Former supermodel Stephanie Seymour can't break old habits as she strikes bizarre poses on beach

She's already been putting on very public shows of affection with the husband she's recently reunited with - but Stephanie Seymour appeared to be putting on a quite different performance on her holiday in St Barts yesterday.
The 42-year-old former supermodel's thoughts are clearly never far from her previous day job as she struck a series of bizarre poses on the sand and in the surf in a flesh-coloured bikini.
A Victoria's Secret Angel and ex of Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose in days gone past, the beauty put her body into a series of odd-looking shapes more suited to a pop video than a family vacation.

Girl on film: Stephanie Seymour frolicked on the beach at St Barts yesterday with her children as if she was in a 1980s pop video

Strike a pose: Stephanie seemed to be throwing some very deliberate shapes 

The brunette is enjoying a beach stay in the Caribbean with three of her children - Peter, 17,  Harry, 13, and daughter Lily, 6 - together with her art-loving paper tycoon husband of 15 years, Peter Brant, 63.

 

The couple revealed in September that they were calling off their acrimonious divorce despite already spending millions each on legal fees and had got back together.

Moves: The mother of four may have been demonstrating a hitherto unknown form of yoga

Sandy: Stephanie, who has reignited her love with husband Peter Brant after a year in the divorce courts, cooled down in the waves

They first announced their split in March 2009 and embarked on a bitter battle rife with allegations of infidelity, drug abuse and wild spending sprees and embroiled their children in the process.
Police were called to the couple's home following Seymour's complaint that Brant's security assaulted her, Brant accused the model of drug use and was seeking sole custody of their three children.

Heady times: The model plunged into the surf in a flesh coloured bikini

At a stretch: The mother-of-four may have been reliving memories of an old photo shoot

Beach bum: The model looked like she was back in the pages of Sports Illustrated

However, their relationship seems to be in great shape now  - much like Stephanie's beach-ready body.

She's had years of practice, however, having started modelling aged just 14.
She went on to grace more than 300 magazine covers and became one of Sports Illustrated's most celebrated swimsuit models - possibly helping her prowess at the seaside poses above.

Back together: Stephanie and formerly estranged husband Peter Brant put on a show of affection earlier in the week at St Barts to show they are very definitely a couple again

Hands on: The model got a helping hand with the suncream from her paper tycoon husband earlier this week

READ MORE - Former supermodel Stephanie Seymour can't break old habits as she strikes bizarre poses on beach

Nicole Kidman: I Wish Children Isabella And Connor Lived With Me

Nicole Kidman speaks the world of her and husband Keith Urban's 2-year old daughter Sunday Rose, but it's not often you hear her speak of her other two children: Connor and Isabella, the two kids she adopted with Tom Cruise during their ten year marriage.
Turns out, it's because she doesn't see much of them.
Kidman gave a rare comment about the children in an interview with Hello! Magazine (via Us Weekly), in which she lamented her relationship with them.
"They live with Tom, which was their choice," she told the magazine. "I'd love them to live with us, but what can you do?"
In 2007, Kidman spoke with People Magazine about the developing living situation, and even then had resigned herself to accept the fate.
"When children are teenagers, they have a say in where they want to be," she said. "My daughter and son, their life is molded by the way I live. If I wasn't willing to take on that responsibility, I shouldn't have adopted them.
"Then it can be argued that you shouldn't have gotten divorced, and that's true, too, but sometimes you don't have a decision in that. People fall out of love, they do."

Nicole Kidman speaks the world of her and husband Keith Urban's 2-year old daughter Sunday Rose, but it's not often you hear her speak of her other two children: Connor and Isabella, the two kids she adopted with Tom Cruise during their ten year marriage.
Turns out, it's because she doesn't see much of them.
Kidman gave a rare comment about the children in an interview with Hello! Magazine (via Us Weekly), in which she lamented her relationship with them.
"They live with Tom, which was their choice," she told the magazine. "I'd love them to live with us, but what can you do?"
In 2007, Kidman spoke with People Magazine about the developing living situation, and even then had resigned herself to accept the fate.
"When children are teenagers, they have a say in where they want to be," she said. "My daughter and son, their life is molded by the way I live. If I wasn't willing to take on that responsibility, I shouldn't have adopted them.
"Then it can be argued that you shouldn't have gotten divorced, and that's true, too, but sometimes you don't have a decision in that. People fall out of love, they do."

PHOTOS:

READ MORE - Nicole Kidman: I Wish Children Isabella And Connor Lived With Me

Jennifer Aniston Distances Herself From Chelsea Handler

Jennifer Aniston was so mortified by Chelsea Handler's dig at her nemesis Angelina Jolie that America's sweetheart has decided to distance herself from the loudmouth comedian and keep her at an arm's length.

"Jen and Chelsea haven't officially fallen out but they certainly won't be going on vacation together for a long time unless Chelsea promises to never talk about Angelina again," a friend of Chelsea's tells me. "She understands that what Chelsea did was out of loyalty, but it didn't help. In fact, it made things worse."
What Chelsea did do was brand Angelina Jolie a home-wrecking whore! "She can rescue as many babies from as many countries as she wants to," Chelsea said during a recent performance. "I don't f***ing believe you ... she gives interviews, 'I don't have a lot of female friends.' Cause you're a f***ing c**t ... you're a f**king b***h."

Unfortunately the remarks came just weeks after spending Thanksgiving with Jennifer in Mexico.

