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Category: Hollywood

  • Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Shazam’ set to release before 2019

    Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Shazam’ set to release before 2019

    MUMBAI: The DC Comics adaptation Shazam will see the light of the day earlier than expected. Dwayne Johnson will be seen essaying the role of Black Adam, one of the villains in the movie.

     

    Back in October 2014, Warner Bros set the movie’s release date as 5 April, 2019. However, it’s not really surprising if the release date will be changed because Johnson had already teased about it in an interview at the 87th Academy Awards in February this year.

     

    Produced by Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Michael Uslan, Peter Segal and Michael Ewing, the movie centers on young Billy Batson, who finds himself gifted with the power of the wizard Shazam to fight against the forces of evil. No director has been tapped for the movie yet. 

  • Cannes: French director’s film on Tamil Tigers wins Palme D’Or

    Cannes: French director’s film on Tamil Tigers wins Palme D’Or

    NEW DELHI: While Dheepan by French director Jacques Audiard won the Palme D’Or for the best film, renowned filmmaker Agn?s Varda received the highest distinction of an honorary Palme D’Or at the conclusion of the 68th Cannes International Film Festival in France.

     

    The director and all-rounder swells the ranks of the exceptional award winners that include great names such as Woody Allen (2002), Manoel de Oliveira (2008), Clint Eastwood (2009), and Bernardo Bertolucci (2011).

     

    The film, which won the top award is a moving drama dealing with three Tamil Tigers – a former soldier, a young woman and a child – who pose as a family to escape the civil war in Sri Lanka and get French asylum. It will be released in the US by IFC/Sundance Selects.

     

    The director is also known for earlier films like A Prophet and Rust and Bone.

     

    The awards were announced by the jury headed by Joel and Ethan Coen, and also included directors Guillermo del Toro and Xavier Dolan, actor Jake Gyllenhaal, actresses Sienna Miller, Sophie Marceau and Rossy de Palma and composer Rokia Traore.

     

    The Best Actor award went to Vincent Lindon in La Loi Du Marché (The Measure of a Man) by Stéphane Brizé while the Actress awards were shared by Emmanuelle Bercot in Mon Roi by Ma?wenn, and Rooney Mara in Carol by Todd Haynes.

     

    The second-place award, the Grand Prix, went to first-time director Laszlo Nemes’ harrowing Holocaust drama Son of Saul, while the third-place Jury Award went to Yorgos Lanthimos’ surreal The Lobster.

     

    Hou Hsiao-Hsien was named the festival’s best director for his lavish martial arts epic The Assassin.

     

    The Best Screenplay award was given to writer-director Michel Franco for Chronic, the Camera d’Or to La Tierra Y La Sombra (Land and Shade) by César Augusto Acevedo. 

     

    The Short Film Palme D’Or was given to Waves ’98 by Ely Dagher from Lebanon.

     

    Eight of the 19 films in the main competition took home awards. Favourites, which failed to make include Matteo Garrone’s twisted fairy tale compilation Tale of Tales; Justin Kurzel’s MacBeth, with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard; Joachim Trier’s Louder Than Bombs with Jesse Eisenberg and Isabelle Huppert.

     

    The winners:

     

    Palme d’Or: Dheepan, Jacques Audiard

    Grand Prix: Son of Saul, Laszlo Nemes

    Prix du Jury: The Lobster, Yorgos Lanthimos

    Best Director: The Assassin, Hou Hsiao-Hsien

    Best Screenplay: Chronic, Michel Franco

    Camera d’Or (Best First Feature): La Tierra y la Sombra (Land and Shade), Cesar Augusto Acevedo

    Best Actor: Vincent Lindon, The Measure of a Man

    Best Actress: (tie) Rooney Mara, Carol, and Emmanuelle Bercot, Mon Roi

    Palme d’Or, Short Film: Waves 98, Ely Dagher

     

    Meanwhile, the Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury headed by Abderrahmane Sissako awarded the 2015 Cinéfondation Prize Share by Pippa Bianco of AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, USA. The Second Prize went to Locas Perdidas directed by Ignacio Juricic Merillan from Carrera de Cine y TV Universidad de Chile, Chile; and the third prize jointly went to The Return Of Erkin directed by Maria Guskova from High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors, Russia, and Victor XX directed by Ian Gamdo Lopez from ESCAC, Spain.

