Movies

  • A Visit to Iran; What’s That All About?

    What to make of things when a group of well-meaning Hollywood liberals flies into the mouth of the lion’s den by suddenly visiting Iran? Some of us are left thinking that there must be more here than meets the eye. After all, no one in Hollywood wakes up the day of the Oscars and thinks:…

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  • Tyler Perry in B.O. Upset; JoBros Disappoint

    The Jonas Brothers were meant to burn up the box office for Disney this weekend. A traditional approach may have cost the studio.

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    Lauren Horwitch

  • Updated: Annette Bening in Tehran Group Visit

    Annette Bening joined a delegation of Hollywood dignitaries led by AMPAS president Sid Ganis in an historic visit to Tehran.

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  • Box Office Upset: Madea in 2nd Weekend Beats Jonas 3D in Debut

    In a box office upset, Tyler Perry’s ‘Madea Goes to Jail’ from Lionsgate beat the Disney teen sensation ‘Jonas Brothers’ by a mile

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    Lauren Horwitch

  • Updated: Garcetti Talks About Plans for Film Czar

    After years of declining movie production in Los Angeles County, the city may finally get an official devoted to keeping Hollywood here, and happy.

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    Sharon Waxman and Lauren Horwitch

  • Michel Gondry to Direct “The Green Hornet” (press release)

    Director will steer Seth Rogen, Stephen Chow in Columbia Pictures’ film

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    (Press Release)

  • Clooney Goes to the White House

    Actor and activist George Clooney, fresh from his visit to the region, brought his plea for peace in Darfur to the White House Monday night. Meeting with President Obama for 15 minutes and with Vice President Biden separately, Clooney pressed for immediate action. "I think somehow we should all know that these people are hanging…

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    Johanna Neuman

  • Mumbling From the Motion Picture Home

    The Motion Picture and Television Fund is still playing defense over its decision to close its Woodland Hills long-term nursing home and hospital. The media coverage continues to be negative, the public protests grow ever noisier and relatives of the residents now facing removal are about to file a lawsuit to try to block the…

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    Andrew Gumbel

  • Movies Taking a Page From Music Piracy Handbook

    Now that the Oscars are in the books, and off the red carpet, some in Washington are beginning to ponder the future of movies. Robert Atkinson, who heads the Washington-based think tank Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, talked recently about the threat to the movies from piracy. With movies, music and even e-books available online for…

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    Johanna Neuman

  • “Slumming” Oscar’s After-Parties

    Guzzle a Slumdog or Wrestler vodka cocktail, rock with Prince or Sir Elton, dance with Madonna …

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    Jenny Sundel

  • Backstage at the Oscars (a guest-blog)

    Judging by the reactions in the Oscar press room, the new and improved telecast was falling flat. Broadcast on eight flat-screen televisions in the room packed with 300 journalists, the telecast only elicited a handful of laughs from the distracted crowd. Hugh Jackman got a few chuckles for his robotic "Reader" dance, as did Whoopi…

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    Amy Kaufman

  • Oscars: TheWrap-Up

    It’s just like you were there: winners, backstage interviews, red-carpet slideshow, lots more!

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  • Backstage with Sean Penn

    You actually remember Harvey Milk. Now that you’ve won the highest honor in Hollywood, what does it mean to you to be able to tell his story?   That means a lot to myself and to everybody involved not only in the movie, but anybody who believes in equal rights for human beings. And certainly…

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    Amy Kaufman

  • Backstage with Kate Winslet

    Do you have any thoughts about your wonderfully portrayed character, that she may evoke sympathy for a Nazi?   I don’t have any concerns. I can’t be responsible for the emotions an audience has for a film. If the audience has sympathy for Hannah and if they felt morally conflicted as a consequence, that would…

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    Amy Kaufman

  • Backstage with Heath Ledger’s Family

    Kate, you seem to be relatively calm and you must have been very nervous, and secondly, you mention that you and Heath had had the discussion that maybe this would be something he would be at. Tell us about that discussion. Kate – When he came home for Christmas a year ago, he had been…

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