When Jonah HIll revealed to Howard Stern that he received a mere $60,000 for The Wolf of Wall Street, I was initially impressed. Hill emphasized his extreme desire to win the role, and he insisted on signing his contract before he lost the offer. But after further thought, I found myself perplexed. This isn’t an art house Woody Allen film with a small budget. In fact, the budget was $100 million. Therefore, the undercut of Hill’s salary seems like a shady attempt to prey on his desperation. Why would the leading man get millions and Hill receive minimum payment? The short explanation for this is that the studio knows they have lots negotiating leverage with actors in a Scorsese film — and they use it. Watch Jonah in a clip from the film below.
Shia LaBeouf Confesses to Plagiarism — Preaches “Performance Art”
Can’t Shia LaBeouf fight for the whales instead of plagiarism? In a recent twitter post that has since been deleted, LaBeouf explained his erratic behavior, insisting it’s part of his performance art movement, saying, “Performance art has been a way of appealing to the large public, as well as shocking audiences into reassessing their own notions of art and its relation to culture.” He also confessed that his use of Daniel Clowes’ work was “intended plagiarism,” which I’m sure his lawyers loved.
While it’s wonderful to stand for something, he’ll soon be shouting from the rooftops of his tiny house, after alienating the entire industry along with his peers. There are battles to pick, but if you want to become Andy Kaufman, be prepared for the consequences.
Jennifer Lawrence Gets a Homeland Spoiler — Loves Damian Lewis
While I’m insistent that those who watch shows on delay have no right to complain about plot spoilers, Jennifer Lawrence’s adorable sadness upon discovering that her crush got the axe was quite adorable. As for the interviewers who took a sick pleasure in the revelation (and it’s subsequent confirmation), you might not go to hell, but you certainly won’t be asked to babysit any animals. Watch below.
Kate Gosselin’s Girls Gab on ‘The View’
Kate Gosselin visited The View for another interview with her older twins, and the girls finally opened up, much to the relief of their matriarch, who’s desperate to prove her kids aren’t damaged from their years on reality television. While I have no way of knowing how the constant cameras affected their upbringing, one thing is clear: the ladies of The View did a much better job than Savannah Guthrie, whose attempt to treat the tots like grownups backfired. As for Kate, I’m not sure this teen tour will make her anymore likeable, but it certainly helps. I still maintain that children on reality television should be just as legally protected as children on scripted television, but with the huge influx of this genre, I seriously doubt that movement will gain traction. Watch below to see Gosselin on ‘The View.’
Quote of the Day: Kasabian v. Miley Cyrus
“I don’t really know what that world is man. It’s just a fucking money making thing. We (the music industry) created Miley Cyrus man, that’s our fault. She’s just a f*cking accumulation of internet porn, f*cking hip-hop, fucking Disney world. She’s just a f*cking nightmare of the 21st century.” Kasabian lead singer, Serge Pizzorno on Miley Cyrus.
Jezebel Shames Lena Dunham — Unveils Secret Vogue Shots
There are entertainment-related topics to care about, but an exposé on photo-shop doesn’t land on the list. Jezebel showed before and after snaps of Lena Dunham’s Vogue shoot, in what I can only assume is an attempt to shame the ‘Girls’ star, rather than some burn-your-bra feminist brigade. First, photo-shop is fantastic. There’s a reason I use instagram filters, and it’ s not because I want those sea-dolphins to look thinner. It’s because filters are pretty! And while I understand the hypocrisy of touching up the girl who prides herself on her anti-anorexic aesthetic, I’d like to remind the world that Lena Dunham has nothing to do with the end result of her pictures. Furthermore, I’d encourage the Jezebel writers to send me intimate photos that I can post on the internet without their approval. You know . . . cause I’m a feminist.
William H. Macy Hates One Direction
It’s always the kindest ones that have the biggest bite. William H. Macy visited Kelly and Michael to promote Rudderless, and he ranted about One Direction instead. In a hilarious summary of his daddy duties, Macy recounted his experience at a One Direction concert with his daughters, which entailed watching Harry Styles eat a sandwich on stage, among other things. Watch below and enjoy.
American Idol Premieres: New Judges, New Look
It takes a sharp eye to discover the subtle changes in this season’s American Idol, but it’s enough to elevate the show to its former powerhouse status. For years, the show felt dated. It felt as if the producers were stuck in time, and they rested on their laurels in an attempt to use nostalgia as edge over it’s competitors. Its only attempt at redirection was the Mariah Carey/Nicki Minaj experimental panel, and we all know how that ended. But this time, they got it right.
This year’s panel of judges includes Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr. While Jennifer Lopez is a key component for the show’s classy, contemporary status, Harry Connick Jr. is the new star. His musical knowledge is immediately apparent, and he’s less inclined to favor the vocal acrobatics that has become the show’s enduring staple. Plus, it sure is nice to rid American Idol of Randy Jackson’s infamous “pitchy” critique. This is a singing competition, and it finally feels as if the judges have something to offer the contestants. To see their chemistry in action, watch the judges on Ellen below.
Lena Dunham Covers Vogue — Explains Nudity
You can put a pretty bow on your controversial choices with a stock-house explanation, but that doesn’t make it any less questionable. ‘Girls’ Executive Producer and Writer, Lena Dunham covered Vogue, and she explained her decision to bare all for the HBO series, saying, “It’s a complicated thing. I want people ultimately, even if they’re disturbed by certain moments, to feel bolstered and normalized by the sex that’s on the show.” She also added that, “Seeing somebody who looks like you having sex on television is a less comfortable experience than seeing somebody who looks like nobody you’ve ever met.” While I understand the argument, I must still lay into it’s lunacy.
I’ve followed ‘Girls’ since it’s debut, and the excessive nudity has almost pushed me to flee the show. I never questioned Samantha Jones’ nudity, because it made sense for the character. Kim Cattrall’s promiscuous Sex and the City character broke down barriers for women. It put our gender on par with men, who are socially allowed to sexually misbehave, while women are not. Her nudity was also appropriately played into each scene, and the artistic blend kept me immersed in the story. Unlike ‘Sex and the City,’ it’s as if Lena Dunham is proving a point at the expense of the scene. Sure it’s possible that she adequately represents “real life,” but if I wanted my television to be that real, I’d watch a documentary. There’s a delicate dance between art and reality, but the former is just fine with me.
Jim Carrey v. Shia LaBeouf: The War Rages On
At this year’s Golden Globes, Jim Carrey poked fun at Hollywood hot-topic Shia LaBeouf, saying, “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard. I believe it was Shia LaBeouf who said that.” Shia returned the bite with a boulder, posting a YouTube video of Carrey’s daughter’s band, saying, “At least I don’t get arrested for indecency on major LA highways! Or abandon love child’s.” He later deleted the tweets, saying, “Jim Carrey states that he is deeply involved in his daughter’s life—I accept that. Regret tweet on the matter. Apologies to both parents.” The first attack and the subsequent apology are predictably plagiarized, or as Shia might say, “artistically inspired” by Rupert Murdoch’s twitter feud with Hugh Grant. Jenny McCarthy came to Carrey’s defense, insisting that her ex-boyfriend was deeply involved in his child’s life, and all feud’s should be sans family attacks.
It’s become strikingly clear that Shia LaBeouf is adamantly out to prove some point on plagiarism. I have yet to discover what that point is, but that’s neither here nor there. His abstract attempt to defend his “art” (or the art of others, depending on your perspective), will likely sink his career. And while it’s fun to hit an easy target, when that target’s mental health becomes questionable, it’s imperative to relent. I’m on the fence about Shia’s state of mind, but this might be my last post about the star, given my moral standards. Watch below for Jenny McCarthy’s defense of Jim Carrey.