     

    The Cinéfondation Selection consisted of 18 student films, selected from among 593 entries from 381 film schools around the world.

     

    The first prize winner received €15,000, with €11,250 going to the second and €7,500 to the third.

  • Sylvester Stallone offers ‘Expendables’ to Salman Khan

    Sylvester Stallone offers ‘Expendables’ to Salman Khan

    MUMBAI: Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone has offered Salman Khan the next Expendables movie.

     

    In a series of tweets, Salman Khan said that Stallone was his hero. Revealing that he still worked out while listening to ‘The Eye of The Tiger,’ Khan said, “Agar kisi ko follow karna hai? Bahar ka… inko follow karo @TheSlyStallone Aapke Hero ka hero Sylvester Stallone.” (If you want to follow someone? From outside… follow him @TheSlyStallone Your Hero’s Hero Sylvester Stallone.)

     

    What’s more, Stallone who is known for his action packed movies replied to Khan by tweeting, “Would like to thank the super talented Indian superstar SALMAN KHAN the Compliment he Tweeted! We should do an ACTION FILM together!”

     

    Stallone went on to add, “Thanks my friend! You have BIG heart! Big talent! Big future! KEEP PUNCHING, SALMAN! Your friend Sly Stallone.”

     

    Further talking about how he was impressed with Khan’s ardent fan following, Stallone tweeted, “Salman, I am very impressed with your many devoted fans. To make a great Action film Sucessful takes MANY great fans who support you, Sly (sic).”

     

    What took the cake and almost broke the Internet was Stallone’s last tweet, in which he hinted at Khan being a part of his successful film franchise The Expendables. “Maybe the New EXPENDABLES,” Stallone tweeted.

     

    It now remains to be seen whether Khan takes up on the offer by Stallone.

  • 20th Century Fox’s home video releases to support 4K & HDR

    20th Century Fox’s home video releases to support 4K & HDR

    NEW DELHI: Going one up on the Blu-Ray format, 20th Century Fox is now gearing up to master all of its future movies in Ultra HD (UHD) and high dynamic range (HDR) for home entertainment, which is in compliance with the UHD Alliance’s HDR specification.

     

    The move comes even as the number of 4K televisions is on the rise globally. Some of the movies that the studio will release in the format are X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Maze Runner.

     

    According to a report on The Hollywood Reporter, Fox is already releasing some HDR titles using Samsung’s proprietary S-UHDTV displays. However, it seems Fox will adopt the standards embraced by the Blu-ray Disc Association for future planned releases.

     

    HDR delivers a much wider range of density and luminosity in the image. In very simple terms it means whites are whiter and the range of shadows in dark material much more visible. Viewers would instantly notice the clouds in the sky despite bright sunshine, and a much wider range of detail in shadows.

  • ‘The Help’ director Tate Taylor to helm DreamWorks’ ‘Girl on the Train’

    ‘The Help’ director Tate Taylor to helm DreamWorks’ ‘Girl on the Train’

    MUMBAI: Tate Taylor, who directed DreamWorks Studios’ Oscar-winning film, The Help, returns to direct its adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel, The Girl on the Train.

     

    DreamWorks acquired the rights to Paula Hawkins’ debut thriller in 2014, prior to the novel’s publication, and set Erin Cressida Wilson to adapt for the screen. Marc Platt will produce the film, while Jared LeBoff of Marc Platt Productions will serve as executive producer.

     

    In The Girl on the Train, Rachel, who is devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day, until one morning she sees something shocking happen there and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds.

