It must be hard for the director of a crime film to break new territory.
If you are making a mafia movie, how do you better The Godfather trilogy? If you are directing a thriller, how can you improve on Hitchcock? If you are making an action romp, how do you improve on the car chases that have gone before?
Of course some directors don't bother, they just rehash the same formula. Guy Ritchie, anyone?
But every few years someone comes along and reinvents the genre.
In the late 1960s, Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry spawned a series of gritty "rogue cop" movies.
A decade later it was Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather trilogy which turned directors onto opportunities within the mafia sub-genre.
In the 1990s, it was Quentin Tarantino, with his wicked dialogue and black humour - and, more recently, foreign films such as City of God from Brazil and Memories Of Murder from South Korea have broken new ground.
Adrian Wootton, co-director of this week's TCM Crimescene Festival at the BFI in London, said: "I am always amazed at how flexible crime movies are, and how the genre is able to constantly reinvent itself."
The crime film genre is almost as old as the movie industry itself.
Thrillers were popular back in the silent movie era, with films like Suspense (1913), with melodramatic music helping raise the tension.
When the "talkies" came along it was boom time for the genre, with Jimmy Cagney, Edward G Robinson and George Raft becoming huge stars in the 1930s.
After the war Alfred Hitchcock came into his own, with classic movies like Rear Window, Vertigo and Psycho shifting big money at the box office.
Films like Brighton Rock, and later Get Carter, showed we could make great crime films as well as, or better than, the Americans.
In new film Taken, Neeson hunts down his daughter's kidnappersThe festival began on Wednesday with the premiere of Liam Neeson's new film, Taken, a high octane thriller set in Paris.
Afterwards, at a Q&A session, Neeson said he enjoyed making the film although it was hard work as, despite being 56, he insisted on doing all the fights himself.
Asked what his favourite crime film was, Neeson said: "I can't think of one offhand, but I loved all those Cagney films. They were always terrific. Cagney was sublime, he was always real and truthful."
Other films being shown in the festival include Lakeview Terrace, starring Samuel L Jackson, and Gomorrah, which is based on Roberto Saviano's fantastic book about the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra.
The classic movie channel TCM has sponsored this week's festival, and next week it will be airing a series of crime classics, including Public Enemy, Get Carter and Serpico.
Channel manager, Alan Musa, said: "A lot of young people are discovering genres which have been around for years, like crime films, which really resonate. Every few years someone comes up with a new take on it but it's still a format which people really expect and enjoy."
Hollywood has often feasted on true crime stories.
In 2006 Justin Timberlake starred in the film Alpha Dog, based on the real life murder of teenager Nick Markowitz.
Several men have already been convicted for the murder but one man, Jesse James Hollywood, who fled to Brazil, is due to go on trial in February.
Michael Mehas, a Californian lawyer whose book, Stolen Boy, provided the basis of film, said many brutal crime movies "fed on negativity" and were largely "exploitative".
But he added: "Movies and books like Alpha Dog and Stolen Boy aren't written so much with the intent to exploit societal pains, but to present a sort of cautionary tale to society - in an effort to help them learn from mistakes made by others.
"We evolve when we learn from our mistakes."
Audiences can expect plenty more crime films in the future.
Just a couple of gems to look forward to are Public Enemies, set in the 1920s and starring Johnny Depp as America's favourite bank robber and gangster John Dillinger, and a remake of the Bad Lieutenant, with Nicolas Cage in the Harvey Keitel role.
Gomorrah, set among the Naples mafia, is one of the festival's highlightsFurther down the line, filming is under way on a script based on the life of Britain's "most dangerous prisoner" Charles Bronson, and DNA Films is finalising the script for a remake of The Sweeney, but there is no word yet of who will get the John Thaw role.
Talking of books, the people who brought you Mills & Boon romances, have turned their attention to crime, with a series of Black Star Crime paperback novels due out this month.
Thankfully, theses serviceable crime romps appear devoid of dark and devilishly handsome men or swooning ladies.
2008年9月27日 星期六
2008年9月26日 星期五
Banksy refuses to back art sale
The artist's stencils often convey subversive political messages
Guerrilla artist Banksy has refused to authenticate five works up for auction in London this weekend.
A group called Pest Control, endorsed by Banksy, was set up earlier this year to authenticate the artist's canvasses and prints after a spate of fakes.
But Pest Control said Banksy does not like his art being removed from its original setting and will not approve any street pieces.
Auctioneer Lyon and Turnbull said it had no doubt the pieces were genuine.
A spokesman for the auctioneers said: "Banksy hasn't said they are fake. I don't know why he's not authenticated them... He's saying that street art should stay on the streets."
The firm's Ben Hanly said it would go ahead with Saturday's sale without official verification.
'Extreme caution'
He added that the pieces had been authenticated by an unauthorised organisation, Vermin.
On its website, Pest Control said that since its creation in January, 89 street pieces and 137 screen prints attributed to Banksy had turned out to be fake.
"Pest Control does not authenticate street pieces because Banksy prefers street work to remain in situ and building owners tend to become irate when their doors go missing because of a stencil," Pest Control said.
"He would encourage anyone wanting to purchase one of his images to do so with extreme caution, but does point out that many copies are superior in quality to the originals."
Mr Hanly insisted the five works up for sale - worth between £200,000 and £275,000 in total - were genuine.
They include Refuse Rat, which is expected to fetch £20,000, and Fungle Junk £150,000, consisting of three panels painted on to the side of a trailer at a festival in Cornwall in 1999.
"They are Banksy's. They are in all the literature and everything. And Vermin's authentication service gives all the provenance for each piece listed as clear as day," he said.
"The market will decide." lotro gold lotr gold lord of the ring gold
Guerrilla artist Banksy has refused to authenticate five works up for auction in London this weekend.
A group called Pest Control, endorsed by Banksy, was set up earlier this year to authenticate the artist's canvasses and prints after a spate of fakes.
But Pest Control said Banksy does not like his art being removed from its original setting and will not approve any street pieces.
Auctioneer Lyon and Turnbull said it had no doubt the pieces were genuine.
A spokesman for the auctioneers said: "Banksy hasn't said they are fake. I don't know why he's not authenticated them... He's saying that street art should stay on the streets."
The firm's Ben Hanly said it would go ahead with Saturday's sale without official verification.
'Extreme caution'
He added that the pieces had been authenticated by an unauthorised organisation, Vermin.
On its website, Pest Control said that since its creation in January, 89 street pieces and 137 screen prints attributed to Banksy had turned out to be fake.
"Pest Control does not authenticate street pieces because Banksy prefers street work to remain in situ and building owners tend to become irate when their doors go missing because of a stencil," Pest Control said.
"He would encourage anyone wanting to purchase one of his images to do so with extreme caution, but does point out that many copies are superior in quality to the originals."
Mr Hanly insisted the five works up for sale - worth between £200,000 and £275,000 in total - were genuine.
They include Refuse Rat, which is expected to fetch £20,000, and Fungle Junk £150,000, consisting of three panels painted on to the side of a trailer at a festival in Cornwall in 1999.
"They are Banksy's. They are in all the literature and everything. And Vermin's authentication service gives all the provenance for each piece listed as clear as day," he said.
