Hollywood & Bollywood Latest News Updates 21st September 2013

Hollywood News Updates

Natalie Portman confirms Marvel's female superhero film is coming

Los Angeles: ‘Thor’ leading lady Natalie Portman has revealed a new Marvel movie led by a female superhero is on the way.

"There are definitely many strong women, but it will be exciting when there is a central female character which I think is coming - I have heard is coming," the actress said in an interview with SciFiNow to promote ‘Thor: The Dark World’.

"And, of course, also a central non-white character will also be exciting. Title characters. But they do definitely have strong female characters in them and I think it`s a testament to the people who run Marvel, their respect, their just normal human respect for women, the way they want to characterize them; you can tell when men talk to you, as just a person or as a `woman`," she added.

Portman also expressed her disappointment when the ‘Thor’ sequel lost female director Patty Jenkins.

"I was very upset because Patty is a wonderful woman. I was excited to work with her but I understood why she chose to leave and Alan Taylor is really wonderful, so it was bittersweet." 

Cate Blanchett to make directorial debut with 'The Dinner'

Los Angeles: After two decades of performing in front of cameras, Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett is now stepping behind the scenes for her first directorial job.
The 44-year-old `Blue Jasmine` star is set to helm a physiological thriller titled `The Dinner`, the Hollywood Reporter said.

The film, set at a dinner in Amsterdam, will explore the story of just how far some parents might go to protect their loved ones.

Two brothers, one running for prime minister of the Netherlands, must make a tough decision regarding their teenage sons who have committed an unspeakable crime.

Based on Herman Koch`s best-selling novel of the same title, the project will be produced by Cotty Chubb. It is unclear if Blanchett will star in the film or not.

Blanchett is not a complete stranger to directing. She has been serving as a co-artistic director of the Sydney Theater Company along with her husband, playwright Andrew Upton.

She once directed playwright David Harrower`s `Blackbird` and Joan Didion`s memoir `The Year of Magical Thinking`.

Blanchett was last seen in Woody Allen-directed dramedy `Blue Jasmine`. Her role as a New York socialite who scrambles to put her life back together after a series of shocking events puts her on the list of nominee candidates for the upcoming Academy Awards.

Her next projects include `The Monuments Men`, `The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug` & `The Hobbit: There and Back Again` and `How to Train Your Dragon 2`. 

Pink's husband more in love with daughter than her

Los Angeles: New mother Pink fears that her husband Carey Hart is more in love with their daughter, Willow, than her.
The `Raise Your Glass` hitmaker, who welcomed her first child with husband in 2011, said she believes he has more of a fondness for their daughter than for his wife, reported OK! magazine.

"He`s a sucker. I`m the bad cop. I watched him just fall in love the day we brought her home. It`s like watching the person you love fall in love for the first time (with someone else). I`m not jealous.

"Our love is complicated, but (Willow) brings us closer together. We`re a good little team. We go all over the world and we`re together every day. It`s just so yummy. Everyone around us is fighting and it just brings us closer together because we get to laugh at them," she said.

Pink and Hart have had a rocky romance ever since they began dating in 2001, but their on-and-off relationship finally came to a head when they decided to tie the knot in 2006.

"We`ve been married for eight years this year... We might have to break up again soon!" she added. 

Una Healy to host TV show

Los Angeles: Singer Una Healy has landed her first presenting role on a new kids` TV show in Ireland.
The 31-year-old Saturdays singer will launch `Una`s Dream Ticket` in her hometown which will show her trying to make young people`s wishes come true, reported OK! magazine.

"This will be a really good experience for me and I wouldn`t rule out more presenting in the future. All of us girls have enough experience now that we can go off and work on other projects, but our main focus is the band," she said.

The show is set to air on Irish network RTE. 

Chris Hemsworth found onscreen nudity hard in 'Rush'

Los Angeles: He lost weight and learned to drive fast but actor Chris Hemsworth, who plays Formula One race car driver James Hunt in `Rush`, found filming his first nude scenes most daunting.
The Australian actor, 30, said he also found it difficult to watch his nude scenes in Ron Howard-directed film but his wife, Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, liked it, reported People magazine.

"It was more daunting than the racing! To take your clothes off in front of 100 people and cameras was something I wasn`t comfortable with. To be honest, it was embarrassing," Hemsworth said.

"It was more uncomfortable for me to see than her. I think she enjoyed it."

Another challenge for Hemsworth was to lose weight to play Hunt.

