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Mark Kermode on… Kathryn Bigelow, a stylish ruffler of feathers

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From vampire noir to Bin Laden, Point Break to Detroit, the first woman to win an Oscar for best director has never pulled her punches Watching new Jeff Nichols release The Bikeriders , starring Austin Butler and Tom Hardy as 60s Chicago greasers, I was reminded of two other movies: László Benedek’s 1953 Marlon Brando vehicle The Wild One , explicitly cited as an inspiration, and The Loveless , the 1981 feature debut of Kathryn Bigelow , the American film-maker (b.1951) who would go on to become the first woman to win a best director Oscar with her 2008 war drama The Hurt Locker . A symphony of leather-clad posing (with just a touch of Kenneth Anger ), The Loveless was a staple of the late-night circuit in the 80s, often on a double bill with David Lynch’s Eraserhead . Sharing directing credits with Monty Montgomery, Bigelow playfully deconstructed masculinity and machismo in a manner that was one part wry to two parts relish. I remember seeing The Loveless at the Phoenix in East
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The Zone of Interest and All of Us Strangers triumph at London Critics’ Circle Awards

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Jonathan Glazer’s Auschwitz drama takes best film, director and technical achievement prizes at annual ceremony, while Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal amongst a trio of winners for All of Us Strangers Homegrown experimentalism reigned supreme at the London Critics’ Circle awards, which gave its top honours to Jonathan Glazer’s radical Holocaust film, The Zone of Interest – and an equal number to Andrew Haigh’s devastating ghost romance, All of Us Strangers. The Zone of Interest, about the domestic idyll constructed by Helga and Rudolph Höss next door to Auschwitz, where he was camp commandant, won best picture and best director. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/CyATFIx via IFTTT
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The Taste of Things director Tran Anh Hung: ‘Cinema needs to be very sensual, very physical’

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The Vietnamese-born director’s new film is a sumptuous love letter to French food culture starring former real-life couple Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel. He talks about the formal appeal of haute cuisine and the poetry of an omelette The current menu for film and TV stories about cuisine is all conflict and crisis – kitchens as battlefields, dishes forged in the white-hot skillet of raging tempers. But new French film The Taste of Things couldn’t be further from The Bear or Boiling Point . A controlled simmer is more the temperature of this piece by Vietnamese-born director Tran Anh Hung – the most rapturous hymn to culinary art since such beloved gourmet outings as Babette’s Feast or Eat Drink Man Woman . Set in the 1880s, the film – which won Tran the best director award at Cannes last year – is about the relationship between cook Eugénie ( Juliette Binoche ) and her gourmet employer and lover Dodin (Benoît Magimel). But the film is ultimately about creativity, says Tran.
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Black FINALLY makes OTT debut after 19 years of release: When and where to watch Amitabh Bachchan-Rani Mukerji starrer

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The wait is over for fans of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's acclaimed film Black (2005). This poignant story of a teacher and his deaf-blind student, brought to life by the powerful performances of Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji, has finally landed on a streaming platform. Just days after the trailer for Bhansali's upcoming OTT debut Heeramandi dropped, Black has made its much-anticipated arrival on Netflix. Sharing the news on his Instagram, Bachchan wrote, "It's been 19 years since Black released, and today we're celebrating its first ever digital release on Netflix! Debraj and Michelle's journey has been an inspiration to all of us, and we hope it instils you with strength and compassion."   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) Black tells the tale of Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan), a teacher who dedicates his life to educating Michelle McNally (Rani Mukerji), a young woman trapped in a world of silence an
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Amitabh Bachchan to light up Kalyan Jewellers' 250th showroom launch in Ayodhya

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Today, Kalyan Jewellers, one of India’s most trusted and leading jewellery brands, announced that it will launch its 1st showroom in Ayodhya on February 9 (Friday). Brand Ambassador Shri. Amitabh Bachchan will inaugurate the brand-new showroom located at Civil Lines in Ayodhya. The inauguration is scheduled for Friday (9th February) at 5 PM. With this launch, the company will make a foray into Ayodhya and mark the momentous milestone of its 250th showroom globally. Currently, the jewellery brand marks its presence across 23 states in India as well as 4 countries in West Asia. To commemorate the 250th showroom launch, Kalyan Jewellers is offering a unique promotion, the jewellery brand has announced 0% making charges for half the purchase value, on minimum purchase value of Rs. 1 lakh*. Additionally, the Kalyan Special Gold Board Rate – the lowest in the market and standardized across all company showrooms - will also apply. These offers are valid for a limited period only. Furthermor
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And the winner is… the Scottish chocolatier creating sweet treats for the Oscars

