Powered by Yahoo Weather
Super Bowl 46: Movie Spots
Super Bowl 46 teases some of the most anticipated movies of 2012, including "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" and "Hunger Games."
Lady Gaga, Eminem, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry have also given the one-finger salute.By Gil Kaufman
M.I.A. performs during the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show on Sunday Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
The big hype (around these parts, anyway) going into the Super Bowl on Sunday was what Madonna would do during her halftime performance. But, as you surely know by now, one of her guests, rapper/singer M.I.A., stole some of Madge's thunder by unexpectedly flipping the bird at the end of "Give Me All Your Luvin'."
While your granny was probably shocked and your little brother/sister got a naughty giggle out of it, M.I.A. wasn't exactly reinventing the rebel wheel with her one-finger salute. Everyone from punk icon Iggy Pop to Oasis' Noel Gallagher, Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, late Wu-Tang Clan rapper ODB, Kid Rock and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong have made flipping people off a standard part of their eff-the-man personas over the years.
In fact, tossing up the middle-digit salute is a time-honored tradition for musicians that dates back more than 40 years to the original rock rebel.
Johnny Cash: In one of the most iconic pictures in music, the Man in Black famously gave an impassioned finger to the camera in 1969 during his San Quentin prison performance. It was later used in an ad in 1998 Billboard magazine to express his "thank you" to the Nashville country music industry after he won a Grammy for Best Country Album as a response to their abandonment of him in his later years.
Tupac : The late rap icon was fond of laying down both single and double birds in some of the most iconic pictures of him over the years, including one taken of him on a gurney after he'd just been shot at a New York recording studio in 1994.
Eminem: After being called out for some of his gay-bashing lyrics, Slim Shady made a huge statement by appearing with openly gay Elton John at the 2001 Grammys, where he hugged the piano-pounding icon and then gave the audience a view of both his middle digits.
Lady Gaga: Mother Monster can't go anywhere these days without being hounded by the paparazzi. So, when Gaga attended a Mets game in 2010, she let the paps know how she felt when they caught her chilling in a private suite.
Justin Bieber: He may be a (young) man of faith, but even the Biebs has his limits. Last March, while out celebrating his 17th birthday, the "Baby" singer was accosted by photos, so he showed them his tall man ... and then apologized later, saying, "I know better than to react in anger."
Katy Perry: We can't remember where this awesome GIF came from, but last year, the good girl gone (sometimes) bad made flying the finger flag seem almost cute.
Cobra Starship: Hell, CB are so enamored of the eff-you salute that they wrote a whole song about it and invited Mac Miller along to help them spread the word, one digit at a time.
'It's halftime, America, and our second half is about to begin,' actor/director says in emotional Chrysler spot. By Rob Markman
Clint Eastwood Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images
With the New York Giants down 10-9 to the New England Patriots at halftime of the big game on Sunday, we're pretty sure coach Tom Coughlin gave the eventual Super Bowl champions a hell of a speech. Still, last night's most memorable pep talk came from an unlikely hero, Clint Eastwood.
"It's halftime," Dirty Harry grunted in the opening moments of a dramatic Chrysler spot that aired while both teams were in the locker room and Madonna was preparing to excite the world at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The emotional ad juxtaposed the Giants and Patriots' mid-game huddle-up and contextualized it against the country's current economic woes. "It's halftime in America, too," the Oscar-winning actor/director continued. "People are out of work and they're hurting and they're all wondering what they're going to do to make a comeback."
During a night when Hollywood rolled out blockbuster trailers for big-budget films like "The Avengers" and "Battleship" and companies like Go Daddy and H&M used sex to sell their products, Chrysler took an inspirational approach, one even more poignant than last year's Eminem "Imported From Detroit" spot.
Clint goes on to describe the people in Detroit and their resilience in the midst of a collapsed auto industry. He then turns the focus back to America as a whole, which is still trying to gain footing in a time of economic turmoil. "I've seen a lot of tough eras, a lot of downturns in my life. Time when we didn't understand each other," the 81-year old Eastwood says. "But after those trials we all rallied around what was right and acted as one, because that's what we do."
With the drama building, Clint adds some fight to his voice in a passionate call to arms. "This country can't be knocked down with one punch. We get right back up again, and when we do the world will hear the roar of our engines," he says in closing. "Yeah, it's halftime, America, and our second half is about to begin."
Game on!
'Friday Night Lights' actor, set to break out in 'John Carter,' 'Battleship,' should have been featured more prominently.By Kevin P. Sullivan
Taylor Kitsch in "John Carter" Photo: Walt Disney Pictures
Millions of people around the world were introduced to Taylor Kitsch Sunday night. The Canadian actor found himself at the center of two of the Super Bowl's biggest movie ads for his first two starring roles, in "John Carter" and "Battleship," but the trailers may not have been the first impression Kitsch was hoping for.
Kitsch made a name for himself starring as the misunderstood bad boy Tim Riggins on the beloved but criminally under-watched NBC series "Friday Night Lights." Riggins grew dear to the show's viewers because of the charm and likability Kitsch brought to the character, despite a tough exterior. Throughout the show's run, it was never a stretch to imagine the actor making the crossover to big-budget action movies with his charisma as hard evidence of his bankability.
But for his Super Bowl debuts, the studios behind "John Carter" and "Battleship" took the focus off of their star and instead cut special-effects shots together, leaving Kitsch as little more than background noise.
The "John Carter" trailer that aired during the game handled its time the most curiously. Beginning with a shot of Kitsch from the film, the footage grew smaller, eventually becoming part of a large collection of footage that formed letters spelling out the title of the film. By the time most of the video appeared on the screen, it was too small to make any sense of it.
What many people may not have known was that an extended version of the commercial, one with full-sized footage from the film, appeared online shortly after. That trailer showed off Kitsch during action sequences instead of zooming away from him.
