Pitt-Jolie Malibu mansion to hit market

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

At Newsweek’s Oscar roundtable Brad Pitt mentioned that he and Angelina Jolie are putting their Malibu house up for sale. (Robert Downey Jr., citing his “pretty good year,” seemed interested in buying it.)

The bigger story: The Jolie-Pitts might not just be decamping from Hollywood, but they might go abroad to get away from the publicity machine.

“The publicity machine is out of control. It's everything we didn't sign up for,” Pitt told Newsweek. “There's this whole other entity that you get sucked into. You have to go and sell your wares. It's something I never made my peace with. Somehow you're not supporting your film if you don't get on a show and talk about your personal life. It has nothing to do with why I do this.”

A source close to the family says that the French estate where they lived after the twins were born is a front-runner as a place to put down more permanent roots.

“They love France, and the laws targeted at paparazzi make it difficult to photograph the kids,” says the source.

In the meantime, the family will soon be heading to the North Shore of Long Island where they’ve rented a waterfront estate to live in while Jolie films “Edwin A. Salt.” With any luck, the two helipads on the property will make their comings and goings harder for the paparazzi to follow.

Clooney casting call draws 15,000
If George Clooney’s return to “ER” draws viewers on the same scale as a recent casting call for extras in his new film, the peacock network is in for a good night.

More than 14,000 people showed up at a St. Louis-area shopping mall hoping to be chosen as an extra for Clooney’s new film “Up in the Air.”

The odds of being chosen aren’t as bleak as one might think: about 2,100 people (who will earn $56.40 per day) will be offered the chance to work in in the vicinity of Clooney.

Sarah Jessica Parker says marriage is fine

Video   Scoop on SAG Awards Jan. 26: Courtney Hazlett talks with Morning Joe's Willie Geist about Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the lingering possibility of an actors’ strike. MSNBC

Star magazine recently returned to the Sarah Jessica Parker/Matthew Broderick well of martial discord, but People magazine has reporting that refutes the latest split rumors.

After catching the Broadway show “The American Plan,” Jan. 22, Parker told People, "This is a date night. It was really lovely."

Of split rumors, she told the magazine, "we don't even bother to address them."

‘Frozen River’ screening party for one
Minutes after the Oscar nominations were announced, I appeared on Msnbc.com's “Morning Joe,” where I alluded to the fact that little-known-films like “Frozen River,” which is nominated for two awards, don’t do the awards show broadcast any ratings favors.

Slideshow   Celebrity sightings Rachel Weisz takes in the “Lovely Bones” premiere, Robert Downey Jr. leaves his mark in Hollywood cement and more. more photos

As if it wasn’t obvious, I hadn’t at that point seen “Frozen River,” and the chances of seeing it were bleak, since the closest theater to New York City that was showing the film is in Ithaca, NY.

But the folks at Sony got a copy to me, I watched it this weekend, and I’m catching up with the film’s director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Courtney Hunt shortly.

Check back this week as I dig deeper into the what the Oscars mean to these lesser-known films.

Weekend box office
It’s with a heavy heart that I report that my 2009 losing streak is alive and well. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” edged out my prediction, “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.”

But since their weekend takes are so close—“Blart” with an estimated $21.5 million and “Underworld” with an estimated $20.7 million, I’m going to cling to the possibility that the actual total will reveal that “Underworld” won. Stay tuned.

More on Brad Pitt | Angelina Jolie

Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com.

Don't miss this on msnbc.com Entertainment Risque ‘Frosty’ videos stir outrage USO feeds troops starved for entertainment Best bets: Mandela meets Matt Damon in ‘Invictus’ Johnny Depp atop Hollywood’s real A-list Brian Williams knows war zones, Costco Tim Burton — the artist — is now on display

MORE FROM THE SCOOP

The Scoop Section Front

Kate says kids ‘sobbing’ at loss of cameras Source: Woods was treated in intensive care Legion of Woods’ alleged ladies growing Did Woods pay to quiet one alleged mistress? Woods’ wife reportedly revising prenup Another woman to be named in Woods case The Scoop Section Front   Add The Scoop headlines to your news reader: