YouTube phenomenon Sam Tsui has covered The Chainsmokers' "#SELFIE" in the style of piano ballads because it's not even summer sometimes the Internet demands that viral smashes have spin-off viral smashes. Tsui cuts out the song's final verse for his version -- the one about that fake model who bought all her Instagram followers (so ratchet) -- but it's still good. Take another selfie and watch above; the Chainsmokers' original is below.
Sam Tsui's '#SELFIE' Cover Got 10 Likes In The Last Five Minutes
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German Photographer Gets Up Close And Personal To Capture Dogs' Expressions
Elke Vogelsang has taken dog portraits to a new level.
After buying a compact camera a few months ago, the photographer from Hildesheim, Germany, decided to use it to start a photo series, Nice Nosing You, in which she takes humorous photos of her three rescue dogs, Today reported.
![nice nosing you]()
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Her cute dogs are named Noodles, Scout and Ioli, according to The Telegraph.
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Vogelsang puts her pups in front of a dark garden shed and lies on the ground to get as close as she can with her camera to capture each dog's natural expressions -- usually focusing on their snout, Today reported.
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After uploading her photos to her website and Facebook page, they quickly went viral.
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The photographer is working on turning the photo series into a book and has started to take photos of other animals -- including horses!
"I love photography with every beat of my heart," Vogelsang wrote on her website. "It is my ambition to show my verve and my love through my photos thus creating truly individual and impressive pictures, that elate you the same as me when I am on the set."
Check out more of Vogelsang's Nice Nosing You photo series below:
After buying a compact camera a few months ago, the photographer from Hildesheim, Germany, decided to use it to start a photo series, Nice Nosing You, in which she takes humorous photos of her three rescue dogs, Today reported.
Her cute dogs are named Noodles, Scout and Ioli, according to The Telegraph.
Vogelsang puts her pups in front of a dark garden shed and lies on the ground to get as close as she can with her camera to capture each dog's natural expressions -- usually focusing on their snout, Today reported.
After uploading her photos to her website and Facebook page, they quickly went viral.
The photographer is working on turning the photo series into a book and has started to take photos of other animals -- including horses!
"I love photography with every beat of my heart," Vogelsang wrote on her website. "It is my ambition to show my verve and my love through my photos thus creating truly individual and impressive pictures, that elate you the same as me when I am on the set."
Check out more of Vogelsang's Nice Nosing You photo series below:
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Liam Neeson Talks About Almost Playing Abraham Lincoln In Steven Spielberg's Biopic
Daniel Day-Lewis transformed Abraham Lincoln into an Oscar-winning film role, but before he was attached to Steven Spielberg's biopic, Liam Neeson was lined up to portray the 16th president of the United States.
Neeson discussed the movie in a new Q&A with GQ, revealing that he'd agreed to star in "Lincoln" about a decade ago. At the time, the movie was to depict Lincoln's entire presidency, from inauguration to assassination. (Neeson doesn't mention him by name, but Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan, who's responsible for "Gladiator" and "The Aviator," wrote the original draft. Playwright Paul Webb did a rewrite, and Spielberg was reportedly unhappy with the results.)
"I maybe did four years' worth of research," Neeson said. "Anyway, so then Doris Kearns Goodwin's book came out, '[Team of] Rivals.' Then we get a new screenwriter."
The new screenwriter was "Angels in America" scribe Tony Kushner, whose script instead zeroed in on the final four months of Lincoln's life, which he spent fighting to get the 13th Amendment passed. The more concentrated story didn't speak to Neeson as poignantly, though, and he decided he wasn't the right fit upon gathering for a reading of the script one month after the death of Neeson's wife, Natasha Richardson.
"We started reading this, and there was an intro, and then I see 'Lincoln': where I have to start speaking, and I just -- a thunderbolt moment. I thought, 'I'm not supposed to be here. This is gone. I've passed my sell-by date. I don't want to play this Lincoln. I can't be him,'" Neeson said. "It was a very strange feeling, and it was partly grief. I read very, very poorly by any standards, but then some people come up afterward and say, 'Oh, you're made to play Lincoln.' I just was cringing with embarrassment."
Shortly thereafter, he told Spielberg he wasn't game anymore, and he now says the director was understanding. The rest, as they say, is Oscar-winning history, even though Neeson says he'd still like to play Lincoln in a more "old-fashioned biography."
Read Neeson's full Q&A on GQ.
Neeson discussed the movie in a new Q&A with GQ, revealing that he'd agreed to star in "Lincoln" about a decade ago. At the time, the movie was to depict Lincoln's entire presidency, from inauguration to assassination. (Neeson doesn't mention him by name, but Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan, who's responsible for "Gladiator" and "The Aviator," wrote the original draft. Playwright Paul Webb did a rewrite, and Spielberg was reportedly unhappy with the results.)
"I maybe did four years' worth of research," Neeson said. "Anyway, so then Doris Kearns Goodwin's book came out, '[Team of] Rivals.' Then we get a new screenwriter."
The new screenwriter was "Angels in America" scribe Tony Kushner, whose script instead zeroed in on the final four months of Lincoln's life, which he spent fighting to get the 13th Amendment passed. The more concentrated story didn't speak to Neeson as poignantly, though, and he decided he wasn't the right fit upon gathering for a reading of the script one month after the death of Neeson's wife, Natasha Richardson.
"We started reading this, and there was an intro, and then I see 'Lincoln': where I have to start speaking, and I just -- a thunderbolt moment. I thought, 'I'm not supposed to be here. This is gone. I've passed my sell-by date. I don't want to play this Lincoln. I can't be him,'" Neeson said. "It was a very strange feeling, and it was partly grief. I read very, very poorly by any standards, but then some people come up afterward and say, 'Oh, you're made to play Lincoln.' I just was cringing with embarrassment."
Shortly thereafter, he told Spielberg he wasn't game anymore, and he now says the director was understanding. The rest, as they say, is Oscar-winning history, even though Neeson says he'd still like to play Lincoln in a more "old-fashioned biography."
Read Neeson's full Q&A on GQ.
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Before The Beat Drops: Who Is Sweet Da Kid?
Before The Beat Drops is an artist introduction series dedicated to bringing you the rising acts before they make their break. Our unlimited access to music of all kinds is both amazing and overwhelming, and so we want to help keep your playlists fresh by doing the leg work for you and discovering your next favorite artist.
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Sweet Da Kid hails from Camden, NJ. He performed at Salaam Remi and Louder than Life/Sony Music's SXSW showcase. He has one song and music video out titled "Don't Forget The Name," in which his sleek flow is juxtaposed by his sinister mask and the frantic walls of the dingy room he sits in. He doesn't care for others' opinions about his stage presence. This is all we know about the mysterious emcee.
So we have to ask, who is Sweet Da Kid?
Sweet Da Kid hails from Camden, NJ. He performed at Salaam Remi and Louder than Life/Sony Music's SXSW showcase. He has one song and music video out titled "Don't Forget The Name," in which his sleek flow is juxtaposed by his sinister mask and the frantic walls of the dingy room he sits in. He doesn't care for others' opinions about his stage presence. This is all we know about the mysterious emcee.
So we have to ask, who is Sweet Da Kid?
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Mumford and Sons Breakup Not True, Says Band's Rep
Fans can sigh no more about those Mumford & Sons break-up rumors. After Winston Marshall, the group's banjo and guitar player, told Vulture that Mumford & Sons was done for good, a rep for the band explained that the musician was joking.
Last September, Mumford & Sons informed its fans that the band was set to take a long break at the end of an international tour. "There won’t be any Mumford & Sons activities for the foreseeable future," keyboardist Ben Lovett said in an interview with Rolling Stone.
As to when the band would return, Lovett continued, "We have no idea. We just know we’re going to take a considerable amount of time off and just go back to hanging out and having no commitments or pressure or anything like that."
In the new interview with Vulture, Marshall said that the band's time off is permanent. "I wish I had something to say about Mumford & Sons," he told the publication. "It was a good time. It’s over."
Lest fans panic and start playing "I Will Wait" on repeat, however, Mumford & Sons' rep said in an email to HuffPost Entertainment that Marshall "was joking about everything."
For what it's worth, lead singer Marcus Mumford talked his way around the band's reported breakup earlier this year. "Everyone keeps asking if we’ve broken up as a band, which I love, so I keep saying 'yes,'" Mumford told UK radio station XFM. "Then we can have a big comeback tour next year!"
After winning Grammy awards including Album of the Year for 2012's "Babel," Mumford & Sons toured in support of the project for months. "Babel" was the band's second studio album, following 2009's "Sigh No More." Both records were highly lucrative for Mumford & Sons, going multi-platinum and topping the Billboard 200 chart.
Last September, Mumford & Sons informed its fans that the band was set to take a long break at the end of an international tour. "There won’t be any Mumford & Sons activities for the foreseeable future," keyboardist Ben Lovett said in an interview with Rolling Stone.