The ad for "Battleship" approached promoting a big-budget sci-fi movie in a more traditional way, albeit one that also put Kitsch in the background. The spot played more like a commercial for the other series of movies based on Hasbro toys, "Transformers," and the scattered nature of it might have left people wondering whether the film stars Kitsch, Liam Neeson or Rihanna.
Sure, these are just commercials, but if 2012 is going to be the year that Taylor Kitsch makes the crossover from TV heartthrob to viable action star, studios ought to realize who they're working with and put the man front and center.
Check out everything we've got on "John Carter" and "Battleship."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
NBC's highly anticipated musical drama, starring Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty, premieres Monday night (February 6).By Christina Garibaldi
Katharine McPhee in "Smash" Photo: NBC
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past month, chances are you have seen a promo for NBC's new musical drama "Smash." The show, which has been in development since 2009, revolves around two aspiring Broadway stars — played by "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee and Broadway star Megan Hilty — vying to land the role in a new musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe.
To get you ready for this highly anticipated new show, here is everything you need to know about "Smash," premiering Monday night (February 6).
Hollywood and Broadway collide The show is packed with A-list talent: Hollywood veterans Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston lead the cast, also including Broadway actor Christian Borle and Brian d'Arcy James. Yet, it's the star power behind the scenes that's equally as impressive: There are Tony Award winners, Grammy winners and Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, who came up with the concept of the show.
Let's also not forget the diverse list of guest stars, who include Uma Thurman, OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder and Nick Jonas, who is currently starring on Broadway in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
Marilyn Monroe is ready for her close-up It seems that Marilyn Monroe is having a moment, with Michelle Williams winning a Golden Globe for playing the pinup queen in "My Week With Marilyn," and now, "Smash" revolving the series around her life.
The two actresses competing to play Marilyn are Ivy, played by Hilty, and Karen, played by McPhee. Viewers might get the sense that the characters' personalities represent the different phases of Monroe's life, with Ivy as the bombshell Monroe, and Karen looking more like Norma Jean, the girl next door.
True to Broadway If you are questioning whether or not the drama portrayed on and off the stage is anything like a real Broadway show, the answer is yes. From the auditioning process to the endless rehearsals and, of course, the backstage drama, Hilty says "Smash" takes only small liberties in enhancing the drama in what is already a cut-throat environment.
"There are so many times I've been backstage [on Broadway] and I look around and I'm like, 'Where's the camera?' 'cause the drama that's happening back here is way more interesting than what's out on that stage," Hilty told MTV News. "It's just because when you're doing a live performance, the adrenaline is pumping and the stakes are really high, so everyone's really amped up and it literally sets the stage for drama."
Are you excited for "Smash"? Let us know in the comments!
Super Bowl performance reinstates Madge as 'the biggest pop vixen on the planet.'By Jocelyn Vena
Madonna performs at Super Bowl XLVI Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
Madonna did it all on Sunday night when she performed during the Super Bowl halftime show in Indianapolis.
She was an Egyptian Queen "Vogue"-ing it up for her biggest devotees. She was a cheerleader, cheering on L-U-V alongside a middle-finger flinging M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj for "Give Me All Your Luvin'." She got her "Music" on with LMFAO and she sang the gospel of "Like a Prayer" with Cee Lo Green.
In a sea of costume changes (with looks by Givenchy and Adidas Originals Jeremy Scott), dancers, acrobats, A-list collaborators and a killer set list, Madonna seemed to leave very little to chance. Sure, there were a few slip-ups, but, in the end, Madonna ensured that all anyone would be talking about around the water cooler come Monday morning was her, whether or not you completely loved what she did during the show.
"It's Madonna Louise Ciccone's world, we're just living in it," Billboard.com wrote about her 12-minute-plus performance. "The pop icon took to the world's biggest stage to rock three-and-a-half older tracks and a playful new song during the Super Bowl halftime show."
While the Super Bowl audience is usually dominated by people who most likely aren't Madge fans, the singer, according to one review, seemed indifferent to that fact. "Madonna was defiantly unconcerned with the more conservative red state wing of the football fanbase who'd never be caught dead singing along to one of her songs," the Los Angeles Times noted about her performance. "And her halftime show was pure spectacle by the Cleopatra of the game."
The show, according to the Chicago Tribune, wasn't just about her, but also about reminding fans that she's about to drop her next album, MDNA, in March. "This was Madonna's party, and besides breaking off bits of her greatest hits to remind people of a time when she was the biggest pop vixen on the planet, she had important career-advancing work to do," the review noted. "Madonna, after all, never does anything unless she's got something to sell, and with a new studio album due out in March and a tour to follow, she had plenty on her to-do list."
Leave your review of Madonna's halftime performance in the comments below!
Plus, Daniel Radcliffe makes good, 'Star Wars' returns in 3-D and Nic Cage is still awesome.By Josh Horowitz
Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson Photo: Lionsgate
If you're anything like all of us at MTV News, you're curious as hell about whether "The Hunger Games" is going to translate into the big-screen spectacle we all know, believe or hope it can be. The tagline for the film is "The world will be watching," and that's certainly the hope Lionsgate has for their potential four-movie (yes, dividing the last book into two films has been discussed) franchise.
We're less than two months away from the film's release (March 23 to be precise), and I have found myself caught up in all the pre-release hype. I remember talking to Katniss candidates almost exactly a year ago (don't cry for Hailee Steinfeld: She's shooting "Romeo & Juliet"; she'll be fine). And just last month, I sat down with the entire cast of the film to finally talk about what they shot, the huge expectations and more.
Last week, we rolled out my interview with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, and I know a lot of fans were thrilled to see how close the two clearly are. Of course, whether that translates into "chemistry" onscreen, well, that's a question for late March. This Thursday, by the way, you'll get a chance to see my full sit-down with the director of the film, Gary Ross. Frankly, Ross is the primary reason "The Hunger Games" is something I have legitimately high expectations for. Just a quick glance at his résumé as a writer ("Big," "Dave") and director (one of my favorites, "Pleasantville") should raise anyone's hopes for this big-screen translation.
