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Thurman To Take Stand In Stalker Case
25 April 2008 (WENN)
Actress Uma Thurman is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Monday as a witness in the trial of her alleged stalker. Jack Jordan, 35, is charged with misdemeanor stalking, aggravated harassment and felony coercion. He is accused of behaving bizarrely towards the star, threatening to kill himself if the Kill Bill actress began dating another man. He is also alleged to have presented Thurman with odd drawings, including a cartoon sketch of himself "walking along the edge of a razor blade," and sent a letter reading, "I feel afraid that if I see you out again with another man, I will want to kill myself, maybe even after we meet." Jury selection began on Thursday and the trial will kick off on Monday at Manhattan's Supreme Court.

Thurman: "I'm Not Pregnant, But I Want Kids"
13 February 2008 (WENN)
Actress Uma Thurman is keen to have kids with partner Arpad Busson. Busson was recently forced to deny claims the star is already pregnant, after she was spotted sporting a fuller figure than usual - instead putting the weight gain down to the Kill Bill star quitting smoking. But Thurman insists she hasn't given up hoping on adding to her two kids with ex-husband Ethan Hawke - Maya, nine, and six-year-old Levon - and at 37, she's not too old either. She tells Redbook magazine, "I'd like more children. I asked the doctor, she tells me there's still time."

Thurman To Meet "Stalker" in Court
14 January 2008 (WENN)
A man accused of stalking Kill Bill star Uma Thurman rejected a plea deal to enroll on a mental health program - because he wanted to see the actress "close up." Jack Jordan is facing charges of harassment and felony coercion - which stems from an incident in which he allegedly told Thurman he would kill himself if he saw her with another man. The 35-year-old, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges at Manhattan's Supreme Court in New York, turned down the prosecution's offer of enrolment in a mental health program - a deal which would have seen him serve a minimum of one year in an institution. And according to his lawyer, George Vomvolakis, Jordan purposely rejected the offer so he could see Thurman at his trial. Vomvolakis tells the New York Daily News, "My client has expressed a serious desire to go to trial."

Fox Pleads Guilty to Drunk-Driving
10 December 2007 (WENN)
Actress Vivica A. Fox has been sentenced to three years' probation and fined $400 after pleading guilty to drunk-driving on Friday. Judge Stephen Pfaler also ordered Fox to enter a 90-day alcohol education program during a hearing in a Van Nuys, California court. The Kill Bill star was not in court and entered her plea of no contest through her lawyer. Fox was arrested in March after police stopped her for traveling at around 80 miles per hour in a 65 mile per hour zone on a Los Angeles freeway. She was then charged with driving under the influence.

Thurman Stalker Rejects Plea Deal
6 December 2007 (WENN)
A man accused of stalking Kill Bill star Uma Thurman has rejected a plea deal to check into a mental health facility after protesting his innocence over charges of coercion. Jack Jordan is facing charges of harassment and felony coercion - which stems from an incident in which he allegedly told Thurman he would kill himself if he saw her with another man. The 35-year-old, who last month pleaded not guilty to the charges at Manhattan's Supreme Court in New York, turned down the prosecution's offer of enrolment in a mental health program on Wednesday - a deal which would have seen him serve a minimum of one year in an institution. His felony charge would then have been reduced to a misdemeanor upon completion of the program. But Jordan now faces up to four years in prison if convicted. He is currently free on $10,000 bail.

Fox Ordered To Stay Sober Until Arraignment
9 August 2007 (WENN)
Actress Vivica A. Fox has been ordered to stay sober until her September arraignment or face paying bail. The Kill Bill star was apprehended earlier this year after she was allegedly caught driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). She was later released on her own recognizance. But in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, a judge prevented Fox drinking alcohol until her next court date. He conceded, "She can be around it (alcohol) because of the nature of her work but she cannot consume or possess it. I am not permitting her to consume alcohol." If convicted, Fox faces a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Thurman Finds Love With Macpherson's Ex
2 August 2007 (WENN)
Uma Thurman has found love again in the arms of supermodel Elle Macpherson's ex. American magazine Us Weekly has published photos of the Kill Bill star kissing Swiss banker Arpad 'Arki' Busson and speculates they've been dating for a month, after hooking up at the 45th anniversary parties in Rome for designer Valentino. A source tells the New York Post's Page Six column, "With their arms wrapped around each other, the couple seemed oblivious to everyone around them." Thurman has been single since splitting from hotelier Andre Balazs in March. Busson and Macpherson parted ways in 2005, after having two children together.

Thurman Finds Love?
22 June 2007 (WENN)
Hollywood beauty Uma Thurman has reportedly found love with an actor/filmmaker named David White. U.S. gossip publications claim the Kill Bill beauty has started dating White - just four months after ending her on/off relationship with hotelier Andre Balazs. A source tells America's People magazine, "They look good together. They are very, very, very happy."

Kurt Russell Criticizes 'Grindhouse' Breakup
22 May 2007 (StudioBriefing)
Kurt Russell, who starred in the Death Proof segment of the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez horror "double feature" Grindhouse, has expressed disappointment over the decision to release Death Proof as a separate feature for European audiences. Appearing today (Tuesday) at a news conference at the Cannes Film Festival, where Death Proof is screening in competition for the Palme d'Or, Russell, acknowledging that he hasn't seen the reedited longer version, said, "I'm disappointed for any audience that they won't get the Grindhouse experience. ... These [two] movies are going to go out there by themselves and they'll live their own life, but my prediction is that 20 years from now, you'll want the Grindhouse experience. ... [It's] something bizarre that you've never experienced before." But, appearing at the same news conference, director Quentin Tarantino defended the new version, saying that the film has changed "180 degrees so far as the emotion" is concerned and that he is particularly pleased with the way Russell's character has evolved in the editing. Standing at the rear of the news conference, producer Harvey Weinstein also joined in the discussion, saying that what Tarantino and Rodriguez originally had to remove from their films so that they could be combined "reduced the essence of the films." It would have been like "cutting [Tarantino's] Kill Bill and [Rodriguez's] Sin City to 70-minute versions," he said. He predicted that European audiences "and hopefully American audiences" will get a lot more enjoyment out of the films when they're seen separately. (Grindhouse was a surprise flop when it was released domestically in April. The $60-million film earned only $24 million in ticket sales.)

Fox Arrested for Drunk Driving
22 March 2007 (WENN)
Kill Bill star Vivica A. Fox was arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of drunk driving. The actress was stopped for speeding on the 101 freeway in the San Fernando Valley, California. According to a police report, obtained by US news show Entertainment Tonight, officers also noted Fox was "unable to maintain lane position" in her Cadillac. Police asked the actress to perform a field sobriety test, during which Fox was "unable to satisfactorily perform" and they noted that "a breath test indicated the presence of alcohol greater than 0.08%, the California legal limit." She was released from police custody early yesterday morning. Fox's publicist has refused to comment about the incident.

Rourke Refuses To Talk About Tarantino Movie Departure
7 November 2006 (WENN)
Mickey Rourke has refused to comment on why he left director Quentin Tarantino's latest film Grindhouse, insisting he'll stay silent until Tarantino speaks out first. Rourke was set to play the part of Stuntman Mike on the Kill Bill director's latest collaboration with director Robert Rodriguez, and was later replaced by Kurt Russell. The 9 1/2 Weeks star had previously worked with the directors on the hit movie Sin City and hints there might have been a falling out with Tarantino. He tells Radar Online, "You know what? He hasn't made any comments about it. And until he makes a comment about it, I'm not going to say anything. It just didn't work out. And I hope that's what he has to say. I'm just going to wait." The actor was supposedly Tarantino's first choice to play the movie's villain and he hints in the interview that he was actually the one who passed on the role and he wasn't fired from the film. Rourke also turned down a role in the film that made Tarantino's career, Pulp Fiction, back in the early 1990s.

Springer Joins Dance Show
15 August 2006 (WENN)
Talk show host Jerry Springer is the latest celebrity to sign up for the new season of US hit reality show Dancing With The Stars. US network ABC announced the new performers, which also include former LA Law star Harry Hamlin, Kill Bill actress Vivica A. Fox, Blossom star Joey Lawrence, Saved By The Bell's Mario Lopez, Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker's estranged wife Shanna Moakler and American football star Emmitt Smith. Rounding out the show's competitors are country music singer Sara Evans and pop star Willa Ford. Dancing with the Stars is the US version of the British hit series Strictly Come Dancing and will premiere on September 12.

Russell Replaces Rourke As 'Grind House' Killer
25 July 2006 (WENN)
Kurt Russell has replaced Mickey Rourke as the sick killer in Quentin Tarantino's new horror film Grind House, according to internet reports. Rourke reportedly pulled out of the project earlier this month and Tarantino immediately went to Russell and asked him to play Stuntman Mike, a man terrorizing young girls in his portion of the new film, which will also feature a separate storyline shot by pal Robert Rodriguez. Internet website Moviehole.net reports the Poseidon star signed on for the role on Friday. Tarantino's section of Grind House, subtitled "Death Proof," will also feature Marilyn Manson's ex-girlfriend Rose McGowan and Kill Bill stuntwoman Zoe Bell in her first starring role. Horror movie master John Carpenter is in negotiations to record the film's score.

