Santosh Sivan's URUMI

Genelia, Prithvi, special appearances by Tabu and Vidya Balan and promise of a Hindi dub makes this an interesting wait!

Round-up of news for the day!

Anushka Sharma out of Rockstar

We all know that Imtiaz Ali first conceptualised Rockstar with John Abraham. Then, the reworked script worked in favour of Ranbir Kapoor. Well, after John Abraham, it’s Anushka Sharma who gets the axe we hear. The poor girl, who just loves Ranbir by the way, was distraught by the latest developments. The buzz is that Imtiaz wants to cast an unknown girl for the role. Watch this space for more.

This is sad news indeed. Hope Imtiaz is not thinking of foisting another Giselle type on us!


We all knew Jackie Chan was not in Ra.one..
But now we hear that SRK has signed a lesser known martial arts hero from China but presently his name is being kept under wraps.

So we should expect martial arts to play a big part in the film!


John and Tabu's UTV films in trouble
Just heard that UTV has decided to shelve the Tabu-Shreyas Talpade starrer Season’s Greetings, despite it being 80 per cent complete. Earlier, we heard that they decided to disassociate themselves from David Dhawan’s jailhouse comedy Hook Ya Crook. It’s rumoured that the film’s star John Abraham and David Dhawan will now produce the film themselves. The film is allegedly 90 per cent complete. Dhawan wants some scenes with Indian cricketers but the IPL season has kept them busy.

This is a pity - Tabu needs to be seen more in films, such a fine talent!


The English version of 'Kites' will release one week later

Now here's vital info. While everyone knows that the much-awaited KITES will be released worldwide on May 21, its international cut - in English language - will be released one week later, on May 28. It means, the American audiences will get to watch the two versions [Hindi and English] in two consecutive weeks. While the Hindi version, targeted at the Indian diaspora with a running time of 2 hours, will arrive on May 21, the English version, with a running of 90 minutes, will arrive at select venues on May 28.

Here's more on KITES! More than a week ago, a reputed newspaper had done a 'Spoiler Alert' and had revealed the climax of this keenly anticipated film. Expectedly, the news-report sent shock waves across the length and breadth of the film fraternity, since an expose of this kind, much before its release, usually harms the film in question.

While the newspaper tendered an apology the very next morning, KITES director Anurag Basu couldn't hide his anger while talking about it. "The climax mentioned in the news-report is false and fabricated. The sad part about the whole thing is, even if I say it's wrong, people might assume that's how the film actually ends," Basu sounds hurt.

This supremely talented director likes to stay away from the media glare, even though he's helmed one of the biggest movies of this year. Ask him if he had differences with producer Rakesh Roshan and he jokes, "Thankfully, we didn't come to blows." But he gets serious soon enough, "Actually, it took us time to adjust to each other's pattern of working. There were no hiccups once we understood each other," he says.

So will he work with the Roshans again? "You should ask them whether they would like to work with me again," he laughs.

This could be a smart move - Hrithik has enough hard-core fans who might go and see both versions in theaters overseas!!

Round-up of news for the day!

Anushka Sharma out of Rockstar

We all know that Imtiaz Ali first conceptualised Rockstar with John Abraham. Then, the reworked script worked in favour of Ranbir Kapoor. Well, after John Abraham, it’s Anushka Sharma who gets the axe we hear. The poor girl, who just loves Ranbir by the way, was distraught by the latest developments. The buzz is that Imtiaz wants to cast an unknown girl for the role. Watch this space for more.

This is sad news indeed. Hope Imtiaz is not thinking of foisting another Giselle type on us!


We all knew Jackie Chan was not in Ra.one..
But now we hear that SRK has signed a lesser known martial arts hero from China but presently his name is being kept under wraps.

So we should expect martial arts to play a big part in the film!


John and Tabu's UTV films in trouble
Just heard that UTV has decided to shelve the Tabu-Shreyas Talpade starrer Season’s Greetings, despite it being 80 per cent complete. Earlier, we heard that they decided to disassociate themselves from David Dhawan’s jailhouse comedy Hook Ya Crook. It’s rumoured that the film’s star John Abraham and David Dhawan will now produce the film themselves. The film is allegedly 90 per cent complete. Dhawan wants some scenes with Indian cricketers but the IPL season has kept them busy.

This is a pity - Tabu needs to be seen more in films, such a fine talent!


