Joan Rivers on life support, as daughter remains 'in denial': sources - New York Daily News

Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Michigan Avenue Joan Rivers remains on life support at a New York Hospital. Sharky / Splash News/Sharky / Splash News Melissa Rivers rushed to New York to be with her mother Joan Rivers.

Previous Next

• 


• 

Enlarge

Joan Rivers was on life-support Saturday as her daughter, family and friends kept an increasingly grim vigil at a Manhattan hospital.

The 81-year-old Rivers, initially placed in a medically induced coma after going into cardiac and respiratory arrest on Thursday, was dependent on the machines to keep her alive, TMZ.com reported.

Sources told the Daily News that Rivers’ daughter, Melissa, is “in denial” over her mother’s condition.

“She still thinks everything is going to be OK. She is refusing to admit that a world might exist without her mother in it,” said a source close to the Rivers family.

“Others that are close to Joan are starting to realize that the outcome they want is very unlikely.”

No decision on the acerbic comedienne’s future will be made for a few days, TMZ.com reported. Neither Melissa Rivers nor the hospital had any comment Saturday on the Emmy-winning Rivers’ condition.

Sources have told The News that Rivers would not want to live unless she could enjoy “a full and active life....(She) would never want to be a burden on anyone.”

Rivers’ grandson, Cooper, 13, and her daughter’s ex-husband, John Endicott, were spotted leaving the hospital Saturday morning in a Lincoln SUV and returning to Melissa Rivers’ East Side apartment.

Rivers was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital after she stopped breathing during an otherwise routine doctor’s visit for a throat procedure.

It was unclear how long Rivers was without oxygen. Doctors placed her in a coma within hours as they attempted to assess the damage, and her daughter was expected to discuss treatment options with the medical staff.

But it appeared the talk show host/jewelry saleswoman/fashion critic’s condition took a turn for the worse at some point, leading to the decision to place her on life-support.

Melissa Rivers flew cross-country Thursday after her mother’s medical emergency, arriving at the hospital that evening.

While thanking fans for their support and prayers, she has said little about her mother’s condition.

For the first time since Rivers fell ill, her daughter made no public comments Saturday.

“As independent as she likes to think she is, Joan is the center of Melissa’s life,” the source said.

“They even live in the same building in (New York) and work together on ‘Fashion Police’ ... It’s all heartbreaking.”

The Brooklyn-born Rivers became a Hollywood mainstay after her 1965 breakout on “The Tonight Show.”

lmcshane@nydailynews.com

Telluride: Benedict Cumberbatch Leads Weinstein's 'Imitation Game' Into Oscar ... - Hollywood Reporter

For a film made by a director whom few in America have ever heard of, The Imitation Game certainly came into the Telluride Film Festival with a lot of buzz -- having Sherlock's newly-minted Emmy winner Benedict Cumberbatch as its star and marketing maven Harvey Weinstein's Weinstein Co. as its distributor certainly didn't hurt -- but it will be leaving here with even more, thanks to a very well received world premiere on Friday evening at the Werner Herzog Theatre.

Adapted by Graham Moore from Andrew Hodges' book Alan Turing: The Enigma, the history-inspired period piece drama is already being called a cross between A Beautiful Mind (2001) and The King's Speech (2010), two films that won the best picture Oscar. It's premature to predict the same outcome for The Imitation Game, but with the muscle of Weinstein (who flew out to the Rockies for the premiere) firmly behind it, it's a fairly safe bet that the film will at least be nominated for that honor -- among others.

The Nov. 21 release certainly has a lot going for it, including high production values, a beautiful score, a love story, a social message and even a great pull-quote for its posters: "Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine." But the best thing that it has in its favor is the performance of Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the British mathematician who was recruited by MI6 during World War II to try to decode intercepted German communications. The good news for "Cumberbitches" (the self-ascribed nickname adopted by some of his legions of fans) is that, at least on the big screen, their man has never been better.

For a guy who was instrumental in helping to defeat the Nazis, Turing is not nearly as famous or celebrated as he should be for a variety of reasons. Much of his work was kept secret for decades. He himself has not been around to talk about it. And, frankly, if he were, he might be discouraged from doing so, based on the social awkwardness with which he was almost as associated as his intellectual genius. Indeed, many experts believe that Turing was probably afflicted with Asperger syndrome -- he was certainly on the autism spectrum -- at a time before such diagnoses existed.

Cumberbatch is perfect for this character and it's hard to think of anyone else today who could inhabit it. The actor nails the vocal and behavioral manifestations of someone dealing with those sorts of issues (among others) as well as, if not better than, the longstanding gold standard, Hugh Dancy in the 2009 film Adam. And it doesn't hurt that he also possesses a bit of an otherworldly countenance -- he recently told me that he thinks he looks like an otter -- since he's playing a man who is so different from those around him that he seems almost like an alien to them. Anyway, the collective package simply works, and if Cumberbatch doesn't end up with a best actor Oscar nomination, I will be very surprised.

He does not excel in a bubble, though: he is surrounded in the film by an excellent supporting ensemble, led by Keira Knightley, who is excellent (as always) as Joan Clarke, Turing's faithful sidekick in matters professional and personal (think: the Jennifer Connelly to his Russell Crowe), plus Matthew Goode and Mark Strong, two consistently dependable character actors. I wouldn't at all rule out the possibility of Knightley cracking into the best supporting actress Oscar field -- if, that is, she's willing to hit the campaign trail a bit, which hasn't always been the case.

Some may take issue with elements of the film -- the historical accuracy of the Turing-Clarke relationship, the failure to really explain how Turing's device worked, the claims that Turing's efforts were the difference between victory and defeat in a number of battles and indeed the war itself, etc. -- but the overall product is interesting, enjoyable and, my gut tells me, the stuff happy Oscar seasons are made of.

Twitter: @ScottFeinberg

Movie review: Guardians of the Galaxy - superheroes, super fun - The Express Tribune

Guardians of the Galaxy has more wit than wisdom.

It’s hard to knock Hollywood for the recent deluge of superhero movies, considering how commercially successful and financially rewarding the genre has been. And it’s even harder to criticise the quality of the material generated by this trend, seeing how the output has generally been quite entertaining. In light of the positive reception towards the genre, it becomes all too obvious why Marvel would be inspired to create yet another superhero franchise, unleashing a team of its lesser-known superheroes onto the big screen in the form of Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie, directed by James Gunn, might make it seem like they are scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the final product easily quashes any doubts one may have about the project’s legitimacy.

The movie’s hero is Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a human who was abducted from Earth as a child just moments after his mother’s death. Two-and-a-half decades later, Quill has fashioned himself into Star-Lord, an intergalactic rogue who merrily romps through space. But after he swipes a mysterious orb, he finds himself being targeted by the many beings, who are desperate to wield its power. While dodging his chasers, Quill ends up forming an uneasy partnership with some of his pursuers. The members of the reluctant alliance include the green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who was initially sent by power-hungry villain Ronan (Lee Pace) to fetch the orb, wisecracking raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and sentient tree Groot (Vin Diesel) who are the bounty hunters seeking a reward for Quill’s capture and the vengeful Drax (Dave Bautista), whose family was killed by Ronan. Together, this team of extraterrestrial misfits risk everything to keep the orb from nefarious hands and save the universe from havoc.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a lively adventure powered by terrific special effects that includes Rocket and Groot being brought to life with some fantastic computer-generated imagery and a hearty frolic that aims to entertain its audience from start to finish. Unlike many of the superhero flicks currently on offer, the movie isn’t concerned with being dark and moody; it is content with being thoroughly enjoyable, employing witty banter alongside poignant touches to fuel its two-hour journey. Its retro soundtrack, courtesy of an Awesome Mix cassette that Quill holds dear, is programmed to generate nostalgia and the random pop culture references keep the viewers engaged. Chris Pratt is surprisingly suitable for the lead role and Bradley Cooper voices the smart-mouth raccoon Rocket with verve. While Groot may only have a three-word vocabulary, Vin Diesel makes good use of intonation to help make the talking tree one of the most endearing characters of the movie.

