XYDO.COM: Movies

Haneke's 'Amour' wins top prize at Cannes

CANNES, France — "Amour,"a beautifully acted exploration of a longtime marriage tested by the frailties of the human body, won the top prize at the 65th Cannes Film Festival Sunday. Its writer-director, Michael Haneke, won the coveted Palme d'Or three years ago in 2009 for "The White Ribbon."

Cannes top prize goes to "Love" by Michael Haneke

CANNES, France (Reuters) - Austrian director Michael Haneke won the Cannes film festival's top honor, the Palme d'Or, on Sunday with "Love" (Amour), his acclaimed tale of an elderly couple facing the inescapable, yet no less tragic march of death.

Director wins Cannes top prize

The prestigious Palme d'Or prize, awarded for the top director of a film at the Cannes Film Festival, will be presented Sunday.

'Men in Black 3' takes down 'Avengers' to top weekend box office with $55 million

The suits have knocked off the superheroes at the box office.

Golden Gate Bridge marks 75 years since opening against steep odds

* The bridge's distinctive dark orange color was an accident * Last two known surviving bridge builders died in April SAN FRANCISCO, May 27 (Reuters) - The Golden Gate Bridge was a larger than life engineering project undertaken against dangerous odds and it opened 75 years ago on Sunday against vehement protest, at the cost of 11 lives. One of the most astonishing and admired man-made wonders of the world, gracing millions of postcards, featured in countless films, the bridge was not at first welcomed with open arms. Ferry operators and environmentalists opposed it, and many engineers doubted such a daring leap over a treacherous Pacific Ocean strait could be built. The military worried a collapsed Golden Gate span could block access to the Bay in war time. Some San Franciscans even fought against it because they thought a bridge might ruin the view, according to historians. Kevin Starr, author of "Golden Gate: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Bridge," said 2,000 related court cases were filed over nearly a decade. But Starr said litigation and regulatory scrutiny largely concluded in the 1920s allowed builders to move quickly once bank funding was nailed down in 1932, in an early form of public-private cooperation. "President Obama talks about shovel-ready projects," Starr said in a phone interview. "This was shovel ready." The less than two decades between conception and completion means the Golden Gate compares well with the new quake-proof second span of the Bay Bridge a few miles away, he said. That $6.2 billion project is due to be done in 2013, 24 years after a deadly earthquake literally jolted the authorities into action. Yet building the Golden Gate, at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion in current dollars, was a Herculean task. While the idea took hold in the prosperous 1920s, by the time ground was broken the Depression had left many people desperate for jobs. "Launched midst a thousand hopes and fears; Damned by a thousand hostile sneers," was how the head engineer for the bridge, Joseph Strauss, described the bridge in a poem he wrote to mark its completion in 1937. He died less than a year later. Even the bridge's arresting dark orange color was an accident, first used as a primer while designers decided what to paint it. The Navy had argued for black with yellow stripes, to ensure it could be seen in a strait hostile to mariners, with dense fog, heavy winds and strong ocean swells. In the end, bridge authorities decided they liked the color - known as International Orange - and stuck with it. Starr speculated that some early opposition from locals may have been due to the original styling, which was likened to an "upside-down rat trap", before it was altered to the sweeping suspension bridge design. "Its elegance is derived from its structural efficiency," Paul Giroux, from the American Society of Civil Engineers, said at a panel discussion hosted by San Francisco's Commonwealth Club. "It's a perfect blend of form and function." Construction began in 1933, 14 years after Strauss was first approached. Bank of America archivist David Mendoza said it took a personal appeal from Strauss to Amadeo Giannini, founder of the then-San Francisco-based bank, to secure funding. "Strauss was worried it might not get built," Mendoza said of that fateful meeting, now commemorated on a plaque. After opening on May 27, 1937, thousands of people walked, roller-skated and stilt-walked across. Cars came the next day. Celebrations for the 50th anniversary became infamous for the frightful swaying of the bridge under the weight of 300,000 people. This time round, the bridge will be closed to cars and pedestrians during a fireworks show that will cap a day of festivities along the bay waterfront on Sunday. Beyond the revelry and Tributes, the bridge's dark side will lurk in the background: An estimated 1,400 people have jumped off the bridge to end their own lives, a grim reality brought to the attention of many people with a 2006 documentary film, "The Bridge," by Eric Steel. The filmmaker secretly captured more than 20 suicides from the bridge. "Four seconds drop and you're done," Starr said. "A few people have survived, but not many." The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District is now studying the costs and feasibility of draping nets along it to catch any jumpers, a twist on the nets deployed during construction, which saved the lives of 22 workers. Of the 11 men killed from falls during construction, ten were killed after a net failed under stress from a fallen scaffold when the bridge was near completion. Safety was a serious concern during construction, with hard hats widely used for the first time and workers forced to drink sauerkraut juice if they arrived at work hung over, Starr said. Living memory is limited. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the last two known surviving builders, Jack Balestreri and Edward Ashoff, died in April, within a week of each other.

Magazines from Blade Runner

Here's a collection of humorous, futuristic magazines displayed in the background of the news-stand scene in Blade Runner -- documented in Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner by Paul M. Sammon: Turning down the block and ducking into a futuristic newsstand revealed the most humorous touches of layering, for it was here that this author immediately noticed that a number of faux twenty-first-century magazines had been stuffed into racks mounted on the newsstand's walls, and that many of them sported decidedly tongue-in-cheek covers. These publications had been designed by BR art department member Tom Southwell. Periodicals of note include Krotch (going for $29 a copy!), Zord (at $30), Moni, Bash, Creative Evolution, and Droid. Horn, the "skin mag" of the future, had a cover which offered articles such as "The Cosmic Orgasm" and "Hot Lust in Space." Kill (whose logo was "All the News That's Fit to Kill") sported cover stories like "Multiple Murders - Reader's Own Photos." Magazines from the future

Will 'Amour' conquer all in Cannes prize race?