As to when the band would return, Lovett continued, "We have no idea. We just know we’re going to take a considerable amount of time off and just go back to hanging out and having no commitments or pressure or anything like that."
In the new interview with Vulture, Marshall said that the band's time off is permanent. "I wish I had something to say about Mumford & Sons," he told the publication. "It was a good time. It’s over."
Lest fans panic and start playing "I Will Wait" on repeat, however, Mumford & Sons' rep said in an email to HuffPost Entertainment that Marshall "was joking about everything."
For what it's worth, lead singer Marcus Mumford talked his way around the band's reported breakup earlier this year. "Everyone keeps asking if we’ve broken up as a band, which I love, so I keep saying 'yes,'" Mumford told UK radio station XFM. "Then we can have a big comeback tour next year!"
After winning Grammy awards including Album of the Year for 2012's "Babel," Mumford & Sons toured in support of the project for months. "Babel" was the band's second studio album, following 2009's "Sigh No More." Both records were highly lucrative for Mumford & Sons, going multi-platinum and topping the Billboard 200 chart.
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Watch This 'Royals' Parody Take Down Hollywood Typecasting
It's no secret that there is a lack of opportunities for women of color in Hollywood. It's also no secret that parodies of Lorde's single "Royals" are about to hit critical mass. But Tess Paras' searing takedown of typecasting criticizes the rampancy of marginalization, while also being one of the more catchy versions of "Royals" yet. Watch her kill it alongside Haneefah Wood and Ayana Hampton in the video above.
[h/t Slate]
[h/t Slate]
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Going Wild On The World's Most Expensive Instrument
Stradivari's "MacDonald" viola, poised to make history as the most expensive instrument in the world, has three bodyguards and its own white-gloved handler. But David Aaron Carpenter was going just a little crazy on it.
For an informal recital Monday at the Manhattan headquarters of Sotheby's, which is handling the viola's multi-million-dollar auction later this spring, Carpenter, an acclaimed violist, had chosen to play Isaac Albéniz's 1892 "Asturias." The piece is fast and intense, with passages that sound like nothing so much as heavy-metal shredding. It's more modern than most of the music the 300-year-old MacDonald must have encountered during its lifetime. Which is just what Carpenter was after.
"Of course you can play Bach on it. But you can also play a more contemporary work and have an instrument so old and unique make it sound incredible," Carpenter explained later. (Hear him play it in the video above.) "I wanted to showcase this instrument for what the viola could be. The fact that it's been sleeping in a vault for about 30 years -- I just wanted to wake it up and give it a voice."
Carpenter’s fingers danced across the neck of the viola, one of just 10 in existence made by the master craftsman Antonio Stradivari, and one of two that date from the peak of Stradivari's career. (By comparison, Stradivari made some 600 violins). Of the two remaining violas from Stradivari's "Golden Period," one belongs to the Russian government, which has failed to preserve the viola's fine exterior. The other is the so-called "MacDonald" viola, which will fetch at least $45 million, almost three times the price of the world's next most expensive instrument, when it goes on sale later this year.
The MacDonald is said to be in impeccable condition -- "it's as if Stradivari handed it to you from his workshop," Carpenter observed. But after being kept in a safe for several decades, the sleeping beauty will need several years to develop its voice. Carpenter predicts its sound will only improve with time: Even in the five days since he first picked it up, he said, he's heard the viola "[open] up tremendously."
"This week, it has been a joy to get to understand it," Carpenter said. "And even though has an incredible sound at a moment, it has so much more potential than what it is."
Lesser fiddles tend to have a more muscular and muted sound, or develop a less pleasing voice over time, said Carpenter. What distinguishes the MacDonald is the "very sonorous," "very vibrant" quality of its melodies, as well as its ability to project a clear, strong song.
The MacDonald has been owned by a marquis, a duke, a baron and, most recently, the violist of the Amadeus Quartet, Peter Schidlof. He called the viola "utter perfection" in an interview shortly before his death.
One clumsy step during Carpenter's performance earlier this week, and the historic MacDonald could have been just that -- history. Yet the violist insists he wasn't nervous cradling the equivalent of 375 college tuitions under his chin.
Really? Are you sure? Not even a little bit?
No. It feels "like an extension of your body," Carpenter said.
"It's the pinnacle of my career," he added. "Every moment up until this point has prepared me to get to this moment and show the world what an instrument of this caliber can really do."
For an informal recital Monday at the Manhattan headquarters of Sotheby's, which is handling the viola's multi-million-dollar auction later this spring, Carpenter, an acclaimed violist, had chosen to play Isaac Albéniz's 1892 "Asturias." The piece is fast and intense, with passages that sound like nothing so much as heavy-metal shredding. It's more modern than most of the music the 300-year-old MacDonald must have encountered during its lifetime. Which is just what Carpenter was after.
"Of course you can play Bach on it. But you can also play a more contemporary work and have an instrument so old and unique make it sound incredible," Carpenter explained later. (Hear him play it in the video above.) "I wanted to showcase this instrument for what the viola could be. The fact that it's been sleeping in a vault for about 30 years -- I just wanted to wake it up and give it a voice."
Carpenter’s fingers danced across the neck of the viola, one of just 10 in existence made by the master craftsman Antonio Stradivari, and one of two that date from the peak of Stradivari's career. (By comparison, Stradivari made some 600 violins). Of the two remaining violas from Stradivari's "Golden Period," one belongs to the Russian government, which has failed to preserve the viola's fine exterior. The other is the so-called "MacDonald" viola, which will fetch at least $45 million, almost three times the price of the world's next most expensive instrument, when it goes on sale later this year.
The MacDonald is said to be in impeccable condition -- "it's as if Stradivari handed it to you from his workshop," Carpenter observed. But after being kept in a safe for several decades, the sleeping beauty will need several years to develop its voice. Carpenter predicts its sound will only improve with time: Even in the five days since he first picked it up, he said, he's heard the viola "[open] up tremendously."
"This week, it has been a joy to get to understand it," Carpenter said. "And even though has an incredible sound at a moment, it has so much more potential than what it is."
Lesser fiddles tend to have a more muscular and muted sound, or develop a less pleasing voice over time, said Carpenter. What distinguishes the MacDonald is the "very sonorous," "very vibrant" quality of its melodies, as well as its ability to project a clear, strong song.
The MacDonald has been owned by a marquis, a duke, a baron and, most recently, the violist of the Amadeus Quartet, Peter Schidlof. He called the viola "utter perfection" in an interview shortly before his death.
One clumsy step during Carpenter's performance earlier this week, and the historic MacDonald could have been just that -- history. Yet the violist insists he wasn't nervous cradling the equivalent of 375 college tuitions under his chin.
Really? Are you sure? Not even a little bit?
No. It feels "like an extension of your body," Carpenter said.
"It's the pinnacle of my career," he added. "Every moment up until this point has prepared me to get to this moment and show the world what an instrument of this caliber can really do."
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Itzhak Perlman, Famed Violinist, Optimistic About Israel's Future
Itzhak Perlman's won countless awards for his violin playing, but the esteemed musician has his hopes set on something much larger: peace in Israel.
"It's an amazing country. Every time I come there, things are changing. It's an incredible place," the native Israeli told HuffPost Live's Josh Zepps in an interview Thursday.
"I'm an eternal optimist," he added, referring to the political state of affairs in his home country. "I always think 'it'll be okay,' but that's all I can think. A lot of people are saying 'doom and gloom' and so on. I'm hoping. I'm always hoping."
Perlman was born in Tel Aviv in 1945, three years before Israel was deemed an official 'nation-state.'
A sufferer of the polio virus since age four, Perlman's voiced his support of the 'End Polio Now' campaign, which you can donate to here.
Watch HuffPost Live's full interview with Itzhak Perlman below:
"It's an amazing country. Every time I come there, things are changing. It's an incredible place," the native Israeli told HuffPost Live's Josh Zepps in an interview Thursday.
"I'm an eternal optimist," he added, referring to the political state of affairs in his home country. "I always think 'it'll be okay,' but that's all I can think. A lot of people are saying 'doom and gloom' and so on. I'm hoping. I'm always hoping."
Perlman was born in Tel Aviv in 1945, three years before Israel was deemed an official 'nation-state.'
A sufferer of the polio virus since age four, Perlman's voiced his support of the 'End Polio Now' campaign, which you can donate to here.
Watch HuffPost Live's full interview with Itzhak Perlman below:
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These Shows Used To Be Your Favorite, But Have You Forgotten Them? #NeverForget
Remember the good ol' days when you used to tune in to shows like "Doug," "Hey Arnold!," "Full House," "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Family Matters," "Teen Witch," "Clarissa Explains It All," "Alex Mac," "Saved by The Bell" and "Boy Meets World?"
Of course you do.
But what about those more obscure(ish) classics you watched on precious mornings before leaving for school? Well, kids let's do the noodle dance and think of some old shows we loved in yesteryear, but haven't thought about in ages. So put your bananas in pajamas and skip it down memory lane with us. Here we go!
