Hollywood enjoys record-shattering Christmas

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

It was a memorable and merry Christmas in Hollywood as moviegoers shattered box-office records, responding in droves to a diverse array of high-profile releases over the holiday weekend.

The estimated $278 million in weekend box-office revenue broke the previous record of roughly $253 million set in July 2008.

"Avatar," the 3-D epic, topped them all, earning $75 million for 20th Century Fox, according to studio estimates Sunday. In second was "Sherlock Holmes," Guy Ritchie's reboot of the franchise with Robert Downey Jr. starring as Arthur Conan Doyle's detective. The Warner Brothers film opened with a weekend total of $65.4 million, including a record Christmas Day debut of $24 million.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," which opened Wednesday, took in $50.2 million on the weekend. Also opening was Nancy Meyer's "It's Complicated," the romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. The Universal film took in $22.1 million, a solid debut.

"Up in the Air," which has some of the best awards momentum, grossed $11.8 million. "Nine," the adaptation of the Broadway musical (which itself was a riff of Federico Fellini's classic film 8 1/2, earned $5.5 million in 1408 theaters.

"It's an absolutely fitting end to the biggest box office year of all time," said Paul Dergarbedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "It's just been a total roller coaster ride. It's like audience members are on board."

2009 still has several days to go, but the year is already a record for domestic ticket sales with more than $10 billion at the box office. While some of the credit has to go to the recession (movies historically do well in hard times when a trip to the movie theater is a relatively cheap form of entertainment and escapism), there was a feeling Sunday that Hollywood had put forth a better product this Christmas.

"People say it's the recession," said Dergarabedian. "It's the movies--it's really the movies. It seems like when people aren't at home, they're at the movies."

'Avatar' takes flight with $232.2 million weekend

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

James Cameron launched his sci-fi epic 'Avatar' into a safe orbit as the costly film soared to No. 1 with $73 million domestically and $159.2 million overseas, for a $232.2 million worldwide total.

With that big a start, 20th Century Fox was quick to proclaim it made a good investment with the estimated $400 million spent to make and market the film, which is Cameron's first narrative feature since "Titanic," the king of modern blockbusters.

"Absolutely. No question," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for the studio, which reported stella reaction in exit polls from audiences after seeing "Avatar." "The word of mouth is something that I don't know I've ever seen in this business before."


"What they spent on this movie was totally justified and they're going to more than earn it back," said Paul Dergarebedian, box-office analyst. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday are:
1. "Avatar," $73 million.
2. "The Princess and the Frog," $12.2 million.
3. "The Blind Side," $10 million
4. "Did you hear about the Morgans?", $7 million.
5. "The Twilight Saga" New Moon, $4.4 million
6. "Invictus," $4.2 million
7. "Disney's a Christmas Carol," $3.4 million.
8. "Up in the Air," $3.1 million
9. "Brothers," $2.6 million
10. "Old Dogs," $2.3 million

Man pays $72 for taco, says 'Merry Christmas'

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Sandusky, Ohio--A man who appeared drunk walked into a Taco Bell restaurant earlier this week and handed the manager $72 for one taco, the manager said.

The manager told police that the customer who seemed to be in his early 20s, refused to take back the money and told workers "Merry Christmas."

Manager Aaron Ohm said he thought for sure the man would return for his money, but so far he hasn't shown up.

Police decided to hold on to the money as evidence. They said if the cast wasn't claimed in 60 days, the store manager would receive the Christmas gift.

SAG nominations announced

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

"Inglorious Basters," "Precious," and "Up in the Air" scored the most traction among actors with three Screen Actors Guild feature nominations each as actors opted for a mix of mainstream and speciality titles. On the TV side, "30 Rock," "The Closer" and "Dexter" led the way with three nominations apiece.

In the guild's ensemble cast catergory "Basterds," and "Precious" landed nods as did "An Education," "The Hurt Locker" and "Nine."

Basterds castmates Christopher Waltz and Diane Kruger scored nomiations in the supporting actor and actress categories. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe continued to rack up recognition with an actress nomination for "Precious" as did castmate Mo'Nique in the supporting actress category.

Is Amanda Knox really guilty? An interview with legal expert Robin Sax.

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

An Italian jury has found American student Amanda Knox guilty in the stabbing death of British exchange student Meredith Kercher. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in an Italian prison, despite the lack of evidence in the crime. The following is a Q & A with legal expert Robin Sax:

Q- Do you think Amanda Knox got a fair trial?
A- No, I do not feel she got a fair trial.

Q-Do you think she was "set up" for the murder of Meredith Kercher?
A- I don't have enough evidence to know where the basis of this opinion comes from. Overall thoughts though: I believe that American students who are traveling abroad for international education should be afforded some protections. The U.S. did not have any jurisdiction in this case and I do not believe that is fair. The problem is--unlike an American adult going to another country on their own--this is still a student/kid who is very young, has a language barrier and is not experienced in the culture of this country. Just like a U.S. armed service-person receives special protections abroad, I believe that American study abroad students should receive some protection as well.

