Foreign Cuts

The banning of The Da Vinci Code in Egyptian theaters — as if the internet, VCDs and DVDs didn’t exist — opened the door to other foreign films. The horror remake of The Omen surpassed the LE 750,000 mark in its first week last month, while the sci-fi threequel X-Men: The Last Stand earned LE 935,000 and Mission: Impossible III reaped a staggering LE 1.4 million for Four Stars Films, the new UIP (United International Pictures) distributors in Egypt.

Screenwriter Wahid Hamed, whose recent outings included Dam El-Ghazal (Deer Blood) and the cinematic adaptation of Omaret Yacoubian (The Yacoubian Building), is planning to write the first Egyptian disaster film.

The story is set to revolve around the recent sinking of the passenger ferry Al-Salam Boccaccio 98 in the Red Sea earlier this year, a disaster in which more than 1,000 people drowned.

Hamed is already taking ferries, armed with notebook and digital camera, and speaking with survivors to complete the basic research for his script.

Francois Mori Banned, but not tolerated

After a stormy People’s Assembly session in which he was grilled for several hours, Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni finally decided that he would not allow The Da Vinci Code to be shown in Egypt.

Hosni pointed out that the film censors’ office, in banning the film, would only be enforcing the law, which prohibits the screening in Egypt of any film that might defame Islam, Christianity or Judaism. Hosni also explained that officials at the censors’ office were trying to find all pirated copies available on the market.

Zakaria Azmi, the presidential chief of staff and National Democratic Party MP, then took Hosni to task over the Dan Brown novel itself, which has been available on the market in English, Arabic and French for more than two years. Azmi asked, if the film is being yanked, shouldn’t the book be pulled off shelves, too?

Hosni retorted that since the book is a foreign publication, the Ministry of Culture has no control over it, as it falls under the Ministry of Information. Nevertheless Hosni promised to ask Minister of Information Anas El-Fiqqi to issue a ministerial decree banning future import or printing of The Da Vinci Code.

Courtesy Associated Press

At press time, both the book and pirated versions of the film were readily available in three districts et checked, but most copies had been hidden in back rooms — you have to ask for them in whispers and, of course, pay double the sticker price.

Ali Abu Shadi, the top film censor, told the press that although Da Vinci trailers were shown in cinemas this year, its distributor had not yet officially applied for a permit to show the film in Egypt.

Critics and intellectuals have attacked both Hosni and the People’s Assembly for their stance against the film, pointing out that even the Vatican had not asked that the Tom Hanks film be banned, though it had urged its followers not to watch it.

Caustic critic Tarek El-Shinnawi questioned the minister’s insistence that he is an artist before being a minister.

“There is no conflict between my roles as minister and artist,” Hosni replied. “I am for freedom of expression, but there is a difference between that and the laws, which must be respected. I banned the film because I do not want us to be accused of disregarding laws protecting religion — and thus of not respecting the religion itself.”

Courtesy Associated Press

Last month’s World Cup Finals didn’t stop Egyptian distributors from releasing five brand new summer films. This is the season for light-to-the-point-of-idiocy comedies, so it was a surprise to discover two romantic dramas starring the same lead actress: Dalia El-Beheiry.

Zay El-Hawa (Like Love), by director Akram Farid (Farah, Haha we Tofaha), takes place on the shores of Sharm El-Sheikh, as have so many other romance flicks released in the past three or four years. You can’t help but compare some of the scenes shared by leads Khaled El-Nabawy and Dalia El-Beheiry to some in Ouija (released last Eid) starring Hany Salama and Dolly Chahine. Are local directors and photographers running out of creative visual ideas to the extent that they resort to copying each other’s movies frame for frame? Even the film’s title follows the tired trend of using lines and titles from classic Abdel Halim Hafez songs.

You’ve probably seen the billboards of the second film, El-Ghawas (The Diver): They feature star Amer Moneeb sporting dark sunglasses à la Terminator. Although the image promises an action-packed thriller, this is yet another lame story about a penniless diver who flees his wife, taking his son with him as he heads for the seashore. Unfortunately, the poor lady — even though she’s a banker — isn’t smart enough to look for them at his best friend’s house.

