tonyofaison

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Britney Spears' 'Criminal': The Story Behind The Video

'Criminal' is facing off against 'Slave 4 U' in the finals of MTV News' Britney Spears tournament — vote now!
By Jocelyn Vena

Jason Trawick and Britney Spears in "Criminal"
Photo: Jive

The competition was stiff in MTV News' "Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years," but we're finally at the homestretch.

After narrowing down 30 videos to the final two — Brit's sweaty, old-school clip for "I'm a Slave 4 U" and her newer, equally sexy one for "Criminal" — it's all up to the fans to decide which video will go on to reign supreme on Friday (December 2), the same day the pop star turns 30.

But before you click and cast your vote for which video you think should win the tournament, here's the full, behind-the-scenes backstory on the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed video for "Criminal."

Shot in London in September, the video promptly piqued interest when Spears was snapped on set with her real-life boyfriend, Jason Trawick, who would later go on to play her frequently naked onscreen lover in the video.

The decision to include Trawick was initially surprising to Piliero. "When she first hit me up, she had a basic story in mind, and she actually always originally planned to have Jason, her boyfriend, play the role, and I wasn't super stoked on that idea at first, actually," he told MTV News about the casting decision. He soon changed his mind about Trawick though.

"At the end of the day, Jason killed it. That was one of those things I was really stoked [about], as much as I went into it like, 'Wow, he's not an actor. This is going to be interesting.' But I really do like a challenge, and I really do like the idea that I'm a director and my job is to direct and get the performance," he said. "For me, it was a fun challenge to be like, 'I'm gonna make sure that you are awesome,' and he was."

While Piliero was dealing with getting a great performance out of Trawick, there was some controversy brewing over the use of a gun in the video before it even debuted. Hackney's Member of Parliament, Diane Abbott, criticized the star for using the gun in the video, a criticism Britney later shrugged off and which left Piliero a bit perplexed.

Head over to Britney30.MTV.com and vote for your favorite music video in MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years.

"I don't understand why pop stars are put on such a high pedestal over other celebrities. Why do members of Parliament feel that they need to scrutinize her for having a gun, and 'She's in the public,' and 'She should know better,' and 'She's a role model,' but what about every other celebrity out there? What about every other actor? That's very strange to me. I was really surprised at how much the gun use was scrutinized."

In the end, however, all the gun controversy seemed to get overshadowed by the sexiness of the video, which was released in October. It follows Spears as she's whisked away from her emotionally abusive boyfriend by Trawick's criminal character. The two quickly fall in love — and in bed and in the shower — with one another and go on a crime spree. Too in love to care about the consequences, the pair is eventually found by the cops but manage to escape to the unknown.

So, what did Piliero (who also directed Spears in her "I Wanna Go" video) think of Spears' performance? "Of course, Britney was rad," he said. "She does a good job at nailing and doing the little acting thing. She's cool at it."

Do you think "Slave" or "Criminal" should come out on top? Let us know in the comments!

What's your favorite Britney video? Make sure to vote at Britney30.MTV.com or the MTV Newsroom blog, and share your picks in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675262/britney-spears-tournament-criminal-video.jhtml

Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez

Photos | 2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy Jessica Alba Jessica Biel Jessica Cauffiel

Video: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher Make Twitter's Top Trends of 2011

Mila Kunis and her former That '70s Show costar Ashton Kutcher both landed on Twitter's list of the most buzzed about actors of 2011. Hear why they were both so tweeted about and find out what other trends were spotted on the social networking site in PopSugar Rush.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/popsugar/~3/WAz9mo-_zNI/Most-Popular-Twitter-Topics-2011-20751725

China Chow ChloÎ Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Usher's Next Album 'Soulful, Catchy,' Taio Cruz Teases

'He always wants there to be the soul in there,' Cruz tells MTV News about his 'Without You' collaborator.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias

Usher
Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage

Usher is hard at work on his next album. Set to work with fellow hitmaker Taio Cruz, the two already cooked up some magic with their David Guetta anthem "Without You," and it seems they are hoping to recapture that spirit for Usher's follow-up to 2010's Raymond v. Raymond.

"I saw Usher a few times, but I spoke to him at length at David [Guetta]'s house when we were in Ibiza [Spain]," he told MTV News in L.A. after his Jingle Ball set. "He has very specific ideas of where he wants to go musically and sound-wise."

Given that Usher has never shied away from exposing a bit of himself in his music, while also keeping the party going, Cruz wants to make sure they can connect the mind, body and soul for this next release. "He always wants there to be the soul in there," he explained. "I'm kind of, not the opposite, but I'm always like, 'Let's get straight to the point and be really clear with the message and be simple.'

"So we try to match those two worlds together: being soulful and, at the same time, catchy," he added.

Cruz can't yet discuss what they're working on: Besides "Without You," he said, "Everything else is secret."

