Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix bring ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ to Venice Film Festival

Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix bring ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ to Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy — The Venice Film Festival is getting ready to welcome Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix for the world premiere of “Joker: Folie à Deux” Wednesday evening. Todd Phillips’ film is one of the most highly anticipated of the festival, playing in the official competition five years after “Joker” won the Golden Lion. Warner … Read more

The 33 most anticipated movies of the fall

The 33 most anticipated movies of the fall

The seasonal differences of the movie calendar have eroded a little bit with time. Neither of the last two Oscar juggernauts — “Oppenheimer,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — opened in the fall, the traditional launching pad of Academy Awards hopefuls. And just the same, f all tends to be nearly as stuffed as summer … Read more

Denmark reports cases of bluetongue disease that can be fatal to sheep but is harmless to humans

Denmark reports cases of bluetongue disease that can be fatal to sheep but is harmless to humans

Denmark has reported cases of bluetongue in the country’s east, a non-contagious, insect-borne viral disease that is harmless to humans but can be fatal for so-called ruminant animals — mainly sheep but also cows and goats COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark reported Tuesday cases of bluetongue in the country’s east, a non-contagious, insect-borne viral disease that … Read more

Hundreds of ‘Game of Thrones’ props are up for auction

Hundreds of ‘Game of Thrones’ props are up for auction

After watching eight seasons of the epic saga “Game of Thrones,” fans can now enter what may be a competition on par with the battle for the Iron Throne: an auction of prized memorabilia from the HBO series. Fans can now bid on a slew of costumes, props, set pieces and memorabilia from the hit … Read more

New Zealand man Akuhata Edward Robert Hammond, 36, dies falling from hotel balcony in Thailand

New Zealand man Akuhata Edward Robert Hammond, 36, dies falling from hotel balcony in Thailand

A New Zealand man has died falling from a balcony in Thailand. Akuhata Edward Robert Hammond, 36, was holidaying in central Pattaya when he fell from the balcony of his seventh floor hotel room, according to local media. His death was reported on Friday, but it is unclear when exactly the incident occurred. Know the … Read more

Venice Lookback: When ‘Joker’ took the festival, and skeptics, by surprise

Venice Lookback: When ‘Joker’ took the festival, and skeptics, by surprise

After $1 billion at the box office, 11 Oscar nominations and two major wins, including for Joaquin Phoenix, it’s easy to forget the handwringing over “ Joker.” In the lead up to its release in October 2019, the Todd Phillips film, a dark origin story about the mentally ill man who becomes the deranged Batman … Read more

In Catholic Paraguay’s 1st sex ed program, condoms can’t be trusted, love is forever, boys don’t cry

In Catholic Paraguay’s 1st sex ed program, condoms can’t be trusted, love is forever, boys don’t cry

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay — Ahead of her 15th birthday, Diana Zalazar’s body had gotten so big she could no longer squeeze into the dress she bought for her quinceañera to celebrate her passage into womanhood in Paraguay. Her mother sought help from a doctor, who suspected that growing inside of the 14-year-old Catholic choir girl could … Read more

Pope Francis touches down in Asia amid health and security scares

Pope Francis touches down in Asia amid health and security scares

Pope Francis has landed in Jakarta, Indonesia, kicking off a 12-day tour of Asia, against a backdrop of serious concerns about the 87-year-old’s health and security while abroad. Boarding a 13-hour-flight from Rome, the wheelchair-bound pope required a portable lift to get onto his aircraft. With Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore also featuring in … Read more

Luca Guadagnino and Daniel Craig present ‘Queer’ to Venice Film Festival

Luca Guadagnino and Daniel Craig present ‘Queer’ to Venice Film Festival

VENICE, Italy — VENICE, Italy (AP) — Venice Film Festival regular Luca Guadagnino is back on the Lido to debut his new Daniel Craig film “Queer” on Tuesday night. A festival favorite, Guadagnino had to forgo a splashy red carpet premiere for the sexy tennis drama “Challengers” last year, when the studio delayed its release … Read more

Q&A: Ian McKellen is his own harshest critic as he discusses his stage fall and new thriller

Q&A: Ian McKellen is his own harshest critic as he discusses his stage fall and new thriller

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Ian McKellen is listening to his inner critic. It’s beating him up for not finishing out his latest theater role after he fell off the stage during a June performance of “Player Kings” and spent three nights in the hospital. “Emotionally, I feel guilty and ashamed, you know, quite irrational … Read more