"The market will decide." lotro gold lotr gold lord of the ring gold
2008年9月24日 星期三
Lohan 'comes out' on radio show
Ronson (left) and Lohan attended the MTV awards together earlier this month
Actress Lindsay Lohan has apparently confirmed she is dating DJ Samantha Ronson on US radio show Loveline.
"You and Samantha, have been going out for how long now?" DJ Ted Stryker asked. "Like two years, one year, five months, two months?"
The actress, best known for Mean Girls and Freaky Friday, laughed as she replied: "For a very long time."
Lohan's publicist has previously denied that the pair, who are often pictured partying together, are an item.
Leslie Sloane-Zelnik told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that Lohan was not engaged to be married.
Ronson had originally called into the Lovelines show to talk about her friend DJ AM and former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, who are both recovering from severe burns following a plane crash in South Carolina last weekend.
Lohan spoke on US show LovelineThe 31-year-old - whose brother is Brit Award winner Mark Ronson - said DJ AM had e-mailed her on Sunday and was "doing better".
She also paid tribute to the four other people, including the pilot, who died in the crash.
Ronson then passed the phone to her "lady friend" Lohan, who said she had been "really scared" when she first heard about the plane crash.
"It's very saddening, but thank God that the guys are alive. They have amazing guardian angels," the 22-year-old said.
She said the incident had made her think twice about flying on small private planes.
Actress Lindsay Lohan has apparently confirmed she is dating DJ Samantha Ronson on US radio show Loveline.
"You and Samantha, have been going out for how long now?" DJ Ted Stryker asked. "Like two years, one year, five months, two months?"
The actress, best known for Mean Girls and Freaky Friday, laughed as she replied: "For a very long time."
Lohan's publicist has previously denied that the pair, who are often pictured partying together, are an item.
Leslie Sloane-Zelnik told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that Lohan was not engaged to be married.
Ronson had originally called into the Lovelines show to talk about her friend DJ AM and former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, who are both recovering from severe burns following a plane crash in South Carolina last weekend.
Lohan spoke on US show LovelineThe 31-year-old - whose brother is Brit Award winner Mark Ronson - said DJ AM had e-mailed her on Sunday and was "doing better".
She also paid tribute to the four other people, including the pilot, who died in the crash.
Ronson then passed the phone to her "lady friend" Lohan, who said she had been "really scared" when she first heard about the plane crash.
"It's very saddening, but thank God that the guys are alive. They have amazing guardian angels," the 22-year-old said.
She said the incident had made her think twice about flying on small private planes.
2008年9月23日 星期二
'Second chance' for singer Dixon
Strictly Come Dancing champion Alesha Dixon says she feels "blessed" to be releasing a solo album after previously being dropped by her record label.
The 29-year-old, who was in girl group Mis-Teeq, was dropped as a solo artist by Polydor in 2006 before being offered a new contract after winning the show.
She told the BBC News website it was "great to have the opportunity to make another album".
Her new album, The Alesha Show, is out on 17 November through Asylum Records.
It will be preceded by single, The Boy Does Nothing, on 10 November.
'Same enthusiasm'
The singer, who returned to Strictly Come Dancing at the weekend for a guest appearance, said: "In 2006, I lost a record deal and at the time, obviously, it was scary and was horrible but I think that, in retrospect, these things are meant to happen.
"If I wasn't dropped by Polydor, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do Strictly Come Dancing."
For me, being in the industry for such a long time, it almost feels like I'm starting again
Alesha Dixon
Some 11.4 million viewers watched Dixon and dance partner Matthew Cutler win the final of the show in December by beating ex-EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo and partner Flavia Cacace.
The new single was co-written with producers Xenomania, who she has collaborated with for a number of tracks on the album, which she describes as "a very personal record".
She has also worked with producers including Redzone, who worked on Rihanna hit Umbrella, and Stephen Lipson, who has worked with stars including Grace Jones and Annie Lennox.
"For me, being in the industry for such a long time, it almost feels like I'm starting again but with more knowledge and with the same amount of enthusiasm - if not more - to succeed," she added.
"I just feel blessed to be put into this opportunity again."
The 29-year-old, who was in girl group Mis-Teeq, was dropped as a solo artist by Polydor in 2006 before being offered a new contract after winning the show.
She told the BBC News website it was "great to have the opportunity to make another album".
Her new album, The Alesha Show, is out on 17 November through Asylum Records.
It will be preceded by single, The Boy Does Nothing, on 10 November.
'Same enthusiasm'
The singer, who returned to Strictly Come Dancing at the weekend for a guest appearance, said: "In 2006, I lost a record deal and at the time, obviously, it was scary and was horrible but I think that, in retrospect, these things are meant to happen.
"If I wasn't dropped by Polydor, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do Strictly Come Dancing."
For me, being in the industry for such a long time, it almost feels like I'm starting again
Alesha Dixon
Some 11.4 million viewers watched Dixon and dance partner Matthew Cutler win the final of the show in December by beating ex-EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo and partner Flavia Cacace.
The new single was co-written with producers Xenomania, who she has collaborated with for a number of tracks on the album, which she describes as "a very personal record".
She has also worked with producers including Redzone, who worked on Rihanna hit Umbrella, and Stephen Lipson, who has worked with stars including Grace Jones and Annie Lennox.
"For me, being in the industry for such a long time, it almost feels like I'm starting again but with more knowledge and with the same amount of enthusiasm - if not more - to succeed," she added.
"I just feel blessed to be put into this opportunity again."
2008年9月22日 星期一
Cannes winner submitted for Oscar
The Class stars teacher and author Francois Begaudeau (left)
The Class, winner of the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Festival, has been named as France's official entry for the 2009 foreign language film Oscar.
Directed by Laurent Cantet, the film depicts a year at a tough Paris school, featuring real students and teachers.
Titled Entre les murs in France, it will receive a gala screening at the London Film Festival next month.
France is one of several countries to unveil their foreign film submissions in the run-up to next year's Oscars.
Earlier this week it was announced that Germany's entry would be a drama about the militant left-wing Baader Meinhof group.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the five nominees for the prize on 22 January.
Last year's winner was Austrian film The Counterfeiters, which told of concentration camp prisoners ordered to forge bank notes during World War II.
1992 drama Indochine was the last French entry to win the foreign language film Oscar. cheap wow gold Lotr gold Aoc power leveling Aoc power leveling
2008年9月21日 星期日
US television's Emmys get 'real'
American television's annual awards extravaganza is bowing to the inevitable and preparing to put on a show that honours the growing phenomenon of reality TV.
Twenty million viewers routinely tune in for American Idol
In the past decade it is a genre of entertainment that has exploded onto TV screens and captivated audiences. But it has been given relatively little attention by The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which puts on the Emmys.
Increasingly the show has been dominated by little-seen, but critically acclaimed comedies and dramas. This year is no exception.
"There isn't a clunker anywhere," says Mary McNamara, television critic for the Los Angeles Times.
"We had great television last year. You have a lot of really great shows but a lot of the shows don't have huge numbers," she says.
The drama, Mad Men, which is set in the advertising industry in the 1960s, has 16 nominations.
It has been widely lauded by critics, but relatively few Americans have seen it.
