Saturday, May 29, 2010

Daybreakers


Film: Daybreakers
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, Claudia Karvan
Genre: Sci-Fi
Direction: Michael and Peter Spiereg
Duration: 1 hour 38 minutes
Critic's Rating: 3 stars


Story: It's 2019. A global epidemic has reduced humans to an endangered species and the world seems to be brimming over with vampires who are hunting them down for their precious blood. Who will win the war for plasma? Seems the vampires will, unless Ethan Hawke, a haematologist, finds a solution to the global crisis. He does, by developing a substitute for blood, but not before a bloody battle for survival.

Movie Review: Vampires again. Only this time, it ain't the handsome teen mutant Twilighters (Robert Pattinson and co.) who are quite welcome with their blood-lusting fangs. Here, the vampires are a bunch of nasty snarlers who brutally pounce on the handful of humans left in this grim-dim scenario and then indulge in some lip-smacking, blood-dripping drama, even as the endangered human race cries out for a saviour.

So, who's the messiah going to be this time round? Dr Ed Dalton (Ethan Hawke) is the man of the moment. Doesn't matter if he himself is a vampire, because he is a vegetarian blood-sucker, feasting only on animal blood. He develops synthetic blood which has magical powers. It allows humans to survive and vampires who feed on them, to perish. But the benevolent doctor cannot re-build the human race without the help of the crossbow-wielding Elvis (Willem Dafoe) who has his own gory vampire history.

This one's for those who still haven't had their fill of vampire lore which happens to be the current craze in Hollywood and those who like their vampires mostly mean and monster-like.

Prince of Persia: The sands of Time


Film: Prince of Persia: The sands of Time
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina
Genre: Adventure
Direction: Mike Newell
Duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
Critic's Rating: 3.5 stars


Story: Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a ragamuffin picked up from the streets by the Persian King Sharaman for his bravery and daring. He grows up as his son, along with his two foster brothers, Seso and Garsiv and life is a veritable bed of roses until he is sent by his Uncle (Ben Kingley) to plunder the beautiful city of Alamat, ruled by the feisty Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton). This is the beginning of a nefarious plot of treachery and intrigue where the conflict centres around a mystical dagger that has the power of unleashing time travel and world destruction. Who is desperate for the dagger? And who can save the world?

Movie Review: Here comes another end-of-the-world adventure, wrapped up in quintessential Hollywood style, which essentially translates into a larger-than-life desert safari where swords clash, sandstorms rise, intrigue simmers, magic brews and passion soars....Yup! Prince of Persia is a great getaway from the summer ennui and offers you a popcorn crunching two hours of fun and games.

And why not? For, the film is actually based on a video game that hit the market in 2003 and asks you not to tax your brains at all. All it demands is to sit back and serenade the over-the-top adventure which unfolds in ancient Persia where palace intrigue, shaman mystique and royal romance seemed to be the only thing that mattered. Add to this, a band of gypsy-like mercenaries, led by Alfred Molina and you have all the masala to keep the mercury rising this summer.
The high point of the film is its stellar ensemble cast headed by Ben Kingsley who lends gravitas to the entire proceedings as Nizam, the King's brother who may have lived all his life in the shadows but remains a dominant figure, nonetheless. Jake Gyllenhaal's Prince of Persia is quite an unusual act too, for the actor has never been as playful and acrobatic before. As for Gemma Arterton's Tamina? Now she's a delicious tease, an oriental bombshell who truly oversteps her Bond girl brief and grows from mere eye candy to a woman of substance. Tamina is the keeper of the magical dagger and is determined to stay in-step with the warrior prince, fighting to save the world as an equal partner, albeit with a yummy pout....Of course, you cannot ignore Alfred Molina as the scruffy Arab ostrich runner with the ragtag band of fighters and marksmen.

The review wouldn't be complete without a special mention for the arresting canvas of the film, created by some stupendous camera work by John Seale and the Armageddon's-here special effects by Trevor Woods. Total mazaa!

