Director Quentin Tarantino is a busy guy these days. He received the 2,559th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday and his new film on frontier justice, "The Hateful Eight," opens on Christmas Day.
Samuel L. Jackson, who stars in the film as an ex-Union soldier and bounty hunter, took the occasion of his 67th birthday to pay tribute to Tarantino. Jackson introduced his frequent collaborator and discussed how Tarantino feels about making movies and making sure the audience is first and foremost entertained.
"He's all about making films that make you happy because we went to the movies to be happy when we were kids, and as we grew up and we still do … Quentin is all about the business of movies as entertainment, and he sneaks a message in there, but he's going to entertain you as he gives it to you," he said.
Several other members of "The Hateful Eight" cast also attended, including Tim Roth, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demian Bichir, and Zoe Bell. Hundreds of fans turned out to support the director, but Los Angeles police presence was noticeably sparse, according to the Hollywood Reporter. After Tarantino, 52, attended a New York protest against police brutality in October, police unions called for a boycott of "The Hateful Eight."
Beethoven sheet music goes for $100,000
Sheet music written by Ludwig van Beethoven and found in a Connecticut home has fetched $100,000 at auction. Appraiser Brendan Ryan spotted the sheet music when he visited the home of a Greenwich woman looking to sell some belongings. He recognized Beethoven's handwriting in the German words, directions and symbols on the page because he'd seen it before. Research authenticated the music and determined it was from a sketchbook dating to 1810 and used by the composer for brainstorming.
Cage unwitting buyer of dinosaur skull
Nicolas Cage has agreed to give back a national treasure from Mongolia. The star's publicist confirmed Tuesday that Cage was the unwitting buyer of a dinosaur skull that federal prosecutors say was stolen. Prosecutors have been seeking court approval to take custody of the 32-inch fossil so it can be returned. Cage purchased the skull at a Los Angeles auction and received a certificate of authenticity, his publicist said. Investigators believe the skull was looted from the Gobi Desert and shipped through Japan to Gainesville, Fla., in June 2006 bearing a false customs label.
Associated Press
