Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/02/02/is-joseph-gordon-levitt-the-new-riddler/
Tyra Banks Uma Thurman Vanessa Hudgens Vanessa Marcil Vanessa Minnillo
Mary Elizabeth Winstead Megan Ewing Megan Fox Melania Trump Melissa George
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=332332
Pink Piper Perabo Poppy Montgomery Portia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook
Adam Sandler fans will surely hit the theater whether critics are into it or not.
By Eric Ditzian
Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in "Just Go With It"
Photo: Sony Pictures
Like the iPhone 4, Adam Sandler movies are basically review-proof. His comedies never engender the sort of critical praise that, say, Judd Apatow's often do, yet crowds reliably show up to watch Sandler do his thing.
So perhaps we shouldn't pay much mind to the often harsh reviews that have greeted his latest laugher, the Jennifer Aniston-co-starring rom-com, "Just Go With It." After all, even in the face of stiff competition from Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never," Sandler's flick is expected to win the weekend's box-office crown.
Possibly, though, you want to know a little more about "Just Go With It" than whose face fills nearly every scene. In that case, read on to find out what the critics have to say!
The Story
"Sandler plays Danny, a plastic surgeon and schlub who marries a shrew but discovers post-divorce (and post-nose job) that the gold band is a magnet for bar chicks. That changes when he meets Palmer (the stunning Brooklyn Decker), which prompts him to shove the ring in his pocket to woo her beachside. Everything's hunky-dory until Palmer discovers the ring in Danny's pocket and naturally assumes he's married. Here's where the film takes its first characteristic step: Instead of explaining himself, Danny concocts a bizarre lie that he's separated from his wife and close to a divorce. To maintain that lie, he persuades his assistant, Katherine (Aniston), to not only play his soon-to-be-ex-wife but to come with her two children to Hawaii to, well, make the movie feature length." — Scott Bowles, USA Today
The Look and the Laughs
"[Director Dennis] Dugan constantly shoots their paid vacation and indeed the entire film like a commercial, and with the rampant product placement, it's hard not to believe that's the case. Cuts are sloppy, dialogue looping is obvious, and although they must've seemed fresh after every take on set, Sandler's perpetual off-the-cuff name checks become a monotonous crutch in scene after scene. The man can't resist ethnic stereotypes, plastic surgery mishaps, shots to the groin or sheep resuscitation gags (a moment any other film would've played off as something funnier said than shown), and the film runs nearly two hours for all its allegedly comedic indulgences." — William Goss, Cinematical
The Chemistry
"[Aniston] has got expert comic timing when all those around her have none; she's got lightness and finesse when everyone else is being indulgently silly. She plays like a grown-up; she looks fab. And she gets a real commitment out of Sandler -- her performance makes him grow up, too. Amidst the wreckage of 'Just Go With It,' Aniston and Sandler have a real chemistry. They should go elsewhere with it." — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
The Dissenters
"Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production team has rarely put much stock in the rules of classical storytelling, but its newest project, 'Just Go With It,' manages to misfire in two seemingly incompatible directions. A puerile kiddie-comedy without the anarchic energy, and a schmaltzy romantic comedy without the sweetness, this Hawaii-set farce is too frantic and too lackadaisical a take on the oft-adapted French play 'Cactus Flower.' Working with longtime director Dennis Dugan, Sandler and the rest of the film's marquee cast could nonetheless steer it toward good returns." — Andrew Barker, Variety
The Final Word
"It had been one of the minor inducements to longevity, this crazy hope of one day actually seeing Jennifer Aniston in a good movie. That day arrives with 'Just Go With It,' a very funny romantic comedy that nicely combines Adam Sandler's acerbic sweetness with Aniston's down-to-earth warmth -- and that finds an excuse for Aniston to both play an average person and yet dress like a movie star. The screenplay has a setup that borders on farce, but the romantic heart of it is strong and expresses something unusual. It's a movie about the romance of familiarity, about the satisfaction and spiritual necessity of actually knowing someone and being known. So much of movie romance is usually about the opposite of that, about going off into the unknown, about adventure in the form of, not physical danger, but emotional danger. 'Just Go With It' makes a feint in that direction, but not enough to fool anybody." — Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Check out everything we've got on "Just Go With It."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657789/just-go-with-it-reviews.jhtml
Pamela Anderson Paris Hilton Patricia Velásquez Paula Garcés Paulina Rubio
Performances by Justin Bieber, Eminem, Lady Gaga, more draw 26.5 million viewers.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber and Usher perform at the Grammys on Sunday
Photo: Lester Cohen/ WireImage
It stands to reason that any TV show boasting performances from bands that have sold more than 15 million records over the past year between them would be a huge hit. Which is why, thanks to Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, Sunday night's 53rd annual Grammy Awards posted the best numbers for the program in a decade.