"Jen is a very private person," a friend of Aniston's tells me. "It's one thing to crash Angelina in private; it's another to do it in public. Chelsea should have known better and is feeling Jen's cold shoulder for her mistake."

READ MORE - Jennifer Aniston Distances Herself From Chelsea Handler

Heidi Montag Reveals Plastic Surgery Scars: Bald Spots, Uneven Boobs, Lumpy Legs

It's been just over a year since the day Heidi Montag had ten plastic surgery procedures--a rough year in which she suffered nightmares about her face, husband Spencer pulled down her pants for her to use the bathroom and her plastic surgeon died in a texting-related car crash.
Now Heidi is baring her scars for Life & Style and in an interview tells the magazine she has deep regrets about the surgeries.
See before and after pictures of Heidi here.
Life & Style's press release follows; scroll down for photos and pick up the issue for more.
Heidi Montag was seeking perfection when she famously underwent 10 plastic surgery procedures in November 2009. Now a year later, Heidi reveals her operation-room battle wounds for the first time to Life & Style. "Parts of my body definitely look worse than they did presurgery," she told Life & Style exclusively at a photo shoot on Dec. 2. "This is not what I signed up for."

The former Hills star reveals a series of unsightly scars, red inflammation and uneven body parts including: a 2-inch-long raised blemish under her chin from her chin reduction, two caterpillar-size bald spots along her hairline from a brow lift, a horrifying jagged line behind her ears from having her ears pinned back, lumpy legs and four spots left on her lower back and below the buttocks from botched liposuction, a bright-red mark inside her right nostril, uneven boobs, a stretched mark on her chest and deep scars around her nipples from a second boob job.

"The big dark mark from my chin reduction is probably the most noticeable. But the absolute worst is on my breasts, and the scariest is below my butt cheek," Heidi tells Life & Style. "People have fewer scars from car accidents than I have on my body."

Heidi says the scars are constant reminders that she made a big mistake. "I would love to not be 'plastic girl' or whatever they call me. Surgery ruined my career and my personal life and just brought a lot of negativity into my world. I wish I could jump into a time machine and take it all back. Instead, I'm always going to feel like Edward Scissorhands."
PHOTOS:

READ MORE - Heidi Montag Reveals Plastic Surgery Scars: Bald Spots, Uneven Boobs, Lumpy Legs

Chloe Sevigny Goes Pantsless In Playboy, Talks Vincent Gallo Sex Scene

Chloe Sevigny is the subject of Playboy's January 20Q feature, and in the interview she talks about the final season of 'Big Love,' her infamous oral sex scene in 'Brown Bunny' and her frustrations dating in New York.
Playboy's press release follows; scroll down for a sexy photo and read the whole thing here.
On her regrets about bad-mouthing Big Love to a reporter: "I got into a lot of trouble. It was a huge thing on the Internet. Yeah, I got a little talking-to. [laughs] I don't want to bite the hand that feeds me. I loved being on the show; I love my character and my co-stars. The whole experience has been great. I just felt it was a weaker season than others. I shouldn't have said it. I don't want to offend anybody."
On what to expect in the upcoming final season: "The writers are concentrating a lot more this year on the politics within the family. For viewers who keep asking why Bill and the family keep getting away with everything they do, this season the characters start having to face consequences. Since HBO said that viewers respond to how conservative my character is, she becomes stricter and more conservative. They're dressing me like Hillary Clinton in the 1980s."

On co-star Bill Paxton exposing himself on the show more than the women: "Bill likes to get his kit off, and he looks great. The first season, my character was aggressive in bed, but that changed by the second and third seasons, and there was no sex on season four. I don't know why, and I was confused by that. This season, aside from stuff with the teen characters, sex is still on the back burner. And although I have done nudity on the show, the other girls won't do topless. I don't want to be the show's Samantha, like on Sex and the City--the only woman who'll do nudity. So I refused to do any more and there was a lot of back-and-forth about it."

On her oral sex scene with Vincent Gallo in The Brown Bunny: "What's happened with that is all very complicated. There are a lot of emotions. I'll probably have to go to therapy at some point. But I love Vincent. The film is tragic and beautiful, and I'm proud of it and my performance. I'm sad that people think one way of the movie, but what can you do? I've done many explicit sex scenes, but I'm not that interested in doing any more. I'm more self-aware now and wouldn't be able to be as free, so why even do it?"


On interesting sexual propositions from women: "By the time of Boys Don't Cry I had already spoken in interviews about my sexual experimenting as a young person. It sure seems that I have a pretty strong lesbian fan base because when I'm out, everybody responds to those films. I get letters. Last year I got a weird note on my car: 'If you're bored, me too. Let's meet. Your new neighbor,' signed with the person's initials. It's kind of creepy. Does this person see me in my rented backyard, smoking and lonely?"

On what she looks for in a guy: "I want a guy who is masculine, good with his hands and able to build stuff and who has survival skills. Facial hair is a big turn-on. Most of the kids I hang out with in New York are hipster arty types, but I like a stronger, more physically imposing man--like a lumberjack. I'm also into a little hair pulling. I like boys to be aggressive and allow me to be a little aggressive back."

