"IRON MAN 3" AT COMIC-CON 2012

Robert Downey Jr. & Don Cheadle at Comic-Con 2012

With the rush of Comic-Con having wound-down, now come these awesome Photos courtesy of Disney, taken over the weekend of Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. having loads of fun. The elaborate Festivities for Iron Man 3 not only included an appearance by the two Stars, but a Press Conference, a Press Line, a Costume Contest, plus an Autograph Signing by both Cheadle and Writer/Director Shane Black.  Fans got up-close and personal with Downey for a while at the Marvel Booth also. And how about this little mini Iron Men and Women?  Adorable.

Opening on May 3, 2013, Iron Man 3 pits the Superhero against his toughest Opponent yet, The Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley). Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Cobie Smulders, Guy Pearce and Gwyneth Paltrow star also.

 (Photo credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Walt Disney Motion Pictures)

CONTAGION - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Contagion

As always, Steven Soderbergh aims high and his latest $60 million Sci-Fi/Thriller imagines a World at the mercy of a mysterious Airborne Killer Disease. It is portrait of what life would be like for us if we were reduced to our most primal need to fight for survival. The Story centers around an international team of Doctors who are called upon with a daunting assignment from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, while the number of victims impacted quickly multiplies into the millions.

Contagion follows the interweaving stories of people around the World impacted by the Disease. Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow) returns to the U.S. after a visit to Macau, falling gravely ill within days. Her death then is linked to a number of other mysterious deaths around the World and soon we see the implications of this Disease as it spreads, whether it be her Husband Thomas (Matt Damon) who  never gets an opportunity to grieve her passing as he too is forced to worry about his own health. We also see Erin (Kate Winslet) step-up as a Doctor to face the challenge of dealing with the Outbreak, risking her own life to save others.   

Meanwhile, Ellis (Laurence Fishburne), struggles to suppress his own fears on a personal level to ensure both he and his Wife (Sanaa Lathan) survive, while at once having to maintain order on a public surface as access to an effective Vaccine is extremely limited. We also see Alan (Jude Law), a Medical Blogger out to expose corruption in the treatment of the Disease. Leonora (Marion Cotillard) is sent to China to study the Disease, but soon finds herself also caught amidst the corruption.

LEA MICHELE COVERS SEPTEMBER 2011 ISSUE OF "HARPER'S BAZAAR"

Lea Michele on September 2011 Issue of Harper's Bazaar

Say what you will about Glee’s Lea Michele but the Girl definitely has Style. She never ceases to amaze me on Red Carpets and despite only having been a major star for less than two years, she already is teaching Starlets who’ve been in the game much longer than her, exactly how it’s done. Either that, or her Stylist is just amazing and deserves all the credit.

Michele covers the September 2011 issue of Harper’s Bazaar and looks absolutely amazing in Photos by Mark Selliger. Although the reaction to her in a turquoise Gucci dress seems to be quite positive, I think she totally pulled off a $6k floral print Lanvin number best. Not everyone can make it work, trust me.

The 24 year-old Actress/Singer tells Marshall Heyman admittedly she isn’t a big spender, opting for shops like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters for everyday wear. She also admits to being a huge fan of her Glee Co-star Gwyneth Paltrow, subscribing to her GOOP Newsletter.

TIFF CANDIDATE - "CONTAGION" TRAILER

Still from Contagion

"On day one there were two people.  And then four.  And then 16.  In three months there'll be a billion - that's where we're heading." - Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law)

An international team of Doctors are sent out to deal with the outbreak of a deadly disease.  Contagion opens in theatres via Warner Bros. on September 9, 2011.  Damon, Law, Paltrow, Cotillard, Cranston, Fishburne, Winslet.  Soderbergh.  Bring it!

 

Watch the terrifying Trailer below:

BEYONCÉ HEADLINES 2011 GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

Beyoncé at 2011 Glastonbury Festival

England got a special treat this year with Beyoncé headlining the Glastonbury Festival, spanning three days over the past weekend. 170,000 Music Lovers were in attendance live, while Fans internationally were able to watch the broadcast via the BBC.

