U.S. film "The Wrestler" wins Venice Int'l Film Festival Golden Lion award

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke (L) poses actress Evan Rachel Wood (C) and director Darren Aronofsky during a red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

The American Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" has won the Golden Lion for best film award at the 65th Venice International Film Festival this year, the festival organizers announced on Saturday evening.

At the closing ceremony in Film Palace of Lido, Venice, the film awarded the festival's top award stars Mickey Rourke as a wrestler forced into retirement who strikes up a romance with an aging stripper played by Marisa Tomei.

U.S. actress Evan Rachel Wood poses for photographers during a red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

The Russian Aleksey German Jr. won the award Silver Lion for best director for "Bumaznyj soldat (Paper Soldier)," a story set in the early days of the space program in the ex-Soviet Union.
The Italian Silvio Orlando was crowned best actor for his role in Italian director Pupi Avati's "Il Papa di Giovanna (Giovanna's Father)," about a father's relationship with his troubled adult daughter.
The France's Dominique Blanc won best actress for playing a jealousy-struck woman in "L'Autre (The Other One)," directed by Patrick Mario Bernard and Pierre Trividic.
This year's Venice International Film Festival started from Aug.27.

U.S. director Darren Aronofsky holds the Golden Lion prize for best movie "The Wrestler" at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

Italian actor Silvio Orlando holds the Volpi Cup prize for best actor at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

French actress Dominique Blanc holds the Volpi Cup prize for best actress at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. actress Jennifer Lawrence holds the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actress during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. director Darren Aronofsky holds the Golden Lion prize for best movie "The Wrestler" at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

Russian director Aleksei German Jr. poses with the Osella trophy for Best Cinematography (L) and the Silver Lion trophy for best director during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke arrives with his dog Loki for the award ceremony of the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

German director Werner Schroeter holds Special Lion trophy for overall work during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

Ethiopian director Haile Gerima holds the Special Jury Prize and the Osella award for best screenplay for the movie "Teza" during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke (L) poses with actress Evan Rachel Wood during red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

(L-R) U.S. actor Mickey Rourke, director Darren Aronofsky and actress Evan Rachel Wood pose for photographers during a photocall at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

U.S. actress Evan Rachel Wood poses for photographers during a photocall at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke poses during a photocall at Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

Mixed bag of movies vying for Venice top honors

Italian motorcycling ace Valentino Rossi arrives for the screening of the movie “Yuppi Du” at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, yesterday.

A hand-drawn Japanese cartoon, the tale of a clash between native Indians and white settlers in Brazil and a portrayal of Ethiopia's bloody past are favorites to win the Venice film festival's top prize on Saturday.

Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway also impressed critics with an unusually dark role, that of a recovering drug addict in "Rachel Getting Married", in what has otherwise been seen as a weak selection of 21 movies in the main competition.

Revered Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki charmed viewers with "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea", his re-telling of "The Little Mermaid" fairytale.

"For the first time, the public and critics are in agreement over Miyazaki's being an animation masterpiece," wrote film critic Natalia Aspesi.

Were Miyazaki to walk off with the Golden Lion prize for best film, it would be the fourth year in a row an Asian director had done so.

Spears to open MTV Video Music Awards

Singer Britney Spears arrives at the Cannes festival palace to attend the NRJ Music Awards in Cannes in this January 24, 2004 file photo.

It's Britney, baby, one more time. Despite her train-wreck performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last year, the network confirms Spears will kick off the show once again.

But it won't be a performance. Instead, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said Wednesday, it'll be something "fun and unexpected" on Sunday night's show.

Unexpected is probably the kindest way to describe Spears' performance at last year's VMAs. In what was heavily promoted as the troubled singer's comeback, she instead gave an unfocused, almost unwatchable performance of "Gimme More," one of the many low points in her year of debacles.

So what made Spears and MTV reunite one more time?

"MTV has long played an important role in my career. How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs? I'm excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans and to be nominated," Spears said in a statement.

"I think for Britney, people are rooting for her, and she's really on the road to recovery," Toffler said, noting that MTV had nominated her for three VMAs, including video of the year, for her clip "Piece of Me."

"It feels like it's her year," he added. "It's our 25th anniversary of the VMAs, and she's been such a critical piece of MTV's history."

While she bombed in 2007, Spears has given the VMAs many highlights over the years, from her kiss with Madonna to her performance with a writhing snake.

Spears also equals ratings gold: Last year's VMAs were up 23 percent over the 2006 show.

In recent months, Spears, who's working on a new album, has appeared to have cleaned up her act (although a judge on Wednesday refused to dismiss a misdemeanor driving without-a-valid-license case against her). Her father James has been in control of her personal and professional matters as her legal conservator, and she drew high ratings and positive reviews when she made guest appearances on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" earlier this year.

So far, the confirmed performers for Sunday's show include the Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, T.I. and Kid Rock.

Toffler also raised the possibility of another troubled pop icon appearing: Michael Jackson.

"We've been talking to him as well, I don't know if that's going to happen," he said. "People fall in and fall out up until the day of the show."

Anne Hathaway arrives in Venice

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway walks out of the airport after her arrival in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway walks out of the airport after her arrival in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway walks out of the airport after her arrival in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway sits in a water taxi during her transfer to her hotel in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

Rebecca Romijn's cheesy pregnancy

Actress Rebecca Romijn (L) arrives with actor Jerry O'Connell at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California in this September 16, 2007 file photo. The couple are expecting twins to be born this winter, her representative said on July 28, 2008.

Pregnant Rebecca Romijn is craving soy cream cheese. The 'Ugly Betty' star - who is expecting twin daughters with husband Jerry O'Connell later this year - can't get enough of the bizarre savoury snack, and Jerry has been busy keeping the kitchen stocked with her favourite foods.

He said: "Lemonade always has to be in our fridge. That's my job. Also soy cream cheese. It's crazy, right? Can't be cream cheese. Soy cream cheese. Do you know how difficult it is to find soy cream cheese? It's usually in the corner of the supermarket someplace!"

Jerry, who married Rebecca last summer in an intimate Los Angeles ceremony, also revealed the 35-year-old actress' appetite is growing bigger every day.

He added to People magazine: "Meals are not missed. We promptly hit them and if we're a little late, then... somebody's not happy."

Jerry, 34, has previously spoken about Rebecca's "crazy" pregnancy palate. He said: "Rebecca has been craving a lot of ice cream! And not any one particular brand... a lot of the different ones at Ben and Jerry's, but also other crazy brands."

Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers"at Venice

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron (C) waves next to Portugese actor Joaquim de Almeida (R) and Festival director Marco Mueller during a red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008.