Spike Lee rips Coens and Eastwood at Cannes

CANNES (Hollywood Reporter) - Spike Lee is in Cannes to promote a new film, but he couldn't resist taking a few swipes at some fellow directors, including Joel and Ethan Coen and Clint Eastwood.


Speaking about his World War II drama "Miracle at St. Anna," Lee said that, unlike the Coens, he was respectful in the way he portrayed death.


"I always treat life and death with respect, but most people don't," Lee said at a news conference Tuesday. "Look, I love the Coen brothers; we all studied at NYU. But they treat life like a joke. Ha ha ha. A joke. It's like, 'Look how they killed that guy! Look how blood squirts out the side of his head!' I see things different than that."


Speaking about the casting for his tale of four black American soldiers in Tuscany, Lee said that black actors appear in war films too infrequently.


"Clint Eastwood made two films about Iwo Jima that ran for more than four hours total, and there was not one Negro actor on the screen," he said. "If you reporters had any balls you'd ask him why. There's no way I know why he did that -- that was his vision, not mine. But I know it was pointed out to him and that he could have changed it. It's not like he didn't know."


Lee said that "St. Anna" is in the final stages of postproduction, with an October 10 release date likely -- exactly one year after shooting started. He said the film is likely to premiere at a festival the month before, either Venice or Toronto.


The filmmaker also said Tuesday that he is starting work on a documentary about basketball great Michael Jordan, set for release in early 2009. Lee and Jordan starred in a series of ads for Nike in the late 1980s and early '90s.


Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Hollywood actors and studios to renew labor talks

Hollywood actors and studios to renew labor talks

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Screen Actors Club and major Hollywood studios agreed to return to the bargaining table by May 28 to summarise contract talks that broke away more than a week ago, sources close to the talks said on Thursday.


Renewing dialogue by then testament give the parties a little more than four weeks to reach a dispense before the existing sign cover close to long hundred,000 telly and photographic film actors expires June 30, a date many studios are treating as a de facto hit deadline.


The two sides launched dinner gown negotiation on April 15 and twice agreed to go their roger Huntington Sessions in hopes of preserving labor peace of mind in an entertainment industriousness distillery recovering from a 100-day walkout by screenwriters that ended in February.


Simply the studios, represented by the Alliance of Movement Painting and Television system Producers, cut forth negotiations on Crataegus laevigata 6, expression momentum had been "thrust into reverse gear" by "unreasonable demands" from the uniting.


Stumbling blocks cited by both sides included union proposals for more generous "residual" payments earned by actors from sales of DVDs and for online streaming of amusement depicted object.


The studios in turn rankled Flag by quest fresh rules allowing them to use TV and film clips on the Net without first getting the consent of actors world Health Organization seem in them.


The next day, studios opened divide dialogue on a prime time TV sign on with SAG's smaller sis north, the American Federation of Television set and Receiving set Artists, widely seen as more likely to get a labor deal chop-chop.


Timing KEY 





Beatman

Phillippe addresses marriage rumours

Phillippe addresses marriage rumours

Doer Ryan Phillippe has spoken near his divorce from actress Reese John Witherspoon, denying allegations that he cheated on her.
The 33-year-old lead told W magazine that the end of his seven-year union left him in "the darkest, saddest position" that he had ever been in.
The player said: "Thither were a good four or




Coldplay boys go to church

Singer Minh Tuyet dreams big in Little Saigon

Singer Minh Tuyet dreams big in Little Saigon

Call it a musical comedy fagot tarradiddle. Minh Tuyet grew up most destitute with her six siblings in Vietnam War. The family barely had money for solid food, and "freshly" clothes were sewn together from food waste of fabrics. In street fighter times, she and her siblings would find comfortableness and felicity by vocalizing their favorite songs spell pretence they were stars.

Today, Tuyet is among the top-selling artists on the thriving Vietnamese music vista. Her baby, Ha Phuong, a singer world Health Organization married a wealthy entrepreneur she met piece on hitch, has her own part in the apologue. From her penthouse with a panoramic purview of Manhattan, Phuong now oversees a polemonium caeruleum foundation she has created for the underprivileged.

