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Madonna news - Dec. 2007
← Nov. 2007 | Jan. 2008 →
Madonna's new album among 2008's most anticipated
30 December 2007The Daily Telegraph posted a nice article about the upcoming releases slated for 2008, which reveals no news, but shows the hype around Madonna's new album:
Madonna's yet to be titled 11th studio album has to be the most anticipated release of 2008.
There are plenty of rumors doing the rounds as to what the pop superstar will call the album, although the facts remain a closely guarded secret.
Fan sites have been crazily speculating on the release, which will hit stores in the first half of the year.
The album is said to have an overall hip hop feel, with Madonna teaming up with Timbaland and Pharrell Williams.
It is believed the first single will be a track titled 4 Minutes To Save The World, which Timbaland played at a recent party.
There are also big international releases from Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, REM, Leona Lewis, Jessica Simpson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Keri Hilson, Ashlee Simpson, kd lang, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Armand Van Helden, The Rasmus, Simple Plan, Shirley Manson, Toni Braxton, Usher, Weezer, Morcheeba, Ringo Starr and Hot Chip.
~ Moreover, last night's tv show 'Extra' talked about the anticipated highlights of 2008 in cinema, music and tv. They discussed Madonna's and Mariah Carey's new efforts and even mentioned a possible tour for Madonna. You can watch the report here.
Madonna flirted to recruit star for directorial debut
Source: Contactmusic - 29 December 2007Madonna persuaded actor Richard E. Grant to appear in her directorial debut Filth And Wisdom by flirting with him. The singer - married to director Guy Ritchie - used her feminine charms to coax The Gosford Park star into appearing in the movie.
Grant says, "I respond well to flattery. Flattery and money. Madonna flirted with me to get me to make her new film, Filth and Wisdom. She's a terrible flirt and very attractive. I was bewitched, so of course I fell at her feet."
Madonna's 'Filth And Wisdom' to debut at Berlin Film Festival
Source: Earthtimes.org - 27 December 2007The first film directed by pop icon Madonna is to have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival taking place from February 7-17, organizers announced Thursday. Filth And Wisdom, a romantic musical comedy reportedly based on the star's own experiences, is Britain's entry in the festival's Panorama section, but will not be in line for an award in the main competition.
It is not clear if Madonna, 49, will put in an appearance in Berlin, but directors usually show up for the premieres of their movies.
The lead role is played by Eugene Huetz, whose Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello accompanied Madonna during a concert in London this year. Other actors include Stephen Graham and Richard E. Grant.
Madonna, who is married to British director Guy Ritchie, does not appear in the film. Her last major role was in the musical Evita
Around 50 works are entered in the Berlinale's Panorama section, among them efforts by Canadian underground star Bruce LaBruce and Taiwanese female director Zero Chou.
Merry Xmas!
24 December 2007The Mad-Eyes team would like to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to every new and longtime visitor of the website! Also, we invite you to vote in our brand new poll about your favourite Madonna album! Click here to vote!
Latest rumour: Madonna.com to preview new single soon *rumour*
23 December 2007Since 2007 is about to pass away without giving any official info on Madonna's new album, we thought it would be interesting to report the latest rumour that's stirring the online Madonna community: according to French fansite MadonnaFrance, Madonna's official website Madonna.com will reveal a 30 second-long preview of the new single '4 Minutes To Save The World' on December 30th, and from January 1st, the entire song will be available for online stream on the website. We'll keep you updated if more info is revealed!
Madonna's continuous Hot 100 run ends
Source: Billboard Chart Beat - 22 December 2007If I had a nickel for every e-mail I've ever received from fans of Madonna and Mariah Carey, I'd be far too rich to be writing Chart Beat. But since your letters don't come with cash attached, I'm still here to comment on what happened to both artists this week concerning their runs on The Billboard Hot 100.
As this is the final chart week of calendar year 2007, it is painfully obvious that neither artist is going to chart this year. That breaks continuous runs for both women that began with their debut singles.
Madonna has appeared on the Hot 100 at least one week every year since she debuted in 1983 with Holiday. Carey has done the same since first appearing in 1990 with "Vision of Love."
Of course, neither artist's career is in danger and both are scheduled to release new CDs in 2008 that will no doubt yield hit singles that will find their way to the Hot 100.
