The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies
The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies |
- Double triumph
- 'Hansel & Gretel' tops N. America box office
- 'Argo' triumphs with top prize at Screen Actors Guild
| Posted: 28 Jan 2013 03:22 AM PST A blind pianist beats the odds to become a movie star in his native Taiwan. HUANG Yu-siang was born with a gift and a devastating disability. He has a huge talent for music, but he is blind. His story has become a movie that has captivated audiences in his native Taiwan. The film, Touch Of The Light, marks a double triumph for the 25-year-old. First he overcame adversity by becoming a successful pianist in real life. Then he beat the odds once more by playing himself on the big screen. "I was surprised by the warm reactions at home and abroad. Many people told me they were encouraged by the film to persist in their dreams," Huang said. Huang's musical gift was discovered at the age of two when he could play on the piano songs he had heard only once. He went on to win many competitions and became the first blind person to obtain a bachelor's degree in music majoring in piano in Taiwan. His story was made into a short film in 2008 by Taiwanese director Chang Jung-chi, which attracted the attention of acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai, who encouraged Chang to build it into a full-length feature. It has become a top-grossing movie in Taiwan since its release in September last year, winning over fans including President Ma Ying-jeou, who praised its "subtle character portrayals" on his Facebook page. The film has also been welcomed by civil groups that hope it will sharpen the focus on the plight of the island's blind. While attitudes towards those with disabilities have improved in recent years, support groups and charities say Taiwanese society still has some way to go when it comes to equality. Taiwan prides itself on its facilities for the physically impaired – wheelchair ramps abound in the cities – but the fact remains that blind people face drastically limited opportunities. "The visually-impaired are a minority among the minorities, as employers are more willing to hire the physically or hearing-impaired," said Chiang Pei-fen, a spokeswoman for Taiwan Foundation For The Blind. "The majority of the visually-impaired are still limited to working as masseurs or in telemarketing, and even though general workplace acceptance is improving, there is still a big gap between the number of job seekers and employers willing to hire them," added Chiang. Despite his gift, Huang himself has not avoided discrimination. He said he was mocked by fellow students at school and was rejected by a junior high school music programme because he could not see the scores. The real shock came when Huang left home to attend university, where he struggled to cope, with some classmates reluctant to accommodate him. "It was a difficult time adjusting to a new environment but I came to realise that I could not always sit back and wait for other people to come to me. I had to take the initiative to make friends," he said. His adjustment process and the friendships he eventually developed form the bulk of the plot in Touch Of The Light. The experience has transformed Huang from a "shy, introverted" boy who dared not respond to people greeting him, he said, to a celebrity musician and actor who mingles with fans and has travelled abroad to promote his work. "Acting makes me feel more confident and I have become more outgoing and more active, reaching out to other people," said Huang, who is now a household name in Taiwan and often approached by fans in the street. Even though the movie is based on Huang's experiences, director Chang stressed that it is really about "pursuing dreams and breaking stereotypes". "In the movie, the character's friends are not overly protective or treat him like an 'endangered species' as I want to break the sentimental pitying or worrying for the blind or other minority groups," said Chang. Huang was nominated for the Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker category that encompassed actors, directors and other aspects of film at last year's Golden Horse Film awards, regarded as the Chinese-language Academy Awards. Chang won for best new director. Touch Of The Light will also be screened at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival, which kicks off on Feb 7. However, the jury is still out on whether the film's success will translate into greater acceptance of the blind into Taiwan society. "It draws attention to the challenges visually-impaired people face but it remains to be seen how much can be translated into actual support for them," said Chiang of the Taiwan Foundation for the Blind. – AFP |
