Aaron Paul's classic ride barely makes 'Need for Speed' premiere

Aaron Paul rolled into the "Need for Speed" premiere on Thursday night in Hollywood, but just barely — the classic car he and wife Lauren Parsekian were riding in overheated just as they arrived at the red carpet.
"That never happened once during the shoot!" a smiling Paul told reporters who quizzed him on the carpet about the mechanical failure.
We'd hope not, given the high-powered nature of the vehicles that will tear up movie screens starting May 14. For the premiere, the actor best known for "Breaking Bad" was behind the wheel of a 1969 Ford Torino GT, one of the cars his lead character drives in the movie.

After his Emmy-winning run in the intense, recently ended meth-themed AMC TV drama, Paul said starring in an action film was just the right medicine.
"It was emotionally exhausting playing Jesse Pinkman [in 'Breaking Bad']," he told Variety on Thursday, "and the idea of doing something a little bit lighter and just fun was exciting to me."
Still, he told "Entertainment Tonight," the "Speed" shoot was far from a complete vacation. "Grueling days, from sunrise to sunset. Long, long, long days, but so much fun," he said. In and around shooting the final season of "Breaking Bad," he said, he spent as much time at the track as he could.
Perhaps contributing to some overheating at the premiere? The lovely Parsekian rocked a hot black dress with sheer panels and a high slit. No wonder the couple is so crazy in love.
Also spotted at the TCL Chinese Theatre from the "Speed" cast: Dominic Cooper, Michael Douglas, Ramon Rodriguez, Imogen Poots, Rami Malek and Scott Mescudi a.k.a. Kid Cudi. Musician Skylar Grey also made the scene.
Interesting point to note: Unlike the scene at many premieres, if you watch the video, it seems that most of those clamoring the loudest for Paul's autograph were guys. Nice change from screaming gi

Oops! Jennifer Lawrence falls again, this time on Oscar red carpet

Jennifer Lawrence has taken another tumble at the Oscars, but this time it wasn't during the telecast.
Last year, Lawrence's spill going up the stairs to accept her lead actress Oscar for "Silver Linings Playbook" (and an adorable run-in with Jack Nicholson) launched her to America's-sweetheart status, but the fact that it happened again this Sunday, well, is just reinforcing the notion that she's pretty darn clumsy. Relatable, indeed.
The "American Hustle" star, clad in a red peplum Dior gown, apparently stumbled over a cone as she was exiting her limo when she arrived at the Dolby Theatre red carpet.

"They put a cone right outside of my car, and I fell on the cone and I have a goose egg, and it really hurts," she told reporters. "It's OK. I've got them all over myself."
Though she didn't face-plant, she definitely descended close to the red carpet and needed security to get her back on her feet.
The 23-year-old was shocked by how quickly news of the trip-up traveled, but she has social media, multiple cameras posted around the 600-foot red carpet and the viral nature of animated .gifs to thank.
Lawrence admitted to the tumble to E!'s Ryan Seacrest but said that making the fall a sequel was not part of the plan.
"I don't want it to start looking like it's like 'my thing,' so I've got to be careful," she said. Additionally, she told The Times that she was "hoping" she wouldn't "have to deal with that again."
Even Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres got in on the haranguing, addressing Lawrence in her opening monologue by saying, "If you win tonight, I think we should bring you the Oscar." DeGeneres also shared a photo of JLaw on Facebook, dubbing it "a rare photo of Jennifer Lawrence standing up."

Later, when the actress walked onstage to present the lead actor Oscar to Matthew McConaughey, she called out toward the audience (we're guessing it was to her "American Hustle" costar Bradley Cooper and her boyfriend, Nicholas Hoult, who were seated next to her in the audience). "Why are you laughing?" she asked as she walked across the stage, later adding, "Is this funny?"
You're upright, Jen. We can all be onboard with that.
Lawrence had a few other memorable moments Sunday night, including being part of DeGeneres' viral selfie, stuffing her face with free pizza and being photographed backstage hiding behind an Oscar statue. She was even documented fake-wrestling the Oscar statuette away from supporting actress winner Lupita Nyong'o in the charming way that only JLaw can pull off.

