The 500C Pink is based on the 1.2-litre petrol-powered Pop version of the convertible Fiat. It comes with pink paintwork and door mirrors, 16in alloy wheels, chrome trim and unique carpet mats. There’s also a special pink key fob and the limited edition model also includes split and fold rear seats and Fiat’s Blue&Me infotainment pack in the price.

Costing £1200 more than a standard 500C 1.2 Pop, the Pink comes in at £13,500, but Fiat points out that it includes £1870 worth of extras as part of the package.

The fabric roof is finished in black cloth, but the limited edition model also comes with a pink-painted centre console. Like the hatchback version, only 500 of the 500C Pink drop-tops will be built and are available to order now.

The livid 42-year-old suffered the humiliation of having to roll up her trouser leg in public while guards checked her fake limb at Heathrow.

To make matters worse, Heather was then denied access to an exclusive airport lounge because staff left her name off the list.

After setting off the security alarm, Sir Paul McCartney’s ex-wife was led to a seat. An onlooker said: “Heather was flabbergasted. There was a brief impasse but she said nothing, just staring in disbelief.

“She quietly went and sat down, shaking her head, and pulled up her trouser leg for an official to hold up her false limb and swab it.

“Heather looked furious but bit her tongue. She appeared humiliated at having her prosthetic leg highlighted in front of other passengers.”

Airport owners BAA defended the move. A spokeswoman said: “She was swabbed because something set off the alarm in the metal detector archway.

CAST

“Staff could not see inside the leg so it was swabbed instead. This would be the same protocol if a passenger had a cast on a broken arm or leg.”

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Heather’s spokesman added: “There was no suggestion of her having to remove her leg during the security procedure.”

After being given the all-clear, Heather – who was flying to the US to launch her meat-free ready meals – made her way to the Concorde Lounge, reserved for first class passengers and guests.

But she was refused entry to the suite, which gives customers access to the flight gate without having to walk through the terminal building.

Heather refused to budge, insisting arrangements had been made for her to be allowed in and ordered the receptionist to call a senior official.

She was heard pleading: “Please let me through. I’m having a bad day.”

After a stand-off the official caved in agreed she could go inside.

Her spokesman added: “She was told she could use the special BA door to the Concorde Lounge. But for whatever reason the guy on the door did not have the list with her name on.

“Their staff did not have the correct information.

“She was finally allowed to use the door to the Concorde Lounge to access another BA lounge because otherwise it would have meant a long walk around the terminal building.”

Naturally, the ancient beast is hungry for blood, putting the lives of vacationing swimmers and the local fisherman at risk. Unfortunately for our young hero, though, the law enforcement is skeptical — until they set eyes on the prehistoric creature themselves.

What we’re a little more skeptical about, however, are the details. Producer Corman is a legend in the B-movie genre, having directed such masterpieces as “The Wasp Woman,” “Last Woman on Earth,” and “The Intruder” (starring William Shatner), so even the trailer indicates we’ll be treated to some of the oversights commonly found in low-budget films. Take the first scene, for instance, where our sporty heroine’s hair is suddenly dry, even though she just came out of the water. The special effects are another vision to behold: who knew guns fired off such bright flashes of light in broad daylight? The crackerjack special effects team, that’s who! And we have to mention our favorite part where Dinoshark actually jumps out of the water and attacks a helicopter, prompting the question, “It can fly?”

But really, we’re just happy to see star Balfour embrace his show-killer status in Hollywood. After killing off a string of TV series — “Veritas: The Quest,” “Conviction,” “The Ex List” and even, dare we say, the “Life on Mars” remake — we’re glad to see this bad-luck guy stick to movies of the week. Will Balfour survive this campy, bloody mess?

Kristen, 19, says she was told she couldn’t touch Dakota (who was 15 during the movie’s production) while filming a kissing scene for the movie.

“She was 15, and I wasn’t allowed to grope her,” Stewart revealed.

“I’m actually not kidding, there are major restrictions that I don’t remember from when I was younger.”

Stewart insisted that the onscreen smooch wasn’t “a big deal” in the movie, which looks back at the formation of ’70s girl group The Runaways and the relationship between Joan Jett and lead singer Cherie Currie.

“I don’t want to give anything way. It’s a really passionate, hardcore scene. No, it’s just a kiss. It’s not really a big deal,” she said.

The Runaways hits movie theaters in April.

Meanwhile, Dakota has insisted she won’t follow the same destructive path as actress Lindsay Lohan, who was also a child star.

“I just don’t know,” she told Hollyscoop when asked how she keeps herself out of trouble. “I stick to myself and live my own life.”

