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STAR WEEKLY
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by loopedsaxe3
Weekly Entertainmen
FILM I t’s the book-to-screen adaptation we’ve all been waiting for –The Oxford English Dictionary: The Movie . Although this isn’t the movie’s title, nor is it as straightforward as it may sound, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn have teamed up to make The Professor and the Madman , the story of the creation of one of the most important and foundational books in history. Based on true events, this flick may not be the action-packed or romantic story you were hoping for, but there is enough scandal and mystery to capture any audience. The Braveheart star plays James Murray, a Scottish philologist (someone who studies language) and the primary editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. He shares the screen with criminally insane counterpart William Chester Minor (Sean Penn), who became one of the dictionary’s largest contributors. The two form a bond over a love of the English language (and a penchant for big beards!) and must overcome naysayers to complete a seemingly impossible task –chronicling every English word in one book. The film also proved a challenging prospect, with Mel and director Farhad Safinia becoming locked in legal trouble with the production company. Mel expressed his disappointment that he wasn’t able to finish the film as he’d wanted. Still, there’s a story to be told here –and never before has a dictionary-based movie sounded so enthralling ! The Professor and the Madman is in cinemas now. MEL’S FILM SPARKS A WAR ON WORDS MIND your language
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REVIEWS
FILM 78 New Zealand Woman’s Weekly THE CURRENT WAR RATING M For all that it tries to do, The Current War fails to create a lasting spark.
Detailing the origins of electric power in the US and the rivalry between inventor Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and entrepreneur George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), the film has all the makings of a powerful historical drama. By the end, though, we were left thinking, “Watt?”
Saturated with extensive subject matter – perhaps too extensive – and a general lack of cohesion in the script, the film fails to capitalise on a real-life story that is truly riddled with backstabbing and drama. With standout performances from Benedict and Michael, and impressive cinematography, the film looks visually enlightening – the rest, however, left us in the dark.
Chris Glavovic AACBB
TV
A GAME IS AFOOT!
Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet is on Apple TV+.
If you thought you knew about the genius, creativity and madness that went into video game development, think again. Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet features an office of incredibly talented yet dysfunctional colleagues as they strive to release the latest expansion of their ever-popular video game. If gaming is a foreign language to you, don’t worry, the show is not geek-saturated. The relationships are the pivotal part of the series, and the central characters could be seen in any real-life office – the egotistical boss, the snarky co-worker, and the silent and mysterious IT guy. Nerdy or not, this show is hilarious and has been praised as showing off the game development industry in a positive light. Game on!
Nicky Pellegrino BOOKS EDITOR ‘A fun fest!’
WIFE
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reading CORNER
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION BOOK WEEK of the THE CLASSIC BONKBUSTER GETS A MODERN REVIVAL Wife After Wife by Olivia Hayfield (Hachette, RRP $34.99) Don’t miss out on the Weekly’s new book club. This month we’re enjoying the latest Marian Keyes novel, Grown Ups (Penguin Random House, RRP $37), a rollercoaster read about what’s really going on beneath the happy façade of a large Irish family. Sign up at womansweekly.co.nz/ bookclubsignup. Meanwhile, here’s this week’s discussion point: • Why do you think Jessie feels the need to overspend and be so generous with her family? Email your thoughts, answers and competition entries to bookclub@nzww.co. nz or post to Book Club, NZWW, Private Bag 92512, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141 WEEKLY BOOK CLUB T he bonkbuster is back! Do you remember those novels, hugely popular in the 1980s, and full of womanising rogues, money, and lashings of glamour? I had thought their era was well and truly over but Olivia Hayfield has managed to reinvent the genre, endowing the old-fashioned bonkbuster with a fresh outlook and a clever twist.
The twist is that the plot is based on the life of King Henry VIII, who reigned in 1500s England and was famous for having six wives, many of whom met unhappy ends.
The updated version of this historical figure is Harry Rose, a young media mogul. It is the mid-’80s, the magazine industry is booming and handsome, and naughty Harry is getting rich. His home life isn’t going so well. His marriage to lovely, maternal Katie (Catherine of Aragon) is marked by sadness as she struggles to have a baby. Very soon he starts to look elsewhere for fun and it is not too long before he has fathered a child by another woman. Jettisoning her, Harry takes a mistress, only to become obsessively attracted to her serious-minded, ambitious sister Ana (Anne Boleyn). And so it goes on, with Harry falling in and out of love, breaking hearts and behaving badly. Since he is just as irresistible as he is appalling, it is a struggle not to like him. The story sprawls through the ‘90s and into the new century, right up to 2018, when men like Harry are starting to be held accountable. Wife After Wife is brimming with drama, deceit, romance, tragedy and passion. It reminded me of Jilly Cooper or Jackie Collins at their best, except this book is designed for an audience with different attitudes from those of the 1980s. You don’t need to know much about the life of King Henry VIII to enjoy this novel but the historical parallels do add an extra layer of interest. I also really loved the nostalgia trip of reliving the end of last century. Apparently, there’s a sequel on the way. If it’s going to be as much of a fun fest as this, I can’t wait. About the author… Olivia Hayfield
Her real name is Sue Copsey. She lives in Auckland where she works as a freelance book editor and children’s author. Wife After Wife is her first novel for adults. This novel was inspired by … “The #MeToo movement. A certain gingery powerful man with bad attitudes to women brought to mind Henry VIII, and I wondered, what if Henry lived today? I decided it was time he got his come-uppance, so I reincarnated him as Harry Rose, media mogul.” The most fun I had working on it was … “It was wonderful to pitch reincarnated Henry-Harry against his modern-day wives and watch the outcome. Harry Rose really came alive as I wrote. I found myself holding imaginary conversations with him, telling him off, shaking him by the shoulders, chuckling at his bad jokes. And then, yes, it is indeed possible to fall in love with your protagonist, no matter how bad his behaviour.” My writing habits are … ”I have a writing hut at the bottom of my garden, and I escape there whenever I can. Taking myself away from distractions works like a dream, and something magical happens down there. I make a coffee, start writing, and then it’s dinnertime. I honestly have no idea how time passes that quickly.”
