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The James Franco Backlash

After months of wearying announcements about James Franco’s projects, followed by his lame Oscar hosting, and now a Twitter fight with Bruce Vilanch, Chris Lee says STOP FRANCO.

As anybody with even an ambient knowledge of the celebrity news cycle is already abundantly aware, James Franco has been doing myriad things over the last few months–very few having to do with his day job as an Oscar-nominated actor.

Digital art coursework at the Rhode Island School of Design simultaneous with an English Ph.D. at Yale? Check. Opening a "secret" bar in Los Angeles while his artwork is shown at two galleries in Berlin? Affirmative. And that's all in between recording sessions for an album with the cross-dressing performer Kalup Linzy as well as, oh, appearing in movies, like the stoner swords-and-chainmail comedy, Your Highness, which opens April 8.

But what has come out in the jet-wash of comedy writer Bruce Vilanch's seemingly incendiary comments toabout the actor/Renaissance man earlier this week is that Franco, in his self-assumed role as the great Polymath of Popular Culture, is beginning to get on people's nerves. With his latest career incarnation no longer new news, the act is wearing a little thin.

"James Franco has become a monster and must be stopped," blared a sub-headline of a story on Franco fatigue in the New York Post earlier this month. The New Yorker, meanwhile, dubbed the actor's media ubiquity "Francophrenia."

And taking aim in an opinion piece about the star's social networking skills, The Yale Daily News opined in late February: "James Franco, your Twitter sort of sucks."

It's easy enough to forget he wasn't always amovie star who hob-knobs with the likes of Terence Koh and Jeffrey Deitch at art world bashes, or the writer of not-terribly-wellshort fiction collections and op-eds for The . Franco's sheer volume of different projects–he's going to star in a Wizard of Oz reboot! He's going toof William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying AND Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian!–can mask the raging ego behind it all.

Despite the crinkly smile and aura of free-floating irony that seem to be Franco's default public persona, there is a competing James Franco, an abstraction. Not the Franco who hovers above the Hollywood fray and is deemed infinitely more compelling by extension. This is the thin-skinned Gucci model Franco who hurls tweeted insults with the churlish gusto of Kanye West.

Calling Vilanch out for his work with the Divine Miss M–oh snap!

To recap the most recent events in the Franco File: his disastrous turn as an Oscar co-host last month unleashed a torrent oTV critic scorn and a floodstream of Twitter hateration that had the actor's name trending on Twitter alongside such terms as "failed" and "boring." Then this week, head Oscars telecast writer Vilanch was button-holed by a reporter at a red carpet event where he was quoted as having said, "I have to call James Franco and tell him the show's over. He doesn't know. He took a nap and woke up in class." Moreover, Vilanch purportedly said that as a result of the actor's lack of preparation Franco also "didn't get there" performance-wise. And perhaps most condemning, Vilanch admitted wondering if Franco's charisma-challenged mien was "a performance-art prank" of some kind.

Which is where things get interesting. While Franco has felt sufficiently over-exposed enough lately to bypass doing the usual amount of press for Your Highness–and his publicist declined to make him available for this story–he still found time to go into social media attack mode, responding quite unlike the earnest post-graduate he has painted himself to be since 2009, when he earned a bachelor's degree in English from UCLA.

Gangsta Franco suddenly reared his head with an angry tweet that hit the Web just hours after Vilanch's supposed remarks surfaced. "James fucked up the Oscars," the actor sarcastically scrawled in Perez Hilton-like photo shop marker over an image of him with Vilanch. "Trust me, I know comedy I mean I write for Bette Midler."

Calling Vilanch out for his work with the Divine Miss M–oh snap!

And that wasn't even the first time Franco had put a nemesis on Twitter blast. Last month, after the "Franco, your Twitter sort of sucks" piece, the artist-writer-performer responded with a Twitpic of himself wearing sunglasses accompanied by digital scrawl proclaiming: "Fuck the Yale Daily News."