LOS ANGELES, CA.- Julien’s Auctions will present “Music Icons” summer auction taking place at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas on Friday, June 25th. Leading this magnificent offering and unprecedented event is a selection of twenty-two exquisite furniture lots commissioned by Michael Jackson for his planned residence in Kent, England, during the “This Is It” concert series in London. Colombostile Artisans have supplied luxurious handmade Italian furnishings to countless embassies, palaces, historical homes and sumptuous hotels in every continent. Julien’s Auctions will execute the recreation of Michael Jackson’s Kent home for the public viewing for the first time ever at Newbridge Silverware’s Museum of Style Icons in Ireland from Tuesday, March 16th – Sunday May 30th and at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas from Monday, June 14th – Friday, June 25th. Michael’s fans and the public will experience how the entertainer’s home would have looked like with his custom designed Colombostile furniture ordered by the icon himself. As a tribute to the late King of Pop, Colombostile will be donating a generous portion of the proceeds from the sale of these items to benefit MusiCares and Joshua’s Heart, both 501(c)3 charities.

Highlights from this opulent collection include:

An elegant seashell encrusted silk upholstered “Shells” bergere with silver leaf front legs from the “Haute Couture” collection (Est. $16,500/$18,500), a lavish “Swarovski” crystal embellished bergere finished in platinum-gold leaf and upholstered in metallic leather from the “Haute Couture” collection (Est. $16,500/$18,500), and a luxuriant faux leopard and Ostrich feather trimmed “Wild Cat” bergere from the “Haute Couture” collection (Est. $16,500/$18,500), a regal pair of red velvet armchairs with gold double-headed eagle embroidery from the “Kalamos” collection (Est. $57,000/$60,000), a magnificent 17th century style parcel gilt ebonized wood writing desk with mother of pearl inlay from the “Il ‘600” collection (Est. $115,000/$120,000), and a monumental Baroque/eclectic style red velvet and parcel gilt sofa with hard stone inlay from the “Esmeralda” collection (Est. $130,000/$150,000).

The fabulous Colombostile collection of furniture made for Michael Jackson, which presents an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for buyers, is part of Julien’s three day auction taking place at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas on June 25, 2010.

In addition to the Colombostile collection commissioned by Michael Jackson, this auction will include more than 200 items from his life and career as well as other Music Icon’s. These additional highlights will tour for the first time to Ponte 16 in Macau, China from April 30th – May 9th. Ponte 16 is a world-class integrated casino-entertainment resort located in the culturally rich Inner Harbor of Macau.

Some of the additional highlights include:

The Collection David Nordahl — Michael Jackson’s commissioned artwork by the famed artist includes his study art supplied to Michael Jackson to approve his work prior to creating the masterpieces that adorned the walls at Neverland. Collection includes: Study for “Tryptych” (Est. $6,000/$8,000), Study for “Michael” (Est. $4,000/$6,000), Study for “Prince, The Boy King” (Est. $6,000/$8,000).

Michael Jackson Signed “Beat It” Jacket (Est. $8,000/$12,000), Michael Jackson Stage Worn Sunglasses Gifted to Actor Corey Feldman (Est. $2,000/$4,000), Michael Jackson’s Military Jacket That He Wore When He Married Debbie Rowe (Est. $6,000/$8,000), Michael Jackson’s White Swarovski Crystal Glove (Est. $20,000/$30,000), Beaded Shirt (Est. $10,000/$12,000) and Sequined Jacket ($14,000/$16,000) Iconic Ensemble Worn on Stage During the “Victory” Tour, Michael Jackson Handwritten and Signed “Bad” Lyrics (Est. $2,000/$4,000), Elvis Presley’s lock of hair from army buzz cut won by a fan in the 1950’s (Est. $6,000/$8,000), Jimi Hendrix Stage Played Fender Guitar (Est. $150,000/$200,000), Britney Spears Stage Costumes and many more

“This is critical to passing this in the caucus,” California Representative George Miller, one of the leaders of the health-care effort and chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said today. “People have made it very clear they want to take this home.”

The measure would expand the government’s role by allowing it to provide new college loans directly while ending federal guarantees and subsidies to lenders such as SLM Corp., commonly known as Sallie Mae. That’s caused the plan to draw resistance from senators whose states are home to private lenders.

The education provision would be part of a so-called reconciliation package designed to make changes to a Senate health-care bill passed in December. President Barack Obama is asking the House to approve the original Senate bill as well as the bill with changes; the Senate then would also pass the reconciliation measure

And for the latest and last movie in the franchise — “Shrek Forever After” — Myers and the gang returns along with new A-list talent, like Megan Fox who plays “The Princess in the Tower.” But for the movie’s chief bad guy, the silken-tongued Rumpelstiltskin, Dreamworks hired the voice talent of Walt Dohrn.

Who?

Unlike much of rest of the cast, Dohrn doesn’t regularly walk the red carpet or make appearances on Letterman. Instead, he’s a writer and animator who started out working on “SpongeBob SquarePants” before landing a gig on “Shrek 2.” Since then, he worked his way up to Story Editor for this movie. So how did a guy with a below-the-line job land an above-the-line part? We tracked him down and found out.

“It just stuck,” he told me.

During the very beginning of production, Dohrn and his colleagues would hash out the characters and plot with storyboards, mouthing out all the voices. Later, he recorded the dialogue of many characters, from Puss-in-Boots to Fiona, as a part of a scratch track for the animators to animate to. Everyone loved the way Dohrn brought Rumpelstiltskin to life.

