Showing posts with label Behind The Scenes. Show all posts

Thursday, 22 December 2011

DVD Review Kung Fu Panda 2

MOVIE DETAILS Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Gary Oldman, Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan Director: Jennifer Yuh Producer: Melissa Cobb THE FILM After the super-hit Kung Fu Panda, director Jennifer Yuh once again brings us the adventures of Po-The Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five in the hilariously entertaining sequel Kung Fu Panda 2. The story begins when Po (Jack Black) and his team comprising of Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross) realize that they have a new enemy to fight who is all set to destroy the peace in Gongmen city through a powerful weapon that could very well put an end to Kung Fu. The enemy in question is the cunning peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) who wants to take complete control of Gongmen and eventually the whole of China. Po meanwhile, is also fighting his own inner battle, which threatens to question his very existence. He is on a mission to find out answers to how he arrived in this world and if Ping (James Hong) is his real parent. How Po and the Furious Five join hands in conquering the evil Lord Shen and how Po finds his Inner Peace forms the basic premise of this entertaining animated flick. Just like the first part, Kung Fu Panda 2 too scores top points for its visual effects and quality of animation. The stunt sequences are brilliantly choreographed and couple of chase sequences leave you gasping for breath. Among the actors, its Jack Black once again who plays Po like only he could. Bringing in his own irreverent brand of humour through quirky one-liners Black is simply first rate. Among the Furious Five, it's Angeline Jolie as Tigress who gets the meatiest of roles and does complete justice to her character. Dustin Hoffman is his usual self playing the wise old Master Shifu while Gary Oldman hits all the right notes delivering a flawless performance as the voice of evil Lord Shen. The film ends in such a way that fans can look forward to the 3rd part in this super-entertaining franchise DURATION The film's duration is 86 minutes SPECIAL FEATURES Kung Fu Panda comes in a collector's edition 2 DVD pack and is loaded with Bonus Features. Here's a snapshot of what you are likely to see: Kickin' it with the Cast A brilliant 12 minute look at how the cast got the perfect voice required for the various characters. The way Jack Black records his voice for Po in the dubbing studio has to be seen to be believed. The irreverence and improvisation which Black brings to the character is simply amazing. The segment also features interviews with other members of the cast including Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Gary Oldman and James Hong. Director Jennifer Hu also comments on how she feels so lucky to have the best actors on board for the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Gary Oldman too reveals what thought process went behind getting the perfect voice of the cunning peacock Lord Shen. Secrets of the Masters A never seen before short film in which Po gives Tigress and Mantis a background on how the three greatest Kung Fu Masters- Master Croc, Master Ox, Master Rhino came together to fight the Wu Sisters. This one makes for an entertaining watch with brilliant animation and some edge-of-the-seat Kung Fu action. Deleted Scenes This section features just 3 deleted scenes which are pretty ordinary but what makes this section stand out is that the deleted scenes are presented in storyboard format making one assume the scenes were never shot and got chopped off at the pre-production stage itself. World of Dreamworks Animation This section contains trailers of some of Dreamworks' best known animated flicks including Shrek, Madagascar, Megamind and How To Train Your Dragon Panda Stories A look at the animals that inspired Kung Fu Panda and footage of Jack Black's visit to the Atlanta Zoo to meet Po's real-life namesake. Kung Fu Shuffle Game A cute and interactive game where Master Shifu teaches the best way to find a hidden radish in an update of the classic shell game Ni Hao- Learn Chinese Yet another interactive feature where you get to learn 50 Kung Fu Panda-inspired words in Chinese. Previews This section includes a preview of Dreamworks' latest release Puss In Boots TECHNICAL DETAILS - 2.35-1 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation - Languages- English, Hindi, Magyar - Subtitles- English, Hindi, Magyar PRICE Rs. 599/= CONCLUSION Kung Fu Panda 2 DVD delivers more than what one expected both in the terms of the film and especially the Special Features section. It's a must have for all fans of the franchise and as Po would say it this one is 'Sheer Awesomeness'. Rating: * * * * 1/2

