Christopher Eccleston: I've Been Hacked, I'm Suing Murdoch & Why I Left Dr Who

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FROST EXCLUSIVE

Christopher Eccleston said today (Wednesday) that he found out he was hacked yesterday and plans to sue Rupert Murdoch. Eccleston added he was looking forward to sticking the boot into Murdoch.

The actor also disclosed that he didn’t work for three years after he left drama school in 1986 and that he left Dr Who because of politics, saying that he didn’t like the culture.

He said:

“I left Doctor Who because I could not get along with the senior people. I left because of politics. I did not see eye-to-eye with them. I didn’t agree with the way things were being run. I didn’t like the culture that had grown up, around the series. So I left, I felt, over a principle.

“I thought to remain, which would have made me a lot of money and given me huge visibility, the price I would have had to pay was to eat a lot of shit. I’m not being funny about that. I didn’t want to do that and it comes to the art of it, in a way. I feel that if you run your career and– we are vulnerable as actors and we are constantly humiliating ourselves auditioning. But if you allow that to go on, on a grand scale you will lose whatever it is about you and it will be present in your work.

“If you allow your desire to be successful and visible and financially secure – if you allow that to make you throw shades on your parents, on your upbringing, then you’re knackered. You’ve got to keep something back, for yourself, because it’ll be present in your work. A purity or an idealism is essential or you’ll become– you’ve got to have standards, no matter how hard work that is. So it makes it a hard road, really.

“You know, it’s easy to find a job when you’ve got no morals, you’ve got nothing to be compromised, you can go, ‘Yeah, yeah. That doesn’t matter. That director can bully that prop man and I won’t say anything about it’. But then when that director comes to you and says ‘I think you should play it like this’ you’ve surely got to go ‘How can I respect you, when you behave like that?’

“So, that’s why I left. My face didn’t fit and I’m sure they were glad to see the back of me. The important thing is that I succeeded. It was a great part. I loved playing him. I loved connecting with that audience. Because I’ve always acted for adults and then suddenly you’re acting for children, who are far more tasteful; they will not be bullshitted. It’s either good, or it’s bad. They don’t schmooze at after-show parties, with cocktails.”

Eccleston also revealed that he should have resisted making Gone in 60 Seconds and that he would have made more money on British TV, He also called GI Joe a “terrible movie.” The star added that he only makes bad movies in Hollywood for the money and would never “shit on his own doorstep.”

He also said that he didn’t want to be remembered, but if he was, it would be for Hamlet.

Rupert Murdoch: This is the most humble day of my life.

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Phone hacking Updates: Sean Hoare Dead, Murdochs, Yates and Stephenson Face committee.

 

In a sad development in the phone hacking juggernaut, Sean Hoare, 47, was found dead amidst ‘unexplained’ circumstances. Hoares, who accused his former editor, Andy Coulson, of illegal activity, was found dead at his home days after he made fresh allegations against executives who he worked for.

Police said they did not at this stage suspect foul play. Before his death he told the Guardian : “There’s more to come. This is not going to go away.” and the New York Times that Coulson’s claim that he knew nothing about the hacking was “simply a lie”.

 

Prime Minister David Cameron has cut short a trip to Africa as the crisis worsens, unlike Elisabeth Murdoch, who had went on holiday with husband Matthew Freud as her father Rupert, and brother James, face the select committee. Mr Cameron will face questions from MPs after Parliament summer recess was delayed so he could make an emergency Commons statement. Mr Cameron will be facing some tough questions over his decision to hire Andy Coulson as his media strategist.

Watch the live hacking commitee and the Murdoch’s being interviewed courtesy of the Telegraph

 

Other developments:

 

John Yates has resigned over his links to Neil Wallis, former deputy editor of the News of the World. Yates twice resisted requests to reopen the investigation into phone hacking.

 

Sir Paul Stephenson, head of the Metropolitan Police, also known as Scotland Yard, Resigned. Stephenson referred to his resignation saying; “It was my decision and my decision only.”

 

Boris Johnson has denied that he personally intervened in the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson, the Met Commissioner and Mr Yates.

 

Rebekah Brooks was arrested on Sunday. She will still answer questions from the committee.

