VARIOUS: SHOWBIZ Review of the Year 2009 Part 2 - YEARENDER - We take a look at the top entertainment stories in 2009

Record ID: 393508

  • Title: VARIOUS: SHOWBIZ Review of the Year 2009 Part 2 - YEARENDER - We take a look at the top entertainment stories in 2009
  • Date: 19th December 2009
  • Summary: VENICE, ITALY (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HEATH LEDGER SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR FANS
  • Embargoed: 3rd January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJEUNQ70O1AWNML5APO72L888
  • Story Text: A look at the good, the bad and the ugly in the world of entertainment in 2009.

    COMEBACKS
    BRITNEY SPEARS After her woos in 2008, the world was waiting to see if Britney Spears would pull through. The star was able to score a massive hit with her album 'Circus' and hoped to build upon that success with a world-tour of the same name.
    Britney played 97 shows since launching the tour back in March and it was the first time she had toured since 2004.
    But the tour was marred with scandal. During the last leg in Australia, the singer was heavily criticized by fans and local media after she apparently lip-synched her way through the concerts and the local consumer protection agency wanted to investigate the pop star on possible fraud charges. To date, no charges were filed.
    Britney Spears is reportedly hard at work on the release of her next album, which will be the follow up to Circus.
    ROBBIE WILLIAMS
    Robbie Williams is hoping to win back his crown as Britain's biggest pop star with his new album 'Reality killed the video star.' The ex-'Take That' member and star of 'Angels' seems to be reconnecting up to all those fans he's neglected in recent years.
    Lately more in the news for the question whether or not there will be a Take That reunion and apparently proposing live on Australian radio (and later denying it), the singer makes sure that his name is still on everyone's mind.
    SPANDAU BALLET
    1980s pop group Spandau Ballet have put aside years of bad blood and court battles for a comeback tour. All five original members of the band, who had hits like Gold and True, got together publicly for the first time since they split in 1989 and went on a tour. Tony Hadley, Gary and Martin Kemp, Steve Norman and John Keeble had their first hit in November 1980 with To Cut A Long Story Short. They went on to release six studio albums and had 10 UK top 10 singles, topping the charts with True in 1983.
    WHITNEY HOUSTON
    The grand-dame of soulful ballads, Whitney Houston is back. The songstress returned to the American Music Award stage, where she was honored with a Lifetime International Artist Award. She released her comeback album, "I Look To You," in August. The R&B legend, who has won 21 American Music Awards (more than any other female artist), has released the "I Look To You" ballad as a sign that she has moved on.

    CRIMES / MISDEMEANORS
    RIHANNA/CHRIS BROWN
    R&B singer Rihanna's ex boyfriend Chris Brown was convicted of domestic violence to the singer. By pleading guilty to the incident, Brown escaped jail-time in exchange for five years probation. This includes 180 days of community labor, a 52-week violence prevention class and an order to stay at least 100 yards away from Rihanna for the next five years.
    Barbados-born Rihanna was left badly bruised in February after Brown attacked her in his car during an argument over a mysterious text message. The singer broke up with Chris Brown after the row and purportedly the attack had left her with a split lip, a bloody nose and bite marks on her hands.
    PHIL SPECTOR
    Legendary music producer Phil Spector was convicted of murdering a Hollywood actress in 2003 and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
    In his second trial, held after jurors deadlocked in 2007, Spector, 69, was found guilty of second-degree murder by a Los Angeles jury.
    The man once revered for revolutionizing pop music in the 1960s with his "Wall of Sound" production technique, faces a minimum of 18 years behind bars.
    Lana Clarkson, 40, a B-movie actress, died of a shot to the mouth, fired from Spector's gun in the foyer of his home outside Los Angeles on February 3, 2003. The two had met hours earlier at a Hollywood nightclub.
    LINDSAY LOHAN
    Actress Lindsay Lohan was in court again this year. In August 2007, Lohan was ordered to complete an 18-month alcohol education program, serve 24 hours in jail and do 10 days of community service while on 36 months probation for drunk driving, reckless driving and driving under the influence of cocaine.
    In October this year a judge extended the actress' probation on drunk driving and other criminal charges for one more year, telling her to get serious about her alcohol education program.
    NORIKO SAKAI
    Japanese singer-actress Noriko Sakai, famous in Asia for her sweet, girl-next-door image was given a suspended jail sentence for using illegal stimulants. The court handed down an 18-month jail term, suspended for three years, to the 38-year-old who shot to fame in the late 1980s with pop songs and later turned to acting.
    Prosecutors had demanded 18 months in prison.
    Sakai's drug scandal made headlines in Japan and in parts of Asia where she has many fans, since she and her husband, Yuichi Takaso, were arrested in August for possessing and using drugs. Sakai was held in detention for nearly 40 days after her arrest before being released on 5 million yen (55,500 USD) bail.
    Her trial has attracted intense media and public attention in a country with a very strict attitude toward drug use that stems, in part, from a spike in amphetamine abuse after World War Two, when the drug was sold without prescription.
    BOY GEORGE
    Former Culture Club frontman Boy George was found guilty of falsely imprisoning Norwegian male escort Audun Carlsen and sentenced to 15 months in jail.
    Tried under his real name George O'Dowd, the 47-year-old Briton denied a charge of false imprisonment at his London flat in April, 2007.
    The length of the sentence was a surprise as lawyers had expected a jail term of around three months.
    The singer had told police he had met Carlsen over the Internet and invited him back to his home after a cocaine-fuelled pornographic photo shoot in January, 2007 because he suspected the Norwegian of stealing pictures from his computer.
    During the two-week trial, Carlsen countered that the singer had handcuffed him to a wall and beaten him with a chain because he was angry he had refused to sleep with him when they first met.

