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Tag: Ashley Judd

  • Books to read before they hit Indian theatres in 2014

    Books to read before they hit Indian theatres in 2014

    MUMBAI: Here’s the review of the sixth book in the 10-part series that features books being adapted into Hollywood movies in 2014.

    ‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth

    What makes you different also makes you dangerous!

    The future belongs to those who know where they belong. What if you don’t belong? What do you do when you don’t belong? What do they do when they know you don’t belong?

    That is the life of Beatrice “Tris” Prior, who discovers that she is “divergent” – that she does not fit into any one “faction”. She soon uncovers a sinister plot brewing in her seemingly perfect society.

    In a futuristic dystopian post-apocalyptic Chicago, people are divided into five distinct factions based on their personalities – Candor are the honest, Abnegation are the selfless, Dauntless are the brave, while Amity are the peaceful, and Erudite are the intelligent. When Tris discovers a conspiracy to destroy the Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late.

    Divergent has been extremely well received. It won Favourite Book of 2011 in the Goodreads Choice Awards 2011. The book currently stands at 4.37/5 of 590,875 ratings. Common Sense Media, a not for profit organization working towards improving lives, commented on Veronica Roth’s book by saying that it had deep messages about identity and controlling societies and that the plot was unstoppable and remarkably original. The book also won the Sakura Medal Contest.

    The rights to the live-action, motion picture adaptation was bought by Summit Entertainment, an American film studio behind teenage blockbusters like The Twilight Saga and Step Up Revolution. The film directed by Neil Burger (Limitless) boasts an interesting cast led by Golden Globe Award nominee Shailene Woodley (The Descendents, The Fault in Our Stars) as the Divergent Tris, along with Theo James (Downton Abbey, Golden Boy) as Four, Maggie Q (Nikita) as Tori with Tony Goldwyn (Scandal) and Ashley Judd (Missing) as Andrew and Natalie Prior, Tris’ parents and Kate Winslet (Titanic, The Reader) as Jeannie Matthews, the film’s lead antagonist.

  • Ashley Judd joining Shailene Woodley in Divergent

    Ashley Judd joining Shailene Woodley in Divergent

    MUMBAI: Ashley Judd has been added to the cast of Divergent, the big-screen adaptation of Veronica Roth‘s dystopian YA bestseller.

    Judd, who recently walked back on her bid for one of Kentucky‘s U.S. Senate seats, will play Natalie Prior, the mother of Divergent‘s heroine Tris (Shailene Woodley).
     
    The film, that has gone on the sets in Chicago last week, has Aaron Eckhart reportedly playing Judd‘s onscreen husband Andrew while Ansel Elgort (who made his big-screen debut in Carrie)will play her son Caleb.

    The film is being helmed by Neil Burger who had earlier directed Limitless and The Illusionist, with a script written by Vanessa Taylor.

    Divergent is scheduled to open on 21 March, next year.

  • Sushmita Sen, Ashley Judd in National Geographic documentary

    Sushmita Sen, Ashley Judd in National Geographic documentary

    MUMBAI: Bollywood actor and Miss Universe Sushmita Sen will join Hollywood actor Ashley Judd in a documentary on National Geographic channel to raise global awareness on HIV/AIDS. The NGC shoot will take place in the month of March when Ashley Judd comes to India. Judd is the PSI Global Ambassador.

    The documentary will explore why women are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection and to increase awareness of the affliction.

    PSI/India managing director Tim McLellan said, “We are honoured that Sushmita Sen has agreed to partner Ashley Judd in this documentary film for National Geographic channel. She is known for her commitment to women empowerment and this film is all about women empowerment and HIV/Aids awareness.”

    PSI/India is a not-for-profit organization working in the areas of health & women’s empowerment. It uses social marketing to achieve positive behaviour change through the promotion of ideas, products and services conducive to better health. PSI/India is also an active partner in the government’s contraceptive social marketing program