Brick Lane


Film: Brick Lane
Cast: Satish Kaushik, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Christopher Simpson
Genre: Drama
Direction: Susan Gavron
Duration: 1 hour 41 minutes
Critic's Rating: 4 stars


Story: Young Nazneen (Tannishtha Chatterjee) is sent off as a 17-year-old bride from her village in Bangladesh to Brick Lane in East London, after her wedding to the much elder, Chanu (Satish Kaushik). She settles down uncomplainingly to a dull and monotonous life of quiet domesticity with her likeable, yet boring husband and two daughters, until love and passion walk into her life against an incendiary post 9/11 backdrop.

Movie Review: Isn't this the biggest irony of the Indian film distribution system that a film with Indian artists, which has won over sundry fans -- and garnered rave reviews -- the world over, finds a low key release in India, almost after three years? And that too, only in a single city (Mumbai), despite the fact that the film deals with a purely sub-continental issue (the migrant experience) and showcases some towering histrionics by desi talent. Both Satish Kaushik and Tannishtha Chatterjee literally set the screen ablaze with their gentle, restrained and unforgettable portrayals of a mismatched Bangladeshi couple that gradually learn the meaning of love and togetherness, against a backdrop of personal and social turmoil.

Based on the riveting book by Monica Ali, the film is a fine celluloid adaptation: extremely picturesque, pithy, introspective and not at all verbose. Nazneen's journey begins as a young girl from the backwaters of Bangladesh as her carefree childhood games are suddenly interrupted with her mother's suicide. And then comes the seminal dialogue where the young Nazneen says: Nobody questioned mother's death because if we were allowed to ask questions, God would have made us boys. Hence, the virtue of silence and unquestioning acceptance, as Nazneen passes from girlhood to wifehood and motherhood, without ever experiencing the highs and lows of life. Of course, she has husband Chanu by her side: the good and kind Chanu who quotes Chaucer and Hume and dreams of fitting in as the perfect Brit. But is Chanu her dream man....Indeed, a difficult decision to make, specially when the young firebrand Karim (Christopher Simpson) walks into her lonely afternoons with his quest for the unspoit village girl.

Watch the film for the grandeur that both Satish Kaushik and Tannishtha Chatterjee invest in their role of the low key couple who try to cope with a changing world order. Satish Kaushik completely reinvents himself as an actor as Chanu, the quintessential nice guy, the eternal optimist and the unflinching liberal. And watch it for its humanist-feminist-non-fundamentalist message.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Kushti


Film: Kushti
Cast: Rajpal Yadav, Om Puri, Sharat Saxena, Khali
Genre: Drama
Direction: TK Rajeev Kumar
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes
Critic's Rating: 2 stars


Story : Post master Rajpal Yadav falls in love with the local wrestler's daughter but can only win her hand if he defeats the mighty Khali. He enters the tutelage of rival wrestler, Om Puri and hopes to win a losing battle. Will love conquer all the odds?

Movie Review: Rajpal Yadav is a lucky man. He manages to get a lot of film makers who are willing to weave films around him, which isn't what many comedians or character actors can dream of in Bollywood. Sometimes he manages to carry them off (Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon, Main Meri Patni aur Woh) and sometimes he slips. Here, he just manages to maintain some ground beneath his slippery feet. But only some.

Set in a sleepy village, the film follows the travails of the postmaster (Rajpal Yadav) as he tries to woo wrestler Sharat Saxena's daughter. Needless to say, he keeps getting into sticky situations but none is as bothersome as the climactic one where he must defeat the mighty Khali before he can claim the village belle's hand. He does try to learn a few tricks of the trade from Om Puri who runs his own akhada, but eventually, it's his me-just-a-joker act which creates a bigger bang than all his thigh thumping in the arena.

Needless to say, the high point of the film is Khali's presence in the film. But this one would be quite a disappointment for Khali fans, because the professional wrestler has a minuscule cameo that includes a terrible sequence where he is supposed to savour an item number too. Poor Khali, he simply can't handle this khal-bali and looks truly uncomfortable.

