Hollywood Offender

"Sex And The City" Scores Overseas

"Sex and the City" is off to a good start at the box office, taking in $4.8 million on its first day of release in the U.K. and France.  What?  They opened in Europe before they opened in the States?  After all SJP's blathering about NYC being "the fifth lady?"  How dare they!

OK, I'm over it.  Anyway, the film brought in $4 million in Great Britain and about $800,000 in France, which either means the French are more discriminating or Brits had nothing else to do with their Wednesdays.

The film opens Thursday in Germany and Singapore, and rolls out on Friday in Italy and the U.S.  And then we'll see if four over-forty women can overtake a geriatric Indiana Jones.  I'm gonna go with the ladies.  One kick to Indy's shins with their Manolas and he'll be toast.

R.I.P., Sydney Pollack

Sydney Pollack died of cancer on Monday, Variety reports.  The 73-year-old was the director of so many acclaimed movies it's hard to name them all, but among them: "The Way We Were," "Out of Africa," and my personal favorite, "Tootsie."  In total, his movies earned 48 Oscar nominations.  That's really impressive.

Before he got into directing, Pollack had aspirations to become an actor--and did just that in his later years.  His best role came in "Tootsie," where he played Dustin Hoffman's agent.  He did it at Dustin's insistence.

"Hoffman insisted I play that role, to the point where he started sending me flowers, saying, 'Please be my agent. Love, Dorothy.' "

Dustin was right.  He kicked it in that role.  Rest in peace, Sydney.

Michelle Williams Sparkles In Cannes

Michelle Williams walked her first red carpet since the death of Heath Ledger last night when she was a last-minute show at the "Wendy and Lucy" premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.  She's been laying low since Heath died in January, just spending time with daughter Matilda and filming a new movie, "Shutter Island," with Leonardo DiCaprio, so it was really nice to see her smiling and enjoying her success.

Besides "Wendy and Lucy"--which I totally admit, I never heard of and know nothing about--she was also there to promote "Synecdoche, New York," co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, and Samantha Morton.  She said she was really excited to be at the famous festival.

"[It's] something you can look back on at the end of your life and think, 'That was a cool thing I did when I was 27.' "

You know, I know she got a reputation, via the Internet, for being surly and crabby, but I think that was hugely overblown.  She seems like a really shy person who likes to keep to herself as much as possible and wasn't really appreciative of the paparazzi intrusion on her life, especially in regard to her relationship with Heath.  I'm gonna cut her some slack and say that behavior is a thing of the past.

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Katherine Heigl In Her Natural Environment

My sister thinks I'm too hard on Katherine Heigl.  She says she seems like a nice person and she just "loved that 27 Dresses."  Of course, my sister always sees the good in people.  She doesn't understand why anyone would put on an affectation for the cameras.  I mean, she even believes Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are a normal couple.  I think that says it all.

Still, it made me wonder: why can't I stand The Heigl?  And, honestly, it's no one thing.  If it was just that she shot off her mouth at every opportunity that wouldn't bother me.  And if she only seemed to stick to the paparazzi like fly paper?  Well, what celebrity doesn't?  And if she only was an annoying character on an obnoxious show?  There are a ton of those.

No, it's the combination of all those things, plus some inherent factor I can't put my finger on.  Katie looks like the girl who would be your biggest defender...right up to the point where she stabbed you in the back--all the while telling the media what a great person she was.

Having said that, she really should quit smoking for her own good.  It may keep her weight down, but she's going to be a leatherface in record time if she doesn't put down the cigarettes.  Which I'm thinking won't make her as in demand for the rom-com queen title she's aiming for.

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Related:

Katherine Heigl Is Never Going Away

Katherine Heigl: Barrels Of Fun

Gwyneth Paltrow Claims Mommyhood Hurt Her Career

Before I get to her comments, can we talk about the shoes?  I'm thinking this would be the footwear of choice to wear to a Roman orgy.  Not that I've ever been to one--I'm just supposing, mind you.  They're just the perfect mix of gladiator, porn, and S&M.  Is it wrong that I covet them?  I mean, just in case I'm ever invited to a Roman orgy, I want to be prepared.

So, Gwynnie's in Cannes this year promoting "Two Lovers," with Joaquin Phoenix.  She's also talking about how tough Hollywood is for mommies.  Per People:

"I really did not know if there would be a place for me.  Jodie Foster was right, especially if you are a woman and especially if you are not 25. Hollywood is pretty cutthroat, and everybody has a short memory. There is always someone who is younger or hotter or prettier.

"I was very realistic of that fact there would not be room for me.  I definitely knew I had lost my place."

