William Friedkin

Sex, the Internet and good old-fashioned rock-and-roll will dominate the 29th Sundance Film Festival, the top showcase of independent US cinema that opens Thursday in the snowy mountains of Utah.

James Franco's film which recreates deleted gay sex scenes from the 1980 film 'Cruising' will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. James Franco's film which recreates deleted gay sex scenes from the 1980 film Cruising will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next month. Franco produced Interior. Leather Bar with director Travis Matthews. The psychological thriller Cruising was directed by William Friedkin and stars Al Pacino as a NYPD officer working undercover in the gay leather scene to catch a serial killer. To avoid an X rating, Friedkin deleted 40 minutes of footage from the original film. In the 2005 book The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema, Friedkin is quoted as saying that those 40 minutes of footage consisted of ?absolutely graphic sexuality ? that material showed the most graphic homosexuality with Pacino watching, and with the intimation that he may have been participating.? Franco's film is a supposed recreation of the deleted footage, which has since been lost

Modern theater often involves some degree of interaction between actors and the audience. But paying money to be chased by a blood-soaked lunatic?

James Franco has partnered with director Travis Mathews to produce a film which recreates gay sex scenes from 'Cruising'. James Franco has partnered with director Travis Mathews to produce a film which recreates deleted gay sex scenes from the 1980 film Cruising. The psychological thriller was directed by William Friedkin and stars Al Pacino as a NYPD officer working undercover in the gay leather scene to catch a serial killer. To secure an R rating, Friedkin deleted 40 minutes of footage from the original film. Those 40 minutes consisted of ?absolutely graphic sexuality ? that material showed the most graphic homosexuality with Pacino watching, and with the intimation that he may have been participating,? Friedkin is quoted as saying in the 2005 book The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema. After failing to secure the rights to the film, Franco decided to recreate the deleted footage, which has since been lost. James Franco's Cruising stars Franco as himself and Val Lauren (Help, T

Director William Friedkin on Tuesday decried a trend in cinema of infantilizing audiences with stories ripped from comic books, at the North American premiere of his new film "Killer Joe."

Darkness descended on Venice on Friday as the film festival drew to a close, with tales of brutality, callousness, chilling indifference and failed relationships all vying for the Golden Lion award.

A documentary on the Irish rock band U2's dizzying rise to superstardom rocked Canada's largest metropolis as it opened the Toronto film festival.

A documentary on the Irish rock band U2's dizzying rise to superstardom rocked Canada's largest metropolis as it opened the Toronto film festival.

VENICE (Reuters) - Hollywood heartthrob Matthew McConaughey ditches romantic comedy in modern-day Western "Killer Joe," a film in competition at the Venice festival in which he plays a twisted detective who doubles as a hitman.

North America's largest film festival opens Thursday in Toronto with a spotlight on music, the rise of women directors, illegal immigration and 9/11.

LONDON (Reuters) - The Venice film festival has rediscovered its movie mojo this year, putting high costs and growing competition from Toronto aside to provide a line-up full of hotly anticipated titles and big Hollywood stars.

"The Exorcist," the "Star Wars" sequel and "All the President's Men" were named to the Library of Congress National Film Registry, joining 22 other motion pictures honored this year as key reflections of US culture.

'Empire Strikes Back,' 'Saturday Night Fever' among films to be preserved in national registry. Darth Vader proclaiming he's Luke Skywalker's father, John Travolta preening in his underwear and an early 20th-century deaf activist communicating in sign language are among the images that will be preserved by the Library of Congress as part of its National Film Registry.

'Empire Strikes Back,' 'Saturday Night Fever' among films to be preserved in national registry. Darth Vader proclaiming he's Luke Skywalker's father, Tony Manero preening in his underwear and an early 20th-century deaf activist speaking in sign language are among the images that will be preserved by the Library of Congress as part of its National Film Registry.

'Exorcist' Blu-ray offers fresh perspective on thriller classic. They've scared up something new for fans of "The Exorcist."

Today in History. Today is Sunday, Aug. 29, the 241st day of 2010. There are 124 days left in the year.

The latest horror film variation on insanity and the possessed, "The Last Exorcism" also aims to reflect a "deeply divided" America where people no longer listen to one another, producer Eli Roth says.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Aug. 23-29. Celebrity birthdays for the week of Aug. 23-29:

Movie directors WOODY ALLEN, WILLIAM FRIEDKIN and DAVID CRONENBERG will each direct a production for the Los Angeles Opera in the 2008/09 season.

Legendary director WILLIAM FRIEDKIN is following in the footsteps of QUENTIN TARANTINO - he's directed an episode of hit TV show CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION.