ITV

Category: Movies

  • Roman Polanski film premieres at Berlin fest

    MUMBAI: Roman Polanski‘s new film The Ghost Writer premiered at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday.


    The director could not walk the red carpet for the debut of his film that stars Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan because he is under house arrest. In spite of hos absence, Polanski was still the star of the party, feted by his actors, producer and screenplay writer.


    And in a new twist, the Swiss Justice Ministry declared it would make “no sense” to shift Polanski from house arrest until US courts ruled definitively that he must be sentenced in person to further jail time for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.


    “When the question is still open, why should he be extradited?” Rudolf Wyss, the ministry‘s deputy director, told the press, adding, “As long as the question is still open, our decision depends on that.”


    “Even if we decide on extradition, he can still appeal. This would take many months,” he added.


    Polanski‘s extradition is a complicated and diplomatically sensitive decision, as it deals with a three-decade-old case full of alleged wrongdoing by a Los Angeles judge, a confused sentencing procedure and the director‘s own flight from justice.


    The Ghost Writer, based on the novel by Robert Harris, is among the 20 films competing for the Berlin festival‘s top Golden Bear honour to be awarded on 20 February.

  • Magnolia laps up N. American rights of Countdown to Zero

    MUMBAI: Magnolia Pictures has lapped up the North American theatrical rights of Lucy Walker‘s documentary Countdown to Zero that centres around the escalating nuclear arms race.


    The film is set for release this year.


    In another development, History Channel picked up the US TV broadcast rights.


    The film, which vouches for nuclear disarmament features global figures as Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Pervez Musharraf and Tony Blair.


    Countdown has been produced by Lawrence Bender and developed, financed and executive produced by Participant Media and the World Security Institute.

  • ‘Tum Milo Toh Sahi’ to release on 2 April

    MUMBAI: Tum Milo Toh Sahi, a social drama directed by Kabir Sadanand, is set to hit the theatres on 2 April.


    Produced by Nikhil Panchamiya‘s Fourth Wall Entertainments, the film will be distributed by PVR Pictures nationwide. The film stars Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia, Suniel Shetty and Vidya Malvade in pivotal roles.


    Speaking about the distribution of the film, PVR Pictures head – worldwide distribution Deepak Sharma said, “Our team watched the film and were moved with the simplicity of the film. A film from the heart, Tum Milo Toh Sahi will surely touch hearts across the country. 


    “Also the pairing of Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia who have gotten together after a gap of 15 yrs is something which is refreshing and I am sure audiences will enjoy this immensely.”


    Tum Milo Toh Sahi is a film about ordinary people who become extraordinary with the strength of love. Tum Milo Toh Sahi is about how these ordinary people find their true calling in life by saving an old Irani café against all forces that stand against us and our traditions.

  • My Name Is Khan releases amid Sena protests in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Going back on their decision of not showing My Name Is Khan (MNIK), some multiplex owners garnered courage and went ahead in exhibiting the film post noon.


    It is learnt that ten multiplex owners in Mumbai decided to go ahead with the screening while the rest didn‘t. Among the single-screen theatres, most of them decided against showing the film fearing violence.


    Fun Republic was the first multiplex chain to start screening the movie at noon. Among the multiplexes that followed were Inox, Fame Adlabs, Big Cinemas and Cinemax.


    No sooner did the windows open, there was a mad rush for tickets and all the multiplexes showing the film sported ‘House Full‘ boards much before the show could commence.


    But just before the first show could be shown at Fun Republic, over 40 Sena workers started pelting stones but were soon arrested and taken into custody.


    Sporadic incidents were reported across the metropolis and some arrests have been made. Says theatre owners association president Ram Vidhani, “Some single-screen theatres volunteered to show the film with heavy police protection. However from the news I have been getting, violence has been reported from some pockets of the city. I am not able to say if any theatre has been affected.”


    Talking about the possibility of the Shiv Sena (SS) threat fizzling out tomorrow, Vidhani avers, “Don‘t you know that the SS has called for a bandh on 13 February. Things might get worser and so might the prospects of the film at the box-office.”


    Defying Sena‘s threat SRK‘s wife Gauri watched the movie in a theatre and said that her husband “is very happy” with the initial response after remaining “sad” yesterday as there was uncertainty over the release of the movie in Mumbai theatres. “Karan (Johar) is with him by his side, supporting him. We are very happy,” Gauri, a co-producer of the film, said.


    SRK expressed gratitude towards his fans who thronged the theatres today. “I realise today…I am just a film hero…you all in the theatres are the real deal. god feel so loved & humbled. Hats off to all heroes,” he tweeted.


    “As the film releases & reports pour in praising karan‘s work I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has gone to see the film. Only regret our own city Mumbai is still to see it in full flow. I just want to tell everyone that I feel more patriotic than ever before. I love India & Indians. I love Mumbai & Mumbaikers,” he added.


    Meanwhile, The Film & Television Producers Guild of India (Guild) has voiced its anguish against the stoppage of the theatrical release of My Name is Khan by certain organisations.


    In a press release, the Guild has opined that a film, once accorded the green signal by Censor Board, should be allowed an absolute and uninterrupted release, without the interference of any external authority.
     

  • Shemaroo releases movie pack, song compilation on V Day

    MUMBAI: On the occasion of Valentine‘s Day, Shemaroo Entertainment has released a special movie pack and song compilation pack.


    Celebrating Romance – a 4 DVD Movie Pack features some of the best award-winning, heart-melting films like Raja Hindustani, Taal, Pardes and Dil at Rs. 499.


    The Screen Lovers DVD song compilation pack has famous pairs like Raj Kapoor – Nargis; Rajesh Khanna – Mumtaz; Amitabh Bachchan – Rekha; Rishi Kapoor – Dimple Kapadia right upto Anil Kapoor – Madhuri Dikshit and Shahid Kapoor – Kareena Kapoor.


    Popular romantic pairs have always sizzled on the Silver Screen with their mere presence. Scripts and songs have been penned, keeping their On-Screen chemistry in minds. Who can forget the magic of


    Screen Lovers features popular songs of such all-time hit romantic pairs and is available at Rs. 99.
     

  • Sony to release Maut Ke Farishtay on 5 March

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures‘ Maut Ke Farishtay, the Hindi dubbed version of the post-apocalyptic film Legion will release on 5 March along with the original English version.


    The film will also be dubbed in Tamil and Telugu for which release dates will be announced later.


    Judging by the response to the dubbed versions of last year‘s mega apocalyptic blockbuster 2012, this action-packed special effects heavy film is expected to strike a chord with Indian audiences as well.


    Legion opened in the US on 22 January at the no. 2 spot behind Avatar.


    Other Sony Pictures‘ films expected to be dubbed in multiple languages this year are Jackie Chan starrer The Karate Kid that is expected to release in June, Angelina Jolie‘s Salt due for releases in July as well as the fourth instalment of the Resident Evil series, Afterlife that will release in 3D.


    Directed by Scott Stewart, the film stars Paul Bettany, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Adriana Palicki, Charles S Dutton, Jon Tenney, Kevin Durand, Willa Holland with Kate Walsh and Dennis Quaid.

  • Reliance Big Pictures to release Kites on 21 May

    MUMBAI: Rakesh Roshan‘s romantic film Kites will release worldwide in Hindi and English versions on 21 May in over 60 countries.


    While the trailer of the Hindi version is being showed from 12 February, the English one will be out shortly.


    Directed by Anurag Basu, Kites is released worldwide by Reliance Big Pictures, 


    Says Reliance Big Pictures CEO Sanjeev Lamba, “We have always believed that Indian films and talent can enjoy the same success and recognition internationally as they do in India. Kites is a first-of-its-kind Indian film to have generated huge interest. We are proud to present the first look to a worldwide audience. “


    Kites is a story of passion that defies every rule, of a relationship that takes two lovers on a thrilling journey filled with precious moments – and unexpected betrayal. It is a compelling romantic saga that goes beyond barriers, boundaries and cultures.


    Shot in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Santa Fe, Kites is one of the biggest films ever produced in India.
     

  • Latest Spider-Man to hit theatres in 2012

    MUMBAI: Chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing & Distribution Jeff Blake announced that Spider-Man will release in theaters worldwide in 3D in July, 2012.


    The new film, still untitled, will go into production later this year and will be directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. The film will be produced by Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin who represent Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios respectively. 


    Making the announcement, Blake said, “Spider-Man is the ultimate summer movie-going experience and we‘re thrilled the filmmakers are presenting the next instalment in 3D.


    Spider-Man is one of the most popular characters in the world, and we know audiences are eager and excited to discover Marc‘s fantastic vision for Peter Parker and the franchise.”

  • Shekhar Kapur set to direct Three Lawrences

    MUMBAI: Shekhar Kapur has been signed to direct The Three Lawrences for K5 International and Convergence Entertainment.


    Shekhar Kapur will produce the film along with K5‘s Oliver Simon and Daniel Bauer.


    The film, a thriller is due to go into production this autumn is about a police officer, a junkie and a cave-dwelling recluse, whose lives are changed by a brutal murder during a fierce storm.


    The script of the film has been written by Iris Yamashita, and Tim Kwok, Ksana Golod.


    K5 will handle worldwide sales of the film.


    Head of sales at K5, Bill Stephens felt that it was a ‘great honour‘ to work with Kapur again having been previously associated with the director‘s earlier releases Bandit Queen and Elizabeth.
     

  • Lionsgate acquires US rights of The Last Exorcism

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate has acquired the US rights to Daniel Stamm‘s horror film The Last Exorcism from StudioCanal. The film was earlier titled Cotton.


    Eli Roth and Strike Entertainment‘s Marc Abraham, Eric Newman and Tom Bliss produced the film. 


    The film starring Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell is the tale of a disreputable priest who invites a film crew to record his final days as a fraudulent exorcist and must find his inner strength when he comes face-to-face with pure evil.


    The deal with StudioCanal was negotiated by Lionsgate president of acquisitions and co-productions Jason Constantine, senior vice-president of acquisitions and co-productions Eda Kowan and executive vice-president of business and legal affairs, acquisitions and co-productions Wendy Jaffen.