Cast: Kate del Castillo, Diana Bovio, Gabriel NuncioDirector: Maria TorresRating: 1.5Runtime: 91 min This Netflix film follows a disgraced actress Lana Cruz who has been cancelled by Hollywood so she heads back to Mexico to work in a film and prove that she's still a star, but she is not prepared for Polly, her biggest fan and worst nightmare. Fans have become increasingly important especially with the ever-increasing influence of social media on real life. Celebrities have begun cultivating fans in order to increase their brand value but not all fans are worth it. There are some fans who turn malevolent when crossed and this film has one such fan in the center of it. This Maria Torres’ directorial, co-written with Enrique Vazquez, tells the story of TV star Lana Cruz, whose Special Crimes show has been running successfully for seven seasons. After a particularly trying day of shooting, Lana ends up inadvertently hitting one of her fans. The video of Lana slapping the fan spreads like wildfire all across social media and news channels. Special Crimes gets canceled, and Lana becomes unemployed. Almost a year later, Lana’s agent, Carmen, gets her to agree to a film, a period spy drama that will be shot in a small village in Mexico for 40 days, by famed director Aristoteles. There she encounters Polly, who appears dedicated to supporting Lana even when the whole world goes against her. Eventually Polly sees what Lana is truly like when the cameras are off and she begins to question her devotion to her favorite star. The screenplay brings out how the entertainment industry views on social media. Lana joined showbiz at an early age so she resents her mother for that. Lana and Greta have an estranged relationship. Lana eventually gets in touch with her true self away from the trappings of stardom and Polly thinks she can replace Lana easily.The writers rush through these issues to focus on the fan’s duty to defend the star, and the star’s duty to unquestioningly accept that adoration. That’s what the film wants to convey I guess. This film is basically an assemblage of moments strung together without any narrative flow. Lana, played by Kate del Castillo is mostly a caricature. But Diana Bovio as Polly, brings nuance and becomes the emotional anchor in a movie devoid of seeping sentiment. The film tries to explore the relationship between celebrities and fans in this era of social media, but there’s nothing fresh or interesting about the depiction. The plot depends on cliches to take the story forward. Lana’s loss of stardom because of the slap-gate incident doesn’t ring true because of late being notorious and vile pays off better. This Mexican film is a little confused and employs mechanics that fail to provide depth. The exaggeration, drama, comedy, and sometimes plain silly antics do nothing to increase the entertainment value of the film. The scenes on the set become meaningless and the absence of structure becomes painful to watch.
03 May,2025 03:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Gabriel Afolayan, Zainab Balogun, Bucci FranklinWriter/Director: Dele DohertyRating: 2.5Runtime: 103 min A loopy dramatic psychological thriller, this Nigerian film on Amazon Prime has an unusual premise. A stranded military sergeant staying in a safe house receives eerie calls from an old disconnected landline, telling him that his pregnant wife living alone in their home, will be killed. Every time, he tries to guide his wife through the mobile phone, to save herself from the relentless killer - only to have her die again and again in a nightmarish loop. The major plot follows Kolapo (Gabriel Afolayan), trapped in a safe house and racing against time to save his wife, Shalewa(Zainab Balogun). We get to know gradually why Kola is in hiding and his wife is being hunted. As the nightmare unfolds, Kola realises there’s a connection between his predicament and Shalewa’s death. But the strange phone call and the time loop warning remain a mystery. The setup ensures high emotional stakes and the deadly ‘Time Loop’ mechanics provide the thrill. Given the loopy structure, the motive feels rather flimsy but Landline, as a film is quite impressive in its attention to detail. Even though the film is plotted quite smartly, the reasoning behind the action rings false. The heightened drama behind Shalewa becoming the target feels exaggerated because of the tenuous reasoning. The sound effects, score and cinematography are impressive, drawing the viewer into the tricky world of the film easily. The natural, believable dialogue, lends a validity to the relationship between the two leads. The mood and tone of the film is well-suited to the genre.The director employs the usual tricks to heighten tension. The visual storytelling captivates with lighting choices that deepen meaning. Gabriel Afolayan, Zainab Balogun, and Bucci Franklyn deliver gritty performances. Landline has a unique blend of suspense, mystery, and intrigue and its technical proficiency makes it a worthy thriller.
