Wassup Hollywoods?

FLICK CHICK

Small talk about big flicks
WEAN IT OFF OUR SCREENS
By Jeanmarie Tan
September 03, 2010
 
 

For those who think any discussion on breastfeeding is obscene and offensive, please avert your eyes now because it’s something I have to, well, get off my chest.

And oh, you can skip Grown Ups while you’re at it too.

About a group of former schoolmates (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider) who reunite 30 years later for a weekend getaway with their families, the comedy does a very not-grown-up thing at all.

It makes breastfeeding the butt of jokes more so than any other Hollywood movie in recent memory via a gratuitous running gag specifically designed to shock people into laughing.

Mind you, we’re talking about a PG-rated family flick here.

In the first of many funny/horrifying scenes, James’ eager beaver wife Sally whips out a breast for her cute four-year-old son to suckle on when he asks for some milk while they are in a crowded social environment.

Everyone around them winces in disgust, and another mum quickly covers her own child’s eyes.

Now, when your kid is old enough to walk up to you in public and ask for it, he’s too old for the whole breastfeeding thing.

Over the course of Grown Ups, we see the boy constantly screaming for ‘mummy’s milk’ in front of everyone, much to his dad’s embarrassment and chagrin.

We see Sally use a breast pump to siphon out her milk to feed an injured bird, with the envious boy sulking in a corner.

We see Sally accidentally squirt milk onto another wife’s (Maya Rudolph) face – who proceeds to taste the drops trickling down her cheeks.

Her verdict? ‘Actually, it’s not that bad.’

Erm, have you thrown up yet?

Because at that moment, Grown Ups totally breached my already-high TMI (too much information) threshold.

As a mum myself, I wholeheartedly agree that infants should be breastfed.

My son graduated to formula milk after his first birthday.

But even I had trouble watching Sally’s exploits. What more the rest of the non-lactating world?

The makers of Grown Ups – men, obviously – turned Sally into a caricature defined by her disturbing determination to continue nursing her ’48-month-old baby’.

Let’s face it. Extended breastfeeding is still very much a cultural taboo in modern developed countries like ours.

Just the thought of a little person clamped onto a woman’s teat for ‘comfort’ strikes me as inappropriate, unnecessary and rather peculiar.

Private matter

But what’s slightly more mortifying is the fact that the average duration of breastfeeding worldwide is apparently about four years.

Which means there are a whole lot of little people out there clamped onto a whole lot of women’s teats.

Imagine that!

I’ve always felt that breastfeeding is an intensely private matter.

If considerate mums have the modesty to put the girls away in public for fear of making others feel uncomfortable, then today’s insensitive film-makers should do the same.

At least until they figure out a way to portray breastfeeding as a positive aspect of motherhood and not one to be mocked.

‘Breast is best’ in real life, but I’d prefer if they were weaned off our big screens for now.

The NewPaper

FIRST FEATURE
FURRY FRENEMIES
Who says cats and dogs are perennial foes?
September 03, 2010
 
 

Books, home videos and movies have shown us that these furry creatures can be best buddies too.

The line doesn’t end there.

Peaceful co-existence can also be achieved between natural predators and prey as depicted in countless animal movies.

JOANNE SOH revisits the intricate relationships between the four-legged creatures that are kept in Hollywood’s digital zoo.

STUART LITTLE (1999)

Cats and mice are another pair that have engaged in eternal warfare.

So how can both live happily ever after under the same roof? Just look at Tom and Jerry.

Based on EB White’s novel, Stuart Little is the tale of how a little white mouse breaks that tradition after he is adopted by the Littles, much to the chagrin of family cat Snowbell.

Embarrassed to be a pet to a mouse, Snowbell hatches a plan to get rid of Stuart.

But he has a change of heart after seeing the Littles mourn Stuart’s disappearance.

Friends or frenemies? Brothers actually. A deep relationship is formed after both save each other’s lives.

BOLT (2008)

Bolt is one delusional white german shepherd, a showbiz pooch kept on a movie set throughout his life.

He falls for a feline co-star’s prank, thinking that his owner Penny has been kidnapped by the nefarious Doctor Calico.

Thus begins his quest to rescue Penny.

Along the way, he holds alley cat Mittens hostage, forcing her to lead him to Calico.

But the unlikely duo warm up to each other, with Mittens teaching Bolt how to be a real dog.

Friends or frenemies? Family. Mittens is later adopted by Penny and, like a fairy tale, everyone lives happily ever after.

CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE (Opens Today)

This sequel to the 2001 live action flick comes surprisingly late. After all, Cats & Dogs made a killing with US$200 million (S$270 million) at box offices worldwide.

The first movie painted the feline family as villains trying to control humanity and the canine world.

But the age-old feud between these two species is put aside for the belated follow-up.

The sworn enemies call for a temporary truce, teaming up to stop a vengeful hairless Sphynx cat named Kitty Galore from enacting its diabolical plans for – yawn – world domination.

