]]> The 53rd LFF came to a glittery close last night with the world premiere of Nowhere Boy

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/london-film-festival-2009-its-a-wrap/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/this-is-it-michael-jackson-remains-a-cipher/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/this-is-it-michael-jackson-remains-a-cipher/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:01 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2009/oct/30/michael-jackson-this-is-it The film-makers have done their best to capture Michael Jackson's old magic but this memorial gives us little chance to really get close to the singer, writes Andrew Pulver

]]> The film-makers have done their best to capture Michael Jackson’s old magic but this memorial gives us little chance to really get close to the singer, writes Andrew Pulver

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/this-is-it-michael-jackson-remains-a-cipher/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/the-first-cinema-trip-in-40-years/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/the-first-cinema-trip-in-40-years/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:03:37 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2009/oct/27/london-film-festival-an-education Jeane Smith, 84, hasn't been to the cinema for nearly 40 years. So where better to take her, and four friends, than the London film festival, to see An Education, a coming-of-age movie set in swinging 60s London?

]]> Jeane Smith, 84, hasn’t been to the cinema for nearly 40 years. So where better to take her, and four friends, than the London film festival, to see An Education, a coming-of-age movie set in swinging 60s London?

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/the-first-cinema-trip-in-40-years/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/nick-hornby-on-writing-an-education-im-good-at-colouring-in/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/nick-hornby-on-writing-an-education-im-good-at-colouring-in/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:02:50 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2009/oct/29/nick-hornby-an-education Nick Hornby tells Michael Hann why scripting the film based on Lynn Barber's memoir of 60s London was a gift and why he can never adapt his own novels again

]]> Nick Hornby tells Michael Hann why scripting the film based on Lynn Barber’s memoir of 60s London was a gift and why he can never adapt his own novels again

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/nick-hornby-on-writing-an-education-im-good-at-colouring-in/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/film-weekly-at-the-british-independent-film-awards-nominations/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/film-weekly-at-the-british-independent-film-awards-nominations/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:41:20 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/audio/2009/oct/28/film-weekly-podcast-bifa-awards Come time travelling with Film Weekly as this week's edition ranges over the state of the British film industry in the noughties to the funny side of life under a dictator in Romania in the 80s, also taking in a review of a coming-of-age tale set in 60s London.

First up, Jason Solomons goes behind the scenes at the unveiling of the nominees for the British Independent Film awards and discusses the strength of this year's shortlist with actor Jason Isaacs (aka Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films), who introduced the nominations and is on the advisory committee for the prizes. The awards are announced on 6 December and frontrunners include Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank with eight nods, Duncan Jones's Moon, Jane Campion's Bright Star and Armando Iannucci's In the Loop.

Peter Bradshaw makes a rare appearance in the pod to help review this week's key releases: An Education, based on Lynn Barber's memoir of being 16 in swinging 60s London, with a screenplay by Nick Hornby and a breakthrough performance from Carey Mulligan; Dead Man Running, a fast-moving underworld caper which stars the unlikely combination of 50 Cent, Brenda Blethyn and Danny Dyer; and Starsuckers, a documentary that lifts the lid on our obsession with fame.

Finally, Xan Brooks meets Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, whose last film 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days won the Palme d'Or in 2007, to talk about his new portmanteau film Tales of the Golden Age, which casts a darkly humorous eye over the Ceauşescu regime of the 1980s. Mungiu tells Xan about growing up amidst power outages and absurd regulations, why so many of his peers are now looking back, and being an ambassador for the Romanian new wave.

]]> Come time travelling with Film Weekly as this week’s edition ranges over the state of the British film industry in the noughties to the funny side of life under a dictator in Romania in the 80s, also taking in a review of a coming-of-age tale set in 60s London.