03 May,2025 03:11 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kanata Hosoda, Non, Jun Kaname, Machiko Ono, Hana ToyoshimaDirector: Shinji HiguchiRating: 2.5/5Runtime: 134 min 1975’s “The Bullet Train,” presented the idea of a bomb threat on a train that can’t slow down, “Speed” was a sort of remake expanding the same concept to include a moving bus then we also had our very own desi disaster movie in ‘The Burning Train’ which borrowed the same idea and gave it the usual Bollywood treatment and now we have ‘Bullet Train Explosion’ a Japanese movie with the same concept and a gradually increasing sense of urgency. “Bullet Train Explosion,” reuses the central crisis of ‘The Bullet Train’ while also striving to go further ahead in terms of timelines, technology and motivation. Director Shinji Higuchi of “Shin Godzilla” and “Shin Ultraman” fame goes from giant threats to locomotives in peril, a disaster movie about survival and shame. It’s a 134 minutes long and arduous journey that manages to turn assorted beats of suspense into heavy weather drama. The basic premise is simple. A group straps bombs to a Japanese bullet train in an attempt to extort money from the government. JR East transportation corporation’s Hayabusa No. 60 bullet train arrives with crew for duty. Chief Conductor Takaichi (Tsuyoshi Kusangi) is joined by driver Matsumoto (Non) and Keiji (Kanata Hosoda). The train gets filled up and is all set for its onward journey assisted by the General Operation Control Center, with Kasagi (Takumi Saitoh) overseeing. Once the journey begins at the scheduled time it doesn’t take long to realise that a terrorist has planted a bomb on the train, set to detonate if speed drops below 100 kilometers an hour. The travelers include high schoolers, politicians, and media personalities who drum up the emotional quotient while high-wire rescue efforts by trained professionals make for intriguing disaster management. The demand is made for a small fortune in ransom before sending info to disarm the bomb.Various teams are set in motion to deal with the terrorist, diffuse the bomb or even rescue the passengers somehow. For Takaichi, dedication to the passengers comes first, and he has to deal with an assortment of agitated people who gradually realise the danger they are in. “Bullet Train Explosion” tries to get the adrenaline flowing from its opening credit sequence itself, but the storytelling format doesn’t allow much room. Higuchi’s attempts to grab eyeballs doesn’t really work. The screenplay attempts to give a large assortment of people some voice but that becomes a drag on the narrative, slowing it down when there’s a call for speed and greater anxiety. Character introductions are rudimentary and fail to register. There’s not much dramatic growth because bomb-time horror happens too soon. This is not a lean thriller. The sagging heavy duty middle track weakens all the problem-solving surrounding it. The use of model trains sets to demonstrate the rescue plan feels like a jaded idea as we’ve already seen it in ‘The Burning Train.’ “Bullet Train Explosion” is a self-aware rehash of the original film but manages to ring a few alarm bells on its lengthy track from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo. There’s a bit of social messaging including that of domestic neglect and online radicalization and with decent performances and intermittent perils and threats cropping up during the dangerous ride, it does manage to score some entertainment value.
03 May,2025 03:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Razvan Stoica, Carol Bors, David Andrei Baltatu, Andrei Antoniu AnghelDirector: Isaiah SaxonRating: 3/5Runtime: 96 min. A charming family film that has an old-worldly charm, ‘The legend of Ochi’ works with original puppetry and is devoid of CGI manipulation. In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to take him to his home. Yuri (Helena Zengel) is the daughter of Maxim (Willem Dafoe), who is leading a hunt for the wild Ochi. Ochi are creatures that have simian features, are brightly colored and emit high-pitched sounds. It’s a night hunt, there are gunshots, and sounds of Ochi screeching and escaping. Yuri’s mom Dasha (Emily Watson) left some time ago, and Maxim won’t even say her name.Yuri has a caterpillar for a pet, feels lonely and unloved because Maxim, busy with his hunts, practically ignores her existence. Everything changes for Yuri when she finds a baby Ochi in the woods one day, its leg stuck in a trap. She releases the little Ochi and tends to its wounds, vowing to return it to its mother. After being bitten, Yuri discovers she can speak the Ochi’s language and a bond develops as the two begin their journey, that will take them across Dasha’s path as they’re hunted by Maxim and his team. The Ochi design looks like a cross between E.T. and a Gremlin. They have a handcrafted appearance and rely on realistic puppetry techniques. Saxon also creates a setting bathed in saturated hues, mixed with matte paintings and other practical effects, and nominal CGI. Saxon who has been making music videos for artists like Bjork, displays a craftsmanship that is unusual. The cinematography displays some visual flourishes that make it look impressive to simply look at. The film relies on live action, impressive production values and inventive story elements to tell its heartwarming story. Writer-director Isaiah Saxon’s imaginative narrative and visual flair lends this fantastical tale an originality that seems rare in the present digitally obsessed world.