Haneke's 'Amour' among favorites as jury decides winner of Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or

Cannes 2012: Oscilloscope Takes U.S. Rights to Matteo Garrone's 'Reality'

Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to Matteo Garrone’s Reality, a dark comedy about a man who dreams of being a contestant on a reality show. The film, Garrone’s follow-up to 2008’s Gomorrah, debuted in the Competition line-up at the Cannes Film Festival. The acquisition is the first major move on the part of Oscilloscope, which was founded by Adam Yauch, since Yauch’s death on May 4. The company is being run by Dan Berger and David Laub, who had taken over more responsibilities earlier in May. “I’m extremely gratified by the strong response Oscilloscope had to the film and their ideas for making it successful in the US. I look forward to working with David and Dan as they move the company forward,” Garrone said. “Reality is an exceptional, one-of-a-kind film that had us hooked from its amazing opening shot. It is a complex, provocative, and deeply compelling look at our media-obsessed culture, executed by one of the most interesting and talented filmmakers working today. Garrone pays homage to classical filmmakers such as Fellini and Scorsese while crafting a fresh and very relevant contemporary story. This is exactly the kind of film Adam Yauch wanted to champion, and we are extremely proud to have it join the Oscilloscope family,” Laub commented. The film, an Italian-French coproduction, was produced by Garrone and Domenico Procacci, with Jean Labadie of Le Pacte as co-producer. The deal was negotiated by Berger and Laub with Janine Gold of Fandango Portobello assisted by Garrone’s U.S. representatives, Bart Walker of Cinetic Media and Jeff Berg of ICM.

Mexico's Michel Franco wins Cannes sidebar prize - YAHOO!

CANNES, France (AP) — "After Lucia" by Mexican director Michel Franco has won the top prize in the Cannes Film Festival's sidebar competition, Un Certain Regard. It was chosen Saturday from a slate of 20 films by a jury headed by British actor Tim Roth. Un Certain Regard focuses on new and emerging filmmakers. The jury gave second prize to French film "Le Grand Soir" by Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern, and a "special distinction" citation to Bosnian film "Djeca" ("Children of Sarajevo") by Aida Begic. Twenty-two films from around the world are competing for prizes in the festival's main competition. Winners will be announced Sunday. Favorites for the top prize, the Palme d'Or, include Michael Haneke's "Amour" and Christian Mungiu's "Beyond the Hills."

Maniac: Cannes Review

Franck Khalfoun presents a slasher film with a twist by shooting the entire movie from the killer's point of view. read more

Azerbaijan set to host Eurovision final amid controversy

Performers from 26 countries are preparing Saturday to take part in the annual Eurovision Song Contest, a talent show that has seen this year's host, Azerbaijan, mired in controversy.

Tear-jerker 'Mud' ends Cannes competition lineup

CANNES, France (AP) — The Cannes film festival on Saturday wrapped up the movies in competition wading deep in the Mississippi river with "Mud," a heart-wrenching, Mark Twain-influenced tale of a teenage boy searching for the meaning of life in a harsh world and starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. With snake bites, shootouts, and a happy ending, it is proudly — even blatantly — inspired by the bard of the Mississippi. Stellar performances from 15-year-old Tye Sheridan — who starred in last year's Palme d'Or winner "The Tree of Life" — and McConaughey separate it from a pack of films in competition set in the colorful American South. Director David Nichols' third film was the culmination of his film work so far and a decade of effort. The 33-year-old managed to scrape enough money together thanks to the critical success of his previous two pictures: 2007's "Shotgun Stories," and last year's award-winning "Take Shelter." The story of young Ellis on his search for a parental role model borrows from the sacrifice and friendship themes of Twain's classic "Huckleberry Finn," whose fatherless main character embarks on a Mississippi odyssey of self-discovery. Nichols said Twain's bittersweet tales immortalizing the "mile-wide tide" of the Mississippi river have stayed with him since he first read them when he was young. He's frankly unapologetic about the obvious influence: "If you're going to steal from someone, steal from someone really intelligent. And I stole from Mark Twain." Young actor Jacob Lofland, who played Ellis' best friend, Neckbone, testified to Twain's influence. Tutored on the book, Lofland recognized parts of the work in the films script. He said, only semi-jokingly, "I found out that a lot of stuff (from the novel) just wandered onto the script. We had a word with (Nichols) about that." McConaughey plays the eponymous character, the woebegone Mud, who is hiding on a Mississippi island from vengeful bounty hunters after shooting a man in Texas. Madly in love with Witherspoon's unreliable, smoldering blond Juniper he enlists the support of Ellis and Neckbone to help win her love. McConaughey's performance has wowed critics at the festival. The Oscar-winning Witherspoon, who spent an hour in a hot, packed room with journalists despite being heavily pregnant, was born in Louisiana and took the relatively small role because it felt like home to her. "There are very few movies about the American South that are accurate," she said. "Mud" — the Cannes's official competition's last entry — joins "Lawless" and "The Paperboy" on the list of Southern films at the festival. Nichols explained the phenomenon simply: "Well, Southerners are good story-tellers."

Cannes Un Certain Regard: Michel Franco’s ‘Despues De Lucia’

Mexico director Michel Franco’s Despues De Lucia took the top prize today in the Un Certain Regard sidebar to the Cannes Film Festival. There was a tie for best actress for Emilie Dequenne for Joachim LaFosse’s A Perdre La Raison and Suzanne Clement for Xavier Dolan’s Laurence Always. Those were the only acting nods this year. Jury president Tim Roth said the decisions were tough. Special jury prize went to directors Benoit Delephine and Gustav Kervern for Le Grand Soir. Special distinction of the jury to director Aida Begic for Djeca (Children Of Sarajevo). Separately, Sundance hit Beasts Of The Southern Wild and Into The Fog were recognized in the Fipresci Critics Week event.