~ Too bad 2007 ended up quite uneventful for Madonna, but 2008 will certainly be amazing with Madonna back in business! ;-)
Madonna's Gucci party to be thrown at United Nations
Source: WWD.com - 20 December 2007Gucci's Feb. 6 fund-raiser to accompany the opening of its biggest flagship worldwide on Fifth Avenue won't be in New York, at least not technically. The company disclosed that the event, dubbed "A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF," will take place in a purpose-built structure on the North Lawn of the United Nations.
The 18-acre U.N. site on Manhattan's East River is international territory, which means that it doesn't belong to any one country or government, and the Gucci soiree is the first of its kind to ever take place there.
It promises to be quite a party. Hosted by the luxury house and Madonna, Gucci tapped Alicia Keys, Timbaland and Rihanna for special musical performances; there will be a presentation by renowned economist and Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs, who is also a co-chair, and a live auction, slated to be emceed by Chris Rock.
Along with Madonna and Gucci creative director Frida Giannini, Drew Barrymore, Adrien Brody, Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault, Sting and Trudie Styler, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Arpad Busson, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Téa Leoni and Lucy Liu will serve as co-chairs. Styler, Parker, Leoni and Liu are also UNICEF ambassadors.
Timbaland premieres new Madonna single
17 December 2007Last night at Z100's Jingle Balls in Philadephia, producer Timbaland world-premiered Madonna's new single '4 Minutes To Save The World'. The track is indeed a hip hop duet between Madonna and Justin, with a really hot beat, instant hit material! You can listen to a low quality recording of the premiere here. Hopefully in the next few days, we'll get an official confirmation about the radio debut of the single!
Madonna's statement on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - 16 December 2007Incoming Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Madonna considers herself in good company. "I was fortunate to have inducted my idol David Bowie a few years back, so to be included alongside him and so many other amazing artists that have come before me is an honor," the pop icon said in a statement to The Plain Dealer, sent Friday through her publicist.
Madonna did indeed do the honors when Bowie was enshrined in 1996, although he chose not to attend the festivities. Madonna is expected to be on hand for the Rock Hall's 23rd annual induction ceremony Monday, March 10, at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, her publicist said. The other performers in the Rock Hall's Class of 2008 are the Ventures, John Mellencamp, the Dave Clark Five and Leonard Cohen.
New video to be shot in January?
16 December 2007According to fansite MadonnaTribe, '4 Minutes To Save The World' was chosen as the first single of the new album and Madonna is going to film a video for it in January.
Directed by longtime collaborator Jonas Akerlund, the videoclip will feature both Justin Timberlake & Timbaland. As already reported, the track is a hip hop influenced duet between Madonna & Justin. In related news, the site also claims that 'Across The Sky' is no longer to be included on the album.
Madonna in Donna's Top 2000
16 December 2007Last week, Belgian Radio Donna has broadcast their annual Top 2000 all-time hits. Madonna had 23 entries; that's 5 less than last year. The five songs that didn't make it this time were: Justify My Love, American Life, Open Your Heart, Nothing Really Matters and (shockingly!) Express Yourself.
The Top 2000 (with last years position between brackets):
89 (95) Like A Prayer
192 (192) Frozen
269 (148) Hung Up
409 (759) Borderline
497 (388) Crazy For You
557 (596) Like A Virgin
588 (431) Vogue
634 (318) Jump
685 (491) La Isla Bonita
739 (1023) Material Girl
797 (1063) Ray Of Light
875 (1330) Die Another Day
929 (954) Me Against The Music
985 (822) Music
1025 (1562) The Power Of Good-Bye
1077 (901) Sorry
1228 (934) Beautiful Stranger
1323 (647) Live To Tell
1516 (1639) Papa Don't Preach
1582 (1156) Drowned World/Substitute For Love
1643 (1283) Hollywood
1732 (1422) Holiday
1848 (1224) Into The Groove
Timbaland: Madonna's first single in January
15 December 2007New Madonna collaborator Timbaland gave a backstage interview at Z100's Jingle Ball yesterday and he said we should look out for Madonna's new single in January, featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland himself.
He also said that he had produced most of her new album, along with The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams' two-men band) and that "Madonna has an incredible album". The current assumption is that he meant the track '4 Minutes To Save The World' that was already rumoured for first single.
