Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Review - Alice in Wonderland in 3-D
Tim Burton always gets a bad rap from critics. I’ve always thought of him as one of those directors that will reach his peak once he’s long gone and 30 years from now people will where retro t-shirts of featuring his various interpretations of characters. But, in present day he is still shrouded in mystery and in some ways his own little world as you sit through Alice in Wonderland you will either feel like he’s is the genius you always knew he was or that he has once again fallen off his spaceship rocker (don’t be surprised if he actually has one) for another notch in his quest to waste a bunch of Hollywood money.
The Good – Alice in Wonderland gave me much of what I wanted visually. The 3-D is not invasive; the colors keep the film feeling like a wonderland ride and the combination of various types of animation underline the wow factor. Add to that memorable performances by Helena B Carter and Johnny Depp (actually all of the actors really keep this movie afloat) and what you have is a twist on a classic tale and a pleasant visual feast. This may also lead to a strong opening as the curiosity of this film has really reached it’s peak thanks to Disney – oh and btw – Disney is aggressively concentrating on licensing and extending brands which the success of this film will depend on.
The Bad – I almost felt as if Tim Burton gave up on script aspect of his story after he introduced us to the original twist. I also felt as if the film was 20 mins too long even for me so I don’t think kids are going to be able to turn off their Nintendo DS’s long enough to stay interested. Fans of the book may not like the way some of their lovable characters come across on screen. Unlike past films where some those ‘adult themed’ jokes go right over head, what you might be left explaining to a youngster is ‘why doing drugs may inspire filmmaking’.
The Ugly - Mia Wasikowska as Alice was the worst thing about this film. I didn’t care about her, I felt like the character was just floating along and her range of emotion was lost in sequences where she could not even stretch her own imagination. I think she may have been the mis-cast of the year with this role and I do not look forward to her future work if her ‘big break’ was some of her best work.
Final Note
I want Cameron, Lucas and Burton to teach a course on how to step up the visual game of Hollywood and invite these masters to create a blueprint for future success.
See Alice in Wonderland on the big screen in 3-D and you will get a lot more out of it then you could possibly get by simply watching it at home. What is a great visual ride gets lost in itself at times but carries a charm and uniqueness that compensates for a questionable star.
The Good – Alice in Wonderland gave me much of what I wanted visually. The 3-D is not invasive; the colors keep the film feeling like a wonderland ride and the combination of various types of animation underline the wow factor. Add to that memorable performances by Helena B Carter and Johnny Depp (actually all of the actors really keep this movie afloat) and what you have is a twist on a classic tale and a pleasant visual feast. This may also lead to a strong opening as the curiosity of this film has really reached it’s peak thanks to Disney – oh and btw – Disney is aggressively concentrating on licensing and extending brands which the success of this film will depend on.
The Bad – I almost felt as if Tim Burton gave up on script aspect of his story after he introduced us to the original twist. I also felt as if the film was 20 mins too long even for me so I don’t think kids are going to be able to turn off their Nintendo DS’s long enough to stay interested. Fans of the book may not like the way some of their lovable characters come across on screen. Unlike past films where some those ‘adult themed’ jokes go right over head, what you might be left explaining to a youngster is ‘why doing drugs may inspire filmmaking’.
The Ugly - Mia Wasikowska as Alice was the worst thing about this film. I didn’t care about her, I felt like the character was just floating along and her range of emotion was lost in sequences where she could not even stretch her own imagination. I think she may have been the mis-cast of the year with this role and I do not look forward to her future work if her ‘big break’ was some of her best work.
Final Note
I want Cameron, Lucas and Burton to teach a course on how to step up the visual game of Hollywood and invite these masters to create a blueprint for future success.
See Alice in Wonderland on the big screen in 3-D and you will get a lot more out of it then you could possibly get by simply watching it at home. What is a great visual ride gets lost in itself at times but carries a charm and uniqueness that compensates for a questionable star.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Shutter Island - Not what I was expecting
While their has been a lot of talk about this film being released almost a year after its original due date and the problems Marty had with agreeing to a final edit of this film, finally Leo fans can rejoice that the film can speak for itself.....or can it?
The Good
I went in expecting a horror film and what I got was a dramatic thriller at best. The plot thickens in the final hour of the movie which leads you to forget about most of the first hour non linear and at times confusing movie mash up. What ever the case is you feel like their way more to the story then you see and it keeps you minimally gripped. The performances keep the intrigue at a peak and the cinematography creates an atmosphere that leaves you feeling creepy and claustrophobic.
