Cast: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash, Emily Yancy, Vera Farmiga Director: Ava DuVernayRating: 3/5Runtime: 141 min Ava DuVernay’s ambitious film, a challenging adaptation of a bestselling novel, explores the divisions of the world in a way we haven’t really seen before. “Origin,”attempts to reshape the discussion around race in the modern era. Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, is basically brought to life in a sweeping cinematic exploration of human history. This film is basically a drama about the writing of a non-fiction book. In the film, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor plays Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who while navigating deep personal loss uncovers the rigid caste structures of societies worldwide. Her journey spans Nazi Germany, India and the United States. The non-fiction nature of the source may mark this as a film that is different from the traditional but the theme, performances and score just about makes the experience unforgettable. ‘Origin’ is about the unspoken system that has shaped America but the exploration of words and their usage in broad terms is valid for the rest of the world too. ‘Origin’ basically chronicles how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. Following a sold-out public talk for her book The Warmth of Other Suns, her persistent editor Amari (Blair Underwood) asks the Pulitzer Prize-winning author to write about the murder of Trayvon Martin. Supported by her husband Brett (Jon Bernthal), Wilkerson begins to question the conditions that made it possible and how people responded to the incident. Then Wilkerson experiences acute grief when she loses the two people closest to her in her life. Thereafter She uses the initial ideas from her work on the Martin death to incorporate a worldwide investigation. In the process she examines how the structures that led to the Holocaust, the subjugation of the Dalits in India, and the slavery of Africans brought to the United States, have much in common. Her work eventually lead to the writing of the bestseller “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” In the process of her research Isabel ventures to India to meet with Dalit professor Suraj Yengde (as himself) to learn more about the Dalit activist Bhimrao Ambedkar (Gaurav J. Pathania). “Origin” is a journalistic film in which we see a Black woman in a profession that is dominated by white people. Ellis-Taylor’s creation conveys the deep intellectual pursuits of Wilkerson on journeys to Germany and India with deep emotional heft. The final scenes of “Origin” are powerfully impactful as Wilkerson’s narrative exposes everything vile about castes in this world. The film’s greatest strength lies in its ambition. The film tackles weighty themes with unflinching honesty. Brutal historical reenactments force us to confront the ugly truths about humanity’s capacity for cruelty. The narrative structure feels disjointed at times, jumping between timelines and locations. The film also leans heavily on dialogue. Despite the academic nature of the subject ‘Origin’ manages to envision a drama that makes ‘Love’ the essential for confronting or wiping out all the hate in this world.
28 December,2024 06:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Kiernan Shipka, Mary Elizabeth EllisDirector: Jake KasdanRating: 2.5/5Runtime: 124 min. This ambitious $250 million adventure with the Christmas myth has a sprawling scale but there’s very little to cheer about. Amazon MGM’s action-adventure Christmas film is a modern take on the Jolly ole St Nick myth but the re-imagined version and modern tech on display is not the kind of entertainment that tradition loving cine goers are likely to cotton on to. The scale is bigger but not better even though the narrative spreads itself all around the globe, has A-list stars, and reindeer with the ability to hyperspace travel. Santa Claus is a sculpted, bench-pressing, cookie loving mythological being that exists and he is under the watchful eye of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (MORA) - obviously an expansive build-up for a cinematic universe of its own. This Santa is decidedly different. He’s a Santa we’ve never seen before. He and his reindeer even get escorted out of Philadelphia back to the North Pole by fighter jets. He even has a military-industrial complex to call his own alongwith protectors aided by the latest tech - the kind we’ve never seen before. Saint Nick believes delivering presents is a matter of physical skill and prowess. So gift delivery is rehearsed and choreographed, for 364 days a year. The North Pole is a domed super-city with advanced technological capabilities, staffed with elves. Santa even has a Mrs. Claus (Bonnie Hunt) to greet him before diving