September 08, 2006

Glowing talents are coming down to highlight "Smart People." Dennis Quaid, Rachel Weisz, and Thomas Haden Church have been reported to give positive sign to share scenes together in the picture which will be a directorial big screen debut of Noam Murro.

Set to begin production on November 6 in Pittsburgh with Mark Poirier penning the script, the movie centers on a professor, played by Quaid, who turns into a bitter eccentric following his wife death, but later learns to reconnect with people after falling for a former student.

Already signed a one-year, first-look deal with Los Angeles-based Underground Films, the Weinstein Company now sets out to put more attention to comedies. The studio has announced that the first materialization of this pact will be "Rising Son", of which basic idea came from Underground's production president William Lowery.

The movie's story takes a look on a young American who struggles hard to win the respect of her Japanese-American girlfriend's estranged family after delivering a proposition to the girl. Martin Sweeney is handling the script with Lowery executive producing and Nick Osborne plus Trevor Engelson producing.

Still staying close to dramatic feature, David Strathairn has joined the cast of "Hereafter", a project set amid aftermath of the tsunami disaster happened in Southeast Asia two years ago, Variety has learned.

Scheduled to start filming in Thailand by early next year, the movie focuses on an American clothing designer who tries to find his wife and children upon being separated from them after tsunami hit a remote area of Thailand they are visiting. Michael Patwin has been tapped to both direct and write the screenplay with Chris Bender, Ben Katz, and Madeline Ryan taking producers' seat.

The dynamic duo is returning. Shifting from book to screenplay, "The Nanny Diaries" authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have been selected to pen the script of Paramount's new project, "Five Men Who Broke My Heart", Variety has revealed.

Intended to be a romantic comedy, the movie is based on Susan Shapiro's romance memoir of the same title which follows the writer as she faced her midlife crisis that later led her to seek out five boyfriends who dumped her to find out why she didn't measure up. Blumhouse's Jason Blum and Rachael Horovitz of Specialty Film are both seating as the producers.

Canadian jazz pianist Diana Krall and her British musician husband Elvis Costello are expecting twins.

"I'm having twins! I'm not kidding!", the six-month-pregnant Krall said. "I have twins on my mother's side as well. We know (the sex) and everyone's been asking me, but we're keeping that private because we just want to have something for ourselves."

Money is not everything but without money everything is nothing, even love. Luckily, Jay-Z owns both love and money. And so it isn't that difficult for him to show his love for girlfriend Beyonce Knowles, for which the rapper willingly spent $1 million only to buy her a 1959 Rolls Royce convertible as a birthday gift.

On the car, it is said that Jay-Z took Beyonce early in the morning of her 25th birthday to the Time Warner garage and surprised her with the luxury car. The New York Post reported the singer was overwhelmed with happiness after her lover's romantic gesture and was left "speechless" when receiving the expensive birthday gift.

Seems a change is about to be made on "Homeland Security" cast line-up. According to reports compiled by Production Weekly, Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening may be replaced by "You've Got Mail" star Meg Ryan. No clear explanation yet on how the speculation suddenly sparks, so please keep up with this site for further information next.

Described as a mystery in the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief", "Security" has already billed Antonio Banderas as the lead actor with Thomas Joseph Adams and Norm MacDonald co-starring. Script is entrusted into the hands of George Gallo who also takes the helming duty. Filming is slated to begin on October 2 at locations around Shreveport, Louisiana and will run for about one month.

New rumors surface by the hour that Hollywood former couple, Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, back in love. Is that true? Well at least they look so.

McConaughey and Cruz were spotted having a romantic lunch at the Madeo Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills on Wednesday September 6th. They were caught laughing it up and looking rather close during the time.

The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ended Thursday September 7th has no new champion. Just as last week, the single charts still sees Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" on its very top position, marking the set second week in a row to be the number one single in the US.

Remain steady at 2nd position is Stacy Ferguson's "London Bridge", just one place ahead of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" which climbs one place from last week's position to No. 3. Following close behind at No. 4 is The Pussycat Dolls' "Buttons". Securing the 5th position on the charts is Sean Paul's "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me".

Marking his return to film directing after his 2003 indie work of "The Station Agent", actor Thomas McCarthy is set to helm also write "The Visitor" for Participant and Groundswell Productions, Variety has reported.

