PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

LATEST: Hollywood star SHARON STONE has been slammed by animal rights campaigners for wearing a broach made from a rat’s foot to Sir Elton John’s post-Oscars party on Sunday night (24Feb08).
The Basic Instinct actress picked up the ‘lucky’ charm after hearing it was an item Scotsmen wore on their wedding day.
But her choice of accessory has left activists at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals fuming.
In a scathing attack on Stone for her fashion attire, PETA campaigners said: Maybe Sharon, passed over by the Academy yet again, was jealous of Ratatouille’s Oscar win and thought a rodent paw might go with her haggard look.
"Her accessories these days are as dead as her career." Stone has previously come under attack by PETA members for her love of fur.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Veteran rocker DAVID BOWIE has heaped praise on actress SCARLETT JOHANSSON for her album of TOM WAITS covers, branding her vocal talents "mystical".
The legendary pop star provided backing vocals for two tracks on the disc, Fannin’ Street and Falling Down, and insists Johansson’s skills behind the mic were almost perfect.
In a posting on his official website, he says, "The songs are great, really good Tom Waits stuff, and Scarlett’s performances are mystical and twice cool (sic).
"She creates a mood that could have been summoned by someone like (novelists) Margery Latimer or Jeanette Winterson." But Bowie has dismissed the importance of his own contributions to the release, claiming it is Johansson who deserves all the credit.
He adds: "I’ve seen the press on this and I suppose the record company wanted to spin my involvement a little more than it actually warrants.
"All I contribute are these oo’s and ah’s on a couple of tracks.
"David Sitek, the producer, originally asked me to do three songs, but for one of them, I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, I didn’t feel I could contribute much to it, so I left it alone."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

GEORGE CLOONEY has urged Hollywood pal TOM CRUISE "make fun of himself" and broaden his appeal to movie audiences.
Cruise’s public persona has been damaged in recent years by a media baffled by his devotion to the Church of Scientology. He was embarrassed further by recent, leaked, promotional videos for the church, in which he excitedly boasted about the benefits of Scientology.
His movies have also taken a dive at the box office - amid the suggestion Cruise has alienated cinema audiences.
But film fans’ favourite Clooney insists the Top Gun star isn’t arrogant or "self-serving" - he just needs to mock himself more.
Clooney tells Time magazine: "Before they could kill me on Batman & Robin, I said, ‘It’s a bad film, and I’m the worst thing in it.’ You try to defend an indefensible position, you’ll look like a schmuck. The guys I dig don’t do that. Look at Winston Churchill. He said, ‘These are our shortcomings. Now let’s get past it.’" He adds of Cruise, "I talked to him the other day, and he’s a good egg.
There’s nothing self-serving about what he’s saying. He has to turn it into a way to make fun of himself."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