The villain, however, is stereotypical, the action is predictable and the customary final battle doesn’t hold much weight (probably because we aren’t as invested in the fate of the galaxy as we should be). But the movie is well aware of its own absurdities and never fails to have a sense of humour about itself.

Guardians of the Galaxy is an adventure that has heart and that revels in wit. It is like Star Wars meets Serenity with a dash of Red Dwarf. While the movie might not have been necessary, it has found a very valid reason to exist — to entertain us. Those who want something deep, dark and profound have many other choices as this movie is for those of us who just want to have some fun.

Rating: 3.5/5

Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, August 31^st, 2014.

Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez Are Back Together - earsucker

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone that Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have found their way back to each other once again. These two kids have been off and on more times that a light switch.

The two called it quits earlier this year when Gomez opted to stop taking Bieber’s calls. He was rumored to be cheating on her with other women and Gomez apparently washed her hands of him — for the time being. After he was seen with other women since, we’d just assumed that things had gone south between him and Gomez since…but apparently that is not the case whatsoever.

Bieber posted the above photo to his official Instagram account without a caption. He also shared the below photo of Gomez riding a horse from behind:

Just two days ago, the singer/actress shared the below photo on her Instagram account:

She captioned the picture: “NY bound.peaceful trip. I smuggled my hot Cheetos. They were the kind with lime though.”

Their vacation is now over and it’s time for the both of them to get back to work. Hope they enjoyed their time in Canada!

Made in America: Imagine Dragons closes out first night of LA festival - San Bernardino County Sun

Imagine Dragons closed out the night during a high-energy set that surprised some fans who didn’t expect the Las Vegas rockers could follow Kendrick Lamar and his Top Dawg Entertainment crew on the first day of the L.A. Budweiser Made in America Festival in Grand Park.

The band opened with “Fallen,” off of Imagine Dragon’s 2012 album “Night Visions, performed a Blur cover titled “Song 2” and went through a cache of its other hits from “It’s Time” to “On Top of the World.”

And front man Dan Reynolds certainly seemed to feel like he was on top of the world on the Marilyn Stage before about 30,000 fans who attended the festival.

“Los Angeles is the city of dreams. I love this city,” he said in front of an illuminated City Hall.

The band tweeted earlier in the day that the Los Angeles performance was going to be its last before “album 2.”

“For this last song, you must expel all you have,” Reynolds said before getting into the hit “Radioactive,” where he slammed on a bass drum as he sang.

Imagine Dragons ended the set 3-minutes shy of 11 p.m., giving thanks to the city and fans at the festival. The band’s last tweet of the night reinforced Imagine Dragon’s appreciation: “we love you LA. thanks for making the last official show of Night Visions one for the books... “

Tonight's TV picks: Rascal Flatts among MDA telethon stars - San Jose Mercury News

"Masters of Sex" (10 p.m., Showtime): The drama continues its excellent season (pay attention, Emmy voters), but there's trouble for Virginia (Lizzy Caplan) as she gets in over her head trying to treat Barbara Sanderson (Betsy Brandt) on her own.

"The Strain" (10 p.m., FX): The creepy shenanigans continue tonight as the horde of vampires keeps growing and winds up trapping Setrakain and the others in a store. Sounds like something we may have seen on "The Walking Dead."

(L-R) Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney, and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts perform onstage at the 2014 CMA Festival on June 5, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Beyoncé's Dad Claims Divorce Rumors Was a PR Stunt - Techsonia

Beyonce’s dad hints that the divorce rumors between his daughter and husband Jay-Z was a publicity stunt to increase the sale of the couple’s tour concert.

Mathew Knowles said the divorce rumors were all “Jedi mind trick” to sell tickets for Beyoncé and Jay Z’s On the Run tour, which began soon after the rumors started.

Mr. Knowles added that the elevator incident between his daughter Solange and son-in-law Jay-Z was also a publicity stunt and that also help to ignite the tour.

In May, a video surfaced showing Solange attacking Jay-Z inside an elevator after the Met Gala in New York.

The incident sparked rumors of Jay Z’s infidelity and marital woes between Beyonce and her husband.

Mr. Knowles said everybody’s talking about the elevator incident and it pumped up the tour ticket sales, and Solange’s album sales went up 200%.

Mr. Knowles is still the manager of Destiny’s Child.

Joan Rivers on life support, as daughter remains 'in denial': sources - New York Daily News

Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Michigan Avenue Joan Rivers remains on life support at a New York Hospital. Sharky / Splash News/Sharky / Splash News Melissa Rivers rushed to New York to be with her mother Joan Rivers.

Previous Next

• 


• 

Enlarge

Joan Rivers was on life-support Saturday as her daughter, family and friends kept an increasingly grim vigil at a Manhattan hospital.

The 81-year-old Rivers, initially placed in a medically induced coma after going into cardiac and respiratory arrest on Thursday, was dependent on the machines to keep her alive, TMZ.com reported.

Sources told the Daily News that Rivers’ daughter, Melissa, is “in denial” over her mother’s condition.

“She still thinks everything is going to be OK. She is refusing to admit that a world might exist without her mother in it,” said a source close to the Rivers family.

“Others that are close to Joan are starting to realize that the outcome they want is very unlikely.”

No decision on the acerbic comedienne’s future will be made for a few days, TMZ.com reported. Neither Melissa Rivers nor the hospital had any comment Saturday on the Emmy-winning Rivers’ condition.

Sources have told The News that Rivers would not want to live unless she could enjoy “a full and active life....(She) would never want to be a burden on anyone.”

Rivers’ grandson, Cooper, 13, and her daughter’s ex-husband, John Endicott, were spotted leaving the hospital Saturday morning in a Lincoln SUV and returning to Melissa Rivers’ East Side apartment.

Rivers was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital after she stopped breathing during an otherwise routine doctor’s visit for a throat procedure.

It was unclear how long Rivers was without oxygen. Doctors placed her in a coma within hours as they attempted to assess the damage, and her daughter was expected to discuss treatment options with the medical staff.

But it appeared the talk show host/jewelry saleswoman/fashion critic’s condition took a turn for the worse at some point, leading to the decision to place her on life-support.

Melissa Rivers flew cross-country Thursday after her mother’s medical emergency, arriving at the hospital that evening.

While thanking fans for their support and prayers, she has said little about her mother’s condition.

For the first time since Rivers fell ill, her daughter made no public comments Saturday.

“As independent as she likes to think she is, Joan is the center of Melissa’s life,” the source said.

“They even live in the same building in (New York) and work together on ‘Fashion Police’ ... It’s all heartbreaking.”

