by Katie Calautti

In between all those backyard parties and barbecues at the beach, Memorial Day weekend is a great time to hit the theater – which is why it’s one of the biggest movie-going weekends of the year.

So who emerged victorious in the battle of the box office titans? We had our suspicions yesterday, and Deadline confirmed them today: “X-Men: Days of Future Past” has totally crushed the competition.

Not only have the mutant superheroes bested the new Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore joint “Blended,” the radioactive monster of Gareth Edwards’ “Godzilla” and the shirtless wonder that is Zac Efron in “Neighbors,” but its projected $111 million four-day showing makes it the number 5 all-time Memorial Day opener.

Anyone up for reprising our game of “F–k, Marry, Kill” with the X-cast to celebrate?

Did you see “X-Men: Days of Future Past” this weekend?

MTV News Staff

by Kaite Calautti

Last night, HBO premiered director Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of writer Larry Kramer’s play documenting the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984. Mark Ruffalo (who first confirmed his role to MTV in 2010) plays the film’s central character, Ned Weeks, a gay man struggling to rally together support to combat a then-unknown disease rapidly killing members of the gay community.

The star-studded cast also includes Taylor Kitsch as a closeted investment banker, Matt Bomer as Weeks’ lover, Julia Roberts as a wheelchair-bound doctor leading the charge to understand the illness, Alfred Molina as Weeks’ brother, and Jim Parsons as an early supporter. We tuned in and cry-snotted ourselves accordingly, but did critics have as visceral (and tissue-strewn) a reaction?

Read on for our round-up of “The Normal Heart” reviews:

It Should’ve Been a Miniseries
“…Even at two hours and 15 minutes, it’s hard for Murphy and Kramer to cram in all the years, tears and politics. Whereas the play could be more direct, a film needs to breath a bit, but this one can’t — it’s a wonder that HBO didn’t make this a miniseries instead.” – Tim Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter

Ruffalo and Bomer Crush It
“Indeed, the casting of these two men alone gives the play new life. Ruffalo is a performer of such depth he could, and did, infuse the Hulk with soul. Meanwhile, Bomer’s fine work on ‘White Collar’ has proved him the actor Hollywood believed for decades could not exist ...

Warning: Spoilers from the “Mad Men” season finale are ahead.

As of last night’s midseason finale, there are only seven episodes left before “Mad Men” ends. But one of the old reliables of Sterling Cooper and Partners, a stalwart member of the “Mad Men” cast, has already taken his final bow.

Spoilers below.

During the midseason finale, titled “Waterloo,” the world of “Mad Men” watched in awe as Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. Don Draper, Peggy Olsen, Pete Campbell and Harry Crane watched in a crowded, booze-free motel room while on business in Indianapolis. Roger Sterling watched surrounded by family. And Bertram Cooper, a founding member of SC&P, watched from bed.

“Bravo,” he marveled at the television. And with that, he died.

“Matthew Weiner came to me and said, ‘Bobby, I want to talk to you… You’re going to pass away in this episode. I’m sorry,’” actor Robert Morse says of his character’s departure. “I said, ‘I perfectly understand.’”

The episode moves on after Cooper’s death, with several business deals still to be made. But Cooper returns at the very end, in the form of a song-and-dance fantasy that plays out purely in Don’s imagination. Cooper sings “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” surrounded by beautiful women, as he dances his way to his office and closes the door for good.

It’s a fitting tribute for Morse, who has won multiple Tony awards for his work on Broadway, most famously his turn as J. Pierpont Finch in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really ...

Justin Bieber and Lil’ Twist used to be the best of friends, but the two have seen their fair share of drama over the past year.

In 2013, Twist either moved or was kicked out of Bieber’s Calabasas, California home, after Justin and his boys had a series of run-ins with the law. The Young Money rapper was often painted in the media as a bad influence and now his YMCMB boss, Lil Wayne, is ready to take up for his artist — and he has Beiber’s manager Scooter Braun in his sights.

“I heard this bitchass n—a Scooter talkin’ sh– about my little brother,” Weezy said to the camera, in a new viral video, with his arm around Twist in a show of solidarity.

The video was shot by longtime Young Money director and documenatrian DJ Scoob Doo, and published exclusively on his website Bread Over Bed on Monday (May 26).

“N—a this my motherf—in’ brother, anything you got to say, when you see me say it to my motherf—in’ face,” an irate Wayne continued. “And if you do happen to say it to my motherf—in’ face, I ain’t gonna make you eat them words n—a, I’ma put them bitches on your tombstone.”

At the end of the 56-second clip Tunechi signs off with a vicious: “F— you Scooter!”

In November Twist took to Twitter and blasted Braun, accusing him of putting fake stories in the media that were meant to discredit Twist and make Bieber look ...

by Katie Calautti

Emma Watson is officially a college graduate! And while she cut a stunning figure at yesterday’s Brown University ceremony, we know there’s a lot more going on under that cap – Watson has seamlessly balanced a rigorous film career with her studies at the Ivy League school.

Since we’re in a celebratory mood, we got to wondering: if Watson were to give a commencement speech at our college, what life advice would she offer? So we cobbled together a few of her most introspective and intelligent quotes to get the effect. Behold: a comprehensive guide to surviving life’s dings and scrapes (so far), by the fabulous Miss Emma Watson:

“I don’t want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself.”

“I’ve probably earned the right to screw up a few times. I don’t want the fear of failure to stop me from doing what I really care about.”

“Becoming yourself is really hard and confusing, and it’s a process. It’s often not cool to be the person who puts themselves out there.”

“Sometimes I’ve felt a little constrained by that idea of who I’m meant to be.”

“Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to love.”

