World Top News Now

By JENNIFER PELTZ, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Federal appeals judges asked Friday whether a U.S. president's every remark is part of the job as they weighed whether former President Donald Trump can be held liable in a defamation case that concerns his response to a rape allegation. Trump and the Justice Department say he was acting in his official capacity when he spoke to the media about writer E. Jean Carroll's accusation, so they want to swap the U.S. government in for Trump himself as the defendant in her defamtion lawsuit. The change might sound technical, but it could make Hey Dude Shoes  a big difference. Federal law makes it difficult to sue U.S. government employees for job-related actions, and a law that sometimes allows such lawsuits specificall...

By JAKE COYLE, AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Film Critics Circle on Friday named “Drive My Car,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi's intimate three-hour epic and Haruki Murakami’s short story adaptation, the best film of the year. Hamaguchi's film, about a widowed actor played by Hidetoshi Nishijima, has been widely hailed since its debut earlier in the year at the Cannes Film Festival, Hey Dudes  where it won for best screenplay. “Drive My Car,” which recently opened in limited theatrical release, is Japan's submission to the Academy Awards. It's only the second time in the last four decades that the critics' top honor went to a non English-language film. (The other was Alfonso Cuaron's “Roma” three years ago.) Jane Campion's Montana gothic drama “The Power of the...

By HILARY FOX, AP Entertainment Writer LONDON (AP) — Tom Holland is trading in his Spidey suit for some tap shoes. The “Spider-Man” star told The Associated Press Sunday that he plans to play Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic. “Oh, I am playing Fred Astaire,” Holland said at an event in London. “Yeah, I am.” Producer Amy Pascal recently said she wanted Holland to play Astaire, but Holland had yet to comment on the possibility until now. While Holland’s dance background hasn’t necessarily been highlighted in his superhero films, the 25-year-old did play the title role in “Billy Elliott: The Musical” from 2008 to 2010. Holland said he still needs to read the Astaire script, NFL Jerseys for Cheap ,which just came in a week ago. “I haven’t rea...

By The Associated Press Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES — Fresh off his Oscar nomination Riz Ahmed teams up with “Beast” director Michael Pearce for "Encounter,” an alien invasion/family drama hitting Amazon Prime Video on Friday. Ahmed plays an ex-Marine with a host of troubles that only compound when he suspects his ex-wife, with whom he shares two sons, may have been infected by the extra-terrestrials. Hey Dude Women's Shoes  ,What starts as a straightforward science fiction adventure takes on its own life as a family drama — a choice some might disagree with. And if “Encounter” isn’t for you, Ahmed’s best actor-nominated perfor...

By MARK KENNEDY, AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Will Smith rappelled into a live volcano and kayaked down an Icelandic whitewater river for his latest project. But he wasn’t making an action movie. It was personal. Smith, a Hollywood leading man who admits that he’s far from outdoorsy, has put himself in danger’s way while filming “Welcome to Earth,” a kinetic Disney+ original series from National Geographic. He was intimidated, but that brought clarity. “It’s really difficult to enjoy things if you’re scared,” he says. “I think the ability to see how beautiful things are is directly connected to your openness to it and fear closes you down.” The six-part series that debuts Wednesday finds the Hoka Shoes ,“I Am Legend” star donning scuba gear to...

By LINDSEY BAHR and JAKE COYLE, AP Film Writers The Associated Press' film writers picks for best movies of 2021: 1. “The Lost Daughter”: There’s an element of danger, real and theoretical, permeating every moment of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s electric adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel. Despite the idyllic Greek seaside setting and the intoxicating premise of a solo vacation, the unease hovers oppressively as we follow the brilliant, passionate, selfish, cruel and inscrutable Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman) through some unorthodox choices, past and present. Not only is she one of the richest characters that has ever graced our screens, it’s the kind of film that will bury itself in your subconscious. 2. “Licorice Pizza”: It’s a rare film that makes you nostalgic for a ...