On her texting relationships: "I've been texting for a year with a couple of guys without ever going on a date with them. The other day I got a text from a boy, but it wasn't hot. I mean, if you're going to text me every day, you haven't seen me for months and you're trying to seduce me, you'd better spice up that text and make it more exciting than 'How was your day? I hope you're having a beautiful one.' Sadly, I haven't been doing a lot of kissing lately."
PHOTO:

READ MORE - Chloe Sevigny Goes Pantsless In Playboy, Talks Vincent Gallo Sex Scene

Elin Nordegren: New Boyfriend?

Elin Nordegren may have a new man in her life, according to British newspaper The Sun.
The paper reports that Tiger Woods' ex-wife and mom of two met her new beau--a 35-year-old South African--at a college in Florida where they both are studying.
"There's been kissing and cuddling but I don't know if it's gone further," a source told The Sun.
According to the National Enquirer, the Swedish ex-model was "shocked" when the "hunky student" kissed her while walking back to her car in the school parking lot.
There have also been reports that Elin is looking to start a family with her new man.
"Elin is already looking ahead to beginning a new expanded family," a source told the National Enquirer.
Tiger is reportedly not taking the news well.

READ MORE - Elin Nordegren: New Boyfriend?

Winona Ryder: 'I Don't Use The Internet'

Winona Ryder isn't likely to be reading this.
"I don't use the Internet," the star told Elle (which noted she "sound[ed] genuinely bewildered"), "but apparently you can find out everything on it."
According to Winona's interview with Elle, she has an iPad--a gift from actor/director/producer Ron Howard--but has yet to put it to use. Her gadget of choice is a BlackBerry.
"I have my e-mail on my BlackBerry, and that's about it. I've never read a blog, ever," she explained to Elle. "I feel like it's taking away that great anticipation of seeing a movie. It used to be you'd hear, like, Al Pacino was making a movie, and you wouldn't know anything about it. And nowadays, you know it all, like how much [the actors] are being paid. I would hate to see a picture of me and the caption reads, 'Is she worth it?' "
Fellow celebrity Prince is, like Winona, less than enamored with the Web.
"The Internet's completely over," he told the Mirror earlier this year.
Read Winona Ryder's interview with Elle here.

READ MORE - Winona Ryder: 'I Don't Use The Internet'

Bieber, Gomez dating again?

London, Dec 11 (IANS) Singer Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have sparked off reports that they are dating again, after the two were spotted walking arm-in-arm.

Gomez and Bieber are close friends, but their relationship has been subject to gossip with reports suggesting the pair is dating, although both of them have laughed it off, reports contactmusic.com.

However, rumours are again making rounds after they were spotted enjoying a breakfast date at International House of Pancakes in Philadelphia.

A source revealed that they were 'cuddly' throughout the meal, and they were later snapped leaving the venue linking arms.

READ MORE - Bieber, Gomez dating again?

What Gets Under Kim Kardashian's Skin?

It seems like keeping up with Kim Kardashian, star of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," has become a national obsession. She is one of the most searched celebrities on the web and just this week Kardashian was announced as the top-earning reality star of the year.

She seems to never slow down. But she did find a few moments to stop by "The Early Show" Thursday to talk about her most recent accomplishments, including her new book, "Kardashian Konfidential," and a new laser hair removal system endorsement.

But what gets under Kardashian's skin?

"Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill asked Kardashian, "So much focus on you. We see you all over the place as we mentioned, which has to be tough. When did you realize you couldn't just go out of the house to do something or run an errand?"

Kardashian answered, "Well, I think that like being in New York, I was twittering, saying, 'Oh, my God I can't stop eating like this,' the hot dogs and nuts and everything on the street corners and I gained 10 pounds. Then all of a sudden you see pictures of me in baggy clothes and I'm pregnant. Stuff like that gets to you, but it comes along with the territory. But it's tricky, you know, because you always feel you have to look a certain way or be a certain way, so I've just kind of given up a little bit, you know, on caring."

Hill responded, "Which is good. You are so confident which is a great message to send."

"Absolutely," Kardashian said.

"Especially to young women," Hill said. "A lot of crazy things written about you, like you were actually pregnant with Kanye's baby at one point. What's the craziest thing you have read about yourself?"

"That was crazy," Kardashian said. "It is funny when I'm linked to people I've never even met before. I don't know, I think being single right now and for the first time, like Kim's going boy crazy because I'm seen out with a few different people, but yet I've been like married and in years-long relationships. People take stories and twist them. I mean, I've heard every plastic surgery rumor you could imagine, I've heard every dating rumor you could imagine. So, you just literally, like, thank God I have my sisters because we can laugh at it together and none of it really matters."

"Great to have them," Hill said. "You clearly have a tight, supportive family."

"I think I couldn't do it without them," Kardashian said. "I think it is really important."

Click on the video below for her full "Early Show" interview:

READ MORE - What Gets Under Kim Kardashian's Skin?

Jolie wants law for paparazzi

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie wants a law to protect celebrities and their families from unscrupulous photographers.

The 35-year-old star has six children with her partner Brad Pitt and the famous family is a regular target for the paparazzi, reports contactmusic.com.

Jolie admits some snappers scare the youngsters by getting too close, and although she doesn't want to stop the photographers doing their job, she wishes a law was in place to force them to keep their distance and use long lenses to avoid unnerving the children.

"I do think and I do hope that there will at some point be laws about how close they can get to children with cameras. Because I think at some point it's going to be clearer that it's emotionally not healthy. And with long lenses, there's no need," she said.

