Posts Tagged ‘Federal Bureau of Investigation’
January 21st, 2010
Original Article from The Hollywood Gossip
Jon Cryer stars with Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men. Hopefully the kid on the show isn’t involved in a scandal too, ’cause they’re 2-for-2 1/2 right now.
Not that Cryer had anything to do with his, unlike Sheen. He has told authorities his life was in danger – possibly by a hit man – and the FBI is investigating.
Cryer sounded the alarm last Friday when he said believed his ex-wife hired a hit man to take him out. The two have been battling in a bitter custody fight.
According to reports, the FBI has been on this for a week, with no known suspects at this time. Cryer’s ex-wife says she is unaware of any threat against Jon.
Security descended on the set the show last Friday. This week’s show will also be taped without an audience … but it’s for creative, not security reasons.
No one to laugh at hilarious Two and a Half Men quotes? Tragic …
Hopefully a hit man doesn’t off Jon Cryer. That’s scary stuff.
Read more articles from The Hollywood Gossip
December 22nd, 2009
Original Article from Rolling Stone
Photo: Mazur/WireImage.com
The FBI’s dossier on Michael Jackson — over 300 pages of files ranging from an alleged extortion plot against the King of Pop to documents concerning the FBI’s involvement in Jackson’s child molestation trial — were released today as part of the Freedom of Information Act, the New York Times‘ ArtsBeat blog reports.
The files reveal that in 1992, an unnamed man attempted to extort Jackson, threatening, “I will personally attempt to kill if he doesn’t pay me my money.” The man, who pleaded guilty to extortion and was sentenced to prison in 1993, also proclaimed, “I’ll commit mass murder at a Michael Jackson concert if necessary, in an attempt to murder Michael, then you will have to deal with my situation in the public eye.” Similar death threats were made to mob boss John Gotti and then-President George H.W. Bush.
As for the FBI’s documents regarding the child molestation trial, according to TMZ, local authorities in Santa Maria reached out to the FBI out of concern that the trial could be viewed as a “soft target” by terrorists, adding that the “worldwide media coverage” might appeal to terror groups. The FBI determined there was no terror threat in that case. The FBI was also involved in some regard into the investigation of Jackson’s child molestation charges, as local authorities reached out to the FBI to see if they were interested in “working a possible federal violation against Jackson concerning the transportation of a minor across state lines for immoral purposes.” Jackson was ultimately found not guilty of the charges.
Read more articles from Rolling Stone
December 22nd, 2009
Original Article from The Hollywood Gossip
The FBI has released more than 300 pages of documents relating to Michael Jackson, and while they do not provide new insight into his June 2009 death, the information contained still raises eyebrows, and is just as bizarre as you’d expect.
The formerly classified material includes info regarding his 1993 and 2004 child molestation cases, as well as an extortion case where he was a victim.
Despite an application under the Freedom of Information Act, half his file remains secret. What is available, however, provides no shortage of material.
In 2004, local police in Santa Maria, Calif., requested FBI involvement believing the court proceedings against MJ made for “soft target for terrorism.
“No intelligence indicating a terrorist threat” existed, the FBI said, but the bureau did provide technical and investigative assistance into the case.
A new window into Michael Jackson’s past has opened via his FBI file.
In June 2005, Jackson was found not guilty of all charges at the end of the four-month trial. The FBI assisted local authorities then and in 1993.
The FBI’s legal office in London assisted local authorities with the Michael Jackson child molestation probe in 1993, and in 1995 U.S. customs officials asked the FBI to provide analysis of a VHS tape as part of a child pornography investigation.
The tape – “a multi-generation copy of poor quality” – was marked “Michael Jackson’s Neverland Favorites: An All Boy Anthology,” FBI documents say.
In 1993, police in L.A. began investigating allegations of child abuse against Michael Jackson made by the father of 13-year old Jordan Chandler.
Jackson vehemently denied the claims and he was never charged. A civil case was settled out of court in 1994 when he paid Chandler $20 million.
His close friend, Arnold Klein, recently offered this explanation.
The FBI files show that the bureau went around the world trying to make a case against Jackson for alleged child molestation the first time around.