 

James Murdoch’s future looks uncertain and he will face the same panels of MPs as Brooks and his father.

 

Rupert Murdoch was mobbed by the press as he arrives at the Houses of Parliament. His wife, Wendi Deng, sat behind him as he was being interviewed and touched his arm in comfort a few times.

 

The scandal has rocked Britain and made the Murdochs, who were untouchable just last month, fair game. It is alleged the over 4000 people’s phones were hacked. Rupert Murdoch made an apologyy in newspapers over the weekend and also personallyapologiseded to Milly Dowler’s family after her phone was hacked.

James Murdoch perviously said: “We now have voluntarily given evidence to the police that I believe will prove that this was untrue and those who acted wrongly will have to face the consequences,This was not the only fault. The paper made statements to Parliament without being in the full possession of the facts. This was wrong.”

“I don’t see how he can survive,” Howell Raines, former executive editor of The New York Times told ABCNews.com. “Seems to me that the movement both politically and legally is ominous.”

 

Rupert Murdoch has defended his son by saying; “I think he acted as fast as he could, the moment he could,” he told the Wall Street Journal.

First Dark Knight Rises Trailer Hits the Web

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Can you believe it – Warner Bros. have just released the first trailer for the eagerly awaited conclusion to their Batman franchise – The Dark Night Rises.

The new Batman movie is scheduled for UK release on July 20, 2012 and although the teaser is just 1.35 minutes long and doesn’t give too much away scenes of Gary Oldman’s character Commissioner Gordon lying in hospital and a sharp cut of Bane looking very sinister certainly raised my spirits – especially after the rubbish portrayal of him last seen in Batman and Robin.

Trust Frost Magazine to bring the goods

Dark Knight Trailer

A Window To The Past – Vintage Google Earth

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Google Earth has come in for some stick over time.

Its Street Map was launched amid a healthy bout of controversy over privacy. After one man was identified leaving a brothel, resulting, unsurprisingly, in the end of his marriage, Germany wisely opted to make sure coverage of properties was somewhat blurred. Meanwhile, enterprising bloggers have posted pictures of prostitutes plying their trade, drunks and nudity.

But while that may be one window to the world, Google Earth also offers another. For a guy who once spent a week on an archaeological dig getting sunburnt while recovering the remains of someone’s mediaeval camp fire, Google Earth’s option to slide back into vintage photos of the same aerial view is a guaranteed way for me to fritter away hours.

You’ll need to have Google Earth 5 downloaded to do it, but it’s free and well worth a nose.

London’s war damage is evident, but you should definitely check out how quickly the Americans turned Las Vegas from a desert into a neon wasteland. Answer: 35 years. Or you may just want to see what your parents or grandparents meant when they say: “In my day, this was all fields, rivers, Roman ruins, dinosaur territory, etc.etc.” My (copyrighted) saying is: “Everyone’s house is someone else’s field.” And here’s the proof.

Just to get you in the swing of it, here’s my parent’s neck of the woods. Their house was built in 1931, and here’s the area pictured in 1945 and 2010.

My place, meanwhile, was still an orchard. Mind you, that still doesn’t explain the 1920’s fragment of cup I found in the garden last week.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon {Film Review}

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*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Back in 2007, Michael Bay admitted he originally did not want to make the first Transformers movie, calling it a “stupid toys movie”, until Steven Spielberg changed the premise to “a kid and his car”.

It suggests that Bay was unsuitable to take the reins of a live-action Transformers movie. Despite this, the first film was a huge hit, considering it was during the year of threequels (Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and The Bourne Ultimatum). The follow-up, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, was plagued with a script that was barely finished, thanks to the writer’s strike, and although resulting in a complete mess, still made $800 million worldwide. So now the inevitable conclusion to the trilogy has come around and, as much it is a slight improvement to Transformers 2, it’s still no good.

The plot starts off with Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) making a monologue (you know, like he did with the last two movies) about the war of Cybertron (which could’ve been a potentially better movie if explored further). It’s revealed a ship managed to escape, but lands on the moon, heavily damaged. John F. Kennedy (worst rotoscoping effects I’ve ever seen) authorises Apollo 11 to land on the moon and document footage of the crash site.

