Reese Witherspoon stopped by Le Pain Quotidien today in Brentwood to grab an iced drink. She's been hanging out close to home since presenting at the Oscars and celebrating Hollywood's biggest night with her fiancé, Jim Toth, but it's still been a major week for the star. Last night, a brand-new clip and trailer for Water For Elephants debuted, showing off her great chemistry with Robert Pattinson. Fans won't have to wait much longer for the film adaptation of the bestselling book - it hits theaters on April 22.
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03/05/2011
'The Adjustment Bureau': The Reviews Are In!
Critics largely praise the Matt Damon-led Philip K. Dick adaptation, with one calling it 'a brisk and affecting slice of sci-fi.'
By Eric Ditzian
Matt Damon in "The Adjustment Bureau"
Photo: Universal Pictures
Emily Blunt the garden gnome squares off against Emily Blunt the ballerina at the box office this weekend. Her toe-tapping dancer in "The Adjustment Bureau," which opened on Friday (March 4), will handily beat her animated statue from "Gnomeo & Juliet," a cinematic holdover from last month.
"Adjustment Bureau" stars Matt Damon as a one-time Senate front-runner who falls in love with Blunt's ballerina on the night he loses the election. One twist of fate later, Damon finds out that there are supernatural forces — slickly dressed "adjusters," played by the likes of John Slattery and Anthony Mackie — controlling everyone's lives and conspiring to keep him away from Blunt. That doesn't sit so well with Damon, who sets about fighting against these forces in an effort to keep his romance alive.
The movie blends sci-fi and romantic drama into a hybrid piece of entertainment that has won over the majority of critics. Check out what everyone has to say about "The Adjustment Bureau."
The Influences
" 'The Adjustment Bureau,' an enormously entertaining speculative thriller starring Matt Damon, would earn its kudos for ambition alone. An adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story, this is a movie of myriad genres and tonal gradations, including classic science fiction in the tradition of 'Blade Runner' and 'The Matrix' and the doomed romance of 'An Affair to Remember.' Throw in the conspiratorial intrigue of 'The Manchurian Candidate' — and a first-time director to keep it all straight — and the singular achievement of 'The Adjustment Bureau' becomes all the more impressive.' — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
The Thrills
" 'The Adjustment Bureau' is the thriller as glorified philosophical videogame, with David dashing through doors that are like looking-glass passageways, trying to wrench his destiny away from the forces that claim he has no free will. In many ways, this is a dated and rather gimmicky movie. Yet it's directed (by 'The Bourne Ultimatum''s co-screenwriter George Nolfi) with a wide-eyed spirit. It taps into your longing for the days when a sci-fi matrix could explain the world without making it a darker place." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The Performances
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, together onscreen, make all sorts of sense; his compact concentration and fire-plug solidity contrast well with her gangly physicality and spirit of mischief, sexual and otherwise. ... 'The Adjustment Bureau' has the guts to play its central romance for genuine romantic feeling — and in the tasty byplay between Damon and Blunt, who seem to enjoy each other." — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
The Dissenters
"The plot of 'The Adjustment Bureau' unfolds without rhyme or reason, with characters who behave in inexplicable ways just because. (Why, exactly, does one of the adjusters, played by Anthony Mackie, suddenly take a sympathetic interest in David's plight?) Damon and Blunt lack the onscreen chemistry to make you care much about their fate. Damon only seems plugged into the movie when he's running around and making like Jason Bourne, while Blunt does too good a job of portraying her character's strong, confident personality in her early scenes, only to retreat into wilting-violet mode in the movie's second half, as the script requires." — Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
The Final Word
Possessing great visual style, clever writing and the undeniable star presence of Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, 'The Adjustment Bureau' is a brisk and affecting slice of sci-fi that allows room for optimism and even God. ... [The] movie spins off from what might be a prompt in a philosophy college class, and while it might not get much deeper than that, it's consistently entertaining and thought-provoking. An attempt at a climactic third-act chase feels forced, especially in contrast to the gentle and almost hushed tone of what came before it, but the film's earnest emotions and sure sense of itself remain captivating even through the mildly out-there finale." — Katey Rich, Cinema Blend
Check out everything we've got on " The Adjustment Bureau."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
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'The Adjustment Bureau': The Reviews Are In!
Critics largely praise the Matt Damon-led Philip K. Dick adaptation, with one calling it 'a brisk and affecting slice of sci-fi.'
By Eric Ditzian
Matt Damon in "The Adjustment Bureau"
Photo: Universal Pictures
Emily Blunt the garden gnome squares off against Emily Blunt the ballerina at the box office this weekend. Her toe-tapping dancer in "The Adjustment Bureau," which opened on Friday (March 4), will handily beat her animated statue from "Gnomeo & Juliet," a cinematic holdover from last month.
"Adjustment Bureau" stars Matt Damon as a one-time Senate front-runner who falls in love with Blunt's ballerina on the night he loses the election. One twist of fate later, Damon finds out that there are supernatural forces — slickly dressed "adjusters," played by the likes of John Slattery and Anthony Mackie — controlling everyone's lives and conspiring to keep him away from Blunt. That doesn't sit so well with Damon, who sets about fighting against these forces in an effort to keep his romance alive.
The movie blends sci-fi and romantic drama into a hybrid piece of entertainment that has won over the majority of critics. Check out what everyone has to say about "The Adjustment Bureau."
