Discovery cancels Michael Jackson autopsy TV show

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES | Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:05pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Discovery television network on Friday said it canceled plans to air a reenactment of the autopsy on Michael Jackson's body, citing an upcoming court hearing and concern by the late pop star's estate.

The show, "Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson," had been set to air in several countries of western Europe and in the United Kingdom on January 13.

"Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson's estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson's official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely," Discovery Networks International said in a statement.

A Discovery spokesman declined comment beyond the statement.

The "Thriller" singer died suddenly of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009, age 50, only weeks before beginning a series of comeback concerts. An autopsy by Los Angeles officials showed Jackson died chiefly of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol that he used as a sleep aid.

Discovery's show, which was not scheduled to air in the United States, was an unofficial, fictional account of what the autopsy must have been like and its results.

But Jackson fans worldwide protested in an online petition launched earlier this month, and the co-executors of his estate sent a letter this week to Discovery Networks calling the program "insensitive" and "in shockingly bad taste."

A print advertisement for the program shows a body covered by a sheet, with one hand poking out wearing the singer's well-known sequined glove.

"On behalf of Michael's family, fans, common sense and decency, we urge you to reconsider and cancel this program," co-executors John McClain and John Branca wrote in the letter.

An estate spokesman was not immediately available to comment.

Jackson's physician at the time of his death, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted giving the singer propofol, which is often used in surgery, and Murray has been charged by authorities with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to make him stand trial begins in Los Angeles on January 4.

(Editing by Christine Kearney)

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"Social Network" spells Hammer time for actor Armie

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES | Fri Dec 31, 2010 2:05pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - They look so much alike in Oscar-hopeful film "The Social Network," they could be one man, and in fact, they are. But what the Winklevoss twins share with the actor who plays them has less to do with looks and more with their privileged background.

The actor, 24 year-old Armie Hammer, is the great grandson of oil tycoon and philanthropist Armand Hammer. He was blessed with good looks and a prominent family tree, like the Winklevoss'. But the similarities seem to stop there.

While the Winkelvoss twins, as portrayed in the movie, stuck to family traditions, attended Harvard University and became Olympic rowers. Hammer quit school, said hello to Hollywood and angered his family -- if only temporarily.

"I dropped out of high school and I dropped out of college because the movie industry was the only thing I wanted to be in," Hammer told Reuters.

"I definitely got a speech that said, 'You will be the first Hammer man to not graduate college, to not get a degree,'" he said. "But I didn't have any interest in that."

Hammer's passion for acting has clearly come through in "Social Network," because amid all the awards and box office buzz for the movie that traces the origins of Facebook, one consistent message circulating among Hollywood insiders is that Hammer is enjoying a breakthrough performance.

Industry players, the media, and audiences have been scratching their heads at just how one man played the two roles of Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who claimed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea when he founded the website and, in the process, became a billionaire.

Hammer said a typical day would involve him shooting a scene playing Cameron Winklevoss with a body double, Josh Pence, standing-in as Tyler.

After director David Fincher was satisfied with the main scene, Hammer would change costume, hairstyles and makeup and be transformed into Tyler to perform the scene again, alone. This time, the camera focused only on his face and in editing, his head would be digitally superimposed on Pence's body.

OVERCOMING TRADITION

In the movie, Cameron is portrayed as initially not wanting to press a legal claim against Zuckerberg out of deference to Harvard tradition, while Tyler is less enamored of that notion. They argue, but eventually Tyler sides with Cameron. Of the twins, Hammer's favorite to play was Cameron.

"I appreciated Cameron's sense of chivalry and that he wanted to be a gentleman," Hammer said. "I think that's becoming more obsolete in the 21st century. But it was fun to play Tyler and fly off the handle."

Hammer said he was so involved in his dual roles that he truly believed Zuckerberg "stole from us," but now that he has distanced himself, he believes all the key players in real life probably did wrong things and no one person is to blame.

Time, distance and success also have given Hammer and his parents a different perspective on his decision to become an actor. While he spent his first year in Hollywood without landing any work, his next few years brought guest roles on shows like "Veronica Mars" and "Desperate Housewives."

In 2007, he earned a big break when he was cast as crime fighting superhero Batman in the DC Comic book adaptation, "Justice League," but before the movie began filming, it was halted due to Hollywood's screenwriter strike.

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John Mellencamp and wife separate after 20 years

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Oprah aims for "mindful TV" in OWN network gamble

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES | Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:40pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - She is already the most influential woman on television, publishes a magazine, has starred in movies, opened a school in South Africa and is one of America's biggest celebrity philanthropists.

So why is Oprah Winfrey taking perhaps the biggest gamble in her life and launching a cable TV network this weekend? Because she believes people are hungry for shows that entertain, inspire and offer what she calls "mindful television."

"What I want to do is build a channel that is a respite for your mind, an oasis of stimulation that you come away from with little pieces of light.

"I'm aiming for a moment where somebody could say, 'I never thought of it that way before.' I just love that," Winfrey 56, told Parade magazine in an interview this week.

Three years in the making, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) kicks off on January 1 with a weekend of "sneak peeks" into the array of largely female-oriented original series, lifestyle, and advice shows that viewers can expect in the first year.

OWN, a venture between Winfrey's Harpo Inc and Discovery Communications, will be available in some 80 million homes.

The OWN launch has brought with it some uncharacteristic anxiety for Winfrey, who will end her popular U.S. daytime chat program, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" -- which airs in some 140 countries -- in May after 25 years.

She told her magazine "O" that she has "never felt such fear in all my life" than she has in launching OWN in a crowded TV market packed with hundreds of cable channels.

'OPRAHFICATION'

Winfrey will appear in only 70 hours of programs in 2011, but the OWN schedule has the unmistakable flavor of uplifting tales, self-improvement and struggles in the face of adversity that has come to be known as "Oprahfication."

The lineup includes a four-part special bringing together health, wealth and relationship experts Dr. Phil McGraw, Suze Orman and Dr. Mehmet Oz. There are two reality shows about the fractious relationships between movie stars Tatum O'Neal and her father Ryan O'Neal and country singers Wynonna Judd and her mother Naomi Judd.

There will be frank sex and relationship therapy from Dr. Laura Berman and another reality series called "Kidnapped by the Kids" in which children force their parents to ditch work for family time.

Two shows were Oprah's ideas. "Oprah Presents Master Class" features eight famous people including rapper Jay-Z, poet Maya Angelou, actor Sidney Poitier and TV entrepreneur Simon Cowell talking about their lives' lessons, triumphs and setbacks.

"Finding Sarah", featuring disgraced British royal Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was inspired by a confessional TV interview between the two women earlier this year.

In May, Ferguson was caught on camera appearing to ask for cash to introduce a reporter to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.

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A Minute With: Bette Midler on New Year TV special

By Jill Jacobs

NEW YORK | Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:36am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - She has received four Grammys, four Golden Globes, three Emmys, and a Tony Award, and even after selling more than 30 million records, singer Bette Midler is still going strong.