First up, Jason Solomons goes behind the scenes at the unveiling of the nominees for the British Independent Film awards and discusses the strength of this year’s shortlist with actor Jason Isaacs (aka Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films), who introduced the nominations and is on the advisory committee for the prizes. The awards are announced on 6 December and frontrunners include Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank with eight nods, Duncan Jones’s Moon, Jane Campion’s Bright Star and Armando Iannucci’s In the Loop.

Peter Bradshaw makes a rare appearance in the pod to help review this week’s key releases: An Education, based on Lynn Barber’s memoir of being 16 in swinging 60s London, with a screenplay by Nick Hornby and a breakthrough performance from Carey Mulligan; Dead Man Running, a fast-moving underworld caper which stars the unlikely combination of 50 Cent, Brenda Blethyn and Danny Dyer; and Starsuckers, a documentary that lifts the lid on our obsession with fame.

Finally, Xan Brooks meets Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, whose last film 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days won the Palme d’Or in 2007, to talk about his new portmanteau film Tales of the Golden Age, which casts a darkly humorous eye over the Ceauşescu regime of the 1980s. Mungiu tells Xan about growing up amidst power outages and absurd regulations, why so many of his peers are now looking back, and being an ambassador for the Romanian new wave.

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/film-weekly-at-the-british-independent-film-awards-nominations/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/the-first-cinema-trip-in-40-years-2/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/the-first-cinema-trip-in-40-years-2/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:57:32 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2009/oct/27/london-film-festival-an-education Jeane Smith, 84, hasn't been to the cinema for nearly 40 years. So where better to take her, and four friends, than the London film festival, to see An Education, a coming-of-age movie set in swinging 60s London?

]]> Jeane Smith, 84, hasn’t been to the cinema for nearly 40 years. So where better to take her, and four friends, than the London film festival, to see An Education, a coming-of-age movie set in swinging 60s London?

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/the-first-cinema-trip-in-40-years-2/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/obsessed-no-extramarital-sex-please-have-some-shiny-fittings-instead/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/obsessed-no-extramarital-sex-please-have-some-shiny-fittings-instead/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:14:29 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/28/obsessed-digested-watch

This Fatal Attraction knock-off is out on DVD this week, but if you're not sure you want to spend your readies on it, try our condensed screenplay

ObsessedBy Paul MacInnes, with apologies to David Loughery

SCENE 1
EXT: Suburbia. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCE KNOWLES are rolling around on the CAPACIOUS lawns of their LUXURY home. Their child, KYLE, is looking on and clapping enthusiastically in the manner of a nappy ad.

IDRIS ELBA
Look at us girl, just another happy family in Barack Obama's America.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
Damn right. With you in wealth management and me being Beyoncé Knowles, our lives couldn't be more perfect!

IDRIS ELBA
(cheerily)
And don't forget our beautiful son Kyle!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(turning red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

IDRIS ELBA
Hey baby, calm down, we haven't got to that part of the movie yet.

SCENE TWO
INT: Day. IDRIS ELBA is managing wealth in his downtown LA office. Everything, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, is made of glass or chrome. In the corner of the room sits IDRIS ELBA's gay PA, gossiping through his BLUETOOTH HEADSET. He would betray IDRIS ELBA for two cosmopolitans and a FILTHY MARTINI. Into the room walks ALI LARTER, the stripping superwoman from Heroes. She is beautiful, blonde and not in any way a convincing character.

ALI LARTER
(to Idris Elba)
Hi, I'm your new temp. I've checked your diary and it says you've got a 12 o'clock with seduction.

IDRIS ELBA gives a look that both acknowledges ALI LARTER is one hot mama but that he won't be doing anything thank you very much in case BEYONCÉ KNOWLES shouts at him.

IDRIS ELBA
I think you'd better stop right there, miss. I don't countenance adultery. Besides, if I do sleep with you, you'd probably only end up stalking me before eventually breaking into my house and terrorising my family. So if it's all right with you I'll give it a pass.

ALI LARTER
(disapppointed)
Oh, OK.

