Madonna thanks exes Sean Penn, Guy Ritchie for creative support

Madonna has descended upon the Venice International Film Festival with her second directorial effort, "W.E.," about parallel love stories centering around the famous romance between American divorcee Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII.

Invoking her own love stories, the 53-year-old entertainer appeared to be making this her "No Hard Feelings" tour, talking about ex-husbands Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie with surprising candor and positivity.

Seriously. 

"I am and was attracted to very creative people which is why I married Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie, two very talented directors," she said at the festival. "They both encouraged me as a director and as a creative person to do what I did, and they were both very supportive."

We applaud the maturity in Madonna's sentiments (seems like hanging out with younger friends agrees with her).

Madonna said she identified with the stylish but prickly Simpson -- a woman the king found more irresistible than the throne, which he abdicated in order to marry her in 1936 -- from the point of being a public figure or celebrity. 

"We are often reduced to a soundbite and ... you're given a few attributes and then you're not allowed to have anything more than that," she said. 

New to Simpson's famous style? Check out this video from Vanity Fair's profiles of the world's best dressed women.

 

RELATED:

Madonna enjoys 53rd birthday with 24-year-old boyfriend

Might Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow reconcile at Venice Film Festival?

Met Gala 2011: Madonna, Kristen Stewart, Kanye West work the red carpet [Pictures]

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.

Photo: Madonna attends a photo call at the Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 1 for "W.E.," her latest directorial effort. Credit: Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters

 

Jennifer Aniston hits Spike TV Guys Choice Awards for Decade of Hotness honor

The guys have spoken, Jennifer Aniston -- well, they spoke Saturday evening in Los Angeles, where the actress scooped up a Spike TV Guys Choice Award for Decade of Hotness.

Cradling her gilded antlers and wearing a little black dress, Aniston looked before a star-packed crowd and joked, "A decade? That would put it at [2001], which is good because I had some sketchy looks in the '90s."

She also expressed her gratitude for her yoga trainer and studly male costars, such as Jason Sudeikis, who presented her the trophy.

Backstage in the green room, Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn sat together over drinks, protected by several security guards as Robert De Niro was whisked in to join them. De Niro was on hand to present the annual Brass Balls trophy to Keith Richards.

"It's a superhero party," Samuel L. Jackson remarked to awards exec producer Casey Patterson, both looking upon the likes of Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner.

Funnymen Joel McHale and Aziz Ansari watched beauties such as Minka Kelly and Mila Kunis orbit the private lounge, while "Other Guys" costars Eva Mendes and Mark Wahlberg discussed touring Afghanistan.

Photos: Spike TV's 2011 Guys Choice Awards

Speaking of the troops, Spike TV always takes good care of the men and women in uniform -- trays of Pizza Hut pizza and Coronas on ice were handy for them, and the lot got to meet some of their favorites, such as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jim Carrey and basketballer Blake Griffin.

The Guys Choice Awards will air on Friday at 9 p.m. on Spike TV.

RELATED:

Sandra Bullock surfaces at Spike TV's Guys Choice awards

Mega stars turn out for Spike TV's Scream Awards 2010 [Updated]

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox falling out is 'completely false,' rep says

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Jennifer Aniston receives the Decade of Hotness trophy at the Spike TV Guys Choice Awards, taped Saturday in Los Angeles. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images  

Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn call it quits

Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn have called it quits. After a whirlwind romance, reports People, it looks like this rebound relationship ran its course.

The A-list couple caused a media blitz when they were spotted together in Cabo San Lucas in March and then reportedly moved in together in April. Baby bump buzz and a trip to the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., only fueled interest in the couple.

However, things didn't seem quite so lovey dovey when ScarJo skipped out on Penn's big Cannes premiere for "Tree of Life" in May. She stayed back in the States to film "The Avengers" in New Mexico instead. So far, a source has confirmed the break up to People, but no explanation was provided.

Both actors had gone through public divorces recently. Penn and Robin Wright were officially over in July 2010; Johansson and Ryan Reynolds split in December.