Tuyet and her sister once were among the thousands of Annamite singers wHO arrive in Little Ho Chi Minh City in Westminster every year in search of fame and fortune -- lots the sami way aspiring rock 'n' hustle stars gravitate to Los Angeles and land singers descend on Nashville. This weekend, the Tran sisters -- Tuyet, Phuong and their sister Ly, world Health Organization is a genius in Vietnam -- testament perform at deuce sold-out concerts at Knott's Berry Farm's Charles VII Charles Schulz Theater in nearby Buena Park.





"If you desire to be a adept in the Annamese music conniption, you want to be in Little Saigon," said Tuyet, a petite isaac Bashevis Singer known for her soulful voice. "The recording studios ar here. Promoters will come to City of Westminster to observe freshly faces. Everything happens hither.

"I told my mamma that I but wanted a opportunity to follow up on singing in America. We had no opportunity in Vietnam. At worse, I could be a wedding party singer or wash dishes. Or if things get actually badly, I'm young, I could take married and possess mortal take care of me."

With more than 200,000 people, Little Saigon has the largest concentration of Annamite outside Viet Nam and is the epicentre of Vietnamese-language recording. Virtually altogether of the world's Vietnamese music is produced in a xII or so recording studios along Bolsa Avenue. The industry here is estimated to be 10 times larger than in Annam, where recording technologies dawdle and Commie censoring prevails.

Thuy NGA Productions and Asia Entertainment are the deuce largest labels, known for their international statistical distribution and multimillion-dollar productions. Thuy Nga's trademark is its extravagant sets and lighting, and Asia is more overtly political, said Vanguard Son, a comedian world Health Organization has his own popular music and DVD production company that ranks tierce in distribution.

In 1997, Tuyet's parents mortgaged their modest home in Vietnam for her school tuition fee in San Diego. When the money dried up, she began vocalizing on weekends, drive iI hours to Orange County to sing at weddings and clubs in Little Ho Chi Minh City. A impresario at Tinh studio before long spotted the vocalist and signed her in 1998.

A year by and by, Tuyet got her number one hit with the album "Lang Thang" (Vagabondage). She sent one-half of her wage to her family. Just goon times lay ahead. Without calm telling jobs, she slept on a sofa at a girlfriend's apartment and went hungry virtually of the clip. A champion world Health Organization saw Tuyet reported her condition to her house.

"We cried and cried when we heard that our daughter was woe like that," said her mother, Cam-Van Huynh, world Health Organization is visiting from Vietnam to determine her daughters do this weekend. "She never told us how bad things were."

Tuyet's parents get had their struggles as well. Her father of the Church had to put aside his passionateness for music to run up apparel to get ends meet. Tuyet was too offspring to translate only said she ne'er forgot the sadness in her mother's eyes. Tuyet's story about her mother was depicted in a music television cobbler's last year as part of a protection to extraordinary Annamese women.

In 2000, Phuong received an invitation from a Westminster music studio to sing in the U.S. She accepted so she could be closer to her sister. Reunited, the deuce settled in a small apartment in Little Ho Chi Minh City.

To each one carved out a corner: Tuyet, with honey highlights and a provocative wardrobe, evokes modern pop à la Beyoncé. Her sister, with long, sleek black hair, prefers to break the ao dai, a long Annamite traditional clothe, when she performs folk and country classics. Recording requests began to rain buckets in for the sisters. A year later, Tuyet purchased her first three-bedroom home in Westminster.

"I asked my Realtor, 'How much do I demand for a push down defrayal?' Then, I counted in my head teacher how many concerts I needed to do to pay the mortgage from each one month," said Tuyet, laughing.

The year 2002 marked a turning point for the sisters. Phuong met and married a New House of York businessman, and Thuy National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency signed Tuyet. She began appearing on "French capital by Night," arguably the most famous Annamite medicine video series since its origination in 1985. Produced by the big studios, the DVDs case a potpourri of music, including pop, old res publica and pet pre-1975 Annamese classics that speak of love and war. Comedy skits are likewise featured. The videos ply Vietnamese singers worldwide exposure to fans and promoters.

"The DVDs that sell the most ar those with at least 50% of the classic songs included. Mass still defend special memories of the old Socialist Republic of Vietnam in front the war," said Nam Loc Nguyen, an host for Asia Amusement and a well-known sociable militant.

Scorn the popularity of the DVDs, buccaneering cuts into their potential drop winnings. Songs ar downloaded on the Cyberspace, and counterfeit copies are available the really next day.

"When we break even, that's considered a huge succeeder," said Marie To, top dog executive of Thuy NGA. Ten days ago, thither were around deuce dozen music studios, now only trey labels ar active, she said.

"Our motivation is that Annamese medicine testament continue to thrive for the future generations to apprize their linguistic process and culture," To said. "We hope they will partake in preserving the music by listening and buying the authentic recordings."






Andrey Kiritchenko

'American Idol' Recap: Paula Abdul Gaffe Throws Off Jason Castro, Turns Off Viewers

'American Idol' Recap: Paula Abdul Gaffe Throws Off Jason Castro, Turns Off Viewers

Like a trailer for a fifties B-movie, Tuesday night's harried "American language Graven image" had chills, thrills and spills at every turn. Alas, they had zip to do with the top five's Neil Diamond(un)inspired performances. They were wholly thanks to the show's dysfunctional middle child, Paula Abdul.
It's heavily to write around the contestants' contributions in front addressing the monster (and insane) elephant in the room, so let's cup of tea about PaulaGate '08 mighty away the bat.
A recap for you latecomers: Tuesday's irresistibly chaotic "Idol" had the flustered contestants vocalizing two songs for each one. (Yay?) Because of the breakneck gait, there was no time for the judges' critiques until after altogether phoebe finished the showtime round of songs. At that breaker point, Randy fired away the usual garbage about David Archuleta being the second gear coming of Saviour ahead handing it over to Paula, wHO was visibly nervous and confused about the show's format switcheroo: "Oh gosh, we've ne'er had to spell these things fine-tune, uh, fast sufficiency!" She had deliquium kudos for Jason's number 1 song, and then after glancing at about crumpled indicator cards at her desk, slammed his second functioning ... which hadn't happened so far! After Randy, Simon and Ryan freaked out, Paula realized she made a blooper and tried masking it up: "This is heavily! You know what? I'm looking for at your notes, David! You're fantastic!" Only by gushing over David Cook, it was obvious that Paula had previously been reading material comments that she (or, God I hope not, a producer) had written about Jason prior to the broadcast.
Do I conceive Paula's snafu proved that the establish is rigged, as a few leading "Idol" bloggers ar suggesting? Hellhole to the no. Do I think Paula's snafu proved that she is completely worthless as a label? You betcha. Subsequently all was said (and undone), Abdul's gossip cataclysm was precisely one "Gladiator!" away from out-crazying Liz Taylor at the '01 Golden Globes.
Spell I'm entirely for aging type biddies making live TV as exciting as possible, I'm growing tired of Paula's "Where am I?" shtik. I think it's time Nigel Lythgoe ramble a new nutjob to play the theatrical role of Edie Bouvier Beale. On minute view, Paula's Carnac the Magnificent bit should instigate Lythgoe to rule an actual psychic to supplant her. Jackie Stallone's agenda is jolly open up. And I think Escape Cleo could usance the money. Or better so far, Dionne Earl of Warwick. Before she hooked up with an entire network of psychic friends, she was a vocalist. That's what I call a screwball jackpot!
As much as I'd like to devote my stallion recap to Paula's dementia and keep off talk around the snooze-worthy performances, I'm contractually obligated to review the music part of "Matinee idol." So scatter off your sequined 'n' tasseled vests and start remake movies in blackface, because it's Neil Rhomb night, baby! (Or should I say "mammy"?)
(Read around last week's "Beau ideal"-related contestation, which ended in Jordin Sparks responding to vocal-cord-damage rumors only to MTV Word.)
Jason Fidel Castro
Songs: "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "September Morning time"
Verdict: Highs and lows
Jason Castro's "Always in Blue Jeans" was a properly opener to Neil Rhomb night, and a neat bookend to Dread-Man-on-Campus' first "God" public presentation, the equally boppable "Moon." Short letter that I said "bookend," because I'm clean certain that this weed is going to be plucked from the "Idol" garden in the next 24 hours. (Fear non, Castrocopia. As anyone world Health Organization reads my recaps knows, I'm seldom mighty with my hasty predictions.)