Usher said he was drawn to the Guetta hit because he connected to it emotionally, explaining to MTV News recently what an important part that plays in his musical philosophy. "I think the world wanted a record like that. That [song] really spoke to the journey that I've actually been on in the last three years," he said. "Traveling all around the world, music sounds different. There's many different genres, and when you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that's the reality of what music is."

Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano

Lady Gaga's Barneys Workshop Is 'Essence Of Her'

Little Monsters gush to MTV News about Gaga's holiday-themed workshop and windows at famed Madison Avenue store.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Brian Phares

Lady Gaga premieres the Lady Gaga Workshop at Barneys New York
Photo: Getty Images

Lady Gaga is taking fans inside her world at the holiday-themed Gaga's Workshop at Barneys New York. Mother Monster-inspired products like head-shaped candles, leather jackets, her favorite books and chocolates shaped like shoes hit the shelves last week, and it's exactly the kind of stuff a Little Monster would ask Santa for.

MTV News caught up with some of the pop star's devotees as they were admired the Gaga windows outside the famed New York City department store. They gushed to us about the chance to pick out items hand-selected by Gaga and her stylist Nicola Formichetti.

"I think Gaga's Workshop, it's the essence of her," Hollis Gehrett said. "You walk in and you feel like you're in her apartment. I came to see her cut the ribbon, which was really cool, and she looked fabulous."

Fan Catherine Lloyd was also on hand when Gaga, decked out in a big white gown, cut the ribbon two Mondays ago at Barneys. "It's in her hometown. It's decorated to the nines, it's completely beautiful," she said. "The unveiling was beautiful — when she came out she looked like Glenda the Good Witch. There was just a lot of celebrities and fashion people walking around, so it was just a fun event in general."

Laura Donnelly said "the first thing I thought was 'fun,' like the colors and all the statues. I just thought it was a lot of fun."

"Kids can come and enjoy it. Adults can come and enjoy it [and] teenagers," Kyle Larkins noted about the in-store pop-up shop. "It really appeals to everyone."

Erin Sebestyen enjoyed how the workshop and windows show off Gaga's whimsical side: "It shows her holiday spirit, and how many celebrities really do that?"

After Gaga opened the store with a ribbon-cutting, her friend and collaborator DJ White Shadow, stopped by the MTV News offices to talk about the event and share his favorite item.

"I just was perusing the goods ... and there were some books that were her favorite books, and they have a special Barneys cover. I was trying to grab small things," he recalled. "But there's these hulking giant candles [in the shape of Gaga's head] that you light from the top. It's like you light the candles in the back and then the wax drips down through the eyes of the candle. So I was pretty impressed with it. I definitely procured one."

Have you checked out Gaga's Workshop yet? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675141/lady-gaga-barneys-workshop.jhtml

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Helena Bonham Carter Talks 'Dark Shadows' Character

'She's an alcoholic psychiatrist, so I hadn't played that before,' actress tells MTV News.
By John Mitchell

Helena Bonham Carter
Photo: WireImage

We're still waiting for a teaser trailer for the hottest vampire movie that doesn't sparkle in the sun. Details about "Dark Shadows" have been scant, but one of the film's stars is finally talking about her role and what inspired director Tim Burton to take on the project.

At this week's BAFTA Britannia Awards, MTV News spoke to two-time Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter about "Shadows," her role in the film and what made her real-life love Burton want to director the vampire epic, which is set to hit theaters May 11, 2012. "I love 'Dark Shadows.' It's very original. It's uncategorizable," Bonham Carter said. "It's going to be impossible to sell, frankly, because it's just so ... it's a soap opera but it's very, very subtle.

It's a ghost story but then it's an unhappy vampire story. It's a mixture of so many different things and a real ensemble piece. And hopefully it will be funny."

Bonham Carter plays Dr. Julia Hoffman. In the late-'60s television soap opera on which the movie is based, Hoffman specialized in psychology and rare blood disorders and eventually tried to cure Barnabas Collins (played in the film by Burton regular Johnny Depp) of his vampirism by injecting him with a vaccine made of healthy plasma to counteract the destruction of his own blood cells by the vampire cells. (Got that?) Whether that's part of the film's plot remains to be seen, but Bonham Carter did have a colorful response for MTV News when asked about playing Hoffman.

"I did love playing her. I mean, she's an alcoholic psychiatrist, so I hadn't played that before," she said. "And she's got a secret. They all have secrets."

She also explained that "Shadows" has long been something of a passion project for Burton, with whom she has two children, because the quirky director was a huge fan of the TV show as a child. "This was a thing that he raced home to see when he was about age 10," she told MTV. "So it was returning to his childhood roots of what he loved watching."

The always outrageous actress was also pretty frank about her own feelings about the campy soap, saying, "It's actually a really bad, hilariously bad soap opera. And because it's so bad, [Burton] felt he had to make a hugely expensive movie."

