When it comes to crafting music that tugs at heartstrings to evoke emotions of love, longing, and loss, few can match the prowess of Ed Sheeran. Ahead of the upcoming holidays, he releases a melancholic track for those who miss the presence of their loved ones during Christmas. Under the tree, part of Richard Curtis’ upcoming holiday movie That Christmas, slated to drop on Netflix on December 4, the ballad-like number, though sonically simple, is evocative. “This song is written about a character in the film who wants to spend Christmas with his dad, but doesn’t get to. It’s a heartbreaking scene, and something so many people go through every year, being alone at Christmas,” wrote Sheeran alongside a video that combines a clip from the animated film with a live-action version featuring the singer and actress Claudia Jessie of Bridgerton fame. On top of my playlist Vasuda Sharma, composer >> Bad guy (Billie Eilish): I like the song’s effortlessness, especially that of the hook line; it’s catchy and addictive. >> Lights up (Harry Styles): The song’s pre-chorus section has an unpredictable change in the chords. I love that. >> Bailgaadi (Sharma And The Besharams): The track has a laid-back groove, and the lyrics are fun. >> Tiny bit of sky (Blackstratblues): It has a lovely vibe. >> Shaabashiyan (Mangal Mission): This songs really uplifts my spirit. I love the hook-line too.
02 December,2024 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamBob Bryar, the drummer who played with rock band, My Chemical Romance (MCR), for several years, passed away at the age of 44, Deadline reported. The musician's body was found at his home in Tennessee on Tuesday, after last seen alive on November 4. According to law enforcement, Bryar's body was found badly decomposed, but no foul play is suspected as all of his weapons were found untouched. The cause of death is still under investigation, reported Deadline. Bryar was born on December 31, 1979, in Chicago. He began drumming at a young age and went on to study sound engineering at the University of Florida. His big break came in 2004 when he met My Chemical Romance while touring as a sound engineer for The Used. Bryar soon replaced founding drummer Matt Pelissier and became the longest-running drummer for the band. Bryar was part of MCR during their rise to fame, playing on albums like The Black Parade (2006), Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (2010), and the compilation Conventional Weapons (2013). He left the band in 2010, and MCR disbanded in 2013. According to Deadline, soon after leaving the music industry, Bryar ventured into real estate in 2014 and retired from drumming in 2021, citing wrist issues. He had also become involved in dog rescue charities, and his two dogs were retrieved by animal control after his passing. (ANI) 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
01 December,2024 12:55 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress-singer Jennifer Lopez, who recently split from Hollywood star Ben Affleck, has shown her gratitude towards her fans for Thanksgiving. On Friday, November 29, the actress-singer, 55, posed with a large turkey in the kitchen for a Thanksgiving snap shared on Instagram, which showed her smiling while looking off camera, reports ‘People’ magazine. In the photo, JLo wore a floral embroidered sweater, statement earrings and her hair in a high ponytail. She wrote in the caption, "I hope everybody had a beautiful and Happy Thanksgiving. I am so incredibly grateful for all of you”. As per ‘People’, this year marks her first Thanksgiving since she filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, 52, in August after two years of marriage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) The documents listed their separation date as April 26, 2024. Affleck spent Thanksgiving with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 52, as the pair were pictured volunteering and serving meals to the homeless community in Los Angeles at The Midnight Mission annual Thanksgiving Street Fair. Every Thanksgiving, the non-profit organisation "hosts a celebration for thousands of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Skid Row", the website states, adding that the event includes a holiday meal and live entertainment. “They truly enjoy giving back to their community and cherishing quality time together as a family”, a source told ‘People’ of Affleck and Garner's outing. Affleck and Garner, who split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage before finalising their divorce three years later, appeared to be in good spirits as they posed with the non-profit organisation’s CEO, David Prentice, for a photo shared on Instagram. The couple, who share kids Violet Anne, 18, Seraphina Rose, 15, and Samuel, 12, together, donned matching Midnight Mission aprons in the picture. 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
