From runway to red carpet: Tom Ford makes directorial debut at Venice Film FestivalVENICE, Italy — Tom Ford, the former star designer at Gucci, makes his directorial debut with an intimate story about coping with loss and grief in a movie presented at the Venice Film Festival. Michael Jackson tribute rescheduled for June 2010 in LondonVIENNA — An outdoor concert in Vienna that had been billed as the major global tribute to Michael Jackson has been moved to London and postponed until June, organizers said Friday, saying they needed more time to put together the show. Armani says he feels “marvelously” well after months-long battle with hepatitisMILAN — Designer Giorgio Armani said Thursday he was feeling “marvelously well” after winning a months-long battle with hepatitis. Award-winning German-Turkish director Akin presents comedy in ‘Soul Kitchen’ at VeniceVENICE, Italy — Prize-winning German-Turkish director Fatih Akin is turning to comedy in his latest film “Soul Kitchen,” which showed at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday. Omar Sharif returns to big screen at Venice film festival in ‘The Traveler’VENICE, Italy — Omar Sharif, whose devilishly handsome looks delighted female fans decades ago, has returned to the big screen at the Venice Film Festival Thursday in a film about an elderly man’s encounter with a woman he loved in his youth. Thriller gone bad? Fans grumble about B-list lineup for Michael Jackson tribute in ViennaVIENNA — It was supposed to be a thriller. Now it just looks bad. Turkish authorities say they rescue 9 women held captive on set of Internet reality showISTANBUL — Turkish military police said Thursday that they had stormed an Istanbul villa to rescue nine captive women whose scantily clad images were posted online after they were recruited for a television reality show. Cirque du Soleil founder uses $35M trip to issue water ecology statement from space stationSTAR CITY, Russia — The next paying traveler to the international space station wants to use his $35 million trip to highlight concerns about the world’s water supply. Ingmar Bergman’s Golden Globe awards for sale in auction of filmmaker’s personal belongingsSTOCKHOLM — A writing desk, film cameras and Golden Globe awards belonging to Swedish film legend Ingmar Bergman are attracting a huge interest from collectors as they go up for auction in Stockholm. Cirque du Soleil founder hopes the world will hear him read from spaceSTAR CITY, Russia — The founder of Cirque du Soleil said Thursday he’ll be taking some reading material to the International Space Station this month. Not that he’s worried about being bored, but he wants to read it to the denizens of Earth. In space, Canadian Laliberte hopes the world will hear him readSTAR CITY, Russia — The founder of Cirque du Soleil said Thursday he’ll be taking some reading material to the International Space Station this month. Not that he’s worried about being bored, but he wants to read it to the denizens of Earth. Turkish authorities rescue 9 women tricked into thinking they were reality show contestantsISTANBUL, Turkey — Turkish military police said Thursday that they had stormed an Istanbul villa to rescue nine women held captive after being tricked into believing they were reality show contestants. Beatlemania returns with rollout of Fab 4’s remastered CDs, video game, luring new generationLONDON — Beatlemania is back with the rollout Wednesday of the Fab Four’s remastered CDs and first-ever video game, reaching out to a whole new generation decades after their parents — and even grandparents — first succumbed. Source: Chris Brown will not perform at Michael Jackson tribute concert in AustriaLOS ANGELES — Chris Brown won’t perform at a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Austria, contrary to statements by promoters, a person close to the situation said Wednesday. A publicist for Mary J. Blige, also touted for the show, said she won’t be there either. Beatlemania back as Britain celebrates B-Day in the place where it all beganLONDON — The Beatles are back, sounding better than ever, and Britain is embracing them one more time. World auteurs, British directors and George Clooney in lineup for London Film FestivalLONDON — This year’s London Film Festival is big on British talent, international auteurs — and George Clooney. Hollywood stars and British directors in lineup for next month’s London Film FestivalLONDON — Organizers are announcing the lineup for this year’s London Film Festival. Hip-hop singer Speech Debelle wins Britain’s Mercury Prize for her album ‘Speech Therapy’LONDON — Hip-hop songstress Speech Debelle won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize on Tuesday for her album “Speech Therapy,” a work inspired by a period the young rapper spent homeless. May I kiss you George? Fan pokes fun at Clooney at Venice Film FestVENICE, Italy — A fan of actor George Clooney stripped to his boxer shorts in front of the Hollywood star and asked if he could “kiss him, just once.” Mike Bongiorno, king of Italy’s quiz shows since the 1950s, dies at 85ROME — Mike Bongiorno, a TV host who popularized quiz shows for generations of Italians and became a symbol of national television, has died. He was 85. Mike Bongiorno, the king of Italy’s quiz shows, is dead at 85ROME — Mike Bongiorno, a veteran TV host who made quiz shows popular in Italy in the 1950s and 1960s, has died at age 85. Previous winners A.S. Byatt and J.M. Coetzee among 6 finalists for literature’s Booker PrizeLONDON — Previous winners A.S. Byatt and J.M. Coetzee are among six finalists announced Tuesday for literature’s prestigious Man Booker Prize. Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge at Michael Jackson tribute in ViennaVIENNA — Top artists such as Mary J. Blige, Akon and Chris Brown will sing some of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits at a Sept. 26 global tribute that also will feature a virtual duet between the King of Pop and one of his brothers, organizers said Tuesday. George Clooney in Venice for world premiere of “The Men Who Stare at Goats”VENICE, Italy — George Clooney is appearing at the Venice Film Festival for the premiere of his new movie, a comic tale of “psychic warfare” by the U.S. military. Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole, Sister Sledge to perform at Michael Jackson tribute in ViennaVIENNA — Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole and Sister Sledge will headline a Sept. 26 Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna, organizers said Tuesday. Venezuela’s Chavez walks Venice red carpet with Oliver Stone to promote new documentaryVENICE, Italy — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez received a movie star welcome Monday at the Venice Film Festival, where he walked the red carpet with director Oliver Stone for the premiere of the documentary “South of the Border.” Venezuelan leader Chavez greeted like movie star at Venice premier ‘South of the Border’VENICE, Italy — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is getting a movie star reception at the Venice Film Festival. ‘South of the Border’ to make Venice premiere, meant to illustrate positives under Hugo ChavezVENICE, Italy — Director Oliver Stone says his new documentary “South of the Border” is meant to illustrate the sweeping changes in South America in recent years. Moore dedicates ‘Capitalism’ to ‘good people’ at Venice Film FestivalVENICE, Italy — Michael Moore says his film “Capitalism: A Love Story” is dedicated to “good people … who’ve had their lives ruined” by the quest for profit. Pixar creators of ‘Nemo,’ ‘Wall-E’ and ‘Up’ win lifetime achievement award at VeniceVENICE, Italy — The Venice Film Festival’s red carpet was festooned with balloons on Sunday to mark the lifetime achievement award for director and producer John Lasseter and his crew of Pixar directors. Moore dedicates ‘Capitalism’ to ‘good people’ whose lives ruined by drive for profitVENICE, Italy — Michael Moore says his film “Capitalism: A Love Story” is dedicated to “good people … who’ve had their lives ruined” by the quest for profit. Werner Herzog’s ‘My Son, My Son’ based a real life Greek tragedy of actor killing motherVENICE, Italy — For four decades, no Werner Herzog film ever was accepted for competition at the Venice Film Festival. This year, there are two. Widower of British reality TV star Jade Goody appears in court charged with rapeLONDON — The widower of British reality TV star Jade Goody has appeared in court on a rape charge. Yesterday, today, forever: 50 years after Motown Records is born, the famous ’sound’ enduresDETROIT — On Jan. 12, 1959, Elvis Presley was in the Army. The Beatles were a little-known group called The Quarrymen casting about for gigs in Liverpool. The nascent rock ‘n’ roll world was a few weeks away from “the day the music died” — when a single-engine plane crash claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens. Nicolas Cage’s ‘Bad Lieutenant’ no relation to Harvey Keitel’s, seeks no redemptionVENICE, Italy — German director Werner Herzog says his “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans,” starring Nicolas Cage as a drug-addicted homicide detective and Eva Mendes as his prostitute girlfriend, has nothing to do with Abel Ferrara’s 1992 cult classic starring Harvey Keitel. He hasn’t even seen it. |