Thurman Splits From Boyfriend
13 July 2006 (WENN)
Uma Thurman has split with hotelier Andre Balazs after dating for two years. The couple were recently photographed enjoying a summer holiday in Saint Tropez, France, but the Kill Bill star has moved on. In an interview with US publication Parade she says, "I've been in and out of a relationship with a wonderful man, and I'm out of it now." The interview was conducted on June 2 and the couple were photographed on July 7 frolicking on the beach, leading some to believe they had reconciled once again. But Thurman's representative insists her client hasn't had a change of heart: "The quote is still correct."

Thurman Reunites with Balazs
3 April 2006 (WENN)
Hollywood beauty Uma Thurman and hotelier Andre Balazs have rekindled their romance - after announcing their split last month. The pair have been photographed enjoying passionate embraces on the beaches of celebrity Caribbean hideaway, St. Barts. The Kill Bill actress declared the end of their relationship on March 6 after her lone appearance at the previous day's Academy Awards sparked speculation their two-year romance was over. However, new pictures show their passion is very much alive. Thurman has two children, Maya and Roan, from her six-year marriage to Ethan Hawke and was previously married to English actor Gary Oldman.

Thurman and Balazs Split
9 March 2006 (WENN)
Hollywood beauty Uma Thurman and hotelier Andre Balazs have split up after dating for over two years. The Kill Bill star, 35, and property tycoon, 48, began dating in December 2003 - only four months after the actress separated with ex-husband Ethan Hawke. After attending the Oscars on Sunday alone, Thurman confirmed speculation she was single again. A statement to the New York Post confirms, "Unfortunately it's true. But we remain close friends." In January, Thurman gushed about Balazs in interviews, declaring, "Everyone constantly taunts you that rebound relationships aren't a good idea and they don't work. But mine is working, surprisingly." Thurman has two children, Maya and Roan, from her six year marriage to Hawke and was previously married to English actor Gary Oldman.

Liu Visits Pakistan
2 February 2006 (WENN)
Hollywood beauty Lucy Liu arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday as she began a tour of areas ravaged by October's earthquake. The Kill Bill beauty is expected to spend time with children affected by the horrific natural disaster as she travels with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). She follows in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who spent three days in the region in November. The 37-year-old is scheduled to leave Pakistan today.

Vivica Blasts Talk Show Host
1 September 2005 (WENN)
Kill Bill beauty Vivica A. Fox informed comedian Jimmy Kimmel he'd get his "a*s kicked" on Tuesday night, after he made fun of one of her close pals on his chat show. On his late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live has long poked fun at U.S. TV personality Star Jones Reynolds' weight and November marriage to investment banker Al Reynolds. And Fox, who served as a bridesmaid at the New York nuptials, was particularly disgusted when Kimmel continued his tirade of jokes at her pal's expense once she arrived on the stage. After greeting Kimmel's jokes about Jones Reynolds with frosty silence, the comedian noted, "We're off to a bad start... Maybe this will be on one of those DVDs 20 years from now. Great uncomfortable moments." Fox, ex-girlfriend of 50 Cent, responded, "We usually have really great comical moments, but that's my friend and I love her... It's not funny to me, so let's start over." But things failed to improve - when Kimmel suggested that he, Fox, Jones Reynolds and her husband get together, she responded, "You would get your a*s kicked... I would have to take off my shoe and beat you down, brother!" The interview ended soon afterwards.

Liu Considered for New Charlie Chan Movie
31 July 2005 (WENN)
Asian-American actress Lucy Liu is being lined up to star in a Hollywood revival of the 1930s Charlie Chan films. The Kill Bill star has agreed to play the famous mustachioed detective's grand-daughter in a reprise of the classic murder mysteries. A movie insider says, "With Lucy on board, the feeling is this could be a real hit. There's even talk of a new actor taking on the role of the original Charlie Chan for a cameo appearance." The original Chan character was played by Swedish actor Warner Oland - a casting which was criticized because Orland was not of Chinese descent.

Hannah Sued by Top PR Firm
10 June 2005 (WENN)
Kill Bill star Daryl Hannah is being sued by her former public relations firm, for non-payment of services. Bosses at Los Angeles' agency Rogers & Cowan claim they're partly responsible for the actress' recent movie comeback - but they haven't been paid for their efforts to put her back in the spotlight. In legal papers, obtained by US news show Celebrity Justice, the PR firm's lawyers claim they entered into an agreement with Hannah to promote her just before Kill Bill Vol. 1 was released. The two parties agreed a fee of $3,000-per-month plus expenses, but the PR company's bosses claim they were never paid. In the legal papers, they state they sent Hannah a bill for $64,000 but were paid just $7,000. But Hannah's manager insists his client only agreed to pay Rogers & Cowan for the months where she used their services, and she always paid up.

Hawke Nervous About Thurman Watching His Play
19 April 2005 (WENN)
Actor Ethan Hawke is hoping Uma Thurman doesn't turn up to see him in his Broadway play Hurlyburly - because his character says a lot of harsh things about his ex-wife. The Training Day star, who co-stars with Parker Posey in the New York City production, split with Kill Bill beauty Thurman in 2003, and admits it would be a highly uncomfortable situation if she decided to show up for one of his shows. Hawke says, "I would love to have her come, but she hasn't come and I don't think she should. My character rants so much about his ex-wife that I think it would make the audience so uncomfortable, or at least the 10 people sitting near her. She's so tall, and everybody would be looking at her. Every night, sometimes when the house isn't very responsive, that's the first thing that goes through my mind: 'Is she here tonight? Why's everybody so quiet?'"

Studios To Release Movies for Playstation Portable
15 April 2005 (StudioBriefing)
Sony's PlayStation Portable appears likely to become the dominant movie-watching player in the handheld market, Home Media Retailing reported Thursday. It noted that several studios are planning to issue movies in PSP's Universal Media Disc format, with Sony Films, not surprisingly, taking the lead. (Sony's Spider-Man 2 comes bundled with the player.) Apparently, the studios will be aiming at adults as well as kids, with Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment planning to release the R-rated Kill Bill Vol. 1 on April 19 (along with Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl). Sony plans to release Hitch on both DVD and UMD on June 14.

Movie Reviews: 'Sin City'
1 April 2005 (StudioBriefing)
Two vastly different new movies will be competing for box-office attention over the weekend, Beauty Shop, a female/African-American comedy that opened on Wednesday, and Sin City, a male/comic-book thriller. Analysts give Sin City the edge to win. But it is not a clear winner with critics, who are vastly at odds. Manohla Dargis in the New York Times, while praising some of the film's stylish images, suggests that Robert Rodriguez, and the Sin City graphic novel creator Frank Miller, who collaborated on the film, have failed to bring the comics' characters to life. "When stuff goes blam, you jump like someone who's landed on a whoopee cushion. But then you just sit there, wrap yourself in the dark and try not to fall asleep," she writes. Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal describes his reaction to the movie this way: "If there's a single scene that epitomizes the sensation that overtook me slowly but inexorably, it's the one in which Clive Owen's character ... sinks slowly into a tar pit." Dan DeLuca in the Philadelphia Inquirer also admires the film's visual presentation, but concludes, "Sin City ultimately comes off as an exercise in cold-blooded stylishness, uninvolving and overlong at 2 hours and 6 minutes." Likewise, Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times concludes that the movie is mostly style and little else. "This isn't an adaptation of a comic book, it's like a comic book brought to life and pumped with steroids. It contains characters who occupy stories, but to describe the characters and summarize the stories would be like replacing the weather with a weather map," he says. Nevertheless, he acknowledges, the movie succeeds as "a visualization of the pulp noir imagination, uncompromising and extreme. Yes, and brilliant." Ty Burr in the Boston Globe puts the emphasis on the brilliant, writing that "Sin City is the first great Hollywood joy ride of the year ... a stunning, visceral piece of work -- cheap thrills polished to the level of high art." Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post describes the movie as "a dessert from hell ... pure outlaw art" and a blood descendant of The Wild Bunch and Kill Bill. He concludes: "Two hours and six minutes has never seemed so much like two and six-tenths seconds. It's pure pulp metafiction." And Michael Wilmington in the Chicago Tribune bestows 3 1/2 stars on the film, but warns: "Sin City is an evil place, full of awful people, an obsessive movie full of monomaniacal tough guys. Yet when Miller and Rodriguez move it into gear, noir lives."

Thurman Learns From Her Mistakes
23 March 2005 (WENN)
Uma Thurman loves to watch her poorly received performances, because she can only improve herself as an actress by learning from her mistakes. Thurman remains upbeat about playing Poison Ivy in much-maligned 1997 movie Batman & Robin - even though her co-stars look back on it as a dark moment in their careers. She tells British magazine Hotdog, "I can't be responsible for the whole picture. Me and Poison Ivy, we had a good time. We got down, I liked my costume. And, though it didn't work for a lot of people, I loved the high camp that Joel Schumacher tried to blow the Batman franchise out on. It was really bold of him." Kill Bill beauty Thurman has no regrets about starring in films mauled by movie critics because when she chooses more successful roles it proves her sound judgment. She adds, "Whenever I look at the list of things I've made, I never really want to diss any of them. Are there mistakes? Are there things that were less than great experiences? Yes. But if you never make mistakes, you never get informed on your good judgment. I obviously, like anybody, learn more from my mistakes than from my luckier moments."

