LATEST: REMY MA has owned up to shooting a woman outside a Manhattan nightclub last year (07) - but insists the gun went off by accident.
Remy Ma leaving Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons. New York City, USA - 01.02.08
The hip-hop star - real name Remy Smith - is currently on trial in New York for allegedly shooting Makeda Barnes-Joseph in July (07) after a dispute over money.
Smith has always maintained her innocence over the alleged incident and has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, gang assault and witness intimidation.
However, in the trial's closing arguments on Monday (24Mar08), Smith's lawyer admitted that the rapper had shot Barnes-Joseph, but claimed the weapon had discharged accidentally during a scuffle.
Attorney Ivan Fisher told the court: "There is no other explanation for why Remy Smith would have chosen that unique moment in time to shoot her."
Makeda Barnes-Joseph, who was left critically wounded after the alleged shooting, recently dropped a $80 million (GBP40 million) lawsuit against the rapper in order to await the outcome of the star's trial.
Jury deliberation over the case is due to begin on Tuesday (25Mar08). Smith faces up to 25 years in jail if convicted.
GUY RITCHIE's father has hit back at rumours his sons' marriage to MADONNA is in trouble - insisting he was 'shocked' by the reports.
MADONNA and GUY RITCHIE
Ritchie's marriage to the superstar came under intense scrutiny earlier this month (10Mar08) when the director failed to show up at New York's Rock + Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, where his wife was honoured.
This was the latest of several events the couple had failed to attend together, prompting scurrilous reports they'd split.
But Ritchie's dad, John, has become the pair's latest defender, blaming their hectic schedules for their time apart.
He says, "They're happy. I was shocked when I read they were supposed to have been having problems. They've been running around different places. That's why they haven't been seen together."
And John went on to dispel rumours that the Holiday hitmaker is planning on leaving her marital home in Britain and returning to her native U.S.
He adds, "She won't be going out to America to live for good. They've got lovely places here (in Britain)."
SIR PAUL McCARTNEY's estranged wife HEATHER MILLS once boasted to a journalist she was to be awarded a peerage by former British Prime Minister TONY BLAIR.
Heather Mills at the Royal Courts of Justice on the last day of her divorce battle with Sir Paul McCartney. London, England - 17.03.08
The former glamour model made the claims to reporter Jasper Gerard of British newspaper the Sunday Times back in 2001, prior to her marriage to the former Beatle.
Speaking in a new documentary about Mills' life, Gerard reveals that the 40-year-old insisted Tony Blair, who left office last year (07), had personally lined her up to receive the honour, which is normally reserved for important public figures.
Gerard goes on to claim that Mills declared she was undecided about whether to accept the peerage and become Baroness Mills because it was "a bit odd".
He says, "I was pretty gobsmacked that somebody who was essentially just a model and a bit of a part-time campaigner best known for being Paul McCartney's girlfriend should be offered a peerage.
"I kept waiting for her to smile and say, 'I'm joking' but actually no, she really did mean it."
Mills - who gained the title of Lady McCartney when she married the music legend in 2002 - faced a barrage of criticism last week (ends21Mar08) after the judge overseeing her divorce battle with McCartney accused her of indulging in "make-belief".
The couple split in May 2006 and have a four-year-old daughter, Beatrice.
Director: Joshua Seftel Cast:Ben Kingsley, Hilary Duff, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Marisa Tomei Synopsis: A government assassin is sent to a Middle-Eastern warzone where he is assigned to kill a rogue leader while posing as a chaperone for an Arab pop star.
SIR MICK JAGGER will continue touring with the ROLLING STONES because he finds performing onstage as pleasurable as sex.
MICK JAGGER
The legendary rockers have been playing together since the 1960s and wrapped up their most recent major world tour last year (07).
And Jagger insists the rush he gets at live shows is so addictive, he doubts he will ever be able to retire from the music business.
He says, "Performing is like sex. It is an addiction. It is why we are out there doing it. But you do have to be careful. To do it well, you can't do it all the time. It has to be the right time.
"It's like when you are young you think you should be having sex all the time. If you're reading a book, all you are thinking about is 'Why am I reading a book, why aren't I having sex? I'm wasting my time if I'm not having sex.'
"It is the most amazing feeling. But to do it right you have to prepare for it, you go up and perform and you get into this zone."
Pop star MIKA is refusing to start work on his second album - telling record company bosses they will have to wait until he is ready to begin the creative process.
