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Anne Hunt is now Political editor, so Celeste Duval will edit this Entertainment page
from December 2012
HUGH GRANT has announced that he is "pretty much finished" with acting.
The 51-year-old star of classic London films like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones Diary says he doesn't like the process of appearing in front of the camera anymore.
DAMIEN LEWIS and Dame Maggie Smith both won Emmys at the prestigious US TV awards show, but that was it as far as British success went, despite Brits being on plenty of nomination lists. Lewis, who won the Series Actor in a Drama prize for his role in Homeland, introduced himself to the audience as "one of those pesky Brits."
Coming to our screens
Please be patient while VIDEOS upload
Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack
A Western that's bad and mean as they get
WHAT'S ON OUR TELEVISION SCREENS
THE PAPERBOY
The Paperboy - 2012 film starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron and John Cusack. Directed by Lee Daniels and based on the 1995 novel, The Paperboy by American author Pete Dexter. The film which competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival opens in theatres in October. Looking like a young Ann Margret, the versatile Nicole Kidman carries, steals and absolutely runs away with this film. This thriller should be watched for her stunning and stylish performance if nothing else.
Americans love a 'Gun Toting' Westerns and this one sure does deliver. As bad and mean as any Western can get, with a stellar cast to shake up the mix.
In a nutshell: The three Bondurant brothers run a bootlegging operation during the depression, up in the mountains of Franklin County, Virginia. Crooked Special Deputy Charles Rakes is after a share of the brothers' profits. The local competition is elbowing in on their activities. Forrest's boisterous defiance and Cricket's knack for moonshine production help the brothers gain a local monopoly. When Forrest is wounded as tension with Rakes escalates, Jack, initially the timid one, must prove his worth against gangster Floyd Banner's mob, and we see him metamorphose into a cocky exhibitionist in his attempts to woo the off-limits preacher's daughter, Bertha. Phew...and if that 'aint gonna get you all steamed up, maybe some good ole fashioned shootin' will!
LAWLESS:
Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Guy Pierce
HBO'S - THE NEWSROOM
INTELLIGENT TV:
For the discerning viewer
The NEWSROOM the new enthralling HBO series that has every politically motivated person talking. From the creator of The West Wing and the writer of The Social Network - The total genius of Aaron Sorkin. Starring - Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Dev Patel, John Gallagher Jr, Alison Pill. Putting sensation back into news without sensationalism. A clever play on the current and tragic events of our time. Pure artistry in playwriting for the screen. Sacred Cows will never seem the same.
HUNGER GAMES DOESN'T GO HUNGRY
Writers: Gary Ross,
Suzanne Collins
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth
In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. So brains, beauty and boldness beats brutality in the end to make an altogether 'feel-good' movie!
Lionsgate's 'Hunger Games' continues its incredible run. During the long Easter weekend and for its third weekend in a row, for a new worldwide total, the futuristic film has surpassed $460M, giving this box office monster a 17-day total through Easter Sunday of $157.1M international and $302.8M domestic overwhelming both box office rivals Paramount/Fox’s Titanic 3D and Universal’s American Reunion. The two domestic rivals showed strength not just in North America but even more so overseas. Hunger Games grossed $33.5M domestic and $25.5M this weekend internationally where it has been trying to stave off an onslaught from Warner Bros’ recent 3D entry Wrath Of The Titans. After a disappointing domestic start, this sequel is dominating overseas and over the holiday weekend dropped just -43% from its opener with a gross of $43M in 60 markets from 13,540 screens. WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
SIMON COWELL - THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT
-Anne Hunt-
Simon Cowell's name is hitting the headlines these days, but not for his singers' prowess at reaching number one status or, for out-ranking the BBC's 'The Voice' with his BGT - (no, not bacon, gherkin and tomato) - but, 'Britain's Got Talent.' It is for his Warren Beatty impression of an aging lothario. However, the only thing even remotely similar between the two, is their height, and that's where it stops. On screen and off screen Warren Beatty oozed a certain, 'Je ne sais quoi.' And the ladies all knew it. Even when he hung up his philandering hat and called it a night with the ladies, it was because he caught the eye and the heart of his current wife, saucy, talented
Beatty was a serial seducer. On auto pilot he would undress women with his eyes, wear them down with his voice and wear them out with his boyish, adonis charms - and some have kissed and told - masculine abilities. He bedded an estimated 12,000 women (but who's counting) with every known name in the film and television industry book. All sexy, talented and wealthy women in their own right. From Julie Christie to Cher, Joan Collins, Natalie Wood and saluting adieu while bowing out of the pumping machine market for something more stable, on a 'high note' with the unisex temptress herself, Madonna. So, whether dear Mr. Simon Cowell has nurtured the belief and possibly even fixated on the ludicrous idea that he could possibly be in the same league as the smouldering Mr. Beatty, God only knows and as the Messiah rarely talks to anyone these days, we may never possibly find out. However, as his constant apparel appears to be a rather clingy T-Shirt is anything to go by, he could be aiming to follow in Beatty's boots more than he might care to let on.