"Goof Troop" (1982)
All we have to say is, "bobbity bop bop ba doo wop, YA."
"Duck Tales" (1987)
This theme song clearly wins all. In fact, it is so good, we could listen to it over and over ... for an hour.
"Dark Wing Duck" (1991)
Did you remember how badass this intro was? Oh, you didn't? Well, here you go.
"TaleSpin" (1990)
Reallllly feelin' this song, and while we're on the subject, remember "Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers"?
"Gummi Bears" (1985)
Yup, we forgot about this one, too.
"Muppet Babies" (1984)
These babies should have been friends with the "Baby Looney Tunes."
"Inspector Gadget" (1983)
Go go, Gadget!
"The Magic School Bus" (1994)
We all learned so much from this show.
"Pepper Anne" (1997)
Truly one in a million.
"Kablam!" (1996)
Did this show come on before or after "All That"?
"PB&J Otter" (1998)
Do you know what time it is? It's time to do the noodle dance.
"Rolie Polie Olie" (1998)
The first time you realized computer animation might become "a thing."
"Out of the Box" (1998)
Because "Bear in the Big Blue House" and "Blues Clues" were too obvious.
"Microscopic Milton" (1997)
You might have caught this very small show after an episode of "Little Bear" or "Rupert."
"The Busy World of Richard Scary" (1993)
There's something scary about that worm.
"The Wild Thornberrys" (1998)
Also "Rocket Power."
"Eureka's Castle" (1989)
Did you like this show better than "Fraggle Rock?"
"Gullah Gullah Island" (1994)
Come and let's play together!
"Dinosaurs" (1991)
We wonder if these guys ever entered the world of "Land of the Lost."
"Sister, Sister" (1994)
Speaking of siblings, remember "Smart Guy" and "My Brother and Me"?
"Brotherly Love" (1995)
All the sibling love in the '90s is like "whoa!"
"Legends of the Hidden Temple" (1993)
Which is the show where they get slimed again?
"Off The Wall" (1998)
Speaking of game shows, Disney's "Mad Libs" was a pretty good one, too.
"Blossom" (1991)
In our opinion, the sun will surely shine if you re-watch this show.
?
"So Weird" (1999)
Watching this show kinda made you feel like a big kid.
"Bug Juice" (1998)
It doesn't come in a jar.
And just for good measure we'll add:
"The Famous Jett Jackson" (1998)
and
"Flash Forward" (1996)
We know this list could go on f.o.r.e.v.e.r., but sadly it must come to an end. Tell us what your favorite TV shows growing up were in the comments below!
Correction: A previous version of this article stated the "Inspector Gadget" series aired in 1999.
Of course you do.
But what about those more obscure(ish) classics you watched on precious mornings before leaving for school? Well, kids let's do the noodle dance and think of some old shows we loved in yesteryear, but haven't thought about in ages. So put your bananas in pajamas and skip it down memory lane with us. Here we go!
"Goof Troop" (1982)
All we have to say is, "bobbity bop bop ba doo wop, YA."
"Duck Tales" (1987)
This theme song clearly wins all. In fact, it is so good, we could listen to it over and over ... for an hour.
"Dark Wing Duck" (1991)
Did you remember how badass this intro was? Oh, you didn't? Well, here you go.
"TaleSpin" (1990)
Reallllly feelin' this song, and while we're on the subject, remember "Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers"?
"Gummi Bears" (1985)
Yup, we forgot about this one, too.
"Muppet Babies" (1984)
These babies should have been friends with the "Baby Looney Tunes."
"Inspector Gadget" (1983)
Go go, Gadget!
"The Magic School Bus" (1994)
We all learned so much from this show.
"Pepper Anne" (1997)
Truly one in a million.
"Kablam!" (1996)
Did this show come on before or after "All That"?
"PB&J Otter" (1998)
Do you know what time it is? It's time to do the noodle dance.
"Rolie Polie Olie" (1998)
The first time you realized computer animation might become "a thing."
"Out of the Box" (1998)
Because "Bear in the Big Blue House" and "Blues Clues" were too obvious.
"Microscopic Milton" (1997)
You might have caught this very small show after an episode of "Little Bear" or "Rupert."
"The Busy World of Richard Scary" (1993)
There's something scary about that worm.
"The Wild Thornberrys" (1998)
Also "Rocket Power."
"Eureka's Castle" (1989)
Did you like this show better than "Fraggle Rock?"
"Gullah Gullah Island" (1994)
Come and let's play together!
"Dinosaurs" (1991)
We wonder if these guys ever entered the world of "Land of the Lost."
"Sister, Sister" (1994)
Speaking of siblings, remember "Smart Guy" and "My Brother and Me"?
"Brotherly Love" (1995)
All the sibling love in the '90s is like "whoa!"
"Legends of the Hidden Temple" (1993)
Which is the show where they get slimed again?
"Off The Wall" (1998)
Speaking of game shows, Disney's "Mad Libs" was a pretty good one, too.
"Blossom" (1991)
In our opinion, the sun will surely shine if you re-watch this show.
?
"So Weird" (1999)
Watching this show kinda made you feel like a big kid.
"Bug Juice" (1998)
It doesn't come in a jar.
And just for good measure we'll add:
"The Famous Jett Jackson" (1998)
and
"Flash Forward" (1996)
We know this list could go on f.o.r.e.v.e.r., but sadly it must come to an end. Tell us what your favorite TV shows growing up were in the comments below!
Correction: A previous version of this article stated the "Inspector Gadget" series aired in 1999.
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Daily Life: Photos Show The Enchanting Beauty Of Vietnam
Welcome to Daily Life! Each week HuffPost World will transport you to one of the corners of the Earth through images that expose the beauty and tragedy of worlds you may have never before seen.
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Why John Leguizamo's Agents Told Him 'Not To Get Too Dark' (VIDEO)
John Leighton or Jon Lee?
Those were two of the professional names suggested to comedian John Leguizamo when he first got into show business. He said no to both, and to a number of others. While promoting his new HBO special "Ghetto Klown" this week, Leguizamo revealed to Fusion's Jorge Ramos what other types of things he was told to do when he first started acting in order to hide his Latin roots.
Leguizamo, 49, appeared on "AMERICA with Jorge Ramos" on Tuesday and spoke about what it was like to enter the industry in the 1980s.
"When I started out acting, I was about age 18, 19. We weren't the flavor at the time, us Latin people," Leguizamo told Ramos. "My agents and casting people would tell me to change my name to Jon Lee, John Leighton, something with an L. And they told me not to go out in the sun, and tell people I was Italian. Not to get too dark so I could tell people I was half-French, half-Irish."
At the time, Leguizamo, who was born in Colombia and raised in New York City, brushed off the suggestions. When Ramos noted that Latinos' popularity is now on the rise, the comedian was quick to point out there's still work to be done.
"Now we're the flavor again. This is the fifth time," Leguizamo joked. "This time, we're 20 percent of the population, over a trillion dollars of buying power, but only 3.8 percent of the media."
The actor and comedian first appeared in the 1984 action movie "Mixed Blood" and gradually began building a career in film and TV. In 1998, Leguizamo won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program for Spike Lee's "Freak."
The actor has written and performed five one-man shows, and "Ghetto Klown" is his third autobiographical work. The show was highly praised when it first opened on Broadway in 2011. It premiered Saturday as a 90-minute special for HBO.
Leguizamo said that when he first finished writing "Ghetto Klown," he feared he was revealing too much about his life. Yet in a recent interview with The Miami Herald, the actor explained why he felt the need to write and perform his life's story.
"I tell my stories because I always felt so invisible," the actor told the Herald. "When I was growing up, there weren't a lot of Latin people in the media, in the sports. I only saw it from the news, which is not where I wanted to see it. I felt kind of like we didn't exist in a way. I always had this great desire to craft a story to show our point of view -- and my own point of view."
Check out Leguizamo's interview with Ramos above, and a trailer for "Ghetto Klown" below.
Those were two of the professional names suggested to comedian John Leguizamo when he first got into show business. He said no to both, and to a number of others. While promoting his new HBO special "Ghetto Klown" this week, Leguizamo revealed to Fusion's Jorge Ramos what other types of things he was told to do when he first started acting in order to hide his Latin roots.
Leguizamo, 49, appeared on "AMERICA with Jorge Ramos" on Tuesday and spoke about what it was like to enter the industry in the 1980s.
"When I started out acting, I was about age 18, 19. We weren't the flavor at the time, us Latin people," Leguizamo told Ramos. "My agents and casting people would tell me to change my name to Jon Lee, John Leighton, something with an L. And they told me not to go out in the sun, and tell people I was Italian. Not to get too dark so I could tell people I was half-French, half-Irish."
At the time, Leguizamo, who was born in Colombia and raised in New York City, brushed off the suggestions. When Ramos noted that Latinos' popularity is now on the rise, the comedian was quick to point out there's still work to be done.
"Now we're the flavor again. This is the fifth time," Leguizamo joked. "This time, we're 20 percent of the population, over a trillion dollars of buying power, but only 3.8 percent of the media."
