'The Vow' premiere: Making Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams cry

It's no secret that "The Vow," the romantic drama starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, is a tear-jerker. So what movies cause its stars to get a little emotional?

"I cry at 'Finding Neverland,'" Tatum admitted at the Hollywood premiere of the film Monday evening.

"Oh, yeah. That's a sad one," McAdams agreed, adding that the film that always gets her is "The Way We Were."

PHOTOS: 'The Vow' premiere

"I mean, I woke my sister up [from crying so loud]. She was sleeping while I was watching it and woke up and was, like, 'What's wrong? What's going on here?'"

"The Vow" is sure to induce a few sobbing sessions of its own when it hits theaters Friday. The film is based on the real-life tale of Krickitt Carpenter, a newlywed who got into an automobile accident and lost all memory of her husband, Kim.

The Carpenters, who attended the premiere, said "The Vow" filmmakers spent time studying video interviews of the couple to "nail their personalities."

"The way in which it's done is very moving. I cried," Kim Carpenter said. "Rachel and Channing just did an unbelievable job, and I think their portrayal was just dead on."

Meanwhile, the young women lining Hollywood Boulevard may have been eager to catch a glimpse of Tatum, but we were more excited to catch up with Scott Speedman. That's right, ladies, Ben from "Felicity."

Speedman, who has mostly stuck to independent films since the college soap concluded in 2002, told us he enjoyed playing McAdams' character's jerky ex-fiancé.

"This is my first time in a while I've done a big ... movie," he said. "[Before], I was just wanting to do darker, weirder things, and now I'm trying to do bigger things."

And, we had to ask: Might there be a "Felicity" reunion in the cards? And if so, where would Ben be in his life?

"I thought it'd funny if he was in a darker place," Speedman said of his old character. When the show ended, "he was trying to be a doctor; I think maybe he didn't make it, though."

RELATED:

Channing Tatum strips down, spoofs McConaughey for 'SNL'

'Underworld: Awakening': Kate Beckinsale likes it -- her costume -- skin-tight

Joe Manganiello to join ridiculously hot cast of Channing Tatum-inspired 'Magic Mike'

-- Amy Kaufman
twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photo: Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams at' "The Vow" premiere Monday at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Credit: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

SAG Awards 2012: Viola Davis loves being an actor's inspiration

Viola Davis knew one thing for certain on the Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet: The thing she loves to hear most from another actor.

" '[Y]ou inspire me.' "

"I love that, I love that word," said "The Help" star Davis, who won the Actor for female in a leading film role later in the evening. "Because so often actors are not inspired. So many leave the profession. And it's always inspiration that keeps you in, that keeps you motivated and lets you know that you're on the right path."

PHOTOS: SAG Awards 2012 red carpet arrivals

"I love when actors say that to me."

Perhaps her win Sunday night will be even more of an inspiration.

 

RELATED:

PHOTOS: And the Actor goes to...

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon have a new baby girl

SAG Awards 2012: Viola Davis wins best female actor for 'The Help'

— Amy Kaufman

Rooney Mara makes a quiet entrance at her first Golden Globes

Rooney Mara — nominee for lead actress in a drama and a Golden Globes novice — seemed eerily calm as she headed into the ballroom, dressed in a black Nina Ricci gown evocative of her Lisbeth Salander character in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

Looking as slender as a swan, the "Dragon Tattoo" star was left largely unmolested by an excitable crowd that lost its mind over Harrison Ford and Meryl Streep, but seemed to miss her due to her low-key energy.

"I feel very honored to be here," she said quietly. Award season has been fun, the young actress said, in part because fashion designers have been clamoring to dress her on the red carpet. "I feel very lucky that they've been so generous."

PHOTOS: Golden Globes 2012 red carpet

That said, "The guys get all the luck" when it comes to doing time on the red carpet, she said when asked the whereabouts of her costar Daniel Craig. "I think I'll just see him inside."

And as for a possible second installment in the "Dragon Tattoo" series? Mara said she's not preparing yet because if it gets the green light, filming won't begin for a few months.

"I'd be very excited if it did happen," she said — again, quietly.

 

RELATED:

Golden Globes 2012: Let the red carpet arrivals begin!

Golden Globes: For Jessica Chastain, a little Champagne will 'Help'

Kate Mara on the Rooney Mara rivalry, and her sexy 'American Horror Story' character

— Amy Kaufman and Jessica Gelt

Photo: Rooney Mara on the Globes red carpet. Credit: Frederic J. Brown / AFP / Getty Images

Golden Globes: For Jessica Chastain, a little bubbly will 'Help'

Jessica Chastain has never been to the Golden Globes before. "I'm really nervous," she said Sunday before heading into the Beverly Hilton ballroom. "I still feel like a newbie."

