NEW YORK – A moment from years ago keeps replaying in Martin Scorsese ’s mind. When Akira Kurosawa was given an honorary Academy Award in 1990, the then 80-year-old Japanese filmmaker of “Seven Samurai” and “Ikiru,” in his brief, humble speech, said he hadn’t yet grasped the full essence of cinema. It struck Scorsese, then … Read more
Many parents tell their children never talk to strangers. But Curtis Chin’s parents urged their six kids to ask customers at their Chinese restaurant about their background. It was their way of showing the children a world outside the Detroit restaurant’s four walls. “That is something my parents taught me — not to be afraid … Read more
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maren Morris has filed for divorce from her husband Ryan Hurd, citing the prominent country music couple’s “irreconcilable differences” after five years of marriage. Morris filed the divorce complaint in Nashville circuit court on Oct. 2, writing that the couple have been separated since that date. They were married in March 2018. … Read more
The Oscars are enlisting a group of live television veterans to oversee its 96th show in March. Raj Kapoor will serve as executive producer and showrunner, Katy Mullan will executive produce and Hamish Hamilton will return to direct for the first time in nearly a decade, the film academy said Tuesday. Kapoor, who has worked … Read more
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – They are playfully called the “forgotten five”: A handful of toys — the pogo stick, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, My Little Pony, PEZ dispensers, and Transformers — that regularly approach toybox royalty as finalists for the National Toy Hall of Fame, only to be tossed back on the pile. For one of … Read more
DALLAS – A miniature X-wing Starfighter used in a “Star Wars” film sold for over $3 million during an auction over the weekend of items both collected and created by longtime Hollywood model-maker Greg Jein. The collection amassed by Jein, who died last year at the age of 76, brought in about $13.6 million during … Read more
TIRANA – Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare was awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor title by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. Macron arrived in Tirana after a summit of European Union leaders with Western Balkan countries earlier in the day. He didn’t attend the talks because of the attack in which a … Read more