‘New Moon’ Shatters Box Office Opening Records

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The vampire VS. wolf thriller has dominated box offices. ‘Twilight Saga: New Moon‘ has beaten record opening sales left by both ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ and ‘The Dark Knight.’ In the first 12:01 showing on Friday morning ‘New Moon’ made $26 million in sales. That number trumped the reigning box office opener, ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,’ record with $22 million set in July of 2009. The Batman sequel brought in $18.4 million in the first showing.

Total opening Friday sales for the Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner film also broke ‘The Dark Knight’s’ record of opening day sales of $67 million. The vampire romance brought in $80 in 24 hours. The first installment, ‘Twilight,’ only brought in $36 million in total Friday sales.

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Images Via: WENN.com

Megan Fox NOT Cast as Catwoman

Professor Whore Whore Face (thanks Michael K) will not be squeezing into pleather and prancing around in a dance of the feline for Batman.

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Rumors running amok yesterday stated that Megan Fox would be the next in line to play Catwoman. The Sun apparently jumped the gun on the announcement as Warner Brothers called them out and said it was all false.

“It’s rumor. It’s not true,” said a studio rep. “There is no script. There is no project to be cast in.”

Rumors of a third “Batman” film have been stewing since the wrap of “The Dark Knight.” Christopher Nolan’s second adaptation grossed over $1 billion in sales on the eve of the Oscars. So it’s no surprise that a third installment. Casting rumors have been floating around for awhile. Johnny Depp was said to be signed on as The Riddler, Philip Seymour Hoffman was set to be the Penguin and (my theory) Maggie Gyllenhaal would reprise in the saga as a reincarnated Catwoman. Gary Oldman, who plays the commissioner for Gotham, hinted at a “Dark Knight” sequel Comic-Con this year stating:

“I think the next ‘Batman’ is next year. We start shooting next year,” he said. Of course, he did go on to add, “You didn’t hear that from me.”

Typically Batman films bore me horizontal. However, these most recent attempts at the superhero films I really enjoyed. (Sans Christian Bale’s odd lisp he develops when speaking as Batman. Am I the only one that bothers?)

Images Via: wenn.com

Mark Wahlberg Fears Christian Bale has an Eating Disorder

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Christian Bale is notorious for his method acting and even used it as an excuse for his infamous rant. (Fun fact- Daniel Day Lewis is also a huge proponent of method acting.) So questions of just how far he taking his dedication to his latest role as a crack addict are rumbling. According to the National Enquirer (via Celebitchy) his costar and new friend, Mark Wahlberg, is extremely concerned with Bale’s health.

“You gotta eat man. You’re messing with your health!” Mark Wahlberg made that desperate plea to co-star Christian Bale when Bale continued to starve himself after dropping more than 40 pounds for their film “The Fighter” sources say.

The Dark Knight” star is said to have resorted to living off of fruit and water to drop the pounds to appear as a gaunt coke addict for his role. To further the worry he has been working out on top of the starvation.

“Wahlberg – a health fanatic who worked himself into great shape to play a champion boxer in “The Fighter” – has begged Bale to stop dieting, said the source. Mark feels Christian is taking the whole ‘in character’ thing too far. He’s afraid Christian is getting Karen Carpenter-thin, and he’s worried about his heart,” the source divulged. He wants Christian to realize that acting is a job, and it’s not worth risking your health.”

Remind yourself that this story comes from the National Enquirer. In all honesty I know very little about dietary needs beyond my own of cookies, booze and some Kashi Go Lean Crunch. (It’s a delicious cereal.) However, if one were living on an orange and a couple of bananas a day and then pumping iron at a gym I doubt he or she would be able to walk let alone spend 12 hour days on a set working.

If you look at some of the photos below Bale is indeed gaunt, but notice there is still muscle and definition in his arms. The baggy clothes further the effect of his frail appearance. This also isn’t the first time he has dropped weight for a role. Anyone seen “The Machinist” before? He followed that with a Batman film and was able to bulk back up.

My point? Mark Wahlberg is insanely hot.

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Heath Ledger’s Family Will Rob Matilda of Oscar

Yesterday as they were landing at LAX, the family of the late Heath Ledger was asked if daughter Matilda Ledger would get the Oscar for his inevitable win as supporting actor for his role of the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

Per The Envelope:

“Oh, yeah, down the line. We’ll keep it for her forever!” Said Heaths’ father Kim.

Um… what? The academy requires that posthumously bestowed Oscars go to the late person’s spouse or a child of legal age. Therefore, that award technically will belong to Matilda, and her mother Michelle Williams should accept the award on her daughters behalf. Although, that would create a sticky situation given the fact that Williams and Ledger were estranged at the time of his death and the two never married. The only thing stopping little Matilda from going up there on stage to accept that award is the fact that she is only 3 years old. You can bet your bottom dollar if she was older, she’d proudly go up there and accept that award on behalf of her father. Keeping the award will break the agreement the Ledgers made with the academy.

