Entertainment

LOS ANGELES, Dec 9, (Agencies): Tunisian helmer Leyla Bouzid premiered her debut feature “As I Open My Eyes” at the Venice Film Festival, where it picked up the first of many subsequent awards on its travels through Toronto, Stockholm, Carthage and now Dubai, screening in the Muhr Features section. “Eyes” …

LOS ANGELES, Dec 9, (AP): When speaking about “Star Wars,” there are few topics that inspire a twinkle in Harrison Ford’s eyes. The 73-year-old actor is matter-of-fact about almost everything involving the sci-fi series’ latest episode — from his reunion with Carrie Fisher (“It was no big deal.”) to the …

LOS ANGELES, Dec 9, (AP): J.J. Abrams can’t really settle on a favorite moment from his saga of directing, co-writing and co-producing “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” but this one isn’t bad. “Being here now means we’re actually finished with the movie, which is a relief,” Abrams said with Jedi …

LOS ANGELES, (RTRS): “Trumbo” and “House of Cards” have dominated the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, taking three nods each. Bleecker Street’s “Trumbo,” a biopic about blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, took nods for best ensemble cast, Bryan Cranston for best actor and Helen Mirren for supporting actress in the role of …

LOS ANGELES, Dec 8 (RTRS): With a lineup that includes such Sundance alums as Todd Solondz, Whit Stillman, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs, Kelly Reichardt, Taika Waititi, John Krasinski, Diego Luna, Maggie Greenwald, Joshua Marston, John Carney, Anne Fontaine, Asif Kapadia, Matt Ross and Jim Strouse, it’s shaping up to be …

J.J. Abrams has expressed his apprehensiveness over the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” an understandable feeling when you are likely going to be held personally responsible for what is surely the most eagerly anticipated movie in recent memory. Look closer, though, and the director should rest easier — …

MARRAKECH, Dec 8 (RTRS):  At a round table interview at the 15th edition Marrakech Film Festival, jury prexy Francis Ford Coppola revealed details of his upcoming “live cinema” project, whose first trial run, “Distant Vision” was tested June 5 in Oklahoma City Community College and live-streamed to private showings in …

In Adam McKay’s comic and clear-eyed adaption of Michael Lewis’ “The Big Short,” a handful of finance speculators — outsiders and oddballs — predict a downturn in the housing market only to realize, to their horror and immense profit, that they’ve effectively bet against America, and won. It’s a rollicking, …

LOS ANGELES, Dec 7, (Agencies): The high-octane “Mad Max: Fury Road” might have driven off with the most awards on Sunday, but the Los Angeles Film Critics Association had another in mind for its top film of the year: “Spotlight,” the comparatively subdued drama about the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into …

You want to know what a wide-open Oscar race looks like? Behold: * Best Picture: “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Carol” and “Spotlight” * Best Director: Ridley Scott, Todd Haynes and George Miller * Best Actor: Matt Damon, Michael Keaton and Michael Fassbender * Best Actress: Brie Larson, Saoirse Ronan and …