Friends or frenemies? Frenemies, until the film-makers think up another sequel to milk this lifelong rivalry.

THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981)

Animal instincts are tough to suppress.

But with strong willpower, they can be overcome – as this heartwarming Disney cartoon tells us.

Based on Daniel P Mannix’s 1967 novel of the same name, The Fox And The Hound is a touching tale of two unlikely friends – a red fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper.

Playmates since young, Tod and Copper’s BFF pledge is put to the test with each passing year as their emerging inclinations cause them to turn into adversaries.

But when Copper shields Tod from certain death, you know their bond is rock solid.

Friends or frenemies? To quote Andrew Lloyd Webber’s song, it’s amigos para siempre all the way.

MADAGASCAR (2005)

The call of the wild is too powerful to ignore.

Four Central Park Zoo friends – Marty the zebra, Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo – are accidentally shipped to Madagascar.

The island, full of live prey, proves too much of a temptation for the domesticated Alex, whose predatory instincts kick into overdrive and friendship quickly goes out the window.

Marty becomes nothing but a piece of steak. And almost instantly, Alex has his teeth on Marty’s rump.

Of course, with this being a PG film, Alex overcomes his beastly nature and Marty gets to literally save his own ass.

Friends or frenemies? Friends for life. That is, if Alex can keep his dark side in check.

The NewPaper

FIRST FACE
Haley Bennet
September 03, 2010
 
 

WHO’S THAT GIRL?

Born Haley Loraine Keeling, this 22-year-old Florida native adopted Bennett as her stage name when she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her showbiz dreams in 2005.

WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HER

Bennett played Cora Corman, a pop diva who hires Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant to write her a hit song in the rom-com Music And Lyrics (2007). She also starred in the horror film The Haunting Of Molly Hartley (2008).

WHY HER

She knew she wanted to be in showbiz and took up music and theatre classes in high school.

Music And Lyrics not only introduced Bennett to millions of moviegoers, it also showcased her vocal talents as she recorded several songs for the movie’s soundtrack.

She filmed the independent short film Passage with director Shekhar Kapur last year and won rave reviews for her performance as one of three estranged sisters going through emotional turmoil after a loss in their lives.

WHAT’S NEW

Bennett returns to the horror genre in The Hole as Julie, a pretty girl-next-door who gets caught up in the mystery and danger surrounding a hole in the basement of her new neighbours’ house.

The Hole, which opens here today, is directed by Joe Dante of Gremlins fame and also stars Chris Massoglia, Teri Polo and Nathan Gamble.

QUOTED

On The Hole and her character Julie

‘I play a spunky neighbour in the country town. I kind of show the new guys the ropes.

I also kind of get the guys into trouble with my curiosity over the hole in their basement.

The hole represents your fears and that fear gets materialised in each character. It’s a fun, fantasy movie.’

On choosing her future films

‘I want to do only films that I really connect with, those of quality material.

I don’t want to do any more horror films. Not that I have anything against them, I just feel there is so much more for me to do.’

On her rising fame

‘It’s a bit overwhelming, but it also kind of feels natural.

At this point I can’t let myself fall into any negativity or doubt, or worry. I like to seize the moment. I’m young; why shouldn’t I?’

Joanne Soh

The NewPaper

FIRST FEATURE
SUCKING US DRY
By Jason Johnson
September 03, 2010
 
 

There are no greater authorities than Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer when it comes to things that suck.

For the past 10 years, the undynamic duo – who are apparently immune to ignominy – have been engaged in an unholy partnership dedicated to sucking the fun out of comedy, sucking the money out of indiscriminating audiences and sucking the life out of true movie fans.

Their filmography reads like some sort of Satanic incantation intended to summon forth unfunny demons – Date Movie (2006), Epic Movie (2007), Meet The Spartans (2008), Disaster Movie (2008) and now, Vampires Suck.

Opening here today, this latest spoof lampoons The Twilight Saga and revolves around an anxious teen girl who is torn between two boys and whose romantic issues come to a head at prom.

The movies of Friedberg, 39, and Seltzer, 36, are a permanent fixture on the all-time-worst lists of websites such as IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, and they’ve been nominated for multiple Razzies (the anti-Oscars).

How have they plumbed such fathomless depths of anti-greatness?

JASON JOHNSON reluctantly throws himself into their slime vortex to find out.

STEP 1: LAMENESS

A truly great satirist such as Sacha Baron Cohen can take on the most formidable targets – racism, terrorism, Victoria Beckham – and come out tops.

Friedberg and Seltzer, in contrast, go after the softest of targets, and still never manage to land a solid blow.

300? Cloverfield? Charlie And The Chocolate Factory? The Chronicles Of Narnia?

It was about time someone took down Lucy Pevensie.

Now they’ve set their sights on Twilight for Vampires Suck, which is like picking a fight with a half-asleep kitten. It’s so tame, you could consider it Twilight Lite.