Per The Envelope:

“It’s complicated, because there are two different questions that have to be answered. First, we have to decide who gets the job of accepting the award onstage on the night of the ceremony. And then there’s the question of the eventual disposition of the posthumous statuette, which may not stay with the person who accepts it.” says Bruce Davis, Academy Executive Director. “In the event that Heath Ledger should be selected as the supporting actor recipient, the statuette will be held in trust for his daughter by her mother, Michelle Williams, until Matilda reaches the age of 18. At that point, she may execute what we call an heir’s agreement and keep the statuette forever — or, if she chooses not to do that, it will return to us.”

So what about the actors Screen Actors Guild Award that was won not too long ago? According to SAG Awards producer Kathy Connell, they are still holding it until the proper paperwork can be filled out. And what about his Golden Globe award? The Hollywood Foreign Press Association says they shipped Heath’s Golden Globe over to the office of his publicist Mara Buxbaum. Or what about his Critics Choice award? Supposedly, it was shipped to Warner Bros. awards office. But when asked, they claimed they don’t have it, and to ask Ms. Buxbaum for an official statement. Hmmm… so all of Heath’s awards are nowhere to be found… Interesting.

So why is the Ledger family being so shady with his awards? His daughter is his sole heir, and therefore should have her father’s belongings. With the way Heath obviously loved his daughter, you can assume he’d want her to have them. Matilda lost her daddy at such a young age – shouldn’t she at least have things to remember him by?

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Images Via: Pacific Coast News

Oscar Nominations Full List – Heath Ledger Gets a Nod

The Academy Award nominations are in! At the crack of dawn today the 2009 Oscar contenders were announced.

One year ago Heath Ledger passed away at the height of his career. January 22, 2008 was a viscously sad day as the burning talent of Ledger was gone all too soon. It is bittersweet that his role in “The Dark Knight” as the Joker has earned him an Oscar nomination. Today, a year later, friends and family are still grieving and healing. Let’s hope that this recognition can give them something to further their pride in Heath and provide a small light to focus on.

The nomination predictions for big categories like Best Picture were theorized to go to “The Dark Knight,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button“. Actresses like Kate Winslet (who won 2 Golden Globes this year) and Angelina Jolie were also up for accolades in early predictions. So how did they fair?

2009 Academy Award Nominees:

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams – “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz – “Vicky Cristna Barcelona”
Viola Davis – “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei – “The Wrestler”

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin – “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr. – “Tropic Thunder”
Phillip Seymour Hoffman – “Doubt”
Heath Ledger – “The Dark Knight”
Michael Shannon – “Relolutionary Road”

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway – “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie – “The Changeling”
Melissa Leo – “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep – “Doubt”
Kate Winslet “ The Reader”

Best Actor
Richard Jenkins – “The Visitor”
Frank Langella – “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn – “Milk”
Brad Pitt – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke – “The Wrestler”

Best Director
David Fincher – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard – “Frost/Nixon”
Gus Van Sant – “Milk”
Stephen Daldry – “The Reader”
Danny Boyle – “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Screen Play
Courtney Hunt – “Frozen River”
Mike Leigh – “Happy Go Luck”
Martin McDonough – “In Bruge”
Dustin Lance Black – “Milk”
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter – “Wall-E”

Adapted Screenplay
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord – “Benjamin Button”
John Patrick Shanley – “Doubt”
Peter Morgan – “Frost/Nixon”
David Hare – “The Reader”
Simon Beaufoy – “Slumdog Millionaire”

Foreign Language
“Der Baader Meinhof Komplex”
“The Class”
“Departures”
“Revanche”
“Waltz with Bashir”

Animated Film
“Bolt”
“Kung Fun Panda”
“WALL-E”

The Rest of the 2009 Academy Award Nominations List After the Fold – Click “Read More…”

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Heath Ledger Remembered

On January 22nd, 2008 Heath Ledger slipped away and a literal star vanished from this world. A year later friends and co-stars have opened up about the loss of one of Hollywood’s brightest talents. Entertainment Weekly compiled the thoughts of those lucky enough to have worked with Ledger regarding his tragic passing.

On the day he died:

Terry Gilliam “The Brothers Grimm” Director: I was in Vancouver, and there was a computer with a BBC website and it says, ”Heath Ledger found dead.” My immediate response was, ”It’s a f—ing Warner Bros. publicity stunt for the Joker!” We kept looking at the computer thinking it was going to change. But it wouldn’t go away.

Catherine Hardwick “The Lords of Dogtown“ Directo: I was in a van in Oregon scouting a location we shot for “Twilight.” And my phone just exploded. And then you’re just on the ground, weeping. At least I was outside in this beautiful place with the trees and the green and you could just try to connect with his spirit right then.

