"Funny People" Hits In Theaters With Uneasy Mix Of Humor And Heart

“Funny People” the latest from director Judd Apatow, will implement more dramatic elements than seen in his previous hit comedies “Knocked Up” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”, is all it's cracked up to be, and has its share of crude jokes about body parts. At its heart, though, is a somber story about a famous comedian, Adam Sandler stars as George Simmons, whose personal life is sorely lacking. He cheated on his one great love, Laura (Leslie Mann), and spends his middle-aged days — and nights — pursuing a string of meaningless dalliances. A medical diagnosis prompts him to take stock of his unexamined life. George is by turns funny, imperious, engaging and self-obsessed but always compelling. It is easily Sandler's best and most multi-faceted performance.

"Funny People" may not be Apatow's funniest movie, however, and more interestingly, it's his best film, deep and rich and unexpectedly honest while still being remarkably funny. It is a true brass ring effort, a reach for excellence that takes big risks. Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, takes a decidedly less funny path to storytelling at times when talking about the mortality of its main character. We know that comedy can always lead to drama and vice versa, so we explore some of the funny people who've traversed the invisible thread between the two genres, and comment on their journey.

Mariah Carey | "Obsessed" (Video)

The five-time Grammy winner, Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970 in NY), was the most successful artist of the 1990s and ranked as the best-selling female artist of the U.S., with sales of over 200 million albums worldwide. The new quasi-hit "Obsessed" is the lead single from her 12th forthcoming studio album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel", is due out Sept 15. The singer described the song as an "uptempo fun summer record", pop diva said that even though she wanted to release a ballad, "Obsessed" had to come out 1st because she wanted "a fun summer moment to kick off the album."
Mariah has played a lot of parts in her music videos, usually opting for a vixen of some sort. But the video for "Obsessed" directed by Brett Ratner, she took on a whole new role as a male stalker. The pop star relished the idea of going incognito and spending some time as a regular person on the streets of New York. Mariah alters her appearance to play her stalker by wearing a fake goatee along with male clothing. The video was inspired by scenes from the 2004 film, "Mean Girls". The video was debuted July 15 on "America's Got Talent" show. Mariah will also perform the song on the August 5, episode of "America's Got Talent" and will make a performance at the 26th annual MTV Video Music Awards, will be held on September 9, according to Rap-Up.

"Whiteout" Movie Trailer Officially Arrives

The brand-new official trailer for the upcoming Kate Beckinsale's new ice-cold thriller 'Whiteout' has finally surfaced on IGN. The Warner Bros's new thriller, based on the 1998 graphic novel, directed by Dominic Sena, Shooting in Quebec, Canada has been one of the most weirdly under-publicized movies of the year since early summer of 2007, and will hits theaters on September 11.
Kate plays a lone U.S. marshal, Carrie Stetko, who is as anxious as anyone to be going home, but the only one assigned to Antarctica's South Pole research base, where “nature never intended you to survive, the most isolated landmass on the planet, no permanent population, 120 Below zero temp, 200 mph of wind, no horizon, no shadows, there is only...WHITE!" to investigate the continent's 1st homicide. However, more importantly, “Nature is not the only thing to fear…” Now with only 3 days until the onset of a 6-month winter, and everyone around her packing up and getting out, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into 6 months of darkness winter, and she is stranded with the killer on a land where nothing comes in and no one gets out. 'Whiteout' definitely ratchets up the suspense a notch or two. Enjoy!

Fabolous: "Loso's Way" Arrives In Stores Today

American rapper, Fabolous was born John David Jackson on November 18, 1977 in NYC. Fabolous has released 4 albums so far, which have collectively sold over 3 million copies in the US. "Loso's Way" is his 5th studio album, to be arrived in stores and online today. The new album includes 16 tracks, and the movie to his project.
After nearly one full decade at the absolute pinnacle of the rap game, Desert Storm/Def Jam artist Fabolous will deliver the most personal, confessional album of his career, a broader idea of who he is as an artist and a person. The new album provides an intimate glimpse into the rise of the Brooklyn-born rapper, one of today's most important and controversial players, exploring the perils that come with managing the transition from the street life to one of legitimacy, a hip-hop artist.

"Loso’s Way" aims to derail that tendency, and to prove once and for all that Fabolous has what it takes to hold his own as a solo artist. "Loso’s Way", delivers on every front once again, and may be the 1st completely focused album Fabolous has ever dropped, and the results confirm what all the hype was for in the 1st place.

