Pitt calls Cruise film 'ridiculous'
Brad Pitt has declared battle against Tom Cruise for the title of best World War II movie - branding the Hollywood actor's recent film Valkyrie "ridiculous".
Pitt teamed up with director Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds, which was released this month - less than a year after Cruise's 2008 drama about a plot to kill Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
However, the actor insists his portrayal of Nazi hunter Aldo Raine in Tarantino's violent film is no comparison to his rival Cruise's character.
He tells German magazine Stern, "The second World War could still deliver more stories and films, but I believe that Quentin put a cover on that pot. With Basterds, everything than can be said to this genre has been said. The film destroys every symbol. The work is done, end of story... (Valkyrie) was a ridiculous movie."
Fall music preview
This fall, there are hundreds of new CDs being released by names you know, names you’re about to know and names you need to know.
Here are several dozen releases we’re looking forward to over the next three months — and a few we aren’t. See if you can spot the difference.
And remember: Everything here is subject to change.
SEPTEMBER
Black Crowes
Before the Frost ... and ...Until the Freeze
The jam-rockers drop two albums — one on CD and the other a free download. Two heads really are better than one.
Sept. 1
John Fogerty
Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again
His grammar sucks, but the CCR leader’s guest list does not: It includes Bruce Springsteen and Don Henley.
Sept. 1
The Used
Artwork
Album no. 4 from the Utah screamers deals with mortality and self-loathing. The kids will love it!
Sept. 1
Jay-Z
Blueprint 3
Hova bucks the Tuesday release trend by dropping this Kanye-produced disc on a Friday.
Sept. 11
Os Mutantes
Haih ... or Barauna ...
The Brazilian tropicalia psychedelicists make their first CD in 35 years. Beck and David Byrne rejoice.
Sept. 8
Phish
Joy
It’s comeback time for jam gods Trey Anastasio and co. after a five-year hiatus. HIppies everywhere rejoice.
Sept. 8
Yo La Tengo
Popular Songs
Good songs, I can believe. But popular? That would be a first for these New Jersey indie-rock vets.
Sept. 8
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
Break Up
Frankly, Scarlett ...
Sept. 8
Ace Frehley
Anomaly
KISS’s spaceman lands with his first album in 20 years. Ack!
Sept. 15
Megadeth
Endgame
A return to thrashing ’80s form from guitarist Dave Mustaine and co.
Sept. 15
Anvil
This Is Thirteen
Canada’s Spinal Tap try to strike while their rockumentary iron is still hot. Sept. 15
Pearl Jam
Backspacer
Eddie Vedder and co. say they’ve made a “positive” record. Thanks, Barack!
Sept. 20
Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band
Between My Head and the Sky
Son Sean Lennon helped mom produce her first album of new originals in over a decade.
Sept. 22
Shakira
TBA
The Colombian popster’s hips don’t lie — so ask them for the title of this album. Sept. 25
Alice in Chains
Black Gives Way to Blue
After 14 years and the death of singer Layne Staley, AiC return with a new singer and ... an Elton John cameo?
Sept. 29
Mariah Carey
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Can’t wait to hear what Eminem is going to have to say about this.
Sept. 29
50 Cent
Before I Self-Destruct
Too late.
Sept. 29.
Nelly Furtado
Mi Plan
After two Spanish cuts on her 2006 Loose CD, Furtado goes todo cerdo aqui.
Sept. 29
Miranda Lambert
Revolution
Country-rock’s crazy ex-girlfriend is back.
Sept. 29
Lynyrd Skynyrd
God & Guns
They’re down to one original member — and no original ideas.
Sept. 29
Paramore
Brand New Eyes
Album no. 3 should make these female-fronted pop-punks into bona fide stars. Sept. 29
Barbra Streisand
Love Is the Answer
What was the question? On second thought, never mind.
Sept. 29
OCTOBER
Backstreet Boys
This is Us
T-Pain guests. Which only proves that T-Pain will play on anybody’s CD.
Oct. 6
Rosanne Cash
The List
Johnny’s daughter plays some of his list of the 100 Most Important Songs. Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello help.
Oct. 6
KISS
Sonic Boom
Gene and Paul get back to basics on their first new studio disc in 12 years. Cross your fingers.
Oct. 6
The Raveonettes
In and Out of Control
More noise-pop from the Danish duo.