    BOX OFFICE

    In 2009, Hollywood eyed more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales as audiences flocked to theaters during the recession. Movie studios began the year with January crossing the 1 billion (USD) mark for the first time ever, and box offices in December are counting on help from highly anticipated films such as "Avatar," "Sherlock Holmes" and "It's Complicated."
    So far, moviegoers had snapped up 9.67 billion (USD) worth of tickets at U.S. and Canadian box offices said tracking firm Hollywood.com Box Office.
    The United States and Canada account for about 35 percent of the global box office total, making it the largest film market in the world, Hollywood.com Box Office said.
    The biggest hit in 2009 was "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" with surprises including "The Hangover," and "Paranormal Activity".
    "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," scored 402 million (USD) in domestic US ticket sales, according to tracking firm Box Office Mojo.
    Some Oscar buzz this year for Pixar's "Up," not only for best animated category but for best picture, thanks in part to a lucky-to-be-born late blessing of 10 best-picture nominations (up from the usual five), according to Hollywood Reporter.
    Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' raked in more than 250 million (USD) worldwide, accordingt to Sony Pictures. The Jackson film, which was put together from video footage of the late pop star rehearsing for a series of concerts that would have taken place had he not died in June, debuted in theaters in late October and ended its run outside the United States Mid December with 180 million (USD) internationally, according to Sony Pictures.
    In the US, the movie generated some 72 million (USD), according to ticket sales tracker Boxofficemojo.com.
    James Cameron's long-awaited "Avatar," one of the most expensive films ever made, took off in an awe-inspiring display of Hollywood power that has revolutionized cinematic special effects. At a cost of about 400 million (USD) to make and market "Avatar," the Oscar-winning director of "Titanic" created a lush world of dense forest, floating mountains and tremendous creatures in a computer-generated spectacular that transforms much of the cast into giant, blue-skinned humanoids.
    For Fox, the movie represents a huge risk because typically big-budget movies have a fan base from books or other material, like the "Harry Potter" movies. "Avatar" has no built-in audience, and its effects are costly. A Fox spokesman said it required 237 million (USD) to make and 150 million (USD) to promote. When Cameron made "Titanic" for Fox, he drew sharp criticism for its high cost, but the 1997 film made 1.8 billion (USD) at global box offices and remains the highest-grossing film of all time.
    If "Avatar" is a big success in 3D, industry watchers expect more theaters to install the new technology quickly and more directors to make movies in the medium. Early reviews are strong. Show business newspaper The Hollywood Reporter called it a "jaw-dropping wonder."
    Vampire romance "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" had the third biggest movie opening of all time for the United States and Canada. In December, it logged a fourth round atop the box office overseas, but could loose its crown when James Cameron's "Avatar" rolls out worldwide.
    "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth movie in the Harry Potter saga made 301 million (USD). Half-Blood Prince was directed by David Yates, who also made the fifth film and is in charge of Deathly Hallows Part One and Two. The first of the pair is due for release in November 2010 and the second in the summer of 2011.
    Surprise hits in 2009 included Paramount Pictures' "Paranormal Activity" raking in 107 million (USD) so far. The story of a young middle class couple who become more and more disturbed by a possible demonic presence in their home.
    The "mockumentary," 'Bruno' in which Baron Cohen plays a gay Austrian fashion model seeking fame in the United States, reached modest success. Baron Cohen's previous release, the similarly outrageous "Borat," opened with 26.5 million (USD) in November 2006. But that was from about 800 theaters, while "Bruno" played in 2,756 theaters. "Borat" ended up with 128.5 million (USD) in North America and an additional 133 million (USD) internationally.
    Universal said "Bruno" earned 20 million (USD) from the eight international markets, led by No. 1 bows in Britain (8.1 million USD) and Australia (6.1 million USD).
    Warner Bros. put out an unexpected smash, with comedy "The Hangover". The movie raked in 277 million (USD). A story about a bachelor party in Las Vegas gone haywire, it starred an ensemble cast of largely unknown male actors. But its success at world-wide box offices means it earned a positive reaction from both men and women.
    2009 saw the return of the Star Trek franchise with a new cast of relatively unknown actors. The prequel of the long -running TV series, it was a surprise hit of the year.
    Possible Oscar contenders include Peter Jackson's film, 'District Nine', 'The Road', 'Nine', Tom Ford's 'A Single Man' and 'Up in the Air' starring George Clooney. It was chosen the best film of 2009 by the National Board of Review in the first big awards of Hollywood's Oscar season.
    "Up in the Air" stars George Clooney as a corporate villain ultimately forced to contemplate his own life.
    Awards from groups like The National Board of Review and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association give filmmakers and actors prestige and help studios promote the films ahead of the Academy Awards on March 7.
    Last year's best film Academy Award winner, "Slumdog Millionaire," also claimed the best movie honor from the National Board of Review.

