Film : A Complete Unknown Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Joe Tippett, Eriko Hatsune, Peter Gray Lewis, Peter GeretyDirector: James Mangold Rating: 3.5/5Runtime: 140 min James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” fluidly captures the relationship that evolves between art and fame and is fortified by sincere performances, simple story telling, and neat editing. The purposefully enigmatic Nobel prize winner with a six-decade career behind him, Bob Dylan, has always been a rebel without pause and this film, even though its about his formative years, encapsulates that quality in exemplary fashion. The lyrics are the heart and soul of Bob Dylan’s music and Mangold’s film makes it the highlight of Bob Dylan’s early years when he was finding his footing inspired by Woody Guthrie and with the legendary Pete Seeger’s unstinting support. The film begins in New York, early 1960s. A 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and his eager wish to meet up with his inspiration, the ailing Woody Guthrie. His revolutionary talent was eventually destined to change the course of American music. “A Complete Unknown” opens with a recording by Woody Guthrie, the young Bob Dylan’s (Timothée Chalamet) hero. Guthrie (Scoot McNairy), is in a hospital in Jersey, and he happens to be visited by the legendary Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) on the very day the 20-year-old Dylan stops by. Seeger convinces Dylan to sing for Guthrie. And the rest is history as you know it. Mangold plays to Dylan’s strengths by showcasing his sheer talents and songwriting brilliance.The film manages to play quite a few of Dylan’s songs. There’s not much dialogue and the music does the talking. Seeger, takes Dylan home after that chance encounter. He is also shown defending his freedom of speech in a courtroom. Two women play an important role in shaping Dylan’s career. Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) who he is shown living with for a period of time and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), who eventually becomes a folk superstar playing much more acceptable music than what Dylan wants to play. In order to show us Dylan’s impact on the world around him and influences thereof, Mangold displays news clips of world affairs to lend context to Dylan’s lyrics. We see news clips of the Cuban Missile Crisis while Dylan plays “Masters of War” in a club. The music is not just part of the soundtrack, Mangold makes it an integral part of his story telling effort. We see Dylan develop a friendship with Johnny Cash. As a rebel, Dylan refused to play some of his biggest hits on a tour with Baez. He also insisted on going electric at Newport in 1965. Mangold’s longtime cinematographer Phedon Papamichael captures the era in all its glory. Production designer François Audouy’s sets are layered with detail. Dylan’s 4th Street apartment, Baez’s room at the Chelsea Hotel, the studio at Columbia where Dylan recorded many of the songs, the dimly lit basement venues, the coffeehouses, record stores, student hangouts and the outdoor festival scenes look lived-in and real. Arianne Phillips’ costumes also promote authenticity. The script by Mangold and Jay Cocks’s does an excellent job painting Dylan as a poet of his generation, whose raw poetry found fodder in troubled times. Mangold expertly crafts the emergence of Bob Dylan from the Greenwich Village folk music scene of the early ’60s in the first half of a tumultuous decade. The period is represented impeccably, and the music performances give you a ‘live’ feel. The actors are all exceptional - especially Chalamet, who pours his heart into Dylan’s songs. His voice and performance have the raw unfinished quality that makes the experience seem real.
