20 films selected for 62nd Cannes Film Festival

Agencies - May 17, 2009

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival, which began on Wednesday, with Disney/Pixar’s animation ‘Up’, has received more than 4000 films. Names of the twenty officially selected films for awards are given below:

Bright Star:  London 1818: a secret love affair begins between 23 year old English poet, John Keats, and the girl next door, Fanny Brawne, an outspoken student of fashion. This unlikely pair started at odds; he thinking her a stylish minx, she unimpressed by literature in general. It was the illness of Keats’s younger brother that drew them together. Keats was touched by Fanny’s efforts to help and agreed to teach her poetry. By the time Fanny’s alarmed mother and Keats’s best friend Brown realised their attachment, the relationship had an unstoppable momentum. Intensely and helplessly absorbed in each other, the young lovers were swept into powerful new sensations, ‘I have the feeling as if I were dissolving’, Keats wrote to her. Together they rode a wave of romantic obsession that deepened as their troubles mounted. Only  

Keats’s illness proved insurmountable.

Broken Embraces:  A man writes, lives and loves in darkness. Fourteen years before, he was in a brutal car crash on the island of Lanzarote. In the accident, he did not lose only his sight, he also lost Lena, the love of his life.

This man uses two names: Harry Caine, a playful pseudonym with which he signs his literary works, stories and scripts, and Mateo Blanco, his real name, with which he lives and signs the film he directs. After the accident, Mateo Blanco reduces himself to his pseudonym, Harry Caine. If he cannot direct films he can only survive with the idea that Mateo Blanco died on Lanzarote with his beloved Lena.

Antichrist: A grieving couple retreat to ’Eden’, their isolated cabin in the woods, where they hope to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse...

1. À L’origine (In the Beginning), directed by Xavier Giannoli, France
2. Antichrist, directed by Lars Von Trier, Italy
3. Bak-Jwi (Thirst), directed by Park Chan-Wook, South Korea
4. Bright Star, directed by Jane Campion, Australia
5. Chun Feng Chen Zui De Ye Wan (Spring Fever), directed by Lou Ye, France
6. Das Weisse Band (The White Ribbon), directed by Michael Haneke, Italy
7. Enter the Void, directed by Gaspar Noé, Italy
8. Fish Tank, directed by Andrea Arnold, United Kingdom
9. Inglourious Basterds (Inglourious Basterds), directed by Quentin Tarantino, United States of America
10. Kinatay, directed by Brillante Mendoza, France
11. Les Herbes Folles (Wild Grass), directed by Alain Resnais, France
12. Looking For Eric, directed by Ken Loach, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain
13. Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces), directed by Pedro Almodóvar, Spain
14. Map Of The Sounds Of Tokyo, directed by Isabel Coixet, Spain
15. Taking Woodstock, directed by Ang Lee, United States of America
16. The Time That Remains, directed by Elia Suleiman, France, Belgium, Italy and United Kingdom
17. Un Prophète (A Prophet), directed by Jacques Audiard, France
18. Vengeance, directed by Johnnie To, Hong Kong
19. Vincere, directed by Marco Bellocchio, Italy
20. Visage (Face), directed by Tsai Ming-Liang, Taiwan, France, Belgium and Netherlands

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Abbas Mustan to direct Indian version of 'The Italian Job'

Agencies - May 16, 2009

Indian filmmakers Abbas-Mustan are all set to direct a Hindi version of Michael Cain starrer cult classic 'The Italian Job'. 

The cast of the new film, which will be produced by Indian Film Co and Studio 18, is yet to be announced, Variety reported online. It is slated to on floor at the end of this year. 

The story of the movie is about a plan to steal a gold shipment from the streets of Turin by creating a traffic jam Peter Collinson directed 1969 British film was remade in 2003 starring Charlize Theron, Edward Norton and Donald Sutherland. The American version of the film was directed by F Gray Gary. 

The last film by Abbas-Mustan was Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu starrer thriller 'Race'.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Kris Allen to win 'American Idol,' but Adam Lambert has best career?

Los Angeles Times - May 17, 2009

Virtually all of the alleged "American Idol" "experts" have consistently underestimated Kris Allen while ballyhooing Adam Lambert as the inevitable champ. What if Kris Allen surprises again?