You can listen to the interview here. (Also, thanx to our visitor benn who reported a similar news with this content yesterday.)
More info on Timberlake sessions
13 December 2007Fansite MadonnaTribe has revealed info on two other Timberlake/Timbaland tracks from the new album. '4 Minutes To Save The World' (which is rumoured as the first single) has a classic Timbaland vibe, making it the track that has the biggest "urban" and "hip hop" vibe on the album. It has a catchy vibe with percussion layers and hypnotic synthetized strings. Unlike the rest of the reported Justin tracks, it's a real duet between Madonna and Timberlake.
The other revealed song is 'Dance Tonight', a real dance track that has a late 70s/early 80s funky vibe, reminiscent of Kool & The Gang, Michael Jackson and Narada Michael Walden's signature style. It can also be compared to Don't Stop or Your Honesty from the Bedtime Stories sessions. Lyrically it reprises the classic Madonna theme of letting yourself go and be guided by the music.
~ Check here for previous info on 'Across The Sky' & 'Give It To Me'.
Madonna will be inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
Source: Rolling Stone - 13 December 2007Madonna and John Mellencamp will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, alongside Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five.
Philly Soul songwriter/producer team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be presented the Ahmet Ertegun Award (previously known as the non-performer category) and blues harmonica player Little Walter will be inducted in the sideman category.
This is Madonna's first year of eligibility; her debut single, Everybody, was released twenty-five years ago in 1982. The induction ceremony will take place on March 10th, 2008 at New York's Waldorf Astoria.
Among the artists who were nominated this year but did not get in are the Beastie Boys (who were eligible for the first time) and Donna Summer.
Guy denies Lourdes' Harry Potter role
Source: MTV Movies Blog - 13 December 2007Papa, don't preach? Reports that Guy Ritchie's step-daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, is set to have a cameo in "Half-Blood Prince" as a student at Hogwarts are untrue, insisted Ritchie, who told MTV News that the eleven-year-old will remain a Muggle - an internationally famous Muggle whose mother happens to be Madonna, sure - but a Muggle nonetheless.
"I took her to a premiere to see 'Fred Claus' or something," Ritchie explained of the rumor's origin. "Someone told me they'd heard someone approached her there with the role."
Given the recent casting of nine-year-old Hero Fiennes Tiffin (nephew to Ralph Fiennes) as Young Voldemort, it would seem famous scion are now in "Vogue" with "Harry Potter" producers.
But if Lourdes is to become a "Material Girl" like her mother, she'll have to do it later, Ritchie finished.
"Considering I sat with her during the whole movie [you'd think I would know if she was made an offer]," Ritchie insisted. "No one approached her while I was with her at the premiere."
Did Madonna Sink Live Nation?
Source: Undercover - 13 December 2007Live Nation stock has been in a downward spiral ever since the announcement that the company had signed Madonna.
Stock for Live Nation has continued to slide ever since the word of Madonna's new business model with a touring company, away from the tradition model of the record label.
When news of the Madonna deal broke in mid-October, Live Nation's stock price was around $22. In the month prior to the announcement, the stock was stable hovering between $20 and $23.
In the two months since the announcement, the stock has fallen to as how as $12.50 just last week and finished at $14.83 today.
Has Madonna sunk Live Nation?
Shareholders were suspicious, speculating on the company message board from the hope that the Madonna deal was worth a $30+ stock to them through to one comment stating "The impact won't be the direct financial gains from signing Madonna, I'm not even sure it will be a money maker from that point of view".
Madonna still has one more album to deliver to her current record label Warner Music. The album will be released in early 2008.
After that, Live Nation shareholders will be hoping that the material girl can materialise a better share-price for them.
Madonna in yoga controversy?
Source: ContactMusic - 13 December 2007Madonna's representatives are baffled by reports the singer ordered a yoga class to evacuate a room at a New York gym, so she 'could practice her moves alone'. The Like A Virgin hitmaker was told to stop talking by an instructor at the Reebok Sports Club session, prompting the unimpressed star to shout out, "I want you all to leave," according to New York gossip column PageSix.
After the 25 students and teacher abandoned the studio, Madonna allegedly launched into a private routine - and didn't bother to stop when another class turned up for a session. A representative for the singer has laughed off the reports, insisting, "That sounds unlikely."
Adoption OK for Madonna
Source: New York Post - 12 December 2007Madonna has gotten "the best Christmas gift she's ever received" - the government go-ahead to adopt the Malawi tot to whom she's been the foster mother for more than a year.
After months of waiting - and an initial firestorm of criticism over how she reportedly worked the system to take now-2-year-old David Banda from the tiny African country - the Material Mom, 49, and director hubby Guy Ritchie were finally cleared to adopt the adorable toddler, In Touch Weekly reports.
"Madonna hid it well, but there was a part of her that was worried that the adoption wouldn't go through," a pal said. "This is the best Christmas gift she's ever received."
The child had been living with the singer since October 2006.
Madonna to back Hillary Clinton?
Source: Access Hollywood - 12 December 2007Just one day after Oprah hit the campaign trail and drew record crowds for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton may have found her own superstar backer.
Reports have begun surfacing that Madonna has endorsed Hillary in her presidential run.
When contacted by Access Hollywood however, Madonna's rep said that while the singing superstar appreciates Hillary, she hasn't "formally" backed Clinton.
"Madonna has not formally endorsed Hillary Clinton. She’s certainly spoken highly of her, but that’s it," the rep told Access.
Service announcement
11 December 2007We've had a problem with our mailbox in the past week so we did not receive any messages sent to us. Now it's fixed so we encourage our visitors to send their questions, remarks and suggestions for the site and for new polls & trivia questions. You can contact us here. ~ The Mad-Eyes team
Impressive Instant still regarded as the best single that never happened
11 December 2007Over the past several weeks, Mad-Eyes held polls to find out which song was the "lost single", a track that remained an album track but fans wished that it had been released a single.
Not so unexpected, track no.2 from the Music album, Impressive Instant is our clear winner, with 45% of the votes in the final poll. The song was in fact considered as the 4th single of Music (with a live video from the Drowned World Tour where it was prominently performed as the second number), but because of creative differences between Madonna and Warner, it never happened. Nevertheless, it topped the Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play chart as a promo single in late 2001.
In our new poll, we ask your opinion on Madonna's new urban direction. Click here to vote!
Guy: "Life is too short to collaborate with Madonna again"
Source: MTV.com - 11 December 2007Guy Ritchie has managed all right for someone who could very legitimately be known primarily as "Madonna's husband." And, to many, maybe he is. But for fans of films like "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch," he's a director who always packs his flicks with energy, action and style.
His newest film, "Revolver," actually isn't so new at all. It opened in England in 2005 to almost unanimously negative reviews. Audiences and critics weren't game for the intricately plotted (some have said incoherently plotted) Jason Statham vehicle — about a gambling ex-con seeking revenge against the gangster (Ray Liotta) who murdered his sister — that is half philosophy seminar, half con-man flick.
Ritchie was more than happy to defend his film to MTV News, and even weighed in on "Swept Away" and the possibility of working with Madonna again (don't hold your breath).
MTV: It's been a long strange trip for "Revolver," but it's arrived in the States at last.
Guy Ritchie: I always understood I was embarking on a tricky and rough road when I embarked on this film. I was more or less prepared for a less-than-conventional release.
MTV: Did the extreme negative reaction it received in England surprise you?
Ritchie: I was surprised by the extent of it. It sparked an almost unprecedented negative reaction. I don't think anyone was prepared for that.
MTV: Do you have thick skin when it comes to criticism?
Ritchie: I suppose it depends on whether you think you're being fairly criticized or unfairly criticized. And I'm not sure which you should get more emotional about.
MTV: What was the first idea that sparked "Revolver"?
Ritchie: The genesis was that you're protecting your own fears. You're protecting your own demons and the liberation of self by finding them and facing them. And your mind is completely conditioned to work in the opposite direction. One has to transcend or surpass one's own intellect. You're only fighting yourself. I found that idea tremendously stimulating. You're at war with yourself, but your mind would never let you know you're at war with yourself.
MTV: A movie like this must be a bit tougher to script than something like "Snatch."
Ritchie: The others were much easier. This took years, as opposed to "Snatch," which took three months. But it's a movie that I like talking about, and I can't say that about the other movies. You can sustain interest for about 10 minutes talking about them. They are what they are. This is a conceptual movie, so you can actually talk about it.
