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September 14, 2006
Eight Days a Week
No matter if it’s a dull Friday evening, lazy Sunday afternoon or blues-ridden Monday morning, we have chalked out the happenings that will keep boredom out and you in the ‘in’ scene. So whether you are a movie buff or an art connoisseur, here are your reasons to look forward to the week ahead
Film
Murder most foul amongst the privileged set in London in a movie written and directed by Woody Allen and starring Scarlett Johansson. Sounds like I could be describing Allen’s last year’s movie Match Point but the description applies equally to Scoop, the writer/director’s latest effort. Scoop could almost be considered a counterpoint to the earlier film: Match Point was dark, taut, edgy and bitingly cynical; Scoop, is a lighter, frothier, and looser take on some of the same material.
Sondra (Johansson), an American college student in London comes across a lead to a serial killer supplied to her by a recently deceased reporter (Ian McShane). With the help of a small-time magician (Allen himself), she sets about solving the case which brings her in contact with the rich, handsome and dashing prime suspect (Hugh Jackman) with whom she proceeds to start falling in love.
Unfortunately, this rehash (which in and of itself isn’t necessarily a weakness – artists often revisit themes and ideas that interest them to good results) of Match Point doesn’t quite work. While it’s fine for a filmmaker not to take himself too seriously all the time, the more relaxed approach that Allen takes in Scoop makes the film feel slapdash and unfocused. Johansson and Jackman are fine with what material they are given to work with but their characters, as written, are frustratingly sketchy and ill-defined. Allen, as has been more and more the case over the years, is more of a distraction than anything else – the sad conclusion that we can draw is that he would be better off not acting in his own movies now. There are a few good bits here and there but the film offers no new insights and basically feels like it consists of sloppy leftovers from Match Point.—Khusro Mumtaz
OR
Vishal Bharadwaj made an intriguing adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with Maqbool, transporting the tale of the King of Scots to the Mumbai underworld. Now Bharadwaj does even better with the brilliant Omkara, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
Omkara (Ajay Devgan) is the half-caste leader of a gang of hoodlums in the employ of a crooked politician Bhaisaab (Naseeruddin Shah) in Western UP. When Bhaisaab nominates Omkara to run for local elections, his lieutenant Langra Tiyagi (Saif Ali Khan) expects to take over from him. But Omkara chooses Kesu (Vivek Oberoi) as his successor instead and this sets into motion a chain of events which will have tragic consequences for almost all concerned. I will not say more here in case there are some readers out there not familiar with Shakespeare’s play.
The film is beautifully shot by cinematographer Tassaduq Husain and swathed in deep colours, particularly red (the colour of blood). The acting is top-notch all around with Saif relishing his villainous turn. Kareena Kapoor, as Dolly the object of Omkara’s affections, also turns in a surprising but appropriately subdued and effective performance. Her acting here and in Chameli shows that she has what it takes to be a seriously good actress if only she wasn’t so interested in being a glammed-up film-star. Konkona Sen Sharma and Bipasha Basu play the other main characters in the film. But the real star of the show is Bharadwaj who in addition to (co)writing and directing provides the music as well in the process of creating his dark and absorbing take on a familiar tale.—K.M.
Single
After the smash success of Black Eyed Peas’ My Humps in which the video showcased hottie lead singer Fergie, it was inevitable that the sexy songstress would soon go solo.
Sarah Ferguson aka Fergie is an exciting mix of street smarts and glamour, Courtney Love and Marilyn Monroe. She brought a spark to the Peas and at times the source of their magic seemed to be her irresistible charm.
Her debut album Duchess is set to be released September 19, 2006, and to whet the appetite of fans, first single London Bridge has hit the airwaves.
The lyrics written by Sean Garrett never quite takes off with such lines as, Grey goose got your girl feeling loose/Now I’m wishin’ that I didn’t wear these shoes (I hate heels)/It’s like everytime I get up on the dew/Paparazzi put my business in the news.
Even producer Polow Da Don, who is behind the Pussycat Dolls mediocre number Buttons, fails to strike gold here as well. In fact, London Bridge sounds suspiciously similar to Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl. However, without the Neptunes backing this track up, London Bridge seems a Stefani castoff at best.
Her album may be titled Duchess, but its unlikely Fergie is going to be reaching the ranks of pop royalty anytime soon.—T.U. Dawood
Workshop
The Academy of Continuing Dental Education will be conducting a workshop in collaboration with AIID (American Institute of Implant Dentistry) and Bio Horizons at PC from 19-22 Sept from morning till evening. The lecture will be given by Dr Hamid Shafie. He is the founder of the Centre for Oral Implantology at Johns Hopkins University and is the President of the AIID in Washington DC.
This course will showcase a comprehensive spectrum of total dental implantology involving both surgical and prosthetic techniques.—A.S.
Exhibition
A painting exhibition of Mussarat Mirza named Rah-e-Hoo will begin from Sept 15 and will continue till the 24th at the Canvas Gallery. Timings 11 to 6pm.
OR
Ejaz Galleries in collaboration with Nitanjali Art Gallery of New Dehli, is presenting a group show of 10 Indian artists on Sept 14. The exhibition is named as Dialogue. Ph: 5718038, 5762784. Courtesy www.danka.com.pk
OR
Painting exhibition by Naheed Afridi named “Rejoice in the name of love’, is being inaugurated by French Consul General Pierre Seillan at the Alliance Francaise at 6pm on Sept 15. The exhibition which focusses on flowers, colours, patterns and feelings, will continue till Sept 21 from 11am to 7pm.—A.S.
OR
Clifton Art Gallery is exhibiting a group show of paintings by 15 senior artists till 21st September.
Conference
Lahore will host an international branding conference and expo, namely World of Brands 2006 on Sept 15-17. Apart from promoting the spirit of Lahore, it will showcase Pakistan's branding potential and create new business opportunities between local and foreign companies. The venue is Expo Centre, Fortress Stadium. Entry is free. Courtesy www.danka. com.pk.
Festival
Khyber Festival is taking place till Sept 17. Cultural display of food and lifestyle of NWFP, its music and clothing, is being presented every evening at P.C. Karachi.
Seminar
University of Karachi is hosting a two-day national seminar for college and university teachers on 15th and 16th Sept. The theme of the seminar is ‘Teaching of social sciences at the universities’. Ph: 9261323.
OR
British Council, Karachi, is organising a three-day National Conference to address the issue of honour killings, entitled “Honour Killing: Religious and Traditional Misinterpretation’, from 17-19 Sept at Hotel Sheraton, Karachi. The conference is part of the Honour Killing Awareness Raising Campaign in Rural Sindh and Southern Punjab’, being undertaken with support from local NGOs and Sindh Police, by the British Council.
Book Launch
Oxford University Press and Karachi Press Club have arranged a book launch of Fatima Bhutto’s ‘8.50am, 8 October 2005, Stories of Hope and Courage from the Earthquake in Pakistan,’ at the Karachi Press Club on September 14 at 6pm.
Anniversary
To celebrate the 13th anniversary, the faculty and students of CIBES (Commecs Institute of Business and Emerging Sciences) have arranged a programme on Sept 15 at 10am at the Commecs Institute, Karachi.
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