ODDS & ENDS
The boy who lived lives on: It's perhaps a little odd to wish good fortune for a multimillionaire who's had as much success as Daniel Radcliffe has experienced in his young life, but I have to say I'm happy for the solid job he did in "The Woman in Black" and the fact that it attracted a decent audience (commensurate to its modest budget) in its opening weekend. If there's any guy who could sit back and do nothing, it's Dan, but he kicked ass on Broadway last year, and 2012 is off to a fine start for him. He's soon tackling Allen Ginsberg in a small indie as well. A fine start to phase two of his career.
Double-sided lightsabers are always cool: I don't care if you all think I'm crazy: I will be seeing "The Phantom Menace" when it comes out this Friday. Frankly, I don't really care about the 3-D. I just want to see a Star Wars film on the big screen again, and for all of its flaws, there's plenty to love in "Episode I." Hate Jar Jar all you want. You were dying inside the first time you saw that climactic lightsaber duel too. Was that just me? Really?
Watch "Bad Lieutenant" again: I've got Nic Cage on my interview docket this week, which means I will be seeing the first film in which a superhero urinates fire quite soon. And, yes, I'm looking forward to it.
Have any questions for the awesomely eccentric Mr. Cage? Send them my way to @JoshuaHorowitz.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
From 'The Avengers' to '21 Jump Street' and 'John Carter,' we rate the hits and misses of Sunday night's movie trailer premieres.By Kevin P. Sullivan
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in '21 Jump Street' Photo: Columbia Pictures
Whether you watched the entire game until the final nerve-racking moments or you found out the score through a friend's Facebook update, you probably know by now that the New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI. But if you weren't paying attention to the commercials, you don't know that the real winner of last night's game was a different kind of giant.
A green, radioactive giant.
That's right, "Marvel's The Avengers" and many other highly anticipated movies rolled out new footage and trailers during the Super Bowl commercial breaks. But not all of them were as successful as the Hulk, his team and their offensive drive. Let's talk about the big winners and losers of Sunday night's movie ads.
Winner: "The Avengers" The Avengers have assembled. This was the trailer of the night, and the extended online version was only cooler. For one of this summer's biggest films, it was seriously lacking in badass lead-up material until last night. The spot finally gave some validation that this may be the movie we have been waiting for.
Loser: "Battleship" When the first teaser thrown at the audience reads "From Hasbro, the company that brought you 'Transformers,' " it already looks like trouble. As much as we want to root for Taylor Kitsch, we've had enough of the Transformers-inspired mechanical mayhem. Also, boom goes Rihanna.
Winner: "21 Jump Street" Advanced screenings of the Jonah Hill-written comedy have left people raving, and the Super Bowl commercial delivered some solid laughs. "You look super young. Were you held forward?" Perfect comeback, Channing.
Loser: "John Carter" TV Spot Why would Disney spend millions of dollars to air an ad during the Super Bowl for their effects-heavy movie but decide to zoom out of the scenes to spell the title out with them? It defies logic.
Winner: "John Carter" Extended Online Spot It has the same stupid letter thing, but it also, you know, shows us actual scenes from the movie at full size. This was the ad that would have gotten us excited for the fantasy epic.
Loser: "Act of Valor" The concept of watching actual Navy SEALS in a film would seem more appealing if the movie itself didn't look so generic.
Winner: "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" The movie has already been widely dismissed as a disaster, but we will never say no to a tight 30 seconds of Nic Cage with his head on fire.
Loser: "The Dictator" When the joke begins to feel old after just 30 seconds, it's not a good.
Winner: "The Hunger Games" The hotly anticipated YA adaptation had the benefit of having a great first trailer to add to already high expectations. They can count their Super Bowl ad as their second victory.
Loser: "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" IMAX Tree-D.
Special Jury Prize: "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" Basic physics states that after Stephen Sommers' first "G.I. Joe" movie, no sequel could save the series. Thankfully, physics doesn't account for Dwayne Johnson and ninja cliff fights, because, despite all expectations, "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" looks fantastic.
'Hey Tim, my parents say hi,' Perry announced at an NFL awards ceremony.By Jocelyn Vena
Katy Perry at Super Bowl XLVI Photo: Getty Images
Katy Perry got her Super Bowl on over the weekend in Indianapolis. The Grammy-nominated singer donned some colorful gear when she headlined the DIRECTV Super Saturday Night party, but it's the folks she shouted out during the bash's performance that drew attention.
When Perry took the stage the night before the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, she wore a football-themed outfit (jersey-style top and short shorts) and busted through a banner with her name on it, People.com reported.
The singer asked the crowd, "Who else is excited for Madonna? That's the only reason that I came!"
Madge, of course, took the stage on Sunday for the Super Bowl halftime show, which featured gladiator fashions by Givenchy and appearances from M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and Cee Lo Green.
Madonna's daughter, Lourdes, was in attendance at Perry's show, as were Shaquille O'Neal, Neil Patrick Harris and his partner David Burtka, Chris Meloni, and Scott Wolf.
Before Perry launched into her cheerleader anthem-sounding Teenage Dream track "Peacock," she shouted out one football player who wasn't even playing in Sunday's big game: "This one goes out to Tim Tebow," she said.
According to E! News, earlier on Saturday at the NFL Honors ceremony, Perry presented an award to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and had another message for Tebow. "Hey Tim, my parents say hi," she said. Perry's parents are reportedly trying to matchmake the pair.
