Reuters - VENICE (Reuters) - The lives of four Arab-Israeli women spanning three generations against the backdrop of conflict are at the center of "Miral," a film by Julian Schnabel based on his Palestinian partner's biographical book.

Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former television producer who tried to extort $2 million from talk show host David Letterman over his affairs with women was released from jail on Thursday, a city correctional department spokesman said.

AFP - LOS ANGELES (AFP) - French film star Vincent Cassel's bravura portrayal of a murderous mobster seems likely to win him greater fame and critical acclaim here, as US critics lap up his performance in the biopic "Mesrine: Killer Instinct."

Reuters - VENICE (Reuters) - Critics are queuing up to praise Natalie Portman in her latest movie "Black Swan," the opening picture at this year's Venice film festival, with one review saying the performance "elevates her ... to a major star."