01 December,2024 09:33 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSNotting Hill screenwriter Richard Curtis recently revealed that a potential mini-sequel to the film was rejected by actress Julia Roberts after she read the proposed plot, reported Deadline. According to Deadline, in an interview with IndieWire, Curtis shared that Roberts refused to participate in the project upon discovering that the sequel would depict her character, Anna Scott, divorcing Hugh Grant's William Thacker. Notting Hill is a 1999 romantic comedy film directed by Roger Michell. The story follows the blossoming romance between a British bookseller (Hugh Grant) and a famous American actress (Julia Roberts) who unexpectedly visits his bookstore in London's Notting Hill district. The film concluded with a happy ending, as the couple married. In the past, Curtis successfully reunited the cast of Love Actually for short British TV films produced for the annual Red Nose Day charity event. However, a similar effort for Notting Hill was met with resistance from Roberts. Curtis also admitted that he is not particularly interested in full-length sequels, stating, "I actually did four Red Nose Days and Comic Relief. We did those mini-sequels to Love Actually, and those satisfied me." He added, "A mini-Notting Hill reunion had been discussed. I tried doing one with Notting Hill, where they were going to get divorced, and Julia [Roberts] thought that was a very poor idea." Hugh Grant, reflecting on his role in Notting Hill, shared his own perspective on the character, describing him as "despicable." Grant referred to a particular scene in the film where paparazzi arrive at William's house, and Julia's character, Anna, opens the door. "I think I just let her go past me and open the door. That's awful. I've never had a girlfriend, or indeed now wife, who hasn't said, 'Why the hell didn't you stop her? What's wrong with you?' And I don't really have an answer to that -- it's how it was written. And I think he's despicable, really," Grant told Vanity Fair, as reported by Deadline. Julia Roberts, in addition to her role in Notting Hill, is celebrated for her work in films like Erin Brockovich, My Best Friend's Wedding, Pretty Woman, Ocean's Twelve, and others. 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
01 December,2024 08:41 AM IST | London | ANIPop star Justin Bieber and his model-entrepreneur wife Hailey Bieber welcomed their first child Jack Blues Bieber, in August. They recently shared an adorable picture of their son, reported E! News. In an adorable photo posted Hailey alongside her husband Justin Bieber smiled as she "cradled their baby boy Jack Blues Bieber, 3 months, on a family outing". She shared a series of pictures from the month of November and wrote in the caption, "November aka the best month of the year," reported E! News. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hailey Rhode Baldwin Bieber (@haileybieber) Justin and Hailey announced the birth of their first child on their social media accounts. Taking to his Instagram handle, Justin wrote, "WELCOME HOME JACK BLUES BIEBER." Hailey also shared the same photo to her Instagram Stories soon afterward with the child's name and a teddy bear and blue heart emoji. Pattie Mallette, Justin's mom, tweeted, "CONGRATULATIONS @justinbieber & Hailey. I LOVE YOU FOREVER BABY JACK!!" The couple first revealed that they were expecting a child in May 2024, announcing the good news on Instagram. A representative for Hailey shared that the model was just over six months pregnant at the time. The couple tied the knot in September 2018 in a New York City courthouse just two months after getting engaged. They later celebrated with a larger ceremony in front of family and friends, exchanging vows and Tiffany wedding bands as the sun set in Bluffton, South Carolina. 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
01 December,2024 07:40 AM IST | Washington | ANIOscar-nominated producer Adam Somner, who worked as an assistant director and producer alongside renowned filmmakers including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Alejandro Inarritu, and Ridley Scott, has passed away at the age of 57, Variety reported. He succumbed to thyroid cancer in Studio City. Somner's most recent project was as a producer and assistant director on Anderson's upcoming Warner Bros. film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He was also part of the production team for Anderson's Licorice Pizza, which earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Born in the United Kingdom, Somner began his career assisting on films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit? before transitioning to assistant directing. He served as the third assistant director on Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and went on to collaborate with Spielberg on numerous films, including West Side Story, Ready Player One, Lincoln, Munich, and War of the