The Bad
Brace yourself. This is not Marty's best work by any means. In fact, if Leo was not in every single frame of the film their would be reason to fast forward through this on DVD rather then watch it on the big screen. Michelle Williams plays his mis cast wife who can't save the confusing story and the other supporting cast further the leads the movie down a dark hole that most viewers won't even want to come out of.
The Ugly
Mark Ruffalo must be sleeping with someone in Hollywood who has a lot of pull because he is one of the worst actors of this generation. With so much talent to choose from playing Leo's sidekick was the worst casting choice I've seen in a long time. Also, their are some green screen choices that look too forced that further loses the audience at many parts.
All in all I give the film a 3 out of 5 but I do feel like I am being nice about that rating considering what the Leo/Marty team is capable of.
The Good
I went in expecting a horror film and what I got was a dramatic thriller at best. The plot thickens in the final hour of the movie which leads you to forget about most of the first hour non linear and at times confusing movie mash up. What ever the case is you feel like their way more to the story then you see and it keeps you minimally gripped. The performances keep the intrigue at a peak and the cinematography creates an atmosphere that leaves you feeling creepy and claustrophobic.
The Bad
Brace yourself. This is not Marty's best work by any means. In fact, if Leo was not in every single frame of the film their would be reason to fast forward through this on DVD rather then watch it on the big screen. Michelle Williams plays his mis cast wife who can't save the confusing story and the other supporting cast further the leads the movie down a dark hole that most viewers won't even want to come out of.
The Ugly
Mark Ruffalo must be sleeping with someone in Hollywood who has a lot of pull because he is one of the worst actors of this generation. With so much talent to choose from playing Leo's sidekick was the worst casting choice I've seen in a long time. Also, their are some green screen choices that look too forced that further loses the audience at many parts.
All in all I give the film a 3 out of 5 but I do feel like I am being nice about that rating considering what the Leo/Marty team is capable of.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Indian-themed comedies a new TV trend
Indian-themed comedies a new TV trend
Exec: 'Slumdog Millionaire' effect has 'a lot to do with it'
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i7da84139be87c4e2837c833dd607cd7e
By Nellie Andreeva
Jan 31, 2010, 11:00 PM ET
They are the two comeback stories of this pilot season, projects developed years ago that have been resurrected and have landed orders at the broadcast networks.
The two comedies -- "Nirvana" at Fox and "Outsourced" at NBC -- have something else in common: They both are ensemble shows about Indians and Indian Americans.
A third project, a U.S. version of popular British comedy "The Kumars at No. 42," about an immigrant Indian family, also is poised for revival. Eight years after NBC took a stab at the format, the show's British producers are shopping it to U.S. networks, including FX.
Is it a coincidence or a delayed "Slumdog Millionaire" effect?
"I do think that 'Slumdog' had a lot to do with it," a TV studio executive said of India's rapid emergence on the U.S. pop culture scene. "It was boiling, hovering there, with the increasing popularity of Indian clothing, food and Bollywood movies, but with its mainstream acceptance and critical success, 'Slumdog' pushed it over the tipping point."
In Hollywood, consciousness grew exponentially last year with Danny Boyle's runaway hit and Oscar winner as well as the $1.2 billion deal between Indian conglomerate Reliance and DreamWorks.
Reliance also is bidding for MGM and has signed production pacts with eight A-list Hollywood actors, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
On the small screen, India's growing impact has been dramatic as well, albeit more slowly developing.
When producer Gavin Polone brought "Kumars" to the U.S. in 2002, its Indian roots were stripped away and it was remade as "The Ortegas," a show about a Mexican American family.
In 2004, when NBC shot two pilots of "Nirvana," one starring then up-and-comer Kal Penn, and one starring creator Ajay Sahgal, there were only two Indian actors in primetime, Sahgal recalls: Ravi Kapoor on NBC's "Crossing Jordan" and Parminder Nagra, who had just joined "ER."
That is not the case anymore. Most successful shows launched in the past five years feature a prominent Indian actor: "The Office," "The Big Bang Theory," "30 Rock," "Parks and Recreation" and three hot freshmen: "Community," "Glee" and "The Good Wife."
"24" also has regularly featured Indian actors, including one of Bollywood's biggest stars, "Slumdog's" Anil Kapoor, who has a major role this season. Additionally, Penn co-starred on Fox's "House" until he left to pursue a career in Washington.
