Movies

What's more, Cheadle has hired the Oscar-nominated screenwriting and producing duo, Chris Wilkinson and Steve Rivele ("Nixon"), a pair of lit heavyweights who adapted the life story of boxing's greatest heavyweight, Muhammad Ali, for Michael Mann's "Ali."

Himself a devotee of boxing, Davis would likely have approved. When Miles was making landmark jazz fusion recordings like "Bitches Brew" and "In a Silent Way," he was also contributing extensively to the soundtrack of a 1970 documentary about legendary African-American pugilist, Jack Johnson.

The Davis project has been an idea held dear by Cheadle for the last half dozen years, but until now, a music rights issue threatened to block its progress to the screen. No more.

We know him as Reese, the bullying dimwit older brother on Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle," but it seems Justin Berfield is no dummy. He's now on the fast track to become a Hollywood mogul.

The 21-year-old is stepping behind the camera to produce feature films and television projects through his own production company, J2TV/J2 Pictures. He's got two films slated, "Captain Trips: A Biography of Jerry Garcia," the first authorized biography of the legendary Grateful Dead guitarist, and the Jessica Simpson vehicle, "Blonde Ambition."

Berfield is also developing a challenge-based reality series featuring legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty. Justin also owns ten residential and commercial properties in the Los Angeles area, including Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's former home from MTV's "Newlyweds."

Not bad for 21.

Here's a situation: A reporter from Kazakhstan goes to Ohio and says he's covering the elections and making a documentary for his home country. One of the guys on the crew is named "Bolat." Needless to say, they weren't exactly welcomed with open arms.

In the wake of Sacha Baron Cohen's reign of chaos as bumbling Kazakh reporter Borat, it seems that real crews from the central Asian country are having a hard time being taken seriously. The crew that went to Ohio was contacted by State Department officials and the FBI before they were finally cleared. Even then, people were skeptical.

Now, people in the fashion industry are going on high alert as well. Cohen recently made a $42.5 million deal to bring another of his characters to the big screen -- a gay Austrian fashionista named Bruno. With the worldwide success of the "Borat" flick, some critics feel he might be too recognizable to fool people into humiliating themselves again. We're betting it'll work.

Even though she looks ready to sling beer at Oktoberfest, Simpson is playing a struggling secretary on an unconventional journey through the corporate world.

After "Employee of the Month," we're not sure that Jessica should clear a space on her mantle for anything other than a beer mug.

What's Alicia Keys up to? I heard she was doing a movie. --Pascal

Not just one movie, Pascal -- she's doing two! First up is "Smokin' Aces," with Ben Affleck and Jeremy Piven, in which Keys plays an assassin. If you can hold out, this movie hits theaters January 26. She'll also be seen this spring in "The Nanny Diaries" with Scarlett Johansson and Paul Giamatti.

But that's not all! She's also been making music -- expect Ms. Keys' new album in June.

For more famous faces who've pursued both acting and singing, take a look at this!

Breaking News: Later, turkeys.

That, apparently, is the post-Thanksgiving message Kate Hudson has for many of the men in her life.

A week and a half after hubby and Black Crowes front-man Chris Robinson filed for divorce from Hudson, the "Le Divorce" star is decamping CAA for rival talent agency Endeavor, TMZ has learned.

There, she's to be repped by Endeavor partner and former CAA agent Patrick Whitesell, whose mission will be to get her mind off of the Black Crowe -- and onto more meaty roles, like the one created by Cameron Crowe. His 2000 sleeper hit, "Almost Famous," got Hudson nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, after all.

Insiders say Hudson had, of late, felt that her CAA reps were focusing on big paydays, rather than on securing her the Oscar hardware that so many actresses crave -- including mom Goldie Hawn, who was nominated twice for "Cactus Flower" (a win) and "Private Benjamin" (a loss).

Wagged one agent observing the inter-agency fray: "After 'You, Me & Dupree' the road back [to Oscar nominations] isn't doing an Andy Tennant movie."

