Reuters Entertainment News Summary

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs. Glenn Close, 'Beale Street,' win indie film honors ahead of Oscars

Actress Glenn Close and racial injustice movie "If Beale Street Could Talk" were the big winners on Saturday at the Independent Spirit Awards, a day ahead of the Oscars ceremony. Mexican family drama "Roma," which is seen as a strong contender for best picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday, won the Spirit award for best international film. Box Office: 'How to Train Your Dragon 3' soars to series-best $55.5 million debut

After the North American box office has struggled to match 2018's record year, Universal and DreamWorks' "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" is breathing some life into the domestic box office. The final chapter in animated trilogy generating $55.5 million when it launched in 4,259 theaters, a franchise-best debut. It now also holds the distinction as the biggest opening weekend of the year to date. Regina King wins supporting actress Oscar for 'Beale Street'

Regina King won the Oscar for best supporting actress on Sunday for her role as a mother trying to look out for her pregnant daughter in "If Beale Street Could Talk." It was the first Oscar for King, 48, who began her career in Hollywood more than three decades ago as a teenager on the 1980s sitcom "227." It was also her first nomination. R. Kelly indictment is latest case fueled by TV documentaries

For years, singer R. Kelly has denied sexual abuse allegations against him and Friday's felony indictment of the performer was delivered weeks after first-person accounts of several accusers aired on television, leading prosecutors to urge potential witnesses to come forward. The Lifetime network's "Surviving R. Kelly," which aired in early January, marked the latest in a series of TV documentaries that helped spur criminal investigations of prominent figures, from the late pop star Michael Jackson to multimillionaire real estate scion Robert Durst. 'Green Book' steals best picture Oscar, Colman and Malek are best actors

Road trip movie "Green Book" won best picture at the Oscars on Sunday, while Mexico's Alfonso Cuaron was chosen as best director for his sentimental film "Roma." In an upset, Britain's Olivia Colman got the best actress Oscar for "The Favourite," beating presumed front-runner Glenn Close, who starred in "The Wife." Red, pink and Oscar gold take a twirl in tulle down red carpet

Red ruffles, pink tulle, and even gold gowns inspired by Oscar himself overran the Academy Awards red carpet on Sunday, as Hollywood glitterati showed off their fineries during cinema's biggest glam-fest. Matching the color of the world's most famous carpet was the attention-getting choice for many attendees. Call it crimson, scarlet or vermillion, the red gowns popped under sunny skies and a mild California breeze, as a steady cavalcade of stars entered Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. Director Stanley Donen, famed for landmark film 'Singin' in the Rain,' dies at 94

Stanley Donen, the former dancer who directed some of Hollywood's greatest musicals including Gene Kelly's landmark "Singin' in the Rain," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "On the Town," has died at age 94, according to media reports. Donen, who was given an honorary lifetime achievement Oscar in 1998 and wowed the crowd with an impromptu song-and-dance routine, died of a heart attack on Thursday in New York City, the Chicago Tribune said, citing one of his sons, Mark Donen. Rock band Queen plus Adam Lambert open first hostless Oscars in 30 years

British rock band Queen, featuring "American Idol" star Adam Lambert as lead vocalist, opened the first hostless Oscars show in 30 years on Sunday with a rollicking performance that brought the Dolby Theatre's celebrity crowd to its feet. The two active, surviving musicians from Queen's original lineup - guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor - joined Lambert, filling in as frontman for the late Freddie Mercury, to play two of the band's greatest hits: "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." Star of Mexican film 'Roma' prompts raw discussion of race, class

The Oscar-nominated film "Roma," which chronicles the life of a young housekeeper in 1970s Mexico, has put an uneasy focus on the nation's sharp class, ethnic and racial divisions, leading to mixed reactions to the indigenous woman cast in the starring role. Yalitza Aparicio, who is nominated in the Best Actress category in Sunday's Academy Awards, has appeared on the cover of "Vogue," attracted over a million Instagram followers and been celebrated with a towering mural in her likeness over a humble district in Mexico City. Singer R. Kelly due in court Saturday on sexual assault charges

Grammy-winning R&B singer R. Kelly, who for years has faced allegations that he abused women and underage girls, was due in court in Chicago on Saturday to hear charges that he sexually assaulted four people, including three teenagers. The 52-year-old, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was charged with a 10-count indictment on Friday, nearly two months after the Lifetime television network aired a six-hour documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly" in which multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and abuse.