Best feature film '12 Years a Slave' sweeps Spirit Awards

The period drama "12 Years a Slave" swept through the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, taking five prizes including feature, director, supporting female, screenplay and cinematography. It won in all but two categories in which it was nominated.
"I cannot tell you, as much as I thought the memoir and Solomon's words and work was special, I had no concept until I saw the movie for the first time," said the film's screenwriter, John Ridley, accepting the prize in that category as he referred to protagonist Solomon Northup.
The film, which is nominated for nine Oscars including best picture, has had an up-and-down ride through awards season, garnering predictions of best picture certitude as far back as September and its share of skepticism since. But it was the toast of the tent in Santa Monica where the Spirit Awards are held.

The film's Steve McQueen won the director prize, Lupita Nyong'o won for supporting female and Sean Bobbitt landed cinematography honors. The film's only podium absences came at the hands of "Dallas Buyers Club" — Chiwetel Ejiofor lost to Matthew McConaughey in male lead and Michael Fassbender to Jared Leto for supporting actor, results that were thought by many a foregone conclusion both Saturday and at Sunday's Oscars.
Released by Fox Searchlight, "12 Years" is in part the product of the perseverance of Brad Pitt and his production company, Plan B Entertainment. "Mr. Brad Pitt," as McQueen called him Saturday, was in attendance with partner Angelina Jolie and was referenced throughout the ceremony but didn't speak upon taking the stage for the feature win.
McQueen gave a shout-out to John Cassavetes as a formative influence when he accepted the director prize, and during his feature acceptance speech offered praise to the film's two nominated actors who didn't come away victorious.

Of Fassbender, who has starred in three of McQueen's films, he said, "Michael Fassbender is a genius," adding, "he's feminine, he's masculine. Mr. Brando would be extremely proud of you sir ... there is nothing he won't do, nothing he can't do."
And McQueen called Ejiofor, who played the lead role's free man kidnapped into slavery, "the heart and soul of this movie.... Thank you for making this movie the movie it is."
The Spirit Awards' four acting winners continued a sweep through this awards season. In addition to Nyong'o, McConaughey and Leto, Cate Blanchett won best female lead for her turn as a fallen socialite in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine."
Continuing a recent career resurgence, McConaughey offered an entertaining and elaborate highway metaphor about "Dallas" and independent film in general after winning his second Spirit Award in as many years.
"It's not an autobahn film, it's not a freeway, it's not I-35, it's not even a two-lane highway," he said. "It's a feeder road … sometimes it's gravel, sometimes it's blacktop and sometimes it's dirt." He also offered an obligatory, "All right, all right, all right," referencing his "Dazed and Confused"-inspired catchphrase from the Golden Globes in January.
McConaughey's costar Leto continued his powerhouse awards run by taking best supporting actor for his turn as the transgender AIDS patient Rayon in "Dallas."

He stole the show with an acceptance speech that was both swaggering and self-effacing as he ran through a long list of those he wanted to thank, including Herman Hesse, Steve Jobs and Wayne Gretzky.
Nyong'o, who won for her turn as Patsey in "12 Years a Slave," took the stage later and, noting it was her birthday, offered a heartfelt ode to independent movies, which she said she only began to understand when she arrived in the U.S. from her native Kenya.
Continuing her dominating run throughout the awards season, Blanchett began her speech by pointing out that there were six nominees in the actor category and only five for lead actress, singling out the snub for Greta Gerwig from "Frances Ha." She then continued her tactful maneuvers around the recently renewed controversy surrounding Woody Allen, referencing the filmmaker as a prolific presence and a man who has made movies with "alarming regularity."
Blanchett concluded by suggesting the relative box office success of "Blue Jasmine" shows audiences are "interested in stories led by women, and they can also make money."
In other categories there was a hint of things to come when one of the stars of "Fruitvale Station," actress Octavia Spencer, came out to present the award for best first feature, which went to the film and to writer-director Ryan Coogler.