The role of the ‘old and wise’ sailor is played by, you’ve guessed it, Hassan Hosni. El-Ghawas has already downed at the box office, reaping a flimsy LE 110,000 to date.

Abdel-Hamid

It was no surprise that Lakhmet Ras (Head Jumble), the new comedy starring traditional singer Saad El-Soghayar and comedians Ashraf Abdel-Baky and Ahmed Rizk, kick-started the local box office, surpassing the two romantic chick flicks. With an astonishing LE 1.35 million gross to date, executive producer Ahmed El-Sobky seems to have finally placed a good bet.

Brace yourselves for some butt wiggling: We’re betting El-Soghayar will be back on screens for years to come.

Headed by Mamdouh El-Leithy, Gihaz El-Cinema (the Cinema Organization) has sailed through one disaster after another since its establishment four years ago as Media City’s feature-film production arm.

Hanan Turk

Since 2003, it has released only four films: Film Hindy (Indian Film), Hob El-Banat (Girls’ Love), Enta Omry (You Are My Life) and this year’s massive box office flop Malek We Ketaba (Heads and Tails).

Facing massive debts, El-Leithy recently decided to merge El-Gihaz with Albatross Film Production Company — the private company owned by Kamel Abou-Aly.

El-Leithy’s organization will hold 51 percent of the new company, making him yet again the decision maker for its upcoming productions.

Comedian Hany Ramzy wants to be Egypt’s next president — at least in Zaza, Raees Gomhoriyya (Zaza, President of the Republic), in which he plays a presidential candidate who wins the race by mistake.

I’ll take that

Financial troubles and a reported tangle with the film censors’ office have made it unlikely the flick will meet its scheduled summer release date. Although Zaza takes place in Egypt and will be shot around Cairo, the censorship office has allegedly advised the producer to include a note in the pre-title credits declaring that the events take place in a fictitious country.

Before the cameras started to roll, producer and businessman Kamel Abou Aly withdrew from the project altogether (although he had previously collaborated with Ramzy in Abol-Araby). Producer Hany Girgis Fawzy stepped in to save the day.

Meanwhile, its female leads Zeina and Amira Fathy are currently debating their contractual credits for the film campaign. Even worse for the problem-plagued flick: seven full days of shooting were allegedly scrapped as the company processing the negatives ruined the originals.

After a massive promotional campaign to have his Kharif Adam (Adam’s Autumn) nominated for a Best Foreign Film Golden Globe, actor-director Hesham Abdel-Hamid is still dreaming of an international breakthrough.

Amr Nabil Ramses II on the move

His second attempt will be an appearance in an epic historical drama tentatively titled El-Mahd (The Beginning), to be directed by Syrian filmmaker Mohammed Malas.

Are these numbers lucky? You decide for yourself: Recently veiled superstar Hanan Turk’s current paycheck allegedly stands at LE 450,000 per film. Omaret Yacoubian (The Yacoubian Building) is going to make its debut on 85 screens. Comedian Mohammed Saad’s current paycheck stands at LE 5 million.

For reasons still unclear, the Supreme Council for Culture has decided not to issue the Mubarak Award for the Arts — the first time it has done so since the prize was first offered in the mid-1980s.

Denis Poroy Thank you, thank you very much

The awards, which include a gold medal and LE 200,000 in prize money, are among the most prestigious given by the Egyptian government. Other disciplines are being recognized, however: The Mubarak Award for Literature will be given to Hussein Nassar, while Mostafa Soueif (the father of novelist Ahdaf Soueif) will receive the Mubarak Award for Social Sciences.

The State Recognition Award in literature (LE 100,000) will go to Samir Sarhan; recently deceased writer Mohamed Mostagab will also receive the award posthumously. Salah Qonsowa, Gaballah Ali Gaballah, Abdel Hamid-Hawass and Ezzeddin Fouda will receive State Recognition Awards in social sciences, while awards for arts are going to Aida Abdel-Karim, artist Farouk Shehata and Ramses Marzouk.

The State Award for Excellence (LE 50,000) in literature will be given to poet Ahmed Sweilam and critic Maher Shafiq Farid, while Samia El-Saati and Mohamed El-Sayed Said will receive the excellence award for social sciences.

Rumor has it that Saudi filmmaking and music giant Rotana, owned by Prince Al-Walid bin Talal, is currently negotiating with Mohammed Shabana — the nephew of late legendary singer Abdel-Halim Hafez — to buy his shares in the Alam El-Phan company.

Tickling the ivories on the other side

Abdel Halim Hafez and renowned musician Mohammed Abdel-Wahab, together with lawyer Magdy El-Amroussy, established the company back in 1960. Alam El-Phan is working overtime to guard its catalogue, promising last month to sue any channel that airs its films or concerts without first purchasing rights.

Hot off the Da Vinci debate, Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni refused to budge an inch over the planned removal of the statue of Ramses II from Ramses Square. The move is scheduled for August 25.

At a press conference last month, Hosni explained that the statue was originally slated to be moved after the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum wraps up, but the ministry has decided not to wait. Hosni said delays at the GEM and the fact that the massive statue stands in the way of urban development plans for Ramses Square factored into the decision.

While it waits for the GEM to open in 2011, the statue will be housed in a special hangar where experts will begin restoring it.

Jon C. Hancock Tickling the ivories on the other side

During his stay in Al-Salam International Hospital’s intensive care unit last month, lawyer and activist Ahmed Nabil El-Hilali reportedly told visitors how worried he was that he could not be in court to for the first hearing in the libel suit brought against Sawt El-Ummah writer Wael El-Ibrachi on June 19.

The 77 year-old El-Hilali died the next day.

Born in August 1928, El-Hilali was an icon of the political struggle during the second half of the twentieth century. His father was Ahmed Naguib El-Hilali Pasha, a leader of Al-Wafd party who headed the Wafd cabinet twice prior to the revolution.

The younger El-Hilali was arrested and tortured several times, both before and after the Revolution, and become famous for his work as a defense attorney in major labor and political cases.

Tanja Bause Mom and Pop have a photo op with Namibia’s First Lady.

The activist’s funeral at Omar Makram Mosque turned into a demonstration as his friends and colleagues shouted, “Communists till the death!” and “Long live the struggle of the Egyptians!”

Mourners also chanted the national anthem as thousands said goodbye to the champion of the poor.

Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, hasn’t graced the world’s television or movie screens in more than 15 years, but his banishment is set to end as Pee Wee’s Playhouse is scheduled to re-open its doors this month on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.

Reubens has made many film and television guest appearances since his July 1991 arrest for indecent exposure at an adult film house, but understandably never came close to reviving his career as a children’s show host.

Collin Reid We be jammin’

The Emmy award-winning Pee Wee’s Playhouse had an initial run of 45 original episodes, all of which will be re-aired in the revival.

Director Sherif Arafa is making his television debut with Lahazat Hariga (Critical Moments), an Egyptian version of the hit NBC drama ER, complete with an American co-producer.

Arafa was on the defensive as plans for the Ramadan serial leaked last month claiming there would be few similarities between the two series. It’s not like ER has a monopoly on hospital settings, the director noted, pointing to Scrubs and General Hospital.

In a departure from usual practice in the industry, Arafa has commissioned a number of writers to script separate episodes; among those who have signed up for writer’s duties to-date are Mahmoud El-Bizzawi and veteran assistant director Taghrid Al-Asfoury.

Youssra and Amr Waked have been named as possible stars.

What with all the head-banging and hip shakin’ going on, rock and roll has always been a good way to stay fit. But who would ever have thought that an entire marathon would be launched with a rock and roll theme?

In San Diego, more than 20,000 runners — including Team Elvis — participated in the ninth annual Rock and Roll Marathon, raising $12.5 million for the benefit of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. First across the finish line was Ambesse Tolossa of Ethiopia, who boogied on in at 2:10:37. While we appreciate the spirit, the et Guide follows the example of The King, who was rather sedentary in his last days and often advised listeners “Only fools rush in”

In related health news, the former Mrs. P, Priscilla, was on hand last month to open a drug rehabilitation center in Albion, Michigan. The 120-bed facility will help addicts kick their habits while being infused with the light of the twelve steps and a bit of that old-time rock and roll.

Having been a special drug enforcement agent under President Richard Nixon, Elvis would surely have approved.

Sir Paul McCartney and wife of four years Heather Mills won’t quite be fulfilling the “till death do us part” portion of their wedding vows.

