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Owen Wilson has confessed that he found it easy to cry when shooting an emotional scene from forthcoming film Marley & Me.

Speaking at the movie's UK press conference, the actor revealed that he was surprised by his response because he sometimes found it difficult to cry on cue.

"They had this really old dog called Cooper, who played Marley, and he came on set and it was hard not to get emotional because he's a really old dog," he said. "Your heart goes out to him and I felt like, yeah, I can do this because it's a believable situation."

Comparing his experiences, Wilson recounted his inability to access his emotions when filming a sequence for 2003's widely-panned comedy I, Spy.

"I was supposed to cry but I wasn't able too so they had to bring out these fake tears," he explained. "They blow a spearmint thing in your eyes but because the situation was so implausible, it didn't make any sense to [be crying]."

He joked: "I'm thinking this isn't going to save the movie, having me squeeze out a few tears here!"

Marley & Me opens in the UK on March 11.

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Watchmen has topped the US box office on its first weekend on release.

Zack Snyder's superhero movie, based on the Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons graphic novel, secures first place with a $55.7 million three-day haul. It is the third highest opening for a March release behind 300 ($70.9 million) and Ice Age 2: The Meltdown ($68 million).

Last week's number one Madea Goes To Jail slips to second place, while Taken, Slumdog Millionaire and Paul Blart: Mall Cop round out the top five.

Elsewhere, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience falls seven places from last week's runners-up spot with a 77% drop in ticket sales.

The US box office top ten:

1. (-) Watchmen - $55,655,000
2. (1) Madea Goes To Jail - $8,800,000
3. (4) Taken - $7,450,000
4. (3) Slumdog Millionaire - $6,925,000
5. (6) Paul Blart: Mall Cop - $4,200,000
6. (5) He's Just Not That Into You - $4,020,000
7. (7) Coraline - $3,313,000
8. (9) Confessions Of A Shopaholic - $3,121,000
9. (2) Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience - $2,785,000
10. (10) Fired Up - $2,600,000

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Dakota Fanning has been confirmed to star in the forthcoming film New Moon, the second instalment in the Twilight saga.

Summit Entertainment has confirmed that the 15-year-old will star as Jane, a member of the Volturi vampire clan, which Edward (Robert Pattinson) encounters in Italy.

Fanning, who was first linked to the role in January, previously told Access Hollywood that it "would be wonderful" to a land a part in the movie.

Production on New Moon, which is being directed by Chris Weitz, is scheduled to begin later this month, with a slated November release date. Eclipse, the third film in the franchise, has been handed a summer 2010 release.

Speaking to People, co-star Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale) said: "We did just get a script. We're shooting the rest of the films back to back. Chris Weitz is amazing and I think it's going to be wonderful."

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Emily Blunt has revealed that some of the sets in new movie Sunshine Cleaning were so realistic that they made her "heave".

The Young Victoria actress appears in the independent black comedy as a crime scene cleaner alongside former Charlie Wilson's War co-star Amy Adams.

Of the sets, Blunt told NY Daily News: "Oh, they were [realistic]. Particularly the trailer park one - that was gag-making. We walked on set and I felt myself heave, as it really did smell.

"And we had a fly wrangler on set. He breathes smoke on them, and they get a bit hazy and are not quite so sprightly - I don't know how he does it."

She added that she and Adams were "obsessed" with crime shows, but that it "didn't really help when it came to the gore and dealing with the decomposition".

Young Victoria opened in UK cinemas last weekend while Sunshine Cleaning will have a limited US release from March 13.

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Malin Akerman and Ryan Phillippe have joined the cast of indie drama The Bang Bang Club, reports Variety.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine actor Taylor Kitsch is also confirmed for the project.

The movie, which is based on the memoirs of Greg Marinovich, is based in apartheid-era South Africa.

It will tell the story of Kevin Carter (Kitsch), Ken Oosterbroek, Marinovich (Phillippe) and Joao Silver, four combat photographers who became famous for their graphic depictions of the last days of apartheid. Akerman will play the photo editor of the club.

