Movies

Boxing legend Jake "Raging Bull" LaMotta -- played by Robert DeNiro in the famous movie of the same name -- is being sued by MGM Studios because Jake green-lit a crappy sequel without its permission.

MGM claims it snagged the rights to produce a movie based on a book LaMotta co-wrote in 1986 -- "Raging Bull 2" -- as a sequel to the 1980 hit movie. MGM claims the deal was ... Jake could take the project somewhere else ONLY if MGM passed.

But according to the lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court -- LaMotta went behind MGM's back and shot a "low-budget B movie" that is so bad, it threatens the "integrity and value" of the original.

11:43 PM PT -- Kellys' ex-wife Andrea tells TMZ ... she doesn't believe "The Notebook" truly caused their split ... telling TMZ, "[The movie] came out in 2004 and we saw it together. Our divorce wasn’t finalized until 2009 so it’s impossible that the movie could have been the reason for our relationship ending. "

She adds, "We had been separated for 6 years at that point! The movie definitely did not end our relationship!”

R. Kelly is blaming Ryan Gosling for ruining his marriage ... sorta ... and it's all because of R.G.'s performance in "The Notebook."

Kelly just revealed some incredibly personal secrets in his new memoir, "Soulacoaster" ... including an explanation about why he decided to divorce his former back up dancer Andrea Kelly back in 2009.

Long story short ... Kelly claims after watching the movie, he realized his own 12-year marriage couldn't stand up to the romance featured in the flick.

Here's the explanation in Kelly's own words:

"As the film credits started to roll, I couldn't move. I burst into tears. People walking past me patted me on the back, trying to console me. 'The Notebook' was beautiful, and I was crying because its hero and heroine had died together.

But I was also crying because I remembered a Valentine's Day -- when a helicopter dropped a rainfall of roses -- that had come and gone ... My marriage had died. And there was nothing I could do to bring it back."

Divorces, violence, and even a racial controversy -- it seems the "Rock of Ages" cast has been smothered in bad fortune from the moment the project began. It's almost like ... THEY'RE CURSED!

Think about it ...

Tom Cruise -- "Blindsided" with divorce papers from Katie Holmes ... who filed in New York instead of California because she's gunning for sole legal custody of their daughter.

Russell Brand -- Marriage to Katy Perry goes belly up after production begins on "Rock" ... later investigated by police in New Orleans for smashing an iPhone belonging to a paparazzo.

Mary J. Blige -- Engulfed in racial controversy back in April ... after she was featured singing about fried chicken in a Burger King commercial. Mary's charity's went broke and was sued after failing to pay back a $250k loan.

Alec Baldwin -- Kicked off a flight in Dec. after screaming at a flight attendant who asked him to stop playing "Words with Friends." Later went to cops to report an alleged stalker. Investigated by the NYPD after allegedly attacking a photog.

Julianne Hough -- We can't think of anything ... yet ... but don't say we didn't warn you.

If your dream is to see Justin Bieber run slow motion down a beach wearing bright, red, swim trunks ... you might be in luck, because a former "Baywatch" star is gunning for the singer to play his character in the big screen remake.

Jeremy Jackson -- who played Hoff's son Hobie Buchannon -- tells TMZ ... he's stoked that Paramount is trying to reboot the franchise ... but more importantly, we asked him who could best portray his "younger self" ... and he said, JUSTIN BIEBER!

Former Hobie tells us, he thinks Justin is the best man for the job and is even willing to train the 18-year-old in the art of lifeguarding for absolutely no cash ... all he wants in return is the chance to drive Bieber's tricked-out "Batmobile" Cadillac on the weekends.

The guy who created Teddy Ruxpin isn't exactly flattered that his creation got a shout-out in Seth MacFarlane's new movie "Ted" ... in fact, he wishes the movie had NEVER been made at all.

You remember Teddy ... that iconic talking stuffed animal from the '80s who preached love, friendship and other things of the heartwarming sort. He was adorable.

So when Teddy's creator Ken Forsse saw the commercials for "Ted" -- a teddy bear who drinks, smokes, fights and tries to bang floozies -- he felt it was an affront to the entire stuffed animal community.

Ken tells TMZ ... he believes a teddy bear is a wholesome kids product which shouldn't be portrayed in a negative light.

"I wish they hadn't done [the film]" ... Ken adds.

The feeling is probably mutual -- 'cause in the movie, Ted lays a beatdown on Mark Wahlberg after the actor says he would've rather had a Teddy Ruxpin doll.

Fightin' words.

One of the stars of the movie "Ted" is quickly emerging as a sex symbol ... but it ain't Mark Wahlberg ... it's the stuffed animal.

Turns out, Ted has become a breakout star in the Plushie community ... a group of people with a fetish for stuffed animals and things of the furry sort.

In fact, "Ted" creator Seth MacFarlane has already been contacted by a XXX website that's popular with Plushies, Clips4Sale.com, in the hopes they can acquire the rights to use Ted's image and make him the site's new mascot.

The site fired off a letter to Seth saying, "Not since Alf has there been this kind of excitement over a stuffed animal."

The letter continues, "We are very serious and would like to engage in talks with you at your earliest convenience."

Eddie Van Halen swears ... it was really him shredding guitar in that famous scene from "Back to the Future" -- when Marty McFly pops a cassette tape into his walkman ... and blows out his father's eardrums.

Don't pretend like you forgot -- Marty puts on that radiation suit and wakes his dad up with a Van Halen cassette tape, saying, "Silence earthling." IT'S CLASSIC!!! Okay fine, here's the clip.

In the movie, the tape says "Edward Van Halen" on it -- but there's been a lot of speculation over the years about what song it was ... and whether it was even Eddie playing the music ... but yesterday in L.A., the rock legend put the rumors to rest.

Eddie insists it WAS really him on the tape -- but as for whether the guitar lick was part of a real song ... Eddie said it was him "just playing a bunch of noise."

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.