IDRIS ELBA
Without the whole extramarital sex thing, the tension goes out of it anyway. Trust me.

ALI LARTER
I guess you're right.

IDRIS ELBA
What are you going to do for the rest of the movie?

ALI LARTER
Oh, ponce about in my underwear probably.

SCENE THREE
INT: The Elba-Knowles family home. Every fitting, EVERY SINGLE FITTING, is made of platinum. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCÉ KNOWLES are standing in the kitchen drinking pomegranate juice. Also in the kitchen is ALI LARTER. She is standing at the end of the brunch bar in a negligee explaining why she's there.

ALI LARTER
As I was saying, I thought I'd give it one last bash at seducing your husband, but when I got here and broke into your home I realised I'd forgotten the chloroform. Honestly, it's typical me.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
I've seen plenty of stalkers in my time, but boy are you the crappest.

ALI LARTER
(shrugging her shoulders)
Back to temping for me I guess!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES smiles beatifically and offers to escort ALI LARTER to the door. Sitting in the doorway, clapping his hands enthusiastically, is BEYONCÉ's son, KYLE. The two women smile at each other and BEYONCÉ encourages ALI LARTER to chuck her child on the chin.

ALI LARTER
Are you sure? OK then! Hey coochiecooch ...

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(already red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES leaps on ALI LARTER and begins a fight that will take in many chrome-tipped household appliances. Ultimately, BEYONCÉ KNOWLES wins by holding ALI LARTER above her head and snapping her like a twig. IDRIS ELBA appears and clasps BEYONCÉ KNOWLES and her son in his arms. They all laugh together and decide to go out for brunch.

]]>

This Fatal Attraction knock-off is out on DVD this week, but if you’re not sure you want to spend your readies on it, try our condensed screenplay

ObsessedBy Paul MacInnes, with apologies to David Loughery

SCENE 1
EXT: Suburbia. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCE KNOWLES are rolling around on the CAPACIOUS lawns of their LUXURY home. Their child, KYLE, is looking on and clapping enthusiastically in the manner of a nappy ad.

IDRIS ELBA
Look at us girl, just another happy family in Barack Obama’s America.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
Damn right. With you in wealth management and me being Beyoncé Knowles, our lives couldn’t be more perfect!

IDRIS ELBA
(cheerily)
And don’t forget our beautiful son Kyle!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(turning red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

IDRIS ELBA
Hey baby, calm down, we haven’t got to that part of the movie yet.

SCENE TWO
INT: Day. IDRIS ELBA is managing wealth in his downtown LA office. Everything, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, is made of glass or chrome. In the corner of the room sits IDRIS ELBA’s gay PA, gossiping through his BLUETOOTH HEADSET. He would betray IDRIS ELBA for two cosmopolitans and a FILTHY MARTINI. Into the room walks ALI LARTER, the stripping superwoman from Heroes. She is beautiful, blonde and not in any way a convincing character.

ALI LARTER
(to Idris Elba)
Hi, I’m your new temp. I’ve checked your diary and it says you’ve got a 12 o’clock with seduction.

IDRIS ELBA gives a look that both acknowledges ALI LARTER is one hot mama but that he won’t be doing anything thank you very much in case BEYONCÉ KNOWLES shouts at him.

IDRIS ELBA
I think you’d better stop right there, miss. I don’t countenance adultery. Besides, if I do sleep with you, you’d probably only end up stalking me before eventually breaking into my house and terrorising my family. So if it’s all right with you I’ll give it a pass.

ALI LARTER
(disapppointed)
Oh, OK.

IDRIS ELBA
Without the whole extramarital sex thing, the tension goes out of it anyway. Trust me.

ALI LARTER
I guess you’re right.

IDRIS ELBA
What are you going to do for the rest of the movie?

ALI LARTER
Oh, ponce about in my underwear probably.

