If you still need more proof that Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the most charming men on the planet, look no further than the latest edition of MTV After Hours.
Catching up with the “Star Trek Into Darkness” baddie on the red carpet, MTV News correspondent Josh Horowitz put Benedict to the task by administering the unofficial citizenship test for celebrities traversing the Atlantic: AMERICAN TALK. (For the uninitiated, you can check out previous installments with Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffehere and here.
To find out what Benedict Cumberbatch‘s would-be porn name, his favorite fast-food items, and whether or not he ditches the Union Jack for the Stars & Stripes, check out the video above!
“Star Trek Into Darkness” opens in US theaters today.
When Keanu Reeves directs a movie called “Man of Tai Chi,” you better believe it’s going to come loaded with tai chi. Reeves debuted the first trailer for his directorial debut at the Beijing International Film Festival, and the teaser for his martial arts epic comes heavy on the awesome action sequences and light on the plot.
It makes sense that this movie will have excellent action choreography and will show off Reeves’ love of tai chi. Tiger Hu Chen, a martial arts trainer on “The Matrix” trilogy, stars in the movie with legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping designing the moves. As they proved in the Wachowski movies, they are definitely experts in creating impressive action sequences. Reeves, of course, both directs and stars in the movie.
Still, don’t expect to get too up-close and personal with the fighters in this film. MTV News caught up with Reeves after he wrapped principal photography on “Man of Tai Chi” and he revealed that he was unable to use the highly articulate and precise mechanical arm with a camera in this movie like he revealed was his intention in a proof of concept video.
“It was really exciting to go into this idea. I got some feedback from [the reaction to the proof of concept]. It turns out though, ultimately, because we were filming in China, it was a lot simpler to do the proof of concept than to actually use it in the film,” Reeves said. “One of the events that happened that was tough was that I wasn’t able to use tool in the movie.”
Reeves still said he was inspired by the way that arm worked in how he filmed the movie, though. “It was tough. It was just too big and too much. We had to ship it to China. All sorts of practical consideration ran into the vision and the dream,” he said. “It certainly influenced the way that we went forward in terms of shooting some of the fight scenes in terms of the organicness and movement of how we shot some of the fight scenes. I just couldn’t go on top. [laughs] I couldn’t do an overhead shot with no cut into a close up.”
“Man of Tai Chi” does not yet have a US release date.
What do you think of this first trailer for “Man of Tai Chi”? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!
This weekend, a movie called “Oblivion” hits theaters. It is not, as I believed when it was first announced, based on the popular video game (which I wouldn’t be opposed to — make it happen, Hollywood!). Instead, this film sees Tom Cruise as one of the last humans stationed on a dying Earth following an alien attack sixty years prior*. Here are seven facts about the savior of mankind:
1) The name of Cruise’s daughter Suri comes from the Hebrew word for “princess”: And the Persian word for “red rose,” per the statement released at the time of her birth. It’s also the Japanese word for “pickpocket,” but the press release doesn’t mention that. In any case, it’s a moot point since this very reliable British tabloid has reported that Katie Holmes is planning to change her daughter’s name after her divorce from Tom Cruise is finalized. The top contender? Scout, of “To Kill a Mockingbird” fame.
2) There’s a whole day dedicated to him: In 2006, Japan declared October 10 “Tom Cruise Day” in honor of the actor’s love for the country. He’s visited it more than any other Hollywood star.
3) He’s the original Ryan Gosling: Before Gosling was saving people left and right on the streets of NYC, Cruise was Hollywood’s knight in shining armor. In 1996, he helped the victim of a hit-and-run by taking her to the hospital and then paying her medical bills when he discovered she didn’t have health insurance. Later that same year, he (or, well, his yacht’s staff) rescued five people from a burning sailboat. Then, at the “Mission: Impossible” premiere, he saved two boys from getting crushed against barricades by the crowd.
4) Aladdin was modeled after him: When designing the Disney character, producers drew inspiration from Cruise’s “eyebrows and straight-off-the-forehead nose.” “There’s a confidence with all of his attitudes and his poses,” lead animator Glen Keane told Entertainment Weekly at the time.
5) Cruise attended 15 different schools over the course of 12 years: Moving throughout the US and Canada, Cruise went to a new school almost every year until he was 14 and his family settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He also studied to be a priest, but dropped out after a year, and, you know, eventually embraced Scientology.
6) He played football in high school — until he was cut from the team: For drinking beer! As this unauthorized biography so eloquently puts it, “he was not the only one drinking; he was just the only one who got caught.”
Bonus) Cruise has appeared in three movies with his second wife, Nicole Kidman: Most notably the instant classic “Far and Away.” Say you like my hat!
Will you be seeing Oblivion this weekend?
*These aliens are unrelated to Scientology. Shame on you.