GEORGE CLOONEY is suffering depression after his last United Nations trip to wartorn Sudan and fears he may be causing more damage than good to the devastated nation.
During Clooney’s traumatic trip, his first as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, he was confronted by an armed teenage border guard; contracted malaria and narrowly escaped being caught in the middle of gunfire in neighbouring Chad.
And he claims the experience prompted him to question if the attention he has brought to the crisis in Darfur - where more than 200,000 people have been killed and more than two million turned into refugees by famine and war - has made the situation worse.
He tells Time magazine, "I’ve been very depressed since I got back. I’m terrified that it isn’t in any way helping. That bringing attention can cause more damage. You dig a well or build a health-care facility and they’re a target for somebody. A lot more people know about Darfur, but absolutely nothing is different. Absolutely nothing."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Actor GARY BUSEY called in to Los Angeles DJ RYAN SEACREST’s breakfast radio show on Monday (25Feb08) to apologise for startling pals JENNIFER GARNER and LAURA LINNEY during a red carpet Oscar interview.
Busey lunged at the actresses as Seacrest chatted to them as part of his coverage of the Academy Awards on U.S. cable TV network E! - and kissed a "nervous" Garner on the neck.
The actress looked worried as Busey stood beside her for the duration of Seacrest’s red carpet chat, prompting Linney to drag her away.
But the actor insists he merely wanted to congratulate Linney and say hello Seacrest.
In a cryptic radio chat this morning, Busey told the DJ and American Idol host, "I didn’t know you were in the middle of an interview and I was just moving through there. Your eyes looked like a deer in the headlights.
"You are to me, when you’re working, an innocent champion of honesty… Your heart has a way of embracing the truth and honesty without looking like you’re reading from a script." When he was asked why he lunged towards actresses Linney and Garner, Busey explained he simply wanted the congratulate the Oscar nominee.
He added, "I met her (Linney) years ago and I complimented her on her craft and last night was a congratulations to her for the nomination she earned."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LATEST: Oscar winner DIABLO CODY chose to wear her own shoes to the Academy Awards on Sunday night (24Feb08) after turning down the chance to wear designer STUART WEITZMAN’s ‘million dollar shoes’.
The Juno screenwriter balked at the idea of wearing Weitzman’s shoes after realising she had become a pre-Oscars publicity figure, insisting she had no idea the footwear crafted especially for her were the fabled Kwait diamond items celebrities have been selected to wear to the Academy Awards since 2002.
In a furious posting on her MySpace.com website last week (22Feb08), Cody fumed, "I’m actually really p**sed about this… They’re using me to publicise their stupid shoes and NOBODY ASKED ME. I would never consent to a lame publicity stunt at a time when I already want to hide." And she stuck to her promise, leaving the Weitzman shoes at home and hitting the Oscars red carpet in a cheaper pair.
After her Best Original Screenplay win, Cody added, "It was the silliest thing. Nobody asked me, nobody talked to me, it was just this crate in the room with my name on it.
"(I wore my) regular shoes… I’m actually not sure (how much they cost), but I’m sure it is nowhere near a million dollars. If I had a million dollars I would help people."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Hollywood star MEL GIBSON has completed a $19.44 million (£9.72 million) deal for his company Icon Film Distribution to takeover a popular cinema chain in Australia and New Zealand.
Gibson and his business partner Bruce Davey have purchased the Dendy Cinema chain and distribution business via their Icon firm, making them owners of theatres in cities like Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Warwick Syphers, the managing director of Dendy Cinema’s previous owners Prime Media Group, said Icon’s offer was attractive "on various parameters, including value, timing and transaction certainty." He adds, "They’re fellows (at Icon) who I think are in the business very strongly in the distribution side. It would appear sensible and logical that if you’re in that side of the business, it really helps to have a cinema distribution platform." Icon Film Distribution has recently experienced success with the Oscar-nominated movies I’m Not There and The Diving Bell And The Butterfly.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Sound editor KAREN BAKER LANDERS suffered a post-Oscars car crash on Monday (25Feb08) morning, just hours after she claimed gold at the glitzy Hollywood awards ceremony.
Landers, who won the Best Sound Editing Academy Award for her work on The Bourne Ultimatum on Sunday (24Feb08), was being driven home following an after-show party when another vehicle clashed head on with her chauffeured car.
Landers was left visibly shaken by the minor collision but no one was injured, reports TMZ.com.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Tragic actor BRAD RENFRO was snubbed at Sunday’s (24Feb08) Academy Awards when organisers left him out of a montage of stars who died in the past year.
Renfro was found dead from a drug overdose in Los Angeles in January (08), aged just 25.
But he was overlooked on a list of 98 movie industry people, that included everyone from actors and directors to public relations people.
A statement from the Motion Picture Academy of America claims, "It is simply not possible to include everyone in that segment." But a friend of the late star of The Client, Apt Pupil and Sleepers tells TMZ.com, "It’s unbelievable and disgusting."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

BIG PIMPIN’ hitmaker SHAWN ‘JAY-Z’ CARTER stunned thousands of fans at a LINKIN PARK concert recently when he joined the rockers onstage for a surprise encore.
The band had just announced, "Good night, New York!" to a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden last Thursday (21Feb08) when the hip-hop star stormed the stage to jam with the band.
Jay-Z and Linkin Park proceeded to play two songs together, including their Grammy-winning collaboration Numb/Encore and a remix of the rockers’ Faint with the rapper’s Jigga What, Jigga Who. (PAW/RS/MT) WENN - FIFTH - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 25 FEBRUARY 2008

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

ERYKAH BADU is convinced hip-hop can unite religious divides and heal the world.
Badu preaches the message in new track The Healer, which features on her forthcoming album New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War).
The rapper claims she has travelled the world and found rap to be the one thing people of all faiths have in common.
She says, "It’s about all the gods - Allah, Jehova, Yaweh, Jah and many others. There are so many other ways to worship no matter what religion you are. And to me, hip-hop is felt in all religions - it has a healing power.
"I’ve recently been to Palestine, Jerusalem, Africa, and everyone is listening to hip-hop. There’s something about that kicking snare sound that all kinds of people find meaning in."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