'Men in Black 3': $18M on Friday

By Grady Smith Will Smith threequel knocks ''Avengers'' out of first place, but Marvel superheroes set to pass $500M total

The Suicide Shop (Le magasin des suicides): Cannes Review

Based on Jean Teulé’s novel, Leconte's latest borrows a page from Tim Burton's sketchbook for this bleak but oddly fun look at a family who sells tools for its clients to end their lives.read more

Cannes gets happy ending with river film "Mud"

By Mike Collett-White CANNES, France, May 26 (Reuters) - "Mud", a touching coming-of-age tale set on the Mississippi River and starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, brought the Cannes film festival competition to a close on Saturday,

Reese Witherspoon shows baby bump in Cannes

Reese Witherspoon might star in 'Mud' but the pregnant star is glowing in Cannes.

Reese Witherspoon shows baby bump in Cannes

Reese Witherspoon might star in 'Mud' but the pregnant star is glowing in Cannes.

Lee Rich, Co-Founder of Legendary Production Company Lorimar, Dies at 93

Producer Lee Rich, the co-founder of the legendary Lorimar production company -- the home of classic TV dramas The Waltons and Dallas and films including An Officer and a Gentleman-- died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with lung cancer. He was 93. In a entertainment career that spanned more than 30 years, Rich worked as an advertising executive, TV programmer, motion picture and TV producer and, for a stint in the '80s, as chairman of the board at MGM/UA. Partnered in Lorimar from 1969-86 with Merv Adelson, Rich served as executive producer of more than 1,600 episodes of 33 Lorimar TV series, including The Waltons, Dallas, Eight Is Enough, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, King’s Crossingand Flamingo Road. The Lorimar series on which Rich served as executive producer received 82 Emmy nominations and 29 wins, including a best drama series victory for The Waltons in 1973. “He was one of the greatest producers to ever come out of advertising, and he knew talent better than anyone else,” said TV producer Norman Lear. Rich also served as executive producer of 45 made-for-television movies and miniseries, including The Man with James Earl Jones; The Blue Knight, considered television's first miniseries, for which William Holden earned an Emmy in 1973; Sybil, for which Sally Field won an Emmy in 1977; and Helter Skelter in 1977. In addition, he exec produced 1971’s The Homecoming, a two-hour Christmas special starring Patricia Neal that was the first of many projects on which Rich would team with Waltons creator Earl Hamner. “Lee’s passion for television, his business acumen and his love of the creative process made him an extraordinary mentor for all of us who had the good fortune to work for him,” said Bruce Rosenblum, president of Warner Bros. Television Group and chairman and CEO of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “Lee was a creative force who established the gold standard for independent production companies, and the Lorimar/Warner Bros. merger was transformational for Warner Bros. Television." Said Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corp.: “Lee Rich was a giant in the television industry who produced some of the most iconic series in the history of the medium and influenced audiences worldwide. He also served as an early mentor to me while I was at Lorimar, providing valuable guidance for which I will forever be appreciative." Lorimar also produced such films as Being There (1979), starring Peter Sellers; the 1981 remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice, with Jack Nicholson; and An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), starring Richard Gere. In 1985, Lorimar merged with Telepictures, forming Lorimar-Telepictures. That company later merged with Warner Bros. From 1986-88, Rich was the chairman and CEO of MGM/UA; there, he supervised such films as Baby Boom, The Living Daylights, Moonstruck, Willow, A Fish Called Wanda and best picture Oscar winner Rain Man and TV series including In the Heat of the Night and thirtysomething. “Lee Rich was an indelible talent who helped to shape the television landscape,” Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, co-chairman and CEOs of MGM, said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud that MGM is a part of his legacy. Lee's role as chairman and CEO of MGM/UA and the prolific body of work he created throughout his career continue to inspire the work we do today.” Rich abruptly resigned from MGM/UA in July 1988 during a corporate restructuring and formed his own production entity. At Lee Rich Productions -- which had a distribution agreement with Warner Bros. -- from 1988-95, he executive produced Hard to Kill (1990), starring Steven Seagal, and produced Passenger 57 (1992), starring Wesley Snipes, among other films. His most recent movie credits include Barbet Schroeder’s Desperate Measures (1998); the remake of Gloria (1999), with Sharon Stone; The Score (2001), starring Robert De Niro and Edward Norton; and Replay, now in development at Warner Bros. In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television, Rich spoke about the famous Dallas storyline “Who shot J.R.?” in which Larry Hagman’s character is fired upon in the 1979-80 season finale in March and the assailant is not revealed until the following November -- when the primetime soap attracted a then-record 53.3 rating and 76 share. “We had set it up to a point where we knew that X number of people wanted to kill him,” Rich recalled. “We shot three different endings and never told anybody which ending we were going to use. We also hid the script. I and [writer-director Leonard Katzman] were the only ones who knew." Rich was born Dec. 10, 1926, in Cleveland. After graduation from Ohio University, he joined the advertising firm of Lord and Thomas as an office boy. He served four years in the Navy, then spent a year with the American Association of Advertising Agencies before joining the Weinthraib Agency in New York. Rich’s next stop was Benton and Bowles, where he spent 13 years, becoming senior vp and a member of the board of directors. During the 1960s, Benton & Bowles was a wellspring of network programming directors. As a representative of the advertisers, Rich would often be on the set and critiquing scripts before giving his clients’ approval. Many future TV luminaries worked for Rich at B&B, including former NBC chairman and producer Grant Tinker, and he helped package The Danny Thomas Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Rich left Benton & Bowles in 1965 to partner with the Mirisch Co. and form Mirisch-Rich Productions, where he produced for TV The Rat Patrol, the Garry Marshall-Jerry Belson created Hey, Landlord and the Saturday cartoons Super Six and Super President. He returned to advertising at the Leo Burnett Agency but left to found Lorimar with Adelson. In 1971, Rich produced his first feature, the comedy The Sporting Club, and his first film as executive producer was the dark comedy Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978), starring George Segal and Jacqueline Bisset. Among his other credits, he produced the thriller Just Cause (1995), starring Sean Connery, and the family film The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995), the first Western movie to be filmed in the Chinese Himalayas. Other productions included the telefilms Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate (1971), starring Helen Hayes; Aesop’s Fables (1971), with Bill Cosby; Pursuit (1972), starring Ben Gazarra; and The Crooked Hearts (1972), with Rosalind Russell. Survivors include his lifelong partner, actress Pippa Scott; daughters Jessica, Miranda, Blair; sons Michael and Anthony; and seven grandchildren.