The English version of 'Kites' will release one week later

Now here's vital info. While everyone knows that the much-awaited KITES will be released worldwide on May 21, its international cut - in English language - will be released one week later, on May 28. It means, the American audiences will get to watch the two versions [Hindi and English] in two consecutive weeks. While the Hindi version, targeted at the Indian diaspora with a running time of 2 hours, will arrive on May 21, the English version, with a running of 90 minutes, will arrive at select venues on May 28.

Here's more on KITES! More than a week ago, a reputed newspaper had done a 'Spoiler Alert' and had revealed the climax of this keenly anticipated film. Expectedly, the news-report sent shock waves across the length and breadth of the film fraternity, since an expose of this kind, much before its release, usually harms the film in question.

While the newspaper tendered an apology the very next morning, KITES director Anurag Basu couldn't hide his anger while talking about it. "The climax mentioned in the news-report is false and fabricated. The sad part about the whole thing is, even if I say it's wrong, people might assume that's how the film actually ends," Basu sounds hurt.

This supremely talented director likes to stay away from the media glare, even though he's helmed one of the biggest movies of this year. Ask him if he had differences with producer Rakesh Roshan and he jokes, "Thankfully, we didn't come to blows." But he gets serious soon enough, "Actually, it took us time to adjust to each other's pattern of working. There were no hiccups once we understood each other," he says.

So will he work with the Roshans again? "You should ask them whether they would like to work with me again," he laughs.

This could be a smart move - Hrithik has enough hard-core fans who might go and see both versions in theaters overseas!!

Toh Baat Pakki - Reviews (Raja Sen, Taran Adarsh, Nikhat Kazmi)

Raja Sen - 1/5

I had once declared great faith in Tabu's ability to be as much of a man as our heroes. But her latest film proves that while she might be a fantastic actress, she really isn't an Akshay Kumar .

Toh Baat Pakki works like a Priyadarshan drama devoid of the outrageous plot and the utterly watchable hero, and we're served up a bland, preposterously dated 'comedy' with lame jokes and little to laugh at.

Director Kedar Shinde tries hard to channel the wholesome humour of comedies like those of Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, elaboratey stagey pieces of extremely family-friendly fare. But what he doesn't realise is that those films were masterpieces of plot and dialogue, and that just having people smile a lot doesn't make up for the complete lack of a script.

Sharman Joshi -- described in the film as 'tall, fair, and muscular,' prompting the question of whether he himself had a part to play in the dialogue writing -- is a fine actor but is here given a conventional hero role so basic it feels like a caricature. He wears tight t-shirts and looks soulfully into the distance, and one can't help but wait for some sort of punchline. Like in most of the film, none arrives to save the day.

The boys -- Joshi and a clueless Vatsal Seth -- are clearly in the film only to play off Tabu , who plays elder sister to the bovine and apparently eligible Uvika Choudhary in a town where every boy shares the Saxena surname, just like Tabu and her husband, a likeable but equally daft Ayub Khan.

Tabu herself can't help being a good actress. But she clearly doesn't have the wherewithal to rescue a script this weak, loaded down with bad lines and a very weakly written character. She manages to amuse for maybe a minute or two in a film that seems far longer than its two hour running time. To be fair to the stunning lady, though -- even Akshay'd have trouble with a turkey like this.

LINK

Toh Baat Pakki - Reviews (Raja Sen, Taran Adarsh, Nikhat Kazmi)

Raja Sen - 1/5

I had once declared great faith in Tabu's ability to be as much of a man as our heroes. But her latest film proves that while she might be a fantastic actress, she really isn't an Akshay Kumar .

Toh Baat Pakki works like a Priyadarshan drama devoid of the outrageous plot and the utterly watchable hero, and we're served up a bland, preposterously dated 'comedy' with lame jokes and little to laugh at.

Director Kedar Shinde tries hard to channel the wholesome humour of comedies like those of Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, elaboratey stagey pieces of extremely family-friendly fare. But what he doesn't realise is that those films were masterpieces of plot and dialogue, and that just having people smile a lot doesn't make up for the complete lack of a script.

Sharman Joshi -- described in the film as 'tall, fair, and muscular,' prompting the question of whether he himself had a part to play in the dialogue writing -- is a fine actor but is here given a conventional hero role so basic it feels like a caricature. He wears tight t-shirts and looks soulfully into the distance, and one can't help but wait for some sort of punchline. Like in most of the film, none arrives to save the day.

The boys -- Joshi and a clueless Vatsal Seth -- are clearly in the film only to play off Tabu , who plays elder sister to the bovine and apparently eligible Uvika Choudhary in a town where every boy shares the Saxena surname, just like Tabu and her husband, a likeable but equally daft Ayub Khan.