The Brooklyn-born Rivers became a Hollywood mainstay after her 1965 breakout on “The Tonight Show.”

lmcshane@nydailynews.com

Telluride: Benedict Cumberbatch Leads Weinstein's 'Imitation Game' Into Oscar ... - Hollywood Reporter

For a film made by a director whom few in America have ever heard of, The Imitation Game certainly came into the Telluride Film Festival with a lot of buzz -- having Sherlock's newly-minted Emmy winner Benedict Cumberbatch as its star and marketing maven Harvey Weinstein's Weinstein Co. as its distributor certainly didn't hurt -- but it will be leaving here with even more, thanks to a very well received world premiere on Friday evening at the Werner Herzog Theatre.

Adapted by Graham Moore from Andrew Hodges' book Alan Turing: The Enigma, the history-inspired period piece drama is already being called a cross between A Beautiful Mind (2001) and The King's Speech (2010), two films that won the best picture Oscar. It's premature to predict the same outcome for The Imitation Game, but with the muscle of Weinstein (who flew out to the Rockies for the premiere) firmly behind it, it's a fairly safe bet that the film will at least be nominated for that honor -- among others.

The Nov. 21 release certainly has a lot going for it, including high production values, a beautiful score, a love story, a social message and even a great pull-quote for its posters: "Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine." But the best thing that it has in its favor is the performance of Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the British mathematician who was recruited by MI6 during World War II to try to decode intercepted German communications. The good news for "Cumberbitches" (the self-ascribed nickname adopted by some of his legions of fans) is that, at least on the big screen, their man has never been better.

For a guy who was instrumental in helping to defeat the Nazis, Turing is not nearly as famous or celebrated as he should be for a variety of reasons. Much of his work was kept secret for decades. He himself has not been around to talk about it. And, frankly, if he were, he might be discouraged from doing so, based on the social awkwardness with which he was almost as associated as his intellectual genius. Indeed, many experts believe that Turing was probably afflicted with Asperger syndrome -- he was certainly on the autism spectrum -- at a time before such diagnoses existed.

Cumberbatch is perfect for this character and it's hard to think of anyone else today who could inhabit it. The actor nails the vocal and behavioral manifestations of someone dealing with those sorts of issues (among others) as well as, if not better than, the longstanding gold standard, Hugh Dancy in the 2009 film Adam. And it doesn't hurt that he also possesses a bit of an otherworldly countenance -- he recently told me that he thinks he looks like an otter -- since he's playing a man who is so different from those around him that he seems almost like an alien to them. Anyway, the collective package simply works, and if Cumberbatch doesn't end up with a best actor Oscar nomination, I will be very surprised.

He does not excel in a bubble, though: he is surrounded in the film by an excellent supporting ensemble, led by Keira Knightley, who is excellent (as always) as Joan Clarke, Turing's faithful sidekick in matters professional and personal (think: the Jennifer Connelly to his Russell Crowe), plus Matthew Goode and Mark Strong, two consistently dependable character actors. I wouldn't at all rule out the possibility of Knightley cracking into the best supporting actress Oscar field -- if, that is, she's willing to hit the campaign trail a bit, which hasn't always been the case.

Some may take issue with elements of the film -- the historical accuracy of the Turing-Clarke relationship, the failure to really explain how Turing's device worked, the claims that Turing's efforts were the difference between victory and defeat in a number of battles and indeed the war itself, etc. -- but the overall product is interesting, enjoyable and, my gut tells me, the stuff happy Oscar seasons are made of.

Twitter: @ScottFeinberg

Movie review: Guardians of the Galaxy - superheroes, super fun - The Express Tribune

Guardians of the Galaxy has more wit than wisdom.

It’s hard to knock Hollywood for the recent deluge of superhero movies, considering how commercially successful and financially rewarding the genre has been. And it’s even harder to criticise the quality of the material generated by this trend, seeing how the output has generally been quite entertaining. In light of the positive reception towards the genre, it becomes all too obvious why Marvel would be inspired to create yet another superhero franchise, unleashing a team of its lesser-known superheroes onto the big screen in the form of Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie, directed by James Gunn, might make it seem like they are scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the final product easily quashes any doubts one may have about the project’s legitimacy.

The movie’s hero is Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a human who was abducted from Earth as a child just moments after his mother’s death. Two-and-a-half decades later, Quill has fashioned himself into Star-Lord, an intergalactic rogue who merrily romps through space. But after he swipes a mysterious orb, he finds himself being targeted by the many beings, who are desperate to wield its power. While dodging his chasers, Quill ends up forming an uneasy partnership with some of his pursuers. The members of the reluctant alliance include the green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who was initially sent by power-hungry villain Ronan (Lee Pace) to fetch the orb, wisecracking raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and sentient tree Groot (Vin Diesel) who are the bounty hunters seeking a reward for Quill’s capture and the vengeful Drax (Dave Bautista), whose family was killed by Ronan. Together, this team of extraterrestrial misfits risk everything to keep the orb from nefarious hands and save the universe from havoc.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a lively adventure powered by terrific special effects that includes Rocket and Groot being brought to life with some fantastic computer-generated imagery and a hearty frolic that aims to entertain its audience from start to finish. Unlike many of the superhero flicks currently on offer, the movie isn’t concerned with being dark and moody; it is content with being thoroughly enjoyable, employing witty banter alongside poignant touches to fuel its two-hour journey. Its retro soundtrack, courtesy of an Awesome Mix cassette that Quill holds dear, is programmed to generate nostalgia and the random pop culture references keep the viewers engaged. Chris Pratt is surprisingly suitable for the lead role and Bradley Cooper voices the smart-mouth raccoon Rocket with verve. While Groot may only have a three-word vocabulary, Vin Diesel makes good use of intonation to help make the talking tree one of the most endearing characters of the movie.

The villain, however, is stereotypical, the action is predictable and the customary final battle doesn’t hold much weight (probably because we aren’t as invested in the fate of the galaxy as we should be). But the movie is well aware of its own absurdities and never fails to have a sense of humour about itself.

Guardians of the Galaxy is an adventure that has heart and that revels in wit. It is like Star Wars meets Serenity with a dash of Red Dwarf. While the movie might not have been necessary, it has found a very valid reason to exist — to entertain us. Those who want something deep, dark and profound have many other choices as this movie is for those of us who just want to have some fun.

Rating: 3.5/5

Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, August 31^st, 2014.

Kings Of Leon Cancel More Shows Due To Injury - antiMUSIC.com

Kings Of Leon Cancel More Shows Due To Injury (A Top Story)

.

On Thursday Kings Of Leon Cancel More Shows Due To Injury was a top story. Here is the recap: (Classic Rock) Kings Of Leon have been forced to cancel two more concerts as drummer Nathan Followill continues to recover from broken ribs sustained in a tour bus accident.

The band have pulled planned gigs in New Jersey and Pittsburgh this week, but are still scheduled to play the Budweiser Made In America festival in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Followill says via Twitter: "I'm so bummed to have to cancel more shows but I need to be fully recovered before I get back. So sorry to the fans and thanks for understanding."

In a statement, the band add: "After further evaluation, a doctor has ordered drummer Nathan Followill to remain on rest for one more week." More details - here.

Classic Rock Magazine is an official news provider for antiMusic.com.

Copyright Classic Rock Magazine- Excerpted here with permission.

.

---

...end

Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez Are Back Together - earsucker

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone that Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have found their way back to each other once again. These two kids have been off and on more times that a light switch.

The two called it quits earlier this year when Gomez opted to stop taking Bieber’s calls. He was rumored to be cheating on her with other women and Gomez apparently washed her hands of him — for the time being. After he was seen with other women since, we’d just assumed that things had gone south between him and Gomez since…but apparently that is not the case whatsoever.