You almost expect him to start using Charlie Sheen's #fastball hashtag and referring to himself as a "warlock" at this point.

Of course, abiding by the rules of any good tempest in an Information Age teacup, Vilanch quickly distanced himself from his remarks, blaming the journalist who wrote the item for taking him out of context: "I was JOKING with this guy on the red carpet about all the sleeping jokes with you," Vilanchthe performer posted on his Twitter account. "[He] then got vehement about how bad you were and I was trying to DEFEND you. I don't know what version, what context you read these remarks in, but believe me, I would never diss you."

And Franco, having claimed his pound of Web flesh, framed Vilanch's apology on Twitter with a sheepish counter apology--"Thanks Bruce, sorry for reading stupid blogs. Heart James"–before deleting the whole thing from his account.

Growing cultural impatience with Franco's arty schtick can be attributed, at least in part, to a certain confusion surrounding his motive; it ceased to be clear when the actor was and wasn't performing a long time ago.

So what's the takeaway? Asked last month by thewhat he gets from doing art that he doesn't get from performing in movies, Franco provided an insightful–if appropriately meta-narrative–explanation of his current professional modus operandi.

"In a normal commercial narrative film, I'm playing a character in order to support the imaginary world of that film," Franco said. "I'm acting in such a way that people will believe in that world, right? And if I act in a way that draws attention to the fact that I am a performer in a commercial film, usually people will consider that bad acting. But if I do it in this context, I can act in all sorts of ways. I can act badly, I can act silly, I can draw attention to the fact that it's all a performance."

Chris Lee is a senior entertainment writer for Newsweek/The Daily Beast. He previously worked as an entertainment and culture reporter for the Los Angeles Times. His work has also appeared in Vibe, Premiere and Details magazines and has been plagiarized in The Sunday Tribune of Ireland and The Trinidad Guardian.

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Nations divided over what Libyan endgame should be

International leaders struggled to figure out an endgame Tuesday for Moammar Gadhafi's tottering regime, as British Prime Minister David Cameron accused the Libyan leader of shooting and starving his opponents into submission.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Arab League, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen and up to 40 foreign ministers attended the talks, seeking to ratchet up the pressure on Gadhafi to quit.

In his opening speech, Cameron said the conference at London's Lancaster House would sketch out how the world could help Libya on a path to a post-Gadhafi rule.

"The reason for being here is because the Libyan people cannot reach that future on their own," Cameron said. "We are all here in one united purpose, that is to help the Libyan people in their hour of need."

Cameron said Britain had received reports that Gadhafi was pounding Misrata, the main rebel holdout in the west, with attacks from land and sea, and relentlessly targeting civilians.

"Gadhafi is using snipers to shoot them down and let them bleed to death in the street. He has cut off food, water and electricity to starve them into submission," Cameron said.

Clinton said the international community must support calls for democracy sweeping Libya and its neighbors, but warned that change would not be easily won.

"Under different governments, under different circumstances, people are expressing the same basic aspirations: A voice in their government, an end to corruption, freedom from violence and fear, the chance to live in dignity and to make the most of their God-given talents," Clinton said. "These goals are not easily achieved. But they are, without question, worth working for together."

Outside the summit, about 70 protesters held pro-Gadhafi placards, sounded bullhorns and led chants of "Hands off Libya!" One placard read: "We can resolve our problems without you."

Representatives of one anti-Gadhafi group, the Interim National Council, called meetings earlier Tuesday with Clinton and British Foreign Secretary William Hague "very constructive." It was not attending the main conference.

Mahmoud Shammam, a council spokesman, outlined the group's vision for a post-Gadhafi Libya.

"The aspirations of the Libyan people are to be free, to live under a constitutional democratic system," Shammam told a press conference. "(We have) had enough of tyranny."

But he suggested the Libyans were prepared to fight their own battle. Though the international community had a responsibility to intervene and prevent "mass genocide," what comes next is up to the Libyan people, he said.