"G-Force" Ends "Potter" Magic At Box Office

Everything went according to plan this weekend... The 3-D "G-Force", an elite squad of guinea pigs has worked its own brand of magic at the North American box office, taking the #1 spot with $32.2 million from boy wizard "Harry Potter"($30m) over the three-day weekend at 37 international locations, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Walt Disney release from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, with its mixture of live action and computer-generated animation, is a "Mission: Impossible"-style adventure. This is the 1st live-action Disney film to be produced in Disney Digital 3-D. It was released in the US last Friday.

The story is about a team of specially trained secret agent guinea pigs that takes on a mission for the US government to stop a diabolical billionaire, who plans to taking over the world with household appliances. According to Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com, the strong run of "G-Force" has benefited from a "great marketing campaign and a premise that had people scratching their heads while simultaneously grabbing the family." The number was a slightly greater 3-D share than "Up" and "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" had in their debuts.

JLS Tops UK Singles Chart With "Beat Again"

The British boyband JLS (Jack The Lad Swing) went straight in at the top of the UK Singles Chart on last Sunday with their brand new single "Beat Again." The 4-member R&B band, who were runners-up in the 5th series of ITV reality talent show "The X Factor" last year, coming 2nd to Alexandra Burke, but now they have the biggest-selling #1 debut single this year, has now replaced Gaga's "Just Dance", and Pixie Lott's "Mama Do", and took the #1 spot from Euro-pop band Cascada. "Beat Again" sold over 100,000 copies to be crowned the biggest selling first week, the Official Charts Company said, with only Dizzee Rascal's Bonkers having higher weekly sales in 2009.

JLS appear to be a boyband on the brink of success. Industry insiders are already heralding them as the biggest and most successful launch since Westlife a decade ago. Their single "Beat Again" shot to the top of the charts this week and is shaping up to be one of the hits of the summer. The band's website is the 3rd biggest in the world for a Sony act, trailing only Beyoncé and American Idol's Adam Lambert. George Ergatoudis, head of music at Radio 1, says: "There's definitely room for an exciting new boy band, to strike a balance with all the great new female artists." JLS is due to release their debut album later in the year, and have inked a contract with Epic stateside.

Miranda Lambert | "Dead Flowers" (Video)

Miranda Lambert (born November 10, 1983 in Texas) brings us a heartbreaking new video , which shows her relationship has reached a crossroads in latest project, "Dead Flowers", a lead-off single for her upcoming 3rd studio album,"Revolution", which will be released on September 29th.
The song is a ballad about a love gone bad, driven by acoustic guitar and percussion. The narrator is saddened by the images of dead flowers and Christmas lights that are burned out, that symbolize their current relationship. The song from Miranda's personal experience. "I had some flowers that I got for Valentines Day in a vase on the kitchen table. I was going on the road so I had to throw them in the yard. They were just laying there and it was a really sad image. The song came to me right away and was one of those ones that kinda wrote itself."

The music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, and was released to CMT on July 16, 2009. The video begins with Miranda sitting at a table with a vase of dead flowers. She gets up and walks into the kitchen, where Christmas lights lay strung across the counter. Miranda is then shown performing in the living room with fans blowing on her hair, while a man is watching from the couch beside her. After that, she is shown outside the house in and in front of her car, with more lights hung up on her house.
This is a career song for Miranda, and it's so powerful and very emotional. I love this song ... Miranda is great country!

"Orphan" | Hits in Theaters Today (Movie)

Devastated by the tragic loss of their unborn child, and struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt a child. At the local orphanage, both find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther. But when an alarming series of events begins to unfold, leading wife, Kate to believe that there's something wrong with Esther ... Can you keep a secret? You'll never guess her secret ... don't even try it since it may be too late ... for everyone.

Dark, edgy, effective, clever, intense, and blackly comic - one of the best evil-kid movie with a fresh, inventive twist, and the most terrifying horror endings. The experience becomes more entertaining because of what we don't see coming. It's so strongly and brilliantly cast - Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard are top-notch as usual, and 12-year-old Isabelle Fuhrman delivers a title performance so unsettling that it's left Warner Brothers convinced that it has a sleeper hit on its hands. With all that said, "Orphan" proved to be one of the more entertaining movies of the year, though not, I'm afraid, for all of the reasons the filmmakers surely intended.

