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Sydney Poitier gets top honour at Cannes (Go To Top)

      Washington: Hollywood legend Sydney Poitier was honoured at the Cannes Film Festival for breaking racial barriers in the film industry, and was named a commander in France's order of arts and letters. French culture minister Renaud Donnedieu De Vabres, presented Poitier with the award and praised him for being a 'champion' for equality. "You are the champion of equality between men," Contactmusic quoted him, as saying. The 79-year-old actor, who won over movie goers with stellar performances in movies such as 'To Sir, With Love' and 'Guess Whose Coming For Dinner?', in his acceptance speech, thanked his parents, who were field workers in the Bahamas, for giving him a sense of honesty, integrity and compassion. Poitier, who broke ground when he became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for 'Lilies Of The Field' in 1963, also thanked the film-makers who gave him acting opportunities, calling them as "men who chose to change that pattern because it was not democratic, it was not American, it was not human".

Cruise bans TV, computer games for kids (Go To Top)

      Washington: Tom Cruise has revealed that when it comes to his kids, there is a 'no TV, no computer games' policy in his house. The 'Mission Impossible III' star, said that as far as his two eldest kids, 13-year old Isabella and 11-year old Connor, were concerned, the TV and computer were off limits for he preferred that they either read books or listened to music. "The kids have no computer games. And absolutely no television. None. They can listen to music and read just about any book they want, and they can choose the movies they want to see on the weekends, within reason," Contactmusic quoted him, as saying. And, not only that, Cruise also revealed that his kids were also given chores around the house because he wanted them to know the importance of work. "They also have chores, because I want them to know that it's important to work. I had a job when I was eight years old - delivering newspapers. So for me, it's like: You want a clean room? Then you've got to clean your room. No one is going to do it for you," he added.

Paul Bettany's 'Da Vinci Code' lies (Go To Top)

      Washington: British actor Paul Bettany was so excited about landing the part of the albino monk Silas in the movie 'The Da Vinci Code' that he lied to director Ron Howard about having read the book before. The 'Wimbledon' star revealed that he had been so excited when Howard rang him up to be in the movie that when he was asked whether he was familiar with the book, he fibbed and replied that he was. "Ron rang me up and asked me to be in the movie and he said, 'Monk, assassin and Da Vinci Code,' and it was Ron calling me so I said, 'Yes!' immediately. And he asked me if I had read the book and I said, 'Yes, of course.' And I hadn't so I ran and got the book, not in theology and personal growth, but in the fiction department and I read it in two sittings. It was a real page- turning adventure story," Contactmusic quoted him, as saying.

Brangelina's #2.6 m deal for baby pics (Go To Top)

      Washington: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have reportedly not only struck a 2.6 million pound deal with US weekly magazine for the first pictures of their baby, but are also planning to donate the money to UNICEF. A source close to the couple, who have been extremely media-shy ever since they hooked up, said that they had decided to use the media craze over their as yet unborn child for the greater good of children all over the world by donating the money to UNICEF. "They've signed a #2.6million deal with a publication and the money will go to children's charity UNICEF. Angelina's very private but they figured they might as well use the opportunity of one child being born to help a lot of others," Contactmusic quoted the source, as saying.

Shakira trusts her hip's intuitive powers (Go To Top)

      Washington: Pop singer Shakira relies on her hips when she has to decide whether a song is good enough, for when she likes a song she can feel the music in her bums and that's when she begins to move. The Columbian singer's hips became such an inspiring factor in her life that she titled her latest album as 'Hips Don't Lie.' "I always used to joke with the guys from my band about how important it is to listen to my hips in order to determine if a song is where it has to be,"Contactmusic quoted her, as saying. "Every time we were rehearsing and I was doubtful about how a song was sounding I would tell them, 'Listen, my hips don't lie.' If they're not moving, it's because this is not working out, so lets work on it a little bit more until my hips start shaking!'" she added.

Allen ropes in Farrell, McGregor (Go To Top)

      Melbourne: Director Woody Allen is set to cast Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor in his new movie, which would be shot in London. According to moviehole.net, the yet-to-be named movie is the third project the New Yorker will shoot in London, following the critically acclaimed Match Point and the upcoming journalism film, Scoop. The new film has been conceived soon after the abrupt cancellation of Allen's Paris project, which was set to star Michelle Williams and David Krumholtz. The new film will begin shooting this summer.

Potter finds his stolen flying Ford (Go To Top)

      Washington: Harry Potter and his best friend Ron Weasley can once again go for a drive, for the 1962 pale blue Ford Anglia driven by Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in the hit movie 'Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets' has finally been located after being stolen from a film studio in Cornwall in October 2005. And while fans were afraid that the famous car had been sold on the black market never to be seen again, it was stationed in a lock-up garage just two miles from where it had disappeared for seven months. PC Tim Roberts said that the police had successfully located the car, which was in good order. "It seems we have now located the Harry Potter car. I'd love to think Harry had driven it there to take part in some adventure at the castle but the reality is a probably a little less interesting," The Sun quoted him, as saying. "It seems to be in good order. I would guess whoever left it there did so with their tongue firmly in their cheek. The car had been there less than 24 hours and has now been towed away to a vehicle compound," he added. Police managed to get to the car after they got a tip that the gang of New Age travellers was trying to sell the car, which was stationed in the car park of the ruined 14th century castle at Carn Brae, near Falmouth. The police also learned that the gang had tried to sell the car before to buyers who refused to purchase it because of the missing number plates - 7990 TD. The Anglia was used to illustrate the front cover of the book 'Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets'.

Superman Returns could be costliest film (Go To Top)

      London: The much awaited flick, 'Superman Returns' is turning out to be one of the most expensive movies that Hollywood has ever churned out, as its budget has reportedly risen to nearly 300 million dollars. The film, which stars Bandon Routh as the Man of Steel and Kevin Spacey as baddie Lex Luthor, has seen its budget shooting up because of expensive special effects and re-shoots. "From what I gather it will be the most expensive film ever. There's no way it could cost less than $250m based on what they green lit. It was $200m with first director McG before Bryan Singer took over. When Bryan took over they had to re-shoot. I figure it's anywhere between $290m and $300m at this time," the Sun quoted David Poland, editor of Movie City News, as saying. The most costly scene in the film is when the superhero stops a burning plane from crashing. The movie is expected to be much more expensive than Titanic, King Kong and Spider Man 2.

Carey to be honoured for goddess legs (Go To Top)

      Washington: Mariah Carey is being felicitated. However, it's not for her contribution to music, but for having legs of a 'goddess'. The multiple Grammy award will be honoured at a New York City ceremony for her "Celebrity Legs of a Goddess" by having a 16- foot (5 metre) tall likeness of her lovely legs unveiled, reports Contactmusic. The 'Emancipation of Mimi' singer will also announce the dates of her upcoming tour during the Radio City Music Hall press conference on 30 May (06).