Film: 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 ThomasFilm: Wolfs ( Apple TV)Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Amy Ryan, Austin AbramsDirector: Jon WattsRating: 2/5Runtime: 108 min. Jon Watts who helmed the trilogy of Tom Holland Spider-Man movies manages to draw in A-listers George Clooney and Brad Pitt to star in ‘Wolfs.’ But other than the showboat actors, there’s really nothing to this tepid crime thriller that aims to score laughs by rubbing the actors up the wrong way. The comedy plays out as repetitive and tedious, the narrative has little to say, and the film basically relies on the chemistry between its stars. There’s no doubt that they are charismatic actors but a bad script like this can do them in too. Wolfs follows a pair of lone-wolf fixers who are brought in separately to clean up a very messy hotel room that features the apparent dead body of a nameless young man (Austin Abrams) who may have been a male prostitute. Reputed District Attorney Margaret (Amy Ryan), wants the night’s events in the hotel room, including the body, to disappear. So she calls in Fixer #1. Fixer #2 (Brad Pitt) is there because the new owner of the hotel, Pam, having seen what went on via an illegal camera, doesn’t want her hotel’s name besmirched. The two Fixers clash initially and later on decide to work together after the body they thought was dead suddenly wakes up alive and a bag of high quality drugs is found in his possession. Ryan is not seen after the 15-minute setup while Abrams plays dead for about 30 minutes then comes to life. So its mainly up to the stars to give this film some energy. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The nonstop stream of hostility and one-upmanship doesn’t drive home the point. It all feels rather meaningless when grappling with a situation that involves drugs and a dead body. The attempt to fashion a self-aware action comedy that takes New York noir stylishness seriously doesn’t quite work. The film is stilted. Save for the riveting chase through a snowy Chinatown there’s not much excitement here either. Pitt and Clooney, as developers and producers, should have realised that this film is too slight to curry favor with a paying audience. Nearly every joke boils down to the rivals developing the exact same tactics. Sony had plans to release this film in the theatres but at the last minute decided on a straight to Apple TV release. Which is not a bad thing given the lackadaisical quality of the narrative. Pitt and Clooney pal around in front of the camera but its not in the least bit funny. Even at 108 minutes, ‘Wolfs’ is not a pleasant experience. It’s neither a comedy nor a thriller so there’s really nothing to hold on to here. There’s no tension to speak of and the action is sporadic. The open-ended conclusion doesn’t allow for any memorability. This film is a frustrating experience in showboating.
29 November,2024 06:31 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasFilm: Moana 2Cast: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, HualÄ lai Chung, David FaneDirector: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux MillerRating: 2.5/5Runtime: 100 min. This sequel to the 2016 release, an animation musical, is a thinly put-together Disney-fied exercise at cash grab. The sequel merely goes through the motions of telling a half-baked story that fails to achieve any highs. The visuals are gorgeous though. This is an adventure tale with no real adventure to speak of and it also fails as a musical because the songs are easily forgettable. Disney had plans for an animated television series but scrapped that idea in favor of a cinematic sequel and there’s also talk of a forthcoming live-action remake. This film opens three years after the end of the first movie with Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) endeavoring to break the curse of Nalo. In order to continue her search for the mythical island of Motufetu, Moana says goodbye to mom Sina (Nicole Scherzinger), dad Tui (Temuera Morrison), and little sis Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), and sets sail with a new crew of wayfinders - including her pet pig and pet rooster, along with a farmer named Kele (David Fane), an architect named Loto (Rose Matafeo), and a warrior named Moni (Hualālai Chung), who idolizes the legendary Maui (Dwayne Johnson), who is being held prisoner by a witch named Matangi (Awhimai Fraser).It takes about an hour for Moana and her team to work their way across Oceania and get to Maui just as he escapes Matangi’s imprisonment.In a disappointing scripting choice Moana & Maui don’t get to interact much. Quirky animal sidekicks are cute but Maui, missing from the narrative for far too long, may not go down well with kids. The plotting here is pretty sparse. While the cultural resonance continues to be strong, we don’t get to see Moana in a heroic light because there’s not much happening here other than encounters with a tribe of coconuts and a giant clam. The writers fail to give Moana enough to do. The songs here don’t match up to the original either. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original compositions for Moana were memorable. The songs in “Moana 2,” by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, lack appeal. The Maui tune “ Can I get a Chee Hoo?” and recurring theme song “Beyond” are just about ok. Since Miranda is missing from the credits, this was to be expected I guess. Eight years ago it was the heroine’s charm and stubborn determination to save her people from ecological disaster that gave Moana its main hook. This time round there’s none to speak of. Moana 2, directed by Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller and David G. Derrick Jr. from a screenplay by Jared Bush and Ledoux Miller, features stunning animation but it lacks the narrative emotional intimacy that made Moana such an exciting involving adventure. The sea looks menacing, the individual characters are well-designed and the action set-pieces enthrall. Moana 2 looks terrific and that’s all we can say in its favor.