“The whole time, we thought we’re going to find an actor for the part,” he said. He didn’t know that he would be the actual, official voice of the movie’s villain until Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffery Katzenberg made the decision. By that point, Dohrn had already played the part, in various capacities, for over a year.

He said that he initially found working opposite the likes of Mike Myers daunting but those worries were soon assuaged. “He was great. He’s a filmmaker himself so he knows what it’s like to make a movie. And he’s been doing the part so long that really knows the inside of Shrek’s head.”

The animator-turned actor also revealed how he got into the part. “My character shouts a lot. So before going into the booth, I would drink, like, 20 cups of coffee and get good and yelly.”

So would this gig tempt him into the Hollywood fame machine? “It was sort of a joke around the office that I would go on to pursue my acting career, like appearing on ‘Law & Order’ or something.” In the meantime, he seems plenty happy finishing up the movie in time for its May 21 release date

The result is that almost every character we know in Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland is now a wispy-haired bishie. Yes, even the grinning Cheshire cat, who is now a fetching lad with cat ears and punk fashion sensibilities.

And then there’s the Mad Hatter, who is not really mad, nor is he the flame-haired, crazy-eyed version played by Johnny Depp in the upcoming Tim Burton movie which premieres nationwide this Thursday. He’s just a good-looking chap, who happens to wear a hat … and is the head of a mafia gang named “the Hatters”. Uhm. I see.

The fact that these characters are now bishonen is not surprising since this alternative Alice in Wonderland tale is actually based on a dating simulation game by Japanese video game maker Quinrose.

The story, however, starts out quite like the Carroll story: While relaxing in the garden with her sister Lorina, Alice Liddell is distracted by a white rabbit who demands that she follow him. This is where the tale goes a little differently: when Alice refuses, said rabbit (whose name is Peter) turns into a long-haired bishonen with rabbit ears who whisks her away and throws her down a deep, dark hole, and she ends up in Wonderland.

While Wonderland is indeed the same strange place, the characters in Wonderland, besides being mostly made up of pretty boys, seem to be in love with Alice! Fortunately, Alice has enough sense to know that this isn’t exactly normal.

Bear with me as I narrate the rest of the tale, as I had a tough time following the story and my interpretation could be wanting.

It seemed to me, on my first reading, that Alice complains much about her lot. No wonder, since random cute guys appear ever so often to confuse her (and the readers) about their motives. (And some of them can be a bit grabby too, brr!)

The second time round, things were a little clearer. Apparently, Wonderland is at war, and those who claim to love her have to do so because of some game. And not everyone is happy to do so. Also, in order for Alice to return home, she has to talk to as many Wonderland denizens as possible.

If you’re confused, I don’t blame you as I’m not exactly on the same page with the creators of this tale myself. I am still not sure where this story is heading to, what its purpose is, and what the lads are there for except to satisfy some desire to cram as many bishie as possible in a manga.

Far too many characters are introduced too quickly and without a reason for us to relate to any of them. And with the men dragging Alice to one strange place and situation after another at breakneck speed, I felt a little mad towards the end.

Perhaps that’s how it’s supposed to be: things have to be this confusing and the pace so manic because we’re in Wonderland, where things aren’t supposed to make sense. (I’m being sarcastic.)

The art, at least, is pleasant. If you have a thing for bishonen, you’re in for a treat, though the backgrounds are plain and rather boring.

Alice, too, is a bearable heroine – she doesn’t swoon helplessly into the arms of any man she encounters, and some of the men have a dangerous edge that makes them microscopically more intriguing.

Choo, who has been in the couture business for 21 years, said it was the first time he had engaged a fellow Malaysian to advise him on all legal matters.

“Whenever we want Lucy, she is here for us. She is working together with me as my in-house solicitor since she makes me feel confident and comfortable.
Legal advice: Choo discussing some legal matters with Chuo at his store in Connaught Street in London recently.

“It’s important to have her protecting my interests at all times,” he told The Star in an interview here.

The Miri-born Chuo, who graduated from the College of Law in London, is now a partner of a London-based law firm, Stella Maris Solicitors.

Said Chuo: “It is a privilege to be associated with Jimmy. He has many international engagements and business interests and receives all kinds of business proposals, so it is essential that he gets good legal advice.”

The iconic shoe-maker is known for his celebrity clientele which includes singer Madonna and the late Princess Diana.

Choo appears regularly at various international functions and enjoys celebrity status in Europe and the United States.

Chuo has described Choo, Malaysia’s Tourism Ambassador, as “a humble gentleman with a tremendous caring heart, giving hope and aspiration to students who have a lot of ambition but have received little encouragement in achieving their goals.”

Chuo, who comes from a family of strong women, is the youngest of five siblings.

Her eldest sister Annie Newman is a celebrity artist in London, while the others, Olivia, Susan and Jon are in Australia.

Chuo, who arrived in Britain when she was seven, studied at the Stella Maris Convent. She later lived in Australia before returning to London.

She said her greatest influence was her late mother, Magdalen Souk Ting Wong, who started the first pharmacy in Miri.