28 February,2025 07:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Miles Teller, Sigourney Weaver, Sope Dirisu, William Houston, Samantha Coughlan, Alessandro Garcia, Greta Hansen Director: Scott Derrickson Rating: 2.5/5Runtime: 127 min Scott Derrickson’s “The Gorge” is a typical actioner with a convoluted plot and a lot of sound and fury. It starts off promisingly and peters out in a gamey end play. Two highly trained operatives sent to guard opposite sides of a mysterious gorge get close and personal before they discover they were played for a fool. The evil that emerges from the gorge is less dangerous than the handlers who sent them out to die. Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) are elite snipers from opposing world powers who have been assigned to guard the titular location, a massive gorge in an undisclosed country. They are clueless as to what’s in store for them or why they in particular were chosen until they discover the hidden evil. We get to know about Levi’s PTSD and Drasa’s dying father but that’s not as important to the scheme of things as what comes after. Sigourney Weaver has a small role as Levi’s superior and Sope Dirisu gets to expound on the exposition - Dirisu is the doomed soldier who explains the assignment to Levi: Guard the gorge from what might come out of it. There are a surfeit of weapons and bombs rigged on the walls of the gorge. Levi is lucky enough that he has the gorgeous Drasa, guarding the gorge from across the chasm. They fall in love and then all hell breaks loose. Teller and Taylor-Joy don’t steam the screen but they manage enough likability that their romance seems plausible. The dialogue is pithy but the actors manage to overcome that handicap with their quirky charm. “The Gorge” really kicks into gear with crazy set pieces and remarkable creature design, with the accompanying score from Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor drumming up the stakes. The film’s limiting bag of thrills become more apparent when Levi accidentally falls into the gorge with Drasa rushing to rescue him. The two find a world beneath them that is a trap of mutated insects, noxious gases and skeletal monsters. Derrickson offers a handful of darkly ominous shots and jump scares, but niggardly attempts to build dread fail to have any impact. The film, a genre mash-up, takes too long to set-up and rushes its ending in a gamey unsatisfying finale. Dean’s script blends elements of horror, action, sci-fi, and romance in a sometimes muddled mixture that may not entirely displease.The first 40 odd minutes of the film is engaging enough, thereafter it gets too gamey to play out as a genuine action thriller.
28 February,2025 07:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasThe BrutalistCast: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de BankoléDirector: Brady CorbetRating: 3.5/5Runtime: 215 min. An ambitious post-war American epic, ‘The Brutalist’ with a 70mm format is a memorable immigrant experience. It’s a post-WWII horror. Adrien Brody is Laszlo Toth, a jewish architect who escaped the clutches of bloody Europe, and hopes to shape his dreams in a free America. ‘The Brutalist,’ much like the architectural style it's named after, is imposing, cold. The film, which chronicles the decades-spanning career of an ambitious architect, aims for epic grandeur. The opening sequence is in fact evocative of a hope born of ambition. We see Toth rush out of a crowd into sunlight and juxtaposed against that is an inverted Statue of liberty. Right from the start Brady Corbet is telling us where he intends to take this story to. But he is also smart enough to keep us guessing. Toth’s life is a journey of horrors: existential, professional, familial, intimate. He is striving to achieve something by losing sight of the fact that his very life is in peril. The film basically details the triumphs and tribulations of the man. The Brutalist is full of surprises. Interesting character arcs that you don’t expect. The characters reveal themselves in subtle, incremental ways. The film has a striking visual style, period details are recreated meticulously with a strong commitment to aesthetics. The film boasts of a complicated, multi-stranded plot, and it’s not an easy narrative to figure. The direction is grand, making this movie feel like an epic - even the interpersonal scenes are done well. The story tackles many serious topics in an artsy way, with building tension and edifying pathos. The movie displays the hardships of trying to live the ‘American Dream.’ The dialogue is profound; there’s symbolism in the sequences and the hard topics like addiction, trauma, and the immigrant experience the movie tackles, show us the negative side of living the ‘American Dream.’ Adrien Brody profoundly displays the trauma and addictions this character goes through, Felicity Jones gives a real feel to the hardships her character has to go through to come to America, Guy Pearce puts on a truly commanding performance, Joe Alwyn, Isaach de Bankolé , Alessandro Nivola and the rest of the cast give a good account of themselves. The background score aids in elevating the inherent drama. Cinematography is artistic but the editing could be better. The film clearly prioritizes visual style. It is a beautifully constructed testament to the fact that buildings, however impressive, fail to mask a hollow core. The film is brutal in length, at 215 min runtime. It’s really not possible to engage with a story for that long but this film manages to steer the course in such a way that even when there are boring consequential moments, the screenplay manages to spring a surprise. It’s a great, unusual story brought together by languorous filmmaking, profound writing, and an incredible performance from Adrien Brody.