And, yet, she's back.  Between this and her "Iron Man" success I don't think we're getting rid of her any time soon.  Mind you, it's not Gwyneth's acting I mind so much, per se.  It's the things that come out of her mouth when she's playing herself that irritate like sand in the crotch of your bathing suit.

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Related:

Gwyneth Paltrow: Back To The '70's

Angelina Jolie: The Belle Of the Cannes Ball

Admittedly, I'm extremely biased, as my girl-crush on Angelina consumes me at times, but I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful pregnant woman.  She positively glows.  I don't think she even looked this radiant when she was knocked up with Shiloh.  Then, again, she doesn't like her first biological child so that's understandable...

So, as we all know the Jolie-Pitt dynasty is in Cannes for the film festical.  Last week, Angie was stumping for "Kung Fu Panda," this week she's out and about for the Clint Eastwood directed "Changeling."  As with all of Clint the Squint's movies in the last decade, it's a heavy piece about a woman in 1928 Los Angeles dealing with the disappearance of her son.  Given Clint is Oscars' darling, I'd say odds are good that Angelina will probably be getting lots of awards buzz come the end of the year.

In the meantime, though, she has babies  to be birthin.'  She says it's still undecided if she'll have them in France--and with her you never know--but I'd say it's a good bet. 

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Angelina's Due Date: August 19th

Angelina Jolie Confirms: It's Twins!

Angelina's Due Date: August 19th

First Jack Black confirms that Angelina Jolie is pregnant with twins, now Dustin Hoffman has confirmed her due date.  If I were Angie, I'd seriously reconsider telling my co-stars anything!  What's next: Lucy Lui discussing her latest pap smear results?

So, yeah, Dustin "let it slip" (translation: he knew exactly what he was saying and Angelina gave him her blessing to say it) that the two newest Jolie-Pitts are due on August 19th.  August 19th??  Oh, man, Angie's already so big.  She's gonna be miserable in the heat of summer with those babies just getting bigger and bigger and bigger.  I'd just throw in the towel, wear a mumu, eat ice cream and sit in the air conditioning all day.  Which actually sounds like my ideal day.

"Kung Fu Panda" screening at Cannes is tonight.  Meanwhile, the photocall was earlier Thursday--I love Angie's dress.  Very cute for something so tentlike.  And, dare I say...she's glowing.

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Related:

Angelina Jolie Confirms: It's Twins!

Daniel Day-Lewis To Star In "Nine?"

It looks like one Oscar winner might step in for another.  Daniel Day-Lewis is currently in talks to star in the musical "Nine," set to start production this fall, Variety is reporting.

The role became available when Javier Bardem dropped out of the project, sighting exhaustion from too much work and his busy awards season.  The "There Will Be Blood" actor would play Guido Contini, "a famous film director who experiences personal and creative crisis while trying to balance all the women in his life."

The women will be played by Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Penelope Cruz, and Nicole Kidman.  Yeah, not bad company.

The Weinstein Company, who are financing the project, won't confirm anything, just saying when they know something, we'll know something.  And, frankly, Harvey Weinstein scares the sarcasm out of me, so I'll just take that brush-off and smile politely.

Hayden Panettiere Covers Teen Vogue

Hayden Panettiere is Teen Vogue's cover girl for the June/July issue, on sale May 20.

In this issue, she gabs about style, the tabloids, and her work :

"I have the same sense of style that I did when I was growing up, but now I wear things that I might not have when I was younger, because I'm much more comfortable with my body. I'm definitely a jeans and tee shirt girl. I dress down and comfy whenever I can, which makes dressing up more exciting."

Is there a certain look that she loves?

"I really like to look polished. I love pencil skirts and flirty dresses - but I'm not picky when it comes to designers; I could find something great to wear from French Connection or Gucci. I have a lot of fun dressing up and deciding what kind of look I want to go for depending on the event."

On the tabloids and press:

"In Hollywood, there is no such thing as being a nice girl. Or being, you know, not messed up. If you're not, they'll make you that way. Nothing is private, and when they write about you, it's almost always completely false."

Does that include her romance with "Heroes" co-star Milo Ventimiglia?

"I'll not comment until the day I die! Denial."

Panettiere is currently co-starring with Julia Roberts in the upcoming drama, "Fireflies in the Garden," and just wrapped, "I Love You, Beth Cooper," in which she plays the token "popular girl."

She's also recording her debut album for Hollywood Records.

"Sex and the City" World Premiere

Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis hit the red carpet for the word premiere of "Sex and the City," held at the Odeon Leicester Square, on May 12, in London, England.