Film Review | "Somers Town" - Two Lads Living Near the Chunnel's End

From British director Shane Meadows (This Is England), who takes the helm for this monochromatic childhood drama, "Somers Town" follows 2 teenage boys Tomo and Marek, both newcomers to London, adrift in an adult world, who develop a mutual trust and acceptance through an unlikely friendship over the course of a hot summer, and their efforts not to turn out like their aimless fathers - but it's only a matter of time before Marek's dad discovers what's going on...
Shane hits the spot with this short but sweet slice of good natured comedy, surprisingly, as it’s essentially an extended black & white advert for a train station. It is proof that there are all sorts of teenage lives going on in Britain, and sometimes, their most magical moments take place on dead-end streets. "Somers Town" is one of the most charming coming-of-age films in years, everything about this film says "gentle and tender," from the friendship between the two boys -- I've to use all kind of words to say that "Somers Town" is a charming, hilarious, witty, uplifting, heartwarming, and funny gem with a heart of gold.

"Somers Town" released by Film Movement, and opens at Film Forum in Manhattan on last Wednesday, through July 28. The DVD will be available to subscribers on August, and available to the public on December 8, 2009.

"WATCHMEN" | Available On Blu-ray And DVD

"Watchmen", Zack Snyder's big-screen version of Alan Moore's beloved graphic novel gets the broad strokes right, telling a sexy, blood-spattered story about a band of discredited heroes who reunite to solve the murder of one of their own. The film is set in a gritty and alternate 1985 America, the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown, but after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered, an investigation into the killer is initiated, which begins to lead to a much more terrifying conclusion. The reunited outlaw heroes -- including Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino), Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) and Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson) -- unite to defend themselves, and to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so discover a deeper and far more diabolical plot.
Comic books and movies both tell stories with pictures, but "Watchmen" demonstrates that the animating spirit of a rich, fully realized graphic novel may be as hard to transfer to the screen as that of any other type of successful literary work. "Watchmen" shows it's time for the superior superhero. First "The Dark Knight", now the even darker "Watchmen" - is the serious side of comic book heroes the future for movies?

The new "Watchmen" DVD is no change in popularity this week, with Director’s cut, boasts an additional 24 minutes of footage not previously seen in theaters as well as a second disc loaded with special features.

Jordin Sparks | "Battlefield" (Sophomore Album)

The American Idol Season 6 winner, Jordin Sparks' 2nd studio album "Battlefield" hit stores today. Most reviewers agree Sparks' 2nd attempt trumps her 1st. Hear the album on AOL Music's Free Full CD Listening Party (Please note this listening party expires July 26th). You can also listen to select songs off the album on AOL Radio's Fresh 40 Station! The 19-year-old does prove why she deserved the 2007 "American Idol" crown. The 12-track set album named after the 1st single "Battlefield" because it was central to the themes and other recordings for the album, which is a mixture of contemporary R&B and pop although many critics have cited dance-pop and pop-rock influences. The majority of the songs are sad love ballads, but Jordin fails to make listeners emotionally connect.

The youngest-ever winner of American Idol said that "To me, the title 'Battlefield' is about strength and perseverance, things can go from good to bad in an instant, it could be family, friendship or work; and my favorite line in the song is, 'you better go and get your armor,' because it's telling you to be prepared for that time so that you can overcome it."

"Torchwood: Children Of Earth" Air On BBC America Tonight

Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones return for a brand-new adventure in "Torchwood: Children Of Earth", the 3rd series of the British TV Sci-fi series, to be aired tonight at 9p.m. on BBC America, who is cleverly presenting "Torchwood: Children Of Earth" as a five-mini-consecutive-night event prior to a scheduled DVD release that will come mere days later.

At 8:40 London time one morning, every child in the world stops. Just stops. They freeze in motion, in homes and at day-care centers, on playgrounds and in crosswalks. Baffling adults and even causing accidents. A moment later, they’re back to normal – but it’s quickly clear that nothing is normal and something otherworldly is involved.

Captain Jack leads a special team that deals with alien threats, and in the suspenseful five-night miniseries, the Torchwood team faces one of their biggest menaces ever. The five nights of strong acting, humor, drama and writing that's about very high stakes, and that wants to challenge our brains rather than massage them to sleep. This is the best political Science Fiction miniseries of recent years. No US drama would dare push things this far.

Lindsay Lohan: "Labor Pains" Premieres On ABC Family Tonight.