28 February,2025 07:11 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasOscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead on February 26 in their home in the Santa Fe Summit community. According to The Guardian, in a statement to the Santa Fe New Mexican, County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said, “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday.” The Press Association confirmed that there is an “active investigation’’ into the deaths. Sheriff Mendoza said there was no immediate indication of foul play. He did not provide a cause of death or say when the couple might have died. Hackman, 95, had lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, since the 1980s and married Arakawa, 63, in 1991. Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the couple’s home to investigate the deaths of two elderly people and a dog. The report states that it was unclear whether the deputies were responding to a report of the deaths or if they were making a welfare check at the home. “I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone,” the sheriff added. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office added, “We do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths; however, [the] exact cause of death has not been determined at this time.” Colleagues remember Hackman American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola led tributes to Hackman and mourned “the loss of a great artiste.” “I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution,” Coppola shared. Gene Hackman (second from left) won Best Actor for his role in the 1971 film, The French Connection, produced by Philip D’Antoni (left); Jane Fonda and William Friedkin (right) with their awards. Pics/AFP Filmmaker Edgar Wright remembered Hackman as “the greatest,” while actor and writer George Takai called him “one of the true giants of the screen.” “Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.” Presenter Piers Morgan said on social media, “Gene Hackman was one of the all-time great actors and brilliant [at] everything he ever did, from French Connection and Unforgiven to Mississippi Burning, The Conversation, and Superman. We’ve lost a giant of the big screen.” In a post on X, BAFTA said it was “saddened” to hear of the death of the three-time BAFTA winner and noted his “illustrious” career. An illustrious career Despite a late start in his 30s, Hackman enjoyed a 40-year career in films, including performances in Superman (1978) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), before he retired in 2004. Hackman secured his first Oscar nomination for Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde (1967), and got his first leading role in 1970’s I Never Sang for My Father. Hackman during the filming of Target, in 1985 Among his other notable films were William Friedkin’s action thriller The French Connection (1971), which earned him his first Oscar for Best Actor, The Poseidon Adventure (1972), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Night Moves (1975), Scarecrow (1973) and Coppola’s Palme d’Or-winning conspiracy thriller The Conversation (1974). Hackman also won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 film, Unforgiven. His final film was the 2004 comedy, Welcome to Mooseport. In 2008, he confirmed his retirement. Apart from acting, Hackman also worked as an author, penning Wake of the Perdido Star, which was followed by four other books. Hackman also enjoyed painting, stunt flying, stock car racing, and deep-sea diving. Speaking to Empire magazine in 2009, Hackman said, “I try to take care of myself. I don’t have a lot of fears. I have the normal fear of passing away. You know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age. I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of. Other than that, I don’t have a lot of fears.” 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
28 February,2025 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe countdown to the Oscars has begun! The 97th Academy Award will take place on Sunday, March 3, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. In India, audiences can watch the prestigious ceremony live on Star Movies and JioHotstar from 5:30 am IST onwards. The awards show will also be available after the live broadcast on JioHotstar. The 97th Oscars will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning television host, writer, producer, and comedian Conan O'Brien. This will be O'Brien's first time hosting the Oscars. O'Brien, who has previously hosted the Emmys in 2002 and 2006, is expected to bring his signature wit and humour to the grand stage, making the event an unforgettable experience for film enthusiasts. Rapper and singer Queen Latifah will pay a special tribute to the legendary Quincy Jones at the 97th Academy Awards. Jones, a record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader, has received numerous accolades, including 28 Grammy Awards. Executive producer Raj Kapoor shared the news during a press conference. "One of the most exciting things that we've worked on this year is a musical performance that will tribute Quincy Jones," he said, adding that Queen Latifah will be "a part of the performance," reported Variety. The Oscars ceremony will also feature a 'Wicked' medley performed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, along with performances by Blackpink's Lisa, currently appearing in The White Lotus, Doja Cat, and Raye. The Academy Awards nominations were unveiled in January after voting had been extended twice because of the wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 people and catastrophic property damage. "Timothee Chalamet, who has proved his box office drawing power with "Dune" and "Wonka," was nominated for best actor for his chameleonic performance as Dylan in "A Complete Unknown." He will face off against "The Brutalist" star Adrien Brody, who became the youngest best actor winner in history at 29 for 2003's "The Pianist." Other best actor nominees include Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing"), Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave"), and Sebastian Stan ("The Apprentice").
