Hollywood illusionists sweep season of stupidity under Oscars red carpet

As the year's best films are honoured, Hollywood is ready to launch another season of recycled drivel. But there are signs that intelligent, low-budget moves can succeed at the box officeThe men from the American Turf and Carpet company were busy putting the final touches to their crowning achievement. Frantically cutting and taping their way along the middle of what in normal times is Hollywood

OSCAR packs his bags

U.S. film industry cashes in abroadLOS ANGELES — The awards season for films, which reaches its tearful climax with the Oscars on Sunday, has long been only loosely related to the film business. Hollywood is dedicated to the art of funnelling teenagers past popcorn stands, not art itself. But this year’s awards are less relevant than ever. The true worth of a film is no longer decided by the

Traditional Oscar couple might split up this year

MONTREAL - It was exactly a month ago when this cynic suggested there was no need to hold this year’s Academy Awards gala, that the biggest mystery surrounding the bash would be to see how Sunday's hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway would fare.Nominations for the Oscars had just been announced and it appeared to many that the major winners of the recent Golden Globe Awards would all repeat on