So what will she do to calm the nerves? "I'm gonna sit with my girls from 'The Help' and we're gonna sip some Champagne," she said with a smile.

Chastain, up for supporting actress in a drama for her portrayal of the "tacky" Cecilia Foote in "The Help," said she doesn't try on many dresses before deciding on her red carpet look because she usually has a good idea of what she likes to wear.

PHOTOS: Golden Globes 2012 red carpet

"It was love at first sight when I tried this one on," Chastain said of her white Givenchy gown. The actress has been seen in a variety of colorful dresses on the red carpet this season — a move she says isn't intentional.

"I think for me fashion is just like acting. It's ways of telling stories. Maybe that's why my parts in my movies are so different. I like the feeling of being a storyteller. So maybe that's why it's been the different colors."

 

— Amy Kaufman

Photo: Jessica Chastain on the Golden Globes red carpet Sunday. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Dolly Parton brings the bling at 'Joyful Noise' premiere

To get ready to walk the red carpet at the premiere of her new film, "Joyful Noise," Dolly Parton put in hours of preparation.

"I've spent all afternoon just casually thinking, 'Oh, I'll take a bath, I'll do a facial, I'll do my makeup and then I'll retouch it later. Which wig will I like?'" the 65-year-old told us Monday night. She was wearing a bedazzled white dress that showed off her notorious bosom; sheer, pearl-covered gloves; long, red fake nails and plenty of diamond jewelry in the shape of crosses.

Despite her intense regimen, the legendary singer-actress turned up on time to the premiere of the movie, cheerily greeting the press. Her costar, Queen Latifah, wasn't quite as punctual. She turned up 30 minutes after the movie was slated to begin and granted only a handful of interviews.

"Joyful Noise," which opens Friday, has the actresses playing willful women who must band together to save their small-town church choir. Accordingly, it's already drawing comparisons to "Sister Act," which also featured choir singing.

"I think the main parallel would be the music, and the fact that it's uptempo," said 18-year-old Nickelodeon star Keke Palmer, who has one of her first big film roles in "Joyful Noise."

"A lot of the songs are contemporary and turned into gospel music, and that always excites people."

Director Todd Graff said he welcomed the comparisons, adding with a laugh: "I only hope we're as successful as 'Sister Act.'"

RELATED:

For Dolly Parton, it's just instinct

Queen Latifah's new talk show: A not-so-royal return?

Cinefamily celebrates Dolly Parton with all-night movie fest

-- Amy Kaufman
twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photo: Dolly Parton, left, and Queen Latifah on the red carpet at "Joyful Noise" premiere. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press

'Sherlock' premiere: Robert Downey Jr., wife Susan share the love

It's been a big week for Robert Downey Jr. On Monday, he revealed to Jay Leno that he'll soon be welcoming a boy with wife Susan. And on Tuesday, the pair walked the red carpet at the premiere of the actor's new film, "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," where Downey couldn't keep his hands off his pregnant wife.

The two posed for photos, with his hands lovingly placed on her baby bump. During interviews with the media, he kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her neck as he talked about their experience working on the film together.

"I can't tell you how cute she looks when she's sitting in her little chair and it's wintertime and she's got on, like ... her little hat," he said, referring to when Susan — a producer of the sequel — sat in the video village on set. "She looks like she went on winter break to Hunter Mountain or something like that with her girlfriends. I think of her that way. She's still a college girl to me."

On set, director Guy Ritchie said he had a far different relationship with the actor — one that wasn't always so loving.

"He has strong creative ideas, and my idea is to sort of marshal them into something I think the audience wants to see. It's a kind of a love-occasionally-hate relationship," he said with a smile. "Most of the actors I've worked with have a creative opinion.... But he really has one."

Despite Downey's strong opinions, Jared Harris — the "Mad Men" star who plays Holmes' evil nemesis in the picture — said he still felt like an equal participant in the creative process.

"He actually said it was the most democratic film he worked on, and that was quite irritating [for him]," Harris said.

RELATED:

Photos: 'Sherlock Holmes' premiere

It'll be a boy for Robert Downey Jr. and wife Susan

On the Set: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law talk 'Sherlock Holmes'

— Amy Kaufman

twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photo: Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey at the premiere of "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

'New Year's Eve' premiere: Hilary Swank sees every day as a new start

The significance of New Year's Eve has long been glorified on the big screen -- after all, who can forget Billy Crystal running dramatically to Meg Ryan to declare his love before the ball drops in "When Harry Met Sally"?

