HOLLYWOOD STORIES--HOT AND NEW

1//Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar star Laz Alonso in Love, Barack, her upcoming Hollywood flick, a political comedy.
Sherawat, who plays the the character of Aretha Gupta, a devoted local Obama volunteer coordinator, said in a statement, “Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I’m very lucky to be working with him.”
American filmmaker Doug McHenry is directing the film, which will show Democrat Aretha unexpectedly falling for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), working for the local McCain office a month before election day.
The film also stars veteran actress Ruby Dee, comic actor Gerry Bednob and film and television actress Loretta Devine.

James Cameron hints at Avatar sequel

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Agence France-Presse

Los Angeles, February 04, 2010

First Published: 15:40 IST(4/2/2010)

Last Updated: 16:39 IST(4/2/2010)

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Canadian director James Cameron said on Wednesday he could be "persuaded" to film a sequel to his record-breaking science-fiction epic Avatar. The futuristic 3-D blockbuster reached yet another milestone on Tuesday, when it smashed the North American box office record previously held by Cameron's Titanic (1997).

"We might be persuaded. We'll have to see how much money the movie makes first," Cameron told CNN when asked about a possible sequel. Money should be of no concern, with Avatar having already racked up over 2.05 billion dollars worldwide, including over 601.1 million in the United States and Canada, overtaking the 600.8 million Titanic earned.

It has also secured nine Oscar nominations, including in the leading categories of best film and best director, as well as several technical achievement categories. In his first interview since his film earned its massive success, Cameron said he was "absolutely" surprised by the records it has broken.

"And that's not some sort of false humility. We thought it was gonna be a commercial movie, but we didn't think it was gonna do half of what it's done financially," he said.

"I see a very similar pattern, in a sense, between Titanic and Avatar. Not that they are similar films because they are not - totally different subjects - but in both cases, you have people coming back over and over to see the film."

Cameron pointed to an "emotional connection" of the public across cultural boundaries with these films. Despite not saying a word about the Oscar nominations, he acknowledged that making Avatar - believed to be the most expensive motion picture ever - was no easy undertaking.

"I had to keep from putting a pistol in my mouth about 20 times during the making of this film," he said ironically.  "That's the nature of an experimental project. It is like the Lewis and Clark expedition (to the US Pacific coast). They can have a general idea where they are going but there is no way you could predict all twists and turns along the way."

STRIKER--REVIEW BY MAYANK SHEKHAR

Mayank Shekhar, Hindustan Times

New Delhi, February 05, 2010

First Published: 18:37 IST(5/2/2010)

Last Updated: 18:47 IST(5/2/2010)