Marinovich and Silva are the only two still alive. Oosterbroek was killed by friendly fire in 1994, while Carter famously committed suicide shortly after winning the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.

Shooting is expected to start next month in Johannesburg. Documentary-maker Steven Silver is writing and directing.

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Steven Spielberg has handed his Tintin film over to Peter Jackson, says Variety.

The pair had agreed to each direct a movie based on Hergé's cartoon creation, though plans for a trilogy have reportedly been sidelined for now in favour of completing the first outing.

Spielberg has finished 32 days' work on the motion-capture blockbuster in Los Angeles and will allow producer Jackson to complete work on the film. It is believed that Spielberg will retain a sole director credit.

"It's hard to delineate between directing and producing on films like this," an insider said.

Producer Kathleen Kennedy added that the creative switch is not problematic, saying: "They are amazingly collaborative, even more so than Steven and George [Lucas were on the Indiana Jones films]."

The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn, starring Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, is scheduled for release in 2011.

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Mad Men actress Elisabeth Moss has joined Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant in the cast of Did You Hear About The Morgans?, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The Marc Lawrence-directed rom-com will centre on a high-powered New York couple who are relocated to Wyoming after witnessing a murder. Moss will play the obsessive-compulsive assistant to Parker's character.

Moss, who was nominated for a SAG Award this year for her portrayal of Peggy Olson in Mad Men, has previously starred in Girl, Interrupted and The Missing.

Did You Hear About The Morgans? begins production in New York in May.

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Barack Obama has renewed the US's special relationship with the UK by giving Prime Minister Gordon Brown 25 classic American films on DVD.

On a recent visit to Washington, Brown handed Obama a pen holder made of wood from the HMS Gannet, an anti-slave ship that was a sister vessel to HMS Resolute. Wood from the Resolute was later used to construct the desk in the Oval Office.

According to the Daily Mail, Obama's gift was a collection of 25 movies prepared by the American Film Institute. The titles include Citizen Kane, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Graduate, The Godfather and Casablanca. The latter two are listed as favourite films of Obama on his Facebook page.

The movies Obama reportedly presented to Brown are:

1. Citizen Kane
2. The Godfather
3. Casablanca
4. Raging Bull
5. Singing In The Rain
6. Gone With The Wind
7. Lawrence Of Arabia
8. Schindler's List
9. Vertigo
10. The Wizard Of Oz
11. City Lights
12. The Searchers
13. Star Wars: Episode IV
14. Psycho
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey
16. Sunset Boulevard
17. The Graduate
18. The General
19. On The Waterfront
20. It's A Wonderful Life
21. Chinatown
22. Some Like It Hot
23. The Grapes Of Wrath
24. ET: The Extra Terrestrial
25. To Kill A Mockingbird

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New Line has started development on Straight Outta Compton, a biopic of hip-hop group N.W.A.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the movie will chart the career of the trailblazing rap group, formed in 1986 by Eazy-E, Dr Dre, Ice Cube and MC Ren.

Despite being banned from radio air play thanks to controversial songs such as 'F**k The Police', the band have sold more than 9 million albums in the US. Active between 1986 and 1991, they briefly reunited in 1999 to work on a comeback album, Not These Niggaz Again, that was never released. Eazy-E, real name Eric Wright, died of AIDS in 1995.

Ice Cube, Dr Dre and Tomica Wright (Eazy-E's widow) will produce Compton and are reportedly eager to recruit a director in the mould of Curtis Hanson, who steered Eminem's 8 Mile to success despite not being an obvious match for the material.

gyki98

woow.awsome.n.w.a started gangsta rap.its gona be awsome.i hope dre, cube and ren make some new tracks for the movie together cause that would just rule.this movie is gona be a must see.

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Jennifer Aniston has admitted that the current economic climate has impacted on Hollywood.