DVD Review Kung Fu Panda 2 video

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

'The Hobbit' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

Much-anticipated return to Middle-earth appeals to loyal 'Lord of the Rings' fans.By Kevin P. Sullivan Martin Freeman in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" Just days after the 10th anniversary of the release of "The Fellowship of the Ring," we have our first look at director Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth. The first trailer for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" packs in a ton of action and gives fans a peek at what they can expect when the first of the two films opens next December. We took some time off from watching the trailer on repeat to give you the rundown on the five key things you should pay attention to in the trailer. The Hobbit(s) It wouldn't be "The Hobbit" without a strong member of the Shire folk to rally behind. Martin Freeman is Bilbo Baggins, and he jumps right into Jackson's Middle-earth and feels right at home. He also fits in with the two returning hobbits, Elijah Wood and Ian Holm. Both make welcome returns in the trailer and draw in fans of the original films almost effortlessly. The Dwarves Almost as important as Bilbo in "The Hobbit," all 13 dwarves play key roles in the story. Fans who feared that the dwarves would look too cartoonish should find some peace of mind with the trailer. They completely worked (especially Richard Armitage as Thorin), with a balance between the child-oriented aspects of the book and the grittier look of the "Lord of the Rings" movies. The Song Nothing shows off that balance better than the dwarves' song. J.R.R. Tolkien featured many songs in the novel, and Jackson and co. incorporated this one in a natural way. It's a cool and ominous part of the trailer that sets the tone and shows the film's close adherence to the novel. However, the films do diverge from the novel to cover new material in a few instances. The White Council Because the book does not offer enough action for two complete movies, the films have been padded out with tales from the appendixes and other Tolkien books. The main addition is the story of the White Council. For those unfamiliar with the books, during the journey to Lonely Mountain, Gandalf leaves Bilbo and the dwarves to fight a mysterious enemy alongside Galadriel and Elrond. Jackson confirmed the story line's presence in the movie, but Cate Blanchett's appearance in the trailer is our only hint of what's to come. Gollum The trailer's big reveal comes at the end as the camera cranes down to the One Ring in the foreground. Next thing we know, Bilbo is chatting up Gollum in the dark, and Andy Serkis crawls down to make his welcome return to the character. The ring and Gollum are the two biggest connections between "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," so their presence here is a near guarantee to rope in any fans of the first films. Check out everything we've got on "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos 'The Hobbit' Trailer: Experts React

'The Hobbit' Trailer: Five Key Scenes video

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Don 2 may turn out to be a cult you never can tell

