tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91226632024-03-05T21:32:15.445-08:00The World is Yellowfrom movies to everything...Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-57150375732267630392012-12-04T12:33:00.001-08:002012-12-04T12:33:45.425-08:002012 national board of review predix<span style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">national board of review (NBR) announces their ten best films selection and winning performances tomorrow.</span><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">the NBR, NY and LA film critics selections are traditionally the more anticipated lists by Oscarwatchers outside of the real thing because their choices tend to shape the race more than the others. the globes are populist while the guilds just validate the general consensus and they announce much later in the season...</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">my nbr prediction...</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">10 best films:</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">1) argo - winner!</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">2) les miserables</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">3) lincoln</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">4) silver linings playbook</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">5) zero dark thirty</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">6) life of pi</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">7) the exotic marigold hotel</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">8) the master</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">9) moonrise kingdom</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">10) the dark knight rises</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">best director: ben affleck (argo)</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">best actor: daniel day-lewis (lincoln) </div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">best actress: jennifer lawrence (silver linings playbook)</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">best supporting actor: matthew mcconaughey (magic mike)</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><br></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; ">best supporting actress: maggie smith (the best exotic marigold hotel)</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-33287378189323819002012-11-27T20:45:00.002-08:002012-11-27T20:45:46.466-08:00My J. Lo Exclusive Interview<br />
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J.Lo up closer</h1>
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<span class="article-author-info"><a href="http://www.philstar.com/author/Raymond%20de%20Asis%20Lo/" style="color: #0071b3; text-decoration: none;">By Raymond de Asis Lo</a></span> <span class="article-entity-info">(The Philippine Star) </span>| <span class="article-date-info">Updated November 15, 2012 - 12:00am</span></div>
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MANILA, Philippines - To attempt to make a brief introduction of Jennifer Lopez is just an exercise in futility. The Latin superstar is so accomplished in many ways that no amount of words could measure her success or her influence in Hollywood. From humble beginnings to the top of the industry, her story is an inspiration to everyone. And now after more than two decades in the industry, the old Jenny from the block finally pays Manila a visit and The Philippine STAR was the first to see her.</div>
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This writer met with Jennifer a couple of months ago during the height of summer when the temperature was reaching nearly a hundred degrees and the humidity was nearly zero. The busy star had about 20 minutes break in her schedule that particular day and that was enough to do a quick but intimate interview. The location was in a secret and secured compound in the San Fernando Valley part of Los Angeles where she was doing scenes for a TV commercial. Jennifer’s current boyfriend, the hunky Casper Smart, accompanied her that day.</div>
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When we got to the location, Jennifer was in the middle of a take. We were brought to a corner in the house where we can set up for the interview. She did a quick pictorial and one more scene before she finally got her 20-minute break — which she so graciously gave to The STAR — thank you, Jennifer!</div>
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I prepared several questions (which have been previously screened) and when she finally joined us, I was in so much hurry that, as soon as she sat down and we exchanged hellos, I immediately started asking questions without realizing that the camera was not ready yet.</div>
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“Are we rolling?” she stopped me and called the attention of the camera-man. She let out a giggly laugh and it allowed me to rearticulate my first question. The interview lasted for about 10 minutes with no more pauses. Casper sat next to her on the couch but wasn’t visible on camera. He was quiet and visibly proud of his Jenny.</div>
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Here is my full interview.<img alt="" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img641/2425/ent8b400.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; height: 264px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; width: 400px;" /></div>
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After two decades of immense success in the business, what still keeps you going? What keeps Jennifer Lopez going?</div>
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“I just love what I do. I really do. I love all the opportunities I get and all the things that I get to do over and over whether it’s making music, making records, being in movies, creating things... I am just a creative person and I really love it.”</div>
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You were recently named the most influential celebrity in Hollywood. How do you feel about the title?</div>
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(Laughs before answering.) “You know I try not to think about those things too much. It’s really flattering when it happens but I don’t try to take it too seriously. I just try to keep my nose in my work and try to do the best that I can do.”</div>
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But did you have some self-awareness of this “influence”?</div>
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“I don’t know. I really don’t think about it too much. I work with great people and we work well together and so I don’t think about that. I just try to live my life the right way and, I think, with that, it kind of all works together.”</div>
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Perhaps the “influence” thing comes up because you were in American Idol for two years. It was so successful but then many fans are saddened because you are not going back. What will you take with you from your Idol experience?</div>
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“That was an amazing experience for me and I loved every single second of it. I am sad, too, but it’s one of those things when you know it’s time to move on. Being part of that show was a beauti- ful thing but sitting and judging is not what I do. I am a performer and I am an actress and I am an enter- tainer and at the end of the day, that’s what I need to get back to. I don’t know, maybe, I’ll go back and do another year at another time. You never know.”</div>
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Did you always know that you were going to do just two years of Idol?</div>
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“I was only gonna do one year and then I loved it so much I stayed for two years! And then everybody was like, ‘Oh, she’ll just be back for, I don’t know, three, four, five years...’ and when they offered me the third year, I just said, ‘You know what, I think it’s time for me to get back to work.”</div>
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Speaking of Idol, we have our girl there, Jes- sica Sanchez. What did you think of her?</div>
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“She was amazing. I saved her — me and the other judges, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson — (when) they voted her off... it was so crazy. I was just a fan of hers from the very beginning.”</div>
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I think she’s a fan of yours, too.</div>
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“She’s fantastic! I remember her from the early auditions — coming out with all her attitude and every- thing, she was a very, very special talent.”</div>
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So you’re going to Manila. What will fans expect from your show?</div>
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“The show? It has a lot of energy. You’re gonna get all the songs that you know me for and a couple of new ones, too. It’s very theatrical in a sense. It kind of tells a story and, I think, people have really enjoyed it throughout the States and it’s been going really well and I think, the fans in the Philippines — who tweet me all the time! I have a lot of Twitter-Filipino fans — it’s amazing!”</div>
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If they can elect you Filipino, you’re going to become one.</div>
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(Laughs at my attempt at humor before speaking.) “Yeah! They are so supportive and loving. They are like, ‘Come to Manila!’ And I am like, ‘I am coming!’ And, now, I can say I am coming.”</div>
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Speaking of your songs, how would you describe your music now?</div>
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“Right now, it’s very dance-oriented. I always have collaborated with rappers — it has been a part of my musical career. I don’t know! I just try to stay cur- rent with sound. I love current music. I am always, kind of, abreast of what’s happening on radio. I love all kinds — I love hip-hop and I love pop music and I love, you know, dance music. So, mine is always, kind of, a hybrid of all those things.”</div>
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At this point in your career, how would you measure it versus your goals when you were just starting? “Wow! I have to say, even though I had really big dreams, everything that’s happened is so far beyond anything that I could ever think. But, at the same time, I feel like I am not even halfway there. It’s kind of a weird thing — thinking about it from the beginning and thinking about it now and thinking about the future.”</div>
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Do you still worry about your career?</div>
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“Hmm... Worry? I think it’s just natural when you love something to worry about, you know. But I feel confident now; I am in a good place. I feel like I’ve done a lot and I feel like people know that I’m here to stay.”</div>
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To what do you attribute your success?</div>
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“Hard work.”</div>
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Does success come to hardworking people or do you need talent, too, or luck?</div>
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“Talent, hard work, luck. Lots of loving people around you; lots of support, you know. But, I think, from my par- ents, I got all of that stuff. I got all those blessings.” But looking back on your career, what are you most proud of?</div>
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“Career-wise?”</div>
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Or anything.</div>
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“I am most proud that I am a good mom, you know. For me, that’s the biggest job that I have.”</div>
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Is it more challenging than creating music?</div>
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“It is the hardest thing ever because you are always wor- rying that you are not doing enough; that you are not there enough — especially when you’re a working mom, which most moms are these days. You just always feel that guilt of having to work and not being there for them at every single moment but I try to remind myself that I work for them.”</div>
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If there’s one thing that you can “redo,” what would it be? “Redo? I don’t know. I don’t think that I would go back and redo anything because if it went bad why would I want to revisit?”</div>
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What’s the best thing and worst thing about being Jennifer Lopez, the superstar?</div>
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“The superstar? The best thing is I am doing what I love. The worst thing is that it comes with a lot of pressure; a lot of things, you know — fame and scrutiny and judgment, but that comes with the territory.”</div>
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How would you compare the old Jenny from the block to J.Lo today?</div>
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“Honestly, I still feel the same like I did when I was 16, which sounds crazy. I still get excited; I still get nervous. I still can’t believe it’s happening but I still feel like I belong there — right, that’s where I belong. You know what I mean? All these mixed feelings but it’s been a good ride.”</div>
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We ended the conversation with her taped invitation to her Manila fans to watch her concert. She had a little difficulty pronouncing “Manila” in the beginning but she was able to deliver “Mabuhay” and “Mahal ko kayo” in a single take!</div>
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Catch Jennifer on her Mall of Asia Arena concert on Nov. 26.</div>
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(J.Lo Dance Again World Tour at the Mall of Asia Arena is presented by Vista Land, Zenea and PLDT Fibr; in cooperation with Visa and made possible by McDon- ald’s; with GMA Channel 7, GMA News TV and DWLS-FM 97.1. Special thanks to FOX, StarWorld, Makati Shangri-La, Ivory Music & Video; Radio High 105.9 and MMI; media partners The Philippine STAR, Philstar.com, Manila Bulletin, Juice. ph, Inquirer.net, Pep.ph, 24/7, Metro Maga- zine, Star Studio. Official venue is Mall of Asia Arena, for the benefit of UN Women National Committee Philippines [United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women].</div>
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Ticket prices are: VIP P25,840; Patron P18,610; Patron Standing P15,510; Lower Box A P18,610; Lower Box B P15,510; Lower Box C P10,340; Upper Box P7,760; General Admission P2,590. Tickets are available in all SM Tickets outlets. For inquiries, call 470-2222 or visit www. SMTickets.com.)</div>
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Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-58020542996680017272012-11-01T00:52:00.002-07:002012-11-01T00:52:24.342-07:00My Jane Lynch Story<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Jane Lynch makes her big Disney debut</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Raymond+de+Asis+Lo" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated November 01, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=865540" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=865540" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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MANILA, Philippines - Three years ago, it would probably be difficult to introduce an actress to readers who was so talented yet was not being given the recognition and projects she truly deserved. But it all changed when a quirky and revolutionary TV series about a talented group of outcasts singing their way out of their miseries in life captured the heart of America and made famous stars out of its relatively unknown cast.<br />
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The show was called Glee. Today, no writer would have to labor introducing one of the biggest breakout stars of that show. Just mention the name Sue Sylvester and nearly everyone would know whom you are talking about.<br />
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This writer is referring, of course, to Jane Lynch, and no, she’s not mean in person. She is very pleasant and cordial — a complete opposite of her TV alter-ego.<br />
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The actress met with The STAR recently during the junket for Wreck-It Ralph, the newest animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures. Jane provides the voice for one of the leading characters in the movie and during our interview, she couldn’t hide her excitement at being cast in a Disney production. To her, being in a Disney movie is proof that she’s finally made it in the business.<br />
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“To be in a Disney movie is a pretty amazing thing!” she exclaimed. “We all grew up with them and I’ll be, maybe, in a shelf next to Jungle Book, Snow White, Cinderella… It’s a pretty amazing thing.”<br />
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It is amazing, indeed, for someone whose long road to success would test the resolve of wannabe actors dreaming of Hollywood stardom but are only willing to sacrifice a couple of months for their dreams. Jane was different. She took her time and waited for the perfect opportunity — and her recent rise in Hollywood is a result of years of hard work, patience and determination.<br />
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“I was a ‘jobber’ actor, which is quite a noble thing to be,” she recalled. “I took whatever anybody gave me. I was like, for a while there, a scavenger.<br />
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“I think of the time when I was in my mid-30s. I had a pretty nice career. I did a lot of voiceovers — that was what I did for a long time — and a guest spot on TV here and there and when I couldn’t get a guest spot on TV, I would create my own stuff so I kind of contented myself with that.”<br />
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But she always wondered if she could still have a bigger career. “I always thought, ‘I wish I could make it big. But this is good, I am making a nice living.’ But to get the (success) that I feel I’ve been handed is a preposterous fantasy come true.”<br />
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That fantasy has also produced an Emmy trophy for Best Supporting Actress, among many other industry accolades.<br />
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And now, at age 52, comes her big Disney debut.<br />
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In Wreck-It Ralph, Jane provides the voice for Sergeant Calhoun, a tough combat leader whose encounter with the titular Ralph sends her to an adventure far beyond her imagination.<br />
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Wreck-it Ralph is an inventive and fun movie set in the world of arcade games. It tells the story of a bad guy named Ralph whose role in one of the games was to destroy things until the good guy named Fix-It Felix Jr. comes along to undo all that Ralph has done. After three decades of doing the same stuff, Ralph grows tired of being the bad guy and decides to become the good guy this time. Thus, he goes to an exciting adventure across the arcade universe in search of the proof that he, too, can become a hero.<br />
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Jane described working on the movie as the “cruisiest (American slang for leisurely) job in the world.”<br />
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“The genius, of course, takes place with everything that happens around you — the animation, the designing and everything,” she added. “Not to belittle what we add to the character, which is really important, but the job itself is just a joy. You don’t have to show up with make-up. You don’t have to put on nice clothes.”<br />
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But what surprised her most was when the director told her that her character would essentially look and sound a lot like her. “During the first session, I was a little nervous, I thought, ‘Does he want me to do a different voice? Does he want me to do my voice? Does he want to me to do my thing? It turns out the reason I was there was he wanted me to do my thing! It was a big relief. It was a lot of fun!”<br />
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Now that she’s successful and famous, how is she coping with the perks and drawbacks of being a celebrity?<br />
“It’s fun,” she replied after a brief laughter. “For me, it’s not a bad gig. If they (referring to the paparazzi) want one more picture of me coming out of the coffee shop and that means something to somebody, that’s fine with me.”<br />
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Did she actually wish to be famous?<br />
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“I always wanted, specially when I was younger, to have the spotlight and have people want me and want a piece of me,” she admitted. “That was definitely a dream but as you mature, it does become more about the work than about what people think about me. It’s nice but sometimes it’s a little pain in the ass. But for the most part, it’s fine.”<br />
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The movie also features the stellar voices of Oscar-nominated actor John C. Reilly (as the titular Ralph), comedian Jack McBrayer (as the good guy Fix-It Felix Jr.) and Emmy-winning comic Sarah Silverman, who voices Ralph’s foil in the movie, the bratty game glitch, Vanellope von Schweetz.<br />
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Wreck-It Ralph opens in theaters today. </div>
Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-76721371198313583912012-10-21T00:00:00.000-07:002012-10-21T00:00:03.635-07:00My Coverage of ARGO<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Goodies... and more!... from Ben Affleck</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated October 18, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=860651" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=860651" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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MANILA, Philippines - It is not uncommon for journalists to receive goodies and movie souvenirs during movie junkets but for an Oscar-winning actor to personally hand out bars of chocolates at the end of every roundtable is a surprisingly welcome gesture.<br />
<br />
That is what Ben Affleck did last week at the junket for the film Argo, a much admired dramatization of a declassified CIA mission to rescue staff members of the US embassy in Iran who are in danger of being executed during the student-led uprising in the early ’80s. Argo marks the actor’s third directorial feature — and if critics can have their way, this is the movie that will finally net him an Oscar directing nomination that many believe he should have already received with either Gone Baby Gone or The Town.<br />
<br />
The sweets that Ben presented to the journalists were produced by the people of Congo with the assistance of the advocacy organization he founded called Eastern Congo Initiative or ECI. The samples are the results of the organization’s goal in building and creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo.<br />
<br />
According to the organization’s website, the actor started the group in 2009 as a US-based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo. The group envisions a vibrant eastern Congo that’s teeming with abundant opportunities for economic and social development and where a robust civil society can flourish.<br />
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“Eastern Congo is one of the worst places to live in the world. In some parts of the country, two out of three women are raped; one in five children dies before the age of five. The country is virtually not functioning so there’s a lot of predators,” Ben explained.<br />
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The actor added that the chocolates were produced by cocoa farmers with the help of a Congolese group that receives funding from ECI.<br />
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“You can eat chocolate and make the world a better place,” he pitched before thanking the journalists in advance for including his organizations work in the stories we publish about Argo.<br />
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You’re welcome, Ben.<br />
<br />
Now on to Argo.<br />
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Mr. Affleck will be happy to know that this writer found his movie simply amazing. This early, this writer is predicting that this Warner Bros. movie release is going to be the movie to beat at next year’s Oscars. The filmmaking is topnotch. The ensemble cast delivers excellent performances. And the plot is so relevant to today’s tensions in the Middle East that one could accuse the actor of orchestrating the attack on the US embassy in Libya a couple of weeks ago just to generate publicity for his movie.<br />
<br />
Ben skillfully tackled the sensitive and explosive subject without going overtly political and without falling into the tempting trap of telling a history lesson to the audience. What he did was one spectacular movie that bears the hallmark of a classic Hollywood masterpiece. Argo is funny and tense, thrilling and wild, wacky and tender. If this writer can count how many times I applauded at the screening, I will gladly do but I did not attempt it because I was totally absorbed by the movie.<br />
<br />
At the junket, Ben wore a plaid shirt and blue jeans. He was proudly wearing his wedding band on his finger. The 40-year-old actor is married to actress Jennifer Garner and the couple has been blessed with three children. If you are the type who sits through the entire end credits of a movie, you will notice that Ben has dedicated Argo to his wife and children.<br />
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He was particularly happy during the junket and was smiling a lot but avoided questions about his personal life.<br />
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But he talked enthusiastically about Argo.<br />
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He said he approached the movie “with a very strict discipline about realism: Not allowing anything to be present (in the movie) from the performances to set decorations to anything else that you cannot justify.”<br />
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As an actor-slash-director, Ben revealed a particular quirk that annoys most of his actors: He recites the lines along with the actors during every take. “I have a very bad habit of doing that,” he said. “It’s my weakness. I do sometimes get so intent on watching the other performances — seeing that they do what I want them to do — that while they are acting, I move my mouth along with what they are saying. I do it mostly when I am off-camera when I am reading with them and I am also trying to pay attention to them and, so, yeah, I move my mouth with their lines.”<br />
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This particular habit mirrors a scene in Argo where one character was instructing another how to properly pronounce “Toronto” without revealing that one is not a true Canadian. One is not supposed to pronounce the second “O,” thus you say: “Tron-to” instead of “To-ron-to.”<br />
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If there’s one thing that Ben would like to get very clear about is that politics as portrayed in the movie is just one aspect in the movie.<br />
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“One of the reasons why this story is an amazing story is because a guy chooses his integrity over what he’s been told he’s supposed to do and that’s a trait that naturally people really value,” he said.<br />
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“It’s a movie that I hate to see politicized. I don’t want it to be exploited and held up to suit up anyone else’s political agenda whether that’s the election here in the United States or internationally where there are a lot of people with a lot of strong feelings about what should happen with Iran.”<br />
<br />
“It is about politics. It is about international relations… If I was making a political movie, I would say it.”<br />
<br />
“I have never been shy about being political all my life but I came across this movie and what’s interesting about it isn’t the politics in the sense that politics advocates a certain position, it directs you. That’s not what I want.”<br />
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Another pet peeve for the actor is when journalists ask him if he thinks he is a better director than an actor. One journalist did ask the question and Ben’s reply was quick and memorable: “No. I don’t think I am a better director than an actor or a better actor than a director or a better writer than an actor or a better writer than a director.”<br />
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“I just try to make movies and, to me, these things are all, kind of, co-mingled… They are like the Olympic circles, they all, sort of, overlap although you don’t have to sprint.”<br />
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And those wondering if he shouts “Action!” when he is the one on-camera, the answer is no, he does not.<br />
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Argo is now showing in theaters now.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>(With reports from Anna Pavlova)</b></div>
Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-62064387395586306842012-09-27T00:18:00.001-07:002012-09-27T00:18:12.578-07:00My Coverage of Hotel Transylvania<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">'No hidden message in my movie'</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Raymond+de+Asis+Lo" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated September 27, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=853317" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=853317" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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MANILA, Philippines - There is an early Halloween treat that awaits movie fans when they troop to theaters tomorrow, Sept. 28, because Sony Pictures will roll out the delightful and entertaining family movie Hotel Transylvania, the animated movie that took six years to make and five directorial changes from the time the idea was hatched.<br />
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Hotel Transylvania is one of the biggest surprises of the year. It’s one of the very few animated movies that this writer has seen and thoroughly enjoyed. The seemingly simple story of Count Dracula raising a teenage daughter in the modern times is presented through an intelligent union of splendid animation and traditional storytelling combined with a social subtext that will bring such welcome delight to every discerning movie buff.<br />
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This writer will not dwell on that particular subtext but those who will read into it will undoubtedly be moved and may just find the movie one of the best this year. Yes, I am that taken!<br />
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The fun and energy that the movie generates was something that surprises even its director, Genndy Tartakovsky, the Russian-born director who makes his full-length feature directorial debut after two decades of working on TV and several short films. The multi-awarded director was also the final director who successfully spearheaded the production and delivered a finished movie.<br />
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Genndy met with The STAR last Sunday after the screening of the movie. We had a 20-minute one-on-one interview that had an awkward start when this writer greeted the director with an overenthusiastic praise for the movie. He blushed and shyly laughed to my unusual greeting.<br />
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“I had no idea,” he responded when I finally shut up and asked him if he expected to make such a delightful movie. “You’re so close when you are doing it. We had a couple of screenings that went very well but at the end of the day you (still) don’t know.” He added that he was only aiming for the energy of the animation and the visuals to overpower any shortcoming in the narrative. “The whole idea of this movie is to do this broad comedy that you really just get a few laughs, enjoy yourself — there’s a good emotion at the core and it’s not heavy-handed.”<br />
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Hotel Transylvania had a tortuous run from the time the initial story was developed in 2006 to the time Genndy was handed reins of the movie two years ago which was also the same time comedy superstar Adam Sandler took an interest in the project and eventually became the voice of Dracula and one of the three executive producers of the movie.<br />
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Hotel Transylvania begins with Dracula running deep into the forest to hide from humans who want to kill him and his kind. He builds a theme park in the middle of the enchanted forest where he can raise his daughter safely away from humans. The park also serves as sanctuary for his fellow monsters as they run away from human persecution. The tranquility and peace of the park is threatened when a young adventurer discovers the secret passageway and enters the hotel by accident.<br />
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It’s fun to watch how monsters scamper away from a human being. The role reversal is one of the many tangible gems in the movie including that curious subtext that may not be readily noticed by the general public.<br />
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“Part of the idea was that the monsters think of humans the way they did a hundred years ago — they’re persecuted. They hate them! But then if you think about the way the modern society looks at monsters now, they love them!”<br />
<br />
“We are so understanding for the most part and we are a lot more understanding now as a modern culture than we ever have been because we’ve had so many bad periods as humans that, now, for the most part, people are a lot more understanding, to a degree.”<br />
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But the director dismisses the idea that the movie has a message hidden within the story. “It’s at the most general sense,” he replied when asked to address this writer’s curiosity.<br />
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Hotel Transylvania boasts an array of monsters the world has ever known. From the legendary and infamous to the obscure and unseen, one may never be able to see so many monsters assemble in one movie. Even the Invisible Man makes an appearance! Did you get the irony there? I even teased the director if it was difficult to animate the Invisible Man and he laughed.<br />
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“It’s funny because we had to make sure that his glasses were clear,” he said. “It was actually very difficult because the movie is very busy and there’s a lot of characters and so sometimes we go, ‘Wait, wait, where’s the Invisible Man?’”<br />
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Among all the monsters in the movie, the director spent the most amount of time on his star, Count Dracula.<br />
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“The most challenging was Dracula,” he shared. “I had very high goals for him. I wanted him to become the star. I wanted him to stand out from everybody else in the movie. So the way he moved, the way his cape worked, the very specific type of posing that we gave him was difficult. It was difficult to control and it was difficult to make sure that he stood out from everybody else.”<br />
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The movie’s version of Dracula is an original idea by the director. He did not reference any versions of Dracula from old literature or old movies but he revealed that he modeled the look from old classic movie actors most notably Rudolph Valentino — and Adam gave it life with a wonderful voice performance!<br />
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In addition to Adam, the movie also features Disney teen sensation Selena Gomez, who provides the voice of Mavis, the teenaged daughter of Dracula who struggles with her life as an outcast and her growing feelings for a human being.<br />
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Other stars providing voices include Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Andy Samberg, Fran Drescher, Molly Shannon and Cee Lo Green.<br />
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When this writer watched the movie, I brought along a friend and her six-year-old daughter who was as loud as me while watching the movie. If a six-year-old and a 36-year-old can enjoy a movie together, I do not see how anyone can’t.</div>
Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-41704007514278959072012-09-22T11:17:00.001-07:002012-09-22T11:17:31.552-07:00My story from my visit to The Voice<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">An interesting visit on The Voice</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Raymond+de+Asis+Lo" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated September 23, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=851814" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=851814" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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MANILA, Philippines - Ever wonder what’s it like on the set of The Voice, the hit singing competition that started airing its third season on AXN this month? Well, this writer visited the set recently and I have the exclusive story for you.<br />
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A month ago, this writer received an e-mail invitation to visit the set of the popular show as it cuts the contestant field to the final set of 20 competitors before it starts airing live and allow the viewers to vote and select the eventual winner.<br />
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On this particular taping day — it was a Sunday, of all days! — I was instructed to be inside the Universal Studios back lot before 8 a.m. Yes, that early! This writer is not really a model for punctuality but, yes, there I was, a good quarter before 8, patiently waiting for the guide to show me where to park.<br />
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By the time, I was able to park, a long line of fans was already being screened for cell phones and cameras. I learned that some fans queued as early as 6 that morning and if they had any idea what awaited them that day, I would guess, they’d have had a hearty breakfast before showing up in line.<br />
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While the fans were loudly chattering, I made my way to the front, checked in, and signed the requisite embargo agreement. An embargo agreement basically prohibits anyone to disclose or discuss the results of that day’s taping. The show being taped that day won’t air until early November and it will show the semi-finalists for Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green’s respective teams. And, of course, I will not honor that embargo, and in the next paragraph, I will list the Top 5 finalists from both coaches who advanced to the Live Rounds.<br />
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I am only kidding, of course.<br />
<br />
So, I was there at 8 but we didn’t get to go inside the massive set inside Stage 12 for another 30 minutes. While waiting, rock superstar Adam Levine of Maroon 5, and one of the four superstar coaches on the show, drove by us and only a bored few recognized him. The superstar looked his usual just-woke-up look and was wearing that torn white tee shirt which is either really worn-out or was artfully designed to look that way. A quick Google check did not provide me any answer.<br />
<br />
By 8:30 a.m., this writer was showed to a reserved seat in the audience section just behind the show’s famous revolving chair occupied by fourth celebrity coach and country superstar Blake Shelton.<br />
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The atmosphere inside the studio was surprisingly a little subdued. I was expecting a loud and rowdy bunch but perhaps the early morning hour had many in the audience still half-asleep. The upbeat club music playing loudly did not help either as stagehands tried to finish clearing the ring-like stage.<br />
<br />
As soon as the stage was ready, the director welcomed everyone to the show and reiterated again the importance of the Non Disclosure Agreement that everyone signed earlier and he also enumerated the severity of the punishment for those found breaking the embargo.<br />
<br />
The threat worked! If you ask me now who survived at the end of the day, I will just be shaking my head because I have completely wiped the result off my mind. But, thanks to my notes, I know that those who advanced were very, very good! Their voices are indeed incredible when you hear them sing live.<br />
<br />
By 9, Carson Daly, the show’s host started doing the taped introduction. He was greeting everyone “Good evening” as the show will air in primetime. He did several versions of his greeting and disappeared for a few minutes as one audience handler coached us when and how to applaud during a contestant’s performance or whether we should give a standing ovation or not. Insider tip: Those rousing audience receptions you see on TV are partially staged but there are quite a number of contestants who really do earn their ovations. Some would receive extended applause from the crowd, which, of course, will be shortened on TV.<br />
<br />
The audience was particularly generous with their applause this particular day because half of the contestants will be eliminated by the end of the day.<br />
<br />
This season, the show will introduce the Knockout Round. Each team will have 10 members who have previously survived the Battle Round. Each contestant will choose his or her own song to perform and will face off with another contestant from the same team. The team coach will select the winner of each round. When the episode ends, only five team members survive and they will now compete for viewer votes during the next round of competition, the Live Round.<br />
<br />
Sometime after 9, the coaches were finally introduced. Adam was carrying a coffee cup with him and he was still wearing the white tee shirt I saw him wearing earlier. Cee Lo wore a hospital-white get-up and was the brunt of off-the-air jokes from Adam.<br />
<br />
Christina was wearing a tight-fitting shiny dress and was carrying the foldable fan that fans of the show must now recognize as her trademark. Blake wore his usual shirt and jeans and boots get-up.<br />
<br />
All four superstars have their own share of adoring fans in the audience but it was the Maroon 5 frontman who elicited the wildest response. One guy even screamed Adam’s name to everyone’s amusement. “It’s usually the girls who shout ‘Adam,’” Adam responded.<br />
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The contestants from Cee Lo’s team took to the stage first followed by Christina’s team. Watching the contestants perform live, I couldn’t help but wonder how difficult it must be for the coaches to let go half of their talents after selecting them in the Blind Audition Round and the Battle Round. On that day, I witnessed how the coaches really offer condolences to the losing contestants off-camera. Hugs, plenty of hugs are exchanged and pieces of advice are offered.<br />
<br />
During the breaks, the coaches will have their make-up retouched. Adam would be seen munching on pizza and some sushi while Christina had her son join her at some point. During one particular break, the four coaches had their attention focused on a picture in Christina’s phone. It was a delight watching them interact without any cares in the world. They were like normal people on a break at work — celebrities or not, their off-camera interaction is no different from what this writer normally witnesses on any given day.<br />
<br />
Another interesting discovery: The coaches do offer lengthy critiques and somehow only the best parts are chosen for TV. These superstars are serious at what they do and it is apparent that they really do care about the contestants.<br />
<br />
When the day’s taping ended past 2 p.m., this writer was already famished. I only had two bottles of water the entire morning. And, as I stated earlier, those who had the foresight to eat breakfast before getting to the set must have been very thankful.<br />
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Sure, the set visit was interesting and offered a new perspective on how a show this big gets produced but, if you will ask me, I would rather watch it on TV where I only have to spend an hour to watch it and I will see only the best parts. But somehow, watching it live, I was able to witness how truly the voices on this competition outshine those in other shows. Not all singers here are what one would call attractive, but boy, everyone sure can sing!<br />
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The Voice airs Sunday nights at 8 on AXN.</div>
Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-6273401163892103442012-09-12T00:09:00.000-07:002012-09-12T00:09:10.461-07:00My Story on Willie Revillame<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Everybody loves Willie... even in the US</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated June 10, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=815852" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=815852" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img703/8607/ent7r.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div>
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MANILA, Philippines - Willie Revillame will never be able to silence his most passionate critics but to the people who really matter to him, it is apparent that no amount of controversy and negative press would put a wedge between them and the Philippines’ undisputed king of game shows!<br />
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They just love Willie!<br />
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The large crowd that gathered inside the 7,800-seater Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco was a testament to how much Willie has embedded himself in the entertainment and cultural landscape of the international Filipino community.<br />
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Consider the group of nurses who traveled more than a hundred miles, bought $100-plus tickets each and all wore matching bright green Hollister shirts — this writer was no longer surprised when they told me that they all drove from Hollister (yes, there’s a seaside town named Hollister!) — just so they could welcome Willie back. (The TV5 group arranged for them to meet Willie backstage after the show and the smiles on their faces were priceless!)<br />
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Or you can also consider how my Aunt Zoe Baile decided to postpone her planned 55th birthday party when I informed her that Willie was in San Francisco. I spoke to her Friday evening and she cancelled her party 30 minutes after. On June 2, she drove more than two hours with my Tito Henry and Tita Letlet Armas and decided she’d celebrate her birthday with Willie.<br />
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The deafening and thunderous applause that greeted Willie’s appearance on stage showed just how much the people have missed him. A lady garbed in a tacky (but cute!) leopard-printed blouse and pants danced to Willie’s opening number for as long as it took Willie to complete his extended opening number. I did not set my timer but the engaging opening number might have lasted more than 30 minutes — everyone had a good workout, I thought to myself.<br />
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If Derek Ramsay and Nora Aunor shed tears during the press conference the previous day, it was this writer’s turn to be emotional. The sight of the entire auditorium on their feet, dancing almost exactly to the choreography on stage drove this writer to an unexpected cry. It was very apparent how much the Filipinos in the US miss their home country and their enthusiasm for Willie was an undeniable fact that the presence of the TV host and the show that’s enjoyed by their loved ones in the Philippines somehow took them back home and let them experience even for just a few hours the unique fun that only their home country can offer.<br />
<br /><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="353" hspace="0" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img407/3629/ent7b500.jpg" vspace="5" width="500" /><br />
The smiles on the faces of everyone as they continued dancing would bring anyone such immense joy. If they were present, critics of the game show would most likely be silenced by how the audience everywhere warmly embraced Willie.<br />
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There were even non-Filipinos in the audience. A husband here, a boyfriend there, or just someone’s good friend tagging along, were part of the mix in the crowd and they, too, were eagerly dancing along, singing along, and taking pictures of what was happening on stage — very Filipino, very American.<br />
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Admittedly, the show was kitschy but who cares! The people who bought tickets knew what they were going into and, judging by their rapturous welcome, the show was just possibly the best television show there is today. Art appreciation is, after all, very subjective.<br />
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After the lengthy opening number, Willie started selecting contestants from the audience. When it was over, Mariel Rodriguez, Ruffa Gutierrez and Camille Villar took over hosting duties while Willie was presumably catching his breath backstage. Rufa Mae Quinto was supposed to have been a part of the show but she failed to catch her flight.<br />
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The first game played was called Baligtaran and the lucky contestant was awarded $500 even if she just kept losing the bet. After she won, she thanked Willie and Wowowee. The audience laughed at the old lady’s mistake.<br />
When Derek came out on stage, the Philippines’ ultimate leading man took off his jacket and gave it to one screaming, lucky lady. The ladies close to the stage just went gaga! The hunky actor wasn’t able to completely perform his set as the ladies stormed the stage and one-by-one they started giving Derek kisses after kisses. The entire time the actor was on stage, more than 50 ladies must have successfully planted their lips on his face.<br />
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The next game played after the ladies calmed down was a fun game called Family Apir. Four members of each team popped the balloon on every member’s lap until all eight balloons were popped. The team that spent the shortest time doing this was the winner. This was the funniest segment of the show when one team was just so lost and didn’t know what to do. Everyone had a good laugh as each member committed one mistake after another. They naturally lost the game but their game was the most memorable. The winning team won $1,000 cash prize and each member got a cellular phone and a TV5 jacket.<br />
<br /><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="337" hspace="0" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img18/9879/ent7c300.jpg" vspace="5" width="300" /><br />
When the boyish Aga Muhlach performed, he attracted the same amount of shrieks and screams from the ladies in the audience although only a few dared to go up the stage and plant a wet one on Aga’s face the way Derek attracted a few minutes earlier. The actor performed two songs for the crowd. When he was done “singing,” he announced that he would be hosting a new show on TV5 called Artista Academy which will start casting this month.<br />
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Aga introduced Nora Aunor. The Superstar wore a purple terno and greeted the audience. She did not perform and was not seen again after.<br />
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In a humble display of thanksgiving for all the success he has achieved, Willie returned to the stage to sing What a Wonderful World and introduced a series of clips showing some of the most memorable episodes of Wil Time Bigtime.<br />
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The montage showed the people that Willie and the show have helped all these years. It was a touching reminder that there is always room for someone who wants to help another just as there’s always room for a new international Filipino channel that could bring joy and bring the Philippines to the home of every Filipino anywhere in the world.<br />
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“TV5 is here to give more happiness — in my heart, in my spirit, in my mind,” Willie promised the audience.<br />
Willie acknowledged the presence of TV5 execs in the audience — they came in full force! — but reserved his most precious expression of gratitude to TV5 big boss Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP). He recalled how he lost his job at ABS-CBN and how TV5 took him in, “binuksan po ang bintana, pintuan at bubungan ng TV5!”<br />
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MVP delivered a brief speech to thank the audience for gracing the show and invited them to subscribe to Kapatid TV5.<br />
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The night’s biggest moment was when one lucky contestant won a house and lot sponsored by Sen. Manny Villar who was in the audience together with his wife, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar.<br />
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The lucky winner was 65-year-old Maria Luna Tolentino, who said that she would select a house somewhere in Angeles, Pampanga.<br />
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The show ended on a high note, capping a two-week successful launch of Kapatid TV5 in the US. At the after-party, everyone was grinning from ear-to-ear.</div>
Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-15521164709644285032012-09-12T00:05:00.000-07:002012-09-12T00:05:04.610-07:00My Ana Kendrick Story<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Anna Kendrick's biggest fear? Being typecast!</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated September 10, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=847104" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=847104" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img222/9366/ent15y.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div>
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“Oh my God, I am shockingly boring and awkward!” exclaimed Oscar-nominated actress Anna Kendrick when the French journalist in our roundtable asked her to describe herself for his readers. Everyone in our table immediately protested because the star who famously ranted against George Clooney in <i>Up in the Air</i> two years ago is by no means boring or awkward. She was lovely and quite adorable, at least.<br />
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“From a weird drama student to a 26-year-old boring and awkward, not a huge leap,” she continued her self-deprecating description of herself even if we were all incredulous of her. Anna sensed our disbelief and she offered a new description that we all found rather more apt.<br />
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“I guess, I would say, I mean,” she haltingly began again, “I wouldn’t consider myself a boring person per se but I think that people imagine that I am more exciting than I am, probably. I really just, kind of, sit around and watch movies and stuff.”<br />
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She is absolutely right to think that people think she has a very exciting life considering how she managed to become the first star from the cast of <i>Twilight </i>to ever receive the ultimate industry recognition when she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her superb turn as an ambitious and motormouthed fresh graduate in <i>Up in the Air.</i><br />
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Since her breakthrough role in the said movie, Anna has appeared in a diverse slate of movies that has highlighted her versatility and commitment as an actor. She sings in the upcoming <i>Pitch Perfect</i> and she appears along with Robert Redford and Susan Sarandon in the drama <i>The Company You Keep,</i> which is currently making its festival debut in Venice alongside the Philippine entry <i>Thy Womb.</i><br />