Beyoncé wowed the Crowd, zipping through her Set which included a Destiny's Child Medley, If I Were a Boy/U Oughta Know, Single Ladies, Crazy in Love, a Cover of Kings of Leon's Sex on Fire, Run the World (Girls) and new Single Best Thing I Never Had.  

Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyoncé's Husband Jay-Z were spotted even cheering her on in the Audience.  And if you want to win a copy of her new CD 4, in stores next Tuesday, you can still do so by entering my Giveaway right here.

Check out her performance of Best Thing I Never Had below:

MATTHEW MORRISON: MATTHEW MORRISON - CD REVIEW

A bit rushed perhaps? This is the initial impression I get after a couple listens to Matthew Morrison’s self-titled debut from Mercury Records. The Disc combines new material co-penned by the handsome and talented Glee Actor, along with Duet Covers of Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Gwyneth Paltrow), Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (Sting) and Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters/Rocket Man (Elton John).

New tracks like first Single Summer Rain are reminiscent of Hey, Soul Sister (Train) and the even-stronger Still Tonight are safely aimed to the hearts of a mature Pop Audience and Adult Contemporary Radio Stations. Hey - one of two co-written contributions from N Sync’s JC Chasez - draws inspiration from the Islands like Summer Rain, a good sound for Morrison’s pristine Tenor. The other Chasez contribution Don’t Stop Dancing, is one of few moments the Disc veers remotely towards the up-tempo and this might be a little disappointing for some Glee Fans who have enjoyed some harder-hitting performances from Morrison.

The strength of the Disc lies in its three marquee Covers and this is both good and bad - good in that Morrison’s Guest Vocalists push him to work that extra bit harder; bad in that he is outshined in the end result. Even worse is that the original material we get here simply isn’t remarkable enough to launch a successful solo Career. This becomes even more obvious considering that we know what Morrison vocally is capable of on a weekly basis. Above this, the Listener gets a sense that artistically he is still figuring out his own musical strengths, sounding like a different Vocalist from track to track.

NEW MUSIC: MATTHEW MORRISON FT. GWYNETH PALTROW - SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow are taking their on-screen Romance onto your iPods with this newly released version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which will be featured on Morrison’s self-titled Debut.

Simplistic and organic in its arrangement of Piano, Ukulele, Strings and Guitars, this is a bit more fleshed-out than the version of the Classic we heard on Glee last Season with Mark Salling. Paltrow soars beautifully on a Verse and then on Harmonies, with Morrison stepping back a bit and letting her shine.

Listen to the Track in full here on Morrison's VEVO Page.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow is available on iTunes. Matthew Morrison hits stores May 10, 2011 via Universal Music.

GWYNETH PALTROW INKS $900K RECORD DEAL

Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee

So obvious! Gwyneth Paltrow just inked a record deal yesterday with Atlantic Records (distributed via Warner Music).  It it said the deal was worth $900,000 US, making her a label mate of Cee Lo Green, whom she has been seen performing Forget You with on-stage much of late.

The news comes hot on the heels of her second ever apperance on Glee last night where her character Holly Holiday appears to be in a looming romance with Matthew Morrison`s Will Schuester.

We can almost expect a proper duet between her and Green, maybe on a track penned by Warner`s Bruno Mars, maybe?  Hmm.

(Photo credit: Fox)

TOM CRUISE PREPPING FOR ROLE IN "ROCK OF AGES" MOVIE

Constantine Maroulis & Tom Cruise

It's seriously happening. Tom Cruise is already taking voice lessons  for his upcoming role as Stacee Jaxx in the Film adaptation of Musical Rock of Ages. He will be required to learn three songs for the Film including Styx's Renegade, Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive and Foreigner's I Want to Know What Love Is, which will be featured as a Duet with Sherrie (Anne Hathaway). It doesn't appear Taylor Swift is attached to the project anymore as once rumoured, although names floating around include Mary J. Blige and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cruise was spotted at Pantages Theatre in Hollywood this past weekend watching Rock of Ages and chatting with Producers and the Cast, posing for a Photo with Star Constantine Maroulis who may of us might remember from his stint on American Idol.