Are you excited to see Helena Bonham Carter bring new life to quirky psychologist Julia Hoffman in the big-screen adaptation of "Dark Shadows"? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me at @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns!

Check out everything we've got on "Dark Shadows."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675295/dark-shadows-helena-bonham-carter.jhtml

Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco

Photos | Justin Bieber Takes Over New York City

Justin Bieber Takes Over New York City

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1674563

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Beyonce Doing Regular Mom Things!

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Talent Runs in Katy Perry?s Family!

There?s a new Perry hitting the music scene, er, make that a Hudson! Katy Perry?s little brother, David Hudson, is telling In Touch all about life as a world famous pop star?s brother, singing Disney ballads and how he?s looking to make a name for himself. His new song is called "A Real Man?s Life" and it?s up on YouTube now! ?I'm developing my music as much as I can. It all started with our older sister, Angela. She took voice lessons, then Katy started to. I didn?t start learning music til eighth or ninth grade!? Over the years, David has been working hard at his craft, taking voice lessons, and he tells In Touch that even now, ?Every day I?m studying music theory, piano, guitar and French.?

David, who refuses to ride on the coattails of anyone, particularly his sister Katy, tells us, ?I finally showed them a song about two months ago -- my first musical endeavor. They were blown away. Katy was really busy, but I finally bugged her enough and she's like, ?Fine I'll listen to it,? and then she must have sent me ten text messages in a row. 'Who wrote this?? 'Is this really you singing?' 'Where did this come from?' 'How did you get in the studio?' She was amazed, and she doesn't know that I know this, but Katy was saying, 'My first song was not half as good as that!' It's just kind of cool to see my sisters? reactions. I look up to them and I love them.? Family is just one of the things keeping this up and comer on track. ?[Katy] definitely encourages me. Obviously, she is who she is and the affiliation is something that does benefit me but I don't have her introduce me to producers or studio heads.?

David, who is influenced by acts like Radiohead and Kings of Leon, says he?s going for a more ?mainstream sound.? And like older sister Katy, he wants to be a good role model in Hollywood. ?I really want to be successful in order to use that platform for a greater good. I want to be a very positive figure in Hollywood. I really want to turn things around.? Fun fact about Katy and David: He sings Disney songs for her. ?It all started when I started taking singing lessons six years ago and she was like 'What songs are you working on?' ?Well, my teacher wants me to work on Aladdin's A Whole New World,? and she was like 'Shut up! Sing it at my birthday!' And so I did!? Check out David?s song, "A Real Man?s Life" here on YouTube.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InTouchWeekly/~3/sZLXo0tQOzM/talent_runs_in_katy_perrys_family.php

Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth Rˆhm Elisha Cuthbert

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Beyonce Doing Regular Mom Things!

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Beyonce Doing Regular Mom Things!

Aisha Tyler Aki Ross Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel

Justin Bieber Graduates To 'Adult Game' On New Album

'We've seen him [with] 'Baby,' now we're watching him grow up,' producer Kuk Harrell tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Vanessa White Wolf

Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty Images

Justin Bieber has said that he wants to pull a Justin Timberlake on his next album. So what exactly does that mean? His longtime vocal producer, Kuk Harrell, spoke to MTV News about the early stages of Bieber's next release.

"The only conversation we've had about Justin's album that we're about to do is it's really important that it's the proper transition because we've seen him [with] 'Baby,' now we're watching him grow up," said Harrell, who has also worked with Rihanna on her Talk That Talk record. "And we can't just throw him into the adult game right away. It has to be the proper transition. There's a record in between."

With further details on this next album being kept under wraps, Bieber is busy celebrating the holidays. He's slated to release his video for "All I Want for Christmas," co-starring Mariah Carey, on Wednesday. Harrell worked with Bieber on his Under the Mistletoe LP and says agreeing to do a Christmas album with the teen phenomenon was an easy yes.

"That's why I think this Christmas album was really important because it gave everybody the opportunity to hear him, see him and get used to his voice changing," he said. "That was a huge thing going into this album. We were able to get a running start on where he's at vocally 'cause it's a natural thing. When his proper album comes out, everybody's going to really be looking at that."

What will be noticeably different on this next album, which was teased on his holiday album, is that Bieber's voice will be much deeper. So does Harrell think it'll be changing a lot more for this next record? "I think he's pretty good right now," he said. "It's just a matter of him settling [into] where he is."

Regardless of what magic does end up making the final cut on this album, which Bieber has said may include work from Drake and Kanye West, Harrell notes that the 17-year-old is "always willing to bring a new fire."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675015/justin-bieber-new-album.jhtml

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Adam Carolla destroys Occupy (not literally)

Adam Carolla got where he is today because his dad owned dozens of radio stations across the country and gave him his job hosting ?Loveline?. Oh, wait, no he didn?t, his life was shit and he worked to get everything he?s ever had. So try and guess how he feels about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Hint: they don?t even use the word ?douche? this many times in commercials for actual douches.

