Klaxons cover Rihanna for the BRIT awards
These days, it seems that everybody wants to offer their interpretation of Rihanna's massive single "Umbrella" -- Mandy Moore, Chris Brown and now the British indie outfit Klaxons. However, the Klaxons had the special honor of covering the song with Rihanna herself last night at the annual BRIT Awards. Their interpretation was well-received, the Klaxons offering a more electronic, guitar-heavy backing for Rihanna's pop inflections. Both were nominated for awards -- Rihanna as best international act, and the Klaxons as best breakthrough act. Despite their awesome performance, neither one of the artists ended up taking home an award.
--by ethan hamlin
Hot off the presses! Latest movie news...
Philip Seymour Hoffman has just joined the cast of new British romantic comedy The Boat That Rocked, directed by Richard Curtis. Curtis also helmed Love Actually. In other news, Ryan Reynolds and Black Eyed Peas musician will.i.am have signed on for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the fourth installment of the popular franchise. Hugh Jackman and Liev Schrieber co-star. The release date is set for spring 2009. Finally, Beyonce Knowles is set to executive produce and star in Cadillac Records, a 1950s period piece about a famous Chicago record label. Adrien Brody co-stars, and Knowles will also contribute a quartet of songs to the film's soundtrack.
--by david replogle
DGA, SAG to renew contracts
As you breathe a sigh of relief at the prospect of your precious TV shows returning, do not rest easy just yet. The Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild are both due to renew contracts this year, which could spell disaster for the industry that lost billions over the past months. Luckily, the DGA, SAG, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are already in talks and developing new contracts. SAG contracts will expire June 30, and a few Hollywood stars (Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, and Meryl Streep, among others) have been buying full-page ads in trade papers urging the SAG to get to work on the contract.
--by anne larimer hart
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