Will Smith has actively shut down the rumours which stated that he took part in Sean "Diddy" Combs "freak offs" gathering hosted by the rapper and music producer, reported The Hollywood Reporter. The 'Men In Black' actor, who recently traced back to his music roots, performed a concert in San Deigo on Friday when he asked his fans to stop associating him with Sean through memes. "The world we're in right now, it's really hard for y'all to like discern what's real and what's true, you know? And I've been seeing y'all memes and stuff. Some of that stuff is funny. Some of it's funny, but I haven't addressed any of this publicly, I just want to say this very clearly: I don't have anything to do with Puffy. So y'all can stop all those memes," said Will Smith as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. He explained he doesn't usually address such activities publicly but with such rumours circulating he was compelled to address it. He also asked his fans to stop believing the baseless rumours. Sean "Diddy" Combs has been charged with sex trafficking and racketeering a day after federal agents arrested him in Manhattan. PEOPLE reported citing sources, that the music mogul was taken into custody on Monday (local time) following a grand jury's indictment, though the specific charges were not clear. As per the indictment obtained by PEOPLE, prosecutors accuse Sean "Diddy" Combs of forcing women to take part in "highly orchestrated performances" that he called "freak-offs." These "freak-offs" allegedly involved male sex workers, and prosecutors claim that Combs arranged for women and sex workers to be flown to his location, the report stated. The indictment also alleges that Combs made sure the women participated by giving them drugs, using his power over their careers, threatening to cut off financial support, and using violence and intimidation. The prosecutors say that since 2009, Combs assaulted several women. One incident in 2016, at a hotel in Los Angeles, allegedly involved Combs "kicking, dragging, and throwing a vase" at a woman. According to the indictment, this was caught on camera, and prosecutors claim Combs tried to bribe a hotel staff member to keep quiet. The third bail of Sean "Diddy" Combs has been denied bail by the third judge recently. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 09:19 AM IST | Mumbai | ANILegendary actor Jim Carrey has clarified his remark on 'retirement', which he gave during the promotions of 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2', and said one can't be definite about these things, Deadline reported. He will be next seen in the third instalment of the film 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3'. Regarding his retirement, the actor said "You can't be definite about these things. Because as soon as a good idea comes your way, or a group of people you really enjoy working with, things tend to change." In 2022, when the Bruce Almighty star was promoting the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog, Carrey said he was retiring from acting. In a throwback interview with Access Hollywood, as reported by Deadline, the actor said, "I'm being fairly serious. It depends. If the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink, that says to me that it's going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road. But I'm taking a break." Earlier, Carrey also told Comicbook that he would be open to reprising his role from How the Grinch Stole Christmas and also welcomes the idea of making a sequel to The Mask. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens in US theaters on December 20. The third instalment of the action-adventure film has Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles facing a mysterious adversary known as Shadow the Hedgehog and are forced to form an unlikely alliance with villain Dr Robotnik. When asked about what he said in 2022 at the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 London premiere on December 10, Carrey responded, "That might have been hyperbole." Carrey also told ComicBook that he would be open to repeating his part from 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', as well as filming a sequel to 'The Mask.' Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released in theatres across the United States on December 20. The third episode of the action-adventure film pits Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles against a mystery enemy known as Shadow the Hedgehog, forcing them to establish an odd alliance with evil Dr. Robotnik. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 09:16 AM IST | Washington | ANIActor Chris Pratt expressed his deep appreciation for his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, as she celebrated her 35th birthday. Taking to Instagram on Friday, the 'Jurassic World' star shared a heartfelt tribute to his wife, acknowledging her role as a loving partner and dedicated mother. In his message, Pratt wrote, "Happy Birthday, Katherine! Thank you for all of the joy you've brought all of us through the years." He went on to highlight her efforts in caring for their family and managing their household with love and wisdom. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt) "To see the way you care for our family. To see the way you run the house. To see the way you communicate," he continued, adding, "Your wisdom and mindfulness are a blessing I thank God for every day. I'm so grateful to have married you." Pratt, who wed Schwarzenegger in 2019, added, "We all feel so well taken care of and loved. Through the ups and downs, I got you Chief. Love you." The couple, who have three children, daughters Eloise, nearly 3 years old, and Lyla, 4, along with their newborn son Ford, born in November, have built a life filled with love and family. Pratt also shares a son, Jack, 12, with his ex-wife, Anna Faris. Katherine's mother, Maria Shriver, also took to social media to wish her daughter a happy birthday. Shriver, 69, shared an emotional tribute, praising Katherine's character and warmth. "Her smile lights up every room she walks into. Her heart is big, wide, loving. She is an amazing daughter, an extraordinary sister, caring friend, devoted wife, and a deeply loving mama bear," Shriver wrote. The message continued, "Katherine has only brought joy into this world. I love her deeply, like her so much, and marvel at her every day. What a life she has created. What a beautiful soul she is." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) Shriver's heartfelt words highlight the bond between mother and daughter and the admiration she has for Katherine. This birthday celebration comes on the heels of a busy year for the Pratt-Schwarzenegger family. The couple, continue to grow in both their personal and professional lives. Back in June, Katherine shared her own loving birthday message to Chris on Instagram, calling him "my love" and expressing her excitement to celebrate him. Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger's relationship blossomed after they began dating in June 2018. Following their engagement announcement in January 2019, the couple exchanged vows on June 8th of the same year in a ceremony held in Montecito, California. Their family grew with the arrival of their first daughter in 2020 and welcomed their second daughter in May 2022. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 09:15 AM IST | Washington | ANIHollywood actress Amanda Seyfried is setting the record straight. The actress recently opened up on her clip in which she could be seen singing. The actress, 39, attended an event in Beverly Hills, California. During the event, the actress took a moment to clear the air about a recently surfaced video that features her singing the song 'Popular' from the musical 'Wicked' while wearing a silver princess dress, reports 'People' magazine. She specifically addressed rumors that it was an audition tape for the role of Glinda in the 2024 film. She told 'People', “I think it was during Covid-19. I was doing a Lancome shoot in Long Island City. Elizabeth Stewart (was) my stylist". She further mentioned, “I was not auditioning for 'Wicked' yet, but I knew it was like coming up So I was just f****** around really, and I was like, ‘This dress is so Glinda'. And Elizabeth was like, ‘Do it.’ And then she posted at some point". As per 'People', the actress noted that while she loves her stylist, “maybe it would be better if it hadn’t been posted”, because “it was truly just a fun, like, (behind-the-scenes) moment of my Lancome shoot”. However, the 'Les Miserables' actress admitted that even though the video was “in jest” she did, in fact, later audition for the role of Glinda in earnest, a part which eventually went to Ariana Grande. She shared, “I went hard for that, for sure. And it was a very long process. And everything happens the way it's meant to. It’s an extravaganza, which is what she (Grande) does really well. And (my kids) have been playing the soundtrack nonstop. And everything is as it's meant to be for sure". Seyfried then shared that she is currently preparing for her upcoming role in the thriller-mystery The Housemaid, which is based on the 2022 novel of the same name and will co-star Sydney Sweeney. The role, she revealed, required her to dye her hair blonder. "I was excited because I am pretty boring. I needed a change. So I was like, you know what? This is going to be the big movie where I do something different”, she said. She also noted that the new look “really does help me get into character”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 08:31 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSCast: Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba RohrwacherDirector: Pablo LarrainRating: 3.5/5Runtime: 124 min Chilean director Pablo Larrain completes his trilogy of films about celebrated women beginning with ‘Jackie’, ‘Spencer’ and now ‘Maria’ based on Greek opera legend Maria Callas. “Maria” is a tragedy that finds its subject with greater control over her own fate. But Larrain’s film is more about the acute loneliness of being Maria Callas, La divina - considered to be the greatest opera singer of her time. The film opens with Jolie as Callas singing “Ave Maria” from Verdi’s Otello. The voice we hear belongs to Callas but Jolie’s has been mixed in too. We see Callas steer through ups and downs during her final days. Larraín and screenwriter Steven Knight bring it all to life. Callas seeks the acceptance of her devoted staff, Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher) and Ferruccio (Pierfrancesco Favino), turns