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SPIKE LEE’s World War II movie MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA has provoked a storm of controversy in Italy, because it links an anti-Fascist resistance group to the Nazi killing of 560 civilians.
Lee and writer James McBride held a press conference in Rome on Monday (29Sep08) where they were bombarded with questions about their portrayal of the slaughter - which took place in a Tuscan Village in 1944.
In the movie, a member of the partisan resistance group collaborates with the Nazis, prompting the killings. Veteran partisan organisations are unhappy, fearing the movie will prompt a backlash against their movement, and raise question marks about their role in the war. Critics in the country - where the movie opens on Friday (3Oct08) - have also panned Miracle at St. Anna.
McBride maintains it was "a fictional story", adding, "The real question for me was how to make St. Anna a reveal, because that is the craft of fiction. I’m very sorry if I have offended the partisans. I have enormous respect for them.
As a black American we understand what it’s like for someone to tell your history, and they are not you. But unfortunately the history of World War II here in Italy is ours as well, and this was the best I could do." But Lee refused to back down, telling the press conference, "I am not apologising for anything. I think these questions are evidence that there is still a lot about your history during the war that you (Italians) have got to come to grips with."

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A controversial comedy about ADOLF HITLER has stormed to the top of box office ratings in Russia.
Despite the sensitive nature of the subject matter, Hitler Kaput! has proved a huge hit, taking $5.2 million (£2.8 million) since its release on 18 September (08).
According to Daily Variety, the movie is a parody of the 1973 TV series 17 Moments of Spring, which was about a Russian spy who infiltrated the Nazis.

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O.J
. SIMPSON’s former agent has apologised to the family of the late RON GOLDMAN, the man the ex-American football player was accused of murdering 15 years ago - insisting he is sorry to have helped the disgraced star capitalise on his notoriety.
Simpson was cleared of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Goldman in 1995.
Mike Gilbert, who represented the former sportsman throughout the troubles, admits that he helped Simpson make money from his legal woes - by allowing him to sell autographs while he was in jail awaiting trial.
And now Gilbert, who published his own book How I Helped O.J
. Get Away With Murder: The Shocking Inside Story of Violence, Loyalty, Regret and Remorse earlier this year (08), has expressed his regrets over the incident, according to the New York Post.
He says, "I got there and there was a note, and the note read, ‘Mike imagine: O.J
. Simpson, Los Angeles County Jail
. My autograph is worth more than any man alive, I need you now more than ever.’” Goldman’s family have since rejected Gilbert’s apology, with his father Fred Goldman saying, "Forgive me, I think you’re full of c**p that you are remorseful." Simpson is currently standing trial in Nevada over accusations he was involved in a kidnapping and armed robbery incident in Las Vegas last year (07)
. Simpson, 61, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He maintains he and five associates were simply trying to recover stolen goods that belonged to the former sports star.
The prosecution rested its case on Monday (29Sep08).
The trial continues
.

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A series of emails accusing movie mogul HARVEY WEINSTEIN of using heavy-handed tactics to win film release dates have been exposed as fakes.
The film magnate recently found himself at the centre of claims that he pestered Sydney Pollack, one of the producers of new movie The Reader, about a release date for the film - shortly before he died of cancer in May (08).
The emails - purportedly from The Reader co-producer Scott Rudin - also accused Weinstein of harassing the widow of Anthony Minghella, another of the movie’s producers, shortly after the British moviemaker died from a brain haemorrhage in March (08).
According to DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com blogger Nikki Finke, the emails read: "HW (Weinstein) went to Minghella’s widow and tried..
. to insist the film be released this year (and) harassed Sydney on his deathbed until the family asked him to stop because he wanted Sydney to warrant that we would deliver for release this year." But now both Weinstein and Rudin have spoken out about the incident insisting the emails are bogus.
Weinstein tells New York gossip column PageSix, "I never approached Anthony’s widow or Sydney on his deathbed
. All of these allegations are totally insane.
If Nikki Finke can produce that e-mail, I’ll give $1 million to charity." Rudin adds, "That is not my e-mail
. The contents of it are categorically untrue." The Reader, starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, will be released in the U.S
. on 12 December (08)
.

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SCARFACE is quitting rap - the hip-hop veteran’s forthcoming album will be his last.
The star, real name Brad Jordan, will release Emeritus - meaning retired professor - in December (08) and Scarface reveals he has no plans to record any more solo material.
He tells MTV, "I don’t retire, I quit. It feels real good. The Emeritus record, the reason I’m so proud of it is because it’s my last. I’m done, man.
If you leave it up to me, I quit." But he admits he could be lured back into the music industry by some rap greats - if they ever want to collaborate with him.
He adds, "Only thing that’s gonna bring me back (is) if I do an album with somebody.
"Me, (Ice) Cube and Nas do something, or me and Jigga (Jay-Z) and Beans (Beanie Sigel) do something. It’s gotta be a trio or duo. Me and Bun B do a duo.
"That’s why I took that name Emeritus, dude. Because I’m gone. I’m retiring with honours and still holding the position."