For over 40 years, Midler has delighted audiences with her bawdy live performances, and on December 31, Midler will be ringing in the New Year on cable TV channel HBO with her special, "The Showgirl Must Go On," which is the live stage show she has been performing in recent years at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The special was taped in front of a packed house at Caesars. Midler, known as "The Divine Miss M," dons elaborate costumes and sings some of her best-known hits including "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" with her back-up singers, The Harlettes, and a 13-piece band.

Reuters spoke to Midler about the TV special, why being environmentally green is common sense and her love of books.

Q: How did you get in such great shape for the show?

A: "A year before we even started rehearsals, I started doing my warm-ups, getting on the treadmill again and lifting weights. It's fascinating to get on stage and run for an hour and a half, wringing wet at the end. And I loved every minute of it."

Q: You've had such a long and successful career. What do you think is the key to your success?

A: "I don't do everything that comes my way and I tend to do things in spurts. I'll be really busy and then just collapse, take a break for a year or two and then come roaring back. I'm not sure if that's how you achieve longevity, but I tend to sift through things and make sure they are things I really want to do."

Q: You did over 200 performances of your Las Vegas show. How do you keep a song fresh that's done night after night?

A: It's not so easy, but the crowds are different every night and every crowd becomes a beast of its own -- this huge monster that has to be wrangled and corralled. And you have to stay in tune with them. There's an ebb and flow between the crowd and the entertainer that really keeps you on your toes, and this changes with every performance. I think that's what keeps a song fresh.

Q: Are you working on any new projects?

A: No, this is one of the down times. Just looking around to see what's out there. It's a different world now, with the Internet, iTunes, YouTube, Twitter -- all this stuff which is so different from what I do and I really don't know where I fit in it. I feel if you can entertain a group of people live, you're really going to be okay, and I've always been able to do that. But I'm curious to see where I fit in in this new world, so I'm exploring my options.

Q: What's on your iPod?

A: I just love Teddy Pendergrass. I've always been a big fan. Also, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, "The Sound of Philadelphia" and Harry Nielson, "A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night," which is one of the most beautiful records ever made. And I listen to The Stones.

Q: You've been a pioneer in the now popular green movement, founding the nonprofit New York Restoration Project (www.nyrp.org). Why are you so passionate about it?

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Jackson doctor defense may say singer killed self

LOS ANGELES | Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:51pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lawyers for the doctor charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson could claim the pop star killed himself when a hearing begins next week, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.

In a court session to discuss evidence in the case against Dr. Conrad Murray, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said he believes it is clear defense attorneys are looking into that theory, which has long been a consideration.

Outside the courtroom, Murray's attorney J. Michael Flanagan declined to comment on Walgren's statement.

"I'm not going to respond to that characterization. But apparently it is a consideration of Mr. Walgren," Flanagan told reporters.

Walgren spoke at a hearing in which a judge cleared the way for Murray's defense to test residue from syringes and an IV tube used to administer drugs to Jackson.

The "Thriller" singer died at age 50 on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of prescription drugs, primarily the powerful anesthetic propofol which can be used in surgery. Other drugs in Jackson's system included lorazepam, known under the brand names Ativan and Temesta, and diazepam, the generic version of Valium.

Murray, hired as Jackson's physician while the singer prepared for a series of concerts that would have begun in July 2009, has admitted giving Jackson propofol to help him sleep. But Murray has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter.

The court session on the syringe testing came only days before a January 4 start date for a preliminary hearing in which a judge will decide if there is enough evidence against Murray to proceed to a full trial.

Representatives for the prosecution and defense told Reuters they expect the preliminary hearing to begin as planned and take roughly two weeks to complete.

(Editing by Xavier Briand)

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Jazz musician Billy Taylor dies at 89

NEW YORK | Wed Dec 29, 2010 5:57pm EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billy Taylor, a leading jazz musician and composer who introduced the genre to wider audiences as a TV broadcaster, teacher and booster of new talent, died Tuesday in New York of heart failure, age 89.

The Kennedy Center for the performing arts in Washington, D.C., where Taylor had been the artistic director for jazz since 1994, called him "a great statesman and ambassador for jazz throughout the world."

"We are grateful for Dr. Taylor's devotion, friendship and his influence on jazz," Darrell Ayers, vice-president of education and jazz at the Kennedy Center, said in a statement.

Representatives for Taylor cited his daughter, Kim Taylor-Thompson, as saying the cause of death was heart failure.

Taylor was born in Greenville, North Carolina in 1921 and made his way to New York where he played with jazz greats Ben Webster, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald among others.

He began playing professionally in 1944, and as the head of his own trio, Taylor composed over 300 songs and supported future legends such as Charles Mingus.

His song "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free," became an anthem for the civil rights movement. But Taylor became famous less as a performer than as one of jazz music's most vocal proponents.

On TV and radio, Taylor developed jazz programs, profiled musicians and broadcast music across the United States. He also taught jazz to people through a variety of means including grass-roots programs, and seminars at Yale University and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he got his PhD and taught as a professor.

Throughout his career, Taylor was awarded the 1992 U.S. National Medal of Arts, was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and received over 20 honorary degrees.

Taylor, who lived in Riverdale, New York, is survived by his wife, Theodora, and daughter. His son, Duane, died in 1988.

(Reporting by Basil Katz; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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"Toy Story 3," "Social Network" top film review list

LOS ANGELES | Wed Dec 29, 2010 2:50pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - They are two movies that figure in Hollywood's Oscar race, and there is good reason why. "Toy Story 3" and "The Social Network" are the best-reviewed films of the year, according to website Rotten Tomatoes

As 2010 draws to an end, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who received their Oscar nomination ballots this week, will be looking at which movies earned the most stars from critics, and Rotten Tomatoes provides answers.

The website (www.rottentomatoes.com) compiles reviews, scores them, and offers readers a way to separate the good from the bad and the just plain rotten.

Judging by their Tomatometer index, Buzz, Woody and all the toys from the Disney/Pixar animated film "Toy Story 3" rank No. 1 with critics, scoring a 99 percent "fresh" rating based on an average from 247 reviews.

Facebook film "The Social Network" is not far behind with a 97 percent positive average from 258 reviews, but Rotten Tomatoes editor-in-chief Matt Atchity said that with a few days left in 2010, more critiques for the October release could possibly come in and tilt the balance.

"If five or six more positive reviews came in, it could change that. But what I can tell you is that it's down to those two movies," Atchity told Reuters when poring over the list of seeking the moniker, "best-reviewed film" of 2010.

"Toy Story 3" was released in June, and all its reviews have been read and scored.

Atchity gave an outside chance to another Oscar hopeful, western "True Grit," saying that if "another few dozen reviews" came in and were all positive, it could be in contention.

Currently "True Grit," which premiered only a week ago, scores a 95 percent positive rating from a compilation of some 167 reviews, and is just behind November drama "The King's Speech" with 96 percent from some 142 reviews saying it was a good choice at movie theaters.

