Ellen Leventry: June 2007 Archives

Germany is now saying "Wilkommen" to Tom Cruises' production of "Valkyrie," reports Reuters.

Although the production is ruffling feathers of the heirs of the film's protagonist, Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, and German politicians, it seems that money speaks louder than words, even words spoken a mere three days ago. Germany's Defense Ministry is backing off its statement that Cruise is not welcome to film on historical military sites because he is a Scientologist.

In fact, according to Reuters, The Defense Ministry has said that it's not even responsible for approving film shoots at Bendlerblock--the building in which the "Valkyrie" plan to overthrow Adolph Hitler was forged--a site the producers would most likely be interested in.

The Defense Ministry isn't "even responsible for approving film shoots at Bendlerblock because they are only tenants on the land," a Defense Ministry spokesman told the news service, since, "the location is under the authority of Germany's Finance Ministry" and Defense would "look agreeably" upon any such application.

I understand that bureaucracies are bureaucracies the world over, even at the Bundestag, but this is the type of quick turn of course I usually only expect from the U.S. government. Either the German military is trying to deflect the media attention brought about by its earlier statement on to a higher authority: not God, in this case, but Geld--or accusations of religious persection of Cruise are causing them to rethink the publicity. But, as Michael Kinsley says, a gaffe is when a politician--or a military bureaucracy--tells the truth, and gaffes are usually followed by 'expanded and corrected' remarks.

It wasn't quite Saul/Paul's blinding conversion on the road to Damascus, but when Paris Hilton emerged from the Lynwood Women's Correctional Facility last night sans blue contact lenses, I thought two things: 1) She's a really pretty girl without the faux blue blinkers, and 2) You go, girl!

Like many people, I openly derided Hilton's seeming shallowness and apparent vapid nature, and the press' need to follow her every move (and, yes, I know I'm contributing to the mess by covering it). And yet, I've always defended her as being something of a genius in her self-promotion and marketing--and even admired her chutzpah at times.

And now, now I hope Hilton the best. She's served her time; she's a tabloid-ready story of redemption if ever there was one, available for immediate consumption. TMZ.com reports (via US Weekly) that Paris wants to build a halfway house for newly released inmates, a place where they can learn "to stop the 'bad cycle' of in-and-out behavior."

Furthermore Paris has decided that in order to rectify her own bad cycle, she will no longer surround herself with "bad people." There's a delicious irony in the fact that Hilton would now prefer to hang with people whom society may label bad--other ex-cons?--as opposed to say, Britney Spears. Errr ... ummm ... bad example. How about Nicole Richie. Ok, maybe not the best example either. And do I even need to mention Lindsay Lohan? Thought not. Maybe Hillary Duff's available to go shopping? From what I've heard from those in the know, she's really nice and a pretty normal person.

If Paris does follow through with plans for a transitional home, and I really hope she does, it would be perfectly in keeping with Hilton Hospitality Inc.'s new slogan "Be hospitable." A side of Paris, much like her naturally brown eyes, rarely seen by the press and the public.

The Associated Press (via MSNBC.com) is reporting that Germany has declared filming at certain military sites "verboten" for a future Tom Cruise film--thanks to his affiliation with Scientology, which the German governement does not recognize as a religion, but as a cult.

"Valkyrie," which tells the story of the unsuccessful assassination attempt of Adolph Hitler led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, is set for a 2008 release date and will co-star Kenneth Brannagh and be directed by "Superman Return's" Bryan Singer.

Just months ago, Idol Chatter reported that Stauffenberg's family members were up in arms over Cruise's connection to the project. And now the Defence Ministry is making a preemptive strike, saying that the production will not be allowed to film at actual, historic locations if Cruise is to play the revered colonel, even before being asked for permission.

Defence Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer told the AP that the film makers "will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult."

In general, the Bundeswehr (German military) has a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg’s person," Kammerbauer added.

It's not shocking that such an action has been taken. The U.S. military is well-known for picking and choosing with which productions it will cooperate: "Top Gun," and "Pearl Harbor" received full support, while "Dr. Strangelove" and "A Few Good Men" received stern "no, sirs" and no help.

But the German military isn't just objecting to the satirical or muckracking nature of a film, they are taking a logical stand based on prior governmental policy (and to avoid looking like hypocrites), which is unlike the U.S. Navy who refused to assist 1995's "Crimson Tide," wherein a young officer must comit mutiny to stop a trigger-happy commander: Stating that it was an "unrealistic story" since there hadn't ever been a mutiny on a U.S. Naval ship and that they wouldn't support a film depicting such an incident, the Navy did not cooperate with the production. But, as Wikipedia notes, they offered production assistance to 1954's "The Caine Mutiny," starring Humphrey Bogart.

