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'The Exorcism...' lacks luminous terror  -  Hollywood review

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Film: "The Exorcism Of Emily Rose"; Cast: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott and Jennifer Carpenter; Director: Scott Derrickson; Rating: * 1/2

While viewing this harrowing tale of the wretchedly calamitous possession of a young life, I was repeatedly reminded of the much darker and scary "Exorcist" that came three decades ago.

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Times have changed. Linda Blair who played the possessed girl in "The Exorcist" spewed far more than just venom in the earlier film. Now when Jennifer Carpenter plays the demonised girl-woman Emily Rose, she has to keep in mind that audiences wouldn't like her getting too in-your-face anti-Christ.

It's not about religion. It's about aesthetics. And that's the problem with "The Exorcism Of Emily Rose". It's a tale stylishly told, but it lacks the luminous terror of its earlier counterparts.

Too vacant in its glamorised view of the horror genre, it tends to overreach its scanty intentions, making a hash of the poor traumatised girl's predicament by adding excessive atmospherics to the goings-on.

The bitter truth about the story of Emily Rose is that it never affects us. The narrative stands outside her traumatised life, barely offering us a chance to look into her plight with anything more than passing curiosity.

There's the ambitious but compassionate lawyer Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) defending the benign priest (Tom Wilkinson) and his Catholic faith against the cynical public prosecutor Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott).

In all fairness, the court proceedings are even-toned, balanced and engaging. But the main issue - whether Emily died of demoniacal possession or mental negligence - has to be weighed against the film's cinematic flaws, of which there's no dearth.

We never see the characters in anything beyond the shadows that are diligently crafted. The silhouette posture suits the film's shallow mood. The characters are seen running down cavernous corridors, chasing shadows and screaming at visages. We barely get the chance to savour their terror.

Snowed under ambient artistry, this film cries for more compelling characterisations. We aren't really surprised that poor Emily dies untreated.

No one has the time to stop being characters in this self-conscious scare-fest long enough to connect with their colleagues, or to convey the anguish of being in a situation they don't really understand.

Frankly we are caught in a larger dilemma: why was this film made?  

China opening up to Hollywood 

Beijing, Dec 8 (Xinhua) "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is set to be China's biggest box office hit this year after reaping about $9.8 million since its release three weeks ago, testifying to Hollywood's huge influence in the world's most populous country.

The movie, together with other three instalments of the hugely successful series, features the adventures of a little wizard boy who has created millions of "Harry fans" in China.

China's other two Hollywood hits for the year - "Star Wars Episode III" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" have earned about $9.3 million and about $7.6 million, respectively, since their releases in June.

Along with its economic rise in recent years, China has been opening up to anything foreign - from management expertise to fast food to Western movies, Hollywood blockbusters in particular.

Of the 88 foreign movies China enjoyed during 2000-2004, 70 were from the US. According to Mao Yu, an official with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, China introduced 16 American movies among the total 20 foreign films distributed in 2005.

But just 10 or 20 years ago, few Chinese had watched or even heard of Hollywood movies in that ideology-highlighted era.

Wang, a 40-odd-year-old, said most of the few foreign movies he watched during his childhood were from the "socialist camp", such as Vietnam and North Korea. 

Indian movies left a deep impression on him by featuring love stories with singing and dancing, rare in Chinese films.

Most Chinese movies screened were news clips. When the first American movie, "The Fugitive," landed in 1994, Chinese distributors were afraid that the movie might cause controversy. The poster read "Time of reform and hot debate; risky screening in the movie market."

Ten years later, more and more Chinese are accustomed to the Western scenes and thinking depicted in movies and are attracted to Hollywood movies for their hi-tech production techniques. They no longer regard them as a threat.

"Hollywood blockbusters, while taking hold of the Chinese movie market, help the Chinese movie industry progress in creativity and production," said Yin Hong, professor with the Tsinghua University, who believed the Star Wars series has stimulated Chinese enthusiasm about space exploration

China has also honoured several Hollywood movies with its prestigious film awards - the Huabiao Awards and Golden Rooster Awards. These movies include "Saving Private Ryan", "Pearl Harbor" and "Forrest Gump."

According to an agreement reached between China and the US in 1999, China would no longer hold a movie import quota and allow the distribution of imported US movies by sharing box office earnings after China's entry into the World Trade Organisation.

Foreign investors are allowed to hold less than 49 percent, or non-controlling stake, in cineplexes and film studios. In October 2004, Warner Brothers, China Film Group, and Zhejiang Hengdian Group, a local film producer, launched China's first joint venture in film production.

Chinese movie directors and producers have turned to Hollywood to learn the US way of movie production and distribution. Chinese blockbusters "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" by China's first internationally famed director, Zhang Yimou, have reaped millions of dollars.

Ordinary Chinese also find movies instructive.

Lu Ya and her 11-year-old daughter are fascinated by Harry Potter's wizardry, the movie's imagination and the British mythology. The daughter even reads books to understand more about the wizard world.

