FILM/ RAVE REVIEW FOR "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN": The Hollywood Reporter has released one of the 1st reviews to the upcoming Johnny Depp starrer "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides". The 4th film in the franchise stars Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane and Keith Black. In its review, THR said: "The Bottom Line: Jack is back, and this time he has a genuine love interest amidst all the action" They went on to say: "Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow is back in excellent form for his fourth adventure in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," which is more serious in the hands of a new director, Rob Marshall, and thanks to Penelope Cruz it’s also a good deal sexier. Best known for musicals such as "Nine" and the Academy Award-winning "Chicago," Marshall shows terrific flare with all the usual chases and sword fights, and he handles the 3D well. He also adds a dash of pepper with lively sexual tension between Sparrow and a Spanish firecracker named Angelica (Cruz)". And, THR said: "While the tone of the film, which deals with a search for the fountain of youth, is darker than the three directed by Gore Verbinksi, its action, adventure and comedy will see it find a similar pot of theatrical gold". "The Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is rated PG13, runs 141 minutes and opens wide on May 20. Expect massive box office returns.
Al Pacino is joining the cast of Fiore Films’ "Gotti: Three Generations," the true-life crime saga, which is set to star John Travolta as John Gotti Sr. Pacino will play Gambino crime family underboss Neil Dellacroce, an associate and mentor to Gotti Sr. The project reteams Pacino with Barry Levinson, who has stepped in to direct, and who recently guided Pacino through the Emmy-winning HBO telefilm "You Don’t Know Jack". Other key roles that have been cast include that of Gotti Sr.’s wife Victoria, who will be played by Travolta’s real-life wife Kelly Preston; Angel Gotti, the daughter of John Sr. and Victoria, who will be played by the Travoltas’ daughter Ella Bleu Travolta; Gotti Sr.’s associate Angelo Ruggiero, who will be played by Joe Pesci; and Kim Gotti, John Gotti Jr.’s wife, who will be played by Lindsay Lohan. Roles yet to be cast include those of Gotti Jr. and his sister Victoria.
FILM/ DIANA DOC OUTRAGES BRITS: A shocking paparazzi photograph of a dying Princess Diana is to be screened for the 1st time in a documentary about her fatal crash. "Unlawful Killing," which will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival this week, is backed by the actor Keith Allen and Mohammed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died with Diana. The 90 minute film will include a graphic black and white closeup of Diana taken moments after the Mercedes carrying the couple, pictured, crashed in a Paris underpass. The distressing image, Diana’s blonde hair and features clearly visible, has never been publicly seen before. It will be shown around the world when the film is released, except in the UK, where it will be excised from the film. Similar pictures shown to the Diana inquest jury had her face heavily pixelated. The news about the photograph being used has prompted outrage in England from close friends and fans of the Princess of Wales. The backlash is growing, with many calling for the film to be boycotted.
Lady Gaga has given fans another preview of her new album, "Born This Way," by releasing the much buzzed advance single "The Edge of Glory" online yesterday, with another single, "Hair," set for release next Monday. "The Edge of Glory" digital track was released exclusively to iTunes, while streaming audio of the song was posted on the pop star's VEVO channel. Like 1st single "Born This Way," critics say "The Edge of Glory" leans upon sunny electronica that ramps up during its anthemic chorus, and while "Glory" also glorifies risk-taking, it's focused on romance rather than individual inspiration. "The Edge of Glory's" debut comes less than a week after the music video for "Born This Way's" 2nd single, "Judas," was unveiled online. While lead single spent 6 weeks at #1, "Judas" has already peaked and has fallen out of the top 10. "Born This Way" hits store 2 weeks from today.
Rod Stewart will join Celine Dion and Elton John at Las Vegas' Colosseum at Caesars Palace, beginning a 2 year residency on August 24. The first 18 concerts of "Rod Stewart: The Hits" go on sale next week. Stewart says the show will be 90% songs that people know, including "Maggie May," "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "You're in My Heart." The songs were performed at the Colosseum when he played at the 4100-seat venue in November. "It's a rock'n'roll show," Stewart said in an interview. "We'll try to give the people what they want, which are the songs that made me famous, plus a few surprises. There won't be any magicians or midgets, just a good rock show".
