Entertainment

Despite illness, Celine Dion still keen to get back onstage

MONTREAL, March 16, 2024 (AFP) – Pop megastar Celine Dion, who is suffering from a rare neurological disorder, said in an Instagram post she looks forward to her return to the stage. Dion, 55, first disclosed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, which causes stiff muscles in the torso, arms and legs, with noise or emotional distress known to trigger spasms. “Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been […]

“Squid Game” actor O Yeong-Su convicted of sexual assault

SEOUL, March 15, 2024 (AFP) – South Korea’s “Squid Game” actor O Yeong-su has been found guilty of sexual misconduct, a local court said Friday, after he was charged with assaulting a woman in 2017. The 79-year-old in 2022 became the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in a series for his performance as a seemingly vulnerable old man in the mega-hit Netflix dystopian thriller. The actor was […]

‘Katespiracy’ explodes after UK royal photo gaffe

By Anuj CHOPRA WASHINGTON, March 13, 2024 (AFP) – The picture was meant to douse speculation about the whereabouts and health of Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, but instead her manipulated image unleashed a torrent of internet-breaking rumors and conspiracy theories. The storm in the royal tea pot erupted after Kate, 42, on Monday apologized and admitted to editing a palace-issued photograph of herself with her three children after the altered image was withdrawn by […]

Nolan’s masterpiece ‘Oppenheimer’ wins best picture Oscar

By Andrew MARSZAL HOLLYWOOD, United States, March 11, 2024 (AFP) – It is, in the words of its director, the story of the most important person who ever lived. And on Sunday, “Oppenheimer” completed its indomitable march towards Hollywood’s most important prize, winning the Academy Award for best picture. Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece — the story of the brilliant physicist who oversaw the invention of the atomic bomb, changing the world forever — is a grand, […]

Auschwitz drama ‘Zone of Interest’ wins best intl film Oscar

LONDON, March 11, 2024 (AFP) – The powerful Auschwitz-set psychological horror film, “The Zone of Interest”, which on Sunday won the Oscar for best international film, stunned critics with its penetrating study of the banality in the shadow of the death camp. The victory marks the first time that a submission from Britain has won the Academy Award in this category, which is open to non-English language films made by countries other than the United […]

Downey Jr wins Oscar for ‘Oppenheimer,’ 31 years after first nod

HOLLYWOOD, United States, March 11, 2024 (AFP) – Robert Downey, Jr on Sunday won his first Academy Award, a best supporting actor statuette for his villainous turn in “Oppenheimer” — a golden moment in a decades-long career of highs and lows, on and off the screen. The Oscar triumph for the 58-year-old American capped a glittering awards season, during which he snared a slew of prizes for his portrayal of Lewis Strauss, the jealous rival […]

The 10 contenders for the best picture Oscar

By Andrew MARSZAL LOS ANGELES, March 5, 2024 (AFP) – From dramas about the atomic bomb and Auschwitz, to comedies about dolls and sex-mad reanimated corpses, the lineup of best picture contenders at Sunday’s Oscars is the most varied in years. Here are the 10 movies from 2023 that will go head-to-head for Hollywood’s most prestigious prize: – ‘American Fiction’ – “American Fiction” achieves a remarkable feat. It highlights systemic racism and bigoted hypocrisy — […]

Reliance, Disney announce giant India media merger

MUMBAI, Feb 29, 2024 (AFP) – India’s Reliance Industries and Walt Disney have agreed to merge their Indian media businesses, creating a $8.5 billion entertainment giant in the world’s most populous nation. India’s entertainment market is already one of the world’s biggest, with the merger expected to further shake up the multi-billion-dollar industry. The two companies had signed “binding definitive agreements” to form a joint venture that will combine the businesses of Reliance-backed Viacom18 and […]

Shock as Warner Bros Discovery shutters major N.Zealand news outlet

WELLINGTON, Feb 28, 2024 (AFP) – US entertainment giant Warner Bros Discovery announced plans to shutter major New Zealand news outlet Newshub Wednesday, in what the deputy prime minister called a “disaster for this country’s democracy”. Citing cratering advertising revenues, the US firm said it was closing “all Newshub’s multi-platform news operations” in June, with a reported loss of about 300 jobs. The announcement effectively spreads the impact of massive recent US media cost-cutting beyond […]

Gamers party like it’s 1997 as Final Fantasy VII ‘reborn’

By Charlotte DURAND PARIS, Feb 28, 2024 (AFP) – Gamers are anxiously awaiting the release on Thursday of “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth”, a title based on a 1997 classic that is blurring the boundaries between remakes and reboots. While makers of other blockbusters like Resident Evil, Zelda and Pokemon have tweaked and updated older versions of their games, Japanese publisher Square Enix had something more radical in mind for Final Fantasy VII. The firm has […]

For each best picture Oscar hopeful, film editors are key

By Romain FONSEGRIVES, with François BECKER in Paris Whether they are snipping an actor’s lengthy stare, obliging the viewer to process rapid-fire images or creating tension with a pause, film editors who work in sync with directors play a vital role in giving life to a movie — and its Oscar chances. “You can’t have a good movie with bad editing,” Kevin Tent, who is nominated for an Academy Award for his work with director […]

Love and Alzheimer’s collide in Oscar-nominated ‘Eternal Memory’

By Paula RAMON As a journalist, Augusto Gongora fought to chronicle Chile’s violent military dictatorship. But it was his battle to hold onto his own memories that made him the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary. “The Eternal Memory” charts the progression of Alzheimer’s disease through the lens of a couple who had to work every day to keep alive the memory of their love, just as their country strives not to forget its own violent […]