4 January 2008
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National Society of Film Critics Pick 'There Will Be Blood'

The last of the major film critics groups, the National Society of Film Critics has given the bulk of its awards to Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood, honoring the period epic with its Best Picture, Best Actor ( Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Cinematography and Best Director awards. Though it bucked the trend of honoring the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men (which was shut out entirely from the group's awards), the NSFC bestowed a few of its awards to previous critics' winners. In addition to Day-Lewis, who's emerging as the front runner for Best Actor, acting honors went to Julie Christie (Best Actress for Away from Her), Casey Affleck (Supporting Actor for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), and in a bit of a surprise, Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There, who bypassed perennial Supporting Actress winner Amy Ryan ( Gone Baby Gone). No End in Sight was named Best Non-Fiction Film, Tamara Jenkins' The Savages received the Best Screenplay award, and Foreign Language Film Honors went to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff
Spears Held for Psychiatric Evaluation After Police Standoff
Britney Spears has been taken to a Los Angeles hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, according to reports. The troubled singer was taken from her house by paramedics in an ambulance to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, following a four-hour standoff at her Beverly Hills mansion where she refused to hand over her two sons to her former husband Kevin Federline. Federline is thought to have followed Spears to the hospital, arriving at 12:20am, according to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. She was discovered by cops at her home on Thursday evening "under the influence of an unknown substance," according to reports. All the emergency services - police, medical and fire crews - were present at the star's house during the incident, which is being referred to as a "family custody dispute" by the Los Angeles police. Spears refused to hand over sons Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, to Federline following a scheduled visit on Thursday - which was due to end at 7pm when Federline's bodyguard arrived to pick up the boys, although the boys were handed over to Federline at 11pm local time. Police were called to the scene around an hour later, although details of who made the call have not yet been released. Several police helicopters, cop cars, ambulances and fire trucks later arrived at Spears' home, with additional back-up vehicles and officers appearing throughout the ordeal.
Lohan Suffers Relapse & Swigs Champagne
Lindsay Lohan suffered an alcohol relapse while attending a New Year's Eve party in Italy - the troubled actress swigged champagne from a bottle. The Mean Girls star was in the European country to receive an honor for her contribution to the movie industry at the Capri Film Festival on Sunday, and went on to spend New Year's Eve in the city. In a video taken at the bash and posted on website Tmz.com, Lohan, who checked into rehab twice in 2007 following two arrests for driving under the influence, can be seen drinking from a bottle of champagne. Her lawyer Blair Berk says, "After being handed a champagne bottle while on a dance floor in Italy on New Year's Eve and drinking from it, the good news is that Lindsay stopped herself, called her sponsor, and got herself back on track. There is no magic cure here. The most unfortunate part of this is that Lindsay has to share her 'one day at a time' with the entire world."
Hudgens Thanks Mom for Support
High School Musical star Vanessa Anne Hudgens has thanked her mom for her immense support after saucy naked photos of the star were leaked online. Cellphone shots of the 19-year-old actress - intended for someone she was dating at the time - were posted on several websites in August last year, showing the star posing naked in a full-length mirror. Hudgens insists the ensuing period and press frenzy was difficult - but credits her mom's treatment of the situation with helping her through a tough time. She tells America's Seventeen magazine, "I was just open with her, and she was just so cute. She was like, 'Well, everyone can be naked if they want to.' My parents are very supportive of me. And they know I'm a teenager, and yes, kids do stupid things sometimes." But Hudgens admits she still doesn't like to discuss the matter, adding, "It was very traumatic, and I am extremely upset it happened... It was something that was meant to be private, and even though it isn't anymore, I'd still like to keep it as private as I can."
Penn Heads Cannes Jury

Hollywood actor Sean Penn is to head the jury at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, it has been announced. The 47-year-old star - who won an Oscar in 2004 for his role in Mystic River - confirms he's "very much" looking forward to participating in this year's event. He adds, "In the last few years there has been a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide. The Cannes Film Festival has long been the epicenter in the discovery of new waves of filmmakers." The 61st festival begins on May 14, with the jury awarding the coveted Palme d'Or prize for best film on May 25.
Newlyweds Heigl & Kelley Lived Apart Until They Wed