SCENE THREE
INT: The Elba-Knowles family home. Every fitting, EVERY SINGLE FITTING, is made of platinum. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCÉ KNOWLES are standing in the kitchen drinking pomegranate juice. Also in the kitchen is ALI LARTER. She is standing at the end of the brunch bar in a negligee explaining why she’s there.

ALI LARTER
As I was saying, I thought I’d give it one last bash at seducing your husband, but when I got here and broke into your home I realised I’d forgotten the chloroform. Honestly, it’s typical me.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
I’ve seen plenty of stalkers in my time, but boy are you the crappest.

ALI LARTER
(shrugging her shoulders)
Back to temping for me I guess!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES smiles beatifically and offers to escort ALI LARTER to the door. Sitting in the doorway, clapping his hands enthusiastically, is BEYONCÉ’s son, KYLE. The two women smile at each other and BEYONCÉ encourages ALI LARTER to chuck her child on the chin.

ALI LARTER
Are you sure? OK then! Hey coochiecooch …

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(already red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES leaps on ALI LARTER and begins a fight that will take in many chrome-tipped household appliances. Ultimately, BEYONCÉ KNOWLES wins by holding ALI LARTER above her head and snapping her like a twig. IDRIS ELBA appears and clasps BEYONCÉ KNOWLES and her son in his arms. They all laugh together and decide to go out for brunch.

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/obsessed-no-extramarital-sex-please-have-some-shiny-fittings-instead/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/obsessed-no-extramarital-sex-please-have-some-shiny-fittings-instead-2/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/obsessed-no-extramarital-sex-please-have-some-shiny-fittings-instead-2/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:14:29 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/28/obsessed-digested-watch

This Fatal Attraction knock-off is out on DVD this week, but if you're not sure you want to spend your readies on it, try our condensed screenplay

ObsessedBy Paul MacInnes, with apologies to David Loughery

SCENE 1
EXT: Suburbia. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCE KNOWLES are rolling around on the CAPACIOUS lawns of their LUXURY home. Their child, KYLE, is looking on and clapping enthusiastically in the manner of a nappy ad.

IDRIS ELBA
Look at us girl, just another happy family in Barack Obama's America.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
Damn right. With you in wealth management and me being Beyoncé Knowles, our lives couldn't be more perfect!

IDRIS ELBA
(cheerily)
And don't forget our beautiful son Kyle!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(turning red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

IDRIS ELBA
Hey baby, calm down, we haven't got to that part of the movie yet.

SCENE TWO
INT: Day. IDRIS ELBA is managing wealth in his downtown LA office. Everything, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, is made of glass or chrome. In the corner of the room sits IDRIS ELBA's gay PA, gossiping through his BLUETOOTH HEADSET. He would betray IDRIS ELBA for two cosmopolitans and a FILTHY MARTINI. Into the room walks ALI LARTER, the stripping superwoman from Heroes. She is beautiful, blonde and not in any way a convincing character.

ALI LARTER
(to Idris Elba)
Hi, I'm your new temp. I've checked your diary and it says you've got a 12 o'clock with seduction.

IDRIS ELBA gives a look that both acknowledges ALI LARTER is one hot mama but that he won't be doing anything thank you very much in case BEYONCÉ KNOWLES shouts at him.

IDRIS ELBA
I think you'd better stop right there, miss. I don't countenance adultery. Besides, if I do sleep with you, you'd probably only end up stalking me before eventually breaking into my house and terrorising my family. So if it's all right with you I'll give it a pass.

ALI LARTER
(disapppointed)
Oh, OK.

IDRIS ELBA
Without the whole extramarital sex thing, the tension goes out of it anyway. Trust me.

ALI LARTER
I guess you're right.

IDRIS ELBA
What are you going to do for the rest of the movie?

ALI LARTER
Oh, ponce about in my underwear probably.

