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Posted: 23 Aug 2011 04:06 AM PDT

Andy Serkis is becoming a household name but is still an unfamiliar face.

RISE Of The Planet Of The Apes is deservedly holding on to a second week at the top of the US box office as I write this, with takings already exceeding twice the investment and surely much more when the final accounting takes place some weeks later.

It has been far too long since I have watched a movie that is able to pay so much attention to characterisation without losing thread and track of the story it wants to tell, so long that midway through the film, I began smiling as I realised I was watching a modern classic in action.

James Franco is excellent in his dignified turn as Will Rodman, the scientist who inadvertently made the test apes smart in his search for a cure for Alzheimer's.

Freida Pinto is highly pleasant as the unobtrusive love interest. John Lithgow is his usual brilliant self as Rodman's Alzheimer-stricken father and the cause of his passionate search for a cure.

It was also interesting to see Tom Felton, aka Draco Malfoy, in a not so shabby performance as yet another villain in his first outing after the end of the Harry Potter franchise.

But it is Andy Serkis who makes the strongest impression as the actor behind the motion-capture digital Caesar, the chimpanzee who first attained self-consciousness and who leads other apes against their human tormentors.

Serkis needs no introduction to audiences – he is already well-known for being the voice and character actor behind the CGI creature Gollum in the Lord Of The Rings series from 2001 to 2003, a role he is set to reprise in The Hobbit, currently in the process of filming.

But not everyone will know him by sight because his face doesn't quite come into the picture in playing characters like Gollum, Caesar and King Kong, which he brought to life in the 2005 remake.

His facial anonymity is such that it was only when the end credits rolled that I realised he was the evil Capricorn in the 2008 Brendan Fraser fantasy Inkheart. His minor roles in other live action movies often go unnoticed as well.

The true distinction that Serkis has achieved is to gain fame despite playing the role of a creature, which in the past was associated with heavy makeup and prosthetics or required nothing much more than a warm being to fill the inside of a body suit, and whose occupant would often not even be in the cast list. Read: Easily replaceable.

With the advent of digital creations and the motion-capture technology, actors playing creatures now have a greater responsibility as their body language, emotional responses and often voice are the qualities that bring life to the creatures. They have also become less replaceable because of it.

Serkis, a British-trained thespian, is a true exponent in this modern art of digital-assisted acting. His Caesar stands out so strongly that I was not only able to single him out in the mass ape scenes, I was rooting for him in his fight against the humans.

It is no easy task to be a creature who can gain acclaim for acting as Serkis has done. The closest to it would be Robert Englund as the horribly disfigured killer Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare On Elm Street franchise that spanned the 1980s and early 90s.

But Englund never got very far beyond the Nightmare films, starring in a few dismal horror slasher flicks that got nowhere at the box office.

And does anyone know who Peter Mayhew is?

Contestants of a game show on American television who had to guess who he was a few years back were also unable to get it right. He is the actor who played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars series and reprised it in the prequel, Episode III Revenge Of The Sith, in 2005.

When the creature is a substantial role, some established and often good actors would audition for it as they seem to believe that they can stretch themselves through their portrayals and perhaps win an award or two while they are at it. They are more often wrong than right.

In the 2001 version of Planet Of The Apes helmed by acclaimed director Tim Burton, big names Tim Roth and Helena Bonham Carter joined the cast. Roth played General Thade, the villainous chief of the ape army, and Bonham Carter portrayed Ari, the aristocratic, idealistic chimpanzee whose concern for the humans leads her to join Mark Wahlberg's human character in freeing those who have been enslaved by the apes.

Despite their known acting chops, both were unable to make any impact through the heavy prosthetic makeup that, while it made them really look like apes, also caused them to look like any other ape.

It is to Serkis' credit that he has been able to establish himself as a worthy actor despite the limitations of working behind a blue screen in a suit with motion capture sensors attached all over it. He has been able to stamp his personality on the creatures he has played.

His performance as Gollum was so convincing that in the run-up to the 2003 Academy Awards, rumours were rife that he would be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award for his work.

However, digitally assisted CGI creatures, no matter how amazingly done, were regarded by the Academy more as computer creations than real acting, despite several directors' insistence otherwise.

Fast forward to 2009, and the same powers that be who decide on acting nominations for the Academy Awards are still unconvinced.

They ignored the great performances by Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington in the blockbuster hit Avatar because the Na'vi characters they play – the blue-coloured three-metre tall beings on the moon Pandora – were digitally assisted CGI ones.

But Saldana and Worthington seldom have to take to becoming creatures, they can find satisfaction through their usual work. We may not recognise the faces of the character actors who give life to creatures but it's time we recognise their contributions to the industry.

I would like to start the ball rolling by voting for Serkis as the Best Supporting Actor in his role as Caesar.

Long live Caesar!

In this column, writer Hau Boon Lai ponders the lives, loves and liberties of celebrities.