"We are not asking for any non-Libyan to come and change the regime," he told reporters.

But even nations that backed the internationally enforced no-fly zone to protect civilians in Libya are far from unanimous on what to do next.

Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said several nations are behind a proposal to swiftly end the conflict, setting out plans for a cease-fire, exile for Gadhafi and a framework for talks on Libya's future between tribal leaders and opposition figures.

Turkey, which has offered to mediate a permanent cease-fire, said the London talks should gauge international support for scenarios under which Gadhafi could go into exile.

But British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the meeting was "not going to choose Col. Gadhafi's retirement home."

"Of course where he goes, if he goes, is up to him and the people of Libya to determine," he said.

Frattini suggested earlier that several African counties could offer Gadhafi a haven, but African Union chairman Jean Ping decided not to attend the London conference.

U.N. special envoy Abdelilah al-Khatib, a former Jordanian foreign minister, is returning to Libya to hold talks with Gadhafi's regime and opposition figures. The U.S. is also sending diplomat Chris Stevens to the rebel-held Libyan city of Benghazi to meet with rebel leaders.

Hague and Clinton met with Libyan opposition envoy Mahmoud Jibril of the Interim National Council, which has pledged to work toward new presidential and parliamentary elections after Gadhafi's ouster, uphold human rights, draft a national constitution and encourage the formation of political parties.

Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a joint statement, said Jibril's council could play a key role in deciding Libya's future — but stressed it would likely not be the only party involved. They urged Gadhafi loyalists to seize a final chance to abandon the dictator and side with those seeking political reform.

Libya's deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim told a news conference in Tripoli that foreign leaders had no right to attempt to impose a new political system on the country. "The Libyan people are the only ones that have the right to decide the country's future," he told reporters.

Kaim called on nations at the London talks to agree on a peace deal.

"We call upon Obama and the Western leaders to be peacemakers not warmongers, and not to push Libyans towards a civil war and more death and destruction," he said.

The London meeting was also to address disputes over the scope of NATO-led coalition airstrikes and to more clearly define the extent of cooperation between Libya's rebel groups and international military commanders.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov — who was not at the talks — says the international air campaign that began March 19 has breached the terms of the U.N. resolution that authorized the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya.

Cameron insists the coalition had not gone beyond its mandate, but acknowledged the impact had been to force Gadhafi's military into a retreat from a number of key towns.

Sweden, which is not a full member of NATO, said it will send up to eight JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to help NATO enforce the no-fly zone, but said the planes cannot be used to attack ground targets in Libya.

___

Hadeel al-Shalchi, in Tripoli, Cassandra Vinograd and Bradley Klapper in London, Louise Nordstrom, in Stockholm, Colleen Barry, in Milan, and Luc van Kemenade in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, contributed to this report

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On the net:

Libya Conference:

"Killing Bono" tribute to rock's hall of failures

New film "Killing Bono" is a tragi-comic tribute to rock'n'roll's countless flops, and tells the true story of two brothers who began as U2's friends and rivals but ended up on the scrapheap of musical history.

The movie, which has a gala screening in London on Monday and hits theatres on Friday, is based on music journalist Neil McCormick's memoirs of the same name, although its makers took considerable liberties with the source material.

Unlike in the movie, for example, McCormick never did pull a gun on his school friend and nemesis Bono, even if much of his youth was consumed with an unhealthy obsession for U2's staggering success and his own failure as a singer.

"The script takes whatever liberties it wants from the book," McCormick, rock critic of the Daily Telegraph newspaper, told Reuters. "The beginning is quite similar to mine and then it launches into its own version in a kind of parallel universe."

Another fictional twist in the film, directed by Nick Hamm, is how Neil hid the fact that U2 had asked his bandmate and brother Ivan to join them, so sure was he that his group Shook Up! would eventually eclipse its rivals.

He said he was less dogmatic than his character in the movie, but actor Ben Barnes, best known for his lead role in Narnia blockbuster "Prince Caspian," did capture some key traits that contributed to his downfall as a musician.

