SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) ― Online singing sensation Rebecca Black topped a 2011 most-viewed YouTube videos list Tuesday that included spoofs starring pets, talking babies and pop music star Michael Bolton. The collection of the year’s most popular YouTube snippets was based on an analysis of the more than one trillion video views logged at the Google-owned website. “That’s about 140 views for every ...

STOCKHOLM (AP) ― The longtime partner of late Swedish crime writer Stieg Larsson says he wouldn’t have approved of merchandise being linked to this week’s release of a Hollywood adaptation of his bestselling novel, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.’’ Eva Gabrielsson said Monday that Larsson would have instead used the buzz around his work to call attention to violence and discrimination against ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Films featuring Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Paul Giamatti, Jesse Eisenberg, Tracy Morgan and Melissa Leo are among late additions to next month‘s Sundance Film Festival. Organizers for Robert Redford’s independent-film showcase said Monday they have added four titles to the previously announced lineup of more than 100 movies. The new films are: director Paolo Sorrentino‘s ...

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ―Michael Fassbender’s last movie might be called “Shame,” but the German-Irish actor has nothing to feel bad about as he rides a wave of success and aims at Hollywood gold this awards season. The 34-year-old’s big-screen career has exploded with a string of movies in the last four years, before his Golden Globe nod last week for his role as a tortured sex addict in “Shame,” his...

“You know what’s a drag about being a grown-up?” a friend asked the other night. “Nobody makes movies for me anymore.” He’s not entirely correct, but I know how he feels. Hollywood’s focus on young viewers has been intensifying for decades _ at least since the original “Star Wars,” if not before ― and this year was no exception. From the latest “Pirates of the Caribbean” installment to the third...

BEVERLY HILLS, California (AP) ― The silent-era tale “The Artist” heads the Golden Globes with six nominations, among them best comedy or musical, and acting honors for its French stars, Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. Tied for second-place with five nominations Thursday are the 1960s racial tale “The Help” and George Clooney’s Hawaiian family story “The Descendants.” Both films are up for best...

A 33.19-carat diamond ring once owned by the late Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor sold for 10.1 billion won ($8,818,500) to Korean conglomerate E-Land Group at a Christie’s auction in New York on Tuesday. The ring was given to the late actress by her fifth husband, actor Richard Burton in 1968. He had purchased the ring through an auction for $ 300,000 at the time. The ring was estimated to sel...