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Book provides 'Lost' fans with more details
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Fans of the show "Lost" who want to understand the meaning behind the show are being encouraged to read a novel, first published in 1940, which inspired the writing of the show.

According to contactmusic.com, the book is "The Third Policeman" by Flann O Brien and sold 10,000 copies in the US after it made a brief appearance in an episode of the show recently. 

Co-writer Craig Wright says: "They will have a lot more to speculate about. 'The Third Policeman's' prologue suggests the island Lost's air crash characters inhabit is an hallucination."

The book begins: "Human existence being an hallucination... it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death."

Sarandon blasts media intrusion on son's life
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Oscar winning actress Susan Sarandon has slammed the media for intruding on the private life of her son in 2003.

According to contactmusic.com, this happened following reports that she and her husband Tim Robbins 'brainwashed' their child with political jargon. 

Robbins reportedly threatened a journalist who interviewed Sarandon's Republican mother. She said the couple's son was being manipulated by his strongly Democratic parents. 

More reports said that son Jack would not take part in a school play because it wasn't big enough. This made the couple even angrier. 

Sarandon says: "First of all it wasn't true, and second, who would care? I wept. I was furious. I don't even pick on the Bush girls - you just leave people's kids alone."

Craig says he's not soft
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Daniel Craig is lashing out at claims that he is "too soft" to play James Bond and says he will be the toughest 007 agent so far.

According to contactmusic.com, Craig is currently filming in the Bahamas and has faced strong criticism from fans ever since they heard that he could not drive Bond's classic Aston Martin. 

Reports also surfaced that Craig suffered in the heat, and got one of his teeth knocked out.

But Craig is now responding saying that all Bond actors get injured. 

He says: "I got bumped and I knocked a crown out. I got it fixed, simple as that. It didn't hurt and there was no bleeding. I saw a dentist and never left the set. I completed the day's work. 

"It is an incredibly physical role, and I don't want to be taking days off. I want to get as fit as I can. In James Bond movies you are going to get hurt."

Lohan laughs off Lennon rumours
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Actress Lindsay Lohan has laughed off reports that she is romantically involved with Sean Lennon saying she only worked with him on his new music video.

According to contactmusic.com, Lohan was spotted in January with Lennon in New York. But she claims they hit it off well while she was researching her role for "Chapter 27". 

The movie chronicles the days leading up to the murder of Sean's father John Lennon by a deranged fan Mark David Chapman.

Says Lohan: "I got to know Sean Lennon, John's son, and I'm on the video of his next record."

Pink talks about being called fat

Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Singer Pink has criticised Hollywood's obsession with being thin in her new video "Stupid Girls".

According to ananova.com, Pink has now spoken out being called fat. 

She says: "People often refer to me as fat, and it has taken a long time for me to come to terms with that. I have the same thoughts as everybody else. But I'm athletic, strong, fit and healthy." 

Speaking about "Stupid Girls" in which she makes fun of people like the Olsen Twins and Paris Haris, she says: "I don't need to name names. I'm attacking the general idea that you have to be cute and dumb to be successful."

She also reveals secrets from her past and even admits to drug use in her teems. 

"I did a lot of very bad things, very young. I was your typical messed-up kid... I'm glad I got it all out of my system by the time I was 20."

Theron, Townsend part ways
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron has reportedly split from her long time boyfriend Stuart Townsend after work forced them apart.

According to contactmusic.com, Theron has been dating Townsend for the past five years but on few occasions such as the BAFTAs and the Oscars she appeared without Townsend on her side.

A friend says: " Theron is free and single again. Her relationship with Townsend is well and truly over. They just grew apart. It wasn't always easy because filming often kept them apart for months." 

Theron had recently announced that she did not intend to marry Townsend by saying: "It's not really what I want, or what he wants."

Zowie says rock and roll life not for him
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Zowie Bowie, son of David Bowie, is philosophical about having to endure the worst of his father's drinking and drug abuse which made him have a clean lifestyle.

According to contactmusic.com, Zowie, who prefers to be known as Duncan Jones, had to see his father at his worst in the 1970s and 1980s. He said people who lead a rock and roll life are a 'bit funny'. 

He says: "If you want to do that to yourself, don't complain about it! I've always played sport and enjoyed reading. I don't take drugs, I don't smoke, I do drink a little bit, but just with friends. 