"It was brutal. I`ve said this before, but my wife was pregnant when I was preparing for the film and I had more symptoms of a pregnant woman than she did. I was hungry all the time and moody," he added. 

INTERVIEW: Michael Bay, Coen Brothers and Reese Witherspoon Were In Line for ‘Showgirls 2’ Sleazquel, Rena Riffel Reveals

At last, Showgirls 2: Penny’s From Heaven is out on the guilty pleasure-friendly format: DVD. (While original Razzie favorite Showgirls belly-flopped on the big screen, it’s still one of the highest grossing DVDs of all time).
Rena Riffel, star of Showgirls and Mulholland Drive turned camp icon, has been pulling the g-strings on her directorial oeuvre since the original wrapped back in ’94 and is celebrating the release this week.
We spoke to her about the movie’s journey from Michael Bay blockbuster to DIY erotic ‘trashterpiece’ for this Hollywood.com exclusive.
Hi Rena, thanks for talking to Hollywood.com. So, why do you think Penny/Hope - your character in Showgirls and the star of your sequel - resonated so much with fans?
She means well and wants to succeed, but everyone just thinks she's a dum-dum. She’s like the underdog we can cheer her on to make it to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. She’s kind of Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes or Some Like It Hot: very innocent, but she’s like a piece of meat in a lair of wolves.

What's the AA-cup version of the movie storyline?
Penny Slot drops everything and hitchhikes down the road to her dream of finally being a famous dancer on TV show Star Dancer. She finds herself in danger, running from the law and ultimately has a near-death experience.
This sequel's been in the pipeline for a long time - can you run us through its odyssey briefly?
In my late thirties, I realized I was getting too old to play myself – so I better do this now! I wrote for a year, for 12 hours a day. I wrote 28 very different drafts. I had people contact me, but nothing worked out. I went through some unfortunate drama and turmoil.  On a good note, I sent my script to Paul Verhoeven [who directed the original] who said he liked it very much and gave me his blessing.

I was trying to raise millions of dollars, but towards the end of the uphill battle, I settled on going for a lower budget of 8 million. They read my script and did the Hollywood thing: “Reese Witherspoon will play Penny, they will bring in a big director like Michael Bay, and hire a big writer (the Coen Brothers) to come on board,” and I said, “Wait a second, then what would I do?” So, that's when I just threw in the towel and decided to make it the way I made Trasharella. All by myself, with the help of friends.
Showgirls is still in the top highest-grossing MGM DVDs of all time. Are you expecting similar wildfire sales?
I wish!  It will be interesting to see how this turns out. If it doesn't make money, it's not like I’m 100 million in debt on it!
You've referred to this project as 'pulling a Barbra' - please elaborate?
Showgirls 2: Penny's From Heaven is my Yentl (which was nominated for Oscars AND Razzies).  Yentl was Barbra's directorial debut, but it took 15 years for her to get it made.  She also dealt with everyone thinking she was too old to play the lead role.
The critics had a field day with Showgirls, but it’s won some high-profile fans since. What’s your dream review for this?
I guess it would be like, “Showgirls 2 is perfect imperfection. A job well done by Director/ Writer/ Producer/ Editor/ Dancer/ Craft Service/ Key Grip and star, Miss Riffel. Two "thumbs" up, all "stars" clicked, we "like" buttoned it, etc.!”

Where My Girls At? The Most Supportive Rom-Com Best Friends

The job of a romantic comedy best friend may look easy. But these ladies (and dudes) have the difficult gig of supporting every scheme, participating in every song and dance number, and occasionally ending up with the romantic hero's less dashing compatriot, all while doing their best not to steal the leading lady's spotlight. Here are a few of the BFF performances that are a credit to the genre.
Kit in Pretty Woman
Vivan gets all the "hooker with a heart of gold" credit. But what about Kit (Laura San Giacomo) who, instead of being jealous of her best friend's luck, encourages her to go live her fairy tale?
Becky in Sleepless in Seattle
Becky (Rosie O'Donnell) gives Annie a reality check when she expects her real life to play out like a movie, but will still be sitting next to her for every hundreth viewing of An Affair to Remember, sharing a box of tissues.
Marie in When Harry Met Sally
Sometimes the role of the rom-com sidekick is to make the heroine feel more together by comparison. Before getting together with Harry's best friend, Marie (Carrie Fisher) is stuck on a married guy who she, Sally, and pretty much everyone knows is never going to leave his wife.
Kate in Only You
It's helpful for a leading lady to have the kind of friend who has no qualms about making snap decisions that most normal people would find insane, like when Kate (Bonnie Hunt) drops her entire life to tag along with Faith on an impromptu trip to Italy.
Penny in The Wedding Planner
Cute, spunky, and high-strung, Penny (Judy Greer) is there to take care of business when Mary runs off in search of love, or whatever.
George in My Best Friend's Wedding
George (Rupert Everett) doesn't know he's the sidekick and steals every scene he's in. But all is forgiven when he shows up at Michael's wedding and quite literally sweeps a defeated Jules off her feet.

