Oprah Winfrey on Precious: Don't Expect to "Enjoy" It
Steve Granitz/Getty Images
Director Lee Daniels insists he never thought that his new movie, Precious, would have much success.
In fact, he never even thought it would be released in theaters.
"I thought it was going to go straight to DVD," Daniels told me last night at Precious' AFI Fest 2009 presented by Audi premiere in Hollywood. "I mean, who was going to want to see a movie about an obese black girl learning how to read?"
But then he got a call from Oprah Winfrey…
Tyler Perry's Time to Take a Break
Jerome Ware/ZUMA Press; Madea Productions
Tyler Perry is hanging up his Madea muumuu.
The prolific producer, who's been churning out a Tyler Perry's Something-or-Other film every six months while also helming the hit sitcom House of Payne, says that after the Nov. 1 premiere of the gritty indie drama Precious, which he executive-produced, he's taking the rest of the year off.
"I just need a break," says the barely 40-year-old filmmaker, whose seven family-friendly movies, most of which feature him fat-suited up as sassy matriach Madea, have grossed more than $360 million at the box office after being made for comparably negligible sums.
We think he's allowed—not that Perry is even really thinking of himself at this time.
Toronto Notebook: Oprah Mania + Obama Shocker!
George Pimentel/Getty Images
Recent events at the Toronto Film Fest ran from high-power star sightings to high-minded public policy. Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry brought eyes—and surprise guests—to their gritty flick Precious, while fiery filmmaker Michael Moore dropped hints that he might be eyeing a doc about...Barack Obama?
Here's how it all went down:
Update
It's Tyler Perry's Weekend—Again
Quantrell Colbert/Lionsgate
Tim Burton's 9 didn't have a chance at dominating the weekend box office—not against the mogul whose name really counts: Tyler Perry.
The latest Perry-branded dramedy, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, led all films with a $24 million Friday-Sunday take, estimates showed. The Burton-produced CGI tale 9, which opened Wednesday, was second with $10.9 million.
Also finishing in second—in advance ticket sales—was New Moon, which, per Fandango, headed into the weekend as its top seller after I Can Do Bad All By Myself.
Drilling down into the standings—and, yes, down is where you'll find Sorority Row and Whiteout:
Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri Call It Quits?
Alexandra Wyman/WireImage.com
Another day, another breakup rumor for Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri.
US Weekly reported this morning that the couple has split after almost seven years together because they are "polar opposites [who] were never too compatible." Jackson is shy and private, while Dupri is a gregarious charmer who loves to be out and about.
Buzz that the relationship had taken a recent dive began circulating after Dupri was a no-show at Michael Jackson's memorial service...
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