Oct. 6
Slayer
World Painted Blood
The death-metal demon gods rise again, just in time for Halloween. Oct. 6
Flaming Lips
Embryonic
Wayne Coyne and his psychedelic warriors birth a double-album. Double your dose. Oct. 13
Toby Keith
American Ride
If he stays away from religion and politics, country king Keith might do OK.
Oct. 13
R. Kelly
TBA
Kelly’s long-delayed (and still untitled) latest has song called Falling From the Sky and #1 Fan. Just saying.
Oct. 13
The Roots
How I Got Over
Well, I guess Jimmy Fallon doesn’t have to look for a musical guest that night. Oct. 13
Creed
Full Circle
It’s their first album since 2001. What’s the rush, fellas?
Oct. 20
Flight of the Conchords
I Told You I Was Freaky
Put on your business socks, boys and girls.
Oct. 20
Lyle Lovett
TBA
The quirky country gentleman’s latest blends covers and originals.
Oct. 20
Tim McGraw
Southern Voice
The single is called It’s a Business Doing Pleasure With You. That about sums it up.
Oct. 20
Sting
If On a Winter’s Night ...
More traditional fare from the former Police man. As long as he doesn’t play the lute.
Oct. 27
Weezer
Raditude
Given their last stinker of a CD, that title could be optimistic.
Oct. 27
NOVEMBER
Carrie Underwood
TBA
More inescapable country-pop from the former AmIdol winner.
Nov. 3
Bon Jovi
TBA
Rumour is it’s called The Circle and comes out Nov. 10. Tell your wife.
TBA
Robbie Williams
Reality Killed the Video Star
But nothing can kill Robo’s popularity with the Brits, it seems.
Nov. 10
Avril Lavigne
TBA
Lavigne says she’s “not trying to write a perfect pop song” this time. That should make her label very happy.
Nov. 17
John Mayer
Battle Studies
Mayer has nearly 2 million Twitter followers. Now if he can only convince every one to buy a CD.
Nov. 17
Mary J. Blige
Stronger
Seriously, how much stronger does she need to be?
Nov. 24
Diddy
Last Train to Paris
Didd welcomes The-Dream, Tricky, Neptunes and T-Pain
(see, I was right).
Nov. 24
BOX SETS
The Beatles
Mono Box Set & Stereo Box Set
The Fabs entire catalog gets remastered in two different mega-sets. The mono box has 13 CDs. The Stereo has 17. All you need is cash.
Sept. 9
Big Star
Keep an Eye on the Sky
A four-disc set honouring cult hero Alex Chilton’s legendary Memphis power-pop outfit. About time.
Sept. 15
Rod Stewart
The Rod Stewart Sessions
1971-1998
It’s CDs of unreleased recordings. This could be truly great — or utterly awful. Sept. 29
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Do What You Want, Be Who You Are
All the duo’s hits, 16 unreleased cuts and live fare are included in this four-disc box. I can go for that.
Oct. 6
Dolly Parton
Dolly
The buxom country queen’s career is stuffed into a three-CD set.
Oct. 27
Various artists
Atlantic Records:
The Time Capsule
This eight-CD, 130-track label retrospective includes a vinyl single and a 128-page hardcover book.
Nov. 3
Bee Gees
Mythology
This four-disc anthology has 81 tracks by the Gibb brothers, including Andy.
Nov. 3
Miles Davis
The Complete Columbia Album Collection
And they do mean complete: This sucker has 70 CDs by the iconic jazz trumpeter! Nov. 10
John Mellencamp
On the Rural Route 7609
Early demo recordings and other rarities from the artist formerly known as Cougar.
Nov. 14
Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks
The 2000 Year Old Man:
The Complete History
Your grandparents’ favourite comedy duo’s five albums are collected on three CDs and one DVD.
Nov. 24
Frank Sinatra
Sinatra: New York
The 2006 live Sinatra: Vegas set was a keeper. Here’s hoping this one follows suit.
Nov. 3
Blue Rodeo readying new double-disc
TORONTO - Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy feels the wind of change sweeping through a record industry that is increasingly moving away from traditional album releases.
He just doesn't care.
"It was funny 'cause just recently, (Radiohead lead singer) Thom Yorke said he couldn't be bothered making albums anymore - that the album was dead, and he was going to make singles from now on," Cuddy told The Canadian Press in a recent telephone interview.
"Well we're making a double record. In an effort to swim completely cross-current - we're very excited about this - we're making a double record, so we'll have a double vinyl and a double CD."
Cuddy says Blue Rodeo is just finishing the new album at their Toronto studio now, and it'll be released at the end of October. The title, he thinks, will be "All The Things We Left Behind."