The actor and comedian first appeared in the 1984 action movie "Mixed Blood" and gradually began building a career in film and TV. In 1998, Leguizamo won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program for Spike Lee's "Freak."
The actor has written and performed five one-man shows, and "Ghetto Klown" is his third autobiographical work. The show was highly praised when it first opened on Broadway in 2011. It premiered Saturday as a 90-minute special for HBO.
Leguizamo said that when he first finished writing "Ghetto Klown," he feared he was revealing too much about his life. Yet in a recent interview with The Miami Herald, the actor explained why he felt the need to write and perform his life's story.
"I tell my stories because I always felt so invisible," the actor told the Herald. "When I was growing up, there weren't a lot of Latin people in the media, in the sports. I only saw it from the news, which is not where I wanted to see it. I felt kind of like we didn't exist in a way. I always had this great desire to craft a story to show our point of view -- and my own point of view."
Check out Leguizamo's interview with Ramos above, and a trailer for "Ghetto Klown" below.
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These Are The Best TV Shows You Might Have Missed
You're probably watching (or eagerly anticipating) the same shows as everyone else right now, like "Scandal," "How I Met Your Mother" and "Game of Thrones," right? There's so much more out there, though! Take the road less traveled and branch out to a few lesser-known masterpieces. These shows and mini-series might not be all anyone's talking about, but they're definitely worth investigating.
Check out these four TV shows (and a TV-released film) that deserve more praise and more viewers.
Check out these four TV shows (and a TV-released film) that deserve more praise and more viewers.
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Andrew Garfield On 'Amazing Spider-Man': 'Screw The Critics'
Marc Webb's "The Amazing Spider-Man" was a huge blockbuster after its release in July of 2012. The Sony reboot of the popular comic franchise grossed $752 million worldwide, and helped launch a new series of films that continues this May with "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." It, however, wasn't a totally smooth ride to success: many critics were disappointed with how Webb's film felt redundant coming so soon after Sam Raimi's three "Spider-Man" movies, the first of which was released in 2002.
"In the first movie, we were obligated to retreading the origin story which Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi did so beautifully," star Andrew Garfield said in a new interview with IGN. "Now that it's done, we get to own the character as filmmakers, and we get to own it as Peter. There is a life imitating art kind of thing going on, I think."
For Garfield, it's the "Amazing Spider-Man" sequel, that has him "super excited."
"When I put that suit on, I felt freer. I can't think of a word to use that's not the f-word, but, like, screw the critics. Screw the scrutiny," he said. "That's the motto for life, as well. If there's one bit of advice I could give my childhood self, it would be don't care what people think of you."
Garfield's confidence in the film is mirrored by Sony. The studio recently screened 30 minutes of footage from "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" for journalists in New York and Los Angeles, and also showed a reel from the film to theater owners at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week. For more on those scenes, read HuffPost Entertainment's report here. Watch Garfield discuss "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" below.
"In the first movie, we were obligated to retreading the origin story which Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi did so beautifully," star Andrew Garfield said in a new interview with IGN. "Now that it's done, we get to own the character as filmmakers, and we get to own it as Peter. There is a life imitating art kind of thing going on, I think."
For Garfield, it's the "Amazing Spider-Man" sequel, that has him "super excited."
"When I put that suit on, I felt freer. I can't think of a word to use that's not the f-word, but, like, screw the critics. Screw the scrutiny," he said. "That's the motto for life, as well. If there's one bit of advice I could give my childhood self, it would be don't care what people think of you."
Garfield's confidence in the film is mirrored by Sony. The studio recently screened 30 minutes of footage from "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" for journalists in New York and Los Angeles, and also showed a reel from the film to theater owners at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week. For more on those scenes, read HuffPost Entertainment's report here. Watch Garfield discuss "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" below.
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Go Behind The Scenes Of 'Game Of Thrones' Season 4
Counting down the days (or the hours) until "Game of Thrones" returns? While you wait, take a trip behind the scenes to learn a little more about just how much sweat, (fake) blood and tears has gone into putting the show together.
Impressed by the show's costumes? You should be. Take a look at just how detailed they are, and have a sneak peek at Margaery's wedding dress while you're at it.
Believe it or not, Season 4 is going to have even more battles and fighting than we've seen in the past; check out how the actors learned to fight like real soldiers (without hurting themselves).
If you're anticipating Margaery and Joffrey's wedding as much as the rest of us, get a load of the feast. See the insane amount of time and detail that went into planning and cooking up their nuptial spread.
Round it all out with a look at what went into directing the entire epic season.
Impressed by the show's costumes? You should be. Take a look at just how detailed they are, and have a sneak peek at Margaery's wedding dress while you're at it.
Believe it or not, Season 4 is going to have even more battles and fighting than we've seen in the past; check out how the actors learned to fight like real soldiers (without hurting themselves).
If you're anticipating Margaery and Joffrey's wedding as much as the rest of us, get a load of the feast. See the insane amount of time and detail that went into planning and cooking up their nuptial spread.
Round it all out with a look at what went into directing the entire epic season.
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2014 CinemaCon Offers Peeks At 'Transcendence,' 'Godzilla'
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Footage of the sci-fi drama "Transcendence" previewed at CinemaCon in Las Vegas shows an eerily convincing Johnny Depp as a terminally ill scientist turned unruly machine in the Wally Pfister film that asks: What if we could upload a human mind into a computer?
Warner Bros. was the final studio to preview its upcoming titles at the theater exhibitor's convention Thursday, and it ended with an impressive crew of A-listers led by Depp. The "Transcendence" clips were packed with explosions, sentimental moments between Depp (as Will) and leading lady Rebecca Hall (as Evelyn), and striking supporting performances by Kate Mara and Paul Bettany.
Morgan Freeman, Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler, Clint Eastwood, Melissa McCarthy, Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis were among the other stars touting their upcoming projects.
Here, a peak at the plug-fest:
— "Jupiter Ascending," directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski (creators of "The Matrix" trilogy) and starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. Set in the future, the sci-fi fantasy resembles "The Fifth Element" (Sans the delicious, campy wit, at least in the trailer). Tatum, sporting guy-liner and a set of super pointy ears, is still a believable hero and love interest for Kunis, who plays the unsuspecting queen of the universe. "This is completely out of the Wachowskis' brain type of a crazy film," Tatum told The Associated Press before he and Kunis introduced the clip on stage. It's set for release in July.
— "Edge of Tomorrow," directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka novel "All You Need is Kill," the sci-fi action epic sees Cruise and Blunt as soldiers dying repeatedly due to a time loop. Big-budget action films are customary for Cruise, but this is new highly physical territory for Blunt, whose character Rita Vrataski helps Cruise's Lt. Col. Bill Cage change his fate. (Note: Blunt is beyond fit in this one. The definition in her arms is ridiculously impressive.) It will hit theaters in June.
— "Godzilla," directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe and Elizabeth Olsen. On hand to introduce the extended trailer, Edwards said he'd just finished editing the film, which looks epic in scale with impressively grand special effects, on Wednesday. It's due May 16.
— "Blended," directed by Frank Coraci and starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. A very pregnant Barrymore, in a yellow dress, stepped on stage with Sandler and Coraci to promote their romantic comedy about two families who embark on a trip Africa. But before she could talk about "Blended," she had a wipe away a few tears, which came after viewing the "Godzilla" trailer. "I am creating life and I started crying during the destruction in that trailer," she said. "It's going to be a huge success!" Like "Godzilla," ''Blended" is also due in May.
— "Tammy," directed by Ben Falcone and starring Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon and Allison Janney. Married couple Falcone and McCarthy wrote what looks like a hilarious road trip comedy. McCarthy plays a woman who, after getting fired from her fast food gig and finding out her husband is cheating on her, hits the road with her lush of a grandmother (Sarandon). McCarthy and Falcone introduced the film, which McCarthy said took six years to finish. "And for the first time ever," she added, "I can now say that I'm sleeping with the director." To be released in December.
— "Jersey Boys," directed by Clint Eastwood and starring John Lloyd Young, Vincent Piazza and Christopher Walken. From the wardrobe to the believable lip-syncing, this musical biography will be another Eastwood film to revel in. However, the constant practice of actors talking to the camera may get tiresome. "I noticed a sign coming into Vegas that said 'Jersey Boys' was the No. 1 show in Vegas," Eastwood said. "We have a lot to live up to." It's set for release in June.
— "The Hobbit: There and Back Again," directed by Peter Jackson and starring Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly and Martin Freeman. Very little was revealed about the final installment of the franchise, but on one behind the scenes clip Bloom says, "The better end," to which Jackson replies, "The happy end." And there are dragons. Plus this is said via voiceover: "The time is upon us when all must choose which side we are on." ''The Hobbit" conclusion will be in theaters in December.
