Movies News

    • Muppets creator's items head to NYC museum

      FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2008 file photo, Muppets Fozzie Bear, left, a Whatnot, center, and Kermit the Frog make a television appearance in New York. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Bert and Ernie of "Sesame Street" fame, the stars of "Fraggle Rock" and other puppets, costumes and items from throughout Muppets creator Jim Henson's career have been donated to the Museum of the Moving Image, which is building a new gallery to house them, the institution announced Tuesday, May 21, 2013.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, FileNEW YORK (AP) — The Muppets are getting a new home in a Queens museum with a permanent exhibit the city hopes will persuade more tourists to venture beyond Manhattan.


      Published: 5/21/2013 17:35:36 PM
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    • Citing fatigue, director Ang Lee leaves pilot of TV series 'Tyrant'

      Director Ang Lee speaks in a news conference in TaipeiLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar winner Ang Lee canceled his plans to direct the pilot of new U.S. television series "Tyrant," saying on Tuesday that he needed to rest after spending four years working on 3D fantasy-adventure film "Life of Pi." Lee, 58, signed on to direct the pilot of the drama series for cable network FX in March, shortly after winning the Best Director Oscar for "Life of Pi." "It is one of the most brilliant ideas for a series that I've seen and one about which I was very excited," Lee said in a statement. ...


      Published: 5/21/2013 17:32:52 PM
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    • Sony to assess spin-off proposal for entertainment business: Nikkei

      Logo of Sony Corp. is seen at an electronics store in Tokyo(Reuters) - Sony Corp is considering evaluating a proposal from top shareholder Third Point LLC to spin off part of its movie and music business, Japanese daily Nikkei reported. Sony's U.S. listed shares rose 9 percent on Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange. Billionaire hedge fund investor Daniel Loeb last week called on the company to spin off its lucrative entertainment arm, setting the stage for a clash between his activist Wall Street fund and management at the Japanese electronics maker. Sony declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. ...


      Published: 5/21/2013 15:58:26 PM
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    • Microsoft unveils Xbox One with Spielberg, Activision tie-up

      Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, discusses the Xbox One uses for television viewing during a press event in RedmondBy Bill Rigby and Malathi Nayak REDMOND, Washington (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a "Halo" series produced by Steven Spielberg. The Xbox One, which will be available later this year at a price to be announced, will also be the first platform to release the next installment in Activision Blizzard Inc's blockbuster shooter franchise, "Call of Duty". ...


      Published: 5/21/2013 15:23:05 PM
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    • Carol Burnett to receive top honor for American comedians

      Carol Burnett arrives for the taping of "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl" in Los Angeles(Reuters) - Actress and comedienne Carol Burnett will be honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the top award for American comics, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts said on Tuesday. Burnett, 80, whose Emmy-winning sketch comedy program "The Carol Burnett Show" was a mainstay on U.S. television from 1967 to 1978, will receive the award during a ceremony at Washington's Kennedy Center in October. ...


      Published: 5/21/2013 14:38:33 PM
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    • Boston bomb brothers more American than Chechen: Depardieu

      Actor Depardieu participates in a news conference in GroznyGROZNY, Russia (Reuters) - French actor Gerard Depardieu said on Tuesday the ethnic Chechen brothers accused of the Boston marathon bombing had been raised American and that residents of the volatile Russian region of Chechnya were not to blame. The actor, who accepted Russian citizenship after quitting France to avoid a planned 75 percent tax on millionaires, was echoing comments from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, with whom he has been filmed socialising. "I was in the United States when the terrorist act was carried out in Boston. ...


      Published: 5/21/2013 13:27:49 PM
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    • La Dolce Vita plays out with Italian films at Cannes

      Director Paolo Sorrentino attends a news conference for the film "La grande bellezza" at the 66th Cannes Film FestivalBy Alexandria Sage CANNES (Reuters) - Paolo Sorrentino's "The Great Beauty," a nostalgic, melancholic ode to the eternal city Rome, is one of several films that touch on the unraveling of contemporary Italy in official selection at the Cannes film festival this year. Also competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or award to be handed out on May 26 is "Un Chateau en Italie" ("A Castle in Italy") by Franco-Italian director Valeria Bruni Tedeschi about the demise of an aristocratic family. ...