With the release of Garry Marshall's romantic comedy "New Year's Eve" on  Friday, a whole new set of over-the-top romantic gestures will likely set legions of young moviegoers up for future disappointment when the clock strikes midnight later this month.

At the premiere of the star-studded film in Hollywood on Monday night, even many of the movie's cast members -- including Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Hilary Swank, Zac Efron, Katherine Heigl and Michelle Pfeiffer -- admitted they believe too many expectations are placed upon the holiday.

Photos: 'New Year's Eve' red carpet arrivals

"I'm sure we've all felt let down over this night," said New Kids on the Block member Joey McIntyre, who plays Rory in the film and whose birthday falls on New Year's Eve. "I admire those people that just keep it real simple. Stay inside. You know all the jokes -- 'It's rookie night,' and the whole thing. That's when the crazies come out."

Hilary Swank, meanwhile, said she wishes more people were able to view every day as a new opportunity to approach a resolution.

"I don't think you have to wait a whole year," the actress told us on the black carpet, which was decorated with stylish heat lamps and a disco ball. "Every day can be an opportunity to be a better person or to love more or to forgive."

Swank should know: She's spent the last few weeks trying to recover from the fallout from attending an event honoring Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, whom many say employs violent tactics to quiet his critics.

"Shame on me," Swank told Jay Leno last week of the mistake. "The bottom line is that I should know where I'm going, and do better research."

After making the appearance on "The Tonight Show," Swank said she hasn't had to face too much criticism about the international incident during the promotion of "New Year's Eve."

"It's been really great," she said. "I think people saw me talk on Jay Leno and felt like their questions were answered, and it was nice to be able to talk about because I hadn't really gotten an opportunity to say what had really happened."

Meanwhile, Swank's co-stars stuck to discussing lighter fare on the carpet: actor Josh Duhamel, for one, spent plenty of time gushing about his wife, Fergie.

Asked what he admired most about the Black Eyed Peas singer, he responded: "Her spirit." As for their plans this New Year's Eve, the pair will be heading to Las Vegas to celebrate.

"It takes a lot out of the equation when you have somebody you're married to to be with," he smiled.

RELATED:

The making of 'Valentine's Day' is a real love story

Hilary Swank 'deeply regrets' attending Chechen gala

Halle Berry can take Nahla to NYC to shoot 'New Year's Eve'

--Amy Kaufman

twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photo: Lea Michele and Ashton Kutcher meet on the red carpet at the "New Year's Eve" premiere." Credit: Frederic Brown/AFP/GettyImages

'Breaking Dawn': Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed dish on love lives

At "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" premiere, love was in the air, and not just because adoring fans were hurling themselves toward the franchise's stars: Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz both walked the black carpet Monday night with their significant others in tow.

Reed, who recently wed former "American Idol" star Paul McDonald, elicited coos from tween onlookers as she ran over to her husband and wrapped her arms around him.

"I feel like we'll be like that for a long time," she gushed immediately after the embrace.

Lutz, meanwhile, showed off his new girlfriend, brunette Sharni Vinson, whom he met during a chemistry read for the film "Step Up 3D."

"We're very fun-loving kids," he smiled. "We just enjoy life. I enjoy being with her."

Lutz had lots to be happy about Monday, as "Immortals" -- the swords-and-sandals epic in which he has a supporting role -- claimed the No. 1 spot at the box office over the weekend. The 26-year-old actor said his experience filming the action film, which took three months to shoot, was happily different than working on the seven-month-long final "Twilight Saga" production.

"You kind of lose your mind when you're working so much," he said of the "Breaking Dawn" filming experience. "You're shooting in a depressing climate kind of because it's winter-time. It's always gloomy. You kind of just get homesick. You get lethargic. You aren't on top of your game. And 'Immortals' was in sunny Montreal in the summer, so I was just really happy to get up every day."

Reed doesn't have any other films currently in theaters, but she's eager to begin her post-"Twilight" career.

"It's not like being in these movies affords you the ability to not have to try and make good movies and work really hard," she explained. "When these are all done, I think we're all still going to have to fight just as hard."

