Australian actress Nicole Kidman's secluded 3 million pounds dream home has turned into a nightmare with a 100-room motel ready to be built overlooking her back garden.
The Oscar-winning actress and her musician husband Keith Urban bought the mansion in the picturesque Sutton Forest in New South Wales, Australia, in July. Kidman said that they were unaware of the building plans when they bought it, themirror.co.uk reports.
However, the couple's spokeswoman denied they plan to sell the plot.
Gary Cowan, who co-owns the pub next to the development, said: "If they were looking for privacy, it's not the best place. We can see the place from the pub as it is."
Initial approval for the development of the motel had already been given and a final decision is expected in February.
Nicole Kidman's privacy threatened
Inside SRK's house
He is one of India's biggest stars, and as a result, his house is one of India's largest. Take a look inside Shah Rukh Khan's house that is called Mannat. 
In the blogosphere, among all celebrity houses, SRK's is considered one of the best. 
In fact, fans across the world refer to Mannat as a palace. And it seems they are not wrong.
Mannat was originally a heritage building that King Khan bought and converted into a luxury house.
About two years ago, SRK was in trouble because of his house when a resident of the area filed a PIL against the building and the permissions it got.
Luckily, the site got a clean chit and now SRK and his family inhabit the palatial house.
The six-floored Mannat is situated in the Bandra region in Mumbai.
It was recently discovered that SRK used a part of his house to shoot his commercials. This is done so that he can spend more time at home.
According to reports, the house has been built in such a way that two floors are dedicated for shooting commercials.
Ads like Dish TV and Airtel have been shot inside his house.
The hind side of the house, which is another wing all together, has a gym that was key in giving SRK his famous six-pack. Even his office is in that part of the house.
Rab Ne's Anushka in love
Anushka is in love with her reel life husband Surinder Sahni. She confesses that while doing the film she shared some sort of emotional bonding with her on screen hero as well.
"Even if I tell you all the good things about Surinder Sahni, it's less. He is simple, straightforward, sweet and charming. But there are much more than words to describe about him. It's true that I totally fell in love with the character while doing the film." Even in real if she gets someone life Suridner Sahni, she will be grateful to her Rab. "I will marry Suridner Sahni if there is someone like him exit in real life. I believe that goodness of a person remains forever but looks and beauty fade away with age. And Surinder Sahni is full of virtues," she says.
Anushka says she is lucky to have got an opportunity to begin her career with the King Khan. She says that when she dealt with two different characters of Shah Rukh in Rab Ne , it was like dealing with two different people. "This is the greatness of his acting. I never felt that one Shah Rukh was doing those two roles, it was like there were two different Shah Rukh's on the sets," she added.
The actress, who comes from an Army background, started her career as a model in Bengaluru (Bangalore) and did her first modeling assignment at the age of 15. She was raring to go up in her career and her constant drive to achieve something in life landed her this role opposite Shah Rukh.
"I never wanted to piggy back on Shah Rukh Khan and achieve success. I always want to achieve it on my own. I thought to play very responsibly and that's what I did in Rab Ne", she says.
"I am extremely grateful to both Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Shah Rukh Khan for being so nice and kind to me. Shah Rukh never treated me like a newcomer. He always cooperated with me and encouraged me to do a good job. He never behaved like a superstar. I think this is what makes him so big and great," says the actress.
With this successful debutant venture now Anushka says that she is looking forward to getting some more good and challenging films. But at the moment she is busy getting accolades and wishes.
Silambattam movie review
Cast: Silambarasan, Sana kaan
Producer: Lakshmi Movie Makers Limited
Director: Saravananan
Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie Review:
Silambattam is a typical mass masala entertainer. It is another 'Formulaic' film revolving around a larger than life hero, who romances, does comedy, speaks only in punchlines, has deep sentimental bond with his family, and is a one-man fighting machine who emerges triumphant in the end!
The tested formula has worked wonders for an array of young stars who were inspired largely by the Superstar Rajinikanth. Simbu also wants to be a popular mass hero and the route he has taken is doing such films which appeals to a large section of Tamil audiences who doesn't enjoy films that test's intellect and imagination.