Tabu herself can't help being a good actress. But she clearly doesn't have the wherewithal to rescue a script this weak, loaded down with bad lines and a very weakly written character. She manages to amuse for maybe a minute or two in a film that seems far longer than its two hour running time. To be fair to the stunning lady, though -- even Akshay'd have trouble with a turkey like this.

LINK

'I never dreamt of becoming an actress' - Tabu

Tabu is such an elusive actress that pinning her for an interview is next to impossible.

But thanks to her upcoming movie, Toh Baat Paki, where she plays a conniving woman eager to marry off her sister to the best suitor, Patcy N got a chance to quiz the actress.

Read on as Tabu sheds light on her comeback film, her views on today's women and what she does in her spare time.

We're seeing you after a long time. What have you been upto?

I caught up on my sleep, met friends, travelled, read and wrote a lot, and fiddled with photography. I also did a Telugu film.

Why don't we see more of you in movies?

For me to say yes to a movie a lot of requirements need to be met. The role, story, cast, producer etc should all be good. I never compromise on these things.

Okay, you're choosy. So what made you choose Toh Baat Paki?

I was longing to do a comedy for a long time and was waiting for someone to offer me a good script. Toh Baat Paki has everything that I wanted in a comedy -- good story and comical situations. It is not a senseless comedy but a normal drama told in a funny way. It deals with the issue of marriage in a very entertaining manner.

I play an elder sister who wants to marry off her younger sister to a rich boy. She finds the boy but decides to dump him in favour of a richer suitor.

So is comedy the only criteria for selecting Toh Baat Paki?

Comedy plus the character. I was doing something that I had not done in a long time. My character is a little loud, quite different from the subtle roles that I have done in the past. So it was exciting for me.

The rest of the cast was good too. I was told that Sharman Joshi is a nice guy. Personally I like his work. The director's [Kedar Shinde] background was good too.

So you like Shinde's work?

Kedar knows his job. He is very flexible. If you tell him that the character in a certain scene should not react in a certain manner, he immediately finds a solution. He is open to suggestions. Plus, he comes from a theatre background. I never found him inexperienced. He has great timing and understands the actors.

Read more from HERE

'I never dreamt of becoming an actress' - Tabu

Tabu is such an elusive actress that pinning her for an interview is next to impossible.

But thanks to her upcoming movie, Toh Baat Paki, where she plays a conniving woman eager to marry off her sister to the best suitor, Patcy N got a chance to quiz the actress.

Read on as Tabu sheds light on her comeback film, her views on today's women and what she does in her spare time.

We're seeing you after a long time. What have you been upto?

I caught up on my sleep, met friends, travelled, read and wrote a lot, and fiddled with photography. I also did a Telugu film.

Why don't we see more of you in movies?

For me to say yes to a movie a lot of requirements need to be met. The role, story, cast, producer etc should all be good. I never compromise on these things.

Okay, you're choosy. So what made you choose Toh Baat Paki?

I was longing to do a comedy for a long time and was waiting for someone to offer me a good script. Toh Baat Paki has everything that I wanted in a comedy -- good story and comical situations. It is not a senseless comedy but a normal drama told in a funny way. It deals with the issue of marriage in a very entertaining manner.

I play an elder sister who wants to marry off her younger sister to a rich boy. She finds the boy but decides to dump him in favour of a richer suitor.

So is comedy the only criteria for selecting Toh Baat Paki?

Comedy plus the character. I was doing something that I had not done in a long time. My character is a little loud, quite different from the subtle roles that I have done in the past. So it was exciting for me.

The rest of the cast was good too. I was told that Sharman Joshi is a nice guy. Personally I like his work. The director's [Kedar Shinde] background was good too.

So you like Shinde's work?

Kedar knows his job. He is very flexible. If you tell him that the character in a certain scene should not react in a certain manner, he immediately finds a solution. He is open to suggestions. Plus, he comes from a theatre background. I never found him inexperienced. He has great timing and understands the actors.

