Latest news with #DjangoUnchained
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
‘I'm as hip-hop as anyone in the country': Delhi rapper Shauharty
"For me, Saddam Hussein has always represented the pure-unchecked male ego and narcissism," says shauharty. ''Saddam Hussainé' is just a creative lens, not a political statement,' he says, adding that satire runs deep in the production. 'The whole Saddam hiding spot meme is big in pop culture—we wanted to weave that in.' Shot in the scorching deserts of Jaisalmer, the short film draws from classic Westerns like Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and Tarantino's Django Unchained and Pulp Fiction. 'Zaid (the director) and I wanted to make a gritty, satirical Western film,' says shauharty. 'We tried to blend Indian cultural elements into a visual language shaped by Hollywood.' Saddam Hussein, carries a mysterious briefcase—an homage to Pulp Fiction's iconic glowing briefcase. Says shauharty: 'I couldn't think of anyone else but Saddam Hussein to carry it—it's as if he had a brief to be egoistic.' For the rapper, ego is an obstacle. 'If you're too egoistic to show who you are, you're limiting your potential and creating a false image,' he says. 'Letting go of ego was necessary to talk about subjects like identity, sexuality, and acceptance—topics that I'm covering throughout the forthcoming mixtape. I avoided them for a long time. Now, I'm finally ready to let that go.'
Tokyo Weekender
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Ex-Idol Toshihiko Tahara Faces Backlash After Harassing Reporter Mid-Broadcast
Toshihiko Tahara, once a chart-topping idol, is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons. On June 15, during a live broadcast of Bakusho Mondai's Sunday Sunday on TBS Radio, the 64-year-old singer responded to a comment about his signature high kick — a pose he's known for doing — with an off-color joke: 'The middle leg goes even higher.' He followed it with 'I'm rock-hard!' and loud laughter. When announcer Erika Yamamoto, seated beside him, calmly replied, 'Please stop. I'm ignoring that,' Tahara didn't let up. He touched her hand as she read his profile on air. Her response was immediate: 'Don't touch me. Seriously, stop it. I won't keep reading if you do.' Then, for reasons unclear, Tahara reportedly stepped on Yamamoto's white shoes under the table and said, 'They're just too cute — I had to dirty them.' Again, he laughed. This time, no one else did. Online, the reaction was swift and unforgiving. 'Tahara's just an old creep on a power trip. Disgusting,' one user wrote on X. Another said , 'It was vile. It should never have been broadcast.' Many labeled Tahara a 'Showa relic,' pointing to a culture of male celebrity privilege that has long shielded aging entertainers from accountability. Many also praised Yamamoto's composure, noting how rare it is in Japanese media for women to push back so openly — and so firmly — against senior male talent on air. The 'Showa Relic' Problem Tahara's behavior fits a pattern that many in Japan are increasingly tired of. The Showa era (1926–1989) shaped a media culture where innuendo, casual touching and power imbalances were normalized under the guise of entertainment. Tahara, in particular, has a history. At a 2013 press event in Tokyo for the Japanese release of Django Unchained , Tahara, then 52, sang without prompting, flirted with the female models who'd been hired for the event, touched their knees and fingers and made repeated sexually suggestive gestures. 'Living freely is the ultimate luxury,' he declared at the time, brushing off concerns with a grin. 'I really am a free spirit.' The press largely laughed it off. But a decade later, the tone has shifted. Legally, Japan remains behind — workplace sexual harassment is not explicitly outlawed — but culturally, momentum is shifting. Movements like #KuToo, which began as a protest against mandatory high heels for women at work and grew into a broader call for gender equality, and rising public scrutiny of misconduct in politics and media have made audiences less willing to tolerate behavior that once came with the territory. Tahara has always leaned into a flamboyant persona, but what once read as cheeky now increasingly comes off as sexist and predatory. His refusal to adapt is, at long last, being called out for what it is: inappropriate, unprofessional and unwanted. In contrast, Yamamoto's response — measured, clear and broadcast live — stood out as a quiet act of professional resistance. For years, Japan's media industry protected aging male stars from consequences. But this incident suggests that immunity is fading. Tahara's not just out of touch — he's out of time. Related Posts JO1's Shion Tsurubo Under Investigation for Criminal Online Gambling Activity BTS Member Jungkook Apologizes for 'Make Tokyo Great Again' Hat Masahiro Nakai Sexually Assaulted Fuji TV Announcer, Says Panel
Geek Tyrant
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Will Smith Admits He Passed on Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION Because 'I Didn't Get It' — GeekTyrant