Annette Bening.
SO HAS THIS GUY 'REALLY' GOT THE X-FACTOR?
Then again, disingenuous protestations aside, 'Si' seems to be relishing in the increased publicity over his reported masculine musk and his ability to 'bed 'em and shred 'em.' However, we do have one rather 'small' problem with this one. He is not exactly a lady killer or even a ladies man by any exorbitant telly. Sure, he has had his fair share of hangers-on hovering over him like yesterdays stale cheese and biscuits, but who were these women REALLY? They have all had their own agendas, whether it be business related or pocket book elevation, so any high-fiving locker room bravado from Cowell is hardly warranted. Considering the fillies he's taken under his wing, have had much more to gain from him than he would ever have gained from them. So, a Casanova, Don Juan, I doubt it very much. Infact, small man, small puppy is more like it. Throw in a gigantic ego
that really covers for a huge amount of self doubt, along with narcissistic qualities that shows off his ultra feminine side to an alarming degree. Not forgetting, any broad he does take home will firstly have to get the thumbs up from 'Mommy Dearest.' This little picture isn't sounding anywhere near that of a heart-throb's harem, infact, I doubt if any of Cowells reject's hearts have even been broken - their now swollen bank accounts assures them of that. Thank you.
RUSSELL CROW PLAYS NOAH - THE BUILDING OF THE ARC
His name is Noah. Far from the stereotype of the patriarch that one appends the character of the Bible, he looked like a warrior. He looks like a Mad Max out of the depths of time. In the world of Noah, pity has no place. He lives with his wife and three children in a land barren and hostile, in the grip of severe drought. A world marked by violence and barbarism, delivered to the savagery of the clans that draw their reason to survive from war and cruelty.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN HOLLYWOOD
National Organisations
New British film magazine - BRITISH FILM
Not long on the newstands are the first issues of British Film Magazine, plunging into the gap between the muesli of Sight & Sound and Vertigo and the popcorn of Empire. "There's a fantastic range and number of films being made in Britain today, yet nobody is shouting about them," says editor Terence Doyle. "The trade magazines are largely focused on the business side, while consumer titles tend to be very Hollywood driven."
Doyle is aiming at a 50,000 circulation, more than the trade titles but fewer than the 205,000 that Empire sells every month. "Over 5 million people go to the cinema in the UK every month; 50,000 is just 1% [of that]. I don't think that's a lot." First issue articles include ones by Stephen Fry, Tessa Jowell MP, Nick Moran and David Puttnam. Keira Knightley's made the front cover because the British Films Magazine's lead article sees her voted Britain’s number one hottest movie star by a panel of the country’s pre-eminent film critics.
HIGHLIGHTING NAOMI WATTS - HIGH VOLTAGE ACTRESS
Naomi Watts was not an 'over-night' success like her best friend Nicole Kidman, but she certainly made up for lost time. Born in England, raised in Australia and with 15 years of determination and tenacity under her belt, it all paid off. Befriending Kidman in her teens while both auditioned for a commercial, both went on to appear in an Australian boarding-school drama 'Flirting.' Kidman's star shone but it took Watts longer to finally crack the big time with her role in 2001's Mulholland Dr. With audiences and critics taking notice, she finally hit the big time with the horror flick The Ring. Watts continued her hot streak with an Oscar-nominated turn in 2003's 21 Grams and soon signed on to play an ape's best gal in the remake of King Kong. She has also found time to find love in the form of Liev Schreiber, her costar in The Painted Veil. Also named recently as the actress to play the late Princess Diana in a biopic capturing the final two years of her life.
Titled, Caught in Flight and directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) is the first serious feature about the princess' life, focusing most importantly, on the last two years of her life. Her 'Shy Di' image captured by the world press was progressively transformed for all to see, by the very same press, into a shrewd and often manipulative image of her former self.
But Noah is like no other. This is a fighter and also a healer. He is subject to visions which announce the imminent end of the earth, swallowed by the waves of an endless deluge. Noah must notify his followers. If man is to survive, he must end the suffering inflicted on the planet and “treat the world with mercy”.
However, no one is listening.
(C 2012) Affiliated Press International Foundationl/Admin/infoUS/Canada/Paris-Europe/Geneva/Australasia/Dubai/Singapore/Hong Kong/Japan
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