Edward applies make-up. Jacob turns into a Chihuahua. Bella – or ‘Becca’ rather – acts all emo. For Twilight addicts, it will be like a shot of methadone before they get their next hit of the real thing with Breaking Dawn.

STEP 2: MORE LAMENESS

Apparently, Friedberg and Seltzer don’t even bother to watch a lot of the movies they attempt to make fun of – they just check out the trailers!

This is probably one of the main reasons why their material is so thin, and why they end up having to throw so much random nonsense into their flicks.

Disaster Movie is apparently supposed to be about disaster movies, but one of the longest sequences features High School Musical.

There’s another long section featuring Enchanted, which itself happened to be a parody (needless to say a far superior one to Disaster Movie).

For Meet The Spartans supposedly set in Greece circa 480BC, they tossed in Ugly Betty and the American Idol judges.

Looking at Vampires Suck, one wonders what possessed them to include gags about Alice In Wonderland, Jersey Shore and Lady Gaga.

Because that’s how they roll?

Yeah, like a tetrahedron.

STEP 3: STILL MORE LAMENESS

If Friedberg and Seltzer bothered to tell actual jokes, perhaps their comedies would be much more comical.

Rather than finding something fresh or interesting to say about their source material, they typically just regurgitate.

The pirate Jack Swallows is supposed to be taking the mickey out of Jack Sparrow in Epic Movie, but rather than exaggerating the character’s eccentricity and swishiness, he comes across like someone’s dad dressing up for a Halloween party.

In the same movie, there’s a guy playing Borat, and he says the same things Borat says, just not funny.

The worst bit is where they have a Wolverine character giving someone a rude gesture with his claws – the same gesture the real Wolverine gave in the original X-Men.

The exact same gesture I’d like to give Friedberg and Seltzer right now.

STEP 4: MISOGYNISTIC LAMENESS

Like most of your average seven-year-olds, Seltzer and Friedberg find girls icky.

Milk-squirting, vomit-spewing, flatulence-having, water-breaking, snot-wiping, crabs-infested horrors, women tend to do the heavy lifting when it comes to the gross-out ‘comedy’ in their flicks.

In Date Movie, they got to make fun of overweight girls, which must have been a special treat.

But while women might be totally gross, that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to totally DO them sometimes.

In addition to the ‘no fat chicks’ stuff, Date Movie also has a gag in which Sophie Monk caresses herself with hamburgers, which is totally hot.

In Epic Movie, sexy pirate ladies dance with giant wieners.

And lest we forget, Disaster Movie had a catfight featuring Kim Kardashian and Carmen Electra.

Sadly, there was no meat in it.

The NewPaper

FIRST INTERVIEW
HAUNTING GROUND
Folks behind Haunted Changi bank on Net buzz to drum up ticket sales
September 03, 2010
 
 

Amateur film-makers, no big-name stars, a haunted location, jerky handheld camerawork, a bad ending and then, a faux documentary.

Sounds familiar?

Local horror movie Haunted Changi is straight out of The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity playbooks – complete with an aggressive viral marketing campaign designed to fool the less cynical movie fan into thinking it’s all true and based on real events.

But will Haunted Changi’s low-budget methods backfire on its creators?

The movie – which opens here today – is a piecing together of footage by four film-maker friends who decide to do a documentary on the infamous Old Changi Hospital (OCH) and the spooks that live there.

As the film was in production earlier this year, its writer and producer, Tony Kern, an American film-maker based in Singapore, started work on getting fans from the online community as well.

The ‘team’ behind the film – which also happens to be its cast – popped up on Facebook to blog about what they had up their sleeves: an overnighter at OCH, interviews with Singaporeans about their encounters with hauntings.

Whether netizens knew that such postings were just gimmicks for Haunted Changi or not, the film’s Facebook page drew in more than 5,000 fans in just two months. It now has 40,000 fans.

But the team’s marketing tactics took a hit in March when a photo was supposedly leaked, showing a key scene from the film that involved the death of one of the ‘crew members’.

Netizens quickly came to realise that the death was fake and it was linked to promotional activities for the film.

Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao reported about it, even checking with the police on whether there had been any deaths or injuries reported at OCH.

As we say in Singapore: How can you cheat my feelings?

According to Kern, though, the leak was ‘unfortunate’ and not planned.

‘Why would I do that? Why would I give away a spoiler?’ he told FiRST, adding that the guilty party, someone close to the team, had been ‘dealt with’.

Although Kern, 41, said the film has a healthy band of ‘haters’ on forums like HardwareZone – who even accuse the team of hurting real estate prices in Changi – the film’s credibility doesn’t seem to have been hurt at all.

The fans on Facebook seem to care about only two things: When is the film coming out? And can they please tag along the next time there’s a field trip to OCH?