In 1993, law enforcement personnel planned “to travel to Manila, Philippines … for the purpose of interviewing (names deleted) concerning their knowledge of accusations against Michael Jackson of sexual abuse of young boys.”
The people sought to be interviewed were a man and woman who worked at Neverland Ranch from 1988-1990 and allegedly witnessed molestation.
An FBI special agent was involved in the Manila trip. Another document states a legal attache for the U.S. Embassy in London was sending information regarding sexual misconduct by Jackson in England – a phone call to a teenage boy.
The FBI became involved after the LAPD Sexually Exploited Child Unit contacted them asking the agency for assistance with “a possible federal violation against Jackson concerning transportation of a minor across state lines for immoral purposes.”
The FBI files also contain bizarre info about an investigation of a man who made death threats against Jackson and then-president George W. Bush.
The man, revealed to be Frank Paul Jones, threatens to kill Jackson and George W. Bush unless he receives money from mobster John Paul Gotti.
Obviously.
Jackson’s untimely demise earlier this year remains under investigation, with his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, the primary focal point.
Read more articles from The Hollywood Gossip
October 7th, 2009
Anna Nicole Smith was investigated for plotting to have the son of her late husband, J. Howard Marshall, killed. Even though the FBI investigated Smith, she was never prosecuted. According to newly released files, Smith was under observation in 2000 and 2001 for scheming to kill E. Pierce Marshall over the hundreds of millions they were battling for in court. The Associated Press reports:
Smith’s FBI records, obtained exclusively by The Associated Press, say the agency investigated Smith in 2000 and 2001 in a murder-for-hire plot targeting E. Pierce Marshall, who was at the center of a long legal fight to keep the starlet, model and stripper from collecting his father’s oil wealth, valued in the hundreds of millions. The younger Marshall died three years ago of natural causes.
The documents released under the Freedom of Information Act depict an investigation going on as the fight raged over J. Howard Marshall II’s estate. Vast sections of the 100 pages of released materials — a fraction of Smith’s full FBI file — are whited out, and no evidence of her involvement in such a plot is detailed.The FBI files show a .357-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver was confiscated from Smith’s home, along with a 3 1/2-inch stainless steel knife and, for reasons that were not explained, a black and orange hat described as “Dr. Seuss.” All three objects were returned to her about seven months later.
Would they let this woman rest? I would probably want to kill E. Pierce Marshall too?! I mean Anna had to make out with that old man!! Doesn’t she deserve something?! No wonder she was under so much stress. She was dealing with the trial and an FBI investigation. Poor Anna. R.I.P.
Check out these other hot stories…
October 3rd, 2009
Original Article from The Insider
Read more articles from The Insider
May 14th, 2009
| Movie: A Plumm Summer * Official Site | On DVD: May 5, 2009 |
| Runtime: 99 minutes | Directed by: Caroline Zelder |
| MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements and some mild rude language |  Gecko Rating: |
"A Plumm Summer" is one of those sweet little movies that will probably fly under the radar of most DVD watchers. It’s a home-spun tale reminiscent of the live-action Disney movies of the 60s, only with an edge to it.
Based on a true story, the movie takes place in a small town in Montana, where kids wait impatiently to see a green marionette named Froggy Doo and his buddy Happy Herb on TV every day at 3 PM. All the kids LOVE Froggy Doo, especially Rocky Plumm (Owen Pearce), whose older brother Elliott (Chris Kelly), can’t understand the obsession at all.
When Froggy goes missing from the TV station one day, the FBI’s attempts to recover the missing frog go nowhere. So Rocky convinces Elliott to start their own investigation into the disappearance. With help from a cute neighbor Haley (Morgan Flynn), the group set out to find the frog.
Ok, so that all sounds nice and sweet, and could easily have starred Dean Jones and Kurt Russell in a 60s Disney movie. But here’s the edgy part. While all this is going on, the boys are dealing with daddy issues. Namely, their father Mick Plumm (William Baldwin), a former Olympic quality boxer who’s sunken into a dismal life of alcohol and regret.
See what I mean about the edgy part? It doesn’t really belong in this movie, and trying to fit two completely different stories into what could have been a cute family film doesn’t really work.