“All I can do is follow my instincts, because I’ll never please everyone.”

“I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m going to be who I really am. I’m going to figure out what that is.”

“But it’s a journey and the sad thing is you only learn ...

by Katie Calautti

Actress Christina Ricci has a very happy announcement: she’s pregnant!

Ricci confirmed the news after rumors flew following shots of her sporting what seemed to be a baby bump while passing through Los Angeles International Airport with husband James Heerdegen.

This will be the first child for Ricci and Heerdegen, who met on the set of “Pan Am” and married last October. No word yet on a due date, or whether the little one will be donning pink or blue booties.

Ricci recently starred in Lifetime’s delightfully twisted “Lizzie Borden Took an Ax” and – perhaps inadvertently looking to the future – recently voiced a character in the upcoming children’s film “The Hero of Color City.”

MTV News Staff

When you’re a superstar singer like Austin Mahone, you’re bound to run into some wild and weird fans along the way. Case in point: the time one of Austin’s “Mahomies” jumped inside his vehicle.

On Memorial Day, Mahone appeared on “The Today Show” for a live performance, with just hours to go before the arrival of his new album, “The Secret.” Before hitting the stage, Austin joined “Today Show” correspondent Carson Daly to field some video questions submitted by fans on Instagram, including a question asking about his craziest fan encounter.

“One time this girl hopped in my car when I was on my way driving home from a show,” he remembered. “And I looked over and I was like, ‘I’ve never seen you before. What are you doing?’”

What could have been the start of one of the weirdest real-life romantic comedies ended before it really began.

“I had to,” Austin said when asked if he asked the girl to leave his car. “I couldn’t just take her home!”

Maybe, maybe not — that’s a debate for another time. What’s not up for debate is the fact that Mahone’s “The Secret” will be available in its entirety, for Mahomies far and wide, at midnight tonight.

Josh Wigler

Financial problems can cause any relationship to falter, and on tonight’s episode of “16 and Pregnant,” we’ll meet Aleah, who gets into an ugly fight with her daughter’s father, Shawn, about him owing money for unpaid traffic tickets.

In the sneak peek below, we see the dispute quickly escalate as the young couple battle over the mounting fines. Aleah is understandably upset by her boyfriend’s irresponsible behavior, but Shawn’s mom, Angie, tries to downplay the issue.

“It’s gonna happen, you guys are gonna have money problems probably the rest of your life,” she tells the new parents.

Aleah senses there’s no use in arguing with both Shawn and his mother, and starts to gather her things to leave, but Shawn’s temper flares up.

“I don’t need a second mom, I need a girlfriend!” he shouts at her. “I need a mother of my children, not of me.”

After Aleah unsuccessfully tries to explain that the money could have been spent on Baby Peyton, Shawn tries to reason that “that’s what tax time’s for.”

Exhausted and defeated, Aleah says she needs to move out, but Shawn and Angie won’t let her take Peyton. “You better go find something to do to cool your f**king head because I’m keeping my daughter,” Shawn says, antagonistically. “[Peyton’s] not going nowhere.”

Watch the video, and tune in to “16 and Pregnant” tonight at 10/9c to see if Aleah and Shawn can put their money issues aside and make things work for their little girl.

May 26, 2014 | No Comments on ’16 And Pregnant’ Sneak Peek: Will A Fight Over Finances Tear Two Young Parents Apart?

Read More →

Lana Del Rey’s holiday weekend can be described with four words: many shades of cool.

Not only did the “Summertime Sadness” singer perform at the the Palace of Versailles rehearsal dinner for the epic Kimye wedding, she dropped a bombshell of her own: a new single from her upcoming album, “Ultraviolence.”

The new single, titled “Shades of Cool,” lives up to its name, a collaboration with Rick Nowels, the Grammy award-winner who teamed up with Del Rey for “Summertime Sadness” and “Young and Beautiful.” The new track tells the tale of an “invincible” man who drives a Chevy Malibu, lives in California, and is the proud owner of an “unbreakable” heart.

Del Rey sings:

“But you are invincible
I can’t break to through your world
‘Cause you live in shades of cool
Your heart is unbreakable.”

Lana Del Rey’s “Ultraviolence” drops in full next month.

What do you think of Lana’s new single?

Josh Wigler

Ah, Memorial Day. The unofficial start of summer. A day for respecting and remembering the sacrifices of those who fought for our country. It also happens to be a prime opportunity to turn on the grill and enjoy a little together time.

Grilling is not only a backyard tradition, it’s a movie tradition as well. Many a pivotal scene has taken place around the grill, whether it’s the humiliation of “Varsity Blues,” the gross-out of “Pain and Gain” or the awkwardness of “Waterboy.” In the movies, as in life, the BBQ is the place to be.

We may not want to attend all of them (sorry, “Final Destination 2″ and “Pain and Gain”), but that doesn’t mean we love them any less. In honor of the charred meats we will be consuming this Memorial Day, here are some of our favorite movie BBQs.

“Wet Hot American Summer”

Anywhere Paul Rudd is, we want to be. Yes, even here. “It’s pretty foul.”

“Neighbors”

It’s a newbie but a goodie: we deeply appreciate Zac Efron’s shirtless grilling endeavors while he terrorizes Seth Rogen. Delta Psi has the upper hand, indeed.

“Pain and Gain”

The Rock knows what’s cookin’, even when it’s human flesh. His top tip for a good char? “You gotta cook this s–t outside. It got really smokey in there, Danny.”

“Fast & Furious”

Vin Diesel has rules: If you’re the first to get the chicken, you have to say grace.

“Varsity Blues”

I don’t want your life — but I will take one of those burgers.

“Waterboy”

Everybody who was thirsty got ...