29 November,2024 06:16 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasSinger-songwriter Dua Lipa has arrived in Mumbai ahead of her concert on November 30 in the maximum city. She landed on Thursday at the Kalina airport and was seen wearing a yellow t-shirt with black pants. She appeared a bit exhausted after her journey as she left the VIP area of the airport. Hours later, the paparazzi spotted the ‘Levitating’ hitmaker with her boyfriend Callum Turner at a Bandra restaurant as they stepped out for date night. Watch the video below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) 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 in an interview obtained by E! News. Dua Lipa to perform in Mumbai on November 30 Dua will perform at the Feeding India Concert by Zomato on November 30, 2024. Indian playback singer Jonita Gandhi is set to the set. A few days ago, Dua spoke about the mash-up 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. (With inputs from Agencies)
29 November,2024 08:52 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who has been accused of sexual crimes in Hollywood, has been denied bail a third time. A judge cited risk of witness tampering and evidence of violating regulations that prevent him from communicating with third parties, as per reports in Variety. The decision was made by Judge Arun Subramanian after a hearing in New York that weighed the conditions of ensuring safety in the community. The council for the rapper had offered a $50 million bond backed by equity in his homes, the promise of security monitoring, and assurance that he would not interfere with investigations surrounding his charges. The ruling stated that “there is evidence of supporting a serious risk of witness tampering”, and that Combs contacted witnesses “even after” his grand jury testimony in June 2024. The judge also stated that there “is evidence that Combs violated Bureau of Prisons regulations during his pretrial detention to obscure his communications with third parties”. As per the ruling, Combs paid other inmates to make calls to those not on his approved contact list, and asked family members and defence council to facilitate three-way calls to make them more difficult to trace. Because of the aforementioned infractions, the court determined that his “willingness to skirt BOP rules in a way that would make it more difficult for his communications to be monitored is strong evidence that the court cannot be ‘reasonably assured’ as to the sufficiency of any conditions of release”. Combs is currently incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, NY after being arrested on September 16 by Homeland Security on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. 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
29 November,2024 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesAsked about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Sharon Stone spoke about the re-election of Donald Trump at the Turin Film Festival in Italy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor was on a panel with Angelina Jolie when the topic shifted to politics. “Italy has seen fascism. You guys, you understand what happens. My country is in adolescence. Adolescence is very arrogant. Adolescence thinks it knows everything. Adolescence is naïve, ignorant, and arrogant. And we are in our ignorant, arrogant adolescence. So, Americans who don’t travel, [and] 80 per cent of whom don’t have passports, who are uneducated, are in their extraordinary naïveté. The only way that we can help with these issues is to help each other. I respect the results of the vote. Even if I don’t like the president, I respect his role. This is democracy,” she reportedly said. 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
29 November,2024 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesActor-comedian Vir Das became the first Indian to host the International Emmy Awards. This was his third time at the award ceremony. The first time he attended as a nominee, the second year he won for his stand-up special Landing and in the third year he came back as the host, making history. "The next year I will be the tropohy," he joked in his opening monologue at the awards. He had the audience in splits with his wise cracks as he touched upon topics like US elections, Elon Musk, being Indian, diversity, Will Smith's controversial slap and much more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vir Das (@virdas) Vir Das shares his opening monologue On Thursday, the comedian shared the video of his opening monologue from International Emmy Awards 2024. "It is very good to be here completely legally. I'm not a citizen. It's a very quick visit, in and out. I was just here to vote. Before we start the show, I should say this humbly. I have an Indian accent and that tends to be tough depending on where I'm travelling to for some people. So if there's anything that I say tonight that you do not understand, I want you to feel free to just go to work tomorrow and ask your boss. And if your boss isn't