Edward Bond's controversial play "Saved" is to have its 1st major London production in more than 25 years. The play caused uproar when 1st staged at the Royal Court in 1965 for a scene in which a group of teenagers stone a baby to death in a baby carriage. Bond, author of more than 50 plays, rarely allows the work to be performed. "Saved" will be presented at the Lyric Hammersmith in October in a production directed by its artistic director, Sean Holmes. "Saved is a massively influential play," said Holmes, whose revival of the Sarah Kane play "Blasted" won a Laurence Olivier award earlier this year. "It changed the theatrical landscape. It is as relevant now as it was then, if not more so, because he's sensing something in society which is about violence and way that people get dislocated from each other". He said he has asked for permission to stage "Saved" a few times over the years, prior to being finally given the go-ahead by Bond.
Emmy winner Neil Patrick Harris, recently seen in the New York Philharmonic's staged concerts of Stephen Sondheim's "Company," will host the 65th Annual Tony Awards. Harris previously hosted the 2009 broadcast of the 63rd Annual Tony Awards. The American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Tony Awards will air on CBS June 12, live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The awards, Broadway's highest honor, have been broadcast on CBS since 1978. This will be the 1st year that the show will be broadcast from The Beacon Theatre, which is part of the Madison Square Garden portfolio. Radio City Music Hall, the home of the Tony Awards for the past several years, is unavailable for this year's awards show. Harris currently appears as Barney Stinson in the hit television series, "How I Met Your Mother," which has garnered him 4 consecutive Emmy Award nominations and 2 consecutive Golden Globe nominations.
THEATRE/ 76TH ANNUAL NYDCC WINNERS ANNOUNCED: The New York Drama Critics' Circle (NYDCC) announced yesterday that the winner of the 76th annual New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play of the 2010-2011 season is David Lindsay-Abaire's "Good People". The award for Best Foreign Play play went to Jez Butterworth's "Jerusalem," while "The Book of Mormon" received the award for Best Musical. Special Citations were awarded to the Broadway revival of "The Normal Heart;" Mark Rylance for acting in "La Bete" and "Jerusalem;" and the direction, design and puppetry of "War Horse". The New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, which has been awarded every year since 1936 to the best new play of the season (with optional awards for foreign or American plays, musicals and performers), is the nation's 2nd oldest theatre award, after the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The New York Drama Critics' Circle comprises 25 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines, wire services and websites based in the New York metropolitan area
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left on a 2 week honeymoon in a secret hideaway in the Indian Ocean. According to media reports today, the newlyweds will stay in an exclusive villa that costs £4,000 per night and is said to be located on one of the most beautiful and romantic islands in the world. A spokesman for St James's Palace said he would not confirm their honeymoon destination, although according to reports, the couple headed yesterday on a private jet for one of the more than the 100 palm-fringed islands in the Seychelles. Scotland Yard protection officers checked the destination 3 weeks ago to ensure it would give the couple the privacy they crave. The UK media are not publishing details of the location, and it is understood that not even Kate was aware of the exact destination until the last minute. The resort, which is surrounded by coconut groves, is said to offer almost complete isolation. Its white sand beaches are bathed by crystal-clear turquoise waters and are a sanctuary for sea turtles. The couple spent their 1st weekend of married life at an undisclosed UK location, before William returned to work at Anglesey where he works as an RAF rescue helicopter Pilot.
PEOPLE/ SCHWARZENEGGER & SHRIVER SPLIT: Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, have separated. "This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us," the couple told the the L.A. Times in a statement. "After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship". Schwarzenegger and Shriver have been married for 25 years. Shriver has moved out of their Brentwood home, and the reportedly deciding what their next steps will be. Since leaving office, Schwarzenegger has signed on to star in the drama "Cry Macho". He is also reportedly working on a new "Terminator" sequel. In addition, he has partnered with Stan Lee on a "Governator" comic and animated series, with plans for a movie as well. Shriver runs a women's empowerment website and recently served as a guest editor on an issue of Oprah Winfrey's magazine, O. She left NBC when Schwarzenegger became Governor. According to other media sites in Hollywood, the split may be the result of another woman and Schwarzenegger's reportedly "huge ego". Reports say they have not lived together for many months. The couple's marriage faced challenges in 2003, when Schwarzenegger was running for governor of California. At the time, numerous media reports surfaced on his history of groping women, but Shriver defended him at the time.
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