     

    “With The Help, Tate deftly adapted a beloved novel into a compelling film that stayed true to its origin while pleasing fans and moviegoers alike. We are excited to have Tate back at DreamWorks and thrilled that he’s joining us on this journey as we bring another bestseller to theaters,” said DreamWorks Studios president of production Holly Bario.

     

    “Bringing rich material to the screen in the filmmaker friendly environment DreamWorks provides is a director’s dream. I’m honored to be a part of this,” added Taylor.

     

    The Girl on the Train, is the fastest selling adult novel in history with over two million copies sold in the United States alone since it was published in January by Riverhead Books. It landed in the top spot on the New York Times bestsellers list its first week and has remained on there for the past 17 weeks straight.

  • Sony & CFC partner for Chinese remake of ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’

    Sony & CFC partner for Chinese remake of ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures and China Film Co. (CFC) have joined hands to co-produce the Chinese remake of My Best Friend’s Wedding.

     

    The film, slated for release in China on Valentine’s Day 2016, features Shu Qi, Feng Shaofen, Song Qian aka Chinese singer and actress Victoria Song and Ye Qing.

     

    Sony’s original film, which released in 1997, starred Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Dermot Mulroney and Rupert Everett.

     

    Shooting will begin in late July this year in London, Italy and Beijing.

     

    Alexi Tan will direct and produce the Chinese remake his company, Play Productions.

     

    In the film, Journalists Gu Jia and Lin Ran have grown up together as best friends. One day, Lin Ran calls Gu Jia from the UK telling her that he is getting married to someone he only just met, a wealthy Chinese girl who has been studying in the UK, and asks Gu Jia to be his “best man.” Gu Jia finally realizes that she loves him, not just as a friend, and sets out for London a few days before the wedding determined to win him back.

     

    Hong Jiu, Fu Linran and Alexi Tan wrote the script. Jiu has published several popular online novels including We Live Together.

     

    “We are delighted to be collaborating with Columbia Pictures on this exciting remake of what has become an international comedy classic,” said China Film Co., Ltd executive Ling Hong.

     

    Sony Pictures China head of production and strategic development Dede Nickerson added, “We are thrilled to be working with our partner China Film, Alexi and this incredible cast to create what is sure to be a hilarious and touching film for the Chinese audience.”

     

    Columbia Pictures is also currently in post-production on director Chen Kaige’s dark comedy Monk Comes Down the Mountain starring Wang Baoqiang, Aaron Kwok, Chang Chen, Chiling Lin, VanNess Wu and Fan Wei, based on the novel of the same name by Xu Haofeng. The film is currently in post-production and scheduled for release on 3 July, 2015.

     

    Sony has previously co-produced Kung Fu Hustle (2004) and Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). 

  • Cannes Film Festival stumbles over ‘Flatgate’ controversy

    Cannes Film Festival stumbles over ‘Flatgate’ controversy

    NEW DELHI: A day after actress Salma Hayek appeared on a panel at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival to talk about misogyny in Hollywood, the festival’s organizers banned women from wearing anything other than high heels on the red carpet.

     

    A group of women, who arrived at a screening for Cate Blanchett’s latest film, Carol, were reportedly turned away because of their flat shoes, according to Screen Daily.

     

    The New York Magazine in a tweet said this immediately set off a #showmeyourflats hashtag in solidarity.

     

    It noted that actress Emily Blunt put it best, “Everyone should wear flats to be honest. We should not be wearing high heels anyways. That is my point of view. I just prefer wearing Converse sneakers.”

     

    Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had also stressed on gender equality with Hayek at the discussion organized by UN Women. Aishwarya also did a shoot for L’Oréal Paris with Eva Longoria, Natasha Poly and Li Bingbing for L’Oreal.

     

    The Cannes film festival began on 13 May and will conclude on 24 May.

     

    Indian contingent at Cannes

     

    Meanwhile, the red carpet for Gurvinder Singh’s Punjabi film Chauthi Koot and Neeraj Ghaywan’s debut feature Masaan, which are the Indian films in the official UnCertain Regard, was graced by Indian ambassadors of L’Oreal Paris — Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. Nandita Das was also present.