If I was in charge of the world (and this movie), I would have slanted things more towards the cute kid movie rather than the grownup family-dysfunction movie.
Still, it’s got a few things going for it: Henry Winkler plays Happy Herb, and it’s always fun seeing "The Fonz" on screen. His story is more in the "cute family movie" vein – he’s so entrenched in his life with Froggy Doo that he’s missing out on the "real world" things going on around him.
Also, "A Plumm Summer" is narrated by Jeff Daniels, whose calm, steady voice reminds me a bit of the narration in "The Wonder Years."
There’s also plenty of action and bumbling cops and inventive technology from the kids in catching the villain. It all works out, and everyone is happy.
I’m not sure which age range to recommend for this movie. The cute family movie is fine for ages 6 to 9. But the alcoholic father movie is better suited for teens and grownups. It’s a conundrum, for sure.
Bonus Features include deleted scenes, a gag reel, behind-the-scenes music video, behind-the-scenes on the red carpet, theatrical trailer, and audio commentary by writer/director Caroline Zelder and writer/producer Frank Antonelli. Both offer plenty of insight and background info on the script, story and production.
Image: Amazon.com
Tags: a plumm summer, chris kelly, dvd, DVD-Reviews, Family-Movies, henry winkler, jeff daniels, morgan flynn, Movie-Reviews, Movies, owen pearce, william baldwin
Post from: Film Gecko
May 13th, 2009
Michael Papajohn is one of the hardest working guys in Hollywood, but his road to Tinseltown actually started on the college sports fields. When a stunt job landed in his path, it changed his life forever.
Read on to learn more about Papajohn’s pivotal role in helping Peter Parker become Spider-Man, what it’s like to duke it out with Bruce Willis, and his roles in some of the hottest movies this year, including “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Terminator Salvation,” “Land of the Lost,” “G-Force,” and “Old Dogs.” Oh, and why he just might have to kill me!
Jane: You were drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1985, but chose instead to attend Louisiana State University on a baseball scholarship, playing starting center-fielder on the first LSU team to go to the College World Series in 1986 and 1987. What was it like going from the world of sports to the world of film and TV, doing stunts and acting? “Long strange trip” keeps popping into my head, but you’ve really had an awesome, interesting career.
Michael: I remember when I would make a great defensive play or have a great at bat in baseball, I would get a high. Then when I had an opportunity to do stunts, I got that same high on the set. When I had my first acting class, I was in a scene and the situation my character was in felt so real to me, and I got the same high. Right then, I knew I wanted to be an actor.
Jane: Your first movie was as a stunt double for Dennis Quaid in 1988’s “Everybody’s All-American.” Had you thought about working in the film and TV industry prior to that?
Michael: That was my first film experience. It was a life-changing event. Not only did I double Dennis Quaid, I also got to work with some of the top Hollywood stunt men in the business. That film experience, “Everybody’s All American,” led me to my first speaking line with John Goodman, which then lead to my getting a SAG card, which lead to my close connection to the director, Taylor Hackford, who really encouraged me to pursue this as a career.
Jane: You played the pivotal role of “the carjacker” in 2002’s “Spider-Man.” What’s it like being the character who ultimately led Peter Parker to become Spider-Man? (And I think this applies to your character, too: “With great power comes great responsibility.” 
Michael: It was awesome playing that part. The director, Sam Raimi, had me in mind for the part because he knew me from our work on “For Love of The Game.” It was really exciting playing that character. I remember being on the set for the first day. I was so nervous, and I remember doing my first rehearsal in front of the camera and hearing Sam Raimi yelling from across the set from his director’s chair, “Papajohn, I’m so excited you’re playing this role.” It made me feel great, but I was still a bit nervous, so I just used that edge for the character.
Jane: You have some amazing movies coming up this year: “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Terminator Salvation,” “Land of the Lost,” “G-Force,” and “Old Dogs.” Are you like the hardest working guy in show biz or what? Do you ever sleep?
Michael: I really enjoy working hard. The whole business excites me. Being an actor/filmmaker, I love the atmosphere on a set. It feels like family. Hey, I only die in one out of the four films, so that’s pretty exciting. Who needs sleep?
