Entertaining Posts

Friday, July 15, 2011

Final "Harry Potter" wields big wand at box office

LOS ANGELES | Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:21pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Harry Potter's final film adventure has bolted to a big start at worldwide box offices, breaking the record for midnight screenings in the U.S. and Canada with $43.5 million and setting the stage for a massive weekend debut.

Internationally, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" has sold $82.5 million in tickets since Wednesday, when it opened in dozens of countries, distributor Warner Bros. said on Friday.

Combined, Thursday's midnight screenings in domestic theaters and the two-day total overseas gives "Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" a total of $126 million globally so far. The film begins is wide release in the U.S. and Canada on Friday.

Box office watchers predict domestic (U.S. and Canada) sales for the three-day weekend will hit $125 million to $150 million, but with the midnight record that range could be low. Even if the box office total hits that forecast, it would be the highest-grossing "Harry Potter" debut and put the movie within striking distance of the biggest opening weekend ever.

The record belongs to 2008 Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," which collected $158.4 million in its initial three-days.

"Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" is the eighth and final movie in the "Harry Potter" franchise and the first in 3D. It also is showing on large format IMAX screens, and sold a record $2 million for a midnight IMAX opening, according to Warner Bros., a division of Time Warner Inc.

The earlier films have generated more than $6.4 billion in ticket sales since the first movie a decade ago, plus billions more from DVDs and merchandise. The movies are based on novels by British author J.K. Rowling.

Loyal fans eager to say farewell are expected to drive big numbers for the conclusion of the battle between good and evil in a fantasy world of witchcraft. Moviegoers, some sporting "Potter"-inspired costumes, lined up at theaters for the first showings and events coordinated with the film's debut.

Many early screenings were sold out before the movie opened.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

France's Bruni confirms pregnant, won't reveal gender

By Nick Vinocur

PARIS | Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:03pm EDT

PARIS (Reuters) - France's first lady Carla Bruni spoke openly about her pregnancy for the first time in a newspaper interview published on Friday -- but kept the baby's gender a secret.

Rumors have swirled for months, starting with a story in gossip magazine Closer in April and followed by near-obsessive coverage of Bruni's baby bump, but Friday's interview with regional daily Nice Matin was the first official confirmation the presidential couple are expecting their first child.

Bruni is said to be due to give birth in the autumn, around the time President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to announce he will run for a second term in next year's election.

Bruni, a singer-songwriter and former model, declined to say whether her baby was a boy or a girl.

"There are some things that one has to keep secret," she said.

Asked why she had been so discreet, Bruni, 43, said: "First in order to protect myself, to avoid having to expose my personal life. It's a great joy for me, but one that is fairly banal after all."

"People have other problems and it would be out of place to talk about it too much," she added.

Photographed by Nice Matin, Bruni appears relaxed and maternal in a flowing pink gown, lounging on a floral-patterned sofa and strolling through the gardens of Fort de Bregancon, the president's retreat in the south of France.

Shots of Bruni taken in May at the G8 summit in Deauville, showing her wearing a black dress with a prominent bump, garnered intense coverage and nearly overshadowed an otherwise protocol-heavy gathering of world leaders.

Friday's interview, the day after the Bastille Day national holiday when many French people are relaxing at vacation homes, had the feel of a well-staged press event, coming on the heels of a photo spread in Paris Match magazine featuring the presidential couple lazing in swimwear at the beach.

With Sarkozy laboring under weak poll ratings nine months from the election, Bruni's pregnancy appears to be a stroke of good fortune that could win sympathy points with some voters.

Sarkozy and his former wife, Cecilia, divorced shortly after he was elected in 2007. He has since accustomed the French public to following episodes of his private life as they are played out in gossip magazines.

While many people say they would prefer a more low-key president, plenty are still interested in Sarkozy and his private affairs. He was recently the subject of a film called "La Conquete" which has drawn nearly 700,000 viewers since it came out in May.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

Two appear in court over alleged Joss Stone plot

LONDON | Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:35am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Two men appeared in court on Friday in connection with an alleged plot targeting British soul singer Joss Stone.

Junior Bradshaw, 30, and Kevin Liverpool, 33, both from Manchester, appeared for a preliminary hearing at Exeter Crown Court charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and grievous bodily harm, according to the Press Association.

They were arrested in June in the Devon town of Cullompton near the home of 24-year-old Stone, whose 2004 album "Mind Body & Soul" topped the British charts and who is worth an estimated 9 million pounds ($15 million).

Neither man entered a plea and they were remanded in custody to appear at the same court in Exeter, southwest England, on October 24.

The pair were arrested after being seen acting suspiciously. Items including a samurai sword and notes mentioning Stone's name were found in their car, the court heard.

The singer said she was "absolutely fine" and "getting on with life as normal" following the arrest of the two men.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

"Mad Men," "Modern Family" to defend Emmy wins

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:31pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Stylish 1960s advertising drama "Mad Men" and mockumentary comedy "Modern Family" will vie again for the top prizes at the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards in a field packed with newcomers and veteran actors in new roles.

"Mad Men," the three-time Emmy winner for best dramatic show, scored 19 nominations on Thursday for TV's highest honors, including best drama series and acting nods for its stars Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss.

ABC's "Modern Family," which took the top comedy prize last year, earned a total of 17 nominations, including mentions for stars Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara.

