January 21, 2008

Scarlett Johansson's historical drama "The Other Boleyn Girl" completes the 58th Berlin International Film Festival's main program. As promised after the first 18 titles announcement on press releases on December 10, January 9 and January 15, the final eight films lineup has been confirmed on January 18, some of which rounded up the Competition program.

Joining "Boleyn Girl" in the lineup are three other U.S.A. films, namely Dennis Lee's family drama "Fireflies in the Garden" starring Julia Roberts, Michel Gondry's comedy "Be Kind Rewind" starring Jack Black, and Lance Hammer's "Ballast", one Korean film "Bam gua Nat", one French film "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime", one Finland film "Musta Jaa" and one Iran film "Avaze Gonjeshk-ha". Five of the films will make its world premiere in the festival, while the three other will have their international premiere.

Hard rock band Def Leppard have found the date to release their first album in six years. 'Songs from the Sparkle Lounge' will be dropped in stores on March 18 and will include a song that features country singer Tim McGraw on the track called 'Nine Lives'.

The news came from the band's official site that also mentioned that the date is tentative and may change anytime. They decided to announce the date because fans have been wondering for its release since they will begin a tour on March 27 but there was no news on the album itself.

Rumors on the release of the much-delayed 'Chinese Democracy' have been running up and down for sometime and the Guns N' Roses album that has cost massively in its production, reportedly is completed to be released soon.

The hint of the release came from Eddie Trunk of Q104.3 who wrote on his blog that he heard the latest update of the album. Trunk wrote: "I hear the new G&R CD is actually done, but the delay in release is not the bands issues but the label."

It is sad to report that Usher's father, Usher Terry Raymond III, has passed away Friday, January 18.

Usher Terry Raymond III died at an Atlanta, Georgia hospital of unspecified causes.

Lindsay Lohan is the next Hollywood public figure after the likes of Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Stacy Ferguson to experience wardrobe mishap. The actress-singer accidentally revealed her panties and bottom to the throng of paparazzi who were following her while she was out for shopping in Malibu on Saturday, January 19.

LiLo was spotted heading for Malibu to look for some new clothes at Planet Blue clothes store before then made her way to the trendy stores on Melrose and Robertson. It was during that period of time when the star "failed to realize that upon leaving her car to enter Theory clothes store, her dress became caught up, displaying her panties and rear end for the multiple cameras following closely behind," the Celebrity-gossip.net reported.

Should Michael Jackson decide to stick to his solo career and not participating in his brothers' scheme to reform Jackson Five, he will get a support from his little sister, Janet Jackson. Standing behind Michael's back, Janet claimed she will understand if he doesn't want to join the siblings group but will get really excited if Michael does.

"I know it's been kind of tough for Mike," Janet said. "Maybe he just wants to continue to be a solo artist and if that's what he wants, you have to respect his wishes. But what an impact it (a reunion) would have on the world. (I'd) be the first in line to buy a ticket."

Everything is getting complicated for Nicole Richie and Joel Madden when it comes to the role of their daughter's godmother. As of the socialite she wants her BFF Paris Hilton to be her newborn baby's godmother, whereas fiance Joel thinks it is his future sister in-law, Aussie actress Sophie Monk, that fits the task better.

"Joel doesn't think Paris is up to the task ... He's lobbying for Sophie," a source told America's Globe.

Multiple awards-nominated actress Penelope Cruz reportedly has agreed to fill in one of the lead voices in Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' combination live-action/CG film "G-Force". According to Variety, the star of "Volver" will voice Juarez, a guinea pig.

The co-star of Matthew McConaughey in "Sahara" is the new addition to the list of voice cast including Nicolas Cage voicing a mole, Steve Buscemi voicing a hamster and Tracy Morgan who also gives a voice to a guinea pig. Aside from the voice cast, the movie will also have human cast in the ensemble, including Bill Nighy and Will Arnett.

Despite the persistent dating rumors, Miley Cyrus has insisted that she and Nick Jonas of the boy-band Jonas Brothers were never together.

The teen sensations were first reported to be dating early December last year. The "Hannah Montana" star, according to various publications, revealed that she and the youngest Jonas had been dating since the start of their sold-out U.S. tour. On her romance, she said at that time that her country singer father Billy Ray Cyrus approved it.

Hip-hop superstar 50 Cent wants to produce independent films. According to reports, the rapper revealed that he has formed a yet unnamed production company.

