THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 lifestyle MUSIC & MOVIES Jack Nicholson attached to remake Oscar nom 'Toni Erdmann' fter a seven year hiatus from film, Jack Nicholson is ple, films about emotions and people," Nicholson said in a on the conditions," she said. "Everybody has his price." expected to return to the big screen in an English lan- 2013 interview with The Sun. "Toni Erdmann," from writer- Representatives for Nicholson and Wiig did not immediately Aguage remake of the Oscar-nominated German come- director Maren Ade, became somewhat of an international respond to request for comment. — AP dy "Toni Erdmann." Nicholson and Kristen Wiig are attached to sensation after its Cannes premiere in May 2016. The film, star, according to a person close to the production who about a father with a proclivity for corny pranks who tries to requested anonymity because of a lack of authorization to get his overworked grown daughter to lighten up, is up for a speak publicly about the project. The trade publication Variety foreign language Oscar this year. Ade will executive produce In this file photo, Jack first reported the news Tuesday. the remake, but no director has been set. Nicholson speaks Nicholson last appeared in a film in 2010 in James L In a 2016 interview with The Associated Press, Ade com- onstage during the Brooks's "How Do You Know" and has been considered by mented on the possibility of a remake. "We've had interest but Oscars at the Dolby many to be retired from film acting. "The movie business is the I have to think about it. It depends. There are so many things Theatre in Los greatest business but I only want to do films that move peo- remade. I don't feel the need that it's remade but it depends Angeles. — AP Pakistanis condemn ban on Bollywood blockbuster 'Raees' akistan's ban on Bollywood thriller "Raees" Muslims and Hindus. "This film gave a message particular sect of Islam conducting heinous crimes sparked a social media backlash yesterday, that all Muslims do bad things and are involved in & being terrorists". Pakistani cinemas last October Pafter the film featuring Indian superstar Shah crimes while Hindus are gentlemen and they stop announced a ban on Indian films following Rukh Khan was denounced for portraying Muslims them from the dirty work," he told AFP on condi- strained relations between Islamabad and Delhi, as "terrorists". The government decision to bar the tion of anonymity. But fans dismissed the con- lifting it only last month. 2017 action film came after Pakistani cinemas lifted cerns, with many arguing that art can be about pol- For its part, the Indian Motion Pictures their own ban on Indian films. Bollywood movies itics but politics should have no place in art. Producers Association banned Pakistani actors and and Khan in particular are immensely popular in "This ban on #Raees is an example of the kind of technicians from working on Bollywood sets after Pakistan and the film also stars a leading Pakistani absurdities Pakistan's moral crusaders and grovel- last year's tensions. India and Pakistan have fought actress, Mahira Khan. ling bureaucrats can attain on their own," tweeted three wars since independence from Britain seven But the industry has become a political battle- Pakistani film maker and journalist Hasan Zaidi. decades ago, two of them over Kashmir. The ground amid heightened tensions between the "Ban on Indian movie Raees is a ban on #Mahira for Pakistani censor board officials said other In this file photo, Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu, right, and Ma Sichun hold their award for nuclear-armed states in the disputed Kashmir her barely acting debut. Why Pak censor boards Bollywood films such as "Kabil" and "Ae Dil hai Best Leading Actress at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, Taiwan. — AP region. The film "portrays Muslims as terrorists and hate Mahira so much?" said writer Haji S Pasha. Mushkil" can still be shown as they do not contain violent people", Mubahsar Hassan, chairman of the Some, however, backed the censors. Yasmeen Ali, a objectionable content. — AFP Pakistan Film Censor Board, told AFP. A second offi- lawyer and university professor, wrote: "I support 'Soul Mate' leads Hong Kong cial complained about the comparison between the ban on #Raees owing to showing Muslims of a Film Awards nominees with 12 omance drama "Soul Mate" has charmed winner Stephen Chow is nominated for the Hong Kong Film Awards. The com- "Mermaid." Director Derek Tsang from "Soul Ring-of-age tale of two girls falling for the Mate," Wong Chun from "Mad World" and same boy received 12 nominations, with Zhou Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong from Dongyu and Ma Sichun both