Germany terrorists subject of Eichinger's next pic (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - German uber-producer Bernd Eichinger, who broke taboos with his Oscar-nominated, Hitler-themed drama "Downfall" and has divided audiences and critics alike at the Berlin International Film Festival with his competition entry "The Elementary Particles," is taking on the explosive topic of homegrown terrorism.

Rocker Manson offers glimpse of film-in-progress (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - Shock rocker Marilyn Manson paid a visit to the Berlin International Film Festival on Sunday to drum up interest for his directorial debut, a surreal-horrific look at the life of English writer Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his "Alice in Wonderland" pseudonym Lewis Carroll.

'Jaws' author Peter Benchley dead at 65 (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - Peter Benchley, the author of the bestseller "Jaws" which was made into a blockbuster movie that kept beachgoers out of the water for years, died at his home at age 65, his family said on Sunday.

Hard-to-like characters take viewers 'Slumming' (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - "Slumming" has odd moments of wry, dark humor. Ultimately though, darkness overshadows humor, the film's characters so overbearing or misanthropic that they destroy any enjoyment of its quirky nature.

New Montreal FilmFest pulls October event (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - The embattled New Montreal FilmFest has called off merger talks with the rival Festival du Nouveau Cinema and said it will not stage a second installment of the government-sponsored fest in October.

'Prairie' turns radio into winning cinema (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - Not since Woody Allen's "Radio Days" has anyone created such a cinematic Valentine to the wonderfully imaginative medium of radio as "A Prairie Home Companion."

'Line' draws art direction nod (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - "Walk the Line" won for production design on a contemporary film and "Memoirs of a Geisha" took the prize for period or fantasy film as the Art Directors Guild celebrated its 10th annual awards Saturday.

'Jaws' Author Peter Benchley Dies at 65 (AP)

February 12, 2006

Novelist Peter Benchley is shown in this 1975 file photo. Benchley, whose novel 'Jaws' terrorized millions of swimmers even as the author himself became an advocate for the conservation of sharks, died Saturday night Feb. 11, 2006  in Princeton, N.J. The cause of death, according to his wife, was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and a fatal scarring of the lungs. He was 65.  (AP Photo/File)AP - Peter Benchley, whose novel "Jaws" terrorized millions of swimmers even as the author himself became an advocate for the conservation of sharks, has died at age 65, his widow said Sunday.


"Pink Panther" Pounces (E! Online)

February 12, 2006

In a weekend where most of the country was blanketed in white, the 
 box office was in the pink.E! Online - In a weekend where most of the country was blanketed in white, the box office was in the pink.


McKellen Enjoys Late Burst of Global Fame (AP)

February 12, 2006

Actor Sir Ian McKellen from Britain poses during a photocall  at the 56th Film Festival Berlinale in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. Later in the evening he will be awarded with the Honorary Golden Bear for his lifetime achievment. The festival is held until Feb. 19, 2006 in the German capital. (AP Photo/Hermann J. Knippertz)AP - Ian McKellen says he's enjoying a late burst of global fame and still has "a lot of life left" after a decades-long acting career that earned him a lifetime achievement award at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.


Redford: Sundance a Bit Too Intense (AP)

February 12, 2006

Actor Robert Redford, president and founder of the Sundance Institute, smiles during the Sundance Film Festival's opening news conference in Park City, Utah, Jan. 19, 2006. The Sundance Film Festival is too intense for Robert Redford, who says he wasn't around for all of it this year. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)AP - The Sundance Film Festival is too intense for Robert Redford, who says he wasn't around for all of it this year.


'Pink Panther' Claws to Top of Box Office (AP)

February 12, 2006

Actor Steve Martin is shown in a scene from the new film 'The Pink Panther' as he stars as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in this undated publicity photograph. The film opens in the U.S. February 10, 2006.  NO SALES NO ARCHIVES   REUTERS/Columbia Pictures/HandoutAP - Inspector Clouseau bumbled his way to the top of the box office as Steve Martin's "The Pink Panther" debuted with $21.7 million to lead a rush of new releases.


'Pink Panther' pounces to top of film box office (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - Comic actor Steve Martin brought Inspector Clouseau back to the big screen in triumphant style as a remake of "The Pink Panther" pounced to the top of the North American box office this weekend, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

Altman back with film about real-life radio show (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - Veteran director Robert Altman has chosen an old-fashioned radio show threatened with closure for his latest film, a riotous yet touching story told by an all-star cast including Meryl Streep and Woody Harrelson.

Israel tackles "Palestine" tag at Oscars - report (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - Israeli diplomats and Jewish groups are lobbying organizers of next month's Academy Awards not to present a nominated film about Palestinian suicide bombers as coming from "Palestine," a newspaper said on Sunday.

Moving film on Bosnian war rapes stirs Berlin fest (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - A moving drama about Bosnia's post-war trauma and the lingering impact of the systematic rape of Bosnian women by Serb soldiers won cheers at its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Sunday.

Opus Dei tackles "Da Vinci Code" image problem (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

Reuters - Portrayed in the best-selling novel "The Da Vinci Code" as a secretive cult willing to murder to defend a fictional 2,000-year-old Catholic cover-up, Opus Dei is promoting its softer side before the movie of the book arrives in May.

Oscar contender Clooney isn't getting carried away (Reuters)

February 12, 2006

George Clooney attends a photocall to present his out of competition film 'Syriana' at the 56th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin February 10, 2006. (Christian Charisius/Reuters)Reuters - He has three Oscar nominations this year. He is one of Hollywood's biggest heartthrobs. He is winning plaudits for making good, serious films that tackle corruption, both political and corporate.