The Hollywood Reporter reported Monday (February 14) that, according to preliminary numbers from Nielsen, the show was watched by 26.5 million viewers, a 3 percent improvement over last year's Grammy numbers (25.8 million) and the best figure for the show since 2001.
The combination of a relentlessly hyped Gaga interview that aired on "60 Minutes" just before the show, combined with a smorgasbord of performing stars that ranged from legends such as Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger to Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars, a rare appearance by hip-hop icon Dr. Dre and surprise Album of the Year winners Arcade Fire helped make the show a must-see event.
And though viewers were treated to the spectacle of Gaga finally busting out of her space egg during the show, Green frolicking with outer-space Henson Puppets and Gwyneth Paltrow, and Bieber dancing amid a stage full of break-dancing ninjas, when the dust settled, the dark-horse win by Arcade Fire provided the show with a water-cooler moment that kept viewers interested until the entire three-and-a-half-hour spectacle wrapped up.
What was your favorite Grammy moment? Let us know in comments below!
For more Grammy Awards analysis, interviews, fashion and more, stick with MTV News!
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Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff
Kanye West, Radiohead, 'Iamamiwhoami' also used memorable promos.
By James Montgomery
Britney Spears in the fourth "Hold It Against Me" teaser
Photo: Jive
Last week, Britney Spears sent fans into a tizzy when she began rolling out all-too-brief teaser clips for her upcoming "Hold It Against Me" video, which premieres February 17 at 9:56 p.m. on MTV. And while the snippets are certainly tantalizing — Britney onstage! Britney with some shirtless dudes! — they're also rather brilliant: the truest example to date of Britney and her team harnessing the promotional power of social media and riding it for all it's worth.
Though promo stunts have become rather commonplace in recent years — it seems like every new album comes pre-loaded with some sort of viral campaign or marketing tie-in — the good ones (like Spears') manage to rise above the clutter. In honor of Britney, here's a look back at some of the most memorable promotional efforts in recent music history.
Korn fly the friendly skies: In 2005, to promote the release of See You on the Other Side, Korn rounded up a bunch of contest winners, boarded a private jet from London and performed a five-song set at 37,000 feet. The end result wasn't exactly pretty — the band were crowded together in the cabin and forced to use battery-powered amps ("Hey, everybody, don't expect too much," then-drummer David Silveria announced over the in-flight P.A. system, " 'Cause this sh--'s kinda f---ed up in here") — but it certainly was memorable. See You on the Other Side debuted at #3 on the Billboard albums chart and was certified as platinum.
Fall Out Boy go to Infinity and beyond: To celebrate the release of their 2007 album Infinity On High, Fall Out Boy decided to cross the continent aboard a private jet (dubbed Infinity Flight 206) and play free shows in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Despite battling severe weather and some serious jet lag, the whole stunt went off without a hitch, climaxing with a gig atop a building in downtown LA. In the end, all their hard work paid off: Infinity bowed at #1 on the Billboard chart, giving the band its first chart-topping debut.
Nine Inch Nails go deep for Year Zero: At the time, it was simply an engrossing viral campaign for Trent Reznor's upcoming record. But now, nearly four years since Reznor foisted Year Zero upon us, it's not a stretch to call it the greatest viral campaign for an album: an expertly planned, deeply engrossing, downright-disturbing blitz that used Web sites, secret codes and "accidentally" lost flash drives to transport fans to a not-too-distant future. In the weeks leading up to the release of Year Zero, the game crossed over to the real world, as players were instructed to meet on a street corner in Los Angeles, where they were given "resistance kits" — some of which contained cell phones that would randomly ring with further instructions. Though the album didn't sell particularly well, Reznor was reportedly so enthralled with the Year Zero campaign that he's considering turning it into a TV series, with HBO and BBC both attached.
