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Wahlberg disses Clooney’s ‘Ocean’s’ films

Some Hollywood types might zip their lips rather than say something negative about superstar George Clooney, but Mark Wahlberg isn't afraid to be blunt.
/ Source: msnbc.com contributor

Long before Matt Damon took on the role of second-generation grifter Linus Caldwell in “Ocean’s Eleven,” Mark Wahlberg had a shot at the part and turned it down. Looking back at it, Mark doesn’t regret his decision to skip what turned out to be a blockbuster franchise. In fact, he told Zoo magazine, he’s better off not having to pretend he enjoyed working on the films.

When Zoo asked the actor if he really refused to work in the “Ocean’s” films, he said, “Yeah — and it was well worth it,” adding, “the second one sucked!”

Apparently Mark's no fan of the Hollywood backslapping that goes on when the material doesn’t merit it.

“People tell George Clooney it's great, but we all know it sucked,” the “Boogie Nights” star said. “I made two bad movies instead — ‘Planet of the Apes’ and ‘The Truth About Charlie’ — but doing that was better than sitting with Brad (Pitt) and George, telling the press how great everybody is! ‘We were in Europe, George was funny, then we had some wine ...’ — that's not for me.”

Lest George and the rest of the “Ocean’s” gang take offense, Mark explained, “I do love those guys, but I had to step out on my own.”

Keira Knightley’s mom comes to her defenseEven though Keira Knightley has dashed rumors of an eating disorder in the past, the pin-thin actress still finds herself the target of media speculation. Now Keira’s mother, playwright Sharman Macdonald, comes to her daughter’s defense against what she calls “playground bullies.”

“(Keira’s) always been thin,” Sharman told the UK’s Sunday Times. “She’s her daddy’s daughter, with his long body. Daddy was much, much thinner than Keira. When he was Keira’s age, he had to drink milk with honey and eggs, and go training and training and training, just to be a normal weight. (Keira) eats like a horse … she can eat anything that she wants and she does not put on weight.”

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Last year Keira sued British tabloid the Daily Mail after a photo of her was used to illustrate a story about a teenager who died as a result of anorexia. The headline of the story insinuated that Keira was partly to blame for the death. She won the libel case, but the rumors persist.

“I can’t bear it at all and neither could you,” Keira’s mother said. “When kids are bullied in the playground, their parents are in absolute agony. It’s a playground situation that we’re looking at with the press, it’s a form of bullying. But what can we do? She has sued once, and she won. If she did it again, she would win again. But you can’t keep doing that. It would take over your life.”

Dish on the flyA simple Hollywood home just isn’t enough to contain the star power of David Hasselhoff. In an interview with AOL, the “America’s Got Talent” judge spoke of his house hunting plans. “I’m looking to buy a castle,” David revealed. “I’ll call it the Hassel Castle …” He hopes to use the massive space to perform concerts for fans, clearly operating on the “if you build it, they will come” principle. … Even a half-hearted effort from embattled singer Amy Winehouse brings in a big payday. The New York Daily News reports that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich paid Amy $2 million an hour to perform at his girlfriend’s art gallery opening last Thursday. A source told the paper Amy arrived “in no condition to appear,” but took the stage anyway. “I heard that her singing was a little sloppy,” the source said. “But she still put on a terrific show.”

Tabloid Tidbits is compiled by Ree Hines.