But it has been a long process for Kern, who has been based here since 2005. He has made several other films here, including the 2008 documentary feature A Month Of Hungry Ghosts.

Mixing a goldmine of a topic – Kern calls OCH the ‘grand-daddy’ of haunted locations in Singapore – with a ‘proactive’ approach to marketing was essential for the film to find footing with a local distributor (in this case, Golden Village Pictures).

It also helped secure an investor ready to cough up about $100,000 to secure a big-screen release.

‘It was definitely planned out. We knew we had to try to get people’s attention,’ Kern acknowledged.

‘People can say that it’s a copy of The Blair Witch Project, but I think that this documentary style is more of a sub-genre anyway. It’s going to be around for a while.’

He claims to have spent up to 15 hours a day labouring over the editing of the film, while worrying about responding to every single comment or question on the blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

But whether all the Web attention will ultimately help or hinder Haunted Changi’s reception remains to be seen.

Local director Boo Junfeng, whose family drama Sandcastle opened here last week, told FiRST that social networking sites ‘have revolutionised how movie marketing can work’.

He himself has benefited from it – posting news about his short films on Facebook have led to tickets being sold out within 48 hours.

‘Movie marketing is a really tricky business. If the subject matter and the themes of the film allow for this kind of marketing, then why not?’

But Boo stressed it should be ‘tastefully done’.

Even veteran film-maker Eric Khoo recognises the Internet’s importance. And to detractors who find this sort of marketing misleading, he said that it ‘would be quite foolish to believe any of it’.

‘Teenagers nowadays are way more advanced than I am! Anyway, at the end of the day, everyone just wants to be entertained,’ he said.

On his part, Kern shows no signs of letting up.

He has recently put up screen grabs of Haunted Changi’s characters’ Facebook pages, which show them chatting to each other about the events surrounding their shoot.

Like everyone else, Kern said he’s interested to see if the movie’s online fanbase will translate into actual ticket sales.

He added: ‘If we don’t do well, then what are the chances that any other independent film can do well, even with a strong following online?’

Juliana June Rasul

The NewPaper

FIRST INTERVIEW
DISTANCE LEARNING
He’s Mr Mac and she’s Miss Kooky
September 03, 2010
 
 

Together, they’re an adorable couple you can root for – on or off-screen.

Justin Long may not have enjoyed the same level of success as his Going The Distance co-star, Drew Barrymore.

But he has had his fair share of achievements, ranging from TV shows (Ed) and horror flicks (Jeepers Creepers, Drag Me To Hell) to comedies (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) and action (Die Hard 4.0).

The boyish-looking 32-year-old actor is also a favourite with the geek community, thanks to Apple’s long-running Get A Mac commercials.

In them, Long plays a Mac which engages in playful banter with a PC (author and humorist John Hodgman) about the strengths of the Mac and weaknesses of the PC platform.

On the other hand, Barrymore, 35, is a Hollywood fixture who is known for her quirky roles.

In their new romantic comedy, Going The Distance, which opens here today, the real-life on-off couple play lovebirds Erin and Garrett who navigate the ups and downs of a long-distance relationship.

It’s produced by Adam Shankman (Hairspray) and directed by Oscar-winning documentary film-maker Nanette Burstein.

Here, Barrymore and Long discuss how the flick proved to be an education in getting drunk, getting naked and pulling off one of the most memorable phone sex scenes in celluloid history.

Drew, Erin is one of the more modern, sassy and outspoken characters that you have played. Was that what attracted you to the part?

Barrymore: I was definitely excited to play her. I wanted to play someone who can hang out with guys…has a spine and is funny.

I just feel like I relate to that kind of person right now in my life, so it was a pleasure for me.

I was able to improve and work in a much more sort of free-flowing way, where you can play around, and that to me was just an absolute pleasure.

What would you say was the scene that was the biggest challenge to film?

Barrymore: One of the challenges I was most excited about was doing the drunk scene.

Nanette and I really focused on what type of drunk Erin is and what we could ad-lib and what could be spontaneous.

It was the most fun day at work ever because I just really let loose.

Long: I would say some of (my) naked stuff was a little uncomfortable – a lot of the intimate sexual stuff around a room full of, you know, 30, 40 grown men was a challenge.

One of the movie’s highlights was the hilarious phone sex scene. Was it off the cuff or was that written? It was genius, especially the Marky Mark part.

Barrymore: I think the Marky Mark part was written. That was a great scene and I was really excited to go out there and try it.

I thought that it could go one of two ways: Either fail miserably and be a really gross, upsetting moment or it could be fun and exciting.

It was just one of those scenes where you just kind of have to go for it, not knowing if it’s going to work or not, but don’t compromise along the way because you’re afraid of it.

Long: We were comparing who had a more awkward experience. Me in front of like a room full of men simulating masturbation and trying to get into this weird sexual mode or Drew.

I think Drew had a more difficult time. She said everyone in the room was being stone-cold silent and like respectful and that just made it that much weirder for her.