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“Being in a Robert Redford movie was not ever something I would have ever imagined I could do,” she humbly stated. “I was so thrilled when that opportunity came up. I have a very small part in it but it was just magical and surreal to be on the set with him for a couple of days.”<br />
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Currently, the perky actress who complained that she once had frizzy hair and crooked teeth when she was in her teens, is providing the voice for Courtney Babcock, an animated character in the 3D stop-motion animated movie from the creators of Oscar-nominated movie <i>Coraline </i>called <i>ParaNorman,</i> which is distributed locally by Solar Entertainment. It was a conscious decision for her to take on this role because she always wanted to experience working as a voice actor ever since she saw Pixar’s<i>Finding Nemo</i> and found herself being moved by the brilliant turn of comedian Ellen DeGeneres. She also wanted to try as many character types as possible to further enhance her craft specially after all the attention she got during her Oscar run.<br />
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“After that time in my life, I was given a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise (received) but in a lot of cases, because <i>Up in the Air</i> was so fresh in everyone’s minds, it was a lot of opportunities to play basically the same character, which I didn’t want to do, and it weirdly took a little while for people to start just thinking of me as just an actress in a movie that they liked instead of as that character.”<br />
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For a brief time, Anna rejected a handful of roles because she wanted to avoid the pitfalls of being typecast. “It just felt like I just get offered this kind of thing and if I do that all the time, people will think that I am only capable of doing that thing so it was kind of a tricky moment to navigate.”<br />
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So when the offer to play the character in <i>ParaNorman</i> landed on her lap, she immediately liked the idea and agreed to do the movie.<br />
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“They want me to play the dumb cheerleading sister and I just love it when people want you to do something you haven’t done before!”<br />
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<i>ParaNorman</i> is a horror-comedy movie that tells the story of a young boy named Norman, whose gift of clairvoyance has turned him into an outcast within his family and his small-town community. It’s an entertaining tale featuring some of the funniest ghost zombies ever conceived on screen.<br />
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Anna provides the voice of the older sister of Norman and her character would like nothing to do with her weird younger brother and instead pursues every muscled jock that comes her way.<br />
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“I saw her on the page and I completely understood what they were trying to do specially when I saw a picture of what she was gonna look like, that really helped, because basically she was so strange-looking, really,” she said of her character. “She’s really lanky and long on top and wide on bottom. She looks like she had just this growth spurt and doesn’t really know where her body is and I liked the idea that her emotions were, like, volatile and dangerous in what looked like a new body.”<br />
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Her versatility has allowed her to transition between diverse roles with relative ease.<br />
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“I guess I get bored very quickly so I would hate to do the same thing over and over again. Like I think about if I ever did a TV show or something like that — I would have to be really passionate about it because it’s hard, I think, to live in the same world for so long because that’s part of the joy of this job — you get to do all these different things!”<br />
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And so after years of living in uncertainty and “not being sure if I was gonna make the rent or, like, I almost had my electricity turned off so many times,” Anna considers herself happy and satisfied with how her career has shaped into.<br />
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Yes, Hollywood has been good to her. She may consider herself boring at times but she finds her job nothing but boring. “I find it more fun than challenging,” she beams.<br />
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<i>ParaNorman</i> opens Sept. 12 in theaters nationwide.</div>
Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-81535787563368158902012-09-12T00:03:00.000-07:002012-09-12T00:03:02.985-07:00My Coverage of "The Dark Knight Rises"<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Director Chris Nolan on the Batman success: The phenomenon just happened</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated July 16, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=827915" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=827915" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img840/7060/ent4o.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div>
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<b></b>If you are planning to catch the new Batman movie, <i>The Dark Knight Rises,</i> you better heed this advice: Make sure that you are sitting comfortably and that you are 100 percent ready the minute the cinema darkens and the opening title cards start to roll because the first 15 minutes of the movie is literally jaw-dropping!<br />
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The choreography and the execution of the very complicated stunt are simply extraordinary! This writer will not divulge any more details to avoid potential spoilers but believe me, this movie, the finale of visionary filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking trilogy, is going to be one of the most-talked about movies of the year. I was invited to the IMAX screening of the movie inside the Universal Studios last week and the jubilant applause the movie received even before the end credits could start rolling was an incredible proof at how movies as excellent as this could really move its audience.<br />
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The Warner Bros. release will open in the Philippines on July 19 and I just can’t wait for everyone to watch it. The movie lived up to its pre-release buzz — and more! But again, I’m not at a liberty to disclose what’s “more.”<br />
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The final installment of the magnificent three-part saga of the caped crusader picks up eight years after Batman was forced to take the blame for the death of beloved Gotham D.A. Harvey Dent. The hero became the villain and Bruce Wayne was forced to retire Batman into seclusion.<br />
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Oscar-winner Christian Bale returns for the very last time as Bruce Wayne/Batman. He is joined by fellow Oscar winners Michael Caine, who reprises the role of Alfred, and Morgan Freeman who returns as the gadget genius Lucius Fox. Oscar-nominated actor Gary Oldman is also back as Commissioner Gordon.<br />
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New members of the cast include Anne Hathaway, who plays the mysterious cat burglar Selina Kyle; Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake, Commissioner Gordon’s new assistant; and Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate, Bruce Wayne’s on-again, off-again love interest.<br />
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This epic final chapter introduces the audience to one of Batman’s formidable villains, the masked and ruthless terrorist Bane who is portrayed to great menacing effect by Tom Hardy, who made a splash opposite Leonardo Di Caprio in Nolan’s own mind-bending masterpiece <i>Inception</i> two years ago.<br />
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I wish I could tell you more about the movie but I can’t. <i>Oh,</i> it’s hard!<br />
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But this writer met with the cast of the movie last Sunday during the junket held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills — and what happened during the event and what we talked about, I could freely share.<br />
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Most of the cast were present at the junket save for Hardy, who as the fearsome Bane, is perhaps, to this writer’s limited knowledge of the Batman Universe, one of the hero’s worst adversaries ever! Even more scary than the late actor Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning turn as the Joker in the previous installment of the movie.<br />
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“I was just staggered by what Tom did,” Nolan told us during the group press conference. “The first time I saw him in make-up, he was just remarkable. You know you are seeing something you have never seen before.”<br />
“It was very important to me that we not try and follow and do something that is a pale imitation of what Heath had done,” Nolan added. “I wanted Batman to come up with a primary physical adversary. I wanted to watch Christian as Batman stand toe-to-toe with the villain and not knowing who’s going to win that fight. It’s something I haven’t seen before and it was intentional in the film.”<br />
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And out of respect to the memory of Ledger who died tragically just days after filming his last scene in the previous <i>Batman</i> movie, the director took the decision, even before commencing work on this final movie, to not reference the Joker or provide any avenue for fans to unjustly compare Heath’s memorable performance of the character to Hardy’s starkly different but equally impressive turn as Bane.<br />
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“I took the decision very early on that it would be inappropriate,” Nolan said. “I felt that someone who’s a friend and a colleague, who suffered a terrible tragedy, to try to reduce that as plot point in the movie just felt wrong to me.”<br />
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Many observers claim that the massive success of the last <i>Batman</i> movie — it was the third highest grossing movie of all time after <i>Avatar</i> and <i>Titanic</i> for a couple of years until <i>The Avengers</i> took its spot just recently and was <i>the</i> movie that finally prompted the Oscars to tweak the number of possible Best Picture nominees after a huge outcry erupted when <i>The Dark Knight</i> failed to snag a nomination — were attributable to Heath’s indelible turn and how the filmmaker transformed what was primarily a genre movie into a topnotch, thought-provoking movie on the real tragedy of a superhero’s heartbreaking and lonely existence.<br />
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But for the director, the enormous success of <i>The Dark Knight</i> was something he didn’t particularly envision when he was doing it. And even if the buzz right now in Hollywood centers not on whether <i>The Dark Knight Rises </i>would be able to duplicate the success of its predecessor but by how much bigger it will be, Nolan would rather focus on delivering a movie that would satisfy everyone.<br />
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“I think it would be crazy to try and chase that kind of success. The film was a phenomenon! No one can really explain that, it just happened. It was great. But my responsibility, I feel, is to try and make a film for the studio and make their money back, that’s really the pressure.”<br />
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Among the actors, it was Hathaway who felt some pressure walking into the set. The pressure didn’t stem from the success of the previous <i>Batman</i> but more on the fact that among the main cast of the movie, she was the only one who has not worked with Nolan before.<br />
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The lovely actress, who was radiant in a white flowing dress on the day of the junket, shared that she felt nervous in the beginning being the newcomer on the set but that “motivated me to work even harder because I didn’t want to <i>stand out.” </i>Hathaway’s emphasis on “stand out” (or “mess-up” in ordinary language) drew laughter from her co-stars. “Everybody was actually very warm. I was not treated any differently.”<br />
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Another challenge to her was the tight body-hugging suit that she would have to wear during some of the more action-packed scenes in the movie. She related how she trained for those scenes featuring her in the suit while wearing some of the most fearsome pair of stilettos to appear on the big screen ever. She recalled the difficulty she had although she ultimately had fun learning how to fight describing it as “one of my happiest experiences I ever had as an actor.”<br />
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For Gordon-Levitt, who has previously worked with Nolan in <i>Inception,</i> described his experience on <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> as the equivalent of a “dream-come-true moment.” He remembered watching <i>The Dark Knight</i>twice and had no inkling that he would be involved and be part of the final chapter of the saga.<br />
He considered working on the final <i>Batman</i> movie a “delight” because “I’ve been a fan of Chris’ movies since<i>Memento;</i> because I had such a time of my life doing <i>Inception;</i> because I loved the first two movies so much; and also, because I had a Batman costume when I was four years old. I love the character! He’s the cool one. He just always has been.”<br />
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But for the rest of the cast who have been part of the production from the very beginning, the idea that the series was drawing to a close distracted them from the other pressures that are normally associated with the commercial side of making movies, i.e., performing better than the previous movie, etc.<br />
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“What was very important was that we are finishing our story,” Nolan said. “I have been working on <i>Batman</i>for almost 10 years and it’s been incredible. It’s definitely been a journey and I leave that with certain sadness. But I will never say goodbye to all these guys. It’s bittersweet. It’s been a very important year in my life.”<br />
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But the incredible, extraordinary, astonishing (you supply your own superlative later after watching the movie) ending never came to him just recently. “That was the first thing that we had. We had it for a long time,” Nolan revealed. “For me, the ending is the most important thing. It’s important to any film. It always comes first.<br />
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And for Batman himself, Bale, who sat nearly quiet for the entire 45-minute press conference, getting into the Batman suit for the very last time was also a little bittersweet experience.<br />
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Asked what he feels about leaving Batman behind, the notoriously detached actor just plainly declared, “When it’s time to say goodbye, it’s time to say goodbye.”</div>
Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-42965342338242025762012-09-11T23:59:00.001-07:002012-09-11T23:59:03.587-07:00My Michelle Rodriguez and Milla Jovovich Story<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Milla and Michelle</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated September 09, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=846858" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=846858" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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MANILA, Philippines - Hollywood actresses Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez could never be more different: Ukrainian-born actress Milla has blue-green eyes, is reserved and has a decidedly low-key image in the business whereas the feisty Michelle, with her sexy Latina brown features, is more candid — and, for a time, had an unsavory industry reputation. Michelle’s brushes with the law are almost legendary it’s a surprise how easily she seemed to have soften up and successfully rejoined mainstream Hollywood — which the star credits to the US economic downturn. “I love the recession!” she gleefully proclaims.<br />
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But before her current resurgence, Michelle would be lucky if she gets invited to read for a movie. “I was cocky back then, I had this bravado,” she tells this writer three weeks ago during a junket for Sony Pictures’ Resident Evil: Retribution, the latest and perhaps the penultimate installment in the successful sci-fi series based on the hit video game of the same name, at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.<br />
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“You know, you grow up poor in America, conspiracy theories are the biggest thing,” she says as she explains the very public phase of her meltdown. “You think, there’s somebody holding you down. Finally, you grow up into an adult and you realize that you are the one with the power to be whoever you want to be and you have to take yourself out of wherever you are to be who that person is.”<br />
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“But it takes a while for you not to stop blaming all the motherf---rs because sometimes you are like, ‘How come I don’t see any signs to go into the military in Beverly Hills? Why is it only in Jersey City where I come from? How come there’s not a liquor store in every corner over here? What’s going on? Then you start thinking, ‘Man, they’re after me!’”<br />
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“But then you’re like supply and demand. You start learning consumer stuff and then you’re like, ‘Oh it’s because all these people want to get drunk, that’s why. They want to smoke cigarettes and they actually enjoy shooting people, so they join the military.’”<br />
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Michelle had a spectacular debut in Hollywood when she was cast in the critically-acclaimed independent movie Girlfi ght more than a decade ago. But the acclaim did not bring her immediate stardom. She had a rough career, no thanks to her erratic temperament. Today, she considers herself all changed and grown-up.<br />
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“I learned a lot! I grew this fi lter between my brain and my mouth. I am a lot more careful before I say stuff, of course, I still say things but not as bad when I was in my 20s so I am very proud of that. When you are dumb and you’ve got nothing really smart to say, it’s like, you know (she halts and laughs)… So I am, kind of, glad that, after years of having a big mouth, I have friends who are like, ‘You know what, you should read a couple of books before you talk so much shit!’”<br />
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She acknowledges that she’s “very, very happy and satisfi ed” with her career now but she aims for more.<br />
“If I had nothing more for, I’d just do drugs and kill myself. What’s the point of living? Just have sex and die!” She declares in typical unfi ltered fashion. What Michelle aims for does not include winning an Oscar but to have more money. “I’ve gone through stages where I’ve been so broke. It’s really sad! I’ve been doing this s--t for 13 years and the fact that I am not making money, that’s sad. It really is pathetic! And I got a fan base — I can’t go to any country anywhere in the world without being recognized and it’s sad that I don’t make any money doing this because I don’t rip my clothes off or play somebody’s girlfriend. It’s F-ked up, you know, but that’s changing now.” It may be sometime before we see Michelle in a cosmetic or lingerie campaign, and she would certainly benefi t if she consults with her co-star, Milla, who, with her classic Hollywood beauty, is one of the recognizable faces gracing the global cosmetic giant L’Oreal’s ad campaign.<br />
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Their differences aside, Michelle and Milla bring a different sort of female power to Hollywood these days. In a genre dominated by men, they portray two tough ladies taking on monsters, zombies and men double their sizes in Resident Evil: Retribution.<br />
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The stars, however, play character on opposing ends of the conflict: Milla, who plays the lead, is on the good side while Michelle is the villain who was killed off in the first movie but is surprisingly back in action in this bloody and ultra-violent sequel and her character could be more powerful this time.<br />
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The toughness that their characters required suited Michelle’s persona best. “I didn’t have to do much acting!” she says. Milla considers herself not as tough as Alice, her character in the movie, though but only “in some ways, definitely.”<br />
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“I relate to Alice the most in the sense that she keeps her promises. I am a very loyal person,” Milla says. “Alice is the kind of person that would swear an oath and she could die before she would break it and I admire that because I feel like oaths means nothing today and they should because it’s our honor that’s at stake.”<br />
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There is a reason why Milla is a little particular with people who don’t keep their words: She’s been stung by a few people who she thought were her friends only to turn their backs on her later. She now surrounds herself with a few trusted and loyal friends.<br />
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“The few friends I have make fun of me every time I am gonna do a get-together, it’s like, ‘Oh, who are you going to invite, your mom and your dad and your three friends?’”<br />
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The star admits that she’s “never been a kind of person that had too many acquaintances.” She meets people at parties, says hi and that’s it. Over the last two years, there are only two people she’s met who she imagines being friends with: Actresses Chelsea Handler and Elizabeth Banks.<br />
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“For the most part, I keep my distance. I am very private.”<br />
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But Milla insists that she’s not shy. “I am just a bit hesitant with who I allow to know me because I feel like I started so young in this industry and the friends that I made when I was a kid knew me before I had success and after being in this industry and meeting people who are like, ‘Oh yeah, call me’ and they never call or whatever it is, I, kind of, (realized) at an early age that, ‘Oh, this is fake’ and the people that I knew before are real because my movie could bomb and I could lose all my money but I could still sleep on my friend’s couch and they would still support me whether I am famous or not.”<br />
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She also shares a surprising revelation: “Movie stars don’t have many friends at all. They have acquaintances and publicists who make it look like they have friends.”<br />
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“Who wants to be friends with actors?” Milla muses.<br />
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Her fans would most certainly exclaim in unison: We do! (Resident Evil: Retribution opens Sept. 12.)<br />
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Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-25540593574513566392012-06-07T19:05:00.004-07:002012-06-07T19:05:59.577-07:00My Story from the Philippines' TV5 Big Launch in Sanfo<br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Dish brings GMA, TV5 together</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated June 05, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=814021" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=814021" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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Manila, Philippines - No, this writer didn’t mean for Filipino heartthrob Derek Ramsay to shed a tear or for Superstar Nora Aunor to stifle a cry during yesterday’s press conference to formally launch <i>Kapatid </i>TV5 in Northern California at the Mandarin Oriental in San Francisco.<br />
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The boisterous press conference was highlighted by revelations and admissions that even had Ruffa Gutierrez taking to her<i>Twitter </i>account in the middle of the proceedings to tweet about an explosive revelation that may or may not have something to do with the acquisition of GMA 7 by the cash-rich TV5 management. Even a text message from Kris Aquino to TV5 chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who is known simply as MVP, asking about the GMA 7 subject figured at some point during the press conference.<br />
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Perhaps, it was the presence of the surprisingly funny MVP, whose candor and humor brought a noticeable energy and enthusiasm in the room that highlighted the easy rapport between the Bay Area-based Filipino journalists and the superstars of TV5, who didn’t hold back from answering the questions that ranged from the mundane to the socially-charged commentaries about the role of Philippine television in the lives of Filipino expatriates all over the world.<br />
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Aside from Ruffa, Derek and Nora, the Philippines’ top TV game show host Willie Revillame, whose trademark knack for instantaneous and wry humor was in full display again, also graced the star-studded press conference along with newcomer Camille Villar and the eternally boyish Aga Muhlach who shared a bombshell of his own in a separate interview.<br />
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The good-looking actor who hosts <i>Pinoy Explorer</i> has finally admitted that he is almost certain that he will run for congress come next elections in the home province of his father in Camarines Sur.<br />
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“The governor is a good friend of mine,” shared Aga. “<i>Pinag-usapan namin minsan, </i>‘Aga, you want to run?’ <i>Sabi ko, ‘Ano ang gagawin ko?’ </i>‘There’s so much you can do,’ <i>sabi nya sa akin.</i> ‘It’s a poor district and <i>konti lang na magawa mo</i>, they will really appreciate it.’ I want to do it. I really want to do it!”<br />
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Aga explained that before he makes the official announcement, “I just want to make sure <i>na meron akong gagawin na mabuti talaga </i>so <i>ang dami kong ginagawa ngayon. </i>I want to make sure first <i>kasi sabi nga nila tatakbo tayo, pag nanalo ka, ano ang gagawin mo? </i>So, I want to make sure <i>na kahit ngayon pa lang may magawa na akong maganda talaga.”</i><br />
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The decision to run will be Aga’s personal decision to make. “Whatever I decide, the family will support me, too. I spoke to them already. We talked about it already. I talked to my wife and <i>sinabi nga nya sa akin, </i>‘My love, in case you decide, <i>ipikit mo ang mata mo, kahit ano ang paninira na marinig mo, huwag mo nang pakinggan yun. </i>Go back to your desire and the desire of helping.’”<br />
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Aga stated that, at this state in his life, he has realized that it’s about time that he gives back to the people and the community. He does not promise that it will be a lifetime career choice for him. He will not give up acting and, if after one term, he discovers that politics is not for him, he will willingly step aside for the next set of candidates who is willing to help his home province.<img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="320" hspace="0" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img15/6042/ent3b400.jpg" vspace="5" width="400" /><br />
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Willie, Aga’s ever-loyal friend, was most vocal about his support for Aga’s political ambition. But he insisted that he would never run for a political position ever.<br />