Q- Since no actual evidence was found linking Amanda to the murder, can you still prosecute her based on circumstantial evidence?
A- I can't say Amanda didn't do it (based on what I saw of the evidence presented), and none of us can say for sure what happened that night. I can say this: I do not think Amanda would have been convicted of murder here (if she was tried for the same crime in the United States). The concept of "not guilty" and innocent (or didn't-do-it) are very different things in the American system. You can believe a person is not innocent, but the evidence is not enough to prove guilt--so the verdict is "not guilty" (which again, is different from "innocence").

Ask Ashley: Ex call girl Ashley Dupre gives sex advice

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Got a problem with your love life? Ask Ashley.

That would be Ashley Dupre, the former call girl whose tryst with former New York City Gov. Eliot Spitzer led to his resignation last year.

The New York Post has hired the 22-year-old to write a weekly advice column dealing with sex and relationships.

The column in Sunday's paper is illustrated with photos of Dupre wearing glasses and a conservative suit, along with a half-unbuttoned blouse and 6-inch heels.

One reader asks if she needs to tell her boyfriend how many men she has slept with. Dupre's answer: "It's really none of his business (and vica-versa)."

A spokesman for the Post did not answer a call seeking comment.

'Frog' hops to top of box office

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" scored the biggest opening for an animated film debuting nationwide in December, grossing an estimated $25 million at the box office.

Warner Bros. took No. 2 and No. 3 with holdover "The Blind Side" and new entry "Invictus," respectively.

One the specality side, Paramount and Dreamworks saw a strong limited bow for Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones," which grossed an estimated $116,000. Paramount's George Clooney film "Up in the Air" continued to impress as it expanded to 72 locations, grossing an estimated $2.5 million.

Kristin Wiig's "Gilly" hosts SNL Christmas special

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Kristin Wiig's recurring character Gilly might not seem filled with holiday cheer, yet NBC is turning to her to host a "Saturday Night Live" Christmas special.

"SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" will air Thursday at 8p.m. The two-hour special will be led by Wiig's Gilly, an ever-smiling Annie-lookalike who delights in violent mischief. The special will feature new sketches with Gilly and highlights of classic holiday "SNL" sketches.

Wiig, roundly considered a standout performer on the NBC sketch comedy show, has built Gilly into a popular a character. Wiig told the Associated Press that part of the fun of Gilly hosting is in her slim vocabulary which consists mainly of the simple catch-phrase "Sorry."

"That can be a tough one to work around," Wiig said. "There's going to be no long monologue. Maybe her five-word vocabulary will stretch to 10 or 11."

A Palestinian grocer sues 'Bruno' for $110 million

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

A Palestinian grocer labeled as a "terrorist group leader" in the movie "Bruno" has filed a $110 million lawsuit, saying the film ruined his life.

Ayman Abu Aita says in a Dec. 2 complaint that he suffered "extensive damage and loss" as result of his appearance in "Bruno" and from British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's promotion of the film on CBS's Late Show With David Letterman.

Cohen, who plays the gay Austrian TV host Bruno in the film, told Letterman in a July 7 appearance that he interviewed a "terrorist from a pretty nasty group called the al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade--the number one suicide bombers out there "at a secret location" with a security guard.

The film, released three days later, went on to identify Aita with a banner under his face that sported his full name and the label "terrorist group leader al-aqsa martyr's brigade."

The lawsuit, brought against Cohen, Letterman, NBC Universal and the director of Bruno, Larry Charles Wengrod, claims that Aita is a "peace activist, family man and prominent businessman" who never had any dealing with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade or "any other terrorist activity or cause."

Aita said he now is a rep of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, and he is a board member of the Holy Land Trust, a nongovernmental organization promoting Palestinian community-building.

"My file is clear with the Americans. I was in the states twice and I travel all the time," he told the Guardian in July.

"I am a non-violent activist and I am not ashamed of that," he said.

Aita told the Guardian that the "security guard" shown in his interview with "Bruno" was actually another member of the Holy Land Trust. And he said the movie interview did not take place in a secret location, as Cohen claimed, but at a restaurant and hotel selected by the film's crew in an Israeli-controlled district of the West Bank. He said he could not possibly have been armed, as Cohen suggested in the Letterman appearance, because Palestinians are not allowed to carry weapons at that location.

Asked why he did the interview with Cohen, Aita told WND, "Therre was nothing special. He said he is a German actor making documentaries watched by young people...He wanted to make a story to mobilize the young people help us (Palestinians)...I didn't have any impression he would use my interview in a bad way."

Aita is seeking $10 million for compensatory damages, $100 million for exemplary damages, "reasonable attorney's fees, & costs to follow," and that "Bruno" be withdrawn from commercial distribution "by whatever means."

MTV Staff Getting Death Threats Over 'Jersey Shore'

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

A few MTV staffers are reportedly fearing for their lives after the debut of the controversial reality show "Jersey Shore."