For reviews that are mixed -- not easily deemed good or bad -- Atchity and senior editor Tim Ryan said they sometimes contact the critics to discuss whether that reviewer was positive or negative toward a film.

Atchity said that in the past, generally speaking, there has been a good correlation between the best-reviewed films of the year and Academy Award nominees.

"Reviewers and academy members are both made up of film professionals, and they both know good films," he said.

Academy members give out nominations on January 25, and award winners will be named at a ceremony on February 27.

Meanwhile, the question of which movies are the best-reviewed begs the opposite of what titles were the most rotten. Atchity and Ryan said they had not perused final numbers yet, but a quick look at the site shows little-known title "Vampires Suck" with only three positives from a total 71 reviews for a 4 percent rotten rating.

They are not alone, big-time Hollywood studio production "The Last Airbender" from "Sixth Sense" director M. Night Shyamalan scored a mere 6 percent positive ranking.

Following is a list of the best-reviewed movies on Rotten Tomatoes, organized by their month of their release date:

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Michelle Williams "proud" of "Valentine" sex scene

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES | Wed Dec 29, 2010 11:04am EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michelle Williams scored a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as a wife in a fractured relationship in film drama "Blue Valentine," which hits theaters in major U.S. cities on Wednesday.

Williams, 30, perhaps best known for her performance in "Brokeback Mountain," sat down with Reuters to talk about the independent film that looks at the beginning, and end, of a once happy marriage, the sex scene that sparked controversy, and why she is proud to be a part of it.

Q: Most films are shot out of order, but for "Blue Valentine" director Derek Cianfrance wanted everything shot chronologically -- from the romantic beginning to the broken present. What was that like?

A: "As these things are happening to the character, they're happening to you. The lines get blurry, but it's very exciting to present something that feels as close to life as possible."

Q: You and Ryan took a month off between shooting the past and present and actually lived together in character. Why?

A: "The break was supposed to be a week, but it got extended to a month so that we could learn how to fight with each other and get on each other's nerves."

Q: A week was not enough?

A: "When it came time to close the chapter on the first part of the movie, we were having a hard time switching to the fighting because we had built up this trust in each other. We were hesitant to burn it to the ground. We had gone to the strangest, silliest, most intimate places."

Q: Your characters have a little daughter. Ever think about using your 5-year old daughter for that role?

A: "I think in the context of 'Blue Valentine,' that would have been too strange and not healthy for her at all. The things that were happening -- the bad vibes of a relationship for instance -- felt very real."

Q: Has putting her in film crossed your mind before?

A: "On a different movie it did. In it, there were a few very sweet, very light scenes that were more about playing. They were having a hard time finding a child and I said to the director, 'Gosh, Matilda would be the right age.' ... but then (I) realized if that's something she's interested in, then it's a choice she can make in her own life. It's something she's never expressed interest in doing. Her interests are horseback riding, Flamenco dancing and taking care of puppies (laughs)."

Q: 'Blue Valentine' stirred up some controversy when it got an NC-17 (adults only) rating in the United States because of an oral sex scene. That rating has since been reversed. At the time, what were your thoughts?

A: "It shocked me. It felt like a slap on the hand when I found out about it. When we shot that scene, both Ryan and Derek said to me, 'If this bothers you when you see it in the movie, we'll take it out.'"

Q: So when you saw it, did it bother you?

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Bon Jovi and AC/DC top concert draws in 2010

LOS ANGELES | Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:30pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bon Jovi may have recently been snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the veteran band still ended the year as the world's top concert attraction, according to a trade publication.

The group sold $201.1 million worth of tickets, split almost evenly between North America and the rest of the world, said Pollstar magazine. Its success was noteworthy given that it was promoting a 2009 album that did not sell strongly.

Bon Jovi also shone even as overall sales slid in a tough economy. Pollstar said sales for the top 50 tours worldwide fell 12 percent to $2.93 billion. In North America, the top 50 tours dropped 15 percent to $1.69 billion.

Overseas tours are increasingly becoming more lucrative for musicians, especially as infrastructure improves across Asia and the former Soviet bloc, Pollstar said.

Indeed, hard rockers AC/DC came in at No. 2 and Irish foursome U2 at No. 3 after making all their money overseas. AC/DC grossed $177 million, and U2 $160.9 million. U2 was the top worldwide act in 2009 with $311 million, followed by AC/DC with $227 million.

In a field dominated by rock acts, flamboyant pop star Lady Gaga was No. 4 this year with $133.6 million. The "Poker Face" singer worked harder than any other musician in the top 10, playing 138 shows, two-thirds of which were overseas.

Bon Jovi, by contrast, played 80 shows. AC/DC (40 shows) and U2 (32 shows) took it relatively easy.

Metallica was No. 5 with $110.1 million from 60 overseas shows. Both Metallica and AC/DC last released albums in 2008, relying on their extensive catalogs of headbanging favorites to keep drawing fans.

The field was rounded out by Canadian singer Michael Buble (No. 6, $104.2 million), the "Walking with Dinosaurs" live family show (No. 7, $104.1 million), Paul McCartney (No. 8, $93 million), the Eagles (No. 9, $92.3 million) and former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters (No. 10, $89.5 million).

Waters earned all his money in North America, where his acclaimed restaging of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" was the No. 2 draw behind Bon Jovi with $108.2 million. Among all-time North American tours, the Bon Jovi trek ranks at No. 9, Pollstar said. The Rolling Stones hold the record with $162 million from their 2005 outing. The publication has been collecting worldwide data for only two years.

The Dave Matthews Band was No. 3 in North America with $72.9 million. Buble followed with $65.7 million and the Eagles with $64.5 million.

Bon Jovi's previous best performance in North America was in 2008, when the band was fifth with ticket sales of $70.4 million. The New Jersey rockers, led by singer Jon Bon Jovi, were on the ballot for inclusion in the 2011 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, but failed to make the cut. Critics have largely been dismissive of the group's catchy "soft-rock" tunes, even as the band has little problem selling out stadiums and arenas to its female-skewing fan base. Its 2009 album "The Circle" debuted at No. 1 in the United States, but ended up selling relatively poorly.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Chris Wilson)

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Reese Witherspoon engaged to Hollywood agent

LOS ANGELES | Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:49pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Reese Witherspoon, currently in theaters with the costly box office bomb "How Do You Know," is engaged to a Hollywood agent she started dating earlier this year, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Witherspoon, 34, and Jim Toth "are engaged and they are extremely happy," the spokeswoman confirmed by email. The news was first reported by US Weekly magazine.

The couple started dating in January, shortly after Witherspoon ended her three-year relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. She was previously married to another actor, Ryan Phillippe, with whom she has two children.

Witherspoon, best known for playing a plucky attorney in the hit "Legally Blonde" films, is one of Hollywood's highest paid actresses despite a mixed record at the box office. She reportedly earned $15 million for her role in the $100 million adult comedy "How Do You Know," which has sold just $15 million worth of tickets across the United States and Canada after two weekends. She won an Academy Award for playing June Carter Cash in the 2005 Johnny Cash movie "Walk the Line."