Mika at The Brit Awards 2008 held at Earls Court. London, England - 20.02.08
The Grace Kelly hitmaker admits he is under pressure to pen a follow up his 2007 debut LP Life In Cartoon Motion but is determined to stand his ground and not start writing until he feels inspired - no matter how large the financial incentive.
He says, "People are trying to put pressure on me (to write a new album) but I'm not giving in. It will be ready when it's ready - expect the unexpected.
"I think some people see me as someone with a big pound sign on my head but I'm taking no notice. I've been going out a lot to check out weird visual theatre. I'm feeling very inspired."
Former wrestler HULK HOGAN has hit back at claims he staged hospital visits to JOHN GRAZIANO, who was left seriously injured after a 2007 car crash involving the star's son NICK.
Nick Hogan, Hulk Hogan and Brooke Hogan leaving a medical centre in Beverly Hills. Los Angeles, California - 16.01.08
Graziano's parents are suing Hogan - real name Terry Bollea - and his estranged wife, Linda, for failing to prevent the accident, which left their son in need of 24 hour care.
And the couple recently accused the Bollea family of staging a visit to the 23-year-old earlier this year (14Feb08) and informing the paparazzi of their presence to make it look as if they regularly spent time at John's bedside.
But Bollea's attorney, Morris 'Sandy' Weinberg Jr., has rubbished the claims, telling People.com, "The Bollea family has been visiting John for the last seven or eight months, and there's been no PR about it whatsoever. It's a bunch of nonsense to suggest their visits to John are a PR stunt. That's crazy."
Nick Bollea, 17, had his driving licence suspended for a year in November (07) after Florida officials deemed him a dangerous driver, following the August (07) accident that left his friend needing nursing care for the rest of his life.
Bollea has also been charged with reckless driving involving serious bodily injury and will be tried as an adult when his case reaches court next month (14Apr08).
SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS has settled a lawsuit with a man who accused the rap mogul of punching him in the jaw.
SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS
Gerard Rechnitzer alleged the hip-hop hitmaker hit him at a post-Oscars party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 2007 - after he objected to Combs' attempts to woo his fiancee.
The rap and fashion mogul was scheduled to stand trial on assault charges in May (08), even though he didn't face any criminal charges in relation to the incident because police found no cause for Rechnitzer's complaint when they investigated the altercation.
However, on Friday (21Mar08), Combs' attorney filed a legal document in Los Angeles to say the case has been settled.
The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, reports website TMZ.com.
TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE hitmaker TONY ORLANDO has signed up as TV spokesman for diet product NutriSystem after losing over 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms) on the weightloss program.
TONY ORLANDO
The 63-year-old singer, who shows off topless shots of his chubby former self in a new U.S. TV campaign, admits he first tried NutriSystem when he started to get embarrassed about his weight gain.
He says, "I was embarrassed to get this fat."
In his pitch to others desperate to shed the pounds, Orlando says, "NutriSystem makes it easy for you to lose weight and I never feel hungry."
Orlando also shows off an old pair of his 50-inch (127 centimetres) waist trousers; he has slimmed down to 34 inches (86.3 centimetres).
DEMI MOORE and BRUCE WILLIS' eldest daughter showed off her singing skills at a Hollywood party last week (20Mar08) - but failed to impress the celebrity crowd.
RUMER WILLIS
Rumer Willis, 19, who has hinted that she's planning to record an album, joined the house band at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Thursday night to belt out a rendition of Missy Elliott's The Rain.
But onlookers were far from amazed.
One partygoer tells PlanetGossip.Eonline.com, "It wasn't that she was that off-tune or horrible, but she just wasn't that good and the crowd was not feeling it."
OSMONDMANIA has returned to Britain - two Wembley Arena shows in London have sold out as the family group heads to Europe as part of its 50th anniversary tour.
The Osmonds celebrate their 50th anniversary with a performance at The Orleans Hotel Showroom. Las Vegas, Nevada - 14.08.07
The Osmonds will be touring Europe, Australia and southeast Asia this summer (08).
The Osmond family recently reunited to celebrate a historic 50th anniversary and performed live together for the first time in 27 years at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Environmentally-aware actor WOODY HARRELSON is developing a new non-toxic sewage treatment with scientists in Kentucky.
WOODY HARRELSON
The former Cheers star insists the new invention will "revolutionise" sewage systems across the world.
He tells Men's Journal magazine, "Usually our government treats our toxic sewage waste with a bunch of even more toxic chemicals, and then declares it safe for drinking.
"The method we're developing does it naturally with no chemicals, and it's 85 to 90 per cent clean when it comes out."