02 May,2025 04:10 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Lewis Pullman, Olga Kurylenko, Geraldine Viswanathan, Wendell Edward Pierce, & Chris Bauer.Director: Jake SchreierRating: 3/5Runtime: 126 min Thunderbolts are a bunch of misfits that hope to give ‘The Avengers’ a run for their money. Our heroes are a bunch of anti-heroes and even villains and the bad guys are something even worse. Bolts consist of a bunch of family who care two hoots for each other. Conflicted Yelena (Pugh), Scarlett Johansson’s sister from Black Widow, her obnoxious father Red Guardian (David Habour), Walker (Wyatt Russell), who was Captain America in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) The Winter Soldier and Ava (Hannah John-Kamen) aka Ghost, from the Ant Man-franchise. They are together only to battle with big bad, CIA-director Valentina de Fontaine (Julia-Louis Dreyfus), who wants to become ‘unimpeachable’ and dole out Justice as she sees fit. Geraldine Viswanathan as Valentina’s conflicted assistant Mel and Lewis Pullman as Robert Reynolds have interesting supporting roles. Yelena informs us about her life choices and the death of her sister while breaking into a highly secured lab in Malaysia. Afterwards, she visits Alexei her Russian Dad and later accepts another assignment from Valentina. Yelena then follows Ghost into an underground bunker where she is confronted by Captain America and a random guy, Bob. They all eventually realize that they have been sent to kill each other. Seeing no other way out, they team up to take Valentina down once and for all. The film details real-life mental health struggles, confronts past traumas but the mood remains upbeat. The action and humor provide vicarious relief. The tormented man Bob develops a special connection with Yelena and it’s through Bob’s character that real-life mental health struggles are depicted. By and large this comic book-inspired movie delivers real human drama. The plot is simple, not incoherent like most of the recent MCU outings. The script has characters with tortured pasts begin to respect each other (if not like) and become a stronger whole. They are basically outcasts, a group of lonely guns for hire forced to tolerate each other in unique circumstances. Director Schreier’s first entry into MCU is rather old-school and the big set pieces don’t look like they originated in CGI. The fight sequences are blood-and-guts aggravated, not exactly stylish or polished. Thunderbolts is fairly enjoyable. It’s one of the better Marvel editions to come of late. It’s not as bad as ‘The Suicide Squad’ and it’s not as much fun as ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy’ either, but it has a workable story, the script by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo generates enough sparks and the direction from Jake Schreier is steady and lucrative. The actors play their roles well and the special effects help keep you entertained. Florence Pugh, has a commanding presence and makes every scene that she’s in, worthy. This may have been one of the most anticipated MCU films of this year but it’s definitely not going to bring the MCU back from the red. It might make money, but Marvel might still have to wait ignominiously to relieve its former glory of 10 years ago.