Worlds. Spielberg paid tribute to Somner, stating, "The job title 'assistant director' is insufficient to describe what Adam Somner was to me and the contribution he made to my films -- just as my left arm is more than just an assistant to my right. He worked as AD and producer, and he performed both of those tasks with equal measures of devotion. He loved making movies. He loved being on set. It was his gridiron. He was a cheerleader and ball carrier, and at times I couldn't tell if he was following my lead or I was following his." Spielberg continued, "He made everyone who joined the crew feel like they were part of the family. He was a uniter, and when things weren't going according to plan, his English working-class wit and humour could smooth over the problem with his under-the-breath cursing, laughter, and the backup plan he always seemed to have. He was an icon in his field and an inspiration to anyone pursuing a career in film production -- blending creativity and organisation. Returning to work without Adam will never be the same." Somner also collaborated with Ridley Scott on films such as Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, and Gladiator, among others. He is survived by his wife, Carmen Ruiz de Huidobro; his children, Olivia and Bosco; and his brother, Mark Somner, Variety reported. 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
01 December,2024 07:38 AM IST | Washington | ANIGlobal pop star Dua Lipa is in Mumbai for her much-anticipated debut concert at the MMRDA ground, and fans and celebrities were in for a treat when Dua started her concert. Remember, there was a time when Dua Lipa's song Levitating and Shah Rukh Khan's 'Woh Ladki Jo' mashup spread like wildfire, and today something historic happened when Dua herself sang the mashup during the live concert. The videos of the iconic moment are all over the internet, and fans are gushing over it. Dua Lipa actually performing on the SRK’s Wo Ladki Jo mashup is absolutely 🤯!! #DuaLipa #ShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/MN2vMCBr42 — Neel (@iamn3el) November 30, 2024 Dua Lipa performs Levitating x Wo Ladki Jo mashup While sharing the video on X, one fan wrote, "Pop queen Dua Lipa grooves to Bollywood king SRK’s 'Wo Ladki Jo' — iconic!" "HISTORIC! Dua Lipa performs to the mashup of Levitating x Haan Yaahaan Kadam Kadam Par Laakhon Haseenayein at the Mumbai concert," a page wrote. Another comment reads, "Dua Lipa performing a Levitating x Wo Ladki Jo mashup at the Zomato Feeding India Concert." One person shared, "Dua Lipa actually performing on the SRK’s 'Wo Ladki Jo' mashup is absolutely (mind-blowing emoji)!!" OMG Dua Lipa actually performed on Levitating and Shah Rukh Khan’s kadam kadam pe lakho haseena mashup at her Bandra Mumbai concert 😭♥️💃🔥 #DuaLipapic.twitter.com/qP9Fj5WJ54 — 👸Sharania Jhanvi𓀠 (@SharaniaJ) November 30, 2024 The lucky ones who got the chance to see this live were the fans, along with some high-profile celebrities. Celebs including Radhika Ambani, Ibrahim Khan, Neha Sharma, and Aisha Sharma are among those attending the grand concert. A few days ago, 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.
30 November,2024 11:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Christopher Nolan has praised Denis Villeneuve's directorial 'Dune: Part Two' and called it a "miraculous job of adaptation", reported Deadline. "Taking the second half and making an incredible conclusion to the story," said Nolan, adding, "What a remarkable piece of work." Nolan added, "If, to me, Dune was like Star Wars, then Dune 2 is The Empire Strikes Back, which is my favourite Star Wars film. I think it's just a great expansion of all that was introduced in the first one." "What I was really struck by is the sense of immersion in that world," he continued. Nolan shared, "It's a film that has so many unique images, so many things you've never seen before in this movie, time after time, and I was so struck by the detail of everything." Based on the second half of Frank Herbert's 1965 science-fiction novel, "Dune: Part Two" follows Timothee Chalamet's Paul Atreides as he joins the Fremen and strives to free the galaxy from the Harkonnen empire, which is responsible for his father's death. Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Lea Seydoux join the original cast of Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Stellan Skarsgard. The film's predecessor, 'Dune: Part One', received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won for original music, sound, film editing, cinematography, production design, and visual effects. The first film grossed over 400 million dollars at the global box office. Villeneuve shared that he plans to start filming the film franchise's third installment, based on Herbert's '69 novel Dune Messiah, in late 2025 or 2026, reported Deadline. 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