Warner Bros. was the final studio to preview its upcoming titles at the theater exhibitor's convention Thursday, and it ended with an impressive crew of A-listers led by Depp. The "Transcendence" clips were packed with explosions, sentimental moments between Depp (as Will) and leading lady Rebecca Hall (as Evelyn), and striking supporting performances by Kate Mara and Paul Bettany.
Morgan Freeman, Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler, Clint Eastwood, Melissa McCarthy, Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis were among the other stars touting their upcoming projects.
Here, a peak at the plug-fest:
— "Jupiter Ascending," directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski (creators of "The Matrix" trilogy) and starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. Set in the future, the sci-fi fantasy resembles "The Fifth Element" (Sans the delicious, campy wit, at least in the trailer). Tatum, sporting guy-liner and a set of super pointy ears, is still a believable hero and love interest for Kunis, who plays the unsuspecting queen of the universe. "This is completely out of the Wachowskis' brain type of a crazy film," Tatum told The Associated Press before he and Kunis introduced the clip on stage. It's set for release in July.
— "Edge of Tomorrow," directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka novel "All You Need is Kill," the sci-fi action epic sees Cruise and Blunt as soldiers dying repeatedly due to a time loop. Big-budget action films are customary for Cruise, but this is new highly physical territory for Blunt, whose character Rita Vrataski helps Cruise's Lt. Col. Bill Cage change his fate. (Note: Blunt is beyond fit in this one. The definition in her arms is ridiculously impressive.) It will hit theaters in June.
— "Godzilla," directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe and Elizabeth Olsen. On hand to introduce the extended trailer, Edwards said he'd just finished editing the film, which looks epic in scale with impressively grand special effects, on Wednesday. It's due May 16.
— "Blended," directed by Frank Coraci and starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. A very pregnant Barrymore, in a yellow dress, stepped on stage with Sandler and Coraci to promote their romantic comedy about two families who embark on a trip Africa. But before she could talk about "Blended," she had a wipe away a few tears, which came after viewing the "Godzilla" trailer. "I am creating life and I started crying during the destruction in that trailer," she said. "It's going to be a huge success!" Like "Godzilla," ''Blended" is also due in May.
— "Tammy," directed by Ben Falcone and starring Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon and Allison Janney. Married couple Falcone and McCarthy wrote what looks like a hilarious road trip comedy. McCarthy plays a woman who, after getting fired from her fast food gig and finding out her husband is cheating on her, hits the road with her lush of a grandmother (Sarandon). McCarthy and Falcone introduced the film, which McCarthy said took six years to finish. "And for the first time ever," she added, "I can now say that I'm sleeping with the director." To be released in December.
— "Jersey Boys," directed by Clint Eastwood and starring John Lloyd Young, Vincent Piazza and Christopher Walken. From the wardrobe to the believable lip-syncing, this musical biography will be another Eastwood film to revel in. However, the constant practice of actors talking to the camera may get tiresome. "I noticed a sign coming into Vegas that said 'Jersey Boys' was the No. 1 show in Vegas," Eastwood said. "We have a lot to live up to." It's set for release in June.
— "The Hobbit: There and Back Again," directed by Peter Jackson and starring Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly and Martin Freeman. Very little was revealed about the final installment of the franchise, but on one behind the scenes clip Bloom says, "The better end," to which Jackson replies, "The happy end." And there are dragons. Plus this is said via voiceover: "The time is upon us when all must choose which side we are on." ''The Hobbit" conclusion will be in theaters in December.
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George Lucas Has Paid Steven Spielberg Millions Of Dollars Over A 1977 'Star Wars' Bet
George Lucas has said repeatedly over the years that, before "Star Wars" became the intergalactic smash it is today, industry insiders expected the space epic to fizzle out. "None of the films I've done was designed for a mass audience, except for 'Indiana Jones,'" he told Wired in 2005, before "Revenge of the Sith" became the year's highest-grossing movie. "Nobody in their right mind thought 'American Graffiti' or 'Star Wars' would work."
All those naïve naysayers apparently rubbed off on the famed creator. It turns out he had a running bet with Steven Spielberg prior to the release of the first "Star Wars" installment and Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," both of which opened in 1977. The two directors, who at the time had achieved only a shell of the fame they later would, wagered that each other's films would be more successful.
That's right, even Lucas didn't have adequate faith in "Star Wars," predicting that "Close Encounters" would outperform it at the box office. They made the bet on the set of "Close Encounters," which Lucas visited as a retreat from the stressful "Star Wars" set, where production was not unfolding as the director imagined. Spielberg, on the other hand, banked on "Star Wars" being more lucrative. Of course he was right: "Star Wars" was the highest-grossing movie of 1977, while "Close Encounters" was No. 3. ("Smokey and the Bandit" was No. 2.)
Lucas and Spielberg had big stakes attached to their bet -- stakes that are still materializing today, Spielberg said in a Turner Classic Movies interview a few years ago.
"He said, 'Oh my God, your movie is going to be so much more successful than 'Star Wars'! This is gonna be the biggest hit of all time,'" Spielberg recalls. "'I can’t believe this set. I can’t believe what you’re getting, and oh my goodness.' He said, 'All right, I’ll tell you what. I’ll trade some points with you. You want to trade some points? I’ll give you 2.5 percent of 'Star Wars' if you give me 2.5 percent of 'Close Encounters.'” So I said, 'Sure, I’ll gamble with that. Great.'"
With a $460 million lifetime gross (the film has been re-released multiple times) in the U.S. alone, Yahoo calculates that Spielberg has earned nearly $40 million from the bet with his friend.
“'Close Encounters' was just a meager success story. 'Star Wars' was a phenomenon," Spielberg said in the TCM interview. “Of course I was the happy beneficiary of a couple of net points from that movie, which I am still seeing money on today.”
[via Business Insider]
All those naïve naysayers apparently rubbed off on the famed creator. It turns out he had a running bet with Steven Spielberg prior to the release of the first "Star Wars" installment and Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," both of which opened in 1977. The two directors, who at the time had achieved only a shell of the fame they later would, wagered that each other's films would be more successful.
That's right, even Lucas didn't have adequate faith in "Star Wars," predicting that "Close Encounters" would outperform it at the box office. They made the bet on the set of "Close Encounters," which Lucas visited as a retreat from the stressful "Star Wars" set, where production was not unfolding as the director imagined. Spielberg, on the other hand, banked on "Star Wars" being more lucrative. Of course he was right: "Star Wars" was the highest-grossing movie of 1977, while "Close Encounters" was No. 3. ("Smokey and the Bandit" was No. 2.)
Lucas and Spielberg had big stakes attached to their bet -- stakes that are still materializing today, Spielberg said in a Turner Classic Movies interview a few years ago.
"He said, 'Oh my God, your movie is going to be so much more successful than 'Star Wars'! This is gonna be the biggest hit of all time,'" Spielberg recalls. "'I can’t believe this set. I can’t believe what you’re getting, and oh my goodness.' He said, 'All right, I’ll tell you what. I’ll trade some points with you. You want to trade some points? I’ll give you 2.5 percent of 'Star Wars' if you give me 2.5 percent of 'Close Encounters.'” So I said, 'Sure, I’ll gamble with that. Great.'"
With a $460 million lifetime gross (the film has been re-released multiple times) in the U.S. alone, Yahoo calculates that Spielberg has earned nearly $40 million from the bet with his friend.
“'Close Encounters' was just a meager success story. 'Star Wars' was a phenomenon," Spielberg said in the TCM interview. “Of course I was the happy beneficiary of a couple of net points from that movie, which I am still seeing money on today.”
[via Business Insider]
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17 Movie Music Scenes That'll Make You Dance, Sing And Upload It To YouTube Right Now
We'd like to think the greatest cinematic moments happen when a music scene induces some serious audience toe-tapping and head-bobbing. Then head-bobbing gets you chair-bouncing. And chair-bouncing just turns into all-out dancing like a fool. All while singing along as if you've missed your true calling in life, of course.
Check out our list of the happiest music movie moments that we turn to over and over again.
1. 500 Days of Summer: "You Make My Dreams"
Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is bursting at the seams with excitement after landing his dream girl, Summer (Zooey Deschanel). After leaving her apartment, his world becomes this magical place where everyone is friendly, and it's normal to have an animated blue bird land on your shoulder.
2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off: "Twist and Shout"
In one of the most iconic scenes from the movie, Ferris (Matthew Broderick) takes over a float in downtown Chicago and makes us all want to go out and shake it up, baby, now.
3. Love Actually: "Jump (For My Love)"
In this Christmas classic, Hugh Grant, who plays the British prime minister, lets loose and dances around 10 Downing Street like no one is watching -- adding just the right amount of silliness to his character.
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: "Come on Eileen"
If you can't relate to this scene, you really are too cool for school. Charlie (Logan Lerman) eventually meets two students who find his quirkiness and intelligence endearing, and they give him the confidence he needs to peel himself off the wall at his school dance and join them in the middle of the dance floor.