Will lack of historical locations hurt the film? Doubtful. With Brannagh and Singer signed on, there will be much more to look at on screen than the scenery. Besides, everyone knows that it's cheaper to film in Prague. And, surely, Cruise as producer, has already taken that into consideration.

It’s a zeitgeist double-whammy, as celebutante-of-the-moment Paris Hilton is reportedly reading the best-selling, Oprah-endorsed “The Secret” while finishing out her time at a women's jail in Lynwood, California. A Hilton representative told TMZ.com that “Paris is spending time reading ‘The Secret’ and ‘The Power of Now.’”

As Elliot Mintz, Hilton’s publicist, recently told InTouch Magazine: “Paris will be able to think and reflect and spend time alone to learn from the experience, because in Paris’ life she’s never alone. There’s always constant chatter around her.”

While 23 hours of solitary confinement a day offers plenty of time for contemplation, maybe Hilton would be better served reading something other than “The Secret;” a book Beliefnet.com Spirituality editor Valerie Reiss criticizes as materialistic and lacking humility while decrieing the fact that it doesn’t address the Law of Attachment--the idea on which ‘The Secret’ is based--as a means to help others. She goes on to describe it as being “about wishing ourselves fabulous.”

Hilton has been quoted as saying that she really would like to use her current experience to help others, and we all know that Paris already excels at fabulousness. So send us your ideas for self-help books from which you think Paris could really benefit.

I have an acquaintance that likes to tell the story about how he was almost married by Jerry Springer when he was the mayor of Cincinnati, but unfortunately, the future talk show host was called away on some important business. And while I find neverending delicious irony in the fact that Springer, the man who ended up refereeing so many rock-em-sock-em relationships gone bad, would join a couple in matrimony, it may not be as cool as having one of the world's biggest movie stars direct the "I Do's."

TMZ.com (via Women's Wear Daily via Page Six) reports that Tom Cruise may be the officiant at the upcoming wedding of James Packer, son of Australian media mogul Kerry Packer. The gossip blog asks incredulously, "We all know that Tom Cruise is at the highest level of 'clear' in the ranks of the Church of Scientology, but is that enough to allow him to perform a wedding?"

While I personally find some of the activities of the Church of Scientology questionable, I don't question Cruises' ability to preside over a Scientology wedding. Cruise's more than 20-year involvement with Scientology provides legitamacy in this day and age when anyone can be ordained in minutes, online and for free, through the Universal Life Church.

Besides, maybe he could slip in a little Jerry Maguire-esque "You complete me" and bring everyone to tears.

The Church of England is taking on the "Fall of Man," and we aren't talking about Adam and Eve. No, this time they are battling the multimedia serpent known as Sony. CNN reports that Manchester, England church leaders "have accused...

In Dante's "Divine Comedy," the soul of Paris, the mythological King of Troy, is battered eternally by gale-force winds for partaking in the sin of lust. And, while one could draw a comparison to Paris Hilton's in-and-out incarcerations, it seems...

Someone I know once said, in reference to the poorly received season six of HBO's "The Sopranos," "What does David Chase care, he’s living in a f--king castle in France." Now I don't know if Chase lives in a castle...

To paraphrase the titular character, "Some things I know, and some things I do'’t know. But I know that I won’t be watching this show again." Unlike fellow blogger Valerie Reiss, I didn't have the benefit of multiple advance copies...

Dr. Burke has been asked to scrub out of "Grey's Anatomy" for good. Entertainment Weekly reports that ABC Studios will not renew Isaiah Washington's contract with the hit show, due to what they call "a pattern of suspicious behavior by...

Paris Hilton is a free woman. I repeat, Paris Hilton is a free woman--well, sort of. The celebutante was released from the Century City Correctional Facility early this morning, report celebrity gossip purveyors TMZ.com and Perezhilton.com. The L.A. County Sheriff's...

Gossip site TMZ.com is reporting that Mark Dice, a Christian conspiracy theorist, and his group of like-minded individuals called "The Resistance," were no-shows at a promised "Pray for Paris" rally/incarceration celebration at The Beverly Hilton last night."TMZ camera's were on...

It seems that Moby is stepping into the religious weather man role now that Jerry Falwell has passed on. Last week, the musician asked in his online journal, "You know how the religious right will every now and then say...

Many reality television shows have some kind of secret twist at the end for the contestant, a scintilating surprise that only the audience is in on. Recall Bravo's 2003 "Boy Meets Boy," a gay dating show where not all the...

I remember being equal parts curious and disturbed several years ago when my mother told me that she really enjoyed "The 40-year old Virgin." Disturbed, since one naively doesn't like to imagine one's mother enjoying such sexually explicit humor (much...

In announcement that will surely crush every sci-fi fanboy and fangirl out there, not to mention this reporter, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, executive producers of "Battlestar Galactica," have decided that season four will be the last for the...