Take Out - 6/12/2008

Shot in 2004 but making it to the big screen a long four years later, Take Out was worth the wait. This urgent little drama, shot on a shoestring with a frantic handheld digital video camera, is a slice of real life that feels painfully real, transforming a lowly illegal immigrant Chinese restaurant deliveryman into a compelling protagonist.



Ming Ding's (Charles Jang) day starts badly when he's rousted from his New York City hovel by a couple of loan shark enforcers who want to know where their $1,800 payment is. Ming has borrowed the money in order to clear the debt he owes to the smuggler who brought him to America, but at 30 percent, this loan is really hurting. Ming comes up with $1,000, but after a swift hammer blow to his back, the thugs tell him he has just one day to come up with the rest of the money. So after borrowing $500 from a friend, it's off to work he goes with $300 on his mind.



The crazy busy Chinese take out joint where Ming works is lorded over by the hilarious Big Sister (Wang-Thye Lee), a fast-talking spitfire who can handle a dozen customers and a dozen phone orders all at the same time. She's seen it all, and nothing phases her. Ming's delivery buddy Young (Jeng-Hua Yu) is a comic philosopher, always promising that "things will work out." Luckily he's able to loan Ming $150, but in order to make the rest of the cash, Ming will have to take every delivery all day long. And it's raining. Hard.



We race alongside Ming up and down streets and staircases as he encounters a motley cross-section of hungry New Yorkers hiding behind their doors (all of them are non-actors). A dollar tip here, a dollar tip there, how will it ever add up? Young encourages Ming to smile and say "thank you very much," but Ming is having none of it. "Why should I smile when I'm in a bad mood?" he asks. Good question.



For a film about Chinese take out, Take Out becomes intensely suspenseful. The hours are ticking by. Will Ming make it? His bike gets a flat. Rats! A customer gets the wrong order and demands it be replaced. Rats! Hurry, Ming, hurry!



Back at the restaurant the woks are sizzling, the customers are pouring in, and Big Sister is chattering away in two languages, dealing with a parade of crazies who try to give her a hard time. Day becomes night, and we still don't know how all it's all going to end.



In a nearly silent role, Charles Jung is able to make Ming totally sympathetic, and the rest of the cast, almost all of whom, including Big Sister, are non-actors, are totally watchable. It's hard not to be moved by the relatively jolly attitude all these long-suffering workers are able to maintain despite being poor, separated from their families, and forced to work grueling shifts. While directors Sean Baker and Shih-Chin Tsou go way overboard with the shakiness of their camera (it's worse than the Bourne trilogy and can be painful to watch at times), the look of the film does mirror the chaos of Ming's existence.



Watch Take Out, and you'll tip big the next time you order in.

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Kylie tells Britney to "reach out" for help

Pop singer Kylie Minogue has advised troubled star Britney Spears to "reach out" for whatever help she needs.
Speaking to The Sun, Australian singer Minogue said: "Who knows what is going on in her life? Britney isn't that young anymore. I think she will still come back but it's like she's taken an extended holiday."
She continued: "Whatever help she needs, she should reach out and get it. I wish someone would write a manual about fame because it's not easy."
The singer also said: "I'm always loath to say that because there are a lot more difficulties out there that people deal with every day - but when fame is handed to you, it is unique."
She added: "It's not to the same extreme, but I can remember having a mini-meltdown myself - and unless you've got good people around to support you, you've got a problem."

Otis Fodder

   
Artist: Otis Fodder

   Genre(s): 
Indie
   

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Discography:


   
 Music To Drive Cross Country By

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 10

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Grey's star Jeffrey Dean Morgan engaged?

Gloria Allred in Pissing Match

Gloria Allred has a message for the Bev Hills Hotel -- urine trouble now!

Allred claims her client -- a lady who looks just like a dude -- was "humiliated" when she was thrown out of the women's restroom at the hotel. Allred says her client dresses like a man but proved to security she had right equipment for entry. Nonetheless, Allred smells blood, because the lady was tossed from the hotel.

And here's a shocker -- Gloria's holding a news conference at noon PT with the lady who will be wearing the same getup she wore on the fateful day.

Yes, we'll be live streaming it. Wouldn't miss that for the world.