into his regular routine.There are talking penguins and a burly polar bear and Morgan’s screenplay incorporates the Icelandic legend of Christmas Witch Grýla (Kiernan Shipka), a 900-year-old shapeshifter who transforms from a hideous ogress into a diabolical villainess. The head of North Pole security, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), confides to Santa that he’d like to retire after this year’s Christmas run, having lost faith in their mission. But soon after that, Santa is kidnapped and renowned hacker Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) appears to be involved. The winter witch, Grýla (Kiernan Shipka), thinks Kris Kringle has gone soft, decides to take matters into her own hands and punish everyone on his Naughty List. So Callum and Jack have to reluctantly team up to find Santa and stop Grýla as the world faces the possibility of Christmas getting obliterated altogether. Lucy Liu, who plays the director of MORA, is mostly seen barking orders and doing the occasional fight scene. It’s a real pity that she has nothing much to do in this film. Santa’s Christmas Eve run, presented in detail, a delightful mix magic and sci-fi elements is great fun. But the rest of the film is just chaotic. Chris Evans, plays his role with surprising flair. Dwayne Johnson, on the other hand, seems to be in routine bodyguard mode. The message that kindness will overcome the “naughty” forces of the world doesn’t hit home strongly enough. “Red One” has some interesting ideas but it lacks the narrative depth or an expansive script to fully explore that aspect. Too much money has been wasted on adventure like thrills that just don’t generate much adrenaline. The action is picturised in sloppy fashion. There’s not much thrill to be had here.
28 December,2024 06:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasKeanu Reeves, the beloved action star behind the iconic John Wick franchise, has expressed mixed feelings about the possibility of returning for a fifth instalment of the hit series.While his heart may be willing, his body, specifically his knees, might not be up for the challenge.As per People magazine, in a recent interview to promote his role as the villain Shadow in 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3', the 60-year-old actor was asked whether he would consider returning for another 'John Wick' film.His response was candid, revealing the physical toll that playing the iconic assassin has taken over the years."You can never say never, but my knees right now are saying, 'You can't do another John Wick,'" Reeves shared, as per People magazine.Although the actor expressed a deep fondness for the role that has made him a global icon, he admitted that the physical demands of the part are becoming increasingly difficult to handle."So my heart wants to, but I don't know if my knees can do it," he said.Despite this, Reeves remains involved in the 'John Wick' universe. He will reprise his role as the legendary hitman in a cameo for the upcoming spinoff 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina', which is set to hit theatres on June 6.In the 'Ballerina' film, Reeves' character will appear briefly alongside a new cast, including Cisely Saldivar and Ana de Armas.The 'John Wick' franchise, which began with the 2014 film, has become one of the most successful action series of all time.The first film introduced Reeves as a retired hitman seeking revenge for the death of his beloved dog, and it quickly garnered a loyal fanbase.Its success led to three sequels, and the franchise as a whole has grossed over USD 1 billion worldwide, according to People magazine.Along with the films, the 'John Wick' universe has expanded to include a prequel series, 'The Continental', as well as video games and comic books.In a recent interview to mark the 10th anniversary of the original 'John Wick', co-director Chad Stahelski praised Reeves for his dedication and integral role in the franchise's success."Could you have done John Wick without Keanu?" Stahelski asked rhetorically, answering, "No, not the way you see it."He went on to describe Reeves' commitment on set, noting that he is always the first to arrive and the last to leave, as per People magazine.David Leitch, the franchise's co-director, also shared his admiration for Reeves, emphasizing the emotional depth he brings to the character."There really is no other person that could play John Wick," Leitch said, adding, "He brings, obviously, the passion, the physicality, and there's just this undeniable emotional quality to him, where you feel for him and he pulls at your heartstrings," as per People magazine. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIVeteran actor Geoffrey Deuel, best known for portraying famed outlaw Billy the Kid in the 1970 John Wayne vehicle Chisum, has passed away. He was 81. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Geoffrey Deuel died on December 22 in hospice care in Largo, Florida, after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His wife Jacqueline Deuel confirmed the news of his demise to the portal. Deuel appeared on many TV shows from the mid-1960s through the mid-'70s, showing up on The Monkees, The Invaders, The FBI, The Flying Nun, Medical Center, Mannix, Adam-12, The Mod Squad, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco, Ironside, Cannon and The Young and the Restless, among others. Geoffrey Jacob Deuel was born in Lockport, New York, on Jan. 17, 1943, and raised in nearby Penfield. His father, Ellsworth, was a doctor and his mother, Lillian, a nurse. In the 1980s, Deuel performed in plays in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood and returned to school to earn a master's degree from the University of South Florida. He worked for years as a substitute teacher. He is survived by his wife - whom he married in 2017 after four decades of being together - and younger sister, Pamela. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 07:48 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIActor Jennifer Lopez's latest Instagram post shows her fun-filled Christmas holidays spent with kids in Aspen, Colorado. Lopez, 55, her 16-year-old child Emme and her niece Lucie, also 16, huddled up together with some toasty coffees while seated on an outdoor bench in a carousel of photos posted to the singer's Instagram, as per Page Six. She captioned the post with snowflakes and a snowman emoji. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) Lopez could be seen donning a large fur hood and matching boots as she sat beside her offspring, who also kept warm in a puffy jacket. In another image, the proud mom captured her kid wearing red plaid pyjamas while opening presents under their family's luminous Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, she shared a glimpse inside the group's celebration, during which she and her kids and sister gathered around a fireplace for a cozy evening inside. Meanwhile, on the work front, Lopez will be next seen in a biographical sports drama film titled 'Unstoppable'. She will be playing the role of Judy Robles, the mother of NCAA wrestling champion Anthony Robles.The film is based on the real-life story of Anthony Roble, a one-legged wrestler who defied all odds to become a champion. Directed by debutant Villy Goldenberg, the film stars Jharrel Jerome in the lead role.'Unstoppable' will be released on January 16 on Amazon Prime Video. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 07:47 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIHours after reports of Dua Lipa being engaged to boyfriend Callum Turner surfaced in the media, the singer posted a series of pictures from her Christmas party. Dua prepared a Turkey all by herself for the occasion and flexed her cooking skills on Instagram. The photos show her in a white ensemble with a Santa hat. She wrote in the caption, “Christmas was vvvv cute. The turkey was some of my best work.” Dua Lipa is engaged to her boyfriend Callum Turner Reports of Dua Lipa’s engagement to Callum Turner were fuelled by British media as many outlets pointed out the presence of a ring in the singer’s holiday photo dump. Some also reported that Callum went down on one knee around Christmas at a private ceremony to deliver the sweetest proposal. Dua made her relationship with actor Callum Turner official in July after months of speculation. Despite their public appearances, both Dua and Callum have remained tight-lipped about the details of their relationship. Dua, known for her fiercely guarded privacy, previously expressed the importance of keeping her personal life shielded from the public eye, cherishing the intimacy of her inner circle. About Dua Lipa Dua Lipa is one of the most loved singers of the current generation. Her accolades include seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards. Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024. She worked as a model before venturing into music and signing with Warner Bros. in 2014. She released her eponymous debut album in 2017, which peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and spawned the singles ‘Be the One’, ‘IDGAF’, and the UK number-one single ‘New Rules’. She was honoured with the Brit Awards for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act in 2018. Dua was recently in Mumbai for the Zomato Feeding India Concert. Her performance on the mashup of Levitating x Wo Ladki Jo (from Shah Rukh Khan’s film Baadshah) turned out to be the highlight. This was Dua's third visit to India, following her performance in 2019 and her recent vacation in Rajasthan earlier this year.