"Back in the 1980s I counted all my chickens before they hatched and none of them actually hatched," he said.

"I messed a lot of things up. We made a lot of mistakes and I was driven by the kind of ambition that leads to mistakes."

According to the film, those mistakes included rejecting the help Bono offered in U2's early days and putting too much faith in slippery music executives.

MUSIC BUSINESS IS TOUGH

As well as being about personal failings and professional downfall, McCormick said Killing Bono had a wider message.

"In fact the book is really about how hard it is in the music business," he explained. "The difference between us and U2 was about 10 percent and that 10 percent was luck."

U2 members have seen the film, and, while not vouching for its accuracy, a source close to the band said they enjoyed the comedy and its portrayal of the early days in 1970s Dublin.

Drummer Larry Mullen founded the group when, as a teenager at school, he posted an advertisement for people to form a band, and Ivan McCormick took part in the first practice sessions in Mullen's home.

"Those early scenes are very close to the truth of the life we lived," McCormick said. "I see Larry's kitchen and feel the intense nostalgia of a time of life that wasn't recorded."

The official soundtrack, released as an album on Monday by Sony Music, includes a previously unreleased track by The Hype, as U2 used to be called. "Street Mission" is included alongside U2 classic "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

"U2 allowed us to use that (Street Mission) and it is an indication of their support for the film," said McCormick, who is still in contact with his old school friend Bono. "They are very picky about where they allow their songs to go."

The movie also features the last screen performance of British actor Pete Postlethwaite, who died in January aged 64.

The frail-looking Oscar nominee played the McCormicks' camp landlord, rather than the original role he was offered of a criminal gangster who funds the brothers' first concerts.

"The part of the gay landlord was slightly reinvented. They wrote it especially for him as a farewell part," McCormick said. "He was really only able to do the takes and then would retire."

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

3D smartphone showdown: LG Optimus 3D vs. HTC EVO 3D

T Thrill 4G)

We have to hand this one to LG. We were unable to look at both phones side-by-side, but LGs 3D demonstrations had a lot more depth to them and the 3D viewing angles were slightly more relaxed on the Optimus. To be more specific though, LG created menus and software that specifically shows off the power of its 3D. HTC hasnt really done this yet. Its weather app had some fun 3D effects, but to really experience 3D, you had to open the camera. Neither device used 3D in the traditional menus. Representatives said this would drain the battery and strain the eyes. I agree.

On the lower left side of the LG Optimus there is a dedicated 3D button that opens up a rotating 3D cart with camera, games, apps, YouTube 3D, and other options full of 3D-specific content. Were giving this category to the Optimus because it attempts to make 3D an experience instead of an underused feature. Several full games were rendered in 3D, something we did not see on HTCs device.

HorsepowerWinner: HTC EVO 3D

Both the EVO 3D and Optimus are great phones where it relates to specs, but the EVO pulls ahead. While there have been a lot of 1GHz dual-core processors floating around the show, the HTC EVO 3D is the first Ive seen with a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor. The Optimus has a 1GHz TI processor. In addition, though both screens are 4.3 inches, the EVO 3D also has a higher resolution at 540960; LGs display is a respectable 480800. Both devices also have a full 1GB of RAM, but the LG has double the storage of HTCs device with 8GB. For some reason, HTC chose to only include 4GB of internal storage. However, where it lacks in storage, the EVO 3D makes up for in 4G WiMax support on Sprint. Despite the word 4G in carrier name (AT&T Thrill 4G), AT&Ts HSPA+ high speed network doesnt hold up to Verizon or Sprints LTE and WiMax networks. HTCs EVO also has dual speakers, though it was too loud to try and figure out the benefit a second speaker brings.

