The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz
The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz |
| Police drama wins best picture at Chinese-language ‘Oscars’ Posted: 24 Nov 2012 11:16 PM PST  Chinese director Gao Qunshu celebrates winning the Best Feature Film for "Beijing Blues" at the 49th Golden Horse Film Awards in Ilan county, northeastern Taiwan, November 24, 2012. — Reuters pic "Beijing Blues," directed by Gao Qunshu and about plain cloth police hunting down thieves and con artists in Beijing, also bagged best cinematography and best film editing awards. "This is really unexpected... I am only an amateur director who shot a few films. I didn't expect that I'd have anything to do with the Golden Horse," said Gao at the ceremony in Ilan county in northeastern Taiwan. Acclaimed Hong Kong director Johnnie To's financial drama "Life Without Principle" also fared well, collecting best director for To, best leading actor for Lau Ching-wan and best original screenplay. Lau played a simple and honest gangster in the movie that centres on the characters' struggles between money and principles in the midst of a financial crisis in Hong Kong. To was absent from yesterday's ceremony while Lau, a first-time Golden Horse winner, dedicated the award to his family in a brief speech. Taiwan's Gwei Lun-mei was crowned best leading actress for her role as a wilful and frustrating woman in the love story "Gf*Bf", also released as "Girlfriend Boyfriend". "This award is a major encouragement for me. I love making films very much and I will continue to work hard," said Gwei, her voice cracking with emotion. Gwei became the first Taiwanese to take the title in six years. Hong Kong singer-actor Ronald Cheng won best supporting actor for his role in "Vulgaria" while Liang Jing from China took best supporting actress for playing a mid-wife in the black comedy "Design of Death". Chinese social satire "Mystery," directed by Lou Ye, only collected best new performer for actress Qi Xi and best original film score despite leading the race with seven nominations. "Mystery" marked Lou's first film after he was banned from film-making for five years for showing his politically-charged love story "Summer Palace" at the Cannes Film Festival without government approval in 2006. More than 30 films from Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong were nominated in the 49th edition of the Golden Horse Awards, styled after the US Academy Awards but decided by a jury along the lines of the Cannes festival. — AFP/Relaxnews |
| Rolling Stones return to mark 50 years in music Posted: 24 Nov 2012 11:07 PM PST LONDON, Nov 25 — The Rolling Stones take to the stage later today after a five-year hiatus to celebrate the golden jubilee of one of the most successful and enduring bands in rock and roll history. Now in their mid-60s to early 70s, lead singer Mick Jagger (picture), guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts will perform five concerts — two at the O2 Arena in London on November 25 and 29 and three in the United States next month.
And in a fresh announcement yesterday, American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige and guitar great Jeff Beck have also been added to the lineup as special guests. The flamboyant veterans behind a string of hits including "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" have promised a "stunning" gig lasting more than two hours. A sellout crowd of some 20,000 people is expected, in spite of widespread complaints from fans at ticket prices that ranged from £95 (RM465) to up to £950 for a VIP seat. Costs went far higher on secondary ticketing websites, although by Friday eBay was offering several seats to today's show at below face value and there were places still officially available at around £400 apiece. The band has defended the prices, saying that the shows are expensive to put on, although Billboard, a specialist music publication, reported that the quartet would be paid US$25 million for the four shows first announced. A fifth was added later. Burst of activity The concerts are the culmination of a busy few months of events, rehearsals and recordings to mark 50 years since the blues-infused rockers first took to the stage at the Marquee Club on London's Oxford Street in July 1962. There has been a photo album, two new songs, a music video, a documentary film, a blitz of media appearances and a handful of warm-up gigs in Paris. The O2 Arena was where another top band of the 1960s and 70s, Led Zeppelin, staged an eagerly awaited one-off reunion in 2007, and while the Stones have appeared together far more regularly, it is their first arena performance in six years. One factor behind the long break has been Wood's struggle with alcohol addition, according to Rolling Stone magazine, while Jagger and Richards also fell out over comments the guitarist made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography. "We can't get divorced — we're doing it for the kids!" joked Richards in a recent interview after apologising to Jagger. While the rock and roll excesses of the swinging 60s and 70s are in the past for the band, and their very best songs may be behind them, music critics praised their recent single "Doom and Gloom" from the "GRRR!" greatest hits album just released. And there have been hints from the band that the five gigs which wind up at the Newark Prudential Center on December 15 may not be the end of their reunion. "Once the juggernaut starts rolling, it ain't gonna stop," Richards told Rolling Stone. "So without sort of saying definitely yes — yeah. We ain't doing all this for four gigs!" — Reuters |
Joining them at the O2 today will be former band members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor, the first time the two ex-Stones have performed with the group in more than 20 years.| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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