RELATED:

Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn heat up in Mexico

Sean Penn and Scarlett Johansson step out as a couple

Report: Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn move in together

-- Emily Christianson

Photos: Sean Penn at a discussion about Haiti in Washington on Jan. 10; Scarlett Johansson at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in West Hollywood. Credits:  Alex Wong / Getty Images, left; Craig Barritt / Getty Images, right.

Brad Pitt, 'The Tree of Life' and a few lovely ladies remind us what makes Cannes, well, Cannes

Start with Brad Pitt, add Angelina Jolie and a few other famous beauties, then spice it up with a little cinematic controversy and you have the premiere of "Tree of Life" at the Cannes Film Festival.

The premiere Monday was almost a case study in what Cannes in particular can deliver, with Pitt and partner Jolie walking dramatically toward each other to pose regally for legions of photographers before heading in to screen a film that had been hyped as brilliant but got only an OK reception -- one marked by some boos and the absence of a bow by director Terrence Malick, whom star Pitt and costar Jessica Chastain had earlier defended.

"I don't know why people who make things in our business are expected to sell them," Pitt said at a daytime news conference that was missing not only Malick but costar Sean Penn.

That'd be the same Pitt who plays a father in the film, who also told reporters he was brought up "being told things were God's way, and when things didn't work out it was called God's plan. I've got my issues with it. Don't get me started. I found it very stifling."

OK then -- back to Penn, who made it to the red carpet later, joining Pitt, Chastain and the likes of rock stars Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale and fashion plate Zoe Saldana, the "Avatar" star who's been tapped to play Lt. Uhura in an as-yet-untitled "Star Trek" film. 

Only in Hollywood, right? Except when it's happening in the south of France.

Click the pics for more photos from the 64th Cannes Film Festival, which continues through Sunday.

RELATED:

Lady Gaga performs 'Judas' live at Cannes film festival [Pictures]

Jack Black on hanging out with Angelina Jolie, killing Shirley MacLaine

Cannes 2011: How did the reaction to Terrence Malick's 'The Tree of Life' get so complicated?

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Top photo: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt hit the red carpet before the screening of "The Tree of Life" at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Credit: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP/Getty Images.

Right photo: Zoe Saldana at "The Tree of Life" premiere in Cannes. Credit: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Sean Penn and Scarlett Johansson step out as a couple

Politics took a back seat to love-connecting as whispered-about Hollywood couple Sean Penn, 50, and Scarlett Johansson, 26, made their public debut Saturday at a hot party after the White House correspondents dinner.

Though they didn't arrive together, what did we expect after Johansson was seen sitting on Penn's lap during the main event?

In keeping with a heavy PDA lunch in Los Angeles at the start of March that was followed by a lovers' jaunt to Mexico, Penn and Johannson stepped out to the Vanity Fair/Bloomberg bash in Washington after the annual dinner with Seth Meyers as this year's entertainment. Reports had the pair living together by mid-April, following Johannson's split from hubby Ryan Reynolds, who filed for divorce in December.

After mingling with senators, media moguls and other  actors, Penn and Johansson left the high-profile event -- held at the estate of François Delattre, France's ambassador to the U.S. -- holding hands.

Game on.

Tech entreprenuer Sean Parker was counted for at the party, as well as Salma Hayek, Sarah Palin, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rahm Emanual, Jon Hamm and Arianna Huffington.

What do you think of Sean and Scarlett as a couple? Tell us in comments.

RELATED:

Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn heat up in Mexico

Ryan Reynolds files for divorce from Scarlett Johansson

Report: Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn move in together

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos, from top: Sean Penn makes conversation at the Vanity Fair/Bloomberg White House correspondents dinner after-party; Scarlett Johansson enters the event on the arm of brother Hunter. She later left hand-in-hand with Penn. Credits: Joshua Roberts / Bloomberg News

White House correspondents dinner: Celebrities in the audience weigh in [Photos]

Sure, this year the White House correspondents dinner had President Obama's attention-grabbing jabs at Donald Trump and the birthers. But what made the annual event bubble, besides the political banter and inside-the-Beltway journalism small talk, were the celebrities, of course.