It's rather strange to describe Priyanka Chopra like this but I'd say she is an icy perfectionist in her own way. She sits hot and bothered - bothered because she is hell bent on promoting her movies like she has shot them. Now in between asking questions, your eyes will definitely want to scan her from top to toe and then you actually ask yourself - Is it possible to be so beautiful? Yes, it's the one question that occurred to me during the scan. I'm immediately impressed by her irrepressible body language. She doesn't just cross her legs, she does it as if it's mandatory to do it her way, her style and then replaces it with the other, and when she laughs, as she often does, she throws her entire body into the joke. PC has just returned from the US after recording her first album and then you ponder - If Piggy Chops follows her desires, she could have an unusual career; her interests tend to be offbeat and eclectic. Whatever her career, her interests, etc. one thing's sure - PC's got that 'Midas Touch'. Then I again ponder and my mind shouts - Touch me PC, touch me. Presenting you Part 2 of the Don 2 special with Priyanka Chopra, and the chase continues... "Shah Rukh Khan can live up to anything" Shah Rukh is somebody who challenges himself with everything. You can toss anything at him and he is a kind of person who'll be up to it. It's not really him but people around him who need to toss him up with things they might want him to live up to when it comes to movies. Shah Rukh Khan can live up to anything. There are very few actors who are like that. Mr. Bachchan is one of them and that's because they have a different passion for movies. SRK is one of those. "I'm can't do the 'thumkas' but I can handcuff pretty well" The disadvantage of playing a cop is that you can't do the 'thumkas' and the 'jhatkas'. But I do handcuffs pretty well (laughs). You can't do the damsel in distress because you are damn tough and you can't sport that foot long smile always. But that's the good thing about Don 2. It makes me do stuff I've never done, and that's an advantage of a cop, there you go! "Don 2 may turn out to be a cult, you never can tell" I don't think you can decide the fate of Don 2 by just looking at the trailer. No one can predict the destiny of a movie like that. But with the kind of anticipation and excitement people seem to be having with Don 2, its signalling that it can be a potential big movie. It could turn out to be a 'cult', you never know. "The days of Silver Jubilee and Golden Jubilee have gone" The days of Silver Jubilee and Golden Jubilee have gone because of the number of films being made each year. But yes, the numbers have gone up. It's all down to the opening of the movie and that one week collections that defines the film's sustainability. We live with that kind of expectations. Movies that did Silver Jubilees didn't collect the kind of money movies make now-a-days but then again, you can't compare because those were 'cult classics' and today's movies are forgotten in a week's time. So comparing today's time with yesteryear movies is unfair I think. "Farhan has a mind to think big" You know what I think Farhan is? He is one of those people, if he believes in something he'll pull off a film come what may. He has to be hundred percent sure and he'll dabble in any genre you wish him to, be it horror, action, drama, tragedy, rom-com, romance, etc. He is tremendously talented and he has a mind to think big and you need to be able to do that. "The second trailer of Agneepath is mind blowing" The second trailer of Agneepath is mind blowing. Wait till it comes out because you will have a better understanding of what the movie is all about. Karan Malhotra has done a fabulous job with it. "I leave a part of me in all my characters" I'll never forget my characters but I leave a part of me in all of them. All the characters are a derivative of me eventually. I will be a schizophrenic at the end of my life because I remember them so well (laughs). I've put in so much of me to make it real so people can somewhere connect to them. Like Kaminey had eight scenes of me but I lived that character forever and so did my audience that they remembered me. I like when people write such characters for me that they think cannot be pulled off by anyone else except me. I do a lot of risky movies and haven't just stuck to blockbuster films. I'll try pushing the envelope all the time. "The humour in Don 2 can only come out from Don himself" Well, I can't give away too much but let me tell you that Don 2 has got its humour in place. There is humour but very subtle and Don himself brings so much of it. He says such things with such flair that you say - Hang on! I want to be this guy because being bad is too good today, isn't it? (Laughs). Click here to read Part 1 of interview with Priyanka Chopra Watch 'Don 2' promo:

Don 2 may turn out to be a cult you never can tell video

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