Tarantino Dismisses Links to 'Friday the 13th' Sequel
15 March 2005 (WENN)
Maverick film-maker Quentin Tarantino has rubbished reports he intends to direct a new entry in the Friday the 13th franchise. But the Kill Bill creator has confirmed studio New Line approached him with the idea of reviving the long-running slasher series about beyond-the-grave serial killer Jason Voorhees, reports website Empireonline.Com. Tarantino says, "What's happening with Friday the 13th? Nothing at all. It's a complete lie. "I like Jason and everything, but I've no intention of directing a movie. New Line talked to me about it, but it was a complete fabrication, that article. "I would love to do a horror film. I'm just saying it's not going to be Friday The 13th." Instead, Tarantino plans to push ahead with his long-gestating World War II project, Inglorious Bastards. He says, "My next film is probably going to be Inglorious Bastards. I've written scenes. I've written a lot of it but now I have to sit down and start putting it together in a script that I can start shooting. And that's a different thing."

Tarantino Snubs Bond After Brosnan Exit
14 March 2005 (WENN)
Maverick film-maker Quentin Tarantino abandoned plans to direct the next James Bond film after Pierce Brosnan was fired by studio heads. The Kill Bill director was devastated when he learned Brosnan's stint as 007 had come to a premature end - following a row with movie bosses over money - because he deemed the Irish actor the perfect Bond. And Tarantino reacted to the news by informing producers he would no longer be a part of the Casino Royale remake. He says, "I would have liked to do Casino Royale with Pierce. But once I heard Brosnan isn't going to be doing any more Bond films, that killed it as far as I was concerned. He's really proven himself to me as the James Bond for this generation. He can really pull off that 60s thing that Casino Royale would have. It should be more like the original book."

Hannah Sued by Public Relations Firm
8 February 2005 (WENN)
Daryl Hannah is locked in a money war with a group of Hollywood bigwigs, who claim the actress owes them cash after they helped revive her career. Statuesque beauty Hannah 1980s glory with such hits as Wall Street, Roxanne and Splash, but her career cooled off until she re-emerged in Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film Kill Bill: Vol 1. And now researchers at American TV show Celebrity Justice have uncovered a lawsuit filed by the Rogers & Cowan public relations firm against Hannah. The suit claims the PR firm entered into an agreement with Hannah to help promote her several months before Kill Bill: Vol 1 came out. The suit says the fee was $3,000 a month, plus expenses - which the company claims hasn't been paid. The lawsuit says Hannah got a bill for $64,000 but paid only about $7,000. Hannah's manager says the actress did not want to spend the $36,000 a year for publicity - the rate which Rogers & Cowan had quoted her - instead agreeing to pay only for the months where she used their services. Her manager says she did use the company occasionally to promote the two Kill Bill movies and that she always paid the expenses for those events.

Shields Wants to Get Violent with Tarantino
7 December 2004 (WENN)
Hollywood actress Brooke Shields would love to change her wholesome image by taking on a violent movie role - but only if Quentin Tarantino directs the film. The Blue Lagoon beauty would revel in the opportunity to dole out Kill Bill- style murders onscreen. She says of starring in a violent film, "I think if Tarantino directed it, yes. I would do it for him. I love that stuff but it has to be sort of so far gone, then you can kind of really play with it. I would trust him with something like that."

Liu Makes Rare Return to TV
1 December 2004 (WENN)
Actress Lucy Liu is set to make a rare TV show appearance - in Matt LeBlanc's new sitcom Joey. The Kill Bill beauty, who left Ally McBeal two years ago, has signed to guest star on at least two upcoming episodes of the Friends spin-off, reuniting her with Charlie's Angels love interest LeBlanc. Liu, 36, will play a tough-talking TV executive producer for the night-time soap in which LeBlanc recently scored a role as the father of one of the show's main characters. The programmes will air in late December and early January.

Russell Bases Character on Thurman's Dad
8 November 2004 (WENN)
Director David O. Russell is so grateful to Uma Thurman's father Robert Thurman for inspiring his latest movie I Heart Huckabees, he based the central character on him. The Kill Bill star's dad taught Russell ancient texts at college, and was such a profound influence on the young film-maker, Russell used Dustin Hoffman's detective character to pay homage to him. He tells British magazine Empire, "I was taught by Robert Thurman. He's one of the most brilliant scholars in the world, completely unpretentious but an expert in Sanskrit and all these ancient texts. The detective played by Dustin Hoffman is actually based on him."

Tarantino Planning To Combine 'Kill Bill' Movies
31 August 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Quentin Tarantino (this week's box-office winner Hero is being released under the banner "Presented by Quentin Tarantino," but it is not clear what involvement the director had with the release) is expressing optimism that the two Kill Bill movies will be released theatrically as a single film. In an interview with USA Today, Tarantino said that the success of the DVD release of the two films has made it possible for him to realize his dream of bringing a combined version to the screen, possibly by next year. "It's not just like slapping the two together," he told the newspaper. "There are slight changes, and it has an intermission."

Tarantino's Fears for Oscar Chances
12 August 2004 (WENN)
Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino fears he has ruined Uma Thurman's chances of landing an Oscar nomination because he split his Kill Bill story into two films. The stunning actress plays The Bride who seeks vengeance for the murder of her wedding party in last year's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and this year's Kill Bill: Vol. 2. Tarantino split the movie in two after failing to cut it to an acceptable length - but he now fears the decision could backfire, come the Academy Awards. He explains, "If I tried to turn it into a three-hour or two-and-a-half-hour movie, all the scenes that would go would be scenes I think give the movie its weight, its resonance. If I truly, truly believed the film would have had more impact shorter, I would have done it that way. I think the only thing that might have been lost in that decision is we could have gotten considerably more awards play if the film had been one big, giant epic. As one big movie, Uma would have gotten a best-actress nomination, for sure. I'm still hoping we're going to do good at the Oscars in 2005."

Tarantino: Splitting 'Kill Bill' Hurt Its Oscar Chances
11 August 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Quentin Tarantino speculated Tuesday that the decision to split Kill Bill into two movies may have hindered its Oscar potential. He told the Associated Press that "if the film had been one big, giant epic," is star, Uma Thurman, "would have gotten a best-actress nomination, for sure."

'Kill Bill: Vol. 1' Kills Rivals at MTV Movie Awards
7 June 2004 (StudioBriefing)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was voted best film at Saturday's MTV Movie Awards, but Kill Bill: Vol. 1 was the real killer, winning for Best Female Performance (Uma Thurman), Best Villain (Lucy Liu) and Best Fight (Thurman with Chiaki Kuriyama). Johnny Depp won for Best Male Performance (in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl). Jack Black took home the award for Best Comedic Performance for his role in School of Rock. This being MTV, Adam Sandler touched off little initial controversy (the awards show will not air until June 10) when, in accepting the Best Team award with Drew Barrymore for 50 First Dates, he thanked the people of Hawaii, where the movie was made, for supplying him with marijuana ("weed," as he put it).

'Kill Bill' and 'Return of the King' Win at MTV Awards
7 June 2004 (WENN)
Kill Bill: Vol 1 and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King took home most of the major honors at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles last night. Uma Thurman won Best Female Performance and Lucy Liu was named Best Villain for their roles in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol 1. The revenge epic was also awarded the Best Fight prize, for the clash between Thurman's character and schoolgirl Chiaki Kuriyama. A grateful Thurman praised Tarantino as she collected the award: "Quentin spent many years writing this for me and wants to be honored as if he were dead tonight. We don't have time, so I'll have to honor you as if you were living. Thank you, Quentin." The Return Of The King, the third film in director Peter Jackson's blockbusting Lord Of The Rings trilogy, won Best Movie and Best Action Sequence. Elsewhere, Johnny Depp's part in The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was voted Best Male Performance, and Jack Black won the Comedic Performance award for School of Rock. Lindsay Lohan took home Breakthrough Female for Freaky Friday and X2's Shawn Ashmore won Breakthrough Male. Best Kiss went to the smooch shared between Owen Wilson, Amy Smart and Carmen Electra in Starsky & Hutch, while Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore were named the Best Onscreen Team for their partnership in 50 First Dates. Superstars including Tom Cruise and Snoop Dogg presented awards at the glitzy bash, which is to be screened on MTV this Thursday.

Tarantino's French Honor
20 May 2004 (WENN)
American director Quentin Tarantino has been made an Officer Of Arts And Letters by the French government. The Kill Bill filmmaker - who is currently acting as the head of the Cannes Film Festival jury - was presented with the honor by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu De Vabres. Tarantino, who was awarded the Palme D'Or in 1994 for Pulp Fiction, says, "I'm actually for the first time speechless." Oscar-winning One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest director Milos Forman was also made a Knight Of The Legion Of Honour. He was told by De Vabres, who dubbed him "a master of world cinema", that, "Your cinema crosses borders and is a model for generations of filmmakers."

Thurman and Hannah Continue Feud
19 May 2004 (WENN)
Kill Bill co-stars Uma Thurman and Daryl Hannah have again demonstrated their ill-feeling towards each other at the Cannes Film Festival. Reports of a feud between the pair surfaced following the British premiere of Kill Bill: Vol 2 last month, when the actresses reportedly instructed hotel and cinema staff to ensure they were kept separate from each other. The blonde stars were again at odds on Sunday at the screening of Quentin Tarantino's violent epic at the French bash. Firstly, Thurman attempted to take Tarantino away from Hannah as the pair posed for pictures, and then sources revealed they had ordered separate areas to be created at the after-show party so they wouldn't clash. An insider says, "Each star had their own tent at the bash but seating organizers were told that Daryl and Uma's areas couldn't be next to each other. They don't appear to be the best of pals."

