Written by Anthony Sargon

With Valentine’s Day upon us, audiences can expect the usual barrage of subpar romantic dramas to make their way into theaters. Shana Feste’s “Endless Love”, which is the second adaptation of Scott Spencer’s novel of the same name, is nothing more than a desperate holiday cash-grab. It’s lazy, clichéd, and can only be enjoyed with your brain checked at the door.

The scientists and inventors who make big-screen superheroes, spectacular explosions and other only-in-the-movies effects possible have their own Oscar ceremony.

Kristen Bell and Michael B. Jordan hosted the film academy's Scientific and Technical Awards Saturday at the Beverly Hills Hotel, recognizing more than 50 of the most creative scientists and engineers in the movie business.

"12 Years a Slave", the distressing tale of a man sold into slavery, was the big winner at the Baftas on Sunday, giving the Steve McQueen directed picture a huge pre-Oscars boost.

The film, adapted from Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir, took the coveted best film prize at a star-studded ceremony at London's Royal Opera House.

The catwalk was flooded on Saturday as bootmaker Hunter Original took its first steps at London Fashion Week for a spectacular show of stylish waterproofs -- just the thing for the grim weather sweeping Britain.

Under the expert eyes of his wife Stella McCartney and US Vogue editor Anna Wintour, Hunter's creative director Alasdhair Willis brought the "wellies" beloved of the royal family and Kate Moss to the fashion pack.

China's "Black Coal, Thin Ice" by Diao Yinan about a washed up ex-cop investigating a series of grisly murders won the Berlin film festival's Golden Bear top prize Saturday.

The classic film noir, whose Chinese title is Bai Ri Yan Huo, also captured the Silver Bear best actor award for its star Liao Fan.

Ellen Page, the fresh-faced star of the 2007 sleeper hit "Juno," declared at a press conference late Friday that she is gay.

"I'm here today because I am gay," Page, 26, said at an event for homosexual teens in Las Vegas hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, a pro-gay rights group.

Indian filmmaker Onir knows what it's like to be Bollywood's only openly gay director.

The man behind the critically-acclaimed "My Brother... Nikhil" has been insulted live on television and regularly receives abusive mails but says it's still better than being "invisible".

Richard Linklater's coming-of-age tale "Boyhood" seemed the odds-on favorite to capture the Golden Bear top prize at the Berlin film festival Saturday, but dramas from Northern Ireland and Germany were hot on its heels.

Critics and audiences swooned over Linklater's latest picture, a moving, leisurely paced story made over a 12-year period with the same actors including Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and the director's own daughter Lorelei.

Simon Cowell is a proud new father.

A spokeswoman for Cowell says he and socialite Lauren Silverman welcomed their baby son early Friday evening, in New York.

U.S. actress Meryl Streep, nominated for her 18th Oscar for "August: Osage County", on Friday said she was "very grateful" to be in the running despite having won three times.

Streep stars in the black comedy drama along with Julia Roberts as the "toxic" and strong-willed Violet Weston who gathers her family together after the death of her husband.