Indian, your boss is boss. ," Vir said in his monologue. He added, “Tonight is a celebration of the world. We tell the original diverse international stories that Hollywood remakes into cash cows with Kevin Hart and Liam Neeson. Some of you could be discovered tonight. This time next year, you could be in an American TV show. Maybe your name is Hatsuko or Sir Kill, but in America, you will play Guy, Joe. And if you're Indian, Raj. It's the only name Americans know. I have been offered doctor Raj, lawyer Raj, banker Raj, engineer Raj. I once got offered a guy from England named British Raj. I didn't take the part." Vir Das gives a nod to Hindi film Baazigar How can Vir Das be there up on the international platform and not have atleast one Bollywood reference. While giving out an inspirational message to all the nominess in the audience, he referenced the popular line from Baazigar that stars Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. "We are from across the world. What do we have in common? All of you have dealt with the amazing rejection that it takes to be an artist in the world. We are rejected way more than we are accepted. So tonight, I ask we accept each other in this room. There is a line from a Hindi movie that I love that says, 'Haar ke jeetne waale ko Baazigar kehte hai' and that means essentially that to learn to conquer loss is the greatest victory of all. And that is you tonight." He almost immediately gives it a hilarious twist and adds, "The guy who says that in the movie goes on to brutally murder four people. And that could be you later tonight at the after party. I only ask that you murder within your category". Vir Das takes dig at Will Smith Further, Vir also took a jibe at Will Smith’s infamous Oscar slap incident at the Oscars and the US government over sanctions. The US has imposed sanctions on a host of countries, including Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, after the Ukraine war broke out. "Who does Will Smith have to slap tonight for us to get some eyeballs, guys? I'm kidding. We're foreigners. You can't slap foreigners with anything but sanctions. Sorry, tariffs. Before I go on, a little bit of housekeeping. I've been asked to let you know that should you win an award tonight, you only have 30 seconds on this stage, and that is more than enough time to congratulate the people that you love, if not pleasure them," he said.
28 November,2024 06:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSinger-songwriter Dua Lipa has arrived in Mumbai ahead of her concert on November 30 in the maximum city. On Thursday, the singer was clicked arriving at the Kalina airport in Mumbai in a very casual look. She was seen donning a yellow coloured t-shirt paired with black pants. The singer appeared a bit exhausted after her journey as she left the VIP area of the airport. Dua Lipa was greeted by the paparazzi outside the airport where she was seen along with her team. As she a made her way to her car from the airport, the paparazzi called out her name, trying to get her attention so that she poses for them. However, when she didn't stop and instead got into the vehicle, they playfully teased her, saying "Dua, Dua, Dua... Dua mein yaad rakhna". For the unversed, it is a line from a famous song 'Channa Mereya' by Arijit Singh from the film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and also a common saying in India among Hindi speaking people. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) About Dua Lipa's Mumbai concert This is her second trip to India this year. Dua earlier came to India for a holiday in Rajasthan where she made the most of her holiday as she went completely unnoticed. However, this time around, the singer is here to perform marking her second in the city after her 2019 performance. Indian playback singer Jonita Gandhi is set to open Dua’s set on November 30. A few days ago, Dua spoke about the mash-up 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 Lipa's 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. (with inputs from IANS)
28 November,2024 04:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentHarvey Weinstein’s lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City, alleging that he is receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions while in custody at the notorious Rikers Island jail complex. The Tuesday’s notice of claim, which is the first step in filing a lawsuit against the city, accuses the facility of failing to manage the former movie mogul’s medical conditions, which include chronic myeloid leukemia and diabetes, and negligence ranging from “freezing” conditions to a lack of clean clothes. The city’s law department and Department of Correction did not immediately respond to requests for comment. “When I last visited him, I found him with blood spatter on his prison garb, possibly from IV’s, clothes that had not been washed for weeks, and he had not even been provided clean underwear; hardly sanitary conditions for someone with severe medical conditions,” Weinstein’s attorney, Imran H Ansari, said in a statement, comparing the facility to a “gulag.” Weinstein, 72, has been in city custody since earlier this year, after the New York Court of Appeals overturned his 2020 rape conviction in the state. The case is set to be retried in 2025. Weinstein has denied any wrongdoing. Weinstein was briefly hospitalised in April and again in July for health problems. His team has said he is being treated for diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, COVID-19, and fluid in his heart and lungs. The legal claim, which seeks USD 5 million in damages, argues he had been returned to Rikers each time before he had fully recovered. 