3 million stand in "Line" for Johnny Cash DVD (Reuters)
March 1, 2006
Reuters - The much-vaunted "Oscar
bounce," in which studios use Academy Awards buzz to help sell
nominated films on DVD, is paying off for "Walk the Line."
"Country" fried as DVD buyers look elsewhere (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - A pair of high-profile Oscar nominations couldn't help lift "North Country" to the top of the latest DVD sales chart.
Only politics in Oscar race is films' topics (Reuters)
March 1, 2006
Reuters - A not-so-funny thing
happened on the way to the 78th Annual Academy Awards.
Hollywood got serious -- really, really serious.
Oscars viewers to hear word "bitches" in song (Reuters)
March 1, 2006
Reuters - There will be no F-word but the
word "bitches" will be heard during the first-ever rap
performance at the Academy Awards on Sunday.
Diamonds are Dolly's best friend on Oscar night (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - In a sure sign that the Academy Awards have become even more glitzy, glamorous and bling-laden than ever, even down-to-earth country star Dolly Parton will be sporting diamonds this year.
Middle East tragedies vie for Oscars (Reuters)
March 1, 2006
Reuters - The turmoil of the Middle East will
have a front-row seat at this year's Oscars.
Oscars viewers to hear word "bitches" in song (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - There will be no F-word but the
word "bitches" will be heard during the first-ever rap
performance at the Academy Awards on Sunday.
Academy DVD Offers Acceptance-Speech Tips (AP)
March 1, 2006
AP - Tom Hanks ought to know.
AP Film Writers Expect a 'Brokeback' Night (AP)
March 1, 2006AP - In a year of daring smaller films and performances, Associated Press film writers David Germain and Christy Lemire largely agree on who they think will triumph at Sunday's Academy Awards. Here are their picks:
Librarian: 'Da Vinci' Lawsuit Lacks Merit (AP)
March 1, 2006
AP - A retired librarian who helped novelist Dan Brown conduct research for the mega-selling thriller "The Da Vinci Code" said a lawsuit accusing Brown of stealing ideas from other writers is bogus.
Clooney caps journey from heartthrob to heavyweight (Reuters)
March 1, 2006
Reuters - Believe it or not, George Clooney
has never been to the Academy Awards.
Willis Feels Like He's Growing Into Roles (AP)
March 1, 2006
AP - Many movie stars feel they must utter logrolling boilerplate when talking about their new work: Sure, we can talk about what you want, but let me say how delightful it was to work with so-and-so and how I just HAD to make this film after reading the script — and then when I heard who was directing!
Canadian film makers think small, seek big break (Reuters)
March 1, 2006
Reuters - Budding Canadian film makers looking for
a big break may want to think small -- about 2 inches by 2
inches to be exact -- organizers of Canada's first mobile film
festival said on Wednesday.
Fiennes Helps Launch Cuban Cigar (AP)
March 1, 2006
AP - Joseph Fiennes, who co-starred with Gwyneth Paltrow in the 1998 film "Shakespeare in Love," has helped launch a new Cuban cigar, tossing off a few lines from "Romeo and Juliet" in honor of the cigar's maker.
Indies Will Play in Peoria
March 1, 2006… And in any other not-so-metropolitan area that might not usually host those small-release films, thanks to a new deal between IFC and cable operator Comcast. Launching on March 22, "IFC in Theaters" will offer new indie flicks the same day they're released in the big cities (read: New York and L.A.), for $5.99 each. About two dozen releases are expected annually, beginning with the Donald Sutherland/Forest Whitaker drama American Gun and the Civil War dramedy CSA: The Confederate States of America. Theater owners, of course, are balking at the "day-and-date" release model, but IFC prez Jonathan Sehring points out that the deal will make it possible for more indie flicks to be seen by the general public, who usually have to wait for the DVDs: "There are a lot of great movies that have not been acquired for theatrical distribution because … it has become prohibitively expensive," Sehring said.
Israelis ask Oscars to drop suicide bomb film (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - A group of Israelis who lost children to Palestinian suicide bombings appealed on Wednesday to organizers of next week's Academy Awards to disqualify a film exploring the reasoning behind such attacks.
Composer Menken expands role at Disney (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - Composer Alan Menken, an eight-time Oscar winner and one of the driving forces behind "The Little Mermaid" -- which helped resuscitate Disney animation in the '80s -- has signed a nonexclusive, multipicture deal with the company.
"Violence" scribe shooting another crime drama (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - Josh Olson, who will compete for the adapted screenplay Oscar Sunday for "A History of Violence," has written and will direct "Until Gwen," an indie feature based on the acclaimed short story by "Mystic River" author Dennis Lehane.
Tsunami survivors inspire "Tortoise and Hippo" (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - Oscar-winning special-effects maven John Dykstra is set to make his directing debut on "Tortoise and Hippo," a film inspired by a photo that circulated following the Asian tsunami.
Trio joining Bullock in "Premonition" (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - Kate Nelligan, Nia Long and Amber Valletta are joining Sandra Bullock in the supernatural thriller "Premonition," which is shooting in Shreveport, La.
Movie Group: 'Crash' Has Most Curse Words (AP)
March 1, 2006AP - It's up for several honors at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, but "Crash" already has taken first prize for the most curse words in a film nominated for best picture.
Live-action short Oscar nominees hit iTunes (Reuters)
March 1, 2006Reuters - The five pictures competing for the live-action short film Oscar on Sunday are available to buy on Apple's iTunes Music Store.