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The press conference was highlighted by the formal signing of the partnership agreement between<i>Kapatid </i>TV5 and Dish Network, a leading provider of satellite television in the US. The Dish Network created a new programming brand aimed at promoting the combined channels of GMA Pinoy TV and<i>Kapatid </i>TV5 called <i>Dish ko ‘to.</i><br />
The contract was signed by MVP and Dish execs Jennifer Lesley and Izabela Slowikowska, the director for international programming of the American network.<br />
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TV5 execs headed by Claro Ramirez and Bobby Barreiro were present for the occasion. Viva Entertainment president Vic del Rosario, who was asked if Sarah Geronimo would move to TV5 soon but only replied with a curious, “That’s always a possibility,” was also present. Sen. Manny Villar also flew to support his daughter Camille.<br />
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The <i>Kapatid </i>TV5 launch in the US had a grand kick-off in Los Angeles a week earlier with more than 5,000 people attending the <i>Wil Time Bigtime</i> show at the Shrine Auditorium. The two-week road show will be capped by another presentation of Willie’s hit TV game show at the Bill Graham auditorium in the heart of San Francisco on June 2. The final show promises to be bigger than the L.A. edition with prizes ranging from a house and lot in the Philippines, a car and a host of other electronic gadgets.<br />
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The show will mark Willie’s triumphant return to the Bay Area after an absence of a couple of years. It will feature the signature style that made Willie the most popular TV personality among Filipino audiences worldwide. <i>Kapatid</i> stars Rufa Mae Quinto and Mariel Rodriguez, both of whom missed yesterday’s press conference, will be performing during the show along with Nora, Aga, Ruffa, Camille and Derek.<br />
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The Q&A ran for more than an hour and when this writer was finally called to field the final question, I immediately asked my two-part question:<br />
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The first part of the question was addressed to MVP and I asked: “Apart from the acquisition of GMA 7, how do you plan on expanding the coverage of TV5 in the Philippines?”<br />
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The second part was addressed to the TV5 stars: “What is your level of commitment to TV5. What if there’s a new network that comes up and offers you better opportunity — creativity-wise and not money-wise — how is your commitment to TV5 going to be measured?”<br />
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MVP responded to my first question by emphasizing his commitment to always support the top-caliber talents that have made TV5 their new home: “I am very grateful to them, <i>hindi namin sila tatalikuran, hindi namin sila pababayaan.”</i><br />
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He added that the board has just approved another P6B investment in TV5 to help the network finish the various studios being built for all its shows.<br />
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“I think the Philippine market is really quite small eventually for the talents and for any two or three television stations that’s why it’s important for the country to export its expertise and talents abroad.”<br />
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MVP is initially eyeing an expansion in Vietnam and Indonesia.<br />
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Among the stars, Ruffa was the first to offer her commitment to TV5: “I was among the first that moved to TV5 before Willie, Aga, Derek. So that goes to show my commitment. I said two years ago that the reason I moved to TV5 is because I wanted to be part of a growing network and because our boss is MVP and I know that everything MVP touches turns to gold and diamonds!”<br />
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For Aga, he stressed that it was not his nature to just switch channels on a whim. <i>“Wala naman sa ugali ko na palipat-lipat ako </i>and<i> </i>in fairness<i> sa aming mga artista, marami ang naglalabasan na malaki ang binabayad sa amin kaya kami lumipat. </i>I moved out of ABS before I joined TV5. I moved out of ABS because I wasn’t happy. I have nothing against them but <i>nakita ko sa </i>TV5<i> kung paano nila sinalo si </i>Willie.<i> Kung ano-ano ang mga ginawa kay </i>Willie<i> pero sinalo ng </i>TV5.”<br />
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<i>“Ang hirap lang kasi, </i>we have so much to offer <i>pero wala yung </i>venue and TV5 came in. We are so happy that TV5 is here because we have the freedom to choose and act on our own,” Aga added before offering his thanks to MVP and the rest of the TV5 bosses in attendance.<br />
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The unexpected thing happened when Derek turned a tad bit emotional when he was sharing how he started in the business and how MVP played a big part in his showbiz break.<br />
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“Not a lot of people know this but I actually started my career, my name with Sir Manny Pangilinan,” he said. “He gave me the chance to be a Smart endorser a long time ago when I had no name. And another thing that many don’t know is that Channel 5 is actually the only network that’s given me a contract this long. Much longer than what ABS has given me. Yes, I worked with ABS for a majority of my career — it has been five, six years but I had no contract with them until recently.”<br />
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It was when Derek started recalling how MVP invited him and his parents to dinner at MVP’s house that his voice started to break. “To those who know me, my family is the most important thing for me, so the respect that they gave me — respect is very, very important to me. Yeah, they say that <i>malaki ang bayad </i>and it’s all about the money. I want to kill that already because it’s actually really annoying and I get very emotional when it comes to stuff like these…” he struggled to finish before finally addressing MVP directly by saying, “Boss, <i>dito na ako sa’yo.” </i>The room erupted in cheers in support of Derek soon after he finished.<br />
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Nora turned emotional, too, when she had her turn at the mike. She recalled the hardship she experienced in the US and acknowledged a few people in the room who helped her when she was practically begging for help. She thanked MVP and declared her commitment to TV5 as well. The honesty and candidness from the Superstar, along with her unwavering humility, earned her a huge applause from everyone in the room.<br />
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For someone who is relatively new in the industry, Camille said that she would stay in the network as long as she is welcome to stay. “Why will you be anywhere else than in the network that’s so filled with love and respect with the people that you work with?”<br />
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Willie was the last to speak and the unofficial TV5 goodwill ambassador reiterated what the others said but added that “there is no dictatorship in this company — <i>walang diktador, walang </i>faction-faction.”<br />
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The TV host-comedian related the instances when MVP would personally text him to tell that he was watching the show. “It is an honor,” he said. “It is an inspiration. <i>Yung </i>success <i>ni </i>MVP, success <i>ng mga</i> <i>Pilipino</i>!”<br />
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From a two percent market share a year ago to 16 percent this year, it won’t be a surprise if TV5 would lead the charge in revolutionizing Philippine television as it gears towards digital technology — an area that TV5 has clear edge with — and bring an era of high-quality digital television for the Filipino audience.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-8588662178753840702012-06-07T19:02:00.000-07:002012-06-07T19:02:16.793-07:00My Johnny Depp Interview<br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">How do you make Johnny Depp blush?</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo++L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated May 14, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=806768" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=806768" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">‘Thank you!’ replied Johnny when <em>Dark Shadows </em>co-stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Bella Heathcote and Chloe Grace Moretz expressed their admiration for him<br /></span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=806768" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div>
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MANILA, Philippines - This writer discovered how with just two questions during last weekend’s junket for Warner Bros.’ <em>Dark Shadows,</em> Johnny Depp’s latest movie with his favorite collaborator, the celebrated filmmaker Tim Burton, held at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles.<br />
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The handsome actor attended the press day along with the cast of the movie including four of his beautiful co-stars: The seemingly ageless Michelle Pfeiffer, the sultry French actress Eva Green, Aussie newcomer Bella Heathcote and teen sensation Chloe Grace Moretz, who most recently anchored Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning film <em>Hugo.</em><br />
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It is no secret that Johnny is one of the most famous and hottest actors in Hollywood. Male actors want to work with him. Actresses want to date him. His eccentric and carefree personality coupled with his incredible good looks has earned him a multitude of female fans that have long harbored a crush on the actor ever since he graced TV sets on the hit <em>21 Jump Street</em> during the late ‘80s.<br />
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And the fact that he has been attached to the same woman for more than a decade further adds to his appeal to women. Although there are rumors of marital problems, the actor has maintained that those gossips are untrue.<br />
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During the 45-minute international press conference, even if there were 11 other personalities in the panel, most of the questions were addressed to Johnny and Tim. Michelle and the rest of the ladies mostly kept quiet except for the occasional burst of laughter when a journalist would ask a curious and funny question or when another would mistakenly refer to the new movie that Johnny is currently filming for Disney as <em>The Lonely Ranger</em> instead of <em>The Lone Ranger.</em><br />
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When this writer had his turn to ask a question, I had a two-fold question ready not for Johnny but for the ladies: “How was it like working with Johnny Depp and who among you has a crush on Johnny Depp?”<br />
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The room fell silent for a moment after I asked the question. The movie’s male screenwriter, Seth Grahame-Smith, who was present broke the silence and jokingly admitted that he had a crush on Johnny. Eva, Chloe and Bella who were sitting next to each other, were visibly giggling but not one of them wanted to speak out.<br />
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Michelle finally broke her silence and admitted that she had a crush on Johnny.<br />
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“I’ve always had a crush on Johnny Depp,” the lovely actress stated. “I will be the first to admit it… I am happily married by the way. Please include that in my statement about my crush on Johnny.”<br />
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“He’s great! We feel quite naughty. We are a fan club at the back,” Eva added, speaking on behalf of Chloe and Bella. “He is just wonderful and he takes lots of risks. He has very intense eyes and they go right to you and that’s quite something.”<br />
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For Michelle, working with the actor was also a revealing experience. “One never knows what to expect… you have preconceived ideas before you meet someone and I have always been a huge fan of his. He was really funny. He’s very fun-loving on the set, which I really like but when the cameras roll he’s very serious and always incredibly prepared and just really generous with the other actors.”<br />
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“It’s easy to get really intimidated by somebody of his stature. (I have worked with) some of the greatest actors and I think the most gifted ones have always been the most gracious and have this ability to put you at ease right away and he definitely has that in spades.”<br />
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Johnny tried to immediately reply but was tongue-tied for a few seconds after listening to Michelle’s glowing tribute to him. When he finally was able to speak, he managed a terse “Thank you!”<br />
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“If you could see through my hair, you would see me blushing,” he remarked. “The real question should be flipped around. Look who I got to work with! I have crushes on all of them!”<img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img692/4088/ent7bljy.jpg" vspace="5" /><br />
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In <em>Dark Shadows,</em> Johnny portrays a vampire who was cursed and buried alive by a spurned lover only to reawaken 200 years later during the tumultuous days of the ’70s. The movie is a darkly comic update of the hit TV series of the same title with the flourish and inventiveness that’s typical of every Tim Burton movie.<br />
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This is Johnny’s ninth collaboration with the director. Do not ask what’s his favorite among the nine because he doesn’t watch any of his movies.<br />
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But ask him what animal he would like to transform to if he was a real vampire and he’ll give you a funny response: “The animal I would change into? I don’t know, Chihuahua? A Ferret? Maybe one of those frogs that if you lick the back you hallucinate.”<br />
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The 48-year-old actor surprised everyone with his wit during the junket. Asked if he was channeling the late Michael Jackson during one scene in the movie when his character stepped out into the sun wearing heavy sunblock, dark glasses, dark hat and a huge umbrella, he immediately quipped, “Well, I am actually always channeling Michael Jackson, even right now. So if you have any questions for him, feel free. He’s right here with me.”<br />
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He added that he will “moonwalk out at the end of the press conference” to huge laughter from everyone including Tim, who chimed in that he was also channeling Joe Jackson that same moment and did a riotous impression of Michael’s infamous dad.<br />
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“This has happened before, this kind of comparison to Michael Jackson,” Johnny replied seriously after the room has quieted down. “I actually thought the sunblock idea was pretty funny — we’ve never seen a vampire in the daytime so it was, kind of, the only route we could take.”<br />
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Johnny’s involvement in <em>Dark Shadows</em> extends beyond what he did onscreen. He also co-produced the movie. “I had a fascination since I was a kid with the show,” he revealed. “I would sprint home from school to watch it. It was always in there in my head on how great it would be to turn it into a film.”<br />
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And to his fans, this message: “I just hope that people like the film. I hope that they get it.”<br />
<em>Dark Shadows</em> is now showing in theaters.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-60974958620268273202012-05-10T00:55:00.000-07:002012-05-10T00:55:08.266-07:00My Interview with Jeremy Renner<br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Bourne Legacy star gives Phl a thumbs-up</span><br /><a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated May 01, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=802318" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=802318" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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MANILA, Philippines - Ask Jeremy Renner about the Philippines and he will instantly light up, form a slight smile on his face and look back with fondness on the two months he spent in Manila (and in various cities across the country) while filming for<i>The Bourne Legacy</i> early this year.<br />
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“The thing that pops out of my brain mostly is the people,” the actor shared during our 10-minute one-on-one interview two weeks ago inside his suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. “The people in the Philippines are… it’s a third world country, the people are in such terrible, terrible poverty in some areas and they always have the big damn smile on their faces.”<br />
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“The kids are gorgeous. You’ve never seen more <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">beautiful</span></span></a> children — in terrible conditions in some areas, but they always have a smile on their faces.”<br />
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It is safe to say that Jeremy was bitten by the famous Filipino smile: The smile that brought Imelda Marcos worldwide fame years ago. It’s the smile that makes Manny Pacquiao’s every victory more meaningful. The same smile that Lea Salonga gives to the world at her every curtain call; the very smile that all our OFW ambassadors share all over the world.<br />
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“To me, people make the place. It is not the architecture; it’s not the landscape. The Philippines has the most beautiful islands I’ve ever seen in my life. They have such beauty and they have such squalor; very polar in a lot of ways... but the people make it great.”<br />
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“The people were really so welcoming; so giving, and they spoke English so well.”<br />
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Jeremy met with this writer during the junket for his <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">current </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie</span></span></a>, Marvel’s <i>The Avengers</i>, which is currently drawing record crowds all over the world and is projected to become the top-grossing movie of all time in the Philippines.<br />
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In <i>The Avengers</i>, Jeremy portrays <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Hawkeye</span></span></a>, one of the seven superheroes assembled by <i>Marvel</i> in what this writer consider one of the best superhero movies of all time. He joins a stellar cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. who plays Iron Man, Chris Evans as <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Captain </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">America</span></span></a>, Chris Hemsworth as the mighty Thor, and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow.<br />
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Considered by many to be one of the finest actors working in Hollywood today, Jeremy first donned his rubber suit in a brief cameo in last year’s <i>Thor</i>. He was the first choice by Marvel president Kevin Feige for the part and writer-<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">director</span></span></a> Joss Whedon felt he was perfect, too.<br />
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“He was <i>Marvel</i>’s idea and my contribution was ‘Good idea!’” Joss told this writer during our own separate interview. “I can’t think of anybody who would be better suited for the role.”<br />
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Jeremy brings to Hawkeye a certain character depth that hints at a more explosive past and an unspoken affection for Black Widow, which should excite the core fans of these two <i>Marvel</i> characters. (And to further excite the fan base, Joss revealed his ambitions to give Black Widow and Hawkeye their own movies in the future.)<br />
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“There’s no good or bad for me when you play a character,” Jeremy explained on how he approached his character. “Behavior can be perceived as good or bad. If you are doing terrible things, or you a villain, per se, you hope to have some sort of empathy or sympathy for that character otherwise you are just a twisting-moustache bad guy.”<br />
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“Same on the other side for a hero: If you’re just a good guy; just do good things, everybody is falling the hell to sleep. Have a guy that’s flawed, a hero that’s flawed. It’s just common Shakespeare 101 or even Greek mythology.”<br />
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The 41-year-old actor received critical acclaim and an Oscar <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">nomination</span></span></a> for playing a tortured war hero in the Oscar-winning <i>The Hurt Locker</i> two years ago. He has portrayed a serial killer and a CIA spy since then.<br />
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“These are the characters that I want to play. Heroes, they should be flawed — we call them antiheroes, that’s what I love to play. On the villain side, I have to find some sort of human quality… I have to find a way into this villain, if you will, to be seen as a human. And how do I play these guys? As a human.”<br />
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As Hawkeye, Jeremy invested more to his character that what one would expect — even if that would result to him getting injured doing some of his stunts. This dedication was part of the reasons why Joss thought he had the perfect actor for the role.<br />
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“You know, you don’t hire Jeremy Renner to play Hawkeye and then just say, ‘Go, carry a bow,’” Joss said. “You’ve got to find what makes him tick and you’ve got to find what he can do that no one else can do.”<br />
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Jeremy’s career is on a roll. After <i>The Avengers</i>, he is destined to become a bigger <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">star</span></span></a> because <i>The Bourne Legacy</i> is expected to also do very well when it opens in <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">theaters</span></span></a> a few months from now.<br />
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The only drawback of becoming famous is the level of recognition and public scrutiny an actor usually gets but Jeremy is already getting used to it that when he was in Manila, he was no longer surprised when almost everybody knew who he was.<br />
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“That’s a strange thing anywhere you go,” he noted. “Over there (in Manila), it was really strange. It was really intense.”<br />
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But in Manila, he turned the table somehow and he got to become a fan himself when he met two of the biggest Filipino superstars in the world: Manny Pacquiao and President Noynoy Aquino.<br />
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“I got to meet <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Manny </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Pacquiao</span></span></a> — it was awesome!” he exclaimed. “I also got to meet the President and it was cool. He was a lovely guy. He talked about the infrastructure because there was a lot of traffic over there, lots of people.”<br />
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“Sorry for all the traffic, sorry for all the traffic,” Jeremy repeatedly said when asked if he had any message for the Filipino people. “We were like shutting down the streets. I was like, ‘Oh, they hate us, they hate us,’” he recalled.<br />
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But he knew, by looking at the people and their ready smiles, that somehow, the city didn’t really hate him. While in Manila he said he tried the local food, like <i>adobo</i> (“It was really, really terrific!) but declined to eat <i>balut</i> (“I didn’t do that. I am not too adventurous with food. Some <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=802318&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">duck</span></span></a> egg thing? It wasn’t my style.”).<br />
<br />
He was quick to add that he is only less adventurous with food but in other areas, especially his career, he is on a constant adventure.<br />
<br />
“Satisfaction? I don’t know if that is the right word. I feel like that ties in to complacency. I love to work. I get more opportunities to work — to learn, to grow. I am insatiable.”<br />
<br />
As we wrapped up the interview, he said he would welcome the chance to return to Manila to promote his movie. He also told this writer that he and his friends already have tickets to Manny’s next fight.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-78973565820250265942012-04-26T12:58:00.001-07:002012-04-26T12:58:10.784-07:00My coverage of "The Avengers"<br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">When Marvel superheroes band together</span><br /><a href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo++L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated April 26, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=800711" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=800711" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://208.184.76.174/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<i>The Avengers</i> is the best <i>Marvel </i>movie ever!<br />
<br />
That’s how this writer greeted every cast member of the massive and spectacular action movie during last week’s junket in Los Angeles — it was strictly forbidden to <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">tweet</span></span></a> or post any review about the movie on <i>Facebook</i> until the movie would open in theaters (it opened yesterday in the Philippines and on May 4 in the United States) so I had to keep my excitement about the movie to myself but when I saw the stars the morning after the world premiere, I just couldn’t help myself but rave to them how much I had fun watching their movie.<br />
<br />
This latest <i>Marvel </i>movie assembles all the biggest <i>Marvel</i> <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">superheroes</span></span></a> in one big giant movie that’s so grand and thrilling this writer, who, admittedly, can sometimes get too loud while watching a movie, joined nearly everyone in the audience cheering for almost the entire second half of the movie. It is so good I am so tempted to give it an A-plus rating. No one who watches this movie will leave the theater unsatisfied. <br />
<br />
The press day held at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills was just as epic as the movie. It was a hectic day. There were five 20-minute roundtables scheduled for the day, two 30-minute press conferences and two 10-minute one-on-ones with director Joss Whedon and with newly-minted action star Jeremy Renner, who was still raving about the Filipino hospitality he experienced to this day.<br />
<br />
We started the roundtables with Brit Tom Hiddleston, who plays the nefarious Loki, the role he originated in last year’s box-office hit <i>Thor</i>. Tom was paired with Jeremy, who plays the sharpshooting Hawkeye.<br />
<br />
“It was very, very challenging for me: Who’s Hawkeye? I was trying to figure that out,” Jeremy told us when asked how he felt now that he is officially a part of the current gallery of Hollywood superstars playing a <i>Marvel </i>superhero.<br />
<br />
The star-studded cast also includes Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Mark </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Ruffalo</span></span></a> as The Hulk, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Scarlett </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Johansson</span></span></a> as Black Widow, the lone female superhero in the story. The gorgeous Scarlett did not join the press junket but was present at the premiere the night before. Chris Hemsworth and Robert Jr. skipped the print roundtables, too, but joined the press conferences held in the afternoon.<br />
