Do Re Mi Fa So-So: Bad Musical Moments in Movies 

Everybody loves a triple-threat: the actor who can also sing and dance. It really is a special gift of a person who can do all three, and do it well. Heck, sometimes we get so excited at the possibility of a triple-threat that we'll even let the lesser ones, well, slip through. And sometimes, the means-well-but-shouldn't take it upon themselves to attempt triple-threat status. And even though we may love these actors so, it doesn't forgive them of the fact that their attempts to achieve greatness were, well, a bit flawed.
But there's something to be sad and something to be learned from these performances: what not to do when your director asks for a jazzy dance number, an introspective singing scene on a beach, or even—gulp, we hope not—the use of song and blackface come into play. Sometimes even in comedy, the musical addition (or the person performing it) can miss the mark. So you do your best, because you're an entertainer, verdamnit! It's what entertainers do: anything to please the movie-going masses!
We know it's hard to do—act, sing, dance, all while trying to bring your best moments to screen? That's got to be a challenge unbelievable in scale. When everybody's watching like that, it's easy to think a tiny misstep may go unnoticed. But when they don't? Well, then it can sometimes blow up in people's faces. And, hey! We've all had moments like that in life, right? It's part of being human, the imperfections! Some just have skills that others don't, and that's fine. So let's sit back and have a quick laugh at some of the most absurd, ridiculous, or just flat-out terrible musical moments in movies. It's a group effort, after all!
Russell Crowe in Les Miserables

Oh Russell. You meant so well, didn't you? When you decided to sing in this very affected manner? We know you have a band (previously called 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, now called Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God) and all that, but rock music has a bit more leeway than your run of the mill, iconic musical number. But when you put on that accent and attempted to sing. Well, my poor, dear fellow: it didn't work. Not for a second. It felt put-upon and maybe a little (we hate to say it) community theater-esque. Better luck next time, Mr. Crowe?

Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn

Bing Crosby can sing, y'all! Let's just get that out of the way first and foremost. He can sing, he's fabulous—every time he opened that mouth of his, greatness would come out. We're not arguing about that fact. It's just that, well, looking back at it now: a song about Abraham Lincoln, done at a party, in...blackface? Yeah, call us old-fashioned (or decidedly not), but that just doesn't really fly well with us, even if it was made in a time where that sort of thing was acceptable. Now poor Bing looks like a right old fool along with everyone else in the clip. Yikes!

Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia!

Oh, Mr. Bond. For someone as cool, calm, and collected as you, it seems hardly fair to scrutinize you after wanting to let loose a little bit. But! This is the Internet, so judge we shall. And the verdict? Not good, Mr. Bond. Not good at all. It's hard going up against a flawless powerhouse of entertainment queendom likeMeryl Streep, but something tells us a different song may have served you better. Or no song at all. Can we have an actor in a musical movie not sing? That's like asking the sun not to shine! And so shine on, he tries, Mr. Brosnan does. This might've been a mission too extreme for even the almighty MI6.

Next: Hearts Pop! and Stallone is Drinkinstein

Marion Cotillard to be nominated for “Best Actress” for her performance in “Rust and Bone”

Our friend and one of our favorite actresses, Marion Cotillard, is on her way to be nominated for “Best Actress” for her performance in “Rust and Bone.” This coming January 10th the Academy Awards will announce the nominees for the Oscars. We strongly believe that Marion will be one of them.

Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard is internationally renowned for her unbridled commitment to her art, challenging herself with each new role.

Cotillard is starring in Jacques Audiard’s “Rust and Bone,” alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Bouli Lanners and Céline Sallette. The film was co-written by Jacques Audiard and Thomas Bidegain and adapted from the acclaimed book of   short stories by Craig Davidson.

Cotillard recently wrapped production on director and co-writer James Gray’s “Untitled James Gray Project,” starring opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner. The film focuses on ‘Ewa Cybulska,’ (Cotillard) and her sister, ‘Magda,’ who sail to Ellis Island in the early twentieth century, only to be separated when Magda falls ill. With nowhere to go, ‘Ewa’ quickly falls prey to ‘Bruno’ (Phoenix), a charming but wicked man who forces her to perform in his nightly burlesque show. There she encounters the dazzling ‘Orlando the Magician’ (Renner), who sweeps her off her feet and may be her only chance to reunite with her sister and escape the nightmare. Additionally, she also completed production on Guillaume Canet’s “Blood Ties” opposite Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Mila Kunis, and Zoe Saldana. Set in 1970s Brooklyn, the film explores organized crime and the relationship between two brothers on either side of the law who face off against each other.

In 2008, Cotillard became the second French actress to ever win an Oscar®, and the first to win an acting award for a performance in the French language . The worldwide critical acclaim came for her riveting portrayal of legendary French chanteuse, Edith Piaf, in the film “La Vie En Rose.”