There is nothing original about the story; it has been etched from various Tamil, Telugu and an old Hindi film. What makes the film watchable is the packaging, which moves at a rapid pace, though at times this 2 hour 45 minute film tests your patience.
Vichu (Simbu) is an appavi (innocent) temple priest who is brought up by his grandfather (Nedumudi Venu) as a coward. Janu (Sana Khan), his neighbour, a talkative, pretty Brahmin girl is crazy about Vichu but she wants him to be brave and smart. But behind the coy and innocence, our hero Vichu has another side to him. Like an elephant he does not know his strength and soon he uses it against some local goons who come in his way.
Dorai Singam (Kishore) a local MLA who is a thug, lords over the area and he wants to take procession of villagers land for building a beer factory. His rival Muthuvel (Prabhu) who was in jail comes out and crosses sword with Dorai. But Vichu intervenes and he beats Dorai’s men single-handedly. Muthvel is shocked to see Vichu who has a striking resemblance with his younger brother Tamizh(Simbu) who was killed by Dorai. What is the connection between Tamizh and Vichu? All the drama unfolds in the second half.
Actually the first half is a bit slow with Santhanam’s crude comedy and the romance of Vichu and Janu . After the censors gave more than a dozen cuts and an UA certificate, the film still reeks of double entendre, crude gags, crass toilet jokes, and lots of blood and gore. But the story gains tempo and unfolds in a racy manner in the latter half with a well-shot Tamizh’s introductory song and his cute romance with Gayathri (Sneha).
Silambattam is not devoid of faults – Double meaning dialogues, the girls massaging Panchamritham on Vichu’s body and excessive violence when a 10-year-old is on a killing spree and songs pushed into the narrative in the first half.
The scenes that stand out are the lead to the climax, when Vichu in Billa get-up meets the villain and the punchlines that follow are a scream, Karunas subtle comedy that evokes laughter, the beautiful visuals atop a train with Tamizh-Gayathri romance, pleasing photography by Saravanan, action scenes by Kanal Kannan, spunky choreography and Yuvan’s songs and background score are noteworthy.
Simbu dances like a dream and shines in this film with a performance that is measured and meticulous. As the cheerily upbeat Tamizh and the innocent Vichu he invests an equal amount of energy and style. Sana Khan looks lovely and makes an earnest attempt in the acting department too but in a film like this, that's plenty effort. Sneha does her bit with grace while Prabhu is just ok. Kishore is menacing as the villain.
On the whole, it’s a decent masala entertainer aimed at mass audiences.
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Biggest Tiger seen ever
Miss World 2008 Ksenya Sukhinova
Ksenya Sukhinova from Russia blows a kiss on December 13, 2008 after being crowned Miss World 2008 at the miss world pageant held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Ksenya Sukhinova was crowned Miss World 2008 after beating 108 other international beauties in a glittering African extravaganza.
Katrina is the hottest babe on Google
Recently declared as Asia's sexiest woman, Katrina Kaif has yet again pipped former beauty queen and Bollywood heart-throb Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the most searched for person on the Web, according to Google's India Zeitgeist list for 2008.
Interestingly, Katrina has also outdone her boyfriend and godfather Salman Khan when it comes to being googled on the Net! As for Salman, he may not have been able to set his account straight with Shah Rukh Khan in real life but on the world wide web he has elbowed King Khan, and remains the most searched for actor in India. Shahid Kapoor makes his debut on the list while Genelia D'Souza of Jaane Tu Jaane Na has been declared as one the fastest rising searched for terms on the Net besides Beijing Olympics and IPL!
Bollywood remains one of the most popular Internet search terms ahead of Tamil Cinema when it comes to netizens' interest on movies. As with most of the awards ceremonies, one name that is conspicously missing is none other than Aamir Khan's. After all, Aamir was never in the rat race, more so if it was run on people's keyboards!
Deepika, new face of Kingfisher
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Keanu Reeves gorges on chicken tikka
Hollywood heartthrob Keanu Reeves gorged on spicy Indian food when he took his friends for a treat at an Indian restaurant here last week.
