Saturday 26 July 2014

Tony Albert wins Basil Sellers Art Prize

When Tony Albert spoke to “his team of people” about his planned entry for the sport-themed Basil Sellers Art Prize, he was met with a bit of resistance.

Albert’s manager and the commercial gallery that looks after his work were worried that his polemical piece, Once Upon a Time... would be rejected.

“They said if you do racism in sport you won’t get into Basil Sellers, it’s too confrontational, it’s too much of an issue, people aren’t going to like it, but I thought I would rather put this forward and be told no than not do it at all.”

Jennette McCurdy, 22, is at a transitional phrase in her career. "Sam & Cat," which she starred in alongside Ariana Grande, has been canceled after one season amidst the corrosion of McCurdy's child-friendly Nickelodeon image. Racy photos of her leaked online and she was at odds with the network over contract disputes.

McCurdy's is OK with her behind-the-scenes issues, however. She didn't say what's next for her, but the actress did talk about being honest even though it juxtaposes her cleanly Nickelodeon image. McCurdy raised eyebrows when she wrote an Instagram caption joking about men masturbating to her risque photos. Her defense: She's no role model.

WHEN The Block: Glasshouse co-host Shelley Craft first saw the glass office block contestants would have to transform into five luxury apartments, she thought it was a ridiculous idea.

But it wasn’t long until she became convinced the new series of the hit Nine Network renovation reality show would be the best yet.

“The building is always one of the main characters of each series, and this one is a doozey,” Craft revealed.

SCOTT CAM; What’s he done with his Gold Logie

Sex, not true love, is what you’ll get should you RSVP ‘yes’ to a Pheromone Party, according to a scent expert.Pheromone parties are a new dating experience developed in the US and launched in New Zealand last week which offer singles the chance to smell the worn T-shirt of a stranger in a bid to sniff their way to romance.

However University of Queensland Professor Philipp Kirsch, who has conducted research into sex pheromones and the mating behaviour of insects, says the format of these parties lends itself to hook ups rather than happily ever afters.

Congratulations live music lovers, you helped ‘save rock n roll’.

Iconic Melbourne live music venue Cherry Bar launched a crowdfunding campaign on Wednesday, appealing to the the music-loving public to play the ‘White Knight’ and help pitch in towards $90,000 of funding needed to soundproof the venue in a bid to pre-empt a noise complaint battle with an encroaching residential development.

Though originally aiming to raise around $30,000 over 42 days, supporters hearing Cherry’s plight flocked to the Pledge Music campaign and thanks to 775 dedicated pledgers, the Melbourne venue smashed through its fundraising goal within the first day.

They were in Dallas promoting their PacSun summer clothing line on Thursday.

But Kylie and Kendall Jenner were ready to relax and have fun as they hung out with their 'fwiends' on Friday.

The sisters shared photos on Instagram lounging on a couch in a funky red room with a bunch of their pals including Justin Bieber's BFF Lil Twist.

ERIC Bana’s latest film, Deliver Us From Evil, balances three genres precariously. It adapts the true story of a New York policeman’s investigation into multiple murder cases involving demonic possession. But Bana, who plays the lead character, Bronx cop Ralph Sarchie, notes he felt like he was working on a “buddy cop film with (co-star) Joel (McHale), a troubled relationship film with Olivia (Munn) and then this incredible complex psychological, religious, heavy dialogue movie with Edgar (Ramirez)”.

“It was like three completely different films depending on who you were working with that day,” the Australian actor recalls.

There is little doubt, however, about what Deliver Us From Evil becomes: a frightening supernatural thriller. Somehow it works, thanks in large part to a traumatic exorcism scene that follows a litany of genuine scares. The path to the conclusion feels off-kilter, however, with McHale’s and Bana’s cops delivering dry gags in the midst of some dire horror.

SYDNEY - US actor John Malkovich has hit out at Sydney’s famous Opera House, saying the acoustics were so hideous they ‘would do an aeroplane hangar a disservice’.

The thespian and star of movies including ‘Burn After Reading’ and ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ performed at the iconic building in the 2011 Sydney Festival production ‘The Giacomo Variations’, which was booed and critically savaged.

