January 17, 2007

The temperature in the race for slots in Oscar's Best Foreign Language Film of the Year category this year is rising as there remain only nine titles advancing to the final voting phase.

Those making their way up to this point, called Phase I, are Algeria's "Days of Glory", Canada's "Water", Denmark's "After the Wedding", France's "Avenue Montaigne", Germany's "The Lives of Others", Mexico's "Pan's Labyrinth", the Netherlands' "Black Book", Spain's "Volver", and Switzerland's "Vitus."

Preparing to see her own life journey get depicted on the big screen, Jenna Jameson turns out to look forward for the "Match Point" star Scarlett Johansson to portray her in the biopic she is currently in talks with producers to develop, titled "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale."

"We're looking hopefully at Scarlett Johansson," the X-rated actress told Britain's FHM magazine. "She's my choice. I think she's beautiful."

Becoming the first major female actor to join "Iron Man", Gwyneth Paltrow has given her agreement to be lined up with Robert Downey Jr. and Terrence Howard in the project's cast, Variety has revealed.

The site added that the Oscar-winning actress is billed as Virginia "Pepper" Potts, a personal assistant to Tony Stark, played by Downey Jr., a rich industrialist who later decides to become the Iron Man to fight against evil on a global scale.

Continues to boost up its cast list, Warner Bros.' "Get Smart" has added two more noted names of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Terence Stamp to join previously-announced Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, who finally is positive to star in, into the lineup.

While it is known that the flick will be made based on the 1965 Mel Brooks/Buck Henry-created sitcom, The Rock will play a new character called Agent 23 instead. As for Stamp, "The Haunted Mansion" star is reportedly plotted to portray an evil leader with Carrell as Maxwell Smart and Hathaway as Agent 99.

Diana Ross has confirmed to CBS "Late Show" host David Letterman on Tuesday January 16th that she's going to be a mentor on Fox's "American Idol".

That's not all, the singer reportedly also is planning a world tour in March later this year to promote her new album, "I Love You." Dates on the tour, however, have not yet been announced.

Eva Mendes and Nick Lachey, both are people's favorites. It surely isn't a coincidence that the twosome has been named Fun Fearless Male and Female of the Year by Cosmopolitan magazine.

Bearing the new predicate, they grace a double cover in the magazine's February issue with Mendes is pictured on the front wearing a sky blue dress followed by a second cover featuring Lachey in a button-down shirt and jeans.

Finding each other being gathered up again in one screen after "Smokin' Aces", Peter Berg and Jason Bateman are set to star together once more in "White Jazz", the sequel to the 1997 "L.A Confidential", the film's director Joe Carnahan told Rope of Silicon.

A Warner Independent Pictures production, the picture is based on James Ellroy's novel of the same title which revolves around the daily work of Lieutenant David "Dave" Klein and his involvement with the dark side of the L.A.P.D. Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has already been billed to play the character.

Another year, another favorite. Move over Tom Hanks because people have their new favorite. It's Denzel Washington. The Hollywood hunk has been chosen the No. 1 America's Favorite Movie Star in the nationwide Harris Poll of 1,147 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive between December 12 and 18, 2006.

Dropping from number one to number two is Hanks, while movie legend John Wayne remains in third place. Tough guy Clint Eastwood jumps up two spots to fourth place. Next on the poll is Will Smith who along with actress Julia Roberts tie for the 5th spot.

Even illness could not stop her from performing. Kylie Minogue ignored doctors, insisting her "Showgirl Homecoming" tour must go on.

Doctors have warned Kylie that exhaustion would take its toll if she pushed herself too hard so soon after being given the all-clear from the potentially life-threatening illness breast cancer. However, the singer insisted on adding extra dates to her tour with the intention not to let fans down.

It ends already. Keith Urban has completed a three-month stint in rehab for alcohol addiction. And now as the singer has again enjoyed his becoming sober, he's more than ready to back on track.

Urban's publicist, Paul Freundlich, confirmed Tuesday January 16 that the country singer has completed a stint at the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, California. Also his publicist said that he is planning a world tour to promote his new album.

Sensing potential opportunity in the stalled project of "John Carter of Mars", Walt Disney Pictures is reported by TMZ.com to hold negotiations with the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs to secure the rights to the film, which is an adaptation of the author's book series of the same title.

The big-screen version of the sci-fi hero initially was intended to be developed under Paramount Pictures banner supported by Fox and Walden Media with Jon Favreau to direct. However, talks between the latter two studios and the estate sadly never reached a deal, leading the picture to be put into the shelf for years.

Kevin Federline will have no money anymore. The ex-hubby of Britney Spears has just got his new job, starring in an insurance ad.

The man has been hired by Nationwide Insurance to star in one of their ads, set to run during some of the most expensive airtime on television.

Her hard partying has cost Britney Spears more than just money and reputation. Worse, the singer has been rejected by the NFL.

The New York Daily News reported Tuesday January 16th that while the Super Bowl is trying to get together celebrities for an all-star NFL Network promo to air during the game, Britney Spears' people "were turned down flat out when they asked about participating."

Making the film indeed a high-profile project, Ewan McGregor and Richard Griffiths have both willingly signed on to lend their voices in "Jackboots on Whitehall", a satirical animated version of World War II coming from Britain's Swipe Films.

Presenting a story which concerns on what would have happened had the Germans invaded Britain, the flick will see McGregor fill the voice of a heroic Scottish farmhand who becomes a resistance leader against the invader with Griffiths voicing the Luftwaffe leader Hermann Goering.

Rumor has it that Orlando Bloom and Penelope Cruz are dating. The rumors soon appear as the actor has been spotted celebrating his 30th birthday with the companion of the actress.

Celebrated his 30th birthday Saturday January 30th, the couple partied at Los Angeles nightclub Teddy's and were said to be inseparable. A source said, "She was never further than arm's length from Orlando, even when he was surrounded by other women on the dance floor."

This just in. Whitney Houston is said to have been out on a date with a singer almost half her age. The singer was seen leaving Beverly Hills restaurant Maestro on Sunday night January 14th with Ray J, the younger brother of singer Brandy.

An onlooker said, "They looked like they'd had an enjoyable evening, but they weren't happy to be pictured together. Ray helped Whitney into his car and drove her home." While there have yet any further details, you better stay tuned for we'll keep you with more.

Broadening her acting experience on the big screen, Mischa Barton is poised to take a starring part in a coming-of-age indie drama entitled "Don't Fade Away" for the newly-established film company Origin Entertainment Group.

Written, directed, and executive produced by Luke Kasdan, the picture revolves around an engaged Manhattan couple who is forced to deal with a father's unexpected illness. Shooting is currently underway in North Carolina with Beau Bridges, Ja Rule, and Ryan Kwanten also starring.

Here is celebrity's another move, Brangelina. The Hollywood actor and actress are moving to New Orleans and plan to send their three children, Maddox, Zahara, and Shiloh to school there.

On their moving, Angelina Jolie told US Weekly at the Golden Globe Awards, "We love it there. The kids are going to go to school there. We're really looking forward to it."