Kites


Film: Kites
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut
Genre: Romance
Direction: Anurag Basu
Duration: 2 hours
Critic's Rating: 2.5 stars


Story: Hrithik Roshan treads the crooked path in the by-lanes of Las Vegas. He has married umpteen girls for the coveted green card and Barbara Mori happens to be one of his abandoned wives. But sparks fly between the two when they meet again, this time under different -- and dangerous -- circumstances. The mercenary couple are all set to marry a rich brother-sister duo (Kangana and Nick Brown) for their money but they soon discover they are in love and flee the rich and powerful siblings who are hell bent on avenging their dishonour. Will love surmount all odds?

Movie Review: Where's the chemistry? Where's the story? And where's the twist in the tale? Kites could have been that cross-over film that Bollywood has been dreaming about since long. Sadly, it flounders even before it can take off and soar....

So what's holding it down? First and foremost, the film completely lacks a story (oops! it has three people credited for story: Anurag Basu, Akash Khurana, Robin Bhatt) and unfolds as an unabashed chase film. Nothing wrong with that, for we have had a number of road movies that have thrilled and chilled us. But for that, there has always been a twist in the tale to provide an edgy feel to the film. Kites, on the other hand, does have Hrithik and Barbara spending the second half of the film as fugitives on the run, but their journey is so predictable, it fills you with a yawn. If the first half is a non-happening prolonged romance that unfolds in stares, glances, looks followed by some more stares, glances and looks between our protagonists (Hrithik and Barbara) as they try and seek out covert moments of togetherness in the palatial house of their respective bethrotheds (Kangana and Nick), the second half is a hit and run case which sees the fugitives hoping to make out 'neath the shadow of the gun. Both Barbara and Hrithik decide to give up their get-rich-quick plans and opt for penniless love instead, even though they know they will be pursued till the end of the world by the ditched brother-sister duo.

But hey, do they make out? Not really, unless you call Barbara yakking relentlessly in Spanish as sexy or Hrithik stitching up her arm beneath the rocks as romantic. Which brings us to the chemistry bit....Quite unlike the pre-release claims, the Mexican-Indian mix isn't exactly red hot chilli pepper stuff. Their romance hardly sizzles, with Mori spending most of her time flashing toothy grins and Hrithik failing to match up to his hot-hot bonding with Aishwarya Rai in Dhoom 11. Even the waterfall sequence in the jungle ends up as ekdum thanda!

So what works in Kites? It's the look of the film which carries it forward. Director Anurag Basu may have dipped in the emotional quotient of the film but he does create a visual feel and texture that has an international feel to it. The cinematography by Ayananka Bose has a grand texture and creates compelling montages, specially in the rain-drenched climax sequence. Performance-wise, the lead actors are just adequate and do not exactly set the screen ablaze, neither with their emotions nor with their passion. One almost feels sorry for Kangana, a fine actor who is reduced to a speechless accessory that is left to do what Hrithik and Barbara do -- stare, glance, look as the woman scorned -- for the short span that she's on. The audio track by Rajesh Roshan doesn't linger too, because the film mostly has a loud, repetitive background score by Salim-Suleiman interspersed with maybe just one forgettable number.

Watch Kites for its kool looks. But don't expect the popcorn to remain crunchy for long.

Shrek Forever After


Film: Shrek Forever After
Cast: voice of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Eddie Murphy
Genre: Animation
Direction: Mike Mitchell
Duration: 1 hour 33 minutes
Critic's Rating: 3 stars


Story: Shrek is bored with domesticity. He hates changing diapers, celebrating his kids' birthdays and settling down to a happily-ever-after life with wife Fiona and his family of three little ogres. So, he decides to go back to his carefree ogre days and signs a contract, bartering away his present life for a picture perfect past, with the evil Rumplestiltskin. But he soon begins to miss his family and wants to get back to the present. Is there a way back....

