Friday, November 22, 2013

Robert De Niro wants Taxi Driver sequel



Robert De Niro wants to star in a 'Taxi Driver' sequel. 
The Oscar-winning actor, who played war veteran Travis Bickle in the 1976 film, would like to revisit the character and has talked about the possibility with director Martin Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader. 
The 70-year-old star told The Guardian newspaper: 'I said, why don't we write something? And I talked to Marty and Paul did take a shot at something, whether it was an outline or a script, I forget. 
'But somehow we didn't think it was right and it didn't take off. But I'd like to see where Travis is today. There was something about that guy - all that rage and alienation, that's what the city can do to you. I mean Marty and I are from New York, and even we can feel alienated.'
De Niro is currently starring in 'The Family' as Giovanni Manzoni, a mafia supergrass who find himself marooned in small-town France. 
These days, the actor says he doesn't over think roles and would rather do a scene in one take. 
He said: 'I used to worry about doing take after take.Now I don't worry about it so much. You can get it in the first take, more often than not. 
'If there's some aspect of the character that you're really trying to get, then maybe have two.'
'The Family' hits cinemas on November 22.

James Cameron’s battle for Avatar investment


James Cameron had to film 40 seconds of 'Avatar' to convince a studio to invest in it. 
The director's 3-D movie adventure pushed the boundaries of filmmaking and set a new precedent for how realistic movies could be - as well as setting a box office record by grossing $2.8 billion - but Cameron found it wasn't easy to get the funding to make it.
He told France's TF1 TV channel: 'It's always difficult to convince any Hollywood studio to make a technically-challenging film.
'We convinced them by filming 40 seconds of what the film was going to look like. As soon as they saw the 3d test, they understood what we wanted to do. 
'I think 'Avatar' represented the latest thing in terms of new images. In this case, the classic story which cinemagoers can identify with works a bit like a gateway into the visual universe 'Avatar' offers.'
Although his movie opened the floodgates to a new era in cinema, Cameron doesn't think the basic structure behind all good movies will ever change. 
He added: 'Technology will definitely evolve, the context will chance, but it won't ever change the fact that to make a good move, you have to have a good story and interesting characters. That's why people still want to leave their houses and sit in a darkened room with others to experience it. I don't think it'll ever stop

Meryl Streep to play Susan Boyle in biopic?



Meryl Streep has been approached to play Susan Boyle on the big screen.
The 'Iron Lady' actress has reportedly been offered a role as the iconic singer, who shot to fame when she auditioned for UK TV show 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2009, in the upcoming movie adaptation of her life.
Scottish singing sensation Susan told the Metro newspaper: 'I wouldn't like to be in the film myself. I'd like someone to play me. Probably Meryl Streep - I understand she has been approached.'
Meryl's alleged involvement comes as a surprise since the 'I Dreamed A Dream' singer previously revealed her top - and only - pick to play herself was 'Harry Potter' favourite Julie Walters, with Hollywood heartthrob, George Clooney, as her manager.
Susan said last year: 'There's only one person I'd love to play me - and that's Julie Walters. She would do the job and you just know she would do my story justice.'
The 52-year-old star has picked up the acting bug after making a cameo appearance in new movie 'Christmas Candle', a role which allowed the singleton to pucker up for her very first on-screen kiss.
Susan added: 'I play church warden's wife. I found it very challenging. I would love to go on and do comedy. I have an outrageous sense of humour.'

Rita Ora on road to recovery


Rita Ora is on the road to recovery after collapsing in Miami. 
The 'R.I.P' singer, who was on the set of a photo shoot, was rushed to hospital on Monday (18.11.13) after falling ill due to
'heat exhaustion and dehydration'.
After leaving hospital she tweeted fans saying: 'Just lying In bed in Miami on the road to recovery @lilyallen is everything I needed and more it's hard out here! Yes! #golily #badbitch'
'Just to say. I love you guys. I'm getting better. Thank you for all your support. I love you. Sorry to scare you. I got scared too. 
'Ok going back to getting better. I just wanted to give u a update (sic). Love you. I'll be back soon. Keep dancing!!!'
The blonde beauty was carried out of her make-up trailer during the beginning of a shoot for Madonna and daughter Lourdes' Material Girl clothing line at Soho Beach House Hotel in the Florida resort at about 2.30pm. 
The 22-year-old singer was photographed being put onto a stretcher and taken to the Mount Sinsi Medical Centre in Miami Beach. She has since been snapped on her hotel balcony as she stays out of the scorching heat. 
Madonna previously said about the star: 'Rita is a talented beauty but what really drew us to her is the confidence she oozes through her music and her unique sense of style. 
'On stage or off, in photos or on the street - she's a magnet! This is what the Material Girl brand is all about!'