ROLLING STONES guitarist RONNIE WOOD is to sell one of his paintings to raise funds for London’s Royal Academy of Arts.
The rocker-turned-artist has joined the likes of Tracy Emin, Mary Fedden and Ken Howard in donating his painting of Royal Ballet stars Carlos Acosta and Darcey Bussell to an upcoming auction in the British capital.
He says, "As an artist and art lover, I am devoted to the human form.
"I have had the privilege and excitement of standing in the wings of the Royal Ballet and sketching Britain’s premiere ballet dancers.
"The precision of physical movement of these dancers is mesmerising." The Royal Academy of Arts auction, which features more than 30 works, is due to take place on Wednesday (27Feb08).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Legendary rockers LED ZEPPELIN have been invited by the World Peace One organisation to reunite once more for a series of charity concerts across the globe.
The Stairway To Heaven stars reformed in December (07) for a one-off tribute concert in London, but despite huge demand from fans for a full tour, the group have refrained from making any further plans.
But the charity founder, Doug Ivanovich, hopes he will be able to convince the ageing band to return to the stage for another round of shows in the name of world peace.
Other stars invited to play at the international events include Madonna, U2, Justin Timberlake and Velvet Revolver.
The gigs are tentatively scheduled to kick off in May (08), with concerts in cities like London; Miami, Florida; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Beijing, China.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

SEAN PENN is rumoured to have found comfort in the arms of supermodel PETRA NEMCOVA following his split from wife ROBIN WRIGHT PENN.
The pair has been spotted out together in Los Angeles twice in the past week, including at Sir Elton John’s post-Oscar Party on Sunday night (24Feb08), where they posed together on the red carpet before heading to L.A. nightclub Villa, and then leaving together at 3.10am.
The Penns ended their 12-year marriage with a separation announcement in January (08) and Wright Penn has since been linked with former boyfriend Jason Patric.
Czech beauty Nemcova’s previous boyfriends include crooner James Blunt.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

WILL FERRELL and supermodel HEIDI KLUM were recently left red-faced at a photo shoot - after the comedian’s wife caught them in a compromising position.
The unlikely duo recently got carried away while modeling for U.S. magazine Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue to promote Ferrell’s new basketball comedy Semi-Pro.
And the actor insists wife Viveca Paulin chose the worst possible moment to walk into the studio.
He recalls, "My wife walked in right at the moment when I was biting Heidi’s butt. But she is incredibly accepting of all these things. She just rolled with it."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Oscar-winner JAMIE FOXX is to take on the role of legendary boxer MIKE TYSON in a forthcoming film about his life.
The retired sportsman is planning a Hollywood blockbuster biopic about his controversial career which he will produce - and he has already signed up Foxx to play the lead role.
Tyson says, "Jamie Foxx and I will be working together. He will play me in the film about my life. We already talked about it several times." Tyson also insists he is finally free of drugs for the first time in years, admitting he was never completely sober - even in his boxing heyday.
He says, "Even when I was training for a fight, there were no drugs, but I would drink. I had never been clean and sober my whole life.
"This is the first time. I’m tired of losing. I lost the trust of my family, my five kids. I didn’t like that way of life and decided to change. I saw the devil and didn’t want that." The 41-year-old was jailed for 24 hours in November (07) after pleading guilty to one felony count of cocaine possession and one misdemeanour count of driving under the influence (DUI) and is currently serving three years’ probation.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Veteran Broadway star DENNIS LETTS has died of cancer at the age of 73, just weeks after stepping offstage for the last time.
Despite being diagnosed with the disease in September (07), Letts still performed in August: Osage County, which was written for the New York stage by his own son Tracy, when it opened to rave reviews in December (07).
And the valliant star vowed to continue with the play, combining his cancer treatment with a gruelling schedule of eight shows a week.
Producer Jeffrey Richards says, "Everyone is saddened by Dennis’ passing."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Actress TILDA SWINTON was so convinced she would not win an Academy Award on Sunday (24Feb08), she didn’t hear her name when it was announced.
The 47-year-old Brit, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Michael Clayton, has dubbed the seconds following her win a "reverse Zoolander moment", in a reference to Ben Stiller’s 2001 comedy in which a dim-witted male model tries to accept an award given to his rival.
After her big win, she told reporters, "I really just had a reverse Zoolander moment when I think I heard someone else’s name and suddenly slowly heard my own.
"I’m still recovering from that moment, and I have absolutely no idea what happened after that. So, you know, you can tell me my dress fell off and I’d believe you, so don’t be cruel."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)