Doyle's executors threaten Holmes sequel
The executors of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literary estate have threatened to withdraw Guy Ritchie's rights to the Sherlock Holmes story if the director hints at a homosexual relationship between the lead characters in his sequel.
Robert Downey, Jr., who plays the supersleuth in Ritchie's new movie adaption, recently appeared on David Letterman's U.S. talk show and hinted at a homoerotic subtext in the relationship between his character and Jude Law's Dr. Watson.
During the interview the actor also asked the audience to decide whether Holmes is "a very butch homosexual."
But Downey, Jr.'s comments have infuriated Andrea Plunket, who controls the remaining U.S. copyrights to the Holmes story, and she's threatened to withdraw permission for a follow-up if Ritchie suggests the detective is more than just friends with his sidekick.
She says, "I hope this is just an example of Mr Downey's black sense of humour. It would be drastic, but I would withdraw permission for more films to be made if they feel that is a theme they wish to bring out in the future. I am not hostile to homosexuals, but I am to anyone who is not true to the spirit of the books.
Keeping a lid on 'Iron Man 2'
SAN DIEGO — When we last saw Tony Stark, he was outing himself to the world — a superhero without secrets.
Jon Favreau isn’t buckling so easily. On this day at last summer’s Comic-Con, the actor-turned-director is jealously protecting Iron Man 2’s surprises in advance of its May 7, 2010 launch.
Even if he knows he has as much chance keeping his tightly-guarded sequel from springing leaks as he does constructing a battle suit in an Afghanistan cave.
“I got to tell you, all the secrets we thought we had the first time out — very few of them made it all the way to when the movie came out,” he admits, referring to the post-credits cameo by Samuel L. Jackson as SHIELD director Nick Fury.
“That Nick Fury thing was out there on (the website) Ain’t It Cool News less than a week after we did it. We shot with a skeleton crew on a dark day — nobody knew about it. We thought we were so clever, and then everybody knew.”
Still, there are worse things, he realizes. Such as directing a movie in which there is so little interest no one is bothering to spoil it. A few years ago, it’s a fate most observers believed would likely befall Iron Man — the umpteenth comic-book adaptation about a B-grade character, starring unconventional choice Robert Downey Jr. and bankrolled by Marvel Studios, in its first self-produced attempt at moviemaking. But reviews were excellent, and the film rocketed to a box-office haul of more than $585 million worldwide.
Now two years later, the sequel is 2010’s most-anticipated movie, with Downey Jr. back and joined by — in addition to returning Gwyneth Paltrow and Jackson — newcomers Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Don Cheadle, who replaces Terrence Howard.
Says Downey Jr. of the new cast members: “I feel really beholden to say to them, ‘I guarantee you and I promise you that we will work our asses off to really pay this character off.’ And I guess the problem is, or the challenge was this time I was essentially saying that to three or four new people. Jon and I were telling Mickey that he wouldn’t just play a two-dimensional nemesis. We were thrilled to get Scarlett, and we said, ‘You’re not just going to be like some kind of B Marvel spin-off.’ ”
Even if sometimes it meant accommodating the odd feathered co-star, says Favreau.
“We sculpt scenes and change them as we learn things about the characters. Or Mickey Rourke wants a pet. I’d seen a picture of him with a cockatoo that he used to own. And so he’s like, ‘How about that? That’s my favourite animal’ and he’s like, ‘Maybe it could humanize this guy.’ That wasn’t something in the script. You want the freedom that (Francis Ford) Coppola brought to The Godfather, where Marlon Brando finds the cat on the set and is playing with it in that scene. What you don’t want is Brando wearing an ice bucket on his head. That’s the balancing act.”
And so far it’s an act Downey Jr. seems pleased to be part of, exhibiting no symptoms of franchise fatigue.
“I tend to just think of (Marvel) as this kind of unspoiled area of activity in a very wonderful, treacherous industry.”
WHO’S WHO IN 'IRON MAN 2'
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.): With various forces aligning against him, the former care-free billionaire arms manufacturer now faces betrayal and danger from all sides.
Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow): She’s the CEO of Stark Industries now, but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t feelings between her and Stark - and a lot of romantic tension now that he has a beautiful new assistant named Natasha.
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson): Lest you think the director of the spy organization SHIELD is going anywhere, Jackson has a nine-picture deal with Marvel.
Whiplash/Vanko (Mickey Rourke): This tattooed Russian villain builds himself a battle suit in prison and embarks on a mission of cybernetically-enhanced vengeance.
Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson): She has red tresses, curves - and a black cat-suit worth of secrets. Namely that she’s also the mysterious Black Widow.
Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell): A slick, amoral weapons inventor, he conspires to take out his chief rival, Stark, who is now pre-occupied with saving the world.
James Rhodes (Don Cheadle): “Next time, baby,” Terrence Howard promised himself at the end of the first film. Well, not quite. Instead it’s Cheadle - who landed the role after Howard and Marvel had a falling out - who gets to fly into action as the bullet-grey War Machine.