MTV: Do you worry about losing an audience with something this heady?
Ritchie: Sure. Look, I just made "RocknRolla," which is conventional and easy and has a built-in audience. We showed it to 350 people, and they loved it. You show this to 350 people, and they're not going to all love it. The ones that don't like it really don't like it.
MTV: Do you think American audiences are more receptive?
Ritchie: I can already tell they're more receptive. Here, it's almost 60/40 in my favor, which is what I anticipated on my optimistic days.
MTV: Why do you think you don't get a fair shake in the U.K.?
Ritchie: My previous movies were very big in the U.K. They had an investment in who I was and what I stood for. They put me on a pedestal. There was just too much of an investment in the whole thing. Inevitably, someone had to go tumbling. This facilitated that tumble. It gave them what they needed.
MTV: Not to dwell on the negative, but a lot of people really disliked "Swept Away" too.
Ritchie: [He laughs.] They did. Look, it's a movie that I like. It's the movie I intended to make. From my point of view, it was a film that couldn't transcend the external factors. Maybe it would have been wiser had I identified those to begin with. We did what we wanted to do, and we were both happy with what we did.
MTV: When you heard the reactions, did it feel like the critics were watching a different movie?
Ritchie: Yes, it did. I still don't get what the f--- that was all about. I mean it was like the reaction when my wife decided to adopt a starving child. I couldn't make any sense of it. The child was nearly dead. [His] siblings had died. And she stopped that. How do you get demonized for that?
MTV: Have you two talked about you directing her again?
Ritchie: Life is too short, don't you think?
Madonna slams age stereotypes
Source: Contactmusic - 10 December 2007Superstar Madonna has criticised society's long-held stereotypes for the middle-aged, insisting she will never conform to most people's expectations of a 50-year-old woman. The singer is apprehensive about reaching her landmark 50th birthday in August (08) - but adamantly refuses to become a victim of ageism.
She says, "Not only does society suffer from racism and sexism but it also suffers from ageism. "Once you reach a certain age you're not allowed to be adventurous, you're not allowed to be sexual. I mean, is there a rule? Are you supposed to just die?"
Madonna sues Manhattan co-op board
Source: USA Today - 8 December 2007Madonna has sued the people who run her luxury co-op building overlooking Central Park, complaining they won't let her buy a neighbor's apartment.
The Material Girl claims in court papers that the co-op's board of directors wrongfully blocked her purchase of the seventh-floor apartment at 1 W. 64th St. on the Upper West Side.
Madonna, who already owns a large apartment in the building, is asking the court to let the sale go through and award her legal fees, according to a notice filed Wednesday in Manhattan's state Supreme Court.
The 49-year-old singer moved into the building after she was rejected by the board at the ritzy San Remo co-op in 1985 — presently home to U2 frontman Bono.
Midboro Management Inc., the company that manages the West 64th Street building, would not comment on the dispute, and the co-op board president did not answer a call Friday for comment.
Album photoshoot date & other rumours
8 December 2007Fansite MadonnaTribe revealed that the photoshoot for the cover of Madonna's new album will happen on December 22nd in the UK. Just like for Confessions On Dance Floor in 2005, the photographer is Steven Klein, with Giovanni Bianco reprising his role as the designer.
The same website posted some info about 2 of the upcoming new songs: 'Give It To Me' (the supposed title track) is a cartoonish, 80s sounding (pre-Madonna era) uptempo and catchy Pharrell collaboration with him on additional vocals and Madonna reprising some lines of The Beat Goes On in it. It has a break where the song suddenly stops, Madonna says "Don't stop it" while Pharrell says "to the left, to the right".
The other song they give info about is the Justin/Timbaland track 'Across The Sky' which is a nice mid-tempo love song with its theme being loosely based on Like A Virgin as it "tells the story of a woman who is quite disenchanted by love, a woman who knows deception, a woman who lied and has been lied to quite a lot in her life.
A woman who admits she is not a saint but that finally fells like a new person now that she has found a new love in her life and she is ready to travel "across the sky" with her man, poetically holding his hands in hers." It features a lot of acoustic guitars, a very catchy chorus and Justin Timberlake "oooing" on backing vocals (resembling to The Power Of Good-Bye or Love Profusion indeed, as first reported). Supposedly, both songs could make great singles.
Liz denies new album title
Source: Reuters via Yahoo - 7 December 2007Madonna's record label has denied reports that her new album will be called "Licorice" and will come out in late April.
Billboard.com reported that Sirius Satellite Radio host Larry Flick, a former Billboard editor, announced the title and release date on his "OutQ" show Thursday.
"Sirius does not know what they are talking about," Warner Bros, spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg said in an email to Reuters. "Wrong title. Release date wrong etc."
~ It seems that the whole thing started with former MadonnaMad webmaster Robster's fan artwork from August, that had 'Licorice' as title.
Madonna names new album 'Licorice'
Source: Billboard.com - 6 December 2007Madonna has christened her final Warner Bros. studio album "Licorice," and will release the set in late April. The news was broken today (Dec. 6) on former Billboard editor Larry Flick's Sirius Satellite Radio show "OutQ."
On the broadcast, Flick also aired two songs from the album, Candy Shop and The Beat Goes On featuring Pharrell. Both cuts leaked online earlier this year.
Unconfirmed reports say Madonna previewed the album in recent days for Warner Bros. staff members in New York. Kanye West is said to guest on The Beat Goes On, while an older unreleased tune, "The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You," appears in a new version.
As previously reported, following "Licorice" and a greatest hits collection, Madonna will record for Artist Nation, a new initiative launched by concert promoter Live Nation.
The 10-year deal encompasses all of Madonna's future music and music-related businesses, including the exploitation of the Madonna brand, new studio albums, touring, merchandising, fan clubs/Web sites, DVDs, music-related television and film projects and associated sponsorship agreements.
UPDATE: Liz Rosenberg denied the title.
The Confessions Tour DVD gets Grammy nomination
6 December 2007 
As expected, The Confessions Tour DVD is nominated for a Grammy in the 'Best Long Form Music Video' category. Here are all the nominees for that award:
Best Long Form Music Video
(For video album packages consisting of more than one song or track. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer of at least 51% of the total playing time.)
Live & Loud At The Fillmore
Dierks Bentley
Russell Thomas, video director; James Whetherly, video producer
[Capitol Records Nashville]
Trapped In The Closet Chapters 13-22
R. Kelly
R. Kelly, Victor Mignatti & Jim Swaffield, video directors; Ann Carli, video producer
[Jive/Zomba]
The Confessions Tour
Madonna
Jonas Akerlund, video director; Sara Martin & David May, video producers
[Warner Bros.]
10 Days Out - Blues From The Backroads
Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Various Artists
Noble Jones, video director; Kenny Wayne Shepherd, video producer
[Reprise]
Liberacion - The Songs Of The New Cuban Underground
Various Artists
Reuben Fields, video director; Dean Bates, video producer
[Petrol/EMI]
~ You can check out all the nominations here. Notice Timbaland's 'Producer Of The Year' nomination! ;-)
Madonna tugs Guy Ritchie's wires
Source: New York Daily News - 5 December 2007British director Guy Ritchie has some advice for you married blokes: Listen to your missus!
Ritchie's missus happens to be Madonna. In 2005, he made a metaphysical caper comedy, "Revolver." It was as if one of the charming thugs from "Snatch" or "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" had enrolled in the Kaballah Center. Some critics and American distributors found "Revolver" long and hard to follow. So Ritchie went back to the editing room and recut it.
"We made it shorter and tried to make it simpler," Ritchie told us at a celeb-packed screening, prior to this Friday's opening. "Funnily enough, we took out the bits that my wife recommended we take out the first time she saw it."
"He never listens to me," Madonna chimed in.
Who wears the pants in the family? "Well," she said, "he sometimes wears a kilt."
What about all these fun-loving criminals who populate his films - does he know any real gangsters? "I do know a few," Ritchie said modestly.
Madonna nodded energetically. "He actually knows a guy who fed people to pigs!" she added, alluding to an episode in "Snatch."
She grabbed his head and turned his cheek for us to inspect. "Go on, tell how you got this scar!" she said.
"Misguided youth," said Ritchie, who once ran afoul of money collectors. "You should stop pointing that scar out to people," he scolded his blond media coach.
"You're always so serious about these things!" she teased. "Laugh a bit!"
"I can take a joke!" he said.