Bieber posted the above photo to his official Instagram account without a caption. He also shared the below photo of Gomez riding a horse from behind:

Just two days ago, the singer/actress shared the below photo on her Instagram account:

She captioned the picture: “NY bound.peaceful trip. I smuggled my hot Cheetos. They were the kind with lime though.”

Their vacation is now over and it’s time for the both of them to get back to work. Hope they enjoyed their time in Canada!

Venice: Al Pacino's 'The Humbling' scores major sales - Boston Herald

Top major territory distribs count among pre-sales struck by Millennium on Barry Levinson's Al Pacino-starrer "The Humbling."

France's Metropolitan Film Export, Italy's Ambi, Lionsgate U.K., AOne Films for the CIS and Latin America's California Filmes are among the territories snapping up the film. ICM Partners handles U.S rights; Canadian distributor is VVS Films.

"The Humbling," based on Philip Roth's novel, was made on a highly contained budget precisely to avoid dependence on pre-sales and market pressures, Levinson said during an interview at at Venice's Hotel Cipriani.

It certainly does pack a high-profile and eclectic cast, led by Pacino and Greta Gerwig, and featuring, among just femme thesps, Kyra Sedgwick, Dianne Wiest, Nina Arianda, Mary Louise Wilson.

"This is the most home-made movie in the festival," Levinson said proudly. That should be taken literally. "Humbling" was shot at Levinson's home in Connecticut, guerrilla-style. "We would shoot five days, shut down, shoot another eight. The whole shoot was only 20 days. We asked: 'What do we have to do just to make the movie we want to make?'"

If the movie does well, all the cast will get something, Levinson added.

"Humbling's" international pre-sales rollout is hardly that surprising, given the director and cast. Also, said Levinson, "We're always trying to categorize. We're more often wrong than right. I did 'Rain Man.' You could have asked: Who is the audience, people with autistic children? In its time, it made half a billion dollars."

Viewers will not be getting a blow-for-blow bigscreen redo of Roth's novel, Levinson said.

In the film, Pacino plays a famed stage actor near who becomes rather suicidal when he suddenly loses his gift. Fate introduces him to a woman (Gerwig), a lesbian and the daughter of friends, with whom he starts an affair. He feels he's getting his mojo back, and begins to plan for the future. But his allusions could be self-delusion.

Levinson explained: "We thought: This is a potentially interesting character. That's what excited us. At the end of the day you have to find a character the audience can go for a ride with."

The pre-sales pacts also include China's One Dollar, Korea's Sabido and Australia's Roadshow. The tragicomedy had its world premiere Friday night, and is already being singled out as a highlight of the first day of Toronto trading on Thursday, where it has its North American premiere.

Other "Humbling" buyers include Vietnam's PT Parkit, Indonesia's PT Amero, Taiwan's Catchplay, Malaysia's Rain Film, Israel's United King, Middle East's Eagle, Portugal's Lusomundo and Turkey's Mir Prods.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Jay-Z's Elevator Fight With Solange a Publicity Stunt, Reveals Beyonce's Father - NDTV

A footage was leaked which appeared to show Solange attacking her brother-in-law Jay-Z in a hotel elevator.

Pop star Beyonce's father Matthew Knowles has claimed that Rapper Jay-Z's infamous elevator fight with his wife Beyonce's sister Solange was a publicity stunt.

Back in May, shortly after the New York Met Gala, a footage was leaked which appeared to show Solange attacking her brother-in-law Jay-Z in a hotel elevator.

The incident sparked rumours of Jay-Z's infidelity and an imminent divorce from Beyonce. (Also Read: Those Beyonce, Jay-Z Break-Up Rumours Just Won't go Away)

But now Matthew said the whole incident was a publicity stunt intended to promote the couple's joint On The Run tour, reported Time magazine.

"They wanted to find a way to ignite that tour. It's called a 'Jedi mind trick.' The Jedi mind trick fools you a lot of the time," Mathew said.

Matthew believes the trio's motivation was to draw attention to Beyonce and Jay-Z's upcoming tour and Solange's album. (Also Read: Solange Knowles' Music Career Gets a Boost After Elevator Fight With Jay-Z)

Apparently it worked as both ticket and album sales increased following the incident.

Joan Rivers on life support, as daughter remains 'in denial': sources - New York Daily News

Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Michigan Avenue Joan Rivers remains on life support at a New York Hospital. Sharky / Splash News/Sharky / Splash News Melissa Rivers rushed to New York to be with her mother Joan Rivers.

Previous Next

• 


• 

Enlarge

Joan Rivers was on life-support Saturday as her daughter, family and friends kept an increasingly grim vigil at a Manhattan hospital.

The 81-year-old Rivers, initially placed in a medically induced coma after going into cardiac and respiratory arrest on Thursday, was dependent on the machines to keep her alive, TMZ.com reported.

Sources told the Daily News that Rivers’ daughter, Melissa, is “in denial” over her mother’s condition.

“She still thinks everything is going to be OK. She is refusing to admit that a world might exist without her mother in it,” said a source close to the Rivers family.

“Others that are close to Joan are starting to realize that the outcome they want is very unlikely.”

No decision on the acerbic comedienne’s future will be made for a few days, TMZ.com reported. Neither Melissa Rivers nor the hospital had any comment Saturday on the Emmy-winning Rivers’ condition.

Sources have told The News that Rivers would not want to live unless she could enjoy “a full and active life....(She) would never want to be a burden on anyone.”

Rivers’ grandson, Cooper, 13, and her daughter’s ex-husband, John Endicott, were spotted leaving the hospital Saturday morning in a Lincoln SUV and returning to Melissa Rivers’ East Side apartment.

Rivers was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital after she stopped breathing during an otherwise routine doctor’s visit for a throat procedure.

It was unclear how long Rivers was without oxygen. Doctors placed her in a coma within hours as they attempted to assess the damage, and her daughter was expected to discuss treatment options with the medical staff.

But it appeared the talk show host/jewelry saleswoman/fashion critic’s condition took a turn for the worse at some point, leading to the decision to place her on life-support.

Melissa Rivers flew cross-country Thursday after her mother’s medical emergency, arriving at the hospital that evening.

While thanking fans for their support and prayers, she has said little about her mother’s condition.

For the first time since Rivers fell ill, her daughter made no public comments Saturday.

“As independent as she likes to think she is, Joan is the center of Melissa’s life,” the source said.

“They even live in the same building in (New York) and work together on ‘Fashion Police’ ... It’s all heartbreaking.”

The Brooklyn-born Rivers became a Hollywood mainstay after her 1965 breakout on “The Tonight Show.”

lmcshane@nydailynews.com

Movie review: Guardians of the Galaxy - superheroes, super fun - The Express Tribune

Guardians of the Galaxy has more wit than wisdom.

It’s hard to knock Hollywood for the recent deluge of superhero movies, considering how commercially successful and financially rewarding the genre has been. And it’s even harder to criticise the quality of the material generated by this trend, seeing how the output has generally been quite entertaining. In light of the positive reception towards the genre, it becomes all too obvious why Marvel would be inspired to create yet another superhero franchise, unleashing a team of its lesser-known superheroes onto the big screen in the form of Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie, directed by James Gunn, might make it seem like they are scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the final product easily quashes any doubts one may have about the project’s legitimacy.