While Perry spent her weekend teasing Tebow at various events, a source who attended the ESPN Next party on Friday night tell MTV News that Tebow spent the night flirting with TV host Maria Menounos. The two chatted it up while Drake handed out shots to the women in attendance before performing at the party. Kellan Lutz, Matthew Morrison, Jermaine Dupri, Cam Newton, Plaxico Burress, Michael Strahan, Vivica Fox, Sherri Shepherd, Spike Lee, Connor Cruise and Blake Shelton were also spotted at the bash.
'We're trying to put that young, youthful energy out in the air,' Diddy tells MTV News about his new Bad Boy signees.By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Diddy Photo: MTV News
The saga continues. Diddy is pretty excited about his new Bad Boy Records roster, but the music mogul isn't done adding new talent to the storied label. "It's time for a whole new generation; it's time for a whole new movement. So we got [Machine Gun Kelly], French Montana, Red Café; we got Cassie," Diddy told MTV News correspondent Sway while at a French Montana video shoot on January 29. "We also have a new artist named Los that we signed. It's official. We're trying to put that young, youthful energy out in the air and do it the only way that Bad Boy can do it."
Underground rap fans have gotten familiar with Los thanks to his collection of lyrically heavy mixtapes. This isn't his first go-round with Diddy's label, however. He first auditioned for Puff's "Making the Band" but refused to sign any of the paperwork required to appear on the show. The Baltimore MC then signed to Bad Boy, through local label Bloc Incorporated around 2005 after he auditioned for Puff with a 10-minute freestyle. Bloc Incorporated would eventual disband and Los wound up losing his deal with Bad Boy in 2008 before he was able to drop any material.
Since 2008 Los has dropped a number of mixtapes. His latest, The Crown Ain't Safe, was released in December and featured contributions from DMX and Twista. "When I say The Crown Ain't Safe, I just mean whoever is viewed as #1," Los told Mixtape Daily back in August before referencing basketball great Michael Jordan and his onetime sidekick. "I just feel like it's for the taking. Why wouldn't you want to be #1? I'm not Scottie Pippen; I want to be #1."
Whether or not Los will get that #1 spot remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: He is on the right team. "It's definitely reinvention time; it's rebuilding time," Diddy told Sway of his new Bad Boy team. "When you've been doing it for as long as we've been doing it, we the last ones standing from when we were doing it. And that's not taking shots at nobody, that's just a fact."
What do you think of Diddy's new signee Los? Tells us in the comments!
Robin Antin talks to MTV News about Kardashian-produced PCD reality show.By Jocelyn Vena
Robin Antin Photo: MTV News
One day after the new Pussycat Dolls lineup made debuted during a Go Daddy Super Bowl commercial, the Dolls are already working on their next small-screen project — and this time, it includes reality-TV queen Kim Kardashian.
PCD creator Robin Antin stopped by the MTV Newsroom late last month, and she had some fun teases about what fans should expect from their in-the-works, forthcoming show. "We're developing a reality show with Kim Kardashian as an executive producer and Nigel Lythgoe," Antin said of Kim K. and the "American Idol" producer and "So You Think You Can Dance" judge. "He wanted to get into reality TV and was very interested in doing something with me. Obviously, with the Pussycat Dolls, he's always been a big fan."
Antin appears on "So You Think You Can Dance" from time to time, and as for Kim, she performed as a Doll back in 2008. Also, Antin said, Kardashian "understands reality more than anyone I know."
"Kim is one of my best friends and has been for many, many years and so supportive and said, 'I'd love to be a part of really showing your world, the empire of really what you have built and the world around you ... and all the girls that revolve around that.' "
With a new Doll lineup (which includes Chrystina Sayers from Girlicious, "So You Think You Can Dance" contestant Paula Van Oppen, Paradiso Girl and "Party Rock Anthem" collaborator Lauren Bennett, former Laker Girl Vanessa Curry and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Erica Jenkins), Antin thinks now is as good a time as any to put their ups and downs on tape.
"The engine of all Pussycat Dolls [projects] is the recording ground, and now having the new recording group, it made sense to focus on the launch of this new group and how that engine opens up all the doors for all the different things that I'm doing that are a part of the brand," she said. "So it's a really fun, interesting, wacky world inside what I do."
However, Antin noted, the show won't be about catfights or exploiting the lows that come with the highs. "It's not about showing all the drama and all the girls fighting," she said. "I'm not interested in that — although the reality is, there are things that happen and we're OK with showing the reality. We focus so much and want to inspire people to show that girls can work together and act like sisters and get along. And through dancing and singing, I want to inspire everyone. These girls are the next generation."
What do you want to see from a new PCD reality show? Let us know in the comments!
From her support of the Tamil Tigers to her politically charged music videos, M.I.A. has never shied away from controversy.By James Montgomery
M.I.A. performs at the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic
M.I.A.'s middle finger may currently be the most-discussed digit in America, dominating the post-Super Bowl chatter and earning swift rebukes from NBC and the NFL. But for those who've covered her career from the beginning, well, let's just say this is basically par for the course.
Because ever since M.I.A. first broke through in 2004, she's courted controversy, first for her outspoken support of the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lankan separatist organization that engaged in acts of terror and has been linked to the assassination of Sri Lankan and Indian leaders. That support and her overtly political lyrics led to her being denied a travel visa by the U.S. government and earned her a spot on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's risk list in 2006. So, really, a middle finger is no big thing.
And over the past few years, she hasn't exactly mellowed. In 2010, she raised eyebrows with the graphic video for "Born Free," a clip that saw security forces (with American flags prominently displayed) round up red-headed citizens and summarily execute them in brutal fashion. It was a savage bit of socio-political commentary, though most missed that message entirely, focusing instead on the blood and guts, which earned the video a measure of YouTube ignominy and had critics howling.
Her outspoken ways also drew the ire of both Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber fans, after she called Gaga "a good mimic" and said the content of "Born Free" was no less offensive than anything Bieber had churned out.
