Reuters - Whether a hoax or not, a new documentary about Joaquin Phoenix and his transition from acclaimed, brooding actor to bearded, shambolic hip-hop wannabe has captivated viewers at the Venice film festival.

AFP - "The American," the spy thriller headlined by Geoge Clooney, soared to the top of the North American box office this weekend beating gory action film "Machete," final figures showed Monday.

AP - A buzz preceded actor Casey Affleck's directorial debut, "I'm Still Here": Was the movie about brother-in-law Joaquin Phoenix's seemingly downward spiral from actor to hip-hop musician really a no-holds-barred documentary — or was it just a set up?

Reuters - In the battle of the box office assassins, A-lister George Clooney barely mustered more firepower with his new chart-topper "The American" than the relatively unknown star of "Machete," as the summer moviegoing season wrapped feebly during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Reuters - In the battle of the box office assassins, A-lister George Clooney barely mustered more firepower with his new chart-topper "The American" than the relatively unknown star of "Machete," as the summer moviegoing season wrapped feebly during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

AP - George Clooney's hitman tale "The American" has captured the top spot at the box office with a $16.4 million debut over the long Labor Day weekend.

AFP - Casey Affleck on Monday presented an "unflinching" documentary tracing Joaquin Phoenix's lurch from actor to wannabe rapper in "I'm Still Here" at the Venice film festival.

AP - A judge in the Bahamas dismissed charges Monday against two people accused of trying to extort money from John Travolta after the actor decided he no longer wanted to face the pain of a new trial stemming from the death of his teenage son on the island chain.

Reuters - A powerful Chinese film on the plight of political prisoners condemned to forced labor camps in the late 1950s wooed critics in Venice on Monday, with some tipping it as a strong contender for the festival's top prize.

Reuters - Christie's expects a major work called "Ordination" by French master Nicolas Poussin to fetch 15-20 million pounds ($23-31 million) when it goes under the hammer in London on December 7.

AP - There's been intense competition going on at the U.S. Open, and it has nothing to do with aces or foot faults.

AP - "Post Mortem," a film by Chilean director Pablo Larrain, recreates the autopsy of Chilean President Salvador Allende during the 1973 coup.

AP - French director Francois Ozon's says he was inspired to go ahead with his latest film, a battle-of-the-sexes comedy, after the presidential election pitting Nicolas Sarkozy against Segolene Royale.

AP - Lost wandering in the Oregon desert for five weeks when the journey should have taken two, low on water, food and patience, a young emigrant played by Michelle Williams says of the group's ego-driven guide: "Is he ignorant, or just plain evil? That's my quandary."

AP - Hip-hop star Kanye West is still feeling the pain over his trophy grab from Taylor Swift last year — and he's expressing his pain all over Twitter.

Reuters - Martin Scorsese's latest film pays a personal tribute to Elia Kazan, one of Hollywood's and Broadway's most influential directors but also a controversial figure who turned anti-communist informant in the McCarthy era.

AP - Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

AP - Kara DioGuardi is following Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell out the door at "American Idol."

AP - Bristol Palin said she didn't think twice before waltzing into "Dancing with the Stars," though she's barely danced in her life.

Reuters - Fox announced Friday what media reports have speculated for weeks: Kara DioGuardi is leaving "American Idol."

Reuters - The Capitol release bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, thanks to first-week sales of 192,000 units in the United States, the ninth-best debut week so far this year, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

AP - From the mixture of hurt, anger and embarrassment on his face, Gordon seems like one of the last people who would want to open his life to cameras for a reality television show.

AP - "American Idol" is expanding the talent search for its next season with an audition in Los Angeles later this month.

Reuters - NBC might have summer's most-watched show in "America's Got Talent," but the network's late-night ratings aren't so hot.

Reuters - NBC might have summer's most-watched show in "America's Got Talent," but the network's late-night ratings aren't so hot.