Movie Review: Midlife crisis, Shrek (Mike Myers)? Yup. Specially when you are forced to rise and shine everyday with the cheery cackle of your brood; when you must burp and feed them and dabble with ogre shit relentlessly; when you must parrot `Ever After' each time wife Fiona (Cameron Diaz) mumbles `Happily' on the dinner table; when you can't snooze in your favourite chair because high-spirited friends, Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss (Antonio Banderas) want to spent some quality buddy time with you. And more importantly, when you are denied that one single pleasure of yours due to pressing house work: a relaxed mud bath, while the Carpenters blare their popular `Top of the World' number.

So what does our friendly neighbourhood ogre do to get back his roar and stop being a jolly green joke? He signs a contract with the wicked character from the Brothers Grimm, Rumplestiltskin, turns his back to his friends and family, yells on wife Fiona and returns to a time when he wasn't born. This being a time when Donkey was a slave to the witches, Puss was an overweight domestic cat and Fiona was leading a band of rebel ogres to free Far, Far Away land from the misrule of Rumplestiltskin. But it doesn't take long before the green ogre realises he has ended up with a raw deal. Since he hasn't actually been born, the day will end with his end too and he will never be able to return to his family unless he manages to snatch one true kiss with Fiona. Now that ain't an easy task because Fiona is in militant feminist form, too involved in insurgency to focus on romance. How does he convince her about the happily-ever-after that lies ahead....

The popular franchise that made a hero of an anti-hero still retains its quintessential charm, even though an element of deja vu has begun to set in. The voice-overs by Hollywood biggies, Myers, Diaz, Murphy and Banderas, is top class and the 3D immensely electrifying. More than the lead characters, it is Donkey and Puss who fill you with delight and end up as the more colourful characters. Of course Dreamworks' animation is as usual splendid and kaleidoscopic.

Go watch your favourite ogre live out the ugly-is-beautiful revisionist tale, once again. And make you feel good about it.

Rebecca Maeder















Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Emilie de Ravin



























Pierce Brosnan























From Kiss to Hiss: Mallika


Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat is enjoying the company of snakes. The actress, who plays a snake-woman in her forthcoming film 'Hisss', brought real snakes to unveil the film at the ongoing 62nd Cannes Film Festival here.

"All the Sssnakes have just entered the Majestic Hotel in Cannes! Hissstory is being made:) (sic!)," Mallika wrote on her Twitter page.

"Headed to the Vanity Fair event at hotel Du Cap... For 2morro's Hisss event, @NuclearMango is gonna live-stream me and the Sssnakes:) (sic!)," she had written in an earlier post on the micro-blogging website.

Directed by Hollywood's Jennifer Lynch, the film also stars Irrfan Khan and Divya Dutta.

Mallika is also promoting her other new film, 'Love, Barack', which will be screened at the film festival.

A romantic comedy directed by Doug McHenryset, it is set during Barack Obama's campaign for the US Presidency and the shooting of the film was completed in Los Angeles last month.

Mallika is having a gala time at Cannes as she has found a new friend in Hollywood actress Salma Hayek, with whom she had dinner.

"Hung out last nite with my new friend Salma Hayek. Adore her!!" Mallika tweeted.

Hrithik Roshan in Imtiaz Ali`s next


Every producer aims for a cast and director that will deliver a blockbuster. While there are no guarantees in this industry, producer Sajid Nadiadwala has managed to get two very bankable talents together. He has signed Imtiaz Ali and Hrithik Roshan for his next film, a combination that many producers have been trying to broker for the last couple of years.

The film is scheduled to go on the floors early next year. Our source said, “Sajid Nadiadwala is the biggest producer in Bollywood today. After Housefull, he will be making the Hindi remake of South superhit Kick starring Salman Khan. His mega venture with Hrithik and Imtiaz follows Kick.