    AWARDS AND FILM FESTIVALS OSCARS
    After rags-to-riches romance "Slumdog Millionaire" scooped up eight Oscars all eyes were on the best actor and actress category. Sean Penn earned his second Oscar for best actor, portraying slain gay rights' activist Harvey Milk in "Milk."
    Kate Winslet was named best actress for her dramatic turn as a former Nazi prison guard who involves herself in a love affair with a teenage boy in "The Reader." She fought back tears when accepting her trophy and remembered a time as an eight-year old when she dreamed of winning one of the world's top film award.
    Heath Ledger was posthumously named best supporting actor for his villainous role as The Joker in Batman movie "The Dark Knight." In 2008, the Australian actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment of a prescription drug overdose.

    CANNES
    One of the most anticipated films at Cannes was Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti western about Nazi-occupied France. 'Inglourious Basterds' with Brad Pitt as the leader of a troupe of Jewish-American soldiers hunting down Nazis lacked much of the trademark Tarantino violence. At the film's world premiere in Cannes, one of its protagonists, the Austrian Christoph Waltz won Best Actor for his flamboyant performance as a SS officer.
    The most controversial film at Cannes was Danish director Lars von Trier's "Antichrist", which sharply divided critics and drew boos, as well as a handful of cheers, at screenings for its graphic portrayals of sex, violence and genital self-mutilation.
    The film, starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a couple seeking to overcome the grief of losing their only child, has come in for particular criticism for its portrayal of the female character with many critics accusing Von Trier of misogyny.

    VENICE
    Oscar winner George Clooney, a familiar face at the Venice Film Festival, unveiled his new film "The Men Who Stare at Goats" in which Clooney plays a New Age hippie soldier trained for psychic, peaceful combat in a comedy set during the war in Iraq.
    While the film received moderate reviews, it was the questions by the journalist that made international news. The reporter pointedly but politely asked the Hollywood heartthrob about his sexual orientation and whether Clooney would consider marrying a man. The question was followed by another encounter with an Italian reporter who stripped off his shirt and trousers and said to Clooney: "I'm gay. Take me George."
    Clooney replied: "It's hard when you take a big chance and it doesn't really work. It's always embarrassing when you take one real swing at the fences and it just falls flat. It's a good try though."

    ONES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2010?
    It was a very good year for vampires and werewolves, specifically, actors Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The sequel to the highly successful 'Twilight' not only cashed in at the box office but also delivered a bit of eye-candy in form of the young actors. Star Robert Pattinson has been the focus of a frenzy of fan affection since the first Twilight movie hit screens in 2008. Taylor Lautner became the centre of a controversy when he, being only 17, appeared bare-chested in the movie. But that rather established his status in Hollywood and Lautner is set to become Hollywood's next hunk.
    Teen heartthrob Zac Efron could follow up his success with new movies like '17 again' and 'Me and Orson Welles'. The first two made-for-TV "High School Musical" films were big hits for Disney. But the crowds of mainly female fans at every premiere of movies with Zac Efron in them speak volumes for his appeal as one of the wonderboys of Hollywood.
    Scottish actor Gerard Butler made his name this year with two very different movies: the romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth" and the action thriller "Law Abiding Citizen". The rough-at-the-edges hunk, who has been romantically linked with Hollywood beauties like Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson in the past, has just been voted the best British actor in Hollywood by film fans.
    It was also a good year for one of Hollywood's hottest new stars, Miley Cyrus. The 16-year old actress and star of Hanna Montana has become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood as her first non-concert movie topped the North American box office, selling 34 million dollars (USD) worth of tickets over the three-day Easter weekend.
    American singer Beyonce went from strength to strength in 2009. She scooped three prizes at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin. Beyonce ended the year with 10 Grammy nominations. What will 2010 bring for her? And finally, the music industry in the US and Europe loved US pop sensation Lady Gaga. The New Yorker, renowned as much for her extravagant outfits as for her electro-dance-pop, got five MTV nominations and won the best new act category.
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