27 December,2024 10:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilm: Culpa Tuya (Your Fault) Cast: Nicole Wallace, Gabriel Guevara, Iván Sánchez, Marta Hazas, Eva Ruiz, Víctor Varona, Gabriela Andrada, Alex Bejar Director: Domingo González Rating: 1.5 stars Runtime: 120 min Scripted by Domingo González & Sofía Cuenca ‘Your Fault’ is a Spanish romantic-drama about a forbidden love story and is based on a Wattpad story. The film is based on the second novel in the Culpables trilogy, Culpa Tuya, by Mercedes Ron, and is a sequel to My Fault (Culpa Mía). You can also expect a prospective finale in Our Fault (Culpa Nuestra) since this is intended as a trilogy. Step-siblings Noah (Nicole Wallace) and Nick (Gabriel Guevara) struggle to maintain their forbidden romance despite their parents’ attempts to separate them. As Noah begins university and Nick focuses on his professional career, their lives get entangled in new challenges. The reappearance of Nick’s vindictive ex-girlfriend and the ambiguous intentions of his mother further strain their relationship, threaten to unravel their bond, and disrupt the dynamics of the Leister family. This sequel to the popular Amazon Prime hit finds the same parents continue aggressively in their efforts to stop the young lovers romancing in glamorous locations. Sultry intern Sofia (Gabriela Andrada) is one of the lures that is being dangled below Nick’s nose while Noah’s interest in illegal drag-racing could also become a deal breaker. This is basically a stereotypical romantic drama with no humor or nuance. The performances are wooden and the treatment doesn’t allow for any great affection. But since ‘My Fault’ was well received, this one is also likely to see the same fate. Moreover, Prime Video appears to have latched on to this without much thought mainly because the viewers were already in the bag!
27 December,2024 06:05 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasFilm: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Cast: Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, Lauren Graham, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez, Kynlee Heiman, Matthew Lamb, Beatrice Schneider Director: Dallas Jenkins Rating: 3 stars Runtime: 99 mins Director Dallas Jenkins’ adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s 1972 book about the “worst children in the world” taking all the lead roles in a church Christmas pageant, conveys the message of Christmas with a warm-hearted depiction of kindness and hope. Narrated by an adult Beth (Lauren Graham) who gets right to the point, “The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied, they stole, they smoked cigars. They hit little kids, took the Lord’s name in vain. dissed teachers, even set fire to the tool shed.” Ralph (Mason D. Nelligan), Leroy (Ewan Wood), Claude (Matthew Lamb), Ollie (Essek Moore), Gladys (Kynlee Heiman), and Imogen (Beatrice Schneider) are hellions whose shenanigans range from offensive to downright harmful. The picture is clear. They are ruffians with no chance of redemption. Then we see a young Beth (Molly Belle Wright) being bullied by Imogen Herdman (Beatrice Schneider), into giving up her favorite necklace. Beth’s brother Charlie (Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez), who has had to give up his dessert to the Herdmans, is angry and tells them an exaggerated story about all sorts of treats being distributed at church. And so, the Herdmans, ever on the lookout for goodies, show up just as Grace(Judy Greer) is casting the pageant. Beth’s mother, Grace has taken charge of the pageant, the biggest event of the year for the church and the small community. But the community would rather have the Herdmans out of it and Grace has her job cut out to keep them all happy. Grace tries to educate the clueless Herdmans about the Nativity, and they seem captivated. Being bullies, they want to take over all the main roles and keep the others out. Grace Has no option but to let them hog the show. Imogene is cast as Mary, one brother as Joseph, her younger three brothers as the wise men, and their youngest sister, Gladys (Kynlee Heiman) as the angel who calls to the shepherds. So the stage is set for the pageant and everyone expects the entire event to end up in a fiasco. But to their surprise, they learn something new from the entire experience. The community learns from the Herdmans just as the Herdmans learn from the community. Robinson’s book, an enduring classic, shared by families over generations, has stereotypical characters like naughty kids, a loving family, and tender moments portrayed with the aim of bringing out the benefits of kindness and inclusion. The message of Jesus to welcome those who are not welcome anywhere else comes through quite succinctly. The Ecclesiastical Spin was expected. The story is set in a sort of ideal sitcom-like setting designed by Jean-Andre Carriere. This is a film conveying a strong message and it's done lightly, highlighting humor, warmth, generosity. The movie ends with the success of the pageant but for a true Christian, the worry is whether the Herdmans got the support they needed for a successful and productive life. The end credit update does inform us about their successes but it does not seem enough. After all, we are talking about kids who have had to live by their wits and find succour for themselves. A little bit more about how they achieved that with help from the community might have made the filmed experience more powerful. Nevertheless, this is an uplifting tale soaked in sentiment and tinged with nostalgia.