The movie’s hero is Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a human who was abducted from Earth as a child just moments after his mother’s death. Two-and-a-half decades later, Quill has fashioned himself into Star-Lord, an intergalactic rogue who merrily romps through space. But after he swipes a mysterious orb, he finds himself being targeted by the many beings, who are desperate to wield its power. While dodging his chasers, Quill ends up forming an uneasy partnership with some of his pursuers. The members of the reluctant alliance include the green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who was initially sent by power-hungry villain Ronan (Lee Pace) to fetch the orb, wisecracking raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and sentient tree Groot (Vin Diesel) who are the bounty hunters seeking a reward for Quill’s capture and the vengeful Drax (Dave Bautista), whose family was killed by Ronan. Together, this team of extraterrestrial misfits risk everything to keep the orb from nefarious hands and save the universe from havoc.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a lively adventure powered by terrific special effects that includes Rocket and Groot being brought to life with some fantastic computer-generated imagery and a hearty frolic that aims to entertain its audience from start to finish. Unlike many of the superhero flicks currently on offer, the movie isn’t concerned with being dark and moody; it is content with being thoroughly enjoyable, employing witty banter alongside poignant touches to fuel its two-hour journey. Its retro soundtrack, courtesy of an Awesome Mix cassette that Quill holds dear, is programmed to generate nostalgia and the random pop culture references keep the viewers engaged. Chris Pratt is surprisingly suitable for the lead role and Bradley Cooper voices the smart-mouth raccoon Rocket with verve. While Groot may only have a three-word vocabulary, Vin Diesel makes good use of intonation to help make the talking tree one of the most endearing characters of the movie.

The villain, however, is stereotypical, the action is predictable and the customary final battle doesn’t hold much weight (probably because we aren’t as invested in the fate of the galaxy as we should be). But the movie is well aware of its own absurdities and never fails to have a sense of humour about itself.

Guardians of the Galaxy is an adventure that has heart and that revels in wit. It is like Star Wars meets Serenity with a dash of Red Dwarf. While the movie might not have been necessary, it has found a very valid reason to exist — to entertain us. Those who want something deep, dark and profound have many other choices as this movie is for those of us who just want to have some fun.

Rating: 3.5/5

Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, August 31^st, 2014.

Kings Of Leon Cancel More Shows Due To Injury - antiMUSIC.com

Kings Of Leon Cancel More Shows Due To Injury (A Top Story)

.

On Thursday Kings Of Leon Cancel More Shows Due To Injury was a top story. Here is the recap: (Classic Rock) Kings Of Leon have been forced to cancel two more concerts as drummer Nathan Followill continues to recover from broken ribs sustained in a tour bus accident.

The band have pulled planned gigs in New Jersey and Pittsburgh this week, but are still scheduled to play the Budweiser Made In America festival in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Followill says via Twitter: "I'm so bummed to have to cancel more shows but I need to be fully recovered before I get back. So sorry to the fans and thanks for understanding."

In a statement, the band add: "After further evaluation, a doctor has ordered drummer Nathan Followill to remain on rest for one more week." More details - here.

Classic Rock Magazine is an official news provider for antiMusic.com.

Copyright Classic Rock Magazine- Excerpted here with permission.

.

---

...end

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Enjoy Vacation in Canada - Viral Global News

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have recently been seen in Canada enjoying, what Gomez described as, a “peaceful” vacation. The couple were seen riding horseback on Thursday, with 20-year-old Bieber sporting a Stetson that he later described as his own “sad cowboy hat.”

A day earlier, Bieber uploaded a snap of them both on Instagram. The black and white image showed the Boyfriend singer looking directly into the camera, while 22-year-old Gomez stared off into the distance.

The singers then took a private plane to Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday to return to Bieber’s homeland. After settling in, the couple went horse riding together, along with Jeremy Bieber and a number of bodyguards.

Bieber took several pictures of the event and uploaded them onto Instagram. One shot was taken from Bieber’s point of view, as Gomez rode off into the distance.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez enjoy each other’s company on Canada vacation.

The trip came to a conclusion on Saturday, with Gomez posting an Instagram photo of her returning to New York. The image was captioned, “NY bound. Peaceful trip… I smuggled my hot Cheetos. They were the kind with lime though.” Gomez is set to attend an Adidas NEO fashion show on Sept. 3 in New York.

The pair began dating back in 2010, at a time when Bieber was 16 years old and Gomez was just starting to embark on her music and film career. After a couple of years, however, their relationship started to deteriorate and Gomez was reported to have called an end to their young romance.

Last modified: August 31st, 2014 by James Fenner

Venice: Al Pacino's 'The Humbling' scores major sales - Boston Herald

Top major territory distribs count among pre-sales struck by Millennium on Barry Levinson's Al Pacino-starrer "The Humbling."

France's Metropolitan Film Export, Italy's Ambi, Lionsgate U.K., AOne Films for the CIS and Latin America's California Filmes are among the territories snapping up the film. ICM Partners handles U.S rights; Canadian distributor is VVS Films.

"The Humbling," based on Philip Roth's novel, was made on a highly contained budget precisely to avoid dependence on pre-sales and market pressures, Levinson said during an interview at at Venice's Hotel Cipriani.

It certainly does pack a high-profile and eclectic cast, led by Pacino and Greta Gerwig, and featuring, among just femme thesps, Kyra Sedgwick, Dianne Wiest, Nina Arianda, Mary Louise Wilson.

"This is the most home-made movie in the festival," Levinson said proudly. That should be taken literally. "Humbling" was shot at Levinson's home in Connecticut, guerrilla-style. "We would shoot five days, shut down, shoot another eight. The whole shoot was only 20 days. We asked: 'What do we have to do just to make the movie we want to make?'"

If the movie does well, all the cast will get something, Levinson added.

"Humbling's" international pre-sales rollout is hardly that surprising, given the director and cast. Also, said Levinson, "We're always trying to categorize. We're more often wrong than right. I did 'Rain Man.' You could have asked: Who is the audience, people with autistic children? In its time, it made half a billion dollars."

Viewers will not be getting a blow-for-blow bigscreen redo of Roth's novel, Levinson said.

In the film, Pacino plays a famed stage actor near who becomes rather suicidal when he suddenly loses his gift. Fate introduces him to a woman (Gerwig), a lesbian and the daughter of friends, with whom he starts an affair. He feels he's getting his mojo back, and begins to plan for the future. But his allusions could be self-delusion.

Levinson explained: "We thought: This is a potentially interesting character. That's what excited us. At the end of the day you have to find a character the audience can go for a ride with."

The pre-sales pacts also include China's One Dollar, Korea's Sabido and Australia's Roadshow. The tragicomedy had its world premiere Friday night, and is already being singled out as a highlight of the first day of Toronto trading on Thursday, where it has its North American premiere.

Other "Humbling" buyers include Vietnam's PT Parkit, Indonesia's PT Amero, Taiwan's Catchplay, Malaysia's Rain Film, Israel's United King, Middle East's Eagle, Portugal's Lusomundo and Turkey's Mir Prods.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union: Married! - The Hollywood Gossip

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are husband and wife. The actress, 41, and the NBA star, 32, tied the knot on Saturday after four years of dating.

The duo exchanged vows in Miami, where he's played with the Heat for his entire career, at the stunning Chateau Artisan castle in a fancy, star-studded affair.

Celebrities in attendance included Dwayne's Miami Heat teammate Chris Bosh and wife Adrienne, Survivor alum Corinne Kaplan, and actor Kevin Hart.

Reality star Jonathan Cheban, other NBA players and NBA wives, and singer John Legend, who performed at the ceremony, were also on hand for it.

Wade got engaged to Union in December 2013, announcing the couple's wedding plans via Instagram right after his betrothal with a photo of her hand.

Captioning the Instagram shot, he wrote "She said YES!!!"

The two lovebirds have been very vocal about their affection for one another throughout their romance, and how they are so madly into one another.

Even the fact that Wade fathered a child with Aja Metoyer while on a break with Union (supposedly) didn't slow down the romance once it was fully back on.

Wade was married to high school sweetheart Siohvaughn Funches from 2002-07, and has two sons. Union was married to Chris Howard from 2001-05.

Congratulations to the happy couple! And these too:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married out of nowhere in August 2014! Congratulations!

Jay-Z's Elevator Fight With Solange a Publicity Stunt, Reveals Beyonce's Father - NDTV

A footage was leaked which appeared to show Solange attacking her brother-in-law Jay-Z in a hotel elevator.

Pop star Beyonce's father Matthew Knowles has claimed that Rapper Jay-Z's infamous elevator fight with his wife Beyonce's sister Solange was a publicity stunt.

Back in May, shortly after the New York Met Gala, a footage was leaked which appeared to show Solange attacking her brother-in-law Jay-Z in a hotel elevator.

The incident sparked rumours of Jay-Z's infidelity and an imminent divorce from Beyonce. (Also Read: Those Beyonce, Jay-Z Break-Up Rumours Just Won't go Away)

But now Matthew said the whole incident was a publicity stunt intended to promote the couple's joint On The Run tour, reported Time magazine.

"They wanted to find a way to ignite that tour. It's called a 'Jedi mind trick.' The Jedi mind trick fools you a lot of the time," Mathew said.

Matthew believes the trio's motivation was to draw attention to Beyonce and Jay-Z's upcoming tour and Solange's album. (Also Read: Solange Knowles' Music Career Gets a Boost After Elevator Fight With Jay-Z)

Apparently it worked as both ticket and album sales increased following the incident.

Joan Rivers on life support, as daughter remains 'in denial': sources - New York Daily News

Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Michigan Avenue Joan Rivers remains on life support at a New York Hospital. Sharky / Splash News/Sharky / Splash News Melissa Rivers rushed to New York to be with her mother Joan Rivers.

Previous Next

• 


• 

Enlarge

Joan Rivers was on life-support Saturday as her daughter, family and friends kept an increasingly grim vigil at a Manhattan hospital.

The 81-year-old Rivers, initially placed in a medically induced coma after going into cardiac and respiratory arrest on Thursday, was dependent on the machines to keep her alive, TMZ.com reported.

Sources told the Daily News that Rivers’ daughter, Melissa, is “in denial” over her mother’s condition.

“She still thinks everything is going to be OK. She is refusing to admit that a world might exist without her mother in it,” said a source close to the Rivers family.

“Others that are close to Joan are starting to realize that the outcome they want is very unlikely.”

No decision on the acerbic comedienne’s future will be made for a few days, TMZ.com reported. Neither Melissa Rivers nor the hospital had any comment Saturday on the Emmy-winning Rivers’ condition.

Sources have told The News that Rivers would not want to live unless she could enjoy “a full and active life....(She) would never want to be a burden on anyone.”

Rivers’ grandson, Cooper, 13, and her daughter’s ex-husband, John Endicott, were spotted leaving the hospital Saturday morning in a Lincoln SUV and returning to Melissa Rivers’ East Side apartment.

Rivers was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital after she stopped breathing during an otherwise routine doctor’s visit for a throat procedure.

It was unclear how long Rivers was without oxygen. Doctors placed her in a coma within hours as they attempted to assess the damage, and her daughter was expected to discuss treatment options with the medical staff.

But it appeared the talk show host/jewelry saleswoman/fashion critic’s condition took a turn for the worse at some point, leading to the decision to place her on life-support.

Melissa Rivers flew cross-country Thursday after her mother’s medical emergency, arriving at the hospital that evening.

While thanking fans for their support and prayers, she has said little about her mother’s condition.

For the first time since Rivers fell ill, her daughter made no public comments Saturday.

“As independent as she likes to think she is, Joan is the center of Melissa’s life,” the source said.

“They even live in the same building in (New York) and work together on ‘Fashion Police’ ... It’s all heartbreaking.”

The Brooklyn-born Rivers became a Hollywood mainstay after her 1965 breakout on “The Tonight Show.”

lmcshane@nydailynews.com

Telluride: Benedict Cumberbatch Leads Weinstein's 'Imitation Game' Into Oscar ... - Hollywood Reporter

For a film made by a director whom few in America have ever heard of, The Imitation Game certainly came into the Telluride Film Festival with a lot of buzz -- having Sherlock's newly-minted Emmy winner Benedict Cumberbatch as its star and marketing maven Harvey Weinstein's Weinstein Co. as its distributor certainly didn't hurt -- but it will be leaving here with even more, thanks to a very well received world premiere on Friday evening at the Werner Herzog Theatre.

Adapted by Graham Moore from Andrew Hodges' book Alan Turing: The Enigma, the history-inspired period piece drama is already being called a cross between A Beautiful Mind (2001) and The King's Speech (2010), two films that won the best picture Oscar. It's premature to predict the same outcome for The Imitation Game, but with the muscle of Weinstein (who flew out to the Rockies for the premiere) firmly behind it, it's a fairly safe bet that the film will at least be nominated for that honor -- among others.

The Nov. 21 release certainly has a lot going for it, including high production values, a beautiful score, a love story, a social message and even a great pull-quote for its posters: "Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine." But the best thing that it has in its favor is the performance of Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the British mathematician who was recruited by MI6 during World War II to try to decode intercepted German communications. The good news for "Cumberbitches" (the self-ascribed nickname adopted by some of his legions of fans) is that, at least on the big screen, their man has never been better.

For a guy who was instrumental in helping to defeat the Nazis, Turing is not nearly as famous or celebrated as he should be for a variety of reasons. Much of his work was kept secret for decades. He himself has not been around to talk about it. And, frankly, if he were, he might be discouraged from doing so, based on the social awkwardness with which he was almost as associated as his intellectual genius. Indeed, many experts believe that Turing was probably afflicted with Asperger syndrome -- he was certainly on the autism spectrum -- at a time before such diagnoses existed.

Cumberbatch is perfect for this character and it's hard to think of anyone else today who could inhabit it. The actor nails the vocal and behavioral manifestations of someone dealing with those sorts of issues (among others) as well as, if not better than, the longstanding gold standard, Hugh Dancy in the 2009 film Adam. And it doesn't hurt that he also possesses a bit of an otherworldly countenance -- he recently told me that he thinks he looks like an otter -- since he's playing a man who is so different from those around him that he seems almost like an alien to them. Anyway, the collective package simply works, and if Cumberbatch doesn't end up with a best actor Oscar nomination, I will be very surprised.

He does not excel in a bubble, though: he is surrounded in the film by an excellent supporting ensemble, led by Keira Knightley, who is excellent (as always) as Joan Clarke, Turing's faithful sidekick in matters professional and personal (think: the Jennifer Connelly to his Russell Crowe), plus Matthew Goode and Mark Strong, two consistently dependable character actors. I wouldn't at all rule out the possibility of Knightley cracking into the best supporting actress Oscar field -- if, that is, she's willing to hit the campaign trail a bit, which hasn't always been the case.

Some may take issue with elements of the film -- the historical accuracy of the Turing-Clarke relationship, the failure to really explain how Turing's device worked, the claims that Turing's efforts were the difference between victory and defeat in a number of battles and indeed the war itself, etc. -- but the overall product is interesting, enjoyable and, my gut tells me, the stuff happy Oscar seasons are made of.

Twitter: @ScottFeinberg

Movie review: Guardians of the Galaxy - superheroes, super fun - The Express Tribune

Guardians of the Galaxy has more wit than wisdom.

It’s hard to knock Hollywood for the recent deluge of superhero movies, considering how commercially successful and financially rewarding the genre has been. And it’s even harder to criticise the quality of the material generated by this trend, seeing how the output has generally been quite entertaining. In light of the positive reception towards the genre, it becomes all too obvious why Marvel would be inspired to create yet another superhero franchise, unleashing a team of its lesser-known superheroes onto the big screen in the form of Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie, directed by James Gunn, might make it seem like they are scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the final product easily quashes any doubts one may have about the project’s legitimacy.

The movie’s hero is Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a human who was abducted from Earth as a child just moments after his mother’s death. Two-and-a-half decades later, Quill has fashioned himself into Star-Lord, an intergalactic rogue who merrily romps through space. But after he swipes a mysterious orb, he finds himself being targeted by the many beings, who are desperate to wield its power. While dodging his chasers, Quill ends up forming an uneasy partnership with some of his pursuers. The members of the reluctant alliance include the green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who was initially sent by power-hungry villain Ronan (Lee Pace) to fetch the orb, wisecracking raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and sentient tree Groot (Vin Diesel) who are the bounty hunters seeking a reward for Quill’s capture and the vengeful Drax (Dave Bautista), whose family was killed by Ronan. Together, this team of extraterrestrial misfits risk everything to keep the orb from nefarious hands and save the universe from havoc.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a lively adventure powered by terrific special effects that includes Rocket and Groot being brought to life with some fantastic computer-generated imagery and a hearty frolic that aims to entertain its audience from start to finish. Unlike many of the superhero flicks currently on offer, the movie isn’t concerned with being dark and moody; it is content with being thoroughly enjoyable, employing witty banter alongside poignant touches to fuel its two-hour journey. Its retro soundtrack, courtesy of an Awesome Mix cassette that Quill holds dear, is programmed to generate nostalgia and the random pop culture references keep the viewers engaged. Chris Pratt is surprisingly suitable for the lead role and Bradley Cooper voices the smart-mouth raccoon Rocket with verve. While Groot may only have a three-word vocabulary, Vin Diesel makes good use of intonation to help make the talking tree one of the most endearing characters of the movie.

The villain, however, is stereotypical, the action is predictable and the customary final battle doesn’t hold much weight (probably because we aren’t as invested in the fate of the galaxy as we should be). But the movie is well aware of its own absurdities and never fails to have a sense of humour about itself.

Guardians of the Galaxy is an adventure that has heart and that revels in wit. It is like Star Wars meets Serenity with a dash of Red Dwarf. While the movie might not have been necessary, it has found a very valid reason to exist — to entertain us. Those who want something deep, dark and profound have many other choices as this movie is for those of us who just want to have some fun.

Rating: 3.5/5

Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, August 31^st, 2014.

Kings of Leon ready for stage after surgery - gulfnews.com

Family band play their first show in Philadelphia since drummer Nathan Followill injured his ribs

• AP

• Image Credit: Joel Ryan/Invision/AP


• FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2013 file photo, from left, Matthew Followill, Jared Followill, Nathan Followill and Caleb Followill of the band Kings of Leon pose for photographers upon arrival at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The city of brotherly love will mark a brotherly affair for Kings of Leon: The family band will play its first show Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, in Philadelphia since drummer Nathan Followill injured his ribs. The group will headline the second night of the “Budweiser Made In America” festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway over Labor Day Weekend. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, file)

Image 1 of 2

12

A brotherly reunion is coming to the City of Brotherly Love: Family band Kings of Leon will play its first show on Sunday in Philadelphia since drummer Nathan Followill injured his ribs.

The group will headline the second night of the Budweiser Made In America festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Kanye West and Steve Aoki will perform on the first night of the two-day festival over the Labour Day holiday weekend.

Kings of Leon lead singer Caleb Followill said in an interview on Friday that his younger brother is “doing good” since he broke his ribs after the band’s tour bus driver was forced to stop short when a pedestrian crossed the street in front of the vehicle.

“He has this protective gear that he’s wearing that’s there to help him,” Caleb said. “[On Thursday], we went in [to rehearsal] and we kind of loosened up a little bit, played five or six songs. [On Friday], we went in and played more, but by the end of it he was definitely tired.”

The band includes youngest brother Jared Followill, who plays bass, and cousin Matthew Followill, who plays guitar. They cancelled two weeks of shows after the August 9 incident and were set to mark a comeback on Thursday, but decided to postpone more shows.

“Hopefully he continues to heal,” Caleb said. “We’re going to throw a long set at him this weekend so he better bring his A-game, otherwise you’re going to have a three-piece up there with no drums.”

Following the Jay Z-curated festival, the Grammy-winning band will play 16 shows before their US tour wraps on October 5 in Irvine, California. They’ve surprised each of the audiences on the current tour by playing an older song they hadn’t performed live in years, or a cover. They sang Robyn’s cult hit Dancing On My Own at Lollapalooza this summer.

Caleb laughs when asked if the group would perform a Jay Z song on Sunday: “That would be a first for us.”

“I was online looking up all the artists that have come from Philadelphia,” he said of potential covers. “There’s quite a well of talent that has come out of that city.”

Sunday’s line-up in Philadelphia will also include Pharrell, Tiesto and Girl Talk. The festival, in its third year, will also play in Los Angeles over the weekend for the first time. Imagine Dragons will headline on Saturday, and West will switch coasts to play on Sunday.

Kings of Leon had its musical breakthrough in 2009 when the rock song Use Somebody crossed over to the pop charts and won three Grammy Awards, including record of the year. They released their sixth album, Mechanical Bull, last year, and Caleb said he’s been itching to write new songs.

“I am very excited for the future,” he said. “I think we’ll really go in there and write some songs we’re proud of, but at the same time, I’m ready to get back on the radio, so I want to write some hits.”

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Enjoy Vacation in Canada - Viral Global News

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have recently been seen in Canada enjoying, what Gomez described as, a “peaceful” vacation. The couple were seen riding horseback on Thursday, with 20-year-old Bieber sporting a Stetson that he later described as his own “sad cowboy hat.”

A day earlier, Bieber uploaded a snap of them both on Instagram. The black and white image showed the Boyfriend singer looking directly into the camera, while 22-year-old Gomez stared off into the distance.

The singers then took a private plane to Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday to return to Bieber’s homeland. After settling in, the couple went horse riding together, along with Jeremy Bieber and a number of bodyguards.

Bieber took several pictures of the event and uploaded them onto Instagram. One shot was taken from Bieber’s point of view, as Gomez rode off into the distance.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez enjoy each other’s company on Canada vacation.

The trip came to a conclusion on Saturday, with Gomez posting an Instagram photo of her returning to New York. The image was captioned, “NY bound. Peaceful trip… I smuggled my hot Cheetos. They were the kind with lime though.” Gomez is set to attend an Adidas NEO fashion show on Sept. 3 in New York.