Read more from HERE

Tabu is Back...Updated with 'Toh Baat Pakki' Trailer

The talented actress will be seen in a Bollywood comedy releasing on Feb 19

It’s time to uncork the bubbly. Twotime National Award-winning actress Tabu, who’s been sorely missed by discerning cineastes, will be back on the silver screen on February 19 in producer Ramesh Taurani’s Toh Baat Pakki.
Says Ramesh, “The film is a slice-of-life comedy in the genre made by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee.’’
The first look of the film will unfold across satellite channels today, January 17, 2010, and the excitement around the project can be felt. TBP is directed by the talented Marathi film writer-director, Kedar Shinde, who had stormed the Marathi box office with Agabai Arrechya, Jatra, Majha Navra Tujhi Baiko and Galgale Nighale. About his Bollywood debut, Kedar says, “I’m grateful to Ramesh Taurani for giving me Tabu in my very first film. She’s hugely talented; and what’s more – she’s a very humble person. I just
loved wo rk - ing with her.’’
The actress herself says that she only green-lighted this project because her producers, Tips Films, categorically told her that if she wasn’t in the film, they would not make it. “It’s very flattering for an actor to hear that,’’ says Tabu, adding, “I agreed to this film because I haven’t done a comedy for a while. And, everything about Toh Baat Pakki felt right. My role and the script are fantastic, like it was in Biwi No 1.’’
Tabu has also done comic capers like Hera Pheri and Chachi 420, but she says, “While these films were cult classics, my roles were not necessarily funny in both films. However, in TBP, I’ve got something that I wanted.’’
Kedar, according to her, has made a sensible comedy. “There’s nothing outlandish or over-the-top here.’’ She also feels that since Kedar has a stage background, he is able to control performances and works around things like a pro.
Of her two co-stars, she feels Sharman Joshi is super talented, very committed and a fab costar. Vatsal Sheth is a kid, always up to pranks, but she loved the energy he brought on the sets.
So look at Toh Baat Pakki any which way… and it looks poised to be a winner.

SOURCE - DELHI TIMES (The Times of India) DATED 17th January, 2010

TRAILER OF 'TOH BAAT PAKKI'

Tabu is Back...Updated with 'Toh Baat Pakki' Trailer

The talented actress will be seen in a Bollywood comedy releasing on Feb 19

It’s time to uncork the bubbly. Twotime National Award-winning actress Tabu, who’s been sorely missed by discerning cineastes, will be back on the silver screen on February 19 in producer Ramesh Taurani’s Toh Baat Pakki.
Says Ramesh, “The film is a slice-of-life comedy in the genre made by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee.’’
The first look of the film will unfold across satellite channels today, January 17, 2010, and the excitement around the project can be felt. TBP is directed by the talented Marathi film writer-director, Kedar Shinde, who had stormed the Marathi box office with Agabai Arrechya, Jatra, Majha Navra Tujhi Baiko and Galgale Nighale. About his Bollywood debut, Kedar says, “I’m grateful to Ramesh Taurani for giving me Tabu in my very first film. She’s hugely talented; and what’s more – she’s a very humble person. I just
loved wo rk - ing with her.’’
The actress herself says that she only green-lighted this project because her producers, Tips Films, categorically told her that if she wasn’t in the film, they would not make it. “It’s very flattering for an actor to hear that,’’ says Tabu, adding, “I agreed to this film because I haven’t done a comedy for a while. And, everything about Toh Baat Pakki felt right. My role and the script are fantastic, like it was in Biwi No 1.’’
Tabu has also done comic capers like Hera Pheri and Chachi 420, but she says, “While these films were cult classics, my roles were not necessarily funny in both films. However, in TBP, I’ve got something that I wanted.’’
Kedar, according to her, has made a sensible comedy. “There’s nothing outlandish or over-the-top here.’’ She also feels that since Kedar has a stage background, he is able to control performances and works around things like a pro.
Of her two co-stars, she feels Sharman Joshi is super talented, very committed and a fab costar. Vatsal Sheth is a kid, always up to pranks, but she loved the energy he brought on the sets.
So look at Toh Baat Pakki any which way… and it looks poised to be a winner.

SOURCE - DELHI TIMES (The Times of India) DATED 17th January, 2010

TRAILER OF 'TOH BAAT PAKKI'

News of the day!

Hurt Locker,' 'Nine' top Satellite Awards

Summit's "The Hurt Locker" and the Weinstein Co.'s "Nine" were named best drama and musical, respectively, at the International Press Academy's 14th Satellite Awards.

The event, held Sunday at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, handed out its top dramatic acting honors to Jeremy Renner ("Locker") and Shoreh Aghdashloo ("The Stoning of Soraya M."). Comedy/musical acting laurels went to Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia" and Michael Stuhlbarg for "A Serious Man."

Rounding up the usual suspects, the group hailed supporting players Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds" and Mo'Nique for "Precious."

