It can be so hard to divine the true meaning behind actors' cryptic comments. Take the enigmatic Jason Bateman. The co-star of the new made-in-Atlanta film "The Change-Up," went on "The Daily Show" the other day and told Jon Stewart, "It's crap." Compounding the mystery, Bateman added, "The movie's garbage." How are we supposed to decipher coded language like that?
We think what Bateman really meant was, "It was an honor to work with the talented Paul Barlow of Kennesaw. I've never seen an extra bring more energy to a scene." Sigh. We tried.
Bateman's co-star Ryan Reynolds discussed the buddy flick on "The Tonight Show" this week and told Jay Leno that while Atlanta is a nice place, he couldn't wait to leave. "I was pretty convinced early on that Atlanta was trying to kill me," said Reynolds, who detailed a harrowing few months here.
On the first day of filming, his trailer caught on fire. Two days later a pipe broke, flooding the replacement trailer. "My hotel room flooded. My dog got sick. I came down with a slight case of divorce and I broke my pinky finger," said Reynolds, who split with actress Scarlett Johansson while he was here. "I was begging to get out of Atlanta at that point, no offense to Atlanta. It's a fantastic place but it really wants my blood."
Oh, and remember the winter storm that paralyzed the city? Reynolds does. “By the end, I was just about to get out of there and a freak ice storm hits,” he said. “I would have moonwalked home if they had let me.” The movie opened Friday. Be sure to go see it. Or ... not.
Toni Braxton, Kenny Leon to be honored
The Georgia Music Fall of Fame in Macon shut down this summer after years of poor attendance, but the entity's lack of a physical structure hasn't scotched the 33rd annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards. The show, you know, must go on. This year's inductees include Toni Braxton, the singer turned reality show star; actor-director Kenny Leon; and vocal coach and music mentor Jan Smith, who counts Justin Bieber and Usher among her clients.
Other honorees include the group Mothers Finest and promoter Paul Cochran. Jazz cabaret star Judy Argo will be honored posthumously. "We are excited to continue recognizing Georgia's outstanding contributions to the music industry and will continue the awards show as we have done for 32 years," said Bobbie Bailey, president of the Friends of Georgia Music Festival. "Our first ceremony was in 1979 when Ray Charles and Bill Lowery were inducted." The event is planned for 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. It will air live on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Tickets start at $50. See www.cobbenergycentre.com for details.
Celebrity birthdays
Country musician Mark DuFresne (Confederate Railroad) is 58. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 55. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 41. Singer Geri Halliwell is 39. Actor Jason O'Mara is 39. Singer-actor David Campbell is 38. Actress Vera Farmiga is 38. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 35. Actress Melissa George is 35. Rock musician Eric Roberts (Gym Class Heroes) is 27.
Contributing: news services
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