Less than 2 million people tuned in for the latest episode compared with the 20 million that routinely tuned in for American Idol, earlier this year.
Backlash
"Critics are saying, why aren't we seeing the shows that are huge getting the nominations, and the shows that are huge are obviously the reality shows," says Ms McNamara.
"I think there was stodginess, a prejudice against it."
There has also been an industry backlash against reality TV because it relies so much on unscripted content and does not involve professional actors.
Television has changed… it's not just about small movies on TV any more.
Heidi Klum, host, Project Runway
The long-running writers' dispute was, in part, over union control of so-called unscripted programmes. The strike ended but the matter was not resolved.
So with a backdrop of unease and some resentment that reality TV has flourished, while more traditional forms of television have struggled, the TV Academy has decided to give it a central role in this weekend's show.
A new category has been created and the Academy will anoint its first outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition programme.
Unusually, the nominees in the category have also been chosen to host the entire Emmys show.
American Idol's Ryan Seacrest will join forces with Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal), Jeff Probst (Survivor) and the German model Heidi Klum, who presents the fashion-based reality show, Project Runway.
'Evolution'
"Television has changed…it's not just about small movies on TV any more or the things that we are used to watch on television," say Klum.
"Over the last ten years, reality television has become part of our culture. So I think to add that to the Emmys is just right."
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest will co-host this year's Emmys
A reality show is loosely defined as one which is unscripted and involves ordinary people. The genre includes programmes that, once upon a time, were simply called game shows or talent contests.
"Throughout the last few years we've seen the evolution of unscripted shows and their popularity with audiences," says Seacrest.
The organisers will be hoping that the reality hosts' collective audience of about 70 million, in the US, will somehow rub off on the Emmys.
Last year's telecast was watched by just 13 million, the second-smallest Emmy audience on record.
"It's going to be interesting to see how it works," says Ms McNamara.
"Heidi Klum - God bless her, and I love her show - is not the most vibrant personality on live television."
The TV critic expects Mandel, a stand up comic, and Probst, to "do fine." But she is not convinced that splitting the presenting duties five ways will work.
"I think the risk that they run is that it is going to be very uneven - you're going to have dead air and good air."
Runescape moneySilkroad goldSilkroad gold
Twenty million viewers routinely tune in for American Idol
In the past decade it is a genre of entertainment that has exploded onto TV screens and captivated audiences. But it has been given relatively little attention by The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which puts on the Emmys.
Increasingly the show has been dominated by little-seen, but critically acclaimed comedies and dramas. This year is no exception.
"There isn't a clunker anywhere," says Mary McNamara, television critic for the Los Angeles Times.
"We had great television last year. You have a lot of really great shows but a lot of the shows don't have huge numbers," she says.
The drama, Mad Men, which is set in the advertising industry in the 1960s, has 16 nominations.
It has been widely lauded by critics, but relatively few Americans have seen it.
Less than 2 million people tuned in for the latest episode compared with the 20 million that routinely tuned in for American Idol, earlier this year.
Backlash
"Critics are saying, why aren't we seeing the shows that are huge getting the nominations, and the shows that are huge are obviously the reality shows," says Ms McNamara.
"I think there was stodginess, a prejudice against it."
There has also been an industry backlash against reality TV because it relies so much on unscripted content and does not involve professional actors.
Television has changed… it's not just about small movies on TV any more.
Heidi Klum, host, Project Runway
The long-running writers' dispute was, in part, over union control of so-called unscripted programmes. The strike ended but the matter was not resolved.
So with a backdrop of unease and some resentment that reality TV has flourished, while more traditional forms of television have struggled, the TV Academy has decided to give it a central role in this weekend's show.
A new category has been created and the Academy will anoint its first outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition programme.
Unusually, the nominees in the category have also been chosen to host the entire Emmys show.
American Idol's Ryan Seacrest will join forces with Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal), Jeff Probst (Survivor) and the German model Heidi Klum, who presents the fashion-based reality show, Project Runway.
'Evolution'
"Television has changed…it's not just about small movies on TV any more or the things that we are used to watch on television," say Klum.
"Over the last ten years, reality television has become part of our culture. So I think to add that to the Emmys is just right."
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest will co-host this year's Emmys
A reality show is loosely defined as one which is unscripted and involves ordinary people. The genre includes programmes that, once upon a time, were simply called game shows or talent contests.
"Throughout the last few years we've seen the evolution of unscripted shows and their popularity with audiences," says Seacrest.
The organisers will be hoping that the reality hosts' collective audience of about 70 million, in the US, will somehow rub off on the Emmys.
Last year's telecast was watched by just 13 million, the second-smallest Emmy audience on record.
"It's going to be interesting to see how it works," says Ms McNamara.
"Heidi Klum - God bless her, and I love her show - is not the most vibrant personality on live television."
The TV critic expects Mandel, a stand up comic, and Probst, to "do fine." But she is not convinced that splitting the presenting duties five ways will work.
"I think the risk that they run is that it is going to be very uneven - you're going to have dead air and good air."
Runescape moneySilkroad goldSilkroad gold
2008年9月19日 星期五
Cannes winner submitted for Oscar
"I knew the whole thing could be a minor catastrophe," says actress Helen Hunt, speaking about her directorial film debut.
The 45-year-old Hollywood star is talking about Then She Found Me, a film she has been trying to bring to the big screen for 10 years.
Hunt says she loved the story from the moment she read it.
"I knew that even if someone didn't like it they couldn't talk me out of what I wanted for it," she says.
"I loved it in the beginning, I thought it was a very original idea.
"A grown woman who is found by her birth mother, I just hadn't seen that before.
"I got interested in the aspect of the story that has to do with betrayal."
Firth joined the cast for the chance to work with Hunt
Hunt not only directed, wrote and produced the movie, she also plays leading lady, April Epner.
British actor Colin Firth, best known for Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, plays Frank, her love interest.
The star admits it is hard to describe what genre the movie fits into.
Comedy
"It's funnier than I had expected it to be. Even though the dialogue was always good, it's closer to comedy than I had imagined," she says.
"I do think it alludes genre a bit - not in any ground-breaking way.
"You can't quite call it a comedy, you can't quite call it a romantic thing and you can't quite call it a drama. It's got elements of all those."
After directing some episodes of the hit US series Mad About You, Hunt vowed she would never go down the route of acting and directing at the same time.
"I loved it, except when I had to act in it," she says.
"I loved all the scenes that I wasn't in. I would be in the middle of a scene feeling the camera landing at the wrong time, and I really found that excruciating."
But ultimately, her choice to star in the film, came down to "wanting to act in the part".
Hunt's character, April, is tracked down by her real mother at the same time as her marriage breaks down.
Hunt had just 27 days to make the movie, which meant meant no time for professional make-up.
Intelligence
"Make-up is an extra hour and a half usually, so I would be on the way to work looking over a shot list, while I put my hair in a beret," she says.
"I also thought that a lot of hard things happen to her in the movie - so it's appropriate to start out the movie looking like a lot of hard things have happened."
Whilst Firth admits the story was strong, it was seeing Hunt's name on the script that drew him to the project.
Hunt bravely chose to go bare faced on screen
"I was interested in the fact she was going to be directing," says Firth.