Newlyweds Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley are discovering every aspect of married life for the first time - because they never lived together before their wedding last month. The couple, who tied the knot in Utah on December 23, chose to live apart until they became husband and wife. Heigl reveals, "We just bought a house and we have never lived together." But the couple loved the idea of waiting - so both their lives would change completely. Heigl adds, "It is great planning for the day after and a lot of the amazing stuff that goes along with being married."
Murphy & Edmonds To Wed Again in Legal Ceremony

Newlyweds Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds will marry for a second time in a legal ceremony when they return to America. The couple wed on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia in front of 25 friends and family on Tuesday. As that ceremony carries no legal significance in the U.S., Murphy and Edmonds will enjoy a second wedding on their return home. Edmonds' spokesperson tells People.com, "As is typical when couples get married in foreign countries, a legal ceremony will take place when they return to the U.S. The wedding that took place in Bora Bora was a ceremony to bind Eddie and Tracey spiritually in the presence of family and friends. The couple plan a legal ceremony as soon as they return to the States." Murphy and Edmonds, who have been dating since 2006, have both been married before - Murphy divorced Nicole Mitchell in April 2006, while Edmonds ended her marriage to music mogul Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds in October 2005.
Liu Dismisses 'Cashmere'/'Lipstick' Rivalry
Lucy Liu is fed up with reporters asking her if her new TV drama Cashmere Mafia is in direct competition with upcoming show Lipstick Jungle - just because both programs star women and share links to Sex & The City. Liu's show is the new series from Sex & The City creator Darren Star, and follows four female executives struggling to balance careers with family in New York City. Lipstick Jungle, which stars Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price and is also set in New York, is an adaptation of Sex & The City writer Candace Bushnell's book of the same name. But Liu insists there is plenty of room on television for shows starring women - and that journalists would never ask male actors if their shows share a rivalry with other programs starring men. She says, "It's such a strange question. People ask, 'What do you think of these shows coming up, and is it your competition?' No. Why does it have to be your competition? Why can't there always be shows about women? No one asks a man if it's difficult to have another show about men."
Appeals Court Rules in Beyonce's Favor in Copyright Case
Beyonce Knowles has been handed victory for a second time in a copyright infringement lawsuit over claims her 2003 hit "Baby Boy" was a direct rip-off of a song by an unsigned artist. A judge originally ruled in 2006 that there was no evidence to suggest the R&B superstar had copied a demo recording of a track by Jennifer Armour, who had sent in her tape to Knowles' manager-father Matthew and representatives at the star's record label, Columbia Records, in early 2003. Armour launched an appeal against the ruling last year, but in new legal papers it was discovered the majority of the writing and recording of Knowles' Grammy-winning "Baby Boy" had been completed before Armour claimed to have submitted her demo tracks. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit "upheld the 2006 trial court decision dismissing a copyright infringement lawsuit brought against Beyonce." And the "Irreplaceable" hitmaker is relieved the whole case is finally over: "It's unfortunate that we had to endure this long legal process, but I am hopeful this decision will allow all of us that were involved to finally move on."
Ang Lee Finds Sex Scenes Tough

Chinese film stars Tony Leung and Wei Tang spent two weeks filming sex scenes for Lust, Caution - because director Ang Lee found the experience "exhausting." Lee admits he was forced to halt filming several times as shooting the steamy scenes was too challenging. He explains, "If we were shooting a porno film, we would have done all those scenes in two days. After half a day, I'd have to call a stop because it's so exhausting. Physically it's not that difficult, but it's mentally exhausting."
Simpson and Wentz Not Engaged

Actress/singer Ashlee Simpson has denied rumors she is to wed rocker boyfriend Pete Wentz. The couple sparked rumors they were engaged after Simpson was photographed sporting a ring on her engagement finger in Miami, Florida, earlier this week. But Simpson's publicist tells Usmagazine.com, "Ashlee is not engaged." The couple has been dating since September 2006.
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