SCENE THREE
INT: The Elba-Knowles family home. Every fitting, EVERY SINGLE FITTING, is made of platinum. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCÉ KNOWLES are standing in the kitchen drinking pomegranate juice. Also in the kitchen is ALI LARTER. She is standing at the end of the brunch bar in a negligee explaining why she's there.

ALI LARTER
As I was saying, I thought I'd give it one last bash at seducing your husband, but when I got here and broke into your home I realised I'd forgotten the chloroform. Honestly, it's typical me.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
I've seen plenty of stalkers in my time, but boy are you the crappest.

ALI LARTER
(shrugging her shoulders)
Back to temping for me I guess!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES smiles beatifically and offers to escort ALI LARTER to the door. Sitting in the doorway, clapping his hands enthusiastically, is BEYONCÉ's son, KYLE. The two women smile at each other and BEYONCÉ encourages ALI LARTER to chuck her child on the chin.

ALI LARTER
Are you sure? OK then! Hey coochiecooch ...

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(already red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES leaps on ALI LARTER and begins a fight that will take in many chrome-tipped household appliances. Ultimately, BEYONCÉ KNOWLES wins by holding ALI LARTER above her head and snapping her like a twig. IDRIS ELBA appears and clasps BEYONCÉ KNOWLES and her son in his arms. They all laugh together and decide to go out for brunch.

]]>

This Fatal Attraction knock-off is out on DVD this week, but if you’re not sure you want to spend your readies on it, try our condensed screenplay

ObsessedBy Paul MacInnes, with apologies to David Loughery

SCENE 1
EXT: Suburbia. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCE KNOWLES are rolling around on the CAPACIOUS lawns of their LUXURY home. Their child, KYLE, is looking on and clapping enthusiastically in the manner of a nappy ad.

IDRIS ELBA
Look at us girl, just another happy family in Barack Obama’s America.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
Damn right. With you in wealth management and me being Beyoncé Knowles, our lives couldn’t be more perfect!

IDRIS ELBA
(cheerily)
And don’t forget our beautiful son Kyle!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(turning red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

IDRIS ELBA
Hey baby, calm down, we haven’t got to that part of the movie yet.

SCENE TWO
INT: Day. IDRIS ELBA is managing wealth in his downtown LA office. Everything, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, is made of glass or chrome. In the corner of the room sits IDRIS ELBA’s gay PA, gossiping through his BLUETOOTH HEADSET. He would betray IDRIS ELBA for two cosmopolitans and a FILTHY MARTINI. Into the room walks ALI LARTER, the stripping superwoman from Heroes. She is beautiful, blonde and not in any way a convincing character.

ALI LARTER
(to Idris Elba)
Hi, I’m your new temp. I’ve checked your diary and it says you’ve got a 12 o’clock with seduction.

IDRIS ELBA gives a look that both acknowledges ALI LARTER is one hot mama but that he won’t be doing anything thank you very much in case BEYONCÉ KNOWLES shouts at him.

IDRIS ELBA
I think you’d better stop right there, miss. I don’t countenance adultery. Besides, if I do sleep with you, you’d probably only end up stalking me before eventually breaking into my house and terrorising my family. So if it’s all right with you I’ll give it a pass.

ALI LARTER
(disapppointed)
Oh, OK.

IDRIS ELBA
Without the whole extramarital sex thing, the tension goes out of it anyway. Trust me.

ALI LARTER
I guess you’re right.

IDRIS ELBA
What are you going to do for the rest of the movie?

ALI LARTER
Oh, ponce about in my underwear probably.

SCENE THREE
INT: The Elba-Knowles family home. Every fitting, EVERY SINGLE FITTING, is made of platinum. IDRIS ELBA and BEYONCÉ KNOWLES are standing in the kitchen drinking pomegranate juice. Also in the kitchen is ALI LARTER. She is standing at the end of the brunch bar in a negligee explaining why she’s there.