Kathryn Bigelow was named best director for "Locker."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b56ce59767cc88d49f?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - Christoph Waltz you rock!


Balki-Tabu fall out

All's not well between the mentor and his muse. Balki and Tabu never got along during the making of Cheeni Kum, and now are not even on talking terms.

It seems that Tabu was upset that Balki didn't have even inform her he was working with Vidya instead of her.

Tabu was under the impression that he would be repeat her in his next going by the success of their first film.

However, not only did Balki opt for another actress, we hear she wasn't even on his guest list for the film's premiere until someone pointed out the anomaly.

Despite being invited, Tabu ditched the event and decided to head to the US for the holidays instead. Last heard the actress hasn't watched Paa and has no intentions to do so either!

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2009/dec/221209-informer-2.htm

OUR TAKE - Balki who?


'Avatar' poised to earn several Oscar noms

Since June, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opened up the best picture race to 10 nominees, Oscar has been waiting for a knight in shining boxoffice armor -- preferably a "Dark Knight": a boxoffice powerhouse with strong critical credentials.

A large part of the rationale for opting for an Oscar Top 10 was the hope that Academy voters would embrace mainstream hits, thereby expanding the potential audience for the broadcast while avoiding the cries of protest from jilted fanboys who felt robbed when "The Dark Knight" failed to earn a best picture nomination last time around.

But then another "Dark Knight" failed to immediately materialize.
......

But just when it appeared that a whole host of smaller, specialty films were lining up to fill the available slots -- in the process, undermining the Academy's attempt to reach out to a wider audience -- Fox's "Avatar," with a veritable flourish of trumpets, has ridden to the rescue.
.......

Since 1977's "Star Wars," only 1982's "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and the three "Lord of the Rings" movies at the beginning of this decade have made that select list of nominees. A movie like 1993's "Jurassic Park" -- groundbreaking in its day -- had to settle for visual effects and two sound noms, all of which it won.

Right now, "Avatar" is looking like it will join that club -- and potentially attract lots of self-proclaimed Avartards to the March 7 Oscar broadcast as well.

Adam Shankman, who's producing the show with Bill Mechanic, certainly was jazzed when he tweeted early Monday: " 'Avatar' is not only brilliant but has the most powerful environmental message of the year. Amazing. Game-changer."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b5d8c0e8f768154290?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - yet to see if it is all that!

Fox going yellow for 'Simpsons' anniversary

Fox is going yellow for the home stretch of its "Simpsons" 20th anniversary celebration.

For the week beginning Jan. 3, graphical elements across Fox properties will turn yellow in honor of Matt Groening's iconic characters. That means on-air graphics, Fox's Web sites, social network pages and special on-air promos -- all in yellow, along with a range of other stunts (such as local Fox news anchors wearing yellow ties).

The move is part of the final push of what's been an extensive "Simpsons" marketing push to honor the series, which concludes with a Jan. 10 one-hour documentary special on the show directed by Morgan Spurlock. Right before the doc, "Simpsons" will air its 450th episode.

"We always knew at the end of the campaign we'd go yellow," said Fox executive vp marketing Joe Earley, who has led the year-and-half campaign. The effort has included on-air scavenger hunts, contests for viewers to create their own posters and "couch gag," and even the "Simpsons" receiving their own postage stamps.

It's rare for a network to put such an extensive marketing effort behind a veteran series. It's not as if "Simpsons" is even Fox's highest-rated program on Sundays (that honor goes to "Family Guy). Earley points out that any uniqueness in the campaign is matched by the show's accomplishments.

" 'The Simpsons' is not only a Fox icon, it's a cultural icon worldwide," Earley said. "For a show to hit its 20th anniversary in today's universe is such a feat, and it still has such a resonance in the zeitgeist. The show has viewers who have viewed it for three generations. Besides, it's such a creative property that it's fun to come up with ideas for it."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b576f351d5034be72c?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - I am pulling out my yellow shirt for the event!

Starz renews 'Spartacus' before it premieres

Starz is renewing its upcoming action-drama "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" -- and the series hasn't even premiered yet.

Starz called the move "a bold vote of confidence."

"We couldn't be happier with the first season," said Starz Entertainment EVP, Programming, Stephan Shelanski. "'Spartacus' delivers on all levels – action, characters, intrigue, romance and excitement. 'Spartacus' is the most ambitious original project we've ever undertaken, and speaks to the commitment to our subscribers to provide truly original programming along with our unmatched lineup of theatrical features."

The network is debuting the bloody spectacle, which uses the graphic novel style of films like "300," on Jan. 22. The second season will be titled, "Spartacus: Vengeance."