inwards and has imaginary conversations with self, is bitterly nostalgic about her younger days when she and her sister were forced to entertain German soldiers, fends off nosy fans and the hurtful press and also has a rocky romance with the Greek-Argentine tycoon Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer). Callas’ penchant for adulation and her inability to regain the glory of her singing voice scarred her soul. Knight’s screenplay reminds us of how talent can be torturous - especially when it doesn’t come up to scratch anymore. In this film the ailing and neurotic Maria Callas has an imaginary companion called Mandrax, named after the sedative she abuses. The narrative treats the singer’s whole life via a flashback-seasoned account of the last week before her death. Callas died in 1977 at the young age of 53 and it’s simply heart-rending to see Callas deteriorate and slip through our fingers against our will. Larrain’s narrative highlights Callas’ vulnerability and agonising loneliness and we as an audience feel compelled to want to protect her from herself just like her maid and butler try to do. Such is Jolie’s queenly performance that it draws you in with her ethereal presence as this once-in-a-generation singer grasps with the intense grief of losing her voice. Larraín cuts to black and white for the nostalgic reminiscing and contrasts that with those of her last week in gorgeous color. Production Designer Guy Hendrix Dyas produces some miraculous settings and backdrops. Massimo Cantini Parrini’s costumes are stunning. Ed Lachman’s glorious, high-contrast lensing lends depth to a narrative that appears rather restrictive in scope. Larraín inserts arias into his narrative to give the audience a taste of everything from Bellini to Puccini to Donizetti. ‘Maria’ is a fascinating piece of work but its also Larrain’s weakest. The film has amazing production design, gorgeous cinematography and is fortified by a charismatic singing performance by Anjolina Jolie but it doesn’t have anything special to convey either about Callas or the art form she made her own!
14 December,2024 04:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasVeteran filmmaker Wolfgang Becker, director of the hit 2003 German film "Good Bye, Lenin!", has passed away. He was 70. As per his family, Becker died following a serious illness, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Becker was born in Hemer in what was then West Germany and studied film in Berlin. His student movie, Butterflies, an adaptation of a short story by Ian McEwan, won the student Oscar. In 1994, Becker co-founded Berlin production company X Filme Creative Pool with his directing friends Tom Tykwer and Dani Levy and producer Stefan Arndt. His first feature for X Filme, Das Leben ist eine Baustelle (Life is all You Get) (1997), was his commercial breakout. It premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and won three awards. X Filme was a driving force in revitalizing the German cinema scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s with such features as Tykwer's Run Lola Run (1998) and Levy's Go for Zucker! (2004). The company's biggest hit was undoubtedly "Good Bye, Lenin!". The dramedy starred Katrin Sass as a devoted socialist with a weak heart who falls into a coma in October 1989, shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall. She sleeps through German reunification and when she awakes, her son (Bruhl) tries to keep the truth from her to prevent a fatal shock. He designs an elaborate plan, involving repacking new Western foods in old East German jars and getting a friend to tape fake news broadcasts, to convince his mother that nothing has changed. Becker is survived by his wife, Susanne, and their daughter, Rike. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 08:22 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIOscar Award winner Anne Hathway and actor-wrestler Dave Bautista are set to star in an untitled action-comedy film which will be written by 'The Adam Project' fame writer Jonathan Tropper, Deadline reported. The film is reportedly inspired by an actuarial FBI sting in which agents posed as a couple to infiltrate global crime enterprises. It unexpectedly turned into a staged wedding in New Jersey. It will be produced by AGBO principals Joe and Anthony Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, and Michael Disco. AGBO presented the package to Amazon MGM, its partner on the second season of Citadel and the upcoming film The Bluff. Hathaway and Bautista will also be producing the film under their own banners: Somewhere Pictures and Dogbone Entertainment. As per Deadline, the plot of the film will revolve around a mismatched partner scenario in which two undercover FBI agents with vastly different personalities are forced to pretend to go on a mission. Initially, they dislike each other but as the case progresses, they eventually grow to respect one another. Jonathan Topper, the author and screenwriter of the hit 'This Is Where I Leave You' and 'The Adam Project,' is the screenwriter of the film. Dave Bautista will also be seen along with Michael Buble, Jimmy Fallon, Daisy May Cooper and Tom Davies for the feature film 'Jack In Time For Christmas' It will be produced by Workerbee and Whitehall's Jackpot Productions. The