"People who live the rock 'n' roll lifestyle I find a little bit funny. Yes, it has highs. But the lows you get out of it are completely self-inflicted."

Frost unsure of Law-Kidman relationship
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 12 (IANS) Jude Law's ex-wife Sadie Frost has spoken of her heartache when she heard reports that Law was involved with Nicole Kidman.

But Frost admits that she really does not what happened with Law and Kidman.

According to contactmusic.com, British tabloids had printed pictures of the pair together in 2004 when they were working together in the movie "Cold Mountain".

Frost says: "I was upset. I was hurt. But I still don't know some things and I'm not going to comment on it because I don't know the truth."

Owen keen to make family film
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) "Closer" star Clive Owen is keen to make a family film because he refuses to let his children watch anything he has been in.

According to contactmusic.com, among the few roles he has played are - Julia Roberts' foul-mouthed husband in "Closer", a scheming Casino employee in "Croupier", an unfaithful husband in "Derailed" and a bank robber in his new film "Inside Man". 

Owen fears his films are too violent or sexual for his kids to see. But he also wants them to watch him on screen soon. 

He says: "My children aren't allowed to see any of my movies - they are nine and six. I would like to do a family movie for the kids because they can't see much of what I do and it would be nice to do one for them."

Lee fears 'Inside Man' may prompt violent video game
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) Filmmaker Spike Lee fears he might have unknowingly created a horrific new videogame by exploring the violent genre in his new film "Inside Man".

Lee's intention was to scare film fans into seeing just how violent video games have become in a scene in "Inside Man". But he is now worried that his tactics will prompt others to cash in on his idea, contactmusic.com reported. 

He says: "There is a scene where Clive Owen's character tells this young bank robbery hostage that he wants to talk to his father about playing violent video games. It was an opportunity to get in something real quick. I love the line that Clive came up with, where he says, 'I got to speak to your father about this game!' 

"We found this small outfit that does animation and we thought of the most horrific things we could think of in a video game. We haven't seen a video game with the grenade in the mouth (that explodes). And the sad thing is somebody is probably gonna make a game out of it and take that as inspiration."

Portman turns to Nichols for advice
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) Actress Natalie Portman turns to director Mike Nichols when she has to make a career decision or master a movie role.

Portman considers Nichols as a mentor and his advice has enabled her to get roles like the one in "V For Vendetta". He has also helped her make decisions like switching agencies. And Nichols also offers her romance tips, contactmusic.com reported.

She says: "He'll take me out to dinner and be like, 'This guy's not treating you right...' (or), 'You need a new agent.'" 

"You send him a book, he reads it the next day. You ask him for advice on a script, he reads it and gives you notes on it. I call him and I'm like, 'I'm stuck with this character.' 

"He'll spend three hours on the phone with me and give me his thoughts. And he doesn't have anything to do with it... It's not his movie."

Dillon pokes fun at Clooney
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) "Crash" star Matt Dillon had fun hosting "Saturday Night Live" when he poked fun at George Clooney, who beat him to the best supporting actor Oscar. 

Dillon read out the speech he would have given at the Academy Awards, contactmusic.com reported. Dillon also poked fun at Terrence Howard and made a speech about ethnic minorities. 

He said: "I wanna thank all the Asians in the cast. I am sorry I kept getting all you guys confused... Oh, and the Hispanics... God such an amazing work ethic of those people. I was so tired at the end of the day and to think that they all had to run off to jump into the back of one pick-up truck and go to their second and third jobs. 

"Oh, and the Arab family - I know none of you are going to believe this, but they were so nice... and so clean. All the gays in the wardrobe department snaps to you. My agent, my manager, the producers... Heck, all the Jews who worked in this production. 

"And, of course I'd like to thank my mom. I come from a big Irish family and my mother was always able to take the time to put down the potato peeler and her flask of whisky, give me and my 16 brothers and sisters all the love and support we'd need."

Culkin denies drug problem
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) Former child star Macaulay Culkin says he doesn't have a drug problem despite his arrest on marijuana possession in 2004.

Culkin says he just likes to smoke weed once in a while, according to contactmusic.com. 

Cops caught Culkin while he was driving through Oklahoma and found marijuana and prescription anti-depression drugs in his car. He was arrested and ordered to undergo counselling. 

He says: "It's not something I make a habit out of... I had to talk to a counsellor, I had to pee in a cup to show them that, 'Listen, this is not a lifestyle for me, it's more out of character really'."