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Singer/actress JENNIFER LOPEZ loved the challenge of completing a triathlon and feels stronger as a result.
The Maid In Manhattan star - who gave birth to twins Max and Emme in February (08) - ran, swam and cycled her way through the Nautica Malibu Triathlon in California on 14 September (08).
She says, "The triathlon was actually amazing. I loved it.
"The hardest part was swimming in the Pacific. I had these huge waves crashing around me and I felt incredibly emotional. Part of me felt really in danger and part of me just felt so strong." And Lopez was so overcome when she finished the race, she burst into tears.
She adds, "I cried when I came out. (Husband) Marc was standing there at the finishing line. I really cried then. But these days everything makes me cry.
I’m still pretty hormonal." Lopez completed the event in under two and a half hours to raise money for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

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Pop star JESSE McCARTNEY has reportedly infuriated his neighbours in Los Angeles - with a series of noisy incidents.
The singer/songwriter is said to have thrown a loud party on Saturday (27Sep08) night at his property in the Hollywood Hills.
And then, on Sunday (28Sep08), he allegedly annoyed surrounding residents further by turning up the volume on his television set to unacceptable levels prompting neighbours to call in the police.
According to website TMZ.com, officers arrived at the scene to investigate, but no citations were issued.
It is not the first time the star has been in trouble with his neighbours in March (08), McCartney’s wild antics reportedly led to people at nearby properties sending a notice to other residents instructing them to call the police if his parties got too loud.

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Former SPICE GIRL GERI HALLIWELL has turned her hand to film writing - and penned her first movie screenplay.
The singer received advice from friends and industry experts on how to put a plot together, and used the Final Draft computer programme to write it up.
But she is coy about the details - and is keeping the storyline under wraps.
She tells Britain’s The Sun newspaper, "I’ve just written my first screenplay. It is pretty incredible to finish it - the first draft… I’ve got a few friends who are screenwriters and they said to write the premise of it first - like the whole story of it.
"Then every story has three acts, whether it’s a screenplay or not. Well, most of them do." Halliwell has already written a series of children’s books about her fictional character Ugenia Lavender.

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Rapper/actor LIL’ ROMEO has been forced to buy a cheap bicycle for college because his expensive ones have repeatedly been stolen.
The 19-year-old, real name Percy Romeo Miller, Jr., is learning about life the hard way as a basketball freshman at the University of Southern California, after having three of his top-of-the-range bikes taken by thieves.
And he’s already got a few tips to pass on to his fellow students after just five weeks there.
He tells People.com, "Lock your bike! Now I just have a little $5 bike that hopefully no one will want." The star’s also learning to dress down - and leave his diamond chains and other jewellery at home with his rap mogul dad Percy Miller, former known as Master P, at the family home in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lil’ Romeo adds, "I don’t bring anything expensive to the dorms. I just sleep with my earrings on."

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Hollywood star KEVIN COSTNER is to release a country music album.
The Bodyguard actor fronts rock band Modern West in between making movies, and now the group is to try and win over country fans with their take on the genre, according to People.com.
The as-yet-untitled LP features 12 tracks, six of which were co-written by Costner, and will hit U.S. stores on 11 November (08).

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LATEST: The director of HEATHER LOCKLEAR’s latest film has attributed the actress’ recent driving arrest to the pressures of her "showbiz" lifestyle.
The 47-year-old was detained by police in Santa Barbara, California, on Saturday (27Sep08) and booked on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and being under the influence of a controlled substance. She was released on Sunday (28Sep08) without posting bail.
But police tests showed that the star had not been drinking at the time, and it is believed she was under the influence of prescription medication - thought to be related to her recent stint in rehab seeking treatment for anxiety and depression.
And moviemaker Jim Amatulli, who worked with Locklear on new film Flying By, insists that it is not unusual for actresses to suffer from such disorders - as female stars in Hollywood are under increasing stress by being in the public eye.
He tells the New York Daily News, "It is very easy to see the effects of the ’showbiz’ environment, and the stress it puts on relationships and families.
Add to that the pressure that women face as they get older and roles narrow, with so much ‘value’ put on superficial elements, it’s sad to watch the results play out." And Amatulli is adamant that Locklear’s arrest will not affect promotion of her new film, which also stars Billy Ray Cyrus and is due for release in early 2009.
He adds, "(The arrest will not have) any immediate affects.
"Naturally, I wish Heather the best and feel certain that she has the support of her close friends and business associates to work through whatever her issues are."