project will launch exclusively on Prime Video worldwide in December, Variety reported. The show, part scripted comedy, part unscripted traveloge, will see Whitehall (whose recent big-screen credits include "Jungle Cruise" and "Clifford the Big Red Dog") find himself stranded in the US with just four days to make it back to the U.K. for Christmas. With time ticking away, he embarks on a journey involving planes, trains, huskies, and bobsleighs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 08:21 AM IST | Washington | ANIOne of the most popular comedy shows during the early 2000s, 'Malcolm In The Middle' is finally getting a revival on Disney+, Deadline reported. The launch is expected to come on the 25th anniversary of the show. The family comedy will return for a limited, four-episode run on Disney+ with original cast members Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek, and Bryan Cranston (also known for the epic Breaking Bad) on board to reprise their roles as Malcolm, and his parents Hal and Lois, respectively. 'Malcolm In the Middle' creator Linwood Boomer will be the writer of the new episodes. The director Ken Kwapis will direct all four episodes. 20th Television and New Regency, whose joint venture Regency Television (via Fox TV Studios and Regency Enterprises) was behind the original series, are producing for Disney Branded Entertainment. Muniz, Cranston, and Kaczmarek are anticipated to be joined by other cast members from the original Malcolm in the Middle, which follows teenage genius Malcolm (Munitz) as he navigates life with his colourful, often problematic family. The trio will be central to the new episodes, in which Malcolm (Munitz) and his daughter are drawn into the family's turmoil when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) request his presence at their 40th wedding anniversary party, reported Deadline. In the early 2000s, 'Malcolm in the Middle' was regarded as a single-camera comedy series which paved the way for sit-com shows like 'Arrested Development', 'The Office', '30 Rock' and 'Modern Family'. As per Deadline, Malcolm gave the network its largest premiere audience since 'The Simpsons', with some 23 million viewers tuning in for its January 2000 debut. The number went up to 26M in Week 2. The show's look and feel also was embraced by critics, with Malcolm winning back-to-back comedy writing and directing Emmy awards for its first two seasons, including for the pilot. Over its seven-season run, the series received a total of seven Emmys, a Peabody Award and a Grammy. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 08:21 AM IST | Washington | ANIMovie: HereticU/A: Horror, thrillerDirector: Scott Beck, Bryan WoodsCast: Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Hugh Grant, Topher Grace, Elle Young, Julie Lynn-Mortensen, Haylie Hansen, Elle McKinnonRating: 3/5Runtime: 111 minutes Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (writers of ‘A Quiet Place,’) are back writing and directing this dramatic horror tale that follows young Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) who are out knocking on doors. One of the doors that they knock on is that of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), a seemingly harmless old man eager to have a discourse on religion with the two young and naive missionaries. The two Sisters Barnes and Paxton, are hoping to convert Mr. Reed, but they quickly realise they have bitten off more than they can chew. He appears to know more about religion than they do and as the discussion stretches into the night with a storm raging outside and the sinister Mr. Reed holding them captive inside,the sisters find their faith tested and their lives at risk to a madman who has no limits. The setup in the first hour or so is pretty good. The discussion gets deeply intellectual about the nature of religion bringing up Mormonism, Judaism, Christianity and several other world religions. There’s plenty of see-sawing tension and scary thrills to be had too. Even when things escalate, and events go out of control, the nature of the narrative changes to that of traditional horror, and there are enough surprises coming at you. As the discussion shifts from religion to polygamy to fast food and comes back to rest on blueberry pie and the missing wife who seems to have excuses lined up for not being present, the Sisters realise their big mistake. They are entrapped and the Sisters begin to grasp how much danger they’re in. They seek to hide their panic, insist again on seeing the wife and hope to reason and work-their way out of this peril. “Heretic” moves from diabolical intelligent horror to serial killer thriller conventions for its plot and rising suspense. Beck and Woods create a tense environment, assisted by a supple pace, great cinematography and thought-provoking dialogue. But eventually the film falters as religion gives way to genre conventions and the ending becomes predictable. Mr. Reed’s motivations make little sense thereafter and the character devolves into someone who serves the plot. Hugh Grant does well to look harmless and then make it to threatening in the blink of an eye. Thatcher and East do exceptionally well as two young women with different starting points on religion, undergoing a crisis of faith and safety. Heretic is a horror thriller that gets you thinking and that’s a rare beast from this genre!
