Spike Lee announced plans yesterday to make a movie about the struggle against Nazi occupiers in Italy during World War II that he hopes will highlight the contribution of black American soldiers who fought and died to liberate Europe. The film will spotlight the courage of black soldiers who, despite suffering discrimination back home, offered a contribution that has so far gone largely unnoticed in other Hollywood movies, Lee said. "We have black people who are fighting for democracy who at the same time are classified as second-class citizens," the 50-year-old filmmaker said.
"That is why I'd like to do a film to show how these brave black men, despite all the hardship they were going through, still pushed that aside and fought for the greater good." Based on the novel Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride, the movie will tell the story of four black American soldiers, all members of the Army's all-black 92nd "Buffalo Soldier" Division, who are trapped behind enemy lines in an Italian village in Tuscany in 1944.
Filming is planned in Tuscany, Rome and the United States. Shooting is expected to start by the beginning of 2008. Reclusive musician Sly Stone speaks out The famously reclusive funkster broke his silence by granting his first interview since the '80s to Vanity Fair.
In the magazine's August issue, the frontman of the late-'60s band Sly and the Family Stone talks about his music, his disappearance from public view and his long-awaited return. Stone, 64, who made a brief, blond Mohawked appearance at the 2006 Grammys, says he plans to start work on a new album in the fall. But after more than two decades away from the spotlight, why come back now?
"'Cause it's kind of boring at home sometimes," he tells the magazine. "I got a lot of songs I want to record and put out, so I'm gonna try 'em out on the road. That's the way it's always worked the best: Let's try it out and see how the people feel.
" Katie Holmes, Rosie are 'most influential' celebs Katie Holmes, Rosie O'Donnell and Anna Nicole Smith's baby daughter, Dannielynn, are among the boldface names on OK! magazine's list of "most influential" celebrities. The list of 19 famous faces, which appears in the magazine's latest issue, on newsstands Friday, was separated by editors into six categories: beauty queens, style setters, entertainers, newsmakers, survivors and body shapers.
OK! named Holmes, the 28-year-old wife of Tom Cruise and mother of their 1-year-old daughter, Suri, a beauty queen because of her "refreshing girl-next-door look" and sporty hairstyle. Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez also made the cut.
The youngest celebrity on the list: 10-month-old Dannielynn Hope, who was recognized as a survivor because she has been "at the center of Hollywood's most controversial tragedies," the magazine said. Rocker pleads guilty to drug charge Pete Doherty pleaded guilty to a drug charge yesterday in London after arriving so late the judge had issued an arrest warrant. District Judge Davinder Lachhar warned Doherty that he had one last chance to avoid prison.
The 28-year-old rocker, who arrived in court at midday, also pleaded guilty to failing to appear on time without a reasonable excuse. He admitted possessing quantities of crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis and ketamine as well as to two driving offenses on May 5. Lachhar deferred sentence to Aug.
7 on condition that Doherty enter a detoxification program on July 16, as he said he was willing to do. "If you go to this place to have detox and take advantage of it then we will see what sentence is appropriate when you next come, but if you do not I can tell you now that you will go into custody," Lachhar told Doherty. "It's rehab or jail," Doherty told reporters as he left.
"I was going to rehab anyway, to be honest with you, but this is a little push." Doherty, lead singer of Babyshambles and boyfriend of supermodel Kate Moss, has been undergoing drug treatment under court order because of previous convictions. Spike Lee announced plans yesterday to make a movie about the struggle against Nazi occupiers in Italy during World War II that he hopes will highlight the contribution of black American soldiers who fought and died to liberate Europe.
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