"You know I'm somebody that I would like there to be a law about the distance they have to children. So I think we work for things like that. Something simple and practical," she added.

READ MORE - Jolie wants law for paparazzi

Winona Ryder In Elle: Wants Kids, Mistrusts Men

Winona Ryder plays a washed-up ballerina in 'Black Swan,' but in an interview with Elle she says that the real-life dry spell in her acting career is self-inflicted.
"If I don't relate to the [project], even if it's something that I should do, it's hard for me to say yes," she said. "I'm the type who'd rather not work than work on something I'm not into. I've done that a couple of times, and I feel like I can totally see it in my performance."
Winona, 39, hopes she "knock on wood" has kids one day and tells the magazine she has trouble meeting men who like her for the right reasons.
"I remember being at this bar called Tosca in San Francisco, and I met this guy one night," she said. "He was really cute, and we were talking, and then, like, he just said something about how he had always had a crush on me. And I was suddenly mistrustful about why he was talking to me. I wanted to be just a normal girl flirting with a normal guy. It's like you meet people, and they know this stuff about you. It's why you want to meet somebody who's in the same business, only because they understand more. But you don't necessarily want to be with another actor."
Read the whole interview here and see photos of Winona and Natalie Portman at the 'Black Swan' premiere here.
PHOTOS:

READ MORE - Winona Ryder In Elle: Wants Kids, Mistrusts Men

Blake Lively & Ryan Gosling Get Cozy in New York

Blake Lively and Ryan Gosling

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Hahn-Nebinger-Orban/Abaca

Ryan Gosling's new movie Blue Valentine almost got an NC-17 rating, but the actor kept the flirtation with Blake Lively noticeably G-rated at the film's premiere after-party.

Still, the pair were almost inseparable as they engaged in close conversation Thursday night while the Quintessentially-sponsored event spun around them at The Top of the Standard at the Standard Hotel in New York. At one point, Gosling started to leave Lively's side and the actress yanked him back to continue chatting, according to an observer.

As the party wound down, they headed downstairs to the hotel's Standard Grill to dine with two other companions.

Lively, 23, and Gosling, 30, were first spotted together in October at Disneyland where they took in the sights and some ice cream at the park, an appropriate setting since Gosling once was a Mouseketeer.

Neither of the actors is admitting to anything serious. "She's an incredible actress; she's a good friend," Gosling told PEOPLE at a lunch Thursday for Blue Valentine in New York at the Kimberly Hotel.

When asked generally about romances between actors and actresses, Gosling says, "You're not allowed to have friends in this business."

READ MORE - Blake Lively & Ryan Gosling Get Cozy in New York

Salma Hayek: I Was An Illegal Immigrant

Salma Hayek discussed her Mexican background with V Magazine Spain (via E! Online), revealing that, for a brief time, she was in the United States without legal papers.
After unknowingly have her visa expire, Hayek said that, "I was an illegal immigrant in the United States. It was for a small period of time, but I still did it."
Hayek's reps clarified that she soon returned to her native country to renew the visa, but she still faced plenty of difficulties in Hollywood.
"I had to endure the worst time of all in terms of racial discrimination in Hollywood when i first started out," she said. "It was inconcievable to American directors and producers that a Mexican woman could have a lead role."
Still, the now full American citizen is pleased with how things have changed.
"Hollywood has definitely grown, in embracing the inclusion of Latinos in the world, because, for some time, we didn't exist. We were not part of any stories."

READ MORE - Salma Hayek: I Was An Illegal Immigrant

Depp mourns losing 'Sexiest Man' title

Johnny Depp says he feels "emasculated" by Ryan Reynolds ever since he beat him to clinch the 'Sexiest Man Alive' title.
The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star was awarded the title by People magazine in year 2009 and 2003 but was later dethroned by the younger Hollywood hunk this year.
The 47-year-old actor insists he is still trying to get over his defeat. "I feel emasculated. I feel like I've been beaten down like some horrible . You know, like some pathetic harp seal. But, I mean, that's how it goes, isn't it?," he quipped.
Meanwhile, Depp who recently finished filming 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' has no plans to aim the honour for a third time. "I think I can work my way forward, but will I try for it again? No. I worked so hard to gain that title," he said.
Reynolds, 34, was named the 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People in November but insisted that he had to face a lot of ridicule from his friends, family and wife Scarlett Johansson.

READ MORE - Depp mourns losing 'Sexiest Man' title

Aretha Franklin Has Pancreatic Cancer

WJBK FOX 2 News in Detroit confirms that Franklin has cancer. A family insider told the station that she's doing, "OK," but they ask for the public's prayers.
PREVIOUSLY:
A week after undergoing surgery for a mystery illness, the National Enquirer reports (via PopCrunch) that famed singer Aretha Franklin has incurable pancreatic cancer.
The surgery, labeled a success, came under mysterious circumstances. This is the first time this illness has been reported. In November, she canceled all concerts through May 2011 due to "medical reasons."
The Enquirer's report lists pancreatic survival rates at 5-10%, and even lower for someone of Franklin's age and weight.

READ MORE - Aretha Franklin Has Pancreatic Cancer

Why Is Michelle Williams' Sex Scene Rated NC-17 While Natalie Portman's Is R?