He survived the “choux-pocalypse” and quipped on national TV that “there is something about oysters and bacon fat that makes me smile.”

But North Turramurra’s Jamie Fleming, 26, was knocked out of Masterchef last night.

“I’m actually feeling really good,” he told the Advocate.

“Even though I’m disappointed I didn’t make it that last little bit I am very proud of how far I came and the future for me is very exciting,” he said.

Not all of us are lucky enough to actually be at Splendour In The Grass this weekend. However, for those whose life choices have led them (JUST FOR EXAMPLE) to be huddled over a laptop while wearing a hoodie covered in potato chip crumbs, it's been pretty easy to follow along with the festival thanks to streaming and social media.

There are still two nights of the festival to go, and some big acts still to play, but already, some highlights have started to emerge, both on and off stage. For those experiencing Splendour vicariously through the magic of the internet, what follows is a highly definitive and scientific listing of the highlights and lowlights of the festival so far:

THE baby bottle lights and skin-tight neon yellow catsuit were the poptastic goalposts for Lily Allen’s return to the stage from an extended maternity leave.

But the stroke of Lily genius which distinguished her performance last night was the reality costume change.

We didn’t get to see her strip from the sexy suit to the high-waisted shorts and bra ensemble at their side of the stage.

We heard her do it, Allen chatting away as she suffered the delayed wardrobe malfunction of trying to peel off the clingy, sweaty costume.

Catholic teachers not ruling out further industrial action after strikes this week

A woman in custody and a man in a Sydney hospital after a stabbing at Brewarrina

More than 10,000 tickets sold for today's NRL clash at Bathurst

Cry While You Read Taylor Swift’s Wise, Compassionate Response To Her Fan’s Heartbroken Instagram

"I think someday you'll find someone who loves you in that exact same way."

Everyone on the face of the planet has dealt with unrequited love—if you haven’t, then you’re in the minority, and you’re a lucky duck. But there’s only one pop star who has practically built a career off the subject, and that’s Taylor Swift.

Which is probably why one of her fans thought Taylor would be the perfect person to reach out to about her own personal dead-end crush. A young Swiftian named Hannah aka Instagram user @sherbetswift tagged Taylor in a long Instagram comment about why her girl-next-door role was breaking her heart.

Laughter, goofiness, and flubbed lines aren't often associated with Game of Thrones, but on July 25, the fantasy series changed all that. HBO released a two-minute blooper gag reel at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con to the delight of fans everywhere.

PHOTOS: Game of Thrones stars and their celeb look-alikes

I'm a sucker for a film that shoots for infinity but barely scrapes into the atmosphere. I appreciate the effort and the willingness to do something a little different in order to bring a modicum of ingenuity and interest into a medium that thrives and lives on repetitiveness and creature comfort.

Those are in part the reasons I can't stop thinking about “Lucy” – a cripplingly flawed film buoyed by the joy of its extraordinary ambitions and a cold, steady and all-in-all terrific performance by star Scarlett Johansson.

A worker screamed at the star when she sat to eat a meal she had ordered to go.

A Canadian fast food worker is in hot water after showing legendary singer Aretha Franklin no r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

The unfortunate incident unfolded Tuesday at a Johnny Rockets restaurant in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

A worker screamed at Franklin after she sat down to eat a hamburger that she had ordered to go, the singer’s spokesman said.

Yesterday we brought you news from the big Game of Thrones panel that took Comic-Con by storm — the new casting for season 5 and season 4 blooper reel. Today the Lord of Light hath gifted us the opportunity to share the entire panel featuring cast and creators. Over 6,000 fans packed into the San Diego Convention Center’s monstrous Hall H for what has been called the most entertaining and epic panel of the weekend thus far. Fortunately for those of us who didn’t make the trip this year, we can relive the magic via Internet streaming video.