COUNTRY STRONG - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Country Strong

In what might more aptly be named Country Weak, Shana Feste-written and directed Musical Drama Country Strong falls short of expectations. Misleadingly advertised as something resembling a heart-warming story of fictitious Country singer Kelly Canter's (Gwyneth Paltrow) return to triumph from a battle with Depression and Alcoholism, the finished product is about as empty as its defeated Heroine's soul. There is little to root for here in Kelly as her character is written so thinly and one-dimensional that Paltrow's best efforts to bring her to life prove futile.

Country Strong follows Kelly after she suffers a Miscarriage from a fall on-stage while performing drunk in Houston, at five months pregnant. Managed by Husband James (Tim McGraw), her marriage is on-the-rocks with her having an obvious affair with hired-hand and aspiring Musician Beau (Garrett Hedlund). All the while, James takes beautiful and talented Beauty Queen Chiles (Leighton Meester) under his wing, threatening Kelly's place as his lover and Country Music's Darling also. Beau and Chiles follow the troubled singer on her ill-fated Tour one year later, realizing their own attraction to one another, as Kelly hopes to make amends for her disgraced Houston performance, all the while trying to overcome her own demons.

GWYNETH PALTROW TO HOST "SNL" A THIRD TIME



Gwyneth Paltrow at TIFF 2005

Somebody needs to give Gwyneth Paltrow's Agent a raise because the Actress/Singer/Tastemaker is front and center again suddenly. With Country Strong hitting theatres this Friday, Paltrow will also be filling hosting duties on the Saturday, January 15, 2011 episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live. Musical Guest for the evening will be Cee Lo, whose most recent hit Fuck You, she covered recently on Glee in cleaned-up form. I suppose we can expect a musical collaboration that night too?

This coming appearance actually will be Paltrow's third time hosting the show. She hosted for the first time back in 1999 alongside the Barenaked Ladies and again in 2001 with Mandy Moore's now-husband Ryan Adams. She also appeared twice uncredited on episodes back in 2000 with then-boyfriend Ben Affleck and again with Tom Green hosting.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

REVIEWS COME IN FOR "COUNTRY STRONG"

Still from Country Strong

One of the Films I am most excited to see right now actually won’t be opening over the Holidays in these parts, but it opens today for the lucky people of Los Angeles and Nashville. Country Strong from Director/Screenwriter Shana Feste, stars Gwyneth Paltrow as an unlucky Country Singer with a few vices, on the comeback trail. Believe it or not, Feste has cited Britney Spears’ downward spiral a few years back as being the inspiration behind her Heroine, Kelly Canter (Paltrow).

Previewing its Soundtrack last night for the first time, I was rather impressed by Paltrow’s conviction on the four tracks in which she appears, like the rockin’ swagger of Shake That Thing and the Film’s title track. Garrett Hedlund from TRON: Legacy is convincingly Bluegrass with that lower Baritone register on his sole track Chances Are. Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester does a credible job too on her one track Words I Couldn’t Say, although there is no doubting who the real star is in Paltrow. It appears co-star Tim McGraw might have lent her a pointer or two.

Reviews are starting to come in for the Musical Drama and although mixed unsurprisingly with the most telling sign being its snubbing at last week's Golden Globe nominations in the Acting and Best Motion Picture categories, Variety Magazine’s Justin Chang praised it still.  Chang in a review just published last night says it is a “rare ensemble piece in which all four principals are not only compellingly drawn but handled with an astute sense of dramatic balance.”

GWYNETH PALTROW WOWS ON "GLEE"



Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee

Hands down, best Guest Performance on a Series ever!  Gwyneth Paltrow stepped-up to the plate and exceeded all expectations on last night's The Substitute episode of Glee.  Tearing her way through Cee-Lo's Forget You as substitute teacher Holly Holliday, Paltrow was introduced as a Spanish teacher who eventually had to fill-in for an ailing Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison).  She showed her true versatility in acting, singing and dancing, an indication that when given the right role and she's feeling challenged, Paltrow is definitely one of the greatest. 

