A college student who took a cell phone call from her mother in a movie theater was pepper sprayed by a police officer and charged with disorderly conduct, along with her boyfriend. Warronnica Harris, 23, was at the Muvico theater at BayWalk on Saturday night, watching the opening credits to Catwoman when her cell phone rang. "It was my mom calling me," Harris said. "It was a family emergency."
Harris said she spoke so quietly that her mother couldn't hear her. Then Officer John Douglas shined a flashlight in her eyes. He asked Harris and her boyfriend, Terrell "KC" Tolson, 25, to leave. He pushed Harris in the hallway, then pepper sprayed both of them in the lobby, the couple said. Neither Harris nor Tolson has a criminal record.
Police denied their account, saying Harris refused to end her cell phone conversation, yelled at Douglas and refused to leave the theater. Her boyfriend also refused to leave and threatened the officer, police said. Witnesses said the pair did nothing wrong.
© 2004 - The Associated Press
The Evening Standard is reporting that British actor Orlando Bloom actor has signed with Miramax to play young James Bond in a new movie that is based on the college days of this widely popular secret agent. The film is about Bond's student life after he was expelled from Eton. Pierce Brosnan has turned in his licence to kill and has stated he will not play James Bond again. The 51-year-old Irish actor quit the role he has played four times following months of intense contractual wrangling.
CBC has a story about the debt-plagued Montreal World Film Festival. The National Post and Toronto Star are also carrying related articles.
There is some good discussion over at Slashdot about comments made by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Gates said that DVD technology would be "obsolete in 10 years at the latest". Personally, I think DVD will be around a bit longer than that but I could see a shift happening again when a newer delivery method or format proves to be superior.
The Australian has a story about director Rosa von Praunheim's plans to make a movie based on Germany's notorious cannibal who was jailed for killing and eating a willing victim. The film, whose working title is Your Heart on My Mind, would look at 20 years of cannibalism, not just the case of Armin Meiwes, the so-called "cannibal of Rotenburg". Meiwes was jailed for the death of an engineer he had met over the internet, but was cleared of murder after the court heard his victim had been seeking "the ultimate kick."
Comingsoon.net reports that Denzel Washington will direct the life story of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment have optioned screen rights to Wil Haygood's book "In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr."
ChartAttack Magazine has a feature story on George Roca’s documentary about The White Stripes which the Seattle Film Festival recently screened. While White Stripes fans are happy with the idea of seeing the band on the screen, Jack and Meg aren't pleased. While the band apparently agreed to allow Roca to shoot the footage, they have not authorized him to release it to festivals or other outlets as he has been doing.
Digital Spy has posted a story stating that The Matrix trilogy is to be released as part of a special ten-disc DVD boxset in time for Christmas. I wasn't totally thrilled with parts 2 and 3 but it would be cool to have all three films together in a boxset. Let's just hope the Wachowski's don't go Lucas on us and release "The Ultra-Platinum Director's Cut" a year after this set comes out.
Actor Marlon Brando, famous for his roles in The Godfather, On the Waterfront and many others, passed away at the age of 80. He died of of lung failure Thursday night at UCLA Medical Center. Brando was equally famous for his tremendous acting talent and his rebellious attitude towards the Hollywood establishment. He protested in support of American Indians and other causes. His most famous act of rebellion was his refusal to accept the 1973 best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather. Instead, he sent a woman called Sasheen Littlefeather to read a speech about Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans.
Roger Ebert has posted a comprehensive overview of Brando's career and life.
I found this article about tourists to Philadelphia who continue to emulate Sly Stallone's run up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum from the first Rocky movie. Read the entire story at The Herald-Mail Online.