And then, she launched a lengthy (and much-covered) offensive against New York Times writer Lynn Hirschberg, posting her phone number on Twitter and releasing a diss song called "I'm a Singer" after reading what she believed to be an unflattering feature in the Times. Though Hirschberg remained largely silent on the matter, the Times did eventually admit that a pair of M.I.A.'s quotes were rearranged in the piece.
Finally, earlier this month, she unveiled the video for "Bad Girls," which re-teamed her with "Born Free" director Romain Gavras and is loaded with socially (and politically) charged imagery, like women cloaked in burqas doing stunts in expensive cars as men in keffiyeh look on, smoldering oil fields and assault rifles.
Were you offended by M.I.A.'s halftime gesture? Leave your comment below.
Swedish House Mafia's Ingrosso said he's 'so happy' for his mentee and rising EDM star.By Akshay Bhansali
Swedish House Mafia's Sebastain Ingrosso Photo: MTV News
When MTV News caught up with Swedish House Mafia's Sebastian Ingrosso at Las Vegas' XS Nightclub recently, the DJ/producer was beaming with pride. That's because his mentee, Alesso, a young talent from Sweden, now stands as a formidable star on the rise.
Having dropped a couple of healthy tracks and remixes in 2010, MTV News first previewed the young Alesso's capabilities when SHM launched into his thunderous "Nillionaire" at their beachfront Masquerade Motel party over Miami Music Week last year. Since then, Ingrosso and the SHM camp have personally cultivated the young star into a hit-making wizard — seemingly cooking up undeniable hits with each release and remix.
"Nillionaire," "Dynamite," "Raise Your Head," and the popular DJ set staple "Calling" with Ingrosso remain Alesso's original bombshells of 2011. His remix game is seemingly unparalleled. With his remixes of David Guetta's "Titanium" and SHM's "Save the World," Alesso struck gold. But with his rework of Alex Kenji, Starkillers and Nadia Ali's "Pressure," he created one of the most far-reaching EDM anthems of the year.
In 2012, his continued trajectory seems almost cemented: "Calling" will have a vocal version, and it looks like Alesso, Seb and SHM's Steve Angello will have a hit on their hands with their "Eclipse (Why am I Doing This)."
"I'm so proud of him, and what we've worked on," Seb told MTV News. "The last couple of years have been just crazy. I told him just before the EDC show in Vegas [Electric Daisy Carnival last year], 'I'm going to change your life tonight. Just so you know that.' And he was like, 'What do you mean?' And I said, 'Watch and see.' "
"And after that, it's just been mayhem," Seb continued. "He's been doing so much great music and so many big shows. I'm just so happy for him. I'm like a proud father, you know. I'm just so happy for him."
It seems like fans of Alesso will have plenty of new music to look forward to, and soon. Alesso tweeted Friday (February 3), "I have so many new tracks coming out 2012! So f---ing excited to play them this year!!! Hope you guys are ready!!"
What are you hoping to see from Alesso this year? Leave your comment below!
We're hoping for a Beyoncé sighting and some NY-centric rap cameos for Hov's first-ever concert at the famed venue tonight.By Rob Markman
Jay-Z Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Jay-Z has seen it all and done it all — or so we thought. Just when it looked like there was no new ground for Hov to cover, the multiplatinum rap superstar announced he would be performing a pair of shows at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.
For the first time ever, Jay will hit the Carnegie Hall stage on Monday night (February 6), followed by a second show on Tuesday, and it's all for a good cause. Proceeds from the privately sold premium-priced tickets will go to Jigga's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and the United Way in an effort to put low-income New York City students in a position to attend college.
When Hov first announced the concert dates back in December, he told MTV News that he wasn't sure what the night would bring, but Jay-Z fans know the rap mogul often has a trick or two up his Maison Martin Margiela sleeves. Here are some things we hope to see:
"Glory" featuring B.I.C. Two days after wife Beyoncé gave birth to the couple's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, Big Poppa Jay dropped "Glory," a dedication track to daddy's little girl. The Pharrell-produced track featured the "Streets Is Watching" rapper like we've never seen him as he rhymed about the joys of fatherhood. Hopefully, Jay will perform the track ... and maybe even roll out Baby Blue in a stroller for her first public appearance? It would be an incredible, if highly unlikely moment.
Beyoncé "Crazy in Love," "Déjà Vu," "Upgrade U," Jay and Queen B have no shortage of hit records to perform. Granted, Beyoncé is probably on some type of musical maternity leave (and deservedly so). But it sure would be nice to see B make her first post-birth appearance onstage and hand-in-hand with hubby Hov.
"N---as in Paris" — Multiple Times People love Paris. While out on the Watch the Throne Tour, Jay-Z and Kanye West would perform their fan-favorite "N---as in Paris" multiple times each night. On the final stop in Vancouver, the duo rocked the song a record-breaking 11 times. So how many times will he rock the song at Carnegie Hall? "We have to do a rendition of 'N---as in Paris' in Carnegie Hall; it just has to go down," Jay laughed back in December. "I ain't think about that. That'll be great."
Rap Guests Jay has a ton of rap friends. From Big Daddy Kane to Kanye West, Hova's list of hip-hop collaborators is as long as his paper — maybe longer. Will he bring out the LOX for "Reservoir Dogs," Eminem for "Renegade" or Nas for "Black Republican"? You never know with Hov.
New Material During our December interview with Jay, the God MC hinted that 2012 would bring a new solo album for him and possibly another from the Throne. It's still early in the year, but how cool would it be for Jay to debut some fresh material for the Carnegie audience? It's for charity after all!
What are you expecting when Jay-Z plays Carnegie Hall for the first time? Tell us on our Facebook page!