"There are far more Indian actors today that can do this kind of thing than there were six or seven years ago," Sahgal said.
To find them, he is launching an international talent search for "Nirvana," an ensemble multicamera comedy about grown-up Indian American brothers and their Indian immigrant parents, with casting taking place in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, London and Mumbai.
"Outsourced" -- a single-camera office comedy about an American shipped off to India to manage a ragtag group of customer service reps -- has hired casting consultants in Toronto and India.
There was some luck involved with the comebacks of "Nirvana" and "Outsourced."
Sahgal ran into Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly while accompanying his wife, "Lie to Me" co-star Kelli Williams, at a Fox event last year, and Reilly, who originally greenlighted the project at NBC, encouraged Sahgal to revisit it.
Meanwhile, NBC approached Ken Kwapis, the driver behind "Outsourced" in its first incarnation during the 2007-08 season, to direct another pilot for the network. Instead, he urged the network to revisit "Outsourced."
That the film and TV industry are seizing on the growing popularity of Indian culture isn't surprising, according to TV historian Tim Brooks.
"Hollywood, and TV in particular, always tries to jump on a trend," he said.
Another ethnic comedy making a comeback is ABC's "Funny in Farsi," about a family of Iranian immigrants living in Newport Beach. The single-camera project directed by Barry Sonnenfeld earned a green light this season after failing to secure a production order last year.
Cultural momentum notwithstanding, "Nirvana, " "Outsourced" and "Farsi" all face long odds.
There been only a couple of successful ethnic comedies on American television, mostly with Mexican American characters, including the 1970s "Chico and the Man" and ABC's "George Lopez." Even with the phenomenal boxoffice success of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," the film's Greek American-themed series offshoot on CBS lasted only seven episodes.
"American audience is very American-centered and not interested in other cultures for their own sakes," Brooks said. "For a show such as these to succeed, it can't be just about an (exotic) culture. Americans want things that they can relate to."
"Nirvana" has what it takes to do it, said Polone, who attended the taping of the project's second pilot in 2004.
"That show is the one that would work; it transcends the India-centered idea and is very accessible," he said.
Kwapis believes "Outsourced" will have no problem connecting with American audiences either.
"This is really a show about America as seen outside of America," he said. "It is unique and, at the same time, relatable. Unique, because how often do you get to see a comedy set in another country? And relatable because we all have experience talking with a call center worker. It's an important aspect of our lives but we don't see what is on the other side of the phone."
Exec: 'Slumdog Millionaire' effect has 'a lot to do with it'
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i7da84139be87c4e2837c833dd607cd7e
By Nellie Andreeva
Jan 31, 2010, 11:00 PM ET
They are the two comeback stories of this pilot season, projects developed years ago that have been resurrected and have landed orders at the broadcast networks.
The two comedies -- "Nirvana" at Fox and "Outsourced" at NBC -- have something else in common: They both are ensemble shows about Indians and Indian Americans.
A third project, a U.S. version of popular British comedy "The Kumars at No. 42," about an immigrant Indian family, also is poised for revival. Eight years after NBC took a stab at the format, the show's British producers are shopping it to U.S. networks, including FX.
Is it a coincidence or a delayed "Slumdog Millionaire" effect?
"I do think that 'Slumdog' had a lot to do with it," a TV studio executive said of India's rapid emergence on the U.S. pop culture scene. "It was boiling, hovering there, with the increasing popularity of Indian clothing, food and Bollywood movies, but with its mainstream acceptance and critical success, 'Slumdog' pushed it over the tipping point."
In Hollywood, consciousness grew exponentially last year with Danny Boyle's runaway hit and Oscar winner as well as the $1.2 billion deal between Indian conglomerate Reliance and DreamWorks.
Reliance also is bidding for MGM and has signed production pacts with eight A-list Hollywood actors, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
On the small screen, India's growing impact has been dramatic as well, albeit more slowly developing.
When producer Gavin Polone brought "Kumars" to the U.S. in 2002, its Indian roots were stripped away and it was remade as "The Ortegas," a show about a Mexican American family.
In 2004, when NBC shot two pilots of "Nirvana," one starring then up-and-comer Kal Penn, and one starring creator Ajay Sahgal, there were only two Indian actors in primetime, Sahgal recalls: Ravi Kapoor on NBC's "Crossing Jordan" and Parminder Nagra, who had just joined "ER."