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Director: Chandan Arora
Actors: Siddharth, Ankur Vikal
Rating: ***
Abhay Deol, an actor rightly credited with pioneering what’s now termed ‘new Bollywood’ says it’s not that hard to be different in Hindi cinema after all. You put together a film where the hero doesn’t lip-sync a song, and there are no dances, the film becomes different on its own. Deol is right.
I’d add the presence of a believable setting, something that’s conventional for most films, that can immediately mark itself as different for a Hindi movie as well.
This is, by that logic, a different film, as it were. Though a mellifluous Sufi song (Amit Trivedi) does conveniently express the bond between the hero, and his lovely next-door neighbour. The girl’s Muslim; the boy, Hindu. Soon as the father finds his daughter with the boy, the family quietly moves out of the neighbourhood. You can’t quite tell the purpose of this brief romance. Maybe it is to suggest times when segregation between Hindus and Muslims wasn’t complete. Such young love in the ghetto was still possible, or at any rate, imaginable. It isn’t anymore.
The film is set across the late ‘70s, through the ‘80s, until December, ’92 BC (Before Cellphone). The latter being that moment in Mumbai’s history, when the city truly lost its famed innocence. It revealed a communal underbelly unknown to even its residents, and exposed suddenly its sword-wielding rioting mobs that began to distinguish between its own, over a God you privately prayed to. The state was complicit to the crime. The culture and politics of Mumbai (or for that matter, Maharashtra) hasn’t remained the same since. The film latently expresses a similar sentiment.
As a young Hindu boy, Surya (Siddharth) moved from Nagpada into a “10 by 10” (hutment) in Malvani, a large claustrophobic Muslim neighbourhood in the far, northwestern suburb of Mumbai. Such rounding alleys bear few exit routes for the restless and ambitious. I suppose even Dubai isn’t a practical dream anymore.
Surya realises, “Mangne se milta nahin (You don’t get anything when you ask). Chheenna galat hai (Snatching is wrong). Jeetna hi padega -- you have to win, to survive, or hope for a better life. The kid’s a bit of a pro in Carrom, a parlour game that we don’t credit enough for being a sport only as indigenously Indian as kabaddi. Surya’s friend (Ankur Vikal, astoundingly real) becomes a sort of a manager. Aditya Panscholi plays the don. Carrom boards double up for gambling tables. Bets are placed on the star striker, the major “kheli” (player). He rarely disappoints. Such dens hide within several booby traps. Surya is bound to fall. He does.
Yet, this is neither a rags-to-success story of a national carrom champion (which it could’ve been). Nor is it a simplistic prequel to Satya’s Bhikhu Mhatre (that it seemed to be). The hero’s complex journey develops over such strong shades of black-gray that you could even shift uncomfortably on your seat as you watch the protagonist rape a girl he could’ve loved. The story is in the grittiness of experience. Judgment isn’t fed; purpose, not expressly defined. This can be a problem for certain audiences who like to be told everything: who’s the loved hero or feared villain, why to empathise, when to emote…
Sure this film is different then. Shouldn’t each be anyway? Worth it, all the way.

THE BLIND SIDE--SANDRA BULLOCK'S FILM

Sandra Bullock’s terrific performance in The Blind Side fetched her The Golden Globe Award for Best Actress (Motion Picture) and numerous awards and nominations. The Blind Side is based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. This 2009 American drama-sports film is directed by John Lee Hancock. Starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates, The Blind Side is produced by Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Gil Netter.

The Blind Side is the story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), an African-American youngster from a broken family. He is adopted by Sean (Tim McGraw) and Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) who helped him achieves his potential as footballer. The film is a journey of Michael how he overcomes every obstacle; racial discrimination, his own insecurities, new environment and academic hurdles to play NCAA Division 1 football.  The Blind Side is also an insight into Michael’s self discovery.

The film has a touching story that will strike chord with every viewer. Told in a straightforward and simple manner, the emotional quotient is its unique selling point. Sandra Bullock as the rock inspiration for Michael is simply marvelous. Leigh Anne is the epitome of modern women who is all maternal but can be tough as and when situation demands. She perfectly balances her family and work, as a mother and working woman. The Blind Side is more than a sports film. The film also subtly touches upon the topic of family values, social values and the role of environment in up-bringing. The message is clear but doesn’t get preachy at any point. When Sandra meets the drug addict mother of Micheal, she is portrayed with dignity and compassion.

Michael transformation from an insecure teenage to self-confident person is really real. Though he doesn’t speak much but his facial expression says it all. Aaron’s performance is just on the right track.

John Lee Hancock has been successful in translating the book into a moving film. The film doesn’t indulges in cheap sentiment and wins our hearts though direct and honest depiction of life experiences.

Get one step closer to life with The Blind Side!



 

Starring : Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates
Release Date : 29th Jan, 2010
Language : English
Genre : Drama

ROAD TO SANGAM---THE REVIEW

Road to Sangam will remind you what is patriotism. The film is a journey of one Hasmat Bhai (Paresh Rawal) who is torn between his faithfulness towards his own community and his professional duty. Written and directed by debutant Amit Rai, Road to Sangam is a thought provoking film that will inspire you to sit up and think why people fight in the name of religion? Why people are divided on the line of religion and commuity? To what extent wily politicians can stoop to gain political mileage?

