NEWSWORTHY
Oscar-winning film director Roman Polanski is suing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, demanding his reinstatement nearly a year after the organization expelled him amid the #MeToo movement. Polanski, who in 1977 pleaded guilty in California to statutory rape, argued in a court ...
Hayao Miyazaki: Universally acclaimed weaver of unforgettable anime worlds
Animators and live-action filmmakers around the world acknowledge his influence. His talents have even been described by fans as “godlike.”
Streaming wars heat up as rivals prepare to challenge Netflix
Some of the biggest names in media and tech are gearing up to move into streaming in what could be a major challenge to market leader Netflix. Apple is expected to make its move with an announcement March 25 on its media plans, with a ...
Takashi Murakami: The face of Japanese contemporary art abroad, underappreciated at home
In Tokyo alone, Murakami’s commercial work can be seen in the official mascots for the Roppongi Hills complex and Tokyo MX TV station.
Actor Jussie Smollett indicted over lying to Chicago police about false hate-crime assault
A grand jury in Chicago has returned a 16-count felony indictment against television actor Jussie Smollett, accusing him of falsely reporting to police that he was the victim of a hate-crime assault, according to court documents made public on Friday. Smollett, who is black and ...
South Korean star director Kim Ki-duk, accused of sexual abuse, sues women's rights group
A famed South Korean film director who was accused of sexual abuse has filed a lawsuit against a women's rights group over "damages" caused by the #MeToo movement against him, a Seoul court said Thursday. Kim Ki-duk, 58, is one of the nation's top filmmakers, ...
A new documentary on pedophilia accusations against the late Michael Jackson presents in lurid detail the stories of two men who say Jackson sexually abused them for years as minors. "Leaving Neverland," a four-hour film by British director Dan Reed, is considered so potentially devastating ...
Takeshi Kitano: From manzai comic to giant of Japanese film
Many Japanese filmmakers try to promote their films and talents abroad but stumble more than they succeed: Either Cannes rejects their latest masterpiece or Hollywood turns down their J-horror script.
'Samurai Marathon': A sprint through Japanese history
The arrival of U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's infamous "black ships" in 1850s Japan prompted some unusual reactions from a country that had spent the past few centuries shut off from the outside world. Few were as offbeat as that of the feudal lord Itakura ...
The segregation-era road-trip drama "Green Book" was crowned best picture at the Academy Awards, handing Hollywood's top award to a film seen as a feel-good throwback to some but ridiculed as an outdated inversion of "Driving Miss Daisy" by others. In a year where Hollywood ...
Rami Malek won his first Oscar on Sunday for his portrayal of late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in musical "Bohemian Rhapsody." Malek, 37, had emerged as a favorite for the Oscar in recent weeks after winning Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and British BAFTA awards. A ...
'If Beale Street Could Talk' takes top prize at Film Independent Spirit Awards
"If Beale Street Could Talk" was crowned best picture on Saturday at the Film Independent Spirit Awards — as Oscar favorite "Roma" scooped best international film. Directed by Barry Jenkins, "If Beale Street Could Talk" took two other prizes: best director for Jenkins, and best ...