ALI LARTER
As I was saying, I thought I’d give it one last bash at seducing your husband, but when I got here and broke into your home I realised I’d forgotten the chloroform. Honestly, it’s typical me.

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
I’ve seen plenty of stalkers in my time, but boy are you the crappest.

ALI LARTER
(shrugging her shoulders)
Back to temping for me I guess!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES smiles beatifically and offers to escort ALI LARTER to the door. Sitting in the doorway, clapping his hands enthusiastically, is BEYONCÉ’s son, KYLE. The two women smile at each other and BEYONCÉ encourages ALI LARTER to chuck her child on the chin.

ALI LARTER
Are you sure? OK then! Hey coochiecooch …

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
(already red with rage)
NOBODY TOUCHES MY SON!

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES leaps on ALI LARTER and begins a fight that will take in many chrome-tipped household appliances. Ultimately, BEYONCÉ KNOWLES wins by holding ALI LARTER above her head and snapping her like a twig. IDRIS ELBA appears and clasps BEYONCÉ KNOWLES and her son in his arms. They all laugh together and decide to go out for brunch.

]]> http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/obsessed-no-extramarital-sex-please-have-some-shiny-fittings-instead-2/feed/ 0 http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/michael-jacksons-this-is-it-set-for-global-premiere-despite-boycott-by-fans/ http://theglobalarts.com/2009/10/michael-jacksons-this-is-it-set-for-global-premiere-despite-boycott-by-fans/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:35:20 +0000 admin http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/27/michael-jackson-this-is-it

The documentary showing rehearsal footage from Jackson's planned O2 residency will screen simultaneously around the world tonight, regardless of concerns over its verisimilitude

See pictures of the Michael Jackson exhibition at the O2

Michael Jackson fans have launched a campaign suggesting forthcoming documentary This Is It airbrushes the declining health of the singer in his final days.

A website, This Is Not It, suggests Jackson was so frail on the night before he died that 20 fans who regularly followed him penned a letter to the star urging him to take more care of himself.

The fans blame AEG, the promoter of the singer's abandoned London residency, Sony Pictures and Jackson's own entourage for exploiting him for their own financial gain. They are planning to protest with leaflets and flyers at premieres taking place around the world later today and tomorrow.

This Is It, directed by High School Musical's Kenny Ortega, shows Jackson rehearsing at the Staples Centre in LA in advance of this summer's planned dates at London's 02 Arena. Jackson died following a heart attack on 25 June before the tour began.

Talin Shajanian, from Los Angeles, who had been following Jackson since 2003, often waiting with others outside the venues where he was rehearsing, told the BBC the singer was "unusually thin" the last time she saw him.

"A couple of weeks before he passed, we saw him change drastically," she said. "He shared this with us, the pressure that he felt, the concerns that he had."

"He specifically said he was only one person and only had a certain amount of energy to give, that so much was expected of him for these shows. We were expecting him to bulk up, to put on weight for the concerts like he had in the past, and that wasn't happening."

Fans on the This Is Not It website have expressed their scepticism about the project: "The true state of Jackson's failing health was hidden from you by those who are making a profit from the screening of the This is It movie.

"In the weeks leading up to Jackson's death, while this footage was being shot, people around him knew that he looked like he might have died. Those who stood to make a profit chose to ignore it. Friends and fans who had no financial interest, chose to address it and attempted to help him.

"AEG, the promoters for This Is It, ignored the signs, ignored the pleas, and in fact, actively covered up the truth. What you will see on that screen is part of that cover up."

Ortega recently said of Jackson: "Was he slight? Yes. Was he frail? At times. But we had a very strong and excited, happy and determined Michael. He wanted to do this more than anything he's ever wanted to do … That's the truth. It really is."

The film has met with advance praise from Jackson's friend, the film star Elizabeth Taylor, who called This Is It as "most brilliant piece of film-making I have ever seen" following a private screening.