"I'd never met her, but she projects a degree of intelligence which is convincing to me that she would be able to handle this sort of material very well."
"I was flattered to be asked. I'm a big admirer of her as an actress - and then I looked at the rest of the cast."
His fellow actors included Bette Midler, who plays Hunt's complex and witty mother, and Matthew Broderick, as the distant husband.
For a first-time film director Hunt "commanded a quiet sort of respect", claims Firth.
The 48-year-old actor adds: "It's partly because she's so experienced.
"It's not just the fact that she's known and you're in awe of that, it's the fact that her profile speaks years of experience.
"I think actors tend to make good films when they direct them."
Despite that, Hunt was tough to impress.
"What she communicated was a kind of rather chastening honesty," Firth says.
And Hunt is clearly pleased with the finished product.
"I do feel that the essence of the story is up there and I'm proud of that.
"It would be great if a lot of people go to see it, but the part my heart is in, is done."
The 45-year-old Hollywood star is talking about Then She Found Me, a film she has been trying to bring to the big screen for 10 years.
Hunt says she loved the story from the moment she read it.
"I knew that even if someone didn't like it they couldn't talk me out of what I wanted for it," she says.
"I loved it in the beginning, I thought it was a very original idea.
"A grown woman who is found by her birth mother, I just hadn't seen that before.
"I got interested in the aspect of the story that has to do with betrayal."
Firth joined the cast for the chance to work with Hunt
Hunt not only directed, wrote and produced the movie, she also plays leading lady, April Epner.
British actor Colin Firth, best known for Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, plays Frank, her love interest.
The star admits it is hard to describe what genre the movie fits into.
Comedy
"It's funnier than I had expected it to be. Even though the dialogue was always good, it's closer to comedy than I had imagined," she says.
"I do think it alludes genre a bit - not in any ground-breaking way.
"You can't quite call it a comedy, you can't quite call it a romantic thing and you can't quite call it a drama. It's got elements of all those."
After directing some episodes of the hit US series Mad About You, Hunt vowed she would never go down the route of acting and directing at the same time.
"I loved it, except when I had to act in it," she says.
"I loved all the scenes that I wasn't in. I would be in the middle of a scene feeling the camera landing at the wrong time, and I really found that excruciating."
But ultimately, her choice to star in the film, came down to "wanting to act in the part".
Hunt's character, April, is tracked down by her real mother at the same time as her marriage breaks down.
Hunt had just 27 days to make the movie, which meant meant no time for professional make-up.
Intelligence
"Make-up is an extra hour and a half usually, so I would be on the way to work looking over a shot list, while I put my hair in a beret," she says.
"I also thought that a lot of hard things happen to her in the movie - so it's appropriate to start out the movie looking like a lot of hard things have happened."
Whilst Firth admits the story was strong, it was seeing Hunt's name on the script that drew him to the project.
Hunt bravely chose to go bare faced on screen
"I was interested in the fact she was going to be directing," says Firth.
"I'd never met her, but she projects a degree of intelligence which is convincing to me that she would be able to handle this sort of material very well."
"I was flattered to be asked. I'm a big admirer of her as an actress - and then I looked at the rest of the cast."
His fellow actors included Bette Midler, who plays Hunt's complex and witty mother, and Matthew Broderick, as the distant husband.
For a first-time film director Hunt "commanded a quiet sort of respect", claims Firth.
The 48-year-old actor adds: "It's partly because she's so experienced.
"It's not just the fact that she's known and you're in awe of that, it's the fact that her profile speaks years of experience.
"I think actors tend to make good films when they direct them."
Despite that, Hunt was tough to impress.
"What she communicated was a kind of rather chastening honesty," Firth says.
And Hunt is clearly pleased with the finished product.
"I do feel that the essence of the story is up there and I'm proud of that.
"It would be great if a lot of people go to see it, but the part my heart is in, is done."
2008年9月18日 星期四
Behind the screen magic of Merlin
The tale of King Arthur and Merlin is well known - but how did their fabled friendship develop?
"We forget that Merlin at some point was a young guy, finding his place in the world," explains Colin Morgan, who plays the young magician in the new BBC One drama.
"I think that's what this series really deals with - how Merlin comes to terms with his powers, his destiny," the 22-year-old actor says, during a break from filming on set in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan.
On-set fun
"And how he finds a place for himself in the world of Camelot, where he can't be himself."
In the show, Merlin must conceal his identity in Camelot, where magic is banned. Anyone caught practising magic is put to death, leaving him in constant danger.
Morgana's beauty is unparalleled throughout the kingdom
"You see a lot of how Merlin deals with those situations," Morgan says.
"There are elements of the Arthurian legend in there as well, that I think anybody who's a fan of that will enjoy."
Much of the time, the relationship between Prince Arthur - played by Bradley James - and the young Merlin is difficult, to say the least.
Viewers can also expect the unexpected when it comes to the characters of Morgana, played by Katie McGrath, and Guinevere, played by Angel Coulby.
In this latest incarnation, the four work together as they take on a cruel tyrant who is terrorising Merlin's home village.
James and McGrath, as Arthur and Morgana, are clearly having huge amounts of fun on set as they get involved in some good, old-fashioned swashbuckling swordsplay.
'Unexpected'
But is the sword being wielded by Arthur the legendary Excalibur?
James, smiling enigmatically, will only confirm that Excalibur does appear in the series.
According to producer and co-creator Johnny Capps, other elements of Arthurian legend are sprinkled throughout the series.
"It's really good fun to take the classic legends and say how they began" Capps explains.
"We see the very beginning journey of Excalibur, and Lancelot also turns up in a very unexpected way."
Lancelot is played by Santiago Cabrera, who plays Isaac Mendez in hit US TV show Heroes.
He is joined in the cast by stars including former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan as wicked sorceress Nimueh, One Foot in the Grave star Richard Wilson and veteran actor John Hurt, who voices Merlin's mentor, the Great Dragon.
The production team have clear ideas for how they want the programme to develop over several series.
But at the moment, no-one can predict how well the show will perform in the ratings, and if it will return for a second run.
And that creates understandable nervousness. So what will Johnny Capps be happy with?
"A very large audience," he laughs. "And a recommission!"
The new series of Merlin begins on Saturday, BBC One at 1930 BST.
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"We forget that Merlin at some point was a young guy, finding his place in the world," explains Colin Morgan, who plays the young magician in the new BBC One drama.
"I think that's what this series really deals with - how Merlin comes to terms with his powers, his destiny," the 22-year-old actor says, during a break from filming on set in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan.
On-set fun
"And how he finds a place for himself in the world of Camelot, where he can't be himself."
In the show, Merlin must conceal his identity in Camelot, where magic is banned. Anyone caught practising magic is put to death, leaving him in constant danger.
Morgana's beauty is unparalleled throughout the kingdom
"You see a lot of how Merlin deals with those situations," Morgan says.
"There are elements of the Arthurian legend in there as well, that I think anybody who's a fan of that will enjoy."
Much of the time, the relationship between Prince Arthur - played by Bradley James - and the young Merlin is difficult, to say the least.
Viewers can also expect the unexpected when it comes to the characters of Morgana, played by Katie McGrath, and Guinevere, played by Angel Coulby.