Cecily Strong: The Sketches That Have Us Feeling Confident in Our New 'Update' Co-Host

Seth Meyers announced his new Weekend Update co-host this week, and we're feeling pretty good about this choice. Cecily Strong joined the Saturday Night Live cast just last year, and this high-profile gig surely came her way because of the huge impact she's made in her short tenure on the show. She excels at creating memorable characters; the common element in most of the successful recurring sketches that were established in the '12-'13 season was Cecily. She's already visited the Update desk as several characters; and no matter who she's playing, she and Seth have great comic chemistry.
Let's look back at Cecily's greatest hits from Season 38 and know that our fake news fate is in good hands.
The Girlfriends Talk Show
Cecily taps into our childhood insecurities with this one. She plays peppy Kyra, who hosts a teen talk show with her less-cool best friend Morgan (Aidy Bryant). She and her new, "awesome" girlfriend (Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway, so far) continually undermine poor Morgan until she's practically seething. Remember high school? That was fun.
"We're not porn stars anymore!"
The former-porn-stars-do-a-commercial sketch never fails, mostly because Strong and Vanessa Bayer have perfectly the ladies' signature garbled delivery ("Aff-lence. lux-ry. Mo-ey Chamben.") and blank-eyed stares. It's also an opportunity for the writers to trot out their best one-liners ("One time I did a weird shoot in Mexico. Two of the girls died, but I'm alive. Thanks, champagne!") and for hosts like Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck to put on some short-shorts and tap into their Boogie Nights fantasies.
Dana and Niff
Dana (Strong) and Niff (Bobby Moynihan) are sure that they're getting fired (from McDonald's or Barnes and Noble, depending on the episode), so they take that opportunity to air their personal greivances with all their co-workers. ("I know you copied those Mad Libs, Beverly. Ain't nobody that funny.") It kills, because the two deliver every insult with panache and committment and because we all, especially on our worst days, daydream about doing the same.
The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party

The one and only downside to having Cecily as a Weekend Update co-host is that we will likely say goodbye to her most popular character, who cares too much about humankind's greatest problems to even find out what they are. Who will remind Seth to "learn a book" or ask the tough questions like, "What are we even doing? And like, don't"? Our world will be a much poorer, less socially-conscious place, but it's the price we'll have to pay.

Bottoms Up! On-Screen Watering Holes That Really Exist

The secret behind most television and film locations is that they don't exist in real life. All those Central Perks, Paddy's Pubs and [insert New York street here] live on a Hollywood back lot or set. From wholesome sitcoms to dramatic noirs, each story can benefit from a good old fashioned bar scene — a local watering hole where characters can act up, commiserate or drown in their misery. Lucky for us, some of these storied drinking establishments are real locations where you can down a pint of your own. Check out our list of our favorite watering holes immortalized on screen. We're still reeling from the fact we'll never get to visit the Peach Pit After Dark.

The Book Thief' First Look: How Markus Zusak's Novel Became a Likely Oscar Contender

Markus Zusak didn’t expect for his 2006 novel The Book Thief to get published. Let alone become a New York Times #1 Bestseller. Let alone receive a major movie adaptation by 20th Century Fox that’s already getting Oscar buzz two months before its Nov. 15 release. “I thought no one would read it,” Zusak says. “I mean, how would someone describe it to their friends? ‘Well, it’s set in Nazi Germany. It’s narrated by Death. There’s a high body count. And it’s 580 pages long. You’ll love it!’”
Anyone who’s read The Book Thief — and it turns out many, many people have — knows it’s the staggeringly ambitious story of Liesel Meminger, a ten-year-old girl separated from her communist mother and forced to live with foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann in the small German town of Molching. The year is 1939. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party control Germany and are about to begin marching across Europe. It’s appropriate, then, that the novel is narrated by Death. But this isn’t any skeletal Grim Reaper with sickle or scythe. He’s a wry, relatively good-natured chap with a job to do. Death shows us Liesel’s experiences leading up to and during World War II: how her foster father Hans teaches her how to read a book she stole, the way she settles in to life in Molching, interacts with other kids her own age, and helps hide the son of a Jewish man who fought alongside Hans in World War I in the cellar of her foster parents’ home, just as the full savagery of the Holocaust begins. What Zusak conjures is truly unique: a panoramic view of life in a German town during World War II, a Mrs. Miniver story set on the other side.
The Book Thief is the stuff of great drama, but let’s face it…most movie adaptations of novels about adolescent girls these days feature vampires, werewolves, and witches, not Nazis. “The Book Thief was always at the forefront of my mind,” producer Karen Rosenfelt says. “I really wanted to get this made even while I was working on other projects like Twilight.” Rosenfelt has produced some of the highest-grossing movies geared to young people in recent years, including all five of the movies based on Stephenie Meyer’s vampire saga. But The Book Thief became a true passion project for her and she wanted its movie adaptation to share two qualities of the book: authenticity and honesty.
Zusak’s book is incredibly detailed, and it’s easy to see why: his parents grew up in Germany during World War II before eventually emigrating to Australia. “The best research for the book was my whole childhood, really,” Zusak says. Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush, who Rosenfelt tapped to play the loving Hans Hubermann, adds, “It’s such a personal story, because Markus developed the idea for The Book Thief from the stories his parents told him about living in Nazi Germany. So even though it seems like such a different world, there’s this level of detail he brings to it that makes it feel lived-in enough that anybody can relate to it.” Zusak’s parents also peppered their conversation with hyperlocal insults like the word “saumensch,” featured prominently in the book. In fact, Zusak even based Liesel’s personality in part on his mother’s. “I think it’s very fresh,” Rush says. “I wasn’t aware of the book when I was sent the screenplay, then read the book after having read the screenplay and thought [screenwriter] Michael Petroni did a really honorable transposition of it. It has such a whimsical, sardonic, poetic, existential sensibility…and it’s very blunt.”
So to match the book’s level of authenticity, Rosenfelt hired director Brian Percival, who’s worked on much of Downton Abbey, and insisted on shooting the movie in Germany. But there were still many challenges for the filmmakers to unpack. First, there was the matter of the book’s length. “It’s close to 600 pages, so it was tough to figure out what to leave on the cutting room floor,” Rosenfelt says. Among the things that have been changed from the book to the movie, Hans and Rosa are now childless. In the book, their son was a pretty fanatical Nazi. “One thing we couldn’t cut? Death’s voiceover,” Rosenfelt says. “We knew we wanted that from the start. But voiceover is a tricky thing. You never want too much of it or for it to take you out of the film. It should be seamless.” Producer Ken Blancato adds, “You shouldn’t be going ‘Wait, is that Morgan Freeman?’” The voice actor for Death still hasn’t been announced yet, but it’ll be the critical thread to link the many years of the story together.
There’s also the challenge of aging Sophie from a 10-year-old to a 17-year-old over the course of the movie. Thousands of girls auditioned for the role, but it was 13-year-old Canadian actress Sophie Nélisse (Monsieur Lazhar) who won out. The Book Thief makeup team then worked to shade her face in such a way to convey Sophie aging. “I wanted to go for the full Benjamin Button effect,” Nelisse jokes.
However, figuring out the basic challenges of adapting the book and casting one actress to inhabit Liesel as she grows from a child into a young woman was just the beginning in creating The Book Thief.

10 TV Looks Suited for the Red Carpet — GALLERY

When the stars of our favorite TV shows walk down the red carpet at the Emmy Awards this weekend, they're sure to look so good that we can hardly remember the neurotic, terrifying, or goofy personas they adopt every week.  But a few times this year, the characters looked as good as the actors who play them. From Leslie Knope's wedding dress to the impressive follicles of one Jessa Johansson, here are 10 looks that were so unforgettable that they'd be right at home on the red carpet.

