Following is a summary of current entertainment news
briefs.
Joke on Europe as Madagascar sequel comes to Cannes
CANNES, France (Reuters) – The joke is on Europe, and in
particular France, with the third animated ”Madagascar”
adventure, which has its world premiere at the Cannes film
festival on Friday bringing big names in comedy to the red
carpet. ”Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted,” from DreamWorks
Animation, is the first installment in the franchise to be shot
in 3D, and studio bosses will be hoping it can match the box
office magic of its predecessors.
Sean Penn opens wallets for Haiti at Cannes gala
CANNES (Reuters) – The Cannes film festival took time out
from the movies to raise money for Haiti on Friday night, with
Sean Penn at the helm pleading the humanitarian cause at a
celebrity gala. ”Okay, room. Haiti is watching us tonight like
you cannot believe,” Penn told the black-tie crowd who had paid
up to $100,000 for a table at the ”Carnival in Cannes,” just
steps from the famous red carpet.
Tough times for small U.S. films despite bumper Cannes
CANNES, France (Reuters) – In a bumper year for U.S.
productions in Cannes, director John Hillcoat, presenting
prohibition-era drama ”Lawless” at the film festival on
Saturday, said the state of smaller-budget American movies was
”distressing.” Lawless is in fact an international production –
Hillcoat and two of his leading cast are Australian, as is
scriptwriter and musician Nick Cave.
After storm, Lisa Marie Presley finds grace in new album
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Lisa Marie Presley, the ‘Princess’
of Rock and Roll, is done fighting the legacy of her father
Elvis. She is embracing her Americana roots, finding her own
voice, and carving a niche for herself in the musical spotlight
with new album ”Storm and Grace,” out this week.
Make your mind up J.Lo, says ”American Idol” producer
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Jennifer Lopez and ”American Idol”
producers played a cat-and- mouse game on Friday over the
singer’s future on the TV talent show that revived her career
and sent her to the top of a global celebrity power list.
”American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe said on Friday that
Lopez must decide whether to sign up as a judge for a third
year or go off in a new direction.
Reality TV, celebrity obsession hit Cannes screens
CANNES (Reuters) – Obsession with celebrity is the focus of
Italian director Matteo Garrone’s new movie ”Reality” at the
Cannes film festival, one of two pictures in the lineup
exploring the corrosive power of instant fame and the desire to
be watched. Garrone is best known for his last film, the gritty
”Gomorrah” about a Naples crime syndicate. But with ”Reality”
he switches gears, creating a modern day fairy tale whose
protagonist’s soul is slowly and inexorably eroded by the lure
of fame.
Exploitation, loneliness in sex tourism film at Cannes
CANNES, France (Reuters) – Just who exploits and who is
exploited in the sex tourism industry is the question asked in
director Ulrich Seidl’s ”Paradise Love,” a powerful and
unsettling exploration of female loneliness and economic
imbalance in Africa. Called ”Paradies: Liebe,” the
German-language movie is in competition at the Cannes film
festival and had its world premiere on Friday.
Sorkin says Jobs movie won’t be straight biography
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin hasn’t yet
figured out how to put the life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs
on the silver screen, but he is certain it’s not going to be a
straightforward biography. Sorkin, who won an Oscar for his
screenplay of Facebook film ”The Social Network” and created TV
drama ”The West Wing,” said on Thursday he would be looking for
an element of tension or an obstacle in Job’s life on which to
hang the movie.
Jessica Sanchez, Phillip Phillips make ”Idol” final
NEW YORK (Reuters) – He brought the ”American Idol” judges
to their feet, but Joshua Ledet couldn’t win over fans and was
sent home from the top-rated TV talent show on Thursday,
leaving Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips to battle for the
crown on next week’s finale. The elimination of Ledet – through
audience voting and not by the judges – sets up a final
showdown between Sanchez and Phillips to determine who will be
named the next ”American Idol,” a distinction that has belonged
to hitmakers such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, among
others.
Broadway play’s echoes of Bo scandal may prevent China
staging
NEW YORK (Reuters) – China’s biggest political scandal in
two decades is likely to have dashed playwright David Henry
Hwang’s hopes of bringing his Broadway play ”Chinglish” to
mainland China anytime soon. In a case of life imitating art,
the comedy has so many similarities to events surrounding
deposed Chinese politician Bo Xilai that Hwang says he doesn’t
believe it would be acceptable to the authorities to allow a
production to be mounted.