In this latest incarnation, the four work together as they take on a cruel tyrant who is terrorising Merlin's home village.
James and McGrath, as Arthur and Morgana, are clearly having huge amounts of fun on set as they get involved in some good, old-fashioned swashbuckling swordsplay.
'Unexpected'
But is the sword being wielded by Arthur the legendary Excalibur?
James, smiling enigmatically, will only confirm that Excalibur does appear in the series.
According to producer and co-creator Johnny Capps, other elements of Arthurian legend are sprinkled throughout the series.
"It's really good fun to take the classic legends and say how they began" Capps explains.
"We see the very beginning journey of Excalibur, and Lancelot also turns up in a very unexpected way."
Lancelot is played by Santiago Cabrera, who plays Isaac Mendez in hit US TV show Heroes.
He is joined in the cast by stars including former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan as wicked sorceress Nimueh, One Foot in the Grave star Richard Wilson and veteran actor John Hurt, who voices Merlin's mentor, the Great Dragon.
The production team have clear ideas for how they want the programme to develop over several series.
But at the moment, no-one can predict how well the show will perform in the ratings, and if it will return for a second run.
And that creates understandable nervousness. So what will Johnny Capps be happy with?
"A very large audience," he laughs. "And a recommission!"
The new series of Merlin begins on Saturday, BBC One at 1930 BST.
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2008年9月17日 星期三
Credit crunch? What credit crunch?
Love him or loathe him, argue that what he does is not art, but it is almost impossible to contest that Damien Hirst has changed the art world. He has challenged the rules of the art world and his big gamble has paid off.
I was at the opening of the landmark auction at Sotheby's, and it was pure theatre; we all had an idea how the script would go, but anything could have happened. While the artist played snooker at the Groucho club in nearby Soho, he was adding £70m to his already considerable wealth.
With every room in Sotheby's packed, the main room was an unusual supermarket for the super-rich. Filled with cosmopolitan, open-shirted men and women with big hair and big purses, which had clearly already paid for their expensive facial features.
Lining two walls were around 40 telephone bidders. The 650 odd seated ticketed bidders in the main hall included many who already own Hirst's work. They have a financial interest in sending it higher.
The first lot, Heaven Can Wait, 1 went to Jay Jopling, although the identity of the client he was representing is unknown. Jopling, an influential figure in the contemporary art world, is one of Hirst's dealers. In this instance, he was cut out of the loop, as Hirst chose to go to auction directly.
Hirst's diminished Shark in formaldehyde, entitled The Kingdom, went to a telephone bidder, represented by Sotheby's best Russian speaker, the only hint to the buyer's identity. The whole room erupted into shocked applause at the final figure of £8.5m. On the day when major banks either collapsed to teetered on the brink, the art market was as buoyant as it has ever been.
The art critic Robert Hughes is a loud, though probably not lone voice in criticising Hirst's work as absurd and vacuous. But even he cannot convincingly contest Hirst's chutzpah.
The glitzy, gold plated Golden Calf, which sold for £10.3m is an emblem of our times: this biblical symbol of a false god is a totem for the unstoppable and absurd rise of the art market itself.
Hirst is a ringmaster extraordinaire. Mounting a successful exhibition and challenging how art is sold and talked about, is he the art world's rock star or is he a fine example of the emperor's new clothes writ large and obscene? aoc gold aoc gold world of warcraft gold
I was at the opening of the landmark auction at Sotheby's, and it was pure theatre; we all had an idea how the script would go, but anything could have happened. While the artist played snooker at the Groucho club in nearby Soho, he was adding £70m to his already considerable wealth.
With every room in Sotheby's packed, the main room was an unusual supermarket for the super-rich. Filled with cosmopolitan, open-shirted men and women with big hair and big purses, which had clearly already paid for their expensive facial features.
Lining two walls were around 40 telephone bidders. The 650 odd seated ticketed bidders in the main hall included many who already own Hirst's work. They have a financial interest in sending it higher.
The first lot, Heaven Can Wait, 1 went to Jay Jopling, although the identity of the client he was representing is unknown. Jopling, an influential figure in the contemporary art world, is one of Hirst's dealers. In this instance, he was cut out of the loop, as Hirst chose to go to auction directly.
Hirst's diminished Shark in formaldehyde, entitled The Kingdom, went to a telephone bidder, represented by Sotheby's best Russian speaker, the only hint to the buyer's identity. The whole room erupted into shocked applause at the final figure of £8.5m. On the day when major banks either collapsed to teetered on the brink, the art market was as buoyant as it has ever been.
The art critic Robert Hughes is a loud, though probably not lone voice in criticising Hirst's work as absurd and vacuous. But even he cannot convincingly contest Hirst's chutzpah.
The glitzy, gold plated Golden Calf, which sold for £10.3m is an emblem of our times: this biblical symbol of a false god is a totem for the unstoppable and absurd rise of the art market itself.
Hirst is a ringmaster extraordinaire. Mounting a successful exhibition and challenging how art is sold and talked about, is he the art world's rock star or is he a fine example of the emperor's new clothes writ large and obscene? aoc gold aoc gold world of warcraft gold
Pineapple Express storms UK chart
James Franco and Seth Rogan team up in Pineapple Express
Marijuana-themed comedy Pineapple Express has come out on top at the UK and Irish box office in its first week.
The movie, starring Seth Rogan and James Franco as a pot smoker and his dealer, took £1.3m over the weekend.
Abba musical musical Mamma Mia! remained second in the chart, while last week's number one, RocknRolla, slipped down to third.
The second highest new entry was chick flick The Women, at number four.
The film stars a host of Hollywood's most famous actresses, including Meg Ryan, Bette Midler and Debra Messing.
Mamma Mia's popularity shows no sign of waning, with its 10-week run seeing it take more than £58m in the UK and Ireland.
Holocaust film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne, entered the chart at number eight.
Pineapple Express was co-written by Rogen and produced by Judd Apatow, who have previously worked together on comedies Superbad and Knocked Up. maplestory meso ffxi gil final fantasy xi gil
Marijuana-themed comedy Pineapple Express has come out on top at the UK and Irish box office in its first week.
The movie, starring Seth Rogan and James Franco as a pot smoker and his dealer, took £1.3m over the weekend.
Abba musical musical Mamma Mia! remained second in the chart, while last week's number one, RocknRolla, slipped down to third.
The second highest new entry was chick flick The Women, at number four.
The film stars a host of Hollywood's most famous actresses, including Meg Ryan, Bette Midler and Debra Messing.
Mamma Mia's popularity shows no sign of waning, with its 10-week run seeing it take more than £58m in the UK and Ireland.
Holocaust film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne, entered the chart at number eight.
Pineapple Express was co-written by Rogen and produced by Judd Apatow, who have previously worked together on comedies Superbad and Knocked Up. maplestory meso ffxi gil final fantasy xi gil
2008年9月12日 星期五
Patty Loveless goes vintage for comeback
She lost her mother-in-law, her brother had a stroke and, when it seemed things couldn't get much worse, her mom died.
She wound up taking a three-year break from music.
"I was trying to heal," Loveless says softly from the back of a dim, empty theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
"And I have to say that I thought maybe my time had come to put myself out in the pasture."