Will Smith is no stranger to turning down major movie roles, but in a recent interview with Kiss Xtra (via HuffPost), he revealed a surprising addition to that list… Christopher Nolan's Inception . Smith confessed that the mind-bending sci-fi thriller just didn't click for him at the time. He explained: 'Chris Nolan brought me Inception first and I didn't get it. I've never said that out loud. Now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities… they don't pitch well. But I am hurt by those, too.' Leonardo DiCaprio eventually stepped into the lead role and the film went on to become one of Nolan's biggest box office hits, raking in $839 million globally and earning eight Oscar nominations. Smith, meanwhile, added Inception to a short but brutal list of projects he regrets turning down, right alongside The Matrix and Django Unchained . Back in 2019, Smith broke down his reasoning for passing on The Matrix . Smith recalled the Wachowskis pitch, telling him: 'We're thinking like… imagine you're in a fight. You, like, jump. Imagine if you could stop jumping in the middle of the jump. But then, people could see around you 360 degrees while you stop jumping. We're going to invent these cameras… It hurts too bad to talk about.' Smith obviously has an issue seeing the big vision for these massive projects. It's so funny that he passed on these films, but then jumped on board a movie like Wild Wild West . As for Django Unchained , Smith has always maintained that the creative direction just didn't align with his vision. Though Quentin Tarantino initially approached him for the lead role, which eventually went to Jamie Foxx, Smith previously said: 'I didn't want to make a slavery film about vengeance. To me, it's as perfect a story as you could ever want: a guy that learns how to kill to retrieve his wife that has been taken as a slave. 'That idea is perfect. And it was just that Quentin and I couldn't see [eye to eye]. I wanted to make that movie so badly, but I felt the only way was, it had to be a love story, not a vengeance story.' In the end, even some of the biggest movie stars can't see or grasp the vision of smart filmmakers... especially when it's buried in a dream within a dream within a dream.
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Here's why Will Smith turned down Christopher Nolan's 'Inception'
Will Smith recently revealed that he turned down the lead role in Christopher Nolan's Inception because he didn't understand the plot. In an interview with Kiss Xtra (via HuffPost), Smith admitted he initially struggled to grasp the concept of the film, leading him to pass on the role that ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie went on to become a worldwide success, grossing $839 million. Smith's decision to reject Inception is part of a longer list of iconic films that he passed on, including The Matrix and Django Unchained. Will Smith reveals director Christopher Nolan brought him the movie "Inception" first, but he turned it down and says movies about alternate realities don't pitch well. (🎥 Kiss Xtra) — The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) June 15, 2025 "I don't think I've ever said it publicly, but I am going to say it because we are opening up to one another," Smith shared during the candid conversation. He explained that films involving alternate realities often don't pitch well, adding that he regrets turning down Inception, though it wasn't as painful as rejecting the role of Neo in The Matrix. That part was later taken by Keanu Reeves, whose portrayal became iconic, turning The Matrix into one of the most popular franchises of all time. Smith also reflected on his decision to turn down the role in Django Unchained, which eventually went to Jamie Foxx. While the role intrigued him, Smith did not agree with Quentin Tarantino's vision, particularly the emphasis on vengeance in the story. He told THR that he felt the film should have been a love story rather than one centered around vengeance. Despite the career missteps, Smith's transparency about his decisions offers insight into the creative conflicts that shaped his career.
Mint
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Will Smith reveals he turned down Nolan's Inception because he ‘didn't get it'
Will Smith has opened up about one of the major film roles he regrets turning down—Christopher Nolan's 'Inception'. In a recent interview with Kiss Xtra via HuffPost, the actor admitted that the complex sci-fi thriller didn't make sense to him at the time. In a recent interview, Will Smith revealed how he turned down Christopher Nolan's 'Inception' because he did not understand the film. He said, "I don't think I've ever said it publicly but I am going to say it because we are opening up to one another. Chris Nolan brought me 'Inception' first and I didn't get it. I've never said that out loud. Now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities… they don't pitch well. But I am hurt by those, too.' This is not the first time the actor turned down a film that went on become a big hit. Smith's confession adds 'Inception' to a growing list of critically acclaimed films he turned down, including 'The Matrix' and 'Django Unchained'. His decision to pass on 'Inception' was previously hinted at by The Hollywood Reporter, which noted that Brad Pitt was Nolan's first choice, though he never signed on. Smith was next in line, but pulled out after failing to connect with the story. While Smith has had a successful career, this revelation highlights how even top stars sometimes miss opportunities—not from lack of interest, but simply because the timing or the vision doesn't quite line up. Released in 2010, 'Inception' went on to become a global success. Leonardo DiCaprio eventually took the lead role, and the film earned over $839 million at the box office. It has since become one of Nolan's most celebrated works. Apart from Leonardo, the film also featured Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Marion Cottilard, Tom Berenger, and Michael Cane. At the 83rd Academy Awards, 'Inception' won four awards - Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects.