“My mother was an amazing woman. She used to work from dawn to dusk, six and half days a week and single-handedly raised the five of us.

“She gave me the best start by instilling her values in me; a strong work ethic coupled with ambition, a sense of self-worth and female empowerment, and integrity.”

Chuo named her firm, Stella Maris Solicitors LLP (www.stellamarissolicitors.co.uk), after the convent school where she studied.

Her law firm partner, Harry Brar, another Asian, is a legal consultant to the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010, which will be held in Delhi in October 2010.

On her work, Chuo said: “Today, more of my clients are Malaysian parents buying investment properties in London to provide accommodation and income towards their children’s tuition fees.

“Many of these children are studying for high-level professional qualifications, like law, economics, and medicine.”

Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air

Actor in a Leading Role:

Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner

Actress in a Leading Role:

Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, Meryl Streep

Directing:

Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Up in the Air, Precious

LOS ANGELES – The visually stunning fantasy “Avatar” and the gripping military drama “The Hurt Locker” will battle for top honors at tonight’s Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, while Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges will look to cap off a successful awards season by taking home the top acting Oscars.

“Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker” each have a leading nine nominations heading into the ceremony at the Kodak Theatre, and they sit atop a field of best-picture nominees that was expanded to 10 this year in hopes of generating more interest in the festivities and more competition for the top prize.

While “Avatar” has been dominant at the box office, “The Hurt Locker” has been an awards-season favorite, earning the top prize from the Producers Guild of America and a best director award for Kathryn Bigelow. Both the PGA and DGA awards have traditionally been precursors to Oscar glory.

Quentin Tarantino’s World War II yarn “Inglourious Basterds” has eight nominations, while the gritty teen drama “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire” and the high-flying recessionary romance “Up in the Air” each have six.

Other films up for best picture are “The Blind Side,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “A Serious Man” and “Up.”

Despite the expanded field, the best-picture race is widely expected to be a shootout between “Avatar,” directed by three-time Oscar winner James Cameron, and “The Hurt Locker,” directed by Bigelow, Cameron’s ex-wife.

The pair will also compete for best-directing honors, along with Lee Daniels for “Precious,” Tarantino for “Inglourious Basterds” and Jason Reitman for “Up in the Air.” Bigelow is only the fourth woman ever nominated for a directing Oscar.

Bridges, who turned in a solid performance as an aging, hard-drinking country singer in “Crazy Heart,” is an easy front-runner to be named best actor, thanks to his Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.

He will compete in the category with George Clooney, who plays a high-flying, relationship-challenged businessman in “Up in the Air”; Colin Firth for his turn as a gay, suicidal college professor in “A Single Man”; Morgan Freeman for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in director Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus”; and Jeremy Renner, for his turn as the leader of an elite bomb-disposal unit in Iraq.

Bullock, who broke free from her comfortable romantic-comedy niche to portray determined Southern housewife Leigh Ann Tuohy in “The Blind Side” has already won Golden Globe and SAG awards for her role, giving her an edge heading into tonight’s Oscars. But she could face a challenge from the always-formidable Meryl Streep, who give a pitch-perfect portrayal of cooking legend Julia Child in “Julie & Julia.”

Streep has a record 16 Oscar nominations in her career, but she hasn’t won one since “Sophie’s Choice” in 1982.

Also nominated are previous Oscar winner Helen Mirren for her role as Leo Tolstoy’s wife in “The Last Station”; young British actress Carey Mulligan for her turn as a smitten schoolgirl in “An Education”; and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, whose first film role was the abused teenager in “Precious.”

Austrian actor Christoph Waltz appears to be a lock for the supporting-actor Oscar for his role as a Jew-hunting Nazi intelligence officer in “Inglourious Basterds.” He is nominated along with Matt Damon for “Invictus,” Woody Harrelson for “The Messenger,” Christopher Plummer for “The Last Station” and Stanley Tucci for “The Lovely Bones.”

Comedian-turned-dramatic-actress Mo’Nique has been dominating the supporting-actress categories this year for her performance as an abusive mother in “Precious.” She will vie for the Oscar against Penelope Cruz for “Nine,” Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick for “Up in the Air” and Maggie Gyllenhaal for “Crazy Heart.”

“The Hurt Locker” writer Mark Boal is nominated for best original screenplay, along with Tarantino for “Inglourious Basterds,” Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman for “The Messenger,” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for “A Serious Man” and Bob Peterson and Pete Docter for “Up.”

For best adapted screenplay, the nominees are Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell for “District 9″; Nick Hornby for “An Education”; Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Lannucci and Tony Roche for “In the Loop”; Geoffrey Fletcher for “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”; and Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner for “Up in the Air.”

“Up,” along with its best-picture nomination, is nominated in the best animated feature film category, along with “Coraline,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “The Princess and the Frog,” and “The Secret of Kells.”

The best foreign language film nominees are “Ajami” from Israel, “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” from Argentina, “The Milk of Sorrow” from Peru, “Un Prophete” from France, and “The White Ribbon” from Germany.