Incidentally, Sajid had signed Imtiaz immediately after Jab We Met and they have been planning the film for four years. Now, Hrithik has given the go ahead and the film will be the most expensive Bollywood production. The budget will be over Rs 100 crore as it’s a genre that has never been attempted before. It is a drama-based film and has its emotional moments. It will start as soon as Imtiaz is done with his film Rockstar with Ranbir and in all likelihood, the film will go on the floors in January-February next year.”

Even the parties involved are very optimistic about the outcome. The source added, “Imtiaz wanted to work with Hrithik immediately after Jab We Met. However, he went on to make Love Aaj Kal and now finally he is making the film with him.”

When contacted, Hrithik Roshan confirmed the news. On the other hand, Sajid Nadiadwala said, “It is true that I am making the film with Imtiaz Ali but I can’t comment on the casting as of now.”

Will Abhishek be third time lucky with Mani Ratnam?


Abhishek Bachchan's last two solo hero films have flopped and he has not been seen on screen for a while. But, then again, he is doing director Mani Ratnam's "Raavan" and the combination has never failed so far. Not surprisingly then, all eyes are on " Raavan ".

"The combination of Mani Ratnam and Abhishek is unbeatable. People are really looking forward to seeing them once again. With such a star cast and Mani Ratnam as director, the film is bound to work," said trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Made at a budget of about Rs.45 crore, "Raavan", also starring Aishwarya Rai and Vikram, is scheduled for a June 18 release.

Ratnam has played an important role in shaping Abhishek's career -- the director's " Yuva " established him as an actor and their second venture together, " Guru ", won him critical and commercial success.

In the last two years Abhishek hasn't had any hits - both his solo hero movies " Drona " and " Delhi 6 " bombed. Industry insiders feel " Raavan " might bail out the actor in the way as " Yuva " did in 2004 when he was under the weather after a string of flops.

"Mani Ratnam and Abhishek Bachchan will create a bigger magic with 'Raavan' than 'Yuva' and 'Guru'. Mani is an expert on dark themes and Abhishek pulls off such roles very well. 'Raavan' will do spectacular work," film critic Omar Qureshi said.

Abhishek bowed into Bollywood in 2000 with J.P. Dutta's "Refugee" and it was followed by duds like "Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya" (2000), "Dhai Akshar Prem Ke" (2000), "Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai" (2002), "Shararat" (2002), "Haan...Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya" (2002) and "Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost" (2003). All these films saw Abhishek playing romantic roles.

But it was rough, uncouth and ruthless goon Lallan Singh in Ratnam's 2004 movie "Yuva" that broke the jinx for Abhishek. Despite playing a negative role, he not only wowed critics but also impressed the audience.

After that there was no looking back for Abhishek. In the same year he scorched the box office with another hit, "Dhoom". His winning streak continued in 2005, when the actor gave four hits - "Bunty Aur Babli", "Sarkar", "Dus" and "Bluffmaster" and he also did a cameo in the hit film "Salaam Namaste".

"Before 'Yuva', Abhishek didn't have an actor kind of image. After 'Yuva', people were like, 'Oh my god! This guy can act.' But Mani sir was convinced that Abhishek can really do it," said a source on condition of anonymity.

Even Abhishek admits the film was a turning point in his career.

"I got 'Yuva' at a time when I really needed it. It boosted my confidence as an actor. I've evolved with Mani," Abhishek had said in an earlier interview.

Ratnam not only gave Abhishek pathbreaking roles but also presented him in dark roles.

In 2006, Abhishek teamed up again with Ratnam for "Guru", which was loosely based on business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani's life. He landed the nomination for Filmfare best actor award for his performance in the film.

"Raavan" will once again see Abhishek as a villain and a lot of emphasis has been laid on his looks and body language. The film has lots of action scenes and stunts.

"It took 200 days to shoot the film. And it was not shot at one stretch. The film was simultaneously made in Hindi and Tamil. And then Mani sir fell ill. But Abhishek didn't do any work for two years because of 'Raavan'. Both Abhishek and Vikram kept their dates free for 'Raavan' because they knew the film is good," said the source.