Jane: You’re the Lead Stunt Double in “Old Dogs,” but have acting roles in the rest of those films. Are you moving out of stunt work and doing more acting (because I would imagine stunt guys eventually have to move into something else, right? Before the body completely breaks down?)
Michael: When I was working on “The Waterboy,” stunt doubling Adam Sandler, I knew on that set that I really wanted to start focusing more on my acting. I just knew in my heart that I wanted to go more into the acting direction. I still enjoy stunt work, and I just worked on “Old Dogs” with John Travolta as his stunt double for select scenes, and that was great. So, I enjoy stunt work when it involves playing a role. 
Jane: Tell us about your role in “Terminator Salvation.” Do you have scenes with Christian Bale? I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask: Is he as intense in person as he always seems on-screen?
Michael: I can’t tell you if I have scenes with him, because I’d have to kill you… As far as him being intense, when he first walked in the make-up trailer, that was the first time I actually saw him on set. He was in full wardrobe, and I said to myself… Man, he’s ready to go to war!
Jane: Talk a little about “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” How does your character of Cal play into the storyline?
Michael: I was excited to play that role because there was such a great back-story coming in. Megan Fox talks a lot about my character in the previous film, so in this film … well … all I can say is … we have a very, very close relationship.
Jane: “G-Force” looks like the cutest movie ever made, and you play an FBI Techie in that movie. Seems like quite the genre switch for you after doing mainly action flicks. How did your role in G-Force come about? Is it considered an action film?
Michael: It’s a Bruckheimer film, so trust me, there will be action. As far as a genre switch, it was refreshing. I got to play a good guy. I didn’t kill anyone or get killed.
Jane: You did stunts in “Live Free or Die Hard.” Please tell me you were involved in the stunt where Bruce Willis jumped out of the semi and ended up on the top of the fighter jet. That was an awesome stunt! Was it mainly computer-generated, and if not, how the heck was it filmed?
Michael: I actually had an acting part in the film. I wasn’t in that particular scene, but I went toe to toe with Bruce Willis. So it was just me and Bruce Willis in an intense fight scene, and I had the best of him until he shot me in the foot and then four times in the chest, so I guess he got the best of me.
Jane: I see where Bruce Willis has three action films coming up. Did he have his bones injected with adamantium like Wolverine, and if not, how does he keep doing these intense action flicks?
Michael: I loved working with Bruce Willis. He’s intense and professional and always had the crew laughing.
Jane: What’s it like for you as a stunt guy, going to work every day knowing you could end up with broken bones or a head injury or something? I mean, it must take a certain kind of person to do that work year in and year out.
Michael: Having an athletic background … you prepare … you show up … and do your job the best you can. When I’m working I always remember what Bear Bryant used to say, “Expect the unexpected.”
Jane: What’s the most dangerous stunt you’ve ever done?
Michael: The most dangerous stunt I ever did was on “The Waterboy” doubling Adam Sandler. I was sitting on top of an air-boat, going 30 – 40 mph on a lake, I hit land and the boat went air born with me holding onto the arm of the chair and no seat belt. I almost lost my grip, flying off it. Thankfully, I was able to hold on. But that was a close one.
Jane: What’s the most difficult stunt you’ve ever done?
Michael: In “Spider-Man,” when I trip out the window backwards to my death, I couldn’t look where I was falling. I just had to trust that I would fall on the pad correctly. That was a tough but great scene.
Jane: What’s the stunt you WISH you’d never done?
Michael: My first commercial in Los Angeles. It was hot in the valley that day, and I was doubling an actor wearing a fat suit. I ran into a goal post head first, 29 times. After 13 times I couldn’t count anymore, but I told the wardrobe guy to count for me, because every time I’d hit the goal post, they would pay me $100. And the director was yelling at me from his tall tower through a megaphone, “Use your head more!!!” It got so bad — I was overheating, two black eyes, head swollen — that the head guy from the wardrobe department stopped everything, checked my blood pressure, and then yelled out to the set, “It’s a wrap!!!” That’s the first set I’ve been on where wardrobe called “wrap.”
Jane: And I must ask about ending up in the emergency room after being kicked by Cameron Diaz in stiletto boots while filming “Charlie’s Angels.” How did you explain that to the docs and domestic violence people there, and does Cameron still send you flowers on the anniversary of the event? (If not, she should!)
Michael: Cameron Diaz is off the hook. This was actually a fake leg and fake foot with a stiletto shoe on it for close ups that caused the trip to the ER. Once the ER staff got the true story about the shoot schedule (1 AM) they realized I wasn’t drunk, just tired from a night shoot.
Jane: Anything else you’d like to add?
Michael: When I first worked with the director, McG on “Charlie’s Angels,” right before the first take he came up to me and said, “Hey Papajohn, have fun, film lasts forever.” I’ve never forgotten that, and when I saw him again in New Mexico on the set of “Terminator Salvation,” I told him how much that thought stays with me.
Michael Papajohn and Chris Rock in “The Longest Yard”
Michael Papajohn in “The Longest Yard”
Michael Papajohn and Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Eraser”
Photos: Michael Papajohn; Buena Vista Pictures; Paramount Pictures; Columbia Pictures
Tags: actor interviews, actors, adam sandler, bruce willis, cameron diaz, charlie’s angels, christian bale, dennis quaid, everybody’s all-american, Film, for love of the game, g-force, g-force movie, jerry bruckheimer, john travolta, land of the lost, live free or die hard, mcg, megan fox, michael papajohn, michael papajohn interview, Movies, old dogs, peter parker, sam raimi, spider-man, taylor hackford, terminator salvation, the carjacker in spiderman, the waterboy, transformers revenge of the fallen
Post from: Film Gecko
May 11th, 2009
If you’re thinking that "Surrogates" must be about surrogate moms, maybe a funny, Amy Poehler-type movie, guess again.
It’s a sci-fi action flick starring Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell as FBI agents investigating the murder of a college student. The catch: it’s linked to a man creating high-tech surrogates — unflawed robotic versions of people. Just think of the possibilities! Fit, handsome, remotely-controlled machines that assume your life roles, allowing you to stay comfortably in the safety of your own home.
Hmmm, doesn’t sound that wonderful to me (the concept, that is; the movie sounds ok). I recently watched an episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" with this premise. I guess it’s been done to death, but maybe Willis can breathe new life into it. The Touchstone picture hits theaters Sept. 25, 2009. Also stars Rosamund Pike, James Francis Ginty, Boris Kodjoe and Ving Rhames.
Tags: boris kodjoe, bruce willis, fbi agents, Film, james francis ginty, Movies, radha mitchell, robot movies, rosamund pike, surrogates, surrogates movie, surrogates trailer, ving rhames
Post from: Film Gecko
May 11th, 2009
Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) will face his evil match on an all new Lie to Me, "Blinded" at 8 p.m. ET/PT Wednesday on FOX.
Mekhi Phifer (ER) is set to guest-star on Lie to Me in a two-episode arc starting Wednesday. Phifer, will play Ben Reynolds, an FBI agent who partners with Lightman to track down a serial rapist terrorizing the Washington, DC area. In the season’s second to last episode, Reynolds, having spent the last six months pursuing the elusive criminal, assists The Lightman Group in solving their toughest case yet.
Lightman will first infiltrate a prison to befriend a convicted criminal and pathological liar Andrew Jenkins (guest star Daniel Sunjata) who will prove to be a challenge for the team.
Here’s a preview of the episode, followed by more photos:
©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX
Post from: New to TV
August 28th, 2008
Remember back in June when those nine possibly Chinese Democracy-bound Guns n’ Roses songs leaked? At the time, the man who admitted leaking them, Antiquiet blogger Kevin Skwerl, told Rock Daily “If legal proceedings come my way, I’ll face them 100 percent. I’m not afraid of that. I did what I did, and I’ll face the music if I have to” after a meeting with the FBI. Skwerl (real name Kevin Cogill) will face the law, as he was arrested this morning at his Culver City, California home for suspicion of violating federal copyright laws. According to the FBI, Cogill admitted to posting the songs when questioned. Cogill is set to appear at the U.S. District Court today, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian.
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• Chinese Democracy Leaker Gets FBI Visit
• The Real Chinese Democracy May Have Leaked