Critic Says Studios Likely To Fuel Public Ire with DVD "Specials"
27 April 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Boston Globe pop critic Renée Graham has castigated film studios for their increasing tendency to release multiple DVD versions of hit films. Graham points out that Miramax is currently planning to release six different DVD releases of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, noting that Miramax COO Rick Sands recently told the New York Times: "Vol. 1 goes out, Vol. 2 goes out, then Vol. 1 Special Edition, Vol. 2 Special Edition, the two-pack, then the Tarantino collection as a boxed set for Christmas. ... It's called multiple bites at the apple." Graham predicts that the public will soon wise up to the fact that it's being exploited, observing: "Studio suits would do well to remember the hard lessons learned by the record industry. As CD prices inexplicably increased year after year, some fans turned to peer-to-peer downloading services ... for their music fix. The music industry has been crying foul ever since and suing the very people it wants to purchase its product."

Tarantino: Thurman Deserves Oscar
22 April 2004 (WENN)
Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino insists Uma Thurman deserved to clinch the Best Actress Oscar which went to Charlize Theron in February. While stunning Theron picked up the coveted award for her efforts in Monster, Tarantino believes Thurman's demanding role in the Kill Bill movies made her more deserving of an Academy Award, even though she wasn't even nominated. He says, "As far as I'm concerned, the Academy should've just walked up to her door, knocked on it and put the Oscar in her hand. Kill Bill: Vol 2 - there's a whole other year, a whole other crack at it."

Miramax Wags the Mouse
20 April 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Disney was probably giving thanks for its Miramax subsidiary Monday as box office returns showed that Miramax's second "volume" of Kill Bill took in $25.1 million over the weekend -- virtually all of the money pure profit, since the studio had already recouped its production costs for the two Kill Bill movies -- and then some -- when Vol. 1 was released last October. At the same time, the box office defeat of Disney's The Alamo appeared complete as the $100-million movie dropped 55 percent in its second week to just $4.1 million, to bring its two-week total to $16.4 million. Analysts predicted that Disney was likely to write down as much as $80 million on the drama. Last week's leader, The Passion of the Christ, risen for Easter weekend, dropped 73 percent to No. 10, with $4.05 million. Lions Gate's The Punisher opened in second place with a mediocre $13.8 million, while the only other new release, Connie and Carla opened outside the top ten with $3.3 million. Nevertheless, since it was screened in only 1014 locations, it placed fourth in per-theater box office earnings. After a seven-week streak of total box-office gains that topped last year's, earnings for last weekend fell to $86.4 million, 2.1 percent below the figure for the comparable weekend a year ago.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Kill Bill: Volume 2, Miramax, $25,104,949, (New); 2. The Punisher, Lions Gate, $13,834,527, (New); 3. Johnson Family Vacation, Fox Searchlight, $5,950,280, 2 Wks. ($20,977,918); 4. Hellboy, Sony, $5,652,030, 3 Wks. ($50,308,617); 5. Home on the Range, Disney, $5,507,064, 3 Wks. ($37,782,081); 6. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Warner Bros. $5,227,232, 4 Wks. ($72,307,969); 7. Walking Tall, MGM, $4,601,007, 3 Wks. ($36,634,257); 8. Ella Enchanted, Miramax, $4,241,089, 2 Wks. ($13,579,980); 9. The Alamo, Disney, $4,138,571, 2 Wks. ($16,402,427); 10. The Passion of the Christ, Newmarket, $4,051,112, 8 Wks. ($360,761,619).

Liu Eyes a Quiet Wedding
20 April 2004 (WENN)
Kill Bill: Vol 1 beauty Lucy Liu is finally ready to marry after finding her soulmate in boyfriend Zach Helm. The stunning actress, 35, credits the hunky writer - whom she has been dating for nearly a year - with teaching her the meaning of love. And now the couple are excitedly talking weddings, but are insistent they will not be staging a showy ceremony packed with celebrity guests. Lucy enthuses, "Neither of us are into big showy, events and we talked about a quiet marriage, somewhere with just a few close friends and family and no big deal. I know that when you're involved with Hollywood it's almost expected that you will put on a big extravaganza or do something outrageous but I'm not like that. I want things to be quiet. Marriage is a special, private moment, a commitment and it should be a very emotional time not another movie set."

'Kill Bill' Fills the Bill
19 April 2004 (StudioBriefing)
No doubt setting the stage for more two-parters from Hollywood, Miramax's Kill Bill: Vol. 2 dominated the box office over the weekend with an estimated $25.6 million. Combined with the $22.1 million of Vol. 1's opening, it was as if the film had actually recorded a $47.7-million debut. Miramax's marketing team was being praised for its handling of the second half of Quentin Tarantino's revenge/martial-arts thriller. By releasing Vol. 1 on DVD last week (it sold 2 million copies in its first day on the shelves), the studio gave moviegoers who hadn't seen the first film a chance to catch up on the plot. As a result, Rick Sands, Miramax's COO, told today's (Monday) Los Angeles Times, "People are going to see Vol. 2 who hadn't seen Vol. 1 [in theaters]." Meanwhile, The Punisher, another revenge-themed movie aimed principally at young males, opened in second place with $14 million. A third new release, Connie and Carla, written by and starring Nia Vardalos, opened outside the top ten with just $3.3 million. Although such a performance would ordinarily be regarded as a disappointment, analysts pointed out that Vardalos's My Big Fat Greek Wedding also opened slowly in 2002 and took a month before showing signs of any significant audience interest. It eventually earned $241 million domestically. Meanwhile, Fox Searchlight's Johnson Family Vacation began showing signs of becoming something of a sleeper hit as it remained in third place with $6.4 million. The film, which cost only $12 million to make, has thus far grossed $21.5 million playing on only about 1,300 screens. By contrast, Disney's The Alamo, which opened just below Vacation last week, saw its earnings plummet to just $4 million. Last week's No. 1 film, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ did not remain resurrected in the top position for long, as it fell to ninth place with an estimated $4.2 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Kill Bill -- Vol. 2, $25.6 million; 2. The Punisher, $14 million; 3. Johnson Family Vacation, $6.4 million; 4. Hellboy, $5.7 million; 5. Home on the Range, $5.4 million; 6. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, $5.1 million; 7. Walking Tall, $4.6 million; 8. Ella Enchanted, $4.4 million; 9. The Passion of the Christ, $4.2 million; 10. The Alamo, $4.05 million.

Movie Reviews: 'Kill Bill, Vol. 2'
16 April 2004 (StudioBriefing)
At least the critics, for the most part, are consistent. If they didn't like Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1, they dislike Kill Bill Vol. 2 even more. If they were enthusiastic about Vol. 1, they're downright passionate about Vol. 2. There's little middle ground here. While Elvis Mitchell in the New York Times calls the second Kill Bill installment, "the most voluptuous comic-book movie ever made ... deliciously perverse," across town, at the New York Daily News, Jami Bernard calls the movie "strangely static -- a dulling experience that can safely be admired from afar without it ever engaging the senses. ... Quentin Tarantino has made a movie he could watch all day. But can anyone else?" Well, plenty, it would seem, for most of the reviews are in the vein of John Anderson's in Newsday, which refers to the thriller as "a film of stunning virtuosity and emotional clout ... a powerhouse movie ... [that] may even prove that Quentin Tarantino is as good a director as he has so long been purported to be." Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times praises it as "an exuberant celebration of moviemaking, coasting with heedless joy from one audacious chapter to another, working as irony, working as satire, working as drama, working as pure action." And Manohla Dargis in the Los Angeles Times calls it "an adrenaline shot to the movie heart, soul and mind." But Mark Caro in the Chicago Tribune maintains that Vol. 2, exposes Tarantino's weaknesses, not strengths. "He gives zero indication that he knows how actual kids act in emotionally fraught situations" and in an ending in which "he tries to inject real-life pathos," he exposes how deeply he "is in over his head as he tries to give his four-hour myth a heartbeat." On the other hand, Ty Burr in the Boston Globe writes that the movie shows the director "working at full throttle, using the medium in a way that prompts astonishment, delight, even gratitude. ... The result is insanely good, and the best time I've had at the movies in ages." One critic who panned the first installment does in fact do a 180-degree turn with this one. Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal recalls that at the end of his review of Vol. 1, he wrote snidely: "The second half will be released at a later date. I can hardly wait." In his latest review, he observes, "Well, I would have waited with great eagerness if I'd known of the pleasures to come."

Original 'Kill Bill' Is a Killer in Home Video Sales
15 April 2004 (StudioBriefing)
More good news for Disney: Only days before Friday's debut of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 2, the home video version of Kill Bill Vol. 1, starring Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu, sold 2 million copies in its first 24 hours in the store, according to Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment. In a statement, Miramax COO Rick Sands said, "It is an extraordinary achievement and reaffirms that Quentin's films are true movie events."