In a report from The Envelope, it was said that on Saturday, January 19 at Main Street's House of Hype, the hitmaker of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" announced the formation of his untitled production company. Reportedly, the 32-year-old rapper made an alliance with his longtime manager, Chris Lighty, and the producer of 50's movies "Home of the Brave" and upcoming "Righteous Kill", Randall Emmett.

Paramount Pictures' fantasy film "Stardust" gathered nod from the 19th annual GLAAD Media Awards as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced their nominations. The Matthew Vaughn directed-film was recognized under the category of Outstanding Film for Wide Release.

For the prize honor, the film starring Claire Danes, Charlie Cox and Sienna Miller will have to face two other strong contenders, "Across the Universe" and "The Jane Austen Book Club". "Universe" is a Beatles-inspired musical love story starring Evan Rachel Wood and directed by Julie Taymor, while "Jane Austen" is a romantic drama film adapted from Karen Joy Fowler's bestseller novel featuring Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman and Hugh Dancy.

The nominees for the 19th annual GLAAD Media Awards are in and ABC comes out as the major nominee, taking in 11 nods all at once. The U.S.-based television network scores nominations for its hit comedy-drama series "Desperate Housewives" as well as new shows "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Greek."

As for GLAAD Special Honorees, singer Janet Jackson is one among the other recipients, being handed the Vanguard Award, which according to glaad.org is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Atomic Kitten have begun the series of promotional appearances of their comeback album. The three-piece who walked away from each other in 2004 will soon release a new single, 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' which is the cover of Cilla Black's 1964 classic.

Their rendition will be dropped on January 28, according to The Sun and the girls have shot the video of it. On Friday, January 18, member Liz McClarnon appeared on GMTV to talk about the new single and preview the video clip

Having his drama film "Pinkville" canceled, Oliver Stone was said to be setting his eyes on a new project, focusing on the life and presidency of the 43rd American president, George W. Bush. According to Variety, the Academy Award-winning director, who has made movies about Presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, is developing the biopic entitled "Bush".

On making the biopic, the acclaimed 61-year-old filmmaker said, "Here, I'm the referee, and I want a fair, true portrait of the man. How did Bush go from an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world?" He then added, "It's like Frank Capra territory on one hand, but I'll also cover the demons in his private life, his bouts with his dad and his conversion to Christianity, which explains a lot of where he is coming from...It will contain surprises for Bush supporters and his detractors."

Sarah Michelle Gellar is the new face for Vaseline.

The "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actress takes her clothes off for the new Vaseline ad and Vaseline.com has a guessing game for the so-called "mystery celebrity".

There is a speculation that Jessica Simpson will do a new venture with her new boyfriend, the American football star Tony Romo. And it involves getting inside the recording studio.

Words are circulating that the pop singer wants Romo to appear in her new CD which is currently being baked in a Nashville studio. A source spilled it to National Enquirer, "Jessica has been schooled in publicity tricks by her manager dad, Joe, and she knows that a duet with Tony will attract major attention."

Has separated from his wife of 9 years, Brendan Fraser quickly found new love in actress Maria Bello.

Brendan and Maria both are co-stars in the forthcoming action, adventure, horror flick "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" and they are said to become "tight because the shoot in China was challenging and Maria was a friendly face. They had chemistry for sure. It lit up the set, and everyone commented on it."

The 20th Century Fox have released the first trailer of Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher's romantic comedy "What Happens in Vegas...". The video footage are showing the first glimpses into the funny film that is set in the Sin City.

The two-and-a-half minutes video opens with the introduction on the two main characters who eventually ended up married in Las Vegas after a crazy night. Awaken the following day realizing that they were marrying strangers, their problems got even bigger when one of them won a huge jackpot after playing the other's quarter. Trying to get the money for oneself, the newlyweds plotted ever-escalating backstabbing schemes to drive each other crazy.

Being confirmed as the headlining act of 2008 Isle of Wight, Sex Pistols may preview their new songs at the big music event. The reunited band reportedly are recording new materials, their first in thirty years.

Drummer Paul Cook hinted that "new stuff'" may be ready in Summer. He said, "There's talk of new material. The only problem is that it's a bit hard to work on anything as John (Lydon) and Steve (Jones) are in America and Glen (Matlock) and I are in the U.K.. so it's a case of finding the time to get together. We might not pull together an album but hopefully there will be some new stuff in time for the summer."

Though the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones movie series has been kept as a big secret much of the time, a new featurette of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" has been revealed in the action film's official website. As of Friday, January 18, the site put up the exclusive featurette for viewing.