That is not the case anymore. Most successful shows launched in the past five years feature a prominent Indian actor: "The Office," "The Big Bang Theory," "30 Rock," "Parks and Recreation" and three hot freshmen: "Community," "Glee" and "The Good Wife."
"24" also has regularly featured Indian actors, including one of Bollywood's biggest stars, "Slumdog's" Anil Kapoor, who has a major role this season. Additionally, Penn co-starred on Fox's "House" until he left to pursue a career in Washington.
"There are far more Indian actors today that can do this kind of thing than there were six or seven years ago," Sahgal said.
To find them, he is launching an international talent search for "Nirvana," an ensemble multicamera comedy about grown-up Indian American brothers and their Indian immigrant parents, with casting taking place in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, London and Mumbai.
"Outsourced" -- a single-camera office comedy about an American shipped off to India to manage a ragtag group of customer service reps -- has hired casting consultants in Toronto and India.
There was some luck involved with the comebacks of "Nirvana" and "Outsourced."
Sahgal ran into Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly while accompanying his wife, "Lie to Me" co-star Kelli Williams, at a Fox event last year, and Reilly, who originally greenlighted the project at NBC, encouraged Sahgal to revisit it.
Meanwhile, NBC approached Ken Kwapis, the driver behind "Outsourced" in its first incarnation during the 2007-08 season, to direct another pilot for the network. Instead, he urged the network to revisit "Outsourced."
That the film and TV industry are seizing on the growing popularity of Indian culture isn't surprising, according to TV historian Tim Brooks.
"Hollywood, and TV in particular, always tries to jump on a trend," he said.
Another ethnic comedy making a comeback is ABC's "Funny in Farsi," about a family of Iranian immigrants living in Newport Beach. The single-camera project directed by Barry Sonnenfeld earned a green light this season after failing to secure a production order last year.
Cultural momentum notwithstanding, "Nirvana, " "Outsourced" and "Farsi" all face long odds.
There been only a couple of successful ethnic comedies on American television, mostly with Mexican American characters, including the 1970s "Chico and the Man" and ABC's "George Lopez." Even with the phenomenal boxoffice success of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," the film's Greek American-themed series offshoot on CBS lasted only seven episodes.
"American audience is very American-centered and not interested in other cultures for their own sakes," Brooks said. "For a show such as these to succeed, it can't be just about an (exotic) culture. Americans want things that they can relate to."
"Nirvana" has what it takes to do it, said Polone, who attended the taping of the project's second pilot in 2004.
"That show is the one that would work; it transcends the India-centered idea and is very accessible," he said.
Kwapis believes "Outsourced" will have no problem connecting with American audiences either.
"This is really a show about America as seen outside of America," he said. "It is unique and, at the same time, relatable. Unique, because how often do you get to see a comedy set in another country? And relatable because we all have experience talking with a call center worker. It's an important aspect of our lives but we don't see what is on the other side of the phone."
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
This is it on Blu Ray - Jan 26
I had a chance to check out MJ's This is It on Blu Ray last night and I loved it even more. Their are some great features on this disc and the digital re-mastering of the audio was great as well. What make this is a must have is the behind the scenes look at the auditions and the comments that the crew/cast of the show make about MJ's final days. I also love the fact that the chapters are broken down into the song selections as well. The Blu Ray releases Jan 26th and I can't say enough about why this is a must have for any fan.