'Bridesmaids' Surprises With Screen Actors Guild Nod

'The Artist,' 'The Descendants,' 'The Help' and 'Midnight in Paris' will also vie for SAG Awards' top prize.By Kevin P. Sullivan Kristen Wiig in "Bridesmaids" Photo: Universal Pictures The Screen Actors Guild announced its nominees Wednesday (December 14) for the best performances of the year in both television and film. The SAG Awards are the only ones with actors choosing among their peers to select the winners, so they are considered to be among the highest honors in Hollywood. With the Golden Globe nominations arriving Thursday and the Academy Awards looming in the near future, everyone is eagerly searching for some hint of how things may shake out on Oscar night. Among the SAG nominations, there are plenty of the familiar names that have garnered awards attention this year, but also a fair number of surprises. Demián Bichir, the lead in "A Better Life," had been on the fringes of awards talk in recent weeks, but snagged a best actor nomination for the immigration drama over the likes of Michael Fassbender for "Shame" and Gary Oldman for "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy." Jonah Hill, who earned critical praise for his work next to Brad Pitt in "Moneyball," had been considered an awards dark horse, but he walked away with a nomination for supporting actor. Of the four films singled out for best ensemble, the top movies award for the SAGs, "Bridesmaids" came away as the surprising but welcome addition to the conversation. Its cast scored a nomination for the top prize alongside those from "The Artist," "The Descendants," "The Help" and "Midnight in Paris." Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog The SAG Awards will air on TBS and TNT on January 29, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT. Check out the full list of nominations below. Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture "The Artist" "Bridesmaids" "The Descendants" "The Help" "Midnight in Paris" Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Demián Bichir, "A Better Life" George Clooney, "The Descendants" Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar" Jean Dujardin, "The Artist" Brad Pitt, "Moneyball" Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs" Viola Davis, "The Help" Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady" Tilda Swinton, "We Need to Talk About Kevin" Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn" Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Kenneth Branagh, "My Week With Marilyn" Armie Hammer, "J. Edgar" Jonah Hill, "Moneyball" Nick Nolte, "Warrior" Christopher Plummer, "Beginners" Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Bérénice Bejo, "The Artist" Jessica Chastain, "The Help" Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids" Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs" Octavia Spencer, "The Help" Female Actor - Movie or Miniseries Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite" Maggie Smith, "Downtown Abbey" Emily Watson, "Appropriate Adult" Betty White, "The Lost Valentine" Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce" Male Actor - Movie or Miniseries Laurence Fishburne, "Thurgood" Paul Giamatti, "Too Big to Fail" Greg Kinnear, "The Kennedys" Guy Pearce, "Mildred Pierce" James Woods, "Too Big to Fail" Female Actor - Comedy Series Julie Bowen, "Modern Family" Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie" Tina Fey, "30 Rock" Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family" Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland" Male Actor - Comedy Series Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" Ty Burrell, "Modern Family" Steve Carell, "The Office" Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men" Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family" Ensemble - Comedy Series "30 Rock" "The Big Bang Theory" "Glee" "Modern Family" "The Office" Female Actor - Drama Series Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law" Glenn Close, "Damages" Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story" Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife" Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" Male Actor - Drama Series Patrick James Adams, "Suits" Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire" Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights" Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" Ensemble - Drama Series "Boardwalk Empire" "Breaking Bad" "Dexter" "Game of Thrones" "The Good Wife" Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture "The Adjustment Bureau" "Cowboys & Aliens" "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2" "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" "X-Men: First Class" Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series "Dexter" "Game of Thrones" "Southland" "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" "True Blood" For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Best Movies Of 2011 Debate

