Post by Kari on Aug 13, 2007 11:26:18 GMT -5
Down in red at the bottom.
Tres Jolie
www.suntimes.com/entertainment/zwecker/507795,CST-FTR-zp13.article
August 13, 2007
BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist
Lots of rapper-related news today -- with both Chicago and Angelina Jolie connections.
Though Our Town's rap phenomenon Common co-stars in ''Wanted'' with Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman -- ironically, he won't get to film anything in his hometown! They all were shot earlier in Prague.
But with ''Wanted'' now filming here, Common wanted to stop by the set to say hello to his castmates and director Timur Bekmambetov. Common also created some humorous raps -- inspired by his new ''Finding Forever'' chart-topping CD -- personalized as little tributes to Jolie and Freeman. Along with rapping for the two Oscar winners, Common also gave them handwritten copies of the lyrics to keep.
* Speaking of Jolie, she's been busy, visiting the Field Museum (read all about it on Page 8) and Borders Books & Music at Michigan and Pearson.
* When news broke last week about a film being made about slain rapper Notorious B.I.G., a lot of reports neglected to mention the director will be Columbia College Chicago grad George Tillman Jr., who helmed ''Soul Food'' and ''Men of Honor,'' and along with producing partner and fellow Columbia alum Robert Teitel made the ''Barbershop'' flicks and ''Roll-Bounce'' here.
* As for those Internet rumors about Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker possibly playing the title role of the rapper who was born Christopher Wallace (and also was known as Biggie Smalls) -- Teitel tells us that's a total hoax. Yes, Whittaker is a great actor -- but at 46, he is almost twice Smalls' age when the rapper was gunned down at age 24 in 1997.
MORE 'BRANGELINA' & CO.: Sources say avid architecture buff Brad Pitt hopes to arrange a private tour of some of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park -- including Wright's restored home and studio -- at some point while he's in town. ... On Sunday, while taking a break from filming, Jolie's co-star Morgan Freeman went to the long-running Chicago production of ''Wicked'' with one of that show's producers, Marc Platt, who also just happens to be a producer of ''Wanted.''
GOOD CAUSES: The savvy women behind the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation have tapped the perfect person to headline the group's Oct. 9 benefit luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel -- Fran Drescher. Best known as TV's ''The Nanny,'' Drescher, a cancer survivor herself, authored Cancer Schmancer -- a frank memoir of her own battle with uterine cancer and her journey back to health. The event, sponsored by Carson Pirie Scott and co-chaired by Margie Korshak Goodman and Chicago first lady Maggie Daley, will help mark October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
* The Sept. 27 ''Couture & Cocktails'' fete for the Joffrey Ballet, at the Bentley/Lamborghini Gold Coast, looks to be one glamorous party. Co-chairs Candace Jordan and Helen Melchior will welcome guests for a fashion show and a live auction led by Oprah's design guru Nate Berkus, including a chance for a private lesson with tennis ace Jimmy Connors.
SEEN ON SCENE: ''Batman: The Dark Knight'' star Aaron Eckhart slipped into McCormick & Schmick's Gold Coast eatery for a quiet lunch. ... Ask for Ben Harper's autograph and the rocker may just pick up your tab! That's what happened when a friendly fan approached Laura Dern's hubby at R.J. Grunt's the other day. ... Star sightings at the Underground this weekend included the Bulls' Chris Duhon, the Lovehammers lead singer Marty Casey, actor Josh Charles and part-time Chicagoan Jon Kelley from ''Extra!''
FUNNY NOTE: Chicago's improv queen Charna Halpern jetted to her Los Angeles outpost, IO WEST, to catch former ''Saturday Night Live'' star Laraine Newman tonight in Halpern's ''The Armando Diaz Show.'' Instead of improvising monologues to inspire scenes (as is done here), Newman will read excerpts from a book she is writing.