James Schamus “Brokeback Mountain” Producer : It was one of those ”where were you on the day Kennedy was shot” moments. I called Jake and remember wailing.

Gary OldmanThe Dark Knight” Co-Star: I call it the cosmic s— hammer. Just one of those things. I can’t even say I ever remember seeing Heath smoking. It was a complete shock.

After he was found, disgusting rumors of suicide and drug overdose hit the circuit. An autopsy would later reveal a combination of perscription drugs for depression and insomnia would be the culprit. His coworkers and friends have their own theories on the true downfall of Ledger.

Gilliam: They tried so hard to pin [drug abuse] on him, but they couldn’t because Heath was as clean as you could be. We know about the pills. But he had stopped smoking. Marijuana was no longer in his life, which he had enjoyed a bit. He wasn’t drinking. Nothing. This was a body that had cleansed itself for over a year of anything.

Nicola Pecorini – Cinematographer : He was so solid into keeping clean, it was quite stunning. I really think he died of a broken heart. I know it can sound very romantic, but it’s very tragic. I think that’s what killed him. Separation when there is a kid involved is always very painful, no matter what. And Heath was always very hard on himself. His tendency was always to say, ”What did I do wrong?” He was really bleeding. And I’m pretty sure that all his sleeping problems had nothing to do with work and all to do with Matilda and Michelle.

Steve Alexander CAA Agent: We were making these incredible plans about what was next, career-wise. The day after he died, he was going to meet Steven Spielberg to explore the idea of playing Tom Hayden in a movie about the Chicago 7. This wasn’t a guy who was even for a second thinking about checking out in any way, shape, or form. There’s a moment in The Dark Knight when Heath’s hanging upside down and he says to Batman, ”You and I are destined to do this forever.” It’s a very sad moment. A sequel certainly would have happened. I cringe when I read that he was a tortured soul or a Method actor who couldn’t get out of his own way because he’d played this dark character. It’s just not true.

Pecorini recalled the service held for his friend…

“I remember when we went to the memorial service, most of the people there had nothing to do with Heath. He used to despise most of them, and there was no reason for them to be there. I understand the family wanting to give the ”Hollywood community,” so-called, the opportunity of saying goodbye. But I’m telling you, 85 percent of the people in that room had no right to be there. It was pretty disturbing for me.”

Costar in from “The Dark Knight” sums up what Heath’s reaction to the idea of an Oscar nomination would have been:

“If Heath does get an Oscar nomination, I can just picture him up there, looking down and going, F—!”

Let’s hope that is the case. Oddly enough, the Oscar nominations are due out on the anniversary of Heath’s death.

Michelle Williams Will Not Accept Heath Ledger’s Awards

Heath Ledger was nominated for a Golden Globe after his role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” wowed the Foreign Press Association. (The full nomination list along with photos of Heath Ledger as the Joker HERE.)

The war over who will accept the award, should he win, has already begun. Heath is also a favorite to get an Oscar for his portrayal of Batman’s nemesis. The Ledger family is desperate to accept on the posthumous award. His father, who’s character remains shady and questionable, is begging to be the one to accept. Rumors that Heath’s baby momma is in the running are also abound. However, reps for Michelle Williams state that currently she is not going be accepting any awards on behalf of her ex.

“No discussions have been made for Michelle to accept nor are there any plans to take part.”

The studio behind “The Dark Knight” is pulling for Michelle to accept on behalf of Matilda. As friendly as the family appeared to Williams, they are furious with idea Michelle accepting any awards. A friend on the family insists it she is the worst candidate.

“Why would Michelle be involved? She had nothing to do with the movie. They weren’t even together when he passed away. Would you have your ex-wife accept your award? And they weren’t even married. [Director] Chris Nolan or [star] Christian Bale would make more sense. Michelle makes no sense. It’s like those rumors that she would go to the premiere of ‘Dark Knight.’ That was never in the realm of possibility.”

I can feel the outpouring of love and respect. I say have Jake Gyllenhaal shirtless and sweaty up there to accept. Bam. Everyone is happy.

Images Via: INF Daily

Heath Ledger Golden Globe Nomination, Plus Full Nominee List

The Dark Knight” was said to be a huge contender for the upcoming Golden Globe an Oscar race. However, Christopher Nolan”s film only walked away with one nod. Heath Ledger was nominated for Best Supporting actor. He will be up against Tom Cruise-’Tropic Thunder’, Robert Downey Jr.-’Tropic Thunder’, Ralph Fiennes-’The Duchess’, Philip Seymour Hoffman-’Doubt’.

Complete Golden Globe Nominee List

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
En Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

ACTOR, DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

ACTRESS, DRAMA
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

The Rest of the Full Golden Globe List is After the Fold

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