For all the hype about Natalie Portman's steamy lesbian sex scene with Mila Kunis in 'Black Swan,' the scene was still tame enough to earn an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America's ratings board, which means it can (and will) be shown in theaters all over the country. Like Portman, Michelle Williams is on the receiving end of an oral sex scene in 'Blue Valentine' (opening Dec. 31). Despite the similarity of the scenes, however, the Williams scene earned her film an NC-17 rating, which would keep it out of most mainstream theaters, out of the movie-section ads in many newspapers and off the shelves of most mainstream DVD retailers.

The directors of both films acknowledge a double standard at work here, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times article, however, merely hints at what the reasons might be for such a double standard, saying only that the 'Blue Valentine' scene is more "emotionally authentic" than the 'Black Swan' scene -- which is to say, it's more convincing and realistic and less fantasy-like. That's certainly one possible reason, but there are others that go unmentioned in the article.

'Black Swan' Trailer

[Warning: The following paragraph contains spoilers about 'Black Swan' and 'Blue Valentine.'] One striking similarity about the two sex scenes is that there's no explicit nudity in them. In 'Black Swan,' Portman and Kunis are rival ballerinas who bond one night over alcohol and then harder drugs. They wind up in bed together and, in a discreetly shot scene, most of the action takes place on Portman's face as she reacts to Kunis' oral ministrations. In 'Blue Valentine,' Ryan Gosling and Williams are a couple going through the highs and lows of their relationship. An early high point is shown when Gosling pleasures Williams, in a scene discreetly shot in a single take, from the side of the bed. [End spoilers.]

Both scenes are about the characters letting go of their inhibitions. Both are arguably crucial to the plot. But the Williams scene is all about pleasure and emotional intimacy. The Portman scene is creepier and more surreal, reflecting the character's drug high and her ongoing psychological breakdown. The viewer is meant to consider the possibility that the scene isn't even actually happening, that it's just a fantasy, a hallucination.

The surreality of the Portman scene may be one reason the ratings board found it less taboo than the Williams scene. It's pretty rare, after all, for a mainstream Hollywood movie to depict with seriousness, realism and frankness a woman's pleasure. Sure, you'll see characters talk about it or fake it elaborately for comic effect (the deli scene in 'When Harry Met Sally' comes to mind) or gloss it over with soft-focus lighting and lush strings. You'll also see it presented in a deliberately unreal way, as in 'Black Swan.' But to see it unvarnished, presented as is, in 'Blue Valentine' is apparently just too much for the ratings board.

"The essence of our film is that it's intimate and emotional and the sex doesn't feel fake. It's an honest relationship between two people, and it feels real because I have great actors," 'Blue Valentine' director Derek Cianfrance told the Times. "It's as if the MPAA is saying, 'Your actors are good -- but they're too good.'"

'Black Swan' director Darren Aronofsky seems to agree. "I've heard the 'Blue Valentine' scene is more emotionally authentic," he told the Times, noting that he hadn't yet seen the film. But Aronofsky's problem with the ratings board is more that it seems to rate violence more leniently than sex, "which to me seems totally backward."

'Blue Valentine' Clip

The ratings board has spent decades brushing off complaints over its seemingly different standards for sex and for violence. But that may be a red herring to distract from the other possible reason for the different ratings given to 'Black Swan' and 'Blue Valentine,' which is: who made them.

'Black Swan' comes from Fox Searchlight, part of the same studio family as 20th Century Fox, one of the six major studios that make up the MPAA membership and pay its salaries. 'Blue Valentine' is an independently-financed film that was purchased by the Weinstein Company, which is not an MPAA member, and is distributing the film independently. 'Black Swan' stars A-lister Portman and mainstream starlet Kunis ('Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' 'That '70s Show'). 'Blue Valentine' stars Gosling and Williams, two actors known more for little-seen independent films than mainstream blockbusters. 'Black Swan' comes from a well-established director (Aronofsky, whose previous credits include such well-regarded movies as 'The Wrestler' and 'Requiem for a Dream,' and whose next project is a mega-budget superhero sequel, 'The Wolverine,' for 20th Century Fox). 'Blue Valentine' marks the first major fiction feature from Cianfrance, a little-known director of documentaries.

It shouldn't matter, of course, who financed, directed or stars in a film; the ratings board ought to rate it strictly on its own merits. Historically, however, that hasn't been the case. As Kirby Dick asserted in 'This Film Is Not Yet Rated,' his 2006 documentary about the inner workings of the ratings board, the MPAA has historically been more lenient toward the studios that pay the bills (and which generally forbid their directors from making NC-17 movies) than it is to indies who are not members but must submit their films anyway if they want a rating that theater owners will accept as valid. Many independent directors (including Aronofsky, interviewed in Dick's film) have complained over the years that they're held to a harsher standard than their studio counterparts. ('This Film' also showed the ratings board's tendency over the years to give restrictive ratings to movies that display female gratification.)

The 'Blue Valentine' complaint is only the latest in a recent series of gripes about ratings board decisions. The Weinstein Company also complained about the R rating given to 'The King's Speech' for excessive profanity. The film, now in limited release, is earning Oscar buzz for Colin Firth's performance as King George VI (father of Britan's current Queen Elizabeth II), who overcomes a speech impediment in part by unleashing a barrage of swear words. It's an inspirational film that is now beyond the reach of most children because of one scene, but at least mainstream theaters will show it, which is why the Weinsteins decided not to appeal the rating to the MPAA's ratings appeals board. It is, however, appealing the NC-17 rating for 'Blue Valentine,' since that rating could keep it out of most theaters and cost the distributor millions of dollars. The MPAA says it has a policy of not commenting on pending appeals, so it hasn't discussed its reasoning for the 'Blue Valentine' rating.

