Cannes Goes to the Dogs

'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives' captures Palme d'Or

(NEWSER) - In a major upset, the Thai film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives has won the top honor at Cannes, according to the Hollywood Reporter . "I'd like to send a message home," director Apichatpong Weerasethakul said in accepting the Palme d'Or. "This prize is for you." Mike Leigh's Another Year had been considered a favorite for the top award, but English-language films failed to capture any major prizes, Entertainment Weekly notes . More»

Gus Van Sant wins special Cannes 60th anniversary award

(NEWSER) - A disturbing Romanian film about two college coeds trying to get an illegal abortion in the twilight days of the communist regime won this year's Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival yesterday. The low-budget 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days was a critical favorite at the festival, known for bizarre judging. More»

Oscar knock-offs now come in teacup sizes

(NEWSER) - Knock-offs of Academy Awards gowns—always a brisk business—now come in even-smaller sizes: An L.A. company has released a new line of Oscar duds for dogs, from Nicole Kidman's red Balenciaga to Leonardo DiCaprio's Armani tux. Little Lily's, which has been dressing posh pooches since 2002, has already sold out its "Red Carpet Line" in the U.S. More»

Film festival starts today

(NEWSER) - The Cannes Film Festival opens today with the premiere of Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood. Despite that high-profile event, the festival lineup offers fewer household names this year, the AP reports. Only one US film is in the running for the top prize: Doug Liman’s Fair Game, based on Valerie Plame’s CIA identity leak. The Daily Beast runs down the 14 most buzzed-about films of the festival:

• Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Biutiful: Starring Javier Bardem, this Spanish-language thriller about a criminal who runs into a childhood friend-turned-cop is already generating Oscar buzz.

Animated feature controversial choice for high-profile showcase

(NEWSER) - The Tribeca Film Festival will kick off on April 21 with Shrek Forever After as its opening-night film. The fourth and final installment in the Shrek series is only the second 3D animated feature to open a major film festival, after Up at Cannes last year. "We have always sought to open our festival with films that are captivating and strike an emotional chord with moviegoers," said a film festival co-founder. More»