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Academy Award-winning actress Sandra Bullock tells TODAY's Matt Lauer about her film, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," in which she co-stars with an extraordinary 8-year-old
By Courtney Hazlett
For the first time in two years, Sandra Bullock stars in a major film, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." However, if fans of Bullock's head to theaters expecting to see the actress in every scene, they might be disappointed.
"I'm actually in there for about 24 minutes," Bullock told Matt Lauer during Thursday's TODAY interview to promote the film. Why would an A-list, Oscar-winning actress choose to be part of a project that allowed so little screen time? Bullock told Lauer, "I've already had those moments," referring to some of her bigger leading roles. "There might be more, but I don't know how many moments like this there will be. With stories like this. With directors and casts like this ... you can't say no to that."
"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" centers around the journey of a young boy looking for answers in the aftermath of his father's death on Sept. 11. A heavy subject to be sure, and Lauer cautioned potential film goers to "bring tissues" should they see the film.
However, the interview took a lighthearted turn toward Christmas, and how Bullock might spoil her son Louis. Watch the video to see if she gives up what gifts she might be getting for the little guy. Hints: A plane? A jukebox? Watch and find out.
Should Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock be a couple?
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By Courtney Hazlett
Just-friends couple Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock were photographed together during an outing that would make the perfect family photo. The friends, and Bullock's son Louis, went for a hike in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park last weekend, according to this (slightly fuzzy) photo snapped by TMZ. That's Reynolds at left, with Louis in a pack on his back. Bullock is wearing the other backpack at right.
Neither has commented on the outing, but according to TMZ, they're in Jackson Hole vacationing, with other friends. Bullock and Reynolds last sent the rumor mill into overdrive when the they spent New Year's Eve together at Bullock's restaurant Bess Bistro in Austin, Texas. At the time, a source told People that dating rumors are "ridiculous."
Sandra Bullock has donated $1 million to the Red Cross for Japan disaster relief, her rep confirms to Scoop. While other celebrities have made various gestures to encourage donation and raise money, this is the largest known donation made by a celebrity since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.
This isn't the first time that Bullock has risen to the occasion charitably. She was honored for her contributions in rebuilding a New Orleans public school after Hurricane Katrina and last year donated $1 million for earthquake victims in Haiti.
During a red-carpet interview with TODAY co-host Al Roker, Sandra Bullock said there is no truth to the rumors that she and "The Proposal" co-star Ryan Reynolds are an item.
"I think there will be a collective sigh amongst women across the United States when I say he's not my lover," the Oscar-winning actress said on the red carpet before Sunday's Golden Globe Awards. "He's just an amazing friend that I've had for 10 years."
She went on to say that son Louis is the only man in her life and "is all I can handle."
You can watch the entire interview below.
On the red carpet at the Golden Globes, actress Sandra Bullock addresses rumors that she is dating Scarlett Johansson's ex Ryan Reynolds, telling TODAY's Al Roker, "He's just an amazing friend."
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds spent New Year's Eve together in Austin, Texas.
Yes, we know that Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock spent New Year's Eve together at her restaurant, Bess Bistro, in Austin.
After all, their evening together set off a deluge of "are they together?" rumors. Those rumors still can't be confirmed one way or another (though a friend of Bullock's told People that dating rumors were "ridiculous"), but there is at least photo evidence that's surfaced of the two together.
Let the Oscar excitement officially begin. The first presenters for the 83rd Academy Awards havebeen announced. Among those who will present, according to producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer: Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Marisa Tomei and Oprah Winfrey.
Bullock and Bridges, who won best actress and best actor awards last year are logical picks, as are past winners Berry (best actress in "Monster's Ball") and Tomei (who won for "My Cousin Vinny"). But Winfrey? Don't forget she was a once a nominee ("The Color Purple") and she was an executive producer of 2009 best picture nominee "Precious."
Sandra Bullock and her son Louis hit the beach in the Caribbean recently. The mother and son spent a week in Anguilla, where they were reportedly joined by several of Bullock's family members.
The respite might be the last one for a while for Bullock, as she's beginning to line up new film projects. She's got five films in pre-production, and The Hollywood Reporter recently announced that Bullock and her director from "The Proposal" are teaming up for an as-yet-untitled romantic comedy that's being written by "The Wedding Planner" scribes.
Jesse James' ex wife, Janine Lindemulder, tells Life & Style she intends to draw Sandra Bullock into a custody hearing regarding Lindemulder and James' daughter Sunny.
Lindemulder's lawyer, Richard Masson, confirmed to Life & Style that a hearing will take place on Oct. 21 to address issues relating to the financial and physical care of Sunny. It's at this hearing that Lindemulder says she wants Bullock called as a witness.
“People say, ‘What does Sandra have to do with it?’ She has a huge part in this,” Lindemulder explained. She claims that during Bullock's marriage to James, Bullock helped James keep Lindemulder and Sunny apart. If Bullock says as much in court, Lindemulder feels it could help her gain more visitation with Sunny.
As for Bullock, a source tells the magazine that she "wants out of the drama,” and "wants what’s best for the kids, but she doesn’t want this circus following her around. It’s all very sad ... hopefully, one day there will be a resolution.”
In an interview with Matt Lauer that aired Tuesday on TODAY, Sandra Bullock talks about her "little Cajun cookie" -- son Louis, the value of good friends and her involvement with the Warren Easton Charter High School in New Orleans.
Bullock said that finalizing the adoption of Louis was a long process, but that she wanted to follow the normal procedures. "I did not circumvent," Bullock told Lauer. "I wanted to do everything exactly the same way everyone else did. And -- it was -- he was always mine, you know. It wasn't like I felt like someone was going to take him away. But it was nice to have someone say, I think you're a fit parent. ... I think, everything works out the way the universe wants it to work out."
And while the Oscar-winning actress said she didn't care whether the child she was ultimately placed with was a boy or a girl, she was pleased to add a son to her family.
"We don't have any boys in our family. Boy, is everyone really happy about that. So, he's like the crown prince. You know, it's nothing but girls in our family," Bullock said. "I mean, my cousin in Germany has one son -- no boys. Can you imagine how miserable our father is? I mean, every pet was female. But it was just the hierarchy that needed to be broken."
Bullock managed to keep the long adoption process out of the public eye until she announced it in April. She attributes that to having a strong circle of friends and family with "massive amounts of integrity."
"I read something like, how did someone keep a secret, and it's -- you know-- human beings exist that have integrity that know how to keep their mouth shut. That know the bigger picture, that don't sell out their friends," Bullock said to Lauer. "Those people are all over the place. But again, we don't like to talk about it, because it doesn't sell a magazine. But I was blessed with the same friends I've had since before things got really special for me and blessed in life."
Bullock conducted the interview with Lauer from the Warren Easton Charter High School, alongside school board member Arthur Hardy. Bullock helped to raise funds for a new health clinic on the campus of the school. Bullock has been a longtime supporter of the school and initially "cold-called" Hardy to tell him she wanted to lend a hand.
"She knew what we were all about," Hardy told Lauer. "And I think -- had done enough work to know we were the real deal. And then, once she came and met the kids, it was all over. I didn't have to sell anybody."
Bullock, who has a home in New Orleans and is a regular visitor to the city, got involved because she was drawn to the work Hardy and the rest of the board were doing to establish the school in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. "They did it with such power and love and integrity. Integrity. There's so much integrity here. And I've never been around that much integrity," Bullock said.
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