Tom Cruise, ‘Twilight’ gang boost MTV Movie Awards (video)

By: Philiana Ng   //   Monday June 7, 2010

137777 twilight eclipse 341x182 Tom Cruise, Twilight gang boost MTV Movie Awards (video)[UPDATE] 1:01 a.m.: Check out video of “every f**cking f-bomb said live on the air.”

If you missed the “Twilight” show — sorry, the MTV Movie Awards — Sunday night, there were several highlights, including an opening video featuring Tom Cruise as his “Tropic Thunder” alter ego Les Grossman and a two-minute sneak peek from “Eclipse.”

The two-hour extravaganza was heavy on the promotion — and swearing. It didn’t matter though as “New Moon” cleaned up nicely, beating record-setter “Avatar” for the top prize.

Check out the aforementioned videos below, the first of which also features Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Michael Cera, Bill Hader, Will and Jaden Smith. The second, well … it’s what you’d expect. Read the rest of this entry »

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Bullock kisses Johansson at MTV Movie Awards

By: THR Staff   //   Sunday June 6, 2010

bullock1 Bullock kisses Johansson at MTV Movie AwardsAssociated Press

Sandra Bullock was kissing and telling at the MTV Movie Awards.

Bullock, wearing a glittery black dress, received a standing ovation as she accepted the MTV Generation Award in her first live televised appearance since she split with unfaithful husband Jesse James earlier this year. The 45-year-old actress used her acceptance speech to clear up tabloid rumors — “No. 1: I’m not dead.” — and smooch Scarlett Johansson.

“Now that we have done that, can we please go back to normal?” said a smiling Bullock.

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Sandra Bullock to receive MTV award

By: THR Staff   //   Thursday May 27, 2010

bullock sandra 200x200 Sandra Bullock to receive MTV awardAssociated Press

Sandra Bullock is coming to the MTV Movie Awards.

The network says the 45-year-old actress will attend the June 6 ceremony to accept the MTV Generation Award, its highest honor.

The Oscar winner, who has kept a low profile since her public split from husband Jesse James is the first woman to receive the award. Past recipients include Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers and Jim Carrey.

MTV General Manager Stephen Friedman says Bullock is “adored by our audience as both an actress and a role model.”

Hosted by Aziz Ansari, the MTV Movie Awards will be broadcast live from the Gibson Amphitheatre. Presenters include Sandler, Cruise, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Chris Rock, Steve Carell and Cameron Diaz.

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‘Blind Side’ Turns Blind Eye to Key Actor

By: Roger Friedman   //   Monday March 8, 2010

QAaron Blind Side Turns Blind Eye to Key ActorEvery Academy Award success story carries with it a tale of someone who’s been forgotten.

So let’s say I was a little astonished to find actor Quinton Aaron waiting for a car outside the Kodak Theatre after the Oscar show was over.

Who is Quinton Aaron? Well, while Sandra Bullock was accepting kudos for her Oscar for “The Blind Side,” someone obviously forgot that Quinton played real-life football player Michael Oher. Which is a little shocking: There would have been no “Blind Side” without him.

Aaron told me he received only one ticket to the Oscars — no date, no escort — and no ticket to the Governors Ball.

“I did get two tickets to the Vanity Fair party,” he said, “so I’m waiting for my date to come pick me up.”

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Streep Vs. Bullock Could Produce a Surprise

By: Roger Friedman   //   Friday February 5, 2010

julijulia blindside 341 Streep Vs. Bullock Could Produce a SurpriseMeryl Streep vs. Sandra Bullock: It’s the only real race in the Oscars besides best picture.

Should we vote for Meryl, who is perfection in “Julie & Julia” as Julia Child? She hasn’t won an Oscar since 1982. She’s the best actress in the world. And she’s won a lot of awards this year.

Or Sandra Bullock: lots of fun, very friendly, very real. This is probably her one shot at an Oscar, playing a Kathie Lee Gifford lookalike. I’ve always had a thing for Sandra Bullock, but her high-water mark was in “While You Were Sleeping.” She’s a B-plus comedienne. She makes a lot of movies of varying quality. Witness “All About Steve,” which she made in the same year as “The Blind Side” and “The Proposal.”

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Will Oscar Voters Go Human, Reject Globe Winners?

By: Roger Friedman   //   Tuesday January 19, 2010

It’s January 19th. Oscar ballots are due back on the 23rd, on Saturday. That’s just four days.

Will Academy/Oscar voters reject the Golden Globe winners? In the past, the Academy has turned a deaf ear to the selections of the 80 or so mysterious Globe members. Oscar voters also like the human aspect of movie making.

119864 avatar duo human sully 3412 Will Oscar Voters Go Human, Reject Globe Winners?This year, the HFPA went wild for “Avatar” after a last minute viewing in December. They let the technology (and maybe the 3D glasses) obscure the facts that “Avatar” has a terrible screenplay and no real acting per se. It contains some of the worst dialogue in history. But it does have amazing effects. There’s no question that it’s a game changer in sci-fi.

