New, improved on DVD, "Network" hasn't aged a day (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - "I think I'd like to be an angry prophet denouncing the hypocrisies of our time," fallen news anchor Howard Beale tells co-workers in the opening minutes of Paddy Chayefsky's masterpiece "Network."
Oscar accountants ready as ballot deadline arrives (Reuters)
February 28, 2006
Reuters - Voting in this year's Academy
Awards race drew to an official close on Tuesday as a last wave
of Oscar ballots poured in and two accountants prepared to
tabulate the results under tight security.
Oscars could elevate fresh faces to stardom (Reuters)
February 28, 2006
Reuters - For years, the Oscars have
catapulted actors and actresses to movie stardom and this year
there are many fresh faces among the nominees who could be
poised for a big break out of the pack.
Gyllenhaal Goes From Cowboy to Soldier (AP)
February 28, 2006AP - Jake Gyllenhaal should have no fears of typecasting.
Foster to Give Penn Commencement Address (AP)
February 28, 2006AP - Academy Award-winning actress Jodie Foster will be the commencement speaker at the University of Pennsylvania's 250th commencement on May 15.
"It's Winter"' a tough slice of Iranian neorealism (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - "It's Winter" (Zemestan) is an above-average slice of neo-realism that abandons the usual aestheticism of Iranian films for a much rawer approach.
Botox and caviar help stars prepare for Oscars (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - As celebrities vie to be prettier, thinner and more fabulous in preparation for the Academy Awards, they are pulling out all the stops, having their bodies massaged with diamonds and their faces rubbed with a cream made of fish eggs.
Reitman Explains Missing Holmes Sex Scene (AP)
February 28, 2006AP - Jason Reitman says a projection error — not Tom Cruise — was responsible when a Katie Holmes' sex scene was missing during a screening of her upcoming movie, "Thank You for Smoking," at the Sundance Film Festival.
Mariah's Cinematic Comeback (E! Online)
February 28, 2006E! Online - Mariah Carey apparently subscribes to the old adage: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
Dark-horse New Jersey documentary vies for Oscar (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - When Marshall Curry began making a film about a 2002 mayoral race in New Jersey, he was as much of a dark horse as the novice city councilman who challenged Newark's then-16-year incumbent, Sharpe James.
Hilary Swank Is Muse of Upcoming Perfume (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - Hilary Swank will be both muse and spokesperson for a new women's fragrance by Guerlain to be launched later this year.
Leo as Hughes … Again?
February 28, 2006We don't think she has a chance in hell, but Catherine Zeta-Jones says she's trying to talk Leonardo DiCaprio into reprising his role as Howard Hughes for a quickie cameo in her upcoming Lana Turner biopic Stompanato. Hughes, of course, had a fling with Turner in real life. On the probability scale, it's more likely the former teen-magazine poster boy will wind up in Kite, about a California prison guard who finds himself "caught up in a web of corruption and violence." The project would be produced by DiCaprio and his Appian Way. Meanwhile, he's also developing a screen adaptation Malcolm Gladwell's best seller Blink, in which he'd star.
Google joins National Archives for video (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - The National Archives and Google are teaming up to allow unprecedented access to historical film properties for free with just the click of a mouse.
Comcast, IFC partner for "day-date" film releases (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - The controversial "day-and-date" film-release strategy, in which movies hit the big screen and video simultaneously, to the chagrin of theater owners, is getting its next test case.
Comcast, IFC Entertainment Reaches Deal (AP)
February 28, 2006AP - Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable operator, has reached a deal with IFC Entertainment to show selected independent movies at the same time the releases hit theaters.
Purcell, Jones track killer-croc pic (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - "Prison Break" star Dominic Purcell and Orlando Jones will run amok in "Primeval," a killer-crocodile thriller scheduled to start in April in South Africa.
"Da Vinci Code" Opened in Court (E! Online)
February 28, 2006
E! Online - Will moviegoers have to wait to crack The Da Vinci Code?
The answer might hinge on a high-stakes legal battle playing out in the
U.K. that threatens the future of the mega-popular novel and its
cinematic offshoot.
French pic, "Syriana" lead quiet foreign box office (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - The seasonal lull at the weekend box office overseas once again saw an overabundance of films vying for a piece of the pie diminished by the lack of compelling new entries, the failure of Oscar hopefuls to attract major attention and the conclusion of school and religious holidays. In addition, the Winter Olympics are said to have had some influence on the fall-off of moviegoing in northern Europe.
DiCaprio locks up prison drama (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - Leonardo DiCaprio will produce and possibly star in "Kite," a drama that examines gang culture and guard corruption in the California prison system.
'Da Vinci Code' Court Case Opens in London (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - It's the latest twist for the mega-selling conspiracy thriller "The Da Vinci Code": a lawsuit against the book's publisher for breach of copyright that could taint the novel and delay the much-anticipated movie version.
Mariah's Cinematic Comeback (E! Online)
February 28, 2006
E! Online - Mariah Carey apparently subscribes to the old adage: "If at first
you don't succeed, try, try again."
Michael Douglas Sues Two Fla. Companies (AP)
February 28, 2006AP - Michael Douglas sued two Boca Raton companies Monday, claiming they improperly used his name and image to promote their products and services.