According to a joint statement, the pair blamed their recent breakup on the constant intrusion of the press into their private lives. A bit ironic given that the couple has actively courted the press for pet causes including landmine awareness, veganism and animal rights.

McCartney showed the depth of his trust in the relationship’s longevity when he agreed to enter into the marriage sans pre-nup, which will likely mean that Mills can claim a quarter of his fortune.

The former Beatle is estimated to be worth in the neighborhood of $2 billion, which would bring the annual salary for the hard work of being the former Mrs. McCartney to $125 million.

Sometimes comedy just isn’t all that funny. Take the case of (alleged) multiple murderer OJ Simpson, for instance. More than a decade after the former football star was acquitted for the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend Ron Goldman, Simpson is back in that infamous white Bronco of his, this time yukking it up as part of a reality TV show.

The premise of the show is, in essence, a rip-off of the popular Ashton Kutcher-produced Punk’d, where people are put into ridiculously uncomfortable situations while their reactions and relief upon being let in on the gag are filmed.

In the Simpson version, OJ jumps out and says, “You’ve just been juiced!” The et Guide wonders just how much relief the prank victim’s feel when they realize it is OJ Simpson giggling in their face.

In what is presumably meant to be the funniest scenario, Simpson shows up at a used car lot and tries to sell his Bronco by proclaiming to a potential buyer that “The car has escape ability if you are ever in some trouble.”

Fred Goldman, Ron’s father, is outraged at the stunt, and claims that Simpson continues to profit from the murder, lambasting Simpson and the show’s producers as “morally reprehensible.”

Originally produced in 2004, Juiced couldn’t find a distributor until now. The show will first be available as a one-hour pay-per-view followed by a 90-minute DVD version later in the year.

Keyboardist Vince Welnick has joined a lengthening line of former Grateful Dead band members by becoming, well, dead. The 55-year-old Welnick died last month in California of as-yet-undetermined causes. Joining the Grateful Dead in 1990, Welnick was the legendary group’s last official keyboardist, but was better known as a founding member of The Tubes, who had mega-hits in the 1970s and 1980s with White Punks on Dope, She’s a Beauty and Talk to You Later.

The list of Grateful Dead keyboardists to prematurely slip this mortal coil includes Bret Mydland (drug overdose), Keith Godchaux (car crash) and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (gastrointestinal hemorrhage). The band played on, however, until lead singer, guitarist and cult icon Jerry Garcia died in 1995, forcing thousands of Deadheads to find real jobs.

Surviving members continue to tour and record under the name “The Dead,” performing all of the group’s hits, including Truckin, Uncle John’s Band, Sugar Magnolia and Touch of Grey.

Celebrity gossip magazines the world over have been filled in recent months with rich, famous and pregnant stars. Alas, it is a story line limited to about nine months, and the tabloid racks are ready for the next installment: celeb moms and dads.

First to be visited by the stork was Angelina Jolie, who, after adopting a pair of kids, thought that one the natural way would be a cool idea — natural by scheduled caesarean, at least. Jolie and daddy Brad Pitt went to what most people would consider the ideal place to birth a child: Namibia, whose indigenous population has a 5 percent infant mortality rate.

The celebrity world’s rock-and-roll branch is represented as well, with the lead singers of No Doubt and Bush (Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, respectively) producing a (hit) single boy by the name of Kingston James McGregor Rossdale — also by scheduled caesarean.

Gymnast Nadia Comaneci and actors Brooke Shields, Tom Cruise, Jack Black, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz and Kevin Dillon have also brought bundles of joy to Hollywood. Following closely in the production line are Anna Nicole Smith, Sofia Coppola, Sinead O’Connor and Britney Spears — again!

Legendary Reggae man and Bob Marley protégée Bunny Wailer will pay homage to his mentor by teaming up with a pair of Marley’s sons, Stephen and Ziggy, for a month-long tour.

With the elder Marley and Peter Tosh, Bunny was an original member of the groundbreaking Wailers, which influenced several generations of reggae, ska, punk and pop acts such as The Clash, The Police, Shaggy and Sean Paul.

The 59-year-old Wailer has had an accomplished post-Wailers career including numerous gold and platinum albums, as well as “Best Reggae Album” Grammys in 1990, 94 and 96.  et