Christmas is turning into a romantic time in Hollywood, with engagements being announced on an almost daily basis. Country singer Leann Rimes got engaged to actor Eddie Cibrian on Christmas Eve, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner gave his Playmate girlfriend an engagement ring for Christmas, and actress Natalie Portman announced on Monday that she was both engaged and pregnant.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Leading "Spider-Man" actress quits show: report

NEW YORK | Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:46pm EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - In the latest disappointment for the ambitious Broadway production of "Spider-Man," one of the lead actresses who suffered a concussion during its first preview performance is quitting the show.

Natalie Mendoza, who plays the villainess Arachne and is the second lead female role after Spider-Man's girlfriend, has been working out an exit agreement for the past several days, The New York Times reported on Tuesday. A spokesman for the production did not return an e-mail seeking comment.

Mendoza was one of four actors who was so far been injured in the $65 million production that features hi-tech stunts and flying sequences. The actress, who is a major presence in several of the show's songs, written by U2's Bono and The Edge, was struck on the head by a rope offstage during its November 28 preview.

She returned for a performance but then took several weeks off. Then, last week, she posted a Twitter message when a leading stuntman on the show was injured after he plunged from a high platform, saying "a light in my heart went dim tonight."

The stuntman is recovering in hospital after breaking ribs and fracturing vertebrae, causing "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" to suspend several shows over safety concerns.

The production is still in previews, allowing producers to warn the audience it is not seeing a finished product. Its current official opening is scheduled for February 7.

(Reporting by Christine Kearney, editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Elton John becomes father of Christmas baby

LOS ANGELES | Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:51pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Elton John and his partner have become the proud parents of a son born to a surrogate in California on Christmas Day, US Weekly reported on Monday.

The boy, named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, is the first for the British rock star and Canadian filmmaker David Furnish, who have been together since the early 1990s.

"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," US Weekly quoted the pair as saying. "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."

The magazine said the boy weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and it quoted a representative for the 63-year-old musician as saying that no further details about the surrogacy arrangement would be disclosed. John's spokeswoman told Reuters the report was accurate.

The pair, who entered into a civil union in 2005, tried to adopt an AIDS-infected orphan in Ukraine last year, but were thwarted by government regulations.

Their son's middle name is a possible nod to John's 1971 song "Levon," whose lyrics were written by the rocker's longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin and inspired by Levon Helm, the drummer and singer for The Band.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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Alanis Morissette gives birth to son

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Ryan Gosling gives fans another acting "Valentine"

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES | Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:01pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - By most accounts in Hollywood, he is one of the best actors of his generation, but for Ryan Gosling there will be no major studio movies, no comic book hero roles like Spider-Man or goofy romantic comedies.

At age 30, Gosling still prefers movies like his new "Blue Valentine," which debuts in theaters on Wednesday. It was made outside Hollywood's major studios and is an adult drama -- currently the most unappreciated film genre at box offices as audiences seek escapism and laughter in movie theaters around the holiday season.

But dramas generally offer the most challenging roles for actors and as much as anything else, Gosling loves a challenging acting job -- even if he's not quite sure why.

"Some people eat and eat and don't know how to stop," Gosling told Reuters. "For me, it's the same thing with film. I'm compelled to play these kinds of characters. Even when I'm in it, I have moments of lucidity where I'm like, 'Why am I doing this?' And I don't know why. Not knowing is what keeps me interested."

Gosling's only mainstream Hollywood movie hit was "The Notebook," a romantic drama based on the Nicholas Sparks novel that took in a surprising $81 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices. It told the tale of an older man telling audiences how he first fell in love with his wife many years before.

As a child actor, Gosling worked in TV before breaking out in "The Believer," a Sundance Film Festival darling in 2001 that earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for best actor playing a young Jewish man who is anti-Semitic.

By 2007, he had earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a drug addicted school teacher in another independently made movie, "Half Nelson," which followed his Golden Globe-nominated performance as a young man who falls in love with a sex doll in "Lars and the Real Girl."

Gosling does not consciously avoid big studio movies. Rather he said he feels "there's more freedom and more experimentation" in independent films. And "Blue Valentine" is no exception, thanks to an unorthodox filming process that proved to be the most experimental of Gosling's career yet.

The end result has already rewarded the actor with another Golden Globe nomination, and led to Oscar buzz -- and a little controversy -- for he and his co-star, Michelle Williams.

CHALLENGING ROLES

Gosling portrays Dean, a man whose relationship with his wife Cindy (Williams) is crumbling. The film moves between Dean's and Cindy's romantic past and heartbreaking present, showing the stark contrast between the start of a beautiful love and a fractured relationship that's hanging by a thread.

The movie debuted to good reviews at 2010's Sundance and later drew controversy in the United States for its sex scenes, which were deemed too racy for any audiences other than adults. The protest has since cooled down.

For Gosling, the unconventional way in which "Valentine" was shot proved to be among its big challenges. Director Derek Cianfrance first filmed all the scenes of Dean's and Cindy's past, then gave the actors one month off work before shooting the present-day scenes of their disintegrating relationship.

"Michelle and I didn't really know each other when we first started shooting the movie," Gosling said. "In those first scenes where Dean and Cindy were getting to know each other, we were getting to know each other too."

Cianfrance also filmed the beginning scenes in long, consecutive takes without any re-shoots to capture the purity and realism of a couple falling in love.

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R&B singer Teena Marie dies at 54

LOS ANGELES | Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:32pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer and songwriter Teena Marie, best known for the hit 1980s singles "Lovergirl" and "Ooo La La La," died at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to news reports. She was 54.

The cause of death was not known, and a spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. Her friend, percussionist Sheila E, reported on Twitter that Teena Marie had a history of seizures.

Teena Marie, whose real name was Mary Brockert, was one of the rare white performers to enjoy crossover success on America's black music charts.

A protégée of funk singer Rick James, she signed with Motown Records in 1975 and released her first album four years later. That album, which was mostly written by James, led fans to believe that Teena Marie was black since it did not feature a picture of her. Her duet with James on "I'm a Sucker For You" peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Black Singles chart.

"I've always been accepted by the black community and I think that's a beautiful thing," Teena Marie told Jet magazine in 2006.

She released 13 albums up to 2009's "Conga Square," on which she paid tribute to jazz influences, such as Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday.

Teena Marie's career had been on the upswing since 2004 when she signed with a New Orleans rap label and released her first album in a decade. "La Dona" debuted and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, the first time she had ever cracked the top 20. A song from the album, "Still in Love," took her onto the Hot 100 singles chart for the first time since 1988.

Two of her albums, 1981's "It Must Be Magic" and 1984's "Starchild," went gold for U.S. shipments in excess of 500,000 units each, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The latter album, released after she left Motown in the wake of a legal battle, spawned the tune "Lovergirl," which hit No. 4 on the Hot 100. "Ooo La La La," meanwhile, went to No. 1 on the black singles chart in 1988.