In full control

Posted: 23 Aug 2011 04:06 AM PDT

Conan, the heroic fantasy figure, returns to the big screen in the form of Jason Momoa.

IT becomes apparent very quickly as to why Jason Momoa has been cast as the new Conan in Conan The Barbarian. Well, other than for obvious reasons, including the fact that he stands at 1.93m boasting a physique he crafted specifically for this role via an intensive physical daily regime involving both weight training and sword-fighting for a month and a half, and his unique features (thanks to a Hawaiian father and a German/Irish/Native American mother). And that reason is, the actor wears his confidence on his sleeve very proudly, something that came through loud and clear in this 10-minute telephone call from Los Angeles.

Momoa is the latest actor to embody the proud Cimmerian who lived during the fictional Hyborian Age, which featured lots of fights and some sorcery. Conan was originally conceived by Robert E. Howard back in 1932 and there have been a few movies and a TV series portraying this character already. The most famous version to date was in the 1982 film Conan The Barbarian, starring the then-unknown Arnold Schwarzenegger. A film that Momoa only watched three days before this interview in early August.

Momoa explained why he didn't think it was necessary to watch it prior to filming the movie. "We weren't remaking that. I am not making an Arnold film. I am making a Conan film. We're trying to bring Robert E. Howard's beautiful story – the comic books and the paintings – to life."

Regardless of this fact, comparisons are inevitable. Right? "Well, sweetheart, you are basically comparing Daniel Craig to Sean Connery for James Bond. Do you want to compare Daniel Craig to Sean Connery? Or you are comparing Jack Nicholson to Heath Ledger as the Joker. It's impossible. There's nothing I can do to be Arnold and there's nothing Arnold can do to be me. It's two totally different characters. So I am not really worried about being compared."

This is not Momoa's first attempt at playing a noble savage. The 32-year-old portrays the undefeated warrior Khal Drogo, the warlord of the Dothraki tribe in the medieval fantasy HBO series Game Of Thrones, based on George R. R. Martin's novel (premiering on Aug 28). In the series he showcases fearsome powers – he is a fearsome presence with his dark and glowering Goth-like eyes. In Conan, Momoa possesses an equally commanding presence, a guy destined for greatness – whether he admits it or not – because he's a chivalrous fellow who sticks by his friends, indavertently righting wrongs as he kills the bad guys.

In this film, Conan's story begins when he is born in the battlefield, as his mother goes down fighting the enemy. Raised by his father (Ron Perlman), the young boy becomes the perfect example of the phrase "that which does not kill you, makes you stronger". After proving his skills at fighting, his father makes him a sword and teaches him to wield it in the way a Cimmerian is supposed to – as if it's the most powerful weapon in the world.

Before that lesson can be completed, the village is attacked and every single Cimmerian is killed under the orders of a megalomaniac (Stephen Lang). Conan's life is spared when his father sacrifices himself. Now, with vengeance in his heart, the boy grows up to be a man with a self-imposed purpose – to avenge the death of his people, especially that of his father. Through the years, he exercises both his mind and body to be the ultimate fighting machine, with an ability to master the sword as if it were an extension of his arms.

Momoa, who did most of the stunts in the film, attested that one of the most challenging things about playing Conan was to keep injuries at bay. "You know you are going to be injured a lot when you play Conan. There's a lot of action."

He admitted that he found anything to do with horse riding challenging also.

But he totally enjoyed filming the scene when the audience catches the first glimpse of him because "It's the first time I've ever got to hold the sword and fight."

Born in Hawaii, the actor loves an active lifestyle, and this translates loudly and clearly in his choice of roles. But Momoa – who grew up with his mother in Norwalk, Iowa, after his parents divorced – has always surrounded himself with all things artistic.

"I am happy being an artist," he confessed. "I was raised by two beautiful artist parents and I just love anything artistic whether it's music, painting, acting, directing or writing. I just enjoy the art. It's a true expression and that's what excites me."

Hence, it would seem like this is the path he would naturally be inclined to follow from the start. Strangely, however, he initially wanted to become a marine biologist because he got a scholarship to study science. When questioned whether he would've gone down that path at some point, he answered: "I was going to be a wildlife biologist but I don't think I would've ended up as one. It's just something you do when you go to college and it's just something I excelled in. You know, most people go to college for something they never end up doing."

As for him taking the path to acting – he said he got into acting because "I auditioned for a show in Hawaii and I was on a TV show a long time ago when I was very young."

That TV show was Baywatch Hawaii, which ran for two seasons, when Momoa was 20. (Baywatch Hawaii is what became of Baywatch in its 10th season). When Momoa was done with that show, he went to see the world before finally settling down in Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. A couple of TV movies later, he was cast in the TV series North Shore and then from 2005 to 2009 he played the dreadlocked Ronon Dex in Stargate: Atlantis.

Nonetheless, not wanting to wait around for the perfect role to come along or put limitations on what he could or could not do, he decided to write and direct a short film last year. More recently, he has written another project which he plans to direct come November, in Africa, with his wife, actress Lisa Bonet – with whom he has two children.

