By LOUISE WATT Associated Press BEIJING (AP) Matt Damon criticized stories in the era of fake news as he responded Tuesday to accusa- tions that his role in the new China-Hollywood co-production Great should have gone to an Asian actor. Some critics have said casting as the lead char- acter amounted to in which Caucasians are chosen for roles that actors of other ethnicities should play. In an interview with The Associated Press, the American actor said he thinks of the term as applying to Caucasian actors putting on makeup to appear to be of anoth- er race, as was common in the early days of film and television, when racism was overt. whole idea of white- washing, I take that very serious- Damon said, using the exam- ple of the Irish-American actor Chuck Connors, who played the lead character in the 1962 film about the famed Apache chief. Damon, 46, plays an English mercenary in the upcoming $150 million adventure fantasy about a Chinese army battling monsters, helmed by acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
The trailer sparked criticism in the U.S. that a white man had been chosen to play the lead in a film set in China meant to showcase Chinese culture. The furor came amid other accusa- tions of a lack of diversity and opportunities for Asian actors in Hollywood. Damon questioned whether the critical stories on online news sites based on 30-second teas- er would have existed before the era of fake news and headlines designed to make peo- ple click on them. suddenly becomes a story because people click on it, versus the traditional ways that a story would get vetted before it would get to that said the star of the franchise.
People fall for outrageous headlines, but you stop clicking on some of those more outrageous things because you just realize there is nothing to the story when you get to Damon said. Great is the first movie made by Legendary East, the Chinese venture of Legendary Entertainment, a Hollywood stu- dio now owned by Chinese real estate and theater chain developer Wanda Group. Other companies behind the movie include the state-owned China Film Group Le Vision Pictures, a pri- vate film company affiliated with Chinese tech firm LeEco; and Universal Pictures. Damon and Zhang told the AP that because of the demands of the story, role a mer- cenary who comes to China to steal gunpowder was always intended to be European. Damon said he thought the criticism over his casting would subside people see that a monster movie and a histor- ical fantasy and I take a role away from a Chinese actor it altered because of me in any The film is the first Sino-Hol- lywood co-production and first English-language film for Zhang, the director of the romantic Kung Fu drama of Flying Dag- and the opulent opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
It also stars Pedro Pascal of of as sword-wielding partner in crime, Willem Dafoe and Hong Andy Lau. Jing Tian plays the female lead warrior. Eddie Peng of the boxing drama and Lu Han, a former boy band sensation, also appear. In the movie, Great Wall has been built to keep out menacing, otherworldly crea- tures. The use of monsters and a hero saving the world are very much Hollywood techniques.
Zhang told the AP that the script took Hollywood seven years to develop. it was developed for commercial purposes, I felt there was room for me to play and put many ele- ments of Chinese culture into he said. Most Chinese co-productions with the West have been box- office flops, but producers hope Great can show that big-budget Sino-Hollywood co- productions can work. Hollywood is eager to work with Chinese actors and produc- ers to appeal to the Chinese cine- ma-going market, which is expected to outgrow the current No. 1 market, North America, within the next two or three years.
The Chinese government has long sought to project cultural influence abroad and hopes that Great will be an inter- national blockbuster. kind of cooperation is not an end, but a Zhang said. is just like relations between countries; cooperation is always a good thing and con- frontation is The film debuts in Chinese cinemas on Dec. 16 followed by other countries, including the United States in February. Page 8 Tuesday, December 6, 2016 Anthony E.
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But the New York critics ultimately chose Damien La as the best film, whereas the LA critics had La a colorful ode to the hometown as runner-up for best picture and best director. Which film will have the edge in the coming weeks when the more crucial industry groups begin ringing in with their awards is an open question. which also triumphed at the Gotham Awards, is perhaps the most critically celebrated film. Across three chapters, it follows a boy growing up black, gay and poor in Miami. But La starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is only just hitting theaters (it opens Friday).
