September 20, 2007

Wesley Snipes will have to come out of pocket with $1.7 million and this time it's not the Tax Man he owes. He'll be paying that tidy little sum to the United Talent Agengy which claimed the actor agreed to pay them 10% for any monies he received from films they helped him obtain. UTA says they helped him secure roles in Blade III, Chaos (never heard of it), Middle Man (nope, not familar with that one either) and The Shooter (which I think is different from just plain Shooter with Mark Wahlberg and Danny Glover - don't know that one either). UTA filed a suit to get their cash and the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled in their favor. Snipes is still facing a court case in Florida on the tax charges. That case goes to court later this year.

Chris Tucker and Rush Hour director Brett Ratner are headed in a whole new direction. They are pairing up to tell the true story of George Jacobs. Who? You ask. Jacobs was the personal valet to Ole' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, for over 13 years. Jacobs was privvy to a lot of inside information about Sinatra and the Rat Pack. In fact, the film will be based on Jacobs memoir Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra (published in 2003). Jacobs had some interesting observations about Frank's wives Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow as well as his connections with Marilyn Monroe, J.F.K. and the Mob. Interestingly enough, Jacobs had this to say about Sammy Davis Jr. in the book. He said, "[Sammy] was the only person in Mr. S's world who made me aware of being black, and made me feel second-class for it." No word on who will play Sinatra.

30 Rock's Tracy Morgan will be wearing that awkward anti-alcohol ankle bracelet for an additional 80 days. He just couldn't stay away from the booze and admitted as much to the court during a progress report meeting. He's had to wear the bracelet since May 25 after he plead guilty to driving under the influence in New York (which was in violation of a probation he'd been under for a previous drunk driving arrest in LA). If Morgan has another discretion, he'll face 30-days in the LA County poker.

Lynn Whitfield, Carrie Fisher (that's Princess Leia, y'all) and Bette Midler are joining the cast of The Women, a remake of the 1939 comedy classic. They join a cast headlined by Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Eva Mendes and Annette Benning. The Women (which boast an all-female cast) is about a group of women who discover the woman they envy and admire the most is being cheated on by her husband.

September 17, 2007

Jennifer Hudson is headed for the city … Sex and the City that is! She’s joining the original cast in the Sex and the City movie playing Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) assistant. Her character is described as a "fashionable and sharp African-American woman in her early 20s, who moved from St. Louis to NYC in order to find love. The movie will also feature her ex-boyfriend Will." According to TV Squad, the film picks up four years after the series left off and all our faves (including Mr. Big) will be back. No word on who’ll play Will.

Spike Lee is casting for his latest joint Miracle at St. Anna. Shot in Italy, the film tells the story of the 92nd, all-Black division that fought against the Nazis in Italy (Tuscany to be exact). The film focuses on the story of the budding friendship between one of the soldiers and a six-year old Italian orphan. Shooting begins on September 30.

Idris Elba is one of the new ambassadors for the National Education Association's new campaign, "I Love My Child." The goal is to get members of the Caribbean and African communities more involved in the educational process. Elba is British but his parents are Ghanaian and Senegalese. He said in a press release about the project, "I think it is very important for us as parents to understand the public school system and know the people that are responsible for teaching our children. A better relationship with the administration will give the student a better future."

Guess who's jumping over to the other side? The other side of the camera, that is. Jada Pinkett-Smith will made her feature film directing debut with The Human Contact. It's the story of two men: Michael, a successfull business man (with a secret) and Julian who befriends him and introduces him to a freer and more 'bohemian' lifestyle. According to FilmJerk.com, Michael's flirtation with this other lifestyle leads to "a decision that will not only affect his own life but those of his boss and co-workers, as well as inspire his half-sister Rita to re-examine her life with her abusive husband." With all the beating around the bush, this seems like another down low story to me.I'll be surprised if it isn't.

In a movie that sounds like it would make Marty (my raw hide chewing toy poodle) happy, Don Cheadle has signed on to Hotel for Dogs. The film is based on a 1971 book about a couple of orphaned kids (one who will be played by Julia’s niece, Emma Roberts) who care for stray dogs in an abandoned hotel. Cheadle will play a social worker who looks after the teens. It’s supposed to be a more family-friendly film for the usually dramatic actor.

September 10, 2007

Congratulations to Halle Berry who will be a first time mom at the age of 41. She broke the good news to Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell last week. The Oscar-winner is about three months along and is expecting the child with boyfriend, model Gabriel Aubry. She told O’Dell (also a new mom) "Yes, I am three months pregnant! Gabriel and I are beyond excited, and I've waited a long time for this moment in life. Now the next seven months will be the longest of my life... You heard it from me first!"

Spike Lee was a winner at the Creative Emmys getting the Best Director nod for his New Orleans documentary, When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts. The film also received the award for Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking.

Will Smith is re-teaming with The Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino for Seven Pounds - a drama about a man who finds love while attempting suicide. Filming is expected to begin in February with a release date late in the year.

Eddie Griffin got in some hot water when he tried his stand-up routine at an event for Black Enterprise magazine. Apparently, Griffin used the N-word so frequently that magazine publisher Earl Graves stepped in and stopped the performance. There were about 1,000 people in attendance at the Miami event. Graves received a standing ovation from the crowd.

September 2, 2007

Terrence Howard isn't playing a superhero in the movies, but he was a hero in real life! While dining with a Los Angeles Magazine writer, Howard was able to successfully administer the Heimlich maneuver when the reporter began to choke. Journalist Margot Doughtery recounted, "He wraps his arms around me from behind, makes a fist at my solar plexus and gives two quick tugs. Bingo, I am breathing." When she inquired about where the Oscar-nominated actor got his training, it wasn't from the Y. Howard told her he learned the procudure from watching Mrs. Doubtfire!

Sean Kingston, who sings the hit Beautiful Girls, is one of many hopefuls being conisdered for the part of the Notorious B.I.G. in an upcoming biopic. He has not, however, landed the role yet. Producers of the film, issued a statement late last week to quell rumors that the singer had landed the role. According to producers, the role of Biggie Smalls is still anybody's race.

George Lucas, Star Wars god, is going in an entirely new direction with his latest project. He'll be taking on the historic Tuskegee Airmen. He's hired screenwriter John Ridley (Three Kings, Undercover Brother) to write the script. No word yet on any casting.

I know the ultimate goal in Hollywood is to remake every existing movie at least three times. But this latest remake move has me truly scared. You see, one of my all-time favorite movies as a little girl was Escape to Witch Mountain (that and The Apple Dumpling Gang). Anyway, logically, I should have known that it was coming .. the Witch Mountain remake. Add to that the fact that DeWayne The Rock Johnson has a role and you'll see why I'm concerned. The Rock will play a Las Vegas cab driver who picks up twins Tony and Tia and is tasked with taking them to Witch Mountain. There was no cab driver in the original ... but there was a crabby old guy in a camper ... maybe The Rock's character is replacing him (a crabby younger guy in a cab). How in the hell these kids got to Vegas is beyond me (and beyond the scope of the original movie). Thank goodness, I don't do kid flicks!!