27 February,2025 10:39 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIOscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were all found dead at their New Mexico home, authorities have confirmed. The office of Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed their deaths to Variety. There is no immediate indication of foul play, per authorities, though the Sheriff's office did not immediately provide a cause of death. "All I can say is that we're in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant," the sheriff told the Santa Fe New Mexican. The statement came before authorities had positively identified the pair, per the publication. "I want to assure the community and neighborhood that there's no immediate danger to anyone." One of the industry's most honoured performers, Hackman, 95, was a five-time Oscar nominee who starred in dozens of films. He received two Oscar wins, for 'The French Connection' and 'Unforgiven'. He had also won two BAFTA Awards and four Golden Globes. Hackman always had a surprise hit up his sleeve, as in films like "The French Connection II," "The Firm" and even "The Poseidon Adventure." Hackman delivered an impressive array of performances that have only grown in stature over time. His Harry Caul in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation" is every bit as strong and well delineated now, as when the film debuted in 1974. The same is true of his stoic promoter in the Michael Ritchie ski film "Downhill Racer." In 1990, around the time he and Arakawa made Santa Fe their home, Hackman underwent angioplasty due to congestive heart failure. He continued to work as a screen actor for 14 years, as per Variety. Hackman also penned three novels with undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan: "Wake of the Perdido Star" (1999), "Justice for None" (2004), and "Escape From Andersonville" (2008). His 2011 work, "Payback at Morning Peak," was a solo effort. He was married twice and had three children. His first marriage to Faye Maltese lasted 30 years from 1956 to 86. Hackman married Arakawa in 1991. Arakawa was a classical pianist.
27 February,2025 03:53 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Michelle Trachtenberg was found dead in her apartment in New York City. The actress was 39. Trachtenberg was found dead in her apartment by her mother at around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, a 51-story luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood, reports the New York post. The cause of her death remains unknown. Reportedly, she had undergone a live transplant. According to a report in Page Six, her death is not being treated as suspicious. Michelle Trachtenberg is most popularly known for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Michelle Trachtenberg passes away The NYPD confirmed Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive” by police and pronounced dead by EMS workers. They responded to the building after a 911 call reporting a woman experiencing cardiac arrest. “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss,” Trachtenberg’s representative, Gary Mantoosh, said in a statement. Blake Lively pays tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg Soon after her demise was made public, Blake Lively who worked with Trachtenberg in the sitcom Gossip Girl penned a tribute. Lively recalled meeting Trachtenberg for the first time and went on to describe her as a fierce, loyal and kind person. Sharing a picture from the sets of Gossip Girl, Lively wrote, "This was the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did she did 200 percent. She laughed to the fullest at someone's joke, she faced authority head-on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes. She was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself." "And she always had yummy caramel smelling lipgloss on because she didn't just want to sparkle on camera, she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lipgloss because she cared about the sweet details. She was a kind person, through and through. " "Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday. Hold those you love and have loved dear. The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire," she concluded. Chace Crawford remembers Michelle Trachtenberg "Michelle was one of a kind,” Crawford–who played Nate Archibald on the popular CW series–began his Instagram post, which showed the pair taking a selfie. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chace Crawford (@chacecrawford)
27 February,2025 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Shruti Haasan's International debut film 'The Eye' is set to have its India premiere at Wench Film Festival here. Directed by Daphne Schmon, the film will be the opening movie at the 5th Wench Film Festival set to take place from February 27 to March 2. The film festival is dedicated to horror, sci-fi, and fantasy films. As per the press note, 'The Eye' tells the haunting story of Diana (played by Shruti Haasan), who journeys to the remote island where her husband Felix (Mark Rowley) drowns... However, her grief soon turns to intrigue when she learns of the mysterious 'Evil Eye' ritual--an ancient practice that might bring Felix back but demands a dark and unsettling sacrifice. The film was shot on location in Athens and Corfu. Following its initial screening at the London Independent Film Festival, and at the Greek International Film Festival, 'The Eye' continues to generate excitement among global audiences. Speaking on the eve of the Indian premiere of her film, Shruti Haasan shared her excitement and said, "Psychological