Speaking at the UK press conference for Marley & Me, the actress dismissed speculation that the movie industry has been unaffected by the recession.

"They're not making as many movies," she said. "At film festivals, studios that would be buying six or eight movies are now buying two. It's really a lot harder for independent films especially. It's the same thing with jobs - studio positions are being dropped, they're all cutting back."

However, she suggested that dramedies such as Marley & Me have struck a chord with audience members who are seeking a more realistic look at the world.

"The fact that it did as well as it did [in the US] at a time when some really high-concept, beautiful movies were out was a sign of what people are really hungry for," she said.

"To see a real portrayal of marriage was very refreshing. It's such an accessible story and people were ready for that. They wanted to laugh really hard or cry really hard and just feel something."

Marley & Me opens in the UK on March 11.

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Twilight star Kristen Stewart has clarified remarks that she made about fans of the vampire saga.

The actress was criticised by followers after telling Nylon that she found some of the attention lavished on the movie to be "f**king psychotic".

Speaking to E! News, she insisted that she "loved the fans", saying: "I feel like I am one of the fans and any direct interaction I've ever had with them has been the most warm and pleasant and enthusiastic. If anything, it's the biggest driving force that could propel you to do something."

Explaining her previous comments, she said: "It's not normal for me to be in a situation that Twilight puts you in. It's not personally normal for me to see 5,000 screaming girls. But I'm not criticising them for being 'crazy' about me. I’m sort of going, 'Wow, this is just crazy!'"

She also dismissed speculation that she had skipped out on this year's Oscars because she did not consider Twilight to be a "great movie".

"If I was invited to the Oscars, I would be there in a nanosecond," she said. "If I got an invitation to the Oscars, I wouldn’t turn it down!"

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Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy, Jennifer Morrison and Joel Edgerton have joined the cast of Gavin O'Connor's Warriors, says Variety.

The drama centres on a Vietnam veteran and former boxer (Nolte) who overcomes alcoholism to train his youngest son (Hardy) for a mixed martial arts tournament. Edgerton will play Hardy's brother, who takes him on in the ring.

O'Connor, who last helmed Pride And Glory, will direct Warriors from a script he co-wrote with Anthony Tambakis.

Nolte last appeared on screen in Tropic Thunder, while Hardy can currently been seen in biopic Bronson.

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The family of late football boss Brian Clough reportedly "loathe" the idea of seeing the upcoming biopic based on his early management career.

According to The Guardian, Clough's widow Barbara and their children Elizabeth, Simon and Nigel have rejected an offer from The Damned United director Tom Hooper to see an early screening of the movie.

The Clough family initially objected to David Peace's novel, on which the film is based, due to its portrayal of Clough as a depressed, paranoid alcoholic.

"They absolutely loathe the idea," said Don Shaw, author of Clough's War. "Nigel tried to read The Damned United but gave up because he was so shocked by it. Barbara read one page before she had to stop... They were horrified by the book and won't be seeing the film."

Producer Andy Harries defended the movie, insisting that it takes a more upbeat look at its subject's life. "It's a shame Mrs Clough doesn't want to see the film and it's particular shame that the children haven't responded to our overtures. I find it a bit surprising. He was a public figure all his life and no-one exploited the media more than Clough.

"We didn't dwell on his alcoholism or his decline. That wasn't the story we wanted to tell. In quite tough times, we wanted to make a film with an upbeat ending - you come out of the cinema thinking it was an enjoyable experience and that Clough was a good guy."

The Damned United, starring Michael Sheen as the iconic football manager, is released in cinemas on March 27.

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Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz and Jesse Williams have been added to the cast of Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard's The Cabin In The Woods.

The quintet join Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford, who were cast in the horror movie in January. Plot details for the MGM/United Artists film, which marks Cloverfield writer Goddard's directorial debut, are being kept secret.

