Movies

Russell Brand's new TV show isn't getting much support from the graffiti community.

Some clever vandal -- who clearly isn't a fan of Russell's new late night talk show "Brand X" -- decided to tag a billboard for the show on Sunset Blvd. with a special spray-painted diss ... involving Russell's estranged wife Katy Perry.

It's pretty funny ... and it pretty much speaks for itself ... so we gotta ask ...

Billy Crystal -- who starred in one of Nora Ephron's greatest films "When Harry Met Sally" -- is crushed by her death ... saying, "I am very sad to learn of Nora's passing. She was a brilliant writer and humorist."

Crystal issued a statement shortly after the Hollywood icon died, adding, "Being her Harry to Meg's Sally will always have a special place in my heart ... I was very lucky to get to say her words."

Twilight, shmilight -- Robert Pattinson was fully dissed last night when he couldn't catch a ride with Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez.

The unbelievable scene went down last night at Chateau Marmont ... where Biebs, Selena, Robert and Katy were all hanging after Katy's movie premiere.

When the posse made its exit, Bieber, Katy and Selena all piled into a limousine bus -- surrounded by heavy security.

Unfortunately for Pattinson -- who was hangin' with "Raising Hope" star Shannon Woodward -- the bodyguards left them out in the cold.

Unreal.

Nora Ephron -- the legendary Hollywood writer who penned the screenplays for "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally" -- died Tuesday after a battle with leukemia.

According to Ephron's son Jacob Bernstein, the 71-year-old had been suffering from acute myeloid leukemia ... and took a turn for the worse in recent days after coming down with pneumonia.

Ephron scored 3 Academy Award nominations in her illustrious Hollywood career ... and was widely considered one of the most powerful women in the entertainment industry.

Among her most memorable films ... "Silkwood" ... "My Blue Heaven" ... "Michael" ... "You've Got Mail" ... and "Julie and Julia."

Ephron was married to (and famously divorced) Watergate scandal reporter Carl Bernstein ... before entering her 3rd (and final) marriage to screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi.

5:09 PM PT -- Nora has died. She was 71.

Nora Ephron -- the legendary Hollywood writer who penned the screenplays for "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally" -- is gravely ill ... family members are telling close friends.

The nature of her illness is unclear ... however there are reports she is suffering from cancer and is not expected to make it through the night.

There is speculation that Nora has already passed away -- we're told that's not true ... but there is little hope she will recover from her current condition.

71-year-old Ephron was nominated for 3 Academy Awards in her illustrious Hollywood career ... and was widely considered one of the most powerful women in the entertainment industry.

Among her most memorable films ... "Silkwood" ... "My Blue Heaven" ... "Michael" ... "You've Got Mail" ... and "Julie and Julia."

Sources close to Lindsay Lohan's Lifetime movie tell TMZ ... producers have been in hysterics these past few weeks over LiLo's latest hijinks, and we're left to wonder ... WHY?!?!?!

According to our sources, producers were particularly upset over her car accident on PCH. We're told the producers have five big concerns:

-- The company that insures the movie might bail
-- Her probation could be violated for lying to the cops
-- She could be prosecuted for lying to police
-- She could crash her car again
-- She's going to clubs where bad things happen

But here's the thing ... when has a Lifetime movie ever gotten this much press (besides the one where Jennifer Love Hewitt played a hooker)? And don't they know ... nothing bad ever REALLY happens to Lindsay.

Stop us if you've heard this one before ... a young student knocks up his hot teacher ... teacher goes to jail ... student becomes a national celebrity.

It's not just the plot for Adam Sandler's new flick "That's My Boy" ... it's the real-life story of Mary Kay Letourneau ... and now TMZ has learned, M.K.'s former student believes the movie is all about him and his naughty teacher ... and he loves it!

For those of you unfamiliar ... Letourneau was arrested in '97 after it was discovered she was having a sexual relationship with her 13-year-old middle school student Vili Fualaau.

Letourneau was found guilty of statutory rape and sentenced to six months in jail ... and agreed to no longer have contact with Vili. She broke the agreement in '98 and went back to jail for 5 years.

By the time she was released, Vili was an adult ... and a judge allowed the two to see each other again. They got married in 2005.

But back to the movie -- Vili hasn't seen it yet ... but after getting a slew of calls from friends, he and M.K.L. are planning a date night to watch what he believes is their love story -- with creative license, of course.

"Maybe this movie won't suck as bad as the last few films he made," Vili tells us ... but optimistically adds, "We're talking about my life and a young boy banging his hot teacher ... what's not to like about that?!"

So much for all that one in a million talk ... Jeff Daniels tells TMZ the highly anticipated sequel to "Dumb and Dumber" is officially kaput.

The movie seemed to be in limbo after Jim Carrey dropped out because he felt the studio was less than enthusiastic about the project.

"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" star Jimmi Simpson has solved the greatest political debate of our time ... WHO WOULD MAKE A BETTER VAMPIRE SLAYER -- Barack Obama or Mitt Romney???