Other contenders in the best drama series race were HBO's new prohibition era series "Boardwalk Empire" with a total of 18 nods, CBS legal program "The Good Wife," freshman fantasy "Game of Thrones," "Dexter" and "Friday Night Lights."

Among comedy series, "Modern Family" will face off for best program against veteran "30 Rock," first time nominee "Parks and Recreation," "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Office."

Fox's quirky musical comedy "Glee", which dominated last year's Emmy nominations, got just 12 mentions this year, including best comedy and supporting acting nods for Chris Colfer and Jane Lynch. But it failed to grab any spots in the lead acting categories.

HBO's miniseries "Mildred Pierce" had the largest number of nominations with a total of 21, including nods for its stars Kate Winslet and Evan Rachel Wood.

FIRST TIME NOMINEES

Five of the 12 nominated comedy and drama series are first time nominees. The acting categories featured a slew of Emmy rookies including Melissa McCarthy in freshman comedy "Mike & Molly," Martha Plimpton for "Raising Hope," Mireille Enos in the AMC crime drama "The Killing" and Timothy Olyphant in the modern Western drama "Justified" on FX.

"It is great that we are recognizing the spectrum of television. We are here to celebrate television and let our audience around the world know how great TV is," said John Shaffner, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The Emmys will be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on September 18, hosted by "Glee" star Jane Lynch.

HBO was again the most nominated network, despite a controversial decision this year to merge the miniseries and TV movie categories, which the cable channel has traditionally dominated.

HBO garnered 104 nominations overall, followed by CBS with 50, NBC with 46, Fox 42, and ABC with 40.

Some of TV's favorite stars were recognized on Thursday in new roles. They included former "Friends" actor Matt LeBlanc, who plays a version of himself in the Showtime satire "Episodes," and Betty White, age 89, who earned her 17th Emmy nomination for a supporting role in comedy "Hot in Cleveland."

Cloris Leachman, age 85, notched her 22nd nod for a supporting role as the ditzy grandmother in Fox show "Raising Hope," while veteran Kathy Bates scored a lead actress nomination for playing a cranky lawyer in the new NBC drama "Harry's Law."

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Vicki Allen)

Young plus skinny = hot? Think again, say Emmy voters

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jul 14, 2011 3:25pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Who says you have to be skinny, young and glamorous to make it in Hollywood?

Not the voters at the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences who spread the love in their Primetime Emmy Award nominations on Thursday to a slew of actors who smash the stereotype of wafer-thin blondes and tall, dark handsome men.

Few nominees were more surprised than plus-sized actress Melissa McCarthy, who scored her first Emmy nod for her lead role in "Mike & Molly" -- a romantic comedy about two people who meet at an Overeaters Anonymous group.

"Yikes", gulped McCarthy, 40, who was announcing the nominees live on U.S. television when her own name came up. "Ok. Keep it together! Wow!" she added.

The Emmy nod is icing on the Hollywood cake for McCarthy, whose show was initially criticized for making fun of fat people but went on to become one of the most popular new comedies on U.S. television. McCarthy, who has labored for years in bit parts, is also a scene-stealer in the raunchy summer hit movie "Bridesmaids".

But McCarthy was in good company on Thursday. Veteran Betty White, 89, who is enjoying a late career renaissance, and Cloris Leachman, 85, got their 17th and 22nd Emmy nominations respectively for playing characters that revel in their advancing years.

"I'm going to be 90 in January. Don't you think it's a little bit amazing to be lucky?" White told The Hollywood Reporter of her nomination for "Hot in Cleveland".

With the exception of Chris Colfer (Kurt), the youthful stars of musical comedy "Glee" were overlooked, while Dot-Marie Jones, 47, -- a former world arm wrestling champion -- was nominated in the guest actress category for her turn as never-been-kissed football coach Shannon Beiste on the show.

GOT GRAY? GET EMMY!

Curvaceous Christina Hendricks was recognized again for her role as the sexy head secretary who keeps TV's "Mad Men" in line. Randee Heller, 64, who plays the eccentric (now dead) Miss Blankenship -- the gray-haired, keeper to the door of Don Draper's office -- won a surprise guest actress nod. Fans of Blankenship last year created a Facebook page in her honor.

Kathy Bates, 63, nabbed a best actress mention for her role as a fired, cantankerous lawyer in the drama "Harry's Law" -- a part that was originally written for a crusty, older man.

Like your stars scrubbed down rather than made-up? Try Mireille Enos, the moody, jeans and sneakers-clad detective in AMC's crime thriller "The Killing" who scored her first Emmy nomination in the lead actress category.

Enos was joined by her "The Killing" co-star Michelle Forbes, who plays a drab, grief-wracked mother.

"At this stage in my life I've learned to not have very many expectations when it comes to this industry," Forbes, 46, commented of her first Primetime Emmy nod.

It wasn't just women of all hues who caught the eye of the Television Academy this year.

Former "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc, 43 -- now sporting gray hair on his new program -- scored a lead actor nomination for playing a version of both himself and his old skirt-chasing alter-ego Joey Tribbiani in his new satirical show "Episodes".

And Andre Braugher will compete in the supporting actor slot for his performance as one of the "Men of a Certain Age" against 4 ft 5 in (1.35 meter) Peter Dinklage, who plays a scheming drunken dwarf in HBO's popular fantasy series "Game of Thrones."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)