"Finding this ensemble has been very hard and very rewarding," producer Whedon told The Hollywood Reporter. "Each of the 'kids' is unique, fascinating and talented, and like true friends, the group is more than the sum of its parts.

"These are people you care about, able to go toe to toe with the amazing actors we've corralled thus far, and not unpretty in the bargain. I can't wait to harm them."

The Cabin In The Woods will be released on February 5, 2010.

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Sean Penn has started talks with Universal to star in action thriller Cartel.

The project will be directed by Asger Leth, according to Variety. Peter Craig is penning the script.

Originally the movie was intended as a remake of 1993 Italian movie La scorta, but the film has now evolved into an action vehicle for the 2009 Oscar winner.

It will tell the story of Ed Marker, who is on a mission to protect his son after his wife is brutally killed in the world of Mexican cartels.

Shooting is scheduled to start in the summer as long as the 48-year-old signs up for the role.

Penn is also currently in discussions about starring in Doug Liman's drama Fair Game.

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Jay Roach and Neal Moritz have teamed up to produce a remake of The Complete History Of My Sexual Failures.

Universal Pictures's adaptation of the British documentary may also be directed by Roach.

The original was released in the UK last year and followed Chris Waitt as he hunted down all his former partners to discover what went wrong. Jay Reiss is in talks to write the screenplay.

Moritz's credits include Fast And The Furious and I Am Legend, while Roach helmed Austin Powers and Meet The Parents.

Roach also recently signed up for comedy adaptation Dinner For Schmucks, which will star Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd.

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Leighton Meester is in talks to lead the cast of Screen Gems thriller The Roommate, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The Gossip Girl actress will play Sara, a college freshman who is given a dorm with stranger Rebecca. Sara's friends and family come under threat when Rebecca becomes obsessed with her roommate.

Christian E. Christiansen is directing the movie from a script by Sonny Mallhi.

Meester has also appeared in the TV shows Entourage, Surface and 24; and indie movies The Beautiful Ordinary and Drive Thru.

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Watchmen has taken the number one spot at the UK box office.

The blockbuster, which centres on a group of superheroes reuniting in an alternate 1985, pulled in more than £3 million to top the chart on its first weekend on release.

Slumdog Millionaire and Gran Torino slip a place, while new release The Young Victoria and Bolt complete the top five.

Elsewhere, Jennifer Lynch's Surveillance misses out on a spot in the top ten, landing at number 14.

The UK box office chart:

1. (-) Watchmen - £3,243,001
2. (1) Slumdog Millionaire - £1,289,094
3. (2) Gran Torino - £1.216,106
4. (-) The Young Victoria - £1,016,053
5. (4) Bolt - £978,954
6. (5) Confessions Of A Shopaholic - £977,441
7. (3) The Unborn - £749,898
8. (7) Hotel For Dogs - £569,802
9. (6) The International - £423,358
10. (8) He's Just Not That Into You - £317,588

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U.S. President Barack Obama has been tipped for an acting career when he retires from the White House - wrestler-turned-Hollywood star Dwayne' The Rock' Johnson wants the politician to play him in a movie about his life.

Johnson claims he's often mistaken for the Democrat, because they both have links to Hawaii and both sound alike - and he's convinced Obama could bulk up to mimic him onscreen.

The Scorpion King star tells Moviefone.com, "Barack Obama (should play me). I hear that (we sound alike) all the time. You know I've gotten to know him, and he's a big time athlete, and loves athletics, so I'm sure he could bulk up."

Johnson admits he's flattered by the comparison to Obama - who he now considers a pal, adding, "All the comparisons have been such an honour - how cool! We make a hell of a pair. We had an opportunity to talk before the election. We talked about everything from our roots in Hawaii, our family and the importance of great leadership for our country, which is certainly one of the many things he provides."

And the actor even discovered there's a huge collection of his movies in the White House: "He (Obama) did tell me that I was one of Michelle Obama's favourite actors. He was telling me that (the girls, Sasha and Malia) were big fans of The Game Plan."