But at home in Cartersville, Georgia, she began listening to lots of old records, stuff she'd heard growing up with her family in eastern Kentucky.
The music gave her comfort and it gave her spark, and before long, Loveless and her husband, producer Emory Gordy Jr., were working on an album of country standards.
The disc, "Sleepless Nights," came out September 9.
It features Loveless' crystalline voice on classics by George Jones, Ray Price, Webb Pierce, Hank Locklin, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, the Everly Brothers, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, Skeeter Davis and Jack Greene.
"Us sitting here at this museum, at the Country Music Hall of Fame ... it's our heritage, and to pass that on, to be able to do music that is appreciated ... I want them to appreciate it and have respect for those that have passed on or who are still here who we may lose, because you never know when they may be taken out of our lives," the 51-year-old singer said.
She and Gordy culled the 14 cuts from a list of 500 songs.
It wasn't easy.
"We have a guesthouse, like a cabin, to get away from the phones. There's no TV or nothing at this place. We'd go up there and listen," she said. "We'd each give the songs numbers and rate them and compare, and little by little we whittled away."
In the studio they used microphones from the '30s and '40s and hired veteran musicians like Harold Bradley and Hargus "Pig" Robbins, who'd played on some of the original recording sessions.
At one point, when she couldn't remember specifics about a particular microphone, she promised to get the information.
A few days later, an e-mail from Gordy arrived filled with technical and historical background. But at the end, Gordy concluded: "PS....I really don't think the sound of Patty's 'Sleepless Nights' had anything to do with the equipment....I think it was mostly 'attitude.'"
The vintage material fits Loveless well. While she's had contemporary hits, her bedrock is traditional country. She's sung with Wagoner, Jones, Parton, Ralph Stanley, Loretta Lynn and many more during her career.
As she strolled through the Hall of Fame recently, she passed a sign for an exhibit on '50s star Kitty Wells.
"I got to sing a song called 'Once More' with Kitty and Loretta Lynn for a TV show. I'm so glad I got to be part of that," she said.
Loveless was born in Pikeville, Kentucky. She was the sixth of seven children. Her father, a coal miner, suffered from black lung disease and died in 1979.
She came to Nashville in the early '70s and joined the Wilburn Brothers as their featured female singer (a post once held by Lynn, a distant cousin).
She signed with MCA in 1985 and had five No. 1 singles on MCA and Epic, including "Timber, I'm Falling in Love" and "Blame it on Your Heart," before her commercial streak waned.
Today, her Appalachian alto remains sharp and expressive. When she joins Stanley for an old mountain ballad like "Pretty Polly," it sounds as though she's just stepped from a Kentucky hollow.
"I like the honesty of her voice, the purity of it," said friend Vince Gill, who sings with her on the new album.
"It's distinctive, and the blend of our two voices is unique. That doesn't always happen. You can sing with everybody but it's not always the blend of all blends, and hers to me is reminiscent of what George and Tammy and Conway and Loretta had togetherdofus kamas kamas dofus dofus kamas kamas dofus
She wound up taking a three-year break from music.
"I was trying to heal," Loveless says softly from the back of a dim, empty theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
"And I have to say that I thought maybe my time had come to put myself out in the pasture."
But at home in Cartersville, Georgia, she began listening to lots of old records, stuff she'd heard growing up with her family in eastern Kentucky.
The music gave her comfort and it gave her spark, and before long, Loveless and her husband, producer Emory Gordy Jr., were working on an album of country standards.
The disc, "Sleepless Nights," came out September 9.
It features Loveless' crystalline voice on classics by George Jones, Ray Price, Webb Pierce, Hank Locklin, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, the Everly Brothers, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, Skeeter Davis and Jack Greene.
"Us sitting here at this museum, at the Country Music Hall of Fame ... it's our heritage, and to pass that on, to be able to do music that is appreciated ... I want them to appreciate it and have respect for those that have passed on or who are still here who we may lose, because you never know when they may be taken out of our lives," the 51-year-old singer said.
She and Gordy culled the 14 cuts from a list of 500 songs.
It wasn't easy.
"We have a guesthouse, like a cabin, to get away from the phones. There's no TV or nothing at this place. We'd go up there and listen," she said. "We'd each give the songs numbers and rate them and compare, and little by little we whittled away."
In the studio they used microphones from the '30s and '40s and hired veteran musicians like Harold Bradley and Hargus "Pig" Robbins, who'd played on some of the original recording sessions.
At one point, when she couldn't remember specifics about a particular microphone, she promised to get the information.
A few days later, an e-mail from Gordy arrived filled with technical and historical background. But at the end, Gordy concluded: "PS....I really don't think the sound of Patty's 'Sleepless Nights' had anything to do with the equipment....I think it was mostly 'attitude.'"
The vintage material fits Loveless well. While she's had contemporary hits, her bedrock is traditional country. She's sung with Wagoner, Jones, Parton, Ralph Stanley, Loretta Lynn and many more during her career.
As she strolled through the Hall of Fame recently, she passed a sign for an exhibit on '50s star Kitty Wells.
"I got to sing a song called 'Once More' with Kitty and Loretta Lynn for a TV show. I'm so glad I got to be part of that," she said.
Loveless was born in Pikeville, Kentucky. She was the sixth of seven children. Her father, a coal miner, suffered from black lung disease and died in 1979.
She came to Nashville in the early '70s and joined the Wilburn Brothers as their featured female singer (a post once held by Lynn, a distant cousin).
She signed with MCA in 1985 and had five No. 1 singles on MCA and Epic, including "Timber, I'm Falling in Love" and "Blame it on Your Heart," before her commercial streak waned.
Today, her Appalachian alto remains sharp and expressive. When she joins Stanley for an old mountain ballad like "Pretty Polly," it sounds as though she's just stepped from a Kentucky hollow.
"I like the honesty of her voice, the purity of it," said friend Vince Gill, who sings with her on the new album.
"It's distinctive, and the blend of our two voices is unique. That doesn't always happen. You can sing with everybody but it's not always the blend of all blends, and hers to me is reminiscent of what George and Tammy and Conway and Loretta had togetherdofus kamas kamas dofus dofus kamas kamas dofus
2008年9月10日 星期三
Lindsay Lohan: 'I'm Really Happy'
In Hollywood, a tattoo is worth a thousand words. So even though Lindsay Lohan remains coy about her relationship with deejay Samantha Ronson, their matching tattoos say it all. "Samantha has a bunch of stars, so I got that," Lohan, referring to a star tattoo on her hand, tells Marie Claire in their October issue. Then, pointing to a little heart, she says, "she got this." "I'm really happy," Lohan says, suggesting that Ronson has been a positive force in her life. "She's a great person. And she's a great influence on people around her. But I think that anything that's changed [in] my life is because of me. I've gone through it, and I've learned to deal with it and I've made the decision to move forward."
Now, Lohan has plenty to look forward to. With her next film, Labor Pains, due out in 2009, the actress, who has been living with Ronson since May, indicated to Marie Claire that she is looking to buy a new home "with someone." Could it be the "someone" with the matching tattoo? Lohan won't say. Also on the horizon for the actress/singer: getting back to the recording studio. "This business is very 'go, go, go,' and you're constantly surrounded by people, and then everything stops," Lohan says in excerpts provided by the magazine. "So you can feel invalid in a weird way. I find [the recording studio] therapeutic.”
