Movies

Whitney Houston's final movie is on lockdown ... over fears that people will leak Whitney's scenes and music ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the production tell us ... the people working on "Sparkle" -- starring Whitney and Jordin Sparks -- are working "around the clock" to finish post-production work on the movie as quickly as possible.

We're told the building where the film is being edited is also under tight watch -- with ramped up security in the hopes of preemptively clogging a leak.

So far, no comment from Sony.

Talk about ingratitude. Harvey made a passionate case for Uggie -- the dog that stole the show in "The Artist" -- to walk the red carpet at the Oscars. In case you didn't know, he's been snubbed by the Academy.

Here's Mark Ruffalo playing not-so jolly green giant the Hulk in the upcoming "Avengers" movie, following in the muscled footsteps of Edward Norton in the 2008 film "The Incredible Hulk," Eric Bana in the 2003 Ang Lee version "Hulk" and Lou Ferrigno in the classic '70s TV series "The Incredible Hulk."

Question is ...

Sacha Baron Cohen is comparing the Oscars to a power hungry tyrant ... pointing out how the Academy has stripped him of his right to free speech ... just like his dictator alter-ego would do. Oh, the hypocrisy!

SBC released a new video statement -- while in character as General Aladeen from his new movie "The Dictator" ... in which he says, "I am OUTRAGED at being banned from The Oscars by the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts and Zionists.”

He adds, "While I applaud the academy for taking away my right to free speech ... I warn you that if you do not lift your sanctions and give me my tickets back by 12 PM on Sunday, you will face unimaginable consequences!"

Cohen also takes a shot at Hilary Swank ... presumably because she attended a birthday party for an alleged war criminal.

Daniel von Bargen -- who played Mr. Kruger in "Seinfeld" -- is clinging to life in an Ohio hospital after shooting himself in the head Monday morning in a failed suicide attempt ... and TMZ has the horrifying 911 tape in which he calls for help.

Daniel tells the 911 operator, "I've shot myself in the head ... and I need help."

The operator asks if it was an accident -- Daniel replies, "I was supposed to go to the hospital and I didn't want to." Daniel says he's diabetic, explaining, "They were supposed to amputate at least a few toes."

The operator asks where the gunshot wound is -- Daniel replies, "I shot in my temple."

Law enforcement officials confirm they were dispatched to von Bargen's Cincinnati apartment complex a short time later -- and when they arrived, you can hear them on the 911 tape ... yelling at Daniel to keep his hands where they could see them.

Von Bargen -- who also played Chief Grady in "Super Troopers" -- was transported to a nearby hospital where he is currently in critical condition.

During the call, Daniel goes into even more graphic detail about his condition. Listen at your own discretion.

Lindsay Lohan ain't no slacker -- TMZ has learned, the actress is studying up hardcore for her new movie role ... doing everything she can to accurately portray a young Elizabeth Taylor.

In case you haven't heard -- Lindsay just inked a deal with Lifetime to play Liz Taylor in the network's new made-for-TV biopic called "Liz and Dick." Production is scheduled to kick off late March, after Lindsay's probation is terminated.

Lindsay is telling friends, she's taking her new gig extremely seriously -- "obsessing over getting the part right" for the film.

According to sources, Lindsay is doing nothing but watching old Liz Taylor movies to help her recreate the Hollywood icon's posture, speech, and every other little detail.

We're told Lindsay has also been watching old Liz interviews online and reading a bunch of Liz biographies.

Wearing a plunging low cut orange number, Best Actress Oscar nominee Viola Davis showed off some of her other God-given talents at the NAACP Image Awards in L.A. this weekend.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone got his and his shoulder surgeries at a hospital yesterday ... making millions of fans feel sad and old at the same time.

Ahnald posted the pic yesterday ... with the caption, "After all the action, stunts & physical abuse shooting 'The Expendables 2' and 'The Last Stand,' it was time for a little tune up on my shoulder. Look who was coincidentally waiting in line behind me for his shoulder surgery."