Hasmat Bhai (Paresh Rawal) is a mechanic engineer and is also the general secretary to the local Mosque Committee in Allahabad, U.P. He has been assigned the work of repairing an old Ford car. The condition of the car is bad and he and his small team starts working on it without knowing its historic significance. It was the car that transported the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi to be immersed at the Sangam (where the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet). However, after a bomb blast in the city, Hamat life is going to change forever. Police pick suspects randomly for the blast and all of them happens to be Muslims youth who had no criminal background. The community decides to protest the arrest by shutting down shops. At this point of time Hasmat is in dilemma whether to continue with his work or stop his work and show his solidarity and support to his community. But after much consideration, he decides to continue to repair the car inviting much ire and ridicule from his close friends, President Nawab Kasuri (Om Puri), Maulana Qureshi (Pawan Malhotra) and his community.

Road to Sangam is Hasmat Bhai’s trials to complete the daunting task in the face of opposition and being labeled as betrayer. The path that he has chosen is laden with thorns and he must tread carefully and unwavering courage to reach his destination.

Road to Sangam is unlike any masala entertainer. But it is a film that will compel you to do some soul searching. Till date, Paresh Rawal acting is the best. He has shown what an incredible actor he is in Road to Sangam. No doubt, no one could have step in the shoes of Hasmat Bhai other than Paresh. Pavan Malhotra as the instigating Maulvi is mind blowing. His performance is too powerful to be ignored. The veteran actor, Om Puri as expected has done good acting, though he doesn’t get much scope.

If you haven’t watched Road to Sangam, I am sure you won’t mind booking your ticket right now after reading this review. Watch it and I bet you won’t regret it!


Starring : Paresh Rawal, Shaikh, Pavan Malhotra, Swati Chitnis, Masood Akhtar, Yusuf Hussain, G.P.Singh, Rajan Bhise and Tushar Gandhi
Release Date : 29th Jan, 2010
Language : Hindi

the oscar race begins

This year’s Oscar race may well lend itself to a gripping screenplay. We have a man and his former wife pitted against each other with nine nominations each for their respective films. James Cameron’s 3D extravaganza, Avatar, has netted nine nods, including those for Best Picture and Best Director. Avatar - which sunk its creator’s earlier record grossing, Oscar winning, Titanic with an earth-shattering show at the box-office - may well fly away with an attractive booty when the Academy Awards are announced later.
Facing the Goliath of a Cameron is his ex, the David of a Kathryn Bigelow, with The Hurt Locker that has grabbed nine noms as well, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Known for springing surprises, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may well decide to create a bit of history by putting Bigelow on the pedestal.  She is only the fourth woman to get the Best Director nod, and if she clinches the actual trophy, she will be the first among the fair (or stronger?) sex to do so.
America and the Americans are in that wonderful mood to initiate a new order. We saw that when Barack Obama was elected President. The Academy’s 6000-odd members may want to do something as remarkable, and Bigelow can be the beneficiary.
Apart from this marital drama that someone in India’s Bollywood may be tempted to turn into a Pati, Patni and Woh movie, the Woh here being Mr Oscar, the nomination screen did not have any great fireworks.
Quentin Tarantino’s Jewish fantasy, Inglorious Basterds walked away with eight nods, Best Picture and Best Director included. Jason Reitman’s Up In The Air won six – Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for George Clooney among them.
The question that arises now is whether the Academy’s decision last June to expand the list of best picture nominations from five to 10 has fulfilled a long standing need to open this category to diverse genres. Yes, more variety can be seen this season. Films such as A Serious Man, The Blind Side, District 9 and An Education may have found it tough to enter the Oscar arena in the past.
On the flip side, no documentary or musical or foreign language work, for example, got the nod. And, despite the longer list, Clint Eastwood’s Invictus and designer-turned-director Tom Ford’s A Single Man got the snub. Spanish master Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces failed to make it, and, sadly, not even in the foreign lingo section.
The five foreign language nominees are Germany’s The White Ribbon, France’s A Prophet, Peru’s The Milk of Sorrow, Argentine’s The Secret in Their Eyes and Israel’s Ajami.
India’s Harishchandrachi Factory (in Marathi) could not make it. Neither could AR Rahman, who is now being hailed as the Mozart of Madras. Well, well, that is an enormous halo to carry.

