Film critics name 'Locker' best picture
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The National Society of Film Critics in New York declared "The Hurt Locker" the best picture of 2009.
The society, which is made up of 64 prominent U.S. movie critics, held its 44th annual awards voting meeting Sunday at Sardi's Restaurant in Manhattan.
Kathryn Bigelow took the best director honor for helming "The Hurt Locker," while the Iraq war film's star Jeremy Renner won the best actor title.
Yolande Moreau earned the award for best actress for her performance in "Seraphine," while Mo'Nique picked up the prize for supporting actress for her work in "Precious."
"Inglourious Basterds" co-star Christoph Waltz and "Bright Star" cast member Paul Schneider shared the best supporting actor honor for their respective performances.
"Summer Hours" was named best foreign language film and "The Beaches of Agnes" the best non-fiction movie.
Joel and Ethan Coen shared the award for best screenplay for "A Serious Man."
Book claims Beatty had sex with 13,000
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The biography "Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America" claims the actor and filmmaker has had sex with 13,000 women.
Widely regarded as a skirt-chaser in his younger years, Beatty has been married to his "Bugsy" co-star Annette Bening since 1992. They have four children together. Among the famous women Beatty reportedly romanced before his wedding to Bening are Jane Fonda, Joan Collins, Leslie Caron, Isabelle Adjani, Julie Christie, Diane Keaton and Madonna.
"Using simple arithmetic," the New York Post quoted author Peter Biskind as saying about the 72-year-old film icon, "(he had sex with) 12,775 women, give or take, a figure that does not include daytime quickies, drive-bys, casual gropings, stolen kisses and so on."
However, Beatty's lawyer, Bertram Fields, issued a statement to The Huffington Post denying Biskind's calculations, as well as his claim that Beatty authorized the biography, People.com reported.
"Mr. Biskind's tedious and boring book on Mr. Beatty was not authorized by Mr. Beatty and should not be published as an authorized biography," People.com said Fields emphasized in the statement. "It contains many false assertions and purportedly quotes Mr. Beatty as saying things he never said. Other media should not repeat things from the book on the assumption that they are true or that the book is an authorized biography."
Blagojevich to compete on 'Apprentice'
CHICAGO, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Rod Blagojevich's spokesman confirmed Monday the former Illinois governor has joined the cast of the third edition of TV's "Celebrity Apprentice."
"The producers of 'Celebrity Apprentice' invited Rod Blagojevich to participate in the program. The former governor accepted because it offered him a chance to raise money for a favorite charity and the challenge to compete against celebrities in the popular NBC program hosted by Donald Trump," Blagojevich spokesman Glenn Selig said in a statement. "As the governor prepares for trial, he continues to receive offers and opportunities -- most of which he turns down because they are not the right fit. He looks forward to his day in court to clear his name for the sake of himself, his family and the people of Illinois who twice elected him governor."
Blagojevich, 53, was removed from office in January 2009 after being arrested on federal corruption charges.
The new season of "Celebrity Apprentice" is to premiere March 14.
The former politician, who currently serves as host of his own weekly radio program on Chicago's WLS-AM, will be playing to raise money for Florida's Children's Cancer Center of Tampa, Selig said.
Report: Julie Benz lands 'Desperate' role
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Actress Julie Benz, whose character was recently killed off the U.S. drama "Dexter," is joining the cast of "Desperate Housewives," sources told EW.com.
Benz is to play "Debbie, a stripper with a heart of gold and a master's degree in education" in at least three episodes of "Housewives," starting next month, the entertainment magazine's Web site said.
The actress has previously had major roles in TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," as well as in the movies "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day," "Rambo" and "Saw V."