She added, in a lengthy series of Tweets: "It cements forever Michael's genius in every aspect of creativity. He cradles each note, coaxes the music to depths beyond reality. I wept from pure joy at his God-given gift. I truly believe this film should be nominated in every category conceivable."

An autopsy earlier this month found that the 50-year-old star was "fairly healthy" before his death, a coroner having ruled in August that Jackson was killed by the drug Propofol and the sedative Lorazepam.

A statement from Sony Pictures, which is releasing the film, said: "This Is It is a celebration of Michael and his music and the film will demonstrate to fans around the world that he was an artist like no other who was passionately creating a one-of-a-kind concert experience."

"We believe his fans will be grateful for the rare opportunity to see Michael's creativity in action as he prepared and rehearsed for his London concerts."

]]>

The documentary showing rehearsal footage from Jackson’s planned O2 residency will screen simultaneously around the world tonight, regardless of concerns over its verisimilitude

See pictures of the Michael Jackson exhibition at the O2

Michael Jackson fans have launched a campaign suggesting forthcoming documentary This Is It airbrushes the declining health of the singer in his final days.

A website, This Is Not It, suggests Jackson was so frail on the night before he died that 20 fans who regularly followed him penned a letter to the star urging him to take more care of himself.

The fans blame AEG, the promoter of the singer’s abandoned London residency, Sony Pictures and Jackson’s own entourage for exploiting him for their own financial gain. They are planning to protest with leaflets and flyers at premieres taking place around the world later today and tomorrow.

This Is It, directed by High School Musical’s Kenny Ortega, shows Jackson rehearsing at the Staples Centre in LA in advance of this summer’s planned dates at London’s 02 Arena. Jackson died following a heart attack on 25 June before the tour began.

Talin Shajanian, from Los Angeles, who had been following Jackson since 2003, often waiting with others outside the venues where he was rehearsing, told the BBC the singer was “unusually thin” the last time she saw him.

“A couple of weeks before he passed, we saw him change drastically,” she said. “He shared this with us, the pressure that he felt, the concerns that he had.”

“He specifically said he was only one person and only had a certain amount of energy to give, that so much was expected of him for these shows. We were expecting him to bulk up, to put on weight for the concerts like he had in the past, and that wasn’t happening.”

Fans on the This Is Not It website have expressed their scepticism about the project: “The true state of Jackson’s failing health was hidden from you by those who are making a profit from the screening of the This is It movie.

“In the weeks leading up to Jackson’s death, while this footage was being shot, people around him knew that he looked like he might have died. Those who stood to make a profit chose to ignore it. Friends and fans who had no financial interest, chose to address it and attempted to help him.

“AEG, the promoters for This Is It, ignored the signs, ignored the pleas, and in fact, actively covered up the truth. What you will see on that screen is part of that cover up.”

Ortega recently said of Jackson: “Was he slight? Yes. Was he frail? At times. But we had a very strong and excited, happy and determined Michael. He wanted to do this more than anything he’s ever wanted to do … That’s the truth. It really is.”

The film has met with advance praise from Jackson’s friend, the film star Elizabeth Taylor, who called This Is It as “most brilliant piece of film-making I have ever seen” following a private screening.

She added, in a lengthy series of Tweets: “It cements forever Michael’s genius in every aspect of creativity. He cradles each note, coaxes the music to depths beyond reality. I wept from pure joy at his God-given gift. I truly believe this film should be nominated in every category conceivable.”

An autopsy earlier this month found that the 50-year-old star was “fairly healthy” before his death, a coroner having ruled in August that Jackson was killed by the drug Propofol and the sedative Lorazepam.

A statement from Sony Pictures, which is releasing the film, said: “This Is It is a celebration of Michael and his music and the film will demonstrate to fans around the world that he was an artist like no other who was passionately creating a one-of-a-kind concert experience.”

“We believe his fans will be grateful for the rare opportunity to see Michael’s creativity in action as he prepared and rehearsed for his London concerts.”

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