What do you do when you’re struggling to get by and you realize your boss is about to fire you? Well, check out the new original movie "Labor Pains", premieres on ABC Family tonight. The plot is that a *clueless* secretary, Thea (Lindsay Lohan) is stuck in a dead-end job at a military publishing house that she can't afford to lose. When her evil boss starts hinting that he’s about to fire her, in a panic, she quickly makes up a lie that she’s pregnant. The word gets out quick and now she's milking her one big lie for everything it's worth.

Whatever her press, Lindsay Lohan (was born in New York City, on 2 July 1986) delivers a great performance in "The Parent Trap", "Freaky Friday", "Mean Girls", and now "Labor Pains". This is a REALLY smart and funny film -- well worth seeing and far better than the usual comedic maternity genre. Rest of cast is excellent as well. I'll say Lindsay's new comedy "Labor Pains" may not be a blockbuster comeback, but hey, she showed up, there were no major scenes, she finished it and though there have been mixed reviews, most critics say her strong performance is the best part of the movie. I think its gonna be great for Lindsay!

"30 Rock" & "Mad Men" Lead Emmy Nominees

61st Emmy nominations have been announced Thursday morning. A recent rule change by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences increased the number of nominees in major categories to allow for new faces and series to share the spotlight with Emmy veterans.

Tina Fey's NBC satire-rich sitcom, "30 Rock" received a leading 22 Emmys, the most any comedy series has received in Emmy history, while the '60s retro series, AMC's stylish, "Mad Men" led the drama pack with 16 bids. Both were big winners last year, taking best comedy series and best drama, respectively.

I have to say, "Mad Men" is just fantastic, and the best show ever. "30 rock" is a fun series but it is too silly. Also some of the best series on TV I really liked are coming up empty in the major categories, and failed to earn nods, such as "Grey's Anatomy(ABC)", "True Blood(HBO)" and "Friday Night Lights(NBC)". By the way, the Mad Men: Season 2's DVD was also just released on Tuesday.

The Emmy Awards will host by Neil Patrick Harris Sept. 20 on CBS from the Nokia Theatre in LA. Check Emmys for full list of Nominees.

Brooke White Reveals Her 1st Music Video 'Radio Radio' Free On iTunes.

People enjoy listening to radios as seen in the Brooke's 1st music video for her new single 'Radio Radio', has just come out. In the video, she is captured sitting behind the piano in a recording booth. It also includes several scenes where people turn on their radios and listen to their favorite songs. Opening with "Radio Radio," Brooke begins her piano adventures backed by a simple beat and bassline. Lyrics suggest she's a bit lonely or lost and is looking for a song on the radio that will inspire her and possibly even make her want to dance.

"Radio Radio" is the latest single appearing in "High Hopes & Heart Break", the American Idol season 7 contestant's 2nd album, but the 1st post-Idol album, will be available on July 21. "High Hopes & Heartbreak" is nothing short of that, filled with melodies and piano riffs that touch the heart and brings back simple songwriting that still makes an impact. Again, the new album is now offering exclusively on iTunes for a limited-time price of $7.99, and the video is now available on iTunes for free. Click here to download free music video 'Radio Radio'. Check out Brooke's Full CD Listening Parties.

Whitney Houston "I Look To You" Album Cover Revealed

Whitney Houston (born August 9, 1963 in New Jersey) is about to drop one of the most highly anticipated albums of the decade. She premiered tracks from her upcoming album "I Look To You" last night at London’s Hotel. The Producer, Clive Davis, who discovered the singer and shepherded her career, was also on hand to present 9 unfinished songs from her long-awaited comeback LP.

The new album will be the music legend’s 7th studio album and her 1st in 7 years. Whitney describing the album as “a labor of love”. She said: “I hope that these songs stay with you for a lifetime.” The diva had 7 consecutive albums certified multi-platinum; the only music artist in history to have done so.

The R&B recording artist also officially unveiled the album’s cover artwork. Please take a first look at the cover right here! Wearing an elegant one-shoulder sliver and white striped dress, the singer looks refreshed and beautiful as she stands solo on the cover of her first album of original material since 2002. As Rolling Stone previously reported, "I Look To You", Houston’s 1st non-Christmas LP since 2002’s Just Whitney, will be slated to hit stores on September 1st.

