Dan Brown says used historians' ideas, among others (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Dan Brown leaves the High Court in central London March 13, 2006. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezReuters - Author Dan Brown conceded on Wednesday that some of the ideas he took from two historians who accuse him of plagiarism were essential to "The Da Vinci Code" but said the best-selling novel had many other important themes too.


Elizabeth's Husband Wants Some Property (AP)

March 15, 2006

Actress Shannon Elizabeth poses with her then husband Joseph D. Reitman in this April 16, 2004, file photo taken in New York.  Reitman filed a lawsuit Wednesday, March 15, 2006 seeking half of all property and assets the pair accumulated during the five years they lived together before they were married. (AP Photo/Emile Nicks, File)AP - Actress Shannon Elizabeth's estranged husband filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking half of all property and assets the pair accumulated during the five years they lived together before they were married.


Clooney, Huffington Clash Over Blog Posting (AP)

March 15, 2006

George Clooney holds the Oscar he won for best supporting actor for his work in 'Syriana' at the 78th Academy Awards in this March 5, 2006, file photo taken in Los Angeles.  Clooney has donated his decadent Oscar gift bag to the United Way, a spokeswoman for the organization said Wednesday, March 15, 2006. The gift bag given to presenters at the 78th Annual Academy Awards includes a BlackBerry 8700c, a Kay Unger kimono and a cultured Tahitian-pearl necklace, among other items. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)AP - It's George Clooney versus Arianna Huffington in a standoff worthy of "Good Night, and Good Luck."


Ford: "Indy 4" Script Ready (E! Online)

March 15, 2006

Looks like Harrison Ford can finally take the fedora out of 
 mothballs.E! Online - Looks like Harrison Ford can finally take the fedora out of mothballs.


Rapper Kanye West Heads to the Big Screen (AP)

March 15, 2006

Rapper Kanye West appears on stage during MTV's 'Total Request Live' show at the MTV Times Square Studios,in this Nov. 7, 2005, file photo taken in New York. The Grammy-winning West has joined with New Line Cinema and Anonymous Content to develop a film inspired by his music, New Line's president of production said Wednesday, March 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File)AP - Rapper Kanye West is bringing his music — and himself — to the big screen.


Kanye Graduating to Movies (E! Online)

March 15, 2006

After 
 conquering the music scene with a pair of mega-selling albums and a 
 half-dozen Grammys in just two years, the hip-hopster is looking to dig 
 some gold at the box office.E! Online - After conquering the music scene with a pair of mega-selling albums and a half-dozen Grammys in just two years, the hip-hopster is looking to dig some gold at the box office.


Almodovar gets laughs in tale of death, abuse, roots (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Oscar-winning Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar (C) poses with cast members (L-R) Yohana Cobo, Blanca Portillo, Carmen Maura, Penelope Cruz and Lola Duenas during a photocall in Madrid March 13, 2006. Almodovar's latest film 'Volver' will open in Spain on March 17. REUTERS/Sergio PerezReuters - For a film which deals seriously with issues like death, abuse and estranged families, "Volver" ("Returning") gets a surprising number of laughs.


Clooney Gives Oscar Swag Bag to United Way (AP)

March 15, 2006

Actor George Clooney, who directed and stars in the new movie, 'Good Night and Good Luck,' poses on a roof top in New York on Sept. 23, 2005. Clooney faulted Democrats, Monday March 13, 2006, in a profanity-laced posting on The Huffington Post blog site, for their timidity in the months before the start of the Iraq war, saying many party leaders muted their criticism of the Bush administration rather than risk being branded as unpatriotic. (AP Photo/Jim Cooper)AP - Maybe George Clooney feels that taking home an Oscar was enough.


Animal-Rights Groups Target Humane Assoc (AP)

March 15, 2006

AP - The "No Animals Were Harmed" disclaimer at the end of the movie has been part of the popular vernacular since 1989, when it first showed up in Paul Newman's "Fat Man and Little Boy." It's even trademarked.

Tribeca film festival focuses on Muslim World (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Co-Founder of the Tribeca Film Festival Robert De Niro speaks during a news conference in New York, April 21, 2005. From skiing in Iran and homosexuality in Egypt to conflicting views on the war in Iraq, this year's Tribeca Film Festival plans to offer Americans insights on the Muslim world that may come as a surprise. REUTERS/Mike SegarReuters - From skiing in Iran and homosexuality in Egypt to conflicting views on the war in Iraq, this year's Tribeca Film Festival plans to offer Americans insights on the Muslim world that may come as a surprise.


'Toy Story' Creator Gears Up for 'Cars' (AP)

March 15, 2006

AP - John Lasseter's latest flick combines his two lifelong loves: The animated and automotive worlds.