Romantically speaking, Allen is more of a heartthrob type. He may have a much bigger, secret fan base among the gum-snapping girls who set off tsunamis of text and phone votes that decide winners each week. Furthermore, Lambert likes to jump off cliffs, creatively speaking. What if he goes splat during the final face-off?

When Gold Derby polled readers, asking who -- Lambert or Allen -- will end up winning the most showbiz awards during their future careers, regardless of who wins "American Idol," Lambert stomped. He scored 73% of the votes. But will that prove to be true?

Again, that view may just be a reflection of bossy assumptions pushed by the "Idol" judges and producers. Lambert's mysterious sexuality may be a turn-off among music-buyers, who may gobble up more CDs from the more macho Allen. That could give Allen a vastly larger fan base and a much bigger, longer career during which he could win lots more industry awards.

Allen, for example, seems to have a lot in common with Rob Thomas and John Mayer: clean, rugged good looks and solid singing chops. Thomas and Mayer have won gads of top kudos, including two of Grammy's highest honors. Thomas won record and song of the year with Santana for "Smooth" (1999) and Mayer won best song for "Daughters" (2004).

Source: http://goldderby.latimes.com

Painting and recitation competition by Agradut

By Aminul Islam - Mymensingh, May 17, 2009

Marking the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore and National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Agradut Shishu-Kishore Sangathan, a local cultural organisation chalked out a daylong programme at the Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium on May 15. 

The programme included painting and recitation competitions for students (in different age groups) and performances by artistes of Agradut. Some 50 students took part in the painting competition while 40 participated in the recitation competition. 

A discussion, titled "Rabindra and Nazrul: Our Culture," was held with Advocate Shahjahan Siraji as the convener of the Rabindra-Nazrul celebration committee. Alhaj Motiur Rahman, MP was the chief guest. Among others, editor of the Daily Jahan, Md. Habibur Rahman Sheikh, Mymensingh Press Club secretary Zillur Rahman Khan, Md. Abdul Quiyum and Shafiq Ahmed also spoke on the occasion. 

The speakers stressed that contributions of Tagore and Nazrul to our literature not only enriched it but also taught us how to stand united against injustice and oppression. Without the presence of these two literary titans, our culture would be incomplete, they added. 

Later, the chief guest gave away prizes among the winners of the competitions.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

A solo photo show begins at Zainul

By Arif Mahmud - May 17, 2009

Noor Alam’s solo photography exhibition, titled ‘Ballads of the Agonised Souls’ began at Zainul Gallery of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University on Saturday.

Twenty eight photographs are on display at the exhibition that will remain open from 11:00am to 8:00pm till May 22.

A.E.A. Muhaimen, managing director and also the chief executive officer of BRAC Bank was present as the chief guest. Mustafizur Rahman Khan, adviser of Bangladesh Thalassemia Hospital, Professor Waqar A Khan, president of Thalassemia Centre (Shishu Hospital) and photographer Dr Noazesh Ahmed among others were present as guests.

Shampurna, Pintu, Anika, and other children fighting the disease inaugurated the exhibition by launching a book titled ‘Ballads of the Agonised Souls’.

The book is priced at Tk 500 and the proceeds from the sales of the book will go to the welfare of Thalassemia patients.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Andrew Lloyd Webber eyes future for Susan Boyle

CNN - May 17, 2009

She "dreamed a dream" on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent," but could Susan Boyle be living that dream as the star of a West End show?

It's a possibility, according to a spokeswoman for Andrew Lloyd Webber, the award-winning composer and producer of more than a dozen musicals including "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats."

Lloyd Webber recently bumped into Simon Cowell, the music and TV producer behind "Britain's Got Talent" and "American Idol," and "discussions took place" about future possibilities for Boyle, said the spokeswoman.

"He's an admirer of her talent," she said. "There's certainly been no firm offer made (but) discussions about Susan have been had."

The 47-year old from West Lothian in Scotland, who revealed she had "never been kissed," surprised the audience and judges when she belted out the classic "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables."

The performance was a hit on YouTube and made her famous around the world. The Sun newspaper in Britain reported last Friday that Webber offered Boyle a role in London's West End, but the spokeswoman said that is inaccurate and that no offer has been made.

"She's a great fan of my shows," Lloyd Webber was quoted as saying to The Sun. "If she wanted to be in one, well, it could happen. It would have to be the right role. Maybe I know what it could be, but I'm not telling. She's got a great future.”