Lydon still upset with Green Day
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) Sex Pistols lead singer John Lydon has criticised Green Day again saying they would not have survived when punk was at its height.

Lydon has become a vehement critic of the band, calling them 'plonk' and that they are just 'silly fat kids', contactmusic.com reported. 

He says: "They are sticky tape on a duck's a**e. They wouldn't have survived it (punk heyday). We had to earn the wings. We made it easy for them to come in and nick things from us. Silly fat kids. It was hard times we went through for them to come and nick our ideas."

Tautou star struck by Hanks
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) French actress Audrey Tautou was so star struck by Tom Hanks in the sets of the upcoming film "The Da Vince Code" that she couldn't stop laughing nervously for a while.

Tautou was so overwhelmed on the sets that she had to remind herself that she really had been cast alongside Hanks, contactmusic.com reported.

She says: "While I was being made up and sat there next to Tom, I laughed nervously. I really felt as if this was a joke - it didn't seem reasonable to be part of my life. I felt kind of out of place with next to these people. It did take a while until I wasn't impressed any more."

Christensen's ex says Sienna is messed up
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 13 (IANS) Actor Hayden Christensen's betrayed girlfriend Lola Skye has slammed Sienna Miller for stealing her boyfriend and said she is "messed up".

Skye has dated Christensen since she was 14. He had even recently supported her through a difficult battle with cancer until she was pronounced clear of the disease. But Skye claims everything went wrong once he met Sienna on the set of the movie "Factory Girl", contactmusic.com reported.

Skye says even when she flew to London to support him on the set of the movie he sneaked out to meet Sienna. 

She says: "Hayden started to change horribly when he was working with Sienna. It was only later that I connected all the dots. While I was in London, Hayden kept disappearing. I had no reason to question where he was going. I can't believe that the minute I was gone, he met up with her. 

"He broke down and confessed that he had become involved with her, he said she had pushed him into it.

"She has a lot of problems, she has a messed up temper and she is so erratic, she's just not the sort of person I want to be around. I hope she realises that not everyone is responsible for her ex-fiancé cheating and that she doesn't have to take it out on everyone else."

'Syriana', a restless drama of deceit
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Film: "Syriana"; Cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, William Hurt, Christopher Plummer and Chris Cooper; Director: Stephen Ghaghan; Rating: ** 1/2

The thing about "Syriana" is that it is a boys' movie, not in the way, say "Ocean's Eleven" or "The Sting" were. The boys here play big games that traverse countries and continents for big bucks. And we are talking in billions.

No wonder first-time director Stephen Gaghan, who wrote the equally dense "Traffic", has cast some of Hollywood's most recognisable faces in crucial rules. 

But the stars are unrecognisable in their adopted Gulf turf. Almost like the Matt Damon character, who tells his wife on the cell phone that Beirut is like the Paris of the Gulf, these Hollywood stars bridge the gulf between the cinematics of political intrigue and the documented realism that Gaghan aims to gain in his cruelly unflinching look at power equations in the Gulf.

Not so much the politics, it's the milieu of imminent catastrophe fobbed off by a cluster of restless master-minds on the move, manoeuvring through a maze of political intrigue where greed is a pre-requisite and self-interest is swathed in coded political jargon, that keeps us involved in the clutter of kaleidoscopic characters in "Syriana".

There's a vast ocean of characters swimming in the oil-spill that seems to occupy the centre of the plot - I say 'seems' because there's an excessive amount of socio-political and religious synergy swimming on the surface of this restless drama of deceit.

Some of the fringe characters are Pakistani immigrant labourers in the Gulf. We hear them banter, joke and pontificate in Urdu. The Arab characters have their own acerbic comments on how their country and culture are being plundered by first-world entrepreneur-politicians.

The deals are stuck in harsh uninviting places.

By the end of the confounding tale of politics and opportunism it is hard to tell who's on which side, and why it is so important for America to lodge itself in a country and culture which feels distinctly threatened by foreign invasion.

Watch the film not to understand America's Middle-Eastern policies. But to see how effectively a political drama can be created through characters who are placed in distinctly compromised positions where corruption isn't just a possibility, it is an inevitability. 

"Syriana" stays uncorrupted. It doesn't judge the characters even when a nettled local in the Gulf pulls out George Clooney's nails.

Pain, you have to admit, is a close comrade of power. "Syriana" knows the mechanics of power play and uses them to brutal effect.