RELATED:

'Breaking Dawn' premiere: video from the black carpet

Nikki Reed, Paul McDonald are married after a whirlwind romance

'Breaking Dawn': Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner at a crossroads [Video]

--Amy Kaufman
twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photos: Kellan Lutz and date Sharni Vinson, left, and Nikki Reed and husband Paul McDonald at "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" premiere in L.A. on Monday. Credits: Getty Images

'Breaking Dawn': Stewart, Pattinson, Lautner at a crossroads

At "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1" premiere Monday night, there were the usual screaming fans, outlandish signs and slew of press outlets. But for the first time at a "Twilight Saga" premiere, stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner weren't preparing to film another installment in the mega-popular franchise.

Since "Breaking Dawn" Parts 1 and 2 wrapped this year, the actors have been free to pursue other film offers. Lautner, for one, just had his first leading-man turn in the action flick "Abduction" — which, unfortunately, did not do near the level of business typical for a "Twilight" film.

PHOTOS: "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1" Los Angeles premiere

Indeed, the 19-year-old admitted, he finds himself at an interesting crossroads. Asked if he is excited to be moving on to post-"Twilight" projects, he replied: "No and yes."

"It's moreso no, I'm not excited to be done. We have a lot fun making these movies together. We all get along great, and we're like a family by this point, so it's tough," he explained. "But yes at the same time, because we get to go off and do other things as actors, and this has been an incredible platform for us."

Stewart, meanwhile, is filming "Snow White and the Huntsman." Still, on the black carpet, she seemed comfortable jumping back into "Twilight" world, saying she found herself surprisingly at ease playing a mother in the latest film, out Friday.

"I really took to it. My favorite thing to play in this was that feral sort of mother," she explained. "None of it was really as strange as you think it would be.

"I guess it got strange when things were incredibly unreal, like when we had a fake baby. The real babies were amazing to work with, but suddenly you pick up this goopy, hairy doll, and it just doesn't really work.

As for what Pattinson found most surreal about shooting the infamous birth scene in the film, he offered up this, um, lovely gem:

"I mean, it's a little bit difficult to get more surreal than chewing through a placenta."

RELATED:

Robert Pattinson's sex-scene regret: Ruining such nice pillows

'Breaking Dawn' stars leave their handprints, footprints in Hollywood

'Breaking Dawn' premiere: live-streaming video from the black carpet

— Amy Kaufman
twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photo: Robert Pattinson, left, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner at the premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1." Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press.

'The Muppets': Kermit, Miss Piggy upstage Jason Segel, Amy Adams

Usually, the main attraction at a big movie premiere are the celebrities. But at the premiere of "The Muppets" in Hollywood on Saturday, a slew of puppets got the A-list treatment.

Before the film's stars, Jason Segel and Amy Adams, even arrived, a group of Muppets — including Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo — were driven down the the appropriately green carpet in a Jeep. They were followed by Miss Piggy, who scored her own chauffeured ride — a sexier convertible.

"In case anyone is wondering," a frenzied publicist told the press, "Miss Piggy was wearing Jeremy Scott and Louboutins."

PHOTOS: 'The Muppets' Hollywood premiere

Yes, really. The Muppets were handled like such stars at the event that they almost seemed like actual celebrities. As Adams put it later to the press: "The magic of the Muppets is that you believe in them."

Over the years, there have been numerous television programs and films including the famous puppets — most memorably 1984's "The Muppets Take Manhattan."

Segel, who co-wrote the new movie and been a Muppets fan since he was a child, said the time was right for a fresh take on the puppets because comedy has become too cynical.

"People get a lot of laughs by making fun of people, and the Muppets never do that," he said. "I thought it was an important reminder just to be nice. That's the message of the Muppets."

The beauty of the Muppets lies in their simplicity, added Adams.

"I think we're a society that we've gotten overblown in all these special effects and all of that — which I love as well," said the actress, who will soon star as Lois Lane in the upcoming installment of the big-budget "Superman" franchise. "But I think it's nice to see these characters [with] their message of hope and belief."

Meanwhile, if Segel is eager about how audiences will receive his version of "The Muppets," he was hiding it well.

"You know, having seen the movie, I'm not nervous at all," he said confidently. "It's a really beautiful film. And I haven't seen anyone do anything but walk away smiling."

RELATED:

'Being Elmo,' 'The Muppets' show puppets' real touch

Jason Segel on 'The Muppets': More music, less nudity

'The Muppets': Kermit the Frog commands Jason Segel's respect

— Amy Kaufman
twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photo: Jason Segel, left, with co-star Amy Adams andpuppets at "The Muppets" premiere. Credit: Mark Davis / Getty Images.