I've been reporting on the "Black Swan" controversy (Swangate) for a few weeks now.

To refresh, it all started when Natalie Portman's dancer/double Sarah Lane stated that she performed most of the star's dancing, in spite of what choreographer (and Portman's fiancée) Benjamin Millepied, director Darren Aronofsky and "Swan" co-star, Mila Kunis said to the contrary.

Their take? Natalie worked her little tail off, and though she certainly used a double (duh. She's an actress), she also trained rigorously and performed many of the moves herself.

The one person who's been mum on the subject is Portman herself, but while promoting "Your Highness," she talked about it ... a little.

Here from E:

 
 

Because that Jackie Chan death rumor has finally been revealed as a hoax (not funny!), let's all celebrate his life!

Today is the Hong Kong action superstar's birthday. He turns 57 years old and though he's slowed down in the last ten years, I'm sure he can still not only run circles around, but leap off buildings, fly off jet skies and roll through glass over any 27-year-old.

Happy Birthday Mr. Chan! Here's a look at one of your finest moments:


 

I really love this interview with Kevin Kline via the Onion AV Club. It's smart, funny, literate and filled with movie love.

Kline, who is starring in two movies about to open -- Robert Redford’s "The Conspirator," where he plays Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of war, and Caroline Bottaro’s "Queen To Play," where he's mentor to Sandrine Bonnaire’s chess champ (the latter film in French), took the time to talk about all sorts of acting, and a nice bit about his "Chaplin" director, Richard Attenborough, whom he called "Dickie."

Here's a portion:

"[Richard] Attenborough. I had done Cry Freedom for Dickie, and he called and he said, 'I want you to do Dougie Fairbanks, for me, will you?' Years earlier, he had talked about me playing Chaplin, I mean many years, right after Cry Freedom. But now he called and said, 'I want you to do Dougie Fairbanks.” And I said, 'Well, what are the dates,' you know, 'Send me the script,' and he did. But before he did, I said,'Well, that’s two weeks after my first child is scheduled to be born. And I really think I should just be at home for those first few months.' There was just this pause at the other end; absolute silence. Dickie is one of the warmest, sweetest men in the world, and he can cry. The Pythons did a parody of him, just with streams cascading, or spouting from his eyes. But I heard, finally he said, 'But… but Kevin, you’ve always been my Dougie.'

“'Well, Dickie, you know, let me talk to my wife and see…' And he said, 'Let me see if we can put it off, or change the schedule so that you come later.' And he did. So I didn’t really have to go until my child was six weeks old. And it was what, two weeks’ shooting? Maybe. Originally, I was against the whole idea. But I’d always been his Dougie; I had to do it. I didn’t like the idea of doing it. I didn’t like the idea of playing a real movie personality. To me, that’s impersonation, it’s not really—it’s a type of acting, but it’s not something I’m that good at. But I thought not that many people knew him as a speaking actor, because his career suffered after the talkies came in.

"I love Dickie, and I told him, 'As you know, I went into alligator-infested waters for you, and I crossed the Zambezi River in Cry Freedom, so I’ll happily… Of course! Of course.' He took a big chance with me in that, so I certainly owed him one. And Sven Nykvist! I got to work with Sven Nykvist. And Robert Downey, who I got to work with again in Soapdish. I had a ball both times. It’s not like, 'Oh, Douglas Fairbanks, yes, I’ve always wanted to play him.'

"But interesting character; all the made-up things, the way he spoke, that Boston Brahmin [accent], and he was from Nebraska or something. He worked out three times a day. He was quite athletic. So I learned some things about him.

 

Remember when this movie was happening? Well, it's not only still happening, it's happening with a longer title and a release date.

That's the newest "Planet of the Apes" spin (how many do we need?!), "Rise of the Apes" now titled, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (so not to confuse those who think it might have something to do with Jane Goodall, which would actually be kind of great).

Here's more news from Coming Soon:

"Directed by Rupert Wyatt, the sci-fi action adventure stars James Franco, John Lithgow, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, Tom Felton and David Oyelowo. It opens in theaters on August 5.

"Oscar-winning visual effects house Weta Digital – employing certain of the groundbreaking technologies developed for 'Avatar' – have rendered, for the first time ever in the film series, photo-realistic apes rather than costumed actors.

 

O.K. Here's a movie I want to see.

Warning: Language, gore and Helen Mirren is hot.

Thanks to Funny or Die.
 

The great Billy Dee Williams turns 74 years young today. 74? That's amazing. Time and galaxies certainly do fly.
 

Robert Pattinson fans -- be prepared to do what Criss Cross told you to do all those years back ("Jump! Jump!" -- did I actually just quote that song?). Anyway, as in jump out of your seats because ... oh this is getting tiresome.

You all knew this before me anyway, I'm sure.

Yes, "Twilight" fans, Pattinson is going to get naughty and nude (gasp!) in his next picture.

Here's the news from MTV:

"The loyal Robert Pattinson fans out there are very likely already aware that the megastar will be showing off a lot more than just his acting talents in the upcoming film 'Bel Ami.' To quote Pattinson himself, the steamy period drama will feature 'a lot of my crack. ... I think there's quite a bit of nudity.'

"When MTV News caught up with actress Natalia Tena (better known as Nymphadora Tonks to the 'Harry Potter' fans) at the DVD premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' on Monday, she revealed that she is one of several lovely ladies who gets hot and heavy with Pattinson in 'Bel Ami.'"

 

Since I have no evidence to support or refute the idea that Meg Ryan can direct anything -- be it a commercial for cat food, an experimental short or a feature length film, I can only say -- good luck Ms. Ryan.

Here's the news via Huffington Post:

"For the first time, Meg Ryan will be the one to yell action and cut.

"The star actress is going from in front of the camera to behind it, Variety reports, as she's set to direct her first movie. Titled "Into The Beautiful," the film centers on friends reuniting after a long time apart.

"'I'm often drawn to pictures that make you laugh and cry,' the film's producer Wendy Finerman told the trade publication. 'I think this is the perfect project for Meg to bring to life. She's poignant and funny and heartfelt.'