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Kathryn Bigelow Beats Her Ex at the Critics’ Choice Awards

By: Roger Friedman   //   Saturday January 16, 2010

bigelow kathryn 341 Kathryn Bigelow Beats Her Ex at the Critics Choice Awards“Hurt Locker” director Kathryn Bigelow beat her ex-husband last night.

Bigelow won best director and best picture for “The Hurt Locker” at the Critics’ Choice Awards, thus trouncing her ex-husband James Cameron and his computer-generated “Avatar.”

In what is the most telling awards show pre-Academy Awards, the Critics’ Choice Awards on VH1 often accurately predicts the Oscar. Last night at the Hollywood Palladium, the well-produced two-hour telecast was the kick-off for awards season.

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Meryl vs. Sandy: Best Actress Takes a Turn

By: Roger Friedman   //   Tuesday January 12, 2010

The Best Actress category has gotten very interesting suddenly.

While Meryl Streep remains the odds-on favorite for her work in “Julie & Julia,” there’s a new player in the game: Sandra Bullock.

Bullock is pulling a lot of of weight and good vibes for her role in the big studio formula hit, “The Blind Side.” Sandy has a Golden Globe nomination and a few others under her belt for her portrayal of a real life Memphis rich gal who takes an abandoned high school football player into her home. It’s a true story, but one that is hard to swallow if you give “The Blind Side” more than a few minutes of thought.

Still, Sandra Bullock is hard working and incredibly likable. And even though her character, Lee Anne Tuohy, resembles Kathie Lee Gifford down to her high heels, Bullock makes her a success. It’s not the actress’s first real acting knockout. She was excellent in both “Crash” and “Infamous,” showing the serious side of her acting chops.

But as one insider told me recently, “Sandy will be happy just to be nominated.” She’ll be a great addition to the Oscars.

However, this is Meryl Streep’s year. She made three hit films — “Julie and Julia,” “It’s Complicated,” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” In each, she is towering. And despite the idea that ‘Meryl always wins,’ La Streep has not taken home an Oscar in 27 years. It was for “Sophie’s Choice.” Sure, she’s been nominated a lot — over and over — but she’s also had to endure watching others swan past her.

Don’t get the impression she’s above winning. Not at all. When someone mentioned the Oscar recently, Streep supposedly responded, “From your lips to God’s ear.” I think God and the Academy are listening. Bullock aside, not to mention Carey Mulligan, Gabby Sidibe, and Marion Cotillard, 2010 is the year of Streep. You can bet on it!

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Oscar Cast Needs Avatar, Nine, Sandra Bullock

By: Roger Friedman   //   Sunday January 3, 2010

A lot of Academy voters are probably going through their holiday mail today — and guess what — the Oscar ballot is here.

Some nominees seem like done deals. “Up in the Air,” “Precious,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglorious Basterds” and maybe “Invictus” or “Up” are the top likely choices. By now, a regular voter could rattle off that list of five without too much trouble.

But where to go from there? With 10 total Best Picture nominees, it’s the “back five” that will take a little more work and thought this year.

“Avatar,” for example, looks like the Big Studio shoo-in. It’s made a gazillion dollars. Even thought it has no acting nominations, a terrible script and a lot of CGI, “Avatar” will still take a nod. And the idea of James Cameron parading his ego around the Oscars is too tantalizing to pass up.

“Nine” would be next, if for nothing else, the glamour quotient. Without “Nine,” the Oscars could be a dreary affair. (Don’t forget– animated “Up” is great but produces no big stars on the red carpet.)

“Nine” also benefits from at least two or three performance nominations (Marion Cotillard in lead, Penelope Cruz in supporting, Daniel Day-Lewis in lead) and lots of craft noms too. Between SAG, Critics Choice and Golden Globes, “Nine” has momentum. (And if the show doesn’t feature Fergie singing “Be Italian” and Kate Hudson on “Cinema Italiano,” then we’re in for a long, long night.)

Three more? How about “An Education” — absolutely, with Carey Mulligan for best actress, too — and “A Single Man,” with nominations for Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

One more nomination needed for the big show on March 7: Sandra Bullock, for “The Blind Side.” If we’re going popular this year, then a Bullock nomination is cool. Even Meryl Streep, this year’s fait accompli best actress, would agree.

The 10 nominees that can make this year’s show exciting: “”Up in the Air,” “Precious,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglorious Basterds,” “Invictus,” “Nine,” “Up,” “A Single Man,” “An Education” and “Avatar.”

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Eastwood’s ‘Invictus’ Shows Signs of Weakness

By: Roger Friedman   //   Sunday December 13, 2009

Clint Eastwood’s new film, “Invictus,” fell short of its objectives this weekend at the boxoffice.

Despite projections of a $12 million-$14 million take in wide release for the $60 million-plus movie, the $9.1 million earned by the film had to be a disappointment for Warner Bros.

Perhaps limited release would have helped it get out of the gate. Last year, Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” had a little over $11 million in the bank when — after 29 days — it went into wide release Jan. 9. It made $29.4 million on its first big weekend.

“Invictus” has a lot going for it, but a lot against it too. The main subjects are racism and rugby, and in a foreign country. Those are not accessible topics for American audiences. There’s no love story. And no women. And there’s little explanation of what’s going on.

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