getting nods in "Trivisa" are all just beginning to make their the best actress category. Their dual nomina- mark in film direction. In the best actress cate- tions are not unprecedented - the co-stars gory, Zhou and Ma face competition from both won the category at Taiwan's Golden Tang Wei for "Book of Love," Kara Wai in Horse Awards last year. The film, its screenplay "Happiness" and Nina Paw from "Show Me and director Derek Tsang also received nomi- Your Love." nations, which were announced Tuesday by Leung is joined in the best actor category two of last year's winners, "Port of Call" co-stars by Francis Ng in "Shed Skin Papa," Shawn Aaron Kwok and Elaine Jin. Yue in "Mad World" and "Trivisa" co-stars Trailing closely with 10 nominations is the Richie Jen and Lam Ka Tung. Kwok expressed cop thriller "Cold War II," nominated as best pride in Leung's performance, even though film, screenplay, cinematography and best he wasn't nominated for his own role in actor, Tony Leung Ka Fai. In the best film cate- "Cold War II." "I never doubt myself, but I gory, both films will compete alongside the think the jury members have their point of comedy "Mermaid," the baseball film "Weeds views, their preferences and angles," he said on Fire" and crime thriller "Trivisa." The best at the news conference. "It's not a problem directory category is a battle between veter- that I'm not nominated. I'm still very confi- ans and new talent. Three-time winner dent in myself." The Hong Kong Film Awards This file photograph shows Indian Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (right) as he speaks A Pakistani vendor poses for a photograph with pirated Johnnie To is nominated for crime drama ceremony is on April 9. — AP during a promotional event for Hindi film “Raees” directed by Rahul Dholakia (left) in copies of Indian Bollywood film “Raees” at his shop in "Three" while 2002's best actor and director Mumbai. Karachi yesterday. — AFP photos Review: 'John Wick 2' is an Madonna felt extravagantly violent good time 'compelled' to adopt efore you buy a ticket to see "John Wick: Chapter 2 ," the into the world of these dandy assassins as he goes to execute twins: Court papers improbably fun sequel to the implausibly good "John Santino's mission, and boy is it fun - especially the "getting ready" BWick," you might want to ask yourself how much tolerance sequence where we get to see John being fitted for bespoke pop superstar Madonna felt "compelled" to adopt you have for gun shots to the head, because there are a lot of suits (Occasion? Social. Buttons? Two. Style? Tactical) and choos- four-year-old twin girls from an orphanage in Malawi those in "John Wick: Chapter 2." More than you might think possi- ing his weapons from The Sommelier (Peter Serafinowicz). USafter hearing of their plight through her charity work, ble in a single movie. Is it gratuitous? Yes. Do all those people court papers revealed yesterday. The High Court in the Malawian deserve to die? Probably not. But for our bearded boogeyman, Fellow assassin capital Lilongwe on Tuesday granted the singer permission to adopt the twins, adding to two other children she has already who one character calls a priest and the devil in a single sen- From there, it's really just action sequence after action Joanna Natasegara Producer tence, a shot to the head and one to the chest gets the job done sequence - from an Italian rave to a final showdown at a modern adopted from the country. Court documents detailed how the quickly and efficiently. Why make things overly complicated? art exhibit. The visuals are always exciting and over the top, and twins were taken in by the orphanage because their mother died The same goes for the movie, about the storied hitman who creative in well-trod territory for the genre (like a subway plat- 'White Helmets' filmmakers soon after childbirth, their father left to marry another woman, was driven out of retirement and back into the game after some form), even if the plot gets a little repetitive in the third act. The and their grandmother struggled to look after several children. mobsters stole his 1969 Mustang and killed his puppy. Stuntman- film is jam-packed with amazing cameos and supporting players, Some Malawian activists have criticized Madonna for allegedly turned-director Chad Stahelski's sequel is straightforward, fast- from Franco Nero as the manager of the Rome branch of The say Trump travel ban bending the rules and for exploiting one of the world's poorest paced and gets the job done entertainment-wise. True to its Continental and Common as a fellow assassin with a grudge, to countries. But judge Fiona Mwale said the singer would provide a name, "Chapter 2" literally picks up where the first left off.