Billy Crystal replaces Eddie Murphy as host of Academy Awards

Billy Crystal is all set to host Oscars.

Comedian and actor Billy Crystal has announced he will host next year's Academy Awards, ending days of turmoil over producing and hosting duties for Hollywood's night of nights.

Crystal announced on Twitter he would be hosting the Oscars for the ninth time, stepping in to fill the role vacated yesterday by Eddie Murphy.

"Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show," Crystal tweeted.

"Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there," said Crystal, quoted by the Academy.

Jennifer Love Hewitt in Black Tight Top at “J Edgar” Premiere in Hollywood

Jennifer Love Hewitt in Black Tight Top at “J Edgar” Premiere in Hollywood

Rose McGowan during an Interview at The Grove in Hollywood

Rose McGowan during an Interview at The Grove in Hollywood

Amber Heard & Stacy Keibler at 15th Annual Hollywood Film Awards Gala

Amber Heard & Stacy Keibler at 15th Annual Hollywood Film AwardsGala

Courageous: Film Review (Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel)

This faith-based film from the filmmaking offshoot of Albany, Georgia’s Sherwood Church, goes after the issue of fatherhood and the responsibilities that come with it. 

NEW YORK — This faith-based drama is the latest and most ambitious effort from Sherwood Pictures, the filmmaking offshoot of Albany, Georgia’s Sherwood Church. Like their previous independent hits, Facing the Giants and Fireproof, Courageous seems well poised to tap into a theatrical market starved for such fare, with even greater potential for DVD sales.


Another collaboration between brothers Alex (director, co-writer, actor) and Stephen Kendrick (producer, co-writer), the film is set in the small town of Albany and concerns the interactions among four sheriff’s deputies and a Hispanic immigrant desperate for work. The theme — hammered home repeatedly — is fatherhood, and the responsibilities that come with it.


Courageousreveals the duo’s growing expertise as filmmakers with its skillful blending of moving drama, subtle comedy and several impressive action sequences, including a well-staged foot chase and a harrowing shootout between the cops and bad guys.


The characters are complex and well-drawn, struggling with various personal issues that test their faith and character in believable ways. But the episodic and frequently melodramatic storyline contains enough incidents and subplots to fill an entire television season. A key story element -- involving the male characters pledging to sign a “resolution” affirming their fatherly duties and their faith in God — seems both artificial and a cribbing from the “Love Dare” featured so prominently in Fireproof.


The performances are effective all around with director Kendrick quite moving in the central role of Adam, the veteran officer, who suffers a horrific family tragedy that sets much of the film’s plot in motion.


Non-Christian audiences may be put off by the endless proselytizing on display, which feels more drawn out and overt here than in the church’s previous films. But the generous laughter, cheers and applause generated by the crowd at an opening day screening demonstrate that these enterprising Baptist filmmakers clearly know their audience.

COURAGEOUS TRAILER

Kate Walsh - Red Hot Fashion Night Out

Kate Walsh at the Sephora store for Fashion's Night Out

Emmys 2011: Julianna Margulies Wins Drama Leads

Julianna Margulies has finally earned an Emmy for her role at "The Good Wife" after losing the title to Kyra Sedgwick last year. This is, however, not the first time she wins Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama since she had taken the same title in 1995 for her portrayal of Carol Hathaway on "ER".

Christina Hendricks - Looking Hot at the Emmys 2011 Red Carpet

2011 Emmys: Red Carpet Arrivals

Take a look at our continually-updated slideshow.

Emmys 2011 are here, meaning all the stars are out in their Fred Leighton jewels, their Judith Leiber bags and a variety of safe red carpet gowns. 

And we've got all those gowns right here, not to mention the bags, shoes and diamonds. As for who was the best-dressed and who was the worst, you'll have to vote on that yourself.

Take a look at our continually-updated slideshow.

Breaking Dawn Theatrical Trailer

After a teaser of the actual trailer, the full trailer for one of what should be 2011′s biggest films has debuted online for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.

Breaking Dawn Theatrical Trailer

Director: Bill Condon
Writer: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer (Book)
Condensed Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - Trailer

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - Trailer

Nicolas Cage returns as Johnny Blaze in Columbia Pictures' and Hyde Park Entertainment's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In the successor to the worldwide hit Ghost Rider, Johnny - still struggling with his curse as the devil's bounty hunter - is hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe when he is recruited by a secret sect of the church to save a young boy (Fergus Riordan) from the devil (Ciaran Hinds). At first, Johnny is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider, but it is the only way to protect the boy - and possibly rid himself of his curse forever.

Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ciarán Hinds and Idris Elba

Writers: David S. Goyer, Roy Thomas 

Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor


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