All about: 'Hotel Mumbai', rapper Mac Miller, Julia Roberts' 'Homecoming'

All about: 'Hotel Mumbai', rapper Mac Miller, Julia Roberts' 'Homecoming'

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Melissa McCarthy transforms for 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?'

Melissa McCarthy turns away from comedy in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" transforming into a dowdy, cranky woman with disheveled hair and dull, shapeless clothes. McCarthy, best known for raunchy 2011 comedy "Bridesmaids" and her "Saturday Night Live" impersonations of former White House spokesman Sean Spicer, plays Lee Israel, a crusty biographer-turned-literary forger.

In front of camera, if not behind, women shone at Venice Film Festival

Despite a paucity of female directors, women were the stars of the Venice Film Festival: from Lady Gaga stealing the red carpet spotlight, to movies about queens, witches and working women with important stories to tell. Only one of the 21 movies selected to compete for the Golden Lion was directed by a woman - earning festival organizers a severe backlash. But critics were impressed by strong, unusual female roles and feminist themes, even in movies made by men.

Actor Bill Daily of 'I Dream of Jeannie' dead at 91

Bill Daily, who provided comedic support in two classic television sitcoms of the 1960s and 1970s as an astronaut on "I Dream Of Jeannie" and as the flaky neighbor on "The Bob Newhart Show," died this week at age 91, a spokesman for the actor said.

Daily, known for his quick wit, clean-cut good looks and self-deprecating humor, had recently moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to spend more time with his family, according to a statement late on Friday from his representative, Patterson Lundquist. Daily's son, Patrick, told the Hollywood Reporter the actor died on Tuesday of natural causes, the magazine said.

'Shimmering' Mexican drama 'Roma' wins Venice for Cuaron and Netflix

Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma" won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, bringing Netflix its first major festival victory to seal the online streaming company's reputation as a big name in arthouse movies. "Roma", named after the neighborhood in Mexico City where writer-director-cinematographer Cuaron grew up, is a Spanish-language drama that critics almost unanimously described as "shimmering" due to its luscious black-and-white cinematography.

'The Hate U Give' aims to inspire dialogue on racism in U.S.

New movie "The Hate U Give" has won attention for its unflinching spotlight on the police shootings of black men that have roiled the United States in recent years, but its filmmakers say the aim is much wider. The movie tells the story of a black teenager, Starr, who attends an elite, mostly white, school but whose life is rattled when she witnesses the killing of her childhood best friend by a white police officer during a traffic stop.

Sex, politics, media converge in 'The Front Runner'

"The Front Runner" tells the story of the fall 30 years ago of U.S. Senator Gary Hart over allegations of an affair, but the makers hope it also prompts an examination of what really matters in candidates running for high political office. The movie, starring Hugh Jackman as the 1988 Democratic presidential contender, follows the brief period from Hart's announcement of his candidacy to the suspension of his campaign following a media frenzy over allegations of an extramarital affair with Donna Rice.

DeLorean film drives back to the futuristic '70s to close Venice festival

The DeLorean sports car entered movie legend as the time machine in the "Back to the Future" films and returns to the big screen in "Driven", a comedy thriller about the downfall of its creator, which closed the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. John DeLorean, who designed muscle cars for General Motors before striking out on his own with the futuristic, gull-winged sports car that bore his own name, has gone down in history for his company's spectacular collapse.

Julia Roberts' first TV series gets Toronto festival premiere

"Pretty Woman" star Julia Roberts walked the red carpet on Friday to promote her first television series, Amazon Studios' "Homecoming," at the Toronto International Film Festival. Roberts, 50, is the latest major Hollywood star to transition to television, joining the likes of Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep and John Travolta. Many like Roberts have signed on to shows by streaming services like Amazon and Netflix, which are drawing audiences away from traditional television.

Rapper Mac Miller dies in Los Angeles at age 26

Mac Miller, a rapper from Pittsburgh whose debut album topped the charts in 2011 after his upbeat style gained a following online and who previously dated singer Ariana Grande, died on Friday in Los Angeles at age 26, officials said. He was found unresponsive at his home in the Studio City neighborhood and pronounced dead there, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said in a statement.

'Hotel Mumbai' dubbed an 'anthem of resistance"

"Hotel Mumbai," about the 2008 attack on a hotel in the Indian city, received a standing ovation at its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, and the cast and filmmakers said they believe that's because of the human portrayal not only of the victims but also the perpetrators.` The film, starring Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Jason Isaacs, recounts the attack on Mumbai's luxury Taj Mahal hotel, where dozens of guests and hotel workers were killed during a three-day siege carried out by Pakistan-based Islamist militants.

Give Feedback

Use this form for editorial or site feedback. We usually reply within 2 to 3 working days.

By submitting, you agree that we may use your email address to respond.