The episode had her working hard in an homage to Rob Marshall's Chicago where she had to dance and sing up a storm alongside Lea Michele in the number Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag.  She wowed in a gorgeous looking and polished Mash-up of Singin' in the Rain/Umbrella, doing the Rihanna bits.

I definitely am a Paltrow fan all over again after seeing this and am v. excited about her performance in Country Strong, coming January 7, 2011.  Expect an Emmy win in the category of Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series next year for her work last night, easily.

(Photo credit: Fox)

GWYNETH ON GLEE

Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw in Country Strong

Now who ever said an Oscar is a curse?  Gwyneth Paltrow has been confirmed to play a Substitute Teacher on an episode of Glee coming later this season.  Producer/Director Ryan Murphy is a good friend of Paltrow's and was inspired to write a part for her on the show, expressing confidence in her singing ability to Us Magazine yesterday.  It is said that Matthew Morrison's character will fall for her and that she will have three to four songs on the episode.

Paltrow of course will also be singing up a storm on the forthcoming film Country Strong in which she plays a recovering alcholic Country singer.  The film hits theatres December 22, 2010. Today also happens to be Paltrow's Birthday!

GWYNETH PALTROW CROONING A COUNTRY SONG

Honestly Gwyneth, just go on and record that album already.  You know you want to!

The Oscar-winning actress will be starring as an alcoholic Country Singer on-the-verge of a comeback with the help of Tim McGraw in Country Strong, due in theatres December 22, 2010.  Sony Screen Gems will be distributing the film and they seem to understand the power of a Pop Star at the Box Office, having released Beyoncé's classic Obsessed and Christina Aguilera/Cher's forthcoming Burlesque this fall.

Preview Country Strong which I'm sure will surface on its forthcoming Soundtrack also below (audio content owned by RCA Nashville):

REVIEW: IRON MAN 2

I'll admit it. I still haven't seen Iron Man 1, but Iron Man 2 stands on its own as a deliciously fun movie-going experience. The story has billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) at his narcissistic best. Unfortunately the American government sees his inventions, Iron Man armours designed to protect the United States against attack, as being illegal possession of weapons. This threatens his right to his own intellectual property and he defiantly holds his own in proving along with his ally James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) that the benefit of his inventions outweigh their potential risk or harm, discrediting others and their greed to take ownership of his work.

Meanwhile in Russia, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) is out to avenge the disgracing of his father who worked together many years prior with Tony's father Howard (John Slattery) on an Arc Reactor. Due to limitations in technology at that time however, they were unable to complete their mission. It is Howard's hope that his son will be able to carry on the torch and finish the work his father started.

Convinced that he is dying judging by increasing Toxicity levels in his blood, Tony gives up his title as CEO of Stark Industries, handing this over to his Personal Assistant/love interest Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Sexy Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson) is hired as his new assistant.

MEAT FREE MONDAYS: BY SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY

Sir Paul McCartney recently launched the concept of Meat Free Mondays in the UK and he issued this personal note to subscribers of Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP newsletter.  And all those stars  (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Kelly Osbourne, Kate Bosworth....) to the left, showed their support.

Meat Free Mondays were created in response to concern that  the presence of Methane from Livestock are causing climatic degredation. Of course it is implied that the growing demand for Livestock for human consumption is the cause of this.  In addition to the environmental dangers of Methane, Livestock are also responsible depleting our global supply of fresh water.  McCartney points out that it takes "634 gallons of fresh water required to produce one 5.2 ounce (150g) Beef Burger".  Above this, Livestock waste also accounts for water pollution as a result of the antibiotics and hormones these animals are given.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm by no means an Environmentalist nor am I a Tree Hugger, but I do recognize that we don't give much thought to how we hurt the world we live in.  I'm not telling you to quit meat altogether because God only knows how much I love a nice rare Steak, but it is important that we have some degree of awareness to how simple things like eating a Burger are impacting the environment.  If every one of us reduced our meat consumption by just one day a week, this in itself will undoubtedly have a long-term impact and perhaps force the Livestock industry to re-examine their business practices for the better.