Kanye Graduating to Movies (E! Online)

March 15, 2006

After 
 conquering the music scene with a pair of mega-selling albums and a 
 half-dozen Grammys in just two years, the hip-hopster is looking to dig 
 some gold at the box office.E! Online - After conquering the music scene with a pair of mega-selling albums and a half-dozen Grammys in just two years, the hip-hopster is looking to dig some gold at the box office.


"Brokeback" Author Blasts the Academy (E! Online)

March 15, 2006

Who knew that the voters who choose the Academy Award winners are 
 actually heffalumps, the pleasantly plump elephantine character from 
 Winnie the Pooh? And conservative heffalumps at that.E! Online - Who knew that the voters who choose the Academy Award winners are actually heffalumps, the pleasantly plump elephantine character from Winnie the Pooh? And conservative heffalumps at that.


"Cars" wows theater owners in first public screening (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Actor Cheech Marin plays with a Ramone toy, the character that he lent his voice for in the new Pixar Studios film 'Cars,' at the American International Toy Fair in New York, February 9, 2006. Movie theater owners gave an enthusiastic reception 'Cars' at its first public screening at a Las Vegas trade show late on Tuesday. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidReuters - Movie theater owners gave an enthusiastic reception to Pixar Animation Studios Inc.'s film "Cars" at its first public screening at a Las Vegas trade show late on Tuesday.


Brown Acknowledges 'Reworking' Passages (AP)

March 15, 2006

Dan Brown, author of 'The Da Vinci Code', leaves The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Tuesday, March 14, 2006. The British court on Tuesday focused on questions about sourcing and underlining as novelist Dan Brown continued defending his blockbuster, 'The Da Vinci Code.' The millionaire author was on the stand for the second day, defending his work against a copyright infringement suit brought by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, authors of a 1982 nonfiction book, 'The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail.' The suit is not against Brown, but his publisher Random House, which also published 'The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail.' (AP Photo/Sang Tan)AP - Dan Brown returned to the witness stand Wednesday and acknowledged "reworking" passages from an earlier book for his best-selling novel "The Da Vinci Code," but he firmly rejected charges that he ripped off key ideas for his conspiracy thriller.


Da Vinci Code case a "storm in teacup": witness (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Novelist Dan Brown leaves the High Court in central London March 13, 2006. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezReuters - The historians suing "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown's publisher for copyright infringement "were in danger of making fools of themselves," a witness said on Wednesday.


Michael Douglas Criticizes Brangelina (AP)

March 15, 2006

Actor Michael Douglas poses for a photo at the Bridges of Hope Kuwait American Foundation benefit dinner to benefit the rehabilitation of schools in Afghanistan in Washington in this Wednesday, March 8, 2006 file photo.  Watch out Brad, Michael Douglas is taking some shots regarding your divorce from Jen. At you and girlfriend Angelina Jolie.  'I don't know about Brad Pitt, leaving that beautiful wife to go hold orphans for Angelina,' Douglas snipes in GQ's April issue, hitting newsstands March 21. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)AP - Watch out Brad, Michael Douglas is taking some shots regarding your divorce from Jen. At you and girlfriend Angelina Jolie.


Ford eager to start new Indiana Jones film (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Reuters - Harrison Ford is ready to jump back into his favorite film role and begin shooting the fourth Indiana Jones movie soon, a German magazine quoted the Hollywood actor as saying on Wednesday.

Costner, Kutcher Filming Coast Guard Movie (AP)

March 15, 2006

AP - Fake snow and about 70 local extras are helping to transform the local U.S. Coast Guard station into an Alaskan counterpart for a movie starring Kevin Costner.

Solzhenitsyn plans film adaptation of 'Cancer' (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Reuters - Russia's famous former dissident, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, is in talks to make a feature film version of his Soviet-era novel "Cancer Ward," his wife said Tuesday.

Gore vouches for "Truth" (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Reuters - Former Vice President Al Gore is drumming up interest in his upcoming environmental documentary by screening it for movie theater owners at their annual convention in Las Vegas.

'Smiley' girl: Faris high on Araki comedy (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Reuters - Anna Faris, who appeared in the "Scary Movie" franchise, is starring in "Smiley Face," a stoner comedy being directed by Gregg Araki.

Rapper Kanye West graduates to big screen (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Reuters - Kanye West is digging for big screen gold.

NY studio developers see hope for housing project (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Reuters - In many ways, it's a tale of two New York Cities.

Arctic laid bare in "Planet" documentary (Reuters)

March 15, 2006

Reuters - It took a bunch of penguins to launch a craze for wildlife documentaries in cinemas across the globe. As those creatures bask in their Oscar afterglow, another French nature epic will bow on home turf next week, ahead of its international rollout.

Reiner Refuses to Resign From State Panel (AP)

March 15, 2006

AP - Movie director Rob Reiner said Tuesday he does not regret that a state commission he chairs spent $23 million in taxpayer money for an ad campaign that coincided with his promotion of a preschool ballot initiative.