WEIRDLAND

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Actresses into indie-music

"Fans have been clamoring for Zooey Deschanel to record an album since she wowed audiences with her slyly cool take on the holiday standard “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in the 2003 film “Elf.”Now there’s an official Deschanel album. The actress collaborated with indie singer-songwriter M. Ward for their She & Him project, due March 18 from indie label Merge Records.

The two were first heard on a duet of “When I Get to the Border,” a Linda and Richard Thompson cover. Ward often sings as if he’s from another era, his booming voice resulting in a timeless echo over his piano work, and Deschanel’s vocals complement him well, gracing the song with an almost enchanted calmness.
“When I Get to the Border” will appear in indie film “The Go-Getter,” which also stars Jena Malone (see slide No. 9). And for still more Deschanel, check out the album “Nighttiming” by Jason Schwartzman’s Coconut Records, available via most digital download retailers.
Scarlett Johansson.

It was Scarlett Johansson's costar Thora Birch who got to play the artsy, music-obsessed teen in the 2001 film "Ghost World," but it's Johansson who's embarking on a rock 'n' roll lifestyle. She tipped her hand by contributing a standard to the 2006 benefit CD “Unexpected Dreams -- Songs from the Stars,” but who knew she had an appearance with cult heroes and guitar-scorchers the Jesus and Mary Chain up her sleeve?
After performing with the reunited U.K. rockers at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, Johansson was reported to have been holed up in southern Louisiana recording her debut album. It may be on the Warner Bros. imprint Atco, but Johansson’s inspiration all comes from the underground.She recorded her debut album, "Anywhere I Lay My Head," with TV On the Radio producer/guitarist Dave Sitek, and guests include Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and David Bowie, among others. As for the album’s content, Johansson tackled the work of eccentric indie-cult hero Tom Waits. The album will be released May 20, 2008.
Parker Posey

Dubbed “Queen of the Indies” by Time magazine, Parkey Posey’s cult following has been largely confined to the film world, where she's starred in a string of independent films including the recent “Broken English,” as well as generation-defining cult flicks such as “Dazed and Confused.”But she’s also dabbled in music, and we’re not talking about her role in “Josie and the Pussycats” (underrated movie, trust us). She sang in Christopher Guest’s “A Mighty Wind,” the role for which she reportedly learned to play the mandolin, and her vocals also appear on a 2003 Ryan Adams album, “Rock N Roll.” At the time, Posey was dating the alt-country artist, who began his solo career on indie Bloodshot Records.

That same year, Posey showed off her mandolin skills on “Welcome to the Monkey House” by the Dandy Warhols.
Christina Ricci.

It may have been Hollywood blockbuster “The Addams Family” that catapulted Christina Ricci to stardom, but she soon let the world know she had slightly more adventurous tastes. Ricci dabbled outside the mainstream with a string of indie-minded films, including “Buffalo ’66,” “The Opposite of Sex,” “Pecker,” “Prozac Nation” and “Pumpkin.”
So it’s no surprise that she made her recording debut with Beck, an artist who also walks the line between the indie and mainstream worlds. Ricci didn’t exactly sing on the relaxed, electro-folk of “Hell Yes,” where she played the role of a Japanese waitress. But she did provide the vocal hook with the coolly polite refrain of “please enjoy.”
Jenny Lewis.
Although Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis has long since abandoned acting, no list of this ilk would be complete without her. That being said, her work in Rilo Kiley, as well as her smashing 2006 solo debut, “Rabbit Fur Coat,” has rendered her acting past a mere afterthought.Lewis appeared alongside Fred Savage in “The Wizard” and with Shelley Long in “Troop Beverly Hills.” Her last role was 2001’s “Don’s Plum,” a film featuring Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio, and one that was not given a proper U.S. release.
This week, Rilo Kiley released its fourth album “Under the Blacklight,” and the second under major label Warner Bros. It sees the band’s effortless pop evolving into a more groove-driven sound, with greater guitar atmospheres and more space for Lewis to stretch out her conversationally approachable vocals.
Jena Malone has already won over the indie rock set for her role in 2001's cult hit “Donnie Darko.” The film’s music was a choice selection of ‘80s cuts from the likes of Joy Division and Duran Duran, and it arrived just as the hipsters were discovering the ‘80s-inspired gloom of modern acts such as Interpol.