5. Almost Famous: "Tiny Dancer"
Director Cameron Crowe reminds us that coming of age can be a beautiful thing. This tender scene starts with the on-the-road bandmates staring out the van window in a funk, and ends with Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) telling William Miller (Patrick Fugit) that he's home -- all set to Elton John on the radio.
6. Bridesmaids: "Hold On"
In a scene that reminds you that you do actually want to be on one of those save-the-date magnets someday, Wilson Phillips makes a cameo and brings Annie (Kristen Wiig), Helen (Rose Byrne) and the rest of the once-competitive bridesmaids together in the movie's final wedding scene.
7. Singin’ in the Rain: "Singin’ in the Rain"
Gene Kelly, who famously had a 103-degree fever during this classic dance number, makes us smile no matter the weather ... and it's a glorious feeling.
8. The Breakfast Club: "We Are Not Alone"
"A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal" -- they have little in common, except for all being stuck in detention on a Saturday. The students end up making the most of it, and as the music progresses and the dancing begins, they put their differences aside and realize they aren't alone.
9. Big: "Chopsticks"
When Josh (Tom Hanks), a 12-year-old trapped in a grown man's body, comes across a larger-than-life piano in FAO Schwarz, he does what any kid would do -- play it with his feet, of course. This iconic scene embodies the film's theme of childlike wonder.
10. The Muppets: "Life's a Happy Song"
This opening scene is as jolly as they come. Gary (Jason Segel) and the new Muppet, Walter, wear matching outfits as they gallivant around the streets of Smalltown, USA encouraging everyone they pass to join in.
11. 13 Going on 30: "Thriller"
In an attempt to liven up the crowd, Jenna (Jennifer Garner), a 13-year-old who woke up in her 30-year-old body, gets the DJ to spin the Michael Jackson classic and makes her way onto the dance floor alone. At first, everyone thinks she's crazy as she lets her inner teen shine through, but, of course, by the end they're all doing the classic "Thriller" dance, too.
12. My Best Friend's Wedding: "I Say a Little Prayer (For You)"
In this rom-com, Julianne (Julia Roberts) sets out to stop her longtime best friend (Dermot Mulroney) from marrying the wrong woman, and brings her new BBF, George (Rupert Everett), with her. There's no shortage of great musical moments in this movie (karaoke, anyone?), but it's this sing-along that will stay in our hearts forever ... and ever and ever.
13. Sister Act: "I Will Follow Him"
In this final scene, Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg) leads the nuns of St. Katherine’s Parish in what starts out as a ballad but turns into a lively musical sequence. Is there anything happier than watching a bunch of nuns bust a move? We didn't think so.
14. 27 Dresses: "Bennie and the Jets"
This scene is a turning point for straight-edged Jane (Katherine Heigl), not just because she shows us her wild side while getting drunk and letting her hair down, but also because she gets Kevin (James Marsden) to admit that he shares her same enthusiasm for weddings.
15. Hairspray: "Good Morning Baltimore"
This 2007 musical is based on the 2002 Broadway adaption which is based on the 1988 John Waters' film (phew!) and opens with Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) waking up in a delightful mood to the sound of her alarm clock. She takes us on a musical journey, all the while cheerily singing good morning to her city.
16. The First Wives Club: "You Don't Own Me"
These three divorcees close the movie by singing a declaration of freedom from male control as they realize that they don't need a man to make them happy.
17. Enchanted: "That's How You Know"
A princess and a lawyer walk through a park ... and magic happens. In this Disney live-action-animation hybrid, Giselle (Amy Adams) shares her view on love with Robert (Patrick Dempsey), and uses her considerable charm to carry this Central Park musical number alongside back-up dancers and a marching band.
Check out our list of the happiest music movie moments that we turn to over and over again.
1. 500 Days of Summer: "You Make My Dreams"
Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is bursting at the seams with excitement after landing his dream girl, Summer (Zooey Deschanel). After leaving her apartment, his world becomes this magical place where everyone is friendly, and it's normal to have an animated blue bird land on your shoulder.
2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off: "Twist and Shout"
In one of the most iconic scenes from the movie, Ferris (Matthew Broderick) takes over a float in downtown Chicago and makes us all want to go out and shake it up, baby, now.
3. Love Actually: "Jump (For My Love)"
In this Christmas classic, Hugh Grant, who plays the British prime minister, lets loose and dances around 10 Downing Street like no one is watching -- adding just the right amount of silliness to his character.
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: "Come on Eileen"
If you can't relate to this scene, you really are too cool for school. Charlie (Logan Lerman) eventually meets two students who find his quirkiness and intelligence endearing, and they give him the confidence he needs to peel himself off the wall at his school dance and join them in the middle of the dance floor.
5. Almost Famous: "Tiny Dancer"
Director Cameron Crowe reminds us that coming of age can be a beautiful thing. This tender scene starts with the on-the-road bandmates staring out the van window in a funk, and ends with Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) telling William Miller (Patrick Fugit) that he's home -- all set to Elton John on the radio.
6. Bridesmaids: "Hold On"
In a scene that reminds you that you do actually want to be on one of those save-the-date magnets someday, Wilson Phillips makes a cameo and brings Annie (Kristen Wiig), Helen (Rose Byrne) and the rest of the once-competitive bridesmaids together in the movie's final wedding scene.
7. Singin’ in the Rain: "Singin’ in the Rain"
Gene Kelly, who famously had a 103-degree fever during this classic dance number, makes us smile no matter the weather ... and it's a glorious feeling.
8. The Breakfast Club: "We Are Not Alone"
"A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal" -- they have little in common, except for all being stuck in detention on a Saturday. The students end up making the most of it, and as the music progresses and the dancing begins, they put their differences aside and realize they aren't alone.
9. Big: "Chopsticks"
When Josh (Tom Hanks), a 12-year-old trapped in a grown man's body, comes across a larger-than-life piano in FAO Schwarz, he does what any kid would do -- play it with his feet, of course. This iconic scene embodies the film's theme of childlike wonder.
10. The Muppets: "Life's a Happy Song"
This opening scene is as jolly as they come. Gary (Jason Segel) and the new Muppet, Walter, wear matching outfits as they gallivant around the streets of Smalltown, USA encouraging everyone they pass to join in.
11. 13 Going on 30: "Thriller"
In an attempt to liven up the crowd, Jenna (Jennifer Garner), a 13-year-old who woke up in her 30-year-old body, gets the DJ to spin the Michael Jackson classic and makes her way onto the dance floor alone. At first, everyone thinks she's crazy as she lets her inner teen shine through, but, of course, by the end they're all doing the classic "Thriller" dance, too.
12. My Best Friend's Wedding: "I Say a Little Prayer (For You)"
In this rom-com, Julianne (Julia Roberts) sets out to stop her longtime best friend (Dermot Mulroney) from marrying the wrong woman, and brings her new BBF, George (Rupert Everett), with her. There's no shortage of great musical moments in this movie (karaoke, anyone?), but it's this sing-along that will stay in our hearts forever ... and ever and ever.
13. Sister Act: "I Will Follow Him"
In this final scene, Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg) leads the nuns of St. Katherine’s Parish in what starts out as a ballad but turns into a lively musical sequence. Is there anything happier than watching a bunch of nuns bust a move? We didn't think so.
14. 27 Dresses: "Bennie and the Jets"
This scene is a turning point for straight-edged Jane (Katherine Heigl), not just because she shows us her wild side while getting drunk and letting her hair down, but also because she gets Kevin (James Marsden) to admit that he shares her same enthusiasm for weddings.
15. Hairspray: "Good Morning Baltimore"
This 2007 musical is based on the 2002 Broadway adaption which is based on the 1988 John Waters' film (phew!) and opens with Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) waking up in a delightful mood to the sound of her alarm clock. She takes us on a musical journey, all the while cheerily singing good morning to her city.
16. The First Wives Club: "You Don't Own Me"
These three divorcees close the movie by singing a declaration of freedom from male control as they realize that they don't need a man to make them happy.
17. Enchanted: "That's How You Know"
A princess and a lawyer walk through a park ... and magic happens. In this Disney live-action-animation hybrid, Giselle (Amy Adams) shares her view on love with Robert (Patrick Dempsey), and uses her considerable charm to carry this Central Park musical number alongside back-up dancers and a marching band.
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The Many Times Darren Aronofsky Has Dismissed Or Flat-Out Mocked The 'Noah' Criticism
It doesn't take Mel Gibson to make a contentious religious epic. Martin Scorsese did it before him, and now we can add Darren Aronofsky to the list. Aronofsky's "Noah" opens March 28, after a few years of rough seas from all corners of the moviegoing population. Christians like it, Christians hate it. Studios are hankering to back it, studios are mad at Aronofsky's approach. Like "The Passion of the Christ," "The Last Temptation of Christ" and others before it, "Noah" arrives inside an echo chamber brimming with dissenters.