But Jennifer Lawrence is less excited about her singing: 'I am a horrible singer. And I'm an even worse person to be around when I'm singing.'By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Jennifer Lawrence Photo: MTV News
For our fellow "Hunger Games" fans who obsess over Suzanne Collins' brilliant books and their upcoming film adaptations as much as we do, there are so many things to love about the story that it's difficult to pick just one or two (or five) things we're looking forward to seeing when the movie opens March 23. But two of the most intriguing elements involved in the book-to-movie translation are what the Capitol will look like and how star Jennifer Lawrence will sound singing Rue's Lullaby.
MTV News was lucky enough to get a few hints about those specific topics during our recent chat with Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, both of whom can't wait to see the Capitol in the finished film but disagree about their excitement for Lawrence's singing skills.
"[I'm excited to see] everything in the Capitol," Lawrence said. "Every time we showed up at a Capitol scene, I was so blown away. Everything was more than you could have even imagined."
"What was cool about the stuff in the Capitol, so much was practical," Hutcherson added. "The whole apartment scene was all a set they built that was super, incredibly futuristic and amazing, and to see how that is integrated with the whole green-screen world as well is going to be really, really cool."
Lawrence was not quite as enthusiastic about hearing her voice in the film, however. When we brought up the subject, she seemed to immediately get nervous about it.
"Oh God, oh God. Yeah, I did [sing]," she said when asked about recording "Rue's Lullaby." "I'm a terrible singer."
"She's not," Hutcherson said.
"No, Josh! Stop," Lawrence said to Hutcherson with sincerity. "He is messing with everyone."
"She's been called the songbird of her generation," Hutcherson jumped in with a smile, referencing a Will Ferrell line in "Step Brothers."
"My voice is a combination of Fergie and Jesus," Lawrence played along. "No, I am a horrible singer. And I'm an even worse person to be around when I'm singing. I'm a terrible singer. I hated it."
Lawrence said the recording process with famed producer T-Bone Burnett was particularly excruciating.
"T-Bone Burnett, like, the best person to ever happen to music is, like, listening in the other room. I kept getting ready, and then the music would play, and I'd [freak out]," she recalled. "Nothing would come out of my mouth."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
'That was the longest minute and a half of my life,' singer says of performing the national anthem.By Jocelyn Vena
Kelly Clarkson performs at Super Bowl 46 Photo: Ezra Shaw/ Getty Images
Kelly Clarkson kicked off the Super Bowl on Sunday night with an emotional, stirring rendition of the national anthem. Donning a black dress and heels, Clarkson gave a performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" that had everyone buzzing on Monday morning (February 6).
"I have probably sang the National Anthem a thousand times and have never been nervous, but I definitely was last night at the Super Bowl!" she told MTV News in a statement on Monday afternoon. "That was the longest minute and a half of my life ha!"
The performance wasn't just about Clarkson's big voice (though it mostly was), but also about the marching band and choir of children who were center-stage with the onetime "American Idol," who performed just moments before the New England Patriots and the New York Giants faced off in Indianapolis.
"I was very excited as well because of the drum line and the Indianapolis kids choir that were performing with me," she continued. "They made the performance stand out a lot more and those kids sounded so ethereal and beautiful! It was a huge honor to get to sing the anthem and I'd be proud to do it again!"
Clarkson wasn't the only A-lister to take the stage during the big game. Madonna performed during halftime, and much like Clarkson, she brought her own drum line to the stage, as well as LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, Cee Lo Green and M.I.A. But, unlike Madonna, Clarkson's performance included a lot less pomp and circumstance, and one less middle finger (which came courtesy of M.I.A.).
What did you think of Kelly Clarkson's rendition of the national anthem? Leave your comments on our Facebook page!
Duo also address their own critics tonight on MTV.com following the 'Gold on the Ceiling' video premiere at 7:54 p.m. on MTV.By James Montgomery
The Black Keys Photo: MTV News
On January 8, 2011 — nearly a decade after they first started kicking around in Akron, Ohio — the Black Keys made their first appearance on "Saturday Night Live." Needless to say, it was a pretty big moment for Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, who had spent no small portion of the past 10 years grinding out miles (and shows) in their van.
On January 14, 2012 — nearly six months after she first became a much-debated blog curio — Lana Del Rey performed on the same "SNL" stage. It was a pretty big moment, too, though mostly for her critics and those who enjoy deriding the current state of popular music. After all, they argue, it's debatable whether Del Rey has ever seen the inside of a van, let alone toured in one.
So when MTV News sat down with the Black Keys in Berlin — for an exclusive interview you can watch tonight (February 6) on MTV.com, following the MTV premiere of the duo's new "Gold on the Ceiling" video at 7:54 p.m. ET — we had to ask them for their thoughts on Del Rey's overnight success, and what it meant for bands trying to make a living in 2012.
"On some level, we've seen that Lana Del Rey thing since we first started, like, all of a sudden this new band would be headlining festivals, and we're like, 'Wait, how did they get that? We've been here for two, three, four, five years and we're still working our way up,' " Auerbach said. "But then they're gone. Just as quickly as they get up there, they disappear."
"It's different for everybody. It took us a really long time to get on 'Saturday Night Live,' and it took her a shorter amount of time," Carney added. "But I honestly feel bad for a lot of bands that are starting out with the way things are. ... The trends kind of flip over so fast — something's cool and not cool and it all happens within two to three months."
Of course, it bears mention that the same outlets that have criticized Del Rey for her perceived lack of authenticity and quick rise to a major-label deal are the very same outlets that have largely ignored (or largely ripped) the Black Keys, a band that has spent a decade making the slow climb to the top. And when it came to that point, well, the Keys didn't exactly hide their displeasure.
"Yeah, [it's] 'cause they're pricks," Carney snorted. "It's like, 'What the f--- are you talking about, motherf---er?' "
And though you'll hear more of their thoughts on the media during our full interview, you can reasonably assume that the Black Keys don't take criticisms kindly. In fact, they've been taking mental notes, and someday they'll even the score.
