Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery

Joan Cusack, Chris O'Donnell, Julia Ormond and Wallace Shawn are the latest to come on board the Depression-era feature Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery, starring Abigail Breslin in the title role. They join previously cast Stanley Tucci, Jane Krakowski and Glenne Headly. Also cast in the project are young actors Max Thieriot, Madison Davenport, Zach Mills and Willow Smith. HBO Films held open casting calls in several cities for the roles of some of Kit Kittredge's friends.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery, the first theatrical adaptation of the popular American Girl line of dolls, tells the story of Kit Kittredge (Breslin), a clever, resourceful 10-year-old growing up in Cincinnati during the Great Depression who helps her mother (Ormond) run a boardinghouse when her father (O'Donnell) loses his job. Cusack will play a nurse who moves into the Kittredges' boardinghouse. Thieriot will play a boy accused of committing robberies, while Shawn will play the editor in chief of the Cincinnati Reporter Register.

Patricia Rozema is set to direct the film from a screenplay by Ann Peacock.

We cannot get enough of MSN.com's daily online coverage of the 60th Annual Cannes Film Festival. Check out the coverage at http://movies.msn.com/movies/cannes07/

As the age of piracy comes to a close, Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle. Our heroes must face Lord Cutler Beckett, Davy Jones and Admiral James Norrington in a titanic showdown that could eliminate the freedom-loving pirates from the seven seas -- forever.

CAUSE Concerts

We read an interesting article on MSN regarding Cause Concerts. We have provided an excerpt for you to read, click the link below to read the entire article: http://liveearth.msn.com/green/historyconcerts

By Alan LightSpecial to MSN

It's easy to be cynical about stadium-sized benefit concerts. In fact, at this point in pop history, it's probably reasonable to be skeptical, wary or dismissive, because there have been so many all-star charity events and we still haven't actually fed the world or saved the rainforest.

But there remains some mysterious power that these shows have over our imagination. Maybe it's the sheer ability to harness so many egos and leverage so many record sales — regardless of the cause or the reason — that makes it impossible to look away. And in the end, massive benefits still raise massive amounts of cash, no matter how familiar the process becomes.
All of these issues surfaced again with the announcement of the Live Earth shows, to be held across the globe on July 7. This time, of course, environmental awareness is the catalyst for performances by the likes of the Police, Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, Dave Matthews and Bon Jovi.

But, what lessons can be learned from the predecessors of Live Earth — the parade of rock extravaganzas that have sought to change the world during the past few decades?

BONO : Live EARTH
As we focus on the Live Earth effort to bring together artists and activists around the world, here's a look at some other celebrities who are using their fame and fortune in the service of a range of social missions.

BONO: (as seen with former President Bill Clinton): The year after Irish rock band U2 appeared at Live Aid, lead singer Bono told Rolling Stone that his motivation to become involved with social and political causes began when he attended "The Secret Policeman's Ball," one of the 1979 benefit events produced for Amnesty International by Monty Python's John Cleese and producer Martin Lewis. U2's catalog has long incorporated songs with powerful political and social themes, but Bono himself has carried his mission much further. Since 1999 he has focused on aid for Africa through a campaign for Third World debt relief, tabling any personal political preferences to reach out to world leaders from every point on the ideological compass. Honored as Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2005 (shared with Bill and Melinda Gates), Bono is harnessing celebrity power and retail marketing through the highly visible Product (RED) initiative.

Tom and Katie Cruise's $35 Million Dollar Purchase

Tom Cruise has purchased a $35 million dollar Beverly Hills home for himself, Katie Holmes and baby Suri, the Los Angeles Times reports. Cruise has been renting a home in Beverly Hills for the past several years (he and Holmes, 28, married last November), but that lease runs out next year, according to the paper. The new address, which reportedly was not even on the market when Cruise made his offer, is described as a " traditional-style residence." Originally built as a 10,000-sq.-ft. structure in 1937, the house was expanded four years ago and currently contains seven bedroom and nine bathrooms, say those familiar with the property. The Cruises will have their privacy: the house sits on 1.3 acres behind gates and a lengthy driveway, and sports a tennis court and a pool. In addition, Cruise and Holmes's pals, Victoria and David Beckham, have bought a multi-million dollar house only two minutes away. They plan to move in July.

Ocean’s 13 stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle will use their premier to support relief efforts in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

A launch party for the new organization Not On Our Watch will be thrown on May 22nd in Cannes, two days before the Warner Brothers sequel makes its world premiere. According to Variety, there will be a couple of benefit premieres for Ocean's Thirteen in Las Vegas and Chicago. All proceeds will go to the new organization. The North American premier will take place on June 5th, in Los Angeles. Earlier in the day, Clooney, Pitt and Damon will have their handprints and footprints cemented in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater. Not on Our Watch will support existing relief efforts in war-torn Darfur. The organization is working to protect the people living in that region.

Paris Hilton should be jailed for 45 days for violating terms of her probation for an alcohol-related reckless driving conviction, city prosecutors say. In documents filed April 30th in Superior Court, prosecutors said they also want Hilton to be required to stay away from alcohol for 90 days and wear a monitoring device that will chart whether she complies.
The recommendation will be reviewed by a judge when Hilton appears for a probation violation hearing today. Hilton pleaded no contest in January to reckless driving stemming from a Sept. 7 arrest in Hollywood. She was sentenced to 36 months probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines.

She was pulled over by California Highway Patrol on Jan. 15. Officers informed Hilton she was driving on a suspended license and she signed a document acknowledging she was not to drive, according to court papers. She was pulled over by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies on Feb. 27 for speeding and driving without her headlights, at which time she was charged with violating her probation.

UPDATE: A judge sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail Friday for violating her probation, putting the brakes on the hotel heiress' famous high life. Hilton, who parlayed her name and relentless partying into worldwide notoriety, must go to jail on June 5 and she will not be allowed any work release, no furloughs, no use of an alternative jail and no electronic monitoring in lieu of jail, Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled after a hearing.

David and Victoria Beckham's New House

Set on a 13,000-square-foot lot, the Italian-style mansion will be Victoria and David Beckham’s home when the Real Madrid player moves to play for LA Galaxy. The mansion is in the same neighborhood as the Beckham’s best friends, Tom and Katie Cruise.

The mansion’s modern interior features a mixture of hardwood and slate floors with six fireplaces and nine bathrooms. The lavish property also boasts views of the ocean, a swimming pool and fountain as well as a three-car garage. The monthly mortgage payments will be $91,666 after a 20 percent down-payment – the $22 million, palm-fringed estate is a relative bargain for soccer’s richest player.