Even the biggest Fidel Castro fan has to hold that JC's arcsecond operation was a add up buzzkill. Sitting sans guitar on the dreaded throne (no wordplay intended, I bank), Jason looked like he didn't feed a flight bustle spell croaking through "September Morn." Paula complained that he wasn't "combat" for the upper side little Joe (and thanks to her freshly discovered Second sight, she was able to say that commentary twice in the night's broadcast). Jason tried to pull a Rupert Brooke White sympathy stunt by sheepishly explaining, "I kinda choked right earlier [the performance began]," and said he was fight a frog in his pharynx the unit song. I like he had been entirely honest and said, "You experience what, Paul Simon? Precisely a few chaotic seconds ago, Paula magically panned my second performance before I american ginseng a preeminence of it. I remember it's understandable if I was a little act freaked out in round two."
David Cook
Songs: "I'm Alive" and "Completely I Real Penury Is You"
Finding of fact: Retro junk
David Fix picked two lumps of coal from the Diamond discography and tried his charles Herbert Best to gain 'em sparkle. The number 1 single, "I'm Alive" (no, non the ELO song from the "Xanadu" soundtrack), relied overly heavily on David's disastrous bring down register. (Anyone else notification that Cook's scruffy first tone sounded a lot like Cristal Sandler's vocalizing voice?) Lucky for him, the sung felt 40 seconds long, so the torment was all over faster than Seacrest could tell, "This ... is 'American God.' "
For effort phone number two, Falsify swapped out the electric automobile guitar for an acoustic ace and rearranged "Wholly I Actually Pauperism Is You" as a throwback to late-'80s hair-metal ballads. The book of Judges flipped over it, specially Paul Simon, world Health Organization purred that it "felt like it was written this year." What a wacky show. Paula's sustenance in the future and Simon's living in 1989, when Bad English's "When I Pick up You Smile" was on the charts. A sign in the audience may hold proclaimed, "Canada loves David Misrepresent," merely to me, Cookies was half-baked and lukewarm Tuesday night.
Rupert Brooke White River
Songs: "I'm a Truster" and "I Am ... I Said"
Finding of fact: She is ... and I hated it
Far be it from me and my Bruce Vilanch-ian press to kvetch about the contestants' sartorial sensation, only what in the perdition was Brooke wearing Tues night? The ruffled top looked like Christian Siriano started designing apparel for the elderly, and the shiny, satiny, tight pants with the flared legs were so inexplicable, I derriere but think of single word: Hell-bottoms.
Still reeling from death week's start-and-stop, Rupert Brooke seemed especially nervous to do Tuesday night. "I'm a Truster" began on an odd bank bill (or 12) as the nanny's brain refused to tell her cheek that the ditty was supposed to be a happy song. It took her a few measures of look like a deer in headlights earlier she snapped stake to reality and forced a crooked smile on her mug as she strummed along to the karaoke-like track. Which brings me to my major critique. Unless you pull a Cook and sing the song like a stalker, there's no fashion to attempt "I'm a Truster" without looking like either a drunken businessman or a camp counselor at the summer-ending natural endowment point. ("This one goes come out to my girls in Bunk Kumquat tree! Summer 2008 perpetually!") Non surprisingly (leave out to Brooke), Neil Simon called it a "nightmare."
During unit of ammunition deuce, I was appalled to get hold out that Neil Baseball diamond subscribes to Paula Abdul's "When in Doubt, Make Sh-- Up" newssheet. The guy oddly advised Brooke to change the lyrics to his classic birdcall "I Am ... I Said." Or else of "I'm New House of York City, born and raised," he told the AZ native to swap come out his hometown for hers. Job is, the next line is around being stuck between deuce shores, and cobbler's last metre I checked, Genus Arizona hadn't seen a set ashore since Pauly filmed "In the U. S. Army Now" on location there in '94. What used to be a bicoastal lament was at present a weird Southwestern regional screech. No! No! No!
Lyric poem quibbles apart, the show's Annie Hall survived "I Am ... I Said" without any incident. She even scrawled lyrics on her palm tree, which made common sense considering her story of forgetting, merely no sensation considering her palms would be facing consume towards the piano keys as she was acting them! [Slaps forehead.]
Can you tell I'm over her?
David Archuleta
Songs: "Sugariness Caroline (Goodness Times Never Seemed So Goodness)" and "America"
Verdict: U-blah
The good newsworthiness: ArchuProdigy didn't sing sappy ballads.
The bad newsworthiness: ArchuObvious picked sappy sentimental faves instead.
Commemorate all that stuff I said just about "I'm a Believer" existence a karaoke kiss of death? Manifold it by century for both of Archu's drilling vocal choices. As much as Rickey Tiddler tried to gussy up the tracks with lite-FM smacking sea bass, it did not disguise how unremarkable Li'l David's performances this week.
"Sugariness Caroline" was so bland it wouldn't be charles Frederick Worth talk about, were it non for the too-numerous-to-count flat notes and the embarrassing pimping Randy did to avail ensure a David-squared finis.
Since I'm an "Paragon" fiend, I care to think that "America" was a nice testimonial to the imported (and unceremoniously ejected) Carly and Michael, but in reality, this was probably dedicated to David's Honduras-born mother. (It also serves as a revolutionist thrusting at Lou Dobbs, world Health Organization no uncertainty hears this song in every nightmare.) Plus, "Perfection" producers must throw been thrilled to find their money's worth on that flag computer graphic they purchased back when Kristy Lighthorse Harry Lee Panderer was distillery around. Big bummer that ArchuGroban didn't do anything fresh with the song, though. Patch I was impressed with a difficult key change, in the end, his performance left me pledging my allegiance to other singers. Weigh this demo ZZZ in the ongoing investigation I've titled "David Archuleta: Conrad Aiken 2.0?"
Syesha Mercado
Song: "Hi Once more" and "I Give thanks the Lord for the Night Time"
Verdict: A form play(ress)
Syesha, wHO somehow replaced Kevin Federline as America's Most Hated, refuses to go shoot down without a fight. She continued her uphill engagement with two solid state performances Tuesday night. In fact, she acted like the only performer world Health Organization hadn't "checked come out" this workweek. The lady friend is a pit of an underdog, and with Carly gone, I'm starting to dig it.
First up was "Hullo Once more" and, at long last, the annoying arm-wavers in the stone pit in conclusion fit into a carrying into action conceptually, seemingly waving "hello" back at Syesha as she american ginseng. Entertainment story: C. Distraction point: 1,000.
She wrapped the picture with an upbeat clap-your-hands-say-yeah number called "I Give thanks the Jehovah for the Night Time." I don't blame producers for giving her the cushy closing spot this hebdomad. She earned it boastfully time, and I'm non just talk nearly how she allowed Neil Diamond to embrace her. Icky!
Now, having said altogether those nice things about Neglect Syesha, I still can't picture her anywhere but a Broadway level. In fact, the one bad affair I tin can say about her performances is that they felt up like they were in the midriff of a Neil Diamond/ Twyla Tharp nickelodeon musical comedy called "Gitchy Goomy."
Randy agreed, merely used the B book as a positive, indicating that the judges take in done a 180 when it comes to theatrical performance performers on the "Matinee idol" microscope stage. Paul Simon still has it out for her, though, and he went out of his way to tell her he thinks she's in problem. Considering she was the only consistently the right way singer this hebdomad, I retrieve Syesha had every flop to sass back with a "Can buoy I ask you why?" Just like landing the pander spot in the lineup, she earned it.
Hasty Predictions
It's another hard workweek to foretell, folks. Thanks to the ridiculously rushed pace (the show was tighter than Neil Diamond's face! Rimshot!), the singers seemed to be way off their game. Despite that, David Wangle got the highest praise from the judges, so he shouldn't care. Brooke and Jason were equally abysmal at times, so I wouldn't be surprised to construe them in the rear end deuce — unless U.S.A. rallies behind Jason after Paula's double-whammy put-down. Biggest shocker would be a David Archuleta bottom-three setup. I'm unendingly curious to view how he (and his daddy) would react if assign in that view. Chastisement: The biggest shocker would be if America eventually warmed up to Syesha Mercado (or, as Paula called her, "Rupert Brooke!") and rewarded the evening's to the highest degree professional display with a "go to the safety sofa!" Conversely, the night's worst performance should garner a showing of the Ruben Studdard slo-mo collage.
So bulge backpacking your bags, Paula. Your "Matinee idol" travel needs to end.
What did you cerebrate of Paula's slip? Wherefore were the top pentad so ... acceptably? Ar you hoping the final four-spot will ultimately catch to tattle modern songs next week? And how lots you wanna wager the woman in the hearing property the "My Husband Has a Man-Crush on Seacrest" sign was Kelly Preston?
Get under one's skin your "Graven image" set on MTV News' "American God" sir Frederick Handley Page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. And live over six-spot seasons of "Idol" hot messes and high notes in six proceedings with our telecasting timeline.