Scenes featuring woolly mammoths in the desert (10,000 B.C.), Marcus Aurelius dying in a gladiatorial arena (Gladiator) and Mayan human sacrifices to Sun God Kulkulan (Apocalypto) are among the offending incorrect scenes.
FRED THOMPSON is set to return to acting after a failed bid to become the next U.S. president.
Republican presidential hopeful Senator Fred Thompson stumps for the cowboy vote at an early morning breakfast fundraiser at Stoney's Rockin' Country Bar. Las Vegas, Nevada - 01.11.07
The former Law + Order star dropped out of the race for the White House in January (08) after a string of defeats, and now he has signed with Hollywood power firm the William Morris Agency.
It is not known what roles the former Tennessee senator is currently being considered for.
Movie star ANDY GARCIA has paid tribute to late mambo pioneer ISRAEL 'CACHAO' LOPEZ, calling the musician a 'father figure'.
ANDY GARCIA
The Ocean's Eleven star has released a statement after hearing of Lopez's death. The Cuban-born jazz musician and composer died in a Florida hospital on Monday (24Mar08).
Garcia states the 89-year-old "leaves with us a legacy of extraordinary trend-setting music, and an unequalled example of humanity."
He adds, "I had the great privilege of collaborating with Cachao as his producer and band member since 1990. Together we recorded four records.
"I also directed a documentary on his life, entitled Cachao, como su ritmo no hay dos, set around the now legendary concert in 1990, and the film Cachao, ahora si, which chronicles his creative process."
Garcia concludes by calling his collaborations and friendship with Lopez "one of the most important accomplishments of my life".
Hollywood superstar GEORGE CLOONEY insists he's the target of the year's first big celebrity April Fool's Day prank after reports suggested he's launching his own fashion line.
GEORGE CLOONEY
The Oscar winner was said to be planning to debut his clothing range, GC Exclusive By George Clooney, with a show at the Westin Palace in Milan, Italy.
But the amused actor says, "This is a hoax. I have no connection whatsoever with any clothing line bearing my name."
Two-time Oscar winner ROBERT DE NIRO has topped a new poll naming the Most Shameless Paycheque Role Of All Time.
ROBERT DE NIRO
De Niro's turn as Fearless Leader in cartoon series spin-off The Adventures Of Rocky + Bulwinkle (2000) comes in at number one on Entertainment Weekly's online countdown of respected actors who starred in films so dismal, they must have done so for the money.
Rounding out the top five are Tony Curtis and Dennis Hopper and their appearances in sequel The Bad News Bears Go To Japan (1978) and videogame adaptation Super Mario Bros. (1993) respectively.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING star JOHN CORBETT has urged male drivers to take kids with them on all trips - after learning that cops let speeding fathers off lightly.
JOHN CORBETT
The actor, who once trained to become a Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy, picked up tips from real-life cops while researching his new role in action film Street Kings.
And the hunk reveals one piece of advice he received will always stick with him.
He explains, "What I did find out from a street cop doing this movie is that whenever he pulls over a car, if it's got kids in it he never gives a ticket.
"He said that he felt that if he gives that dad a ticket the dad drives away p**sed off at the cops and the kids pick that up. Now he drives away and says, 'Hey, cops are pretty cool.'
"Those kids grow up with a whole different idea of cops. I like that philosophy."
Release Date: March 25, 2008 (except for 'Atonement', released at March 26, 2008)
CONTROL
Cast:Samantha Morton, Alexandra Maria Lara, Craig Parkinson, Joe Anderson, Sam Riley
Synopsis: CONTROL centers on Ian Curtis, the enigmatic lead singer of influential British band Joy Division. The award-winning drama marks the feature film directorial debut of acclaimed photographer and visual artist Anton Corbijn and stars Sam Riley (Ian Curtis), Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton (Deborah Curtis) and Alexandra Maria Lara (Annik Honoré).
Ian Curtis has aspirations beyond the trappings of small town life in 1970’s England. Wanting to emulate his musical heroes, such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop, he joins a band, and his musical ambition begins to thrive. Soon though, the everyday fears and emotions, that fuel his music, slowly begin to eat away at him. Married young, with a daughter, he is distracted from his family commitments by a new love and the growing expectations of his band, Joy Division. The strain manifests itself in his health. With epilepsy adding to his guilt and depression, desperation takes hold. Surrendering to the weight on his shoulders, Ian’s tortured soul consumes him.
Synopsis: “There is a way to be good again.”
Based on one of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, THE KITE RUNNER is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood best friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of an innocent kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will set in motion a catastrophe … and an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule to face the dark secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right.