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Fiona McArthur’s vegan sweets began as an experiment – and now they’re food for the Hollywood stars It’s a long way from the windswept waterfront of Campbeltown to Hollywood: but for next month’s Oscar nominees a taste of this remote corner of Scotland awaits, after the owner of the town’s chocolate shop was chosen to produce the sweet treats for the famed $125,000 award ceremony goodie bags . Fiona McArthur, who started creating her chocolates in her mother’s kitchen four-and-a-half years ago, says she’s still pinching herself at the coup. “It’s blowing my mind that my chocolates are going to be eaten by people like Bradley Cooper and Margot Robbie,” she says. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/31y4cLr via IFTTT
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Yash Raj Films honored with Swiss Excellence Award; CEO Akshaye Widhani extends gratitude

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India’s premier film production house, Yash Raj Films, has been honoured with the revered Swiss Excellence Award! This prestigious occasion was graced by Martin Maier, Consul General of Switzerland in Mumbai, and Christophe Xavier Clivaz, Founder & Director of Swiss Learning. The Swiss Excellence Award was presented to Yash Raj Films, for the company’s long-standing creative association with Switzerland and promotion of Swiss excellence. The award was received by Akshaye Widhani, CEO, Yash Raj Films. Akshaye told the esteemed gathering, “With great honour and gratitude we extend our heartfelt thanks to the esteemed Government of Switzerland for this recognition – the Swiss Excellence Award to YRF. The legendary Yash Chopra, a visionary film-maker whose creative prowess transcended boundaries, became synonymous to Switzerland through the cinematic masterpieces that he created in his lifetime.” YRF has shot about 14 movies in Switzerland – from DDLJ, Dhoom 3, Veer Zara, Dil To Pag
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Carl Weathers, Rocky and Predator actor, dies aged 76

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The actor was known for playing Apollo Creed in four Rocky films and was recently in The Mandalorian Carl Weathers: a life in pictures Carl Weathers, the actor whose credits include Rocky and Predator, has died at 76. His family released a statement through his agent to announce that he died “peacefully in his sleep” on 1 February. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/qZXUnHJ via IFTTT
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Ten years on from his death, Philip Seymour Hoffman still shines bright

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From an Oscar-winning performance in Capote to a masterly turn in Synecdoche, New York, the unique actor proved the standard-bearer for characterisation Recently, I found my thoughts irritably returning, like a toe masochistically seeking out a tiny uncomfortable pebble in a shoe, to the spectacularly terrible Hunger Games prequel movie The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – a truly forgettable piece of expired franchise content. A question nagged. Was there something that could have redeemed that dire film, even slightly? Then I realised a big thing it lacked which its predecessors had: Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose desperately sad death 10 years ago at the age of 46 is still shocking to me. He played the creepy head gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee. It wasn’t his greatest role. It was clearly not much more than a paycheque. But through his presence, The Hunger Games raised their game. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/4VagZCm via IFTTT
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Former Bigg Boss contestant files rape complaint against friend in Delhi

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A former contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss has accused a friend of raping her at her residence in south Delhi, according to a police report filed on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, as reported by Press Trust of India. The FIR, registered under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (rape), alleges the incident occurred in the actor's Deoli Road flat last year. The actor reportedly told police that the accused, her friend, offered her food and drinks at his residence before allegedly spiking her drink and raping her. Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the accused. No official statement from the police has been released as of yet. Meanwhile, the identity of the actor and accused have not been released to protect their privacy. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, numerous resources are available to provide support and assistance. The National Commission for Women (NCW): 181 - 24/7 helpline for women in distress All India Women'
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Heeramandi Teaser: From Manisha Koirala to Sonakshi Sinha, intense characters with hidden motives defines the world of this Sanjay Leela Bhansali web series

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The much-awaited glimpse of the debut web-series of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Heeramandi is finally here! Considering that it comes from the house of this popular filmmaker who is known for his lavish and extensive sets, the film based on 1940s’ courtesan culture boasts of such heavy mounted gharana sets with enviable costumes as it gives a glimpse of the lead characters which includes Sharmin Segal, Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sonakshi Sinha, and even Sanjeeda Sheikh. The teaser takes us into the world of courtesans as they introduce us to the innocent-looking and young courtesan played by Sharmin Sehgal, followed by Manisha Koirala and Aditi Rao Hydari. Richa Chadha’s entry in the promo is powerful but it is the entry of Sonakshi Sinha clad in a black attire that spells revenge. Although the teaser has been carefully edited without giving out much details, they also showcase the intensity of the characters essayed by them, especially Sonakshi. The teaser shows us g
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