(note: this clip contains some colorful language)

Source: http://www.wwtdd.com/2011/12/adam-carolla-destroys-occupy-not-literally/

Elisabeth Rˆhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming

Watch: ?The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? Releases An 8 Minute Trailer

A Nice, Long Look at Fincher's Vision

Back in September an 8 minute preview trailer for David Fincher?s new film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was released in theaters and this weekend, all these months later, the trailer has finally made it?s way to the Internets. Yesterday we learned that score composer Trent Reznor announced the release of the soundtrack album for Dragon Tattoo and with that announcement came the release of the 8 minute trailer. Click below to watch the 8 minute trailer in full and get a really good feel for David Fincher?s vision of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I?m curious to hear what folks who have not seen the original Swedish film (or have read the book, for that matter) think of this English language version. To be clear, this version of Dragon Tattoo was really created for the majority of people who have not seen the original films. I?ve seen the original films, and loved them, but I am really excited to see Fincher?s take on the tale and the characters. Yes, this 8 minute trailer shows a lot but not nearly enough to spoil the film. We are just weeks away from the release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I?M SO READY TO SEE THIS FILM ALREADY!!! As for this trailer ? what do y?all think?

[Source]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/AAc3TZrKaVE/

Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns

Kate Gosselin Speaks Out: "I Didn?t Get A Face Lift!"

After new photos surfaced of the mother-of-eight looking especially fresh, rumors have been swirling that Kate Gosselin underwent a face-lift procedure. But the reality star-turned Coupon Cabin blogger ? who has openly discussed her 2007 tummy tuck ? swears she hasn?t gone under the knife again. "I will confirm that I have not had one (I am only 36!!!)," Kate wrote on her blog adding that she isn?t irritated by the reports. "I will take all of this talk about how rested and young I look as a compliment! So thanks!"

To maintain her youthful appearance, the working mom ? who also denied getting breast implants and Botox in 2010 ? says she runs daily near her Wernersville, Pa., home. And the frequent vacations with her hunky bodyguard, Steve Neild, probably don't hurt, either!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InTouchWeekly/~3/z1hdImnymsA/kate_gosselin_speaks_out_i_did.php

Ciara Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura Claudette Ortiz

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Funniest Celebrity Twitter Photos!

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Funniest Celebrity Twitter Photos!

Jessica Cauffiel Jessica ParÈ Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah

Britney Spears' Changing Looks: Year by Year

As the pop star turns 30 on Dec. 2, check out how her look has evolved during her rollercoaster life!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/britney-spears-photos-every-age/1-b-406934?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Abritney-spears-photos-every-age-406934

Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento

Britney Spears' 'Slave 4 U,' 'Criminal' In Final Two!

'Hold It Against Me,' 'Lucky' weren't so lucky as fans cast more votes in our '30 for 30' tournament for two steamy Spears clips.
By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker

Britney Spears in her video for "I'm a Slave 4 U"
Photo: Jive

And then there were two! Fans have been voting in MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years, and the 30 contenders have been narrowed down to the final two: "I'm a Slave 4 U," and "Criminal."

Voting in round four kicked off on Wednesday and by Thursday morning (December 1) "I'm a Slave 4 U" music video had breezed past Britney's Femme Fatale hit "Hold It Against Me" with 67 percent of the vote.

"Criminal," which features Britney's real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick had a tougher time, squeezing past younger Britney's big hit "Lucky" with a lead of only 53 percent in the final-four round.

Now, "Slave" and "Criminal" are battling it out for the title of best Britney Video of All Time; hundreds of thousands of votes were cast as the two clips made it through four competitive rounds.

Head over to Britney30.MTV.com and vote for your favorite music video in MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years.

Britney super fan and founder of BreatheHeavy.com, Jordan Miller, weighed in on why "Criminal" has made it this far, defeating the likes of "... Baby One More Time," "Stronger" and "I Wanna Go" in the process.

"I think 'Criminal' 's made it really far because it's her latest music video that's out," Miller told MTV News. "I think if that music video came out years ago, I don't think it would be doing so well. It's being promoted right now on TV and radio, but I think because it's new to fans, it's made it this far."

The final round of voting closes at 7 a.m. on Friday. Vote for your favorite video as many times as you would like; the winner will be announced tomorrow morning, which also happens to be Britney's 30th birthday!

Which Britney video is going to win it all? Let us know in the comments section below!