      Published: 5/21/2013 13:22:11 PM
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    • Liberace film throws spotlight on gay rights at Cannes festival

      Cast member Matt Damon and director Steven Soderbergh attend a news conference for the film "Behind the Candelabra" during the 66th Cannes Film FestivalBy Belinda Goldsmith CANNES (Reuters) - The relationship between the flamboyant pianist Liberace and his young lover dazzled at the Cannes film festival on Tuesday and threw the spotlight on gay rights at the movie industry's largest annual gathering. Director Steven Soderbergh said he struggled five years ago to secure funding for "Behind the Candelabra" because some financiers thought the film would only appeal to a gay audience and, at a cost of $25 million, would be a financial risk. ...


      Published: 5/21/2013 10:54:39 AM
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    • In Coens' Cannes hit, Oscar Isaac gets his break

      Actor Oscar Isaac poses for portraits at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Laurent Emmanuel)CANNES, France (AP) — Joel and Ethan Coen had almost given up on casting the lead for their film "Inside Llewyn Davis." The part, a folk musician in early 1960s Greenwich Village, demanded the elusive combination of someone who could both carry a movie and perform the songs central to the film.


      Published: 5/21/2013 09:42:11 AM
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    • MTV's 'Teen Wolf' star Dylan O'Brien eyed for DreamWorks' 'Glimmer'

      By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Teen Wolf" star Dylan O'Brien must be howling with excitement, as he's in negotiations for the lead role in DreamWorks' found-footage film "Glimmer," TheWrap has learned. While there's no deal in place yet, DreamWorks clearly likes its chances, as the studio just pushed back the start of production on to January in order to accommodate his busy schedule. O'Brien has a bright future on the big screen. ...
      Published: 5/20/2013 20:30:55 PM
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    • 'Hunger Games' star Liam Hemsworth to lead action movie 'Aurora Rising'

      Cast member Hemsworth poses at the premiere of "The Hunger Games" at Nokia theatre in Los AngelesBy Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Relativity is back in business with its "Paranoia" star Liam Hemsworth, who has signed on to lead the upcoming action film "Aurora Rising." Written by Christian Gudegast, the story follows a surfer (Hemsworth) turned military fighter pilot who, after acing a complicated and messy first combat mission, gets recruited to be part of an elite team to test the next generation of aircrafts just as an international conflict begins to escalate. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 20:18:28 PM
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    • Academy to give more Oscars for animated feature

      By Steve Pond LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The Academy has relaxed the rules for winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, allowing more individuals to take home statuettes. In rule changes approved by the AMPAS Board of Governors, the filmmaker with producer credit will now receive an Oscar in the category, along with the film's credited director. In cases where a two-person team has shared director credit, a third statuette can be awarded. In the past, the Animated Feature Oscar went to the single individual with the most creative input into the film, typically the director. ...
      Published: 5/20/2013 20:04:27 PM
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    • Seth MacFarlane won't host Oscars, recommends Joaquin Phoenix for 2014

      Oscar host Seth MacFarlane speaks on stage at the 85th Academy Awards in HollywoodBy Brent Lang NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Seth MacFarlane will not return to host the 2014 Oscars, the filmmaker and hit TV writer/producer announced on Monday. MacFarlane said that his schedule did not permit him to return. "Traumatized critics exhale: I'm unable to do the Oscars again. Tried to make it work schedule-wise, but I need sleep," MacFarlane tweeted. MacFarlane's turn as emcee of the 2013 Oscars divided the community. Some found him funny and eager to experiment while many found him crass and unoriginal, citing a long gag about breasts. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 20:01:52 PM
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    • Kate Hudson joins Zach Braff in Kickstarter movie 'Wish I Was Here'

      Actress Kate Hudson arrives at the Elle Style Awards at the Savoy Hotel in LondonBy Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Kate Hudson is set to play the female lead opposite Zach Braff in the director's Kickstarter-approved indie movie "Wish I Was Here." Braff stars as Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, father and husband who is still trying to find his identity and purpose at age 35. Hudson will play Braff's wife and the mother of his two children. She joins a cast that includes Mandy Patinkinand Josh Gad as Braff's father and brother, respectively, as well as Anna Kendrick, Jim Parsons and Braff's "Scrubs" co-star Donald Faison. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 19:55:41 PM
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    • 'Chuck' star Zachary Levi to make Broadway debut

