Reuters Entertainment News Summary

09/09/2016 16:56

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Emir Kusturica says 'Na Mlijecnom Putu' his last competition film

A wartime love story is Emir Kusturica "political testament" and his last entry in a film festival competition, the award-winning Serbian director said in Venice on Friday. Kusturica returned to the world's oldest film festival with "Na Mlijecnom Putu" (On The Milky Road), a story about a milkman on the front lines of an unspecified war whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious Italian woman. The film is one of 20 vying for the Golden Lion that will be awarded on Saturday.

Western remake 'The Magnificent Seven' opens Toronto Film Festival

A merry band of outlaws and hired hands kicks off the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday in "The Magnificent Seven," leading a slew of action films and intimate true stories vying for early buzz leading into Hollywood's annual awards season. While the cast of Sony Pictures' remake of its 1960 namesake is far more ethnically diverse than the original, director Antoine Fuqua said he was not trying to make a statement on diversity when casting for the film.

Konchalovsky says 'Rai' tackles evil done in the name of good

Andrei Konchalovsky uses the Holocaust-theme in his drama "Rai" to explore how people back then and today commit evil acts all the while believing that what they do is right, the veteran Russian director said at the Venice film festival on Thursday. "Rai" (Paradise), which follows three characters as they make life-altering choices, is one of 20 films competing for the coveted Golden Lion that will awarded on Saturday.

Andrew Lloyd Webber brings 'School of Rock' to West End stage

Prolific British Andrew Lloyd Webber is bringing the Broadway stage adaptation of the Jack Black comedy "School of Rock" to London's famed West End, hoping to show people the power of music in children's' lives. Lloyd Webber, the composer of "The Phantom of the Opera," and "Cats," said the play shows how the lives of people can be enriched and changed through music.

First openly gay Miss America contestant shines light on LGBT issues

The first openly lesbian Miss America contestant will not only vie for the crown at the 95th annual pageant in New Jersey this weekend, she will also aim to spotlight the injustices faced by gay and transgender people. "We are still fighting for visibility," 23-year-old Erin O'Flaherty, who was crowned Miss Missouri in June, said during a media event in Atlantic City ahead of Sunday's contest final. "So it's really important for me just to exist in this capacity as completely who I am and be open and proud about it for the LGBT community."

Chance to work with Lav Diaz tempted actress back to the screen

It was director Lav Diaz' art of exploring human drama at length that tempted Charo Santos-Concio back to the screen after nearly two decades, the actress-turned-media executive said at the Venice film festival on Friday. Santos-Concio plays the lead in "Ang Babaeng Humayo" (The Woman Who Left), a 226-minute Philippine drama about revenge and forgiveness that premiered in Venice on Friday.

Director wants audience to shut up for a bit after seeing Holocaust film

Andrei Konchalovsky does not expect "Rai" to change the course of the world, but he hopes the Holocaust drama about evil in the name of good will inspire some compassion, the veteran Russian director told Reuters at the Venice film festival on Friday. "Rai" (Paradise), a black-and-white World War II drama about three individuals whose lives cross paths and are forced to make life-altering choices, is one of 20 films competing for the coveted Golden Lion that will awarded on Saturday.

French actor Belmondo says has done all he wanted in life

Veteran French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo said on Thursday he had done everything he wanted in life as he accepted the Venice film festival's Golden Lion for lifetime achievement. The charismatic 83-year-old star, best known for movies such as the 1964 hit "L'Homme de Rio" (That Man from Rio), received a long standing ovation as he walked on stage, leaning on a cane, to receive the coveted award.

FCC chief unveils revised U.S. pay-TV set-top box rules

The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday unveiled revised proposed rules to allow tens of millions of Americans to drop costly rented pay-TV set-top boxes for programing and get service through app-based software. The plan, first proposed in January and updated on Thursday, is aimed at ending the cable industry's long domination of the $20-billion-a-year set-top box market and lowering prices for consumers. Nearly all pay-TV subscribers lease set-top boxes from their cable, satellite or telecommunications providers at an average annual cost of $231.

Juliette Binoche urges Europe to welcome refugees, respect women

French actress Juliette Binoche on Friday urged Europeans to let go of their fears of immigrants and respect the freedom of Muslim women to wear the veil or not as they choose. Europe is grappling with a migration crisis that has brought more than a million mostly Muslim people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa and has highlighted problems about the integration of Muslims already in Europe.

09/09/2016 16:56