'Bridesmaids' Surprises With Screen Actors Guild Nod video

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Ram Gopal Varmas next based on 2611 terror attacks

Known for making films on current issues, Ram Gopal Varma is ready to start his next flick titled 26/11, which is based on the infamous Mumbai terror attacks. Speaking about the film, Ramu said, "26/11 is a date no Indian will ever forget. The three-day live telecast of the terrorist carnage had people's eyes glued to the television sets across world. Everyone more or less has seen or heard of what happened during that time. But my attempt now would be not only to capture the physical aspect but also behind the scenes aspects of what exactly happened from the time Kasab and rest of the team landed on Amar Singh Solanki's trawler in the high seas, till Kasab's heroic capture by the late Tukaram Ombale at Girgaum Chowpatty. This will be inter-cut with what the various gallant police officers did in their attempt to get the situation under control. The film would be made for both national as well as the international audiences. It will have completely new cast to create a heightened sense of reality. RGV also added that "After my tryst with so called the underworld films, I would consider this film as a greatest challenge of my career". Readers maybe aware that, three years back, Varma's walk through the half-burnt hotel accompanied by the then-Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his actor son Riteish had led to speculations that he might be making a film on the attacks. But Varma denied he was invited by Deshmukh and his son to visit Taj so that he could see the devastation first hand and portray it realistically in a movie. "I only got the idea now. I have enough knowledge and understanding of the events now. Also, at that point the allegations were about Riteish being a part of this project, which he is not," says he. Varma is being assisted by Rommel Rodrigues, author of 'Kasab, The Face Of 26/11', who has an extensive and encyclopaedic knowledge of the event, but the film will not be based on the book.

Ram Gopal Varmas next based on 2611 terror attacks video

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'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