Flash-forward to the modern day, Optimus Prime learns about the ship and finds his mentor, Sentinel Prime (voiced by Leonard Nimoy). Sentinel mentions his mission was to take the pillars away from Cybertron, so it’d be out of the Decepticon’s reach. Though we eventually find out the Decepticons raided the ship long before, while also revealing Sentinel made a truce with the Decepticons, betraying the Autobots for the survival of Cybertron.

The problem with these movies (a flaw since the first film), is the Transformers feel more like supporting characters, but shouldn’t they be the ones leading the movie? They barely get any screen-time whatsoever. Instead, Bay focusses on the human characters; Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), Lennox (Josh Duhamel), Simmons (John Tuturro), Epps (Tyrese Gibson) and Ron and Judy Witwicky (Kevin Dunn and Julie White). We’re also introduced to a whole new bunch; Carly Spencer (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), Mearing (Frances McDormand), Bruce Brazos (John Malkovich), Dutch (Alan Tudyk) and Dylan (Patrick Dempsey).

The problem with 11 characters vying for screen time is that they too get very little development. So, in essence, we have a film where we don’t have anything or anyone to relate to. We just don’t care about anyone. Live, die, I’ve dropped my popcorn – emotionally,  it all feels the same.

Anyway, it starts off with Sam having a hard time finding a job, but also bothered that he’s been awarded a medal by Barack Obama for saving the world twice (though technically once, since he did squat in the second film). The man clearly has angst, yet still barely makes any contribution to the narrative.

Meanwhile, the character of Carly feels it was originally written for Megan Fox’s Mikaela, but with the name changed at the last minute. Rosie’s previous “acting” experience was being a Victoria’s Secret model (also being in a VS commercial, directed by Michael Bay). It’s no surprise then, that her purpose in the film seems to be none other than to exploit her looks in the most juvenile way possible. Her performance in this film is terrible. She really brings down the film and she’s just as bad as Megan Fox (early contender for Worst Actress, put my money on it!).

The scenes involving Sam working for Malkovich could’ve easily been cut out, as could The NEST team (led by Lennox). Their sole purpose is to allow Bay to exploit his fetish for everything military. All of these characters act like cardboard cut-outs and deliver lame attempts of humour. Especially Ken Jeong’s character, Jerry Wang, who at one point locks Sam in a toilet stall and says to him “Deep Wang” (just to really force it down your throats, he says it three times and then says: “Get it? Deep Throat”). One for the kids, that.

In fairness, the action sequences in this film have been improved – no longer shaky-cam or close-up, but wide enough to see. The climactic battle at the end of the movie is very well done, but is literally the only thing worth watching. However, 90% of the battle is focused on the humans and barely on the Transformers. As much as it features Autobots and Decepticons beating the living daylights out of each other, Bay wants to have his fix by having soldiers parachuting out of a plane in flying squirrel suits and gliding down in Chicago (which was such a good plan that only one plane out of six made it).

The other problem is, as mentioned before, you just don’t care if any of the characters die in this big, winner-take-all, devil-take-the-hindmost shoot out. Plus, the tone in the film is all over the place. For example, Carly gets kidnapped and Sam is forced to spy for the Decepticons. It’s a scene where Sam grapples with the decision to betray his friends, only to go straight into pure slapstick humour. If you looked up the words ‘killing a scene’, it’d have a link to this film next to it.

A live-action Transformers movie could’ve gone any other way, but Bay decided to take this route and we’re supposed to accept what we have in front of us. The phrase people say when going to go see this movie is ‘leave your brain at the door’. Well, I honestly think it comes across as having too low standards and being easily amused. Don’t get me wrong, I like blockbusters as much as the next person, but I DO have a brain (we all do!).

Inception proved that you don’t need to dumb down your movie to attract mainstream audiences and become a box-office hit. You can bring good story-telling with some amazing set-pieces, instead, we just get a movie that’s all style and no substance. I don’t expect everything to be a Terrence Malick movie, but I at least expect a blockbuster that entertains and doesn’t insult our intelligence. If only Bay had watched X-Men: First Class.

