Oscars - ITV News

10:20 pm, Tue 12 Mar 2013

Iran 'plans to sue Hollywood' over movie Argo

Iran plans to sue Hollywood over the Oscar-winning movie "Argo" over its "unrealistic portrayal" of the country, according to Iranian media reports.

Several news outlets, including the pro-reform Shargh daily, claimed French lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre is in Iran for talks with officials about a possible lawsuit, the Associated Press reported.

Argo producers George Clooney, Grant Heslov and actor-producer-director Ben Affleck with their Oscars. — Argo producers George Clooney, Grant Heslov and actor-producer-director Ben Affleck. Credit: Lionel Hahn/ABACA USA/Empics Entertainment

Following the 1979 attack on the US Embassy in Tehran, 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days, but a handful of embassy staff were sheltered by the Canadian ambassador. Argo recounts their escape as they used a fake movie as a cover story.

Shortly after Argo was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture in February, Iranian state media dismissed the film as an "advertisement for the CIA".

The semi-official Mehr news agency also described the Oscar at the time as "politically motivated" because First Lady Michelle Obama helped present the award.

11:23 am, Mon 25 Feb 2013 Day-Lewis makes Oscar history

Jennifer Lawrence blames dress for her tumble

Jennifer Lawrence, who won the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role, blamed her earlier tumble on her flowing Dior gown.

While answering questions backstage afterwards Lawrence said, "What do you mean what happened? Look at my dress! I tried to walk upstairs in this dress, that's what happened".

Iran reacts to Argo's Best Picture Oscar

Iranian state television has dismissed the Oscar-winning film Argo as an "advertisement for the CIA".

Some Iranians believe Argo, which won the award for Best Picture, portrays the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in an unflattering light.

Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days in Iran, but a handful of US Embassy staff were sheltered by the Canadian ambassador. Argo recounts their escape as they used a fake movie as a cover story.

Tehran City Council member Masoomeh Ebtekar, one of the students who occupied the US Embassy and acted as the Iranian students' spokeswoman, told the Associated Press that Argo exaggerates the violence among crowds that stormed the compound in November 1979.

Mr Ebtekbar said director Ben Affleck "goes and shows scenes of a very violent and very angry mob throughout the film", adding, "It is never mentioned that these are a group of students".

The semi-official Mehr news agency called the Oscar "politically motivated" because First Lady Michelle Obama helped present the award, while Iranian culture minister Mohammad Hosseini said the movie has "distorted history".

10:55 am, Mon 25 Feb 2013 Day-Lewis makes Oscar history London

Durran celebrates first Oscar win

Keira Knightly and designer Jacqueline Durran with the dress Knightly wore in Anna Karenina Credit: Ian West/PA Wire

The Achievement in Costume Design Oscar was Jacqueline Durran's first win, although she's been nominated twice before - in 2006 for Pride and Prejudice and in 2008 for Atonement.

Coincidentally, all three of her nominated films have been directed by Joe Wright and starred Keira Knightly.

Durran's period costumes for Anna Karenina also took home awards at last week's Costume Designer Guild Awards and the BAFTAs earlier this month.

Although the film was set in the 1870s, Durran consulted the elaborate 1950s-era couture gowns of Christian Dior and Christobal Balenciaga for inspiration, and was largely favoured by the fashion industry to take home Oscar night's top costume prize.