Prince really wants to give it to you: Ever since he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol and began warring with his record label in the early '90s, Prince has sort of been the (very funky) grandfather of, uh, unique promotional stunts. In 2004, he gave away copies of his Musicology album to everyone who bought a concert ticket for his tour — a move which forced SoundScan to change the way it counted album sales — and then, in '07, he partnered with the U.K.'s Mail on Sunday newspaper to have a copy of his Planet Earth album included with the July 15 edition of the paper. That move angered his label, Sony BMG, who refused to distribute the album in the U.K. — though that most likely didn't bother the Purple One.
Radiohead give away In Rainbows for free: In October 2007, without so much as a warning, Radiohead announced that they were releasing a new album called In Rainbows, and that they'd allow fans to pay whatever they wanted to download it. They weren't the first band to do it — earlier that year, Canadian act Stars made their In Our Bedroom, After The War available for free download — and they certainly weren't the last, but Radiohead were definitely the biggest band to give away an album for free. Predictably, fans went nuts, but not so predictably, the physical version of In Rainbows also managed to sell well, going to #1 on the charts.
Iamamiwhoami mystifies, terrifies: It all started with one video — a spooky, ooky clip featuring plenty of trees and grisly footage of a goat being born — in December 2010, and things got progressively weirder from there. The videos kept coming, getting increasingly longer (and more terrifying), as the Internet paused and tried to figure out just who was behind the "Iamamiwhoami" campaign. Everyone from Lady Gaga to Christina Aguilera was suspected, but with each passing video — and mysterious package sent to the MTV newsroom — it became clear that neither Gaga or Xtina was behind the thing. In the end — or, at least, we think it's the end (since the campaign is still sort of happening) — it was revealed that Swedish singer Jonna Lee was responsible. We're still confused.
Josh Freese takes things to the next level — and then some: To promote the release of his solo album, Since 1972, Vandals/A Perfect Circle/Devo drummer/session dude to the stars Josh Freese got creative, unveiling a rather, uh, involved pricing scheme that started at $7 (for a download plus three videos) and going all the way to $75,000 (for a super-deluxe edition including dinner, drum lessons and foot massages, plus a five-song EP written about your life, a drinking session, a trip with Freese to Tijuana, a flying-trapeze lesson and a homemade lasagna). Here's one Freese fan's account of his experience, which included dinner, drinks, a Vandals show and a barbecue pool party — a total steal at just $1,000.
Kanye West launches G.O.O.D. Fridays: In the lead-up to his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West was reportedly having a difficult time whittling down the list of potential songs ... so, he decided to just give some of them away for free. Beginning in August 2010, he launched his "G.O.O.D. Fridays" initiative, which gave fans a new song every week until Christmas. Some of the gems he cast aside even featured the likes of Jay-Z, Common, Mos Def, John Legend, Nicki Minaj and Keri Hilson — but Yeezy didn't seem to mind. So long as folks weren't leaking his tracks, that is.
Which promotional campaign had you the most interested? Tell us your pick below!
Don't miss Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" video premiere February 17 at 9:56 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com before a new episode of "Jersey Shore"!
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Marisa Coughlan Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton
'It looked worse than it actually was,' the 'OMG' singer laughs about accidental blow during concert serenade.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Usher
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images
Usher's club-rattling jam "OMG" may "kill it every night" according to tourmate Miguel, but when the Atlanta crooner hit Madison Square Garden earlier this week, he was almost taken out by a clumsy fan.
When the singer touched down in New York on Monday, he indulged a super amped fan's fantasy by pulling her onstage for an intimate flirty serenade of "Trading Places." As Usher and the concertgoer got cozy on a recliner, she swiveled around to face the crooner — knocking him squarely in his mug with her foot. She began apologizing profusely as Usher briefly paused to collect himself. But the superstar took the strike in stride, quipping, "We play rough in the bed. We kick each other in the face and all type of good stuff."
Although Usher brushed off the blow, the moment did make an impression on him.
"In all my years, this is one of the most interesting experiences. I got a kick out of it!" he told Us Weekly. The singer assured fans that the knock wasn't that bad. "It looked worse than it actually was. My audience and I got a good laugh."