Now, Lohan has plenty to look forward to. With her next film, Labor Pains, due out in 2009, the actress, who has been living with Ronson since May, indicated to Marie Claire that she is looking to buy a new home "with someone." Could it be the "someone" with the matching tattoo? Lohan won't say. Also on the horizon for the actress/singer: getting back to the recording studio. "This business is very 'go, go, go,' and you're constantly surrounded by people, and then everything stops," Lohan says in excerpts provided by the magazine. "So you can feel invalid in a weird way. I find [the recording studio] therapeutic.”
2008年9月9日 星期二
Burial tipped for Mercury triumph
Mercury Prize: The nominees
Dubstep producer Burial is the bookmakers's favourite to win the Mercury Prize, which will be presented in London on Tuesday night.
The secretive, south London-based musician - real name Will Bevan - is the 4/6 front runner, ahead of Elbow, Radiohead and Laura Marling.
Chart favourites Adele and Estelle are trailing the field at 40/1, according to Ladbrokes.
Coverage of the Mercury Music Prize begins at 2200 BST on BBC Two.
Musical calibre
The Last Shadow Puppets, the side project of Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner, comes in at 16/1 along with folk group Rachel Unthank and the Winterset.
It is his third Mercury nomination in a row, following on from Arctic Monkeys' win in 2006 and a place on the shortlist last year.
MERCURY PRIZE - LEADING ODDS
Burial - 4/6
Elbow - 5/2
Radiohead - 5/1
Laura Marling - 10/1
The Last Shadow Puppets - 16/1
Source: Ladbrokes
Neon Neon, another side project, this time headed by Super Furry Animals' singer Gruff Rhys, is also in the running and is an outside tip at 33/1.
Radiohead's In Rainbows receives its first major recognition from the Mercury panel - as it was first made available via download, making it ineligible for the charts and the Brit Awards earlier this year.
The album was sold to fans on a pay-what-you-want basis.
Some 240 albums - the highest number to date - were put forward for the prize, with a panel of experts determining the final shortlist of 12.
The winner will be selected on its musical calibre rather than chart performance.
In 2007, the Klaxons won the Mercury Prize ahead of Amy Winehouse and Arctic Monkeys, prompting a sales boost for their album Myths of the Near Future
Dubstep producer Burial is the bookmakers's favourite to win the Mercury Prize, which will be presented in London on Tuesday night.
The secretive, south London-based musician - real name Will Bevan - is the 4/6 front runner, ahead of Elbow, Radiohead and Laura Marling.
Chart favourites Adele and Estelle are trailing the field at 40/1, according to Ladbrokes.
Coverage of the Mercury Music Prize begins at 2200 BST on BBC Two.
Musical calibre
The Last Shadow Puppets, the side project of Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner, comes in at 16/1 along with folk group Rachel Unthank and the Winterset.
It is his third Mercury nomination in a row, following on from Arctic Monkeys' win in 2006 and a place on the shortlist last year.
MERCURY PRIZE - LEADING ODDS
Burial - 4/6
Elbow - 5/2
Radiohead - 5/1
Laura Marling - 10/1
The Last Shadow Puppets - 16/1
Source: Ladbrokes
Neon Neon, another side project, this time headed by Super Furry Animals' singer Gruff Rhys, is also in the running and is an outside tip at 33/1.
Radiohead's In Rainbows receives its first major recognition from the Mercury panel - as it was first made available via download, making it ineligible for the charts and the Brit Awards earlier this year.
The album was sold to fans on a pay-what-you-want basis.
Some 240 albums - the highest number to date - were put forward for the prize, with a panel of experts determining the final shortlist of 12.
The winner will be selected on its musical calibre rather than chart performance.
In 2007, the Klaxons won the Mercury Prize ahead of Amy Winehouse and Arctic Monkeys, prompting a sales boost for their album Myths of the Near Future
2008年9月8日 星期一
Jones sues No Country producers
Actor Tommy Lee Jones is to sue the makers of Oscar-winning film No Country for Old Men, claiming they owe him more than $10m (£5.6m) in promised bonuses.
Legal papers filed in California stated the 61-year-old had taken a lower fee than normal to appear in the film.
But Paramount Pictures pledged "significant" bonuses to him if the movie was a hit and Jones did not receive these, the papers alleged.
The film company has yet to make a comment on the legal action.
Jones has asked for an auditor to be brought in to look at the production accounts and then establish the amount he is owed.
He has also claimed his contract contained errors in it but said these were not corrected as requested.
Texas-based thriller No Country For Old Men won four Academy Awards in February.
It saw Jones taking the role of a sheriff who was chasing an assassin, played by Javier Bardem. final fantasy xi gil silkroad gold buy silkroad gold
Legal papers filed in California stated the 61-year-old had taken a lower fee than normal to appear in the film.
But Paramount Pictures pledged "significant" bonuses to him if the movie was a hit and Jones did not receive these, the papers alleged.
The film company has yet to make a comment on the legal action.
Jones has asked for an auditor to be brought in to look at the production accounts and then establish the amount he is owed.
He has also claimed his contract contained errors in it but said these were not corrected as requested.
Texas-based thriller No Country For Old Men won four Academy Awards in February.
It saw Jones taking the role of a sheriff who was chasing an assassin, played by Javier Bardem. final fantasy xi gil silkroad gold buy silkroad gold
2008年9月4日 星期四
Slipknot number one after recount
Masked heavy metal band Slipknot have scored their first US number one album - but only after a recount put them ahead of rapper The Game's long-player.
Slipknot topped the Billboard 200 with All Hope Is Gone which, according to analysts Nielsen SoundScan, sold 239,516 copies - 1,134 more than LAX.
When the chart was first issued, The Game's offering was originally placed at number one by a slim margin.
But, after data was reprocessed because of the margin, Slipknot came out top.
All Hope Is Gone, their fourth studio album, is their first to reach the number one spot in the US.
Slipknot's eponymous 1999 debut album reached number 51 while 2001 follow-up Iowa hit number three.
Their last album, Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses, reached number two in 2004.
Both of The Game's previous two albums debuted at number one.
Earlier this year, he was released from prison after serving eight days of a 60-day sentence for possessing a weapon while on school premises.
Last month, Slipknot were forced to pull their Reading and Leeds Festival slots after drummer Joey Jordison broke his ankle.
The nine-piece band formed in 1995 in their home city of Des Moines, Iowa.
Their live shows quickly attracted attention as they took to the stage wearing home-made Halloween masks.
Slipknot topped the Billboard 200 with All Hope Is Gone which, according to analysts Nielsen SoundScan, sold 239,516 copies - 1,134 more than LAX.
When the chart was first issued, The Game's offering was originally placed at number one by a slim margin.
But, after data was reprocessed because of the margin, Slipknot came out top.
All Hope Is Gone, their fourth studio album, is their first to reach the number one spot in the US.
Slipknot's eponymous 1999 debut album reached number 51 while 2001 follow-up Iowa hit number three.
Their last album, Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses, reached number two in 2004.
Both of The Game's previous two albums debuted at number one.
