Venice Film Festival kicks off with Paolo Sorrentino’s ‘La Grazia’
VENICE, Italy (AP) — The Venice Film Festival kicks off with the world premiere of Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” on Wednesday evening. The 82nd edition hosts many Hollywood stars, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Dwayne Johnson. Famed directors like Guillermo del Toro and Kathryn Bigelow also have films debuting over the next 10 days. Festival director Alberto Barbera says “La Grazia” is a surprising departure from Sorrentino’s usual style. The festival, which runs through September 6th, features 21 films in the main competition, including del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite.”
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Katy Perry testifies that she's seeking 'justice' at trial over $15 million mansion
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Katy Perry has testified during a Los Angeles trial that she's seeking justice in a legal battle over a California mansion. Perry says she stands to lose money if the decision doesn't favour her. The dispute involves a 15-million-dollar mansion she and former partner Orlando Bloom bought in 2020. The seller, Carl Westcott, claims he was not mentally competent to make the deal. Perry's side won a previous trial, but a countersuit over lost rental income has led to a new trial. Perry's testimony came on the fourth day of proceedings, which are expected to continue for two more days.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story, from friendship bracelets to engagement rings
NEW YORK (AP) — It started with a friendship bracelet. It ended with an engagement ring. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. The news was revealed in a joint post on Instagram. It is the fairytale culmination of a courtship that has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world for two years. It started with Kelce attempting to give Swift his phone number via a friendship bracelet at one of her concerts in 2023. It spanned two Super Bowls and Swift's history-making tour. It included the announcement of her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” And eventually, it will lead to a marriage.
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James Cameron on two decades of making 'Avatar' and the future he sees for movies
NEW YORK (AP) — James Cameron first began developing “Avatar” more than 30 years ago. He started working on the first film in earnest 20 years ago. Production on the third “Avatar” film, “Fire and Ash,” got underway eight years ago. By any measure, “Avatar” is one of the largest undertakings ever by a filmmaker, and maybe the only project that could make “Titanic” look like a modest one-off. Cameron has dedicated a huge chunk of his life to it. Now, as he prepares to unveil the latest chapter of his Na’vi opus on December 19th, Cameron is approaching what he calls a crossroads.
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Fall Movie Guide: Here are the films coming out from September to Christmas
Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is back. So are the stars of “Wicked” and the animals of “Zootopia.” Summer may be known as sequel season, but part "twos," and "threes," will play big roles this fall at the movies. That goes not just for the likes of Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Wicked: For Good,” and “Zootopia 2,” but for new installments in family sagas from the Crawleys to the Na’vi. Still, much of the season will belong, as it always does, to original dramas and awards contenders. Hollywood tends to save its best for last.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It’s a love story and, baby, she said yes. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. The superstar singer and football player revealed the news in a five-photo joint post on Instagram on Tuesday. It's the fairytale culmination of a courtship that has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world for two years. It's unclear when and where the two got engaged. The announcement comes not long after Swift's appearance on “New Heights” as part of the rollout of her upcoming album. That's the podcast hosted by the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his brother, Jason Kelce.
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Lil Nas X says arrest and jail time were 'terrifying'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Nas X is calling his recent arrest and jail time “terrifying.” He made his first public comments on Tuesday after being charged with attacking Los Angeles police officers. The 26-year-old rapper and singer pleaded not guilty to four felony counts on Monday and was released on bail after four days in jail. In an Instagram video posted Tuesday, he said he's going to be OK. Authorities say he was walking naked in L-A's San Fernando Valley and charged at officers. He's charged with three felony counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer.
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Jeremy Allen White on taking 'a leap of faith' to play Springsteen in 'Deliver Me From Nowhere'
NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Allen White grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen. But sing his songs? It wasn’t until White began preparing to play the rock 'n' roll legend for “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” that he even tried. There’s an established playbook for music biopics. “Deliver Me From Nowhere” ignored all of it. The film, written and directed by Scott Cooper, eschews the standard life-spanning, play-the-hits approach and instead focuses on a small portion of Springsteen’s sprawling life: the making of his 1982 album, “Nebraska.” It's the first movie based on Springsteen's life. And it marks the first lead movie role for White, the Emmy-winning star of “The Bear.”
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Taylor Swift stuns with vintage-inspired engagement ring designed by Kindred Lubeck
Taylor Swift has confirmed her engagement to Travis Kelce. The pop star's representative says the superstar's new ring was designed by Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. The vintage-inspired ring features a rounded rectangle diamond in an old mine brilliant cut and bezel setting. Swift shared the engagement news with a series of photos showing off the ring as the couple posed among flowers in a garden setting. She wore a striped Ralph Lauren dress and her favourite Cartier diamond-encrusted watch. Lubeck is the daughter of Jay Lubeck, a well-known goldsmith in Neptune Beach, Florida. Kindred Lubeck is based in New York.
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Venice Film Festival set to begin as activists hope to shift the spotlight to Gaza
VENICE, Italy (AP) — The Venice Film Festival is kicking off amid protests and calls to boycott Israeli actor Gal Gadot. Local groups plan to highlight Gaza with an anti-war protest during the festival’s major events. On the festival's opening day, Wednesday, protesters are planning a press conference in front of the red carpet. The group Venice4Palestine has also urged the festival to cut ties with organizations supporting the Israeli government. Festival director Alberto Barbera told The Associated Press on Tuesday that parent organization, Biennale, does not make political statements or boycott artists. The festival will feature films addressing the Gaza conflict, reflecting the complex global situation.
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The Canadian Press