Would you call this a recession romance?

Barrymore: I just want that beautiful striking balance where I’m laughing, crying and being able to relate to it, and I feel like this film has that. It gets surprisingly real.

Long: I also think the physical realities of both the characters play a large part and it was nice to see that played as something a lot of people, especially now, can relate to.

And just the things that you take for granted when you enter into a long-distance relationship, chief among them, the logistics, and just getting from point A to B, and what is involved with that.

Barrymore: You want to see each other, but you can’t because of money or schedule or obligations.

The NewPaper

FIRST FEATURE
SHOWMANCIN’
Are they or aren’t they? And does it really matter? Going The Distance co-stars Drew Barrymore and Justin Long prove that if Hollywood were a boat, it would be a love boat
By Jason Johnson
September 03, 2010
 
 

It’s not surprising that movie stars end up hooking up.

The only surprising thing is that they can find the time and energy to do anything BUT hook up.

Beautiful, charming, rich and famous, they were obviously born to be wild.

But the question is, does a Hollywood ‘showmance’ – dating while shooting – help sell the movie or just gross people out?

The answer would probably depend on which particular couple you’re talking about.

The eternally cute Drew Barrymore, 34, and her boyish beau Justin Long, 32, definitely get a pass.

In Going The Distance, which opens here today, they play young media types who fall for each other in New York and then have to struggle to keep their flame burning after Barrymore’s character moves back to San Francisco.

They make a wonderful on-screen couple, so much so that their off-screen shenanigans seem like a no-brainer.

Knowing they’ve got something going on behind the scenes actually adds to one’s enjoyment of the picture.

She loves to laugh and he obviously loves making her laugh. It’s easy to imagine them walking out of a scene and into the night.

And when they cry together, you can feel the history behind the tears.

In a recent interview with Access Hollywood, the chemistry between the pair – known henceforth as Drewstin Longmore – was obvious as they joked about starring together in their new romantic comedy.

‘Everyone knows we have a history together so I just thought, let’s exploit it,’ said Barrymore. ‘I just thought, God, we have seen each other through our highs and lows.’

Added Long: ‘Yeah, we’ve nauseated our friends; why not nauseate America?’

Drewstin Longmore met three years ago on the set of another romantic comedy, He’s Just Not That Into You.

Ironically, he was just that into her and she into him.

The tabloids were all over it, of course, with pictures and videos of them holding hands and smooching turning up all over the place.

Publicity stunt?

Some thought their relationship was a publicity stunt designed to help sell the movie.

Others thought Long was using the much better-known actress to advance his career.

Still others thought, hey, maybe they like each other.

Poor, naive fools. By the time Drewstin Longmore got around to shilling He’s Just Not That Into You, they had already broken up!

But seriously, it seems that they really did have something, if by ‘having something’, you mean that they would end up making out on the set of Going The Distance last summer.

Fast-forward to today, and the on-again-off-again couple continues to be on-again-off-again, which in Hollywood would have to be counted as a romance for the ages.

Long told New York Magazine with a laugh: ‘A real pickle we’re in, huh? You can’t say ‘no comment’ when you’re, like, doing several days of junkets. Together, no less.’

He added: ‘The truth is, we do love each other. I pray to God she’s always in my life. We were friends before this and, at the heart of what we are and will be, we are friends. Two good, really dear friends, and that trumps anything else.’

While Long has suggested that they might be patching up, Barrymore has preferred to keep their dating status a mystery – neither confirming nor denying anything during her round of promotional interviews for Going The Distance.

She told The Telegraph: ‘I’m now in that place where I’m like, ‘It’s not your business.’

However, she noted that a real-life couple can bring something special to the screen.

‘I thought it would be a unique experience to go to work with someone who genuinely makes me laugh and whom I’m genuinely attracted to,’ she said.

‘I knew the chemistry between us would be honest. So we would be able to bring a truth to the fact that relationships can be very difficult, and I thought that would be a real benefit.’

Barrymore is probably correct in saying that honest chemistry can at times be more convincing than the fake stuff. But it doesn’t always work that way.

Acting is a job and, at a certain level – particularly at a certain pay scale – these professionals are more than capable of feigning love.

From Harrison Ford and Sean Young in Blade Runner to Richard Gere and Debra Winger in An Officer And A Gentleman, mismatched stars have managed to check their gag reflexes and get on with business.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are those couples who seem to get along swimmingly in real life but fail to light up the screen.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez? Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner?

Maybe it’s just a Ben Affleck thing. Or a Jennifer thing. Or both.

The point is, it’s probably irrelevant how two actors really feel about each other when they’re doing a scene. But if they do happen to share special feelings, it can perhaps give their performances that little extra oomph.

And hey, isn’t oomph really what it’s all about?