Friday, January 15, 2010
MY GOLDEN GLOBE PICKS - WHo SHould Win vs Who Will Win
Best Motion Picture — Drama
Avatar - Should Win
The Hurt Locker - Will Win
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side - Will Win
Carey Mulligan, An Education - Should Win
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart - Will Win
George Clooney, Up in the Air - Should Win
Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine - Should Win
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia - Will win and Should Win
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (not sure)
Matt Damon, The Informant
Daniel Day Lewis, Nine - Should Win/Will Win
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mo-Nique, Precious - Should Win
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air Should Win
Penelope Cruz, Nine - Will Win
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (not sure)
Matt Damon, Invictus
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Christopher Waltz, Inglorious Basterds - Should Win
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Best Animated Feature Film
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - Will Win
Up - Should Win
Best Foreign Language Film
Barria
Broken Embraces - Will Win
A Prophet
The White Ribbon
The Maid
Best Director — Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker - Should Win
James Cameron, Avatar - Will Win
Best Screenplay — Motion Picture
Up in the Air - Will Win
It’s Complicated
District 9 - Should Win
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010
Avatar - Should Win
The Hurt Locker - Will Win
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side - Will Win
Carey Mulligan, An Education - Should Win
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart - Will Win
George Clooney, Up in the Air - Should Win
Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine - Should Win
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia - Will win and Should Win
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (not sure)
Matt Damon, The Informant
Daniel Day Lewis, Nine - Should Win/Will Win
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mo-Nique, Precious - Should Win
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air Should Win
Penelope Cruz, Nine - Will Win
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (not sure)
Matt Damon, Invictus
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Christopher Waltz, Inglorious Basterds - Should Win
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Best Animated Feature Film
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - Will Win
Up - Should Win
Best Foreign Language Film
Barria
Broken Embraces - Will Win
A Prophet
The White Ribbon
The Maid
Best Director — Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker - Should Win
James Cameron, Avatar - Will Win
Best Screenplay — Motion Picture
Up in the Air - Will Win
It’s Complicated
District 9 - Should Win
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
DGA NODS - I see a trend
Complete list of nominees:
KATHRYN BIGELOW
"The Hurt Locker"
(Summit Entertainment)
Ms. Bigelow's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Tony Mark
• First Assistant Director: David Ticotin
• First Assistant Director (Canadian Unit): Lee Cleary
JAMES CAMERON
"Avatar"
(Twentieth Century Fox)
Mr. Cameron's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Colin Wilson
• First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen
• Second Assistant Director/Additional Unit First Assistant Director: Maria Battle Campbell
LEE DANIELS
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
(Lionsgate)
Mr. Daniels' Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Tony Hernandez
• First Assistant Director: Chip Signore
• Second Assistant Director: Tracey Hinds
• Second Second Assistant Director: Michael "Boogie" Pinckney
• Additional Unit Production Manager: Patrick D. Gibbons
• Additional First Assistant Director: Tom Fatone
• Additional Second Assistant Directors: Kim Thompson, Mirashyam Blakeslee
• Location Manager: Gregory Routt
JASON REITMAN
"Up In The Air"
(Paramount Pictures)
Mr. Reitman's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Michael Beugg
• First Assistant Director: Jason Blumenfeld
• Second Assistant Director: Sonia Bhalla
• Assistant Unit Production Manager: Samson Mucke
• Second Second Assistant Director: Joseph Payton
• Additional Second Assistant Director: Heather L. Hogan
QUENTIN TARANTINO
"Inglourious Basterds"
(The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures)
Mr. Tarantino's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Gregor Wilson
• Unit Production Manager (Germany): Michael Scheel
• First Assistant Director: Carlos Fidel
• Second Assistant Director: Miguel Angelo Pate
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Jill Moriarty, Tanja D�beritz
KATHRYN BIGELOW
"The Hurt Locker"
(Summit Entertainment)
Ms. Bigelow's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Tony Mark
• First Assistant Director: David Ticotin
• First Assistant Director (Canadian Unit): Lee Cleary
JAMES CAMERON
"Avatar"
(Twentieth Century Fox)
Mr. Cameron's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Colin Wilson
• First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen
• Second Assistant Director/Additional Unit First Assistant Director: Maria Battle Campbell
LEE DANIELS
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
(Lionsgate)
Mr. Daniels' Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Tony Hernandez
• First Assistant Director: Chip Signore
• Second Assistant Director: Tracey Hinds
• Second Second Assistant Director: Michael "Boogie" Pinckney
• Additional Unit Production Manager: Patrick D. Gibbons
• Additional First Assistant Director: Tom Fatone
• Additional Second Assistant Directors: Kim Thompson, Mirashyam Blakeslee
• Location Manager: Gregory Routt
JASON REITMAN
"Up In The Air"
(Paramount Pictures)
Mr. Reitman's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Michael Beugg
• First Assistant Director: Jason Blumenfeld
• Second Assistant Director: Sonia Bhalla
• Assistant Unit Production Manager: Samson Mucke
• Second Second Assistant Director: Joseph Payton
• Additional Second Assistant Director: Heather L. Hogan
QUENTIN TARANTINO
"Inglourious Basterds"
(The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures)
Mr. Tarantino's Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Gregor Wilson
• Unit Production Manager (Germany): Michael Scheel
• First Assistant Director: Carlos Fidel
• Second Assistant Director: Miguel Angelo Pate
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Jill Moriarty, Tanja D�beritz
Some Bollywood Flicks to look out for in 2010
Aashayein
Nagesh Kukunoor’s Aashayein has been ready for release for quite some time. This John Abraham-Sonal Sehgal film tells the story of a gambling addict who discovers new meanings of fortune and life. John Abraham had to lose 16 kilos for the film.
