ENTERTAINMENT NEWS!

"Hunger Games" onslaught begins with advance ticket sales (Reuters) Reuters - "Hunger Games" won't hit theaters for more than a month, but already Lionsgate is making a multi-front push to maximize interest in the film weeks ahead of its March 23 release. Short films fill tall order as Oscar nominees (Reuters) Reuters - Oscar week kicked off Tuesday night at a celebration of this year's nominees for live action and short films, who are among the least-known of the 2012 Academy Award contenders but no less important to the movie industry. Lindsay Lohan pleases judge on "home stretch" of probation (Reuters) Reuters - Actress Lindsay Lohan got high marks from a Los Angeles judge at her penultimate progress hearing on Wednesday, as she entered the "home stretch" of her probation after being convicted for theft last year. AP critics pick 'The Artist' for top Oscar wins (AP) AP - Associated Press movie writers David Germain and Christy Lemire are boringly in lockstep on their picks for this season's top Academy Awards categories, depriving them of their usual snide debate over who's going to win. Edgar Wright to direct Johnny Depp in "Night Stalker" (Reuters) Reuters - "Shaun of the Dead" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" director Edgar Wright has signed on to direct Johnny Depp in Disney's "The Night Stalker," TheWrap has confirmed. Kodak is out of the picture at Oscars (Reuters) Reuters - Bankrupt Eastman Kodak Co is having its named yanked from Sunday's telecast of the Oscars, the president of the group that gives out the awards said on Wednesday. Review: Laughs are hit and miss in `Wanderlust' (AP) AP - "Wanderlust" would provide an intriguing double feature with the acclaimed indie drama "Martha Marcy May Marlene." Oscars 2012: A year of comfort (Reuters) Reuters - When the curtain rises on the Oscars this Sunday, nervous anticipation will, as usual, fill the theater at the world's top film awards, but this year movie fans can relax. Capsule review of new movie release (AP) AP - "Wanderlust" — This would provide an intriguing double feature with "Martha Marcy May Marlene." Both are about people who search for their true selves in woodsy communes, get sucked into the brainwashing and insularity by a charismatic leader and eventually struggle to escape. Jai Courtney to play Jack McClane in new "Die Hard" film (Reuters) Reuters - Jai Courtney, an Australian television star, will play Jack McClane in "A Good Day to Die Hard," Fox said Wednesday.