"I don't like waiting in my trailer. I like being hands-on, being part of the process of storytelling. I think movies are the ultimate storytelling (tool) – you've got music, you've got story, you've got composition, you've got acting. I like that collaborative process and surrounding myself with other artistes in coming up with a piece of work. I love going to the movies to be transformed.

"Acting sometimes can be not fulfilling enough, not challenging enough. I think there are great roles out there and sometimes I can't get those roles. But when doing a film, you live and breathe that. I like the opportunity to do that."

According to Momoa, he is game to try any character. Right now he is in New Orleans, filming a movie headlined by Sylvester Stallone titled Bullet To The Head. "So this is me coming to the industry and the door is just opening with the possibility of me doing anything. I know that I am capable. Only me and myself know what I am capable of, so I think we'll be alright."

Conan The Barbarian opens in cinemas nationwide on Thursday.

A festival for all

Posted: 23 Aug 2011 04:06 AM PDT

The 24th Festival Filem Malaysia this year aims to create more awareness about itself.

THE Festival Filem Malaysia (FFM) is a multi-racial affair. Repeat, the FFM is a multi-racial affair. This is what the organisers want drummed into people's minds. Everyone can join in, anyone is eligible as long as you meet the criteria. The festival is not just for Malay language films.

When met at her Seni Wawasan 2020 office in Kuala Lumpur, festival media director Wendy Wong further explained: "Previously, the festival had given people the impression that it's a Malay film festival. The other races, it seemed, did not know much about the festival. So this time our intention is to create more awareness."

Wong said a category specially for non-Malay language films had been included in the last three years' festival, but last year the category had to be dropped because there were not enough entries of films of other languages. For the 24th edition of the festival this year, the organisers hope to have a wider variety of participating films.

"We had a great response to our (recent) soft launch from artistes of all races," said Wong. "Even Auntie Lai Meng, despite her age, came to support us.

"We want to reach out and show that all different areas of our entertainment industry support this festival and its activities.

"At the same time, we also want everyone to know that there are different categories for the awards. There is a category for films of other languages."

Soo Wincci, who was on an acting stint in Sabah, flew to Kuala Lumpur just for the launch, while singer-actress Elaine Kang returned from Singapore for the event. Wong said the soft launch also saw the attendance of some unexpected guests.

"Ah Niu had flown back to KL from Taiwan, but unfortunately it was already quite late," Wong revealed.

"But he had said he would attend if he could. There were also several Hong Kong directors who were shooting in Malaysia and they found out about the festival launch through word of mouth. One of them attended the launch."

However, a couple of Malay-language dailies complained about the lack of young artistes at the launch. Wong agreed with that point, and said perhaps the younger artistes were busy as there are a lot of productions going on nowadays.

"But for the veterans, they've been in the industry long enough to appreciate it, and they came to show their support," said Wong.

"Perhaps the younger artistes are more preoccupied with getting more acting jobs and are busier. But for the veterans, it's not always about money. There are other values they attach to the industry."

She also emphasised that artistes, especially the younger ones, should keep in mind that the FFM recognises and rewards local talents and is a platform to help the industry grow and develop.

This year, there will be a series of events leading up to the festival itself and the gala awards night on Nov 19. For this month, before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, there will be buka puasa events to collect funds for charity homes, and next month will see the kicking off of a series of roadshows nationwide, starting in Penang. A charity golf tournament is also in the works.

"People tend to think that artistes are only concerned about their looks and their acting, but they also have a heart for doing charity," said Wong. "And when you ask them to participate in charity events, they would readily come forward. This time they will help to raise funds for autistic children and single mothers."

However, famed director Datuk Yusof Haslam (who submitted his productions Khurafat and KL Gangster for the festival) was recently quoted in a Malay-language daily as saying the roadshows would be "irrelevant" as the Internet and various media channels are already available to help spread awareness and information about the FFM.

But Wong begged to differ: "It's a pretty different feel if you just see things on the Internet. Otherwise, why do we go to concerts? You can buy a CD and listen to it at home.

"Yes, if you want to check the latest news or get the latest information, the Internet is very useful. But if you want ambience or you want to get to know an artiste better, you obviously need to be up close with the person. ... Not many people have a chance to see the artistes in person."

But one thing is clear, despite the controversy earlier this year surrounding the pulling out of the Malaysian Film Producers Association from the Federation Of Film Artistes Association Of Malaysia (Gafim) which is in charge of the FFM, the organising of the events and the festival have not met any hindrance. Even the change in Gafim presidency, from Ahmad Puad Onah to Jurey Latif Mohd Rosli, has not affected the on-going work.

"There will always be a buzz about issues like that," said Wong.

"But whatever it is, the most important is to not lose sight of our objective. Everyone must remember we are not doing this for glamour's sake. We do it for our industry.

"Whatever happens, the work has to carry on. ... When you are committed to something, you have to deliver."

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Selasa, 23 Ogos 2011

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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