Mrs. Ritchie was quick to hail her hubby for his guidance on her own directorial debut, "Filth and Wisdom," which she's due to unveil at the Berlin Film Festival.
"He gave me a lot of good advice," said the budding auteur, adding that her 30-minute flick explores the idea of "finding wisdom in unexpected places. Being a righteous person isn't necessarily going to lead to your evolution."
Say this for the Ritchies - they pull in a crowd. Among those who trooped out on a snowy Sunday for the Tribeca Grand screening - hosted by the Cinema Society's Andrew Saffir and Piaget - were Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael Stipe, Donna Karan, Zac Posen, Calvin Klein, Liza Minnelli, Josh Groban, Alan Cumming, Tina Brown, Barbara Walters and Roger Waters. Making it to the after-party at the Gramercy Hotel were the odd couple of Alex (A-Rod) Rodriguez and Madonna's pal Ingrid Casares.
Ritchie, who thanked Sony and Samuel Goldwyn execs for "sticking their neck out for this picture," warned the audience that "Revolver" is "tricky. All I can say is that if you pay attention, hopefully, all will be revealed!"
Report from new album listening party in NYC
4 December 2007Fansite Drownedmadonna got a report from the Warner listening party from NYC yesterday where Madonna played her new record:
Tentative album title is 'Give It To Me' because Madonna said before one of the songs: "This next song is called 'Give It To Me' and that’s what I want to call the record".
She wants either Candy Shop or '4 Minutes To Save The World' as first single. It has not been decided yet. The latter is like a dancey Hey You (and previously it was reported that it's a Madonna/Justin Timberlake duet). She prefers Candy Shop and was surprised when the other track got a better reaction.
The Beat Goes On sounds totally different from the leaked version and now features Kanye West. Madonna said that it's not a single and she recorded it as a joke.
She played 'Miles Away', 'The Devil Wouldn't Recognise You' and some other songs, their supposed titles are 'She's Not Me', 'Feel It In My Heartbeat' & 'Dance Tonight'. 'The Devil Wouldn't Recognise You' is indeed a re-invention of the musical number, written several years ago.
One of the songs was described by Madonna as "psychological mind f*ck" which questioned who was the master or slave, if you're walking the dog or the dog's walking you.
Madonna said that the album has 13 tracks, but only 10 of them were played yesterday
The tentative album release date is the last week of April, 2008.
Finally, the theme of the party had the obvious theme of a candy shop with red and white stripes & stools as the theme plus coloured bricks and lots of candy all over. Moreover, there were all Re-Invention Tour stage shots in the room including a big poster that may be the cover of the Lisbon DVD. No other photos of anything else, just RIT.
Madonna wants husband to make a family movie
Source: ExtraTV.com - 3 December 2007Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie heated up with New York night at the premiere of his crime drama "Revolver," and "Extra" was along for their big date.
"We haven't been away from the kids in a while," Guy confessed to "Extra."
Added Madonna, "Yeah, so it's a date."
Madonna joined Guy for his big premiere, but when Guy tried to explain the title, Madonna had a little fun with him.
"It's the revolving door – of your ego!" she joked. "Sorry, I'll shut up now."
Glammed out in Dolce & Gabbana, Madonna also revealed she and Guy might expand their family of five. "Maybe," she said. "You never know."
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ritchie is bugging her husband to make a family movie for once. Guy has made action-packed thrillers "Lock, Stock and TwoSmoking Barrels" and "Snatch."
"My kids really want to go to one of his movies," she said, turning to Guy. "Can you hurry up please? Rocco complained that you don't make movies that kids can watch!"
But Madonna loves "Revolver," which hits theaters Friday, and even visited Guy on set.
"I did. He doesn't invite me very often, you know why? Because during the lunch hour they always wrestle!" she said. "It's a gentleman's club, the set of Guy's movies."
Madge also filled "Extra" in on her holiday plans. "We're going far, far away," she winked. "It's the only hint I'm giving you."
Madonna and Guy attend Revolver screening in NY
3 December 2007As reported last week, Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie promoted Guy's movie Revolver with a special screening last night. The screening, followed by a VIP-party, was hosted by the Cinema Society and Piaget at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. Check out some pictures (courtesy of AP & Reuters) from Guy and Madonna (who was sporting a trendy new haircut).