1. “Million Dollar Bill” (Swizz Beatz/Alicia Keys)
2. “Nuthin’ But Love” (Danja)
3. “Call You Tonight” (Stargate/Johnta Austin)
4. “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” (David Foster/Diane Warren)
5. “Like I Never Left” (Akon/Claude Kelly)
6. “For the Lovers” (Danja/Claude Kelly)
7. “I Look to You” (Harvey Mason/Tricky Stewart/R. Kelly)
8. “Worth It” (Eric Hudson/Johnta Austin)
9. “A Song for You” (Stargate/Leon Russell)

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" Opens In Theaters

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”('Harry Potter 6') is the 6th fantasy-adventure film series based on J.K. Rowling’s books, opens in more than 4,200 U.S. and Canadian theaters today at 12:01 a.m., and may take in $155 million in its first five days, estimates Jeff Hartke, an analyst at Los Angeles-based Hollywood Stock Exchange, which forecasts film performance.

The 6th movie was originally scheduled to open last November, but was pushed into this summer to fill in the gap left by last year’s Writers’ Guild strike. That created a two-year space between films that has been the longest of the series. Unlike the books, “Half-Blood Prince” is not the next-to-last movie. For the final installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the filmmakers are going back to their old idea and splitting the massive book into two movies coming in 2010 and 2011. Interestingly, after two PG-13 movies, “Prince” is rated PG, but from the looks of the new trailer, it stands to be as action-packed and emotional as any of the previous films.

As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past. Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was.

How Crazy Are Harry Potter Fans? Do you really need me to answer that question? Do you still remember the 1st film in 2001? Actually, the Harry Potter books might have ended two years ago, but as the Harry Potter Alliance illustrates, its rabid fans aren't going anywhere... I'll say that 'Harry Potter 6' is possibly one of the only, if not the only, movie in the series that stays true to the novel on which it is based.

Daughtry | "Leave This Town" (2nd Album)

Daughtry releases his rock band's 2nd album, "Leave This Town" today. There would be 14 songs on the record, but 5 bonus tracks in different stores. Chris cowrites with a host of mainstream rock hitmakers, including members of Lifehouse, Three Days Grace and Nickelback. “Leave This Town” is what happens when a formula turns into a cliché.

Chris Daughtry was born December 26, 1979 in North Carolina. He is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band 'Daughtry'. Chris became the most successful 4th-place finisher in “American Idol” history in 2006 when his self-titled debut album sold 4 million copies.

Chris's sturdy rock presence and distinctive vocal style won the hearts and minds of American Idol Season 5 fans across the globe. He is by far the fans' favorite and is consistently singled out as the most talented performer in every review of the tour: 'Daughtry proved that he's b far the most talented performer in Idol history.' by St. Petersburg Times.

My favorite singles: "Feels Like Tonight", "Home", and "It's Not Over". Find more @ daughtry's official, Facebook, and MySpace.

"Brüno" Tops Weekend Box Office With $30.4M

It was a "wunderbar" weekend for comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, whose latest mockumentary, Brüno, finished 1st at the box office by grossing $30.4 million, according to early estimates by Hollywood.com Box Office. However, Cohen better celebrate his victory quickly because like his gay Austrian fashion reporter character's interview with Congressman Ron Paul, it's not going to last too long. Bruno topped the charts on opening day Friday but had a huge drop the rest of the weekend. Clearly, many of Cohen's fans rushed to see Bruno on its opening day, but that considerable Friday-to-Saturday drop may also indicate poor word-of-mouth (the comedy scored a rancid "C" rating from CinemaScore moviegoers).

Brüno has received some pretty scathing reviews. The Los Angeles Times wrote that it "pile[s] even more stereotypes and discomfort onto an already hostile climate." And even Fox News asked the question, "Is Bruno harmful to gay and lesbian causes, or just really funny?" The Christian group also wants cities to Brüno because it says the movie is offensive and loaded with inappropriate sexual content.

"Eli Stone" The Final Episode Aired on ABC Tonight

"Eli Stone" is an American TV comedy-drama produced by ABC Studios. The TV series was officially premiered on Thursday, January 31, 2008. The finale episode "Flight Path" of your canceled-but-loved shows aired on ABC tonight.

Eli Stone (Jonny Miller) was an average heartless attorney in San Francisco, he begins to see things, which leads him to discover a brain aneurysm, which is causing hallucinations. The hallucinations cause Eli to become alienated by his peers and soon his life takes a detour, it leads him to accept cases with little monetary gain but a lot of moral goodness. Despite the fact that he is not religious, he interprets his hallucinations as signs, helping people in accepting lawsuits in hopes of bettering their lives.