Five Horrible, Horrible Ways 'Breaking Bad' Could End

Right now there's only two more episodes of Breaking Bad left, and everyone who is watching the show is feverishly trying to guess how this is going to end. Will Walter White die? Will Skyler? Jesse? People are doing mental gymnastics trying to guess what is going on in show creator Vince Gilligan's head and surmise what the best possible outcome is. Gilligan, for his part, seems convinced that he has done it in a way that will please nearly everyone. He's done great so far, but what if he stumbles and winds up having the show lurch towards the finish line, like Hank trying one final time to reach the gun in the desert. Well, here are some of the ways that this show could just completely blow it:
Writer's Block
After the final carnage ends... the screen goes black, just like the ending of The Sopranos. There's blackness... and then just a closeup of the White matriarch's eyes. She's sitting at her desk, writing. The computer monitor shows "and then Walter reached for his gun, coughing as the cancer threatened to finally kill him before he could reach his goal... ) She clicks 'Save" and then Hank walks in, grinning with a mug of coffee. Yup. Skyler's really married to Hank and Walter's married to Marie and Flynn is their child.
Meth Dreams
Same scenario as above...all blackness...and then suddenly Walter's eyes snap open. He's been asleep the whole time. He sits up, gasping for air. Slowly, he takes stock of his surroundings. Skyler is peacefully asleep next to him. The White home seems in pristine condition...and then, gingerly, he reaches up, and feels his head. His hair's all there, a thick mane like he had in the first season. There's no baby Holly. He hears Walter, Jr. moving around in the kitchen, making his breakfast, of course. He wryly smiles...it was all a dream. Then the phone rings. He lets the machine pick up. "Yo Walter, it's Hank! Wake up! Let's go for a ride on a drug bust!"
The Walking Dead
Walter stares down Jesse. The bodies of Lydia, Todd and the neo-Nazi crew are strewn about them. Before Jesse can say a word, Walter snarls, "You REALLY think I came back to save you? After everything I said before?" Jesse looks down in mute disappointment, and then closes his eyes, waiting for that inevitable final shot. Walt raises the gun...and then there's a moan in the background. He freezes and glances around. None of the bodies around them stir. Moonlight is beginning to stream through the window. Walt looks at Jesse, "That you?" he asks. "What do you think...b**ch?" Jesse spits. Yeah, he's got a little spark left. Walt steadies the gun...and just as he is about to shoot, a hand reaches out of the darkness and grabs his arm and slams him against the wall. Suddenly, shuffling feet. Walter looks up to see the zombie forms of Hank and Jane closing in on him...the last scene of the show is closeups of the two zombie faces, covered with blood, moving towards the camera.
"My Name Is Flynn. Say My Name."
An old warehouse.Walter lays gasping his last breaths as his son looks on. Jesse is curled up in a ball, in shock that he is still alive. Soon, it is over. Skyler is nowhere to be found. Walt. Jr. looks around, eyes wide in shock. He looks at Pinkman. His eyes go flat...reptilian. "It's about time..." he says as his speech suddenly becomes perfect. The braces he used suddenly clatter to the floor and Walt, Jr. straightens his body to its full height. Pinkman looks on in mute shock. "You just gonna stand there, Pinkman? We've got cooking to do." "W-Walt, Jr.?" Pinkman quavers. "My. Name. Is. Flynn." The show goes dark.
One Goodman Standing
Jesse and Walt lay dead. Skyler is sitting on the ground holding Holly and Walt. Jr. look on in shock. Saul stands over the bodies, his nose having not reset as well as he might have liked after Jesse pistol-whipped him earlier. He has a gun that he holsters. His eyes flick over to Huell, who immediately begins to haul both bodies away. Goodman looks over at the three remaining Whites, and for once, says nothing. He walks away while whistling the "Better Call Saul" jingle. The screen goes dark.

Autobiographical Films That Keep It Real

SXWS

Every day seems to bring news of another biopic film in the works. What can we say; audiences can't get enough of famous dead celebrities — and presidents, for that matter. While J.D Salinger might roll over his in grave over the latest Salinger documentary, the autobiographical film puts the power and story into the hands of the filmmaker with deeply personal results that blend fact with fiction imperceptibly. Here's a sampling of some memoir-cum-movie picks.
Short Term 12

Screenwriter and director Destin Cretton took his time spent working at a foster care facility and turned it into one of the most moving films of this year. His first-hand experience shapes the film and prevents it from veering into after-school special territory, while making the audience feel like they experienced it with him.
50/50

When faced with a grim diagnosis such as spinal cancer, it helps to have Seth Rogen as your best friend to help you cope through comedy. After being diagnosed at the age of 24, comedy writer Will Reiser wrote a screenplay with Rogen about what happened to their friendship after the diagnosis and all the awkward interactions that illness can bring.
Tarnation
Jonathan Caouette made indie film history when he made his autobiographical documentary for only $218.32. Then again, most of the film is made up of family movies and personal footage from age 11 and up. While it may not be familiar to a large audience, Caouette's story is equally troubling as it is fascinating — thanks to his manic mother and schizophrenic storytelling.
Almost Famous
This movie just further proved that none of us would ever be as cool as Cameron Crowe. At the ripe age of 16, he finagled a job reporting for Rolling Stone, toured with the Allman Brothers Band, lost his virginity to three groupies AND made a highly successful movie out of it. Also, rest assured; Penny Lane is real.
Tiny Furniture

Lena Dunham's commitment to rooting her HBO series Girls in reality is well documented; as anyone who's seen the Q-tip episode can attest. Before she mined her real life experiences of gay ex-boyfriends and British ex-pat artists as best friends, her first feature laid the groundwork for all the creative-nonfiction that was to follow. If it's hard to separate Dunham from her onscreen personas, than that means her job is done.

If J.J. Abrams Wants an 'Emotional and Authentic' 'Star Wars', He Should Turn to 'Empire Strikes Back'

It seems like every day, there's a new tidbit of information about J.J. Abrams' Star Wars reboot. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Abrams stated that his main goal for Episode VII is to create a Star Wars film that feels "emotional and authentic." However, when asked which of the previous films in the saga would have the closest feel to the upcoming one, Abrams refused to pick, saying "Whatever your favorite Star Wars movie is and how to compare it is really sort of subjective." Well, with all due respect to Mr. Abrams, there really is only one Star Wars film that would be the ideal inspiration for the reboot: The Empire Strikes Back.
Episode V is the most iconic film in the franchise, and is both critcally acclaimed and a fan favorite. For those reasons alone, Abrams would be smart to use this film as his guide, as it would provide the best insight into the tone of the saga, and would allow him to connect the reboot to the original films in the series. And besides, channeling the original trilogy would most likely help Abrams avoid creating another Jar Jar Binks. However, even if he's not looking to replicate the tone of the first half of the saga, Empire Strikes Back exemplifies the balance of fantasy and autheticity that the director says he's after.
If Abrams wants emotional, Empire is the place to turn. First, there's the moment where Han Solo is frozen in carbonite moments after he and Leia have declared their love for each other. Not only would the poignancy of this moment help Abrams to strike the right chord with audiences, but the relationship between Han Solo and Princess Leia is the ideal basis for any sort of romantic element that might be included in the reboot.
In addition, Episode V contains the most iconic Star Wars moment of all: Luke discovering that Darth Vader is his father. This moment is the kind of plot twist that manages to both surprise the audience and have emotional ramifications for the characters. After all, Luke not only finds out that his father is still alive, but he's the one person he's thought of as the enemy... not to mention the fact that Luke lost his hand in the big reveal. That's going to take a toll on anyone, and it perfectly sets up many of the important plot and character elements of the next film. If Abrams is able to channel this moment, he will not only get the kind of authentic emotion he's aiming for, but he will also be able to create a plot twist that wipes whatever he was attempting to do with Khan from everyone's mind.
With all of the negative press and feelings still surrounding Star Trek Into Darkness, fans are apprehensive about the upcoming Star Wars sequels, and Abrams needs something that will seem comforting. Drawing inspiration from Empire Strikes Back would be a good sign that he understands what made the saga so compelling and entertaining in the first place, and would give fans hope that they don't have another Attack of the Clones headed their way. In short, it's the perfect way to ensure that Abrams gets to execute his vision without alienating a devoted audience.

Things You Need To Know About ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Scandal’ Creator Shonda Rhimes

Mark Sullivan/WireImage
Fans of the popular ABC shows Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal often find themselves wondering who comes up with the fictional plot twists and love affairs that keep them up at night. While she obviously does not work alone, the simple answer is Shonda Rhimes. The Emmy-nominated writer and producer created both shows, but that’s not all she contributes to the universe. Here are a few things you might not know about the genius behind the curtain.
She Knows How To Handle Drama On And Off The Screen
This past year  Rhimes came under  criticism for the treatment of her lead character Olivia Pope (played by Kerry Washington). Some folks (including Star Jones) accused her of glorifying marital affairs, and even felt that the interracial relationship on the show was problematic. Rhimes has brilliantly responded to such accusations by defending her art as just that — art, and not a political or social platform. And she often takes to Twitter to remind people who get a little too caught up that her shows are, in fact, fictional.
Oprah Winfrey Is Obsessed With Her
When Oprah Winfrey and former President of the United States Bill Clinton watch your show (they both love Scandal), it’s kind of a big deal. But Oprah and Shonda are so close, their Twitter exchanges are well-documented, and when Shonda made TIME Magazine’s 2013 list of 100 most influential people in the world, Oprah even wrote the powerful accompanying essay.
Halle Berry Kinda, Sorta Owes Her