<br />
Tom and Jeremy mostly talked about how they were cast in the movie and the challenges they faced during filming, including the physically demanding stunts each of them had to do.<br />
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<div style="float: right; width: 450px;">
<img alt="" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img135/9519/ent3b450.jpg" /><b>Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Chris Evans as Captain America and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow</b></div>
“I hurt myself when I was up against The Hulk,” Tom revealed. “Basically, I had to throw myself backwards into the ground and I smashed my elbow — it was like, ‘I’m an idiot’!”<br />
<br />
“If you don’t get hurt, you’re not working hard enough,” Jeremy added before confirming reports that he suffered several concussions doing one very physical stunt with another character which I will not mention here so as not to spoil the movie. He also strained his neck after he twisted it too hard while doing his character’s signature archery move.<br />
<br />
The cast had stunt doubles but like the superheroes they play, they opted to do most of their own stunts to provide some form of realism to the movie. “I get such a thrill anyway when I am in the movies and I am watching actors do their own stunts. I love it!” Tom said before declaring that he was a big fan of Jeremy’s stunts in the recent <i>Mission Impossible</i>movie.<br />
<br />
When Chris (Evans) and Mark joined us next at the roundtable, the two had different stories to tell but most notably was Mark’s funny (or unfunny, depends on how one sees it) experience after reaching out to <i>Marvel </i>fans online after he was cast as The Hulk.<br />
<br />
“I made the mistake of going <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">online</span></span></a> early on,” Mark recalled half-smiling. “I’ve never had a role that had more speculation and been more dissected before I shot a frame of film. I got my ass handed to me early so I learned pretty early on not to go online and look what the fanboys are saying.”<br />
<br />
“It’s a slippery slope. It’s a dangerous <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">game </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">to </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">play</span></span></a> to go online and start reading opinions and get feedbacks,” Chris commented. “At the end of the day you are making a movie and developing the character with the director.”<br />
<br />
It’s good that Chris had foreshadowed what might have happened otherwise he would have also seen firsthand how nasty, mean and zealously possessive some fans are of their favorite <i>Marvel </i>superheroes because some of the worst comments Mark read online were indeed really harsh: “How could Mark play The Hulk when he can barely talk? He sounds retarded!” were some of the bad ones Mark enumerated.<br />
<br />
But if there was one group of fans that always believed in Mark, it was his three children, including his 10-year-old son, who he jokingly referred to as his inspiration when The Hulk starts losing control of his rage. “My son was like ‘yes!’”<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Marvel </i>fans have since mellowed and embraced Mark as the latest addition to <i>Marvel</i>’s gallery of superhero actors. “There was a lot of support, too. There was a lot of other good stuff but it’s funny, as an actor, you only remember the bad things people say about you. There was a lot to prove and I just hope we came through with it.”<br />
<br />
“In my opinion these movies don’t get made without the diehard fan base,” Chris stated. “They are the ones who make these movies big box-office success. If you don’t try to meet their expectations in a small way, you miss the mark.”<br />
<br />
One of the biggest reasons why all the <i>Marvel</i> movies have become huge successes can also be attributed to the passion and dedication of <i>Marvel</i> president Kevin Feige who spent nearly a decade setting up Marvel Studios. According to him he went from one studio to another trying to sell <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">ideas</span></span></a> for characters (like Fox’s <i>X-Men</i> and Sony’s <i>Spider-Man</i>) that have already been bought before realizing that he had some of the most popular <i>Marvel</i> characters in his catalog that are in need of a movie treatment.<br />
<br />
The journey for <i>The Avengers</i> started more than five years ago when <i>Marvel</i> decided to produce the first <i>Iron Man</i> movie. That movie reestablished Robert Downey Jr.’s career and launched Marvel Studios as a big player in the business. When <i><a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">The </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Incredible </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Hulk</span></span></a>, Captain America</i> and <i>Thor</i> hit theaters soon after, fans knew it was only a matter of time before they will see their beloved <i>Marvel</i> superheroes banding together in one movie.<br />
<br />
Helping Kevin realize his dream of assembling seven <i>Marvel </i>characters in one movie was writer-director Joss Whedon, who is very popular among science fiction fans for his TV series <i>Buffy, The Vampire <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Slayer</span></span></a></i> and the cult favorite <i>Serenity.</i><br />
<br />
Joss wrote a screenplay that manages to provide the right <a class="kLink" href="http://208.184.76.174/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=800711&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">tone</span></span></a> and balance of a massive action movie and the awareness that each of the characters are still going to have their future individual adventures in their own movies down the road. “You have to take them on a journey but then still leave them in a place where they can go on another one,” he remarked.<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Iron Man 3</i> starts filming in June. <i>Captain America 2</i> will go into production later this year. And, who knows, there might just be a sequel to <i>The Avengers</i> soon, like real soon!<br />
<br />
If the sequel does start filming soon, the cast couldn’t be anymore excited.<br />
<br />
“It was great — we got along so well,” Chris offered when asked how it was like on the set. “We really got lucky. When you sign up for this multi-picture contract you know you are going to be working with these people for a potentially long time. It is a blessing when it happens and you get along with these people. We had a good time, it was like summer camp.”<br />
<br />
With the popularity of superheroes at an all-time high, I asked the actors if there is still a need for superheroes in today’s very modern world.<br />
<br />
Mark, who fans feared could barely talk as The Hulk, offered the most interesting reply: “This is mythology. This is no different to saints in the past. This is part of our culture. This is a way we work out things in our storytelling. I definitely think we need this kind of storytelling. There are some ideas that are timely and cloaked inside this movie and that people love these movies for a reason.”<br />
<br />
True. I love this movie! And I don’t need to cite any particular reason only that I spent some of my best two hours watching this movie. No, make it four hours, because I am watching it again when it starts its regular run in theaters.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-18008454448419726842012-04-26T12:54:00.002-07:002012-04-26T12:55:09.530-07:00My 2nd interview with Amanda Seyfried (Gone)<br />
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<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated April 22, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=799534" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=799534" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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MANILA, Philippines - If you think Hollywood star Amanda Seyfried’s eyes can’t go any bigger then you are quite mistaken.<br />
This writer saw recently just how more beautiful she looks when she becomes really amazed — her innocent expression of surprise is a delight to behold.<br />
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Amanda’s big and pretty doll-like eyes widened when I mentioned Lea Salonga’s name during a brief chat we had after our roundtable interview with her in early February. This writer met with the star during the junket for her current movie, Pioneer Films’ Gone.<br />
Apparently, Amanda is a big fan of the Tony-winning Filipino actress. I asked her if she knows Lea personally but she said she did not. “Do I know her? No. Am I obsessed with her? Yes,” she exclaimed. “She’s Eponine! Oh, God, I love her!”<br />
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2012 is shaping up to be one particularly good year for the 26-year-old actress. With her solo starrer Gone now showing in theaters, she already has another movie in post-production — the highly anticipated biopic of Linda Lovelace, the iconic star of Deep Throat. And currently, she’s filming one of the biggest movies scheduled for release in December, the star-studded film adaptation of one of the well-loved Broadway musicals of all time, Les Miserables, the musical which Lea holds the honor of being the first Asian to be cast in two roles written for a Caucasian actor — Eponine and Fantine.<br />
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During the roundtable, even if we were there for her movie Gone, a thriller in which she portrays a survivor of a kidnapping who discovers one night that her sister was missing and may have been abducted by the same killer who tried to murder her the year before, the actress spent most of the 30 minutes we had talking enthusiastically about her casting as Cossette in the Les Miz adaptation.<br />
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“My favorite musical in the world is Les Miz,” Amanda gushed. “It’s always been that way. I saw it when I was 11. I was obsessed with it and I know every song.”<br />
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Amanda shared that she moved temporarily to New York last year to take voice lessons before she embarked on a month-long series of auditions that had her flying between L.A. and London.<br />
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“There was a point when I thought I wouldn’t get it,” she confided. “I was exhausted. I’ve been to London twice. I auditioned in LA. I spent so much money on this audition that I can actually say that I did my best and my hands are clean — and a month after I auditioned Tom Hooper (the director) called me.”<br />
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She said she was getting bitter about the process and the call from the Oscar-winning director of The King’s Speech just before Christmas last year was one of the best news she ever received — only she can’t tell anybody yet about it. She was told to keep it a secret until all parts have been cast and the director has made the formal announcement.<br />
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“It’s so hard!” she exclaimed. She had a cover interview for Glamour magazine earlier this year and she had to “lie” to the journalist when she was asked if she got the part already because she was still taking singing lessons. Fortunately, the announcement came four days later and the magazine was able to insert the piece of good news in their story.<br />
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She won the part over Taylor Swift. “I auditioned with Samantha Barks (the British actress who got the plum part of Eponine) and she was incredible. That’s all I am gonna say.” Also in the cast of Les Miz are Hollywood biggies Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway.<br />
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“People trust me to do these things so that must mean something — that gives me confidence. But at the same time, it’s a responsibility… playing these characters and straddling around from movie set to movie set is really about just the experience for me,” she added.<br />
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Who knew that after only seven years, she would be a bigger star than Lindsay Lohan? Amanda’s big break came in 2004 when she was cast in a small part in Lindsay’s Mean Girls. Her star continued to shine brightly after, while Lindsay struggled with drugs and alcohol.<br />
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And while Lindsay is still trying to settle all her legal troubles, Amanda is on her way to become a much bigger star — and if the stars truly align, she could even be an Oscar contender next year!<br />
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After Gone, her new movie Lovelace is set for release in the fall and the buzz all over Hollywood is about her revealing performance in Lovelace and the sizzling scenes she shared with her co-star Peter Saarsgard.<br />
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“She has an amazing story,” she said when asked about the biopic. “I think it is amazing how far someone can go on a journey that is so negative. It’s a powerful story.”<br />
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And because Lovelace is based on the woman that brought pornography out from the seedy video shops and into the mainstream, people are wondering if Amanda would be as daring as the real-life Linda Lovelace.<br />
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“If it’s necessary I would do it,” she replied. “But I don’t want to show my vagina and it has nothing to do against anybody that has. It’s wonderful but if you work with a good filmmaker anything goes.”<br />
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But before moviegoers get to see her naked in Lovelace and singing in Les Miserables, Amanda is set to keep audiences on the edge of their seats in Gone.<br />
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Those who will watch the movie will be amazed at her dedication to her craft. In Gone, she is in almost every frame of the movie. From the first shot of her scouring a forest to the last shot of her with that knowing grin on her face. (No spoilers here, sorry.)<br />
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“It’s hard,” she revealed when asked if it was a difficult shoot. “I wanted to be every part of every frame… It’s like a puzzle and you want to keep the audience with you at all times. You don’t want to lose them at any point.”<br />
The main challenge for her was how to stay warm in the cold. She was also on guard to not let her character’s paranoia get to her.<br />
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“I am not that paranoid but I am scared of the future. I am scared of death. I am scared of sickness. I am scared of the decline of the people I love.”<br />
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But she did have a story to tell about a wannabe stalker who tried to ask her out on a date one time. Good thing, the guy was sane enough to leave her alone after. She added that she feels most relaxed when she is on the set.<br />
And when asked which among her three big movies this year would she consider her most favorite, she immediately proclaimed Lovelace because, according to her, she got to work with Peter.<br />
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“Peter Saarsgard is the best actor I’ve ever worked with,” she declared. I reminded her that Gary Oldman, who was her co-star in last year’s Red Riding Hood, may not like her saying that but she only smiled and this time, her eyes did not grow wide anymore.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-23201602171481986302012-04-20T20:12:00.002-07:002012-04-26T12:55:35.033-07:00My Zac Efron Interview (The Lucky One)<br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Ready for a sexy Zac Efron?</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2fL.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo/L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated April 19, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=798414" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=798414" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img403/9955/ent3q.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div>
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MANILA, Philippines - Do you think fans of <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=798414&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Zac </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Efron</span></span></a> are ready to see him all grown-up on the big screen? The boyish Hollywood heartthrob thinks so. “I think they’re excited. I think they’re very excited,” he stated during last week’s junket for his <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=798414&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">new </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie</span></span></a>, the romantic drama The Lucky One, a Warner Bros.’ adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks bestseller where the actor not only shows his mature and muscled 24-year-old side but he also bares (nearly) his backside before the camera during an intense and lengthy love scene with his leading lady, Taylor Schilling, that serves as one of the movie’s biggest highlights.<br />
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In The Lucky One, the former teen idol portrays a US marine sergeant who returns to America from his third tour of duty determined to find the mysterious woman in the picture he discovered in the rubbles after a violent standoff with Iraqi insurgents. The role marks Zac’s transition to more mature parts.<br />
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He recounted feeling excited when he was offered the part. “I was very scared initially about playing a marine. I was kind of shaking my head at the part, just saying, ‘I’m not right for this.’ I don’t think I’m right for this role. And then after I saw Scott’s movies, I realized that he had taken a lot of different actors on journeys that they weren’t, you know, I didn’t see them in… And when I saw Shine, I just realized I’d be lucky at any point in my career to work with a filmmaker like this. And if it wasn’t scary, then I shouldn’t be doing it. So, that was when I realized that this was the part for me.”<br />
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Scott Hicks is the Australian director whose previous movies include the Oscar-nominated Shine, Snow Falling on Cedars and the Anthony Hopkins coming-of-age drama Hearts in Atlantis.<br />
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Zac also recalled that as part of his preparation for his role he went with the director to a marine camp in San Diego to meet with the soldiers in person to allow him to get a feel of his character in real life.<br />
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“I went to Camp Pendleton with Scott. And that was the first day where it really hit home — ‘What kind of guy this guy was?’” he remembered thinking to himself. “You know, all of our forces and our troops are of a different <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=798414&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">breed</span></span></a> — they were real men! They were my age. I was 22… 23, maybe — and they were my age!”<br />
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“They had been on three or four tours, you know, and had already been out there and become men on that journey. And seeing them, just through osmosis and being around them and hanging out with them, I was able to sort of pick up on what sets them apart, you know.”<br />
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The time Zac spent with the marines opened his eyes to the world of these unsung soldiers who risk their lives and leave their families behind to fight terrorists thousands of miles away just so we can all feel safe and sound in our own <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=798414&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">homes</span></span></a>. “It was powerful. It was neat watching them recount stories. Their sense of memory and the way they would feed off of each other. Some of them had been in combat together, you know, and we were just like sponges. I don’t think I took a deep breath the whole time I… It was so amazing.”<br />
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Asked how it was like to transition from being a teen idol to playing his first grown-up role — an ex-marine, for that matter, the handsome actor flashed a smile and nodded. “It was neat,” he replied. “Logan (his character’s name) is a very sort of sensible, very, very noble character. He has what I think is just like real, a different kind of integrity. He always does what’s right, you know.”<br />
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He added that he enjoyed playing his character even if Logan had less humor and had less of the regular song and dance that’s a staple in his previous movies.<br />
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But when asked about the daring love scenes, Zac blushed, turned a bit shy, and could only manage to describe the scene as “very nice.” The smile on his face, however, spoke volumes.<br />
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Meanwhile, his leading lady, Taylor, thought those intimate scenes were “easy” to shoot. “Zac makes it easy,” she said. “Yeah, those scenes, I think, when you’re lucky to work with somebody that you feel comfortable with… they can be easy days at work.”<br />
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“Yeah, (Because) we didn’t have any lines,” Zac joked before breaking into a hearty laugh.<br />
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Before one concludes that those love scenes were written into the story just so fans of Zac would see him in the buff, one should be reminded that these scenes are very essential to establish the all-conquering love story that’s typical in every Nicholas Sparks novel. Taylor explained that The Lucky One is “this beautiful fantasy of meeting somebody who (finds) that true love that can, kind of, heal all and conquer all and I think we got a chance to really explore that within the scenes with each other.”<br />
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Zac admitted being drawn to the love story as well. “I think that what was so neat about Logan as a character is after all that he had experienced, that he still had the drive and purpose to, you know… that there was a higher calling for him. There was something, another reason for him to be here. His mission wasn’t over yet.”<br />
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Like his character in the movie, the actor somewhat believes that we are all controlled by a fate and destiny that’s already been pre-designed for us.<br />
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“I believe in it at the end of the day,” he said haltingly. “I think that there’s something there… I look back at all the… So many different times that you could take the easy road that would have been… I don’t know, it could have ended things. But… I don’t know. There’s something, something guiding me?”<br />
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Whether there’s something guiding him or not, the grown-up Zac is fully in control of his career. He has just recently put up his own production company and will start developing movies for himself and for other actors. He just wrapped up a movie with Nicole Kidman. And, just recently, he will grace the Philippine ad campaign for Penshoppe.<br />
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But then you would ask: If he was really in control whose fault was it when he supposedly dropped a condom during the red carpet for his recent movie The Lorax?<br />
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I guess, the best answer to that is actually very simple: Zac, the former teen idol, is now a grown-up — responsible and mature. That’s all.<br />
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The Lucky One opens today in theaters.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-17063878302750830412012-03-31T15:57:00.000-07:002012-03-31T15:57:51.364-07:00My coverage of Titanic's 3D Re-release<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Titanic makes nostalgic return in 3D</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated March 31, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=792833" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=792833" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img855/4107/ent5b.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">The film, which launched the careers of relative unknowns Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (inset photo), resurfaces 15 years later — in time for the centennial of the sinking of the famous ship that inspired it.<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=792833" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">MANILA, Philippines - Sometime in November last year, this writer was invited by Fox Studios to an exclusive preview of the newly re-mastered version of <i>Titanic</i>, one of the biggest and most popular movies of all time, which Fox was planning to release to coincide with the centennial of the sinking of the famous ship on April 10 this year.<br />
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The screening was held inside the sprawling Fox lot in Century City. Everyone was excited that day because James<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Cameron</span></span></a>, the visionary director behind the movie, was going to be present to introduce the 3D version of <i>Titanic</i> before the screening and he was to hold a 40-minute Q&A afterwards with those who were in attendance. (The movie will also be released in traditional 2D, IMAX and Digital IMAX — any fan will have a choice of what version to watch.)<br />
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Journalists huddled a bit in the lobby before we were handed special 3D vision glasses and invited to take our seats inside the theater. I made a mistake when I dashed to the front of the theater thinking more of getting the best seat when James does his Q&A after the screening rather than considering the proximity of my seat to the screen. But I made my choice so I stuck with it.<br />
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As the clock approached the appointed screening time, James and his co-<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">producer </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Jon </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Landau</span></span></a> were ushered into an elevated platform next to the giant screen and welcomed us. He was like a gracious host welcoming us to his home. He thanked us for accepting their invitation. He spoke extensively about the movie, why they decided to make the movie in 1995 and the challenges they faced during the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">filming</span></span></a> of the movie — he still couldn’t shake his disappointment about how harsh the US press were in treating his movie initially, particularly <i>Variety</i> and its famous “Glub, glub, glub” headline predicting that <i>Titanic</i> would be a colossal failure even before they’ve seen a single footage.<br />
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<div style="float: right; width: 400px;"><img alt="" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img213/8039/ent5b400.jpg" /><b>Initially predicted by the US press as a colossal failure, Titanic went on to become the biggest film of all time</b></div>The massive production <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">cost</span></span></a> of the movie, all $200M of it and the recent failure of Kevin Costner’s costly and ambitious flop <i>Waterworld</i>, were some of the reasons why the press were skeptical of the movie’s potential success. If they had the gift of enormous foresight, they would have sung hallelujahs every day outside James’ house because <i>Titanic</i> would later become a global phenomenon and would become the biggest movie of all time — a feat that would only be topped by another James Cameron title, that little movie called <i>Avatar</i> more than a decade later.<br />