Tarantino To Make 'Kill Bill' Animation
6 April 2004 (WENN)
Maverick director Quentin Tarantino is planning an animated prequel to his Kill Bill movies - to show the early life of the deadly assassin. The film will be drawn in the Japanese manga style already seen in Kill Bill Volume 1 and will focus on the three men - pimp Estebian Vihaio and martial arts masters Hattori Hanzo and Pei Mai - who turned Bill into a ruthless killer. The Oscar-winning writer and director will write and produce the film. Tarantino has also speculated that he could return to Kill Bill's world in 15 years time to follow the daughter of a character killed in the first film. The popular filmmaker - who took five years off after directing Jackie Brown to return to the screen with the violent revenge saga - is next set to direct a segment of Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's comic book adaptation Sin City.

Uma Not Bitter Over Divorce
2 April 2004 (WENN)
Movie beauty Uma Thurman refuses to be bitter about the end of her six year marriage to Ethan Hawke - as it would only damage their children. The Kill Bill star split with Oscar nominee Hawke in September last year, following reports he had been cheating on her with Canadian model Jen Perzow. But, rather than hit out at her estranged spouse through the media, Uma prefers to remember the good times with hunky Hawke. She says, "It's not fun but, like any great change or trauma or shock or loss, you know you have to look at things as an opportunity for growth and a chance to reinvent yourself in some fashion. Sometimes the good memories might make you sad but they're still precious. I don't feel like anything was wasted. I've had a really rich life and I'm grateful for the last eight years. They were so much better than the eight years before that."

Hannah Nabs Hotel Tycoon
31 March 2004 (WENN)
Daryl Hannah has taken a leaf out of Kill Bill co-star Uma Thurman's book - by dating a wealthy hotelier. The Splash beauty, 44, is enjoying a passionate romance with Sean McPherson, the boss of New York's Maritime Hotel, after failing to find love with previous beaus David Blaine and John F. Kennedy Jr. Hannah's new romance comes hot on the heels of Thurman's love match with tycoon Andre Balazs, who she has been dating since splitting with husband Ethan Hawke in September last year.

Vivica Stains Million-Dollar Dress
15 March 2004 (WENN)
Kill Bill star Vivica A Fox has given a fashion designer extra work, after spilling red wine on a diamond-encrusted dress - worth $1.5 million. The sexy actress, ex-girlfriend of rapper 50 Cent, donned the Randi Rahm-designed frock - boasting 500 carats of diamonds - to an Oscar party on February 29. Rahm is now carefully removing the diamond, throwing away the stained silk and making Fox a replacement dress with beading instead - and he has no complaints. Rahm tells America's People magazine, "I got a beautiful Hollywood star who looked breathtaking in the dress. I'm not upset at all, it's all part of the deal!"

Patrick Stewart Blasts 'Kill Bill' for Female Violence
9 March 2004 (WENN)
British thespian Patrick Stewart has blasted movies like Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill - for helping to "stereotype violent attitudes of men to women". Speaking at Friday's launch of a new Amnesty International campaign against attacks on women in London, the Star Trek star revealed he witnessed his father beating his mother and claimed movies and TV have helped to perpetuate a nasty new trend. He says, "The entertainment industry has been extremely irresponsible in perpetuating and stereotyping the violent attitudes of men to women. I condemn utterly films like Kill Bill. We are told it is about empowering women. All it does is empower a woman to kill another woman."

Tarantino Hints at Romance with Thurman
6 February 2004 (WENN)
Kill Bill director Quentin Tarantino has hinted at a romance with pal Uma Thurman - despite recently declaring his joy for her new relationship with hotelier Andre Balazs. The eccentric film-maker had been rumored to be dating statuesque Thurman after her marriage to Ethan Hawke dissolved last year, but Tarantino dispelled any suspicions of such a relationship when he confirmed her romance with Balazs. But now Tarantino says on whether he and Thurman have advanced their relationship past the friendship stage, "I'm not saying that we haven't, and I'm not saying that we have. We love each other, but we're almost too close now to be a couple. We had out life together on Kill Bill. It was like a marriage in every way."

Tarantino: I Like To Upset Audiences
27 January 2004 (WENN)
Maverick filmmaker Quentin Tarantino likes to play sadistic games with his willing audience - because he knows how much they enjoy being tortured by him. The Kill Bill director prides himself on shocking viewers of his movies, and claims he has a sadomasochistic relationship with his audience, which keeps both parties interested. The 40-year-old says, "I like f***ing with your emotions, and I like it when it's done to me. That's my thing. You're gonna laugh, you're gonna laugh, you're gonna laugh, until you're gonna stop laughing. You're gonna stop laughing, you're gonna stop laughing, you're gonna stop laughing until boom you're gonna laugh again. The audience and the director, it's an S&M relationship and the audience is the M. It's exciting. When you go out and have pie afterwards, you've got some s*** to talk about. You went to the movies that night."

Lonely Hawke Worries Pals
2 January 2004 (WENN)
Recently-separated movie hunk Ethan Hawke has become so depressed and withdrawn since his split from wife Uma Thurman, pals are fearing for his health. The Training Day actor split with the Kill Bill beauty in September after he was caught cheating on her with model Jen Perzow on the Canadian set of upcoming movie Taking Lives. After unsuccessfully trying to woo back the mother of his two children, Ethan has had to rely on his pet dog for company - while Uma enjoys a romantic holiday with new love Andre Balzas. Spies in Hawke's native New York have spotted the lonely star dining out with his pet pooch and then pouring out his troubles to a pal while walking the mutt in the trendy Chelsea district, saying it was a "really painful breakup". Also, sources on Hawke's new film Billy Dead have told gossip website Page Six.com he is so down that he is failing to return phone calls and finding it difficult to concentrate. Hawke and Thurman married in 1998 after meeting on the set of sci-fi thriller Gattaca.

Online Film Critics Give 11 Nods to 'King'
30 December 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has garnered 11 nominations from the Online Film Critics Society for their 2003 awards. Close behind was Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill with 10.

Uma Gets Serious with New Love
29 December 2003 (WENN)
Screen beauty Uma Thurman is so smitten with her new man Andre Balzas - they spent a romantic Christmas together in St. Barts. The Kill Bill star, currently separated from husband Ethan Hawke after his reported infidelity with Canadian model Jen Perzow, lapped up the attention from attentive hotel tycoon Andre on the Caribbean island. Uma has been friends with Andre for years, but their blossoming romance only began shortly after Uma separated from Ethan in September. Uma and Andre were also accompanied by her children with Ethan - Maya Ray, five, and Roan, 22 months - on the relaxing break. A fellow holidaymaker says, "While the kids were playing, Uma and her man couldn't keep their hands off each other."

Affleck Visits Navy in Persian Gulf
26 December 2003 (WENN)
Benevolent movie star Ben Affleck paid a visit to American troops in the Persian Gulf Monday - to tell them they are loved and missed at home. The Paycheck hunk - who flew back to New York to spend Christmas with fiancee Jennifer Lopez - boarded the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier and was greeted by the 5,300 men and woman working there. And Affleck - an avid Democrat - spent his time dining with the sailors and cracking jokes about the capture of fallen Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Troops stationed on the craft also got a sneak preview of Paycheck - which stars Affleck and Kill Bill beauty Uma Thurman. Affleck told the Soldiers, "Thank you for your dedication, your service to the navy and to this country. You are loved and missed back home and we await your safe return." Those working aboard USS Enterprise will spend the festive season away from family and friends. Affleck later moved on to USS Gettysburg, a guided- missile cruiser stationed nearby.

Thurman's Ease with 'Paycheck' Scenes
22 December 2003 (WENN)
Uma Thurman loved filming upcoming action movie Paycheck with Ben Affleck - because it was a welcome relief from the grueling regime she had to endure for Kill Bill. The statuesque actress admits the months of training she went through for the Quentin Tarantino films was so punishing, the action scenes in Paycheck took very little effort. She says, "I'm Ben's sort of co-star - I'm the 'girl' in the movie and it was so fun just to be the girl. (Affleck) got to the do all the big work and I just got to show up and be the girl, so it was kind of really nice as a juxtaposition. Compared to Kill Bill it was a walk in the park. I was like, 'Kick that person? Sure, no problem! What kinda kick do you want? Do you want a slap kick, a roundhouse kick, what kinda kick you want? Tell me the kick and I'll give you the kick.'"

Thurman Embarks on New Romance
15 December 2003 (WENN)
Ethan Hawke's hopes of winning back estranged wife Uma Thurman have been dealt a severe blow - the actress has found a new man. The Kill Bill star is reportedly romancing New York hotelier Andre Balazs, who is a long-term acquaintance, after separating from Hawke in September. Hawke's affair with Canadian model Jen Perzow on the set of upcoming thriller Taking Lives caused Thurman such heartache, her brothers threatened to "kill" the Reality Bites hunk. But now Uma - who has two children Maya and Roan with Hawke - is said to be resisting her ex's attempts to salvage their marriage. A source close to Uma says of Balazs, "They've known each other for years, but they just started seeing each other about a month and an half ago. It's very recent, but they seem intense."