The awards ceremony, which will be televised live on ABC throughout the United States and in more than 200 countries worldwide, will be co-hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, who starred

this year with Streep in the romantic comedy “It’s Complicated.”

AS THE 82nd Academy Awards loom Hollywood stars run through their lines in preparation for the big night.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Winslet and Twilight star Taylor Lautner have all rehearsed their lines during the Oscars dress rehearsal before donning their best outfits to take to the red carpet this evening.

This year’s top movie ceremony has become a David and Goliath battle between multi-million pound science fiction spectacle Avatar and the tense Iraq War drama, The Hurt Locker.

The films are seen as the dominating forces at this year’s Oscars, equally matched with nine nominations each.

With colourful creatures bursting and swooping out of the cinema screen, Avatar is a 3D science fiction spectacle and the biggest film of all time.

Meanwhile, tense Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker, made for a fraction of Avatar’s budget, has gathered momentum with widespread critical acclaim.

Plaudits showered on both films have seen Avatar director James Cameron frequently finding himself nominated against his ex-wife, Hurt Locker film-maker Kathryn Bigelow.

Avatar was being tipped for Oscar triumph from the beginning of 2010, after it scored a double victory at the Golden Globes in January.

Cameron won the director gong for the movie at the US ceremony in an echo of his success 12 years before, when Titanic received best drama and the directing prize before sweeping the board at the Academy Awards.

MORE…

OSCARS 2010: MYLEENE’S MISHAP ON THE RED CARPET
OSCARS WILL BE SO SCARY SAYS CAREY MULLIGAN
KELLY BROOK DAZZLES AT PRE-OSCAR PARTY

Avatar recently surpassed Cameron’s Titanic – and saw the director beat his own record – when the film became the highest grossing movie ever.

The movie has taken £86 million at the UK box office alone.

The Hurt Locker has been gathering steam in recent weeks, cleaning up at the Baftas with six awards, while Avatar, said to be the most expensive film made, won two.

The director and best picture categories at the Academy Awards are expected to be yet another showdown between Cameron and Bigelow.

Bigelow also triumphed at the Directors Guild of America awards, becoming the first woman to win the guild’s top honour.

She is only the fourth female best director nominee in Oscar history and would be the first female winner.

NOMINATIONS

Best actor
Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
George Clooney (Up In The Air)
Colin Firth (A Single Man)
Morgan Freeman (Invictus)
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

Best supporting actor
Matt Damon (Invictus)
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Best actress
Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Helen Mirren (The Last Station)
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

Best supporting actress
Penelope Cruz (Nine)
Vera Farmiga (Up In The Air)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart)
Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air)
Mo’Nique (Precious)

Best adapted screenplay
District 9 – Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
An Education – Nick Hornby
In The Loop – Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Precious – Geoffrey Fletcher
Up In The Air – Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Best original screenplay
The Hurt Locker – Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino
The Messenger – Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman
A Serious Man – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Up – Bob Peterson, Pete Docter (story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom
McCarthy)

Best film
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up In The Air

Best director
Avatar – James Cameron
The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino
Precious – Sapphire Lee Daniels
Up In The Air – Jason Reitman

Sudah jatuh ditimpa tangga, itulah ungkapan sesuai buat individu yang menerima nasib sedemikian. Dalam masih tercari-cari identiti sebenar selepas dibiarkan hidup di rumah anak yatim dan dirundung pula dengan seribu satu soalan – ke mana perginya orang yang dikasihi kerana ditinggalkan tidak bertali.

Itulah antara kisah hidup ditempuhi Halimah (bukan nama sebenar) selepas berkahwin dengan suaminya enam tahun lalu dan memiliki dua puteri hati yang mengubat segala luka.

Halimah berkata, dari kecil dia dibesarkan di rumah anak yatim piatu dan hanya mereka yang senasib dengannya tahu isi hatinya. Selepas keluar dari tempat itu, barulah dia mengenali dunia dan belajar untuk hidup bersama orang luar ketika mula bekerja di pasar raya di ibu kota.

“Saya dibesarkan tanpa mengetahui asal-usul saya dan hanya bertemankan rakan-rakan yang senasib dengan saya. Selepas tamat zaman persekolahan saya berpisah dengan mereka dan mengambil jalan masing-masing untuk meneruskan perancangan hidup kami.

“Walaupun sedih dan takut, saya gagah juga kerana mengharapkan sinar baru di luar sana yang penuh dengan cubaan. Saya akhirnya, diterima bekerja sebagai jurujual dan dari situ saya mula kenal dengan rakan-rakan baru,” katanya yang tergelak perlahan mengenangkan semula kenangan itu ketika di hubungi, baru-baru ini.

Halimah mendakwa, selepas beberapa bulan bekerja dan sering menghabiskan masa bersama rakan-rakan setempat kerjanya, dia mula rapat dengan Amran (suaminya) yang juga abang kepada teman rumah sewanya.

“Dari kecil lagi saya memang dahagakan kasih sayang dan sering mengimpikan seseorang hadir dalam hidup saya untuk dijadikan tempat bermanja serta menagih kasih sayang dan bertemu dengan Amran, itulah yang ditunjukkannya. Caranya yang mengambil berat terhadap saya membuatkan hati ini berasa amat tersentuh dan cinta padanya mula mekar.