A couple of years later, Malone gave Mandy Moore-starrer “Saved!” some indie cred, and this year she released her first single on hot New York indie label Social Registry, home to the experimental electronic work of Gang Gang Dance.Her band, Jena Malone and her Bloodstains, has already played shows with psychedelic guitar rockers Deerhunter, and is sampling songs via Malone’s MySpace page.

No word when or if a full album may be coming, but Malone treads toward the experimental in her music, bringing a Karen O-like curl to “Lunchbox and Memory,” a confessional, beat-poet approach to “This Pain” and a Yoko Ono-inspired fragileness to “New Year Come.”

Of late, she's been recording with her new band, the Shoe.
Source: theenvelope.latimes.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Jake and Reese in a sexshop??

"Joyless harridan Reese Witherspoon and her Bubble Boy beau Jake Gyllenhaal are getting a headstart on the Zack and Miri Make a Porno hype by doing their own version: Reese and Jake Go to the Dildo Store. These two paragons of chastity allegedly visited a sex shop while recently in London. Star mag lets us in on it:

Just 24 hours after Reese Witherspoon arrived in London to visit Jake Gyllenhaal, she coaxed him into a sex toys and underwear emporium for a private strip show.

While shopping in a Myla boutique on the West End, Reese beckoned her beau into the changing rooms, where she surprised him with a private strip show. [...]

"Clearly, that purple set did it for him", clerk Vanessa Brown tells Star. "Reese has a really fit body. She looks fantastic. She's petite... but I'm not telling her bra size!"

On the way out of the store, the lovebirds stopped, giggling at a display of sex toys". Source: www.celebnewswire.com

I'm not telling her bra size? I think it shouldn't be too hard to guess for an experienced lingerie boutique clerk, and moreso if Reese was just in front of her... and Jake, a parangon of chastity, since when? and why are some bloggers doing such mockering of this couple?, I didn't know that you had to be into sado-maso to be hip now!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Uncertainty)


Every movie Joseph Gordon-Levitt appears in marks a significant step in his growth as an actor. His new lead in the metaphysical drama UNCERTAINTY is no exception. He sat down to talk with us about this new high watermark in his career.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Lust for "wild" actors


A musical video featuring images of "wild" young actors:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Emile Hirsch, Ryan Gosling, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Cera, Ben Foster, Patrick Fugit, Christian Bale, Edward Norton, James MacAvoy, Anton Yelchin, Topher Grace, Shia Labeouf, etc.
Songs "Real wild child" and "Lust for life" by Iggy Pop.

Kirsten, Jennifer, Selma, etc.

Seeing Jennifer Aniston and Kirsten together I wondered briefly whom Jake really had more chemistry, and I say briefly because although Jake and Kirsten were actually an official couple: it's undeniable how much comfortable Jake has always seemed to be in company of Jen:
And with Selma Blair, these recent additions to the Iheartjake gallery prove there is also sparks between them, don't you think? If not, read this old interview in which both half-joke, half-flirt each other:

Selma: I'm going to sound like a drip, but I really do like to shop. I shop it up. Believe it or not, Karl Lagerfeld took the photos for this piece. He came to my house to shoot me, and my mother couldn't believe it. I told her yesterday that he had come a couple of weeks ago and she said, "You're telling me this now?" He was so dignified. And elegant. I just want him to like me.


Jake: [laughs] I'm sure he does. You know, the nice thing about you is you aim to please--which is why I'm so endeared by you.

Selma: Aww.

Jake: And because you tell me you want to have sex with me all the time. [both laugh]

Jake: Not like that. No, no. You say it in a much more loving way.

Selma: I don't really say it like that!
Source: findarticles.com
Jake between Bridget Monaghan and Selma Blair.

"Before working with Ellen Pompeo in 2002's Moonlight Mile, Jake Gyllenhaal hit on her. "He wasn't Jake Gyllenhaal then," she told Playboy. "I didn't know what else to say, because he'd come over with these compliments and he's much younger than I am. I just said, 'Well maybe we'll work together someday'."
Source: www.people.com
Jake & Ellen at "Moonlight Mile" Benefit Screening, 2004.
Jake & supermodel Daria Werbowy for Vogue, July 2004.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Robert Pattinson on SNL

"If Rob Pattinson grabs a gig on SNL, can he beat Jake, Natalie or Ellen?

What would happen if Robert Pattinson were ever invited to do a gig at Saturday Night Live? There's currently a petition doing the rounds of sites [ Reported to have been initiated by TwilightMOMs. Also see related post at Twilighters Anonymous ] that asks viewers to sign in support of asking NBC for a Rob appearance. Do you think he can deliver? Is Rob in possession of enough 'funny bones' to come up with a witty, humorous, even wacky script that could rival the show where they put Jake Gyllenhaal and Ellen Page on the stage?

Jake Gyllenhaal: Of Brokeback Mountain, Drag Queens and Dreamgirls - It was Season 32 when Jake Gyllenhaal appeared on Saturday Night Live. Riding on the wave of critical success following the release of Brokeback Mountain, Jake gave us one of the most impressive SNL appearances ever. While tMF is not keen on discussing the personal lives of its favorite actors, we do need to mention that it was about this time that the gossip sheets were speculating heavily about Jake's sexuality. Instead of doing something nasty, he used his SNL appearance to send a message. That made me admire Jake even more.

Here's an online publication that highlighted the point:

This is exactly why the actor chose to open 'Saturday Night Live' with the most brilliant monologue ever, plus the best spoof of a popular song that was ever aired on television. The hunky actor begins by saying that he wants to hear no more of those 'Brokeback Mountain' rumors, but ends up in a dress, a black wig and singing, for his gay cowboy fans, 'And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)', Jennifer Hudson's piece de resistance from 'Dreamgirls'.

Ellen Page: Juno and Teen Pregnancy, Anatomy of a Classy Lesbian - Canadian sensation Ellen Page also performed quite amazingly in an episode of Saturday Night Live. Page's appearance was also right after a very successful movie and role, as in Jake's case. Juno star Ellen Page made fun of the recent speculation that she’s a lesbian during her closing skit on yesterday’s Saturday Night Live. The 21-year-old actress played a character that “so went gay” at a Melissa Etheridge/Indigo Girls concert.
Andy Samberg played her pseudo-boyfriend, who told Page, “You are like a primo lesbian now.” Rolling on the floor and holding her legs up, Page’s character shot back, screaming, “Gay, no way! …Why does everything have to have a freaking label?? Why can’t I just hug a woman with my LEGS in friendship???”
Source: themovie-fanatic.com

Saturday, October 18, 2008

"Baby Baby" video


A video featuring Hollywood hotties and some pictures of romantic movies, as "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist", "Say Anything", "Juno", "The Virgin Suicides", etc.
Song "Baby Baby" by The Vibrators.

Celebrity Divorces

R&T: What are you working on now?

Gyllenhaal: A screenplay called "Perfect Divorce" and a rewrite on a movie called "Keys to the Street". And these questions.

R&T: Thank you, Stephen, for taking time from your busy schedule to do this interview with me.

Source: www.theroseandthornezine.com

"Naomi Foner has filed for divorce from Stephen Gyllenhaal, Access Hollywood has learned. [...] Both are Hollywood mainstays themselves - Foner is a Golden Globe-winning screenwriter and Gyllenhaal is a director whose credits include episodes of "The Shield" and "Everwood." They have been married 30 years, but have been separated since January 1, 2008". Source: www.omg.yahoo.com

More celebrity divorces:"Sources have revealed exclusively to Holy Moly that Madonna has hired Britain's toughest divorce lawyer, Nicholas Mostyn QC, to kick start divorce proceedings against her husband of eight years, Guy Ritchie.

