Alexia Fast joins Tom Cruise's One Shot

 

Actress Alexia Fast has joined the cast of novel-turned-film One Shot. 

 

The Christopher McQuarrie movie stars Tom Cruise as former military policeman Jack Reacher, investigating a sniper accused of murdering five people.

 

The Hollywood Reporter stays true to its name by revealing that Fast will play “Sandy, a seductive young siren involved in a setup of Cruise's character.” 

 

Fast’s first project was writing, directing and starring in the short film The Red Bridge. A commercial followed before she was cast as Cindy Bottoms in the zombie drama Fido starring Carrie-Anne Moss and Billy Connolly. 

 

She has since appeared in the feature films Kickin’ It Old Skool (2007), Helen (2009) and Triple Dog (2010), as well as the Hallmark Wizard Of Oz mini-series Tin Man. 

 

One Shot also stars Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins and David Oyelowo and is expected to begin shooting in Pittsburgh in October 2011. 

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Keen to catch up on the back catalogue of this seductive siren? Excited by the cast that's being assembled for this adaptation of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novel? Head below and share your thoughts.

Read more: Alexia Fast joins Tom Cruise's One Shot | TotalFilm.com

Shark Night 3D

Directed by childactor-turned stuntman-turned-B-flick huckster David R Ellis (Snakes On A Plane), SN 3D gamely aims to deliver on dumb-fun expectations with a straightforward beast-vs-co-eds tale. Sadly, it’s hampered by a commercial coyness that skimps on the grue and cuts out celebrity skin entirely, leaving you with nothing more than a few poke-y moments and wistful memories of Piranha 3D. It’s like watching the Discovery Channel during shark week with annoying glasses on and, for some reason, a guest spot from American Idol’s Katharine McPhee

Read more: Shark Night 3D review | TotalFilm.com

Dookudu will release in 900 screens

Considering the abuzz around the movie, the makers of Dookudu has decided to release the movie with record number of prints. The movie will hit the screens on September 23, worldwide.

If reports are to be believed, Dookudu will release in 900 screens. However, the makers of the film have not confirmed about the exact number of prints. Currently, the movie is busy filming an item song on Parvathi Melton and Mahesh Babu at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.

The first copy of the film will be ready by September 16th and it will go for censor on September 19th. The movie, which stars Mahesh Babu, Samantha and Prakash Raj in the leads, is directed by Srinu Vytla and jointly produced by Anil Sunkara and Gopichand Achanta.

Rascals team upset with Kangana Ranaut

Kangana Ranaut's absence from the promotional events of her forthcoming film Rascals seems to reconfirm the rumour that all is not well between Kangana and the Rascals team.

Speaking to IANS, Sanjay Ahluwalia, who is co-producing the film along with Sanjay Dutt said, “Kangana has some prior commitments and we also have some issues with her, so that is why she is not promoting Rascals.”

It has been reported many times in the past that Kangana Ranaut was facing serious problems on the sets of Rascals. She even reportedly had a tiff with actor Sanjay Dutt on the sets of the film. We informed you recently how Kangana had initially refused to do the bikini scene before agreeing to do it later. The report, however was then dismissed off by the director David Dhawan and Kangana as baseless rumour.

Well, this is now clear that things are not hunky dory between Kangana Ranaut and the Rascals team. So, now, can we hear from you Kangana?

Rascals, which is expected to hit the theatre on October 7, is Sanjay Dutt's first ever production venture

Siddique on success and Salman

This man knows his craft well. He might be tongue-tied when it comes to Hindi, but was sharp enough to get the pulse of its people right. The way Siddique brought in subtle changes in the thread of 'Bodyguard' while adapting it to Bollywood, speaks volumes about his expertise.

But, talking to him you realise what makes him more worthy of a standing ovation is the way he wards off fame and success from going to his head. The simple and well-liked director speaks to Manoramaonline on 'Bodyguard' and much more.

Was success of such high proportions expected?
I was hopeful. But, this is an overwhelming experience, much beyond my wildest dreams. Within 6 days of its release, the film has reached the 100 crore mark. I am happy that my endeavour has been well-received. 'Kavalan' had to fight its way out. But, this time, I think the on-screen chemistry shared by Salman and Kareena proved to be decisive.

What is so special about 'Bodyguard'?
I would say it is the story. The thread of the story was unique and strong. It was fresh and romantic as well. In all the three versions, the main characters were played by popular actors. Bodyguard owes its success to its entire crew. However, I had made certain changes in the script each time. Producer Atul Agnihotri too gave me tremendous support.

The best among the three pairs?
Comparison is not fair. All three pair of actors are unique in their own ways. They were most suitable to that particular script. The treatment too was different in each case. All the three pairs performed brilliantly before the camera.

Homework?
I was confident about the subject. I had got many offers from Bollywood even before. But, I was relectant as I wanted to make my entry to Bollywood a memorable one. I was waiting for such a script to come my way. In this case, I knew from the beginning that Salman could bring this role to perfection. When he saw the Malayalam version, Salman too agreed to do it without a second thought.