2012 Summer Movies: Handy Dandy Field Guide!

This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and if you're looking for something to do, you're in luck. A few of big summer's blockbusters have already made a splash at the

11 Hilarious ‘Men in Black’ Parodies

1. Men In Black: A Hardcore Parody Trailer Wicked Pictures may have created the most extensive Men in Black parody of all. The silver spraypainted Nerf guns are a nice touch.Click here to view this gallery.A few weeks ago we found out a lot of people like to dress up with their friends as the Avengers? It turns out, a lot more of you like the Men in Black look. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen Agent J and Agent K on the big screen, but Men in Black 3 hits theaters Friday. In case you’ve been zapped by a neuralizer and can’t remember the film, these YouTube galaxy defenders have you covered. Over the past few years and in anticipation of the third film in the MIB series, many fans have created hilarious parodies. Most of them involve suits, sunglasses and some sort of kitchen utensil or Nerf gun. There are also thousands of “MIBelievers” getting psyched for the big return. SEE ALSO: ‘Men in Black 3′ Trailer Reveals Time Travel Plot We’ve investigated the web for 11 hilarious parodies to celebrate Men in Black 3‘s release. Share your favorite video in the comments, or tell us your fond memories surrounding the trilogy. More About: Entertainment, features, Film, humor, men in black, Video, YouTubeFor more Entertainment coverage:Follow Mashable Entertainment on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Entertainment channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

Classic Movie Poster REDUX: Serpico [1973] | DanPerezFilms.com [del.icio.us]

Classic Movie Poster REDUX: Serpico [1973] http://t.co/MYspE6BR via @danperezfilms

'Chernobyl Diaries': Horror movie and travel book depict extreme tourism - Los Angeles Times

Twenty-six years after the worst nuclear accident in history, Chernobyl is suddenly hot again — at least culturally. This weekend, "Chernobyl Diaries," a horror movie that follows a group of tourists on an excursion to the abandoned Ukrainian site of the meltdown, hits theaters just as a pollution travelogue by journalist Andrew Blackwell, "Visit Sunny Chernobyl," is arriving in bookstores. The movie, co-written and produced by "Paranormal Activity" creator Oren Peli and directed by visual-effects supervisor and first-time feature filmmaker Brad Parker, was inspired by the very type of extreme tourism Blackwell undertakes in his nonfiction book: visits to ravaged, sometimes unexpectedly beautiful polluted sites around the world. Blackwell canoed through Chernobyl while researching his book and also jogged in smoggy Linfen, China, and sailed for the swirling Pacific Ocean garbage patch, all in pursuit of a glimpse of the Earth's contaminated future. The travelers in "Chernobyl Diaries" embark on a different sort of trip — more akin to disaster rubbernecking. Four Americans, played by Jonathan Sadowski, Jesse McCartney, Olivia Taylor Dudley and Devin Kelly, pack into a van with a former Soviet special forces soldier for an unauthorized day trip to Pripyat, the Ukrainian city that today resembles the set of a post-apocalyptic movie after it was hastily abandoned in the wake of the 1986 disaster. At first the movie's scares are natural: intimidating guards, eerily overgrown buildings, a hungry bear. But, this being a Peli production, it soon becomes clear Pripyat is inhabited by some unusual and aggressive tenants. The notion that Chernobyl, which led to radiation exposure for hundreds of thousands of people, has become the subject of a horror film is distasteful to some. There is a Facebook page boycotting the movie, for instance. But Chernobyl tourism is a real phenomenon. According to the Lonely Planet, a day trip to Pripyat will cost an adventurer $100 to $300, and sightseeing opportunities include a never-used ferris wheel, some forgotten children's toys and sun-faded Soviet-era propaganda. As for the safety issues, the travel guide warns: " 'Hot spots' are scattered throughout the zone, so any visitors are advised to follow guides extremely carefully. No breaking off from the group for a bit of independent exploration here." Reviews of "Chernobyl Diaries" seem equally foreboding. USA Today's Claudia Puig says, "Avoid a boredom meltdown and give this formulaic scarefest a wide berth." While writing for The Times, Mark Olsen warns, "The lack of suspense and surprise in this dispiritingly rote film becomes its own form of contamination." "Chronicle": Like "Paranormal Activity," but with superpowers?

'A Christmas Story' Musical Inching Closer to Broadway

A casting notice for a fall production of the show has gone out, but where or when it will open has yet to be determined.

Britney Spears makes 'X Factor' debut in Austin

Britney Spears received the loudest, longest applause at the start of her first taping as a judge on Fox's "The X Factor" on Thursday.