Farewell, Eli Stone, we'll miss your wacky visions, elaborate musical numbers, interesting guest stars and entirely unrealistic legal hijinks.

Kelly Clarkson To Release “Already Gone” As Next Single.

Kelly Clarkson is getting ready to promote the 3rd new CD single "Already Gone", which was lifted from her 4th studio album "All I Ever Wanted", and produced by hit-maker Ryan Tedder. The new CD cover is released along with several photos taken from the set of the music video.
The cover art is a close shot of Kelly with a glittery teardrop below her left eye. The single is scheduled to be released on August 24 in U.K. and around the same time in U.S. The music video, which is seen through the photos having a gold and elegant tone, was directed by Joseph Kahn and shot on June 20. No premiere date yet for the video.

Jim Kerr: "Belfast Child" (#1 UK single '89)

James "Jim" Kerr (born in Glasgow on 9 July 1959) is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, famous for his work with the rock band Simple Minds from Scotland. They achieved five UK number one albums, and a number one single "Belfast Child" from their album "Street Fighting Years" in 1989. The song "Belfast Child" uses the music from the Irish folk song "She Moved Through the Fair", but has completely different words. It is also known as the "Ballad of the Streets".

Today is Jim's 50th birthday, and I'd like to share his video which is released 20 years ago with you again. The video to the song was shot in black and white and displays poignant footage of children and the destruction of the bombing. Happy 50th birthday, Jim!!!

Green Day's New '21 Guns' Video

"21 Guns" is the 2nd single from Green Day, the pop-punk masters' 8th studio album, "21st Century Breakdown" gets an appropriately dramatic, melancholy visual treatment. The single exemplify the themes of alienation and politically-motivated anger present in the record, and it will release on July 14, 2009 as a CD single.

In the band's brand-new video clip, the guys and a young couple face a siege of gunshots in a disheveled motel room. While nothing particularly earth-shattering, the nicely-shot video does the song justice. The video is also slightly shorter than the song as the violin parts are cut out and the guitar solo was shortened by about twenty seconds. The music video was directed by Marc Webb, filmed in LA on June 6, 2009, and premiered on MySpace on June 22, 2009.

Green Day has sold over 22 million records in the US since 1987. My favorite singles from Green Day are 'Time of Your Life'(12/23/97), 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams'(1/11/05), and 'Wake Me Up When September Ends'(6/13/05).

Michael Jackson's memorial underway in LA (Live Blog)

I watched full event through MSNBC TV Live coverage today, and here are the highlights:

A few hours before fans gathered at the Staples Center for the public tribute, Michael Jackson's family and close friends said a private goodbye to the pop icon at an early morning ceremony at Forest Lawn cemetery. A hearse carrying Michael Jackson’s golden casket has left and now apparently heading to a public memorial in downtown Los Angeles.

The memorial service for Michael Jackson has begun with readings from veteran singer Smokey Robinson at 10:12a.m. at the Staples Center. He reading comments from Nelson Mandela, Diana Ross and other friends of the “King of Pop.” Following a long silent period inside the venue, piano music and a gospel choir kicked things off with a stained-glass motif in the background.

"There's nothing that can't be done if we raise out voice as one." A lot of friends have taken to the stage to spoke or perform, such as Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Brooke Shields, and Al Sharpton, and others.

Social networking site Twitter has been bombarded with messages from people attending the Jackson memorial service.

I was trying to attend the event, but unfortunately, I got an email Monday morning from "The Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service at STAPLES Center" that "Thank you for your registration. Sorry, we regret to inform you that your registration to attend the Public Memorial Service for Michael Jackson was not selected. Hundreds of thousands registered, but only a few can be in attendance."(8,750 memorial tickets chosen from 1.6 million online applicants.)

"Knowing" [DVD] : My Pick Of This Week

Nicolas Cage stars as a college professor at MIT, who uncovers a dark, startling secret in a time capsule buried at his son's elementary school. It contains a coded document accurately predicting the details of every major disaster of the past 50 years, including 3 cataclysmic events that have not yet occurred. With time running out, he sets out to prevent these deadly prophecies from coming true.
Overall, the movie "Knowing" was a thought-provoking action movie. With twists and turns around almost every corner, proyas really gave us something different than the norm. I would recommend this one as a rental as it’s not so much a “theater” film. Take it at face value but there is some truth to it. The beginning and end don’t necessary match up.