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 November,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesSinger-songwriter Elton John revealed that he lost vision in his right eye in July and it was due to an eye infection he sustained while spending the summer in the south of France, reported People. "It kind of floored me, and I can't see anything. I can't read anything, I can't watch anything," he shared. On talking about his upcoming new album, John said it had "been a while since I've done anything." However, "there's hope and encouragement that "it will be okay, but I'm kind of stuck at the moment ... going into the studio and recording, I don't know," he added. The singer noted that his "left eye's not the greatest," and it has prevented him from reading lyrics or watching anything, but that he's "taking the initiative to try and get it better," reported People. In September, Elton John has disclosed that he is grappling with partial blindness as a result of a severe eye infection, describing the recovery as "an extremely slow process." In a heartfelt update shared via Instagram, the Grammy award-winning musician detailed his ongoing health battle. John, who has been largely out of the public eye during the summer, explained that the infection, which began earlier this year, has significantly impacted his vision. "Over the summer, I've been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye," he stated. He further expressed that although he is in the process of healing, "it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye." In his message, John conveyed deep gratitude to the healthcare professionals and his family for their unwavering support during his recovery. "I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks," he wrote.John has been recuperating quietly at home and remains optimistic about his recovery. "I'm feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far," he added. The news prompted a wave of supportive messages from fellow celebrities and friends. Fashion icon Donatella Versace expressed her sentiments, saying, "Sending you so much love Elton! Feel better soon. Love you." Meanwhile, singer Natalie Imbruglia shared, "Sending love and healing energy your way!" Other stars, including Billy Porter and Hannah Waddingham, also sent their well-wishes to the 'Your Song' star. John is currently the star of a documentary of his life, Elton John: Never Too Late. Although, he faced a lot of health issues, John considers himself lucky and is staying positive. "I'm the luckiest man in the world," he said, adding, "I'm proud of my attitude toward myself and what's going on. I'm just very lucky and I'm very grateful," reported People. 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 November,2024 10:31 PM IST | Washington | ANIActress Charlize Theron joined the cast of Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie, reported Variety. She has joined the star-studded ensemble that include Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o and Robert Pattinson. However, the plots are kept under wraps. Universal has set the theatrical release date for the film for July 17, 2026, with a specific launch in Imax auditoriums. Theron has starred in several commercially successful action films, including The Italian Job (2003), Hancock (2008), Prometheus (2012), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), Atomic Blonde (2017), The Old Guard (2020), F9 (2021) and Fast X (2023). Though the film marks Nolan and Theron's first collaboration, Theron has previously starred in action-thriller 'Atomic Blonde' (for speciality label Focus Features), the 'Snow White and the Huntsman' films, 'A Million Ways to Die in the West', and as the villainous Cypher in multiple installments of the 'Fast and Furious' franchise, including 2023's 'Fast X.' The South African actor, producer and philanthropist's credits include her Oscar-winning turn in 'Monster'' as well as her Academy Award-nominated roles in 'Bombshell' and 'North Country,' plus the instantly iconic role of Furiosa in 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' Among the projects Theron currently has in works include a sequel to the Netflix action movie 'The Old Guard' and the thriller 'Apex' as well as the heist movie 'Two for the Money' at Apple, reported Variety. 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 November,2024 10:28 PM IST | Washington | ANIADVERTISEMENT