The pair began dating back in 2010, at a time when Bieber was 16 years old and Gomez was just starting to embark on her music and film career. After a couple of years, however, their relationship started to deteriorate and Gomez was reported to have called an end to their young romance.

Last modified: August 31st, 2014 by James Fenner

Jay-Z's Elevator Fight With Solange a Publicity Stunt, Reveals Beyonce's Father - NDTV

A footage was leaked which appeared to show Solange attacking her brother-in-law Jay-Z in a hotel elevator.

Pop star Beyonce's father Matthew Knowles has claimed that Rapper Jay-Z's infamous elevator fight with his wife Beyonce's sister Solange was a publicity stunt.

Back in May, shortly after the New York Met Gala, a footage was leaked which appeared to show Solange attacking her brother-in-law Jay-Z in a hotel elevator.

The incident sparked rumours of Jay-Z's infidelity and an imminent divorce from Beyonce. (Also Read: Those Beyonce, Jay-Z Break-Up Rumours Just Won't go Away)

But now Matthew said the whole incident was a publicity stunt intended to promote the couple's joint On The Run tour, reported Time magazine.

"They wanted to find a way to ignite that tour. It's called a 'Jedi mind trick.' The Jedi mind trick fools you a lot of the time," Mathew said.

Matthew believes the trio's motivation was to draw attention to Beyonce and Jay-Z's upcoming tour and Solange's album. (Also Read: Solange Knowles' Music Career Gets a Boost After Elevator Fight With Jay-Z)

Apparently it worked as both ticket and album sales increased following the incident.

Movie review: Guardians of the Galaxy - superheroes, super fun - The Express Tribune

Guardians of the Galaxy has more wit than wisdom.

It’s hard to knock Hollywood for the recent deluge of superhero movies, considering how commercially successful and financially rewarding the genre has been. And it’s even harder to criticise the quality of the material generated by this trend, seeing how the output has generally been quite entertaining. In light of the positive reception towards the genre, it becomes all too obvious why Marvel would be inspired to create yet another superhero franchise, unleashing a team of its lesser-known superheroes onto the big screen in the form of Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie, directed by James Gunn, might make it seem like they are scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the final product easily quashes any doubts one may have about the project’s legitimacy.

The movie’s hero is Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a human who was abducted from Earth as a child just moments after his mother’s death. Two-and-a-half decades later, Quill has fashioned himself into Star-Lord, an intergalactic rogue who merrily romps through space. But after he swipes a mysterious orb, he finds himself being targeted by the many beings, who are desperate to wield its power. While dodging his chasers, Quill ends up forming an uneasy partnership with some of his pursuers. The members of the reluctant alliance include the green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who was initially sent by power-hungry villain Ronan (Lee Pace) to fetch the orb, wisecracking raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and sentient tree Groot (Vin Diesel) who are the bounty hunters seeking a reward for Quill’s capture and the vengeful Drax (Dave Bautista), whose family was killed by Ronan. Together, this team of extraterrestrial misfits risk everything to keep the orb from nefarious hands and save the universe from havoc.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a lively adventure powered by terrific special effects that includes Rocket and Groot being brought to life with some fantastic computer-generated imagery and a hearty frolic that aims to entertain its audience from start to finish. Unlike many of the superhero flicks currently on offer, the movie isn’t concerned with being dark and moody; it is content with being thoroughly enjoyable, employing witty banter alongside poignant touches to fuel its two-hour journey. Its retro soundtrack, courtesy of an Awesome Mix cassette that Quill holds dear, is programmed to generate nostalgia and the random pop culture references keep the viewers engaged. Chris Pratt is surprisingly suitable for the lead role and Bradley Cooper voices the smart-mouth raccoon Rocket with verve. While Groot may only have a three-word vocabulary, Vin Diesel makes good use of intonation to help make the talking tree one of the most endearing characters of the movie.

The villain, however, is stereotypical, the action is predictable and the customary final battle doesn’t hold much weight (probably because we aren’t as invested in the fate of the galaxy as we should be). But the movie is well aware of its own absurdities and never fails to have a sense of humour about itself.

Guardians of the Galaxy is an adventure that has heart and that revels in wit. It is like Star Wars meets Serenity with a dash of Red Dwarf. While the movie might not have been necessary, it has found a very valid reason to exist — to entertain us. Those who want something deep, dark and profound have many other choices as this movie is for those of us who just want to have some fun.

Rating: 3.5/5

Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, August 31^st, 2014.

Kings of Leon ready for stage after surgery - gulfnews.com

Family band play their first show in Philadelphia since drummer Nathan Followill injured his ribs

• AP

• Image Credit: Joel Ryan/Invision/AP


• FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2013 file photo, from left, Matthew Followill, Jared Followill, Nathan Followill and Caleb Followill of the band Kings of Leon pose for photographers upon arrival at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The city of brotherly love will mark a brotherly affair for Kings of Leon: The family band will play its first show Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, in Philadelphia since drummer Nathan Followill injured his ribs. The group will headline the second night of the “Budweiser Made In America” festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway over Labor Day Weekend. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, file)

Image 1 of 2

12

A brotherly reunion is coming to the City of Brotherly Love: Family band Kings of Leon will play its first show on Sunday in Philadelphia since drummer Nathan Followill injured his ribs.

The group will headline the second night of the Budweiser Made In America festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Kanye West and Steve Aoki will perform on the first night of the two-day festival over the Labour Day holiday weekend.

Kings of Leon lead singer Caleb Followill said in an interview on Friday that his younger brother is “doing good” since he broke his ribs after the band’s tour bus driver was forced to stop short when a pedestrian crossed the street in front of the vehicle.

“He has this protective gear that he’s wearing that’s there to help him,” Caleb said. “[On Thursday], we went in [to rehearsal] and we kind of loosened up a little bit, played five or six songs. [On Friday], we went in and played more, but by the end of it he was definitely tired.”

The band includes youngest brother Jared Followill, who plays bass, and cousin Matthew Followill, who plays guitar. They cancelled two weeks of shows after the August 9 incident and were set to mark a comeback on Thursday, but decided to postpone more shows.

“Hopefully he continues to heal,” Caleb said. “We’re going to throw a long set at him this weekend so he better bring his A-game, otherwise you’re going to have a three-piece up there with no drums.”

Following the Jay Z-curated festival, the Grammy-winning band will play 16 shows before their US tour wraps on October 5 in Irvine, California. They’ve surprised each of the audiences on the current tour by playing an older song they hadn’t performed live in years, or a cover. They sang Robyn’s cult hit Dancing On My Own at Lollapalooza this summer.

Caleb laughs when asked if the group would perform a Jay Z song on Sunday: “That would be a first for us.”

“I was online looking up all the artists that have come from Philadelphia,” he said of potential covers. “There’s quite a well of talent that has come out of that city.”

Sunday’s line-up in Philadelphia will also include Pharrell, Tiesto and Girl Talk. The festival, in its third year, will also play in Los Angeles over the weekend for the first time. Imagine Dragons will headline on Saturday, and West will switch coasts to play on Sunday.

Kings of Leon had its musical breakthrough in 2009 when the rock song Use Somebody crossed over to the pop charts and won three Grammy Awards, including record of the year. They released their sixth album, Mechanical Bull, last year, and Caleb said he’s been itching to write new songs.

“I am very excited for the future,” he said. “I think we’ll really go in there and write some songs we’re proud of, but at the same time, I’m ready to get back on the radio, so I want to write some hits.”