ITV

Category: International

  • Mira Nair’s Reluctant Fundamentalist to open here in April

    Mira Nair’s Reluctant Fundamentalist to open here in April

    MUMBAI: PVR Pictures is gearing up to release Mira Nair‘s The Reluctant Fundamentalist in India screens in April next year.

    The film, based on Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid‘s eponymous novel, is the story of a young man chasing corporate success on Wall Street. Post the September 2011 tragedy in the US, he finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family‘s homeland.

    "It‘s an honour to be distributing The Reluctant Fundamentalist in India and we are thankful to Mira for trusting us with her film. We are very excited about the film‘s prospects in India and are keenly looking forward to its theatrical release," averred PVR Limited joint managing director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli in a statement.

    The Mira Nair film was recently awarded with the first Centenary Award and presented with a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh at the just concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

  • Zero Dark Thirty to release on 11 January

    Zero Dark Thirty to release on 11 January

    MUMBAI: PVR Pictures is readying itself to release Kathryn Bigelow’s most ambitious production to date Zero Dark Thirty, a chronicle of the decade long hunt for Al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in 2011 on 11 January.

    Zero Dark Thirty (the title is military jargon for the dark of night, as well as the moment—12:30 a.m.—when the Navy SEALs first stepped foot on the compound) marks Bigelow’s most ambitious production after her impressive Oscar winning war film The Hurt Locker based in Iraq.
    Deploying the full arsenal of filmic art, from the naturalistic performances of an ensemble that includes Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Ehle, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, and Edgar Ramirez to innovative cinematography in extreme low-light conditions and the painstakingly layered art direction, every facet of the production becomes a proving ground for Bigelow to make living history come alive on screen.
    Zero Dark Thirty has received brilliant reviews from critics and is being called a taut, gritty and superbly visualized narrative neatly packed as an action thriller by a master filmmaker who knows her craft.

  • Angelina Jolie mulls giving up acting

    Angelina Jolie mulls giving up acting

    MUMBAI: Angelina Jolie is thinking of saying ‘so long‘ to acting to spend more time with her six children.
    The 37-year-old actress, who raises six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and four-year-old twins Knox and Viviennes, said that she would consider turning her back on Hollywood as her children enter their teens, it is reported.
    "I think I‘m going to have to give up acting as the kids hit the teenage years because there is going to be too much to manage. If it went away, tomorrow I‘d be very happy at home," she said.

  • Twlight Saga romps in $ 48.8 million in third consecutive weekend

    Twlight Saga romps in $ 48.8 million in third consecutive weekend

    MUMBAI: Thanks to a $48.8 million weekend at some 11,800 locations in 73 territories, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 has now become the biggest-grossing franchise title overseas boosting its foreign gross total to $447.8 million.
    The fifth and final title based on Stephenie Meyer‘s series of novels about a young woman (Kristen Stewart) in love with a vampire (Robert Pattinson) has roped in $16.9 million more than the franchise‘s previous all-time offshore box office champ The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 that collected $430.9 million last year.
    Breaking Dawn Part 2 dominated a generally lacklustre box office session overseas by clinging to the No. 1 spot for the third consecutive week with hold over titles for the most part registering diminishing returns.
    Worldwide, the film has grossed $702.4 million. Lionsgate International, which is handling foreign distribution of the Summit Ent. co-production had earlier said that Breaking Dawn Part 2‘s enormously big action helped lift the distributor‘s 2012 total foreign box office past the $1-billion mark.
    Finishing No. 2 once again was Sony/MGM‘s Skyfall, the 23rd installment of the James Bond franchise that collected $34 million from 7,600 spots in 84 markets handled by Sony and licensees of co-distributor MGM.
    Since its overseas opening on 26 OCtober, Skyfall has accumulated nearly $200 million more that the $432.2 total foreign gross of the previous franchise record holder, 2006‘s Casino Royale, also starring Craig.
    A No. 1 Japan opening provided $5.9 million from 587 situations, which Sony said was 51 per cent bigger than the opening market gross of 2008‘s Quantum of Solace, which grossed a total of $407.7 overseas. A No. 1 bow in South Africa ($800,000 from 128 spots) was also recorded for Skyfall.
    Making No. 1 debuts in Spain, Singapore and Malaysia was Twentieth Century Fox‘s release of Life of Pi, the film version of Yann Martel‘s novel of the same name about a young castaway and a Bengal tiger.
    Directed by Taiwanese-born Ang Lee, the Fox 2000 co-production drew $21.5 million on the weekend overall playing a total of 5,678 in 11 markets, the best of of which were China ($11 million in second round at 3,800 site for a market cume of $38.5 million) and Taiwan ($2.6 million at 165 locations, a rousing 47 per cent increase from the opening weekend). In spite of its relatively limited foreign release, the film has generated a total of $61.1 million in just two rounds.