A drama comedy feature, the movie centers on a widower whose ordinary life is turned upside down after bumping into two illegal immigrants, one of whom he later befriends and tries to help when discovered by U.S. immigration authorities. "North Country" star Richard Jenkins has been signed on to play a role with Mary Jane Skalski seating as producer. Production is expected to start by October 2 in New York.

Seemingly refusing to slow down, THINKFilm has added one more project to be distributed under its banner after its successful attempt on "The TV Set" last week. Theatrical Head Mark Urman announced Thursday, September 7 that the company has officially become the North American distributor of character comedy "10 Items or Less", Brad Silberling's latest directorial and writing work.

In his response to the acquisition, Silberling excitedly revealed that he "couldn't be happier to start this partnership now." "It was always my hope that our film's rather maverick spirit would be matched by the spirit of its distributor -- so THINKFilm feels like an excellent fit," he remarked. "Their intelligence, selectivity and daring taste makes me feel like we're in good hands, on a picture whose independence we've jealously guarded."

Youngsters could not stay away from trend. Everything from fashion, shoes, accessories, to bag. And to meet today's young consumer demand on what is in-mode, designer Peter Dooney introduces a new collection of handbag with Emma Roberts as the model.

And so, the 16-year-old will appear in the company's new ads which is slated to debut in the themed "Young Hollywood" October issue of Teen Vogue.

Paris Hilton would not stop creating media frenzy. The hotel heiress keeps creating abuzz following her much-talked debut solo album "Paris" when she was arrested on Thursday Sept 7th on a misdemeanor charge of suspicion of driving under the influence.

On her arrest, police officers said Paris was pulled over just before 12:30 a.m. because she was observed driving her Mercedes-Benz erratically. The field sobriety test, conducted at the scene, showed the symptoms of intoxication and so the socialite was arrested at 12:30 a.m. with driving under the influence charges.

Continues to assemble its cast, "Stop-Loss" has added two more stars namely Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Timothy Olyphant in the line-up, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed.

Joining Ryan Phillippe in the list, Gordon-Levitt is billed to play a soldier from U.S troops sent to Iraq who returns to his home only to face a failing marriage and tough time readjusting to civilian life. Meanwhile, Olyphant will portray a no-nonsense military man named Lt. Col. Boot Miller who is responsible for the re-enlistment of the troops to Iraq.

The 79th Annual Academy Awards is about to come and the Academy of Motions Pictures Arts and Sciences officially announced Thursday September 7th the recruitment of Ellen DeGeneres as the event's host.

Thus, the duty will become the popular daytime talk show host's first time ever to hosting the Oscars show and first appearance on the award show.

Hold your breath, Lindsay Lohan gets robbed. The movie star had a handbag stolen at London's Heathrow airport on Thursday September 7th, her spokeswoman Leslie Sloane-Zelnick said.

Lindsay, who has just returned from her recent trip to Venice, had her Hermes bag containing "a quantity of jewelry", reportedly worth over $1 million, stolen and she quickly reported the theft to officials at Scotland Yard.

This time Kenneth Branagh is going to do a remake. Variety has learned that the British filmmaker has been tapped to direct "Sleuth", a new version of the 1972 drama film which was based on the Anthony Shaffer's play.

Financed by Castle Rock, pic revolves around a brilliant thriller writer and social fixture who arranges a complex revenge plan to his wife and her lover, a young hairdresser, after losing her to the man. Production of the film is scheduled to begin production in January at London's Twickenham Studios with Michael Caine also Jude Law starring and Harold Pinter adapting the script.

Jibbs was one of the many performers took the stage at this year Fashion Rocks, held at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The newbie performs together with music act The Pussy Cat Dolls, taking on Snoop Dogg's featured role on the recorded version of their latest single, "Buttons".

This year Fashion Rocks is a huge success. Liven up with various music and numbers of Hollywood's famous figures, the event left unforgettable memory in every attendance's heart.

Among those enliven the celebration was Elton John. The veteran musician entertained the crowd at New York's intimate Rose Hall with some of his greatest hits, like "Daniel," "Benny and the Jets," "Rocketman," and "Tiny Dancer" before then treated guests to songs from his latest album "The Captain and The Kid".