You can take Forest and Jennifer’s transformations as gospel!
JENNIFER’S PORTRAYAL DEMANDS RESPECT!
Groovy baby! Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker seemed to have stepped straight out of the swinging sixties when they were spotted shooting scenes for the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect, on the streets of New York last week.
With her bouffant hairstyle and fabulous vintage coats, the American Idol alum was the spitting image of the Queen of Soul, while Forest (58) looked dapper taking on the role of Aretha’s father, CL Franklin . Before her death in 2018, the legendary performer hand-picked Jennifer to play her in the film, prompting the 38-year-old to say then, “She is one of the most iconic and talented artists of all time and what a dream come true it is to portray her extraordinary life on screen.” Respect hits our cinemas later this year.
Soul sisters
Freewheelin’
He’s wheelie far from home! Hugh Jackman enjoyed rolling his errands as he zipped around New York City on his bike last week. There was no hint of showmanship as the 51-year-old whizzed around though, with the Wolverine star opting for glasses, a comfortable tracksuit and a helmet, of course! The Beckham boys almost looked as Posh as their mum when they, along with sister Harper (8), took in Victoria’s (45) show at London Fashion Week. Romeo (17) and Cruz (14) were effortlessly cool sitting in the front row beside dad David (44) and their sister, who at one point delighted famously frosty Dame Anna Wintour (70) with some cute conversation. FAMILY FASHION SHOW!
OUT OF TH E BLUE
DINNER DATE
So much fabulous in one photo! Burlesque star Dita von Teese (47) and Dame Joan Collins (86) made for an unlikely, but lovely, double act as they posed for a quick snap before heading into an exclusive Los Angeles restaurant. Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!
Cate Blanchett (50) was as bold as she was beautiful taking in the Roksanda show at London Fashion Week last week. While chic and powerful-looking in a powder-blue suit and yellow scarf, Cate’s appearance stunned organisers, as she’d pulled out of attending Victoria Beckham’s show earlier that same day.
ALL THAT GLITTERS!
Jane Seymour (69) was at risk of stopping many hearts recently in this spectacular sparkly get-up! The Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman star was only too happy to strike a pose at her Open Heart Foundation 10th anniversary gala in Los Angeles. And as a special treat, the eternally youthful actress was joined by all four of her kids on the red carpet.
Stroke of genie-ous
I dream of making my flight on time! I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden (88) offered a cheeky wave as she hurried through LAX last week. The actress was on her way to San Francisco, where she was honoured by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for her immense body of acting and voice work.
We want to talk about it! Sir Rod Stewart and Faces gave a stellar performance at The Brit Awards. The 75-year-old hit the red carpet with (from left) Kenney Jones (71), Ronnie Wood (72), Ronnie’s wife Sally Humphreys (42), and Rod’s wife Penny Lancaster (48). Rod, who always gives us a Reason to Believe , has announced he’ll do not one but two shows at Napier’s Mission Estate later in the year! FAMILIAR FACES!
Flamboyant as ever, Alice Cooper certainly rocked the stage at the Fire Fight Australia bushfire relief concert. The Poison singer (72) wore his iconic black eye make-up, an array of skull belts and a stylish cane. We wouldn’t have expected anything less! A CLOWN LIKE ALICE
SHE’S SCOT TALENT
Susan Boyle’s come a long way since that magical moment when she belted out I Dreamed a Dream on Britain’s Got Talent. But the reality star is continuing to shine, with the singer preparing to embark on another tour of her native Scotland. “I’m very excited,” she says. “This is where it all began.”
I’ve had enough of being an adult now, thanks.
YOU’RE THE VOICE!
She’s always the one we want! Dame Olivia Newton-John graced the stage for the first time in two years at the Fire Fight Australia bushfire relief concert in Sydney. The Grease actress (71) says she never planned to sing live again, but when the opportunity came up to sing with John Farnham (70) she couldn’t turn it down.
Gloriously, poignantly, hilariously Marian.
Princess perfect! The similarities between Emma (above and right, during filming) and Diana (below, in 1980) are uncanny!
Diana’s double!
She’s a sheer beauty! Donning that skirt while filming scenes for The Crown , actress Emma Corrin was the spitting image of the late Diana, Princess of Wales as she strode down a London street. Wearing an almost identical outfit to the one the princess was famously snapped in as she looked after her charges at a London nursery before becoming engaged to Prince Charles, Emma (24), a relative newcomer to acting, made for a very convincing Lady Di. The fourth and final season will be released on Netflix later this year and is expected to cover events from 1977 through to 1990, with milestones such as Charles and Diana’s wedding, the Falklands War and apartheid included.
For now, however, Emma’s blast from the past has us royally excited! EMMA WOWS ROYAL FANS AGAIN
Swap a can of food for a free Resene testpot!
Bring a can of food into your local Resene owned ColorShop and we’ll give you a FREE Resene testpot (worth up to $5.80). All cans of food will be donated to local Salvation Army and community foodbanks to give to Kiwi families in need.
So start gathering up those cans and bring them into your local Resene owned ColorShop.
HUNGER
Te Op e Whakaora