Lovely Singh?
Salman was the most obvious choice for Lovely Singh's role. I don't think the film would have made it this big, if some other actor had performed in the lead role. Lovely Singh was one character that Salman's fans wanted to a see him as.

The Billion club?

I was literally flooded with congratulatory messages. Including Mammootty, almost all of them from the industry rang me up. Mammukka, who is more like an elder brother to me said that this success was a reward that God gave me for my hard work.

But, I will never distance myself from Mollywood. Many offers are coming.. I will go for the best ones.

How do you see this huge success?

Naturally, I am delighted. But no success, however big it may be, can ever change the person that I am. In fact, hits make me more responsible. With every superhit film, the burden of expectation also goes up.

Bad Teacher

"Bad Teacher"; Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake; Director: Jake Kasdan

It's one of the most frivolous plots imaginable -- a bad, foul mouthed school teacher working her way through by hook or crook just to get a boob-job done. And though this wafer-thin, sexist film may be bad in most departments, it will perhaps work for some people -- most of all for those who are as flippant as the character.

Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz) is the kind of teacher who is bad enough to give the worst of teachers a bad name. She dopes, drinks, is foul-mouthed and sexually inappropriate -- all of this in her class. Her only ambition in life is to marry a rich guy. To do that, she thinks she needs work on her breasts, for which she needs 10,000 dollars. She does everything in her power as a school teacher, and beyond, to somehow manage that money. She also faces competition from another teacher out to expose her.

Cameron Diaz is too old to play a young, pesky teacher. However, it is her age and experience that gives her character an I-care-a-damn attitude which gives the film a little semblance of credulity and its few funny moments.

The story, as expected, is predictable. However, the gags and the jokes could have been original. Sadly, there isn't much luck on that front either. The humour is tasteless and the acting, in most parts, is bland. However, that may not be such a bad thing since the film has a sense of mockery about it. It is irreverent of everything, including itself.

But most of all it is perhaps impudent towards our times without really intending it. It is a film that would not have been considered by studios worthy of wasting precious money and an expensive star on. However, the fact that it exists and is getting a global release means that the producers know that come what may, they won't lose out. Sign of the times? Definitely.

And though there was an opportunity for its humour to be dark, sharp and witty, we instead have some overused and stale jokes that fail the film as well as the actors who do try to revive the movie, but to no effect.

Yet, it has a kind of mawkishness that will work for some kind of people, especially the bad-to-the-bone ones. It's a film made for them

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

Yash Raj banner has earlier produced movies like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Band Baaja Baaraat, which had marriage as the backdrop. The production house is now back with one more movie on the same subject. But its latest venture Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is totally different and it lives up to the legacy.


Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is a romantic comedy flick, which is set amongst upper middle class families in northern India. The performances by Imran Khan, Katrina Kaif, Ali Zafar are the major highlights of the film. Ali Abbas Zafar's wonderful script and direction and Sohail Sen's music are the other attractions of the film.


Inspired by the matrimonial advertisements in newspapers, director Ali Abbas Zafar has created an interesting plot and garnished it with lively characters, which make the film a fun and joyous ride. The subject of the marriage has been used in several Bollywood flick, but the director has managed to be different in its treatment in the movie Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.


The director has made the first half of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan very interesting by including lots of fun elements. But his story turns bit predictable in the second half, which makes it unexciting. However, the twist in climax also seems to be dragging, but it is enjoyable.


Luv (Ali Zafar) is staying in London and his brother Kush (Imran Khan) is in search of an ideal Indian bride (Dulhan) for him. After an array of encounters with several families, Kush finds a girl-named Dimple (Katrina Kaif), who is the craziest/wackiest girl. Both the families agree for their union. But Kush falls in love with her when the preparations for their marriage are in full swing. What happens next will form the climax of the film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.


Imran Khan is a perfect match for the role and he has done a fabulous acting. As wacky girl, Katrina Kaif's performance is a notch better than her acting in her previous films. And the chemistry between Katrina and Imran is simply superb. Ali Zafar, who is making his acting debut with this film, has an impeccable comic timing. Others like Tara D'Souza, Parikshit Sahni and Kanwaljeet Singh are also good in their respective roles.


Besides having admirable performances, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan has also got rich technical elements. Mainly Sohail Sen's music is beautiful and it suits the mood of the film. Its songs are both mass as well as class. The soundtracks like 'Dhunki...', 'Choomantar...', 'Madhubala...' and the title song are excellent. Sudeep Chatterjee's cinematography and Bosco-Caesar's choreography also add to the beauty of the movie.


In a nutshell, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is a wholesome entertainer with a tender story. It can be good time-passer for this weekend. Don't miss it.


Producer: Aditya Chopra


Director: Ali Abbas Zafar


Cast: Imran Khan, Katrina Kaif, Ali Zafar, Arfeen Khan, Kanwaljit Singh, Parikshat Sahni


Music: Sohail Sen