This isn't the first time a network has renewed a show before its series debut. Showtime made headlines by ordering a second season of its Hank Azaria drama "Huff" before its debut (and the series only lasted two seasons). Though such a move does indeed show confidence, it can also reduce costs by preventing a break in production.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b57de1b731633f5405?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - men in skirts? Sadly it is NOT BRAD PITT :-(

TRADE TALK – ‘My Name Is Khan’: First Look Unveiled

The first look of My Name Is Khan, which was shown to the media at 9.45 p.m., was unveiled to the public in India on all the channels of Star TV at 10 p.m. the same day. The first trailer of one of the most expensive films of Bollywood was thereafter beamed in 70 countries, at 10 p.m. in each of them. The simultaneous worldwide release of the promotional trailer (it was viewed in 70 countries in a matter of 24 hours, due to variations in time in the different countries) was planned because the worldwide distributors of the film, Twen­tieth Century Fox, will release …Khan the world over on 14th February next year. In other words, a host of countries where Hindi films are not released traditionally, will see Khan hitting their cine­mas on the same day as it is relea­sed in India and the traditional Over­seas markets like the USA and the UK.
Twentieth Century Fox was repre­sented at the party by Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India, and Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios.
Indeed, the trailer was appreciated so much by those present at the party and similarly by the public later that it seems, the film will get an unprecedented opening when it hits the screens next year.

http://www.thefilmstreetjournal.com/2009/12/trade%E2%80%88talk-‘my-name-is-khan’-first-look-unveiled/

OUR TAKE - AMEN BABY!

RANBIR LAUNCHES THE WUS DVD AND CREATES A HUNGAMA!!

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/broadband/video/Parties-and-Events/JRQpeE93/3/Ranbir-Launches-Wake-Up-Sid-DVD.html

OUR TAKE - SID ROCKS TOO!!

The Turkey awards 2009!

http://www.filmfare.com/articles/the-turkey-awards-2009-291.html

OUR TAKE - Lots of categories and AKKI a winner more than once – way to go!

BOND 23 to have a shocking story!

I’m still reeling from the crushingly disappointing Quantum of Solace, but I’m continuing to hope for the best regarding future Daniel Craig Bond outings. And if we’re to believe Bond 23 (the film is still untitled) scribe Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland), the next entry in the franchise may be different than the typical Bond film. Speaking to Bond fansite MI6, Morgan said that the next Bond film has a “shocking story.” It’s easy to read a lot into such a short statement, but as the first real bit of news about the next Bond film, it’s making me hopeful that it’ll resemble Casino Royale more so than Quantum.
Morgan is writing the script along with Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, but it’s Morgan’s involvement in particular that’s making me hopeful about Bond 23. While Purvis, Wade, and Paul Haggis succeeded in writing one of the best action films of the past few decades with Casino Royale, they sort of missed the mark with Quantum’s script. (To be fair, much of the blame regarding that film’s failures should go to director Marc Forster.) Morgan is undoubtedly a better writer than Haggis, which makes prospects for Bond 23’s script good overall.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/20/bond-23-to-have-a-shocking-story-says-screenwriter-peter-morgan/

OUR TAKE - anything would be better than Quantum of Boredom!

'Love Aaj Kal' bags 15 nominations at Apsara awards

Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer "Love Aaj Kal" has bagged 15 nominations for the 5th Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards to be held here Jan 8 next year.

"Love Aaj Kal" has been nominated for awards in various categories, including best film, best director (Imtiaz Ali), best actor in a leading role (Saif), best actress in a leading role (Deepika), best female singer, best male singer, et al.

The film is about the essence of love that never changes despite time and space difference. It raked in Rs.8 crore (Rs.80 million) on its opening day.

A total of 24 films have been nominated in various categories, including "Kaminey", "Wake Up Sid", "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" and "Ghajini" for the Apsara awards.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Chitrakoot Grounds, Andheri, here.

http://movies.indiatimes.com/News/Love-Aaj-Kal-bags-15-nominations-at-Apsara-awards/articleshow/5340651.cms

OUR TAKE - Apsara what? Do they make up news like this?

News of the day!

Hurt Locker,' 'Nine' top Satellite Awards

Summit's "The Hurt Locker" and the Weinstein Co.'s "Nine" were named best drama and musical, respectively, at the International Press Academy's 14th Satellite Awards.