He added, "Now we're ready for another round of great times and action when we shoot 'The Tomb.'"

The directors behind the movie "Machete" are two shameless dirty movie stealers -- this according to a new lawsuit, filed by a writer/actress who claims they ripped off her ideas to make the machete-wielding revenge film.

Yvonne Delarosa filed the lawsuit in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming one of the directors -- Ethan Maniquis -- solicited her for ideas back in 2005 for a movie in which a man goes on a killing spree with a machete ... and then used them without paying her.

According to the lawsuit, Yvonne shared her brilliant characters and storylines believing she'd be compensated -- but she never was ... and the movie was released in 2010, containing a bunch of her contributions.

Now, Yvonne is suing both Maniquis and his co-director Robert Rodriguez for breach of contract -- seeking unspecified damages.

Sarah Jessica Parker was hard at work on the L.A. set of "Lovelace" on Wednesday ... taking over the role Demi Moore vacated after she was hospitalized last week.

Parker is rocking a long blonde wig to play '70s feminist icon Gloria Steinem in the biopic of late porn star Linda Lovelace.

As we previously reported, Demi dropped out of the project in the wake of her medical emergency ... when she inhaled dangerous amounts of nitrous oxide in the form of whip-its, lapsed into semi-consciousness and experienced seizure-like symptoms.

The director of "Precious" and the producer of a string of hits, including "The Expendables," "Rambo" and "Conan the Barbarian" got into a nuclear verbal fight on the set of a new movie this weekend, and exchanged racial accusations.

Lee Daniels -- the "Precious" director -- is directing an upcoming movie, "The Paperboy" starring Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman. TMZ obtained video of Daniels in a brutal argument with producer Avi Lerner that went down on Sunday afternoon.

It's hard to hear the entire argument, but at one point Avi says to Lee, "You call him a racist. You know you're racist too. You always pay attention to that."

It appears Avi threatened to fire Lee, saying, "I don't want you to leave, but if you don't apologize to me and you know you should ...." and then the audio is impossible to understand.

And it seems much of the argument involves money. At the end, Lee taunts Avi, saying, "Need some money, need some money?" Avi says, "We paid the scuba divers a lot. Shame on you." It appears from the conversation ... the movie is way over the paltry $15 million budget.

Newt Gingrich is adamant ... Brad Pitt should play HIM if Hollywood ever made a movie about his life ... and no, that's not a typo.

The Republican candidate phoned in to the Rich Stevens Radio Show today ... when he was asked, "If Hollywood was going to do a movie about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role?"

Newt replied, "Oh, in my fantasy life? Brad Pitt ... why not?!

Stevens quipped, "Is it because you guys look alike?"

Newt fired right back. "No, I don’t look like him at all. He's thinner, he's better looking, he's younger. But you asked me if I had anyone who could play me in a movie ... why not go for Brad Pitt???"

Jeremy Renner was flanked by security on the set of "The Bourne Legacy" ... just a few weeks after that crazy ax brawl in Thailand.

Renner looked unscathed and unfazed by the bizarre incident -- where Jeremy and some buddies threw down with six bar employees ... one of whom busted out a homemade ax and slashed one of Jeremy's friends.

Demi Moore has dropped out of her upcoming movie, "Lovelace," TMZ has learned.

Demi's reps tell us ... they just got word she will no longer do a cameo for the flick.

Before Tracy Morgan fell unconscious at a Sundance award event last night, the actor hit the red carpet with the co-producers of his new film "Predisposed" -- but something wasn't right.

Tracy looked in good spirits on his way into the Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards -- smiling, chatting -- but for some reason, one of his producers felt the need to constantly reassure the actor under his breath ... saying things like, "I'm right here" ... "We got you."

It's unclear from the footage what was bothering Tracy.

TMZ broke the story ... Tracy fell unconscious later in the evening after delivering a near-incoherent award acceptance speech. He was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.

A spokeswoman for Park City Medical Center -- where Tracy is being treated -- claims neither drugs nor alcohol were found in Tracy's system upon medical evaluation.