Don't miss the premiere of the Black Keys' "Gold on the Ceiling" video tonight at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an in-depth chat with the band on MTV.com.
Rathbone tells Us Weekly he is 'thrilled and excited' to have a child with girlfriend Sheila Hafsadi.By Kara Warner
Jackson Rathbone Photo: Mark Sullivan/ WireImage/ Getty Images
"Twilight" star Jackson Rathbone has been a very busy man over the last few years, juggling his rising career as an actor, as well as working to establish himself as a musician with his band 100 Monkeys. It turns out that the 27-year-old is going to be even busier in the coming months when he and burlesque dancer girlfriend Sheila Hafsadi welcome a child into the world.
That's right, Jackson Rathbone is going to be a dad. According to Us Weekly, the couple will become first-time parents later this year. Rathbone's rep told the magazine that he and Hafsadi are "thrilled and excited to be expecting their first child."
Rathbone and Hafsadi, 24, who is said to be five months pregnant, reportedly met at one of his band's performances and have already been busy preparing for the baby. A source told the magazine that the actor/musician recently traded in not one, but two of his vehicles for a hybrid SUV in order to have more room for a growing family.
In addition to the anticipation and excitement that surrounds the arrival of a new baby, Rathbone will have a jam-packed 2012 with the release of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" in November, along with the potential release of several diverse film projects: "Cowgirls 'N Angels," "Zombie Hamlet," the dramedy musical "DaZe: Vol. Too - NonSeNse" and "Live At The Foxes Den."
Speaking of what fans still have to look forward to from his character Jasper Cullen in "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," Rathbone told MTV News there is a particularly poignant moment in the final film that he can't wait to see on the big screen.
"There's a very fulfilling moment for myself as an actor and as a fan of the books and of the film series that you get to see, in the end, really how much these characters love one another and how much they function as a family," Rathbone said of the franchise's final film. "Even though they are kind of an odd family of vampires. Vegetarian vampires, at that. They're an odd bunch."
Send your well-wishes for Rathbone in the comments below!
How did the film do so much with so little? Simon Hansen tells MTV News.By Kevin P. Sullivan
Alex Russell in "Chronicle" Photo: 20th Century Fox
This weekend, the teenage superheroes of "Chronicle" edged out Harry Potter himself at the box office with their amazing abilities. Made on a relatively tight budget of $12 million, the found-footage superhero movie made almost twice its budget back in domestic ticket sales alone.
Part of the reason for the success, no doubt, was due to the work of visual-effects supervisor Simon Hansen and his team in South Africa. They created all the usual sights of a superhero flick but with a fraction of the budget.
MTV News spoke with Hansen to find out how he did so much with so little. (There are minor spoilers ahead.)
MTV: Where does work begin when trying to tackle something like "Chronicle" on such a low budget?
Simon Hansen: That was obviously the challenge of the film and one of the reasons that I was keen to get involved with the project from the beginning. I get to play with commercially viable films that are also cost-effective to make. Having read the script, it was a small film. It's supposed to be low-budget, relatively. I started making notes when we read the script, noting down all the effects. By the time I got to the third act, I put my pen down because it got so hectic that making notes at that point was a bit of a waste of time. There was clearly a hell of a lot more work that needed to be done. From that point of view, it was a really big film for a low budget, and that was what excited me and what excited everyone on the project. This was the little film that we were going to push further than smaller films normally go.
MTV: What's your approach for doing what the big-budget movies do but with a fraction of the money?
Hansen: My background was actually pursuing that as a goal from a very early age in the industry, trying to make things that looked great but didn't cost a lot. It wasn't a new idea from that point of view. It wasn't daunting or hindering; it was actually the most exhilarating part of the process. The superhero genre is a good comparison, which I think has too much money. Having these large budgets is removing the innovation from the project. Capping the budget is a way to force that ingenuity and innovation into the project, which I think does come across. I think "Chronicle" has that feel of being a higher-budget film than it is, but it always has a kind of edginess to it at the same time.
MTV: Was there a question of "Can we do everything that's in the script?"
Hansen: Yes, the first question is, "Read the script and tell us how much of it we can do and what you think we can't do." My pitch that [producer] Adam [Schroeder] and [director] Josh [Trank] bought on "Chronicle" was that the first thing I was going to try to do was reduce the number of visual-effects shots in the film, because even though my background is visual effects, I like to think of myself as a filmmaker first. I'm not in love with CGI for its own sake. I'd rather do things in camera, and I think most directors would. I think audiences really appreciate the grittiness and edginess of stuff that's real. If you're forced to do CGI, try to do it in a way that's really minimalist, where most of what you're doing is real.
MTV: What was the most challenging shot on the film?
Hansen: The most important and the one I considered the biggest challenge was any kind of flying. What ended up happening was we ended up designing brand-new rigs to actually make people fly that worked out really well. It's probably my favorite part of the process. It's weird in effects how some shots start out one way and they don't seem that difficult, and they end up being really difficult. The most difficult sequence was where Andrew beats up the thugs and tosses them around the street because we had to shoot that all in one day and all those different people were on wires and rigs. We had to do it in different parts and put it all together. You get tripped up by the sun moving during the day when you have to shoot it all in one day. The light's changing all the time, and you're shooting different elements together. For the level of complexity of that shot and the time we had to do it, that was definitely the most difficult.
MTV: How did you come up with the solution for making the characters fly?
Hansen: I'd been very frustrated, even with big-budget films and how they've done flying. Some of the bad examples, not to knock anyone, "Armageddon" 's weightless sequence, for example, was a movie that had a lot of money and didn't get it right. Lots of films don't get it right. I knew it wasn't necessarily about the budget. It was about the technique to get flying to work. I spent a lot of time analyzing footage of sky diving and looking how bodies move in free motion. As a result, I ended up designing a big hamster-wheel rig that the subject would be strapped to in the center and he could be spun within this rig, which could turn itself. You'd get two axes out of it. The actors called it the Wheel of Death because you actually get strapped into this thing and a motor spins you around while the wheel is actually turning. You can do full-on McTwist-type movements. What I tried to get away from was a situation where you pick someone up on wires and move them from one side of a soundstage to another in front of a green screen.
