| Eva Mendes says it's a great time for women to direct movies Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:43 PM PST  Los Angeles, Dec 14 (IANS) Actress Eva Mendes, who made her directorial debut with "California Romanza", feels this is the right time for women to turn director. Mendes showed her movie starring Christina Ricci at the annual Glamour Reel Moments event in Los Angeles earlier this year, reports aceshowbiz.com. "I loved the whole experience. I believe we need more women behind the camera. This year, with Kathryn Bigelow winning an Oscar (for 'Hurt Locker') and Angelina Jolie directing a film, it's a great time for women to step behind the camera," she said. "I certainly felt very empowered by it when I made my film. It's about time we heard more women's voices and points of view in cinema because it's a male-dominated industry. It's starting to equal out a bit, though, which is exciting." 
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| 'No One Killed Jessica' director okay with A-certificate Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:37 PM PST  Mumbai, Dec 14 (IANS) Rani Mukerji's character mouths expletives non-stop in the much talked-about film "No One Killed Jessica". Director Rajkumar Gupta admits that the actress' character is "very brutal and graphic in her speech" but he is not so worried about the film getting A-certificate from the censor board. "We voluntarily beeped out Rani's expletive in the trailer because it was to be screened on the home viewing medium. But now when we submit the film for censorship, we will go with the entire language content intact, hoping the censor board would see the context and not just the hard-hitting nature of the language," said Gupta. "We are hoping for a UA (parental guidance) certificate. But even if we get an Adults certificate, we're okay with it," he added. The film is based on model Jessica Lall's murder case. In the film Vidya Balan will be seen as Jessica's sister Sabrina who fought tooth and nail to get justice for her sister. Rani plays a journalist. According to sources, Rani's character's flow of profanities is so non-stop that if the censor board decided to beep her gaalis her dialogue soundtrack would have more beeps than words. Laughs and protests Gupta, saying: "It' not that bad, really. You are making it sound like a non-stop abuse binge. My film is not that." "But yes, Rani's character is very brutal and graphic in her speech. I don't know if, as you say, Rani is the same way in real life. I didn't know her before I shot with her. But she was thoroughly professional in mouthing squirmy words." While Rani is said to be gung-ho about the language, Vidya Balan is apparently dreading how the dialogues would sound in a pindrop-silent theatre with dolby sound. "Let's just say, both Rani and Vidya said what they had to. They were thorough professionals," said Gupta. Another area of discomfort for the film would be the legal ramifications of showing real-life people, particularly the hostile witnesses in the murder case. Apparently some of the key witnesses are already inquiring about the content and getting ready for legal action. "We're ready for any eventuality. I made the film the way I wanted to as a mix of realism and cinematic entertainment. 'No One Killed Jessica' is not a documentary on the Jessica Lall case. But it is about her sister's fight for justice. And if the real-life characters recognise themselves, they are welcome to react how they want." In fact, former top cop Amodh Kanth has urged the Indian censor board to ensure that only the facts relating to the Jessica Lall murder case are presented in "No One Killed Jessica". 
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| 'The King's Speech' rules at Golden Globe nomination Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:32 PM PST  Los Angeles, Dec 14 (IANS) Colin Firth starrer British royal drama "The King's Speech" earned seven Golden Globe nominations Tuesday to lead the race for Hollywood's second most prestigious annual movie prize. The film shows how the Duke of York (Firth), a shy man afflicted with a dreadful stammer, goes through unorthodox treatment and finally gives a significant speech on BBC radio when he succeeds his father King George V, as King George VI, before World War I. Directed by Tom Hooper, it also stars Geoffery Rush, Guy Pearce and Helena Bonham Carter. Its nominations include acting nods for Firth, Rush and Carter as well as for best screenplay, best original score and best director. Giving a neck-to-neck run to the movie are David Fincher's "The Social Network" and Mark Wahlberg starrer "The Fighter" with six nominations apiece. The Facebook saga earned nods for best film, director, actor, supporting actor, screenplay and original score. The nominations kicked off the traditional Hollywood award season and also included best drama nods for "Black Swan" and Christopher Nolan's mind-bending thriller "Inception". The nominees for the best comedy or musical were Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland", Christina Aguilera's debut movie "Burlesque", "The Kids Are All Right", Bruce Willis starrer "Red" and Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie starrer "The Tourist". Depp has been nominated for two trophies in the best comic actor category, one for his role as the Mad Hatter in Burton's 3D fantasy "Alice in Wonderland" and for his role in "The Tourist". Other best comic actor nominees are Paul Giamatti for "Barney's Version", Jake Gyllenhaal for "Love and Other Drugs" and Kevin Spacey for "Casino Jack". The best comic actress nominees are Annette Bening for "The Kids Are All Right", Anne Hathaway for "Love and Other Drugs", Julianne Moore for "The Kids Are All Right" and Emma Stone for "Easy A". Oscar-winning Halle Berry has been nominated for the best dramatic actress for her role in "Frankie and Alice". She competes with Nicole Kidman ("Rabbit Hole"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone"), Natalie Portman ("Black Swan") and Michelle Williams ("Blue Valentine"). The nominees for best actor in a movie drama are Jesse Eisenberg for "The Social Network", Colin Firth for "The King's Speech", James Franco for "127 Hours", Ryan Gosling for "Blue Valentine" and Mark Wahlberg for "The Fighter". The race for best TV comedy is between "30 Rock", "The Big Bang Theory", "The Big C", "Glee", "Modern Family" and "Nurse Jackie". The best TV drama nominees are "Mad Men", "Dexter", "Boardwalk Empire", "The Good Wife" and "The Walking Dead". Nominations in the best foreign language film category are "Beautiful (Mexico, Spain), "The Concert" (France), "The Edge" (Russia), "I Am Love" (Italy), and "In a Better World" (Denmark). The nominees for best animated feature film are "Despicable Me", "How to Train Your Dragon", "The Illusionist", "Tangled" and "Toy Story 3". The contenders in the 25 categories were announced by actor Josh Duhamel, Katie Holmes and Blair Underwood together with Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) President Philip Berk at The Beverly Hilton Hotel here. The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be presented Jan 16, 2011 hosted by Ricky Gervais and will be seen in more than 160 countries. 
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| Is Katie Price pregnant? Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:28 PM PST  London, Dec 14 (IANS) Former model Katie Price has sparked off speculations that she is expecting, by changing the colour of her hair. She had earlier said when she goes blonde it means she is having a baby. The model revealed her new honey blonde look in Las Vegas during the weekend, reports dailystar.co.uk. In an interview, Price had said: "I've always happened to be blonde when I'm pregnant. It's really weird. So worry if I'm blonde!" Price had spoken openly that she and husband Alex Reid, 35, have been trying for a baby. 
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| 'Jai ho' Rahman at Golden Globe nominations again Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:23 PM PST  New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) It doesn't get bigger than this for A.R. Rahman. The double Oscar winning Indian composer has bagged a Golden Globe nomination for Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", having already won the trophy once for the director's mega sweep "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2009. This is the 44-year-old's second flick at Hollywood's second most prestigious annual movie prize after Boyle's Mumbai-based multiple-Oscar award wining underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire". Rahman won two Oscars and a Golden Globe for his number "Jai ho" in the movie. The Chennai-based composer is competing in the same section as before - Original Score for a motion picture category - with the likes of Alexandre Desplat ("The King's Speech"), Danny Elfman ("Alice in Wonderland"), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross ("The Social Network"), and Hans Zimmer ("Inception"). Bollywood was on cloud nine with its leading musician's feat. "AR Rahman nominated for Golden Globe for '127 Hours' score. Marching to another Oscar?" tweeted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. The soundtrack of "127 Hours" includes the popular song "If I Rise", a collaboration between Rahman and pop star Dido. Starring "Spider-Man" star James Franco, the movie is a biopic about mountaineer Aron Ralston, who was trapped in a canyon in Utah for five days by a boulder that fell on his right arm and he freed himself by amputating the limb. Ralston recently even complimented the composer on his music in the film by sending him a hand-written note. It read: "For A.R, Thank you for bringing your amazing music to my story - if only I had your soundtrack in the canyon, I could've lasted another 127 hours. Best Wishes, A.R. (Aron Ralston)." Fondly called the Mozart of Madras, Rahman was honoured with a Padma Bhushan this year. The shy musician also has two gramophones on his shelf that he won at the 52nd Grammy Awards for his music in "Slumdog Millionaire". The only defeat he had had was at this year's Oscars ceremony when his number "Na Na" from his Hollywood debut venture "Couple's Retreat" failed to win a nomination in the Best Original Song category at the gala. 
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| Gwyneth Paltrow feels proud on receiving Walk of Fame Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:17 PM PST  London, Dec 14 (IANS) "Iron Man" actress Gwyneth Paltrow feels proud and honoured to have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 38-year-old actress, who has two children, Apple and Moses, with rocker husband Chris Martin, admitted she was struggling to keep her emotions in check after being conferred with the honour, reports contactmusic.com. "I'm proud my grandchildren can one day come and see my name on the sidewalk... I think I am going to get in the car and burst into tears. It just means so much to me to see all the people that I really love, and who have been supportive of me forever. I feel so honoured I can't believe it," she said. "This city is so much a part of my heart and soul. I don't think I would be here were it not for my family and friends," she added. 
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| Actress Eva Mendes finds marriage boring Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:11 PM PST  London, Dec 15 (IANS) Actress Eva Mendes has no plans to tie the knot with her long-term boyfriend George Augusto because she finds marriage "boring". "No, no, no. I don't know if I want children, but the idea of marriage sounds very boring to me. I have to be honest. And no disrespect, because I think marriage is a beautiful institution," she said. "I am extremely romantic but I think there is that little rebel inside me that is anti-establishment. It's just one more fun thing I can rebel against," she added. However, when it comes to attending someone's wedding, the "Other Guys" star can't stop herself from hitting the dancefloor and showing off her unique moves, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "I love going to a wedding. I do this thing - I call it wedding dancing. I don't know what happens to me but I just dance in a way that I've never danced before. I'm the best person to have at your wedding but I just don't ever want to be the actual person getting married." 
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| Vidya Balan feels life is good after 30 Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:03 PM PST  New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS) Marriage may or may not figure in her five-year plans but Vidya Balan is not ready to give up acting for "anything or anyone" and feels life has been "good" ever since she turned 30. "Acting is a part of who I am. I don't think I will remotely give it up for anything or anyone," the 32-year-old actor told IANS in an exclusive chat in the capital. "But having said that, if it comes naturally to me and I do feel like taking it easy at some point of time, maybe I will. But that shouldn't be a pre-condition to get into any relationship," she added diplomatically. Vidya, who will soon be seen in "No One Killed Jessica" based on the Jessica Lall murder case, says she is glad women are not giving up their careers just for their personal lives any more. "I think today women continue to work at every age. It's fantastic! And it is happening in every profession. I met a girl at a store who got back to work within just two months of delivering a child - such is the dedication. "But, yes, in our profession (acting), in the earlier days, the moment you got married, you ceased to be an object of desire, which is why a lot of actresses retired. Today, no longer! I guess that's also got to do a lot with the fact and attitude that today if someone is with someone, it doesn't stop you from desiring them!" she said and broke into a naughty laugh. The critically acclaimed actress, who featured in films like "Parineeta", "Ishqiya", "Guru" and "Paa", is on a high these days. Neither her performances, nor her dressing sense are being criticised - and she admits she has started being very careful and fussy. "Over a period of time, I think rightfully so, I have found the courage to do only what I want to do. I will not get pressurised to do anything that I don't want to do, even if it is a right film, or maybe it's the kind of film that one should be doing. "It has to challenge me and it has to excite me. It can be an extremely simple film, it could be a mad role, it could be intense...it could be anything across the spectrum...but I have to feel excited," she said. That's also her mantra when it comes to dressing up - especially since she became the favourite child of India's fashion police. Now she often sports designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's elegant saris and steals the show wherever she goes with her style. "I stick to what makes me feel I look good in. If I feel I am looking good in something, I will wear it. And if it isn't, then even if it is the most beautifully crafted creation, I won't. That's the only criterion I use while wearing anything now and I guess that's what has worked for me," she said, as she sat pretty in a black and red gown at a five-star hotel here. Vidya has completely dressed down for her role in "No One Killed Jessica", where she portrays the strong-willed and simple Sabrina Lall, who fought an over-a-decade-long legal battle to get justice for her youngest sister, model Jessica Lall, who was shot dead by Manu Sharma in 1999. She has gladly worn an "almost no make-up look" and worn "asexual" clothes in the film, releasing Jan 7. "There's no shape to the clothes I have worn in the film. Loose t-shirts, men's shirts, loose jeans, spectacles...these are what I have worn to show what a regular girl Sabrina is," she said, and added she dare not be caught wearing those sort of clothes in real life. After "No One Killed Jessica", Vidya is looking forward to the release of Sujoy Ghosh's "Kahaani", and will start working on Milan Luthria's "A Dirty Picture". The latter will see her at her sensual best as she prepares to essay south-based actress Silk Smitha, best known for her sex appeal. The actress was found dead in her Chennai apartment in 1996. 
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