Soundgarden Reunion Planned for 2010
Soundgarden will reunite for concerts in 2010, according to a Twitter message from frontman Chris Cornell which directs fans to a new Web site, Soundgardenworld.com. The Seattle rock quartet -- Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron -- has not played live since splitting up in the spring of 1997.
Although no details have been announced yet, sources tell Billboard the group is weighing offers from several major U.S. and international festivals. But a tour routing is still a work in progress, due to Cameron's prior commitments to play with Pearl Jam in the spring and summer of next year.
Cameron has been Pearl Jam's permanent drummer since 1998; that group recently announced its first North American date of 2010 as part of the second weekend of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 29-May 2), and will also play 10 European shows from June 22 in Dublin through July 10 in Oeiras, Portugal.
Also still amorphous are plans for some kind of Soundgarden best-of and/or reissues of its back catalog. In addition, Thayil and Shepherd have long discussed compiling a Soundgarden boxed set, which would include a wealth of unreleased studio material.
For many years after Soundgarden split, the instrumentalists were said to have had little contact with Cornell and reportedly turned down an offer to reform for Sub Pop's 20th anniversary concerts in Seattle in 2008. Cornell was not on hand for an impromptu live performance on March 24, 2009, at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe, when Cameron, Thayil and Shepherd played the Soundgarden songs "Hunted Down," "Nothing to Say" and "Spoonman" with Tad Doyle on vocals.
But all four members were present at an Oct. 6, 2009 Pearl Jam show in Los Angeles, when Cornell reprised the Temple of the Dog song "Hunger Strike" with the band, and sources say reunion plans began to take shape shortly afterward.
Soundgarden formed in Seattle in 1984, with an initial lineup of Cornell on vocals and drums, Thayil on guitar and Hiro Yamamoto on bass. Cameron joined on drums in 1986, and the following year, the band released its first single, "Hunted Down," on the nascent hometown label Sub Pop.
Famed indie label SST released Soundgarden's debut album, "Ultramega OK," in October 1988, but the band's churning, Black Sabbath-inspired rock'n'roll quickly reached a wider audience after signing with A&M Records, which issued a new album, "Louder Than Love, in September 1989. Yamamoto was replaced briefly on bass by Jason Everman, who was then replaced permanently by Shepherd for the recording of "Badmotorfinger" in 1991.
Driven by Cornell's impressive vocal range, Thayil's dark, detuned guitar work and Cameron's love of tricky time signatures, "Badmotorfinger" songs like "Outshined" and "Jesus Christ Pose," foreshadowed the Seattle-centric grunge explosion ushered in a few months later by Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Soundgarden fully broke through on 1994's five-times-platinum "Superunknown," thanks to smash rock radio hits such as "Spoonman," "Black Hole Sun" and "Fell on Black Days."
After headlining the 1996 Lollapalooza festival in support of the album "Down on the Upside," Soundgarden ran out of steam and broke up amicably. Since the split, Cornell has released three solo albums and three more with the now-defunct Audioslave, which featured the non-singing members of Rage Against The Machine. Thayil and Shepherd have kept a low profile, only occasionally releasing music and collaborating with artists like Sunn O))) and Boris, Probot, Steve Fisk and Mark Lanegan.
Shepherd and Cameron also revived their side project, Hater, which released its second album, "The 2nd," in 2005.
'The Hurt Locker' sweeps National Society of Film Critics Awards
"The Hurt Locker" swept the awards bestowed today by the National Society of Film Critics during its voting conclave held at Sardi's restaurant in New York. The Iraqi war drama won best picture, director (Kathryn Bigelow) and actor (Jeremy Renner as a daredevil U.S. soldier who disarms bombs).
The society voted Yolande Moreau best actress for "Seraphine." Previously, she won best actress for her portrayal of French artist Seraphine de Senlis at the Cesar Awards (France's equivalent of the Oscars) where "Seraphine" swept up seven trophies, including best picture. She also won the lead actress laurels bestowed by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Earlier this derby season, "The Hurt Locker" was voted best picture by the New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Gotham Awards and other groups.
Other NSFC winners:
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds," and Paul Schneider, "Bright Star"
Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, "Precious"
Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, "A Serious Man"
Foreign-Language Film: "Summer Hours"
Nonfiction Film: "The Beaches of Agnes"
Cinematography: Christian Berger, "The White Ribbon"
Production design: Nelson Lowry, "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
The society includes 64 members from major media outlets in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago, including Time, Newsweek, New Yorker, Village Voice and Salon.com. It's been bestowing awards since 1966.
Peter Gabriel goes orchestral for covers album
NEW YORK (Billboard) – Peter Gabriel eschews traditional rock'n'roll instrumentation on his upcoming album, "Scratch My Back," which sports orchestral covers of material originally recorded by David Bowie, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Radiohead and Arcade Fire, among others.
All of the artists whose songs Gabriel covers on "Scratch My Back" will return the favor by reworking his songs on a future album, dubbed "I'll Scratch Yours."
"Scratch My Back," due February 15 on Virgin Records, is Gabriel's first studio album since 2002's "Up," which peaked at No. 9 on The Billboard 200.
