EB (Russell Brand)
follows his destiny to
Los Angeles in animation/
live-action hybrid HopJUST FOR LAUGHS
All Ali ever wanted was to make his Muslim
cleric father proud by becoming a doctor.
But when he flunks his exams, a little white
lie about his results soon spirals out of
control in AACTA-winning homegrown hit
Ali’s Wedding. Destined for an arranged
marriage, Ali (Osamah Sami) is torn between
family obligations and true love with medical
student Dianne (Helana Sawires).
ART IMITATING LIFE
Ali’s experience is loosely based on those
of his portrayer, Sami – an Iraqi refugee
who co-wrote the flick with Andrew Knight
(Hacksaw Ridge). It’s dubbed, ‘A true story.
Unfortunately.’ Perhaps surprisingly though,
Sami wasn’t guaranteed a role in the film.
After pitching the idea of playing Ali himself,
Sami was informed by director Jefrey Walker
that he had concerns. Sami eventually won
Walker over during the agonising process
of nine audition callbacks.
GETTING INTO CHARACTER
Sami calls actor Don Hany’s preparation
to play Ali’s father Mahdi “meticulous”.
“He came to the mosque with me for 12
consecutive nights during an annual 12-night
commemoration event,” Sami reveals. “He
submerged himself into the role so well, at
times I forgot it was Don.”
ALI’S WEDDING Saturday April 28
at 8.30pm on Premiere Movies [401]
ACTION TIME
Idris Elba, Jefrey Dean Morgan and
Chris Evans star in this high-energy number
as a black ops team of the US Special Forces
dubbed ‘The Losers’. While on assignment
to capture a dangerous drug lord in Bolivia,
their mission takes a turn when their superior
- codename ‘Max’ (Jason Patric) – orders
a missile attack on them.
Faking their deaths, The Losers find
themselves stranded in the foreign country
as they plot their revenge. When the
mysterious Aisha (Zoë Saldana) enters the
picture, ofering Clay (Morgan) the chance
to get even, the stage is set for an explosive
game of cat and mouse.
DID YOU KNOW?
The film is an adaptation of the Vertigo comic
book series of the same name, written
by Andy Diggle and illustrated by Jock.
Though there is speculation that the
comics are loosely based on a 1969
DC Comics ofering about a group
of WWII soldiers, Diggle insists
he’s never read an issue.
FROM ACTION HEROES
TO SUPERHEROES
Elba, Evans and Saldana have
all gone on to feature in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe:
Elba appearing as Heimdall
in the Thor franchise; Evans
starring as Captain America
in the Captain America and Avengers films;
and Saldana in the Guardians of the Galaxy
films and Avengers: Infinity War as Gamora.
THE LOSERS
Sunday April 1 at 8.30pm on Action Movies [406]
THE ICONS
If you loved last year’s reimagining of 1974
classic Murder on the Orient Express – based
on the Agatha Christie novel – you’re going
to love the original. It’s December 1934 and,
while travelling aboard the Orient Express,
famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot
(Albert Finney) finds himself in the midst of
a mystery when businessman Samuel Ratchett
(Richard Widmark) is discovered murdered.
With a train full of suspects, the race is on
for Poirot to solve the case.
A WHO’S WHO OF HOLLYWOOD
It would be easier to name the A-listers not
in this film! Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman,
Jacqueline Bisset, Michael York, Sean Connery,
John Gielgud and Vanessa Redgrave are
just some of the big names in this whodunit.
ACCOLADES
The movie was an awards show favourite,
nominated for a swathe of Oscars, BAFTAs
and even a Grammy Award. Bergman took
home the Best Actress in a Supporting
Role Academy Award and BAFTA Award,
while co-star Gielgud was also awarded
a best supporting actor BAFTA.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Sunday April 1 at 10.25pm on Movie Greats [403]
all available in the MOVIES pack
Ali’s (Osamah Sami) heart
may be with Dianne
(Helana Sawires), but his
loyalty lies elsewhereMOVIES