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Tres Jolie
www.suntimes.com/entertainment/zwecker/507795,CST-FTR-zp13.article
August 13, 2007
BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist
Lots of rapper-related news today -- with both Chicago and Angelina Jolie connections.
Though Our Town's rap phenomenon Common co-stars in ''Wanted'' with Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman -- ironically, he won't get to film anything in his hometown! They all were shot earlier in Prague.
But with ''Wanted'' now filming here, Common wanted to stop by the set to say hello to his castmates and director Timur Bekmambetov. Common also created some humorous raps -- inspired by his new ''Finding Forever'' chart-topping CD -- personalized as little tributes to Jolie and Freeman. Along with rapping for the two Oscar winners, Common also gave them handwritten copies of the lyrics to keep.
* Speaking of Jolie, she's been busy, visiting the Field Museum (read all about it on Page 8) and Borders Books & Music at Michigan and Pearson.
* When news broke last week about a film being made about slain rapper Notorious B.I.G., a lot of reports neglected to mention the director will be Columbia College Chicago grad George Tillman Jr., who helmed ''Soul Food'' and ''Men of Honor,'' and along with producing partner and fellow Columbia alum Robert Teitel made the ''Barbershop'' flicks and ''Roll-Bounce'' here.
* As for those Internet rumors about Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker possibly playing the title role of the rapper who was born Christopher Wallace (and also was known as Biggie Smalls) -- Teitel tells us that's a total hoax. Yes, Whittaker is a great actor -- but at 46, he is almost twice Smalls' age when the rapper was gunned down at age 24 in 1997.
MORE 'BRANGELINA' & CO.: Sources say avid architecture buff Brad Pitt hopes to arrange a private tour of some of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park -- including Wright's restored home and studio -- at some point while he's in town. ... On Sunday, while taking a break from filming, Jolie's co-star Morgan Freeman went to the long-running Chicago production of ''Wicked'' with one of that show's producers, Marc Platt, who also just happens to be a producer of ''Wanted.''
GOOD CAUSES: The savvy women behind the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation have tapped the perfect person to headline the group's Oct. 9 benefit luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel -- Fran Drescher. Best known as TV's ''The Nanny,'' Drescher, a cancer survivor herself, authored Cancer Schmancer -- a frank memoir of her own battle with uterine cancer and her journey back to health. The event, sponsored by Carson Pirie Scott and co-chaired by Margie Korshak Goodman and Chicago first lady Maggie Daley, will help mark October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
* The Sept. 27 ''Couture & Cocktails'' fete for the Joffrey Ballet, at the Bentley/Lamborghini Gold Coast, looks to be one glamorous party. Co-chairs Candace Jordan and Helen Melchior will welcome guests for a fashion show and a live auction led by Oprah's design guru Nate Berkus, including a chance for a private lesson with tennis ace Jimmy Connors.
SEEN ON SCENE: ''Batman: The Dark Knight'' star Aaron Eckhart slipped into McCormick & Schmick's Gold Coast eatery for a quiet lunch. ... Ask for Ben Harper's autograph and the rocker may just pick up your tab! That's what happened when a friendly fan approached Laura Dern's hubby at R.J. Grunt's the other day. ... Star sightings at the Underground this weekend included the Bulls' Chris Duhon, the Lovehammers lead singer Marty Casey, actor Josh Charles and part-time Chicagoan Jon Kelley from ''Extra!''
FUNNY NOTE: Chicago's improv queen Charna Halpern jetted to her Los Angeles outpost, IO WEST, to catch former ''Saturday Night Live'' star Laraine Newman tonight in Halpern's ''The Armando Diaz Show.'' Instead of improvising monologues to inspire scenes (as is done here), Newman will read excerpts from a book she is writing.
© Copyright 2007 Sun-Times News Group | Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Affiliates: jump2web | RogerEbert.com | SearchChicago - Autos | SearchChicago - Homes | SearchChicago - Jobs | NeighborhoodCircle.com | Centerstage
Excellent! 