In the video footage, it can be seen the film's production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas, who has earlier been involved in "Superman Returns", gives a tour into Indy's home in the movie. In it, Dyas explains that though the setting is similarly the same with the first Indiana Jones' film, it still contains different element. The video shows the inside look of the protagonist's home from his living room to bedroom to closet.

Scarlett Johansson is on the verge of getting engaged to her actor boyfriend Ryan Reynolds, it has been reported.

Rumors are mounting that the celebrity couple will soon make an announcement about their engagement despite the actress' representative's denial of that matter.

It has been reported that Shakira assisted in the soundtrack to movie 'Love in the Time of Cholera'. The second single to promote the 2007 movie that was performed by the Colombian singer has received its music video premiere.

'Despedida' was first pulled to promote the film and was entered as the nominee of 65th Golden Globe Awards for 'Best Original Song'. The second one is 'Hay Amores' which has its music video premiered on Univision's Primer Impacto'.

Has already had a lot of cool stuff going on as of late, Britney Spears' antics continue to escalate. The troubled singer was reported to have filed a restraining order against her paparazzo boyfriend Adnan Ghalib.

Celebrity photo agency X17 claimed Spears invited two of their photographers into her Beverly Hills home at 2 A.M. Saturday, January 19 "for a little conversation." The two parties chatted for a while before the photogs escorted Brit and her BFF Sam Lutfi in the car, so the star could drive around and listen to music.

The actress who brilliantly depicted Meryl Streep's proudly ambitious assistant in "The Devil Wears Prada", Emily Blunt, has been cast in Universal Pictures' horror thriller "The Wolfman". The recruitment of the Golden Globe Award-winning actress has been confirmed by the 24-year-old actress herself on Saturday, January 19, at Sundance Film Festival, according to MTV News.

Reportedly, the English actress is going to star opposite Benicio del Toro as his character's girlfriend in the movie based on a script by Andrew Kevin Walker. To MTV News, the starlet who is also known for her work in the British film "My Summer of Love" revealed that she will begin the filming of the Mark Romanek's version of "The Wolfman" in February.

Missy Elliott who took a two-years absent, will soon have her new materials coming out and for that she needs the help of her long time collaborator, Timbaland. Two new songs have been confirmed and others are hoped to be worked on with Timbo.

'Ching-a-Ling' and 'Shake Your Pom Pom' are Elliott's original materials that will be utilized as the soundtrack to 'Step Up 2 the Streets'. The former had been leaked on-line earlier this month. Meanwhile, the album is reported to be dropped around May.

Chris Noth has become a father for the first time Friday, January 18 when his longtime girlfriend Tara Wilson gave birth to a baby boy.

The newborn baby, named Orion Christopher Noth, was born in Los Angeles and weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz.

Made for just $25 million, the low-budgeted thriller movie "Cloverfield" got a monstrous start at the North American box office, according to preliminary figures Sunday. Pulling in $40 million, the J.J. Abrams produced-movie debuted at the top spot on the three-days box office ended on Sunday, January 20.

Almost doubling the counts of this week box office runner-up, the film about a giant lizard's attack on Manhattan has broken two January records. In the first place, it has surpassed the January record of $35.9 million held by "Star Wars: Special Edition" since 1997. Then, although the current tally has not included the four-day Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend tally, it has already broken the four-day Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend record set in 2002 by "Black Hawk Down" that earned as much as $33.6 million.

Beside giving their comments on MTV's Super Sweet 16, pop duo Aly & AJ are still keen on promoting their second album, 'Insomniatic'. They have premiered the music video for the second single lifted from the album, titled 'Like Whoa'.

The video made here is the Disney version where there are scenes from Disney's production TV movie, 'Minutemen'. The intertwined shots are meant to promote the movie which will be broadcast on Disney Channel and Family Channel on Friday, January 25.

Already had a mega-deal to plug U.K. supermarket chain Tesco products, Spice Girls are now reportedly in talks to star in L'Oreal's next "Because you're worth it" hair campaign.

The fivesome; Victoria Adams, Melanie Brown, Melanie C, Geri Halliwell, and Emma Bunton, will thus follow in the footsteps of Kate Moss, Beyonce Knowles, and Jennifer Lopez who have all fronted ad campaigns for the beauty firm should the deal has been reached.

Has been keeping herself away from public media attention following her official confirmation of her pregnancy, Jennifer Lopez was back on the spotlight Saturday, January 19 when she and husband Marc Anthony stepped out for a baby shower.

The expectant parents held a baby shower on the rooftop of the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City, arranged by film producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas who all at once served as the event's host. Elaine was Lopez's producer on the 2002 film "Maid in Manhattan."