According to a source, Keanu loves Indian food and took his friends to Tamarind, a popular Indian restaurant.
The Speed and Matrix star, who will now be seen playing an alien in sci-fi flick The Day The Earth Stood Still, gorged on starters like aloo tikka. They also enjoyed a selection of spicy dishes such as murgh makhni, chicken malai tikka and saag paneer.
"They completed their meal with six servings of traditional Indian coconut ice cream," the source added.
The Day The Earth Stood Still is releasing on December 12.
Actor Robert Prosky dies
Robert Prosky, a character actor with hundreds of credits on stage and screen including Mrs Doubtfire and Hill Street Blues, has died in a Washington hospital. He was 77.
His oldest son, Stefan Prosky, said the actor died on Monday night of complications from a heart procedure.
"He went gracefully last night, not in pain," Stefan Prosky said. "Everybody knows him as a fairly famous actor. My brothers and I know him as a marvellous father."
Prosky appeared in more than 200 plays on Broadway and with Arena Stage, a regional theatre company in Washington. He appeared in 38 films and numerous television shows.
On Broadway, Prosky's credits included Glengarry Glen Ross and A View from the Bridge. He also completed a long run in Michael Frayn's play Democracy.
In the 1980s, Prosky spent three years on the NBC television series Hill Street Blues as a police sergeant. He later appeared as a priest on trial for murder in ABC's legal drama, The Practice. In Mrs Doubtfire, Prosky played the TV station owner who hired Robin Williams, who dressed as a nanny. His other film credits include Dead Man Walking and The Natural.
Child actors enjoy their moment of fame
Spending more than eight hours on a set, learning tough dialogues and attaining overnight recognition in a glamorous industry - one might wonder if child actors are missing out on their childhood. But far from complaining, they seem to be enjoying every bit of it.
Darsheel Safary, Purab Bhandare, Shriya Sharma, Swini Khare and Zain Khan are some of the dynamic and confident child actors who are ruling the roost at present. They work almost as hard as their older counterparts, but they are not complaining. They say that they thoroughly enjoy the kind of life they are leading. "I don't miss anything at all while leading the life of a child actor. In fact, I feel I live a better life. My friends play among themselves, but I play with stars. I play with my co-actors," Avika Gor, who plays Anandi in popular TV soap Balika Vadhu, told IANS.
However, 10-year-old Swini Khare has a different take. "I don't miss being on the other side of the table because I still feel like a normal person. I do everything that I used to do earlier. I play, go out, and study," she said. Swini has done various movies and more than 50 advertisements, but her claim to fame was her role in Amitabh Bachchan-starrerCheeni Kum. At an age when other children are just concerned about their studies, these child actors are juggling school and shooting schedules. They say that balancing the two is not as difficult as it seems.
"I don't have any difficulty in handling school and shooting together. I know how to strike a balance. I take my books to the sets and study in between shots," said Avinash Mukherjee of Balika Vadhu fame. Added Zain Khan, who was seen in Hari Puttar: "I won't say that it is extremely hard to cope with studies and shooting schedules. It's just that you don't have time to while away and I'm perfectly fine with that.
"It's in your hands not letting your studies get affected." Child actors get recognition and fame at a very young age and it can have a negative impact on the impressionable minds, say experts. Samir Parikh, chief of the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Max Healthcare, said parents play the most important role in ensuring and providing guidance to children so that they are not harmed by the kind of exposure they get.
"By ensuring that basic life is not affected, not being extra special in behaviour, no comparisons and more so by making sure that normal life, schooling, friends are maintained, parents can prevent any kind of harm to their child," Parikh told IANS. Child actors feel that even though they have to multi-task, they enjoy the special attention they get from people around them. While Avinash feels proud that he is often called as a judge for programmes in his own school, Swini is amused at how her classmates fight to sit next to her.
While these kids have no qualms living life in the fast lane and enjoying every bit of their newly achieved stardom, it is essential for their parents to understand how far they should be allowed to go in the quest of achieving success.
Depp to play Dante in home production
Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp , who was last seen in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will star in a film based on the life of Italian Renaissance poet Dante.
Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, has bought the screen rights to Nick Tosches' 2002 book, In The Hand of Dante on which the film will be based, reports contactmusic.com.
The story will parallel the lives of a modern-day writer, played by Depp, and Dante as he attempts to complete his classic work The Divine Comedy.
Jack Nicholson to enter Hall of Fame
Hollywood veterans Jack Nicholson and Jane Fonda are to be inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
They will all be honoured at a ceremony Dec 15 in Sacramento, California, reports contactmusic.com.
Two time Oscar winner, Fonda's induction comes nearly 30 years after her nomination to the California Arts Council was rejected by the State Senate due to her outspoken campaign against the Vietnam War.
Known for his mehtod acting, Jack Nicholson is one of the most talented actors who has won three Oscars for his performances in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Terms of Endearment and As good as It Gets, apart from numerous other memorable roles.
Preview: Ghajini
Ghajini is about Prashanth Pawar (Amir Khan), a rich businessman who owns a cellular phone company named Air Voice and the events surrounding his relationship with Kalpana (Asin Thottumkal).
Kalpana, an advertisement model goes around telling her advertisement crew that she is the love interest of Prashanth. Kalpana does this in spite of having never met him and also goes to the extent of giving an interview about her relationship to a popular magazine.
Prashanth happens to hear about this through the media and wants to settle scores with her. On his way, he catches a fleeting glimpse of a young woman (who happens to be Kalpana) helping handicapped children to cross a street. It is love at first sight for Prashanth. He moves on to confront Kalpana at her advertisement studio. He is pleasantly surprised to realise that she is the same helpful woman he saw a while ago. He chooses to hide the fact from her that he is Prasad, calling himself as Manohar. Kalpana eventually falls in love with him.
Once, while on a train to Mumbai, Kalpana saves a group of young girls from abuse by a group of goons led by Lakshman (Pradeep Rawat). After a few days, the same goons come to Kalpana's house in order to avenge their embarrassment. Incidentally, Prashanth arrives at the scene and fights off the goons, but during the ensuing fight, Kalpana is murdered. The irony showcased is that Kalpana never finds out that he is Prashanth.
Lakshman then strikes Prashanth on his head severely with a metal rod. Though he survives the blow, but suffers from a short-term amnesia. At any given time, he does not remember anything that happened more than 15 minutes back, although he frequently has flashbacks of Kalpana's murder.
He determines to take revenge on those responsible for Kalpana's death. The rest is how Prasad, along with a medical college student Chitra (Jiah Khan), goes about finding Lakshman and the goons.
Jiah's Maxim-um appeal
Uff: Jiah will soon be seen in her much awaited second film, Ghajini, which is slated for a late December release. 
Water water everywhere: Maxim has been known for featuring hot-n-happening B-town celebs on their cover page and this time it's the sultry Jiah, who is all set to raise the mercury levels this December.
Wow: Jiah features as the cover girl in the December edition of Maxim and her super-sexy photo shoot leaves you asking for more.
Ooh la la!: With her oh-so-sensuous act in her very first film, Jiah Khan made everyone go Nishabd. Now this bold and beautiful bombshell does her hottest ever photo shoot for Maxim India.
Terror attackshit movie business
An eerie silence grips Mumbai's multiplexes, empty ticket counters and deserted movie halls is the aftermath of last week's terror attacks. And amid those bearing the brunt are cinema halls.
"We normally see 50-60 per cent collections from Friday onwards, but this time it went as low as seven- 10 per cent. This has mounted to over Rs 20 lakh in losses for us on a daily basis," said Devang Sampat, Cinemax Multiplexes.
With south Mumbai cinema halls like Metro and Inox being worst hit, releases like Sorry Bahi, Dostana and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye paid the price.
Mumbai's 75 multiplexes and 30 single-screens usually see 75 per cent business at the weekend. This time, it was only 35-45 leading per cent amounting to a loss of Rs 10 crore.
And feeling the pinch too Mumbai's malls. Whereas the number of footfalls at the weekend is 10,000 per mall, it was a dismal 1,000 this time around.
"There has been no response from customers. Its been four days. Nobody comes to the malls. Only people
from the mall are seen around," said Deshmukhbhai, Shop Owner, Citi Mall.
