U.S. film to close Cannes Festival
HOLLYWOOD, April 18 (UPI) -- "What Just Happened?," U.S. director Barry Levinson's account of an embattled Hollywood producer, was selected to close this year's Cannes film festival.
The movie, scripted by Art Linson based on a memoir about his experiences as a producer, stars Robert De Niro as Ben, whose professional and personal life nosedive during one week.
In an ironic twist, the film's climatic scene is set during the Cannes festival, Hollywood Reporter said.
The official announcement is expected next week.
The film had a strong buzz coming out of the Sundance Film Festival, but received mixed reviews and failed to catch fire with distributors.
The festival runs May 14-25.
IFC gets rights to film Madonna directed
NEW YORK, April 18 (UPI) -- IFC Entertainment in New York says it secured the North American rights to "Filth and Wisdom," the film on which Madonna made her directorial debut.
Besides directing, Madonna is a co-producer and co-writer of the film, Variety reported.
The dramedy has interwoven stories of a man who spanks for money, a chemist and a pole dancer, among other characters.
"I want the most amount of people to see it as possible," Madonna said, explaining why she chose a partnership with IFC.
The picture is expected to simultaneously open in theaters and video-on-demand this fall.
"She took some interesting risks stylistically that all pay off at the end," said Ariana Bocco, IFC's acquisitions and production vice president.
"When I saw the film I felt that it deserved a bigger, wider platform. Madonna and her crew are open to the kind of release we're going to do, so it was a natural fit."
E Street Band keyboardist Federici dies
NEW YORK, April 18 (UPI) -- Danny Federici, keyboardist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, has died in a New York Hospital of cancer at age 58.
Federici, who died Thursday, was on hiatus from the band's latest tour to promote the "Magic" album, Variety reported.
He had left the group in late November to undergo treatment for melanoma at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he died. On stage he was replaced by Charles Giordano.
"Danny and I worked together for 40 years -- he was the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure natural musician," Springsteen said on his Web site. "I loved him very much. (We) grew up together."
Springsteen's concerts scheduled for Friday in Fort Lauderdale and Saturday in Orlando were postponed. Replacement dates will be announced soon, the Web site reported.
For his final performance, Federici made a surprise appearance with Springsteen on March 20 in Indianapolis during the show's encore, Variety reported.
Known as the "Phantom," Federici played with Springsteen in bands such as Child and Steel Mill, earlier versions of the E Street Band.
A Web site for the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund is being established.
Rapper Foxy Brown released from jail
NEW YORK, April 18 (UPI) -- Rapper Foxy Brown left a New York jail a free woman Friday, but will soon appear before a judge on another matter, authorities said.
Brown, real name Inga Marchand, had served a sentence for violating her probation.
"I don't think she'll ever be coming back here," said a chaplain at the Rose M. Singer Center for Women, where Brown served her sentence.
Brown is scheduled in court May 5 on charges stemming from her allegedly throwing a BlackBerry mobile device at a neighbor during an argument last summer, the New York Post reported.