Lu was happy that her daughter has learned new things from the movie. "'Harry Potter' has become an important part of my life," she said.

--Xinhua

Miller gets cosy with DiCaprio 

From Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Dec 8 (IANS) Actress Sienna Miller was reportedly spotted with Leonardo DiCaprio at a New York nightclub.

According to ananova.com, Miller met DiCaprio at Bungalow 8. A source said: "Sienna was with some pals at the club, dancing and drinking. Then at midnight a scruffy-looking Leo appeared on his own and joined Sienna's gang. She seemed very happy to see him and gave him a huge hug. They spent most of the rest of the evening huddled in a corner, chatting. 

"There was a lot of flirting going on. Leo didn't even look at any of the other girls. He would whisper in Sienna's ear, then they'd laugh together. It looked pretty cosy.

"At one point she tried to get Leo to dance, but he just laughed it off. Then at about 2 a.m. some of the group left with Sienna and Leo left too, through a back door."

David Gilmour announces concert details

From Indo-Asian News Service

London, Dec 8 (IANS) Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has announced details of two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall here on May 29 and 30.

According to ananova.com, the shows are the only confirmed concerts so far in a tour to support Gilmour's new album "On An Island". 

The album will be Gilmour's first solo studio release since 1984's "About Face". The album was produced by Gilmour and was recorded at Abbey Road. 

The title track features voices of David Crosby and Graham Nash.

Foxx and Smith campaign for Howard's Oscar 

From Indo-Asian News Service

London, Dec 8 (IANS) Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and actor Will Smith have teamed up to help friend Terrence Howard win an Academy Award.

According to contactmusic.com, Smith has taken it upon himself to help sell Howard's acclaimed movie "Hustle & Flow" to voters even though he didn't star in the film. And Foxx has also assured Howard that he will help him get an award.

Howard says: "Jamie Foxx left a message the other day. He said, 'Yeah, man. We're going to work on getting this nomination and getting you one of them statues in your hand. So let me know whatever it is you need me to do, and I'm going to do it'."

Nolte's drug past comes back to haunt him

From Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Dec 8 (IANS) Actor Nick Nolte's drug past will come back to haunt him in an upcoming lawsuit by the parents of a teenager who claims that she was raped at a party at his home in January 2003.

According to hollywood.com, a judge at the Santa Monica court has ruled evidence of previous drug and alcohol abuse by the actor and his son can be included in the case despite attempts by Nolte's attorney to limit questioning to the events of the party.

The alleged victim claims that she was just 15 when she was given date-rape drug GHB and sexually assaulted. 

Nolte says that he was not at home when the party took place. He is being sued for negligence on the basis that the home had "a long history of furnishing drugs and/or alcohol to minors". 

Aniston burnt her wedding dress

From Indo-Asian News Service

London, Dec 8 (IANS) Jennifer Aniston has reportedly burnt her wedding dress.

According to ananova.com, she set fire to the Lawrence Steele dress during a ceremony with friends. She allegedly drank champagne and laughed with friends at the ritual outside her Malibu beach home. 

Other items burnt include letters and other items related to her relationship with Brad Pitt. 

Pitt and Aniston's divorce was finalised in October.

Victoria Beckham upset with media

From Indo-Asian News Service

London, Dec 8 (IANS) Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, says that negative press upsets her.

According to ananova.com, she has been criticised for being too thin. She says: "What people forget is that I am a human being. I have a heart too, I still have feelings and I sometimes get upset when people make swipes at me. I'm a family woman and when I constantly read bad comments about the way I look and live, it gets me down."

She admitted that she went to see a doctor about her weight loss. 

She adds: "I started to get paranoid about the weight loss so I went to the doctor but he said it was just something that happens when you have children. My mum lost three stone after she had my brother, so it's hereditary."

Li to quit kung fu movies

From Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Dec 8 (IANS) Chinese superstar Jet Li is quitting kung fu films because he wants to be recognised more as an actor and not just a martial arts expert.

According to Internet Movie Database, he told students at China's Fudan University that he is eager to make more philosophical movies and would like to work on another collaboration with French director Luc Besson. 

He promised that his latest movie "Fearless" would be his last effort in the martial arts genre. 

He said: "I've said more than once this will be my last martial arts film." 

Li said he has around 20 movies lined up but will just "shoot whichever comes into fruition first".

Baldwin loses first round of custody battle

From Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Dec 8 (IANS) Actor Alec Baldwin has lost the first round in the custody battle with ex-wife Kim Basinger and his plea for more telephone time and holiday time with his daughter has been denied.

Internet Movie Database reports that Baldwin dragged his ex-wife into the court last month after claiming that she had violated a court-imposed custody. 

He has told the court that he has spent over $1 million to fight the case over the years. 

He claims that she has been trying to turn his daughter Ireland against him. 

The actor has also accused his ex-wife of turning the daughter into a spy claiming that she phones her mother frequently when she is staying with her father.