Madagascar 2 Premiere

nContrast's Chuck Faush with TV Host Renae Punzalan at the Madagascar 2 interviews at the W Hotel in Los Angeles.

nContrast Exclusive: Madagascar 2

Soul Men and High School Musical 3

Boogie is the word in "Soul Men." nContrast host Chuck Faush talks with Samuel L. Jackson about the soul spectacular about the return of a doo wop soul group from the past. Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson star as the duo that gets back together after years of silence. A story about friendship and music that never goes out of style, "Soul Men" sets the soul on fire. According to Director Malcolm Lee, "It's a different kind of music. It's soul music. The chemistry's undeniable. They're going to go down as one of the great comedy duos--Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby--they're just great together."



"High School Musical 3" makes high school look oh so good. Singing, dancing, it's all a lot of fun. In "High School Musical 3", everyone's favorite high school gang is faced with serious decisions about life after graduation. According to star Corbin Bleu, it's a film about making your own choices and not being influenced by your peers or parents. It's about taking advice but in the end, making a decision that comes straight from the heart.

Coming up on nContrast

The best of Doo-wop, dancing and football--that's what you'll find on nContrast for the next couple of weeks. Host Chuck Faush travels to the premieres of The Express, High School Musical 3 and Soul Men.

The Express is football at its finest. The story of how Ernie Davis overcame poverty and discrimination to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. The first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, Davis continues to inspire college athletes today. Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid star is a film that relives the civil rights era and battles for justice on the football field.



High School Musical 3 follows a group of high school seniors who prepare for life post graduation. The film is action packed with singing and dancing from start to finish. Join high school seniors as they celebrate the end of the high school era.



And last but not least, keep grooving because it's time for some old school doo-wop Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac style. Soul Men is the story of how a popular singing duo reunites after twenty years of silence.

The Secret Life of Bees Premiere

2008 Toronto Film Festival

Chuck Faush joins A-List stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Benicio Del Toro, Ethan Hawke, Alicia Keys and hundreds of others at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. On site for the 33rd annual festival, Faush will get an exclusive first look at some of the most highly anticipated films from across the globe. Hailed as THE festival for films today, the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) runs September 4 to September 13 and will screen 312 films from 64 countries. Some of this year's most prominent films include the debut of Spike Lee's WWII film "Miracle at St. Anna," Charlie Kaufman's first film "Synecdoche, New York" as well as Stephen Soderberg's epic "Che" and actor/director Ed Harris' "Appaloosa." For full coverage of the ten day film festival spectacular, check out nContrast. Host Chuck Faush talks one on one with the film's directors and featured actors.

The Secret Life of Bees

nContrast host Chuck Faush takes on Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, Grammy winner Alicia Keys and swarms of bees in The Secret Life of Bees. When three honey bee keeping sisters take in a run away girl, Dakota Fanning, and her surrogate mother played by Jennifer Hudson, a new world begins to unfold for Fanning. It's in a different place that Fanning finally uncovers the secret to her mother's past and why she was murdered.The Secret Life of Bees' all-star cast with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Paul Bettany and Hilarie Burton come together for a heart-warming story about starting over and learning what it's like to have a real family.

The Secret Life of Bees is set for release October 17, 2008

nContrast Premiere at W Hotel

It was lights, camera and action at the W Hotel in Chicago.....and at the W Hotel in Atlanta. Inspiring, Iconic, Innovative and Influential, W Hotels are the epitome in style and expression. nContrast was in both Atlanta and Chicago to celebrate the W's newest five-star additions. Host Chuck Faush got the ultimate star treatment and caught up with fellow celebs.

nContrast at Club Noir

Bobby Valentino, Sean P and Atlanta Falcons NFL player Chauncey Davis were just a few of the celebrities at nContrast's celebration in Atlanta. nContrast host Chuck Faush got one on one with some of today's biggest stars at one of the city's premiere spots--Club Noir.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008 is definitely the year of the action hero with multiple blockbuster hits like the return of Indiana Jones in "Indiana Jones and the Return of the Crystal Skull", Batman and the Joker in "The Dark Knight", Will Smith as the alcoholic and less than perfect superhero in "Hancock" and now Brendan Fraser in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."

In "The Mummy," Brendan Fraser returns as everyone's favorite explorer Rick O'Connell as he combats the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li) in an epic that takes viewers to the catacombs of ancient China and into the dangerous Himalayas. Co-starring in the all new adventure is Rick's son Alex (Luke Ford), wife Evelyn (Maria Bello) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah). Their greatest challenge yet is to stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000 year-old curse who threatens to destroy mankind.

Release Date: August 1, 2008

For exclusive behind the scene footage and interviews from "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," watch nContrast on BETJ 10PM EST.

Hellboy II Premiere

From the director of Pan's Labryrinth and Hellboy is Hellboy II: The Golden Army. nContrast host Chuck Faush gets a special inside look at this action saga. A story with a signature blend of action, humor and character based spectacle, the story of the world's toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold in Hellboy II. Bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains arrive in an epic vision of imagination from Oscar-nominated director Guillermo del Toro.



Chuck Faush at the Hell Boy Premiere



Chuck Faush with Yasmin Deliz of Telemundo



Chuck Faush with Reuters TV's Renee Punzalan and Ray Murphy

nContrast at BET Awards

nContrast host Chuck Faush headed out to L.A. yesterday to take part in the one of the best BET Award Shows to date. Celebrating today's talented Black Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports and other fields of entertainment, this year's award show honored true greats.

This year's winners include:

Best Female R&B Artist: Alicia Keys
Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown
Best Group: UGK
Best Gospel: Marvin Sapp
Best Female Hip Hop: Missy Elliott
Best Male Hip Hip: Kanye West
Video of the Year: UGK featuring Outkast
Best Actress: Halle Berry
Best Actor: Denzel Washington
Best Female Athlete: Candace Parker
Best Male Athlete: Kobe Bryant
Viewer's Choice: Lil' Wayne
BETJ Award: Raheem DeVaugn
Best New Artist: The Dream

Get Ready for Hancock

nContrast host Chuck Faush meets up with Will Smith for his latest release "Hancock," about a new kind of superhero.



2008 is definitely the year of the superhero with the release of "Wanted" and now "Hancock," starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron about the homeless, alcoholic, less than perfect superman Hancock who is despised by the public because of his laziness. After he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey, played by Jason Bateman, Ray Embrey works to help rehabilitate Hancock. It isn't until Hancock begins to have an affair with Ray's wife Mary, played by Charlize Theron, that he faces his greatest challenge.





Release date: July 3, 2008

nContrast Photos

New nContrast Photo Community

Wanted

nContrast host Chuck Faush takes on a new superhero at the "Wanted" premiere.



The story behind the comic book series "Wanted" finally makes it to the big screen and stars Hollywood A-list stars Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy. When Wesley Gibson, played by James McAvoy, is offered the opportunity to seek revenge in the murder of his assassin father, Gibson is invited by his father's partner Sloan, played by Morgan Freeman, to follow in his father's footsteps. Sloan's second in command Fox, played by Angelina Jolie, mentors Gibson. While Fox teaches Gibson how to develop lightning quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, the training comes with a price. Gibson learns he's part of a team that carries out death orders given by fate. Forced to choose between heroism and vengeance, Gibson will have to go against all he's learned to do what he feels is right.



Release Date: June 27, 2008

Let's Hear it for the Girls!

'Sex and the City's' $55 million opening weekend made 'Sex and the City' stars Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte superheroes.

Women flocked to the movies, and they didn't go solo but brought all their female friends to join. Let's hear it for the girls! 'Sex and the City' made cinematic history, despite recent blows to women in the media. From Hillary's defeat for the Democratic presidential nomination to the release of the highly anticipated 'Indiana Jones 4,' 'Sex' knocked the socks off the box office when it came in first place. Its numbers made it the best R-rated comedy to date and by far the best of all time for a romantic comedy. It also ranked first for a TV adaption. While it's uncertain whether 'Sex and the City' can maintain its momentum, it certainly made a statement.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media by Numbers said, "This is a blockbuster for women. This was to women what 'Indiana Jones' and 'Star Wars' let's say are to men.

The saying holds true. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and four years since 'Sex and the City's' season finale, the mania is greater than ever. Women of all ages were ready to tune back in to Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw and her posse as they take on new family, commitment, sex and style issues.

Media by Numbers:
(Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters

1. "Sex and the City" $55.7 million
2. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" $46 million
3. "The Strangers" $20.7 million
4. "Iron Man" $14 million
5. "The Chronicles of Narnia: Price Caspian" $13 million
6. "What Happens in Vegas" $6.9 million
7. "Baby Mama" $2.2 million
8. "Speed Racer" $2.1 million
9. "Made of Honor" $2 million
10. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" $1 million

Sex and the City Countdown

Set your calendars for May 29 because "Sex and the City" is almost here. Move aside Indiana Jones because there's a new man--no wait--there's a new lady (ladies) in town. HBO's four starlets are back on the big screen with "Sex and the City" the movie but the plot is anything but predictable. Yes, there's still fashion and romance but the movie's storyline takes a somewhat different direction than expected. Picking up where the series left off, Mr. Big finally makes the BIG proposal we waited six seasons for. Carrie and Mr. Big plan the wedding event of their lives. Everything seems perfect until the reality of marriage hits and throws the magical romance off kilter. Miranda deals with marriage pangs of her own as she tries to juggle marriage, motherhood and a career. And for Charlotte, a happy and stable marriage isn't enough to prepare her for pregnancy. Forced to trade in her stilettos for something a little more mom friendly, Charlotte takes on a new lifestyle. The one character we can rely on for the chase is the always seductive Samantha. While she's enjoying her new steamy romance, she isn't sure whether or not she is ready to commit.

So while the movie opens with the four favorite women we know and love, the movie closes with our ladies redefined. Yes, they're just as fashionable. Yes, there's still sex. Yes, there's romance. But yes to reality. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte learn there's more to life than the latest fashion and hot sex.

There's also tomorrow.

Snag your ticket for opening night and come with your eyes wide open because the movie version of "Sex and the City" will leave you torn, teary eyed and feeling triumphant.