Hawke Moves Out of Family Home - Again
9 December 2003 (WENN)
Movie hunk Ethan Hawke has moved out of the home he shares with estranged wife Uma Thurman and their two young children again - and checked into a hotel with a mystery woman. The Training Day star had hoped to rekindle his romance with the Kill Bill beauty after she kicked him out amid claims he was openly dating Canadian model Jen Perzow in Montreal this summer. But sources at New York's Chelsea Hotel tell gossip site Page Six that Hawke moved his belongings back in last Tuesday and was accompanied by a sexy young woman called Christine. An insider whispers, "When they checked in, Ethan asked for two keys. They were definitely together." But Hawke's representatives have immediately moved to quash the rumors stating: "The only women who have been in Ethan's room are his mother and the nannies. There is no Christine."

Hawke Plans Christmas Reunion with Uma
3 December 2003 (WENN)
Movie hunk Ethan Hawke is planning to win back estranged wife Uma Thurman by spending Christmas with her and their two young children, Roan and Maya. The couple - who met on the set of 1997 movie Gattaca - split in September amid claims that Hawke had been openly romancing Canadian model Jen Perzow while filming upcoming thriller Taking Lives in Montreal this summer. Sources close to the Training Day heart-throb, 33, say that he is desperate to rekindle his marriage with the Kill Bill beauty but she remains unconvinced that he can curb his womanizing ways. An insider says, "They're going to give Roan and Maya the best Christmas and put everything else aside. It's going to be hard for both but they've made a pact to try and be friendly for the kids' sake. At the same time Ethan is secretly hoping it will be a chance for them to sort out their issues."

Uma: Put Bush on TV
20 November 2003 (WENN)
Sexy actress Uma Thurman is a big fan of American President George W. Bush - but only because she finds him "entertaining". The Kill Bill stunner - famous for her liberal views - is deeply disappointed with the political achievements of America's premier but is sure he could redeem himself as a television personality. She jokes, "He should have his own show. He's a very charismatic guy. He's funny. I really wish he wasn't running the country. I didn't want him to be elected, but I hoped he wouldn't do a bad job. I have to say it's been less than impressive."

50 Cent and Vivica Split
7 November 2003 (WENN)
Kill Bill actress Vivica A. Fox's much talked-about romance with superstar rapper 50 Cent has come to an end. Trouble between the pair reportedly started at last month at Monaco's World Music Awards with 39-year-old Fox furious with the amount of female attention the rap superstar was getting. During a recent radio interview in New York City, 27-year-old 50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - admitted, "We're no more. It just didn't work out." And in a separate interview with presenter Skip Cheatum on K104 in Dallas, Texas, the rapper went on to say, "We're over," before announcing on air that he was looking for in his next relationship. He told listeners, "I'm looking for a woman with substance, one that's intelligent, and she doesn't have to be all that beautiful, but just have themselves together."

Frightful Weekend at the Box Office
4 November 2003 (StudioBriefing)
On a weekend during which Halloween activities traditionally cut into moviegoing, Scary Movie 3 took the top spot at the box office with just $20 million, a plunge of some 58 percent below its opening-week take. It was also $1.1 million below the studio's weekend estimates. Close behind was Disney's Brother Bear, with $19.4 million -- nearly $1 million above the studio's estimates. The animated film would certainly have taken top honors had it been released on Friday, the usual opening day, rather than on Saturday. A clear disappointment was the performance of Sony's much-hyped Meg Ryan starrer, In the Cut, which expanded from six theaters a week ago to 825. The film earned only $2 million, putting it outside the top ten. Overall, the box office was down 12 percent from the same weekend a year ago and more than 33 percent from 2001, when Monsters Inc. opened with 62.5 million.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Scary Movie 3, Miramax/Dimension, $20,017,468, 2 Wks. ($77,540,714); 2. Brother Bear, Disney, $19,404,492, 2 Wks. ($19,802,809); 3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, New Line, $10,818,401, 3 Wks. ($66,047,114); 4. Radio, Sony, $9,638,693, 2 Wks. ($26,245,062); 5. Runaway Jury, 20th Century Fox, $6,525,082, 3 Wks. ($33,315,320); 6. Mystic River, Warner Bros., $6,232,376, 4 Wks. ($33,546,588); 7. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Miramax, $4,529,607, 4 Wks. ($60,801,929); 8. School of Rock, Paramount, $4,522,814, 5 Wks. ($69,244,526); 9. Intolerable Cruelty, Universal, $2,499,805, 4 Wks. ($31,897,330); 10. Good Boy!, MGM, $2,262,583, 4 Wks. ($35,258,470).

'Scary Movie 3' Scares Up Another $21.1 Million
3 November 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Scary Movie 3 turned out to be just the trick at the box office over the Halloween weekend as audiences treated themselves to an estimated $21.1 million worth of tickets, bringing its two-week total to $78.6 million. It was the second week in a row that the film held the top box-office position. In second place was Disney's hand-drawn animated feature Brother Bear, which opened on Saturday and took in $18.5 million over the two weekend days. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre dropped to third place in its third week as it earned $10.9 million, to bring its total to $66.1 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Scary Movie 3, $21.1 million; 2. Brother Bear, $18.5 million; 3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, $10.9 million; 4. Radio, $10.2 million; 5. Runaway Jury, $6.9 million; 6. Mystic River, $6.3 million; 7. Kill Bill -- Vol. 1, $4.7 million; 8. The School of Rock, $4.4 million; 9. Intolerable Cruelty, $2.7 million; 10. In the Cut, $2.3 million.

'Scary Movie 3' Scares Up the Biz
28 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Dimension Films' Scary Movie 3 pulled off both a trick and treat over the weekend before Halloween as it lured the biggest modern-day crowd ever to see a movie in October. Early exit polls showed that audiences rated the movie highly, suggesting that it may continue to draw big crowds in weeks to come. Ticket sales amounted to $48.1 million, well above the previous October record of $36.5 million, set by last year's Red Dragon. The Cuba Gooding Jr. starrer Radio also had a solid debut, earning $13.3 million, despite mostly negative reviews, and winding up in third place. But Beyond Borders, starring Angelina Jolie, bombed, falling out of the top-ten list in its debut with just $2.1 million. Overall the box office collected $129.3 million, 21 percent above the comparable week a year ago.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Scary Movie 3, Miramax/Dimension, $48,113,770, (New); 2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, New Line, $14,468,555, 2 Wks. ($50,919,462); 3. Radio, Sony, $13,303,724, (New); 4. Runaway Jury, 20th Century Fox, $8,446,650, 2 Wks. ($24,057,433); 5. Mystic River, Warner Bros., $7,787,255, 3 Wks. ($24,733,033); 6. School of Rock, Paramount, $6,521,355, 4 Wks. ($63,392,926); 7. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Miramax, $6,355,590, 3 Wks. ($54,037,681); 8. Good Boy!, MGM, $5,065,102, 3 Wks. ($32,104,866); 9. Intolerable Cruelty, Universal, $3,629,860, 3 Wks. ($28,252,815); 10. Under the Tuscan Sun, Disney, $2,287,114, 5 Wks. ($37,249,294).

Conservatives Say CBS Doing a "Hatchet Job" on Reagan
28 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Admirers of Ronald Reagan are expressing anger over CBS's planned miniseries about the former film star and president and are calling on CBS to shelve it. Philadelphia public interest lawyer Jonathan M. Stein, in an article posted on the conservative NewsMax website, has suggested that Nancy Reagan sue CBS for defamation. "CBS must be stopped from ever airing the program," Stein wrote. NewsMax commentator Geoff Metcalf wrote Monday: "The Reagans is a Kill Bill without the hacked-off body parts. It is petty, mean-spirited character assassination and it demands vengeance." And Reagan's former chief of staff and attorney general, Edwin Meese, called the miniseries "a very cynical and very malicious plot, really, to try to darken [Reagan's] reputation."

'Scary' Business
27 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Producer-writer-director David Zucker has pulled off the revival of the Scary Movie franchise. The third edition of the series earned an estimated $49.7 million over the weekend, more than twice the $20.5 million that Scary Movie 2 earned in July of 2001 (at a time of the year that ordinarily sees a surge in movie attendance). It was the most ever earned by a film debuting in October. Last week's winner, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, fell to second place with about $14.7 million. It was followed in third place by the Cuba Gooding Jr. starrer Radio, which premiered with $14 million. Angelina Jolie's new film, Beyond Borders, which drew dismal reviews, also drew few moviegoers. It tanked with just $2 million and failed even to make the top-ten list.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Scary Movie 3, $49.7 million; 2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, $14.7 million; 3. Radio, $14 million; 4. Runaway Jury, $8.4 million; 5. Mystic River, $7.6 million; 6. The School of Rock, $6.5 million; 7. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, $6 million; 8. Good Boy!, $4.85 million; 9. Intolerable Cruelty, $3.6 million; 10. Under the Tuscan Sun, $2.2 million.

Uma Takes Time Off To Save Marriage
23 October 2003 (WENN)
Kill Bill beauty Uma Thurman has cleared her diary for the next few months to spend time trying to save her marriage to fellow superstar Ethan Hawke. The Gattaca co-stars announced their separation last month after it emerged that Hawke had been openly romancing Canadian model Jen Perzow. But hopeful Uma tells Vanity Fair magazine she has committed to trying to rebuild the relationship for the sake of their children Maya, five, and Roan, one. She says, "I am with the kids, and I am committed to taking the Fall off. Then we will see what happens." Thurman admitted that she and Hawke have not yet had a proper discussion about their floundering romance and that she remains unconvinced that their love can survive.

