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Stories of Americans learning the effects of greed and excess or struggling in a weak economy have tried to captivate audiences at this year’s Sundance Film Festival but without one standout, sweeping success.

As the event crossed its midway point by Wednesday, several movies had sold to distributors yet some that came with media buzz and star appeal into the top U.S. festival for independent film have failed to win acclaim or shown commercial appeal.

The focus on dark subjects is typical of indie filmmaking, but it contrasts to the escapist fare and hopeful tales for which audiences haved longed at theaters in recent years of recession and joblessness. That fact had distributors concerned. (more…)

Kenny Chesney grabbed the lead with nine award nominations on Thursday from the Academy of Country Music, which hands out its prizes on April 1 in Las Vegas.

Jason Aldean was the runner-up with six nods and trio Lady Antebellum had five.

Chesney will have plenty of competition for the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year trophy from nominees Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and last year’s winner Taylor Swift. (more…)

Swedish pop group ABBA are to release a new version of their last album, featuring a previously unreleased track for the first time since 1994, the group’s website said on Wednesday.

ABBA remain one of the world’s most popular bands and their music got a new lease of life with the “Mamma Mia” stage show and film. The band’s website said a deluxe edition of their final album, “The Visitors,” would be released in April.

“For ABBA fans, the most sensational inclusion in the package will be the previously unreleased track, ‘From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel (demos)’,” a statement said. (more…)

TV personality and music producer Simon Cowell is launching a new talent competition to find the world’s best DJs.

Already known to television audiences in Britain and the United States as the acerbic judge on hit talent shows like “American Idol”, “The X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent”, the 52-year-old is looking to expand his empire.

“DJ’s are the new rock stars, it feels like the right time to make this show,” he said in a statement.

The new format will be co-produced by SYCO, Cowell’s joint venture with Sony Music, and Overbrook Entertainment, a U.S. entertainment company founded by Hollywood star Will Smith. (more…)

A group of movies offering personal redemption and hope swept up Oscar nominations on Tuesday, led by Martin Scorsese’s colorful “Hugo” with 11 and silent-era romance “The Artist” with 10, including a best film nod for both.

They were joined in the key category for the world’s top movie honors by baseball film “Moneyball” and Steven Spielberg’s World War One drama “War Horse,” about a boy looking for his horse amid deadly conflict, which each had six nominations.

Drama “The Descendants,” starring George Clooney as a man dealing with a troubled family who eventually finds an answer to his problems, also landed in the best film category. (more…)

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This premium Blu Cigs will add both substance and style to your Blu experience. Upon opening the pack, this Blu logo will spring to life and light up to let you make out the pack has an adequate charge. Once you close the pack, the logo will stop activating after 30 seconds. For greater feedback and task, the Blu pack charging indicator is positioned on the side of this Blu Premium pack. (more…)

Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger has decided British Prime Minister David Cameron can’t get what he wants after all.

Britain’s Sun tabloid reported Tuesday that Jagger would be the star attraction at an event organized by Cameron’s office to promote Britain at a gathering of the world’s rich and powerful in Davos this week.

But after news of his appearance leaked out, Jagger, who received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth in 2003, revealed he had had second thoughts.

“During my career I have always eschewed party politics and came to Davos as a guest, as I thought it would be stimulating…I have always been interested in economics and world events,” he said in a statement. (more…)

Yoko Ono, Debbie Harry, Jackson Browne and Willie Nelson are among dozens of artists contributing to “Occupy This Album,” to raise money for the Occupy Wall Street movement against economic inequality, a publicity firm said on Monday.

Workhouse public relations firm said that the album would be released in the spring “as a celebration that provides a musical voice and ultimately through record sales, financial support to fortify the movements continuation.” (more…)

Here’s the big question, of course: Would “American Idol” judge Steven Tyler have gotten through to the next round?

Judging by the audience reaction that could be heard during his performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” before Sunday’s AFC Championship game — were those really boos for the Aerosmith legend? — maybe not. (more…)

They’re arguably Hollywood’s highest-profile couple, so it’s only natural that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie would privately discuss the art and business of filmmaking. According to Pitt, they don’t always agree.

Speaking with Reuters at Saturday’s Producers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills, Pitt said that he and Jolie, who are each busy on both sides of the camera as well as raising six children together, will talk shop at the end of a long day.

“Usually we argue shop every now and then,” Pitt said, noting that they tend to differ in their approach. “She’s much more decisive, she’s much more quick. I’ve got to see everything. I’ve got to shop the entire eBay to know exactly what I want and what I need.” (more…)