Look To The Stars News: Ryan Reynolds

Michael J. Fox Rocks For A Cure

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Michael J. Fox proved that he can still rock like Marty McFly during the weekend when he appeared on stage at his annual A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson’s gala at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Saturday.

The gala benefited his Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research, and the evening saw Fox join rockers such as Roger Daltrey, Steven Tyler and Elvis Costello on stage for a jam. The event was emceed by Denis Leary, and guests such as Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Scorsese and Ben Stiller were spotted enjoying the evening.

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease within the decade through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.

Stars Support Indie Filmmaking And Social Causes At Los Angeles Film Festival

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

There was no shortage of stars out to support independent film at this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival in Westwood Village.

Having the festival in the area despite these trying economic times helps restaurants and other businesses reap the benefits. The film festival began on June 18 with the world premiere of The Paper Man starring Jeff Daniels and Ryan Reynolds and ended June 28th. The world premieres of Transformers and Public Enemies also took place at the festival. Fans lined the streets to see Megan Fox, Michael Bay, Christian Bale and Johnny Depp.

Despite the bigger budget film debuts, the heartbeat of the Los Angeles Film Festival is independent movies. Film Independent is a non-profit arts organization. Their mission is to champion the cause of independent film and support a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision.

This is evidenced in films such as the Stoning of Soraya. The Iranian film screened to a packed house given the political climate of Iran. Khaled Hosseini, writer of the academy award nominated and best selling book The Kite Runner was emcee for The Stoning of Soraya screening. Hosseini has no direct association with film but after seeing the story, he wanted to support a film which lends a voice to oppressed and voiceless women in Iran and around the world.

Oscar nominated Melissa Leo joined the Q & A for Dear Lemon Lima, a film which centers a teenage girl of Caucasian and Yupik Indian heritage. This film incorporates sharing traditions of Eskimo culture. Leo is a supporting actress in the film. There were many other celebrities, including Erin Brokovitch, on hand to discuss social awareness in film or to support socially conscience film.

Best Picks at Los Angeles Film Festival

Foreign Language: The Stoning of Soraya
Given the climate of the times and the poignant story, it would not be a surprise to see this film get an Oscar nod for best foreign language film. Based on a best selling book and true story, the film is set in Iran, but had to be filmed in other Middle East locations. The language spoken is Farsi. The story sheds light on the story behind the unjust stoning of Muslim woman. The broader platform is the lack of women’s rights that still occurs. This film left barely a dry eye in the house and stomach which didn’t feel punched by the end. Jim Caveziel and Shohreh Aghdashloo lend their star power to the film. See more details at www.thestoning.com.

Narrative: Dear Lemon Lima
Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo joins a cast of virtual unknowns in a refreshing and very original teenage coming of age film. The story which takes place in Alaska centers on a teenage girl wrestling with her mixed ethnic background of Caucasian and Yupik heritage. She physically looks White and identifies White culture primarily because her non-white parent was never really apart of her life. This film takes an unconventional route to showcasing elements of Eskimo and Native American culture. There is so much more to Dear Lemon Lima including young love, acceptance and coming into your own. It was hidden jewels at the fest and a film full of surprises, wacky as Napoleon Dynamite.

Documentary: Bananas
Bananas is one of the most talked about and controversial films at the fest this year as it chronicles the global politics of the Standard Fruit Company (now Dole) in regards to the first Nicaraguan sterility case tried in US courts. In a statement provided by the film festival, it states “The festival believes that questions of great public interest are presented by this film and are exactly what we ought to be talking and thinking about in a responsible society. The film is not being presented for the truth of the matters asserted. It is to stimulate discussion…” This film was taken out of the film festival as competitive.

Join Ryan Reynolds At Wolverine Premiere

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Today, April 27, is your last day to bid on tickets to the premieres Ryan Reynolds' latest movies, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Proposal, for charity.

The actor – and husband of Scarlett Johansson – is selling the tickets to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

This is your chance to see one of the most anticipated films of the summer before anyone else. Ryan Reynolds is the first Celebrity Chair of Team Fox, The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s grassroots community fundraising program made up of hundreds of volunteers across the country. In November of 2008, Reynolds ran the ING NYC Marathon for Team Fox raising over $100,000 for Parkinson’s research. His incredible fundraising efforts continue with the auction of the X-Men Origins: Wolverine tickets.

“I am proud to be a part of this team of dedicated and motivated people who are getting out there and making a difference,” said Ryan. “The Michael J. Fox Foundation is doing whatever it takes to improve patients’ quality of life and deliver a cure to people living with PD, like my father.”

To be part of the auction, click here. The event is on Tuesday, April 28, at the Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Buy Halle Berry's Favorite Bag For Charity

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Halle Berry is donating some love this holiday season after teaming up with Coach Leatherware for a special promotion: Coach Cares.

Coach developed Coach Cares as a way to support the philanthropic causes of various celebrity fans by donating a percentage of the sales from handbags and accessories to charity.

Now through December 31, you can help Berry’s charity of choice, the Jenesse Center – which aids victims of domestic violence – by purchasing the suede ‘Halle Berry Style Coach Bag’ where 20% of the proceeds will benefit Jenesse Center.

This unique viral campaign allows celebrities to highlight their charitable interests and raise awareness and funds for their favorite causes. Participants include Jessica Alba, Evangeline Lily, Eva Longoria, Mandy Moore, Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson, Rebecca Romijn, Ali Larter, Kerry Washington and many others, and charities include Peace Games, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Eva's Heroes, the SPCA, The Art of Elysium, V-Day and more.