thrillers have always been a genre that fascinates me. To be part of a story that dives deep into human emotions, grief, and the supernatural is incredibly exciting. Besides the fact that the film has a riveting storyline and top-notch production quality, what makes this project even more special is that it was created under an all-women-led production house, which aligns with my passion for supporting women in the film industry. Furthermore, this film champions a sustainable way of filmmaking, something that the world desperately needs. If we want to continue telling our stories, we must be able to tell them in a manner that is conscious of our impact." Talking about The Eye, director Daphne Schmon said, "The Eye is both a love letter to Corfu, the island where my family is from and an exploration of the dark psychological impulses surrounding grief. The story demanded an actor who could embody its emotional depth and complexity, and Shruti Haasan was the perfect fit. Her ability to navigate Diana's grief, paranoia, and resilience with such authenticity is truly remarkable. It was only an artist of Shruti's calibre who could do justice to this role, and she has delivered a stellar performance that will leave a lasting impact." The film is produced by Fingerprint Content. 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
27 February,2025 08:17 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIMusician Drake has cancelled the remaining four sold-out shows on his Australia and New Zealand tour, the Anita Max Win Tour. The shows were postponed due to a scheduling conflict, Drake’s rep told The Hollywood Reporter. “We are actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows,” said the rep. “All tickets for the affected shows will remain valid for the new dates. Refunds will be available for those who prefer, but please note that as these shows are sold out, any refunded tickets will be released for sale.” The Canadian rapper had already completed shows in major cities like Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney. The four cancelled shows included ones in Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney. 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
27 February,2025 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe sequel to 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland, subtitled Surviving Michael Jackson, will be available to watch on YouTube in the US and Canada. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Little Dot Studios, an All3Media company, announced on February 26 that it has acquired the exclusive US and English Canadian rights to the sequel and will premiere it on Little Dot’s documentary channel. The hour-long follow-up, which is debuting in the UK on March 18, will catch up with Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who accused the King of Pop of sexually abusing them when they were minors. Jackson denied the allegations during his lifetime, and his estate continues to do so. According to its official synopsis, Leaving Neverland 2 captures Robson and Safechuck’s “ongoing legal battle, the resulting personal toll and the backlash they faced from Jackson’s global fanbase.” 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
27 February,2025 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesAs the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gears up for the Oscars 2025 ceremony, reports of the gift bags worth over 6 figures, prepared for its nominees have surfaced, revealing what’s inside them. From luxury cannabis products to home renovation, keeping the Los Angeles wildfires in mind, here’s what celebrities will receive even if they don’t win the coveted trophy. Inside the Oscars 2025 gift bag Distinctive Assets, an LA-based marketing firm is handing out the gift bags to nominees. Its founder Lash Fary explained that the goodies have been crafted in a way that can help LA wildfire victims and include brands coined by small businesses, women entrepreneurs, and companies that give back to the community. The nominees will receive 1 million USD worth of personalised disaster recovery support and home renovation project management that can be passed on to the fire victims. Besides that, the goodie bag consists of a 4-night luxury resort stay, a 5-night wellness retreat, a 5-star hotel stay, skincare, and hair care products, jewellery bar experience, body contouring procedures, chocolate-covered freeze-dried raspberries, luxury cannabis products, dog wear, and toss pillows. Lash said in a statement, “Whether they pamper themselves or share these bountiful gifts as a care package for a friend who may have recently lost their home, we give these gifts not based on the recipients’ need but out of a desire to brighten someone’s day and to acknowledge a job well done.” Oscars 2025 to honour LA After encountering the deadly wildfires, the Academy plans to pay special tribute to Los Angeles, a city known as the "city of dreams" and the heart of the film industry. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang announced, "We will honour Los Angeles as the city of dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience, as well as its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for over a century." The 2025 Academy Awards will be broadcast live by ABC on March 2, starting at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET. The ceremony will also be available for streaming on Hulu. It will also be streamed live in India by Star Movies, and Disney+ Hotstar starting at 4 am IST.
26 February,2025 11:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