Halle Berry got her start long before her role in the television biopic Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Still, her performance in the Shonda Rhimes-written script was one of her best and most well-respected, as she (along with Rhimes) brought to life the important story of the first black movie star to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.
She Was a Candy Striper in High School
This woman is living proof that volunteer work truly pays off in the end. Rhimes volunteered at a hospital during high school, and attributes that experience to her interest in such environments. Grey’s Anatomy and its spin-off series Private Practice are a direct result of her candy striper days in Chicago.
She’s an Inspiration to Unemployed Writers Everywhere
After Rhimes got her Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, she was just another unemployed scriptwriter in Hollywood. She worked odd jobs to pay the bills, but eventually got her big break as a research director for a documentary on Hank Aaron. See? We all gotta start somewhere.

Bollywood News Updates

Happy birthday Kareena Kapoor Khan!

New Delhi: Kareena Kapoor Khan, who tied the knot last year with long time beau Saif, will be celebrating her 33rd birthday today in London.

It will be her first birthday celebration post marriage. This time, Kareena will be joining hubby Saif in the English capital, where he is shooting for his next film.

Although Bebo’s personal and marital life is rocking, at the professional front too, she has been grabbing lot of meaty and promising film projects. The newest film to fall in her kitty is Karan Johar’s ‘Shuddhi’ co-starring Hrithik Roshan.

This year she will back on screen with her ‘Ek Main Aur Ek Tu’ co-star Imran Khan in Punit Malhotra’s ‘Gori Tere Pyaar Mein’.

Kareena made her presence felt at the launch of her debut book ‘Style Diary of a Bollywood Diva’ and also sizzled in Prakasha Jha’s multi-starrer ‘Satyragraha’. And we certainly hope to see more of her on screen in the months to come. Here’s wishing the beautiful Kareena a super duper birthday!

‘Phata Poster Nikhla Hero’ review: Watch it if you are a Shahid Kapoor fan!

After rom-com ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’, Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Phata Poster Nikhla Hero’ comes across as a simple childlike Hindi film that now is a rarity. The film starring Shahid Kapoor and Ileana D’Cruz is one of its kinds because the audiences have now matured and expect more than what has already been delivered.

Santoshi’s previous film- ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’- had laughter elements scattered across the film evenly. But that’s not the case with ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero’, where the audiences are left to wonder whether to laugh or cry!

That’s certainly doesn’t mean that the film isn’t worth a laughter. A number of thoroughly entertaining comic sequences are sporadically placed in the film. Nonetheless, some clichéd filmi scenes peppered on the top somewhat dilute the true essence of the film.

The story is about a small town mother’s aspirations and her dream to see her son becoming an honest police officer. Savitri (Padmini Kolhapure) wants her son Vishwas (Shahid Kapoor) to join the police force. But her son is a wannabe actor who cannot think of anything beyond films.

Savitri, raises her son with great difficulties and instils good values in him. She doesn’t want him to indulge in anything that is unethical. But her son has other plans.

The acting ka keeda in him tempts him to opt for a different route to build a career- yes a career in films. He dreams of becoming a superstar.

The wannabe actor gives a miss to his enrolment in the Mumbai police for his Bollywood aspirations. His chance encounter with real goondas while he is wearing a fake Police uniform helps him meet his ladylove Kajal (Ileana D’Cruz).

Kajal, who is a socially responsible young woman, is stumped by Vishwas’s daredevilry as he accidentally becomes a catalyst in rescuing an innocent girl from the clutches of the goondas.

And the silsila of Kajal’s misunderstanding continues. In the meanwhile, Vishwas gets the shock of his life when he is informed of his mother’s arrival to the city. And the troubled son looks for ways to keep pretending to be a Police Officer.

But how long will Vishwas be able to keep his mother’s Vishwas in him intact. The remaining part of the film answers the question.