Just because "Jersey Shore" got hot ratings doesn't mean all of MTV was happy with the outcome.

Pop Tarts has been told that some staffers connected with the show have reason to be pretty afraid since the show's debut.

"The MTV building in Times Square was getting crazy threats and they are in the process of hiring more security," an insider told Tarts, adding that individuals involved with the press component on the show were being bombarded with abusive e-mails, phone calls and facebook messages--many of which involved death threats.

A spokesman for MTV adamantly denied the claim, however, saying Tuesday that the company "has not received any death threats."

But Tarts' insider charged, "people were going totally crazy, it was a nightmare."

The "Real World" style show features a group of Italian-Americans in a summer house together in which they refer to each other as "guidos" and "guidettes" which has enraged other Italian-Americans.

"Their behavior is reprehensible and demeaning in all respects," Andre DiMino, the president of Unico told the NY Times. "I don't see any redeeming value in the show. They are an embarrassment to themselves and to their families."

Even the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau are hopping mad over the show.

And despite safety fears for their staff, public outcry and the fact that advertisers such as Domino's Pizza have already pulled the plug on advertising during the controversial series, MTV are not backing down.

Tiffany the Torty Persian is a hit at Beverly Hills Book signing

By: Vickie Rubinson

A beautiful Tortoise-shell Persian cat named Tiffany was the queen of the ball at a book signing party for Jacque Heebner's "First Person Cat," at the elegant Regency Club in Los Angeles.

Celebrity guests like Lou and Carla Ferrigno, singer Roger Williams and famed actress Tippi Hendren gathered around a grand piano to post for pictures with Tiffany the cat who actually sported a diamond necklace.

Los Angeles socialite, former Daily News journalist and animal rights activist Jacque Heebner, takes on a surreal murder mystery in the world of Beverly Hills power, money, and celebrity. However, this time the book is written from the point of view of Tiffany, a diva-like feline brought up on caviar, Perrier and an acute appreciation for diamond's, a girl's best friend.

This regal Tortoise-shell Persian, witnesses the murder of her owner-mother, a Cher-like rock star with two hot daughters living at home in Beverly Hills. Heebner's tome brings back the excitement of breakthrough communications with the animal world. But First Person Cat takes it to a higher level of communication--that with humans.

Roger Williams, world-renowned pop concert pianist and platinum recording artist- "I'm a dog person, but I really loved this book!"

Lou and Carla Ferrigno, "A cute and very enjoyable easy read. We love Tiffany and her point of view with humans and their flaws."

Tippi Hendren, "The beautiful Beverly Hills Tiffany, Tiff to a select few, will guide you through a most fascinating, page flipping murder mystery. By the way, Tiffany is a hot tortoise-shell Persian Cat!"

No glitz or glam at Gaza's first ever film festival

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

The Gaza Strip launched its first ever film festival on Saturday and although it was a far cry from the usual glitz and glamour associated with film festivals, it offered something far more real and substantial--namely exposing Israeli crimes.

Within the participation of several countries from the Arab world and internationally the documentary film festival kicked off despite several hiccups, including the use of underground tunnels to bring in the film strips used for the event.

The festival comes as part of a series of cultural activities held to celebrate the choosing of Jersualem as the 2009 capital of Arab culture, Riad Shahin, Palestinian director and chairman of the festival told Al Aribiya.

Shahin added that a "special emphasis is being put on Jerusalem since it represents the most crucial problem in the Arab-Israeli conflict."

Many Gazan journalists have been awarded international prizes but were unable to receive them because they were stuck in the strip, which is struggling under an Israeli blockade on one side and Egyptian control on the other.

Shahin explained that several Palestinians who work in journalism or the film industry do not have the chance to show their work outside the strip and said holding a festival in Gaza made it possible for these people to be recognized.

"It was the only way to encourage them and to promote Palestinian films, especially the ones tackling the Palestinian cause," Shahin said, adding "Israel is held accountable for placing obstacles in their way."

The festival committee received a total of 152 documentary films from different parts of the world, namely Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Norway, United States and a number of Arab-Israelis and people in the West Bank

George Clooney brings mom to movie premiere "Up in the Air"

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

"I sure hope my mom likes the movie," sighed George Clooney at the premiere of his new film "Up in the Air" at the Mann's Village Theater in Westwood Monday night.

Clooney plays a corporate downsizer who flies around the country doing the dirty work the corporations don't want to touch--he fires people for a living.

"I could never do this in real life," admitted Clooney who posed for photogs with his mom Nina and girlfriend Elizabeta. "That would be a hard thing to do."

Directed by Jason Reitman, the son of Ivan Reitman (Stripes and Meatballs), Up in the Air is an audience-friendly studio movie which might even earn Reitman a best director nomination.

"I'm the real deal, not just the son of the guy who made Ghostbusters," said Reitman in an interview outside the theater. "I relate to the people in the movie who get fired because I've always had an underdog perspective."

Reitman wrote the lead with George Clooney in mind. Afterwards George met up with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at La Dolce restaurant in Beverly Hills.