Well folks, we’ve got official pictures of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. And quite frankly, she looks like… well, Wonder Woman. Zack Snyder trust tweeted the image from his Twitter account as a kick-off of sorts to the Warner Bros. (Time Warner TWX +1.17%, Inc.) Comic Con presentation that just started. It’s a little crazy that we’re getting official images of this nature two years out from release, but that is the culture of entertainment news. So feast your eyes on the first official picture of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (That title… gah!). To the extent that this is important, it is arguably because the artistic reception of Zack Snyder’s big team-up movie will largely be dependent on how well Wonder Woman is received.

"Guardians of the Galaxy" doesn't land in theaters until Aug. 1, but Marvel Studios already is moving forward with a sequel and has turned to James Gunn to return to write and direct.

A sequel already was expected, considering their return appears on screen in the end credits of the film.

It's unclear whether Nicole Perlman, who co-wrote the first "Guardians" with Gunn, will return.

It’s been a long, hard road to get to the long, hard road of “Mad Max: Fury Road” — but we’re almost there.

At San Diego Comic-Con, director George Miller and Warner Bros. brought the new “Mad Max” movie to fans, with some concept art and new footage that pulled the curtain back a bit on a film that’s essentially just one gigantic chase sequence.

“The story popped in my head and just wouldn’t get away, like an imaginary friend,” Miller said. “I love chase movies; I think they’re the purest form of cinema. That’s where the film language started. I wanted to make one long, extended chase, and see what we could pick up about the characters along the way.”

Nina Dobrev steps out with co-star Damon Wayans Jr hit up the 20th Century Fox Press Line during the 2014 San Diego Comic Con held at the San Diego Convention Center on Friday afternoon (July 25).

The 25-year-old actress was joined by her Let’s Be Cops co-stars Rob Riggle and Keegan-Michael Key.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Nina Dobrev

A new show called “Manhattan” makes it’s debut Sunday night. It’s filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

FOX31 Denver’s Tammy Vigil visited the set of the show recently.

It’s a period drama based on the secretive Manhattan project set in 1943 Los Alamos, which ultimately led to the creation of the atomic bomb. The show features some well-established actors including Daniel Stern who plays one of the brilliant scientists. You might know him from “Home Alone.”

Woody Allen's late period has been defined by a quality you wouldn't have expected from the man who produced the inspired chaos of "Bananas" or the Fellini-esque carnival of "Stardust Memories": tidiness.

For years now, Allen's films have been light farces ("Midnight in Paris," ''Vicky Cristina Barcelona") or neatly structured parables ("Match Point," ''Blue Jasmine"). They breeze in innocuously in the summer, promising pleasant entertainment and not much more.

"Like drinking lemonade" is how Allen has described his escapist aims for his movies.

BASHING scandal-prone R&B crooner Robin Thicke has become something of an internet sport of late, and frankly, we think it should stop.

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

It seems the singer, whose creepy new album Paula infamously debuted in the lower, lower reaches of charts worldwide this month, probably doesn’t have an acting career to fall back on now the whole singing thing’s gone tits-up.

Despite rumors making the rounds to the contrary, Sean Penn and Charlize Theron are not engaged yet. Rumors began earlier this week when Charlize was seen wearing a ring on her engagement finger at LAX on July 23rd. And it wasn’t just any old kind of ring, it was a diamond ring — so you know that got the gossips talking!

The ring is an Anita Ko Leaf Ring in 18k yellow gold, but the bling didn’t come from Sean. A source revealed that Charlize foot the bill for the $4,900 piece of jewelry herself. Hey, a girl can buy her own jewelry, right?

A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Life section of The Oklahoman. 3 of 4 stars

The French writer-director’s latest cinematic mind-job mashes up the rainbow hues and superwoman savior concept from his ridiculously entertaining “The Fifth Element” and the blood-pumping car chases and shoot-ups from his crazily stylish “Transporter,” then adds hefty doses of “The Matrix”-style high-concept sci-fi musings.

At most Comic-Con panels, a moderator asks some questions to the cast of a show, and then turns it over to fans for questions. At the panel for BBC America’s sci-fi clone series Orphan Black, that formula was followed. However, this time it made me cry a little.