Ariana Grande to release new Christmas songs



Ariana Grande will release a single each week in the lead up to Christmas. 
Fans of 'The Way' singer will be treated to one festive track per week until the December 11 as part of her 'Christmas Kisses' campaign, which includes two original tracks and two popular covers including Wham classic 'Last Christmas' which was released today (20.11.13).
Ariana paired up with famed producers Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds and The Rascals - the team behind her debut album 'Yours Truly' - to put a fresh spin on the 1984 hit, with re-written verses.
The single has quickly become a trending topic on Twitter, and the brunette beauty took to the social networking-site to share her excitement after it entered at number seven in the US iTunes chart.
She wrote: '#LastChristmas is already in the top ten :D so glad ur enjoying it y'all are so good to me, thank you. (sic)'
She added: 'So grateful for your reaction to #lastchristmas can't wait for you to hear what's coming next week....... 1 song down... 3 more to go.'
'Christmas Kisses' comes fresh off the success of her first studio album 'Yours Truly' which peaked at number two in the UK charts and rocketed to the number one spot in the US within 19 minutes of its release.
The 20-year-old singer later became the first female artist to enter the charts at the number one spot with a debut album since January 2010.
'Christmas Kisses' tracklist and release dates:
01. 'Last Christmas', 20.11.13
02. 'Love Is Everything', 27.11.13
03. 'Snow In California', 04.12.13
04. 'Santa Baby', 11.12.13

Alexa Chung loves London street style


Alexa Chung loves London 'street style'.
The 30-year-old star thinks England's capital has a unique look which doesn't compare to anywhere else, but maintains that it is often difficult to find a good bargain in the city.
She told Stylist magazine: 'London street style is the best in the world. Fact. 
'It's hard these days, most things have gone and there's only bad 80s stuff left. LA is still good for bargains but it's tricky to find gems in London and New York now.'
Alexa often looks to English musician and frontman of The Rolling Stones, Sir Mick Jagger, or the late Nirvana star Kurt Cobain when she wants to create tomboy look. 
She turns to English actress Jane Birkin or French singer Françoise Hardy if she wants to opt for a more feminine style. 
Quizzed on her go-to style inspiration, she said: 'Mick Jagger or Kurt Cobain if I'm feeling tomboyish. On a girlie day, it's Jane Birkin or Françoise Hardy.'

Kim denies weight loss surgery


Kim Kardashian has slammed rumours she had secret procedures to get rid of her baby weight. 
The 33-year-old star, who gave birth five months ago to daughter North West, says she is annoyed at reports she lost 50lbs by having fat-reducing treatments. 
The brunette beauty took to Twitter to address the reports and wrote: 'I am very frustrated today seeing reports that I got surgery to lose my baby weight! This is FALSE. 
'I worked so hard to train myself to eat right healthy, I work out so hard this was such a challenge for me but I did it!!! 
'I'm so proud of my accomplishment NO ONE will take this away from me with fake reports!'
Kim added: 'Say what u want about me but I work hard am the most disciplined person u will ever meet!'
According to Life and Style magazine, the star allegedly spent more than $80,000 on stretch-mark treatments and fat-reducing ultrasound procedures to get back in shape. But Kim claims the rumours are false and she did not take the easy way out. 
The future Mrs Kanye West first showed off her post-baby body on 'Tonight with Jay Leno' and credited her success to the Atkins diet and regular workouts, while admitting harsh comments about her weight 'really did affect' her.
She said: 'It really hurt my soul. There were these stories where I was, like, 200 pounds. I was gaining weight because I was pregnant and it was really hard to read all these stories and hear all these nasty things.'