Rosario Dawson, John Legend, Mila Kunis, "Glee's" Matthew Morrison and Chris Colfer, "True Blood's" Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, and celebrity-couple fascination of the moment Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn showed an interest in politics Saturday night in Washington.

Johansson and Penn arrived separately -- she on the arm of twin brother Hunter -- and sat at different tables before leaving for a much-buzzed-about smoke break, and were even seen holding hands!

And what did the celebrities in the crowd think of the event and the president's comic timing?

"I'm so overwhelmed being here. I keep getting teary eyed. #WHCD," Alyssa Milano tweeted. (Forgive her if she seemed a bit emotional. She is pregnant.)

"Not only is he the President he is also a comedian ... His speech was so funny!," tweeted "Pretty Little Liars" actress Shay Mitchell, who was born in Canada.

"Was @ the dinner last night an[d] our president killed it like an old school comedy club...," "Entourage" actor Jeremy Piven tweeted.

The event also might also have been the beginning of a beautiful friendship:

Author and political daughter Meghan McCain had something to say about former "Real Housewives of D.C." cast member Mary Amons: "@maryamons you are my new favorite person to gossip with! xo." 

Who else was there? Check out our red carpet gallery from the White House correspondents dinner.

-- Whitney Friedlander

Upper photos: From left, Scarlett Johansson, John Legend and Alyssa Milano attend the White House correspondents dinner. Credits: Michael Reynolds / EPA, left; Chris Kleponis / AFP/Getty Images, center; Alex Brandon / Associated Press, right.

Lower photo: "Black Swan" actress Mila Kunis laughs with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Credit: Kris Connor / Getty Images

Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher recruit 'real men' Justin Timberlake, Bradley Cooper, Isaiah Mustafa for PSAs

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have launched a flurry of PSAs featuring such A-listers as Justin Timberlake, Drake and Bradley Cooper to put an end to human trafficking and child sex slavery.

The DNA Foundation's Real Men Don't Buy Girls Campaign launched Monday and has been gathering steam. Kutcher kicked off the campaign with his "Real Men Do Their Own Laundry" video. Subsequently, Isaiah Mustafa, Jason Mraz, Adrian Peterson, Sean Penn and Jamie Foxx have each been featured in PSA videos. See all the real men (and the women who prefer them) here.

The philanthropic couple will appear on Piers Morgan’s show this week and have enabled supporters to their own “real men” videos too.

"Many people think of human trafficking as a problem in developing countries. The sad reality is that thousands of young girls have been forced into sex slavery and held against their will, right here in the 'land of the free,' " Moore and Kutcher said in a statement.

"After learning about this horrifying problem, we realized that we couldn't just go on with our daily lives, we had to do something about it. And we've enlisted government, law enforcement and nonprofit organization experts to help."

The couple recently traveled to Luxor, Egypt, to attend the International End Human Trafficking Now Forum. The also spoke at the launch of the United Nations Global Plan Against Trafficking in Persons and Victim's Trust Fund last November, working to provide "humanitarian, legal and financial aid to victims of trafficking."

Which "real man" is your favorite? Tell us in comments.

RELATED:

Natalie Portman likes Ashton Kutcher's parenting skills

Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher at 'No Strings Attached' premiere

Ashton Kutcher threatens legal action over Brittney Jones sex video

-- Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

Reese Witherspoon's (unofficial) wedding checklist

Reese Witherspoon stayed true to her Southern roots when she wed CAA agent Jim Toth over the weekend.

The Oscar-winning actress married Toth, 40, at her Ojai ranch, which includes a rustic garden and farm boasting horses, donkeys, pigs, goats and chickens, US Weekly reported.

Since we couldn't be there, the Ministry has instead compiled an (un)official wedding checklist that we believe the bride-on-the-go (or her celebrity wedding planner Yifat Oren) had to manage for the 35-year-old's second nuptials.

