Faking it?

Joaquin Phoenix is one of the most peculiar celebrities out there. Let's not forget his memorable semi-recent stint on the David Letterman show. His new film 'I'm Still Here' has audiences in a tither over whether the 'documentary' is all just one big stunt. The film documents Phoenix's life after he announces his retirement as an A-list Hollywood actor, in order to pursue his career as a rapper! (yes that's right....Joaquin as a rapper....perhaps he could be the next Eminem....I won't be holding my breath)

Joaquin Phoenix before his retirement
Source: http://www.q1075.com/joomla/images/stories/joaquin-phoenix-flu.jpg

Check out the link here...http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/blogs/cinetopia/the-verdict-on-joaquin-phoenix-film-im-still-here/20100914-15apa.html
Make sure you watch the trailer for the film too....lets just say I am not convinced!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the above article. Although it is a film review, it seems to go beyond the typical review format. The author presents us with several key points as to why the film is being considered as a hoax, which in turn allows us to make up our our minds. The strange thing though is that Joaquin was a well-known Hollywood actor who had memorable roles in major blockbusters, including 'Gladiator' and 'Walk the Line'. It seems fairly far-fetched that someone so successful would want to give it all away. In my opinion, if it was a C-list celebrity who had done this, I would be more likely to believe their film.

Joaquin Phoenix post-retirement
(Source: http://filmpopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Joaquin-Phoenix.jpg)

Even if the film is not a true documentary, I'm sure it will gain large audience numbers due to the vast publicity surrounding it. I'm intrigued, especially after reading this article and will most definitely go and see 'I'm Still Here'.

"WE ARE GOING TO AUSTRAAALIA" (cue loud screams)

If you have been hiding in a cave for the last day or two....then you may have missed the most important news our country is facing.  OPRAH WINFREY IS COMING TO AUSTRALIA! This has been the headline news on all major television networks and newspapers.

Perhaps now is the time to mention that I find it really irritating that we seem to place so much emphasis on 'news' that is really not 'major news'. Take for example, all the fluff stories and beautiful animal stories we normally see when watching the news on TV. But it seems strange to me when stories such as this are the leading news, not an environmental disaster or death on the battle front.

Don't get me wrong though...I LOVE Oprah and most embarrassingly I even tried to enter the ticket ballot yesterday. To my dismay, you can not enter the ballot for at least a month or so. I ensure you though I will be at one of her two shows. If not with a ticket in hand, I will be standing out the front of the Sydney Oprah House (yes-that's what it will be called while she's here) hoping to get a glimpse of the woman herself!




(Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oprah_Winfrey_(2004).jpg)


Here's a link to an an SMH article...http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/taxpayers-to-spend-3m-bringing-oprah-over-20100914-15abm.html

Of course, there has to be a negative aspect of her coming here. That which is presented to us in the above article, is that taxpayers will be spending $3million to have her here.

I believe though that there will be an over-riding positive effect of her visit. Namely, The Oprah Winfrey Show has, "40 million American viewers...screened in 145 countries". This is an enormous world-wide advertisement for Australia. Oprah is said to be one of the most influential and powerful women in the world and she is coming here! I'm sure Oprah Winfrey will influence more people to come to here than many other Tourism Australia campaigns (cough cough Lara Bingle).

This article is written well and is informative, with inclusion of quotes from all parties involved. Particularly, when Kristina Keneally, Premier of NSW, reveals the project has been kept confidential in the Government by calling it Project O. That to me is hilarious but oh well, each to their own. Sounds like the government would prefer to be the CIA.

Anyway, Oprah we welcome you to our country and please give me a ticket to one of your shows!!!

AHH Paris

What good is an entertainment blog without a single post about it-girl Paris Hilton?
She has made headlines once again by being caught with cocaine in her handbag in Las Vegas.

Check out the TMZ article here... http://www.tmz.com/2010/08/30/paris-hilton-cocaine-arrested-las-vegas-cy-waits-purse/

I have a real liking for news published by TMZ. I find their often feisty, opinion-filled articles more interesting than just merely stating the 'facts' about what has happened in a particular situation. I often find myself laughing out loud when reading TMZ articles as well because more often than not, they are completely ridiculous. So i always take them with a grain of salt...

Whats interesting though is that within the article, the reporter does not seem to get any information from Paris herself but from "Paris' close friends". This rings alarm bells for me immediately because these friends are not named and quite possibly may not even exist. Sure the story about her being caught with cocaine is true because there were police reports and there will be a court case etc. but do we have any way of knowing if the claims made in this article are true? NO.  Well anyway, the arguments that Paris' besties are making are that Paris said the drugs weren't hers, she merely lent the bag to a friend a few days earlier and she had "no idea" the cocaine was in there..ahh...its all alot clearer now. I'd say Paris has "no idea" about alot of other things as well.

poor Paris in trouble with the law AGAIN

(Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_hilton_universal_photo_retouched.jpg)

Surely, Paris will get away with yet another incident that any other member of the public would be strictly reprimanded for! It has seemed increasingly common recently that the law doesn't really apply to celebrities as it does to ordinary citizens.

I thinks its said best in the comment section under the article where 'StoopidHead' writes:
"Stupid Rich people. Always losing track of their cocaine".
Posted at 7:39 AM on Aug 30, 2010 by StoopidHead

Until next time....

Naughty Rice

Many of you would have heard of the recent Stephanie Rice scandal. The good-girl gone bad Aussie swimmer tweeted ""Suck on that f--gots" after the Wallabies defeated the Springbok's on the weekend. The derogatory language she used in her quickly deleted tweet has sparked outrage against the Australian public and the gay community.

Heres the link to a news.com.au article...http://www.news.com.au/business/stephanie-rice-loses-sponsor-jaguar-after-anti-gay-tweet/story-e6frfm1i-1225915098261

Aussie golden girl (Source: http://www.topnews.in/sports/excouple-stephanie-rice-and-eamon-sullivan-strip-undie-ad-27199)

My biggest concern after this story broke is that most celebrities, especially sporting superstars, develop a following of young poeple who want to act and succeed as their idols have done. The worst case scenario is that young people who had not previously heard or used the word 'f--gots' will now begin to use it as they think its 'cool' or funny.

The author of the article, Josh Robertson, claims that it was ex-afl player and outspoken gay rights activist Ian Roberts, who caused Rice to loose her sponsorship deal with car company, Jaguar. Ian Roberts made a commented that anyone who would continue sponsorship with Rice is a "complete idiot". However, it seems the claim the author has made that this was the sole reason for dropping rice is complete unsubstanitated dribble. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this story is front page news. I'm pretty sure Jaguar would have dropped Stephanie Rice even if Ian Roberts didn't have anything to say about it, maybe backlash from the whole country perhaps????

Even the comments in the article made by a Jaguar spokesperson make no reference to any of Ian Roberts' suggestions. Although I seem to be slamming the author of this article I actually thought the piece was well-written, made use of relevant sources and informed the reader much more so than other articles on this issue have done.  

Stephanie Rice in a Jaguar campaign (Source: http://www.news.com.au/business/stephanie-rice-loses-sponsor-jaguar-after-anti-gay-tweet/story-e6frfm1i-1225915098261)

Although Rice has had other indiscretions in the past it is clear that some people cannot just not learn a lesson. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that once information is online it is very difficult to remove completely and often stays there forever. So when using social networking sites, such as Twitter, you should be especially careful if you are a celebrity and have a following of thousands of people....duh!

Till next time...