30 November,2024 08:09 AM IST | Washington | ANIHollywood star and singer Jennifer Lopez said that she didn’t feel like the “girl next door” and that there were not many roles for Latinas when she started out in her career. “I heard someone say that positive change is slow, and it is, but as long as we’re moving in the right direction, that is what matters. When I started, there weren’t a lot of roles for Latinas. I was auditioning for parts with accents and stereotypes. I kept thinking, ‘Why can’t I just play a romantic lead? Why can’t I be the girl next door?’ That belief—that conviction that I belonged—was what helped me break those moulds,” said Lopez in a podcast. The On the floor hitmaker came to prominence when she took on the title role of the tragic pop singer in the biopic, Selena (1997) before turning to a career in music herself. Lopez’s latest film, Unstoppable, tells the real-life story of Anthony Robles, a one-legged wrestler. 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
30 November,2024 08:07 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesPop sensation Justin Bieber is set to go on tour again, despite his poor health. The reason behind this decision is that his expenses have reportedly surpassed his income. The singer is said to be grappling with financial trouble while battling Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The condition had caused half of his face to become paralysed. It had also led to hearing difficulties and dizziness. After being diagnosed with the disease, Bieber cancelled several music tours in 2023. He has been undergoing treatment for some time. The pop star may be forced to go on tour to support his extravagant lifestyle. With $300 million allegedly mismanaged by his former team, Bieber hasn’t profited from touring since 2023 and hasn’t released a new album since 2021. A source revealed, “Justin may need to tour to generate income. He lives a lavish lifestyle, and due to it, he is on the brink of financial problems.” The pop star and his wife, Hailey Bieber, welcomed their son, Jack, in August. 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
30 November,2024 08:04 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesFilm: Woman of the Hour (Lionsgate) Cast: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Tony Hale, Nicolette Robinson, Autumn Best, Pete Holmes, Kathryn Gallagher, Kelley JakleDirector: Anna KendrickRating: 2.5/5Runtime: 94 min. Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, about a freak occurrence, where a serial killer is cast as one of the bachelors in a daytime TV dating game, is based on a true story. Written by Ian McDonald, the film details how serial rapist and killer Rodney Alcala(Daniel Zovatto) appeared on “The Dating Game” in 1978. The narrative is dramatised and segmented and the pacing is not exactly suited to a thriller experience. But Kendrick as lead actress, playing Sheryl, and taking on the role of director, does well to give us an inkling into the make-up of a wannabe actress, desperately looking for work and finding a spot as a contestant who matched with the serial killer on that fateful day. The narrative doesn’t have a steady gaze - moving between Alcala and his victims, Sheryl on the dating show, and Sheryl in her personal life. It feels scattered and ineffective because the movie can't seem to decide if it wants to focus on Sheryl, the dating show, or Alcala. The pacing of this film is deliberate, switching back and forth between time frames and victims. The non-chronological narration makes it hard to determine what has happened before or after the game show. The film is effective, in it’s brutal depiction of violence towards women and the sexism prevalent in the 70’s. Alcala’s eyes are a mirror to his corrupted soul and Zovatto does a good job portraying that. Daniel Zovatto’s eyes lulls women into a false sense of safety. You can see the shifts to predator mode, and the cruelty that suddenly comes to the fore. Kendrick makes sure we see the transition of the mild mannered man into an unimaginable monster. The game show portion feels under-cooked and doesn’t have the chill factor. Away from the show, we see Amy (Autumn Best), a teenage runaway who manages to escape from Alcala and ultimately call for his arrest. How she survives the ordeal is another thing altogether. Kendrick has made a slick ’70s-set thriller about a serial killer whose reign of terror lasted a decade and notched up a body count of over 800 victims. Kendrick’s film is a critique of the society that enabled Alcala. It’s about normalizing violence against women through sexism and misogyny. We’re never sure whether this is supposed to be the story of the killer, or his would-be-victim. But nevertheless, there are very effective handsomely shot sequences. Unfortunately, the uneven nature of the narrative makes the overall experience fall flat.
29 November,2024 06:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasADVERTISEMENT
