Sean Penn calls off divorce for a second time

Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn has called off his divorce from Robin Wright Penn for a second time, weeks after seeking legal separation.

Weeks after saying he and his wife of 13 years will separate on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, Penn has withdrawn a court application filed in Marin County near San Francisco, the New York Daily News reported, citing court records.

"It was an arrogant mistake," Penn told the newspaper.

It is not the first time that Penn, 48, and Wright Penn, 43, have teetered on the brink of divorce.

The couple started divorce proceedings in December 2007 but got back together again a few months later and withdrew the petition. The couple have two children, aged 18 and 15.

Penn won his second best-actor Oscar in February for his role as gay activist Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's "Milk."

Wright Penn, who starred in the 1999 romantic drama "Message in a Bottle," is currently in France, where she is a juror at the Cannes Film Festival.

A representative for the actress declined to comment.

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE54L19Z20090522

Sean Penn Files for Separation From Robin Wright Penn

Actor Sean Penn filed for “legal separation” from his wife Robin Wright Penn after 13 years of marriage Friday.

The couple are no stranger to break ups and make ups. Penn filed for divorce back in 2007, according to a report in Us magazine, but the petition was later dismissed. Just 3 days later, Wright Penn, 43, filed for divorce.

But in April of last year, the couple requested that authorities dismiss their petition.

It seemed the two Hollywood heavyweights were intent upon reconciling, even attending the Oscars together in February, where Penn took home his second Academy Award for his performance in the film “Milk.”

But Penn raised eyebrows when he did not thank his wife and the mother of his two children in his acceptance speech. He later told Oprah Winfrey that he wanted to focus his speech only on the professional team, saying if he thanked her, he would have to thank his mother and children as well.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518384,00.html

French film honors Hoffman, Penn

The French film industry honored Dustin Hoffman and saluted Sean Penn Friday during a ceremony that saw its coveted Cesar for best film going to Martin Provost's "Seraphine."

In all, "Seraphine" took seven Cesars, the French equivalent of the Oscars. The film is based on the magical true-life story of a painter known as Seraphine of Senlis. Paris' Musee Mayol recently exhibited her works.

Yolande Moreau, who plays Seraphine, won in the 34th annual Cesar awards best actress category for her portrayal of the dimwitted maid whose talents as a painter were discovered by a German art collector on the eve of World War I.

The Cesar for best actor went to Vincent Cassel in "Mesrine," another story based on real life, this time the tale of a gangster. "Mesrine" won three Cesars, including the best director award to Jean-Francois Richet.

Dustin Hoffman, 71, received a special Cesar, a day after the two-time Oscar winner was named an honorary commander in France's National Order of Arts and Letters.

He fought back tears Thursday. On Friday, he was visibly awkward - and admitted it when collecting the Cesar to a standing ovation.

"I never learned how to bow," Hoffman said, adding that only acting made him feel sure of himself and declaring before leaving the stage, "I ain't finished yet."

This year's best-actor Oscar winner Sean Penn, a guest of honor, presented the best film award to Martin Provost for "Seraphine."

The "Milk" star's own movie, "Into the Wild," missed the best foreign film award which went to the Israeli animated documentary by Ari Folman "Valse avec Bachir" (Waltz With Bashir).

The French school drama "Entre les murs" (The Class) - which won the Cannes film festival last year - took home the Cesar for best adaptation. The Paris high school class that the film was based on presented the award for best set design - which went to Thierry Francois for "Seraphine."

On a disappointing note, the all-time box office hit for a French film, "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis," being remade in the United States by Will Smith as "Welcome to the Sticks," failed to take an honor in the only category for which is was nominated, best original scenario. That Cesar went to "Seraphine."

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Sean Penn wins best actor Oscar for "Milk"

Sean Penn took home the Oscar for best actor on Sunday for his portrayal of slain San Francisco gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the movie "Milk" and used his win to defend the right of same-sex couples to wed.

Penn, 48, picked up the second Oscar of his career, the first being his 2004 win for his lead role as a grieving father in "Mystic River."

"You commie, homo-loving, sons of guns," the sharp-tongued Penn told the audience as he collected his award. "I did not expect this and...I know how hard I make it to appreciate me."

The straight actor's portrayal of an openly gay politician was a timely one -- with "Milk" coming out shortly after California's same-sex couples lost their right to marry in a voter referendum.

"I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way," Penn said.

"We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

Penn, who has a tough guy image dating back to his early career scrapes with the paparazzi, convincingly evoked the legendary charm of Milk, who was shot to death in 1978 at San Francisco City Hall.

"He came in kind of ready made" for the role, openly gay "Milk" director Gus Van Sant said.

In presenting Penn as a nominee, storied actor Robert de Niro joked: "How, for so many years, did Sean Penn get all those straight roles?"

Several critics called the performance the best of Penn's already storied and versatile career, which took off after his breakthrough surfer-stoner role as Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."

This year's best actor race was thought to be a battle between Penn and Mickey Rourke, an actor who scored a remarkable career comeback as an aging athlete trying to remain in the ring in "The Wrestler."

"Mickey Rourke rises again," Penn said. "And he is my brother."

Penn won the Screen Actors Guild award for best actor earlier this year and a slew of critics' prizes. The Oscar nomination for "Milk" was his fifth in the best actor category.

http://www.reuters.com/news/entertainment

Winners! A Complete List From the 2009 Oscars

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn, Milk

Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Actress in a Supporting Role: Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk

Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Animated Feature Film: WALL-E

Foreign Language Film: Departures (Japan)

Original Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

Original Song: "Jai Ho," A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; Slumdog Millionaire

Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire

Costume Design: The Duchess

Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire

Documentary Feature: Man on Wire

Documentary Short Subject: Smile Pinki

Animated Short Film: La Maison en Petits Cubes

Live Action Short Film: Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Sound Editing: The Dark Knight

Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire

Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jerry Lewis

http://www.eonline.com/