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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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Kangana Ranaut asks ‘if not me then who’ after giving consecutive flops as netizens troll her for claiming to be ‘the most respectable actor after Big B’

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Just a day ago, Kangana Ranaut was heavily trolled for her speech wherein she asserted that she gets the maximum respect in the industry, after Amitabh Bachchan. This video clip of her making ‘high claims’ about her stardom in Bollywood resulted in netizens slamming the actress and many of them even remarked about the actress giving out 15 consecutive flops. Reacting to it, Kangana took to her social media to share a note where she quizzed the users, ‘if not her, then whom?’ Readers would be aware that Kangana is currently busy with her electoral campaign as the actress has joined politics as the BJP candidate from the Mandi constituency, which belongs to her hometown Himachal Pradesh. In a video from her campaign speech which found its way online, Kangana was seen saying, “Sara desh hairaan hai, ki wo Kangana, chahe Rajasthan chali jau, chahe mai West Bengal chali jau, chahe mai Delhi chali jau, chahe mai Manipur chali jau, aisa lagta hai ki mano itna pyaar aur itna sammaan… Mein daa
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From mythic creatures to innovative documentaries:: 10 films to see at Sydney film festival 2024

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The 5-16 June program includes Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest Kinds of Kindness, and a hairy family in Sasquatch Sunset Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email This year’s Sydney film festival program has just been announced and, as usual, it is bulging with treats from around the world. The event kicks off on 5 June with a screening of Paul Clarke’s documentary Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line, and runs until 16 June at various venues across the city. Here are 10 films you might want to check out – in addition to three others on the program that I’ve written about previously : The Moogai, Every Little Thing and Mozart’s Sister. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/NtdHloh via IFTTT
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Ananya Birla bids farewell to music career as she quits industry to focus on business: “Hope one day we can appreciate English music made by our own people”

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Singer-songwriter Ananya Birla has decided to step away from the music industry to concentrate on her business ventures. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Birla called it the "hardest decision" but acknowledged the growing difficulty of balancing her musical career with her burgeoning business pursuits. Announcing her decision, Birla expressed gratitude for the love and support she received throughout her musical journey. She also highlighted the challenges faced by Indian artists creating English music, hoping for a future where domestic talent receives wider recognition. In a statement on Instagram, she wrote, “Unforgettable memories, thank you for all the love.” The post read, “Guys, this has been the hardest decision. I’ve reached a stage where balancing both the businesses I run and am building + music is becoming near impossible and it’s taking a toll on me in ways that I can’t express. Thank you for all the love for the music I’ve released over the years. I hope one day
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The End of Wonderland review – trans porn star deals with eviction and a hoarding crisis

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Laurence Turcotte-Fraser’s wistful documentary follows resourceful porn star Tara Emory’s ‘entropic’ problem with clutter This documentary about a transgender porn star turns out to be a portrait of a divided self, but not quite how you’d expect. Two personalities vie inside Massachusetts-based adult performer Tara Emory: zeppelin-bosomed sci-fi sex kitten, and grease monkey/compulsive hoarder. Director Laurence Turcotte-Fraser’s intimate and ever-so-wistful study thankfully bypasses current trans-related bloodletting and even to a large degree questions of gender definition; instead this film concentrates on a purely individual problem: Emory’s battle with the “entropic” clutter threatening to overwhelm her life. The lithe, rangy Emory is a mid-40s veteran of DIY internet porn, crafting bespoke photoshoots and making personal appearances in Victoriana, Barbarella and other shades of kitsch. But supporting her fantasy existence is real-world scaffolding: a trove of bric-a-brac and fl
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Aryan Khan kicks off last leg of Stardom shoot in Mumbai; eyes 2024 year-end release: Report

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Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan's directorial debut, the highly anticipated web series Stardom, began the shoot in Goa in April 2024. According to a reliable source, as reported by Bollywood Hungama, filming kicked off this Friday, April 19th, in Goa. Adding to the star power, the source hinted that Bobby Deol was also expected to join the shoot for the final few days of filming. Now, there’s another update that Khan has begun his last leg of shoot. As per a report in Mid-day, sources suggest the young director recently took over the expansive Royal Palms in Goregaon for a five-day filming schedule. The team is aiming to wrap up filming by the end of May if all goes according to plan. The source shed light on the project's fast-paced progress, “Aryan was shooting all through April, the locations changing from a studio in Andheri East to Madh Island, and now Royal Palms. The shoot will go on at the Goregaon venue till the end of the week before moving to another location. Simu
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Mambar Pierrette review – subtle and big-hearted parable of women’s resilience in Cameroon

