More Hollywood heavyweights are joining the call for a lower rating on the teen-focused documentary “Bully.”
The Weinstein Co., which is releasing the film March 30, said Tuesday that Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees have signed on to support the film, the Associated Press reports.
Lee Hirsch’s documentary on bullying in American schools has been rated R, which restricts children younger than 17 from seeing it without an adult. The Motion Picture Association of America, which oversees movie ratings, cited language as the reason for the R rating.
Distributors appealed the decision, but it was upheld by the MPAA.
That prompted a Michigan teenager who was bullied in middle school to start an online petition calling for a lower rating for the film so more young people can see it. She met with MPAA officials last week and delivered the 200,000 signatures she collected, but the group declined to change the rating.
Katy Butler, a 17-year-old high school junior from Ann Arbor, now has nearly 300,000 signatures on her petition on Change.org.
MPAA spokesman Howard Gantman did not address the possibility of a PG-13 for “Bully” in his response Tuesday to the growing call for a revision of its rating.
Lindsay Lohan’s driving back in the news
Lindsay Lohan’s black Porsche was surrounded by paparazzi when her sports car grazed the knee of a man outside a Hollywood club early Wednesday, police said.
Miss Lohan drove off and a police report wasn’t taken because the Hookah Lounge employee wasn’t hurt, Los Angeles police Sgt. Mark Ro said.
The 25-year-old “Mean Girls” star was trying to make a U-turn outside the club at about 12:30 a.m., the Associated Press reports
“Space was tight,” the sergeant said, adding that Miss Lohan may have nudged the lounge employee’s parked car.
“He came out and said, ’Don’t hit my car,’ ” Sgt. Ro said. “She was making a multipoint U-turn and photographers were in her way.”
The sergeant said he didn’t know who called police, but the lounge employee, whose name hasn’t been released, told officers that Miss Lohan’s Porsche grazed his knee. There was no injury and the man’s car wasn’t damaged.
“We did not take a report for hit-and-run,” Sgt. Ro said. “We didn’t go looking for her.”
TMZ.com first reported the incident.
During a court hearing last month, a judge praised Miss Lohan on her progress in a long-running drunken driving case.
The former Disney star has been under strict probation guidelines, including therapy sessions and weekly stints working at the morgue. She is due back in court March 29 for what could be her final court appearance if she stays out of trouble.
Slash staying mum on Guns N’ Roses reunion
Will Guns N’ Roses reunite for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Behind his dark glasses, hat and big hair, the group’s former guitarist Slash is staying noncommittal on the subject.
The hard rock group enters the Hall of Fame in Cleveland on April 14, an event at which honored acts often perform as part of the celebration. But the group’s original lineup fell apart in 1996, so fans hoping to see the band reunite may be disappointed.
“It’s definitely an honor and I have no idea what’s going to happen on that day,” Slash told the Associated Press. “It’s more like going into it with blinders on and just see what happens.”
Guns N’ Roses blazed onto the rock scene in 1987 with their official debut “Appetite for Destruction.” Fronted by bandana-wearing singer Axl Rose, the band also featured Slash and Izzy Stradlin on guitars, plus bassist Duff McKagan and Steven Adler on drums.
Since leaving, Slash has had success with various projects, such as Slash’s Snakepit and the group Velvet Revolver. He’s also appeared alongside artists such as Michael Jackson, Rihanna and Bob Dylan.
He’s in the U.K. to promote his new solo album, “Apocalyptic Love,” which comes out May 21.
“I had a really good time, the whole process, from the inception of the record, you know the creating, the writing and so on all the way up through the recording,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to the tour.”
His U.S. tour starts May 3 in Baltimore.
Plummer’s ’Barrymore’ moves from stage to screen
Christopher Plummer’s haunting portrayal of John Barrymore is being given a new audience.
Producers said Tuesday that the film “Barrymore” will be shown at cinemas in Canada beginning in May and throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries in October, according to the Associated Press.
“Barrymore” - a two-person play exploring the life of famed actor John Barrymore - earned Mr. Plummer a Tony in 1997. Last year, the actor recreated his performance for multiple high-definition cameras.
It was filmed over seven days on location and on the stage at the Elgin Theater in Toronto. Based on the play by William Luce, the film is directed and adapted for the screen by Erik Canuel.
Actress Charlize Theron adopts baby boy
Actress Charlize Theron has adopted a child.
In a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday, Miss Theron’s publicist said the actress is a “proud mom of a healthy baby boy named Jackson.”
No more details were provided.
Miss Theron is from South Africa. This is the actress’ first child.
The 36-year-old won an Academy Award for her role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003’s “Monster.” She was also nominated for an Oscar for 2005’s “North Country.”
• Compiled from Web and wire service reports.
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