Celebrity Big Brother.  Sources report that she has been offered $600,000.

The source is quoted as saying

 ”She wants people to see that she is not a bimbo or wild child. She’s actually smart and funny, with lots of interesting things to say. She would easily be the star of the show – but obviously won’t do it unless the money is right.”

If she was so eager to prove herself, you’d think she’d do it regardless.  Then there’s the question of if the Brits really want to see her…

Source: StarPulse

Sometimes we need to back off…

As I was scanning my favourite sites for gossip, I ran across disturbing photos at one.  Lindsay Lohan on a water rafting trip.  That wasn’t the disturbing part-she’s still in rehab, so it’s all good.  The disturbing part was the way she was covering her face.  She clearly was unhappy, if not distressed, that the paparazzi was photographing her.  And to be honest, I’m pretty upset by it too.

She is in a place where she is trying to get well.  All else aside, I am giving her the benefit of the doubt that she wants to get clean.  AJ McLean did it (twice), so I know she can do it, if she wants to.  But the continued intrusion of photographers is not going to help her.

Perez Hilton, a man I respect, has said he isn’t going to publish photos of her whilst she is in rehab-he doesn’t want to do anything to deter her from getting well.  I think that is a responsible, respectable (and respectful) decision.  It’s too bad that X17 doesn’t, pardon the pun, get the picture.

Sometimes, even in this business, you’ve got to be responsible, even if it means you’re going to make a couple million less for a day.  Yes, I say and post rude things.  It goes with the territory.  And when a celebrity is out publicly partying, drinking a bar closed, and trying to inhale their (miniscule) body weight in cocaine, they are making themselves available for ridicule.

But when someone goes for help, whether you believe it’s for real or not, the time has come to step back and allow them a modicum of privacy.

So, until she is released from rehab, I will no longer post any reports of Lindsay unless they originate from a source other than X17.