CameraWinner: HTC EVO 3D

Both devices have dual stereoscopic 5MP 3D rear cameras and 1.3MP front cameras, but HTCs device simply takes better photographs, overall. The 3D photos from both cameras had decent depth, but HTCs camera took better 2D pictures, especially in lower light. The HTC EVO pictures were more colorful and higher quality overall during the brief time I spent with the devices. HTCs camera software was more sophisticated, with more options and a display that showed pictures more naturally in 2D before it shifted to 3D.

Though the LG Optimus has a dedicated 3D button that opens up its 3D menu, HTC has a built in 2D/3D toggle that directly connects to its camera, which has a very nice round button. So for those interested in camera features, HTC appears to have had this in mind first and foremost. Both devices can shoot 1080p video in 2D and 720p in 3D, but I did not get a chance to shoot any moving video on either.

Operating SystemWinner: HTC EVO 3D

There isnt much debate here. HTC is running on a brand new version of Sense built over Googles new Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. Not only do users get the performance and battery improvements of Gingerbread, but HTCs Sense is more complete experience than LGs custom interface. HTCs new 3D rotating cart effect (check it out in the ) is also fairly kickass.Still, the new LG interface does boast a few cool features like the ability to group and organize applications in new ways.

OverallWinner: HTC EVO 3D

For being the first two phones with glasses-free 3D, I am fairly impressed with both the LG Optimus 3D and HTC EVO 3D. They both pull off 3D well (though neither compare to the ) and both companies were smart enough to not try and make the entire menu system 3D. LGs 3D apps menu also stands out and is a great demonstration of its capabilities. With that said, HTCs device takes the cake where it relates to 3D cameras, hardware, and operating system. Battery life and price may still be an issue with both of these devices, but as it stands we think HTC delivers a more solid overall experience.

Orbitz hurt by airline dispute, wants deal

BANGALORE (Reuters) – Online travel agency Orbitz Worldwide, reeling from its spat with American Airlines over a distribution method, reported a wider quarterly loss and forecast first-quarter revenue below analysts' expectations, sending its shares down as much as 8 percent.

Orbitz said its U.S. leisure business is being hurt by the absence of American Airlines from Orbitz.com and Orbitzforbusiness.com sites, and reduced transaction share from travel site Kayak.com.

The dispute between American Airlines and Orbitz Worldwide arose when Orbitz refused to use American's direct connect link and the airline stopped selling its tickets on Orbitz sites in December.

"While we have been able to recapture much of the American Airlines ticket volume, nearly half, by shifting business to other airlines, we are still feeling some impact," Orbitz Chief Executive Barney Harford said on a conference call with analysts.

Orbitz recognizes the importance of coming to a deal with American Airlines "that works for both parties," Harford said.

Net revenue associated with American Airlines tickets booked on Orbitz.com and Orbitzforbusiness.com, including revenue from associated hotel, car rental and destination services bookings, represented about 5 percent of the company's 2010 total revenue.

"It is important to have American Airlines in the platform. Of course, you want all the major airlines on your platform ... especially when the industry is recovering," ThinkEquity analyst Aaron Kessler, who has a "hold" rating on Orbitz stock, said.

Orbitz shares have shed 35 percent of their value since American stopped selling its tickets on Orbitz.

Expedia Inc, the largest online travel agency, is also in a dispute with American Airlines over the airline's insistence that third-party carriers use its new "direct connect" technology for selling its flights.

American Airlines in January said it reached a deal with Priceline.com -- rival of Expedia and Orbitz -- to use American's direct connect technology to access fares.

The travel industry has suffered from the economic downturn and online travel companies responded by slashing fees and offering promotions to bolster bookings.

Orbitz, which also operates Cheaptickets.com, reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $78 million compared with a net loss of $18.1 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose 4 percent to $182.4 million, helped by a rise in hotel volume and average daily rates for hotel rooms.

Shares of Orbitz, which fell as much as 8 percent to $3.78 in early trade, pared some of their losses and were trading down 5 percent at $3.97 in afternoon trade on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Jennifer Robin Raj and Bijoy Koyitty in Bangalore, Editing by Jarshad Kakkrakandy and Maju Samuel)