Cotillard’s credits include the successful French “Taxi” film series, written by Luc Besson, Yann Samuell’s “Love Me If You Dare,” and Tim Burton’s “Big Fish.” She garnered her first Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “A Very Long Engagement.” Following that, she went on to star in Ridley Scott’s “A Good Year;” Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies,” and Rob Marshall’s “Nine,” the screen adaptation of the hit musical. Her performance in the film brought her Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award nominations, and she also shared in a SAG Award® nomination for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast Performance. Additional credits include Christopher Nolan’s “Inception,” Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion,” Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” and Guillaume Canet’s “Little White Lies.”

The 2012 Hollywood Film Awards has also announced that it will honor producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner with the “Hollywood Producers Award,” writer/director Judd Apatow with the “Hollywood Comedy Award,” actor John Hawkes with the “Hollywood Breakout Performance Award” for “The Sessions,” and Quvenzhané Wallis with the “New Hollywood Award” for “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” Other honorees include cinematographer Wally Pfister and visual effects supervisors Jane Sirrs and Jeff White. In addition, director Peter Ramsey’s “Rise of the Guardians” will be honored with the “Hollywood Animation Award,” along with additional honorees to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Hollywood Film Awards Gala honors cherished stars, filmmakers and up-and-coming talent, and traditionally kicks off the film awards season with the biggest stars and top industry executives in attendance.

“We are very proud to be the first stop of the awards season. In the last nine years, a total of 85 Oscar® nominations and 32 Oscars® were given to the honorees of the Hollywood Film Awards,” said de Abreu.

Last year’s awards show reached a total TV audience of more than 41 million media impressions, in addition to more than 300 million online and print readers’ impressions.

Aside from celebrating accomplishments on screen, the Hollywood Film Awards established the “Hollywood Gives Back” program to expand and continue highlighting and assisting important local and national charities to raise funds. Over the years, the Hollywood Film Awards has contributed to such charities as the following: The Art of Elysium, Artists for Human Rights, Artists for Peace and Justice, MatchingDonors.com, Children’s Hospital Los Angels, the Enough Project and Variety The Children’s Charity of So. CA, among others.

Further, the Hollywood Film Awards selects individuals to be recipients of its “Hollywood Humanitarian Awards” in recognition of their contribution to the betterment of their communities or society at large. Prior recipients include Nobel Peace Prize winner and ex-President of East Timor, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, Father Rick Frechette and actor and activist Sean Penn.

Sridevi: I definitely want to do more films

Sridevi's performance in English Vinglish was praised highly and the film enjoyed a successful run at the box office. The actress is promoting the film all over again for its television premiere on Zee Cinema on December 29.

She has shot three customised promos only for the small screen. The channel has also launched a portal to teach housewives English, in keeping with the theme of the film.

                               

Sridevi [ Images ] can only hope that all the excitement that greeted the film continues with television audiences. 

"Since the release, something or the other exciting is happening. Hope the excitement continues. The families, who were not able to get out and watch the film, will be able to watch it on TV," she says.

And whether any one else watches or not "my husband (Boney Kapoor [ Images ]) is definitely going to watch it," she smiles.

She says she watches films with her family in the theatre, "but I like to watch good films again on television like Taare Zameen Par [ Images ], Wanted, 3 idiots and No Entry [ Images ]."

The film she enjoyed watching the most recently is Life of Pi -- "It's fantastic!"

The hugely successful actress had not acted in a film for 15 years before making a comeback with English Vinglish.

What warmed her heart the most among all the praise she received was that after the English Vinglish premiere at the Toronto Film Festival "we received a standing ovation."

The film has had a salutary effect. "Some men have said that they have changed their behaviour towards their wives. Some mothers and wives have come up to me and said their husband's attitude and children's behaviour has changed. So all thanks to the film," she says smiling.

Kareena Kapoor [ Images ] had said, without any hesitation, that the Filmfare Best Actress award should be given to Sridevi for her work in English Vinglish.

"I really want to thank her," Sridevi gushes. "It was really sweet of her to say such nice things. I adore all of them from Katrina Kaif [ Images ] to Priyanka Chopra [ Images ] to Deepika Padukone [ Images ]. Vidya Balan [ Images ] is superb. Kareena is beautiful and a natural actress. I loved her item number Fevicol Se in Dabbang."

Ask her to list her best five Hindi films and she names Mr India [ Images ], Sadma, Chalbaaz, Lamhe and English Vinglish.

Would she judge a reality show on television? "Not that I don't get any offers, but it hasn't worked out. It's very difficult for me to tell someone that his/her performance is not great, especially when they have put in so much hard work. I don't think I can do justice being a judge on the show."

So what kind of work is she expecting in the New Year? "I don't plan things, I didn't know that I would be doingEnglish Vinglish, it just happened. "If I get some exciting offers, I will definitely want to do more films. But this time it will not be after a gap of 15 years!" she says.

