Steven Seagal to Reign at Orpheus Parade (AP)
February 17, 2006AP - Actor and musician Steven Seagal will reign as this year's celebrity monarch for the Krewe of Orpheus — the lavish parade group started by musician and native New Orleanian Harry Connick Jr.
Italy's Benigni dreamt of Iraq before making film (Reuters)
February 17, 2006
Reuters - Oscar winner Roberto Benigni said on
Friday he had no choice but to set his latest film in Iraq.
Director Mixes Soccer With Women's Rights (AP)
February 17, 2006
AP - Director Jafar Panahi's "Offside," a comedy that uses soccer mania to highlight the struggle for women's rights in Iran, premiered Friday at the Berlin film festival — one of two Iranian competitors in a year that has seen tensions spiral between Tehran and the West.
Crowe, Cruise and Holmes Honor Packer (AP)
February 17, 2006
AP - Tom Cruise and his pregnant fiancee, Katie Holmes, were among the celebrities who bid farewell Friday to Australian media mogul Kerry Packer at a state memorial service at Sydney Opera House.
Finally: the Bond Babe!
February 17, 2006Yesterday, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (King Arthur) was announced as James Bond's nemesis Le Chiffre in Casino Royale. Today, Bond's babe is officially official — French actress Eva Green (The Dreamers) will play 007 love interest Vesper Lynd, ending a search that included everyone from Charlize Theron to Thandie Newton and even Angelina Jolie. Meanwhile, producers have also signed Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Wright (Angels in America) to play Bond bud Felix Leiter, a CIA op who assists new 007 Daniel Craig in thwarting the dastardly Le Chiffre.
Clooney Not Sorry He Made Fun of Abramoff (AP)
February 17, 2006AP - George Clooney, who may be giving speeches again at next month's Academy Awards, says he has no regrets about making an off-color joke about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff during last month's Golden Globes.
Review: 'Eight Below' (AP)
February 17, 2006AP - There was a great nature and survival film to be had in "Eight Below," the story of sled dogs struggling to stay alive in Antarctica after their two-legged overseers leave them behind during a killer storm.
Dark Horses May Threaten 'Brokeback' (AP)
February 17, 2006AP - While the cowboy love story "Brokeback Mountain" has been established as a solid favorite for the best-picture Oscar, the ensemble drama "Crash" has an ardent following and some late-season momentum that could make it a surprise winner.
Review: 'Freedomland' (AP)
February 17, 2006AP - "Freedomland" clearly was an IMPORTANT film for Joe Roth — so important that the esteemed Hollywood executive decided he had to direct it himself.
French Actress Eva Green Is New Bond Girl (AP)
February 17, 2006
AP - The new James Bond now has his Bond Girl.
Altman, Winterbottom among Berlin prize favorites (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - It is probably no coincidence that among a bleak and harrowing selection of films at this year's Berlin film festival, Robert Altman's gentle tale of a live radio show facing closure is among the favorites.
US salutes Manila on anti-piracy but hawkers thrive (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - The United States has removed the Philippines from its intellectual piracy "priority watch list," but in Manila's malls it was business as usual for hawkers selling copies of the latest Hollywood movies.
Tucker took winding road to "Transamerica" (Reuters)
February 17, 2006
Reuters - With his Oscar-nominated
film "Transamerica," screenwriter-director Duncan Tucker is the
latest exemplar of a little-known show business truism: If you
want to rise out of obscurity really fast, write a screenplay
with a great part for an actress.
Man Charged With Pirating Oscar Screener (AP)
February 17, 2006AP - A man accused of uploading a copy of the film "Walk the Line" that was intended for an Academy Award voter has been charged with copyright infringement.
New Line books Bardem for "Cholera" (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - Javier Bardem is set to star in the big-screen adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera," which Mike Newell is directing for New Line Cinema.
Shyamalan gets ShoWest directing nod (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - M. Night Shyamalan, whose directorial credits include "The Sixth Sense," "Signs" and "The Village," will be honored as ShoWest Director of the Year.
Wilson, Richardson sign on for 'Mimzy' (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - Rainn Wilson has been cast in "Mimzy," a family feature that New Line Cinema co-CEO Bob Shaye is directing for the studio. Joely Richardson also is joining the cast.
Growing Berlin film market gives festival boost (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - Strong buying of new German titles and active British interest have helped boost sales this year at the European Film Market (EFM), which runs alongside the annual Berlin cinema festival.
'Gromit,' 'Life' to be honored with Genesis nods (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - DreamWorks' Academy Award-nominated "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," Miramax Films' "An Unfinished Life" and Warner Bros. Pictures' "Duma" are among the entertainment titles to be honored at the 20th anniversary Genesis Awards, set for March 18 at the Beverly Hilton.
Lumet film "Guilty" of misguided hero worship (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - At its core, "Find Me Guilty" suffers from an inexorable moral problem.
Bad behavior in big business in cinema spotlight (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - Films spotlighting unethical corporate behavior, executive greed and criminal mismanagement in big business have scored strongly with audiences and critics at the Berlin Film Festival.
Monaghan, Affleck good as "Gone" (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - Michelle Monaghan and Casey Affleck are in final negotiations to star in Ben Affleck's directorial debut, "Gone, Baby Gone."
US wears black hat in Turkish hit "Wolves" (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - Turkey's "Valley of the Wolves: Iraq," an action drama that depicts U.S. troops in Iraq committing multiple atrocities, is setting new box-office records in its homeland.
Dogs and "Date" have their day (Reuters)
February 17, 2006Reuters - The four-day Presidents Day holiday weekend will offer three new wide releases with wide-ranging demographic appeal.
French actress Eva Green named next "Bond girl" (Reuters)
February 17, 2006
Reuters - Makers of the upcoming James Bond
movie "Casino Royale" have cast little-known French actress Eva
Green as the next femme fatale to pair up with British agent
007, distributor Columbia Pictures said on Thursday.
George Clooney's 'Batman' costume for sale (Reuters)
February 17, 2006
Reuters - This is so much George Clooney's
year that a seller of Hollywood memorabilia thinks he can earn
up to $100,000 by auctioning off the costume the
Oscar-nominated actor wore in one of his biggest flops -- the
much maligned "Batman and Robin."