Reese Witherspoon's Wedding Checklist

Ceremony

Theme: rustic

Venue: courtyard in front of house, beneath a canopy

Ceremony: Christian, about 20 minutes. Officiated by The Rev. Jimmy Bartz, founder of Thad's Church in Santa Monica

Gown: Monique Lhullier, from Paris

Shoes: Jimmy Choo "Macy" sandal

Wedding rings: William Goldberg + four-carat Ashoka-cut diamond engagement ring

Music: bluegrass band playing "Tennessee Waltz," "Here Comes the Bride" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"

Wedding party: Witherspoon's kids with ex-husband Ryan Phillipe -- Deacon, 7 and Ava, 11, and nieces as flower girls

Ushers: BFF Heather Rosenfield's boys

Guests: 150, including A-listers Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, Salma Hayek, Sean Penn, Scarlett Johansson, Renée Zellweger, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr., Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves, Alyssa Milano, Colin Hanks, Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen

Reception

Venue: backyard field, tented

Pre-reception: one-hour cocktail party

Décor: outdoor lanterns, chandeliers in trees, antique furniture, Turkish pillows

Centerpieces: white, lavender and blush flowers in Mason jars, fish catcher lanterns and antique pots.

Caterer: Lucques

Dinner: endive salad with olives and fava beans; wild striped bass with potatoes, chanterelles and garlic; mustard grilled chicken with haricorts vert and herb roasted lamb with braised artichokes

Dessert: wedding cake, dessert table and s'mores lounge

Music: DJ

Favors: gift bags filled with Ojai honey and a local baker's pecan currant scones

We would have preferred a golden-laced cookie of some sort, but we guess that doesn't exactly fit the rustic theme. Still, the guests could have gone home with a basket of free-range chicken eggs, no?

RELATED:

Reese Witherspoon engaged to agent Jim Toth

Reese Witherspoon marries Jim Toth at her Ojai ranch

Ryan Phillippe wishes Reese Witherspoon the best on engagement to Jim Toth

-- Nardine Saad
twitter.com / NardineSaad

Photos: Top right, Reese Witherspoon at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles in February. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times. Left, Happy couple Toth and Witherspoon, courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game. Credit: Associated Press

Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn heat up in Mexico

Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn seem to be heating up -- like Mexican beach hot.

After a week of dates and party appearances, the pair had an overnight getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Tuesday. After jetting out of the Van Nuys airport, Johansson, 26, and Penn, 50, were spotted dining together.

Lobster and margaritas were on their menu, according to People magazine. The day before, the two had hit the L.A. Cuban joint Versailles, after which photos of the actress draping her leg over Penn's lap surfaced.

Furthermore, the couple attended an Oscar celebration for "Black Swan" at the Sunset Tower Hotel, keeping to themselves and looking cozy, according to reports.

Johansson is currently in the City of Angels filming "We Bought a Zoo" with Matt Damon.

So, Sean and ScarJo? What do you think?

RELATED:

Ryan Reynolds files for divorce from Scarlett Johansson

Taylor Swift, Adam Young are 'Enchanted' with each other [Poll]

Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries sitting in a tree; Ray J c-o-m-p-l-a-i-n-i-n-g

-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly 

Photos: Sean Penn at a discussion about Haiti in Washington on Jan. 10; Scarlett Johansson at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in West Hollywood on Feb. 27. Credits:  Alex Wong / Getty Images, left; Craig Barritt / Getty Images, right.

When models attack: Jessica White edition, featuring Sean Penn

There's a thin line between the Paris couture shows and the pokey — just ask model Jessica White.

The Sports Illustrated gal, who just ended a fling with actor Sean Penn, was arrested in New York City over the weekend after an alleged altercation with a female partier. White has been accused of smacking Vanessa Kian and pulling her hair, Page Six reports.

The women are said to have squabbled over a taxi. White's attorney, Mark Jay Heller, insists the entire situation has been overblown.

Heller says White was "celebrating her newfound single status with the girls" and nothing more, adding that "stories concerning celebrities frequently get blown up," and the charges have no merit.

White has a date with a judge on Dec. 15. Do you think she deserves the clink, or do the charges stink? Tell us in the comments section below.

— Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Jessica White attends a benefit in New York on Oct. 21. Credit: Donna Ward / Getty Images.

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip: 

Tyra Banks sued by mother of self-proclaimed teen sex addict

'Australia's Next Top Model': Proving a gal can take it like a man (or better)

PREACH IT! Naomi Campbell strikes again -- literally