MTV: Was there anything you simply couldn't accomplish with the budget?
Hansen: I think we pretty much did just about everything that we wanted to in the script. There were some shots that didn't work out the way that we wanted them to, where we had to reshoot them or come up with another way to do them. The closest we came to cutting things — we didn't in the end — but the closest we came was not the kind of effect that you'd even be aware of. When Andrew films himself in the mirror and we're using a considerably larger camera than the one he's using, we needed to shoot with one camera and replace it and Andrew in the mirror with the smaller camera. Those turned out to be really difficult shots to plan and get right. No one will really pay them any attention. It's amazing how that always happens.
Check out everything we've got on "Chronicle."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Daniel and Danger tell MTV News what they're looking forward to on the latest episode, which airs tonight at 10 p.m. ET.By Christina Garibaldi
Matt "Danger" and Daniel of "Caged" teach MTV News' Christina Garibaldi fighting moves Photo: MTV News
The stars of MTV's new docu-series "Caged" have been in the ring with some of the fiercest competitors in their league. They've been punched, kicked and even knocked unconscious.
Yet, when two of the stars from the show, Daniel and Matt (a.k.a Danger), visited New York City, we put them up against their toughest competition yet: Me.
That's right, I put Daniel and Danger up to the ultimate challenge of teaching me MMA. After much instruction, I was taught to punch, kick and work my way out of what they call a "schoolyard headlock," which is not as easy as it may look. Even though they assured me I was ready to enter the cage, I think I will leave the fighting up to them.
After our workout, we took Daniel and Danger to the heart of New York: Times Square. Just a few months ago, these two could have never dreamt of leaving their small town of Minden, Louisiana, but as they strolled through Times Square for the first time, these two were both mesmerized as they took in the sights and sounds and their newfound fame.
"It is an adjustment," Daniel said. "I'm dealing with it pretty good, though. It's just trying to get used to people acting like I'm a superstar or something."
Fans might think they know everything about Daniel, but with the fifth episode airing Monday (February 6) at 10 p.m. ET, he is ready for everyone to see a new side.
"I can't wait for the fans to see me being more open," Daniel said. "The honest side of me, because I hate if there's any chance of me being fake. I want to be honest to everybody. I don't like lying to people or being fake, that's one of the biggest things for me."
Danger, who faced his toughest opponent in last week's episode, wants fans to recognize just how much he has developed as a fighter.
"I'm just excited for everybody to see my fights. I worked really hard at this," Danger said. "I love fighting. I take it very seriously. I plan on moving forward with it in the future. I'm really excited for everyone to see my fights and see me grow as a fighter and as a person through the season."
Don't miss "Caged" every Monday at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. For continuing "Caged" coverage, be sure to check in with MTV's Remote Control blog.
Found-footage film earns $22 million, beating out Daniel Radcliffe's 'Woman in Black.'By Ryan J. Downey
Dane DeHaan in "Chronicle" Photo: Alan Markfield/ 20th Century Fox
The Super Bowl couldn't stop another found-footage flick from topping the box office. Box-office receipts were up more than 30 percent from last year's Super Bowl weekend as "Chronicle" took the #1 spot with Daniel Radcliffe's first post-"Potter" flick, "The Woman in Black," close behind at #2. "Chronicle" took in $22 million while "Woman in Black" earned $21 million, according to studio estimates.
The feel-good Alaskan whale story "Big Miracle," starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski ("The Office"), debuted at #4 with $8.5 million. Meanwhile, Super Bowl halftime performer Madonna saw her "W.E." open with a ho-hum $45,000 in four theaters. Despite the film's director earning a Golden Globe for her song from the movie, "W.E." has suffered from mostly negative reviews.
While it didn't open as strongly as the "Paranormal Activity" movies, "Cloverfield" or last month's found-footage flick, "The Devil Inside," teen superhero-centered "Chronicle" enjoyed the fourth highest Super Bowl debut ever and took the #1 spot internationally. Considering the movie's estimated production budget of $12 million, the found-footage phenomenon will undoubtedly continue.
The modest success of "The Woman in Black" was good news for Radcliffe, who had yet to top-line a movie in a role as anyone other than "Harry Potter." Its numbers were comparable with the 2006 remake of "When a Stranger Calls," which was also a horror flick directed at teens that opened on Super Bowl weekend. Both Radcliffe's ghost story and "Chronicle" earned mostly positive reviews.
Last weekend's #1 movie, "The Grey," dropped to #3 with $9.5 million. The Liam Neeson vehicle, which, like "Big Miracle," takes places in Alaska, has made $34.7 million thus far. "Underworld: Awakening" rounded out the top five with $5.6 million for a $53.4 million total.
Awards season favorite "The Artist" and "The Iron Lady" (which has earned Meryl Streep another Oscar nomination) both passed the $20 million mark over the weekend. Each movie is playing at roughly 1,000 locations; "Chronicle," by comparison, opened in 2,907.
This weekend's new releases include "The Vow," which sees Rachel McAdams returning to source material from "The Notebook" author Nicholas Sparks, opposite Channing Tatum; Denzel Washington's "Safe House"; "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, which is already doing solid business overseas; and the 3-D re-release of "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace," which is the first in a series of planned "Star Wars" 3-D re-releases over the next few years. Woody Harrelson's corrupt cop drama "Rampart," which reunites the actor with "The Messenger" writer/ director Oren Moverman, will open in limited release.
Nothing to do? Check out our community tab for links to upcoming events in the Basin, in Southern Oregon, and in the whole state of Oregon!