WORKING RELATIONSHIP

ZANESSA
SWEETNESS AND LIGHT

Say what you will, but the showmance between Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez in Disney’s High School Musical movies will forever remain one of the defining romances of turn-of-the-millennium America.

Two squeaky-clean kids who unite their whole school – jocks, drama geeks, science nerds – through the power of song, the pair appealed to the best instincts in everyone, from conservative-minded folks who appreciated their sweetness to more liberal types who enjoyed their all-inclusive spirit.

The pair were of course played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, who started out just four years ago as unknown kids, and went on to become household names and arguably the biggest stars of their generation.

Their real-life romance seems almost as idyllic as their pretend one – and it apparently continues to thrive in spite of what must have been unbelievable stresses and temptations over the past few years.

The relationship is very public, with the two always there to support each other at awards shows and red carpet events.

When asked during a revealing profile piece for Details magazine if his relationship with Hudgens, 22, was manufactured by Disney so as to cover up his alleged preference for dudes, Efron, 23, was unequivocal.

‘That’s just ”””’ insane,’ he said.

Their post-High School Musical careers seem to be going fine, though Efron’s latest, Charlie St Cloud, was a bit of a dud.

It will be interesting to see how Hudgens does with her upcoming Sucker Punch – though whether it’s a hit or not, it seems that Efron will be there for her.

JAVILOPE
TRUE ROMANCE

Spanish power couple Javier Bardem, 41, and Penelope Cruz, 36, met on the set of Jamon Jamon back in 1992 when Cruz was still an ingenue.

But it wasn’t until they met again while shooting Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona in 2007 that sparks really flew.

They played husband and wife in the film, and in a sure-fire case of life imitating art, they got married this July – the same month Spain won the World Cup!

Impossibly talented and glamorous, the pair exudes the sort of sophistication and class that most Hollywood stars can only dream of.

While some showbiz couples might feel competitive or insecure, with one being more famous and successful than the other, Javilope doesn’t have such a problem.

Two of the most respected actors on the international stage, Bardem and Cruz recently won Oscars – he, for No Country For Old Men (2007) and she, for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

One hopes that Bardem keeps at least one eye on his lady love since she has had a habit over the years of seducing her leading men like Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise.

Indeed, there was talk that he wasn’t happy about her love scenes with Adrien Brody in her new flick, The Passion Within.

Didn’t he ever hear that song which goes: ‘If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, better make an UGLY woman your wife’?

Wise words.

ROBSTEN
THE VERY ODD COUPLE

In contrast to Zanessa, it’s hard to tell what’s up exactly with Robsten.

The on-screen chemistry between Kristen Stewart, 20, and Robert Pattinson, 24, has been off the charts in the Twilight films. Their lust for each other is such that you can imagine some poor production assistant being assigned to turn a hose on them after they finish shooting a scene.

Most importantly, the Twihards have bought it, and the franchise continues to create more converts with each new sequel that comes along.

Off-screen, things are not so clear-cut.

Speculation has swirled around the pair from the very beginning, but though they’ve been spotted holding hands and canoodling, they’ve never officially confirmed they’re a couple.

Lately, however, they’ve been somewhat less careful about keeping their relationship – whatever it might be – private.

Just this past month, they were spotted kissing in Montreal, where Stewart is shooting her new film, On The Road.

Of course, their fans went into a full-on tizzy when the pictures were posted online.

‘Love them so much individually and then together they are a dream. It’s like looking at what love should be,’ wrote Lola777 on the PopSugar message board.

There are rumours that Robsten are renting a luxurious love nest in Bel Air, which means it’s probably only a matter of time before they come out and end their fans’ torment.

The NewPaper

FIRST FASHION

Stars glam it up on the carpet…or not
OLD IS MOORE THESE DAYS
September 03, 2010
 
 

In most red carpet showdowns, it is the hot young thing who leaves her older female co-star eating her nubile dust.

Honestly, who really cares what middle-aged actresses wear these days?

Even if she can’t act her way out of a paper bag, any decent-looking starlet under 25 will be able to get more flashbulbs to pop.

So it’s a miracle that Julianne Moore, 50, managed to best Mia Wasikowska, 21, when they promoted their new indie flick, The Kids Are All Right.

Moore plays one-half of a lesbian couple, while Wasikowska is her teen daughter who rocks the boat when she wants to meet the anonymous sperm donor who fathered her.

Finally, red carpet experience – or at least having a reputable stylist on speed dial – counts for something.

Mum here is a golden oldie, but the kid is not all right.

1 At the New York premiere, Moore totally owned this fabulous black-and-white floral gown custom-made by Erdem, matching it with sexy smoky eyes and nude lips.

The gorgeous redhead also proved that prints don’t have to be rainbow-bright or bold to make a statement.

2 Since bursting onto the scene as the titular heroine in Alice In Wonderland, Wasikowska is all about taking fashion risks.

While she attempted to be edgy at the same event with a difficult-to-pull-off, lingerie-like Rodarte frock, it didn’t pay off.