Channing Tatum's days as Duke might be numbered in Jon Chu's sequel.By Josh Wigler Bruce Willis in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" Photo: Paramount Pictures Either Jon Chu and I have a lot in common, or the "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" director was checking in on me during my formative years and caught me spending hours playing with my Joe toys. At least that's the impression I'm getting from the brand-new "G.I. Joe" trailer, which looks like it was lifted directly from my childhood and projected onto the big screen. (You could have said hi by the way, Jon!) Between fan-favorite character Roadblock (played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) ripping enemies to shreds with an automatic heavy gun, Snake Eyes and Jinx repelling from a mountainside cleaving bad-guy ninjas along the way, and a perfectly delivered one-liner from Bruce Willis, it's safe to say that every square inch of the "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" trailer is filled with win. But in the midst of all that action, there are some hidden details you may have missed. To that end, here are five key scenes from the "G.I. Joe" trailer you'll want to pay attention to. Warning: Some potential spoilers ahead. Bye-Bye, Duke? Hey, there's Channing Tatum! Wait ... where'd he go? There are only a handful of Tatum appearances in the trailer, which comes as a bit of a shock, considering his lead role in the last "G.I. Joe" flick. Perhaps he's being downplayed to show off the Rock and an army of ninjas (totally cool by me), or perhaps his absence hints at a darker fate in store for Duke. Mouse Trap In other folks-who-are-likely-to-die news, there's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance from Joseph Mazzello as Mouse near the top of the trailer: He's sitting right next to Flint (D.J. Cotrona) on the aircraft that's unknowingly leading the Joes to certain doom. Given that Mouse isn't a household name in the "Joe" community, as well as the absolute mayhem we see next, chances are very high that the "Jurassic Park" vet's days are numbered. Cobra Rises Very few will complain about the lack of "Rise of Cobra" carryover in the new "Retaliation" trailer, but if there's one thing all "Joe" fans can get behind, it's the return of President Zartan. His position at the top of the U.S. government was easily the most tantalizing cliffhanger in "Rise," and based on the Cobra banners draped over the side of the White House, "Retaliation" is following through on that potential in a very, very big way. Hail to the Chief Lest you think Zartan is the movie's big bad, even the President has someone to answer to. Like Mouse, Cobra Commander makes an incredibly brief appearance in the "Retaliation" trailer, sandwiched between Zartan and new baddie Firefly (Ray Stevenson) at the one-minute mark. He's sporting his classic metal face mask, easily the character's most popular look, and by all appearances, the commander has come a long way from Joseph Gordon-Levitt's winky goofball performance in "Rise." Now, if only we knew who was playing him this time around ... Kiss Those Lips Goodbye! Read my lips: Snake Eyes' rubber-masked ninja mouth is gone, gone, gone! Almost as offensive as nipples on the Batsuit, Snake's inexplicable on-costume mouth was a huge bone of contention for the "Joe" fanbase. Thankfully, we can kiss those lips goodbye and keep them firmly in the past where they belong. Also, even if Snake Eyes still looked mouthy, he slaughters an army of evil ninjas while running along a mountainside. That's so cool that even rubber lips would be mostly forgivable. Tell us what you thought of the new "G.I. Joe" trailer in the comments section! Check out everything we've got on "G.I. Joe: Retaliation." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos "G.I. Joe"

'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Trailer: Five Key Scenes video

Monday, 12 December 2011

'New Year's Eve' Boots 'Twilight' From Top Of Box Office

Jonah Hill's 'The Sitter' comes in at #2 during the lowest-grossing weekend of the year.By Ryan J. Downey Jessica Biel in "New Year's Eve" Photo: Warner Bros "New Year's Eve" was the #1 movie over the weekend but had little else to celebrate. The ensemble comedy opened to a soft $13.7 million during what turned out to be the weakest weekend at the box office all year. Jonah Hill's R-rated comedy "The Sitter" debuted at #2 with just $10 million, with both films suffering from overwhelmingly poor reviews from critics. Director Garry Marshall's non-sequel follow-up to the similarly ensemble-led "Valentine's Day" was off by 75 percent from that film's $56.3 million debut last year. Switching locations from Los Angeles to New York (and title holidays, of course), the film otherwise stuck to the formula of intertwined romantic stories played out by a large cast of celebrities and peppered with yet more celebrities in cameo roles. The 7 percent score for "New Year's Eve" on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, which averages reviews from film critics, is even lower than the 18 percent earned by "Valentine's Day" last February. "The only entertaining way to watch 'New Year's Eve' is as a cruel experiment in which performers stranded with absolutely no script support are forced to subsist on pure essence, which quickly becomes a blood sport in which only a few survive," NPR's Linda Holmes wrote. "[P]erfectly bland," Richard Roeper said of the ensemble flick. The 22 percent score earned by "The Sitter" makes it better-reviewed than either of Marshall's recent flicks but still ranks as "rotten." It's worth noting that some of the negative reviews still praised Hill's efforts in his starring role, despite what they saw as an overall misfire. The film's opening take was less than his previous flicks like "Superbad" (with Michael Cera) and "Get Him to the Greek" (with Russell Brand). "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" spent its first weekend out of the #1 slot, dropping to #3 in its fourth weekend of release with an estimated $7.9 million. The second-to-last chapter in the enormous franchise is now the third-highest-grossing movie of 2011, behind two other sequels, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Two family-friendly movies rounded out the top five: "The Muppets" with $7.1 million and "Arthur Christmas" with $6.6 million. In adult drama land, director Alexander Payne's Oscar-buzz flick "The Descendants" expanded nationwide and generated another $4.8 million, coming in at #7 at the box office. Cold War-era espionage slow boiler "Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy" (starring Gary Oldman as a British spy) picked up $301,000 in just four theaters. That's the third-best opening for a film in just four theaters ever, just behind "The Tree of Life" and "The King's Speech." By comparison, Charlize Theron's "Young Adult" averaged $40,000 per screen as it opened in eight locations over the weekend. Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" and "New Year's Eve." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: New Year's Eve MTV First: The Sitter Related Photos Countdown Kicks Off At 'New Year's Eve' Premiere

