Lying And Cheating Are Equal-Opportunity Sins
As the star of the film “A Price Above Rubies,” Renee Zellweger has taken on the role of answering the film’s critics.
And those critics aren’t just the types that exist in the media. They’re the Jews who dislike director Boaz Yakin’s portrayal of conservative Hasidics, which centers on a Hasidic woman (Zellweger) who has an affair with a Puerto Rican artist.
“I understand where they’re coming from,” the Texas-born Zellweger said at the film’s New York premiere. “There have been so many stereotyped portrayals of their culture in movies.”
Director Yakin, who unlike Zellweger is Jewish, saw the furor differently: “What are they saying? That Jews don’t act like all humans? Jews lie, cheat, steal like everybody else does.”
Loose talk
Matthew McConaughey on feeling the presence of Willis Newton, the late bank robber he plays in the film “The Newton Boys” (in the Dallas Morning News): “Willis was around, man. Willis was upstairs every night when I went to bed. He was helping steer me through it.”
He’d likely opt for an afternoon of trainspotting
Ewan McGregor turns 27 today.
Fresh off a big hit, what do you do next?
If you’re James Cameron coming off the megablockbuster “Titanic,” what do you do next? According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Oscarwinning director plans to remake “Planet of the Apes.”
Approach a new pal in the right context
At a recent party, Alec Baldwin offered advice to Oscar nominee and winner (for Best Original Screenplay) Matt Damon. “Stay off the booze, stay off the drugs and we’re all pulling for you,” Baldwin said. Baldwin’s brother, former “Homicide” star Daniel Baldwin, recently was arrested for smashing up a hotel room while allegedly in a cocaine-fueled rage.
Create a new toy
Come Christmas, expect to see an official Princess Diana doll on the toy shelves. Hasbro says it is in talks with the controllers of the late princess’ memorial fund.
Plan a publishing ploy
Speaking of the late Princess Diana, the London Observer reports that some 1,562 poems have been collected in what it calls “possibly the worst book of poetry ever published.” “Poems for a Princess” includes poems written by common citizens. The London publisher, Anchor Books, ordered a 30,000 first print run.
And avoid all those people whom you have vexed
He is known nationally because of being featured, albeit fictionally, in the sitcom “Seinfeld.” But Al Yeganeh, the man better known as the “Soup Nazi,” is not grateful for all the attention. He says it distracts him from his cooking. “The quality of my soup is dropping, and for me, the quality is my whole life,” Yeganeh says. “Jerry Seinfeld, he destroyed me with that N word.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 photos
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster