Martinized "Pink" sitting pretty at box office (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Reuters - Now that the Super Bowl and Oscar nominations are in the past, four new wide releases are hitting theaters this pre-Valentine's Day weekend, with "The Pink Panther" expected to purr the loudest.

Spike Lee: Miss. Should Get Rid of Flag (AP)

February 9, 2006

In this photo released by University of Mississippi, film director Spike Lee speaks to a crowd of students at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of The University of Mississippi Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, in Oxford, Miss. Lee gave a lecture on the importance of cultural diversity in life and film in honor of Black History Month. (AP Photo/University of Mississippi, Nathan Latil)AP - Director Spike Lee, known for his stylish and controversial films, said Mississippi should get rid of the state flag during a speech at the University of Mississippi's Black History Month celebration.


Ali MacGraw to Make Broadway Debut (AP)

February 9, 2006

Ali MacGraw presents at the Academy Awards  March 24, 2002, in Los Angeles. MacGraw will make her Broadway debut in 'Festen,' the London hit that will also star Larry Bryggman, Michael Hayden and Julianna Margulies. The play will open April 9 at the Music Box Theatre. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)AP - Ali MacGraw will make her Broadway debut in "Festen," the London hit that will also star Larry Bryggman, Michael Hayden and Julianna Margulies.


A new look at autism as Berlin film festival opens (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Canadian actress Emily Hampshire attends a news conference to promote her latest film 'Snow Cake', being shown out of competition at the 56th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin February 9, 2006. The film festival runs from February 9-19 festival. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)Reuters - The Berlin Film Festival opened on Thursday with a story of love and loss starring Sigourney Weaver as an autistic woman whose daughter dies in a car crash and Alan Rickman as the man who helps her cope.


China director seeks Western feast with "Banquet" (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang attends a news conference for his latest film 'The Banquet' in Anji county, east China's Zhejiang province, in this November 23, 2005 file picture. Feng has been one of China's most beloved bankable movie names for years by honing on native tastes while other internationally celebrated directors have faced criticism at home for pandering to Western audiences and award committees. (China Daily/Files/Reuters)Reuters - Chinese films have become hot tickets around the world, but few movie-goers outside China have even heard of the country's arguably most popular, or at least most populist, director.


Neil Young film becomes American family affair (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Singer Neil Young poses with director Jonathan Demme at the 25th annual Sundance film festival in Park City, Utah January 24, 2006. Demme directed a documentary of Young's concerts titled 'Neil Young: Heart of Gold' which premiered at the festival. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)Reuters - Neil Young, iconoclastic troubadour for decades of counter-culture in the United States, has made the ultimate American family film.


Kevin Costner to Rock Out at Golf Tourney (AP)

February 9, 2006

Kevin Costner tees off on the third hole of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, Calif., in this Thursday Feb. 10, 2005 file photo. Costner will do more than play golf at the next BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs. The 51-year-old actor-director will debut his band with a concert for ticket holders and volunteers, tournament officials announced Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)AP - Kevin Costner will do more than play golf at the next BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs.


G-Rated Movies Have More Male Characters (AP)

February 9, 2006

AP - Male characters outnumbered females 3-to-1 overall in top-grossing G-rated films from 1990 to 2004, according to a study whose sponsors say the disparity diminishes the importance of women in children's eyes.

"Shrek 2" veteran takes on four-season fantasy (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Reuters - "Shrek 2" co-director Kelly Asbury has written and is set to shoot a live-action version of Clive Barker's "The Thief of Always."

Body count rises in "Final Destination 3" (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Reuters - The plot's pretty lame, the dialogue is downright hokey, and the characters are a bore, but somehow "Final Destination 3" (an oxymoron if there ever was one) still delivers a certain degree of over-the-top amusement.

"House of Sand" sifts through passage of time (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Reuters - Inspired by "Women of the Dunes," perhaps the most famous film about the ravages of the desert, and a newspaper photograph of a house buried in sand, "House of Sand" is an intriguing meditation on aging, the impermanence of time and man's place in nature.

London film critics go for "Brokeback Mountain" (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Taiwanese director Ang Lee speaks during a premiere of Chinese movie star Jet Li's new movie 'Fearless' in Hong Kong in this January 22, 2006 file photo. Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' rode off Wednesday with a brace of awards from the London Film Critics' Circle, picking up honors for film of the year and director of the year. (Paul Yeung/Reuters)Reuters - Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" rode off Wednesday with a brace of awards from the London Film Critics' Circle, picking up honors for film of the year and director of the year.


Director Del Toro takes gander at "Carnival Row" (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Reuters - Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is in negotiations to develop and direct "Killing on Carnival Row," a dark fantasy for New Line Cinema.

Colombian Oscar nominee Moreno heats of 'State' (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Colombian actress Catalina Sandino Moreno, from the movie 'Maria Full of Grace,' arrives for the 2005 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California in this February 26, 2005 file photo. Moreno, who sprang from obscurity last year to land an Oscar nomination in 'Maria Full of Grace,' has signed on to star with formerly homeless actor Mark Webber in the upcoming indie drama, 'The Hottest State.' (Kimberly White/Reuters)Reuters - Colombian-born actress Catalina Sandino Moreno, who sprang from obscurity last year to land an Oscar nomination in "Maria Full of Grace," has signed on to star with formerly homeless actor Mark Webber in the upcoming indie drama, "The Hottest State."


Sandler, James head to altar in pretend-gay comedy (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Actor-comedian Adam Sandler attends a posthumous unveiling ceremony of the late Chris Farley's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in this August 26, 2005 file photo. Sandler and Kevin James are in negotiations to play firefighters who pretend to be a gay couple in an upcoming film comedy 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.' (Lee Celano/Reuters)Reuters - Adam Sandler and Kevin James are in negotiations to play firefighters who pretend to be a gay couple in an upcoming film comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,"


Berlin film fest spotlights 'Night Listener' (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Reuters - Patrick Stettner's "The Night Listener," which debuted at Sundance, will get a special screening at the Berlin International Film Festival, organizers announced on Wednesday.

"Corpse Bride" rises to top of DVD sales (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Director and producer Tim Burton shows off a figure of 'Scraps', a character from 'Corpse Bride', during a news conference in Tokyo in this October 20, 2005 file photo. 'Corpse Bride' topped the preliminary national DVD sales chart for the week ending February 5, 2006. (Issei Kato/Reuters)Reuters - "Corpse Bride" was anything but a stiff in the home video arena, as the Tim Burton-directed fantasy topped the preliminary national DVD sales chart for the week ending February 5.


Studios seek Oscar bounce for DVD releases (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the North American premiere gala for 'Pride and Prejudice' at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, in this September 11, 2005 file photo. A day after the 2006 Academy Awards nominations were announced, Universal wasted no time in issuing a news release setting a February 28 DVD date for 'Pride  and  Prejudice.' (Mike Cassese/Reuters)Reuters - No sooner were the Academy Award nominations announced last week than the studios began slotting nominees for DVD release, in the hopes that an Oscar win March 5 would translate to higher sales.


Pair of films beckon Terrence Howard (Reuters)

February 9, 2006

Actor Terrence Howard arrives at a pre-Grammy party hosted by Clive Davis at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California February 7, 2006. Howard,who enjoyed a breakout year in 2005 with four notable film projects, including 'Crash' and 'Hustle  and  Flow,' appears headed for another busy year as he lines up two new features. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)Reuters - Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, who enjoyed a breakout year in 2005 with four notable film projects, including "Crash" and "Hustle & Flow," appears headed for another busy year as he lines up two new features.


Billionaire Buffett Will Appear in Child (AP)

February 9, 2006

Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett smiles at a news conference  in this file photo from May 1, 2005, following the Berkshire annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Neb.  Buffett will advise youngsters on battling corporate raiders and corrupt politicians in an animated series designed to teach youngsters financial management. Buffett's voice and likeness will appear in 'The Secret Millionaire's Club,' which currently is in production, DIC Entertainment announced Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik-File)AP - Warren Buffett: billionaire investor and cartoon hero? Buffett, the head of investment firm Berkshire Hathaway Inc., will advise youngsters on financial management issues in an animated series currently in production, DIC Entertainment announced Wednesday.


Affleck, Damon Together Again (E! Online)

February 9, 2006

After all these years together, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are 
 finally making it legal.E! Online - After all these years together, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are finally making it legal.