Star Wars' Coolest Gadgets — And Their Real-World Analogs

To celebrate Star Wars? 35th anniversary the Gadget Lab way, we decided to gather nine of our favorite pieces of tech from a galaxy far, far away and see what gadgets come closest to being the real-world equivalents.

Men in Black 3 will erase all meaning in your life [Movie Review]

Will Smith has starred in lots of formulaic movies. And he knows better than anyone that there's something comforting as well as exhilarating about a movie that plays out according to a set of steps. Which is what makes Men in Black 3 so weird: it's a movie where the blockbuster formula is the opposite of comforting. More »

Crazy clothes of Eurovision

In pictures: the finalists of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

Review: 'Men in Black 3' has a winning plan

When last seen, Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) werewell, can anyone remember what the Men in Black were a decade ago?

5 ultimate summer movies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — I'm just going to put it out there: I stole the idea for this week's Five Most list. It's not even borrowing. It's just flat-out theft. My good friend Matt Singer over at the Criticwire blog at Indiewire.com came up with a fun question for his weekly critic survey: With Memorial Day weekend coming, what is the perfect summer movie? So many answers popped into my head, I thought, "Huh. This is kinda like a list." The possibilities are endless: They could be blockbusters, movies that take place during the summer, movies that provoke fond childhood memories of the season, or ones that are just plain hot. Here are five of my picks for the ultimate summer movie. Don't forget your sunscreen. — "Point Break" (1991): This was my choice for Singer's survey. I wrote of Kathryn Bigelow's crime thriller, starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze: "Clearly the correct answer is 'Point Break.' It's got surf, sun and sand, action and adventure, plenty of partying and bad-ass adrenaline junkie activities like skydiving. Everyone's gorgeous — buff, shirtless guys and tanned, bikini-clad women. And it features that classic summertime activity: robbing banks while wearing masks of the U.S. presidents. It's just well-crafted, knowing escapism. Vaya con dios." — "Jaws" (1975): The original blockbuster, it's the little movie that became a huge pop culture sensation. Sure, the tangible nature of the effects in this killer-shark tale seems quaint and maybe even a little cheesy now in retrospect, given the computer- generated spectacles to which we've grown so accustomed. But this early Steven Spielberg film remains one of his best, with his masterful method of creating suspense; he did a lot with a little, and he knew even then that it's what you don't show that can be the most frightening. Admit it: "Jaws" made you think twice about going in the water. — "The Seven Year Itch" (1955): Very few images earn the hyperbolic, over-used adjective of "iconic," but the sight of Marilyn Monroe standing over a subway grate, letting the breeze blow up her billowing white dress, truly does. Monroe's playfully seductive charms were on full display in Billy Wilder's comedy, based on the long-running stage show, as the flirtatious neighbor who tempts the married Tom Ewell during a long, hot New York summer. Cooling off with air conditioning and a glass of ice water isn't nearly so sexy. — "The Flamingo Kid" (1984): This is one of those childhood-memory picks for me — it defined what a coming-of-age movie should be, with its ambition and disillusionment, awkwardness and romance. Young, charismatic Matt Dillon plays a kid from Brooklyn who falls under the spell of a wealthy member (Richard Crenna) of the Long Island beach club where he works as a cabana boy during summer 1963, to the dismay of his working-class dad (Hector Elizondo). This was back when Garry Marshall still made good movies, not all-star, meandering messes inspired by holidays. — "Do the Right Thing" (1989): Not the most upbeat or feel-good of examples, granted. But it simply radiates heat, from the record-setting, sweltering Brooklyn day on which it takes place to the tension that builds between residents of various ethnicities to the flames that engulf the neighborhood pizza joint in a climactic, riotous frenzy. This is still one of Spike Lee's best films, easily — an expert blend of style and substance, of sharp writing and colorful characters. To this day, I can't hear Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" without thinking of its significant use here. Think of any other examples? Share them with AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire through Twitter: http://twitter.com/christylemire. You can see the many inspired responses Matt Singer got to his survey about the perfect summer movie at http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/the-criticwire-survey-the-perfect-summer-movie .

More for movies, less for heating assistance in state budget

Lansing— Senate Republicans nixed a $1 per electric meter charge that would pay for home heating assistance for the poor in exchange for a $25 million boost in film tax credits as part of a budget deal that also cuts the state income tax. Details of how the tax cut would be implemented emerged Thursday, with the rate dropping from 4.35 percent to 4.25 percent on Oct. 1. It was scheduled to drop on Jan. 1, 2013. Under a bill to be introduced Tuesday, the personal exemption also would be increased from $3,700 to $3,950 effective Oct. 1, increase another $50 in 2014, and another $100 in 2017. The budget agreement between Gov. Rick Snyder, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville of Monroe and House Speaker Jase Bolger of Marshall, which also gives more money to schools, roads and the state's rainy day fund among other things, sets the target for the state budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The money comes from a $300 million surplus in this year's budget. The agreement also calls for a $180 million increase to K-12 funding, which comes from a surplus in the School Aid Fund. Lawmakers hope to send the $48 billion spending plan to the governor's desk by June 1. The film-credits-for-heating-assistance swap revealed by Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Kahn of Saginaw gives a glimpse of the negotiations that preceded the agreement announced Wednesday. Senate Republicans wanted to fund the Vulnerable Low Income Energy Efficiency Fund by having utilities charge residential customers $1 per month per electric meter, or $12 per year, Kahn said. House Republicans thought that was too much like a tax increase and wanted to pay for the program with a combination of state and federal money. Meanwhile, the Senate wanted to give $100 million to the film incentive program, while Snyder wanted to keep it at $25 million for a program previously funded at $115 million. The House wanted to allocate $15 million for film incentives. "It is a win that we got more money for film incentives," Kahn said. Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said the deal is "all about cooperation." Wurfel noted another change Snyder made to the film incentive program is still in effect. "The film program is still an appropriation rather than an open-ended subsidy which is important to the governor to ensure appropriate and transparent economic incentives." State Rep. Vicki Barnett, D-Farmington Hills, said when Snyder first sought in February 2011 to cap tax incentives at $25 million annually he "plunged hundreds of workers into the unemployment line" and filmmakers quickly pulled up stakes. On Thursday, Barnett had praise for the $50 million, but said it doesn't send a strong enough message to filmmakers that Michigan is open for Hollywood's business again. "It's going to be very difficult to undo the damage that was done," Barnett said. "I think it should be $100 million and we should shoot for stabilizing that fund for the next five years to make sure the industry knows we're serious about growing the film industry in Michigan." Gilda Jacobs, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services, which represents social workers and human services agencies, said she's happy the heating program will be funded — but disappointed with the income tax cut, a $90 million expense for the state she said will do nothing to help poor or middle class families. Jacobs said a resident with an income of $25,000 is going to get a rollback of $7 annually from the income tax reduction, though tax changes implemented last year increased their tax burden by $153. "That $90 million can be used in so many different ways to have a huge impact," Jacob said. "For $90 million you can send 24,000 pre-schoolers to really high quality preschool and that will change their life forever."