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Pierrette is beset with troubles, from a robbery to a house flood and more, but the neorealist drama comes with solidarity and surprising humour The simple image of pushing a seam through a sewing machine becomes a profound life statement in Rosine Mbakam’s debut feature, which is focused on talented clothier Pierrette (played by the director’s cousin Pierrette Aboheu Njeuthat) in the Cameroonian city Douala. It’s emblematic of the need to keep moving forward in daily life – and to come out the other side smiling, with stoicism and resilience. As one customer puts it: “I’m getting by. That’s life. When you fall down, you get up again.” Pierrette is having, it has to be said, an especially rough day. A single mother also caring for an elderly parent (Marguerite Mbakop), she is already scraping for cash. Regularly bartered into submission by her clientele, she always holds her gaze bashfully downwards – either out of anger, or embarrassment at having to assert herself. When she takes a
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Abhishek Bachchan set for grand return with Housefull 5: "Looking forward to having mad fun with Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh"

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Sajid Nadiadwala is bringing another exciting announcement of Abhishek Bachchan joining back the star-studded cast for Housefull 5. Scheduled to start filming in the UK in August 2024, this installment promises to be an uproarious adventure. With Abhishek Bachchan's stellar comedic timing adding to the mix, fans can anticipate even more laughter and entertainment. Sajid Nadiadwala expresses his delight, stating, "I am thrilled to bring back Abhishek to the Housefull franchise. His dedication, comic time, and sincerity will only elevate our film." Abhishek shares, "Housefull is one of my favourite comedy franchises and coming back feels like returning home. It's always been a great pleasure to work with Sajid Nadiadwala. I am looking forward to having mad fun on the sets with my fellow actors Akshay and Ritesh. I’m also so excited to collaborate again with my dear friend Tarun Mansukhani. I’m really looking forward to working with him again after Dostana. This i
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Shah Rukh Khan to be at Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2024 match? Lucknow Police clarifies fake news

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Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is a familiar face at Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, cheering on his team. Recently, rumours were rife suggesting he'd attend the KKR vs. Lucknow Super Giants match in Lucknow. However, the Lucknow police swiftly debunked this speculation through social media. This buzz coincided with KKR's crucial match against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Fans were no doubt excited at the prospect of seeing their favourite actor and team owner in the stands. The Lucknow police, anticipating potential crowd control issues and misinformation, took a proactive approach. They tweeted a clear message in Hindi, “It is being reported in some social media/media that Shahrukh Khan is coming to support KKR team in today's IPL match. No such information has been received in this regard yet. Unnecessary rumours should not be spread otherwise strict action will be taken ag
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Aditya Roy Kapur and Ananya Panday end relationship after two years: Report

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Actors Aditya Roy Kapur and Ananya Panday have reportedly ended their relationship, according to a recent Times of India report. A close friend of the couple is quoted as saying that they had been dating for "almost two years" and the break-up "came as a shock to all of us." The report also stated that they remain cordial and are "trying to move on" from the situation. Ananya has reportedly found solace in spending time with her new pet. The news comes after weeks of speculation surrounding the couple's relationship status.  Last month, a cryptic post on Ananya's Instagram story fuelled rumors of a split. Previously, Aditya and Ananya made headlines for their vacations together in Spain and other locations. They were frequently spotted out and about in Mumbai, and Ananya even playfully referred to herself as "Ananya Coy Kapur" on Karan Johar's chat show, Koffee With Karan. While both actors have previously addressed the media regard
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‘I get a little stir-crazy’: Jennifer Connelly on David Bowie, working with family and going back to college

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Growing up on set put Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Connelly on the fast track to Hollywood fame. But despite her success, one of her lasting regrets was not finishing college – and, she says, it’s still on her to-do list… Jennifer Connelly is on a Zoom call from her home in Brooklyn, jetlagged after attending Louis Vuitton’s pre-fall 2024 show in Shanghai, which does not bode well: she is known to have been reticent in past interviews, and sometimes while working. When she made A Beautiful Mind , the 2001 movie for which she won an Oscar for playing the wife of schizophrenic mathematician John Nash, the co-producer Brian Grazer was unnerved by her reserve. “It was hard for me to get to know her on the set because I’m so emotional,” he told a writer in 2001. “She’s very serious. She’s not silly. She doesn’t have that buoyancy.” It is a relief, then, to find Connelly to be thoughtful and lovely and erudite, happy enough to discuss her life and career. I ask if Grazer’s description is o
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