Aronofsky has remained steadfast, however, and the "Black Swan" director's first major studio project since "The Fountain" will bow with all eyes on how it handles the religious fundamentalism (or lack thereof). In an added twist, "Noah" will go head-to-head with, among other movies, "God's Not Dead." The pro-faith drama expands to more than 1,160 theaters this weekend, acting as a sort of antithesis to Aronofsky's self-described non-biblical approach to the beloved Genesis parable. How "Noah" will fare is yet to be seen, but there's no denying the lengthy build-up to Friday's release. Aronofsky has mostly mocked the discord that surrounds these contentious crossroads. Here's a handful of his many vitriolic responses to the movie's critics.
September 2008: Aronofsky tells SlashFilm about his plans for "Noah": “It’s the end of the world and it’s the second most famous ship after the Titanic. So I’m not sure why any studio won’t want to make it. I think it’s really timely because it’s about environmental apocalypse, which is the biggest theme, for me, right now for what’s going on on this planet. So I think it’s got these big, big themes that connect with us. Noah was the first environmentalist. He’s a really interesting character. Hopefully they’ll let me make it.”
June 2011: Aronofsky makes it clear that this won't be your average God-fearing biblical adaptation. "I don’t think it’s a very religious story," he tells IFC News. "I think it’s a great fable that’s part of so many different religions and spiritual practices. I just think it’s a great story that’s never been on film."
July 2013: Aronofsky screens a sneak peek of "Noah" at the faith-based Echo Conference in Texas. "I'm also excited that Hollywood has finally agreed to make the first biblical epic in almost 50 years," he says. "It's been a long time since Bible movies were on the screen, and there's been a lot of advancements in technology and special effects, and maybe that's the reason why Noah's never been attempted on the big screen before, because of the size and scale of the deluge and all the different animals. … But now, finally, with Hollywood's help, we can actually do this and bring it to life."
February 2014: Aronofsky reveals he granted Paramount the rights to select the final cut of "Noah" in exchange for an elevated budget, saying he knew his would be victorious. He was right. "My guys and I were pretty sure that because of the nature of the film and how we work, there wasn't another version," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. "The scenes were so interconnected -- if you started unwinding scenes, I just knew there would be holes. ... I've never reshot a frame, and I think that's very odd on big-budget movies. We're meticulous. We come from independent film, with limited resources."
March 2014: "'Noah' is the least biblical biblical film ever made," the director tells The New Yorker when asked about the alternate cuts that produced troubling responses from some religious audiences. "I don't give a f--k about the test scores. My films are outside the scores."
March 2014: "It's a very, very different movie," Aronofsky tells the audience at the Mexico City premiere. "Anything you're expecting, you're f--king wrong."
March 2014: "Where are there liberties? Find me a contradiction in there that can’t be explained. Of course there’s liberties. I mean, we’re making a movie here," he tells Religious News Service. "If you read the four chapters that the Noah story takes place in, Noah doesn’t even speak. How are you going to cast Russell Crowe and not have him talk? Noah’s wife and his sons’ three wives aren’t even named in the Bible. ... A lot of people are going to be like 'What? Noah, drunk and naked? How dare you?!' It’s in the Bible. People are going to say, 'Giants walking the earth? Fallen angels? How dare you?!' But it’s in there."
March 2014: "It’s impossible to understand what these times are because there are four chapters in the Bible," Aronofsky tells The Atlantic when asked about the lack of literalism employed in the film. "It’s just important that you don’t contradict any of it and that you study each word, and study each sentence, and try to use and extract as much juice out of that to be inspired to turn it into a vision that represents the spirit of it all. That’s the goal. It’s like—not to compare me to Michelangelo in any way, I’m in awe of him—but you look at the Sistine Chapel and there’s the moment of the fingers almost about to touch the moment of creation—and that’s not described in the Bible that way. There was no finger-to-finger, E.T. moment in the Bible. But that’s how Michelangelo decided to draw it."
And one from Crowe to boot: "We've had probably over a year now of very harsh criticism from a bunch of people who have put their name and stamp on an opinion that's not even based on the movie or seeing the movie, just an assumption of what it could be or how bad it could be or how wrong it could be in their eyes, which I think quite frankly is bordering on absolute stupidity, because now, I think, people are seeing the movie and they're realizing how respectful it is and how potent it is," he says during an apperance on "Good Morning America."
Aronofsky has remained steadfast, however, and the "Black Swan" director's first major studio project since "The Fountain" will bow with all eyes on how it handles the religious fundamentalism (or lack thereof). In an added twist, "Noah" will go head-to-head with, among other movies, "God's Not Dead." The pro-faith drama expands to more than 1,160 theaters this weekend, acting as a sort of antithesis to Aronofsky's self-described non-biblical approach to the beloved Genesis parable. How "Noah" will fare is yet to be seen, but there's no denying the lengthy build-up to Friday's release. Aronofsky has mostly mocked the discord that surrounds these contentious crossroads. Here's a handful of his many vitriolic responses to the movie's critics.
September 2008: Aronofsky tells SlashFilm about his plans for "Noah": “It’s the end of the world and it’s the second most famous ship after the Titanic. So I’m not sure why any studio won’t want to make it. I think it’s really timely because it’s about environmental apocalypse, which is the biggest theme, for me, right now for what’s going on on this planet. So I think it’s got these big, big themes that connect with us. Noah was the first environmentalist. He’s a really interesting character. Hopefully they’ll let me make it.”
June 2011: Aronofsky makes it clear that this won't be your average God-fearing biblical adaptation. "I don’t think it’s a very religious story," he tells IFC News. "I think it’s a great fable that’s part of so many different religions and spiritual practices. I just think it’s a great story that’s never been on film."
July 2013: Aronofsky screens a sneak peek of "Noah" at the faith-based Echo Conference in Texas. "I'm also excited that Hollywood has finally agreed to make the first biblical epic in almost 50 years," he says. "It's been a long time since Bible movies were on the screen, and there's been a lot of advancements in technology and special effects, and maybe that's the reason why Noah's never been attempted on the big screen before, because of the size and scale of the deluge and all the different animals. … But now, finally, with Hollywood's help, we can actually do this and bring it to life."
February 2014: Aronofsky reveals he granted Paramount the rights to select the final cut of "Noah" in exchange for an elevated budget, saying he knew his would be victorious. He was right. "My guys and I were pretty sure that because of the nature of the film and how we work, there wasn't another version," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. "The scenes were so interconnected -- if you started unwinding scenes, I just knew there would be holes. ... I've never reshot a frame, and I think that's very odd on big-budget movies. We're meticulous. We come from independent film, with limited resources."
March 2014: "'Noah' is the least biblical biblical film ever made," the director tells The New Yorker when asked about the alternate cuts that produced troubling responses from some religious audiences. "I don't give a f--k about the test scores. My films are outside the scores."
March 2014: "It's a very, very different movie," Aronofsky tells the audience at the Mexico City premiere. "Anything you're expecting, you're f--king wrong."
March 2014: "Where are there liberties? Find me a contradiction in there that can’t be explained. Of course there’s liberties. I mean, we’re making a movie here," he tells Religious News Service. "If you read the four chapters that the Noah story takes place in, Noah doesn’t even speak. How are you going to cast Russell Crowe and not have him talk? Noah’s wife and his sons’ three wives aren’t even named in the Bible. ... A lot of people are going to be like 'What? Noah, drunk and naked? How dare you?!' It’s in the Bible. People are going to say, 'Giants walking the earth? Fallen angels? How dare you?!' But it’s in there."
March 2014: "It’s impossible to understand what these times are because there are four chapters in the Bible," Aronofsky tells The Atlantic when asked about the lack of literalism employed in the film. "It’s just important that you don’t contradict any of it and that you study each word, and study each sentence, and try to use and extract as much juice out of that to be inspired to turn it into a vision that represents the spirit of it all. That’s the goal. It’s like—not to compare me to Michelangelo in any way, I’m in awe of him—but you look at the Sistine Chapel and there’s the moment of the fingers almost about to touch the moment of creation—and that’s not described in the Bible that way. There was no finger-to-finger, E.T. moment in the Bible. But that’s how Michelangelo decided to draw it."
And one from Crowe to boot: "We've had probably over a year now of very harsh criticism from a bunch of people who have put their name and stamp on an opinion that's not even based on the movie or seeing the movie, just an assumption of what it could be or how bad it could be or how wrong it could be in their eyes, which I think quite frankly is bordering on absolute stupidity, because now, I think, people are seeing the movie and they're realizing how respectful it is and how potent it is," he says during an apperance on "Good Morning America."
↧
12 Beloved New York City Places That Don't Exist Anymore
There's a lot to love about New York City today: A flood of new, ambitious architecture, refurbished river-fronts, miles and miles of additional bike lanes and recently launched parks like the High Line. New York is constantly evolving and changing.
Yet we can't help but mourn for yesterday's New York. So many historic spots have vanished in the eternal march of progress. Here's a few we miss:
1. The Original Penn Station
![old penn station]()
The original Pennsylvania Station was torn down in 1963 due to financial problems and replaced with a squat, hideous train station that's almost universally despised. The brutal demolition of such a beautiful, historic piece of architecture was a huge embarrassment for the city. As a result New York established the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which was tasked with saving the city's historic landmarks and avoiding further debacles.
