American Hustle ****

From food to fashion, movies to music, our critics reveal their Hot 100 choices for the year ahead.

Superheroes continue to defeat their foes at the box-office, with Disney’s Thor: The Dark World earning €109m and dominating the weekend box office as it opened in the US over the weekend.

By Declan Burke, Pól Ó Conghaile, Richard Fitzpatrick, Ed Power, Marc O’Sullivan, Anne Marie O’Connor and Des O’Driscoll

SATURDAY

AN UNUSUALLY thoughtful film amid the brainless bluster of the summer’s blockbuster fare, The Conspirator (12A) stars Robin Wright as Mary Surratt, the woman who was accused of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln in 1865, in the wake of the American Civil War.

A film divided against itself cannot stand.

There’s nothing much to this passable rom-com other than strong performances aided by terrific chemistry from Kutcher and Portman since it falls into that limbo of Hollywood’s take on romance that comes across as bland and rather lifeless.

‘30 Rock’ has been nominated for an astonishing 22 Emmy Awards.

Young German filmmaker Marco Kreuzpaintner investigates the ugly truth about sex trafficking in this drama written by Jose Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries), based on an article in the New York Times by Peter Landesman.

Katie Holmes has signed up to star in a new independent comedy film set in New York.

As the United States braces itself for the Presidential elections, David Palmer of '24' fame has been named as the “ultimate screen President”.

Harrison Ford has landed at the top of a new list of the best movie presidents.

DO you remember Dave? Dave was an ordinary guy, a good citizen. He was plucked from obscurity because of his uncanny resemblance to the president of the United States.

Jennifer Garner is fulfilling a lifelong ambition by taking to the Broadway stage.

Another wonderfully observed ensemble piece – and what an ensemble – from director Altman as several stories weave themselves in and around the coming together of a group of musicians for an all-star C&W radio show … that of the film’s title.

It seems that the recent career of Martin has been one step forward and two back. Certainly he seems to have lost – or, hopefully, merely misplaced – his previous quality and sparkle.

Beyonce Knowles has auditioned for a new movie which is based on a Broadway tribute to Diana Ross and the Supremes.

Movie star Kevin Kline will be urging Americans to get tested for diabetes in a new TV advertisement.

THE road-trip flick, Sideways, led Golden Globe contenders yesterday with seven nominations, including for best musical or comedy film, best director and three acting nominations.

Irish actor Liam Neeson was nominated for best dramatic actor at the Golden Globe Award nominations today for his role in Kinsey, a film biography of sex researcher Alfred Kinsey.

Hollywood star Kevin Kline was bowled over by British singer Robbie Williams' electricity during the filming of new movie De-Lovely.

The life and times of the great American songwriter-composer Cole Porter, portrayed by Kline, in one of his best ever performances.

SPIDER-MAN 2 pulled in a record $180 million in its first six days in US cinemas and obliterated other box-office highs over the Fourth of July weekend.

Rod Stewart, Antonio Banderas and Donald Duck are among an eclectic bunch who will receive stars on Hollywood‘s Walk of Fame in Los Angeles next year.

Former Take That singer Robbie Williams has had no luck breaking into the fickle American pop scene but he might be poised on the brink of a Hollywood movie career instead.

Meryl Streep and Steve Martin are set to receive achievement awards for their film work.

The Cannes Film Festival was kicking off today and promises an A-list line up of Hollywood stars.

Wicked, a lavish musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz, picked up 10 Tony Award nominations in New York today.

SOCCER star David Beckham was yesterday reportedly in negotiations to star in the forthcoming Pink Panther movie.

Soccer star David Beckham was today reportedly in negotiations to star in the forthcoming Pink Panther movie.

The new film about the life of Cole Porter will not whitewash over the composer’s bisexuality, according to Kevin Kline, who stars in De-Lovely.