Source: http://www.cnn.com

Drama serial Karo Kono Neeti Nai on ATN Bangla

Cultural Correspondent - May 17, 2009

Drama serial "Karo Kono Neeti Nai" will be aired tonight on ATN Bangla at 8pm. Written and directed by Saiful Islam Mannu, the cast of the serial includes Ferdausi Majumder, Subarna Mustafa, Humayun Faridee, Al Mamun, Saberi Alam, Zakia Bari Mamo, Tinni, Shams Sumon, Mita Nur, Dolly Zahur, Mita Chowdhury, Dilara Zaman and others.

Mamota is a middle-aged woman from a well-off family. A widow, Mamota has two sons and three daughters. The eldest son lives abroad. The other son, Babu, lives with her. Mamota does not particularly get along with Babu's wife Mariam, who is from a less affluent background. Ruhi, the eldest of Mamota's daughters, is married to a police officer. Mira, another of Mamota's daughters, is also married and has two children. The serial begins with the wedding of Ripa, the youngest of Mamota's daughters. 

The second episode of the serial will be aired tonight.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

"Slumdog" Star Back In His Shanty Home

CBS - MUMBAI, India, May 16, 2009

No Hollywood ending for one young star. At least, not yet. 

Officials in Mumbai, India bulldozed the shanty home of "Slumdog Millionaire" child star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail Thursday. The ten-year-old and his family moved back into what was left of their home Friday. 

But CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports the young star’s family apparently had another option. Azhar went from the bright lights of Hollywood, the excitement of the red carpet and the thrill of the Oscars back to the very gritty reality of his life in Mumbai's slum. 

Eight Academy Awards and $326 million in box office receipts, and lots of promises from "Slumdog" director Danny Boyle - including a trust fund set up for the child actors' education - have done very little to improve the lives of Azhar and the movie's other impoverished child star, Rubina Ali, MacVicar says. 

Azhar watched as local officials demolished the shack his family called home. He told reporters, "I was asleep when the policemen came. He threatened to beat me." 

City officials say they're tearing down illegally-built shanty homes to tackle overcrowding and will re-house residents. 

"We've lived here for at least fifteen years," says Azhar’s mother. "They didn't show us any paperwork. They just came and started demolishing our hut." 

It is, observes MacVicar, real life mirroring "Slumdog"'s cinematic story. Azhar played one of three children left homeless and vulnerable. The Jai Ho Trust set up to help the children of the film says it offered Azhar’s family an apartment last week, but that they turned it down, MacVicar points out. 

For the time being, she adds, the hut has been more or less rebuilt, Azhar and his family are back in it, and nothing else has changed.

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com

Dance drama Mahanirvan staged

By Dyuti Monishita - May 17, 2009

Dance drama ‘Mahanirvan’ was staged on May 15 at the auditorium of Natmondol of the department of theatre and music of Dhaka University in the city. The dance drama was performed by a group called Sri Aurobindo Anusilan Society of Kolkata in India. The programme was jointly organised by the Indian high commission and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.

The dance drama was directed and choreographed by Dr Jaganmoy Banerjee, music was composed and sung by folk singers Nibedita Lahiri and Shaumendronath De, and recitation was done by Mita Mandal and Nibedita Lahiri. The plot of the drama was about Gautama Buddha’s teaching and influences in this region. It was a splendid display of comic portrayal of the great man’s tale. Although, whether the comic part was intentional or not is unknown, and whether it can really be called a dance drama is highly debatable. The roar of the audience’s laughter made it seem like a comedy drama, but the organisers’ sincerity said otherwise.

 Moreover, there were more recorded music and dialogues than dance in this dance drama. Even then, the songs sounded more like early 1990’s music from West Bengal films than theatre music, especially with smoke machines and a disco ball. ‘Mahanirvan’ was basically a cramped account of three incidents or stories about Buddha. A very popular story of Amropali, a woman with a dead infant, and a ‘Chandal’ feeding him with pork meat, were all accommodated into the drama. But where one started and the other began was completely lost to the audience.

The line up of actors is not known, due to the lack of cooperation of the organisers. Pro vice chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Harun-ur Rashid and first secretary of culture and information Dr Deepak Mittal were present among others as guests. But despite their ‘eloquent’ speeches, many people from the audience felt displeased with their performance. An audience on condition of anonymity said, ‘they are famous in India?! The show seemed more like a backyard jatra practice than a dance drama!’