Coach Cares will be featured on www.coach.com and www.facebook.com, the popular social networking Web site, and will run now through Dec. 31st. The products can be purchased here.

A Funny Thing Happened...

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Scarlett Johansson was among the incredible list of stars showing their support at the Michael J. Fox Foundation's annual benefit, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Cure Parkinson’s.

Along with her husband, Ryan Reynolds (who recently ran the NYC Marathon for Fox’s foundation), Johansson joined Michael J. Fox, Elizabeth Berkley, Martin Scorsese and Ben Stiller at the New York event.

A performance by The Who ensured that the evening rocked as guests mingled and raised awareness and funds for the charity.

In previous years, the event has raised between $4 and $6 million in a single night — this year’s total is yet to be announced.

Fox founded the organization after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991. To date, the foundation has funded $128 million in research for a cure.

Ryan Reynolds Runs Marathon, Fights Parkinson's

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

On Sunday actor Ryan Reynolds achieved his dual goals of running the NYC Marathon and raising funds for research into Parkinson’s Disease.

The star of Smokin’ Aces and Chaos Theory finished the race in a respectable 3 hours and 50 minutes, running for Team Fox, a community started by the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson’s research.

Reynolds has a personal connection to Michael J. Fox's project — his father Jim Reynolds has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for 15 years. “Witnessing my Dad suffer over the years galvanized my need to step up,” he wrote on his TeamFox page.

Meeting Fox prompted Reynolds to make a commitment:

“I found it impossible not to be touched by his story of overwhelming strength, passion and relentless commitment to help those afflicted with this insidious disease. The man is inspiration exemplified. Plus, he was in Back To The Future. Which was, well, awesome. In a moment of extremely poor judgment, I offered to do something big for him—I offered to compete in the New York City Marathon. Which was, well… dumb.”

Two years later, the self-described “running joke” has made good on his promise, describing his training routine as “nothing short of horrifying”, but the race itself as “incredible”.

“When I saw Michael J. Fox on Fifth Avenue, I gained about 15 pounds in goose bumps,” said Reynolds. “It kind of pushed me through the last six miles or so.”

Reynold’s mother and brother welcomed him at the finish line, and his wife Scarlett Johansson was expected out on the route to offer her support, after spending her Saturday campaigning for Barack Obama at an Ohio university.

The actor’s challenge has netted in excess of $80,000 in contributions to the charity so far. It’s not too late to add to the total: visit Ryan’s funny and touching TeamFox page to find out more, and perhaps make a donation yourself.

5 Friends Voting Video Makes A Comeback

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Hollywood is a land of sequels – and so be prepared for another one. Hot on the heals of last month’s 5 Friends video organized by Declare Yourself comes 5 Friends 2.

With only days until the US elections, a new video has been produced to encourage people to get out and vote, with stars such as Orlando Bloom, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Ben Stiller, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Justin Timberlake, Zach Braff, Colin Farrell, Neil Patrick Harris, Scarlett Johansson, Shia LeBeouf, Tobey Maguire, Ryan Reynolds, and Jason Segal making an appearance.

Along with a selection of people off the street, the stars say exactly why they are voting.

Even Sacha Baron Cohen makes an appearance as Borat.

“What you do inside a voting booth is a secret,” he says as only Borat can. “Nice…!”

And they are not the only ones encouraging people to vote. Zac Efron, Monique Coleman, and the rest of the cast of High School Musical 3 have lent their voices to the Declare Yourself organization with a series of voting videos.

All the videos can be found on the Declare Yourself website. But hurry, you’ve only got until November 4 to make yourself heard and be counted.

Ryan Reynolds To Run For Parkinson's

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

After watching runners approach the finish line of the New York Marathon a few years ago, Ryan Reynolds was deeply moved by their self inflicted physical states of not-well-being. So much so that he decided, “I’d never do that ever, ever.”

He says, “I saw an incredible spectacle of people pushed to the very brink of collapse… I saw guys coming in to finish with bleeding nipples… People were crying. People were limping, hobbling, screaming, crawling.”

On November 2nd, however, Reynolds will take to the New York streets for this year’s marathon as a member of Team Fox in support of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. When Reynolds – whose father has been suffering from Parkinson’s for 15 years – met Michael J. Fox last year, he was inspired into doing something for both the cause and for his father.

In a wonderfully humorous yet heartfelt plea on his Team Fox page, Reynolds wrote: "I found it impossible not to be touched by [Michael’s] story of overwhelming strength, passion and relentless commitment to help those afflicted with this insidious disease. The man is inspiration exemplified. Plus, he was in Back To The Future. Which was, well, awesome. In a moment of extremely poor judgment, I offered to do something big for him—I offered to compete in the New York City Marathon. Which was, well, dumb.

“I am not a runner. I am a running joke. Waking up at 4:30 am and jogging anywhere from 11 to 23 miles has been nothing short of horrifying. I can’t imagine a worse way to start the day. Conversely, some people have real problems.”

Watching his father’s independence slip away, Reynolds has committed to the marathon, for better or worse: “It’s my hope the story of my father combined with my own goal of becoming the first person in history to sob uncontrollably for 26.2 miles straight, may inspire you to give something too.”

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