Golden Globe-nominated director Marc Forster (STRANGER THAN FICTION, FINDING NEVERLAND and MONSTER’S BALL) brings to life Khaled Hosseini’s bestseller on the screen with a globally diverse cast and crew, mixing a remarkable group of non-actors from Afghanistan and Central Asia with an accomplished international cast, and shooting on location in the Western Chinese desert bordering Afghanistan. The result is a journey into a new world -- through a universal human story that speaks to anyone who has ever yearned for a second chance to make a change and find forgiveness.
Synopsis: David Drayton (Jane) and his young son are among a large group of terrified townspeople trapped in a local grocery store by a strange, otherworldly mist. David is the first to realize that there are things lurking in the mist, creatures not of this world, that force David and the hostages to band together in a fight for survival. However he begins to wonder what terrifies him more: the monsters in the mist or the ones inside the store, the human kind, the people that until now have been his friends and neighbors?
Synopsis: When five American college students arrive in Ireland to go on camping trip with their old college buddy Jake, they are in high spirits. Jake has promised them the ‘trip’ of a lifetime’ because he claims Ireland has the best magic mushrooms in the world. It sounded like it would be great fun. Now that they are tripping things don’t seem so funny. BLUTO, one of the gang is missing. TARA thinks he’s dead because she feels she has seen his death before but nobody believes her they think she is just out of it. They’re out of it too. That was the whole point of coming here, but there is something out there, something watching them, something that will kill them if they don’t get out of the forest and get help.
Synopsis: Distraught over breaking up with his girlfriend, Zia (Patrick Fugit) decides to end it all. Unfortunately, he discovers that there is no real ending, only a run-down afterlife that is strikingly similar to his old one, just a bit worse. Discovering that his ex-girlfriend has also 'offed' herself, he sets out on a road trip, with his Russian rocker friend, to find her. Their journey takes them through an absurd purgatory where they discover that being dead doesn't mean you have to stop livin?
JIMMY CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS
Cast: Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter
Synopsis: Embarking on a national publicity tour to promote his new book, 'Palestine Peace Not Apartheid,' former US President Jimmy Carter ignites an international firestorm of controversy when he argues that only Israel's complete withdrawl from the occupied territories can bring lasting peace to the Middle East. Intimate, informative and altogether engrossing, JIMMY CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS is a candid portrait of a Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian and statesman whose compassion and steadfast sense of justice remains undiminished by time. Directed by Academy Award®-winner Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs, Best Director 1991; Philadelphia, 1993).
Synopsis: In this moving and wildly innovative film, director Lynn Hershman Leeson tells the terrifying true story of how one man's personal tragedy turns into persecution by a paranoid and overzealous government.
Steve Kurtz's nightmare began on May 11, 2004, when he awoke to find his wife Hope dead of a heart attack. Police responding to his distressed 911 call became suspicious of scientific paraphernalia in his house (materials for an art project on genetically modified food) and contacted the FBI. Soon his world was turned upside down. Only hours after his wife's tragic death he was suddenly a murder suspect, an accused bioterrorist, and a pariah to all but his closest friends.
Told through a unique blend of interviews, documentary footage, and reconstructed scenes starring Tilda Swinton, Thomas Jay Ryan, and Peter Coyote, Hershman's critically-acclaimed film is a sophisticated, look at how the traumatic events of 9/11 altered American society and undermined its long-held values.
Synopsis: Each April Fool's Day, fabulously wealthy young Desiree Cartier hosts the most killer coming-out parties at her to-die-for Southern mansion, and this social event is never complete without one of her patented pranks. But when this year's joke turns deadly, Desiree, her brother, Blaine, and five of their friends all become the targets of a twisted serial killer who begins hunting them down one by one in this chilling tale of seduction, betrayal, and revenge.
Synopsis: A From the award-winning director of Pride and Prejudice comes a stunning, critically acclaimed epic story of love. When a young girl catches her sister in a passionate embrace with a childhood friend, her jealousy drives her to tell a lie that will irrevocably change the course of all their lives forever. Academy Award® nominee Keira Knightley and James McAvoy lead an all-star cast in the film critics are hailing 'the year's best picture' (Thelma Adams, US Weekly).
Top Aussie model LARA BINGLE is set to wed cricket star MICHAEL CLARKE after the sportsman proposed to her during an Easter (08) holiday in New York. Romantic Clarke reportedly got down on one knee in Central Park and asked the Aussie tourism spokesmodel to marry him.
Australia's Daily Telegraph claims the engagement ring Clarke bought his wife-to-be is valued at $90,900 (AUS$100,000).
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