“Sakit demam saya dijaga dan dia juga banyak membantu dari segi kewangan selain menanggung yuran pembelajaran saya. Sehinggalah saya tamat belajar, dia meluahkan hasrat hatinya untuk menjadikan saya sebagai isterinya,” katanya.

Halimah berkata, hasrat lelaki itu disambut dengan ikhlas tanpa berfikir panjang kerana yakin dengan keperibadian Amran yang jelas kelihatan jujur dalam percintaan mereka.

“Dua bulan selepas kami mendirikan rumah tangga dalam majlis yang sederhana, saya disahkan mengandung dan kami sangat gembira dengan berita yang diterima itu. Amran mula mengeluarkan kata-kata janjinya untuk menjadi bapa dan suami yang soleh buat kami sekeluarga. Hati saya cukup gembira ketika itu dan cukup bangga dengan sikapnya yang bertanggungjawab.

“Kehidupan kami bertambah gembira selepas mendapat ahli keluarga baru. Amran sangat sayang kepada anak sulung kami, setiap hari dia pasti akan pulang ke rumah awal dan menghabiskan masanya untuk bersama dan melihat permata hati kami membesar,” katanya

Setahun selepas detik bahagia itu berlalu, kami dikejutkan dengan satu lagi berita gembira kerana saya disahkan hamil sekali lagi. Amran juga tidak berubah masih menunjukkan sikap yang sama dan seolah-olah tidak sabar untuk menantikan saat kelahiran anak kedua kami.

“Namun, dalam sekelip mata segala impian yang dijanjikan kelihatan seakan goyang dan menunjukkan tanda-tanda kemusnahan. Dalam usia kandungan saya mencecah ke tujuh bulan, dia seakan mula tidak mengendahkan saya,” katanya dengan nada yang mula sayu.

Wanita beranak dua itu mendakwa, Amran mula menunjukkan tanda perubahan itu dan sering pulang ke rumah lewat malam dan jarang menghabiskan masa bersama seperti sebelumnya. Sikapnya juga mudah marah apabila diajukan soalan.

Katanya, apa yang membuatnya berasa amat terkilan, orang paling diharapkan itu tiada pada saat kelahiran anak kedua mereka, sebaliknya terpaksa menagih simpati rakan-rakan bagi menguruskan segala urusan di hospital.

“Pilu rasanya hati apabila mengenangkan dia tiada bersama saya untuk menyambut kelahiran ahli baru dalam keluarga kami. Segala urusan bil dan hospital dibantu oleh rakan karib saya yang juga adik Amran. Ditambah pula perit hati ini, apabila sampai ke rumah melihatnya tidur dengan lena di ruang tamu.

“Apabila bangun dari tidur, dia lalu bertanya ke mana saya menghilangkan diri dan selepas suami memaki, saya ditinggalkan sendirian tanpa menjenguk langsung ke arah anak kedua yang baru dilahirkan itu. Bulan demi bulan berlalu, dia hilang tanpa sebarang berita dan tiada siapa tahu ke mana dia membawa dirinya,” katanya.

Wanita malang itu memberitahu selepas beberapa tahun ditinggalkan bergantung tanpa tali dan menjalani pahit getir kehidupan untuk membesarkan dua anaknya itu bersendirian, Amran tiba-tiba muncul dalam hidupnya dengan keadaan yang sungguh mengejutkan.

“Saya terkejut apabila dia tiba-tiba muncul di tempat kerja saya dalam keadaan yang tidak terurus. Walaupun perasaan marah padanya masih menebal, saya masih memberinya peluang untuk menjelaskan perbuatannya itu.

“Hancurnya hati ini, apabila orang yang disangka tempat berteduh dan bermanja tergamak meninggalkan keluarganya sendiri untuk bermadu kasih dengan teman wanitanya yang bekerja sebagai pelayan di kelab malam terkemuka di bandar ini. Sepanjang peninggalannya itu, mereka duduk serumah mengalahkan pasangan suami isteri,” katanya sambil menangis teresak-esak.

Halimah berkata, meskipun bersimpati dengan keadaan suaminya yang kini ditinggalkan sehelai sepinggang oleh wanita itu selepas berkahwin dengan seorang usahawan, ibu dua anak itu tetap berkeras hati untuk memberikan pengajaran kepada Amran terhadap tindak-tanduknya itu.

“Tidak terlintas di hati saya membalas balik segala perbuatannya terhadap kami anak-beranak, tetapi saya ingin dia sedar kesalahannya itu. Biarlah impian saya hancur di tengah jalan, namun saya tetap akan meneruskan proses perceraian ini,” katanya.

Wanita itu kini hanya mampu terus berdoa agar keputusan bagi permohonan cerai fasakh yang dipohon dari Mahkamah Syariah berpihak kepadanya.

Pembantu rumah dikenali sebagai Mona atau nama panggilan, Susie, 29, dari Medan, Indonesia itu menghilangkan diri pada 18 Februari lalu.