| 'Hansel & Gretel' tops N. America box office Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:42 AM PST LOS ANGELES: A horror-movie twist on the classic "Hansel and Gretel" fairy tale broke out in the top slot at the North American weekend box office, industry estimates showed Sunday. "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters," in which the once lost brother and sister have grown up to become grim-faced bounty hunters, debuted in first place with $19 million, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. The supernatural thriller screamed past fellow horror flick "Mama," which fell into the second slot in its second weekend in theaters. "Mama," in which a shadowy being trails two young children rescued after being lost in the woods when their parents died, took in $12.9 million. The dark romantic comedy "Silver Linings Playbook," still riding a boost after its star Jennifer Lawrence scored a best comedy actress Golden Globe, stayed in third place, pushing the Oscar-tipped bin Laden manhunt movie "Zero Dark Thirty" down to fourth. "Silver Linings," which was in 10th place just two weeks ago before the Globe win, was set to earn $10 million this weekend. The acclaimed but controversial "Zero Dark Thirty" was just behind with $9.8 million in box office sales. Another new release, "Parker," starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez as an unlikely pair working together on a heist, opened in fifth place, with $7 million in its opening weekend. Meanwhile, Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked spaghetti Western tribute "Django Unchained," which took home two Globes and four Oscar nominations, rose to sixth place, earning slightly more than $5 million at the box office. That put it just barely ahead of the third new release to open in the top ten this week. Star-studded "Movie 43," a comedy featuring interconnected short films that follow three kids' search for the most banned movie in the world, earned $5 million in ticket sales. Trailing just behind were Sean Penn action flick "Gangster Squad," with $4.2 million, and crime drama "Broken City," at $4 million. And rounding out the top 10 was musical adaptation "Les Miserables," which took in $3.9 million. - AFP |
| 'Argo' triumphs with top prize at Screen Actors Guild Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:41 AM PST LOS ANGELES: Iran hostage drama "Argo" won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, while Daniel Day-Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence took acting honors, as Hollywood celebrated its own and helped sharpen the race for Oscar glory in February. Sunday's best ensemble cast win for "Argo" was the film's second award in two days. The win boosts the thriller's chances of winning a best picture Oscar in a race that is considered wide open. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) ceremony is among the most-watched during Hollywood's awards season because actors make up the largest voting group in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which chooses the Oscar winners. The SAG honors are selected by about 100,000 actors working in the United States. SAG prizes acting over directing, screenplay writing and other skills that usually factor into the Oscar best picture choice. On Saturday, "Argo" won the Producers Guild Award in Los Angeles on Saturday, beating "Lincoln," "Les Miserables," and "Silver Linings Playbook," which are all Academy Award best picture contenders. "Argo," directed and starring Ben Affleck, is the true story of the rescue of U.S. diplomats stranded in Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. British-born Day-Lewis, who has picked up a slew of awards for his intense portrayal of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in "Lincoln," confirmed his status as front-runner for what would be his record third Oscar on February 24. "It was an actor that murdered Abraham Lincoln and therefore it is sometimes only fitting that now and then an actor tries to bring him back to life again," Day-Lewis said, accepting his award. In one of the most closely contested categories, Lawrence, 22, was chosen best lead actress for playing an outspoken young widow in "Silver Linings Playbook" over Jessica Chastain's feisty CIA agent in Osama bin Laden thriller "Zero Dark Thirty." ONE WIN FOR 'LINCOLN' Tommy Lee Jones, 66, won the best supporting actor trophy for his turn as radical Congressman Thaddeus Stevens in "Lincoln," beating strong competition from Robert De Niro, who played a gruff father in "Silver Linings Playbook." Anne Hathaway, 30, won her first SAG award for her supporting role as the tragic Fantine in musical "Les Miserables." "I got my SAG card when I was 14 ... And I have loved every single minute of my life as an actor," said Hathaway, accepting the statuette. Lincoln," about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to end slavery, French revolution musical "Les Miserables," and comedy "Silver Linings Playbook," about a bipolar man's unlikely romance, went into Sunday's show with four nominations apiece. "Argo" had two nominations, along with British comedy "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" about a group of seniors who retire to a ramshackle hotel in India. SAG also handed out awards for performances in TV dramas, comedies and mini-series, and bestowed a lifetime achievement award to actor Dick Van Dyke. In TV drama, the British cooks and countesses period show "Downton Abbey" won best ensemble cast. "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston was named best actor and "Homeland's" Claire Danes best actress. "Modern Family" won the best comedy cast ensemble award for a third consecutive time. Alec Baldwin won best TV comedy actor for the 8th time for his role as an egotistical executive in "30 Rock" and his co-star Tina Fey took the honors for comedy actress ahead of the show's final episode on Thursday. - Reuters Related Stories: |
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