      Actor Zachary Levi arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Los AngelesBy Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Zachary Levi, star of the late, lamented NBC action comedy "Chuck," will make his Broadway debut in the musical comedy "First Date," the show's producers said Monday. Levi anchored the cult TV series for five seasons, starring as a computer-whiz who becomes an improbable spy. He also did voice work for 2011's "Tangled" and is set to appear in "Thor: The Dark World." In "First Date," Levi plays a high-strung man who gets set up with a serial-dater. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 18:36:44 PM
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    • ‘The Simpsons' writer Jon Vitti to script ‘Angry Birds' movie

      By Lucas Shaw NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Jon Vitti, an Emmy-winning writer and producer of hit animated shows such as "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill," will write the screenplay for the upcoming "Angry Birds" movie, multiple individuals with knowledge of the project told TheWrap. Rovio Entertainment, which developed and made the popular gaming franchise, is financing and producing the film. Sony will release it worldwide in July 2016. In Vitti, Rovio has hired a screenwriter with experience turning popular existing franchises into hit movies. ...
      Published: 5/20/2013 18:33:02 PM
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    • Chinese Actress Li Bingbing Joins 'Transformers 4'

      Chinese Actress Li Bing-bing poses for photographers on the red carpet at the 49th Golden Horse Film Awards in Ilan countyBy Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Chinese actress Li Bingbing has joined the cast of "Transformers 4," Paramount Pictures said Monday. She will co-star in the sequel along with Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer and Jack Reynor. Michael Bay will once again direct and orchestrate the fireballs and global mayhem. Li has previously appeared in "Resident Evil: Retribution" and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 18:29:01 PM
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    • Chile miner happy to be played by Banderas in film

      FILE - In this March 24, 2011 file photo, Mario Sepulveda, a Chilean miner that was trapped underground for more than two months, smiles during a news conference in South Orange, N.J.. Spanish actor Antonio Banderas will star as Sepulveda in the film "The 33" who dramatizes the cave-in at a mine in Chile's Atacama desert and the globally televised rescue of the miners that mesmerized millions worldwide. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Antonio Banderas will star in a movie as one of the 33 Chilean miners trapped deep underground for more than two months in 2010, and the charismatic survivor he's playing couldn't be happier.


      Published: 5/20/2013 17:52:54 PM
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    • VH1 sets theatrical release for Napster documentary 'Downloaded'

      By Steve Pond LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Downloaded," Alex Winter's documentary about the rise and fall of the transformative but controversial company Napster, will receive theatrical and VOD runs from VH1 beginning in late June, the music network announced on Monday. Directed and produced by Alex Winter, the film will open in New York City on June 21 and Los Angeles on June 28, and will then expand to Albuquerque, Austin, Chicago, Columbus, Grand Rapids, Martha's Vineyard, San Francisco and Seattle, among other cities. ...
      Published: 5/20/2013 16:13:58 PM
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    • Martin Scorsese to present Mel Brooks with AFI Award

      Director Scorsese arrives at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar party in West HollywoodBy Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Martin Scorsese and Mel Brooks are rarely mentioned in the same sentence. Although both men are film legends, their styles and subject matter are worlds apart-- one is associated with gritty depictions of criminality while the other is best known for his pioneering fart jokes. The two men will share the same stage, however, on June 6, when Scorsese will present Brooks with the American Film Institute's 41st Life Achievement Award. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 16:06:10 PM
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    • Keanu Reeves makes director debut with modern Kung Fu film

      Actor and director Keanu Reeves poses during a photocall on a front pier to present his film "Man of Tai Chi" at the 66th Cannes Film FestivalBy Mike Davidson CANNES (Reuters) - He's played a science-fiction hero, policeman and even Hamlet. But now actor Keanu Reeves is taking on a new role - as director of a contemporary martial arts movie aimed at both Chinese and Western audiences. Reeves has stepped behind the camera to make his directorial debut with "Man of Tai Chi", a trilingual film loosely based on the life of a stuntman, Tiger Chen, whom he befriended while working on the sci-fi "The Matrix" trilogy. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 16:04:00 PM
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    • 'Star Wars' to bring 'Rebels' to new animated Disney TV series

      A part of the signage at the main gate of The Walt Disney Co. is pictured in BurbankLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Disney said on Monday it will produce a new "Star Wars" animated series to air on television in the fall 2014, giving fans of the science-fiction franchise fresh stories before the next live-action film hits theaters in 2015. "Star Wars Rebels," based on George Lucas' multibillion dollar film franchise, will be set in the two decades between the events of the third and fourth films, where the Empire becomes a dominant force in the galaxy, Disney said. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 13:30:01 PM
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    • Palestinian film of love and betrayal breaks new ground at Cannes

      By Belinda Goldsmith CANNES (Reuters) - A tragic love story between two Palestinians living under Israeli occupation received a standing ovation at the Cannes film festival on Monday and broke new ground as the first film fully funded by the Palestinian cinema industry. "Omar" by director Hany Abu-Assad, known for the 2005 award-winning film "Paradise Now", is a political thriller interwoven with a story of trust and betrayal as two lovers are torn apart by Israel's secret police and Palestinian freedom fighters. ...
      Published: 5/20/2013 13:02:17 PM
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    • Cannes rolls out red carpet for Indian movies

      Actress Aishwarya Rai poses for portraits at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Laurent Emmanuel)CANNES, France (AP) — Indian cinema is being feted in Cannes on its 100th birthday. But amid the celebrations, the B-word — "Bollywood" — remains controversial.


      Published: 5/20/2013 12:34:58 PM
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    • Factbox - Reviews for films in main competition at Cannes 2013

      CANNES (Reuters) - This year 20 films are in the main competition at the Cannes film festival, all vying for the coveted Palme d'Or award for best picture that will be handed out on May 26. Here is the 2013 lineup with the average rating out of four by 10 international critics as published in trade magazine Screen: - HELI by Amat Escalante, Mexico Stars: Armando Espitia, Andrea Vergara. Synopsis: A 12-year-old girl falls in love with a police cadet, dragging her family into Mexico's brutal drug war. Average Critic Score: 1. ...
      Published: 5/20/2013 09:22:22 AM
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    • Week two of Cannes film festival gets off to explosive start

      Director Takashi Miike poses during a photocall for the film "Wara No Tate" at the 66th Cannes Film Festival in CannesBy Alexandria Sage CANNES (Reuters) - Japanese director Takashi Miike got the final week of the Cannes film festival off to an explosive start on Monday, with big budget cop thriller "Shield of Straw" a sharp contrast to the more intense, intimate movies screened so far. Typically for Cannes, where critical passions run high, both exuberant cheers and boos rang out after an advance press screening of "Wara No Tate" ("Shield of Straw"), one of 20 entries vying for the top Palme d'Or prize awarded on Sunday. ...


      Published: 5/20/2013 09:18:39 AM
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    • 'Trek' does $70.6M but falls short of studio hopes

      This undated publicity film image released by Paramount Pictures shows, Zachary Quinto, left, as Spock and Chris Pine as Kirk in a scene in the movie, "Star Trek Into Darkness," from Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions. Since premiering Wednesday, May 15, 2013 in huge-screen IMAX theaters and expanding Thursday to general cinemas, "Into Darkness" has pulled in $84.1 million, well below distributor Paramount's initial forecast of $100 million. (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Zade Rosenthal)LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Star Trek: Into Darkness" has warped its way to a $70.6 million domestic launch from Friday to Sunday, though it's not setting any light-speed records with a debut that's lower than the studio's expectations.


      Published: 5/20/2013 00:44:23 AM
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    • Cannes: where celebrity sells and celebrities sell

      Jury member actress Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban arrive for the screening of the film "Inside Llewyn Davis" in competition during the 66th Cannes Film FestivalBy Belinda Goldsmith CANNES (Reuters) - Film stars come to Cannes to promote themselves and their projects - so where better to launch a wry documentary bemoaning the seeming dominance of celebrity pulling-power over content? With parties, pitching and paparazzi already in overdrive at the world's premier movie market, director James Toback on Sunday showed "Seduced and Abandoned", the story of how he and actor Alec Baldwin talked to directors, investors and studio heads at Cannes last year to seek funding for a film with no A-list star. ...