2. CBGB
![cbgb]()
CBGB was once much more than just a T-shirt logo . The iconic music club is recognized for its key role in the 1970s and 1980s NYC punk scene and hosted everyone from Patti Smith to the Ramones. The spot closed in 2006 and the space is now home to a high-end clothing store.
3. The Hippodrome
![hippodrome new york city]()
Once billed as the world’s largest theater, the Hippodrome on Manhattan’s West Side was big enough to allow more than 1,000 actors to perform at the same time -- including famous magician Harry Houdini. The theater also boasted an 8,000 gallon water tank that could be raised for diving and swimming shows, before closing in 1939 in part due to the Depression and the increasingly popular movie business.
4. The Artist Apartments Above Carnegie Hall
![carnegie hall new york]()
Above the historic concert hall, Carnegie Hall Towers once provided affordable housing to dancers, photographers, poets and musicians. Marilyn Monroe, Mark Twain, Marlon Brando and Grace Kelly once hung out there, but the building's last remaining residents were pushed out in 2010 to create more rehearsal space.
5. Claremont Riding Academy
![claremont riding academy]()
Until 2007, this stable gave just about anyone the chance to go horseback riding in Central Park, where the paths were designed with horses in mind. While a new stable has been built as a home for police horses, arranging a horseback ride in the park is now much more complicated.
6. Studio 54
![studio 54 1970s]()
In the late 1970s, Studio 54 became the city’s hottest night spot drawing countless celebrities like Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Woody Allen. Like all good parties, it had to end, however, and shut down after just three years.
7. The Gaslight Cafe
![gaslight cafe]()
Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen all performed at this basement cafe that became synonymous with the beat generation until closing in 1971. A tattoo parlor now sits above the old location at 116 Macdougal Street.
8. Old Waldorf-Astoria
![waldorfastoria history]()
Built in the 1890s, the original Waldorf-Astoria raised the bar for what a hotel could be. In 1929 the original location was sold to the developers of the Empire State Building and the hotel moved to a new location uptown.
9. The Sheep Meadow (When It Actually Had Sheep)
![sheep meadow central park]()
Before it hosted throngs of sunbathing New Yorkers, the Sheep Meadow in Central Park was home to grazing sheep.
![sheeps meadow]()
The Sheep Meadow now.
10. 5pointz
![5pointz]()
November 19, 2013, will go down in history as a sad day for graffiti enthusiasts. 5pointz in Queens, once one of the largest spaces for graffiti artists to legally work in the city, was whitewashed overnight erasing graffiti works by some 1,500 artists. The abandoned factory, which once served as the artists' canvas, will be torn down to make room for luxury apartments.
11. Brooklyn Navy Yard
![brooklyn navy yard]()
Brooklyn Navy Yard, 1890
While the site of the original Brooklyn Navy Yard remains, it hasn't been in use as a shipyard since 1966. Originally established by President John Adams in 1801, the shipyard was used to build merchant vessels. It's now home to a number of things including a movie studio, which is where the TV shows "Girls" and "Boardwalk Empire" are made.
12. Starlight Park
![starlight park]()
In the early 1900s, the Bronx had its very own version of Coney Island called Starlight Park. The amusement park featured a roller coaster, large swimming pool and hosted free concerts before shutting down in 1932. One frequent visitor described the park as a “blue-collar country club,” in a letter to the New York Times. In 2013, Starlight reopened as a pedestrian park.
Yet we can't help but mourn for yesterday's New York. So many historic spots have vanished in the eternal march of progress. Here's a few we miss:
1. The Original Penn Station
The original Pennsylvania Station was torn down in 1963 due to financial problems and replaced with a squat, hideous train station that's almost universally despised. The brutal demolition of such a beautiful, historic piece of architecture was a huge embarrassment for the city. As a result New York established the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which was tasked with saving the city's historic landmarks and avoiding further debacles.
2. CBGB
CBGB was once much more than just a T-shirt logo . The iconic music club is recognized for its key role in the 1970s and 1980s NYC punk scene and hosted everyone from Patti Smith to the Ramones. The spot closed in 2006 and the space is now home to a high-end clothing store.
3. The Hippodrome
Once billed as the world’s largest theater, the Hippodrome on Manhattan’s West Side was big enough to allow more than 1,000 actors to perform at the same time -- including famous magician Harry Houdini. The theater also boasted an 8,000 gallon water tank that could be raised for diving and swimming shows, before closing in 1939 in part due to the Depression and the increasingly popular movie business.
4. The Artist Apartments Above Carnegie Hall
Above the historic concert hall, Carnegie Hall Towers once provided affordable housing to dancers, photographers, poets and musicians. Marilyn Monroe, Mark Twain, Marlon Brando and Grace Kelly once hung out there, but the building's last remaining residents were pushed out in 2010 to create more rehearsal space.
5. Claremont Riding Academy
Until 2007, this stable gave just about anyone the chance to go horseback riding in Central Park, where the paths were designed with horses in mind. While a new stable has been built as a home for police horses, arranging a horseback ride in the park is now much more complicated.
6. Studio 54
In the late 1970s, Studio 54 became the city’s hottest night spot drawing countless celebrities like Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Woody Allen. Like all good parties, it had to end, however, and shut down after just three years.
7. The Gaslight Cafe
Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen all performed at this basement cafe that became synonymous with the beat generation until closing in 1971. A tattoo parlor now sits above the old location at 116 Macdougal Street.
8. Old Waldorf-Astoria
Built in the 1890s, the original Waldorf-Astoria raised the bar for what a hotel could be. In 1929 the original location was sold to the developers of the Empire State Building and the hotel moved to a new location uptown.
9. The Sheep Meadow (When It Actually Had Sheep)
Before it hosted throngs of sunbathing New Yorkers, the Sheep Meadow in Central Park was home to grazing sheep.
10. 5pointz
November 19, 2013, will go down in history as a sad day for graffiti enthusiasts. 5pointz in Queens, once one of the largest spaces for graffiti artists to legally work in the city, was whitewashed overnight erasing graffiti works by some 1,500 artists. The abandoned factory, which once served as the artists' canvas, will be torn down to make room for luxury apartments.
11. Brooklyn Navy Yard
While the site of the original Brooklyn Navy Yard remains, it hasn't been in use as a shipyard since 1966. Originally established by President John Adams in 1801, the shipyard was used to build merchant vessels. It's now home to a number of things including a movie studio, which is where the TV shows "Girls" and "Boardwalk Empire" are made.
12. Starlight Park
In the early 1900s, the Bronx had its very own version of Coney Island called Starlight Park. The amusement park featured a roller coaster, large swimming pool and hosted free concerts before shutting down in 1932. One frequent visitor described the park as a “blue-collar country club,” in a letter to the New York Times. In 2013, Starlight reopened as a pedestrian park.
↧
This Bill Cunningham Exhibit Gives Street Style A Whole New Meaning
From the start of Bill Cunningham's career in fashion as milliner to his current status as arguably the most famous street style photographer there is, he has truly evolved into somewhat of a style icon. Focusing his attention on what the person is wearing and not who the person is, he is a genuine sartorially driven artist. But long before bloggers ruled the Internet and social media played an integral role in major events like Fashion Week, the skilled photographer embarked on a journey to capture both the fashion and architectural histories of New York City.
From 1968 to 1976 Cunningham traveled to countless thrift stores and locations on his bicycle in pursuit of the perfect looks for the series. Hundreds of outfits and over 1,000 photographed locations later, the result was a breathtaking photo essay portraying New York in the early 1900s. While Cunningham photographed multiple models, the real star was his dear friend and muse, Editta Sherman -- also known as the "duchess of Carnegie Hall."
The exhibit of his photos, which are currently on display at the New York Historical Society under the name "Facades" through June 15, serves as an exciting look back in New York's history, while at the same time, as a release on the exhibit puts it, "feels timeless."
Check out some of our favorite images from the collection below, and if you're local to NYC, take the time to make your way up there to see them in person. Trust us, they're worth the trip.
![paris theater]()
![train]()
![grand central]()
![21 club]()
![central park]()
![guggenheim]()
![bank building]()
From 1968 to 1976 Cunningham traveled to countless thrift stores and locations on his bicycle in pursuit of the perfect looks for the series. Hundreds of outfits and over 1,000 photographed locations later, the result was a breathtaking photo essay portraying New York in the early 1900s. While Cunningham photographed multiple models, the real star was his dear friend and muse, Editta Sherman -- also known as the "duchess of Carnegie Hall."
The exhibit of his photos, which are currently on display at the New York Historical Society under the name "Facades" through June 15, serves as an exciting look back in New York's history, while at the same time, as a release on the exhibit puts it, "feels timeless."
Check out some of our favorite images from the collection below, and if you're local to NYC, take the time to make your way up there to see them in person. Trust us, they're worth the trip.
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