vidya & arshad spotted

OSCAR NOMINATIONS

None of the male Best Actor Oscar nominees are featured in a big hit. Even as Crazy Heart is expanding across America and will soon open abroad, it could still be an arthouse hit -- that means it may not make more than $50 million. Ditto for A Single Man.
The Hurt Locker [ Images ] made just about $16 million in US and Canada [ Images ], and a smaller coin abroad. It could benefit largely in DVD and Blu-ray sales. Up in the Air is the most successful film in the acting category, having grossed about $150 million across the world. It could earn at least $100 million more, thanks to the Oscar nominations and the fact that it is in its early release abroad. For a film made for just about $25 million, it will be a major victory.
We take a closer look at the Best Actor and Actress nominations at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards:
Jeff Bridges [ Images ], Crazy Heart: He could be the sentimental favourite. He plays a hard drinking singer and musician, whose attachment to a young kid creates a panic situation. But it also leads to his redemption. He is shown in the film in almost every frame. Though he is mostly subtle and withdrawn, his screen presence gives the film great dynamism. This is his fifth nomination since The Last Picture Show in 1971.
George Clooney [ Images ], Up in the Air: Clooney is at his best in this movie, as a ruthless corporate downsizer whose soul is challenged by unforeseen encounters. One of the most profiled of Hollywood artists, he is also known for his liberal politics and humanitarian work, including the Haiti relief fund-raisers. He has been nominated thrice in the acting categories earlier, bagging a Best Supporting Actor win for Syriana. He has also been nominated twice in the writing and directing categories for Good Night, and Good Luck.
Colin Firth [ Images ], A Single Man: A story that centres on an English professor who -- after the sudden death of his partner about nine months ago -- tries to go about his typical day in Los Angeles. But we will soon know it is anything but a typical day. Firth is excellent in internalising the anguish and conflict as he prepares to take his depressing life in his own hands.
Morgan Freeman [ Images ], Invictus [ Images ]: A towering performance as the South African leader Nelson Mandela [ Images ], who hatches his own plan to bring some rapprochement between the newly emerged black majority and the former white rulers of the hated apartheid policy. He is at once stately, cunning and humourous in the film. This is his fifth nomination; he won a Supporting Actor Oscar for Million Dollar Baby, which was directed by Invictus' Clint Eastwood [ Images ].
Jeremy Renner [ Images ], The Hurt Locker: A breakthrough performance for an actor, who is one of the darlings of small, independent movies. Better known for his work in television films like The Unusuals, he gives a knockout performance in The Hurt Locker. That is not a small thing, considering this is a film known for its ensemble cast. He plays a seemingly reckless head of a bomb diffusing unit in Iraq, who does not care for medals or spouting patriotic lines. A masterly portrait of an enigmatic man.
Sandra Bullock [ Images ], The Blind Side: The surprise hit of the year, which has grossed $235 million in North America, was about to end its run when the Oscar nominations were announced. In the spirited and life-affirming sports drama in which a white family mentors a black athlete, she stands apart. This is her first Oscar nomination in a career spanning over two decades.
Helen Mirren [ Images ], The Last Station: The veteran of British stage, television and movies, she plays the moody and crusty wife of the visionary Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (War and Peace), who does not understand his idealism. She is an emotional powerhouse in the film. Mirren has won an Oscar earlier for The Queen and has been popular for her work in the television serial Prime Suspect. This is her fourth nomination after The Queen, Gosford Park and The Madness of King George.