This past summer, a smash hit crime film opened in a handful of US cinemas with one of the hottest rises actors starring and the greatest directors of all time presenting it. Sound familiar?
At its widest in the US, “Easy Money” was screening in all of seven theaters, but make no mistake, this is a movie worth seeking out.
Originally release in its native Sweden in 2010, “Snabba Cash,” as it was formerly titled, became an instant hit and spawned a sequel, with a third film out later this year, all starring future “Robocop” star Joel Kinnaman.
When “Snabba Cash” became “Easy Money” for its stateside release, Martin Scorsese attached his name as a presenter in order to attract more attention to the story of JW, a man trying to make it in the world by any means necessary.
For the DVD release of “Easy Money,” we present an exclusive NSFW clip from the film. Check it out above and thank us later.
It seems like we##Q##ve been waiting since even before “Drive” stomped our collective heads to pulp for the next effort from Ryan Gosling and director Nicolas Winding Refn, “Only God Forgives.” There was a small chance that the Thai kickboxing crime saga would make the fall festival circuit last year, but now we##Q##ve got a fingers cross for a debut at Cannes in May.
Three new photos from Allocine (via The Film Stage) give us perhaps our best look yet at Gosling##Q##s character, the violent Julien, and our first glimpse at his crime boss mother, Jenna, played by Kristen Scott Thomas.
Assuming that Julien doesn##Q##t wear the same suit all of the time, other stills from the film have indicated which way the fight he##Q##s preparing for goes. (Hint: not well.)
Check out the other pictures from “Only God Forgives” after the jump!
According to Allocine, a trailer for “Only God Forgives” should drop within the next two weeks, since there##Q##s already a European release for the film scheduled in May. There was talk that the US would get it at roughly the same time, but a lack of promotional materials suggests otherwise.
The last time Refn and Gosling went to Cannes together, the director left with a prize for his work, and “Drive” generated a serious amount of pre-release buzz. Since it worked out so well for them last time, expect a repeat trip to the Croisette in May.
What do you think of these new photos from “Only God Forgives”? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!
But thanks to The Playlist, we##Q##ve stumbled across a new video of the Gos from “The Mickey Mouse Club” where he takes us on a tour of his hometown Cornwall, Ontario.
The trip is full of fun, surprises, and most importantly, lessons to learn. We figured that with so much truth coming at us from a pint-size Gosling, a cheat sheet would be helpful, so this is everything we learned on our trip to Cornwall.
You can jump from the US to Canada.
The dude can drum.
Smidgens is the best.
The 90s were weird at times.
It##Q##s a good thing Ryan stuck with acting.
He has no problem dancing in the burnt ruins of a cathedral.
Melissa McCarthy’s headlining debut in “Identity Thief” made for a box office surprise this past weekend. The comedy, which also stars Jason Bateman, opened to an impressive $36.5 million, beating out the returning champion, “Warm Bodies,” and Steven Soderbergh‘s final theatrical effort, “Side Effects.”
The zombie romance did, however, manage to hold onto a decent box office haul, adding $11.5 million to its total, which currently sits at $36.6 million.
“Side Effects,” which stars Rooney Mara, Jude Law, and Channing Tatum, opened to $10 million, well below the impressive start for Soderbergh’s previous film, “Magic Mike.” The stripper drama made for a surprise hit, taking in over $100 million in the US last year.
Head over to MTV News for your full box office report.
Nicki Minaj has joined forces with Kmart to launch a new clothing line this year.
It looks like “American Idol” isn’t the only side venture that Nicki Minaj has lined up for 2013. In a recent report from AllHipHop, it was announced that the YMCMB emcee has teamed up with Kmart to launch a new clothing line.
Sears Holdings, owner of Kmart and its affiliate website ShopYourWay.com, has enlisted Minaj and Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine to launch a series of new clothing lines. Minaj’s line will boast a variety of lifestyle products, including apparel and accessories.
“I am so excited to work with this iconic, mass retailer and to bring affordable fashion to my beautiful barbz all across the US,” Minaj said in a statement.
Imran Kooma, the executive vice president and president of Marketing and Online of Sears Holdings, echoed Nicki’s excitement, saying, “We are thrilled to align Kmart and Shop Your Way with two of America’s superstars. We welcome Adam and Nicki into our world and look forward to capturing their energy and creativity on ShopYourWay.com and translating it into unique apparel, accessories and other merchandise.”
Both Minaj and Levine’s clothing lines will debut towards the end of 2013.
Vans’ patriotic pair of Sk8-His, the American Flag option, has recently made its way to appropriated brand accounts. The canvas kicks of course showcase the US flag throughout the upper, as white leather branding then tags the shoe on the side, matching the laces and midsole accordingly. Head on over to spots like AW-Lab to cop your size today.