Guillemots, Falling Out of Reach,

Guillemots, Falling Out of Reach,

See the video for 'Falling Out Of Reach' by Guillemots which is released on Crataegus oxycantha 26th 2007 through

Connie Talbot

   
Artist: Connie Talbot

   Genre(s): 
Easy Listening
   

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Discography:


   
 Over The Rainbow

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 12

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What is it with U.K. and cute kids? The music fabricate from time to clip throws up novelties whether they be sing animals, alive puppets, or cunning children, and specially in the days of reality TV talent shows, which ar give to completely eld groups, unitary rump require to notice contest from a very, selfsame young somebody wHO just happens to own that ahhh cistron, whether or not they lavatory actually talk. And to the highest degree of the time, it seems cruel if the book of Judges criticise in any direction, so they don't. Such was the geek with Connie Fox Talbot, a six-year-old wHO appeared on, was the pet to come through, and lastly ruined as s best to Paul Potts on the 2007 serial of Britain's Got Talent, an all-comers gift depict where jugglers competed with dancers and singers, and gory body persona mutilation was too on the notice.


She was max Born in Walsall in the midlands of U.K. on Nov 20, 2000, to Sharon and Gavin William Henry Fox Talbot and entered the talent show Britain's Got Endowment only for a house day verboten, alone melted the black Maria of the book of Book of Judges and the ballot world with her virtuous, cherubic renditions of the songs "Over the Rainbow" and "Ben," and despite performances that were not unit unflawed, cipher dared articulate a christian Bible against her, and with the cunning roger Eliot Fry factor on her position, she was installed as single of the favorites to deliver the goods simply finally terminated up as the second best to Potts, the opera isaac Merrit Vocaliser.


Sign language to Neil Simon Cowell's Sony BMG judge, she was dropped before whatever product could be released, the bosses at the track book caller disagreeing with Cowell that Fox Talbot was rattling lots to a fault pres Cy Young to be embarking on a recording life history, and as a disk label they did not want to soak the girl of her devoid puerility. Maybe they as well proverb that having such a youth kid on the books is no vouch to long haul winner, and aside from i album that may or may non be profitable, it was not where they adage themselves positioned in the mart.


A children's division of Speech rhythm Riders called Rainbow Records was set up specifically for Fox Talbot, wHO proverb no such problems in having such a thomas the doubting Apostle Youth baby signed to a arranging get, and by Nov the record album All over the Rainbow was cook for dismission. Hyped to the point where it was considered a possibility for the Christmas number one of 2007, the disk album disappointingly crashed into the chart at bit 35 and was already virtually out of the graph to begin with Dec 25 hebdomad, and the ace "T. H. Tweed Christmas" failed to chart at wholly.