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Because of the negative publicity the movie was generating domestically, James decided to hold the premiere of <i>Titanic</i> at the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Tokyo </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">International </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Film </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Festival</span></span></a> and it was, according to him, one of their best decisions ever. “We felt that we had to make this a story for the world because the US press has had us tried and executed before the fact.”<br />
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The movie created such a mania in Japan that <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Leonardo </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">DiCaprio</span></span></a>, a relative unknown back then, became an overnight sensation and was even deemed a bigger star than the Emperor for a time during the record-breaking run of <i>Titanic</i>.<br />
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After Tokyo, they also held another screening in London, which elicited similar enthusiastic reaction from fans. The glowing reviews from London and Tokyo helped turn the tide of critical sentiment about the film in the US and the press finally embraced <i>Titanic</i> and the public soon followed.<br />
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So do you want to know how titanic this production of <i>Titanic</i> really was? Fox had to buy a lot — a huge lot! They built a huge tank — one that could hold 17 million gallons of water. And they built the ship — an exact 100 percent replica of <i>Titanic</i>! Filming lasted for months.<br />
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It was simply the most ambitious <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">project</span></span></a> ever.<br />
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Interestingly, however, the idea for <i>Titanic</i> was hatched way before the love story of Jack (DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Winslet</span></span></a>) was developed. James, who is an avid diver, confided that he shot the underwater exploration scenes shown during the first minutes of the movie years before when he first explored the <i>Titanic</i> wreck. And his fascination with the enduring charm of the <i>Titanic</i> legend inspired him to make a movie about it.<br />
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<div style="float: left; width: 400px;"><img alt="" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img444/115/ent5c400.jpg" /><b>Titanic director James Cameron </b></div>After the introduction, James and Jon excused themselves so the movie could start playing.<br />
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The lights dimmed and the haunting musical score by James Horner slowly enveloped the theater. The soft hum that slowly rises to a melodious cry entices the audience to again travel back in time and experience the doomed story of Jack, Rose and the ship that sailed to history.<br />
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A different kind of nostalgia unexpectedly crept in to me as I was watching the movie so close to the screen. The first sight of the ship brought me back to that packed first night screening of <i>Titanic</i> at the old Greenbelt Cinema 15 years ago. I was with my friends then and we didn’t get to the cinema early so we had no choice but to squeeze ourselves into the remaining spaces on the floor next to the screen — why the theaters allowed what was clearly a huge fire code violation did not concern us that time — and savored what was then billed the biggest movie ever made.<br />
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And the experience was unbelievable! For three hours, we sat there on the floor rapt in the story of Jack and Rose and the inevitable heartbreak that would come by the end of the movie. I may have watched the movie four more times before it finally ended its theatrical run in Manila.<br />
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Watching the re-mastered <i>Titanic</i> on the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">big </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">screen</span></span></a> is like watching the movie for the first time. The added depth of the 3D technology further enhanced the viewing experience but it was really the star-crossed <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792833&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">love </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">story</span></span></a> of Jack and Rose that keeps the movie virtually timeless. When Jack threatens Rose that he, too, will jump off the ship if Rose does still elicits the same audience reaction like it was 1997 again. When the ship cracks in half and slowly sinks to the bottom of the ocean, there’s an added sense of fear and panic now that the viewer feels like a helpless witness to the enormous tragedy.<br />
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During the Q&A, James explained to us the painstaking process of transforming each frame of the entire movie into 3D. The process was highly technical and all I understand from it was that this version of <i>Titanic</i> has more 3D per frame than <i>Avatar</i>.<br />
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One journalist told James that just like there were people who were disapproving of the project in 1997, there’s also a cynical group of people who maybe wondering if the real intent behind the re-release of <i>Titanic</i> is just to really add more cash to the producers’ pockets.<br />
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“Yes, I need the money!” James jokingly replied.<br />
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“I don’t care about them. If I could wave a magic wand and give everybody in the world an orgasm simultaneously, there would still be cynics looking for a way to criticize that.”<br />
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He went on to explain that this conversion of <i>Titanic</i> took 60 weeks to complete — longer than what a regular film shoot would usually take — and it created many jobs for people in the industry. The producers spent tens of millions of dollars to realize this conversion and there is nothing wrong in trying to get that investment back plus a little more in order to produce more movies.<br />
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And when James was asked why the sinking of <i>Titanic</i> is still a compelling story today, a century after it sunk, he replied, “It’s because it is almost like this perfectly written novel that really happened.”<br />
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Released by Fox, “Titanic” will open in theaters on April 7.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-1336059086773756982012-03-31T15:46:00.000-07:002012-03-31T15:46:16.262-07:00My interview with Milla Jovovich<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Milla: Motherhood tougher than fighting 'zombies'</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated March 30, 2012 12:00 AM</span></td></tr>
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<div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img832/2999/ent7x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." border="0" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img832/2999/ent7x.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></a><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Milla Jovovich is the zombie slayer Alice in the<em>Resident Evil</em> franchise.<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=792561" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Milla Jovovich has been battling zombies for nearly a decade now in the Resident Evil franchise that it was nearly inevitable that one decidedly cheesy question would be asked during last weekend’s roundtables for her current movie, the fifth in the series, Resident Evil: Retribution at the annual WonderCon event which is being held temporarily in Anaheim this year because the event’s home in San Francisco is currently under renovation.<br />
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Milla is a mom to her and Resident Evil director Paul W. S. Anderson’s four-year-old daughter so naturally one curious journalist from Europe asked her this question: “What is more difficult, raising a child or fighting the undead?” The question elicited a brief smile from the pretty Ukrainian-born star before obliging the journalist with an answer.<br />
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“You know, I always compare young children to sharks,” she started with a smile. “As soon as they smell blood, they go immediately for the jugular so you got to be on top of it. So, definitely, I think, being a mom in real life is more difficult than fighting pretend zombies.” She added that she has a video of her daughter proclaiming, “Zombies are <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">my </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">best</span></span></a> friends!”<br />
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Sony Pictures’ Resident Evil: Retribution is not set for release until later this year but fans of the popular series who attended the WonderCon showed up in droves and queued for hours just to get into one of the huge ballrooms just to catch a short<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">clip</span></span></a> from the movie and to have a chance to converse directly with Milla and Paul during the much-awaited panel discussion scheduled after the preview.<br />
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Fans who came in costumes as varied as Iron Man and Belle from Beauty and the Beast crowded the packed ballroom. The series has achieved such loyal following that two of my friends, Rjay and Robby, who went to WonderCon with me (sans costumes) and who are self-confessed die-hard Resident Evil fans even fed me questions to ask Milla during our private interview which preceded the panel discussion. Alas, the roundtable was commandeered early on by another journalist that I only managed to get in three questions.<br />
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<div style="float: right; width: 450px;"><img alt="" src="http://imageshack.us/a/img442/1397/ent7b450.jpg" /><b>Milla at the annual WonderCon — <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Photo</span></span></a> by Gage Skidmore</b></div>The actress and her director-husband disclosed that much of the success of the Resident Evil franchise is due to the legion of fans that are constantly giving Milla direct feedbacks through her Twitter account. Paul also revealed that they do listen to popular fan sentiments and they try very hard to accommodate whatever they clamor for into the movie’s storyline.<br />
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In fact, some plot developments for the fifth installment of the franchise were based on suggestions from fans: <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Key</span></span></a> characters like Leon, Ada and Barry are going to reappear in the latest movie, according to Paul, because fans wanted them to return.<br />
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Milla also believes that another reason why the franchise has proven to be very successful is how Paul has approached each of the four previous installments with utmost respect to the core Resident Evil universe that made the original <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">video </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">game</span></span></a> a blockbuster.<br />
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Each of the Resident Evil movies have grossed bigger than the previous one with the last installment, Resident Evil: Afterlife, the biggest of the four movies so far.<br />
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But just like every <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">popular </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie</span></span></a> franchise, the series is also headed to its eventual end. Not very soon, of course, but the director wants to inform the fans that the end is almost near.<br />
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“This is very much the beginning of the end,” Paul revealed. “This is setting up for an epic showdown where there will be a lot of people dead and a lot of blood spilled.” But he wouldn’t say whether there would be just one or two more movies left in the series. “When we did Resident Evil: Afterlife, we said it would be nice to do another trilogy to bring everything to an end. Loose ends are coming to an end and everything is, kind of, getting tied up.”<br />
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To excite the fans, Paul teased that Alice, Milla’s character, will be “pretty much in the belly of the beast” when asked how close will the heroine be to the Umbrella, the powerful organization in the franchise that protects the evil zombies. “Alice is going to bring it all down that’s why the title is called ‘Retribution,’” he said.<br />
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Whatever happens — whether Alice survives <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">in </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">the </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">end</span></span></a> or not — the franchise will go down in film lore as the series that made zombies such a rage in movies and in television again. Before the success of Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later and the hit <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">TV</span></span></a> series The Walking Dead, Alice was already waging war against the undead in Resident Evil.<br />
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But what is perhaps the biggest reason why the franchise has been so successful is the off-camera relationship between Milla and Paul.<br />
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The actress and the director met and fell in love while doing the series. They have been together for a decade now and it was very apparent during our interview how much respect and love both have for each other. <span style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;"><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;">Listening</a></span></span> to how Milla lovingly describes her husband (and Paul doing the same) was quite a refreshing off-topic that took us away from the gory world of the franchise, if for just a <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">little </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">bit</span></span></a>.<br />
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“What I love when Paul writes these movies is that you don’t know if it’s gonna be out next year or in two years or in three years,” she said gushing. “It is not forced, it is very organic and it’s very natural.”<br />
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Paul responded by declaring, “Milla is really the heart of this franchise. She brings an emotion and a heart to the film that is very touching and what is often lacking in male action heroes.”<br />
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“She brings 150 percent effort every day,” he added. “She makes you believe the world (the Resident Evil universe) because, you know, they are not the undead and they are not terrifying. They don’t want to eat your brain. They are just some extras with their make-up on <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=792561&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">talking</span></span></a> on their Blackberry (phones). They are not scary but it is Milla’s reaction to them that makes you believe that the creature is right there. Milla is terrified and the world you see in her face is real. She makes you believe it.”<br />
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But when asked who is the director at home, both of them just laughed.<br />
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“Need you ask?” asked Paul. “It’s our daughter, of course!”</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-62851816574075949382012-03-13T21:50:00.000-07:002012-03-13T21:50:33.283-07:00My 84th Oscar Awards Predictions<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+F.+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond F. Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated February 24, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=780593" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=780593" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/7904/ent5g.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Expect glitz and glamour that only the biggest award show on earth could offer.<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=780593" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">MANILA, Philippines - Because the 84th edition of the Oscars is set on Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila), film buffs all over the world are in a whirl of excitement and anticipation trying to determine which among the nominated actors and movies will walk away with arguably the most coveted prize in the world after the Nobel Prize.<br />
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Per tradition, this writer is giving The STAR readers a quick run-through of which performers and movies could win in the major categories come Sunday. But before that, here’s a quick trivia: Who is the only actress to have received at least one<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Oscar </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">nomination</span></span></a> for every decade since the ’70s? If you answered Meryl Streep, then mark one correct answer for you.<br />
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The chameleonic actress, who began her record-setting Oscar haul of 17 nominations during the latter part of the ‘70s in the Vietnam drama The Deer Hunter, ushers in the second decade of the new century with a new nomination for her magnificent portrayal of England’s Margaret Thatcher in the biopic The Iron Lady.<br />
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Ironically, Meryl has amassed so many Oscar nominations that many people think she already has a shelf-full of golden statuettes at home. The sad truth is that she has not won an Oscar since winning in 1982. Consider this: She has been nominated 12 times and also lost for 12 consecutive times since then.<br />
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On Sunday night, the greatest <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">American </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">actress</span></span></a> in history is poised to finally end the drought and make her 13th nomination since winning for Sophie’s Choice her lucky outing. But many Oscar prognosticators aren’t so sure though. Meryl is facing stiff competition from Tony-winner Viola Davis, whose star-making turn in The Help has already earned her a Best Actress trophy from the Screen <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Actors </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Guild</span></span></a> (SAG), the all-important precursor award seen by many Oscar-watchers as the only accurate predictor of the Academy Awards.<br />
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Admittedly, this writer is one of Meryl’s biggest fans and every time she gets a nomination I always predict a win for her. Two years ago, she had the best chance of winning but Sandra Bullock had the best year of her career and that goodwill carried over to the Oscars. Sadly, the story from two years ago rings similar to this year’s race: Viola is enjoying her best year and the Academy may be inclined to crown that year with a <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Best </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Actress</span></span></a> award for her.<br />
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But being a fan, I can always spin a story favorable to Meryl’s cause. Yes, Meryl will win but not because she hasn’t won in 30 years. She will win because she delivered the best performance of the year and because her turn in The Iron Lady is her best ever! Her towering performance offers many would-be actresses a clinical lesson on how to act.<br />
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Other actresses competing with Meryl and Viola for Best Actress are Michelle Williams, who was brilliant as the tormented Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, Glenn Close, who earned her sixth nomination for her gender-bending role in Albert Nobbs and first-time nominee Rooney Mara for her fierce and brave performance in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.<br />
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Best Actress prediction? I am going against the SAG and I predict that Meryl will win her well-deserved third Oscar.<br />
<br />
In the hotly contested race for Best Actor, George Clooney and Brad <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Pitt</span></span></a> are undeniably the most popular contenders among the five actors in the race. The Hollywood superstars, who are great friends in real-life, are competing for their masterful turns as fathers-in-crises in The Descendants and <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Moneyball</span></span></a>, respectively. However, the frontrunner in this category is an otherwise unknown French actor named Jean Dujardin whose charming turn as a fading silent film star in the silent movie The Artist has already been recognized by the SAG and the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">British </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Academy</span></span></a>.<br />
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George is tipped by many to win his second Oscar but Hollywood’s most eligible <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">bachelor</span></span></a> will most likely spend the evening smiling before the camera while stuck to his seat if the predicted sweep of The Artist materializes and Jean waltzes his way to the stage to collect his Oscar on his very first nomination.<br />
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The two other actors nominated in the category are also first-timers: Mexico’s Demian Bichir, who delivered a heartbreaking performance as an illegal immigrant caring for his son in A Better Life, and, surprise, surprise, Gary Oldman! Yes, the actor, considered by many critics as the greatest European actor of his generation, has never received a nomination until this year. The actor was cited for his understated but powerful performance as a master spy in the British adaptation of John Le Carre’s classic novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.<br />
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My prediction for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin.<br />
<br />
While the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Best </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Actor</span></span></a> and Best Actress races are difficult to predict, the race for the supporting performances has been virtually decided months ago. Octogenarian actor Christopher Plummer is set to become the oldest performer ever to receive an acting Oscar for his delightful turn as a widower who came out as a gay man to his son during the last days of his life in the acclaimed movie Beginners.<br />
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Chris is competing against Max Von Sydow (Extremely Close/Incredibly Loud), Nick Nolte (Warrior), <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Jonah </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Hill</span></span></a> (Moneyball) and Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn).<br />
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In the Best Supporting Actress race, <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=780593&publicationSubCategoryId=#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">character </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">actress</span></span></a> Octavia Spencer is also virtually guaranteed to receive an Oscar for her affecting and audience-pleasing performance as a feisty maid in The Help. Octavia is joined in this category by her The Help co-star Jessica Chastain.<br />
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Other actresses nominated in this category are former nominee Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs, Berenice Bejo for The Artist and Melissa McCarthy, whose scene-stealing turn in Bridesmaids is the only comedic performance to receive a nomination this year.<br />
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The race for Best Director pits four of Hollywood’s legendary and greatest directors against a Frenchman, whose homage to silent movies could also sweep the Oscars.<br />
<br />
French director Michel Hazanavicius, who was declared winner by the Directors Guild of America, is tipped to also win the Oscar for his work in The Artist against Martin Scorsese (Hugo), Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris), Terence Malick (The Tree of Life) and Alexander Payne (The Descendants).<br />
<br />
Alexander and Woody are most likely not going home empty-handed because the nominated directors are also nominated and are expected to win for their writing works on their respective movies.<br />
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For the nights’ biggest award, the Best Picture race, nine movies are in competition this year: The Artist, Hugo, War Horse, The Help, The Tree of Life, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, Extremely Close/Incredibly Loud and The Descendants.<br />
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My predicted winner for Best Picture is The Artist. But if there will be an upset, look out for either The Help or The Descendants to pull the trick. If Hugo pulls the unlikeliest of upsets and win Best Picture, I will be happiest.<br />
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In the animated feature film category, the western Rango is expected to win in a category where the only other mainstream nominees are Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss in Boots.<br />
<br />
Only two movies are expected to duke it out in the other categories. The Artist and Huwill most likely split the awards haul with the latter taking most of the technical awards.<br />
<br />
The Iranian film A Separation will most likely score a historic win for its country in the Best Foreign Language Film category. However, Poland’s entry In Darkness, which is based on a harrowing true story about the Holocaust, is a dark horse contender that could very well be the surprise winner in the category — and I will be disappointed, if that happens.<br />
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Final count. Hugo: Six wins. The Artist: Five wins. The Iron Lady: Two wins.<br />
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Beloved comedian and veteran Oscar host Billy Crystal will again take over the emceeing job Sunday night.<br />
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***<br />
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Author's note: I got all ten major categories right. And in the distribution of most Oscars, only the surprise win of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for Editing spoiled my predicted count, otherwise i would have been perfect! :)</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-53302768089822652432012-03-13T21:41:00.000-07:002012-03-13T21:41:48.116-07:00My coverage of The Firm<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">The Firm 10 years later</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated February 20, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=779195" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (1)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=779195" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2716/ent5c.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Josh Lucas as the new Mitch McDeere in the TV continuation of the novel and film<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=779195" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">Back in the early ‘90s, a small-city trial lawyer hit pay dirt when his sophomore effort as a novelist topped the bestseller charts and was turned into a movie starring no less than the hottest Hollywood movie star at the time, Tom Cruise. Under the masterful direction of Oscar-winner Sydney Pollack, <i>The Firm </i>became one of the biggest hits of 1993 and launched the John Grisham brand of legal thrillers — the type where the hero (mostly a he but sometimes a she) from a small American town stumbles onto a conspiracy, fights the bad guys and emerges triumphant in the end. Good always prevails. The singular characteristic of every John Grisham book is the taut storytelling and fast-paced escalation of action and suspense. Some critics even coined the term “unputdownable” in describing his books.<br />