27 December,2024 06:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasDua Lipa is engaged to her boyfriend Callum Turner, reportedly. If reports are to be believed, the Levitating singer has gotten engaged to Callum Turner within a year of dating him. The rumours of the Levitating singer being in a relationship with Callum Turner came in January of this year, and now within a year of such rumours surfacing on social media, a new update has it that Callum finally asked the question Dua that she has been waiting for. In a private ceremony, which was held around Christmas, Dua got the sweetest proposal in an intimate New Year's Eve bash. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DUA LIPA (@dualipa) Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are engaged The report in the British press states that Callum Turner has proposed to Dua Lipa for marriage, and the pop star has said yes to the proposal. Though the couple hasn't opened up about their engagement and are yet to officialise the news, Dua's post from the couple's Christmas celebration has subtly announced that she and Turner are now an engaged couple. While sharing the post on her Instagram, the pop star wrote, "Home for the holidays sending you all so much love." In a few of the pictures that she has shared on her Instagram, we could see a huge diamond sitting beautifully on Dua's ring finger. Dua Lipa visited Mumbai Global pop star Dua Lipa recently visited Mumbai for her debut at the MMRDA ground. During her concert in the city, she created history when she sang the mashup of Levitating and Woh Ladki Jo. Earlier, Dua spoke about the mashup of her song Levitating with Wo Ladki Jo Sabse Alag Hai from the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Baadshah. She admitted that she also heard the viral track at the time and was “blown away” by it. She called the mashup "amazing." Dua made her debut performance in the country back in November 2019. About Dua Lipa Dua Lipa is one of the most loved singers of the current generation. Her accolades include seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards. Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024. She worked as a model before venturing into music and signing with Warner Bros. in 2014. She released her eponymous debut album in 2017, which peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and spawned the singles Be the One, IDGAF, and the UK number-one single New Rules. She was honoured with the Brit Awards for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act in 2018.
27 December,2024 03:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChild artiste Hudson Meek, best known for his role in Baby Driver, passes away. He died on December 22 in Alabama after falling from a moving vehicle. He was 16, Variety reported. The news of his demise was shared on his Instagram. "Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight. His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met," the post read. The accident occurred Thursday night in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to local news site AL.com. Meek "sustained blunt force injuries after falling to the road from a moving vehicle," Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates told AL.com. Meek was taken to a hospital and died Saturday night. Vestavia Hills police are investigating his death, as per Variety. Hudson Meek rose to fame with his portrayal as a young version of Ansel Elgort's main character Baby, a professional getaway driver with a passion for music. He also appeared in "MacGyver," "The School Duet," "Genius," "Found," "Legacies," "Union," "Momma Jenny & the Brooks Boys," "Providence," "Half Pint," "90 Minutes," "The List" and "The Santa Con." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2024 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIPop icon Britney Spears, who often finds herself surrounded by controversies, is keeping drama out of her life. The singer-songwriter reunited with her youngest son for the first time in two years, reports Mirror.co.uk. Spears, 43, has been separated from Jayden, 18, and his brother Sean Preston, 19, since they went to live with their dad, Kevin Federline, in Hawaii. The Toxic hitmaker lost custody of her two boys in 2007 amid a mental breakdown that peaked with the pop star attacking paparazzi with her umbrella. As per Mirror.co.uk, when Spears and Federline’s divorce was finalised in June 2007, the pair initially reached an agreement to share custody of their kids. However, on August 28, 2019, the former couple agreed to new child custody arrangements before the boys went to live with Federline last year. However, Spears reunited with Jayden on Christmas Day in what the singer tearfully admitted was the “Best Christmas of my life”. Sharing pictures of her son smiling alongside her in a restaurant, Spears told her 42 million followers, “Best Christmas of my life! I haven’t seen my boys in 2 years. Tears of joy and literally in shock every day... I’m speechless, thank you Jesus”. The reunion comes shortly after it was reported earlier this month that the singer is working towards rebuilding her bond with Jayden and Sean Preston. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2024 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