02 May,2025 03:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasEnglish filmmaker Guy Ritchie is once again joining forces with actor Jake Gyllenhaal as he is set to direct the sequel to Road House. Gyllenhaal will reprise his lead role as ex-UFC fighter Dalton in the film. Road House 2 marks the third collaboration between Ritchie and Gyllenhaal, and their second for Amazon MGM Studios following Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023). The filmmaker and the Oscar- and Tony-nominated actor also collaborated on the forthcoming action thriller, In The Grey. Will Beall of Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) fame is writing the script for the sequel, plot details of which are being kept under wraps. As per reports, producers include Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Alex Gartner, as well as Gyllenhaal for his Nine Stories Productions with Josh McLaughlin. Ivan Atkinson will executive produce. Road House (2024) is a reboot of the 1989 classic starring Patrick Swayze, and followed Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter struggling to make ends meet. The movie was viewed as a success for Amazon MGM and the studio announced a sequel was in development last summer during its inaugural Upfronts presentation. The film launched on Prime Video last March and broke records for the streamer — attracting nearly 80 million worldwide viewers in its first eight weeks to become the studio’s “most-watched produced film debut ever on a worldwide basis,” per then-studio chief Jennifer Salke. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 12:08 PM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesHollywood star Robert De Niro said that he loved and supported Aaron as his son, and now he “loves and supports” daughter Airyn, who has come out as transgender. “I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is,” De Niro said in a statement. He added, “I love all my children.” Airyn discussed “stepping into this new identity,” during a conversation with a publication. She also talked about growing up as one of seven children in the De Niro household. “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen. I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet,”” Airyn. She went on to say that “no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.” In the same interview, Airyn discussed her inspirations for going public with her transition. Among them was actor Laverne Cox. De Niro has been feted with various accolades, including two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for eight BAFTA Awards and four Emmy Awards. He was honoured with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2003, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, the Cecil B DeMille Award in 2011, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2019, and will recieve the Honorary Palme d’Or in 2025. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 12:04 PM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesHollywood legend Tom Hanks, who was last seen in ‘Here’, is celebrating 37 years of his marriage with Rita Wilson. On Thursday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a picture of himself with his wife. In the picture, the couple can be seen near a water body presumably after their swimming or diving session. The actor wrote in the caption, “37 years married. Today! Love you, Mrs. Mr.THanks”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) Earlier in February, the couple contributed to the relief efforts towards Los Angeles wildfires that ravaged through southern California. The Hollywood couple donated $1 million to the Los Angeles wildfires relief efforts, reports ‘Female First UK’. The couple’s $26 million Pacific Palisades home was reported to have survived the devastating blazes, which started in the upmarket area on January 7, however they were forced to evacuate. As per ‘Female First UK’, Los Angeles wildfires was a series of 14 destructive wildfires affected the Los Angeles metropolitan area and San Diego County in California, United States. The fires were exacerbated by drought conditions, low humidity, and a buildup of vegetation from the previous winter. The pair splitted the donation between several organisations, including the Motion Picture and Television Fund, the Los Angeles Fire Foundation, SAG-AFTRA Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, the American Red Cross and MusiCares. In a joint statement, they said, “Like so many of us, we see the loss and devastation wrought by the Altadena and Palisades fires. The challenge of the future of these communities is immense. "We are so very grateful for the first responders and firefighters, from all over, who fought with all they had in order to save homes and people”. They added, "Now we must all move forward to what is next for our city, communities, and neighbours. "We are donating $1 million between the following organisations to help support those in need and those who aided”. They signed off the letter posted to Instagram, “If you can, please join us in donating. Everything helps, right?”. Other stars to have donated include Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyonce, Paris Hilton and The Weeknd. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 09:45 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSBritish rock band Coldplay's concerts in Ahmedabad generated an estimated overall economic impact of Rs 641 crore including a direct boost of Rs 392 crore to the city's economy, with significant spending on accommodation, transport, dining and retail, said a report released on Wednesday. With 86 per cent fans travelling to the host city, Coldplay's 'Music Of The Spheres' concerts in Ahmedabad trigger a new paradigm for cultural tourism, city branding and mega-event infrastructure, the EY-Parthenon (EY-P), the leading strategy consulting firm and BookMyShow Live revealed. Dubbed India's largest-ever live entertainment spectacle, Coldplay delivered the two-night 'Music Of The Spheres' concerts in Ahmedabad. In a significant endorsement of India's growing concert economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the Utkarsh Odisha - Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 said, "In a country with such a rich heritage in music, dance and storytelling, with such a large pool of youth and a massive consumer base for concerts, there are vast opportunities for the concert economy. In the past decade, both the trend and demand for live events have grown. You must have seen the incredible images from the Coldplay concerts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad in recent days. This is proof of how much scope live concerts have in India." Speaking on the report, Raghav Anand, Partner and Leader Digital, Media and Convergence, EY-Parthenon, said, "As we witness the dynamic growth of India's live entertainment sector, which has surpassed the Rs 12,000 crore-mark in 2024 and is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of around 19 per cent over the next three years, the increasing consumer spends are fuelling this transformative journey. This surge in consumer enthusiasm for world-class events reflects not just a rising disposable income but an evolving cultural fabric that craves immersive experiences". According to the report, Ahmedabad concerts delivered significant economic windfall, generating an estimated economic impact of Rs 641 crore in total, including a direct boost of Rs 392 crore to Ahmedabad's economy, with significant spending on accommodation, transport, dining and retail. It also contributed Rs 72 crore in GST revenue to the Government of India, underlining its powerful fiscal impact. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 May,2025 01:05 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIDwayne Johnson aka The Rock is back in the ring but this time not as the WWE player that he is well known as. The trailer of the upcoming film 'The Smashing Machine' based on the life of UFC legend Mark Kerr has been unveiled. Dwayne, aka The Rock, looked completely unrecognisable in the trailer of biopic about the two-time UFC heavyweight champ. The Smashing Machine trailer Benny Safdie, one of the two Safdie brothers who co-directed and wrote "Uncut Gems" and "Good Time," makes his solo directorial feature debut on the film, as per Variety. The film's cast also includes Emily Blunt as Kerr's wife Dawn Staples, Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin and Oleksandr Usyk. The trailer of the film which is made in a documentary style opens with Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr sitting in a clinic, his face visibly battered, while an elderly woman stares at him. He asks if she’s wondering why he looks that way and whether she’s heard of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She replies, “That’s the bloody thing they’re trying to ban.” The trailer then takes us through glimpses of Mark Kerr's professional and unknown side of his personal life. Emotions are running high in this action-packed sports biopic. Mark Kerr is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers and mixed martial artists of all time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by A24 (@a24) Netizens react to The Smashing Machine trailer Dwayne Johnson's look has taken people by surprise with its precision. Netizens are all praise for the actor's portrayal of Mark Kerr and also praised the make-up department for making Johnson look like Mark Kerr convincingly. A user took to the comment section of the trailer and wrote, "Absolutely amazing… except now I got 2 Mark Kerr’s I gotta deal with in life hahahahaha. Let’s gooooooo". "The Rock Oscar incoming," wrote another. "The Rock’s best movie yet. He’ll get nominated for this one," mentioned another netizen. "Whoever did the prosthetics and make up for this movie is getting an Oscar. I hear the Rock kind of but I don’t see him at all," wrote a fan. Another person wrote, "Taking this so serious because you can tell that the Rock made a huge effort to go beyond his usual persona." About The Smashing Machine 'The Smashing Machine' is Johnson and Blunt's second collaboration since Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' in 2021, and they're set to next team with Leonardo DiCaprio on a Hawaiian crime thriller from Martin Scorsese. Kerr was a mixed martial artist who fought from 1997 to 2009, winning four ADCC World Championships in his career. In 2002, Kerr was the subject of an HBO documentary also entitled "The Smashing Machine," which centered around his substance abuse issues and tumultuous relationships with his girlfriend and trainers. The film will be released on October 3.
30 April,2025 02:59 PM IST | Los Angeles | mid-day online correspondentHollywood star and filmmaker Ben Affleck has shared memories about his father Timothy as he talked about the first and the only time he saw his dad cry. In his visit to the Criterion Closet, Affleck selected some of the company’s cinematic offerings he considers favourites. David Lynch’s 1980 movie The Elephant Man, he recalled, “is the first and only time I ever saw my father cry.” Lynch’s hit film, which stars John Hurt as a deformed man and Anthony Hopkins as a doctor treating him, is a “movie about what it means to be a human being. And it’s heartbreaking and beautiful and it’s tied to a very personal memory for me,” said Affleck. Appearing to get emotional, the Oscar winner concluded, “That’s probably a good note to end on.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 April,2025 08:10 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