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Indiana Jones Triumphs At Cannes

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL has proved a huge hit at the Cannes International Film Festival on Sunday (18May08) - receiving a standing ovation from critics at its world premiere.

The fourth installment of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' famous adventure franchise was one of the most eagerly awaited screenings at the French event, attracting a huge amount of hype and publicity.

But weeks of speculation threatened to tarnish the premiere after rumours suggested the film had been panned by movie bosses at an exclusive initial screening in Los Angeles last month (Apr08).

However, the film - which sees 65-year-old Harrison Ford return to the role of Indiana Jones after a 19 year gap - was praised by the world's media, reportedly garnering a three and a half minute standing ovation by the select few who were invited to watch it, according to American industry publication Variety.

Before the screening, manic crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the movie's returning star Ford, who told awaiting reporters he didn't care if the movie received bad reviews, as long as moviegoers enjoyed the action.

He said, "I expect to have the whip turned on me. I'm not really worried about it. I work for the people who pay to get in. They are my customers and my focus is on providing the best experience I can for those people."

And although legendary moviemaker Lucas admitted last month (Apr08) he had hatched plans to revive the action hero for a fifth film, he kept tight-lipped about the plans at the Cannes premiere.

He told reporters, ""Harrison, Steven and I haven't talked about it. We can't do it unless I can come up with a good idea, which I haven't."

The original trilogy - the last being 1989's Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade - was one of the highest-earning franchises in film history, grossing over $1 billion (GBP500 million) at the global box office.

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Hospital bug payout for Leslie Ash

Hospital bug payout for Leslie Ash

Actress Leslie Ash has won over €6.5 jillion in compensation subsequently she contracted the superbug MRSA in an NHS hospital in John Griffith Chaney.
The 'Men Behaving Badly' star was left gravely injured after espial the microbe at the Chelsea and City of Westminster hospital in exchange Greater London.
Her lawyer, Janice Gardner said the actress was "delighted" with the payout.
Ms Gardner said the actress was pleased she would not own to go to court to fight the claim. The caseful was due ahead a judge in April before the sides reached a settlement.
She said: "I think she is delighted that we could reach an amicable liquidation. Cypher in truth wants to go to motor hotel. It would get been severely sledding for her.
"In a case when you receive got serious injuries you make to be sensibly satisfied that the injuries accept settled before you tail end settle the claim."
Ash, 47, wHO now walks with a stick, was admitted to infirmary later on suffering two cracked ribs.
The defrayal includes compensation for money the actress would have earned had she been able to post on working.

Into the Wild leads Actors Guild nominations

Into the Wild leads Actors Guild nominations

The nominations for the Screen Actors Order Awards birth been announced with the Sean Penn-directed 'Into the Wild' leading the shortlist.
The film's sensation, Emile Hirsch, is nominated for the Topper Role player honour, with co-stars Hal Holbrook and Catherine II Keener shortlisted in the Topper Supporting Actor and Actress categories severally.
The draw of 'Into the Wild' ar besides nominated for the Charles Herbert Best Put award.
Shortlisted with Hirsch for Best Actor are George Clooney ('Michael Clayton'), Daniel Day-Lewis ('There Testament Be Blood'), Ryan Gosling ('Lars and the Real Girl') and Viggo Mortensen ('Eastern Promises').
Cate Blanchett ('Elizabeth: The Golden Age'), Julie Agatha Christie ('Away from Her'), Marion Cotillard ('La Compete en Rose'), Angelina Jolie ('A Mighty Heart') and Ellen Sir Frederick Handley Page ('Juno') are nominated for Best Actress.
Connexion Holbrook on the Best Supporting Player shortlist ar Casey Affleck ('The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Henry M. Robert Ford'), Javier Bardem ('No Rural area for Old Men'), Tommy Lee Jones ('No Nation for Old Men') and Tomcat Wilkinson ('Michael Clayton').
Keener is joined on the Best Supporting Actress short list by Cate Blanchett ('I'm Non There'), Ruby Dee ('American Gangster'), Amy Ryan ('Gone Babe Gone') and Tilda Swinton ('Michael Clayton').
On with the stars of 'Into the Wild', the actors in '3:10 to Yuma', 'American Gangster', 'Hairspray' and 'No Area for Old Men' are likewise nominated for Topper Draw.
The winners volition be announced on Lord's Day 27 January.




NOFX