Teena Marie is survived by a daughter, Alia Rose.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Paul Simao)

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"Fockers" underwhelms at box office, "Grit" shines

LOS ANGELES | Sun Dec 26, 2010 2:07pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Little Fockers" opened in the top spot at the Christmas holiday weekend box office in North America with weaker-than-expected sales while the Coen brothers' remake of "True Grit" started strongly at No. 2.

According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, the comedy sequel "Little Fockers" sold just $34 million worth of tickets across the United States and Canada during the three days beginning Friday.

The latest mismatch between Ben Stiller and on-screen father-in-law Robert De Niro has earned $48.3 million since opening on Wednesday. Domestic distributor Universal Pictures said it had hoped for a five-day haul of about $60 million but was confident business would pick up over the holidays.

Exactly six years ago, the first sequel "Meet the Fockers" earned $46 million during its first weekend and $70.5 million in its first five days. In that case, the film also opened on Wednesday and Christmas also fell on a Saturday.

The series kicked off in October 2000, when "Meet the Parents" opened at No. 1 with $28.6 million. It went on to make $166 million and the first sequel ended up with $279 million.

Just 11 percent of the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes liked the latest installment, according to the review aggregation Web site. Audiences gave the film a modest B-minus rating, according to exit-polling firm CinemaScore. Women accounted

for 57 percent of the audience, Universal said.

"Little Fockers" also earned about $27 million from 37 foreign markets, led by a first-place $7.3 million start in Britain. Universal, a unit of General Electric Co's NBC Universal, partnered on the $100 million project with Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures and closely held financier Relativity Media. Paramount is handling foreign distribution.

JEFF BRIDGES SHOWS "GRIT"

The next two movies on the box-office list starred Jeff Bridges in decidedly different roles. "True Grit," Joel and Ethan Coen's update of the old John Wayne Western, opened at No. 2 with $25.6 million for the weekend, and $36.8 million since Wednesday. Distributor Paramount had conservatively forecast a five-day haul of about $20 million.

The awards-season contender ranks as the Coens' biggest opening ever, surpassing the $19 million start for "Burn After Reading" in 2008. But comparisons are difficult since their films usually roll out slowly across North America. Their 2007 best-picture Oscar winner "No Country For Old Men" ended up with $74 million after beginning its run in just 28 theaters. "True Grit" is in 3,047 theaters.

Bridges takes over Wayne's role as a grizzled U.S. marshal who helps a young woman (played by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) avenge her father's murder. Critics loved the $38 million film and audiences gave it a B-plus CinemaScore rating. Men accounted for about two-thirds of the audience.

Last weekend's champ, "Tron: Legacy," fell to No. 3 with $20.1 million for the weekend. The 10-day total for Walt Disney Co's costly sci-fi film rose to $88.3 million. It has also earned $65.5 million internationally after a $26.6 million weekend in 34 markets.

Bridges reprises his role from the 1982 film "Tron" as a videogame developer trapped in a virtual environment. The effects-laden update reportedly cost $170 million to make and more than $100 million to market worldwide. Despite being a public company, Disney is the only major studio never to divulge its budgets.

The Christmas Day release "Gulliver's Travels" entered the chart at No. 7 with a two-day haul of $7.2 million. Jack Black stars in the latest update of Jonathan Swift's 18th century satirical novel. It was released by News Corp's 20th Century Fox, which said the opening was "pretty promising."

Among other awards-season contenders, Paramount's "The Fighter" fell two places to No. 6 with $8.5 million, Fox Searchlight's ballerina melodrama "Black Swan" slipped one to No. 8 with $6.6 million, and the Weinstein Co's royals drama "The King's Speech" rose three to No. 11 with $4.6 million.

Last weekend's big flop, "How Do You Know" fell four places to No. 12 with $3.7 million. The 10-day total for the Reese Witherspoon adult comedy rose to $15.5 million, a little short of its $100 million production tab; the film was released by Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Vicki Allen)

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Playboy's Hefner announces Christmas engagement on Twitter

WASHINGTON | Sun Dec 26, 2010 4:59am EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hugh Hefner, the twice-married founder of Playboy, is taking the plunge again.

Hefner, 84, said on Saturday in a posting on Twitter that he and his girlfriend Crystal Harris, 24, got engaged on Friday.

"When I gave Crystal the ring, she burst into tears. This is the happiest Christmas weekend in memory," Hefner tweeted.

Hefner, whose magazine was founded in 1953, was divorced from his second wife, Kimberley Conrad, earlier this year. His first marriage to Mildred Williams ended in divorce in 1959.

Harris was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for December 2009.

Hefner, known around the world by his nickname, Hef, has championed sexual freedom and civil rights, published stories challenging McCarthyism and the Vietnam War, and backed gay causes and the legalization of marijuana.

With a cover featuring a calendar photo of Marilyn Monroe, Hefner put the first issue together on the kitchen table in his flat. It hit the stands in December 1953 and sold 51,000 copies -- enough to finance a second issue -- and led to a multimillion dollar international corporation.

(Writing by Paul Simao, Americas Desk)

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"Spider-Man" returns safely to Broadway stage

By Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK | Sat Dec 25, 2010 4:35am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Spider-Man" returned safely to the Broadway stage with a mishap-free performance on Thursday night, restoring confidence in the show's ability to protect the health of its cast but not, perhaps, its financial future.

The $65 million production with music by U2's Bono and The Edge had suspended two shows over safety concerns since Monday when an actor plunged nearly 30 feet from an elevated platform, breaking ribs and requiring surgery.

"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" resumed to mixed audience reviews and without accidents during its 35-plus aerial stunts, though one of the costumed and tethered "Spideys" flying over the audience nearly fell off a ledge and needed help from a stage hand to regain his footing.

Four actor injuries and major delays before the November 28 start of preview performances have focused attention on the most expensive production in Broadway history, raising speculation that despite its star power the Julie Taymor-directed show could become an epic flop.

Two shows set for Wednesday were canceled while state and federal officials reviewed the system of tethers and harnesses used by actors and stunt performers. Some $400,000 in ticket sales were lost, The New York Times said.

Audience members said the element of danger added to the show's intrigue.

"It's like going to a NASCAR (auto) race. Everybody's looking for an accident to happen," said Mark Infante, 53, a real estate developer who was disappointed with the show, especially the music.

"I thought Bono and The Edge would have done a better job. It needs more back beat," he said.

Customers mostly marveled at the airborne theatrics and the spectacular set design, but the big musical numbers received only polite applause and some said they expected more for their money. Orchestra section tickets go for $150 and nearly twice that on resale websites.

"I'm a big U2 fan but I was not blown away," said Greg Harden, 40, a real estate investor.

"The plot has to be worked on," said Fiona Salmon, 40, a volunteer for nonprofit theater. "They should have had more aerial stunts. It was more like Mary Poppins than Spider-Man."