      Published: 5/19/2013 17:34:52 PM
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    • 'Star Trek' sequel tops weekend box office in North America

      Actor Chris Pine, cast member of the new film "Star Trek Into Darkness", poses as he arrives at the film's premiere in HollywoodBy Lisa Richwine and Andrea Burzynski (Reuters) - "Star Trek Into Darkness," the newest installment in the classic intergalactic franchise, blasted to the top of movie box office charts with $70.6 million in weekend ticket sales at theaters in the United States and Canada. The new 3D voyage for Captain Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise knocked mighty "Iron Man 3" into second place, while the Marvel superhero sequel grabbed $35.2 million. Jazz Age drama "The Great Gatsby" finished third with $23.4 million, according to studio estimates. ...


      Published: 5/19/2013 16:26:56 PM
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    • Indian cinema on a mission at Cannes to dispel Bollywood image

      Director Amit Kumar and cast members pose during a photocall for the film 'Monsoon Shootout' at the 66th Cannes Film Festival in CannesBy Belinda Goldsmith CANNES (Reuters) - Indian movie actors and a new wave of directors are on a mission at the Cannes film festival - to show that their industry, which turns 100 this year, is more than just Bollywood. The largest Indian contingent to date is on the French Riviera at the world's leading cinema showcase to promote the world's biggest film industry that makes over 1,000 films a year, compared with about 600 in Hollywood. ...


      Published: 5/19/2013 16:12:12 PM
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    • Coens' folk revival 'Llewyn' serenades Cannes

      From left, director Joel Coen, actors Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, director Ethan Coen, actor John Goodman and musician T-Bone Burnett arrive for the screening of the film Inside Llewyn Davis at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)CANNES, France (AP) — The Coen brothers' resurrection of the pre-Dylan folk scene in Greenwich Village serenaded Cannes with its period music and melancholy tale of a self-destructive, feline-toting musician.


      Published: 5/19/2013 13:54:38 PM
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    • Down-on-luck singer steals show in Coen brothers Cannes film

      Directors Joel and Ethan Cohen and cast members attend a news conference for the film 'Inside Llewyn Davis' during the 66th Cannes Film Festival in CannesBy Alexandria Sage CANNES (Reuters) - Folk music, Greenwich Village and a quick-footed cat star in the new Coen brothers movie at the Cannes film festival on Sunday, kicking off the first of five U.S. entries with its engaging misadventures of a struggling singer. "Inside Llewyn Davis" by directing duo Ethan and Joel Coen is a delightful tale about the early 1960s folk music scene, a tribute to artists living hand to mouth, and an ode to New York all at once. ...


      Published: 5/19/2013 09:20:08 AM
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    • Devilish Dutch drama 'Borgman' debuts at Cannes

      Director Alex Van Warmerdam poses for photographers during a photo call for the film Borgman at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)CANNES, France (AP) — There's something nasty lurking in the woods — and inside the characters' heads — in darkly comic Cannes Film Festival entry "Borgman."


      Published: 5/19/2013 09:14:41 AM
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    • Cannes helps actors Bejo and Rahim cross borders

      Actress Berenice Bejo poses for portraits at during the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Laurent Emmanuel)CANNES, France (AP) — The magic and glamour of Cannes can be hard to spot on a day when rain is lashing the palm trees, roiling the gray Mediterranean and pooling in puddles along the Croisette.


      Published: 5/19/2013 03:07:01 AM
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    • Beatles' guitar auctioned to the tune of $408,000

      Julien's Auctions photo of custom-made electric guitar played by the late John Lennon and George Harrison of the BeatlesBy Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A custom-made electric guitar played by the late John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles sold at a New York auction on Saturday for $408,000, said officials with the company behind the event. The semi-hollow-body guitar, manufactured by the VOX company, was sold to an unidentified U.S. buyer at the "Music Icons" event organized by Beverly Hills, California-based Julien's Auctions and held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manhattan. ...


      Published: 5/18/2013 23:33:18 PM
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    • 'Catching Fire' dampened but not drowned at Cannes

      From left, actors Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence and Sam Claflin pose for photographers during a photo call for the film The Hunger Game: Catching Fire at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP)CANNES, France (AP) — Little could lessen the fever-pitched excitement for "Hunger Games: Catching Fire," but heavy rain nevertheless dampened the film's lavish Cannes party.


      Published: 5/18/2013 19:35:30 PM
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