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More than two decades after Grisham published his first book, the hero from <i>The Firm,</i> Mitch McDeere, considered by many fans as his most memorable character ever, resurfaces in a new television series that picks up the story 10 years after Mitch went into hiding after bringing down the mob-controlled law firm Bendini, Lambert and Locke and sending to prison a Chicago mob boss and his cohorts.<br />
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In the TV series, which premiered on AXN last night, Mitch and his family, along with his feisty assistant Tammy and brother Ray, decide to emerge from hiding after the death of the mob boss in an attempt to rebuild their lives in the open, without fear of being taken out by the mob. However, much like how the original novel unraveled, Mitch will again find himself in the middle of another conspiracy that could put him and his family’s life in danger.<br />
This new <i>The Firm</i> is not based on the book or the movie but it retains the central characters from the original and keeps the same level of suspense and thrills that made the book Grisham’s most popular.<br />
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“What attracted me to <i>The Firm</i> originally was just that I was a fan,” series producer Lukas Reiter told this writer during the show’s industry preview held in Pasadena last month. “I thought it was an amazing story. I write mostly legal drama in my career and so I spend a lot of time thinking about great stories, great legal stories and how to tell them. And so I’ve always had tremendous respect for the novel and the film. I do consider both of them to be classics of the legal genre.”<br />
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Lukas approached Grisham about his idea of adapting the book but setting it 10 years after the events in the novel and the celebrated author immediately liked the concept and gave his approval.<br />
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“You get to see a guy who was supposed to be this amazing attorney with all this potential and in the end, he never go to do any of that. He ended up on the run, probably living in small towns throughout the country, forced to take cases that weren’t worthy perhaps of his intelligence and his abilities. And so it’s a cool idea I thought, you know, what is he still holding onto.”<br />
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“Does he still want to be that guy? Has he moved past it? Does he think that only getting back to that will make him happy? Does his wife know that true happiness can only come from his family and will never come from fulfillment in his work? All of those themes started to get very interesting to me.”<br />
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Grisham, unfortunately, didn’t make it to the press event so Lukas had to fill in most of the questions reserved for him.<br />
<br />
<div style="float: right; width: 300px;"><img alt="" src="http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7348/ent5b300.jpg" /><span align="center" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: smaller;"><b>Lucas with other members of the cast</b></span></div>“I wish John were here today,” he said before telling us the extent of Grisham’s participation in the making of the TV series. “John gets all of our outlines, he gets all of our scripts and is very helpful to me and to all of our writers in the shaping of the big picture of the series.”<br />
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Fans of Grisham will be happy to know that the central conspiracy in the series was mostly the author’s idea.<br />
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“(For) the main conspiracy, John had a tremendous amount to do with that. He’s amazing in that way. We really wanted something at the heart of the first season that would appeal to an international audience. We wanted themes and story points that would have universal appeal and John is fantastic at that. He understands how to tap into just a line of storytelling that just resonates with everybody across all different cultures. And he did it!”<br />
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“We set out to find what that story was going to be and I think he really nailed it. The universal themes like the sacredness of a human life, you know, those sorts of things that resonate no matter who you are, no matter where you live are very much at the heart of the show. And so I wish I could take more credit for that, but John knew what we needed to do.”<br />
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The producer also revealed how he approached the difficult task of casting the parts in the series without necessarily inviting comparison to the original cast of the highly-acclaimed 1993 adaptation. For the record, the movie version earned a number of Oscar nominations including one for Holly Hunter’s portrayal of Tammy Hemphill.<br />
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In the series, the part of Tammy was offered to Oscar-nominated Juliette Lewis who is finally making her television debut after a stellar Hollywood career that spans more than two decades.<br />
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“I never considered series television for a long time and then I took this meeting, because they said hey, do you want to meet on <i>The Firm,</i> you know, John Grisham, you know, the book, the movie,” Juliette revealed. “I love these stories and I love Grisham as brand, as a writer. He always has really thrilling stories. And I read the pilot and it was really exciting, so off that, I took the meeting and I liked the idea that it was an ensemble, because I don’t want to be a lead in a series right now. It would be too much pressure. Josh Lucas has all the pressure. And Josh Lucas was involved and I think this is a great role for him. And I don’t know, everything about it seemed right and it seemed like I should say yes. So I did.”<br />
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Yes, it’s true. Hollywood heartthrob Josh Lucas is the new Mitch McDeere. The <i>Sweet Home Alabama</i> leading man bravely accepted the part even though he knew his turn would most likely draw comparison to Tom’s performance.<br />
“I’ve done Broadway a little bit, where it’s the same thing on Broadway,” he replied when asked about the eventual comparison to Tom. “The only difference is you make it as new and fresh every single night. The difference with TV is that you have new material every day so you have this extraordinary workload. And then the challenge becomes to take a character that’s known like Mitch McDeere who is known through both the book and Tom Cruise’s performance.”<br />
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He added that he wanted to make the role his own while paying homage to Tom’s performance by adding subtle elements from the movie.<br />
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“There’s a great moment in the movie where Tom Cruise is making copies and he’s cut himself shaving and he’s got a little piece of toilet paper on his face. I thought that’s like just the best little detail and so I wanted to do things like that. It’s not in the pilot, but, hopefully, I can put that into the series at one point because I really like some of the things that Tom Cruise does that way.”<br />
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Producer Lukas agreed. “We’re very lucky to have Josh take on this role. From the beginning he was at the top of our list and it was very cool when we realized that he was responding to the material and wanting to join us. He’s incredibly bright. He’s incredibly resourceful. He’s brave.”<br />
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Acclaimed Canadian actors Molly Parker and Callum Keith Rennei portray the role of Mitch’s wife Abby and Mitch’s ex-convict brother Ray, respectively.<br />
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<i>The Firm</i> airs on AXN Sundays.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-21578846127954845272012-02-10T14:38:00.000-08:002012-02-10T14:38:45.294-08:00My Rachel McAdams Interview<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Rachel McAdams on loving with heart and brain</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated February 10, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=776081" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=776081" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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</span></span><div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1245/ent6ji.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Rachel with co-star Channing Tatum (left) in a scene from the new romantic drama.<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=776081" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">MANILA, Philippines - “Are you in love with the idea of someone? Or are you in love with the fight more than the outcome?” Rachel <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=776081&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">McAdams</span></span></a> posed this rhetorical question during our recent interview with her at the junket for the new romantic drama <i>The Vow,</i> which opens in theaters today.<br />
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<i>The Vow</i> tells the moving <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=776081&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">love </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">story</span></span></a> of a couple whose relationship had to endure a very difficult test when the wife lost all her memory of the husband after a tragic accident. Rachel portrays Paige, the wife, while hunky <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=776081&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Channing</span></span></a> Tatum, who is transitioning into an A-List actor, plays her devoted husband Leo.<br />
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The heart of the story is the struggle that Channing’s character had to go through in trying to win back the affection and love of his wife who sees him as nothing but a stranger. “I think the hardest thing about this is that ultimately no matter what you do the other person who’s lost their memory — it has to be their idea,” Rachel explained. She also noted that after researching for her role and after talking with experts on memory loss, she believes that “even if all your memories are erased, you will find your way back.”<br />
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Rachel, who was stunning in the royal <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=776081&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">blue </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">dress</span></span></a> she wore to the junket, added, “There’s this kernel of truth inside of you, no matter what happens to you, that you can connect with and that extends to the people that you connect to in life.”<br />
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In real life, her love life has a more ordinariness to it. Thankfully. No memory loss to worry about, just the occasional paparazzi and the curious questions posed by journalists.<br />
<br />
The beautiful actress, who has previously dated Ryan Gosling and is now in a relationship with <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=776081&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">British </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">actor</span></span></a> Michael Sheen, is known to be very reserved and private in real life so our interview with her was markedly different from our session with Channing.<br />
<br />
While Channing was a little more candid and forthcoming — and no particular topic was off-limits to him, his <i>The Vow</i> co-star was more scant with the information she wanted to share with us during our roundtable interview.<br />
<br />
This limitation opened up the roundtable to the more interesting and serious subject of the psychology of love and of <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=776081&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">falling </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">in </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">love</span></span></a> that the movie brings up — and Rachel’s thoughts and ideas turned out to be just as fascinating.<br />
<br />
Consider these questions:<br />
<br />
Don’t people fall in love with their hearts and not with their brain?<br />
<br />
If one meets a stranger then falls in love in the process, why can’t someone who lost her memory fall in love again with the same person even if that person is nothing but a stranger yet again? Can’t she teach herself to fall in love again?<br />
<br />
These are some of the philosophical questions that Rachel happily shared her ideas about.<br />
<br />
“Because there’s so much pressure to remember,” she replied to the latter question. “That clouds your ability to just be with the person. That clouds your ability to just go on and have nice easy, breezy dates and get to know each other again. There’s so much pressure. There’s so much disappointment.”<br />
<br />
She cited one line in the movie when Paige, her character, said to Leo in surrender: “I am so tired of disappointing you and I can’t look into your eyes and see how much I’m hurting you anymore.”<br />
<br />
When asked if she thinks it is easier for someone to fall in love with a complete stranger than with someone whom the person had a history with but can’t remember, she finished the question, supplied the last word and immediately responded, “Absolutely!”<br />
<br />
<i>“(The Vow)</i> brings up a lot of interesting ideas about fate and destiny and who you are if you don’t have your memory,” she added.<br />
<br />
But, all memories intact, can she fall in love again with the same person with whom she has fallen out of love before?<br />
<br />
“Well, yeah. I think, in that case, you have these ties that bind, you have the past that tells you, that informs whether you can maybe make it work or not,” she replied before breaking into a short smile and said, “It’s funny how we have selective memories about those things. You break it off and then you come back and it becomes totally different than the first time. It’s selective amnesia!”<br />
<br />
And back to the first question, does she love with her heart or with her brain?<br />
<br />
“I think it’s both, isn’t it?” she replied but was already holding herself from cracking up because the interview has turned a bit cheesy. “I love cheesy!” she declared before she started laughing the sweet laugh that has endeared her to so many <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=776081&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">fans</span></span></a> all over the world.<br />
<br />
Our roundtable interview was punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter over some of the more philosophical and cheesier questions except for one awkward moment when one journalist from Israel dared to ask her about Michael. And how Rachel responded to the question was very cute: She just smiled.<br />
<br />
Rachel met Michael on the set of Woody Allen’s <i>Midnight in Paris.</i> They have been together ever since.<br />
<br />
Before we let Rachel go, we had to ask her one last cheesy question that some of the more romantic people would rather believe — and her reply was a real surprise.<br />
<br />
Could it be true that, even if we try, we can only love one person in our lifetime?<br />
<br />
“I think that you can fall in love with maybe not hundreds of people but a handful and there is one that you want to really do that for a very long time with,” she offered and ended the interview with a smile, leaving us taken by her gentleness and charm, much like how her characters in movies usually win the heart of the men they love.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-79117891398505289612012-02-10T14:35:00.000-08:002012-02-10T14:35:27.258-08:00My Channing Tatum Interview<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated February 06, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=774703" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (1)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=774703" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="spacer" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0px; height: 3px; line-height: 3px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 3px;"><br />
</span></span><div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/3494/ent7q.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Channing Tatum (with Rachel McAdams in <i>The Vow</i>) is so secure with his masculinity that he can talk about his life and even his private part.<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=774703" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">“I did not prank anyone! No, no!” Channing Tatum declared when asked to provide more details about one particularly naughty prank he pulled on the set of his new movie <i>The Vow</i> during last week’s junket in Beverly Hills.<br />
<br />
“The swinging pinky d--k?” he asked. “That’s amazing, who told you that?” He was laughing and shaking his head at the same time after we pressed him for details.<br />
<br />
The hunky actor, who is enjoying a hot streak in Hollywood at the moment, strapped on a fake penis during a scene that called for him to stand naked in front of co-star Rachel McAdams and started jiggling the extra appendage to annoy her.<br />
<br />
The prank did not annoy Rachel but instead amused everyone on the set including the director who patiently waited for things to settle down before filming the scene. In the movie, however, only the actor’s naked backside is shown — but female fans of the sexy actor will definitely take delight in the movie because there are quite a few scenes where he takes off his clothes and bares his chiseled body.<br />
<br />
Channing is so secure with his masculinity that he can talk about his past, his career and personal life — and his private part (fake or not) with nary a hesitation or much fanfare. <i>Details </i>magazine once featured an entire article about how he burned his private part while filming an action movie two years ago. He even had pictures of the burnt body part on his mobile phone that he showed to the writer who interviewed him for the story.<br />
<br />
Today, the actor is talking less about any body part but more about his hot career, his new movie with Rachel and his upcoming movie with director Steven Soderbergh that’s rumored to be based on the period in his life when he stripped for a living — “I am not really happy to talk about it but I am open about it. I think it’s hilarious. It truly was a ridiculous part of my life.”<br />
<br />
Screen Gems’ <i>The Vow</i> is an endearing new movie about love, devotion and sacrifice inspired by a real-life story of a couple who had to endure the most difficult test of their lives when the wife partially lost her memory after a terrible car accident and failed to recognize the very same man she vowed to love all her life.<br />
<br />
The movie traces the story after this accident and how Channing’s character Leo tries to win back Rachel’s Paige. The narrative addresses those “impact” moments in everyone’s life when a sudden event plunges us to a new direction and purpose in life and forces us to examine the relationships we have built and the amount of sacrifice we are willing to offer for someone we love.<br />
<br />
Channing, 30, is happily married to actress Jenna Dewan in real life and their love story, though it may not directly mirror the love story in <i>The Vow</i>, is just as inspiring and romantic.<br />
<br />
But Channing’s part of the story does not start here. It starts miles away from Hollywood, in a small Mississippi town where he grew up not dreaming of becoming an actor.<br />
<br />
“I was so defined by sports all my life,” he said. He described himself as a jock before he made the realization that he didn’t want to have anything to do with sports anymore. “I didn’t even want to go to school.” He spent some time trying odd jobs including becoming a stripper before a “creepy guy” (his words) approached him in Florida if he had representation. “I didn’t even know what representation meant,” he revealed.<br />
<br />
With no previous experience in acting but armed with his good looks and determination, Channing found himself being cast in several ad campaigns for Armani and Abercrombie & Fitch, among others, and before long he was already doing bit parts in music videos and small movies. And it was when he moved to Hollywood that he finally discovered what it was that he really wanted in life. “I truly just fell in love. I will be doing this ‘til I am dead, until I can’t do it anymore.”<br />
<br />
The biggest break, or “impact” moment, in his life came when he did 2006’s <i>Step Up</i>. The movie accelerated his ascent to the top in Hollywood and it also introduced him to his future wife, Jenna.<br />
<br />
Unlike other stars, who are so guarded about their personal lives, Channing did let us in on a few bits and pieces about his life with Jenna and how he is working hard every day to make their marriage last.<br />
<br />
“When I jump, I jump. I am all in,” he declared. “I think loving somebody and caring for somebody is the same thing. I think it’s just a different way of expressing yourself. It’s one of those things where I don’t think it’s hard to show somebody that you care for them.”<br />
<br />
“Write ‘I Love You’ and hide it in a place where it’s hard to find. Don’t worry if she finds it or not. Just hide a bunch of stuff everywhere. That takes 10 minutes to hide a bunch of papers around the house — it’s not that hard.”<br />
Channing’s marriage survives because he and his wife give themselves only two to four weeks away from each other before they really have to drop everything and see each other.<br />
<br />
“There’s only so much you can do with <i>Skype.</i> I am not a good phone person. Every two weeks, no matter where we are, we try to see each other and she’s been so good about it. She has traveled more than I have. She’ll come in and hang out for 12 hours and get back on the plane, you know, because she’s busy and vice versa.”<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/2343/ent7b.jpg" vspace="5" /><br />
Channing believes “that making time and being really aware of your connection” is the key to a strong relationship.<br />
<br />
He also shared a little game that he regularly play with his wife to measure how much they love each other at a given time. He described it as: “It’s like ‘How much do you love me right now on a scale of 1 to 10? You have to be honest.’ And you really have to be honest because otherwise you say 10 but you don’t feel like a 10 and then you don’t get what you need to be a 10. And if you say five, then you are really annoying the s--t out of me. And you say ‘I am sorry’ because you don’t feel like you’ve done your job…”<br />
<br />
His candidness slowed down only when we inquired what part of his character’s vow in the movie was lifted from his actual vow. “I would love to tell you guys because it actually meant a lot to me but I don’t really know if I want them out.” <i>(Note: Channing did acknowledge that the vow that he recites in the movie contains portions of his actual wedding vow to his wife.)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
To say that Channing is a charmer in person would be an understatement. The guy has an easy smile and he makes you feel like you are his friend. He will most likely gain more fans with <i>The Vow</i> and when his highly anticipated “stripper” flick called <i>Magic Mike</i> hits theaters later this year.<br />
<br />
And, contrary to reports, <i>Magic Mike</i>, which he is producing, is not based on his stripping past. “Not a biopic. No. I am not gonna do a story of my life as a stripper. It has nothing to do with it,” he said, trying to shoot down the false rumor. “There is no event that actually happened in the movie that ever happened in my own life. The stuff that happened in my own life was crazier. That life was so weird, such a strange world.”<br />
<br />
He may have had a strange past but Channing is in no way living a weird life now — crazy and exciting, yes, but certainly not weird.<br />
<br />
<i>(The Vow opens Feb. 10 in Metro theaters.)</i></div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-67506634994102198292012-01-29T20:24:00.000-08:002012-01-29T20:28:57.444-08:00My 2nd Leonardo Di Caprio Interview (J. Edgar)<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">DiCaprio at his best in J. Edgar</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated January 23, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=770350" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=770350" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/9332/ent4v.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;"></span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=770350" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">MANILA, Philippines - Funny how this writer regularly find interesting tidbits of regular, random conversation between stars and their handlers when I review my recording before I start transcribing my interviews. The exchanges are mostly about the temperature of the room where the interviews are being held or whether the stars needed something before we start counting down the 30 minutes allotted to us. To my welcome surprise, my recorder offered me just that when I was reviewing the interview I had with <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Hollywood </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">superstar</span></span></a> Leonardo DiCaprio recently.<br />
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This writer met with the handsome actor sometime in November last year during the junket of his <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">current </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie</span></span></a>, Warner Bros.’ J. Edgar, the acclaimed biopic directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood.<br />
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Ordinarily, we start running the recorder just as soon as we get notice that the star is on his way to join us in our interview suite. So, just as we were about to begin our interview, I started my recorder and it captured a brief but charming exchange between Leo and his handler just as he was settling in to his seat. The subject of the conversation was rather trivial but it offered something new to add to the list of things that make the actor really, really nice and likable in person.<br />
<br />
The handler asked if he wanted a cappuccino instead of the regular coffee he brought with him. Leo initially said yes but later declined the offer. “I wish I had a cappuccino,” he said. “But actually I don’t want one. This is my fifth cup.” You know what made it really interesting? First, he was drinking the same coffee that everyone was drinking and, second, it was only 10 in the morning yet he already had five cups of coffee!<br />
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Leo is already in his mid-30s with few telltale signs of fine wrinkles up close yet, if one would listen closely to his voice when he speaks, one wouldn’t notice anything different to the Leo today and to the young actor who played Jack in Titanic 15 years ago. He still has that distinct voice and speaking style that’s a cross between an excitable young adult and an impatient adolescent.<br />
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Ask him anything and he will give you a lengthy but substantial response. He is famous for his utmost dedication to his craft and one can glean this trait when he starts talking about the current project he is doing or promoting.<br />