But first, there was a standing ovation for star Tatiana Maslany:

Back to the emotional moment. It came from a woman who said,

    “Before I started to watch (Orphan Black), I was really in the closet.”

The fan said that the character Cosima, one of the clones Maslany plays, is gay, but “not everything is about her sexuality.” The woman said that her mother, who was not initially accepting of her daughter’s homosexuality, has learned through the show “that it’s OK and people are more than their sexuality.”

Then it was time for the question:

    “What’s it like to have that effect on peoples lives? You’re saving lives. That’s what you did for me.”

Maslany could hardly respond, she was so choked up. (As was I.) But co-star Jordan Gavaris, who plays Felix, stepped in:

    “We like to be reductive in society. We reduce people down to their diseases or their gender,” he said. “People are complex and people are diverse and there are much more interesting things than your sexuality.”

The packed room 7A cheered.

Another Orphan Black fan who approached the mic was a Clone Club member who presented Tatiana Maslany with the “best actress in the world” award. (When asked about being snubbed for an Emmy, Maslany told the crowd, “The Emmys are lovely and wonderful, but for me it’s the response from the fans. That’s why we do it.”)

But the best gift may have come from the super-fan who presented Maslany with Russian nesting dolls of her different clone characters. The actress was digging it.

Marvel Head Literally Runs Away From Joaquin Phoenix-’Doctor Strange’ Rumors

Also, Hayley Atwell won't be Old Peggy in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron.'

There are two methods for getting information from people associated with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can ask a small, specific question with an answer that has bigger implications, or you can be direct.

At the San Diego Comic-Con press line for “Agent Carter,” I spoke with star Hayley Atwell and Marvel Studios co-president Louis D’Esposito and tried both methods.

Scots actress Karen Gillan is to appear in her biggest movie role yet in Marvel's sci-fi action adventure Guardians of the Galaxy.

Inverness-born Gillan's big break came when she was cast as Doctor Who companion Amy Pond.

While Pond was part of a force for good, Gillan's character in Guardians of the Galaxy has a villainous dark side.

With a reported production budget of £17m, Guardians of the Galaxy forms part of Marvel's so-called "Phase 2" project.

From joint radio interviews to A-list parties, Khloé Kardashian and French Montana have definitely been making the rounds as a couple.

The pair was part of the blowout bash held last night for Jennifer Lopez's 45th birthday at Greek restaurant and lounge Nammos Estiatorio in Southampton, N.Y., and E! News learns these two lovebirds just couldn't get enough of each other. A source tells us the couple "were never too far from each other" while at the party.

"What's going on between them is real. They're solid," they tell us. The source also noted how tight Khloé was with the birthday girl, saying, "All night long, Khloé and Jennifer were pointing at each other and smiling. Who knew they were such good friends?"

Arrow may have left off on a happy note, but that won't last very long!

Though Season 2 ended with Team Arrow taking out Deathstroke (Manu Bennett), Season 3 will very quickly set a new tone as the team is put through the ringer. "So much of Season 3 is about the price of victory," executive producer Andrew Kreisberg told fans during the show's Comic-Con panel on Friday.

You may have seen Daniel Radcliffe cast spells and fight nose-less ghouls, but this is beyond anything you could have imagined. The upcoming film by director Alexandre Aja, who has earlier directed films such as 'The Hills Have Eyes' and 'Piranha 3D', will now show Radcliffe as the young man, who, in the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, awakens to strange horns sprouting from his temples. The film also stars Juno Temple, Sabrina Carpenter and Joe Anderson in key roles.

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Comic-Con 2014: 'Game of Thrones' cast revealed for season five

The HBO fantasy hit will welcome new additions including Jonathan Pryce and 'Star Trek' alum Alexander Siddig next season, the network revealed to San Diego Comic-Con crowd.

There will be more potential victims to kill off on “Game of Thrones” next season after HBO announced the casting of a legion of new faces for the fifth season of its hit fantasy series.

Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss revealed the new cast, highlighted by former Bond villain Jonathan Pryce, along with a blooper reel from the normally serious series at San Diego Comic-Con Friday.

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