  • Halle Berry mulls quitting showbiz scene

    Halle Berry mulls quitting showbiz scene

    MUMBAI: Halle Berry is thinking of quitting showbiz because, according to her, the negative trappings of fame and celebrity status have de-stabilized her daughter Nahla ‘s upbringing.
    The 46-year old Berry, who has a four-year-old daughter Nahla from former boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, is willing to give up her career for the sake of her daughter‘s safety, it is understood.
    Now that a Court has ruled Halle can‘t move to France permanently, she feels she‘s left with no alternative but to quit her career.
    In the last few years, Halle has worked on only a handful of films so that she could dedicate most of her time to Nahla. She also thought that would make her less of a target for the paparazzi, but with all the drama going on in her personal life that hasn‘t been the case," a source said.

  • Disney animator Mel Shaw expires at 97

    Disney animator Mel Shaw expires at 97

    MUMBAI: Mel Shaw, an artist and writer who contributed to Disney animation classics such as Bambi, Fantasia and The Lion King expired on 22 November of congestive heart failure. He was 97.
    Shaw was recruited by studio founder Walt Disney to join his team. Disney handed the artist a script for what would become 1942’s Bambi and said, "You like to draw animals; read this and see what you can do."
    Shaw was involved with practically every sequence of the film. He used pastels that "talked about the sequences and how colors would change … to fit the mood," he said in Walt’s People, Volume 12, a collection of interviews with artists who worked with Disney that was published in August.
    The Brooklyn native also did visual development or story work for the company on The Rescuers (1977), The Fox and the Hound (1981), The Black Cauldron (1985), The Great Mouse Detective (1986) and Beauty and the Beast (1991). He was named a Disney Legend in 1994.
    Shaw left Disney to serve as a combat photographer for the Army Signal Corps during World War II. Later, he opened a design business with former MGM Studios animator Bob Allen, and their company did a redesign of the marionette Howdy Doody for NBC.
    In 1974, Walt Disney Studios asked Shaw to return to help mentor the next generation of animators. His last project for the company was The Lion King (1994).

  • Popular Hollywood films being converted to 3D for re-release

    Popular Hollywood films being converted to 3D for re-release

    MUMBAI: To recreate the same magic that some Hollywood films had on people‘s minds and at the box office at the time of their release, a slew of international hits are now being converted into 3D for a re-release.

    Hollywood filmmakers have found a way to match up to the expectations of the contemporary and tech-savvy audience. The trend has already been a success for a few films such as The Lion King, Finding Nemo and Titanic to name a few. For that matter, The Lion King, that released in 3D in September this year, topped the US box office for the first two weeks of its run and earned almost $80 million.

    Here‘s taking a look at a few films that will again strike the silver screen though in their 3D avatars.

    Independence Day: Roland Emmerich‘s sci-fi blockbuster will return to theatres in 3D now. Though the date has not been decided yet, the producers and Emmerich have long been contemplating a sequel to the movie and have, therefore, decided to come up with a 3D release of the original movie to test waters and find out if there‘s interest among fans for continuation of the story.

    Star Wrs II

    After an overwhelming response to the Stars Wars Episode I 3D release, the series maker George Lucas and new owner Disney have decided to come up with the re-release of its second and third episodes in 2013. While the second film will be released on 20 September next year, the concluding part will release on 4 October, 2013.

    The Little Mermaid

    Released in 1989, the animated classic about a 16-year-old mermaid and her desire to explore more about human beings, has already won two Oscars, and is coming back to enchant the fans in 3D format on 13 September, 2013.

    Jurassic Park

    A Steven Spielberg classic, this film was the first of the Jurassic Park series and will be re-releasing in 3D in the wake of the film‘s 20th anniversary next year. Talking about the coexistence of dinosaurs and human beings and the fight between the two species, the film will be hitting the screens on 5 April, 2013.

    Monsters Inc.

    It wowed the audience when it first released in 2001, and following The Lion King‘s 3D success, the studio is also releasing this one in 3D on 19 December this year.