With security at both malls and multiplexes beefed up, it will take a while before shoppers and film buffs will be return with their usual vengeance.
Priyanka Chopra on the cover of Blender
Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra seems to be going places and now she will be seen on the cover of a top music magazine Blender, that launched its first Indian cover. In fact Priyanka, who was recently addressed to as ‘The Sexiest Indian Actress’ by Shah Rukh Khan, had featured on the cover of Maxim India’s launch edition three years ago. Maxim is the Blender’s sister publication.
The former Miss World, who recently tasted success at the Box Office with two back to back hits Fashion and Dostana, has been portrayed as a performer. One gets to know the musical side of the actress, something, which is not known to everybody. International singers like Britney Spears, Leona Lewis to name a few have featured on the cover and now Priyanka is on this list as well.
Blender is a music magazine for the now generation. It was born out of a technology-inspired shift in the way music is consumed when gadgets such as the iPOD, the ubiquity of Internet penetration in the urban landscape and the emphasis of essential devices such as the cell phone, on music, have realigned the musical focus from albums to singles and listening to music, from a stationary activity to music on the move.'I don't allow my children to go out'
Actress-mother and entrepreneur Pooja Bedi is worried about her children's safety after the three-day terror strike on Mumbai. She doesn't let kids go out because there is "no guarantee that they will return home safe".
I have two children, a daughter aged 11 and a son aged 8. I don't allow them to go to parks, malls, multiplexes and parks any more fearing for their lives, said Pooja Bedi, the daughter of yesteryear hero Kabir Bedi.
I don't feel safe. Now that the war is over, the Shiv Sena will go on the rampage on the streets of the state Monday.
"They will bring everything to a grinding halt. How can I allow my children to go out? There is no guarantee that they will return safe, she said.
The terror attack targeted the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Metro Theatre and the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station (formerly Victoria Terminus) among other places.
Pooja, a regular at The Taj and The Oberoi, said she will never be able to feel the same again when she walks into the hotels again.
We used to frequent all the ravaged landmarks - The Taj Mahal Hotel, The Trident (Oberoi), (their restaurants) Frangipani, Sea Lounge and India Jones (a Teppanyaki restaurant). My kids loved to eat at Frangipani."
We have been let down repeatedly. You have the Shiv Sena and MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) violence on the streets and leaders do not care. Citizens are not allowed to possess guns to protect themselves unlike in the US and neither can they (government) protect us.
The government, she felt, has not done anything to bring the perpetrators of repeated terrorist attacks to book.
The 1993 blast culprits are still at large. The attacks reflect pathetic governance, said Pooja, who has hosted shows like "Not Just Page 3" and "Just Pooja" on the small screen.
Model-tuned-actor Milind Soman concurs with Pooja. It is depressing - demoralising with so much death and suffering around. It has happened before, but nothing has been done, he said.
Milind attributes the latest terror attack to lack of will and flawed strategies. The television said there was no intelligence and they have been planning the attack for months. Unless the government becomes active and implements all its security measures, the attacks will never stop.
There is no point talking about anti-terror policies till it develops a will.
Showbiz and entertainment industry may have been hit, but life has to go on, round off both Milind and Pooja on a resigned note.
At least 183 people, including 22 foreigners, were killed in the terror strike in Mumbai that began Wednesday night and ended only Saturday afternoon.
Twenty security men also lost their lives and included some of the finest officers of Mumbai police and two commandos.
It's family over B'wood for Sonali
Actress Sonali Bendre, who is currently seen on television as a judge on music reality show Indian Idol, says she won't be returning to Bollywood any time soon as her son needs her more than the film industry.
"Nothing will make me come back to films. My three-year-old needs me more. I want to be home for my child. I'm definitely not looking at a commitment that will take me away from home," said Sonali.
A source from the sets of Indian Idol said that Sonali is the first one to zip out of the studio to her little one as soon as shooting wraps up.
Sienna Miller back with ex-beau?
British actress Sienna Miller who split with her actor boyfriend Balthazar Getty early this month has been spotted out on a date with him, sparking rumours that their romance is back on the track.