Stars sell, sell, sell at amfAR Gala

CAP D'ANTIBES, France (AP) — Hugs, kisses, a massage and a vampire bite - stars were desperate to sell to the highest bidder at the amfAR Gala at the Cap D'Antibes. In an attempt to raise money Thursday at the Cinema Against AIDS auction, celebrity presenters threw in bribes to persuade the well-dressed audience to part with their money, and try to achieve a target of $10 million dollars. Held at the exclusive Hotel Du Cap, over-looking the sea, Janet Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kylie Minogue, Gerard Butler and Kim Kardashian all attended the black tie event. Heidi Klum offered a massage, Diane Kruger donated the services of her boyfriend Joshua Jackson, "Vampire Diaries" starlet Nina Dobrev said she'd willingly bite a bidder and Chris Tucker did a mini Michael Jackson dance routine - all to win people over and get them opening their wallets. Many references were made to the troubled European financial climate - appropriately, Aloe Blacc took to the stage to sing "I Need a Dollar," while Jessie J performed "Price Tag." However, austerity measures were not encouraged. Diners watching the auction take place on stage in a large marquee were asked to empty their bank accounts buying an Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe print, the chance to star in a short film by Karl Lagerfeld, a private match with Novak Djokovic or a holiday on Lake Como. For the first time at the French amfAR auction, there was also a fashion show. Models strutted on a catwalk between dining tables to show off 24 outfits, selected by former Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld to create the "Perfect Black Wardrobe." Containing designs by Chanel, Dior, Armani, Kenneth Cole, Lanvin, Valentino, Tom Ford and Louis Vuitton - the winning bidder paid 320,000 Euros to have them made in a size of her choosing. The final total for the items under the hammer is still being calculated - although it seems likely that these celebrity sales people will easily reach their $10 million total. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cannes 2012: Early Oscar Buzz Centers on Michael Haneke's 'Amour,' Marion Cotillard

