Movie Review: New York not convincing

Director Kabir Khan's New York, based on extensive research conducted by the filmmaker himself, brazenly accuses the FBI of illegally detaining hundreds of Muslims suspected to have terrorist links post 9/11 and of putting them through extreme forms of torture, only to release months later when no evidence against them could be gathered that many of them were innocent.

Surprising then, that the same film's basic premise involves the FBI itself waiting and watching and monitoring – but never arresting or even probing – a very serious terror suspect who they have ample dope on. It's not until he's planted bombs all across the FBI headquarters that they swing into action.

In another instance, a lady who works as a human rights activist, merrily goes about her life knowing full well her husband's involved in terrorist activities, but doesn't confront him, hoping he'll have a change of heart eventually.

It's holes like these that make New York a tiresome watch.

Omar, an Indian immigrant in the Big Apple (played by Neil Nitin Mukesh), is picked up by the FBI and threatened to be detained as a terror suspect unless he agrees to help them investigate an old college buddy of his, Sam (played by John Abraham).

Confident that Sam is innocent, Omar reluctantly goes along with the plan, and hence reconnects with Sam and his wife Maya (played by Katrina Kaif), who Omar nursed a crush on way back in college. Torn between his affection for Sam who appears perfectly clean, and the commitment he made to FBI officer Roshan (played by Irrfan Khan) who's convinced Sam is hiding a dirty secret, Omar ends up stumbling into a shocking truth that leaves all their lives forever altered.

New York has its heart in the right place and its intentions are entirely honorable. The film wants to take up the issue of innocent people who sometimes turn to crime or terrorism as revenge against unlawful detention. It's a relevant issue no doubt, but because the film is constructed from such a sloppy script, that point is lost under all the creative liberties and convenient short-cuts that the screenplay takes.

Source:ibnlive.com

'King of Pop' Michael Jackson dies at 50

Michael Jackson, the child star turned King of Pop who set the world dancing but whose musical genius was overshadowed by a bizarre lifestyle and sex scandals, died on Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 PM PDT (2126 GMT) after arriving at a Los Angeles hospital in full cardiac arrest, said Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. The cause of death was not known and an autopsy would likely take place on Friday, he said.

Jackson was taken ill at home and his personal physician tried to resuscitate him but could not, his brother Jermaine told reporters. Jackson was taken by paramedics to the hospital, where doctors worked for more than an hour to try to revive him before pronouncing him dead, the brother said.

Known as the "King of Pop," for hits that included Thriller and Billie Jean, Jackson's dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.

His lifetime record sales tally was believed to be around 750 million, and with his 13 Grammy Awards and boundary-breaking music ------ he was one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

But Jackson's belief that "I am Peter Pan in my heart," his preference for the company of children, his friendship with a chimp, his high-pitched voice and numerous plastic surgeries also earned him critics and the nickname "Wacko Jacko."

Jackson led a reclusive life after his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation, the second time he had faced ultimately unproved allegations of abuse of young boys.

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him," Quincy Jones, who helped arrange the music on the album "Thriller" and produced the "Off the Wall" album, told MSNBC.

Sold-out shows

Jackson had been due to start a comeback series of concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010, and had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months. The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery Homicide division searched Jackson's home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, saying they had been directed to do so by Chief William Bratton because of the media frenzy.

"The Los Angeles Police Department handles death investigations every day," said officer Gregg Strenk. "Robbery Homicide was assigned to this case due to the high profile nature of it. Don't read anything into it."

Tributes poured in.

He was a "true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy in a statement.

Source: ibnlive.com

Slumdog Millionaire actor held for extortion

A 21-year-old actor who starred in Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was arrested for allegedly extorting money and threatening to kill a casting director by posing as brother of underworld don Chhota Shakeel, police said on Monday.

The victim, who is also production-head of Ramanand Sagar production, was threatened by the accused over phone, seeking roles in his serials, they said.

The actor, identified as Ajit Pandey, had played a character called 'Javed Goon' in the Oscar winning movie. He has also acted in several serials.

Introducing himself as Irfan Husri, brother of Chhota Shakeel, he threatened the victim to give roles to his friend Ajit Pandey. However, police probe revealed that it was Pandey, who made threatening calls in the name of Husri.

"On May 24, Pandey phoned the victim introducing himself as Husri. He said that he is a brother of Chhota Shakeel and told the victim to provide good roles to actor Pandey, who is his close aide," Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria said.

The officer said the accused told the victim that Pandey had once worked with Shakeel's gang but now he wanted live a normal life.

He was produced before a local court which remanded him to police custody till June 27.

"However, the victim did not pay heed to threatening calls following which Husri demanded Rs 20 lakh," Maria said, adding that the accused also threatened to kill the director if he failed to pay the money.

During the investigation, Maria said, police found that the SIM card, which the accused was using, had been purchased from Satna in Madhya Pradesh and subsequently it was revealed that Pandey was involved in the crime, he said.

A trap was laid and Pandey was arrested from suburban Bhayandar. He was later charged under Sections 384 (Extortion) and 506(2) (Criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, Maria said.

"The motive of the accused was to get more roles. He thought that if he takes Shakeel's name, the victim would give him good roles," he said.

The accused has acted in several serials, including Sarthi, O Darling Ye Hai India and Jai Hanuman.

Source: ibnlive.com