Mostyn will no doubt strike fear into the heart of Guy – he is the man who sorted out Heather Mills, trounced Earl Spencer and almost destroyed Ray Parlour in his previous high profile divorce cases.

Suggestions made seem to indicate that, surprisingly, Madonna and Guy do NOT have a pre-nup in place, leaving Guy in line to walk away with up to half of Madge's fortune (according to Forbes she earned $72m last year alone). Source: www.holymoly.co.uk

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe splitted up and divorced after 4 years of marriage.
Drew Barrymore divorced Tom Green after only 5 months.
"Avril Lavigne and husband Deryck Whibley are on a fast track to divorce, according to a new report. The couple's two year marriage is said to have crumbled after Avril embarked on a world tour that has kept her thousands of miles apart from her rocker hubby. A source tells the National Enquirer that the pair "have been growing apart for months", adding, "Deryck isn't motivated in his own career, so he's been drinking and partying."

Friday, October 17, 2008

Jake's dad and mom filing for divorce

"Maggie Gyllenhaal met up with Alfre Woodard and Rachael Leigh Cook on Long Island Wednesday night to watch the final presidential debate. Maggie kept her spirits high with other activist women despite the confirmation of some sad personal news. Jake and Maggie's parents officially filed for divorce after over 30 years of marriage. It's always sad to see families go through this, but both Maggie and Jake seem incredibly happy in their relationships if they need some support through this tough time".
Source: Popsugar.com

Alpha Dog video and couples


A musical video featuring some scenes from the movie "Alpha Dog" (2006), based on true events, directed by Nick Cassavetes, starring Emile Hirsch, Anton Yelchin and Ben Foster.
Songs "Never understand" and "Hit" by The Jesus & Mary Chain.

COVER GIRLS: If Emile Hirsch is the Alpha Dog, does that make you the Alpha bitch?
OLIVIA WILDE: [Laughs] So many people have made the Alpha bitch connection that I was wondering when it was gonna…umm, yeah, okay. Well, to turn that into a serious question: I do think there was something cool about that relationship, between Emile and myself, where if he was the powerful guy, I was his equal. For some reason, he got all these guys to do what he wanted, even though they're not weak people. The only person he doesn't have power over is this girl, me. So in that sense, yeah—if he's the Alpha Dog then I'm the Alpha bitch.
Source: www.complex.com

Kirsten Dunst and Ben Foster dated and split over the shooting of "Get over it" (2001):
"I don't wanna get depressed at the opening of my film, but I will say that I'm not over it - it happened not that long ago and it was sad and kinda depressing. "I don't get involved with that many guys, so it's heavy when that happens."
"Having been unlucky in love in the past, Kirsten was excited about what the future would hold for her romance with the actor. She had earlier said, "It's hard for me to truly connect with people. So when it clicks it's amazing. I can't go just halfway. "Maybe I'm a weird girl and I just needed a good freak to match with me. I don't fall in love with every one of my co-stars. It's nice to have those sparks because that's what makes it magical on screen." Source: www.cinema.com
And we know which was another important break-up for Kirsten (after moving from Foster), don't we?
KIRSTEN DUNST ISN'T OVER JAKE YET
"they're confirming to Us Magazine the rumor that Kirsten's break-up with Jake Gyllenhaal led to her current stint in rehab. Jake didn't dig Kirsten's partying and, when he split, she started hitting the bottle like a champ:

"Whenever the cast and crew were out, she was the center of the group – doing shots and encouraging everyone to drink," a source on her upcoming movie How to Lose Friends & Alienate People told Us. "There was no such thing as 'just the one' for her." Source: thesuperficial.com

Ben Foster played a phsycho L.A. drug dealer in "Alpha Dog": Jake Mazursky, rival of Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch). Ben Foster and Ellen Page acted together in "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006) and they were holding hands at the premiere.Anton Yelchin flirted in Alpha Dog -in the kitchen and in a swiming pool- with Amanda Seyfried ("Mamma Mia", "Jennifer's Body") although at the premieres, she was accompanied by Emile Hirsch.