Action Replayy
Action Replayy stars macho man Akshay Kumar and beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Neha Dhupia. It is based on a 1994 Gujarati play of the same name. Action Replayy is a.
Aisha
The perils of misconstrued romance come alive in this remake of Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma. Sonam Kapoor plays the title-role of Aisha while Abhay Deol plays the male lead. The film is being produced by her sister Rhea under their father Anil Kapoor’s banner.
Chance Pe Dance
Chance Pe Dance stars Shahid Kapoor and Genelia D'Souza. It is directed by Ken Ghosh and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under his banner, UTV Motion Pictures. The movie releases on January 15, 2010. The film's working title was Yahoo and another title, Star, was also considered. Also the film was shot halfway with Jiah Khan as the heroine, but she was later replaced by Genelia. Shahid has been flaunting his eight-pack abs that trainer Abbas Ali developed for himin the movie's trailers. The music by Adnan Sami and Pritam is already a huge hit with the masses. The makers claim the movie is similar to Shahid's personal experience when he finally got Ishq Vishk after giving a lot of screen tests and auditions.
Dulha Mil Gaya
Dulha Mil Gaya brings back the hit couple of Main Hoon Na, Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen, along with Fardeen Khan, and is directed by debutante Mudassar Aziz. Shah Rukh Khan was initially supposed to do a cameo but now has 50 minutes of screen footage.
Guzaarish
Guzaarish marks the return of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali after Saawariya. It stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles. The movie will revolve around the story of a married nurse (Aishwarya Rai) and a paraplaegic, wheelchair-bound patient (Hrithik Roshan) suffering from impairment of the motor and sensory
Ishqiya
Vidya Balan, who won rave reviews for her role in Paa, will be seen in a negative role for the first time in this movie. The medium-budget flick stars Arshad Warsi, Naseeruddin Shah and Vidya Balan in lead roles and is directed by Abhishek Chaubey. Kaminey director Vishal Bhardwaj is overseeing the making of the movie which is laced with strong dialogues. Female audiences at a focus group screening were so uncomfortable with some scenes that parts of the film are being re-shot keeping their reactions in mind. Set in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the movie is a tale of romance between individuals caught in a web of crime, suspense, passion and deceit.
Kites
Kites is about an Indian boy's romantic affair with a Latin girl and their predicament as they do not understand each other's languages. Hrithik Roshan plays a Salsa teacher. Kangna Ranaut plays a rich girl and is shown as Hrithik's dance student. The story is set in Las Vegas. This Anurag Basu-directed movie stars also marks the debut of Mexican actress Barbara Mori in Bollywood. Hrithik unveiled the first look of the much-hyped film Kites amid fanfare at the Cannes Film Festival 2009. The movie will be released in April 2010. The distribution rights of Kites have apparently been sold to Reliance Big Pictures for a record Rs 150 crore. The film will release in English and Hindi.
My Name Is Khan
Easily the most awaited of 2010, My Name Is Khan is directed by Karan Johar and co-produced by Johar and Shah Rukh Khan. In the movie, Shah Rukh suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a type of autism. He falls in love with a Hindu woman Mandira, played by Kajol, who is also a single mother living in San Francisco. The 9/11 terror attacks and how it affects their relationship and life is the theme of the movie.The film brings back the super-hit pair of Shahrukh Khan and Kajol on screen after a long gap.
Pyaar Impossible
This Jugal Hansraj movie is a romantic comedy film featuring Uday Chopra, Priyanka Chopra and Dino Morea in leading roles. Uday Chopra himself has written the script for the movie. The film's official website describes the film as the love story of a beauty and a geek. Pyaar Impossible is scheduled for release on January 8, 2010. Uday was last seen in Dhoom 2 which released in 2006. The lead actors are currently busy promoting the movie.
Raavan
Raavan directed by Mani Ratnam is one of the most awaited films of 2010. It stars Vikram, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Govinda and Priyamani. It is also being made simultaneously in Tamil with a slightly different cast. The music is composed by Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman. Mani Ratnam, who had earlier directed Thalapathi, which bore
Rann
Rann is a high-end drama from director Ram Gopal Varma and delves into the highly-competitive world of television news reporting in India, putting the spotlight on the media industry's insatiable appetite for advertisers and viewers.The trailer of the movie is already out and the film will release on 22nd January 2010. The film's title-track, Jana Gana Mana Rann Hai, set to the tune of the national anthem, ran into trouble with the Censor Board. The film is said to be based on Sidney Lumet's 1976 movie Network. The ensemble cast of the film includes Paresh Rawal, Riteish Deshmukh, Mohnish Behl, Rajat Kapoor, Gul Panag, Raima Sen, Mallika Sherawat and Rajpal Yadav.
Road, Movie
Directed by Dev Benegal, Road, Movie features Abhay Deol, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Satish Kaushik in lead roles. The movie has been screened at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival and 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. This coming-of-age movie was first conceptualised by the director in 2004.
Teen Patti
The biggest highlight of director Leena Yadav's Teen Patti is the presence of Sir Ben Kingsley. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, R. Madhavan, Raima Sen and Shraddha Kapoor. Richard Gere makes a guest appearance.The plot is said to be similar to the 2008 movie 21, starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. Amitabh plays Venkat Subramaniam, a reclusive maths. genius from India who cracks a theory that could redefine the principles of probability and randomness, while Sir Ben Kingsley plays the part of Perci Trachtenberg who is known as the world's greatest living mathematician.
Veer
Veer is Salman Khan's first attempt at writing a movie. Apparently, Salman has been nurturing the story of Veer for over two decades. Directed by Anil Sharma of Gadar fame, the movie will release on January 22, 2010. The epic saga stars Salman Khan in a never-seen-before avatar along with newcomer Zarine Khan. The film also stars Mithun Chakraborty and Jackie Shroff along with Sohail Khan and Bharat Dabholkar in pivotal roles along with Miss UK Lisa Lazarus. The film faced some location issues in London and Jaipur and there were also reports about creative differences between Salman and director Anil Sharma.The music score by Sajid-Wajid has received positive reviews.
Nagesh Kukunoor’s Aashayein has been ready for release for quite some time. This John Abraham-Sonal Sehgal film tells the story of a gambling addict who discovers new meanings of fortune and life. John Abraham had to lose 16 kilos for the film.
Action Replayy
Action Replayy stars macho man Akshay Kumar and beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Neha Dhupia. It is based on a 1994 Gujarati play of the same name. Action Replayy is a.
Aisha
The perils of misconstrued romance come alive in this remake of Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma. Sonam Kapoor plays the title-role of Aisha while Abhay Deol plays the male lead. The film is being produced by her sister Rhea under their father Anil Kapoor’s banner.
Chance Pe Dance
Chance Pe Dance stars Shahid Kapoor and Genelia D'Souza. It is directed by Ken Ghosh and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under his banner, UTV Motion Pictures. The movie releases on January 15, 2010. The film's working title was Yahoo and another title, Star, was also considered. Also the film was shot halfway with Jiah Khan as the heroine, but she was later replaced by Genelia. Shahid has been flaunting his eight-pack abs that trainer Abbas Ali developed for himin the movie's trailers. The music by Adnan Sami and Pritam is already a huge hit with the masses. The makers claim the movie is similar to Shahid's personal experience when he finally got Ishq Vishk after giving a lot of screen tests and auditions.
Dulha Mil Gaya
Dulha Mil Gaya brings back the hit couple of Main Hoon Na, Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen, along with Fardeen Khan, and is directed by debutante Mudassar Aziz. Shah Rukh Khan was initially supposed to do a cameo but now has 50 minutes of screen footage.
Guzaarish
Guzaarish marks the return of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali after Saawariya. It stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles. The movie will revolve around the story of a married nurse (Aishwarya Rai) and a paraplaegic, wheelchair-bound patient (Hrithik Roshan) suffering from impairment of the motor and sensory
Ishqiya
Vidya Balan, who won rave reviews for her role in Paa, will be seen in a negative role for the first time in this movie. The medium-budget flick stars Arshad Warsi, Naseeruddin Shah and Vidya Balan in lead roles and is directed by Abhishek Chaubey. Kaminey director Vishal Bhardwaj is overseeing the making of the movie which is laced with strong dialogues. Female audiences at a focus group screening were so uncomfortable with some scenes that parts of the film are being re-shot keeping their reactions in mind. Set in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the movie is a tale of romance between individuals caught in a web of crime, suspense, passion and deceit.