It has widely been seen as the best-picture front-runner since winning the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. While is bracingly intimate, the song-and-dance La is a starry, show-stopping crowd-pleaser. La is also likely to dominate in sheer number of nomination, thanks to its lead performances, high-level of craft and original songs. It was honored by the LA critics for the musical work of Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The only film that has rivaled either in the early awards is Kenneth by the The National Board of Review bestowed its top award on the New England drama, and the star, Casey Affleck, has been the most common pick so far.
(The LA critics, however, went with Adam Driver for Jim And despite a crowded best-actress field, including Stone for La and Natalie Portman for the early favorite has been French actress Isabelle Huppert, star of both and to She was the choice of the LA and New York critics, as well as the Gotham Independent Film Awards. Other films have been singled out elsewhere. The British Film Independent Awards on Sunday gave four awards to Andrea road-trip odyssey includ- ing best film. (It also chose as its best internation- al independent film.) Next week, the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations will be announced, likely giving the current favorites additional momentum. But a lot could still change, but the Feb.
26 Oscars are increasingly coming into view. They finally have their host, in Jimmy Kimmel, announced Monday. And in La and the finalists might already be decided, too. Jimmy Kimmel to host Academy Awards NEW YORK (AP) The Oscars finally have a host: Jimmy Kimmel will emcee the 89th Academy Awards. The late-night host will be presiding over the ceremony for the first time.
Kimmel has been a regular awards host, having twice previously hosted the Emmy Awards (including its broadcast in September) and once led ESPY Awards. The selection of Kimmel gives ABC, home of the Oscars telecast, the choice the network had long sought. His Kimmel has previously followed Oscar broad- cast. The network also has new muscle to flex; it signed a deal with the Academy of Motion Pictures in August to remain the Oscar broadcast home until 2028. I am hosting the Kimmel said on Twitter.
is not a prank. And if it is, my revenge on the academy will be terrible and The academy waited much later than usual to name a host for the Feb. 26 ceremony. This show is being produced by veteran producer Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, president of Ben Affleck and Matt production com- pany, Pearl Street Films. This is also their first time producing the Oscars.
The lengthy search has perhaps been a product of increas- ing pressure on the broadcast. Last show was hosted by Chris Rock and was dominated by backlash over its second straight year of all-white acting nominees. Its 34.3 million viewers marked an 11-year low for the telecast. Whether Kimmel can spark a comeback will be a consid- erable test for the 49-year-old comedian. His Emmy Awards broadcast on ABC drew a mere 11.3 million viewers, a new low.
But ABC Television Group chief Ben Sherwood publicly lobbied for Kimmel. In September he said the network was hopeful that Jimmy will the Oscar hosting gig and that he had the Emmys. This Oscar favorites appear to feature the kind of big, popular films that can drive audiences to watch the awards. The top contenders La and by the have together totaled less than $15 million at the box office, though La is yet to open. First lady to sit down with Oprah for interview WASHINGTON (AP) First lady Michelle Obama will talk about her time in the White House during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that will air Dec.
19 on CBS. The network says Mrs. Obama will talk about her legacy as first lady and in store for her future. CBS is billing the event as Mrs. final one-on-one interview inside the White House.
While there has been much speculation about what the first lady will do after leaving office, the president has discounted a life in politics. He told Rolling Stone magazine that can see the incredible resonance she has with the American people. But I joke that too sensible to want to be in Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis reveal new baby name (AP) Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have offered some details on the new addition to their family, a baby boy named Dmitri Portwood Kutcher. Kutcher announced on his website that Dmitri was born at 1:21 a.m. on Nov.
30 and weighed in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces. On the subject of baby photos for the public, Kutcher says in an article on his website that he and Kunis would to allow our kids to make their own choices on whether to have a life in the public eye or adding want to make the choice for Dmitri is the second child. Older sister Wyatt was born in 2014. Kunis and Kutcher were co-stars on the sitcom and married in July 2015..