<br />
J. Edgar, is based on the life of former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover who is considered by many as perhaps the most powerful and feared person in America during his time. The movie brings to light <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">the </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">true </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">story</span></span></a> of the enigmatic J. Edgar — from the creation of the FBI to his much-whispered homosexuality. Leo’s powerful and impassioned performance has garnered some of the best reviews of his career and he is expected to receive his fourth Oscar Best <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Actor </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">nomination</span></span></a> when the nominations are announced on Feb. 24 — but just don’t mention it to him.<br />
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“The truth is I have learned through my experiences in this industry that there is absolutely no way to control or do anything as far as people’s opinions on your performance or movie — and that is the truth,” he declared emphatically when asked about his <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Oscar</span></span></a> chances. “You go out there and you promote your film and you hope people like the work that you did and they are gonna respond the way they are gonna respond when they are in the room with that ballot. Who knows? I am thankful that people are talking about it but ultimately, I truly have no control over it. I really don’t.”<br />
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Make no mistake about it, Leo’s performance in J. Edgar is not just one of the strongest this year, it is also one of his best ever. And he could just win the Oscar any year with this performance. Again, just don’t mention it to him.<br />
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“I don’t think anyone would say that they wouldn’t want one. They’d be lying, I think. But that is not my motivation when I do these roles. I really am motivated by being able to work with great people.”<br />
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He added that he was more interested in having a “creative body of work for myself that I can look back and be proud of.”<br />
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“I was 15 years old when I had my first opportunity in movies. I went and watched movies for a year and a half. I watched every possible great film and every great performance I could and since then I’ve said to myself how could I ever emulate such great artistic master that’s been done in cinemas past. That’s really my motivation and that’s a fact. I feel like I want to do something as good as what all my heroes have done.”<br />
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Leo picks his projects meticulously. He revealed that two of the primary reasons why he did J. Edgar were the opportunity to finally get to work with Mr. Eastwood and to be able to play a character as complex and ambiguous as J. Edgar Hoover. Some critics have noted that he seems to be attracted to suffering and tormented characters. Case in point is his two masterful turns in Martin Scorsese’s taut <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">thriller </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Shutter </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Island</span></span></a> and Christopher Nolan’s mind-blowing masterpiece Inception last year.<br />
<br />
In J. Edgar, he adds another great character to his body of work that already includes, among many others, Howard Hughes in <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">The </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Aviator</span></span></a>, controversial poet Arthur Rimbaud in Total Eclipse and, of course, Romeo Montague in Baz Lurhman’s now classic Romeo+<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Juliet</span></span></a>.<br />
<br />
What attracted him to J. Edgar Hoover’s story was his unquestioned place in American history. “His life was a reflection of the changing of our country,” he said. “I think that he had great intentions for our country. I think that most of what he did was under the auspices of being a great patriot and great American and I think that he also really wanted personal glory. He was very ambitious... (FBI) was his baby and he wanted to be the symbol of it — the symbol of power in his office — and to hold on to that power at any <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">cost</span></span></a> necessary. It’s hard to like somebody who has that kind of attitude about their job, but I do believe he was a patriot and his intentions for protecting our country were there.”<br />
<br />
J. Edgar Hoover is credited for creating the most powerful and most sophisticated law enforcement agency in the world but at the expense of personal liberty and freedom as some critics would contend. “He had despicable tactics towards the end of his life but it was all under the auspices of the fact that he thought he was a great patriot and he was doing a service to the country.”<br />
<br />
Another aspect of J. Edgar Hoover’s mysterious life that’s tackled in the movie is his presumed homosexuality, including his apparent life-long love affair with his assistant Clyde Tolson, who is portrayed in the movie by handsome newcomer Armie Hammer. Note: The Screen Actors Guild recognized Armie’s impressive performance with a<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Best </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Supporting </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Actor </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">nomination</span></span></a>.<br />
<br />
Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench and Oscar-nominated <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=770350&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">actress </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Naomi </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Watts</span></span></a> are also part of the incredible cast.<br />
Leo may be too modest to talk about how impressive he was in this movie but there is no denying that his powerful performance carries the movie as it navigates through the more than 50 years in J. Edgar Hoover’s colorful life. Watch it and be amazed.<br />
<br />
(J. Edgar opens in theaters on Jan. 25)</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-20246179752094262382012-01-29T20:21:00.000-08:002012-01-29T20:21:16.810-08:00My Robert Downy, Jr. Interview (Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows)<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">The game is on for Robert Downey Jr.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo%2c+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo, L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated January 06, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=765336" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=765336" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="spacer" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0px; height: 3px; line-height: 3px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 3px;"><br />
</span></span><div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8373/ent3c.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Robert is back as the world’s most famous detective Sherlock Holmes in <i>A Game of Shadows</i><br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=765336" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><div align="left">MANILA, Philippines- There is a small, cozy coffee shop in a little corner along Melrose Ave. near San Vicente in West Hollywood called Urth Caffe that’s a favorite among Hollywood celebrities who seek those few minutes of anonymity while doing some of the most basic errands ordinary folks do like getting in line for a cup of their favorite coffee.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div>A couple of months back, while this writer was at this coffeeshop, a <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Hollywood </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">power</span></span></a> couple quietly sauntered into the shop and unassumingly took their spot in the usual long queue to order what I assume was coffee for him and hot chocolate for her and pretty much enjoyed being in a crowd where everyone was polite enough to just give them a quick recognizing look and leave them to their privacy. Unfortunately for them, we were there.<br />
<br />
One of my friends recognized <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Robert </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Downey </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Jr</span></span></a>. even if he was clad in full winter garb and a bonnet and immediately alerted us. I had to take a second look to confirm. Yes, it was Robert with his pregnant wife, producer Susan <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Downey</span></span></a>.<br />
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Thrilled as were, we pretended that we were cool about this celebrity sighting but I had to alert my <i><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Facebook</span></span></a></i> friends about it, though and kept our distance. I have met and interviewed Robert before but when you’re someone who adores the movies and movie stars like me, nothing beats the exhilaration of unexpectedly bumping into a superstar in person.<br />
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And lo and behold, a week after that fun “fan” day, I received an invitation to the press junket for Warner Bros.’ <i><a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Sherlock</span></span></a>Holmes: A Game of Shadows</i>. I was doing an interview with Robert! I didn’t have to think twice before accepting the invite, previous commitments be damned.<br />
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You just don’t say no to Robert <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Downey </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Jr</span></span></a>.<br />
<div style="float: right; width: 350px;"><img alt="" src="http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4214/ent3b350.jpg" /><b>With Jude Law, who reprises his role as Sherlock’s trusted friend Dr. Watson</b></div><br />
The Hollywood superstar belongs to that rarefied group of actors whose name alone can command instant adulation. He is A-list in the truest sense of the word. His last four movies made nearly $1.5B in worldwide box-office! And he is so cool about it. He can even be lighthearted and funny.<br />
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At the junket, during the cast press conference, someone asked Robert who between him and his producer-wife was the boss at home and the actor replied in his typical dry humor: “First of all, I am definitely the boss at home,” he stressed with a sly smile forming on his face. “And I am also the boss on the set!”<br />
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“There is no room for discussion ever,” he continued. “I am so happy she’s sitting in the back of me right now because that’s where she belongs.” Susan, who, along with Joel Silver, has produced Robert’s string of megahits beginning with 2008’s <i>Iron Man</i>, was present during the junket and laughed along with everyone else.<br />
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But, no, the Urth Caffe encounter was never brought up.<br />
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Robert has enjoyed an enviable success over the past couple of years. He has two huge franchise hits to his name: <i>Iron Man </i>and<i> Sherlock Holmes.</i><br />
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In the latter, the actor returns as the world’s most famous and smartest detective which again features the returning <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Jude </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Law</span></span></a>, as Sherlock’s trusted friend Dr. Watson, and director Guy Ritchie, whose hyper-kinetic directorial style provided the original <i>Sherlock Holmes</i> a distinctive appeal.<br />
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“Robert was a great friend to me so it was with great enthusiasm that we embarked on the second one,” Guy replied when asked to describe how it was working with Robert again, “and I enjoyed it more than the first.”<br />
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Jude skipped the L.A. junket because he had a previous commitment in London.<br />
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The stunning and beautiful Swedish actress Noomi <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Rapace</span></span></a>, who made a splash last year when she made the original <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i> joined the junket and was surprisingly relaxed and very articulate in person. She stars in the movie as the mysterious gypsy woman who may hold the key to Sherlock solving his current case.<br />
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This is Noomi’s first Hollywood movie (she will be appearing in Ridley Scott’s <i>Alien</i> prequel, <i>Prometheus</i> later this summer) and she revealed to us how both excited and nervous she was when she learned that, for her first Hollywood outing, she was going to be in a movie with Robert, which proves that, apparently, no one is immune to Robert’s charm, even among actors.<br />
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“I was a bit nervous,” she said. “I met Robert and Susan six weeks before we started in a very intense and crazy 30 minutes in their office and Robert was on the floor trying to find a fan for me because he’s like, ‘Noomi needs a fan because it’s way too hot for her,’ and he was just fantastic from the first moment I met him.”<br />
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<div style="float: left; width: 350px;"><img alt="" src="http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/5927/ent3c350v.jpg" /><b>Robert with Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, who plays a mysterious gypsy in the film</b></div>“He was so sweet. We had a good chat. We talked about movies, dreams and what kind of things we want to do,” she added. <br />
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To the curious, the answer is “No.” Noomi wasn’t offered nor she turned down the American version of <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i>. She told this writer during a private conversation that she made it clear after finishing the original Swedish trilogy that she will not revisit Lisbeth Salander again because, according to her, the character and the movie took a such huge emotional toll on her.<br />
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But I digress.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</i> also brings to screen Sherlock’s foremost enemy, the equally clever Professor James Moriarty, portrayed by <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">British </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">actor</span></span></a> Jared Harris.<br />
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This rousing and action-packed movie jumps from London and takes the audience to an adventure in France, Germany and in Switzerland. Complementing the thrilling journey is the impressive <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">production </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">design</span></span></a>, which is such a visual delight, and the original music composed by Oscar-winning Hans Zimmer, which incorporated authentic gypsy music into the score.<br />
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The sequel has retained nearly the same team from the first <i>Sherlock Holmes</i>. Even Rachel <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=765336&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">McAdams</span></span></a> provides a brief cameo in the movie.<br />
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Among the characters he has portrayed, Robert considers Sherlock among his favorites. “I am not particularly like Sherlock,” he said, “I think the great thing about it is Jude and I found a lot of escapism and aspects of ourselves in Holmes and Watson.”<br />
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<i>Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</i> opens Jan. 8. in theaters.</div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9122663.post-75964650422263254202012-01-29T20:14:00.000-08:002012-01-29T20:14:20.574-08:00My Laura Dern Interview<table border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: top;"><span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ArticleHeaderLabel" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 25px;">Laura Dern gets Enlightened</span><br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Raymond+de+Asis+Lo+L.A.+Correspondent" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelAuthorName" style="color: #004276; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" title="Displays articles written by this author">By Raymond de Asis Lo L.A. Correspondent</a> <span id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_LabelChannelPublishDateTime" style="color: grey; font-weight: normal;">(The Philippine Star) Updated January 04, 2012 12:00 AM</span> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=764630" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_hlComments" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;" title="View comments">Comments (0)</a> <a href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=764630" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="View comments" src="http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; width: 17px;" title="View comments" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="spacer" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0px; height: 3px; line-height: 3px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 3px;"><br />
</span></span><div id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_Panel1" style="border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: silver; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: silver; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: silver; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; width: 250px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo is loading..." id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_lblImageLocation" src="http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4810/ent3j.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; width: 250px;" /></div><div class="divmargin" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="smaller" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_LabelImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; font-size: 10px;">Laura Dern with Luke Wilson, who plays her good-for-nothing ex-husband.<br />
</span><a class="smaller" href="http://www.philstar.com/Photo.aspx?articleid=764630" id="ControlArticle1_FormView1_ControlPhotoAndCaption1_hlImageCaption" style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-top-color: transparent; color: #004276; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">| Zoom</a></div></div><div class="KonaBody" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px;">MANILA, Philippines - Just because one is an activist, that doesn’t mean one has to sacrifice one’s sense of style. For award-winning actress Laura <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink0" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Dern</span></span></a>, who is a staunch supporter of the Healthy Child Healthy World organization, a worldwide campaign to provide protection and care of children affected by environmental disasters, the stylish way to do it is by donning the luxurious Italian brand Prada — occasionally, that is.<br />
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“Save the planet and a few dresses,” the beautiful star joked during an interview in Beverly Hills a few months ago before coyly adding, “we have our own weaknesses,” to the delight and understanding of the international press present during the<a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">HBO</span></span></a> event held in July.<br />
Laura’s choice of wardrobe was excusable. She had to look lovely as she was doing press for her new <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink2" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">TV </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">series</span></span></a>, the comedy-drama Enlightened, which premiered this month in the Philippines and airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m. on the HBO Signature channel.<br />
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The Hollywood veteran is a life-long advocate for social activism and her new series is a culmination of her long-held dream to reach out to as many people as possible: Challenge her audience to think about issues vital to society, make them aware of what’s going on and, if possible, get them to act and be catalysts for change.<br />
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“I want to play a woman who is so enraged by the apathy in this country — which seems to just be a given now, like, we never march on the streets; it’s gone!” the actress offered when asked what was her motivation for Amy, her character in the series, which she co-wrote with acclaimed filmmaker Mike White. (Note: this interview took place during the middle of summer, a couple of months before the Occupy Movement was launched in Wall Street and inspired similar Occupy protests all over the world. Laura must have had a wonderful holiday seeing how many people seemed to have been reawakened to societal inequities and started demanding for real change.)<br />
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“It’s just tragic,” she added. “Maybe the blessing of what we witnessed in Egypt is, ‘Oh, we can actually do that again and it will start to transform things,’ but in the last so many years, we all witnessed that America stopped being angry and so, I thought, ‘What does it take to actually use your voice,’ especially for women because there are issues on what women are supposed to be like.”<br />
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<div style="float: right; width: 400px;"><img alt="" src="http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/6042/ent3b400.jpg" /><b>Laura co-stars with real-life mom Dianne Ladd in the HBO series</b></div>Laura, despite growing up in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and being the daughter of great actors Bruce Dern and Dianne Ladd, was someone who was always aware and who always exercised her position in the industry to stir attention in the social causes that she believes in.<br />
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She stars as Amy in Enlightened, a self-destructive health and beauty executive who, feeling all trapped and unable to cope with pressures to her personal life, had a very public workplace meltdown and spent a few months at a treatment center. After she recovered, she returned and surprised everyone by just casually picking up the pieces of her old life and uncharacteristically deciding to take on a different personal path — one that she hoped would reshape the world around her.<br />
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She is “a rager (sic) who becomes a whistleblower,” was how she described her character. “I think we all share something that my character shares. It’s a character who turns on CNN and is devastated at every moment because something horrific is going down and she is the kind of person who feels everything in an enormous way which is a cause for great comedy as well as sadness because she can’t contain it.”<br />
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Laura’s real-life mom, Diane, is also starring in the series along with <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Luke </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Wilson</span></span></a>, who plays her good-for-nothing ex-husband.<br />
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This is not Laura’s first HBO project. She previously appeared and received numerous awards in the 2008 <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">television </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">movie</span></span></a> Recount, which was based on the contentious 2000 US presidential elections.<br />
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The actress is widely known to film enthusiasts for her startling turns and memorable performances in several David Lynch classics (Blue Velvet, <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink5" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Wild </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">At </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Heart</span></span></a>, Inland Empire) and her record-setting 1991 Oscar nomination for Rambling Rose. That recognition was significant because she was nominated for Best Actress in the Martha Coolidge drama while her mom was cited for <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink6" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Best </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Supporting</span></span></a> Actress — the first time a mother and daughter tandem ever received Oscar nominations on the same year!<br />
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Over the years, she appeared in several Hollywood blockbusters (Jurassic Park, Little Fockers, etc.) but she most notably thrived as one of the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink7" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">best </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">actresses</span></span></a> working in smaller independent movies and, in Enlightened, she continues her association with independent filmmakers by working with noted <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink8" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">directors </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Jonathan </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Demme</span></span></a>, Miguel Arteta and co-writer Mike White, whose own nervous breakdown partially inspired the story, too.<br />
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In a career spanning nearly four decades, Laura has seen Hollywood rise and fall. Independent filmmakers come and go, and in the present, she, along with many independent artists, considers HBO her home.<br />
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“Working for a big studio is not where I get to tell a story now,” she explained when asked to assess her experience in the business. “Now, HBO is the Fox Searchlight because all the studios had their indie companies disappear because the hedge funds disappeared and the <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink9" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">banks</span></span></a> disappeared in America. Luckily, HBO is willing to do very brave content and has the money to support it.”<br />
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The leading cable network, HBO, has produced some of the best, very popular and most provocative series on television in recent years: True Blood, Hung, Sex and the City, <a class="kLink" href="http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=764630&publicationSubCategoryId=70#" id="KonaLink10" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; color: blue !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-variant: normal; font-weight: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; text-transform: none !important; top: 0px;"><span style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Boardwalk </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: blue !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">Empire</span></span></a>, The Sopranos, among many others.<br />
<br />
Viewers will see more of Laura because Enlightened has just been renewed for another season by HBO.<br />
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— <b>With reports from Anselmo Manosca</b><br />
<div><b><br />
</b></div></div>Raymond De Asis Lohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10033432878890439411noreply@blogger.com0