What's your favorite Britney video? Make sure to vote at Britney30.MTV.com or the MTV Newsroom blog, and share your picks in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675204/britney-spears-tournament-final-round-slave-4-u-criminal.jhtml

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Photos | 2010 American Music Awards Presenter, Nominee And Performer Highlights

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Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth Rˆhm Elisha Cuthbert

Usher - Fed Up (featuring Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake, Rick Ross)

Fed Up (featuring Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake, Rick Ross)

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Label: We The Best, E1 Music
Director: Gil Green

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=461562

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'Harry Potter' And More: 10 Best Movie Posters Of 2011

'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' and 'Dark Knight Rises' also caught our attention with a single image.
By Kara Warner

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"
Photo: Warner Bros

Although it doesn't always feel like the end of the movie season until the Golden Globes and Oscars come around in January and February, 2011 is coming to a close, so the MTV Movies team is reflecting on the cinematic year that was. We've already shared our 20 favorite trailers of the year, and now it's time for a look through the most artistic and silently titillating medium for movie marketing: posters.

10. "Ides of March"
How do you make a political drama look interesting? Before "The Ides of March" poster was unveiled, the answer to that question was likely "You can't. Political movies aren't sexy." Well, now they are, thanks to this stunner featuring the crafty and timely use of split-screen Photoshop action with handsome leading men Ryan Gosling and George Clooney.

9. "The Muppets"
When it comes to marketing a movie, we all know that the folks over at Disney are more than adept at engaging their target audiences. The recent "Muppets" ad campaigns were no exception, particularly the way in which the ads spoke to the older generations who grew up with Jim Henson's famous fuzzy friends. This clever, perfectly polished shot of Fozzie Bear, Kermit, Miss Piggy and Animal was a perfect appetizer.

8. "Drive"
There is not much more to say about Nicolas Refn's violent, arty, critical darling that hasn't already been said. Much like its trailer, the poster is cold and calculated and a fitting showcase for breakout, badass star Ryan Gosling.

7. "Shame"
Knowing what we do about "Shame," it's fitting that the most splendidly simple poster on this list represents the sauciest film of the year. Who would have thought that traditional white block lettering of the film's title over a mess of rumpled, wrinkled sheets could make you feel a little dirty just by looking at it.

6. "Midnight in Paris"
Just look at Owen Wilson, all relaxed and breezy taking a stroll along the river Seine in Woody Allen's romanticized vision of Paris. Not to mention the wonderful use of Van Gogh's famous "Starry Night" painted over half the scenery in the background. The poster captures the whimsical, caught-in-the-moment spirit of the film beautifully.

5. "Bridesmaids"
It is not often that a poster is enough to have us in line for tickets opening day, but this did just that. The pretty ladies in ridiculous dresses sporting their tough-girl expressions is a killer combo. This was an overwhelming case of love at first sight, and we're so happy the film went on to make a ton of money at the box office.

4. "The Dark Knight Rises"
Ever since he brought new life to the Batman franchise with 2005's "Batman Begins," Christopher Nolan's films have made headlines with brilliant marketing campaigns — most notably the "Why So Serious?" run for "The Dark Knight." Although we've barely scratched the surface of the promotional plans for "The Dark Knight Rises," this teaser poster certainly does the trick: interest and intrigue without a single actor or character featured. It also inspired some amazing fan art.

3. "50/50"
The tagline for this poster just about sums up everything we needed to know about the film: "It takes a pair to beat the odds." The fact that we later learned star Joseph Gordon-Levitt actually shaved his head for this scene only adds to this inspired and poignant "50/50" shot. That and Seth Rogen's appropriately appalled expression.

2. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
To say that David Fincher's English version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" is highly anticipated is a gross understatement, much like saying this poster is simply provocative. There's so much going on in the subtext — if you can get past the cool sensuality of it all, that alluring tension between stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, who seem to be daring us to come see them on opening day.

1. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"
As "Harry Potter" fans well know, the movies get progressively dark and more intense, just as J.K. Rowling's books did, so it makes sense that Warner Bros. chose to steady the course with their promotional campaign. We could have highlighted several posters from "Deathly Hallows, Part 2," particularly the individual character posters, but this menacing shot of Voldemort and his "army" gave us a thrill and a chill at the same time. And anything that features Helena Bonham Carter's brilliantly crazy Bellatrix Lestrange is win/win.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Photos

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675188/best-movie-posters.jhtml

Brody Dalle Brooke Burke Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: The Best Beyoncé + Jay-Z Photos!

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Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani

Is Rihanna on 24-Hour Health Watch?

Rihanna might be too busy to be dating right now, but is she too busy even to rest? According to U.K. tabloid The Mirror (via Huffington Post), executives at the R&B singer's Mercury record label have reportedly put her on a 24-hour health watch and even given her a curfew, after she allegedly had a backstage meltdown and nearly canceled a Nov. 25 concert in Dublin, Ireland.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/rihanna-24-hour-health-watch/1-a-407451?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Arihanna-24-hour-health-watch-407451

Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera

Usher - Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)

Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)

Artist: Usher
Label: JLG
Director: Chris Robinson
Album: Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=476362

Ali Larter Alice Dodd Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes

Britney Spears Video Tournament Down To Sweet 16!