     

    Film and theater veteran Shabana Azmi noted on how fashion was taking away the attention from cinema at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival. She said a film festival should be treated seriously and not as a fashion parade ground.

     

    Azmi used her Twitter handle on 15 May to remind her fans and followers about the main motive behind holding a film festival. “2day Cannes seems to b a clothes parade! It’s a serious film festival guys not a fashion event. Hw abt focusing on films n filmakers (sic),”

  • Hollywood teen flick ‘The Duff’ to hit Indian theatres on 5 June

    Hollywood teen flick ‘The Duff’ to hit Indian theatres on 5 June

    MUMBAI: High school teen flick The Duff is all set to hit theatres across India on 5 June, 2015. Multivision Multimedia will release the movie here.

     

     The Duff was a great success at the US Box office with an opening weekend of $10.8 million and total US collection of $34 million.

     

    Directed by Ari Sandel, The Duff stars Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell and Bella Thorne in the lead. The film is produced by McG, Mary Viola, and Susan Cartsonis. It is a CBS Films presentation a Wonderland Sound and Vision / Vast Entertainment production.

     

    Talking about the India release, Whitman said, “I have been told that Indian youth are ardent followers of US movies and television. India is known to have a thriving English speaking population and are in sync with western culture. It’s a great place for The Duff to release”

     

    Director Sandel added, “India is becoming an increasingly important territory for Hollywood films. High schools are the same everywhere and I am sure so are the problems, even across the world. I hope that the audience will connect with and enjoy our movie.”

  • Argentinean animation filmmaker feted at first Animation Day at Cannes

    Argentinean animation filmmaker feted at first Animation Day at Cannes

    NEW DELHI: Animation producers, filmmakers and animation lovers shared news around their work while attending a panel discussion and a screening of their best films from Montreal International Animation Film Festival 2015 at the first Animation Day at the Cannes Film Festival.

     

    The event was held at the Horyou Village located at the grounds of Le Grand Hotel Cannes.

     

    Among the films screened were The Best Short Film Winner Aubade directed by Mauro Carraro (Switzerland), Castillo y el Armado, directed by Pedro Harres (Brazil) and Last Dance on the Main by Aristofanis Soulikias.

     

    The Animation Day concluded with a reception to Maria Veronica Ramirez (Argentina), who had won the Best Feature Film Award for Anima Bueno Aires at MIAFF 2015 last month.

     

    Argentinean delegates were present in large numbers at the reception.

     

    MIAFF Director Laurie Gordon announced the creation of the Ryan Larkin Foundation, one of the festival’s initiatives, which was accompanied by the screening of a short clip from her film Spare Change.  

  • Matt Bomer cast in ‘The Magnificent Seven’ remake

    Matt Bomer cast in ‘The Magnificent Seven’ remake

    NEW DELHI: Actor Matt Bomer, who starred in films like The Normal Heart, Magic Mike and White Collar is reportedly joining the cast of MGM’s The Magnificent Seven, which is being directed by Antoine Fuqua.

     

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie, which is due to release on 13 January, 2017, is a remake of the 1960 movie by the same name. Bomer will be joining the likes of Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, Wagner Moura, Haley Bennett and Jason Momoa, who have also been cast in the movie.

     

    John Lee Hancock and Nic Pizzolatto have penned the movie’s script. The report mentions that the story of the new version kicks off when a woman (Bennett) hires a disparate group of gunslingers to protect her town from rampaging bandits that are led by a robber baron. Bomer is set to be play the woman’s husband, a man who tries to stand up to the robber baron.

     

    Roger Birnbaum and Todd Black are producing the movie, while Walter Mirisch and Fuqua are executive producers.

     

    The MGM remake of The Magnificent Seven will be set in a victimised mining town, taken over by a gold baron, rather than the Mexican village, which is periodically raided by bandits.