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

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

Blue Lock the Movie: Episode Nagi review – football anime gets the battle royale-treatment

From Terminator-eyed strikers to flame-wreathed shots on goal, no bombast is too much in this feature-length extrapolation of Muneyuki Kaneshiro’s popular series Like Squid Game meets Shaolin Soccer, this feature-length extrapolation of Muneyuki Kaneshiro’s popular manga and anime set in a football training academy treats the beautiful game like an epic showdown between demonic forces or a Kurosawa-esque assault on a mountain fortress. Terminator-eyed strikers, flame-wreathed shots on goal, players zoning out in an amniotic limbo; no bombast is too much when hammering home Blue Lock’s key message: a star centre-forward must have an almighty ego. The head coach is even called Jinpachi Ego. In trying to identify a unique attacking talent for the Japanese national team at the elite Blue Lock academy, he is unimpressed by the close-knit bond between the two final recruits: rich kid Reo (voiced by Yuma Uchida) and his diffident schoolmate Nagi (Nobunaga Shimazaki). The latter especially i

Juhi Chawla recalls Shah Rukh Khan’s gypsy was taken away due to unpaid EMI: “He came on our set very dejected”

Juhi Chawla and Shah Rukh Khan, longtime friends and co-stars, have shared a remarkable journey in Bollywood. Recently, Juhi offered a glimpse into Shah Rukh Khan's early days in Mumbai, starkly contrasting his superstardom today. When Shah Rukh Khan Couldn’t Pay EMI  Speaking at an event, held by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry in the state, Juhi revealed that Shah Rukh Khan, upon arriving in Mumbai, didn't have a permanent residence. He would travel from his hometown Delhi and seamlessly integrate with the film crew, often working double or triple shifts. Juhi mentioned his dedication during their projects together, including Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Dil Aashna Hai, and Deewana with Divya Bharti. Juhi shared, “I remember Shah Rukh those days didn't have a home in Mumbai. So he used to come from Delhi (his hometown). I don't know where he stayed. He used to have tea with the unit (the film crew), eat with the unit, and blended in the unit seamlessly. H

Shatrughan Sinha hospitalised due to viral fever at Kokilaben Hospital

Veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha has been hospitalised following a bout of viral fever and weakness. The 77-year-old, known for his iconic roles in Bollywood and his significant political career, was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. Shatrughan's son, Luv Sinha, verified the news and said to India Express, "Dad had viral fever and weakness the last couple of days, so we decided to admit him to the hospital." Shatrughan Sinha's hospitalisation comes only days after his daughter Sonakshi Sinha's interfaith wedding to Zaheer Iqbal. On June 23, actors Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony, confirming their love in a beautiful private celebration. The newlyweds were recently photographed entering hand in hand for a family dinner in Mumbai, exuding a newlywed glow and effervescent excitement. Sinha, who transitioned from a successful film career to politics, has been a prominent figure in both fi

‘You have to get over the me thing’: Kevin Bacon on money, marriage – and learning to live with himself

Kevin Bacon, Hollywood’s great survivor, first set hearts fluttering in the 1984 classic Footloose. Now 65, he’s back on the big screen again. Here, he talks about his band, politics, family, embracing change and, most of all, learning selflessness… There’s a state that veteran Hollywood actors can reach, beyond ravenous ambition, but with retirement still distant, that seems to make them contented as professionals and mellow as people. Kevin Bacon, now 65, has hit that sweet spot. Continually employed for decades, he shares a Manhattan apartment as well as a Connecticut farm with his wife of 35 years, Kyra Sedgwick, and their two adult children, Travis and Sosie. Bacon is in a country band with his brother, Michael, and otherwise channels any musical overspill into adorable Instagram videos of the Family Bacon (barnyard animals included) covering pop songs old and new. The hunger of the 1980s lead-actor-in-waiting, the frustration of the bit-player in mid-career who kept a wary eye

Sony TV announces Aapka Apna Zakir starring comedian Zakir Khan

Get ready for a fresh dose of laughter! Sony Entertainment Television has announced a brand new comedy show featuring the popular comedian Zakir Khan, titled Aapka Apna Zakir. Zakir Khan’s TV Show Announced! The official announcement for Aapka Apna Zakir was made on Saturday through Sony Entertainment Television's social media channels, along with a teaser. The post hints at an engaging experience, stating, "Aap dekhenge. Hum dekhenge. Sab dekhenge. #AapkaApnaZakir, sirf #SonyEntertainmentTelevision par. Bohot hi jald (You'll watch. We'll watch. Everyone will watch. Your Very Own Zakir, only on Sony Entertainment Television. Coming Soon)." According to a press note from Sony Entertainment Television, the show aims to provide viewers with an "enthralling experience that combines laughter, shaayari (Urdu poetry), and zindagi ke nuskhe (life lessons) into one compelling package." This suggests a show that will not only tickle your funny bone but might als

Jim Sarbh sets record straight about method acting comment, wasn’t targeting Ranveer Singh: “I only had lovely things to say about him as a co actor”

Actor Jim Sarbh on Saturday took to social media to clarify that his previous comments regarding actors and their flamboyant method acting techniques weren't directed towards his Padmaavat co-star Ranveer Singh. This clarification comes after actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui was questioned about those very remarks in a recent interview. On Saturday, Jim Sarbh took to social media to clarify his stance. “I find this almost absurd to have to clarify, but since folks are running wild with the videos and the articles: Nothing I said refers to Ranveer Singh. The video byte being shared is from Made in Heaven season 2 promotions, 5 whole years since Padmaavat came out. 5 years. I only had lovely things to say about Ranveer as a co actor- look it up. I still do. Also: it is not an attack on process. I love process, and I love actors,” he wrote. “The video is making fun of actors who exaggerate their process. I’m sure you’ve all met people who talk about their work more than do their work. Can’

Dil Ko Tumse Pyaar Hua to replace Teri Meri Dooriyaan; first promo out, watch

Star Plus is famous for delivering intriguing and interesting content to its viewers that makes one go through a plethora of emotions. Star Plus has an amazing lineup of shows that aim to not just entertain but also empower. These include Anupama, Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Mein, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Udne Ki Aasha, Maati Se Bandhi Dor, Jhanak, and Yeh Hai Chahatein, which focus on family drama and romance and have been well accepted by the viewers. Continuing the spree, Star Plus has ventured into unexplored territory with its new show, Dil Ko Tumse Pyaar Hua, starring Aditi Tripathi (Deepika) and Akkshith Sukhija (Chirag) in lead roles. Set against the backdrop of Rajasthan, Dil Ko Tumse Pyaar Hua is a tale of Deepika and Chirag and what unfolds in the lives of Deepika and Chirag, who fall in love. But will their love story be accepted by society and family? The makers have dropped an intriguing first glimpse of the Star Plus show Dil Ko Tumse Pyaar Hua, where Aditi Tripathi (Dee

Streaming: the best of the Brat Packers

Two 80s teen dramas, The Breakfast Club and St Elmo’s Fire, made overnight stars of a band of young actors including Molly Ringwald, Demi Moore and Rob Lowe – and Andrew McCarthy, whose new documentary looks back on those years Depending on your age, Andrew McCarthy’s Brats (Disney+, from 5 July) will either be a cosy nostalgia trip or a window into another era of celebrity. As someone who was two years old at their zenith, I’ve only ever known the Brat Pack as a past buzzword: a gaggle of then-young American actors who became a collective cultural phenomenon before just as quickly dispersing into a very different array of career fortunes. To look back on that now, as McCarthy’s documentary does, is to learn more about 80s-era media and publicity machinery than anything particularly crucial about American cinema. The Brat Pack was defined in 1985 by a pair of coming-of-age films, The Breakfast Club and St Elmo’s Fire — one about high-schoolers, one about college grads, though made

Bigg Boss OTT 3: Payal Malik breaks down as she recalls Armaan and Kritika’s marriage; Ranvir Shorey calls her ‘big-hearted’

While Armaan Malik is receiving extensive flak and hatred outside the house from several netizens and celebrities who condemned his act of marrying two women, the YouTuber-Influencer remains unaffected by this. His wife Payal, who is now married to him for almost 11 years, recently recalled how her husband and her best friend Kritika broke the news of their marriage to her, further confessing that narrating this incident always makes her emotional. Promo of Payal Malik narrating Armaan and Kritika’s marriage Payal Malik was recently seen having a conversation with her co-contestants in a recently released promo of the reality show. The influencer opened up about how Armaan and Kritika informed her about their marriage. She said, "Ek din main bahar thi aur ye dono the kahin saath mein inhone baat kari hogi aapas mein ke shaadi karte hain toh usne bhi keh diya karte hain. Ye dono shaadi karke aagaye. Mere paas phone aaya Arre Payal ek na khushkhabri deni hai, Main inki harr ek che

Kanguva announces release date; Suriya starrer to clash with Alia Bhatt starrer Jigra

Coming from the house of Studio Green, the much-awaited Kanguva starring Suriya, is indeed one of the biggest films that everyone is eagerly looking forward to. With the film bringing together Suriya and Bobby Deol, who are expected to have a massive showdown in the film, this has definitely piqued excitement among audiences who are curious to know more about the film. Now the makers have finally announced the film's release date as October 10, 2024. Suriya starrer to release during Dussehra With the new poster, the makers of 'Kanguva' made this grand announcement of the release date on social media along with the caption, "Ready yourselves to welcome the Warrior King ?? Our #Kanguva is set to conquer your hearts and screens from October 10, 2024 ????? #KanguvaFromOct10 ??" Interestingly, Kanguva is expected to release in several languages beyond South and Hindi. Ready yourselves to welcome the Warrior King ???? Our #Kanguva is set to conquer your hearts and sc