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Singer/actress JENNIFER LOPEZ wants to expand her family by having more children.
The Maid in Manhattan star gave birth to twins, Max and Emme, with her husband Marc Anthony earlier this year (Feb08).
And Lopez admits that she is hoping to get pregnant again - but she is happy to leave it to chance.
She tells E! Online, "I’d love to have more kids. I don’t know when, we’ll see, you know, that’s the same way my first ones happened! We’ll just do it the same way for the second (time around)!"

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JAMES BOND star DANIEL CRAIG is obsessed with keeping fit, but insists he will stop soon so that he can get "fat and old".
The actor - who appeared in his first Bond film, Casino Royale, clad only in tight swimming trunks - is happy with his lean figure, and eats three meals a day.
But the star confesses that he will soon give up his fitness regime - because he is getting too old to keep it up.
He tells Britain’s GQ magazine, "You have to be psychologically happy to do a movie like this and I genuinely don’t diet.
"I eat a full breakfast, full lunch, full dinner and once or twice a week I might even drink Guinness and red wine and all that stuff. Otherwise you go insane. You get into a stupid place. I’m obsessive enough about getting fit, it’s ridiculous.
"I’m 40 now and I’ve got to stop doing it soon. I have to start getting fat and old."

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Actor LIEV SCHREIBER stunned his pregnant girlfriend NAOMI WATTS with a surprise party on Saturday (27Sep08) to celebrate her 40th birthday.
The Manchurian Candidate star invited the couple’s closest friends and family to the secret bash in Los Angles, which took place a day before Watts’ actual birthday on Sunday (28Sep08).
Schreiber also treated the 21 Grams actress to a brand new Mercedes-Benz Bluetec - an eco-friendly luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) which isn’t due to go on sale until the end of October (08).
According to E! Online’s blogger Marc Malkin, the pricey gift was delivered to the party venue in time for the celebrations, complete with a big red bow on the bonnet.
Further details about the bash have yet to be revealed, but Schreiber’s representative has confirmed the event took place, saying: "Party was attended by family and friends." The couple is currently preparing for the birth of its second child, with Watts reportedly due in December (08). Schreiber and Watts are already parents to son Alexander, 14 months.

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KELLY OSBOURNE was given sex education lessons while on tour with her rocker father OZZY - because organisers handed out free condoms to everyone backstage.
The 23-year-old spent a lot of time on the road as a child, touring with her dad’s band, Black Sabbath.
And Osbourne admits that the rock and roll lifestyle she witnessed forced her mother, rock matriarch Sharon Osbourne, to tell her the facts of life at a young age.
She tells British magazine New!, "I was on tour with my dad and at every single one of his shows, they hand out free condoms. I was about seven or eight and I picked up a packet and was like, ‘Mum, what’s this?’ "She had to explain to me what they were. It was something my parents have never been shy about. They always told us what they think and that we should protect ourselves."

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Hollywood actress CAMERON DIAZ has ruled out marriage for the foreseeable future, according to her boyfriend PAUL SCULFOR.
The Charlie’s Angels star has been dating the British model, who has also been linked to Jennifer Aniston, since the summer (08).
But Sculfor insists that although the relationship is going well, Diaz has told him she has no plans to settle down just yet.
He tells British magazine New!, "Yes, you know (we are in love). We are having fun. She has openly said she does not want marriage, so we’re coasting." And Sculfor admits that there are no bad feelings between him and Diaz’s ex-boyfriend, pop star Justin Timberlake.
He adds, "Hell, no. I have met him - he is cool and a great guy. There is no friction."

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UGLY BETTY star VANESSA WILLIAMS has heaped praise on new mum-to-be REBECCA ROMIJN, insisting she will "be a great mom and raise great kids".
The X-Men star is expecting twins with actor husband Jerry O’Connell next year (Jan09), and the pair "are going to be the most fun, zany parents in California," according to Williams.
She tells Usmagazine.com, "The kids are going to be gorgeous.
"She’s nesting right now. She can’t leave in the next couple months because she has to stay close to home." And Williams is sure that her co-star will make a fantastic mother, because of her sunny nature, adding: "She’s smart, she’s talented, she’s funny, and she’s well grounded. That’s what you need to be a great mom and raise great kids."

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Pop sensation PINK is determined to live a more culturally diverse life - she wants to be fluent in French by the time she’s 35.
The So What star fell for the language of love after listening to late iconic French singer Edith Piaf.
And the 29-year-old was so moved, she signed up for lessons and plans to be bi-lingual in a couple of years.
She says, "I was listening to a lot of French music, old singers like Edith Piaf. It was inspiring.
"So I’m taking French classes and I’ve given myself a target of being fluent by the time I’m 35."

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