The event, held Sunday at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, handed out its top dramatic acting honors to Jeremy Renner ("Locker") and Shoreh Aghdashloo ("The Stoning of Soraya M."). Comedy/musical acting laurels went to Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia" and Michael Stuhlbarg for "A Serious Man."

Rounding up the usual suspects, the group hailed supporting players Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds" and Mo'Nique for "Precious."

Kathryn Bigelow was named best director for "Locker."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b56ce59767cc88d49f?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - Christoph Waltz you rock!


Balki-Tabu fall out

All's not well between the mentor and his muse. Balki and Tabu never got along during the making of Cheeni Kum, and now are not even on talking terms.

It seems that Tabu was upset that Balki didn't have even inform her he was working with Vidya instead of her.

Tabu was under the impression that he would be repeat her in his next going by the success of their first film.

However, not only did Balki opt for another actress, we hear she wasn't even on his guest list for the film's premiere until someone pointed out the anomaly.

Despite being invited, Tabu ditched the event and decided to head to the US for the holidays instead. Last heard the actress hasn't watched Paa and has no intentions to do so either!

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2009/dec/221209-informer-2.htm

OUR TAKE - Balki who?


'Avatar' poised to earn several Oscar noms

Since June, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opened up the best picture race to 10 nominees, Oscar has been waiting for a knight in shining boxoffice armor -- preferably a "Dark Knight": a boxoffice powerhouse with strong critical credentials.

A large part of the rationale for opting for an Oscar Top 10 was the hope that Academy voters would embrace mainstream hits, thereby expanding the potential audience for the broadcast while avoiding the cries of protest from jilted fanboys who felt robbed when "The Dark Knight" failed to earn a best picture nomination last time around.

But then another "Dark Knight" failed to immediately materialize.
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But just when it appeared that a whole host of smaller, specialty films were lining up to fill the available slots -- in the process, undermining the Academy's attempt to reach out to a wider audience -- Fox's "Avatar," with a veritable flourish of trumpets, has ridden to the rescue.
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Since 1977's "Star Wars," only 1982's "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and the three "Lord of the Rings" movies at the beginning of this decade have made that select list of nominees. A movie like 1993's "Jurassic Park" -- groundbreaking in its day -- had to settle for visual effects and two sound noms, all of which it won.

Right now, "Avatar" is looking like it will join that club -- and potentially attract lots of self-proclaimed Avartards to the March 7 Oscar broadcast as well.

Adam Shankman, who's producing the show with Bill Mechanic, certainly was jazzed when he tweeted early Monday: " 'Avatar' is not only brilliant but has the most powerful environmental message of the year. Amazing. Game-changer."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b5d8c0e8f768154290?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - yet to see if it is all that!

Fox going yellow for 'Simpsons' anniversary

Fox is going yellow for the home stretch of its "Simpsons" 20th anniversary celebration.

For the week beginning Jan. 3, graphical elements across Fox properties will turn yellow in honor of Matt Groening's iconic characters. That means on-air graphics, Fox's Web sites, social network pages and special on-air promos -- all in yellow, along with a range of other stunts (such as local Fox news anchors wearing yellow ties).

The move is part of the final push of what's been an extensive "Simpsons" marketing push to honor the series, which concludes with a Jan. 10 one-hour documentary special on the show directed by Morgan Spurlock. Right before the doc, "Simpsons" will air its 450th episode.

"We always knew at the end of the campaign we'd go yellow," said Fox executive vp marketing Joe Earley, who has led the year-and-half campaign. The effort has included on-air scavenger hunts, contests for viewers to create their own posters and "couch gag," and even the "Simpsons" receiving their own postage stamps.

It's rare for a network to put such an extensive marketing effort behind a veteran series. It's not as if "Simpsons" is even Fox's highest-rated program on Sundays (that honor goes to "Family Guy). Earley points out that any uniqueness in the campaign is matched by the show's accomplishments.

" 'The Simpsons' is not only a Fox icon, it's a cultural icon worldwide," Earley said. "For a show to hit its 20th anniversary in today's universe is such a feat, and it still has such a resonance in the zeitgeist. The show has viewers who have viewed it for three generations. Besides, it's such a creative property that it's fun to come up with ideas for it."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b576f351d5034be72c?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - I am pulling out my yellow shirt for the event!

Starz renews 'Spartacus' before it premieres

Starz is renewing its upcoming action-drama "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" -- and the series hasn't even premiered yet.

Starz called the move "a bold vote of confidence."