I like Nicolas' movies, and please check out the movie trailer.

Susan Boyle Records Her First Track For New Album

Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle (born April 1, 1961) has recorded her first track, which has already been praised by the toughest critic on television Simon Cowell. "I've cut one track with her and she sounds fantastic on record. She's so good, the album is not just going to be showtunes. We're going to take our time with this," the Sun quoted Cowell as saying. When Boyle had first appeared on Britain's Got Talent, she said that she aspired to become a musical theatre singer "as successful as" Elaine Paige.
The 48-year-old Scottish singer had performed a rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables in the first round of the third series of Britain's Got Talent, which was watched by over 10 million viewers when it aired on April 11, 2009. The one of most amazing things I have EVER seen!

For more info, please click Susan's Official Site, Fan Site, and Facebook.

Exclusive First Listen: Moby, 'Wait For Me' @NPR

The New York-based musician and the electronic artist, Richard Hall (born September 11, 1965), better known by his stage name "Moby", put out his new 9th studio album "'Wait For Me'" this Tuesday, which was made in his home studio. What a beautiful ambient record and a nice surprise!

"Wait For Me" is a melancholic, solacing, cathartic and poignant masterpiece replete with captivating musical soundscapes. The guest female vocalists are great. It’s been a whole year since Moby’s last studio album so these 16 new exemplary singles come in eagerly awaited. A dynamic mixture of vocal and instrumental tracks by a musical visionary.

Moby spoke about this album in a interview that "I want to make a really emotional, beautiful record. I don't know if I will succeed, but my goal is to make something very personal, very melodic, very beautiful." Moby’s music is exceptional. He has always had a thing for the blues, and always causes folks to turn their heads and ears in his direction. Totally alluring, I like them all.

Get your first listen to the entire album at NPR Music, and click above image for Moby's MySpace or check out his official website.

"Two Lovers": The Top DVD Released This Week

Sometimes we leave everything to find ourselves. "Two Lovers" is a film never feels dark or gloom-laden. The performances are so sensitive, so convincing, that we are drawn inescapably into a real world of pain and solace. James Gray Directed his strong cast to a resolution that is both surprising and entirely realistic. It keeps a grip on you.

The film is about a bachelor (Phoenix) torn between the family friend his parents wish he would marry and his beautiful but volatile new neighbor, set in Brooklyn, NYC. The conflict with the safe lifestyle of the family vs striking out on your own is spot on.

"Two Lovers" is a far cry in insight from Hollywood's idealized romantic dramas. I would HIGHLY recommend. Click above image for the official website.

Ashley Tisdale | "It's Alright, It's OK" (Video)

"It's Alright, It's Ok" is lead single by pop singer and Disney star Ashley Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) for her new sophomore album "Guilty Pleasure", which will drops in North America on July 28. The single package comes with the song and music video. This music video was shot on March 24 in a Beverly Hills mansion and directed by Scott Speer.



The track is a bit of a departure from what we’ve come to expect from the High School Musical star – it’s a little edgier with a slightly heavier rock sound. I think it’s great that she’s trying to experiment with a new sound and expand her talents. The most songs I liked by Ashley were "Time After Time" and "Unlove You". But this one a bit different, it sounds amazing, and looks incredible. Please enjoy!!!

"Public Enemies" Premiers In Theaters Today

"Public Enemies" is a superstar action-thriller, and incredible true story, about the Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger (Depp) in an attempt to curb a rampant Midwest crime spree during the 1930s. Based on Bryan Burrough's non-fiction book, "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34."

Obviously, there is never any guarantee about whether or not a movie will fulfill your expectations, but there are certain movies that, based on the talent involved, just look too good to doubt, and Public Enemies looks like one of those movies.

Humboldt Park native Michael Mann's new film Public Enemies is a grave and beautiful work of art, and has made an impressive film of great formal skill, one that inescapably has a brooding dark-night-of-the-soul quality about it, and one which portrays the life and death of one of the Chicago's most notorious criminals. And you can be sure that thousands of Chicagoans, eager to see their city—or at least bits and pieces of their city—up on the big screen will be packing the theaters. So make yourself comfortable, sit back and allow your mind to travel back to that infamous, warm summer evening in downtown Chicago when events were not quite what they appeared to be.

Click on above image for film's Official Website.