'The Help'? That's what the movie is doing for its stars [Video]

"The Help" became a surprise hit at the box office over the summer, grossing more than $175 million worldwide -- and months later, star Viola Davis still seems bowled over by the movie's success.

"It's not only been a box-office success. It's been a heart success for people," Davis said at the Hollywood Awards on Monday night, where she and a number of "The Help" cast members were on hand to accept the prize for best ensemble.

"People feel again. They're coming out of this movie feeling something and not just saying, 'Oh, it was a great escape for two hours.' Their hearts have been convicted. That's big."

Before the film hit theaters, cast member Allison Janney admitted she was nervous that the movie’s ticket sales might not compare to the sales of the popular book upon which "The Help" is based.

"I knew there was a lot of pressure on us because of the success of the book. Like, 'Oh my God, is this gonna possibly do as well?' " Janney said. "I don't know how you can equate the two, but I think the movie has far surpassed what anyone thought it would do at the box office, certainly."

The film's popularity has even opened doors for some of its stars in Hollywood. Octavia Spencer, known prior to "The Help" largely as a character actress, said the film has led to a wealth of new career opportunities –- she's about to start work on Diablo Cody's directorial debut.

"I'm so thrilled. I never, ever would have had that opportunity before now," Spencer said. "I've never really gotten to play roles, I've only gotten to play parts ... a part usually is like something to facilitate the plot. To do a role where a character experiences some type of change from beginning to end is something I've never had the opportunity to do. So it's wonderful."

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-- Amy Kaufman
twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Photo: Emma Stone, left, Allison Janney, Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Ahna O'Reilly, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard and Mary Steenburgen at the Hollywood Awards on Monday. Credit: Kristian Dowling / Associated Press

Kathy Griffin channels Jim Carrey in love video to Justin Bieber [Poll]

Inspired by Jim Carrey's recent Emma Stone homage -- after being spurred on by a Twitter follower -- Kathy Griffin has issued her own love-letter video ... to Justin Bieber.

"What/whom do YOU wanna hear me GO OFF on?," Griffin said Thursday on Twitter by way of soliciting fodder for her Saturday stand-up show being taped for Bravo. "I just feel like making this my angriest one:)"

User @AlexAnthonyG answered, suggesting she "make fun of how Jim Carry wrote a creepy love letter to Emma Stone and putting it on the internet." And voilà, like that, it was done -- and clearly an improv rush job, with Griffin's note cards easy to spot reflected in the shiny background. 

Carrey's video, a planned comedic bit to launch his new video site JimCarreyTrulife.com, unnerved those who'd missed the "it's a joke" part of the joke. Griffin's, however, was clearly intended as comedy. As was her "Levi Johnston is my boyfriend" phase. We hope.

So given that both videos are on the record as "comedic," we have to know: Which is funnier, and which one makes you more uncomfortable?  See Griffin's, below, and watch Carrey's here (we'd send you straight to his site, but it keeps crashing). We have our own opinion, but ... the polls are below. Go nuts.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photos: Jim Carrey and Kathy Griffin. Credits: Dan Steinberg / Associated Press, left; Matthew Peyton / Getty Images, right.

Jim Carrey declares love for Emma Stone [Video] [Poll] [Updated]

If Jim Carrey ran Abercrombie & Fitch, the A&F proposition to the Situation last week might have looked a little more like the video below -- it's Carrey's love letter to actress Emma Stone, and while Carrey doesn't ask Stone to take off any clothing or offer any money like A&F, it's bound to draw as many or more eyeballs as the retailer's publicity-stunt letter did last week.

The 49-year-old Carrey, who broke up with longtime girlfriend Jenny McCarthy in April 2010, pours his heart out to Stone, saying:

If I were a lot younger I would marry you and we would have chubby little freckle-faced kids. We'd laugh all day long and go camping and play Yahtzee and tell ghost stories by the fire. And every day for the rest of your life you would thank God that I was the appropriate age for you.

The video was posted to Carrey's personal site, jimcarreytrulife.com, which was crashed Thursday morning under the weight of the attention drawn to the video. His official site was crashed as well.

"I just wanted to let you know how I felt," Carrey said in the video to Stone. "I think you're pretty special. I wish you continued success and artistic fulfillment but most of all I wish you love and contentment. That's all."

[Updated, 2:30 p.m. Aug. 25: "Yes, my msg to Emma Stone was a comedy routine and the funniest part is that everything i said is tru," Carrey said on Twitter (for those who were wondering). He later mentioned that the site -- which has other videos from the actor's everyday life including visits to Brazil and Haiti, allows for comments on the videos, and is intended as "a more immediate way" for him to connect with fans -- had "crashed temporarily. Back up soon. ?;^\"]

Emma Stone turns 23 in November. No word on whether Carrey, who is a grandpa, will be releasing disappointing quarterly earnings later on Thursday. Check out the video for yourself, below, and then vote in the poll even further below.

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 -- Christie D'Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photo: Jim Carrey near Peru's Machu Picchu ruins in June. Without Emma Stone. Credit: Reuters

'Amazing Spider-Man' trailer: Garfield clearly hit the gym [Video]

Andrew Garfield's "The Amazing Spider-Man" trailer hit the Web on Wednesday with the brooding British actor creeping into the darker Spidey role -- and costume -- of Stan Lee's beloved comic book character. 

Utters a svelte Garfield: "We all have secrets: The ones we keep and the ones that are kept from us."

Goodbye, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst; hello, Andrew and Emma Stone! Watch the trailer below.

In the Marvel reboot, "The Social Network" star plays Peter Parker and Stone plays lady love Gwen Stacy. As a child, Peter is sent by his parents to live with his aunt and uncle, and quite a bit of out-of-place, who am I? soul-searching appears to ensue. And after a sneaky trip to a lab, he transforms into the web-slinging, building-leaping arachnid superhero we've come to know. 

Hero Complex: Wall-to-wall Comic-Con 2011 coverage

"I related to Peter Parker so much because I felt like someone else inside," Garfield told Entertainment Weekly. "I loved the comic books and the animated TV series and I even dressed up as Spider-Man as a kid."

Director Marc Webb (how appropriate is his last name?!) seems to be following the same story line from the Sam Raimi-directed films, but with a darker tone.

"Ultimately what this movie is about is a kid who grows up looking for his father and finds himself. And that's a Spider-Man story we haven't seen before," Webb said.

Rhys Ifans will play the role of Doc Connors, a.k.a. the Lizard, one of Spider-Man's arch-enemies.

The film hits theaters July 3, 2012. Yes, nearly a full year from now. Thank you, Comic-Con.

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— Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

Photo: Andrew Garfield. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake buddy up for 'Friends With Benefits' premiere

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake lent each other a hand Monday night, premiering their comedy "Friends With Benefits" at New York City's Ziegfeld Theater.

The skin-baring romp had plenty of other supportive pals walking the red carpet, including cast members Emma Stone, Bryan Greenberg, Jenna Elfman and Patricia Clarkson and director Will Gluck.

Gayle King, who knows a thing or two about a beneficial friendship, stopped by, as did "Bridesmaids" funny gal Rose Byrne, Olympian Shaun White and HBO stars including Perrey Reeves, Melissa George and Emmanuelle Chriqui. 

Photos: 'Friends With Benefits' premieres in New York

An after-party followed at the Standard hotel, attracting the likes of Courtney Love, Richard Jenkins and New York types including model Marcus Schenkenberg, photog Terry Richardson, Christian Siriano, Irina Shayk and "Gossip Girl's" Matthew Settle. 

Kunis and Timberlake have been making their rounds promoting the flick, which opens Friday, and we think Kunis does the most convincing job of selling it.

"If you are a lady ... you might want to see Justin's tushy. If you're a male, you might want to see my side boob," she said in an interview embedded below.

Thanks for being a friend, Mila.

 

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-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo:  Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake at the New York premiere of "Friends With Benefits" at the Ziegfeld Theater on Monday. Credit: AP/Evan Agostini

Golden Globes: HBO after-party gets 'Social,' vampires and ... Diddy

Sometimes, you can't deny the obvious -- even at its Golden Globes after-party, HBO had something for everyone. Like Andrew Garfield, Diddy, Kyle Richards, Joe Manganiello and Aziz Ansari.

Talk about a grab bag: The cable network celebrated various wins Sunday with home-team guests and a few special surprises, including Hayden Panettiere, 50 Cent, Chris Noth, Zooey Deschanel, and Jon Hamm with partner Jennifer Westfeldt.

Partying poolside at the packed Beverly Hilton, where the Globes are televised each year, HBO reliably had victories to toast -- including Claire Danes' win for "Temple Grandin," Al Pacino's for "You Don't Know Jack" and Steve Buscemi's for "Boardwalk Empire," the series that also knocked "Mad Men" off its three-year Globes perch.

New "Spider-Man" love interest Emma Stone turned up in her hit Calvin Klein gown, talking to names attached to heavyweight Globe winner "The Social Network," including Aaron Sorkin and Andrew Garfield. 

Manganiello stayed with his "True Blood" pack, along with fiancée Audra Marie, roaming with the likes of Sam Trammel and Rutina Wesley, while Leighton Meester of "Country Strong" charmed at the inside bar.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones made an appearance, but only an appearance, before jetting off to another bash.

And perhaps with synergy in mind, Bill Paxton swung by on the same night the network aired the first episode of his "Big Love," playing out its final season.

What's your final say on the HBO bash? Tell us in comments below, and click the photos for more  Golden Globe Awards party pictures.

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-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos, from top:  Bill Paxton of "Big Love," left, with "Boardwalk Empire" and Golden Globe winner Steve Buscemi at the HBO after-party at the Beverly Hilton on Jan. 16, 2011. Credit: Dan Steinberg / Associated Press. Claire Danes arrives with her trophy. Credits: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

 

Andrew Garfield in training for his 'Spider-Man' body

Andrew Garfield's gotta look good in that "Spider-Man" spandex, and he's already preparing to fill it out.