The Influences
" 'The Adjustment Bureau,' an enormously entertaining speculative thriller starring Matt Damon, would earn its kudos for ambition alone. An adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story, this is a movie of myriad genres and tonal gradations, including classic science fiction in the tradition of 'Blade Runner' and 'The Matrix' and the doomed romance of 'An Affair to Remember.' Throw in the conspiratorial intrigue of 'The Manchurian Candidate' — and a first-time director to keep it all straight — and the singular achievement of 'The Adjustment Bureau' becomes all the more impressive.' — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
The Thrills
" 'The Adjustment Bureau' is the thriller as glorified philosophical videogame, with David dashing through doors that are like looking-glass passageways, trying to wrench his destiny away from the forces that claim he has no free will. In many ways, this is a dated and rather gimmicky movie. Yet it's directed (by 'The Bourne Ultimatum''s co-screenwriter George Nolfi) with a wide-eyed spirit. It taps into your longing for the days when a sci-fi matrix could explain the world without making it a darker place." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The Performances
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, together onscreen, make all sorts of sense; his compact concentration and fire-plug solidity contrast well with her gangly physicality and spirit of mischief, sexual and otherwise. ... 'The Adjustment Bureau' has the guts to play its central romance for genuine romantic feeling — and in the tasty byplay between Damon and Blunt, who seem to enjoy each other." — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
The Dissenters
"The plot of 'The Adjustment Bureau' unfolds without rhyme or reason, with characters who behave in inexplicable ways just because. (Why, exactly, does one of the adjusters, played by Anthony Mackie, suddenly take a sympathetic interest in David's plight?) Damon and Blunt lack the onscreen chemistry to make you care much about their fate. Damon only seems plugged into the movie when he's running around and making like Jason Bourne, while Blunt does too good a job of portraying her character's strong, confident personality in her early scenes, only to retreat into wilting-violet mode in the movie's second half, as the script requires." — Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
The Final Word
Possessing great visual style, clever writing and the undeniable star presence of Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, 'The Adjustment Bureau' is a brisk and affecting slice of sci-fi that allows room for optimism and even God. ... [The] movie spins off from what might be a prompt in a philosophy college class, and while it might not get much deeper than that, it's consistently entertaining and thought-provoking. An attempt at a climactic third-act chase feels forced, especially in contrast to the gentle and almost hushed tone of what came before it, but the film's earnest emotions and sure sense of itself remain captivating even through the mildly out-there finale." — Katey Rich, Cinema Blend
Check out everything we've got on " The Adjustment Bureau."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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James Franco Tweeted, TwitPic'd During Oscars Hosting Gig
'127 Hours' star uploaded series of backstage videos, candid photos throughout broadcast.
By Gil Kaufman
James Franco backstage at the 2011 Oscars
Photo: James Franco
The Oscars were going for young and hip, and they definitely got it in co-hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway. In fact, Franco dragged the often staid 83rd annual Academy Awards right up to the present by tweeting about his hosting gig during the broadcast and uploading a series of backstage videos and candid photos to his followers.
He started off his day by posting a video of himself groggily waking up before getting ready for his big gig, then posting a series of photos of the hours leading up to the show and a video preview of his social media plans. "Hey there, it's James Franco. I am talking to you from my suite pretty close to the Kodak Theatre," he said, panning across his room. "You should look out for a few tweets during the show."
As the magic hour approached, the multi-hyphenate actor/artist/Ph.D. student uploaded photos showing him escorting his grandmother into the theater, getting his makeup on, frowning in a high school senior superlative Best Smile pic to remind himself to show his pearly whites during the broadcast and encouraging fans to follow him at the hashtag #OscarsRealTime.
What followed were clips of him entering the elevator on his way up to the stage, a video of his backstage walk to the holding area and, under the heading "these were my famous last words," a clip of him saying nervously, "It might be bad," as an offscreen voice asked him for any parting words to his fans before walking out to open the show.
Franco also posted a clip of him and Hathaway laughing while watching a video together during a commercial break early in their duties, a photo of him flipping off the camera while getting his Marilyn Monroe dress and makeup applied and a video of him waiting to take the stage in drag. Other postings included a video of him interviewing the Oscars head writer backstage during the show and a photo of him and Hathaway with Oprah Winfrey.
He was seemingly as busy behind the scenes as he was in front of them, as he found time to snap photos with Billy Crystal, take a pic of himself onstage, shoot video from the wings of Randy Newman's performance and film a clip of a commercial break bit of time filler during which Hathaway joked with the audience about taping PowerBars under the nominees' seats so they could keep their energy up during the show.
Given the volume of material Franco posted, it's a wonder he could even concentrate on his hosting duties. He also gave a video glimpse of Florence Welch getting ready to perform, another of him self-deprecatingly listening to the intro to the segment on his work in "127 Hours" and a clip of him getting a late-show hand massage from Hathaway. One photo showed him having a post-Oscars celebratory drink with the words "Goodbye LA" scrawled on the pic. This was followed by a shot outside his plane window with the caption, "It was fun! Have to get back to class!"
Stick with MTV News on Oscar night and beyond for red-carpet fashion coverage, analysis of the winners, plus interviews, photos and more from your favorite Hollywood stars!
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