Granted, Harvey and Bob Weinstein have been accused in the past (when they ran Miramax) of ginning up ratings controversies just to gain extra publicity. Still, one might give them the benefit of the doubt, since they stand to lose money if the NC-17 rating sticks, and since they're supporting Gianfrance's insistence that he won't cut the scene even if the appeal fails.

There is one standard complaint about the ratings board that does not seem to apply here. As Dick documented, the board has historically given harsher ratings to scenes of same-sex coupling than to straight sex scenes. That's certainly not the case with 'Black Swan' and 'Blue Valentine.' The ratings board may have muddled standards regarding female sexual pleasure, profanity and violence, but at least it's no longer quite so fearful of lesbianism. So long as the lesbians are played by household-name actresses in MPAA-member films, and they're not totally naked, and they're not necessarily enjoying themselves, and they might just be fantasizing, that is ...

via Popeater

READ MORE - Why Is Michelle Williams' Sex Scene Rated NC-17 While Natalie Portman's Is R?

The look of love: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie dazzle at the world premiere of The Tourist

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie looked more in love than ever as they posed on the red carpet on Monday night at the world premiere of Angelina's new movie, The Tourist.
The couple were joined at the Ziegfield Theater in New York by Angelina's co-star Johnny Depp amongst other celebrities, but the couple only had eyes for each other.
And it's not surprising as they both looked absolutely gorgeous and every inch the A-list movie stars that they are.

Mutual adoration: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent most of the night gazing lovingly at each other as they posed on the red carpet at last night's world premiere of Angelina's new movie The Tourist in New York

Unreal: The couple looked so perfect that when they posed, at times they looked more like waxworks

Angelina wore a stunning full length white wrap around cashmere Versace gown that was slit to the thigh and she paired the simple yet elegant dress with white Ferragamo high heels.

 

The front of Angelina's chestnut coloured hair was swept-up in a messy top-knot whilst the remainder fell down her back and around her shoulders.
The 35-year old mother of six's hairstyle perfectly showcased her stunning emerald Robert Procop vintage style oblong drop earrings.

Showing his support: Angelina stars in the movie with Johnny Depp, but she only had eyes for Brad last night

Leaning in close: Angelina and Brad embrace as they put on an affectionate display for the cameras

And Jolie's make-up was pure vamp - smoky dark brown eye shadow and black khol eyeliner accentuated her eyes perfectly and she painted her pillowly lips a very pale shade of pink.
Meanwhile her partner of five years looked stylish and smart in a heavy black overcoat over a classic single breasted, straight leg black suit.
Brad's short hair was swept backwards and his goatee beard was trimmed neatly.
Giving a hint to Brad's advancing age, the 46-year-old actor's beard showed more than a little grey hair, though his dark blonde hair remains, as yet, untinged.

Fine form: The sometimes stoic Angelina was in great spirits, smiling happily for the cameras and at one point even throwing her head back and roaring with laughter

Look of love: Brad's love for his partner of five years was highly apparent as he gazed lovingly at her throughout the night

The stunning couple, who are parents to six children, seemed unable to keep their hands, and their eyes off of each other.
And the often stoic Angelina was in great, high spirits -smiling happily as she posed for pictures, and at one point tipping her head back as she roared with laughter.
Several times throughout the evening the cameras caught Brad and Angelina gazing lovingly at each other and they were in almost constant contact, holding hands or lovingly wrapping their arms around each other.

Vampish: Angelina looked every bit the femme fatale with her smoky, kohl lined eyes and light pink lips

At one point the two did manage to take a short break from their love fest, meeting and greeting the masses of fans that had been waiting for hours in the freezing cold in the hope of catching a glimpse of their favourite stars.
Brad and Angelina graciously took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures, sending the devoted crowds into a frenzy of adoration.
The couple clearly weren't bothered or affected at all by the foul mouthed rant that controversial comedienne, and Jennifer Aniston close friend, Chelsea Handler launched against Angelina during a stand-up performance in New Jersey over the weekend.

Leading man: As well as their eyes the couple couldn't keep their hands off each other either, holding hands and wrapping their arms around each other throughout the night

She's a homewrecker, she is,' the 35-year-old said. 'She can rescue as many babies from as many countries as she wants to.
'I don't f***ing believe you. She gives interviews, "I don't have a lot of female friends." Because you're a f***ing c*** ," she continued.
'You're a f***ing b***h!'

Taking a break: Angelina and Brad did manage to take a little time off from adoring each other to meet and greet their masses of fans that had stood for hours in the freezing cold hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols

Johnny Depp attended the premiere solo, without his partner of twelve years, and mother of his two children, French model/actress, Vanessa Paradis.
The 47-year-old was dressed in his usual eclectic style, in a dark brown three piece pinstripe suit, two tone suede brogue shoes, a dark blue silk shirt open at the neck and a couple of old ratty scarves tied around his neck.
The actor wore his shoulder length hair parted in the middle and sported a neatly trimmed 'anchor' style facial hair, which comprises a droopy moustache, hair around the chin line and a little soul patch under the bottom lip.
Johnny finished off his ensemble with a pair of tinted lens, black rimmed round glasses and a pocket watch tucked into his waistcoat, the silver chain exposed and hanging down.

Flying solo: Angelina's co-star Johnny Depp attended the premiere without his long term partner and mother of his two children, French model/singer/actress Vanessa Paradis

Johnny also spent time out in the freezing New York night air, signing autographs and meeting his adoring public.
Angelina and Johnny weren't the only stars from the drama / thriller on the red carpet.
Paul Bettany, who plays an FBI Agent named Acheson, attended with his wife of seven years, Jennifer Connelly.
The 39-year-old British born actor looked very dapper in a smart and stylish, black single-breasted suit, crisp white dress shirt and slim black tie.
Meantime, Connelly, who is usually a red carpet fashion favourite, looked like she'd come direct from finishing the school run.

Fan favourite: Depp also spent some considerable time signing autographs and posing for photos in the cold New York night air

The 39-year-old New Yorker wore a frumpy, unflattering, shapeless print dress that came to just above the knee and a black leather bikers jacket.
Connelly finished off her look with a simple black clutch bag and fussy, clunky, laced-up ankle tie sandals.
Brooke Shields was also a total fashion fail. The usually stylish 45-year-old former model was looking decidedly mumsy in an oyster coloured silk wrap over blouse which she tucked into some plain, wide leg black trousers.
Grammy winning singer, Ashanti Douglas seemed to favour comfort, and keeping warm over style.
The 30-year-old wore some tight black leather and lycra leggings which she tucked into a pair of snakeskin peep toe booties.

Mixed bag: Usually stylish Brooke Sheilds (L) looked frumpy in an oyster coloured silk blouse and wide leg trousers and singer Ashanti (R) looked as if she had dressed more for warmth than red carpet style

Ashanti made sure to fend off the autumnal chill with a black leather crop jacket and a huge light brown fur wrap around her shoulders.
New York socialite turned reality TV star, Tinsley Mortimer is never one to shy away from the spotlight or miss a photo opportunity.
The 34-year-old blonde posed on the red carpet, dressed in a multi-coloured sequin mini dress and black suede sandals.

Best of British: London born Paul Bettany, who plays an FBI agent in the film, looked stylish in a smart single breasted black suit whilst his actress wife, Jennifer Connelly looked like she'd come fresh off the school run

As usual, Victoria's Secret Angel and Sports Illustrated cover girl, Alessandra Ambrosio was spot on when it came to the style stakes.
The 29-year-old Brazilian born beauty looked stunning in a simple little black dress, cut high on the thigh to show off her long, lean tan legs.
The mother-of-one wore an usual black, silver embossed bolero style jacket that had net and lace sleeves and a pair of high heeled sling back shoes.

Dazzling: Reality TV star Tinsley Mortimer (L) wore a sequin mini-dress whilst Victoria's Secret Angel, Alessandra Ambrosio (R) was simply stunning in her black and silver ensemble

Ambrosio kept her make-up and hair simple but added a dash of colour with a touch of bright red lipstick.
Someone that definitely wasn't keeping it simple. or stylish, was wacky fashion designer, Betsey Johnson.
The flamboyant 68-year-old was her usual outrageous self - dressed in a multi-coloured, multi-patterned tight net dress over a pair of leggings which stopped just short of her bright pink high heeled ankle boots.

Wacky: 68-year-old flamboyant fashion designer, Betsey Johnson was her usual outrageous self, dressed in a multi-coloured, multi-patterned tunic dress and leggings that stopped just short of her bright pink ankle boots

READ MORE - The look of love: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie dazzle at the world premiere of The Tourist

Katy Perry Salutes The Troops

SAN DIEGO — Katy Perry loves a man in a uniform.

The pop superstar met dozens of service members while working on the special "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" this weekend near San Diego.

"There was a kid who I met backstage who was rather chatty, but adorable," Perry recalled. "He was really sweet. He was 19. He had such a good heart. He said, 'Yes, ma'am' to me. 'Yes ma'am!' I was like, 'O.K.! Yes, sir!'"

A VH1 publicist estimated an audience of 27,000 attended the nearly three-hour taping of the concert Friday night at the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar. The show, which airs Sunday night, features a bounty of what the network has dubbed "divas" – female or female-lead musical acts, including established stars such as Heart, Paramore and Sugarland, as well as hot newcomers Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Keri Hilson and Nicki Minaj.

But if one diva emerged supreme, it was Perry, who both opened and closed the show, and performed solo or with others on a half-dozen songs — twice that of anyone else in the lineup.

"I really had to live up to the definition of a 'diva' in all senses of the word," Perry joked. "So, I had to be very difficult today, and late," she continued, adding that she was really neither.

Perry went on to reference Beyonce's song "Diva," then proceeded to lose the lyric. "Blaaah! Obviously I'm not Beyonce," Perry laughed. "She is the true diva."

Onstage, Perry pulled out the stops – and the costumes – with the opening number featuring Perry, Hilson and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles in WAC uniforms for a cover of The Andrews Sisters' '40s classic "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."

Perry closed the show with her current smash "Firework," which concluded, appropriately, with a fireworks display. For that finale, Perry wore a cherry-red beaded gown with thigh-high slit that looked as if it was borrowed from Jessica Rabbit's closet. "You know me, I love vintage," Perry explained. "I love pinup girls. So, I tried to recreate that. I think any Army guy has a soft spot for a girl that can be painted on their plane."