Bhardwaj gives creative twist to anti-smoking message

 

These days it's become mandatory for filmmakers to play a video depicting the hazards of smoking prior to the start of the film. In the upcoming film Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola featuring Imran Khan, Anushka Sharma and Pankaj Kapur, producer-director Vishal Bhardwaj has come up with a unique idea to make this public awareness video a bit more creative and interesting without diluting the impact.

It is learnt that Vishal, who was recently on a singing talent hunt show, was so moved by the performances of six of the contestants that he decided to make a song with them that would be used in the background while the statutory warning message against smoking is being displayed. This would help convey the relevant message in a far more entertaining way. 

 

Watch Promo: Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola

Salman's birthday shrouded in despondency

While Birthday Boy Salman Khan remained cheerful and ebullient all through the evening before his birthday on Thursday, his family and friends lost the spirit of celebration once the court summons was served to Salman hours before his birthday.

The party spirit dissipated thereafter. While Salman remained cheerful, his family did not feel like celebrating at all.

Says a source close to the Khan family, "In fact no one was finally invited. Whoever turned up did so on their own. It was just close family friends like Sajid Nadiadwala, David Dhawan and Rumi Jaffery who showed up to wish Salman. No invitations were sent out. How could they, when everyone knew Salman had to be on court on his birthday the next morning at 11 am?"

In fact Salman was against a birthday party, to begin with.

Says a source close to the Khan family, "Salman felt it wouldn't be appropriate to celebrate at a time when that poor gang rape victim in Delhi was battling for her life. Only close friends were going to be invited. Even that changed after the courts summons. The idea of hosting a party was dropped. So that the people who dropped in did so uninvited."

Angry about the courts summon, Rumi Jaffery who was at Salman's Galaxy Apartments residence on the night before the star's birthday, hit out at the sheer injustice of it. "We all respect the law. But look at the timing of the courts summon. Why something like this on his birthday? Couldn't it have been a day earlier or later? Everyone knows its Salman's birthday on December 27. Why ask him to attend court on a day when his fans would like to reach out to him, wish him, see him on television? Why take away from the joy of the special day?"

Rumi feels Salman's life and career are a casualty of jealousy. "I am a hundred percent certain it was Salman's rivals who provoked the courts summon on his birthday. We lost our excitement about his birthday. But he was fine. He kept everyone's spirits high. Strange, in country where there are so many serious crimes, a ten-year old hit-and-run case should evoke such enthusiasm. I feel it's not about just justice. It's also about getting someone as successful as Salman into a sticky situation. But Salman was unperturbed. He had more fun than all of us put together."

Another close friend of Salman reveals, "Salman isn't worried about the outcome of the case. His only concern is, his family members may end up saying something politically incorrect. He has told his family to not speak about the case."

Ranveer injured on sets of Gunday

 

In 2010 Ranveer Singh made a stunning debut with the film Band Baaja Baaraat, now with two films that have already released and one in the final stages of post production, he is busy shooting two projects Ram Leela and Gunday, back to back. However the stress and hectic schedules seem to have caught up with Ranveer who injured himself while shooting.

The incident occurred at the Chandivali Studios where Ranveer was shooting for a song. Apparently, Ranveer was performing his steps on an elevated structure, when he lost his balance and fell down, hurting his back and suffering injuries on his face. 

Confirming the accident, Ranveer's spokesperson says, "Ranveer who has just completed the first schedule of Gunday, injured himself slightly while shooting the song sequence whereby his cheek has a small gash and required a few stitches. However, Ranveer is perfectly fine and is continuing with the shoot schedules as per plan." 

Though the injury may not be too serious, Ranveer jokingly said "Now I am even more in character forGunday."

McLaren extend support for young driver Magnussen

McLaren extend support for young driver Magnussen

Written By Games Lover on Monday, February 20, 2012 | 11:56 PM

McLaren have confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will undertake additional challenges over the coming year, after he reached the next stage of the British team’s young driver programme. Magnussen will carry out work in McLaren’s simulator and will also be given the opportunity to drive the MP4-27 during this year’s young driver test.

“I’m really pleased by this new agreement with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,” said the 19 year-old. “The team has shown great faith in me so far and I feel that this is an important step in my career.

"F1 is a highly pressured, data-driven environment, and anyone who wants to get there and succeed within it has to master all the technical aspects of the discipline. This is a great opportunity and I look forward to working with the team and playing a part in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ future.”

Magnussen is the son of former McLaren test and race driver Jan Magnussen. Last year he finished runner-up in the British Formula Three championship, claiming eight pole positions and winning seven races. In 2012 he will combine his role at McLaren with a full-time drive in World Series by Renault.

“Racing is the core business of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,” concluded team principal Martin Whitmarsh. “By enabling talented drivers to fulfil their potential, our Driver Development Programme is a strategic investment in the future of that business and the sport as a whole.

"We’ve been delighted by Kevin’s progress, aptitude and work ethic thus far. The time was right for him to take the next step and we look forward to helping him gain the experience he requires.”

The young Danish driver joined the entry level of the team’s young driver programme back in 2012.