Lindsay Lohan was PROHIBITED from driving while shooting "Liz and Dick," because the insurance policy the production company took out made it crystal clear -- Lindsay was not allowed to get behind the wheel ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected with the production tell us ... the insurance company that issued the policy -- which would take a major hit if Lindsay couldn't complete the film -- was extremely reluctant to take the risk. The insurance company set numerous conditions on its coverage, and one of them was banning Lindsay from the roads which have landed her in big trouble multiple times -- DUIs, car accidents, and on and on.

Sources tell us ... the honchos producing the movie knew Lindsay was driving in violation of the policy, but it appears no one cared -- that is until Lindsay crashed a Porsche on Pacific Coast Highway, with a production SUV following right behind her.

As for the consequences, we're told so far the insurance company hasn't attempted to cancel the policy or take other action. For its part, the production company has made it clear to Lindsay -- she is NOT to drive for the duration of the filming.

If you ever wanted to hear a federal judge break down a joke from "Hangover 2" and explain why it was (or wasn't) funny ... you're in luck ... 'cause it just happened.

Long story short ... Louis Vuitton just LOST its legal battle with Warner Bros. over a joke Zach Galifianakis made in "Hangover2" ... when another character pushes his luggage and Zach quips, "Be careful, that is ... that is a Lewis Vuitton!"

LV had claimed WB had infringed its trademark and confused the public ... because the bag featured in the movie was NOT a real Louis Vuitton.

But the judge ruled ... WB didn't do anything wrong because the use of the bag, in conjunction with the joke made by Zach's character (Alan), was an artistic expression protected by the 1st Amendment.

And just in case you didn't get the joke ... the judge provided a detailed analysis. Enjoy!

"Alan's terse remark to Teddy to '[be] [c]areful' because his bag 'is a Lewis Vuitton' comes across as snobbish only because the public signifies Louis Vuitton ... with luxury and a high society lifestyle."

His remark also comes across as funny because he mispronounces the French 'Louis' like the English 'Lewis,' and ironic because he cannot correctly pronounce the brand name of one of his expensive possessions, adding to the image of Alan as a socially inept and comically misinformed character.

Two ex-male strippers who once worked with Channing Tatum claim his new movie "Magic Mike" is a giant SLAP IN THE FACE ... claiming the actor stole THEIR stories and turned it into his own Hollywood gold.

FYI -- Tatum doesn't just star in the film, he's also a producer -- and has claimed the film is partially based on his real-life experiences as a dancer back in Florida.

But TMZ spoke to Thomas "Awesome" Austin and London Steele -- both guys worked with Tatum back in his FL stripper days -- who say the film is based more off their lives than his ... even down to the title -- "Magic Mike" -- which is a name Austin says he coined for another dancer.

'Awesome' Austin tells TMZ ... he and his former male dance buddies are a like a "brotherhood" and, while they're happy for Channing's success, they feel betrayed by the actor for not involving any of them in the film.

They claim they took Tatum under their wings when he was a nobody and taught him all their special stripper-moves like "The Hot Seat" -- which is featured in the film and Austin says he invented it.

The guys tell us, after seeing parts of the final product they feel slighted ... claiming Tatum failed to consult them for accuracy and insist that, without them, he wouldn't have any material.

Austin explains, Channing was an "amateur" when he met him and says "he only danced for 4 months. How many events could have happened to him?"

A rep for Channing had no comment.

Hours after paramedics rushed to her hotel room, Lindsay Lohan was back on the set of "The Blair Witch Project" "Liz & Dick" ... and TMZ has the photo of LiLo in all her Liz Taylor glory.

As TMZ first reported, Lindsay was checked out in her room at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey ... but was NOT taken to the hospital as others had reported.

It was a case of exhaustion and dehydration.

Dressed more like Waldo than the man who changed technology forever, Ashton Kutcher was spotted yesterday walking around set of the Steve Jobs biopic.

So there we were shooting Benicio del Toro in Hollywood on Saturday night ... when something INCREDIBLE happened and we didn't even realize it -- TMZ got footage of THE MOST elusive superstar in Hollywood!!!

The man trying to hide behind Benicio is director Terrence Malick -- an ultra-reclusive Hollywood legend who directed multiple Oscar nominated flicks including "The Thin Red Line" and "The Tree of Life."

Malick NEVER appears on red carpets, doesn't give interviews and is RARELY ever seen in public. In fact, he refused to attend the Oscars even when his movies were nominated.

Ray Liotta says he BARELY knew his "Goodfellas" inspiration Henry Hill -- despite playing him in one of the biggest gangster movies ever -- but now that Hill's gone ... Ray feels like a part of himself is gone too.

Ray tells us, "Although I played Henry Hill in the movie ‘Goodfellas’ I only met him a few short times so I can’t say I knew him but, I do know he lived a complicated life."

Ray adds, "My heart goes out to his family and may he finally rest in peace.”