ESPN Fires Columnist for "Intolerable" Remarks
21 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
ESPN has dumped New Republic senior editor Gregg Easterbrook, who was accused of anti-Semitism when, in a review of Miramax's Kill Bill, he referred to Miramax Chairman Harvey Weinstein and Disney Chairman Michael Eisner as "Jewish executives" who "worship money above all else." Although Easterbrook quickly apologized and described his own remarks "simply wrong," ESPN on Monday called them "highly offensive and intolerable." Although ESPN is owned by Disney, the company observed in its statement that Eisner was not involved in the decision to fire Easterbrook, who wrote the "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" column on the ESPN website.

It's a Massacre!
21 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
In a battle of the bloodiest, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre handily dispatched Kill Bill from the top of the box-office rankings as it took in $28.1 million to Bill's $12.4 million last weekend. Runaway Jury edged out School of Rock for third place, with the former debuting at $11.8 million and the latter taking in $11 million in its third week. Clint Eastwood's Mystic River, which expanded to 1,467 screens, rounded out the top five with $10.4 million.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1 . The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, New Line, $28,094,014, (New); 2. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Miramax, $12,424,841, 2 Wks. ($43,235,778); 3. Runaway Jury, 20th Century Fox, $11,836,705, (New); 4. School of Rock, Paramount, $11,006,233, 3 Wks. ($54,898,025); 5. Mystic River, Warner Bros., $10,445,547, 2 Wks. ($13,532,943); 6. Good Boy!, MGM, $8,932,472, 2 Wks. ($25,713,653); 7. Intolerable Cruelty, Universal, $6,515,010, 2 Wks. ($22,720,755); 8. Out of Time, MGM, $4,002,023, 3 Wks. ($35,230,719); 9. Under the Tuscan Sun, Disney, $3,379,245, 4 Wks. ($33,657,195); 10 . The Rundown, Universal, $2,780,695, 4 Wks. ($44,518,785).

'Massacre' at the Box Office
20 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
New Line's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre made mincemeat of the competition over the weekend as it debuted with an estimated $29.1 million, well above analysts' forecasts. In a blood-splattered battle, Miramax's Kill Bill, which topped the box office last weekend, came in second with about $12.5 million. Twentieth Century Fox's Runaway Jury premiered in third place with a so-so $12.1 million, while Paramount's School of Rock dipped to fourth place with a solid $11.3 million, to bring its three-week total to $55.1 million. Clint Eastwood's critically acclaimed Mystic River, which debuted in limited release On Oct. 8, expanded to 1,467 theaters, where it collected around $10.4 million, or an average of nearly $7,100 per theater, and placed fifth. Overall, the box office was up more than 40 percent from the comparable week a year ago.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, $29.1 million; 2. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, $12.5 million; 3. Runaway Jury, $12.1 million; 4. School of Rock, $11.3 million; 5. Mystic River, $10.36 million; 6. Good Boy!, $9 million; 7. Intolerable Cruelty, $6.9 million; 8. Out of Time, $4.1 million; 9. Under the Tuscan Sun, $3.4 million; 10. The Rundown, $2.8 million.

Ethan's Lover: I Didn't Wreck Marriage
20 October 2003 (WENN)
The lover of movie hunk Ethan Hawke insists she didn't wreck his marriage to Kill Bill stunner Uma Thurman - because the couple had already separated. Gorgeous Jennifer Perzow insists Ethan - who has two children with Uma - told her about his marital problems from the moment they first met on the Montreal, Canada set of new movie Taking Lives. The 22-year-old says, "I'm no home-wrecker. All this stuff that I broke up their marriage is just not true. "The truth is, it's Uma who wanted out of the marriage, not Ethan. He's very much a family guy and this hasn't been an easy thing for him. The very first night I met him, he told me he was no longer with his wife - that they were having problems and he was separated. I had no reason to doubt him. Ethan didn't hide me from his public, the people on set or even his best friends. He introduced me to all his close pals, including Leonard DiCaprio. There has to be a reason why Ethan was so open about his relationship with me. And it wasn't because he was being an a**hole and cheating on his wife. It's because there was already something wrong with their marriage long before we met. Ethan's a very down-to-earth, intelligent and caring guy. And very romantic. What we had in Montreal before everything broke loose was great."

New Republic Editor Apologizes for Remarks About "Jewish Executives" at Disney
17 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Following protests by the Anti-Defamation League and other groups, a senior editor of New Republic magazine has apologized for remarks he made in a column about the Miramax movie Kill Bill in which he said that it was made by "Jewish executives" who "worship money above all else." His comments apparently referred to Disney Chairman Michael Eisner and Miramax Co-chairman Harvey Weinstein, who are both Jewish. The remarks were even condemned by L.A. Weekly columnist Nikki Finke, who is suing Disney and remains one of Eisner's chief critics. "I'm ashamed for the New Republic," she told today's (Friday) New York Daily News.In a statement posted on the New Republic's website Thursday night, writer Gregg Easterbrook acknowledged that his remarks may have invoked "a thousand years of stereotypes." He concluded: "What I wrote here was simply wrong, and for being wrong, I apologize."

Movie Reviews: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
17 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Critics are attempting to massacre the new version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But most box-office analysts doubt that they'll succeed. Indeed, many are predicting it will not only kill Kill Bill, last week's winner, but everything else at the megaplex this week. That hasn't stopped reviewers from taking their best shots at the film. Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times calls it "a contemptible film: Vile, ugly and brutal. There is not a shred of a reason to see it." To Lou Lumenick in the New York Post, it's "a splatterfest remake that relentlessly assaults the senses and mind with no discernible redeeming social value." Dave Kehr in the New York Times says that the movie is devoid of thrills and suspense and amounts to "a long march to the slaughterhouse that seems to take forever to get going and, once it does, goes nowhere that hasn't been visited before by more talented filmmakers." Ebert, by the way, remarks that "those who defend it will have to dance through mental hoops of their own devising, defining its meanness and despair as 'style' or 'vision' or 'a commentary on our world.'" No such defense is included in any of today's reviews.

Tarantino Intolerably Cruel to Coens
14 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Quentin Tarantino's bloodfest, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 topped the weekend box office with $22.1 million, but the well-reviewed romantic comedy Intolerable Cruelty, starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones and directed by the Coen brothers, debuted in fourth place with just $12.5 million, beaten by the kids flick Good Boy!, with $13.1 million and last week's box-office winner, School of Rock, starring Jack Black, with $15.5 million. Paramount COO Robert Friedman said the schoolroom comedy, which has grossed $39.7 million after two weekends, was playing well with all age groups, "We're getting kids and parents and Jack Black fans, but we are also getting older adults," Friedman told today's (Tuesday) Los Angeles Times. The success of the film will no doubt come as a relief to executives at parent company Viacom, which has seen the Paramount film division underperform most of its other units this year.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date): 1. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Miramax, $22,089,322, (New); 2. School of Rock, Paramount, $15,487,832, 2 Wks. ($39,671,396); 3. Good Boy!, MGM, $13,107,022, (New); 4. Intolerable Cruelty, Universal, $12,525,075, (New); 5. Out of Time, MGM, $8,590,001, 2 Wks. ($28,711,637); 6. The House of the Dead, Artisan, $5,683,280, (New); 7. The Rundown, Universal, $5,208,445, 3 Wks. ($40,268,790); 8. Under the Tuscan Sun, Disney, $4,911,328, 3 Wks. ($28,307,921); 9. Secondhand Lions, New Line, $3,297,211, 4 Wks. ($35,384,339); 10. Lost in Translation, Focus Features, $2,822,419, 5 Wks. ($18,121,154).

'Kill Bill' Is a Bloody Killer at Box Office
13 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Miramax's strategy of releasing Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill in two installments -- essentially splitting a more-than-three-hour movie in half -- seemed to some observers like an ingenious scheme as Kill Bill: Vol. 1 opened with a $22.7-million haul. If Kill Bill: Vol. 2 can perform equally well when it is released in February, it would translate to a more-than-$45-million opening for the film and thereby offset the aversion older moviegoers are likely to show towards it. Another new film, Intolerable Cruelty, which received generally strong reviews on Friday for its performances by George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones, debuted modestly in third place with $13.1 million. Sandwiched between the two films was last week's box-office winner, School of Rock, with $15.4 million. Two other new films made the top ten: The kids flick Good Boy! premiered in fourth place with $13 million, while the unreviewed The House of the Dead died with just $5.5 million. In limited release, Clint Eastwood's Mystic River packed 'em in in 13 theaters to take in $591,390, for an average of $45,492.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, $22.7 million; 2. School of Rock, $15.4 million; 3. Intolerable Cruelty, $13.1 million; 4. Good Boy!, $13 million; 5. Out of Time, $8.6 million; 6. The House of the Dead, $5.5 million; 7. The Rundown, $5.3 million; 8. Under the Tuscan Sun, $4.8 million; 9. Secondhand Lions, $3.3 million; 10. Lost in Translation, $2.9 million.

Ethan Cheated After Hearing Gossip About Uma & Quentin
13 October 2003 (WENN)
Ethan Hawke cheated on his wife Uma Thurman because he reportedly felt sure she was having an affair with movie maker Quentin Tarantino. The Reality Bites actor strayed with model Jen Perzow, 22, while he was working in Canada, and, as he and Thurman attempt to save their marriage, friends claim he thought his wife had already been unfaithful - with her Kill Bill director. A source tells American tabloid National Enquirer, "Ethan was really ticked off because he always thought Quentin had a thing for his wife. Quentin and Uma are longtime pals and there's a real chemistry there since they made Pulp Fiction together. When people around the set (of Kill Bill) tattled to Ethan, he was really upset. Now Quentin feels he's going to get dragged into this nasty mess." Meanwhile, Tarantino, who wrote Kill Bill as a birthday present to Thurman, is desperately trying to separate himself from the couple's marital problems. In a new Rolling Stone interview, the maverick movie maker insists Uma is nothing more than a muse, adding they have "a total partnership," and "there is nothing to that," when responding to questions about his involvement in the couple's problems.

Movie Reviews: 'Kill Bill: Vol. 1'
10 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Noting that Miramax decided to cut Kill Bill in half, releasing the first half today and the second half next year, Joel Siegel of ABC's Good Morning America decided to wait until the second half of the film is released before rendering his final appraisal of it. "I can't pass judgment on half a film any more than I could review a play if I'd only been allowed to see the first act or than I could review a book if I were only allowed to read every other page." Jami Bernard in the New York Daily News also complains that the film "has been unwisely chopped into two pieces -- the second is due in February -- when it really needed to be one long, delirious ride." Wesley Morris in the Boston Globe greets the "half a loaf" approach with a hiss. Other critics are not so upset, however. Rick Groen in the Toronto Globe and Mail even remarks that the ending "feels right." Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times, who awards the film four stars, suggests that the story is really sort of incidental. "The movie is not about anything at all except the skill and humor of its making. It's kind of brilliant." That's a conclusion that is repeated in numerous reviews. A.O. Scott in the New York Times writes that it "is above all an exercise in style." Most of the reviews also allude to the barrels of blood in which the film is seemingly in awash. But Chris Kaltenbach in the Baltimore Sun observes that it's hard to take it seriously. "Yeah, there's plenty of onscreen violence," he writes, "but it would be hard to imagine more cartoonish carnage." Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post calls it "pure evil bliss ... mesmerizing." On the other hand, Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal writes that the film "inflicts intolerable cruelty on its characters, and on its audience -- though I'd like to believe that there is no mainstream audience for what has already been described, quite correctly, as the most violent movie ever released by an American studio."

Stern: Daryl To Sue Playboy
10 October 2003 (WENN)
Sexy actress Daryl Hannah is reportedly going ahead with her plan to sue Playboy magazine because she's unhappy with their nude photo spread of her. The publicity-shy actress, 42, posed for the men's magazine after being promised 100 per approval of the photos that would be used. The shoot was a bid to promote her appearance in Quentin Tarantino's latest film Kill Bill. However, according to the New York Daily News, radio shock-jock Howard Stern says Hannah told him after interviewing her on Tuesday that she was suing the mag. The actress' lawyer Martin Singer hasn't commented, but a Playboy spokesman says she has not yet filed papers, adding, "Ms Hannah personally selected photographer (Tony Duran) for the shoot, which took place in August. We think the result is a beautiful, groundbreaking photo essay." A friend tells the newspaper, "She (was promised) full approval on the shots, and they used photos she hadn't approved of." Hannah is said to object to pictures of herself in pink in-line skates.

Jealous Justin Storms Out on Flirty Cameron
9 October 2003 (WENN)
Jealous Justin Timberlake reportedly stormed out of a New York nightclub on Tuesday night, after spotting girlfriend Cameron Diaz dancing with another man. According to British tabloid The Sun, the hunky singer flew into a rage when Diaz jumped up on a podium at the trendy Suede club and refused his pleas to stop flirting. The pair were partying after attending the star-studded premiere of Quentin Tarantino's new movie Kill Bill. A source tells the newspaper, "Justin and Cameron were with a group of friends. When they arrived they looked like they were happy. They seemed to be having a good time until Cameron started dancing with a guy. At first Justin pretended not to notice but the dancing started to get hot and you could see he was uncomfortable, Eventually he went over to Cameron and told her to stop because she was making a fool of herself. She refused, told him to grow up and he charged off out of the club."

Drudge Report Claims Miramax and Disney Will Split
8 October 2003 (StudioBriefing)
Although virtually ignored by the U.S. press, several European newspapers have picked up an online Drudge Report item claiming that Disney executives are so concerned about the violent content of Miramax's Kill Bill that they may end their relationship with the subsidiary. Drudge quoted a source at Disney as saying that the Quentin Tarantino film "has led to a deep reassessment of the situation and relationship [with Miramax.]" He further claimed that Miramax chief Harvey Weinstein has retained top entertainment attorney Bert Fields, "foreshadowing a possible split." Meanwhile, it was reported that Tarantino was conspicuous by his absence from the New York premiere of Kill Bill Tuesday night. FoxNews.com's Roger Friedman said that the director had been "sidelined in Los Angeles by some kind of illness that prevented him from flying in."

Uma's On-Set Baby Hell
8 October 2003 (WENN)
Uma Thurman was driven to despair by the pressure of juggling a new-born baby and her first major film role since 2000 on the set of Kill Bill. The leggy actress jumped at the chance to play the lead in Quentin Tarantino's latest effort, but admits that filming so soon after giving birth to son Roan - her second child with estranged husband Ethan Hawke - was difficult. She says, "In the first week, I ended up in the bathroom crying. There were a couple of moments when I was on my knees. I was breast-feeding and sleep deprived because I'd been up all night with the baby. I was exhausted. I'd never realized how hard it would be. It was unlike anything I'd ever done before. But I had the will to do it - it was empowering to make it out alive with my joints semi-intact."

Uma Thurman and Lancome Part Company
7 October 2003 (WENN)
Kill Bill star Uma Thurman has been dropped by cosmetics giant Lancome - who have not renewed her $14.4 million contract after just two years. The leggy actress, who has just split from husband of five years Ethan Hawke, has refused to comment on the matter other than to say, "It's all over. I'm finished working for Lancome." Previously, the make-up company sacked Italian actress Isabella Rossellini after declaring her to be too old for their promotions.

Latifah Replaced by Fox in 'Barbershop' Spin-Off
7 October 2003 (WENN)
Rapper turned actress Queen Latifah has been replaced in the upcoming Barbershop spin-off Beauty Shop by Kill Bill star Vivica A. Fox. Oscar-nominated Chicago star Latifah makes an appearance in Ice Cube's Barbershop 2, where her character was supposed to be introduced to audiences before appearing in her own spin-off movie franchise. But busy Latifah has now been replaced by 50 Cent's reported belle Fox for the film, which goes into production from October 19 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Tarantino Wishes For a Sergio Leone-Style Career
6 October 2003 (WENN)
Kill Bill director Quentin Tarantino will only feel artistically fulfilled when he's matched the cinematic genius of his idol Sergio Leone. The American movie-maker has been lauded as the most exciting director working in the world today, but he still believes he has a long way to go to leave a lasting legacy. He says, "I think I'm pretty good - but my favorite director is Sergio Leone. Hands down, he's the one who's influenced me most. I think as time goes on I can keep raising the ceiling of my talent and I'm determined to do it to the end of my career, which isn't the case with most directors. I'm not doing a job. This ain't a job. This is an art form. But I can't imagine doing something as perfect as the closing sequence in The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. I will always try to reach that, but I don't think I will ever get there. It is just so cinematically perfect."

Drunk Quentin
2 October 2003 (WENN)
Quentin Tarantino shocked late night TV viewers in America on Monday by appearing drunk on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show. The movie maker slurred his way through an interview with Leno, who eventually asked him, "Have you been drinking today?" after wafting his alcohol-soaked breath away when Tarantino got too close. The film-maker giggled, "I'm bringing a little bit of old Johnny Carson onto the show when Oliver Reed would be a little drunk. You have an open bar backstage, which I was not aware of. The bar's funny." Tarantino didn't stop there after. Leaving The Tonight Show, he turned up at the Hollywood premiere of new movie Kill Bill - still very merry - alongside actress Uma Thurman, in a flame-painted pick-up truck dubbed 'The Pussy Wagon'.

Uma Holds Up in Wake of "Difficult" Ethan Split
2 October 2003 (WENN)
Kill Bill star Uma Thurman is "holding up" in the wake of her devastating split from cheating spouse Ethan Hawke, and remains philosophical about the distressing situation. Hawke was revealed two months ago to have strayed with Canadian model Jen Perzow on the set of his latest movie Taking Lives, despite being married to the Pulp Fiction beauty, with whom he has two young children. And although Thurman is currently trying to work her way through her own heartache, she insists she wouldn't change the past. Uma says, "I'm holding up. I don't know what to say because it is a difficult time and I am not exactly sure what to make of everything myself. As it is, I'm just trying to figure things out. To be a successful person you have to be willing to grow and take your blessings and your knocks in your stride. You have to be brave. It's very difficult. But the pros of having a family have been amazing for me. I basically slipped into having a family five years ago and they've been some of the happiest years of my life. It has been an opportunity for me to rebuild myself and I almost feel I have been born again. The strength I get from that and the love that I feel for being a mother is pretty unlimited and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Single Uma Consoled by Ex Cusack