Perry, 26, and her new husband, actor Russell Brand, will be spending their first holiday season together as husband and wife. "What do I want for Christmas? Well, I think what is appropriate now is, I hope the troops come home very safely," she replied, then delivered a message to service members.

"Be careful out there during the holidays," Perry told them. "Keep your Skype and your iChat on because I know some of them are away from all their family and wives. I can understand that feeling every once in awhile because I am on the battlefield myself, but I am just singing pop songs," she laughed.

"But, I am away from my hubby every once in awhile, and we use Skype and iChat and that really helps. So I just hope everybody can find a great Christmas and be blessed."

READ MORE - Katy Perry Salutes The Troops

Hairy vs. Harry: 'Tangled' wins weekend box office

Hair has won out over Harry Potter at the weekend box office.

Mandy Moore's animated musical 'Tangled', a new take on long-haired fairy-tale princess Rapunzel, sewed up the No. 1 spot with $21.5 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That raised the Disney release's domestic total to $96.5 million.
'Tangled' had debuted in second-place over Thanksgiving behind 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1', which had been at the top of the box office the two previous weekends.
'Harry Potter' slipped to No. 2 this weekend with $16.7 million. The next-to-last chapter in the Warner Bros. franchise about the teen wizard lifted its domestic haul to $244.2 million.
Playing largely to family crowds, 'Tangled' should hold on well through the holidays, said Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney.
"It's not very often the second week of a movie that it ends up the No. 1 movie," Viane said. "This will be one of those leggy movies that just keeps playing and playing."
Business was off sharply after a brisk Thanksgiving weekend, which is one of the busiest periods of the year at movie theaters.
With just $88 million in overall receipts, this was Hollywood's second-worst weekend of the year, behind the meagre $81.8 million haul the weekend after Labour Day, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
"It was a bad weekend," said Paul Dergarabedian, analyst for Hollywood.com. "It just shows that people got a lot of their movie-going out of the way over that five-day Thanksgiving weekend, and this weekend, they went, `Ahh, we've seen it.'"
Overall revenues also were down from last year. The $88 million in revenue was off 11.5 percent compared to the same weekend in 2009, when "The Blind Side" led the box office with $20 million, according to Hollywood.com.
The weekend's only new wide release, Rogue Pictures' action tale 'The Warrior's Way', was a dud with just $3.1 million. Playing in 1,622 theaters, 'The Warrior's Way' averaged a weak $1,881 a cinema, compared to $5,967 in 3,603 cinemas for 'Tangled'.
Starring Kate Bosworth, 'The Warrior's Way' is a martial-arts adventure about an assassin hiding out in the Old West.
Natalie Portman's ballet drama 'Black Swan' had a huge debut in limited release, taking in $1.4 million in just 18 theaters, for a whopping average of $77,459 a theater.
Released by Fox Searchlight, 'Black Swan' stars Portman as a dancer who begins to lose herself in delusion amid the pressures of preparing for the lead in Swan Lake. The film gradually expands into nationwide release through Christmas week.
Also in limited release, Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor's gay romance 'I Love You Phillip Morris' opened solidly with $113,200 in six theaters, averaging $18,886.
Carrey stars as a scam artist who finds the love of his life (McGregor) in state prison. The movie gradually expands into wide release through early January.

READ MORE - Hairy vs. Harry: 'Tangled' wins weekend box office

JLO takes legal action to stop release of sex tape

Hollywood star Jennifer Lopez has moved court to stop ex-husband Ojani Noa from releasing home videos taped during their 11-month-long marriage. The singer filed a lawsuit against Noa and his agent Ed Meyer in the California Court of Appeal to stop their reported attempt to sell and market videos made in 1997 and the defendants have filed a reply in court.
According to documents filed in court, the 40-year-old is seen flashing her private parts and displaying other "deviant behavior" in the videos, reported People magazine.
"This is among other nudity on her part in the now 21 hours of home movies that we have so far recovered," Meyer said in the papers, adding that Ojani is continually finding more and more home videos with Lopez that he didn't remember he had.
Although the tapes do not contain full sex scenes they could be of great embarrassment to the star who is married to Mark Anthony and has two-year-old twins Max and Emme.
"It must also be stated that in Noa's Home Videos, Lopez gives her full consent to Noa taping her," added Meyer.
But Lopez is not agreeing to these tapes being made public saying they are private and personal, claiming that Noa and filmmaker Meyer are violating an injunction which blocks the release of the videos.
This recent battle between Lopez and her ex-husband is the latest in a long history of legal wrangling.
Four years ago, Lopez sued Noa to prevent him from publishing a book containing details of their short-lived marriage.
In 2007, a court-appointed arbitrator issued a permanent injunction forbidding Noa from "criticising, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging" the Jenny From The Block singer.
Lopez was awarded USD 545,000 in compensation and Noa was ordered to hand over all copies of materials related to his proposed book to Lopez's legal team.
In November 2009, Lopez again sued Noa for breach of contract and invasion of privacy, citing a previous confidentiality agreement between the two of them to prevent Noa from releasing his planned film, 'How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The J-Lo and Ojani Noa Story' and "previously unseen home video footage".
But Meyer has argued in the court filing that he is not held to a prior settlement between the former couple because he did not benefit from it and didn't know Noa at the time.

READ MORE - JLO takes legal action to stop release of sex tape