"It's just sort of a massive work," Cuddy said. "It's 16 songs, and it's very enjoyable for us to be thinking about splitting it into two sections, and then splitting each one into a different side."
Cuddy said the record would feature vocals from Cuff the Duke's Wayne Petti. Unsurprisingly, the album sounds like it'll be a throwback of sorts.
"It's pretty organic, acoustic-y," Cuddy said. "It's got a lot of vocals on it. We're kind of harkening back to Neil Young, CSNY, that kind of vocal sound - much more falsetto, bigger choirs. "
"There's a couple songs that are very different for us, instrumentation-wise too. It's got a pretty wide range, as I think you'd expect from a double record."
And Cuddy says he's particularly excited about the prospect of laying the record out on double vinyl.
"I'm becoming more of a vinyl-phile, all the time, as more become available, which is great," he said. "How to split it up - an A-side is different than a B-side, is a B-side heavier, or more sleepy, or whatever? - it's been a very enjoyable little conundrum for us to try to figure out how to arrange this."
Pitt, Tarantino's 'Basterds' earns glorious $37.6M
LOS ANGELES – The war effort by Quentin Tarantino and Brad Pitt has paid off as their history lesson "Inglourious Basterds" claimed victory at the box office with a $37.6 million debut.
It was Tarantino's best opening ever, exceeding the $25.1 million haul for 2004's "Kill Bill — Vol. 2." Overseas, "Inglourious Basterds" added $27.5 million in 22 countries, giving it a worldwide total of $65.1 million.
Released domestically by the Weinstein Co. and overseas by Universal, "Inglourious Basterds" features Pitt and an international ensemble in a sprawling tale of Jewish commandos and a plot to take out Nazi leaders at a movie premiere during World War II.
The film provided a much-needed hit for Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who have managed only lackluster receipts at their new outfit since departing Disney-owned Miramax four years ago.
At Miramax, the Weinsteins balanced prestige and profit with a string of Academy Awards triumphs such as "Shakespeare in Love" and "Chicago" and hits such as Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" and the "Scary Movie" and "Scream" franchises.
"Tarantino helped build the house of Miramax. He's proving right now that he's helping to build the house of Weinstein," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.
So far, the Weinstein Co. has been unable to reproduce that Miramax success, its lineup burdened by box-office underachievers such as last year's "Soul Men" and 2007's "Grindhouse," Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's B-movie double-feature.
Harvey Weinstein said critics continually write off him and his brother, including a magazine piece in 2002 "saying we were the flavor of the '90s but we were kind of over in the new millennium."
Weeks later, he noted, Miramax scored 40 Oscar nominations, among them three of the five best-picture nominees, including eventual winner "Chicago."
Weinstein said his new company has a strong lineup ahead, including next weekend's horror sequel "Halloween II" along with "Chicago" director Rob Marshall's musical "Nine" and the post-apocalypse saga "The Road" late in the year.
Rodriguez, Tarantino's "Grindhouse" partner, did not fare so well with "Shorts," his Warner Bros. family comedy that debuted at No. 6 with just $6.6 million. The movie features William H. Macy, James Spader, Leslie Mann and a cast of kids in a series of loosely linked adventures centered on a magic rock that grants wishes.
Fox Atomic's comedy "Post Grad," with Alexis Bledel as a college graduate who moves back home with her eccentric family after she's unable to land her dream job, tanked with $2.8 million, coming in at No. 10.
The previous weekend's top movie, Sony's sci-fi thriller "District 9," slipped to second-place with $18.9 million. With a domestic total of $73.5 million, the movie is on its way to becoming a $100 million sleeper hit.
Hollywood's revenues were up for the third-straight weekend, a late-season surge that has helped the industry recover from a monthlong slide in receipts. Overall ticket sales were $134 million, up 27 percent compared to the same weekend last year.
The weekend put Hollywood back on track to break last summer's revenue record of $4.2 billion, though receipts this season are up only a fraction.
Factoring in higher ticket prices this year, movie attendance is running 3 percent below last summer's, according to Hollywood.com.
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Inglourious Basterds," $37.6 million.
2. "District 9," $18.9 million.
3. "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," $12.5 million.
4. "The Time Traveler's Wife," $10 million.
5. "Julie & Julia," $9 million.
6. "Shorts," $6.6 million.
7. "G-Force," $4.2 million.
8. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," $3.5 million.
9. "The Ugly Truth," $2.9 million.
10. "Post Grad," $2.8 million.