Ratnam, who loves shooting on real locations, filmed "Raavan" at places like the Athirapally forests in Kerala, Ooty in Tamil Nadu, Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, and the Malshej Ghats in Maharashtra.

From diving from a 90-ft cliff into water to standing under a waterfall for two hours and braving snakes and leeches in Kerala's forests, Abhishek did it all for "Raavan".

"This is the most challenging film I have ever done in my life. I haven't done such a physically and emotionally challenging film in my life. And it's not about going to tough locations or tough scenes.

"The film drains you and you feel so good when you go home at night because you feel that you have done something. Getting a movie like 'Raavan' is so rare. You don't get such a role today," Abhishek has said.

With much hype surrounding the film, expectations are high and people are hoping that the Abhishek-Ratnam combo will strike bull's eye at the box office.

The Back-Up Plan


Film: The Back-Up Plan
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin
Genre: Romance
Direction: Alan Poul
Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
Critic's Rating: 3 stars

Story: Jennifer Lopez needs a change in her life. She gives up her high profile corporate job, opens a pet shop, finds a sperm donor, goes in for artificial insemination and is all ready for single motherhood, until she meets Alex O'Loughlin, the cheese farmer with loads of charisma. Has she got the order wrong by becoming pregnant first and finding the man of her dreams later? Tough dilemma!

Movie Review: Sweet, sentimental and harmless fun, this rom-com gently cruises along the usual path of candle-lit romance, bedroom encounters, lover's brawls, passionate re-unions and some humour too, with a support group of single mothers trying to have fun in no-man's land.

Jennifer Lopez thinks she's got her life all neatly planned out with her pet shop, her disabled pet (an adorable dog), her spunky nana and her decision to be a single mother who buys a sperm off the shelf simply because she believes there are no perfect men left. Little does she know that life ain't exactly a bundle of neat plans. All the order in her life goes for a toss when she meets the hunky cheese farmer who sells goat cheese at a neighbourhood farmer's market and proposes to set up shops that sell local food only. Dream man, yes. But would he be ready to play daddy too? Specially when he isn't too sure that he likes kids and the friendly neighbourhood dad describes fatherhood as mostly an awful experience interspersed with some incredible moments.

It may be nothing to rave about, yet, The Back-Up Plan is good while it lasts, with Jennifer Lopez managing to hold your attention with her attempt at motherhood.

Remember Me


Film: Remember Me
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper
Genre: Romance
Direction: Allen Coulter
Duration: 1 hour 53 minutes
Critic's Rating: 3.5 stars


Story: Robert Pattinson is a rebellious NYU student who's walked out on his rich daddy (Pierce Brosnan) after a family tragedy. He is able to connect only with his younger sister and his roomie and generally drifts through his daily routine, until he meets Emilie de Ravin, another grief-stricken girl who has her own ways with coping with personal loss. Romance blooms, albeit in a bitter sweet way....

Movie Review: Robert Pattinson fans, don't miss this one. The vampire truly comes of age and showcases a bite that doesn't necessarily spring from his fangs. No, this time, it's his tingling portrait of an angst-ridden young New Yorker, who prefers to slum it out rather than live with his rich, successful, yet insensitive dad (Pierce Brosnan) which creates an impact. Gone is Edward Cullen's mere beefcake appeal which is replaced by a moody, enigmatic charisma of a twenty-one year old who's still looking for meaning and motive to anchor his life.

And strangely, he shares a better chemistry here with co-brooder Emilie de Ravin than he does with his human girl friend (Kristen Stewart) in the Twilight series. What begins as a revenge relationship -- Pattinson befriends de Ravin to avenge her cop dad (Chris Cooper) -- gradually transmutes into something infinitely tender and gossamer-like. The duo discover each other slowly, through sundry strange encounters, in the dimly lit streets of New York and the crummy interiors of Pattinson's student apartment. It doesn't take them long to realise that grief and a troubled past isn't the only thing that binds them together. Gradually, they end up soothing out the rough edges in each others lives and rebuild broken bridges with estranged family. If Pattinson manages to re-connect with his abrasive lawyer dad, then de Ravin returns to her overbearing dad (Chris Cooper) who hasn't been able to forgive himself for having failed to protect his wife from a bunch of subway muggers. And then comes the climax!