'Toxic' and 'Oops! I Did It Again' sail into round two, while 'Sometimes' and 'I Wanna Go' are early casualties.
By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker

Britney Spears in her "Hold it Against Me" video
Photo: Jive

After a surprisingly tight race among the 30 Britney Spears music videos in the first round of MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years, we are now down to 16 candidates for her best video of all time!

Perez Hilton and Jordan Miller of Britney fansite BreatheHeavy.com helped the MTV News correspondents weigh in on the first round, which saw the surprising and merciless elimination of the classic "Sometimes" and the newer hit "I Wanna Go."

"I think that 'I Wanna Go' is one of Britney's all-time best videos," Perez said of the clip, which was defeated by her even newer video for "Criminal," co-starring real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick. "I like the 'Criminal' video; I don't love it."

Meanwhile, some videos were huge leaders early on, like "Toxic," "Oops! I Did It Again," "I'm a Slave 4 U," "Me Against the Music" and early "TRL"-era hit "(You Drive Me) Crazy."

Head over to Britney30.MTV.com and vote for your favorite music video in MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years.

The race between "Lucky" and "Boys" was a closer call than MTV News expected, with only a 7 percent margin between the two videos; "Lucky" was the eventual winner. Another interesting twist was the dark "My Prerogative" clip's triumph over the happy-go-lucky vibe of "Sometimes."

With 16 videos left, the race gets much tighter. Now, Britney's most epic and most-celebrated videos will be up against each other. "(You Drive Me) Crazy" will take on the double-pop queen-powered "Me Against the Music," featuring Madonna, while Britney's first video, " ... Baby One More Time," takes on her most recent clip, "Criminal."

"Till the World Ends" and "Piece of Me," which had byes in the first round, are no longer safe, as they are pitted against "My Prerogative" and "Hold It Against Me," respectively, in round two, which closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. The Elite Eight will be announced at 7 a.m. Monday. Help your favorite videos win by voting as many times as you can and campaigning.

What's your favorite Britney video? Make sure to vote at Britney30.MTV.com or the MTV Newsroom blog, and share your picks in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674877/britney-spears-tournament-top-16.jhtml

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The Ladies Come Out for Fight Night

How do Jenny McCarthy and Julie Benz let out their inner fighters? At a boxing match, of course. The two hot blondes were spotted ringside at the Los Angeles Matadors World Series of Boxing a few weekends ago.

The latest sporting craze to hit Hollywood even drew in Audrina Patridge, along with her beau Corey Bohan. The on-again/off-again couple sipped drinks and canoodled during the match. Dancing With the Stars? Cheryl Burke was hanging out with Jenny, who tweeted from the event, ?If you are a man and live in LA and don't come to a @LAmatadors fight you are a vagina.? Who knew all these Hollywood ladies were into such a rough sport! If you want to catch the latest celebrity fad (or just see some hot boxing action), there?s another show December 4, featuring the Los Angeles Matadors vs. Moscow Dynamo. Check out the website for more information.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InTouchWeekly/~3/tz7Yl2dy8Ps/the_ladies_come_out_for_fight.php

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Photos | Ke$ha, Chris Brown Heat Up The Us Hot Hollywood Party

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1652662

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

Man In The Mirror

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic Records
Director: n/a
Album: Moonwalker

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=206759

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Funniest Celebrity Twitter Photos!

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Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey Play Santa In 'Christmas' Clip

Bieber debuts 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' video (and performs with Busta Rhymes and Usher) during 'Christmas in Rockefeller Center.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber at the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center in New York City
Photo: James Devaney/ Getty Images

Deck the halls! The holiday kicked into high gear Wednesday night (November 30) when New York's massive Christmas tree was lit during "Christmas in Rockefeller Center." Plenty of A-listers were on hand, including Justin Bieber, who premiered his highly anticipated video for "All I Want for Christmas Is You," featuring Mariah Carey.

Before the strings of lights were illuminated, performances from Michael Bublé, Katharine McPhee, Big Time Rush, Tony Bennett, Carole King and Neil Diamond warmed viewers up. But Bieber was the headline act of the night, giving fans some big performances and an even bigger video premiere.

Bieber amped up the energy with his hip-hop-ified take on the Christmas classic "Little Drummer Boy," which included him spitting a holiday-themed rhyme. Decked in all black, the teen star had the crowd screaming. He was even joined by Busta Rhymes, who appears on the Under the Mistletoe cut.

JB then slowed things down with "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," leaving his female fans swooning as he crooned the holiday standard. He was joined by his mentor Usher for the track.