Kites
Kites is about an Indian boy's romantic affair with a Latin girl and their predicament as they do not understand each other's languages. Hrithik Roshan plays a Salsa teacher. Kangna Ranaut plays a rich girl and is shown as Hrithik's dance student. The story is set in Las Vegas. This Anurag Basu-directed movie stars also marks the debut of Mexican actress Barbara Mori in Bollywood. Hrithik unveiled the first look of the much-hyped film Kites amid fanfare at the Cannes Film Festival 2009. The movie will be released in April 2010. The distribution rights of Kites have apparently been sold to Reliance Big Pictures for a record Rs 150 crore. The film will release in English and Hindi.
My Name Is Khan
Easily the most awaited of 2010, My Name Is Khan is directed by Karan Johar and co-produced by Johar and Shah Rukh Khan. In the movie, Shah Rukh suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a type of autism. He falls in love with a Hindu woman Mandira, played by Kajol, who is also a single mother living in San Francisco. The 9/11 terror attacks and how it affects their relationship and life is the theme of the movie.The film brings back the super-hit pair of Shahrukh Khan and Kajol on screen after a long gap.
Pyaar Impossible
This Jugal Hansraj movie is a romantic comedy film featuring Uday Chopra, Priyanka Chopra and Dino Morea in leading roles. Uday Chopra himself has written the script for the movie. The film's official website describes the film as the love story of a beauty and a geek. Pyaar Impossible is scheduled for release on January 8, 2010. Uday was last seen in Dhoom 2 which released in 2006. The lead actors are currently busy promoting the movie.
Raavan
Raavan directed by Mani Ratnam is one of the most awaited films of 2010. It stars Vikram, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Govinda and Priyamani. It is also being made simultaneously in Tamil with a slightly different cast. The music is composed by Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman. Mani Ratnam, who had earlier directed Thalapathi, which bore
Rann
Rann is a high-end drama from director Ram Gopal Varma and delves into the highly-competitive world of television news reporting in India, putting the spotlight on the media industry's insatiable appetite for advertisers and viewers.The trailer of the movie is already out and the film will release on 22nd January 2010. The film's title-track, Jana Gana Mana Rann Hai, set to the tune of the national anthem, ran into trouble with the Censor Board. The film is said to be based on Sidney Lumet's 1976 movie Network. The ensemble cast of the film includes Paresh Rawal, Riteish Deshmukh, Mohnish Behl, Rajat Kapoor, Gul Panag, Raima Sen, Mallika Sherawat and Rajpal Yadav.
Road, Movie
Directed by Dev Benegal, Road, Movie features Abhay Deol, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Satish Kaushik in lead roles. The movie has been screened at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival and 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. This coming-of-age movie was first conceptualised by the director in 2004.
Teen Patti
The biggest highlight of director Leena Yadav's Teen Patti is the presence of Sir Ben Kingsley. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, R. Madhavan, Raima Sen and Shraddha Kapoor. Richard Gere makes a guest appearance.The plot is said to be similar to the 2008 movie 21, starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. Amitabh plays Venkat Subramaniam, a reclusive maths. genius from India who cracks a theory that could redefine the principles of probability and randomness, while Sir Ben Kingsley plays the part of Perci Trachtenberg who is known as the world's greatest living mathematician.
Veer
Veer is Salman Khan's first attempt at writing a movie. Apparently, Salman has been nurturing the story of Veer for over two decades. Directed by Anil Sharma of Gadar fame, the movie will release on January 22, 2010. The epic saga stars Salman Khan in a never-seen-before avatar along with newcomer Zarine Khan. The film also stars Mithun Chakraborty and Jackie Shroff along with Sohail Khan and Bharat Dabholkar in pivotal roles along with Miss UK Lisa Lazarus. The film faced some location issues in London and Jaipur and there were also reports about creative differences between Salman and director Anil Sharma.The music score by Sajid-Wajid has received positive reviews.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
NINE is in my top 5 from 2009
I dragged myself to screen NINE this week and I walked out a changed man. I loved what Marshall did with this film. It's a great tribute (and is perhaps better) to an already wonderful musical. Daniel Day Lewis deserves all of the praise he is getting in the press for his acting. For now Go See It and let me know on twitter what you think.
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