Coming to the acting- ‘Phata Poster Nikhla Hero’ is an out and out Shahid Kapoor film. The actor delivers applause worthy performance in the film which has him in the limelight from the start to finish. ‘Barfi!’ girl Ileana has very little screen space yet manages to impress. And ‘fabulous’ is the word for veteran Padmini Kolhapure.

The songs in the film are a treat to the ears. The picturisation of the song ‘Mere Bina Tu’ will certainly remind you of ‘Tu Jaane Na’ featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif from Santoshi’s ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’. And the song ‘Main Rang Sharbaton Ka’ by Atif Aslam and Chinmayi Sripada is truly melodious.

PPNH in totality doesn’t have too much to offer apart from Shahid’s flawless performance. The screenplay was good but the story failed to hold the attention of the audiences.

The first half of the film promises sheer entertainment. But the film goes flat in the latter half. Santoshi’s idea was good but perhaps he failed to implement it well.

If you want to take your kids for a movie, then ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero’ is definitely a good choice this weekend. And even otherwise if you still want to watch the film, do not go with great expectations.

Aamir Khan supports Hansal Mehta's 'Shahid'

Mumbai: Actor-producer Aamir Khan, who saw the trailer of Hansal Mehta`s ‘Shahid’, has decided to support the film and has posted the trailer on his official Facebook page.

"We are really happy that our next, `Shahid`, is touching the heartstrings ofthe entire industry. It`s a proud moment for team Shahid that Aamir decided to back the trailer by hosting it on his Facebook page. This is truly a warm gesture from him and we are proud of the film and the trailer and truly thankful to Aamir for having supported it.

"`Shahid` is surely a film to watch out for and with people like Aamir supporting the film, it will give the film that has been acclaimed the world over, the attention it thoroughly deserves," said Shikha Kapur, executive director, marketing, studios, Disney UTV.

Starring Raj Kumar, ‘Shahid’ is based on the true story of human rights activist and lawyer Shahid Azmi, who was killed in 2010 by unidentified assailants in his office.

From attempting to become a terrorist, to being wrongly imprisoned under a draconian anti-terrorism law, to becoming a champion of human rights, ‘Shahid’ traces the inspiring personal journey of a boy who became an unlikely messiah for human rights.

Directed by Mehta, ‘Shahid’ has been acclaimed across film fests in the world.

It has travelled to several film festivals including Toronto, Dubai and Mumbai and has wowed audiences the world over.

Mehta won the best director at New York Indian Film Festival and at the Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart.

‘Shahid’ had a world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival 2012 (TIFF 2012), and a centerpiece at New York Indian Film Festival and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.

Produced by UTV Spotboy, Sunil Bohra and Anurag Kashyap, ‘Shahid’ is set to release in the country Oct 18.

Deepika, Ranbir team up for another film

New Delhi: Ex- love birds, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have let bygones to be bygones and have moved on.

The duo who sizzled on the silver screen with Box-Office blockbuster- `Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani`, their first film after their publisised break-up are reportedly doing another film together.


According to a leading daily, Ranbir and Deepika, who were first seen together in ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’, will star together once again in talented filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s next project, which is tentatively titled ‘Window Seat’.


However, the director is tight-lipped about his next film, but Kapoor, seems to have no qualms divulging information about the same.


With time, the dimpled hottie as well as her former beau have tasted success. Ranbir is now touted as the next superstar while Deepika has been quite successful at the Box Office with ‘Chennai Express’ to her credit.


But for the moment, Ranbir and Deepika are busy promoting their films ‘Besharam’ and ‘Ramleela’ which are scheduled to hit the silver screen on October 2, 2013, and November 15, 2013 respectively.

'Grand Masti' mints Rs.66.48 crore in first week

New Delhi: Adult comedy `Grand Masti` has generated Rs.66.48 at the box office within the first week of its release.

Directed by Indra Kumar, the bold movie, which released Sep 13, opened with Rs.12.51 crore. It stars Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi and Aftab Shivdasani along with six actresses.

The film went on to clock Rs.13.21 crore and Rs.14.46 crore on Saturday and Saturday, respectively, via single screens as well as multiplexes.

The week remained strong with Monday collection at Rs.7.5 crore, Tuesday Rs.7.25 crore, Wednesday Rs.6.30 crore and Thursday Rs.5.25 crore -- taking the tally to Rs.66.48 crore.

`Grand Masti` is co-produced by Ashok Thakeria and Indra Kumar, presented by Bharat Shah and distributed by Eros International Worldwide.