In fact, it was a schizophrenic disaster – from the navy blue ribbon piping and sheer yoke to the black lace panels and tulle skirt.

If she really wanted to push the envelope, why bother with sensible black peep-toe heels?

And not only is the proportion of the top part of the outfit all wrong, going braless made it worse.

3 Moore outshone Wasikowska again at the Los Angeles premiere in a spangled, paillette-embroidered Mulberry shift dress and Nicholas Kirkwood black quilted satin sandals with pearl-embellished platforms.

How is it possible that this woman is half a century old?

PICTURES: AP, REUTERS

4 Wasikowska’s long-sleeved tartan two-piece from Chloe isn’t half bad on its own, but appeared dull and drab next to Moore’s dazzle in Los Angeles.

The bejewelled neckline didn’t do her sloping shoulders any favours. And whatever leftover interest in the ensemble was lost once I noticed the black tights and boring pumps.

Jeanmarie Tan
 

The NewPaper

Not all social escorts are victims
HK director Kenneth Bi insists he’s not taking moral stand on social escorts in his new film
By Tan Kee Yun
September 02, 2010
 
 

THROWING the spotlight on the social escort scene in Hong Kong meant taking on several challenges for director Kenneth Bi.

YOUNG CAST: Kenneth Bi with Bonnie Xian, Venus Wong, Michelle Wai and Una Lin.
PICTURE: SHAW ORGANISATION

The floppy-haired Hong Kong film-maker, whose previous works include the set-in-Singapore comedy Rice Rhapsody (2005) and philsophical drama The Drummer (2007), did not want his new flick, Girl$, to be a run-of-the-mill depiction of youth prostitution.

The film, rated R21, traces the journey of four girl friends who decide to put their bodies up for hire.

The protagonists are rich, bored Ronnie (newcomer Bonnie Xian), in the trade simply to inject some thrill into her life, and street-smart Icy (actress Michelle Wai), who wants money to buy her geeky boyfriend a new computer.

The film opens here tomorrow.

Bi, who is in his late 30s, told reporters in a phone interview from Hong Kong: ‘So many films about prostitution portray the girls as victims. In the past, yes, many of the girls who go into this line are forced by circumstances.

‘But the girls of today are so different! They go into the social escort business willingly because they know that by using their sexuality, they can easily get money from men. They are unafraid and don’t ever feel victimised.’

The last thing Bi wanted was to put himself on a moral pedestal and paint social escorts as villified sex objects.

‘In reality, a lot of girls in this trade choose their sex partners, they enjoy being paid for sex and, at the end of the day, they are happy,’ he said. ‘Who am I to judge them?’

Bi said his crew poured time and effort into interacting with real escorts to gather as much information as possible about these girls’ work.

‘Our script writers went online and chatted with several escorts. We found out…how much they were paid, at times even right down to the details.

‘For example, we realised the ‘middleman’ (or agent) for these girls often get a huge cut from their pay.

‘For every ‘job’, the agent collects as much as HK$1,600 (S$280), while the social escort only pockets HK$1,000.’.

Another massive challenge Bi faced was convincing his young cast they were in safe hands during the film’s many sex scenes.

‘Naturally, in the beginning, they had plenty of reservations,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I reassured them many, many times that although Girl$ is a racy Category 3 (Hong Kong’s equivalent of R21) film, it’s not pornography.’

Her most daring film

Lead actress Wai, 25, told The New Paper that Girl$ was ‘the most daring film’ she has done to date.

Unlike her previous good-girl roles in teen flick Happily Ever After and romance drama Ex, her role as Icy gave her a chance to ‘play the rebel’.

‘What drew me to the film was how ‘rough’ my character was…She swore and smoked. I’ve never done all that on screen before,’ said Wai.

There were also the love scenes.

While both she and co-star Xian did not strip (only suppporting actress Una Lin appears in the buff), she was in a number of scenes featuring physical intimacy, as well as one that had her in handcuffs.

‘It was an extremely difficult scene for me,’ confessed Wai.

The shoot was deliberately done in a love hotel, to keep it close to reality.

‘Before filming started, I felt really down and uncomfortable. Thankfully, I think my male co-star and I eventually managed to get into the shoes of our characters quite well.’

Before filming, Wai geared herself up for her role by visiting social escort websites.

‘I attempted to chat up some real-life escorts, so that I could find out what goes on in their minds. But somehow, they were all very alert.

‘The minute it hit them that I’m not a potential client, they just ignored me!’

The NewPaper

‘RACE’ YOUR GLASSES TO F1 PARTIES
Mariah Carey! Chippendales! Import models! S’pore Grand Prix is about more than fast cars
By Germaine Lim
September 02, 2010
 
 

REV up your party engines, people.

CHEERS! (From left)
New Face finalists Anais Pei, Irina Tan and Tessa Hogan at The Butter Factory.

