Entertainment | Film & Cinema
Stars to make the DIFF-erence
Oliver Stone is bringing his film W to open the Dubai International Film Festival. He will be joined by dozens of heavyweights from Hollywood and Bollywood
- By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:04 November 24, 2008
- A scene from Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman starrer Australia
- Image Credit: Reuters
Some of the biggest names in cinema will arrive in Dubai for the fifth instalment of the Dubai International Film Festival.
Nicolas Cage, Brendan Fraser, Danny Glover, Salma Hayek, Goldie Hawn, Laura Linney and Eliza Bennett are just a few of the stars who will walk the red carpet at the event, which takes place from December 11-18.
Being transformed into a film festival destination to rival most others, the Madinat Jumeriah is already a hive of activity with giant screens, laser lights and impressive sound systems being installed around the clock.
Causing a stir around the world, DIFF regular Oliver Stone, is this time in town for the regional premiere of his latest offering W — a biopic which traces George W. Bush's rise to power.
The highly-anticipated movie stars Josh Brolin as Bush and follows him through times as a privileged alcoholic to a born-again Christian whose belief in religious destiny helped move him to the top ranks of political power.
Co-written by Stanley G. Weiser, W is produced by fellow Stone collaborators Moritz Borman and Jon Kilik, with Elizabeth Banks co-starring as the first lady, James Cromwell as the elder President Bush, Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Bush and Richard Dreyfuss as Vice President Dick Cheney.
But as always at DIFF, it's not all about the West with an equally-strong representation from the East.
Bollywood heavyweights Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Nandita Das all set to make star appearances among others.
Legendary producer Charles Roven, with credits including The Dark Knight, Batman Begins and the Brothers Grimm, will receive a Filmmaker of the Year award.
Arab stars include Yasmina Khadra, Carmen Lebbos, Sameer Ghanem, Sameer Sabri, Hicham Saleem and Saeed Saleh.
Each year DIFF pays tribute and honours a number of people from around the world who have pushed the boundaries of world cinema.
With an honouree from the Middle East, the West and Asia, this year DIFF salutes French-Algerian filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb, Chinese action director Tsui Hark and American-British fantasy master Terry Gilliam, who first found fame when he appeared in Monty Python's Flying Circus.
And just when you think the names will stop coming even the Cultural Bridge Panel threw up a few with Indian-Canadian master filmmaker Deepa Mehta, legendary singer Harry Belafonte and Canadian journalist Cameron Bailey.
Hollywood movies to watch
Cadillac Records
Written and directed by Darnell Martin and starring Beyoncé Knowles and Adrian Brody among others, Cadillac Records chronicles the rise and fall of Chess Records and its recording artsists.
In this tale of sex, violence, race, and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, it follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.
Showing: Monday, December 15; Dubai Media City Amphitheatre; 8pm
Australia
Starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, three-hour long Australia premieredlast week in Sydney to great reviews.
In northern Australia prior to World War II, an English aristocrat inherits a cattle station the size of Maryland so when English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn stock-man to drive 2,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of the country's most unforgiving land, only to still face the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by the Japanese forces that had attacked Pearl Harbour months earlier.
Showing: Friday, December 12; Madinat Arena Theatre; 7.30pm
U2 3D
This ground-breaking film brings the world's most popular band to IMAX in a completely unique way. The first ever live-action 3D concert film, it immerses the audience in a thrilling journey combining music, performance and technology. You really do have the best seat in the house for this U2 concert.
Showing: Wednesday, December 17; IMAX; 7pm
Twelve Monkeys
An oldie but a goodie, Terry Gilliam's 1996 offering is always one to watch.
An unknown and lethal virus has wiped out five billion people in 1996 and only 1 per cent of the population has survived by the year 2035.
A convict reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time to 1996 to gather information about the origin of the epidemic and is told it was spread by a mysterious army of the twelve monkeys.
Showing: Sunday, December 14; Mall of the Emirates; 1pm
The Wrestler
Written by Robert Siegel and starring Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood, The Wrestler picked up a Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival.
The drama follows retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson as he makes his way through the independent circuit, trying to get back in the game for one final showdown with his former rival.
Showing: Saturday, December 13; Mall of the Emirates; 1pm
Che
Steven Soderbergh's long-awaited, four-hour biopic about the rise and fall of revolutionary Ernesto 'Che'.
Showing: Monday, December 15; Festival City 3; 4.30pm
Tickets
Tickets for all the DIFF screenings and events went on sale online at www.dubaifilmfest.com on Monday and hard copy tickets will be available from Thursday at Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Festival City cinemas, as well as at the Madinat Box Office.
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