At The Movies

Fast Five
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson get behind the wheel in the latest installment of the blockbuster auto action series. Since Brian O'Conner and Mia Toretto broke Dom Toretto out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first.
 

On DVD

Casino Jack
Inspired by true events that are too over the top for even the wildest imaginations to conjure, Casino Jack lays bare the wild excesses and escapades of Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey). Aided by his business partner Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), Jack parlays his clout over some of the world's most powerful men with the goal of creating a personal empire of wealth and influence. When the two enlist a mob connected buddy (Jon Lovitz) to help with one of their illegal schemes, they soon find themselves in over their heads, entrenched in a world of mafia assassins, murder and a scandal that spins so out of control that it makes worldwide headlines to awe inspiring levels of conning, scheming and fraudulent antics to get what he wants.
 

The Buzz...

Kate Hudson confirmed that she's engaged to rocker Matthew Bellamy, after Matt Lauer remarked on her new ring in the middle of their Today show interview.

Actor Randy Quaid is reportedly in talks to support fellow troubled star Charlie Sheen when the latter takes his one-man show to Vancouver, British Columbia next week. The Brokeback Mountain star, who fled America for Canada with his wife amid a legal tussle last year, performed with his lawyer John Shewfelt’s band The Fugitives at the Rio Theater in his adopted Vancouver on Friday night and he may repeat the show at the city’s Rogers Arena when Sheen arrives with his Torpedo of Truth tour.

Former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Ian Ziering is a first time dad. His wife Erin Ludwig has given birth to a baby girl. The couple, who wed a year ago, announced the baby news in November. Ziering was previously married to actress Nikki Schieler Ziering.

The latest film in the Fast & the Furious franchise is doing big business at the world's theatres and looks like it will be the biggest opening of the year so far, come Sunday. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson appear to have created box office gold with Fast Five and the trio and their castmates have already broken records in the U.S. Fast Five's midnight debut on April 28 was Universal's best Thursday night opening and the biggest in the film franchise's history. The film raked in $3.7 million in more than 1,100 cinemas. Internationally, the fast paced action film has already taken in $35.6 million. And there's sure to be a sixth film thanks to a cliffhanger ending and a twist after the credits that will have film fans gasping.

In casting the role of Bristol Palin, HBO has gone with a familiar face. Melissa Farman, who starred in the cable network's award gobbling movie Temple Grandin with Claire Danes, has been cast as Sarah Palin's daughter in Game Change, Jay Roach's upcoming political drama about John McCain choosing Palin as his running mate for the 2008 presidential election.

With time running out before the CBS upfront presentation in May, the plan to relaunch Two and a Half Men without Charlie Sheen is beginning to take shape. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that series co-creator Chuck Lorre has hatched an idea to reboot the Warner Bros. produced sitcom with a new creative direction that doesn't involve Sheen, who was fired from the series in March. Lorre is said to have presented close associates and "Men" co-star Jon Cryer with the plan. Lorre has told Cryer this reboot would involve a significant role for him and the introduction of a new, yet to be cast character.

A little known actor has launched an online bid to raise cash to fund a trip to Los Angeles so he can propose to pop star Avril Lavigne. Jason Selvig wants to raise $5,000 to cover his travel costs and expenses and strangely enough, people are already pledging to help him succeed via funding platform website Kickstarter.com. Smitten Selvig states he has been in love with the Canadian pop star, who is currently dating Kim Kardashian's half-brother Brody Jenner, but has "never had the opportunity to be in the same room with her".

Katy Perry is suing an Australian magazine over an article suggesting she had an affair. Editors of NW magazine ran a front page story in March claiming the pop star, who is married to English funnyman Russell Brand, had an "intimate relationship" with record producer Benny Blanco. The headline read: "World exclusive, Katy's other man" and also contained the words, "Split fears after shock revelation."

Meredith Vieira will exit NBC’s Today show in June, nearly three months before the end of her contract. Today newsreader Ann Curry will be promoted to co-host, and will be in turn replaced by correspondent Natalie Morales. An official announcement could come as early as next week.

Jersey Shore star Angelina Pivarnick has called off her engagement, even though she's pregnant with her former fiance's child. Pivarnick announced her pregnancy on Wednesday, but it appears she'll be a single mum; Dave Kovacs has dumped the reality TV star after learning she had been unfaithful with a fireman.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is set to tackle his most tuneful movie yet by playing country music star Charley Pride in a new biopic. The wrestler turned actor will test out his musical skills as he portrays one of the genre's most successful black stars. Pride has sold more than 70 million records throughout his long-running career and remains the only African American singer to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

The man who gave Mike Tyson his distinctive facial tattoo has sued Warner Bros. over the similar looking facial art on Ed Helms’ character in the upcoming comedy The Hangover: Part II. S. Victor Whitmill, an award winning tattoo artist who calls the Tyson design “one of the most distinctive tattoos in the nation,” is asking for an injunction to stop the release of the highly anticipated comedy sequel, set to bow in the United States over Memorial Day weekend at the end of May.

Who wants to play guitar in Bon Jovi? The rock band said Thursday its upcoming tour of North America and Europe would proceed even though guitarist Richie Sambora has entered rehab for a drinking problem. A spokeswoman declined to say who would take Sambora’s place on the trek, which begins Saturday in New Orleans and runs through July 31 in Lisbon. “Our support for Richie is absolute. He is, and will remain, a member of Bon Jovi,” the band’s statement said.