Overall, a typical Michael Bay movie. Loud, incredibly dumb and exploitative as hell (in the worst sense)! The characters are bland and pointless, the Transformers are treated with no respect (especially Optimus Prime) and the plot is nonsensical. The worst summer movie of 2011 and one of the worst movie series ever made!

2 out of 5

 

Emma Watson Partied at Pole Dancing club

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Emma Watson partied at a pole-dancing club after the New York premiere of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ on Monday (

The British actress celebrated the end of the wizard movie franchise by going to a go-go bar on Monday  where she danced the night away with pals before leaving at 2am.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “She was really enjoying herself. There were a few scantily-clad girls around but Emma didn’t bat an eyelid.

“There are a few poles in the club but she didn’t have a go. After such a big night it’s no wonder she wanted to let her hair down.

“She had a smile on her face the whole time before calling it a night around 2am.”

While Emma’s ‘Harry Potter’ co-star Daniel Radcliffe recently revealed he has given up alcohol after developing a dependence on it while filming the movie franchise, Emma, 21, admitted she has been drunk in the past but said her experiences were much different.

During an appearance on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’, she said: “To be honest, it’s really not something that I genuinely know much about. But as far as I know, he never took a sick day. He was like the most professional, amazing guy ever.

“I mean, yes, I have tried spirits! Of course, I’ve tried spirits. I mean err, there are substances, whiskey.

“Yes I have been drunk once in my life, as everyone does. I’ve got drunk, I’ve been drunk and I’ll bow to that.”

Victoria Beckham wants her baby daughter to grow up to be just like Duchess Catherine.

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The fashion designer – who gave birth to Harper Seven, her first daughter with husband David Beckham, in Los Angeles on Sunday (10.07.11) – is reportedly considering a permanent move back to the UK so the tot can attend a posh school and become a “perfect English rose”.

A friend of the former Spice Girl said: “Everyone has fallen in love with Kate Middleton. She’s gorgeous, stylish, speaks well and has perfect manners, all the qualities that Victoria will wish for Harper.

“Victoria will want her daughter to grow up to become a perfect English rose, with a gorgeous posh accent and definitely not like some spoilt Hollywood brat.

“Victoria is a massive fan of Kate Middleton and now, finally, baby Harper is going to be her very own little princess.”

The 37-year-old star – who also has three sons, Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, eight, and six-year-old Cruz, with David – has now cleared her diary for the next two months to devote her time to Harper.

The source added to the Daily Star newspaper: “Victoria has always dreamed of having a daughter. Now her dream has come true. Like any proud mum she’s planning ahead and being Victoria she will want the very, very best for her daughter.

“Victoria has cleared her diary for the next two months. She wants to spend the summer at home relaxing and being a proper hands-on mum.”

Meanwhile, the Beckhams – who attended the royal wedding on April 29 – have invited Prince William and Duchess Catherine to come and meet the tot next time they are in the UK.

A friend explained: “David and Victoria are so proud of their little daughter. As soon as they are next in Hertfordshire at Beckingham Palace they want the duke and duchess to come and see Harper.

“It’ll be a special moment for David and Victoria.”

David and William struck up a close friendship after they worked together on England’s failed bid for the 2018 soccer World Cup.

Russell Crowe has lost over 16lbs on a tough new exercise and diet regime.

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Russell Crowe has lost over 16lbs on a tough new exercise and diet regime.

The Oscar-winning actor – whose weight has fluctuated over the years – began a 105 day bid to get into shape on June 17 and has already ditched some of his excess flab by following a gluten free diet and a punishing fitness schedule.

Writing on his twitter page today (13.07.11), he revealed: “220 lbs this morning, started at 236.4 lbs. 45 min walk, 12 mins eliptical, weighted objects 40 mins, walk 25 mins. 2400 cal a day maximum, all meals & all beverages. Where possible gluten free (sic).”

Since announcing his get fit plan, Russell has been posting regular updates for his 253,289 twitter followers, writing last month: “day 12 of a 105 day training period, there is a long way to go, one layer of tissue paper per day of effort and diet … it takes a long time (sic).”

Dad-of two Russell – who is married to singer Danielle Spencer – is hoping to lose a total of 41.1 lbs, tweeting “ My goal around 185 lb started at 236.4 (sic)”