Tag: entertainment

‘Star Wars’ Mark Hamill to present award at Oscars

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Mark Hamill — Luke Skywalker from the “Star Wars” saga — will present an Oscar at the upcoming Academy Awards before getting his Walk of Fame star. Hamill will attend the Oscars, March 4, four days before he is honored personally with his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The actor, now 66, joked on Twitter: “Note to self: 1) Talk fast enough so the orchestra doesn’t try to play […]

Soderbergh in Berlin unveils “Unsane” thriller shot on iPhone

by Deborah Cole Agence France-Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Steven Soderbergh premiered his new thriller shot on an iPhone at the Berlin film festival Wednesday, showing what little gadgets can do to push the limits of style on the big screen. The American director, who had only a few years ago declared his retirement from filmmaking, told reporters that “Unsane,” his first time using a smartphone for a full feature, had been invigorating. “This is […]

‘Black Panther’ toy sales fierce as film opens big

by John Biers Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Panther claws, masks and action figures are leaping off store shelves after runaway hit “Black Panther” — the first film in the Marvel universe focused on a black superhero — shredded box office expectations with a massive opening weekend. Toys and accessories linked to the movie, which is also making waves for its strong black female leading roles, have the potential to become an […]

New take on real-life hijack drama in ‘7 Days in Entebbe’

by Frank Zeller Agence France-Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — The counter-terrorism plot seems more far-fetched than many action thrillers, yet “7 Days in Entebbe,” which premiered at the Berlin film festival Monday, depicts a real-life airline hijack drama. The movie recounts what is often called the most audacious hostage rescue mission ever staged, Israel’s 1976 “Operation Thunderbolt” in Uganda, but aims to be more than a tale of military heroism. Instead, Brazilian director Jose Padilha […]

Mythical guitar-maker Gibson fighting for survival

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — World-famous guitar maker Gibson, whose instruments have been played by the likes of John Lennon and Elvis Presley, is facing serious financial problems that threaten its very existence. The mythical company — in Nashville, Tennessee since 1894 — on Monday brought in a new financial director, Benson Woo, to try to rescue the ailing group. Gibson Brands, which also sells audio systems for both professionals and the general public, […]

Marvel’s hits and misses over 20 years

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Black Panther,” the 18th release in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series and the latest of dozens of movies based on Marvel Comics characters, is expected to rake in more than $150 million this coming weekend in its US debut. Here is a list of movies based on Marvel Comics properties released over the past two decades, with their domestic opening weekend box office and their final global totals: 2017 […]

Sony apologizes to parents over ‘Peter Rabbit’ food allergy scene

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Sony Pictures is under fire for a scene in its new “Peter Rabbit” film, which critics say trivializes food allergies when a herd of rambunctious bunnies weaponize blackberries to gang up on their human nemesis. The controversial sequence shows rabbits attacking the movie’s villain, human character Tom McGregor, with the fruits, to which he is allergic. After a berry flies into his mouth, the character attempts to inject himself […]

Oscar favorite Del Toro to head Venice film festival jury

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Director Guillermo del Toro, whose latest film “The Shape of Water” is tipped to win big at the Oscars, will chair the Venice Film Festival jury, organisers announced Monday. “Venice is a window to world cinema and the opportunity to celebrate its power and cultural relevance,” the Mexican director said. “The Shape of Water,” a Cold War-set story of love between a mute cleaning woman and a mystery merman-like creature, has […]

Five things to look for at the Berlin film festival

by Deborah Cole BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — The Berlin film festival, Europe’s first major cinema showcase since the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse scandal roiled the industry, starts Thursday with 400 new movies slated and a controversy of its own brewing. US filmmaker Wes Anderson will kick off the race for the Golden Bear top prize with the animated feature “Isle of Dogs,” voiced by a starry cast including Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum and […]

Antonio Banderas bows to destiny to play Picasso

by Laurence Thomann Agence France-Presse BUDAPEST, Hungary (AFP) — It was written in the stars that one day, Spanish star Antonio Banderas, who used to walk to school every morning past Pablo Picasso’s childhood home, would have to play the great painter. For years Malaga’s second most famous son has been turning down offers to play its greatest, knowing that he “would be looked at with a magnifying glass.” But finally, Banderas has said yes […]

Biotech billionaire buys Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Billionaire physician and investor Patrick Soon-Shiong agreed Wednesday to buy the Los Angeles Times, in a move aimed at reviving the fortunes of the newspaper amid recent turmoil. Publishing group Tronc Inc. said it reached a deal to sell the LA Times and San Diego Union-Tribune to Soon-Shiong’s Nant Capital for $500 million plus the assumption of $90 million in pension liabilities. The move comes after months of newsroom […]

Quincy Jones says Michael Jackson stole songs

  NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer behind Michael Jackson, says that the late King of Pop plagiarized some of his hits. “I hate to get into this publicly, but Michael stole a lot of stuff. He stole a lot of songs,” Jones said in an interview full of eyebrow-raising comments published Tuesday by Vulture, the culture site of New York magazine. “The notes don’t lie, man. He was […]