Sean Penn’s marriage to Robyn Wright Penn reportedly ended because he had started seeing actress Natalie Portman. Star magazine reports Penn, 48, and Portman, 27, have been together since at least March 17, when spies say they were spotted kissing for over 45 minutes at the Tower Bar in LA’s Sunset Tower Hotel. The pair first got to know each other when they teamed up in May 2008 as jury members at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
“She stimulates him in ways no other person has, mentally or professionally,” a source told Star magazine.
Inspired casting! Here’s one flick we is almost a guaranteed hit. MGM, along with the Farrelly brothers, Peter and Bobby, are almost done confirming their cast for their latest movie, The Three Stooges. Set to play Larry will be Sean Penn and playing Moe they’d like to get Benicio Del Toro. So who’s going to play chubster Curly? Execs are going after Jim Carrey for that rule. He’s reportedly intent on taking it and is already planning to gain 40 pounds to look more like the portly character. Seriously, 40 lbs for a movie? Why not just wear a fat suit?! – From Perez Hilton
MGM and the Farrelly brothers are closing in on their cast for “The Three Stooges.” Studio has set Sean Penn to play Larry, and negotiations are underway with Jim Carrey to play Curly, with the actor already making plans to gain 40 pounds to approximate the physical dimensions of Jerome “Curly” Howard. The studio is zeroing in on Benicio Del Toro to play Moe. The film is not a biopic, but rather a comedy built around the antics of the three characters that Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Howard played in the Columbia Pictures shorts. – from Variety
The Donnie Darko sequel is going straight to video. Wait, there was a sequel to Donnie Darko? When the frak did that happen? Apparently someone lured back Donnie’s sister for ‘S. Darko’. Lame. Here’s the trailer.
Kate Winslet, Jon Hamm and Freida Pinto open up backstage after winning at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Oscar nominee Sean Penn talks about winning the lead-actor prize at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards for his role as gay politician Harvey Milk in the film biography ‘Milk.’
The SAG Awards are in. Is Kate Winslet’s win that ‘lifetime’ award that is so often given to actors/actresses in a supporting role? Kind of sounds like it. The Ledger award indicates he’s going to get the Oscar – something that will be pretty cool. Nothing shocking otherwise.
Watch Chris’ Nolan accept Ledger’s award:
The late Heath Ledger was honored Sunday night with a Screen Actors Guild award for his no-holds-barred turn as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Gary Oldman, who co-starred in the Batman film, accepted the supporting actor award on behalf of Ledger, who died last January at age 28 of a prescription drug overdose. “I’m quite emotional,” said Oldman, who seemed to be holding back tears. “It is a great honor to be asked to accept this on behalf of Heath. He was an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary talent. … On behalf of Heath, his family and his family on ‘The Dark Knight,’ I thank you.” – From LA Times
British actress Kate Winslet and comedian Tina Fey were early winners on Sunday at the Screen Actors Guild awards, which could produce surprises in a season dominated by “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Winslet won the best supporting actress SAG award for her role as a German woman with a hidden Nazi past in “The Reader.” Winslet won a Golden Globe earlier this month for her performance. – From Reuters
Josh Brolin compared the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards to “a big campfire we’re all showing up for,” but Hollywood’s A list showed up in their finest. “It’s not a competition,” the actor said of the awards show, which is being aired Sunday night. “We’re just happy to party together.” Still, those who carry home SAG Actor trophies also walk away with a boost to their careers, shows and movies. – From CNN
Full list of winners:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Meryl Streep, “Doubt” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Kate Winslet, “The Reader” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“The Dark Knight” (Winner)
TELEVISION
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Laurie, “House M.D.” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Sally Field, “Brothers & Sisters” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey, “30 Rock” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
“Mad Men” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
“30 Rock” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Paul Giamatti, “John Adams” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laura Linney, “John Adams” (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
“Heroes” (Winner)
Milk,” about the last eight years in the life of Harvey Milk, America’s first openly gay elected politician, takes a bit from all of those traditions, but is ultimately weaker for it.
Though director Gus Van Sant’s movie boasts a strong lead performance from Sean Penn and perfect political timing following the controversy over the passing of California’s Proposition 8, the final result somehow undersells a man whose life and death were watershed moments in the gay rights movement. – from Nydailynews
Sean Penn reincarnates the Woodmere-born Milk, who at 40 became a rabble-rouser in San Francisco’s gay-friendly Castro district. The film follows Milk as he collects young staffers such as Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), who would later create the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and much time is spent on the defeat of California’s Proposition 6, which would have banned gays from working in public schools. As the campaigners jubilantly shade in a state map, it’s difficult not to think of California’s Proposition 8, which passed in November and banned gay marriage. – from newsday
Milk (* * *1/2 out of four) has one of the finest ensemble casts this year and a magnificent, career-topping performance by Sean Penn, who disappears into the title role.
Milk refers to Harvey Milk, a San Francisco city supervisor who was gunned down in 1978 by fellow politician Dan White (a superb Josh Brolin). The film tells the compelling story of how Milk became the country’s first openly gay man elected to public office. – from USAtoday
Sean Penn’s marriage to Robyn Wright Penn reportedly ended because he had started seeing actress Natalie Portman. Star magazine reports Penn, 48, and Portman, 27, have been together since at least March 17, when spies say they were spotted kissing for over 45 minutes at the Tower Bar in LA’s Sunset Tower Hotel. The pair first got to know each other when they teamed up in May 2008 as jury members at the Cannes Film Festival in France. 