    A few films that have already been re-released in 3D are Titanic 3D, The Lion King 3D, Finding Nemo 3D, Beauty and the Beast 3D and Star Wars: Episode I 3D.

  • Academy shortlists 10 films to fight in VFX category at Oscars

    Academy shortlists 10 films to fight in VFX category at Oscars

    MUMBAI: The Academy has shortlisted ten films to compete for the Oscar in the visual effects category at the 85th Academy Awards.

    The films are, The Amazing Spider-Man, Cloud Atlas, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, John Carter, Life of Pi, The Avengers, Prometheus, Skyfall and Snow White & the Huntsman.

    Two films like Men in Black 3 and Battleship that were among the hopefuls, didn‘t make the cut. Neither did the final installment of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn — Part 2.

    Franchise films figured heavily in the selection. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of three Hobbit films that will make up a prequel to Peter Jackson‘s The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy. All three LOTR films had earlier won Oscars for visual effects.

    Sony Pictures Imageworks‘ work on the Spider-Man franchise has also previously been recognized by the Academy. Both Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 were nominated, with the second film taking home the Oscar.

    Another sequel that has some history in the category is The Dark Knight Rises. The Dark Knight was nominated for a VFX Oscar in 2009. Double Negative returned as the lead VFX house for the series‘ finale.

    Skyfall‘s inclusion is notable since 007 has made only two previous appearances in the VFX category, scoring one win, for 1965‘s Thunderball, and an additional nomination for 1979‘s Moonraker.

    The convincing tiger that‘s featured in Life of Pi helped Ang Lee‘s movie secure a spot. Rhythm & Hues was the lead VFX house on Pi.

    If any of the short-listed films also earns a best picture nomination when the Academy Awards nominations are announced on 10 January that could boost its chances in the VFX category.

  • Ben Affleck named Entertainer of the Year

    Ben Affleck named Entertainer of the Year

    MUMBAI: Ben Affleck has been named Entertainer of the Year by Entertainment Weekly. The actor-and-director succeeds Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who received the honour last year.
    Affleck was bestowed with the accolade as he has finally reached the "pinnacle" of his career.Appearing on US morning show Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly editor Jess Cagle explained, "We‘ve watched him grow up. He has really reached his pinnacle."
    The 40-year-old Affleck, who burst onto the acting scene 15 years ago in Good Will Hunting, is delighted with the honour, particularly because he wants to make his family, wife Jennifer Garner, daughters Violet and Seraphina and nine-month-old Samuel proud.
    Affleck said in a statement, "Being at a place in my life and my career where I know what I‘m trying to do, it‘s different than being 26. When you‘re younger and have the early success that I had – it sounds like the worst Hallmark cliche – but I didn‘t have anyone to share it with.
    I don‘t mean I wanted someone to sit by the fire with. But when you have a family and children, you kind of see yourself reflected in them. I want to make the kinds of movies that my kids are proud of. I have higher standards, in a way, for them."
    Fellow Hollywood star George Clooney, 51, praised Affleck for re-emerging on the Hollywood A-list after several rocky years, which included starring in numerous widely panned films and a high profile engagement to singer-and-actress Jennifer Lopez that was eventually called off.
    George Clooney said, "Hollywood loves a comeback, and he‘s an unbelievable comeback kid."
    Ben Affleck has transitioned from in front of the screen to behind it, helming critically-acclaimed films such as Gone Baby Gone, The Town and this year‘s Argo, which is being tipped for Oscar contention.

  • Charlize Theron to star in revenge drama Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

    Charlize Theron to star in revenge drama Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

    MUMBAI: Charlize Theron has confirmed that she would star in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, an adaptation of the final installment of Park Chan-Wook‘s revenge trilogy.
    While William Monahan has been tapped to pen the script for the project, Megan Ellison‘s Annapurna Pictures would finance the film. "This will be very American and very unexpected," said Monahan in a statement. "Park is a genius; it?s the Everest of adaptations and I‘ve got blood in my teeth to do it."
    The 2005 South Korean movie is centered on a woman who spends 13 years in prison for a crime she did not commit and then sets about exacting the revenge she has plotted during her time behind bars.
    Theron‘s Denver & Delilah Films and CJ Entertainment have been developing the remake since 2008. The actress had until now been only involved in the project as a producer. The film will now be produced jointly by Theron with her Denver & Delilah partner Beth Kono, Annapurna‘s Ellison and Chelsea Barnard, CJ Entertainment‘s Ted Kim and Monahan. No director is currently attached.