Oscar News

• The Venice Film Festival announced their lineup for this year’s September festival. Among the films are George Clooney’s The Ides of March, Roman Polanski’s Carnage, Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker, Tinker, Tailor, Spy and Todd Solondz’s Dark Horse.
• Many of the films vying for Oscar attention will be appearing and premiering this year at the Toronto International Film Festival. In addition to most of those playing at Venice listed above, Moneyball, A Dangerous Method and PJ20 will play Toronto.

Review Round-Up

No major Oscar contenders have been released in the last two weeks.

Oscar Box Office

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 became the fastest film ever to reach $900 million worldwide. It did it in 15 days.

Oscar Farewell

• Michael Cacoyannis, the Cypriot filmmaker whose Zorba the Greek was nominated for 7 Oscars, died at the age of 89. He himself was nominated for 3 Oscars for writing, directing and producing Zorba the Greek.
• Polly Platt, the respected producer, writer and designer, died at the age of 72. Her art direction for Terms of Endearment was Oscar nominated, and her other credits include Broadcast News, Pretty Baby and The War of the Roses.