Carey Mulligan [ Images ], An Education: The British art house hit is about a teenager's difficult relationship with an older man. At 24, she is one of the youngest artists in the UK and America to win wide acclaim and a number of nominations. A big name in British theatre and and television, she exudes the pain and confidence inherent in her role in An Education. The film will be on in at least 1,000 screens worldwide in the coming week, thanks to its Oscar nominations.
Gabourey Sidibe [ Images ], Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire: A first-timer, she gives a luminous performance as a young woman sexually and emotionally abused by her father, and ill-treated by her mother. This is the first acting opportunity for the actress, who studied psychology in a New York college. She is the soul of the film that hopes to win many viewers abroad where black themed films are not usually popular.
Meryl Streep [ Images ], Julie & Julia: No major award in America has not had her name on the list in more than two decades. She is unforgettable as the renowned chef and bestselling author Julia Child. Though she follows Child's mannerisms, Streep knows a blind imitation will not take the role anywhere. She has to bring out the soul of the famous chef. This is her 13th Best Actress Oscar nomination and her 16th in total. She has won for her films Kramer vs Kramer and Sophie's Choice. For a 61-year-old actress, she is very busy in major films. 
Here's a closer look at the Best Supporting Actor nominations:
Matt Damon [ Images ], Invictus: He plays the head of a South Africa [ Images ]n rugby team, once known for its racism and who strikes a friendship with the first black leader of South Africa, played by Morgan Freeman. Damon underplays his role. But he is so good at his work, we can feel the tension under his skin, as he weighs the possibility of making friends with the new South African leader. Damon has won an Oscar for writing (with Ben Affleck [ Images ]) for the hit film Good Will Hunting in 1997. He was also nominated in the Best Actor category in that psychological drama.
Woody Harrelson [ Images ], The Messenger: This is one of the least seen well-reviewed movies. The Messenger is yet another triumph for Harrelson, a fervent hemp advocate with an alternate anti-establishment lifestyle. He is also a big yoga enthusiast. In The Messenger, he plays Captain Tony Stone, an old hand at breaking the bad news to the families of soliders and army officers. This is his second Oscar nomination, following the lead nomination for his work as the controversial pornographic magazine editor in The People vs Larry Flint, in 1996.
Christopher Plummer [ Images ], The Last Station: The 80-year-old stage and cinema actor, whose hits range from The Sound of Music in 1965 to last year's animation hit Up, is nominated for his strong performance as the classic Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, whose wily wife chips at his idealism and works overtime to sabotage his efforts. This is his first Oscar nomination. He has been nominated for half a dozen Emmys, winning one for his voiceover in Madeline. He has done more than 200 television, theatre and movie roles.
Stanley Tucci [ Images ], The Lovely Bones: Many expected a nomination for his work as the supportive husband of cooking legend Julia Child in Julie & Julia, which is a success, unlike The Lovely Bones. He is very natural as the American diplomat, who is caught in political dramas -- not of his own making -- and yet never fails to back his wife's endeavors in Julie & Julia. In The Lovely Bones, he plays the murderer of a teenager. One of the busiest character actors in Hollywood, he has won two Emmys (ER, The Monk) out of half a dozen nominations.
Christoph Waltz [ Images ], Inglourious Basterds [ Images ]: The Austrian actor, who is a big name in Austrian and German television and movies, is mesmerizing as a Gestapo officer charged with hunting down Jews. Watch out for the surveillance scene in a  Paris cinema in which Joseph Goebbels is about to present his new propaganda masterpiece and the Gestapo is charged with securing the site. In a film dominated by Brad Pitt [ Images ] and other American actors, Waltz creates an immense presence.
Arthur J Pais in New York