“Sebelum ini, anak saya, Nur Eishal, saya dapati berdarah di bibir dan luka pada tangan ketika saya meninggalkannya di rumah bersama Susie,” katanya.

Berikutan itu, Eja membuat dua laporan polis, pertama berhubung pembantu rumahnya yang melarikan diri di Balai Polis Mont Kiara, manakala laporan kedua di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Brickfields, Rabu lalu bagi melaporkan kerosakan harta bendanya.

Selain merosakkan harta benda dalam rumah, pembantu rumah pelakon drama ‘Seputeh Qaseh Ramadan’ selama tiga bulan dua minggu itu juga didakwa mencuri pakaian dan barangan peribadi milik artis berkenaan.

“Tidak kisah jika dia tidak mahu bekerja dengan saya, tetapi kenapa perlu merosakkan harta benda di kediaman baru kami.

EJA bersama Nur Eishal.

“Saya dapat rasakan Susie mempunyai masalah jiwa, dari raut wajah, dia nampak seperti seorang yang berdendam dan tidak boleh melihat sesuatu di depan mata dengan sempurna.

“Saya tidak pernah memarahinya, jauh sekali mengasari atau menderanya. Jika menegur, saya lakukan dengan baik, tidak pernah saya meninggikan suara.

“Bagaimanapun, Susie tidak boleh ditegur, dia akan balas dengan melakukan kerosakan pada barangan rumah saya. Bayangkan daripada pintu bilik, tangga, lantai hinggalah kepada kelengkapan rumah, barangan elektrik dan periuk belanga, semuanya bertanda. Dia mungkin mencalar dan menetaknya dengan pisau dan senjata tajam.

“Mulanya, saya menganggap Susie seorang yang kasar ketika melakukan kerja rumah, jadi saya dan suami, Mohd Silahuddin Jamaluddin tidak mengendahkannya, tetapi selepas melarikan diri, dia meninggalkan kerosakan yang lebih besar.

“Saya pelik kerana mendapati muka dan badannya calar balar pada hari pertama bekerja di rumah saya, alasannya jatuh motosikal, tetapi sejak itu, saya mula tidak sedap hati,” katanya.

Eja berkata, dia membuat laporan kedua kerana mahu Susie bertanggungjawab atas perbuatannya, selain bimbang keselamatan orang lain juga terancam jika mengambilnya bekerja.

“Saya percaya, wanita yang menipu identiti ini kerana dalam pasport namanya Mona, tetapi mahu dipanggil Susie, seorang yang bahaya,” dakwanya.

Kadar dividen itu diumumkan setelah KWSP memperoleh pendapatan bersih tertinggi pernah dicapai sebanyak RM19.63 bilion tahun lepas.

KWSP dalam kenyataannya di sini berkata, pendapatan bersih itu merupakan peningkatan 34.82 peratus berbanding RM14.56 bilion yang dicatatkan pada 2008.

Kadar dividen 2009 menyaksikan peningkatan ketara sebanyak 115 mata asas berbanding kadar 4.50 peratus yang dibayar pada 2008.

“2009 merupakan tahun penting bagi KWSP kerana berjaya keluar daripada krisis kewangan global walaupun berdepan dengan persekitaran ekonomi yang kurang memberangsangkan. KWSP juga masih berupaya memberikan prestasi kukuh pada tahun ini,” kata Pengerusi KWSP, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman di sini hari ini.

Menurut Samsudin, berikutan meningkatnya kadar dividen itu, KWSP memerlukan sejumlah RM3.43 bilion untuk membayar satu peratus dividen kerana jumlah ahli yang juga telah bertambah.

“Jumlah itu meningkat 7.86 peratus berbanding RM3.18 bilion yang diperlukan bagi membayar satu peratus dividen pada 2008,” kata beliau.

Samsudin berkata, para pencarum KWSP boleh menyemak dividen 2009 yang dikreditkan ke dalam akaun mereka mulai Isnin ini.

Mengulas lanjut tentang pencapaian tahun kewangan itu, beliau berkata, pada 2009 sebanyak 72.53 peratus pelaburan KWSP dilaburkan dalam instrumen berpendapatan tetap selaras dengan pendekatan pelaburan berhemah yang diamalkan diikuti pelaburan ekuiti (27.05 peratus) dan selebihnya dalam hartanah.

Samsudin berkata, sehingga 31 Disember lalu portfolio pelaburan KWSP meningkat 8.55 peratus atau RM29.25 bilion kepada RM371.26 bilion berbanding RM342.01 bilion pada tahun sebelumnya.

Dana KWSP antara lain dilabur dalam Sekuriti Kerajaan Malaysia sebanyak RM93.11 bilion, pinjaman dan bon (RM152.96 bilion), ekuiti (RM100.43 bilion), instrumen pasaran wang (RM23.21 bilion) dan hartanah (RM1.55 bilion).

Samsudin menambah, prospek 2010 bergantung kepada prestasi ekonomi negara dan global.

“Pada masa ini, keadaan pasaran kewangan global masih tidak stabil dan boleh memberi kesan kepada nilai pelaburan dan pendapatan masa depan KWSP.

“Bagaimanapun, KWSP akan terus memberi tumpuan kepada matlamat utamanya melindungi simpanan ahli dan memberikan pulangan nyata yang munasabah,” tambah beliau.

SHE is one of the most versatile actresses around and there seems no stopping Helena Bonham Carter since her debut as the tragic lead character in Lady Jane (1986). She has since starred in a variety of films ­including as a regular on the Harry Potter series of movies playing the evil Bellatrix Lestrange, as well as appearances on television and stage projects.

Carter, 43, is a regular face on ­director Tim Burton’s feature films such as The Big Fish, Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride. Burton is her domestic partner and father to her two children.
She now appears in Burton’s latest ­feature Alice in Wonderland, an epic ­adventure shot in 3D, together with actor Johnny Depp ­(another regular in Burton’s films) who is a close friend of the couple and godfather to their son. Their daughter Nell also has a minor part in the film.

In an interview on the movie, Carter explained that this Alice in Wonderland is an original story that is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic. “I think this is what Tim has brought to it. We’ve got all the same characters as in the original story – but, genius as it was, it doesn’t actually have a story or plot to speak of.

“Alice (newcomer Mia Wasikowska) goes from one episodic encounter to ­another, and meets madder and madder people. What Linda Woolverton (the screenplay writer) has done is fashion a story with an ­emotional context for the film’s events to occur. In this, there’s a point to the whole story and a journey for Alice.”

Alice is no longer a little girl here but a 19-year-old ­trying to find out who she is. Throughout the journey of self-discovery, she meets a lot of strange characters.

Said Carter: “I love the main message here, in that it’s okay to be mad – some who are mad make the best people. I also think that the story resonates ­because, to a young child, everything’s incredibly confusing. I can see that with my son, Billy.

“As a parent, I’m constantly ­interpreting. You can see that he and Nell, who’s now a year old, are in a state of ­wonder. But then there is also the ­wondering, like, what does that mean?

“When I read the script, it made so much sense to me. It was really lyrical and had great heart. So you really do want to know what’s going to ­happen next.”

Carter explains the story has many ­characters but they are all mad in ­different ways. “The Hatter, the Red Queen, the March Hare, even the Rabbit’s got deep anxiety problems. Everybody is in a state of deep, emotional instability, really, except Alice. Alice is the normal one. Personally, I find madness or any emotional instability fascinating. Sane people are kind of boring to play.”

So the story is essentially about Alice who started out as an outsider in her own world, getting a different point of view in life and realises that being different is something to be celebrated and not be ashamed of.

When asked to describe the character of the Red Queen, Carter recalled the day Burton told her she was going to play the Queen. “I saw the first drawing he did. And there was this picture of a really angry person with a really big head.

“So, I play the Red Queen who has got ­emotional problems. It takes nothing, practically, for her to lose her temper. She doesn’t really rule through any kind of justice or fairness, but through ­terror.

“I chop off people’s heads – that’s my solution to everything. It probably comes from an underlying insecurity about having such a big head while everybody else has a normal head.”

To get a deeper insight on the character, Carter looked back at Carroll’s book and noted that he referred the Red Queen as somebody who was afflicted with an ungovernable passion, just full of this fury and rage. “No matter what the offence, her solution to everything is to chop off a head.”

Burton on the other hand suggested she watch Mommy Dearest, which is one of his favourite films. Carter was also inspired by Bette Davis in her role as Baby Jane Hudson in ­Whatever ­Happened to Baby Jane.

She describes playing the Queen as fun ­likening the character to a spoilt child who has no ­compassion for anyone else’s feelings except her own.

Alice encounters the Red Queen when she goes to Underland, a place she mistook for the ­Wonderland she visited as a child.

Carter said: “The White Queen should have been queen, although I’m the eldest. It’s just that our parents passed me by and gave the crown to my younger sister. Everyone is in a state of unrest.

Meanwhile, all of the supporters of the White Queen are ­rebelling, and I continue to rule with the only person I love, Stayne, the Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover), my right-hand man.”

This is also the first time Carter has worn an ­Elizabethan style costume since playing Lady Jane 24 years ago. She has to endure three hours of make-up to get her looks right.

She also has to work with green screen ­technology which meant talking to no one in particular on the sets most of the time. But she insisted that wasn’t the ­biggest problem.

“The big hazard was I lost my voice pretty much every day by 10 o’clock, because she (the Red Queen) shouts a lot. ‘Off with his head! Off with her head!’ It’s quite exhausting losing your temper all the time.” – BVCT

He will describe how their boat capsized and how he hung on to dear life for almost one and a half day. He would be describing his first person experience of watching his friends sway into the mouth of death one by one. He would recall how he screamed and tried to keep his friends going but lost against hypothermia that got the best of them and finally forced them to lose grip of the capsized boat and sway away in the freezing water.

They were never found and are presumed to be dead. Nick’s book “Not without hope,” in which he shares the ordeal he went through, has hit the stands on Tuesday, which marks the first anniversary of the tragic event.