The pair went to San Lorenzo Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge, London, Thursday for lunch, according to reports.
The couple broke up due to Getty's stalling over his divorce proceedings with ex-wife Rosetta Millington that angered Miller, while her constant partying habits were not liked by the actor.
Australia movie review
Cast : Australia
Genre: Drama
Starring: David Wenham, Huge Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Producer: Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Knapman, G. Mac Brown
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: November 26, 2008
Writer: Baz Luhrmann, Ronald Harwood
Movie review:
Up to now, no movie was big enough to hold director Baz Luhrmann's overflowing emotions -- not the maniacal jukebox of "Moulin Rouge!," not even Shakespeare's young lovers in "Romeo + Juliet."
With "Australia," a grand epic set in Luhrmann's native country, Luhrmann finally should have found a subject as big as his use-every-crayon-in-the-box sensibility. Instead, the opposite happens: The massive panoramas of wild Australia suddenly make Luhrmann's wild flourishes look puny.
The story begins in September 1939. While the rest of the world goes to war, English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (played by Nicole Kidman) flies to Australia -- using a retro-cool spinning globe, as in "Casablanca" -- to find out what's happened with her husband's cattle station, Faraway Downs. She discovers that her husband has been killed, and Faraway Downs is threatened by the beef baron King Carney (Bryan Brown), who holds a monopoly over most of the Northern Territory.
After watching the cattle station's foreman, Fletcher (David Wenham), abuse his Aboriginal mistress (Ursula Yovich) and their half-caste son, Nullah (newcomer Brandon Walters), Lady Sarah becomes determined to rescue Faraway Downs by driving 1,500 head of cattle north to the port city of Darwin. To do that, she enlists the aid of The Drover (Hugh Jackman), a rugged cowboy who refuses to settle down. Of course, the rough-hewn Drover and the porcelain-fine Lady Sarah will disagree -- and, because Luhrmann is such a lover of classic movie tropes, you know what will happen next.
The thing about "Australia" is that you always know what will happen next, because Luhrmann (writing with "Collateral's" Stuart Beattie, "The Pianist's" Ronald Harwood and Aussie novelist Richard Flanagan) employs all the old movie clichés: lovers from opposite sides of society, underdogs battling corrupt power and racial prejudice, set against the backdrop of cataclysmic history -- in this case, the Japanese bombing of Darwin, not long after Pearl Harbor.
For much of "Australia's" running time, Luhrmann gets away with it. He can burnish even the oldest cliché into something shiny and new. The sweeping views of the Outback and of Jackman's pecs are equally stunning, and we're swept along with the whole enterprise. You even nod with approval at Luhrmann's audacity for cribbing from "The Wizard of Oz" in his depiction of his Land of Oz, Australia, as a magical place over the rainbow.
Somewhere after the two-hour mark, with 45 minutes to go, you wonder if Luhrmann can tame this beast. In the end he can't, and Australia proves itself a land too big to be tamed by a mere moviemaker.
Milk movie review
Cast: Milk
Genre: Biography, Drama
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Sean Penn,
Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks, Michael London
Distributor: Focus Features
Release Date: November 26, 2008 (limited)
Writer: Dustin Lance Black
Movie Review:
"Milk" is the story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), a gay activist in the 1970s, who was assassinated along with San Francisco's Mayor Moscone (Victor Garber) by another disgruntled city supervisor, Dan White (Josh Brolin). Harvey Milk knows he is a historical figure, and makes a tape recording chronicling his life; and here, he narrates the film.
Harvey's story begins when he decides to open a camera shop on Castro Street with his cute boyfriend, Scott Smith (James Franco). Soon the camera store becomes a hub for the outcast gay community and gay activism. Harvey works for eight years to be finally elected to public office with the help of his devoted friends, Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch, who starred in director Sean Penn's "Into The Wild"); campaign manager Anne Kronenberg (Alison Pill) and others. When long-suffering Scott leaves Harvey, he takes up with an indulgent, young man, Jack Lira (Diego Luna).
Availing himself of archival footage, Van Sant (who directed the insufferable "Gerry" and the shot-for-shot remake of "Psycho" that was doomed before filming even began with the casting of too big Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates and sexless Anne Heche as Marion Crane) leaves nothing to cinematic dramatization. It all looks and sounds real. "Milk" is a compelling, important story and well directed. However, it is Sean Penn that galvanizes and inhabits the persona of Harvey Milk.
If you are a Sean Penn fan, you will see how truly brilliant an actor he is. (I forgive him the unintentional funny "I Am Sam".) Every movement, phrase, look, and desire is true to the character. Penn has transformed himself into Harvey Milk. He leaves nothing of Sean Penn on the screen. He appears small and fragile, and gives Harvey Milk a charismatic presence that allows you to believe he was the spark that mobilized S.F.'s gay community. Outwardly gay, Harvey eclipsed into a crusader and refused to be swayed or play the political game of "one hand washes the other".
Unlike Will Smith, who was hired and paid to play a gay hustler in "Six Degrees of Separation" but refused to kiss another man as required by the script, Penn does not hesitate to play a sexually active, modern gay man. In fact, it is rather shocking. Van Sant doesn't shy away from the reality of the 1970s Castro Street hedonistic lifestyle. There is no moralizing here.
And what of Dan White? Incredibly, one sympathizes with him. Not as a killer, but the position he found himself in up against the media darling that had become Harvey Milk. If only Harvey had been more sensitive to the conundrum of Dan White and given him a crumb from his banquet table. But Harvey had no patience for massaging Dan White's ego. I have intimately known many, many gay men. I understood Harvey Milk's cruel indifference to Dan White.
The fact that the script, director and especially Josh Brolin allow us to see Dan White as a conflicted character is a credit to them. Unfortunately, Dan White's "Twinkie Defense" and insignificant prison sentence brings the audience back to Harvey Milk and the injustice of his death.
Lindsay Lohan back to drinking
Lindsay Lohan, who has been in the news recently more for her celebrity antics than her acting prowess, was caught on video drinking.
According to reports a hidden security camera in a nightclub in Washington caught her mixing her drinks. The video footage shows Lohan filling her glass of Red Bull with vodka.
Lohan had undergone a 45-day treatment at a rehab and later declared that she was alcohol free.
He-Man to make a big screen comeback
Warner Bros and Hollywood film producer Joel Silver are working together to turn comic book superhero He-Man and the Masters of the Universe into a live-action film.
While Justin Marks is set to write the script, Kung Fu Panda director Kevin Stevenson has put his best foot forward to helm the film, according to reports. The film will start shooting next year for a summer 2010 release.
However, the first big screen incarnation of the superhero titled Masters of the Universe was a flop in 1987 and starred Dolph Lundgren as the title character and Frank Langella as his nemesis Skeletor.
Shah Rukh Khan to be Datuk on Dec 6
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is set to be conferred the Malaysian title of ‘Datuk’, akin to the British knighthood, on Dec 6 and he is expected to receive the honour in traditional Malaysian attire. The traditional Malaysian black costume with a waistband, a songkok and a black cap is the official attire to receive the award from the Malaccan royal chief, Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
The actor will receive his Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka award at a ceremony at 10 a m at Dewan Seri Negri, Ayer Keroh, in the presence of 1,000 invited guests, The Star newspaper said on Tuesday. The actor, who was to have received the award on Saturday, had to reschedule his trip due to his tight working schedule. He is scheduled to be in Malaysia for three days.
State Secretary Omar Kaseh confirmed that Shah Rukh would be in Malacca for a day.
The actor is immensely popular among Malaysians and had shot the film one 2 ka 4 and a song sequence from his blockbuster Don in Malacca.
His being conferred the Datukship had stirred up much controversy with many questioning whether he really deserves it. Critics had asked what Shah Rukh had done for Malaysia to deserve a Datukship. They also took up cudgels on behalf of local artistes.
Malaccan authorities, however, say Shah Rukh’s shoot in Malaysia had benefitted the country immensely, giving it global publicity without any money being spent. Indian films are popular in Malaysia that has an estimated 2.6 million ethnic Indians.
'More steamy scenes in next Bond film'
Bond star Daniel Craig has promised 007 fans that the super spy's next big screen outing will be steamier.
The actor's latest turn as the suave secret agent, Quantum of Solace, proved a huge hit with fans and critics alike, shooting to number one at the Britain and US box offices - enjoying the most lucrative Bond film opening in history.
However, according to sources, the British actor has promised the next film in the successful franchise will involve more intimate scenes.
"For Bond to jump in bed with 10 women would contradict the whole things. But in the next movie everybody wants it, (saucy scenes) so we're going to have it," he said.
Hayden to play in CL T20 for Chennai Super Kings
Hayden will have Michael Hussey as his company in Chennai Super Kings team while another member of the Australian Test squad — Peter Siddle — will represent Victoria Bushrangers in the Twenty20 tournament which is wedged between the series against New Zealand and South Africa. “Cricket Australia has endorsed their participation, that’s the way the modern game goes. We’ve just got to deal with it like we do when we’ve got players who are a bit sore or a bit tired on the road,” Nielsen said.
To ensure that Australian and South African players represent their domestic T20 teams in the Champions League, Cricket Australia, which has a 25 per cent stake in the tournament, has delayed the Perth Test until December 17. South Africa will be represented by Titans and Dolphins in the Champions League Twenty20.
“We have to understand the changing nature of the game, that this is what is going to happen to ensure the game keeps generating money and getting people involved and kids wanting to watch it,” Nielsen was quoted as saying in ‘The Age’. “From my point of view, the Australian team and international cricket will always be the number one commitment, but it’s not as simple any more as just saying that means we have our lead-up and everything else is put on the backburner,” he added.
There is no justice in jail: Sanjay Dutt
Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt, who has been behind bars on four occasions in the last 17 years, says "everything is injustice in jail" due to the prison manual dating to the days of British colonial rule.
The outdated rules and regulations make prisoners "dehumanized...less like human beings", according to Dutt.
"Everything is injustice in jail. It is (expected to be) a reformatory centre. It's not a place where you turn an innocent man into a criminal but that is what happens in the jails in our country," Dutt said while speaking at a leadership summit here on Saturday.
The interactive session was titled "Leadership Lesson from Munnabhai" after Dutt's iconic character from the hit films Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munna Bhai.
"The jail manual is 100 years old and it has not been changed till today. That (the manual) was for the British to prosecute the Indians, break our will and treat us like dogs and that has continued."
The versatile actor also spoke from the heart and narrated his own experiences behind bars.
"I was locked up on Independence Day from noon till seven the next morning despite wanting to celebrate it. The jail manual says that prisoners shouldn't be locked up on any holiday.
"When I asked for a spoon with the usual mug and plate that you get there, I was told that there is no such provision in the jail manual. It (the manual) was (meant) to break the Indians down by the British. These things should change now," he said.
"I couldn't meet my spouse (Manyata - though they were not married then). A person who is convicted can meet his spouse only once a month and that too because mine was a special request I got to meet her alone - unlike others where 20 prisoners meet their families in one room. I could meet my lawyer (Satish Maneshinde) only for a brief moment and that too in my cage and I couldn't talk as I had cops standing all around."
Manyata, who was also present at the summit, nodded and also shared with the audience her travails.
While in jail, Dutt, true to his image of Munnabhai, a lovable rogue, also took up cudgels on behalf of other inmates.
"I was with some sardars in jail and there was a guy called Pyada Singh. He was there for nine years under trial. He was caught for possession of a firearm for which he had a license. I called his lawyer to my court (during my hearing) and I warned him about going to the press and he got bail. The lawyer was making money all this while," Dutt recalled amid applause from the audience.
Dutt was convicted for illegally possessing arns in the run-up to the 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai. Soon after the blasts, he was arrested and jailed for 18 months.
Dutt candidly admitted that it was not easy for him to fight on his own at the time of his last imprisonment last year - unlike his previous experiences in prison when he was backed by his late father, actor and MP Sunil Dutt.
"As long as dad was alive, I knew he'll be there for me. But this time, when I went to jail there was no dad and I realized that I was the oldest in the family and I have to work around and thanks to my wife and family, I could," he observed.
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