13 December,2024 08:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasFilm: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the RohirrimU/A: Anime, fantasy, adventure, actionDirector: Kenji KamiyamaRuntime: 134 minutesCast: Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Miranda OttoRating: 2.5/5 Kenji Kamiyama’s anime film is basically a prequel to Jackson’s trilogy. Set nearly 200 years before Bilbo Baggins touched the ring, this is the first major film to take place in Middle-earth in a decade, and is an anime based on appendices written by J. R. R. Tolkien with no major celebrity voice actors lending support. The War of the Rohirrim tells the story of Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Brian Cox), a legendary king of Rohan, and his family. Helm’s daughter, Hera (Gaia Wise), who is wilful, young and fearless refuses her childhood friend, Wulf’s (Luke Pasqualino) suit when he proposes to her. Helm himself has reservations regarding the match and ends up warring with Wulf’s father who eventually dies at his hands. Wulf forms an army to seek revenge thereafter. Hera is kidnapped and saved, Helm is trapped and mortally wounded and Rohan is being attacked from all sides. Wulf eventually forces Helm Hammerhand, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. The overall animation is not of a consistent quality. The 2D and 3D mixed textures don’t look seamless. The depth of field doesn’t feel right and there’s sloppiness when we see characters floating in the air while walking. The art style also feels at odds, the reduction in the action of characters and their movement, doesn’t look appealing. The graphics and visuals look floaty with little interaction between characters and environment. The story telling is not up to the mark either. The narrative fails to come across in an impactful, invigorating way.The voice acting is also not strong enough. There was plenty of action in the first half. The eagles aren’t utilized well. They don’t seem to have any major purpose in the progression of the story. There’s quite a bit of drama in the middle but there’s not enough to sustain the momentum going forward. The climax fails to arouse much interest either. The scale feels like a let down. The War of the Rohirrim, though it tells a grounded story with fantastical elements, influences from Japanese anime and hand-drawn animation, doesn’t have either the consistency or the gravitating pull to hold your attention throughout. There’s no singularly impressive screen image to take your breath away and the runtime feels way too long and tedious.
13 December,2024 07:53 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasAdam Sandler confirmed a major surprise for fans of his 1996 classic golf comedy 'Happy Gilmore'--Eminem will appear in a cameo role in the upcoming sequel, 'Happy Gilmore 2'. Sandler made the revelation during a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, where he teased other celebrity cameos and shared insights on the sequel's production, as per People magazine. When host Dan Patrick inquired about potential cameos, he couldn't resist spilling the beans about the legendary rapper's involvement. "Can I talk about Eminem having a cameo?" Patrick asked with a laugh. Sandler responded enthusiastically, "Okay, yes, yes you can." He added, "Eminem was cool, he came by, he was great," as per People magazine. Though Sandler didn't give away specifics about Eminem's role in the sequel, he did share his excitement about working with the rapper. "I've known Eminem for a long time, he's a great guy and he came in and was funny as hell," Sandler said, adding, "We just hung out a day with Eminem and he just shot and shot, and he was insane. He said a million things we can use and a million that we're glad we have him on tape," as per People magazine. The rapper, known for his role in '8 Mile' and his iconic hits like 'Lose Yourself,' adds a unique twist to the film, although Sandler declined to elaborate on how he convinced the rapper to take part in the comedy. "I can't tell you all that," Sandler said, keeping the details of the cameo under wraps for now. In addition to Eminem, 'Happy Gilmore 2' will also feature several big names. Christopher McDonald, who famously portrayed the villainous Shooter McGavin in the original film, is returning to reprise his role. Other notable cameos include NFL star Travis Kelce, TV personality Dan Patrick, and actress Margaret Qualley. Sandler also hinted that renowned golf legend Jack Nicklaus, 84, would make a special appearance in the sequel, as per People magazine. The highly anticipated sequel to 'Happy Gilmore' was confirmed by Netflix in May, two months after McDonald let slip the news during an interview. Filming has now concluded, with Sandler sharing that the film will likely premiere in July 2025. While Sandler expressed excitement, he also noted the pressure of creating a sequel nearly 30 years after the original. "We've got a lot of good stuff, and we just want to make sure that it all comes together," Sandler said, adding, "We're definitely nervous, but we feel some sort of confidence." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 December,2024 10:18 AM IST | Washington | ANIADVERTISEMENT