Forget the speculation about who’s going to win the Palme d’Or. This year, the bloggerati, especially the U.S. contingent, already are debating which films in the festival have a shot at an Oscar. They’ve proclaimed Michael Haneke’s Amour, a rigorous look at how approaching death affects a longtime couple, the near-certain winner in the best foreign-language film category and ordered the Academy to reserve a spot in the best actress race for Marion Cotillard’s affecting work in Jacques Audiard’s Rust & Bone. Of course, it’s a long way from the red-carpeted steps of the Palais to the equally crimson carpeting leading to the Academy Awards and the newly renamed Dolby Theatre, and most years, movies that cause a stir in Cannes in May -- like, say, 2010’s Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives -- are mere afterthoughts by the time the Oscars roll around in February. But last year’s Cannes lineup was a notable exception, introducing eventual best picture Oscar winner The Artist as well as best picture nominees Midnight in Paris and The Tree of Life. And so awards antennae are up. As soon as Rust & Bone screened May 17, its fans tossed its hat into the ring. Audiard’s film traces a love affair between two damaged people: Cotillard plays a trainer at a Marineland who loses her legs to a rogue orca, and Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts is a down-on-his-luck boxer. Displaying a sure command of English offscreen, Schoenaerts, who first made a mark in last year’s Bullhead, looks primed for a career as an international action star if he wants it. And Cotillard, already an Oscar winner for La vie en rose, turns the sort of unvarnished, honest performance -- look, ma, no makeup! – that often results in Oscar attention. “Marion Cotillard excels,” tweeted Toronto critic Peter Howell, “Oscar honors possible.” David Poland of moviecitynews.com tweeted, “Cotillard and screenplay will be Oscar nominated.” The critics were even more effusive when Amour arrived May 20. “Only thing that can keep Amour from winning Foreign Language at next yr's Oscars is the pain of an Academy of members who are all too close,” Poland proclaimed. And Oscar-ologist Sasha Stone blogged that the film “is probably headed straight for Oscar’s foreign-language race, where it will likely win.” “I’m not going to jinx it by talking about any of that,” said Michael Barker, co-head of Sony Pictures Classics, which picked up both films for U.S. release prior to their Cannes debuts. If either film is going to figure in the foreign-language race, it will first have to be nominated by a host country. While Rust would have to get the nod from France, Amour could be nominated by either France or Austria because, though it’s performed by French actors Jean-Louis Trintignant and the sublime Emmanuelle Riva, the principal filmmakers are Austrian. SPC, however, does plan to release both films stateside by the end of the year, so whether or not they are submitted for foreign-language consideration, they will be eligible in other categories. PHOTOS: Cannes Day 6: 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet' Premiere, 'Like Someone in Love' Photocall If anything, distributors are playing down all the premature Oscar talk rather than encouraging it. When the Weinstein Co. swooped in and grabbed U.S. rights to The Sapphires, the based-on-a-true-story account of an Australian Aboriginal girl group that toured Vietnam in the '60s, it looked as if history might be repeating itself, since TWC picked up The Artist right before its Cannes debut last year. But as he hosted a party for the movie Monday night, TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein insisted that the feel-good movie isn’t part of some bigger awards calculation. “It’s a modest movie,” he said. “I just think it’s fun and smart. Anything beyond that is a mitzvah.” Still, if TWC takes the film out on the festival circuit, it’s just the kind of movie that could bring home lots of audience awards. There also are plenty of other titles stirring up discussion. Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson’s whimsical look at young love, commanded the opening-night slot, which Woody Allen’s eventual best picture Oscar nominee Midnight in Paris did last year. And just as SPC used the Cannes limelight to turn Midnight into an art house-crossover hit, Focus Features hopes to do the same by opening Moonrise in limited release May 25. Although Anderson has scored two Oscar nominations in the past -- for co-writing The Royal Tenenbaums and making the animated Fantastic Mr. Fox -- he has yet to be fully embraced by the Academy, so Moonrise’s fortunes are a question mark. Cannes also rolled out its red carpet for John Hillcoat's Prohibition-era drama Lawless, starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Jason Clarke as brothers violently defending their turf. The debate that followed the first screening of the Weinstein Co. release is whether it should be classified as solid genre fare -- or something more. Fox Searchlight’s Beasts of the Southern Wild, which had a triumphant debut at Sundance, continued to attract fans as it played the Un Certain Regard sidebar. It’s certainly headed for a seat of honor at the independent Spirit Awards, if not at the Oscars. Other foreign-language films includingCristian Mungiu’s Beyond the Hills (Romania) and Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt (Denmark) also earned positive responses and could show up on some future Academy shortlist. DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted might not have stirred up Oscar talk when it played the Palais -- despite grossing a cumulative $1.1 billion collectively, the first two films in the series didn’t get animated film nominations, either -- but DWA did show off footage from Rise of the Guardians, which opens Nov. 21, and it looks to have serious awards potential. And then there are all the movies yet to screen: Andrew Dominik’s Killing Them Softly, Lee Daniels’ The Paperboy, Walter Salles’ On the Road, Jeff Nichols’ Mud. So don’t hand out all those Oscars just yet. There’s plenty more to come.

Movie Review: ‘Redlegs’ by Brandon Harris Is a Cincinnati Tale

In “Redlegs,” by Brandon Harris, three friends are galvanized by the death of a buddy.

Star Wars Turns 35: Celebrate Live With Mashable!

On May 25, 1977, the world met a little movie called Star Wars. Dubbed Episode IV: A New Hope, the film launched us into the heart of what would become a sprawling universe — the epic brainchild of writer/director George Lucas. The groundbreaking special effects were matched only by the tug of the story and its endearing characters. Lucas’s galaxy set the bar for all subsequent sci-fi films, and the rest, of course, is cinematic history. That was 35 years ago. The Star Wars franchise has expanded and evolved since then — for better or worse, depending on who you talk to. But there’s no denying its tremendous cultural impact. As fully accredited sci-fi nerds, we at Mashable could not let this milestone pass without celebration. Tomorrow, we’ll hold a live event right here on Mashable.com in honor of the 35th anniversary. We want you to join in the fun! When? Friday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. ET Where? Right here on Mashable.com. Join us for a live blog event that will feature some surprises and special guests. You can also follow along and participate on Twitter using a special hashtag, to be announced. Your funniest, nerdiest tweets could be featured on Mashable. All the details will be revealed tomorrow afternoon! RSVP to our Facebook event, and let us know that you’ll be attending. Why? Because Star Wars rules, that’s why. So, mark your calendar, dust off your limited edition storm trooper helmet (shut up, we know you have one), and join us tomorrow in a galaxy far, far away. Images courtesy of LucasFilm, via Wikimedia Commons and Star Wars Wiki. More About: Entertainment, features, live blog, Sci-Fi, Star WarsFor more Entertainment coverage:Follow Mashable Entertainment on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Entertainment channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

Ashes of 'Trek' actor on private rocket

In the end, it was Scotty who got beamed up, as Star Trek actor James Doohan's ashes are on a rocket orbiting Earth.

The Central Park Five: Cannes Review

David Rooney Filmmakers Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns dig deep into a 1989 miscarriage of justice that scarred New York.read more

Brad Pitt, 'Killing Them Softly': Actor Talks Stepping Behind Camera, Parenting, Physics

CANNES, France -- Brad Pitt is making the movie star thing look darn easy.Since he last collaborated with Andrew Dominik, he's starred in the Coen brothers' "Burn After Reading," David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," and Bennett Miller's "Moneyball."Read More...More on Hollywood Buzz

Zac Efron, 'The Paperboy': Actor's New Film Premieres At Cannes Film Festival

Zac Efron says he felt uncomfortable filming his revealing role "The Paperboy" — and that's the way he wanted it.

Eurovision Song Contest: 'It's soft politics, but it's politics'

With recent headlines emerging from Azerbaijan, you could be forgiven for assuming something graver than a singing competition was descending on the country.