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Bollywood film '99' is funny and inventive: New York Times

Agencies - May 16, 2009

Kunal Khemu and Soha Ali Khan starrer Hindi film '99' has earned rave reviews from the New York Times, which has hailed its "funny and inventive" story. 

The film is the only major Bollywood release after April 4 strike by the producers-distributors over the issue of revenue sharing. "Funny, assured and inventive enough, '99' is a refreshing sign that commercial Indian cinema has room in its big tent for more than one kind of storytelling," the New York Times said in its review. 

Titled 'Bollywood Without the Song and Dance', the review compares '99' with American independent films, which have found commercial success but are not the usual Hollywood material. "Bollywood loves a hybrid, so there's nothing necessarily unusual about a comedy-adventure-romance-musical. But '99,' with bits of all those elements, mixes them up in a way that has more in common with American indies than with standard Hindi-movie fare," the newspaper said. 

"There's a jaunty, tango-y score and a montage set to a song, but as for that great Bollywood signifier, the song-and- dance sequence, '99' basically just says no," the review said. 

Boman Irani, playing a gambling addict businessman and actor Amit Mistry a Delhi operator, steal the show, it said. 

"Directed by first time filmmakers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, the film favors a kind of naturalism, both in its comedy, which is character-based rather than slapstick, and in its look," the newspaper said.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Brooke Shields: Tabloid took my mother out of nursing home

By Lisa Gutierrez - May 16, 2009

Brooke Shields told People magazine that a National Enquirer reporter looking for a story checked her mother out of her assisted living home on Thursday by posing as a friend.

"I intend to take every lawful action against all who were involved or who authorized this despicable act," Shields said in a statement to the mag.

Her mother, Teri Shields, is 75 and suffers from dementia.

Staff at the New Jersey assisted living center called police to help look for the elder Shields who was allowed to leave but wound up being gone for "an extended period of time."

Police found her, unharmed, talking to a freelance journalist at a restaurant near the facility. Police questioned both the journalist and a photographer working with the reporter.

Shields said in her statement to People that: "They then drove my 75-year-old mother around looking for a tabloid story. As anyone knows who has a parent who suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's, it is one of the most difficult experiences you can go through as a son or daughter. The idea that the National Enquirer took advantage of her state is reprehensible and disgusting." 

And this was the National Enquirer's response: "A freelance reporter who has known Teri Shields for more than 10 years visited her Thursday at the assisted living facility where Brooke says she moved her. Teri asked the reporter to take her out to lunch and to run some errands. The freelance reporter then got permission from the facility to do so."

The tabloid said the facility did not "contend that there had been any wrongdoing."

Police are investigating who allowed Shields' mother to leave the facility.

Source: http://www.kansascity.com

King of pop Michael Jackson has skin cancer

Agencies - May 16, 2009

Pop superstar Michael Jackson has been diagnosed with skin cancer. 

The King of Pop was diagnosed with the disease in recent weeks after doctors spotted signs of cancerous cells on his neck and pre-cancerous cells on his face, a British tabloid claimed. However, the fans of the superstar can take heart in the fact that the disease is treatable. 

"Michael's test showed spots of skin cancer on his body, and cell which could turn to skin cancer on his face. He was at first very concerned, but says he has been assured by the doctors that they can treat this and he will recover," a source told ‘The Sun’.  The 'Thriller' hitmaker is determined to recover soon as he wants to make a successful comeback with his 50 date concert series at London's famed O2 Arena this July. 

"Michael is really looking forward to his concerts and is determined to wow his fans at each and every gig. He said he's insisted that any treatment must fit around the concerts, and the show will go on," the source added. 

The 'Heal the World' singer has been making regular visits to a dermatologist in Beverly Hills, and last month he showed up at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, which, according to the newspaper, has a specialist lab to test for skin cancer. 

The singer was earlier dogged with bad health reports which claimed that Jackson suffered from a series of skin conditions and was diagnosed with vitiligo over 20 years ago. The disease affects skin pigmentation and is responsible for the singer's pale look, the report said. 

The popstar, who has been nicknamed 'Whacko-Jacko', is controversy's favourite child, be it dangling his son from a hotel balcony, numerous plastic surgeries, child molestation accusations or his multiple marriages.

Source: http://www.mtv.com