The acid-tongued agent was referring to the inauspiciously-named "Fool's Gold," a broad comedy that re-teams Hudson with her "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days" co-star Matthew McConaughey, helmed by Tennant, who's directed movie like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Anna and the King."

Ouch.

The move came in response to a loss of its location at Emory University earlier this month.

Per Variety, "more than a third of the film was to be shot" at the venerable Southern institution, but the school backed out of its agreement to allow Fox to film on campus. The trade press reported that "Emory officials ultimately balked at the raunchy nature of the project" but an insider familiar with the film attributed it more to the disruptive nature of having a film crew shooting amidst classes.

In addition, the movie had a large cast of low-cost stars, like the seemingly ubiquitous Kristin Cavallari of "Laguna Beach," but many of those thespians have other commitments that won't allow them to wait around indefinitely. Insiders say the bad news was given to the film's director, "Fanboys" director Kyle Newman, only an hour ago.

It's an unfortunate stumble for Fox Searchlight president Peter Rice's nascent teen label, which somewhat understandably just passed on the opportunity to have its inner workings picked-over in the press last weekend.

Robert Altman, the man behind the lens on "M*A*S*H," "Nashville" and "The Player," died Monday night at a Los Angeles Hospital, his Sandcastle 5 Productions Company said Tuesday. He was 81.

The cause of death was not disclosed, but a news release is expected later today, Associated Press reports.

Altman was nominated for an Academy Award five times for directing, most recently in 2001 for "Gosford Park." He was given a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 2006, where Altman revealed in his acceptance speech that he had a received a heart transplant a decade earlier.

Who cares if Jennifer Hudson didn't win "American Idol"? With her performance as Effie White in "Dreamgirls," the big-voiced diva is getting enough critical acclaim to send her Grammy-winning co-star, the fabulous Beyoncé, over the edge with envy.

The film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical was supposed to be Beyoncé's star vehicle, but it's Hudson who's getting the Oscar buzz. Oh no she dit-n't!

Entertainment Weekly believes Jennifer's a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Actress nod, and New York Times reporter David Carr flat out says that Hudson "steals the show." Even Oprah called up the songstress and told her it was a "transcendent performance." If you thought Beyoncé was angry before -- somebody better ring the alarm!

See for yourself as a star is born; "Dreamgirls", with Jennifer Hudson, opens December 15.

In an online poll conducted by the National Education Association, Ms. Alba came out on top as the celebrity that people would most want to see substitute teach for a day. Detention never sounded so good.

Here's a reason to bring back corporal punishment!

Jessica and her A+ curves received more votes than Oprah and Angelina Jolie; apparently, philanthropy doesn't hold a candle to six-pack abs. Think of the extra-curricular activities!

La Loren, who appears in the sexy Pirelli 2007 Calendar, was at a press conference on Thursday looking a tad like the cross-dressing Dustin Hoffman.

We hope the Italian stunner doesn't take offense; everyone knows that the best divas all have a little drag queen in them! Ciao!

Not known for her vocal abilities, listening to her sing this track might surprise you. And yes, TMZ has confirmed, it's really Demi singing. Cool!

Katie carried baby Suri, while Tom, decked out in a pinstriped three-piece suit, kept his protective arm around Holmes' waist. By the way, it seems to us that his burgundy tie and brown shoes don't go well with the grey suit. Just our opinion.

Meanwhile with Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey and Brooke Shields among the attendees for the ceremony, helicopters have already begun circling the fortress-like Castle Odescalchi.

Time will tell if the wedding site will be able to keep the paparazzi from crossing the moat.

An official from Interpol, the police in Wellington, New Zealand, confirms to TMZ that no report of an accidental death has been taken and they are certain no such incident occurred.

TMZ has obtained a photo of Tom Hanks taken just yesterday in Ontario, California, during the filming of "Charlie Wilson's War."

Saying that he wanted his Borat film to win an Oscar "for best anti-Jewish film," he added, "there is of course very fierce competition from your Melvin Gibson."

And as not to offend his Aussie hosts, said, "I am a huge fanny of your country."