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THE GREEN ROOM

By Sameen Amer
22 March, 2024

Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (English: Women No Longer Cry) by Shakira: Twelfth album by the Colombian singer, her first in seven years....

THE GREEN ROOM

COMIMG SOON

Out this week

Albums

* Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (English: Women No Longer Cry) by Shakira: Twelfth album by the Colombian singer, her first in seven years, following El Dorado (2017); includes the songs ‘Puntería’ (with Cardi B), ‘La Fuerte’ (with Bizarrap), ‘Cohete’ (with Rauw Alejandro), ‘Monotonía’ (with Ozuna), ‘Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53’ (with Bizarrap), and ‘TQG’ (with Karol G).

Movies

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* Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (starring Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt) – supernatural comedy, sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021); the veteran Ghostbusters must join forces with their new recruits to save the world from a powerful adversary.

* Shirley (starring Regina King, Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Terrence Howard) – biographical drama; after becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress, Shirley Chisholm (King) runs for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination.

* Sleeping Dogs (starring Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan, Marton Csokas, Tommy Flanagan) – crime thriller, based on E.O. Chirovici’s novel The Book of Mirrors (2017); an ex-homicide detective with memory loss (Crowe) uncovers secrets from his forgotten past while solving a brutal murder.

* The Casagrandes Movie (starring Izabella Alvarez, Carlos PenaVega, Sumalee Montano, Sonia Manzano) – animated comedy; based on the Nickelodeon television series The Loud House; Ronnie Anne (Alvarez) ends up facing an ancient preteen demigod during a family trip to Mexico.

STAR

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon

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* Born on 22 March 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

* Has an older brother, John.

* Made her screen debut as a teenager in the film The Man in the Moon (1991).

* Got her breakthrough with her role in the 1999 movie Cruel Intentions, and gained recognition for starring in Legally Blonde (2001).

* Subsequently starred in films including Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Walk the Line (2005), Water for Elephants (2011), and Wild (2014).

* Has gone on to produce and star in several female-led literary adaptations, including the television series Big Little Lies (2017 – 2019), The Morning Show (2019 – present), and Little Fires Everywhere (2020).

* Has been married twice: to actor Ryan Phillippe (1999 – 2007; divorced) and talent agent Jim Toth (2011 – 2023; divorced). Has a daughter (born 1999) and son (born 2003) with Phillippe and a son (born 2012) with Toth.

SPOTLIGHT

Kung Fu Panda 4

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Voice cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane, and Ke Huy Quan

Director: Mike Mitchell

* Animated comedy; set to become a spiritual leader, Po (Black) must find and train a new Dragon Warrior while thwarting a wicked sorceress’s plans.

* Fourth instalment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise and the sequel to Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016).

* Has grossed over US$176 million on a US$85 million budget.

* Has received mixed to positive reviews, with critics finding it enjoyable but lacking the warmth and wit of its predecessors.

* Score composed by Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro.

* May launch a new trilogy.