Scarlett Johansson, Anywhere I Lay My Head Album Listening & other

Wednesday, 4 June 2008

Sydney Pollack - Director Pollack Dies

Oscar-winning director SYDNEY POLLACK has died of cancer. He was 73.

Pollack died on Monday (26May08) afternoon at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles surrounded by friends and family. His death follows a ten month battle with the deadly disease.

Pollack won critical acclaim and two Academy Awards for his epic romance Out Of Africa starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. The 1985 movie garnered a staggering 11 nominations and won seven including Best Picture and Best Director.

He was also famed for directing 1973 classic The Way We Were and 1982's Tootsie starring Dustin Hoffman.

While best remembered as a director, Pollack started out as an actor and continued to perform throughout his career - most recently appearing alongside George Clooney in last year's (07) Oscar-winning picture Michael Clayton and in this year's (08) Made of Honour with Patrick Dempsey.

Pollack is survived by his wife Claire, daughters Rebecca and Rachel and six grandchildren.

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Saturday, 31 May 2008

New Kids On The Block - New Kids On The Block A Hit With Tv Comeback

Eighties boyband NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK performed their first concert in 14 years to legions of screaming fans who camped outside for two days awaiting their comeback on Friday's (16May08) U.S. TV show TODAY.

The five-piece performed a medley of their 1990s hits on the show - announced during a reunion appearance on the morning TV programme last month (04Apr08).

They mused of their hiatus, "It's eerie. It's almost like the last 15 years didn't happen because it's so effortless. It's very humbling.

"We could get very weepy right now and sappy... The friendship is still there and it really made it worth all of us suspending what we were doing with the rest of our lives to come together and do this one more time."

But the bandmates - who are all now in their mid-to-late thirties - admit coming together since their teen stardom proved to be a challenge: "It's like riding a mountain bike. The recording was easier. Then we started dance rehearsals - that took a few days for all of us to get acclimated. We're being tested though, today is a test of our determination."

The NKOTB reunion comes 20 years after the release of the group's album Hangin' Tough, which became one of the biggest hits of the late 1980s and early 1990s, helping them to amass 70 million album sales during their career.

The pop group will begin their reunion tour in September (08) when it kicks off in Toronto, Canada. A new album is set for release this autumn (08).

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Friday, 30 May 2008

Timberlake agrees new film deal

Justin Timberlake is to star opposite Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen in a new drama called 'The Open Road'.
Variety reports that the film tells the story of a young man trying to repair his relationship with his legendary athlete father as he tries to make his way home to see his seriously ill mother.
The Michael Meredith-directed and written film is due to begin shooting in Louisiana and other southern US states this month.

Britney Spears Victorious In Child Custody Case

Britney Spears has successfully won more visitation rights of her two young sons after appealing in court yesterday.

Sean Preston and Jayden James have been living with their dad Kevin Federline since the pop wreck held them hostage earlier this year, but as a result of her continuous good progress, she has been granted more access to the tots.

Speaking outside court after yesterday's hearing, Kaplan added that the court meeting was "a step going forward" for both his client and Spears.

He said: "The order that was in place has remained in place but there has been a graduated expansion of time."

Federline's attorney said: "What was a seemingly daily situation in extreme flux has been stabilised."

Following the hearing, a statement from Spears' parents read: "We are so pleased with Britney's progress and we are very appreciative of the court's recognition of this progress."

A progress hearing will be held on 15 July and another hearing will be held in August to review "how the modified custody arrangement has evolved".

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Noel Gallagher voted coolest man

Oasis star Noel Gallagher is the coolest man in Britain, according to a survey of young men.
The singer may have celebrated his 40th birthday this year, but he was voted way ahead of young pretenders such as Arctic Monkey Alex Turner.
Liverpool and England footballer Steven Gerrard was second in the 100 Coolest British Men of 2007 list compiled by Zoo magazine.
'Doctor Who's David Tennant was third - deemed to be cooler than current James Bond Daniel Craig, who was fourth.
David Beckham was fifth and Formula One star Lewis Hamilton sixth.
Comedians Simon Pegg and Ricky Gervais were ranked seventh and eighth respectively, followed by boxer and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Joe Calzaghe.
Arctic Monkeys frontman Turner brought up the rear in 10th place.The Top 20 included boxer Ricky Hatton, Chelsea defender John Terry and 'Top Gear' presenter Jeremy Clarkson.
While Noel Gallagher headed the list, his younger brother Liam scraped in at number 22.
Zoo editor Ben Todd said: "These inaugural awards have revealed some quite surprising results with Noel Gallagher, who has acquired something of an 'elder statesman' role, topping the poll.
"It shows that he is someone young people today strive to be like - perhaps even more so than when Oasis dominated the charts a decade ago."
The list contained a handful of older stars, including Paul McCartney at 55 and Mick Jagger at 73.
Simon Cowell was a late entrant at number 98.

Tim Mcgraw - Country Music Festival Scrapped

The Country Thunder USA music festival near Dallas, Texas has been cancelled just days before the likes of TIM MCGRAW and CARRIE UNDERWOOD were due to perform.

Poor ticket sales prompted organisers to scrap the four-day event.

It's the second year in succession the festival has suffered - torrential rains prompted organisers to cancel one day of last year's (07) event.

Promoters insist the decision to cancel will not affect the Country Thunder festival taking place in Wisconsin in July (08).

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