"God bless and Merry Christmas," Bieber told the crowd before tossing to the "All I Want for Christmas Is You" video. The clip features Mariah Carey dressed in a sexy Santa Claus outfit standing in a department store as she dances around singing the track, almost as if she's on display for holiday shoppers. It also sees Bieber and his pals shopping for some choice holiday gifts like high-top kicks.

In between performance shots of Bieber and Mariah, a street-corner Santa Claus hands out envelopes to shoppers on the street, teasing an inevitable yuletide party scene. The shoppers are then welcomed into the department store, where Justin and Mariah hand out gifts to everyone. The duo tease and flirt with each other as everyone around them unwraps their gifts.

Bieber and Carey re-recorded her classic holiday tune for his chart-topping holiday album, which also features appearances from the Band Perry and Boyz II Men. They filmed the video earlier this month, just in time for the holiday season.

Did Bieber get you in the holiday spirit? Let us know in the comments!

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VOTE! Would You Rather Date Jason Segel or Robert Pattinson?

Jason Segel and Robert Pattinson are both handsome and charming, and they both star in newly released films that are currently competing at the box office. Plus, the star of The Muppets and the leading vampire of Breaking Dawn -- Part 1 are both wildly popular among iVillage readers.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/would-you-rather-date-robert-pattinson-or-jason-segel/1-a-407337?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Awould-you-rather-date-robert-pattinson-or-jason-segel-407337

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WATCH: Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey Debut X-mas Video

Ho Ho…whoa! Did you catch the video for Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber's "All I Want for Christmas Is You'? The clip of their duet, a remake of Carey's 1994 holiday hit, debuted during NBC's Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony last night. Watch below:

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/justin-bieber-mariah-carey-christmas-music-video/1-a-407130?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Ajustin-bieber-mariah-carey-christmas-music-video-407130

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Anne Hathaway Engaged!

Looks like Anne Hathaway is ready for a fairy tale ending. The actress is engaged to her boyfriend of three years, fellow actor, Adam Shulman, confirms Us Weekly.

The actress, 29, was spotted recently with her beau in Brooklyn wearing an engagement ring by Kwiat Heritage, her rep confirmed. Hathaway's romance with Shulman initially began as a bit of a rebound after her messy (and highly public) split from con-man Raffaello Follieri in mid-2008. (Follieri pled guilty in 2008 to defrauding investors of millions).

Says the actress, "We hit if off immediately, but it took us a pretty long time to get together." But after they did, "things sped up a bit -- and I think I'll leave it at that."

"Mellow doesn't always make for a good story, but it makes for a good life," she has said of the relationship. No word yet on the wedding date.

Images via PopSugar.

Source: http://www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com/celebrity_weddings/2011/11/anne-hathaway-engaged.html

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Beyonce Talks Pregnancy Cravings on '20/20'

Singer says people keep trying to give her hot sauce and pickles.

Beyoncé
Photo: ABC

Root Beer, chicken wings, pickle juice, donuts, mac and cheese. Pregnant women have all kinds of odd cravings, but in an interview slated to air on Friday night on "20/20," Beyoncé told interviewer Katie Couric that she hasn't had those typical late-night urges during her pregnancy.

"Not really anything crazy," B told Couric. "I've read that I like ketchup on everything," she added, saying that the rumor is not true. And when Couric tried to confirm other Internet whispers about what the singer is allegedly making hubby Jay-Z rush out to the corner bodega for at 2 in the morning, Beyoncé said the wildest one is also not true.

"I also read that you like ice cream with hot chili sauce," Couric said. "Yeah, that's very strange," responded Beyoncé, who was dressed in flowing purple pants with a white pattern, a black leather jacket and black pregnancy top with a subtle blue design. "Is that true?" Couric pressed. "No it is not. I was on a plane and the flight attendant came and was like, 'I have your hot sauce and pickles and bananas.' I was like, 'That is absolutely disgusting, what are you doing?' He's like, 'I read it on the Internet.' "

When Couric asked the question everyone wants to know, whether she should get the singer a pink or blue baby gift, Beyoncé smiled and put her finger up to her mouth and gave a coy, "hmmm."

In another segment, Couric and Beyoncé take a stroll past New York's Roseland Ballroom, where the pop icon played the four shows earlier this year that became the subject of her just-released "Live at Roseland" DVD . "When I was here it was raining and there were thousands of people in their coats and umbrellas waiting outside for hours," she said of the summertime shows. "Which always feels a little overwhelming because I'm like, 'I hope I give them enough.' But everyone had a great time."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675198/beyonce-baby-20-20.jhtml

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Uma Thurman Cleavage and Other Things to Ogle

Uber Uma Cleavage

Uma Thurman at the Snowflake Ball Read More �

Dirty Dianna

Dianna Agron in Nylon Magazine Read More �

Lacey's New Boobs

Lacey Schwimmer's Transformation Read More �

- Lacey Schwimmer�got a boob job. (HuffPo)