'New Year's Eve' Boots 'Twilight' From Top Of Box Office video

Saturday, 3 December 2011

Subhash K. Jha speaks about The Dirty Picture

Make it large! Like a tumbler of foamy well-brewed beer Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture brings to life the kind of actresses who didn't quite have a pub in kind when they spoke of 'Making it large' in her presence. Laaj is a primary casualty and sharm is thrown out of the window as Vidya's Silk, more Smita Patil than Silk Smitha for the gutsy transparency Vidya imbues in her part, goes for the kill, playing from under- to over the hill with a skill that is wickedly intangible though solidly nailed to a palate of brilliancy. Let's just say, there was no one quite like Silk Smitha, on whose life this film may or not be based. However, there can be no dispute on the fact that no one but Vidya Balan could have pulled off the role of Silk. It's a gutsy performance filled with sound fury passion and yes, cleavage. Oodles of cleavage hanging out of every frame, inviting us to a world of venal voyeurism. Come, look. And yes, make it large. Movies located within the film industry tend to take the 'light' part of the 3 directorial commandments, 'Lights, Camera Action' too lightly. Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool and Meraj's long-forgotten Sitara are the two films we recall where the protagonist undertook the journey from rustic anonymity to celluloid fame with the darker signposts of the journey on display. Indeed the lines that Gulzar wrote for the heartbroken star in Sitara: Yeh saaye hain yeh duniya hai parchaiyon ki, Bhari bheed mein khaali tanhaiyon ki... could well apply to our Silk. Tragically the dreadful isolation and loneliness of the small-town Chennai girl who went on to become the hottest item-girl decades before the term 'item girl' was coined, gets lost in oodles of tantalizing cross-references to stars and sex...not necessarily in that order. Some of the lines that dialogue-writer Rajat Aroraa makes Vidya Balan throw at her adversaries (not all men, we might add) are deliciously ambivalent. But you know all the while that the words displaying an unabashed sexuality, are meant to titillate and scandalize. Silk is that kind of a woman. She leaves a trail of noisy scandals and controversies behind wherever she goes. The writing in The Dirty Picture is so clear on the wall that you wish a more delicate tone had been adopted at least once in while, to make it stand tall. Delicacy creeps in unexpectedly when Silk's worst adversary falls for her. He is a pompous self-important loser of an offbeat director named Abraham (Emraan Hashmi, sullen and effective) who changes, unconvincingly, into an overnight director-wannabe playing the lead in a triple-role film, after he falls asleep watching one of his own bland films, falls in love with Silk... The end-scenes between Balan and Hashmi are done with a gentleness found to be missing from the rest of this persuasive picture-show where 'dirty' is a password to a cornocupia of elaborate kitsch depicting the world of Jeetendra, Bappi Lahiri and K Bappaiah that existed in the 1970s. Though no one said 'Ooh la la' in those days of pots and pants, we'll let that go. The period details in The Dirty Picture are interesting but not compelling enough to make us feel we are transported back to the 1970s. What carries the film forward is Silk's ambitions.Played at an unbelievable shrill octave, Silk's moaning-glory as voiced by Vidya Balan fills the frames with a vibrant voluptuousness. Vidya is specially brilliant in the early scenes when he plays the village ingenue who discovers she has a foolproof means of making men eat out of her...er, hands. With a relish that leaves us enchanted Vidya sinks her teeth into Silk's sexual abandon. The actress revels unapologetically in Silk's corny wet-dream aspirations. Some of the scenes written to accentuate Silk's outlandish eroticism are plainly ludicrous. At a bash hosted by matinee-idol Suryakanth (Naseeruddin Shah, an enchanting epitome of the over-the-hill superstar with his mischievous glint, salacious smirks and wigged self-deception) and his writer-brother whatever-Kanth (Tusshar, lost and vulnerable) Silk breaks into a gyratory muqabla with the new item-girl in tinsel town. We gawk in disbelief. That is what director Milan Luthra wants us to do. Subtlety be damned. Ditto morality. Aided by the brilliant if somewhat over-clever dialogues Vidya turns the whole morality question on its head. Her bravura performance would have worked much better with a bit of TLC applied to the aggressively-written script where characters who scream for attention through their potboiler-flavoured pedigree. There are cloudbursts of brilliance in the narration that eclipse the glaring sins of overstatement. Vidya's solitary experience in a seedy movie theatre where men storm in to watch her item song and then storm out, and the delight that her eyes express at that moment, make you forget all of the film's weaknesses. Sure, Silk is a fatally-flawed character who's driven to self-destruction. The film captures evocative montages of the protagonist's troubled turbulent and titillating life. Luckily Vidya Balan's performance comes from her heart. The cleavage is decidedly not the most expressive component of the performance. For that alone we need to salute this brave film about a gutsy sex-bomb who didn't mind if family audiences kept away as long men went back home to enhance their family after watching her. Fully wet, of course.

Subhash K. Jha speaks about The Dirty Picture video

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

"Tukkaa Fitt boasts of great comic content"

For once Vaishali Desai seemed at ease. Finally, after the quiet wait for two years, she has grabbed her second outing titled Tukkaa Fitt. A small budget comic caper that will deliver her big results, she believes. For the past couple of years, she has been enjoying a rare anonymity but that afternoon when she walked in the Costa coffee house, all the heads turned to see the damsel in the dress that surely painted the ambience purple. Her skin as white as milk, her lips red as blood and her hair as dark as night, 'V' carried no vendetta, no vengeance but that face signifying victory. She's wearing black shades protecting her from that sun and those voyeuristic eyes looking from left right and centre from top to toe. Whatever it was, Vaishali Desai looked like a leading lady - porcelain skin, coal black eyes, a beguiling smile - one gets the sense that it is what is going on behind the face that counts. And as I talk to Desai over a hot cuppa Mocha, I start to ponder, for Vaishali believes that it's not the lines that she delivers that are important, it's what exists between them. The actress was wearing confidence on her sleeves because she wasn't running her hands through her hair or stuttering as she tried to express herself - all of the characteristic nervous tics she's often displayed in public since her debut film rocketed her into a frightening orbit of celebrity two years ago. Then I take my last sip from the white cup, stop my dictaphone and see the long legs walk through the glass door and all I was left with was the voice of one head strong woman who, despite being a two film old actress, believed in starting fresh and 'Fitt', and that ain't a 'Tukkaa'. "Tukkaa Fitt boasts of great comic content" I know it's been two years since my debut film released. I don't think it can be termed as a sabbatical. Certain things are meant to happen at a certain time I feel. I guess Tukkaa Fitt is what I was supposed to do. It's not about how much the budget of your movie is now-a-days, it's about the content and I can say that Tukkaa Fitt boasts of a good comic content thanks to Mahaakshay, Rajpal Yadav sir, Mahesh Manjrekar, etc. I chose this film because it's my first rom-com and I am not presented in a glamorous avatar that I was in my debut movie. "It may seem like a misfit but I am not. I am the only girl amongst thirteen guys in the film" I am the only girl amongst thirteen guys in Tukkaa Fitt. I am not a misfit (laughs). Every character in this film ventures out to achieve something in their life and everyone comes out achieving that. When a girl joins an all boy / men cast, the entire concentration falls on the female lead. Not that I am selfish but it's damn difficult to present yourself because you know that once the camera turns to you, you are exclusive and that's the USP of it. "There are lots of expectations from Mahaakshay after Haunted" Mahaakshay has already given a hit called Haunted and there are lots of expectations from him. The market has opened up to him. Yes, Tukkaa Fitt is a different genre for him too. With a hit under his belt plus the performance, it will decide whether Tukkaa Fitt is worth its weight in gold. So far everything is looking excellent and we are in our post production stage with a few songs to be shot. "I've always wanted to be a part of rom-coms because my grand uncle Manmohan Desai loved that genre" I've always wanted to be a part of rom-coms because my grand uncle Manmohan Desai did love that genre, like Parvarish, Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb, etc. They were filled with romance, comedy and drama. Tukkaa Fitt has got all that. "Tukkaa Fitt dialogues are very fresh and the humour is day-to-day types" Tukkaa Fitt isn't loud humour. The dialogues are very fresh and new. It's a comedy of errors and the language used is day-to-day types. It's a pleasant comparison but Tukkaa Fitt was mostly shot in Goa and so was Golmaal. Golmaal was a hit at the box office and I hope the same happens with our film. The characters too take it to another level. All the men are doing some insane and crazy comedy. "I am a director's actor and my director Shawn has done an amazing job filming Tukkaa Fitt by bringing in his years of experience" Shawn Arranha, my director has done an amazing job because if you see, every character, big or small, is for a reason and all have got equal footage. He is an experienced director and we all know that. I don't think Shawn has been biased. I am a director's actor and I don't question my director. He is very humorous as a person but at the same time he is very serious. He never cracks a joke while he is shooting the scenes but when a song starts he will crack up. All he says is 'got it'. But Shawn understood the importance of each actor. He gave me a day off when I wasn't feeling well. He would swap scenes with someone else that day. Shawn as a director understands why it's important to make sure the actors are fit for Tukkaa Fitt and never compromised when it came to health issues or personal problems. "I have more romantic scenes with Mahaakshay" My first film will always be close to me because it's my first and same with my co-star Jackky Bhagnani. It was my first film and he was my first co-star. Even with Mahaakshay. We hit it off quite well in the beginning. We had our script reading sessions, dinners, etc. We were just supposed to meet and chat to gel well. I had a great time shooting with him. We knew each other before we ventured on the sets thanks to our dinners and gatherings and reading sessions. But I have more romantic scenes with him than comedy. "Mithunda can't be compared to anyone" Mahaakshay is as romantic as Mithunda? (laughs) Mithunda can't be compared to anyone. He is amazing. That's a wrong question to ask as to who is more romantic. But now that you have asked, let me tell you that I have only romanced Mahaakshay on screen (laughs). Mithunda still remains a mystery (laughs). "Mahaakshay being a prankster didn't play any pranks on me off or on the sets" Mahaakshay is a big prankster and that's what I had heard before I met him but luckily no one played a prank on me off or on the sets. He didn't do anything nor did any other cast members. We just had fun on the sets and because it's a comedy we all anyway had our share of laughs every day.

"Tukkaa Fitt boasts of great comic content" video

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Emraan Hashmi promotes his film in The Parliament

The makers of The Dirty Picture are going all out to promote their film. Recently the team was in Delhi for the same. During the promotions in Delhi, the crew decided to go one step ahead and headed to the Parliament to promote the film. Emraan Hashmi visited the Parliament on Wednesday to distribute copies of the music CDs to the MPs, including the Union Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed. Tweeting about this Emraan says, "Off to Delhi for promotion of @thedirtypic. Land at 12 pm and head straight to the Parliament. 1st ever film promotion to take place there." Later he added, "After Parliament I'm meant to take the Delhi metro to Rajiv Chowk and head to the holy Nizamuddin Dargah to seek blessings for." Produced by Ekta Kapoor, The Dirty Picture is slated for release on December 2, the birth anniversary of Silk Smitha.