The breakout star has completed two weeks of shooting with months more to come after the holiday break, he tells the UK Guardian, and that includes transforming his reedlike figure to fill Peter Parker's all-American polos. 

"I think Spider-Man needs strength, but Peter Parker is still a teenager, you know? That's a very tender balance to figure out," he said. "It's very specific what we're trying to achieve in terms of body type and the feeling of that."

Garfield indicated that he has a few hands "helping me with it because I have no discipline in that respect." 

He blames his lack of body consciousness on rebelling against his swim coach father.

"I kind of rebelled against that very, very early on, so any form of physical discipline has to be really cracked with a really smart whip," he said. 

Garfield isn't the only one getting in shape for the franchise reboot. THR notes that during a recent stop at "The Tonight Show," costar Emma Stone said she and Garfield are sharing the same trainer.

Are you pumped for the hot young things in the new "Spider-Man"? Tell us in the comments section below.

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-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Andrew Garfield at the 2010 Hollywood Film Festival's Hollywood Awards. Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Taylor Swift has Emma Stone's back at 'Easy A' after-party

We at the Ministry love it when besties spring into action. Take Taylor Swift, no doubt still emotional from her lyrical response to Mr. Verbus Interruptus Kanye West. Is she at home writing in a dream journal and contemplating a life-changing haircut?

No. She's out doing the right thing, supporting gal pal Emma Stone. 

Country starlet Swift showed up at Monday's premiere of "Easy A" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Stone toplines the ensemble comedy, a modern take on "The Scarlet Letter." 

After hitting the red carpet in a backless Pucci number, Swift changed into a white ensemble for the film's after-party at h.wood, where the pair tackled schmoozing together.

Swift and Stone got face time with the likes of Patricia Clarkson, who was glued to her phone for most of the evening, and even approached by funny lady Anna Faris, who complimented Stone on her performance.

— Matt Donnelly

Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Taylor Swift embraces Emma Stone at the "Easy A" premiere. Credit: WireImage.

Get the latest on Taylor Swift from the Ministry of Gossip.

'Easy A' premiere: Emma Stone's nerves, Penn Badgley's girlfriend

"Easy A," the new comedy starring Emma Stone, may take place in a high school -- but director Will Gluck wants to make one thing very clear: It's not a "high school movie."

"I kept saying to everyone, 'I don't want to make a high school movie,'" said Gluck, who directed the cheerleading movie "Fired Up!" "... I see it as a movie that takes place in high school, but it's not about if you kissed a guy and if you like him."

[Click the picture of Stone with Taylor Swift to launch a gallery of red-carpet arrivals from the "Easy A" premiere.]

So then what is it about? The story centers around a brassy teenager who mistakenly gains a reputation for sexual promiscuity, and then fuels those rumors to toy with her own identity, à la "The Scarlet Letter." It was a role that 21-year-old Stone went after aggressively -- but when she landed the part, the "House Bunny" veteran became nervous about carrying her first major film.

"I had to do my job, but between each take I was still kind of freaked out," the actress told us on the red carpet at the movie's premiere in Hollywood Monday night.

"She’s very self critical," director Gluck said of his leading lady. "She’s very hard on herself. She was worried that she wasn’t going to be able to pull it off, so I had to keep convincing her ...

'Zombieland's' Abigail Breslin beats 'Little Miss Sunshine' to Broadway

Abigail Breslin is headed to Broadway, where she'll play Helen Keller in a revival of "The Miracle Worker," Culture Monster reports.

Guess the Oscar nominee couldn't wait for the next incarnation of "Little Miss Sunshine," which the Sundance Institute is adapting for the stage. (The Academy Award-winning "Sunshine" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006.) No worries -- at 13, Abigail's clearly way too mature to reprise the role of adorable, fashion-forward Olive.

The role is a big departure from her recent turn in the box-office hit "Zombieland."

From Michael Ordona's L.A. Times' review (emphasis mine):

"Clearly, the horror-comedy 'Zombieland' is not your average gore-nucopia. There are plenty of exploding heads, sure, but while there are a number of gross-outs and jolts in it, 'Zombieland' is mostly about character-based laughs. ... Emma Stone ( 'The House Bunny') is saucy as a hard-bitten survivor, and Abigail Breslin ('Little Miss Sunshine') is killer-cute as her rifle-toting little sister."

From where we sit, we think anyone who can tote a rifle and pull off this scene from the finale of "Little Miss Sunshine" has a dang good chance of rocking Broadway's house as well. (Please don't click that link, however, if a doctor, or your conscience, has cautioned you to avoid videos containing Rick James' funk-a-licious "Super Freak," or one tiny little f-bomb from Steve Carell.)

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photos: Abigail Breslin, above left, with Emma Stone in "Zombieland." Below, the future Helen Keller in the finale of "Little Miss Sunshine." Credits: Columbia Pictures, above; Fox Searchlight, below.