The show is still in previews, allowing producers to warn the audience it is not seeing a finished product. The first performance on November 28 was stopped at least five times while the crew worked out technical problems.

The official opening is set for February 7, and the show will have to run for years in order to break even.

Actor Christopher Tierney, 32, became the fourth performer to be injured when he fell off the platform toward the end of Monday's show. Producers told the audience before Thursday's performance that he had successful surgery and would start rehabilitation on Monday.

Amateur video showed him tumbling over the edge of the elevated platform while crouching and looking down at the Mary Jane character, who was hanging from a rope. In the same scene on Thursday, the costumed Spider-Man stood upright and further back from the edge.

Ten dancers and stuntmen wear the Spider-Man costume in addition to Reeve Carney in the role of Peter Parker.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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"Gulliver's Travels" tests Jack Black's appeal

By Pamela McClintock

Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:58pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - In the U.S., 20th Century Fox is selling the feature film "Gulliver's Travels" as a Jack Black comedy.

Overseas, where Jonathan Swift's classic tome is far more familiar, the film is being sold on the story.

So which is it? And is Black a big enough movie star to carry the day? Is his particular brand of humor right for the character Lemuel Gulliver?

Fox will find out as Gulliver's, rated PG, opens December 25 in 2,546 theaters in the U.S. The 3D family adventure is also making a major push overseas.

The bad news is that Black's last live-action film, "Year One," didn't work. Opening in summer 2009, "Year One" stalled out at $43 million domestically and $19 million overseas.

The good news is that Black has great brand awareness among kids. He's the voice star of the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise, and widely promoted the first film in 2008. He's currently preparing for the release of the sequel in May.

Black's signature live-action film was sleeper hit "School of Rock," which over performed in grossing $81.2 million for Paramount in 2003.

"Gulliver's" has several distinct challenges. Tracking has been sluggish, sparking real concern on the Fox lot. Boys and teenage boys are showing the most interest, but Fox needs to get all members of the family if the film is to work.

Movie also enters a saturated market for 3D PG-rated titles, between "Tron: Legacy," "Yogi Bear," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (also a Fox film) and "Tangled," which is showing great staying power.

"Gulliver's" production budget was $100 million. The 3D conversion cost roughly $12 million.

Fox didn't carry the cost alone. Dune Entertainment and Ingenious were the studio's co-financing partners on "Gulliver's." Dune and Ingenious were Fox's partners on "Avatar."

"Gulliver's" was initially scheduled to open in summer of this year. Fox decided to push back the release to the year-end holidays and converted the pic to 3D.

More recently, Fox decided to open the film on Christmas Day in the U.S., rather than on December 22. Studio did so in order to allow more time for marketing, and to get some distance from other 3D fare.

"Gulliver's" also stars Emily Blunt, Jason Segel and Amanda Peet.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

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"Social Network," "Inception" top THR film list

Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:26pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Film critics by definition are contrarians, so naturally, if you gather seven in a room, there will be few points of agreement. So it is with Top 10 Films of 2010 as drawn up by seven film critics for "The Hollywood Reporter," six U.S.-based and one overseas reviewer who keeps up with domestic releases.

No film made everyone's list. There was only limited agreement over the No. 1 film. Three fingered Christopher Nolan's strikingly original "Inception." Two others picked David Fincher's Facebook tale, "The Social Network."

The remaining votes were divided between Olivier Assayas' "Carlos," about the infamous terrorist known by that moniker, and Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech," a film many pundits see as an Oscar frontrunner.

The closest area of agreement came with "The Social Network." It made six out of seven Best 10 lists.

"Inception" and Jacques Audiard's prison picture "A Prophet" from France wound up on four lists. "Carlos" and Lisa Cholodenko's "The Kids are All Right," a rare comedy, made three lists. So did Danny Boyle's "127 Hours" and Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer."

Animation and documentaries are making real in-roads into Best 10 lists compared to, say, 10 years ago. But, once again, agreement eludes the critics. Lee Unkrich's "Toy Story 3," which Disney is billing in its Oscar campaign as the best reviewed film of the year, hit only three lists while Sylvain Chomet's "The Illusionist" and Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders' "How to Train Your Dragon" from DreamWorks appeared on two lists as well.

No less than five documentaries were honored, but in each case, only a single list. Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Castaing-Taylor's "Sweetgrass," Charles Ferguson's "Inside Job," Frederick Wiseman's "Boxing Gym," Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea Annonier's "Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno" and Banksy's genre-bending "Exit Through the Gift Shop."

Meanwhile there are several titles that appear on only a single list. But if film choices are rapidly stacking up on your must-see list, and you don't know where to begin, these choices below do contain a few hints.

BEST 10 FILMS OF 2010

1) Todd McCarthy Carlos The Social Network Wild Grass A Prophet Sweetgrass Inside Job Toy Story 3 Animal Kingdom The Kids Are All Right Unstoppable

2) Kirk Honeycutt Inception The Social Network The King's Speech 127 Hours True Grit Carlos A Prophet The Kids Are All Right Winter's Bone The Way Back

3) Stephen Farber The King's Speech 127 Hours The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Get Low Rabbit Hole Another Year The Kids Are All Right The Social Network The Secret in Their Eyes The Fighter

4) Michael Rechtshaffen The Social Network The King's Speech The Ghost Writer Black Swan Toy Story 3 How to Train Your Dragon Inception The Town Winter's Bone Let Me In

5) Sheri Linden The Social Network Boxing Gym Father of My Children The Illusionist Mother Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno Please Give The Ghost Writer Toy Story 3 A Prophet

6) Justin Lowe Inception Exit Through the Gift Shop The Town Greenberg The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives Let Me In 127 Hours The Social Network Tiny Furniture

7) Ray Bennett Inception The Secret In Their Eyes A Prophet Carlos The Ghost Writer Black Swan Shutter Island True Grit Get Low Blue Valentine

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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"Spider-Man" returns, safely, to Broadway stage

By Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK | Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:52am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Spider-Man" returned safely to the Broadway stage with a mishap-free performance on Thursday night, restoring confidence in the show's ability to protect the health of its cast but not, perhaps, its financial future.

The $65 million production with music by U2's Bono and The Edge had suspended two shows over safety concerns since Monday when an actor plunged nearly 30 feet from an elevated platform, breaking ribs and requiring surgery.

"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" resumed to mixed audience reviews and without accidents during its 35-plus aerial stunts, though one of the costumed and tethered "Spideys" flying over the audience nearly fell off a ledge and needed help from a stage hand to regain his footing.

Four actor injuries and major delays before the November 28 start of preview performances have focused attention on the most expensive production in Broadway history, raising speculation that despite its star power the Julie Taymor-directed show could become an epic flop.

Two shows set for Wednesday were canceled while state and federal officials reviewed the system of tethers and harnesses used by actors and stunt performers. Some $400,000 in ticket sales were lost, The New York Times said.