Cannes 2012 Review: Ben Wheatley's Very Dark Comedy 'Sightseers'

British caravan campers gone wild. Very wild. And very deadly. Sightseers is the latest film from British filmmaker on-the-rise Ben Wheatley, of the controverisal Kill List and Down Terrace previously, and he's back with something a little more lighthearted, but just as sickly dark, twisted and wholly entertaining as his previous work. A quaint, sheltered couple of 30-somethings go on a holiday road trip around Britain and end up becoming Natural Born Killers with a brilliantly comedic edge (as James Rocchi calls it, "Natural Born Campers"). Not necessarily as bold as Kill List, but just as memorable, especially if you like Wheatley. ››› Continue reading: Cannes 2012 Review: Ben Wheatley's Very Dark Comedy 'Sightseers'

Ex-nanny sues Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone's former nanny filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing the actress of violating labor laws and making derogatory comments about her ethnicity.

THE GREAT GATSBY - Official Trailer (2012) [HD]

THE GREAT GATSBY - Official Trailer (2012) [HD] Subscribe To FilmTrailerZone: http://ow.ly/adpvg Like Us On Facebook: http://ow.ly/ay0ve Follow Us On Twitter: http://ow.ly/ay0gU Release Date: December 25, 2012 Genre: Drama Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton Director: Baz Luhrmann Screenwriter: Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Plot: "The Great Gatsby" follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles. Trailer courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures "THE GREAT GATSBY" "THE GREAT GATSBY Trailer" "THE GREAT GATSBY Trailer 2012" "THE GREAT GATSBY Official Trailer" "THE GREAT GATSBY Official Trailer 2012" "THE GREAT GATSBY Movie Trailer" "THE GREAT GATSBY Movie TRailer 2012" "THE GREAT GATSBY Film Trailer" "THE GREAT GATSBY Film TRailer 2012" "THE GREAT GATSBY Teaser Trailer" "THE GREAT GATSBY Debut Trailer" "THE GREAT GATSBY Theatrical Trailer" "THE" "GREAT" "GATSBY" "TRAILER" "2012" "HD" "THE GREAT GATSBY Leonardo DiCaprio" "FilmTrailerZone" "Film Trailer Zone" From: FilmTrailerZone Views: 488690 5259 ratingsTime: 02:28 More in Film & Animation

Phillip Phillips Wins 'American Idol'

Phillip Phillips was crowned the winner of American Idol's 11th season on Wednesday night edging out runner-up Jessica Sanchez and becoming the fifth male in a row to emerge victorious on the reality singing competition The 21-year old Georgia native earned the majority of a record 132 million votes cast...

Documents provide new insight into Kathryn Bigelow's Bin Laden movie

Video: Kristen Stewart in 'On the Road': 'I just want ... a baby'

Two video clips from "On the Road," Walter Salles' adaptation of the Jack Kerouac novel, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.

'Idol' winners: Where are they now?

'American Idol' winners: Where are they now?

Tape.tv Raises $6.2 Million To Begin An International Roll-Out

tape.tv has been around for a while – since July 2008 to be exact. It operates like a mix between an online version of MTV and Pandora. Just like the latter service, on Tape.tv users can skip, like or dislike the videos as they play, so the service starts to tailor itself to their tastes. I came across it in various visits to Berlin over the last couple of years but have been frustrated that this great service has only been aimed at the German market. However, I’m excited that it’s about to scale into new countries. The company has now raised €5 million ($6.2 million) in a Series B funding round. Participants include Atlantic Capital Partners GmbH , Dario Suter, Christoph Daniel and Marc Schmidhelny (DCM), prolific Berlin Angel investor Christophe Maire, alongside Investitionsbank Berlin and VC Kreativwirtschaft Berlin. The cash will be used to scale the business, appear on other platforms like smart TVs and launches into France and the UK in early autumn. The relaunch will also see the creation of an electronic program guide (EPG) for their own live shows and events. Its tape.tv’s catalogue of 45,000 videos has attracted around 3.5 million users in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, its main markets since it launched in July 2008. The company managed to navigate the tricky music licensing laws in Germany, which has seen YouTube hobbled in some areas. Founded by Conrad Fritzsch (CEO) and Stephanie Renner, Tape.tv plans to have an editorial team in each region it launches in, programming its sub channels, like Indie and Hip-Hop. Fritzsch says the company is now aiming at the convergence of Internet and TV towards SmartTV and hopes to extend to mobile as well. “The future of tape.tv will also be more social, based on user behaviour” he says. The company has 65 employees, many of them selling ads around the videos, and also has a real TV show on on the ZDFkultur channel in Germany. But it’s a lucrative business. It’s claiming to be running on €20 million in annual revenues. In Germany it has plenty of strategic partners, including ZDF.kultur, bild.de und spiegel.de and apps with Facebook, Spotify and Last.fm.

Donna Summer's friends gather for disco queen's funeral

Hundreds of Donna Summer's friends and family crowd into a Nashville, Tennessee, church Wednesday to say goodbye to the queen of disco.

The Great Gatsby - Movie Trailers - iTunes

trailers.apple.com From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby. The filmmaker will create his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before, in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role. "The Great Gatsby" follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York posted by friends: (1) @iTunesTrailers: The Great Gatsby - See Leonardo DiCaprio in the Exclusive HD trailer http://t.co/z5HsGKhk 23.05.2012 03.31.57 posted by friends of friends: (3) @latikambourke: Oh Baz. <3! RT @mpesce: Wow. http://t.co/jKOwizLW 23.05.2012 04.57.10 @mpesce: Wow. http://t.co/falfpHbT 23.05.2012 04.53.42 @GrogsGamut: Same! RT: @LeoDiCaprio: The #GreatGatsby trailer is live! Had a great experience with Baz and cast making this film. http://t.co/KeyRvs18 23.05.2012 04.13.59