That’s what these New Paper New Face girls will be doing at this year’s Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

The girls – students Anais Pei, Tessa Hogan and Irina Tan – said they are particularly interested in renowned DJs and international music superstars that will be here for This month’s F1 festivities.

Anais and Irina picked Attica as the most likely place they’d be spotted at because the music appealed to them most.

Anais, a 20-year-old freshman at the Nanyang Technological University, told The New Paper: ‘This DJ Kay-Z sounds interesting as he’s worked with Rihanna, and I like Rihanna’s music.’

The trio missed out on last year’s festivities as they were mugging for exams.

Tessa, an 18-year-old Temasek Polytechnic student, preferred Avalon at Large Presents GO! because ‘I love Flo Rida and I’m sure many out there do (too)’.

SINGER: Mariah Carey.

She added: ‘The loud and hyped-up beats with amazing bands will make the party a blast for all.’

Judging from the long list of events, all said party organisers have done a good job so far.

Irina, a 18-year-old Ngee Ann Polytechnic student, said revellers are spoilt for choice.

‘Perhaps clubs can include special features like bubble blowers. I went to a club which was filled with foam bubbles that were released from the top at a certain time with a huge fan blowing. It was so nice and the crowd got really excited.’

HUNKS: The Chippendales dancers.
TNP PICTURE: GAVIN FOO

For cash-strapped students, Anais suggested that clubs offer student discounts.

Now that The New Paper New Face girls have taken their picks, what’s yours this September?

Here are some parties taking place during the F1 week:

LG Live at 2010 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

WHEN: Sept 24-26

WHERE: Marina Bay Street Circuit

ADMISSION: Tickets start from $38 from www.singaporegp.sg or call 6738 6738.

WHAT: Music stars like Mariah Carey, Adam Lambert and Missy Elliott will take the Padang stage at the heart of the action.

Women can also look forward to Las Vegas male revue group Chippendales who return after their performance here in March.

Avalon at Large presents GO!

WHEN: Sept 23-24

WHERE: Marina Bay Sands Sands Expo and Convention Center

ADMISSION: Tickets start from $85 for a one-day pass and $125 for a two-day pass.

WHAT: Performers like US rapper Flo Rida, Aussie electro duo Empire of the Sun as well as renowned DJs like Above & Beyond and The Chemical Brothers will be heating up the waterfront.

Amber Lounge Singapore and Amber Lounge Fashion S’pore

WHEN: Sept 25-26

WHERE: Temasek Reflection (Water wall behind Millenia Walk)

ADMISSION: 500 euros (S$860) per person. Tables for eight persons range from 3,995 euros to 15,000 euros. All prices include unlimited champagne. For more information, call +377 9777 1634 or e-mail karin@amber-lounge.com.

WHAT: Touted to be the ‘ultimate VIP nightlife experience and after-party for F1 race drivers’, last year’s party attracted the likes of will.i.am from the hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas, F1 driver Jenson Button and his model girlfriend Jessica Michibata, two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen and more.

This year, Amber Lounge Fashion will be launched for the first time outside Monaco on Sept 25.

Official Lounge at Stereolab

WHEN: Sept 24-26

WHERE: Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore

ADMISSION: $80, which includes a glass of champagne. Race ticket holders get 15 per cent discount. Table bookings start from $1,200.

WHAT: This is where you could be rubbing shoulders with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Sir Richard Branson and F1 driver Rubens Barrichello who visited the lounge last year.

This year, DJs like Catherine McQueen, Hayley Parsons, Max Chipchase and DJ Octo of Bed Supperclub in Bangkok will be spinning. Playboy columnist Suzy McCoppin will be hosting the official after-party on Sept26.

The Butter Factory

WHEN: Sept 24

WHERE: One Fullerton

ADMISSION: $28 for men and $23 for women. Prices include two drinks.

WHAT: Catch US rapper Chingy perform hits like Right Thurr at the Bump room.

Red Bull Night Race at Le Noir

WHEN: Sept 20-23

WHERE: Clarke Quay

ADMISSION: To be confirmed

WHAT: Le Noir will be transformed into a race track where partygoers can attempt a wheel change at the F1 chassis and become part of the Red Bull pit crew for the night.

Take part in the Red Bull Pit Stop Game and the fastest pit crew member wins a VIP invite to the Red Bull Racing garage tour.

St James Power Station

WHEN: Sept 22-25

WHERE: Sentosa Gateway

ADMISSION: Grand Prix pass holders get free entry before 10pm at St James Power Station, Bar None and Shanghai Dolly. Otherwise, cover charge starts from $10. $25 for guys while ladies get free entry at Shanghai Dolly.

WHAT: Try out the racing simulators at the al fresco area. Girls can also play race queen for the night.

Jane Zhang of China’s Super Girl TV singing contest fame will be performing on Sept 25 at Clarke Quay’s Shanghai Dolly which is part of the St James group.
 

The NewPaper