Audience members said the element of danger added to the show's intrigue.

"It's like going to a NASCAR (auto) race. Everybody's looking for an accident to happen," said Mark Infante, 53, a real estate developer who was disappointed with the show, especially the music.

"I thought Bono and The Edge would have done a better job. It needs more back beat," he said.

Customers mostly marveled at the airborne theatrics and the spectacular set design, but the big musical numbers received only polite applause and some said they expected more for their money. Orchestra section tickets go for $150 and nearly twice that on resale websites.

"I'm a big U2 fan but I was not blown away," said Greg Harden, 40, a real estate investor.

"The plot has to be worked on," said Fiona Salmon, 40, a volunteer for nonprofit theater. "They should have had more aerial stunts. It was more like Mary Poppins than Spider-Man."

The show is still in previews, allowing producers to warn the audience it is not seeing a finished product. The first performance on November 28 was stopped at least five times while the crew worked out technical problems.

The official opening is set for February 7, and the show will have to run for years in order to break even.

Actor Christopher Tierney, 32, became the fourth performer to be injured when he fell off the platform toward the end of Monday's show. Producers told the audience before Thursday's performance that he had successful surgery and would start rehabilitation on Monday.

Amateur video showed him tumbling over the edge of the elevated platform while crouching and looking down at the Mary Jane character, who was hanging from a rope. In the same scene on Thursday, the costumed Spider-Man stood upright and further back from the edge.

Ten dancers and stuntmen wear the Spider-Man costume in addition to Reeve Carney in the role of Peter Parker.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Michelle Williams still asks why Heath Ledger died

NEW YORK | Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:03pm EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actress Michelle Williams says she still can't find the meaning behind Heath Ledger's death three years ago, in a rare interview talking about the late father of her child who died of a prescription overdose.

Williams, who since the actor's death in New York in January 2008, has remained mostly quiet in interviews about her former partner, told ABC news show "Nightline" this week she could understand why the public was curious about her grief, but still could not understand why Ledger died.

"I've found meanings around the circumstance but the actual event itself still doesn't have a ... I can't find a meaning for it," she said with tears in her eyes.

The 30 year-old actress, whose romance with Ledger blossomed on the set of "Brokeback Mountain" in roles for which they both received Oscar nominations (he won supporting actor), said she had found "meaning in things and people and relationships that have sprung up and friendships that have strengthened.

"I can find a lot of meaning in that, but not in why," she said.

Williams had split with Ledger when he died but was still sharing duties raising their daughter. To deal with her grief, she said she read "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, the Pulitzer-Prize winning account of Didion's year following the death of her husband.

"In a strange way, I miss that year, because all those possibilities that existed then are gone," Williams told ABC. "It didn't seem unlikely to me that he could walk through a door or could appear from behind a bush. It was a year of very magical thinking, and in some ways I'm sad to be moving further and further away from it."

She said that for a time, she pondered the notion that one's life can change in an instant.

"I got kind of obsessed with that for a while, before and after," she said. "A lot of things died. There is a line from a book that gave me so much comfort and it said, "When you have truly lost everything, then at least you can become rich in loss'."

Williams, who is widely tipped to be nominated for a best actress Oscar this year for her new film, "Blue Valentine," said she aimed for a normal upbringing for Ledger's toddler daughter, Matilda.

"It is of more importance to me than anything else in my life," she said.

(Reporting by Christine Kearney, editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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A Minute With: Nicole Kidman working on "Rabbit Hole"

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES | Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:07pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman has scored positive reviews, and a Golden Globe nomination, for her role as a mother dealing with the death of her child in the independent film "Rabbit Hole."

The film was released last week in major U.S. theaters and expands around the country starting on Christmas day.

"Rabbit Hole" is based on the Pulitzer prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire. Kidman stars alongside Aaron Eckhart as grieving couple Becca and Howie. Kidman also produced the film, marking it the inaugural project from her company, Blossom Films.

Kidman, who lives in Nashville with her country star husband Keith Urban and their daughter Sunday Rose, spoke Reuters about the film, her family and being a mother.

Q: How did you come across the play?

A: "I read the review of 'Rabbit Hole' in the New York Times. Living in Nashville, I get the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. That's my contact with the city because that's where I used to live and I'm a theater buff. When I read the review, I thought, 'Gosh, that sounds like rich material.'"

Q: As a mother, you felt for Becca's pain?

A: "When we first optioned the play, I wasn't pregnant. This has been years in the making, so there wasn't a thought of being pregnant. I thought I'd never get pregnant. But I get what she goes through. I get her relationship with her mother, her sister, God. I get the way in which she is so angry."

Q: How did you prepare to play a woman who goes through something no parent should ever have to face?

A: "I read stuff. I tried to go to a grief group but I was told 'No, you're not allowed. You can only step into these rooms if you lost a child.' I totally get it, yet for whatever reason, that rawness was available to me. Maybe it was from giving birth (to daughter Sunday Rose) 11 months prior."

Q: The subject must have made for a difficult shoot.

A: "It was more like there was a big thrust to honor the people who are going through this right now. There's almost something lifting you up, going 'Come on, if someone can actually be living this, I can be living this.'"

Q: How has motherhood impacted your career?

A: "Time is the most precious thing. I'm very particular about how I spend it. I'm more reluctant to leave my family. Keith and I are very tight, and we're never separated. If we are, it's no more than three days."

Q: How is motherhood today different than it was when you were raising Connor and Isabella (with ex-husband Tom Cruise)?

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Taylor Swift returns to No. 1 on U.S. album chart

By Keith Caulfield

Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:46pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Taylor Swift returned to the No. 1 slot on the U.S. pop album chart on Wednesday, knocking reigning champ Susan Boyle to No. 2, and holding Michael Jackson's new album to a No. 3 debut.

Swift's "Speak Now" sold 259,000 copies during the week ended December 19, according to Nielsen SoundScan -- enough to give it a third nonconsecutive week at No. 1. With sales of 2.6 million after just eight weeks, "Speak Now" is the year's third-best selling set, behind Eminem's "Recovery" (3.2 million) and Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" (3 million).

Boyle's "The Gift" followed close behind with 254,000 copies, and a six week-total of 1.6 million. It spent four nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1.

Jackson's much buzzed-about "Michael" sold 228,000 copies, a little higher than initial industry prognostications last week. The late pop star topped the chart a year ago when his "This Is It" soundtrack opened to 373,000 copies.

Jackie Evancho's "O Holy Night" rose one to No. 4 with 191,000, and the "Glee" Christmas album fell two to No 5 with 158,000.

R. Kelly's "Love Letter" debuted at No. 6 with 154,000, an improvement on the 114,000-unit, No. 4 start for "Untitled" a year ago.

Diddy-Dirty Money's "Last Train To Paris" rolled in at No. 7 with 101,000 -- a number rather larger than initial forecasts. Diddy was last on the tally with his "Press Play" set in 2006, when it started at No. 1 with 170,000.

Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday" fell two to No. 8 with 97,000 copies. Kid Rock's "Born Free" soared six to No. 9 (94,000), in the wake of sale advertising at major retailers last week. The "Glee, the Music: Season Two: Volume 4" album dropped two to No. 10 (87,000).

This year's "American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox came in at No. 28 with "Farmer's Daughter" (58,000). That sales figure beats the start of winner Lee DeWyze's "Live It Up" (39,000, No. 19) a few weeks ago.

Overall album sales totaled 12.50 million units, up 23% compared to the previous week, but down 17% compared to the comparable sales week of 2009. Year to date album sales stand at 303.94 million, down 13% compared to the same total at this point last year.

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Officials order new safety measures for "Spider-Man"

By Christine Kearney

NEW YORK | Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:19pm EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The beleaguered "Spider-Man" musical canceled its performance on Wednesday in order to put in place new safety measures for its complicated stage maneuvers, the show's publicists said.

The show was stopped after New York state safety inspectors and producer and director Julie Taymor agreed on Wednesday to additional safety measures after a leading stuntman was rushed to hospital when he fell from a high platform during a performance earlier this week.

It was the fourth injury to an actor in the $65 million musical, causing the inspectors to force new rules on the production that require a second stagehand and stage manager to back up all of the show's 38 stunts involving harnesses and ropes.

Much of the ambitious production's cost has been devoted to its hi-tech effects, unprecedented on Broadway, with actors flying through the air and at times over the audience.

"All of these accidents are a result of safety and health systems failures," Maureen Cox, Director of Safety and Health for the New York State Department of Labor, told reporters.

A spokesman for the show, whose full title is "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" and which has music written by U2's Bono and The Edge, said the actors and crew were currently practicing the new measures. New performances were due to resume on Thursday and all ticket-holders for the canceled performance would receive refunds.

The cancellation of Wednesday's show was the latest setback for the musical whose official opening date has been delayed several times with a latest date of February 7. Early in development, the show was plagued by financial and technical issues, before finally making it into previews. Ticket sales nevertheless have been strong, so far.

The incident involving the stuntman, Christopher Tierney, occurred when the aerialist was performing as a stunt double for the masked "Spider-Man" character. He plunged off the platform during a tense moment in one of the final scenes seven minutes before the end of Monday night's performance.

Audience members said they heard a thud while a fellow actress on stage appeared to scream and the audience went quiet while the stage was blacked out.

Cox said the investigation into why Tierney fell and whether the production had broken any safety codes was continuing, but the show and inspectors agreed in the meantime to the broader safety measures.

"At this point, we are satisfied that they have put in the appropriate controls," said Cox. "If they are not comfortable and haven't got everything in place, we have agreed that they wouldn't go, and so apparently that is the position that they are in right now."

(editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Christian Bale to star in Chinese massacre film

By Jonathan Landreth

Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:10pm EST

BEIJING (Hollywood Reporter) - Christian Bale, currently winning raves for his supporting role in "The Fighter," will star in "Nanjing Heroes," a Chinese film about the Nanjing Massacre, its director said on Wednesday.

Director Zhang Yimou's $90 million budget is roughly equal to that of John Woo's two-part period epic "Red Cliff," which was billed as the most expensive ever Asian-financed movie.

The Nanjing Massacre, when Japanese troops killed thousands of Chinese citizens in what was then the nation's capital in 1937, has been the subject of several recent Chinese and co-produced films. Bale will play an American priest called John who helps a great number of Chinese escape certain death.

"I met Christian in America and was impressed with his serious book research for the role," Zhang said after playing a five-minute video mash up of clips from Bale's Hollywood films, few of which have ever played theatrically in China.

The film will be shot about 40% in English and the rest in Mandarin Chinese, sources close to the project told The Hollywood Reporter. Zhang made no other cast or crew announcements.

Previously, Sony Pictures Classics distributed Zhang's films in the United States, but Sony does not appear to be involved at this time.

Zhang's highest-grossing film ever was 2002 period war film "Hero" starring Jet Li, which took in almost $54 million in the U.S. His new film comes at a time when China's movie business is booming at home and dominant in parts of Asia, but receives little attention elsewhere.

Asked if casting Bale was a move to raise Chinese cinema's profile in the U.S. market -- still 10 times bigger than China's box office -- Zhang said "It's the overall strategy for Chinese cinema to approach the world and broaden its influence but casting Bale was a coincidence because the script happened to have an English-speaking part in the lead."

Zhang will begin shooting the film on January 10 in a Republican Era (1911-1949) replica church built near Nanjing.

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Sofia Coppola looks at Hollywood life in "Somewhere"

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES | Wed Dec 22, 2010 1:35pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sofia Coppola grew up around movies as the daughter of "Godfather" maker Francis Ford Coppola. The 39-year-old has written, directed and produced her fourth film, "Somewhere," due in theaters on Wednesday.

The film, which won the top prize at the Venice film festival earlier this year, takes place at a legendary Hollywood hotel, the Chateau Marmont, and it follows a famous actor (Stephen Dorff) who drifts through life until his daughter (Elle Fanning) shows up. Her visit forces him to rethink his ways and his relationship to her.

Coppola sat down with Reuters to discuss "Somewhere" and how her own life has affected her filmmaking.

Q: From where did the idea for an L.A.-centric movie come?

A: "When I wrote it, I was living in France. It was after I had done 'Marie Antoinette.' I was thinking about being far from home, from California. I was seeing the Chateau Marmont in tabloids and this idea of a movie star adrift at the Chateau Marmont was appealing to me."

Q: As mother of two daughters (Romy, 4, Cosima, 6 months) do you find themes of parenthood creeping into your movies?

A: "When I started writing 'Somewhere,' I just had my first daughter. The idea of parenthood was on my mind because I was experiencing it. I was thinking about how it changes your perspective and how it would affect this kind of character. It made me think of my own childhood and I tried to put in memories of that."

Q: So is this film autobiographical?

A: "Not autobiographical, but it's personal. My childhood was very different than in the movie. But the world is familiar to me so I tried to put personal things and memories into it."

Q: Like what?

A: "When I was writing the father/daughter story, I tried to think of little moments that I thought were fun as kid to get to do with my dad -- going into worlds that kids don't usually get to see. The scene where they're in the casino and he's telling her about craps was something I remember doing."

Q: Did you live in hotels growing up with your father?

A: "We would go on location with my dad when he was making films so I lived in a lot of different hotels. I always thought it was fun. You're away from real life, and you can run around and see interesting people and order room service. I still think it's fun.

Q: Chris Pontius -- from your ex-husband Spike Jonze's TV show and the "Jackass" films -- plays Stephen Dorff's buddy in "Somewhere." Were you apprehensive about approaching him since you and Spike are no longer together?

A: "No. I knew Chris back in that other part of my life but I felt that I could approach him. He was always friendly with me. I've seen him with my friend's kids and he was always sweet and funny with them. I thought it'd be fun to have him with Elle Fanning."

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