Kate Winslet and "Slumdog Millionaire" rule, while Hugh Jackman gives the awards an extreme makeover and -- miracle of miracles -- it works!
By Heather Havrilesky Feb 23, 2009
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Revved-up, star-studded Oscarcast can't conceal the Academy's Hamlet-like self-torment. And "Slumdog" over "Dark Knight" ranks as an all-time Oscar WTF.
By Andrew O'Hehir
February 23, 2009
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Indies and Brits -- or at least Kate Winslet and "Slumdog Millionaire" -- dominate the Golden Globes. Plus: Mickey Rourke's face explained, via cryptic asides.
By Andrew O'Hehir
January 12, 2009
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With warring sets of year-end indie awards on top of each other, who can keep track? We can! Here's who's in, out, hot and not at this very moment.
By Andrew O'Hehir
December 4, 2008
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Sean Penn leaps to the front of the Oscar race with his uncanny invocation of the slain gay-rights leader. Gus Van Sant's vibrant biopic meets the challenge -- almost.
By Andrew O'Hehir
November 26, 2008
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Robert De Niro heads an all-star cast in this self-amused Hollywood sendup.
By Stephanie Zacharek
October 17, 2008
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Laurent Cantet's joyful, tragic "The Class" is the first French Palme d'Or winner in 21 years; Benicio del Toro named best actor for "Che."
By Andrew O'Hehir
May 26, 2008
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Fernando Meirelles' "Blindness," starring Julianne Moore, to open Cannes fest, with Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened?" as the closer.
By Andrew O'Hehir
April 29, 2008
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Eastwood's "Changeling" and Soderbergh's four-hour "Che" top an impressive Eurocentric lineup at 61st Cannes festival.
By Andrew O'Hehir
April 23, 2008
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Sean Penn's adaptation of Jon Krakauer's book about a privileged kid's strange, sad quest to find himself is at times quite touching.
By Stephanie Zacharek
September 21, 2007
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What does director Steven Zaillian think he's doing with this bizarre new adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's classic novel?
By Stephanie Zacharek
September 22, 2006
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Penn "violates" Coulter voodoo doll. Valderrama rates sex with Moore and Love Hewitt. Plus: Star Jones discusses "boob lift."
March 28, 2006
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What Kanye said about Bush before NBC pulled the plug. Sean Penn's boat rescue. Plus: Francis Bean Cobain speaks.
September 6, 2005
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Serious actors Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman star in this very serious movie, the first ever to be filmed inside the U.N.
By Stephanie Zacharek
April 22, 2005
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Left-wing critics attacked Clint Eastwood's early work as violently fascistic. Now conservatives blast him as a p.c. apologist and moral relativist. They're both wrong.
By Christopher Orr
February 24, 2005
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This dark meditation on death and fate by the director of "Amores Perros" is admirable despite its flaws -- and Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Naomi Watts deliver knockout performances.
By Andrew O'Hehir
November 21, 2003
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Hot director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu talks about "21 Grams," his wrenching new film about three strangers linked by death, hope and destiny.
By Amy Reiter
November 19, 2003
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Clint Eastwood brings Dennis Lehane's Boston revenge saga to the screen as a mournful, masculine noir that's also the strongest film of his long career.
By Stephanie Zacharek
October 8, 2003
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Madonna likes sex, Colin Farrell likes Sean's wife, Oliver likes Castro too much and Cage likes his comic books more than he likes Lisa Marie!
By Karen Croft
April 17, 2003
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Melanie Griffith bares her tattoo, Bill Clinton draws boos, Snoop Dogg draws fire, and Sean Penn needs driving lessons. Plus: John Lennon on Broadway?
By Karen Croft
April 11, 2003
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Alec Baldwin rants, Sean Penn smokes, Nicole Kidman holds hands, and Rush Limbaugh makes things up! Plus: Could Meg Ryan be in love?
By Karen Croft
April 10, 2003
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The left looks to Hollywood to help rally antiwar sentiment. Soap Operas United to Win Without War, anyone?
By Michelle Goldberg
January 13, 2003
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Yes, this Sean Penn-Elizabeth Hurley period drama was stalled for two years. It's still better than a lot of movies that get released right away.
By Stephanie Zacharek
November 8, 2002
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J.Lo reminisces about Penn's old smooch; nude Madonna painter prepares for knuckle sandwich; Elton takes pity on poor mama Hurley. Plus: Lance Bass says Britney and Justin aren't through!
By Amy Reiter
April 11, 2002
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Forget his embarrassing, scenery-chewing performance in "I am Sam" -- Sean Penn is one of the two greatest actors of his generation.
By Stephanie Zacharek
March 23, 2002