Earlier this year, he was released from prison after serving eight days of a 60-day sentence for possessing a weapon while on school premises.
Last month, Slipknot were forced to pull their Reading and Leeds Festival slots after drummer Joey Jordison broke his ankle.
The nine-piece band formed in 1995 in their home city of Des Moines, Iowa.
Their live shows quickly attracted attention as they took to the stage wearing home-made Halloween masks.
2008年9月3日 星期三
Charge over McConaughey 'scuffle'
Two surfers have been charged after a photographer was allegedly thrown into the ocean while trying to take pictures of actor Matthew McConaughey.
Skylar Peak, 24, and Philip Hildebrand, 30, are said to have confronted several paparazzi on a beach in California and are accused of battery.
One photographer claimed he was attacked and had his camera hurled into the water during the incident in June.
McConaughey was surfing at the time and was not directly involved.
Even though a video of the confrontation appeared online, police had problems finding any witnesses to describe what happened, the Associated Press reported.
But prosecutors in the Los Angeles district attorney's office now think there is enough evidence to proceed.
Mr Peak's spokesman, Howard Bragman, insisted the surfer was innocent.
"We believe that a complete investigation, including looking at the tapes, will show that Skylar defended himself," Mr Bragman added.
A court hearing is expected to take place next month
Skylar Peak, 24, and Philip Hildebrand, 30, are said to have confronted several paparazzi on a beach in California and are accused of battery.
One photographer claimed he was attacked and had his camera hurled into the water during the incident in June.
McConaughey was surfing at the time and was not directly involved.
Even though a video of the confrontation appeared online, police had problems finding any witnesses to describe what happened, the Associated Press reported.
But prosecutors in the Los Angeles district attorney's office now think there is enough evidence to proceed.
Mr Peak's spokesman, Howard Bragman, insisted the surfer was innocent.
"We believe that a complete investigation, including looking at the tapes, will show that Skylar defended himself," Mr Bragman added.
A court hearing is expected to take place next month
2008年9月2日 星期二
Ting Tings on MTV video shortlist
The Ting Tings have been nominated for video of the year at this year's MTV Music Video Awards in the US.
The pop duo's hit Shut Up and Let Me Go will go up against Britney Spears' video for Piece of Me and the Pussycat Dolls' When I Grow Up.
It is the second nod for the group, who are also nominated for a special best UK video category, against Duffy, Estelle, Coldplay and Leona Lewis.
The ceremony takes place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on 7 September.
Other nominees for video of the year include the Jonas Brothers for Burnin' Up and Chris Brown for Forever.
The Ting Tings' nomination comes just three months after the release of their debut album We Started Nothing. They were first heard on BBC Radio Manchester in 2007, which led to an appearance at that year's Glastonbury Festival. They came third in the BBC's Sound of 2008 poll in January.
The album went straight to number one in the UK album chart and the track That's Not My Name topped the singles chart the same month.
The nominations for the best rock video were also announced with Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Slipknot, Linkin Park and Foo Fighters competing for the title.
Nominations for the awards are being revealed on a weekly basis in the run-up to the ceremony.
Categories still to be announced include best new artist and best dancing in a video.
Comedian Russell Brand will be hosting the awards.
The pop duo's hit Shut Up and Let Me Go will go up against Britney Spears' video for Piece of Me and the Pussycat Dolls' When I Grow Up.
It is the second nod for the group, who are also nominated for a special best UK video category, against Duffy, Estelle, Coldplay and Leona Lewis.
The ceremony takes place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on 7 September.
Other nominees for video of the year include the Jonas Brothers for Burnin' Up and Chris Brown for Forever.
The Ting Tings' nomination comes just three months after the release of their debut album We Started Nothing. They were first heard on BBC Radio Manchester in 2007, which led to an appearance at that year's Glastonbury Festival. They came third in the BBC's Sound of 2008 poll in January.
The album went straight to number one in the UK album chart and the track That's Not My Name topped the singles chart the same month.
The nominations for the best rock video were also announced with Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Slipknot, Linkin Park and Foo Fighters competing for the title.
Nominations for the awards are being revealed on a weekly basis in the run-up to the ceremony.
Categories still to be announced include best new artist and best dancing in a video.
Comedian Russell Brand will be hosting the awards.
2008年9月1日 星期一
Express denied box office crown
Pineapple Express stars Seth Rogan and James Franco
Comedy Pineapple Express has missed out on beating The Dark Knight to number one in the North American weekend film chart because it opened two days early.
The drug-fuelled movie, named after a strong brand of cannabis, opened at number two with $22.4m (£11.7m).
But it would have been number one had it not opened two days earlier than usual to maximise school holiday sales. Its five day total was $40.5m (£21.1m).
The chart is measured on three-day sales from Friday to Sunday.
Batman success
Columbia Pictures said the opening for the film starring Seth Rogan and James Franco was "beyond expectations" given that the budget was a modest $27m (£14m).
The Dark Knight topped the box office chart for a fourth straight week.
The film, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, took $26m (£13.6m) to bring its US total haul to $441.5m (£231m).
The last movie to remain number one for four consecutive weekends was The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in late 2003 and 2004.
Elsewhere on the chart, The Mummy: Curse of the Dragon Emperor slipped one place to number three.
Teen drama The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 made its debut at number four and Will Ferrell comedy Step Brothers fell two places to five.
The Dark Knight should surpass Star Wars at $461m (£240m) to become number two on the overall chart by the weekend.
However, the figures reflect today's higher admission prices, and The Dark Knight will not approach Star Wars or Titanic in terms of actual number of tickets sold.
Taking inflation into account, The Dark Knight would need to pull in around $900m (£469m) to match the number of tickets sold for Titanic and approximately $1.2bn (£626m) to equal Star Wars. aoc leveling age conan gold age conan gold
Comedy Pineapple Express has missed out on beating The Dark Knight to number one in the North American weekend film chart because it opened two days early.
The drug-fuelled movie, named after a strong brand of cannabis, opened at number two with $22.4m (£11.7m).
But it would have been number one had it not opened two days earlier than usual to maximise school holiday sales. Its five day total was $40.5m (£21.1m).
The chart is measured on three-day sales from Friday to Sunday.
Batman success
Columbia Pictures said the opening for the film starring Seth Rogan and James Franco was "beyond expectations" given that the budget was a modest $27m (£14m).
The Dark Knight topped the box office chart for a fourth straight week.
The film, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, took $26m (£13.6m) to bring its US total haul to $441.5m (£231m).
The last movie to remain number one for four consecutive weekends was The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in late 2003 and 2004.
Elsewhere on the chart, The Mummy: Curse of the Dragon Emperor slipped one place to number three.
Teen drama The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 made its debut at number four and Will Ferrell comedy Step Brothers fell two places to five.
The Dark Knight should surpass Star Wars at $461m (£240m) to become number two on the overall chart by the weekend.
However, the figures reflect today's higher admission prices, and The Dark Knight will not approach Star Wars or Titanic in terms of actual number of tickets sold.
Taking inflation into account, The Dark Knight would need to pull in around $900m (£469m) to match the number of tickets sold for Titanic and approximately $1.2bn (£626m) to equal Star Wars. aoc leveling age conan gold age conan gold
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