- Kim Kardashian has problems down under. (FoxNews)

- Megan Fox goes shopping. (GossipCenter)

- New Dianna Agron photoshoot. (GossipCenter)

- Hotties in wet t-shirts. (TheChive)

- And, there's Uma Thurman cleavage. (Popoholic)

- Raise your hand, Mary-Kate Olsen. (CollegeHumor)

Source: http://egotastic.com/2011/12/uma-thurman-cleavage-and-other-things-to-ogle/

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Conrad Murray Not Expected To Serve Full Four Years

Legal expert Mike Cavalluzzi tells MTV News he isn't surprised by sentence but doesn't think it's justified.
By Gil Kaufman

Dr. Conrad Murray in court on Tuesday
Photo: Mario Anzuoni-Pool/ Getty Images

Though he dodged a potential four-year prison term, former Michael Jackson physician Conrad Murray was sentenced to an equal amount of time in Los Angeles County Jail on Tuesday (November 29) in the death of the pop singer.

But the same overcrowding problems that spared the cardiologist from doing time in a federal pen might also save him from serving his entire sentence in county as well. Shortly after the sentence was handed down by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, Los Angeles Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore told E! News that Murray would likely end up serving "a little less than two years." Due to overcrowding, most county jail sentences are immediately cut in half, and given the 46 days credit Murray has already been given, he is looking at even less than that.

Do you think Conrad Murray deserved the maximum sentence? Let us know on Facebook.

Murray's lawyers said afterward that they believed the sentence was unnecessarily long. "Yes, of course [Judge Pastor] was harsh. He gave the stiffest penalty he was entitled to give under the law," Murray's attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, told reporters. "He was openly hostile. ... [Murray has] led 56 years of exemplary life. He was really dreading [sentencing]. I think anybody would dread going into it. He's an honorable man, and he'll get through this. The family is suffering more than Dr. Murray is. ... Dr. Murray is the provider in that family."

Pastor had leeway in the sentencing, with options ranging from probation to the full sentence, but in a lengthy ruling from the bench, he said Murray's lack of remorse and negligent behavior called for the highest possible penalty. "He is and remains dangerous ... the request of probation is denied, the court imposes the high term of four years imprisonment in this case," Pastor said during the 90-plus-minute hearing.

Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi told MTV News that he wasn't surprised by the sentencing but that he didn't believe it was justified. Cavalluzzi said Pastor had incentive to give the full sentence because of the prominence of Jackson and his family and to create the perception that he is tough on crime. "He gets that perception by sentencing him to the max while not having to surrender the defendant to the full sentence," said Cavalluzzi, who was not involved in the case. "He gets the self-satisfaction of being perceived as being tough on crime and making the Jackson family happy, but I don't think it was a fair sentence."

Cavalluzzi said when deciding prison versus probation, judges have to look at someone's criminal history and whether a person is likely to complete the terms of their probation, which he believes Murray would. "I'm not seeing aggravating factors here, and I think it was just a chapter in [Murray's] life and he does not have a history of being a mercenary doctor always after money, but of being a good, responsible doctor who was seduced by the celebrity and money that Jackson offered," he said.

As to why Pastor gave such a dramatic, lengthy explanation for why he was sentencing Murray to the max, Cavalluzzi said the judge has to have a justification for his actions in the public record. "Because he doesn't have the discretion to give a high prison term, [Pastor] has to justify his sentence in the record and have very specific reasons for it. I don't think there's any way that anyone truly believes that from this day forward Dr. Murray truly represents a threat to society. That's just ludicrous."

And while he doesn't agree with the four-year term, Cavalluzzi said the high-profile nature of the case and the glare of the media could have played into the sentence. "It probably gives [Jackson's family] great comfort to have someone to blame," he said. " 'If not for this awful man, my son, brother, father would be alive.' But it's not fair to do that and it feels like a capitulating judgment in favor of feeding the emotional needs of the family."

Upon leaving the courthouse, Michael's brother Jermaine, when asked if the four-year sentence was enough, shook his head and said, "No." Mother Katherine Jackson told local TV station KTLA, "Four years is not enough for someone's life. It won't bring him back. But at least he got the maximum, and I thought the judge was very, very fair."

The prosecution, however, was satisfied with the ruling.

"We're pleased. That's what we thought was appropriate. The judge obviously agreed with us," deputy district attorney David Walgren said. "It was our position that it was not a simple, one-time mistake; it was a series of mistakes culminating in the abandonment of Michael Jackson when he died ... the judge agreed with that sentiment. A brother and a son and a family member was killed, and whatever the sentence may be, the family of the victim deserves justice. And we did everything to bring them that justice."

As for how much time Murray will spend locked up, Cavalluzzi said it is likely to be less than two years and, frankly, he predicted, the doctor could be out even sooner than that. "He might be eligible for house arrest very quickly," he said.

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