Gabriel will perform selections from "Scratch My Back" with an orchestra at four March shows: March 22 in Paris (Palais Omnisports), March 25 in Berlin (O2 World) and March 27-28 in London (The O2).
Here is the track list: "Heroes" (David Bowie) "The Boy in the Bubble" (Paul Simon) "Mirrorball" (Elbow) "Flume" (Bon Iver) "Listening Wind" (Talking Heads) "The Power of the Heart" (Lou Reed) "My Body Is a Cage" (The Arcade Fire) "The Book of Love" (The Magnetic Fields) "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" (Randy Newman) "Apres Moi" (Regina Spektor), "Philadelphia" (Neil Young) "Street Spirit" (Radiohead).
Elton John says he's helping Eminem fight drugs
LONDON – Elton John says he has been helping American rapper Eminen fight drug problems for more than a year.
John says Eminem is succeeding in his well-publicized battle against substance abuse.
John told BBC Radio Saturday that as a recovered drug abuser he is happy to help people if they want the assistance but drugs make people so cocky and arrogant that they often reject help.
Eminem has written about his substance abuse problems in the past.
'Avatar' rules with $68.3M, tops $1B worldwide
LOS ANGELES – James Cameron's science-fiction epic "Avatar" had another stellar weekend with $68.3 million domestically, shooting past $1 billion worldwide, only the fifth movie ever to hit that mark.
No. 1 for the third-straight weekend, 20th Century Fox's "Avatar" raised its domestic total to $352.1 million after just 17 days. The film added $133 million overseas to lift its international haul to $670 million, for a worldwide gross of $1.02 billion.
"Avatar" opened two weekends earlier with $77 million, a strong start but far below dozens of other blockbusters that debuted as high as $158 million. But business for other blockbusters usually tumbles in following weekends, while "Avatar" revenues barely dropped over the busy Christmas and New Year's weekends.
"It's like a runaway freight train. It just keeps doing business," said Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston. "Here's what's happening: I think everybody has to see `Avatar' once. Even people who don't normally go to the movies, they've heard about it and are saying, `I have to see it.' Then there's those people seeing it multiple times."
"Avatar" was Cameron's first film since 1997's "Titanic," the biggest modern blockbuster with $1.8 billion worldwide.
Cameron now is the only filmmaker to direct two movies that have topped $1 billion. Along with "Titanic," the others are "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" at $1.13 billion, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" at $1.06 billion and "The Dark Knight" at a fraction over $1 billion, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
With "Avatar" closing in on No. 2 film "The Return of the King," Cameron is in striking distance of having the two top-grossing movies globally.
"Avatar" has had a price advantage over those other billion-dollar movies. About 75 percent of its domestic business has come from theaters showing it in digital 3-D presentation, those tickets typically costing a few dollars more than admissions for the 2-D version.
Finishing at No. 2 for the weekend was Robert Downey Jr.'s crime caper "Sherlock Holmes" with $38.4 million. The Warner Bros. film lifted its domestic total to $140.7 million after 10 days in theaters.
In third place was 20th Century Fox's family tale "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" with $36.6 million. It raised its 10-day total to $157.3 million.
The top-three movies, along with solid holdovers that included Universal's "It's Complicated" at No. 4 with $18.7 million, steered Hollywood to a big start to 2010 after a year of record revenue.
Hollywood finished 2009 with $10.6 billion domestically, easily surpassing the previous record of $9.7 billion in 2007, according to Hollywood.com.
Factoring in today's higher admission prices, the year was strong but not a modern record-breaker for number of tickets sold. According to Hollywood.com, domestic admissions came in at 1.42 billion in 2009, the most in the last five years, though well below the modern record of 1.6 billion in 2002.
In Hollywood's glory years of the 1930s and '40s, before television eroded the movie audience, estimated movie attendance ran as high as 4 billion some years.
Studios began 2010 with a headstart over last year. Overall revenues came in at $230 million, up 50 percent from New Year's weekend in 2009, when "Marley & Me" was No. 1 with $24.3 million.
Like "Titanic" 12 years ago, "Avatar" has fairly clear sailing now that the holidays are over. Hollywood is entering a slow season, when fewer big movies arrive and competition is lighter.
"Titanic" lingered as the No. 1 film for months leading up to the Academy Awards, where it won 11 Oscars, including best picture and director.
"Avatar" also proved a critical favorite with strong Oscar potential. Cameron broke new ground in combining live-action, digitally-enhanced performances, visual effects and 3-D presentation to immerse viewers in his futuristic tale of humans and aliens on a distant moon.
"Leave it to James Cameron to do this. To not only set the technical world on fire, the visual world on fire, but also the box-office world on fire 12 years after `Titanic,'" said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for 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. "Avatar," $68.3 million.
2. "Sherlock Holmes," $38.4 million.
3. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," $36.6 million.
4. "It's Complicated," $18.7 million.
5. "The Blind Side," $12.7 million.
6. "Up in the Air," $11.4 million.
7. "The Princess and the Frog," $10 million.
8. "Did You Hear About the Morgans?", $5.2 million.
9. "Nine," $4.3 million.
10. "Invictus," $4.1 million.