"We couldn't be happier with the first season," said Starz Entertainment EVP, Programming, Stephan Shelanski. "'Spartacus' delivers on all levels – action, characters, intrigue, romance and excitement. 'Spartacus' is the most ambitious original project we've ever undertaken, and speaks to the commitment to our subscribers to provide truly original programming along with our unmatched lineup of theatrical features."

The network is debuting the bloody spectacle, which uses the graphic novel style of films like "300," on Jan. 22. The second season will be titled, "Spartacus: Vengeance."

This isn't the first time a network has renewed a show before its series debut. Showtime made headlines by ordering a second season of its Hank Azaria drama "Huff" before its debut (and the series only lasted two seasons). Though such a move does indeed show confidence, it can also reduce costs by preventing a break in production.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b57de1b731633f5405?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+News%29

OUR TAKE - men in skirts? Sadly it is NOT BRAD PITT :-(

TRADE TALK – ‘My Name Is Khan’: First Look Unveiled

The first look of My Name Is Khan, which was shown to the media at 9.45 p.m., was unveiled to the public in India on all the channels of Star TV at 10 p.m. the same day. The first trailer of one of the most expensive films of Bollywood was thereafter beamed in 70 countries, at 10 p.m. in each of them. The simultaneous worldwide release of the promotional trailer (it was viewed in 70 countries in a matter of 24 hours, due to variations in time in the different countries) was planned because the worldwide distributors of the film, Twen­tieth Century Fox, will release …Khan the world over on 14th February next year. In other words, a host of countries where Hindi films are not released traditionally, will see Khan hitting their cine­mas on the same day as it is relea­sed in India and the traditional Over­seas markets like the USA and the UK.
Twentieth Century Fox was repre­sented at the party by Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India, and Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios.
Indeed, the trailer was appreciated so much by those present at the party and similarly by the public later that it seems, the film will get an unprecedented opening when it hits the screens next year.

http://www.thefilmstreetjournal.com/2009/12/trade%E2%80%88talk-‘my-name-is-khan’-first-look-unveiled/

OUR TAKE - AMEN BABY!

RANBIR LAUNCHES THE WUS DVD AND CREATES A HUNGAMA!!

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/broadband/video/Parties-and-Events/JRQpeE93/3/Ranbir-Launches-Wake-Up-Sid-DVD.html

OUR TAKE - SID ROCKS TOO!!

The Turkey awards 2009!

http://www.filmfare.com/articles/the-turkey-awards-2009-291.html

OUR TAKE - Lots of categories and AKKI a winner more than once – way to go!

BOND 23 to have a shocking story!

I’m still reeling from the crushingly disappointing Quantum of Solace, but I’m continuing to hope for the best regarding future Daniel Craig Bond outings. And if we’re to believe Bond 23 (the film is still untitled) scribe Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland), the next entry in the franchise may be different than the typical Bond film. Speaking to Bond fansite MI6, Morgan said that the next Bond film has a “shocking story.” It’s easy to read a lot into such a short statement, but as the first real bit of news about the next Bond film, it’s making me hopeful that it’ll resemble Casino Royale more so than Quantum.
Morgan is writing the script along with Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, but it’s Morgan’s involvement in particular that’s making me hopeful about Bond 23. While Purvis, Wade, and Paul Haggis succeeded in writing one of the best action films of the past few decades with Casino Royale, they sort of missed the mark with Quantum’s script. (To be fair, much of the blame regarding that film’s failures should go to director Marc Forster.) Morgan is undoubtedly a better writer than Haggis, which makes prospects for Bond 23’s script good overall.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/20/bond-23-to-have-a-shocking-story-says-screenwriter-peter-morgan/

OUR TAKE - anything would be better than Quantum of Boredom!

'Love Aaj Kal' bags 15 nominations at Apsara awards

Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer "Love Aaj Kal" has bagged 15 nominations for the 5th Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards to be held here Jan 8 next year.

"Love Aaj Kal" has been nominated for awards in various categories, including best film, best director (Imtiaz Ali), best actor in a leading role (Saif), best actress in a leading role (Deepika), best female singer, best male singer, et al.

The film is about the essence of love that never changes despite time and space difference. It raked in Rs.8 crore (Rs.80 million) on its opening day.

A total of 24 films have been nominated in various categories, including "Kaminey", "Wake Up Sid", "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" and "Ghajini" for the Apsara awards.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Chitrakoot Grounds, Andheri, here.

http://movies.indiatimes.com/News/Love-Aaj-Kal-bags-15-nominations-at-Apsara-awards/articleshow/5340651.cms

OUR TAKE - Apsara what? Do they make up news like this?