As for the fan, the "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" star maintained everything is all good on that front too. "Wherever you are baby, don't feel bad," Usher said. "No hard feelings."
As Miguel has noted, Usher isn't one dwell on drama, whether it's cranking out another hit album or weathering an unexpected hit from a fan.
"He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel recently told MTV News. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise."
What do you think of Usher's response to getting knocked in the head by a fan? Tell us in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654395/usher-got-good-laugh-from-fan-kicking-him-face.jhtml
Freida Pinto FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy
'Never Say Never' comes in right behind Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston rom-com.
By Ryan J. Downey, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in "Just Go With It"
Photo: Sony Pictures
A real-life wholesome teen did battle against a fictitious over-the-hill womanizer at the box office over the weekend as "Never Say Never" and "Just Go With It" fought a close contest for bucks. The economy was the real winner, as ticket sales surged overall by more than 30 percent, according to estimates. Disney's CG-animated "Gnomeo & Juliet" rounded out the top three with more than $25 million in revenue.
Justin Bieber's most die-hard Beliebers came out in droves to put the singing sensation's 3-D documentary into the #2 slot with a $30.3 million opening. As of press time, the figure was just a well-coiffed hair away from the estimated $31 million earned by "Just Go With It."
"I feel great," Bieber told MTV News backstage at the Grammys, where the 16-year-old Canadian sensation was both a nominee and a performer, shortly after news of his movie's huge opening hit. "I have so many amazing fans and they've been so supportive over these past few years and will continue to be supportive with my movie. I'm just excited. I have the best fans in the world."
"Never Say Never" was produced by Paramount (which, like MTV, is owned by Viacom). The studio worked tirelessly to activate Bieber's rabid fanbase in support of the movie, which focuses on his rise from obscurity to stardom. Special ticket packages costing $30 per head added an extra $700,000 to the film's opening, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Adam Sandler's "Just Go With It" opened strongly but will still have some distance to go in order to recoup its estimated $80 million production budget. Set in Hawaii, the romantic comedy-of-misunderstandings co-stars Jennifer Aniston and longtime Sandler pal Nick Swardson ("Grandma's Boy") but suffers from a 19 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, which averages reviews from critics.
And while it may sit atop the box office, "Just Go With It" attracted fewer people opening weekend than recent Sandler flicks like "Grown Ups" and "You Don't Mess With the Zohan."
"Gnomeo & Juliet," the other G-rated movie in the top 10 in addition to "Never Say Never," was bolstered by Elton John tunes and voice acting from James McAvoy and Emily Blunt in the title roles.
The only other new film widely released over the weekend was the Roman Army movie "The Eagle," starring Channing Tatum ("G.I. Joe"), which opened at a distant #4 with just $8.6 million.
"Single White Female" retread "The Roommate," starring Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girl" alongside Minka Kelly of "Friday Night Lights," came in at #5 with $8.4 million for a $26 million two-week total. "The Roommate" was made for just $16 million, making that a solid number.
Driven by renewed interest thanks to its multiple Oscar nominations, Best Picture front-runner "The King's Speech" came in at #6 with $8.4 million for a cumulative $93 million total. The English historical drama was made for even less money than "The Roommate" and is closing in on the $100 million mark — a feat commonly reserved for explosion-driven summer blockbusters.
"No Strings Attached" was #7 with $5.6 million. The Natalie Portman/ Ashton Kutcher rom-com has made $59.8 million since it opened four weeks ago. Portman is nominated in the Best Actress category at the Academy Awards for "Black Swan," which was #14 this weekend with $2.1 million. The award-winning art-house flick is even closer to $100 million than "The King's Speech," with $99 million.
"Sanctum" followed "No Strings Attached" at #8 with $5.1 million. Executive produced by James Cameron, "Sanctum" has earned $17.5 million in two weeks with a production budget of $30 million.
Oscar contender "True Grit" and action-comedy "The Green Hornet" rounded out the top 10 with $3.7 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The Coen Brothers remake of the John Wayne Western has made $160 million in the past two months, while co-writer and star Seth Rogen's 3-D version of newspaper-heir-turned-vigilante "The Green Hornet" has made $92 million in the past five weeks.
Check out everything we've got on "Just Go With It" and "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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