Set against 9/11, Remember Me is an immensely watchable romance, even as it paints a touching picture of loss and redemption against a violence-scarred backdrop. Raise a toast for RPatz.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Cheryl's brother charged with robbery


‘Girls Aloud’ star Cheryl Cole's brother has been charged with robbery following a raid at a post office.

Andrew Tweedy, 30, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court in North Shields alongside Christopher Swindle, 23, and Christopher Finlinson, 22, reports telegraph.co.uk. Tweedy's girlfriend Emma Stanners, 29 - mother of their baby son - faces a charge of money laundering, Northumbria Police said.

Five other men who were held in connection with the raid have been released on police bail. They struck at the Hailsham Avenue post office at around 4 p.m. and escaped with the shop takings. Cole had said in an interview last year that she hoped fatherhood would help her elder brother change his ways.

"I haven't actually spoken to him for a while, but he's got a baby and I'm hoping that will be his turning point,'' she said.

My new fragrance is provocative: Simpson


Singer-actress Jessica Simpson says her new fragrance, Fancy Nights is "provocative".

"It is a deeper, richer scent - more provocative," contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.

"A fragrance can lead you deeper into a mood. Fancy Nights gives me the chance to express a more romantic side of my personality." The spicy scent includes warm notes of bergamot and Egyptian papyrus blended with Indonesian patchouli, Bulgarian red rose and night-blooming jasmine and Jessica believes it showcases a different side to her personality.

The 29-year-old's last fragrance, Fancy Love was inspired by love. "Jessica loves the feeling of being in love, she is a romantic girl. The fragrance was inspired by love. And she's inspired by love," said Vince Camuto, CEO and founder of the Camuto Group which holds the global license for Jessica's brands.

I was never fat: Khloe Kardashian


Reality TV star Khloe Kardashian says she never thought she was fat despite constant criticism.

"I'd always be in tight dresses. In my head I did not think I was ever fat. Other people did, but I didn't think I was - ever! Because of my family base, I always accepted my natural shape or what I thought it was. I appreciate it now and I want to help other people," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Kardashian as saying.

The 25-year-old socialite who recently lost 30 lbs admits she was never concerned about her figure as she was always taught to appreciate the assets she had.

Kutcher defends Cyrus's racy video


Actor Ashton Kutcher has come out in support of "Hanna Montana" star Miley Cyrus insisting critics shouldn't judge the teenager too harshly.

The 17-year-old actress hit headlines when footage from the wrap party of her movie "The Last Song" appeared online. The racy clip, filmed last year (09) when Cyrus was aged just 16, shows her grinding up against 44-year-old Hollywood producer Adam Shankman on the dancefloor, reports contactmusic.com.

In a series of twitter posts, Kutcher writes, "Ur (sic) comments on Miley are completely unwarranted. She's 17... Judgment is unbecoming. I think it's important to think about the context of the event she was at. It's not like she was at a club with some stranger."

Winehouse wants ex-hubby to join rehab


Pop singer Amy Winehouse wants her ex-husband to join a rehabilitation programme to get rid of his drug addiction.

"Amy caught Blake (Fielder-Civil) misbehaving and hit the roof. She’s furious he’s still taking drugs and getting off his face while she’s not around to keep an eye on him," dailystar.co.uk quoted a source as saying.

"Amy’s worked really hard to turn her life around, to get clean and away from drugs. So far she’s been successful and finally seems happy with her future.

"However, she feels there’s no point in her struggling to stay off drugs when her boyfriend is getting high. Blake taking drugs just reminds her of the old days, when she spent hours wasting her life," the source added.

Blake has been in and out of rehab for the past year and Amy thought that he had conquered his drug demons. However, he will now undergo another drug programme in a Sheffield rehab centre.
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