Love Nuke

This week we’re bringing you material that is a little off the beaten celebrity gossip track. All you entertainment buffs out there already know about the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival 2011 and its huge roster of over 200 feature films, including new works from Luc Besson, Francis Ford Copolla, Steve McQueen and Pedro Almodóvar among others.

Here’s a list of some of the must-watch titles being screened at the TIFF 2011.

Entertainment News: The Lady at TIFF 2011

The Lady is the astonishing saga of Aung San Suu Kyi and her struggle, the quest of the woman who’s at the heart of Burma‟s democracy movement, not budging from her Gandhian ideals in the face of a tyrannical junta. It also tells of her heartwarming relationship with husband Michael Aris; through the travails of distance, long separations, and the danger of being alone against a brutal regime, their love endures. Directed by the legendary Luc Besson, it is a tale of love and devotion against the backdrop of the political tumult prevalent in Burma.

Entertainment News: Machine Gun Preacher at TIFF 2011

Machine Gun Preacher is based on the inspiring true storyof Sam Childers, a former underworld figure, drug peddler and gun-runner who turns over a new leaf in the most absolute and drastic sense when he finds his calling to rescue hundreds of abducted and orphaned children in Africa. Gerard Butler  of 300 and Rocknrolla fame delivers a tour de force performance as Childers in a emotionally charged tale of violence and redemption.

Entertainment News: Winnie at TIFF 2011

Winnie portrays the life and times of Nelson Mandela’s better half Winnie Mandela: always in the spotlight, yet reticent and media-shy to the point of being mysterious. It tells a sensitive story about her life journey, the undying love between her and Nelson Mandela, and their struggles for democracy in South Africa. Winnie paints a vibrant picture of one of the world’s most remarkable women.

Entertainment News: In Darkness at TIFF 2011

In Darkness tells the true story of Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Nazi-occupied Lvov, Poland. Stumbling upon a group of Jews in the sewers, he agrees to hide them for a price. What starts out as a straightforward business arrangement becomes something unexpected, as they all try to outwit certain death during 14 months of intense danger. Starring Robert Wieçkiewicz and Benno Fürmann.

Entertainment News: We Need to Talk About Kevin at TIFF 2011

Based on a novel of the same name by Lionel Shriver, it is a gripping exploration of the pscychology of a teenage mass murderer, and of his mother coming to terms with the unthinkable deed done and searching for answers all the while. Directed by Lynne Ramsay and featuring a stunning performance by Tilda Swinton as Kevin’s mother, this is a movie you must watch.

These movies are but a small selection from the maelstrom of film-making and acting talent that Toronto International Film Festival offered in its 2011 edition.

We’ll keep bringing you more entertainment news and hot gossip, so watch this space.

Actor Andy Whitfield, who starred in the title role in the Roman-era period series “Spartacus,” passed away in Australia on Sunday, the 11th of September, at the age of 39.

Celebrity News: Snuffed out in his Prime

Andy Whitfield, the muscle-bound actor best remembered for playing the slave-gladiator Spartacus, lost the battle of his life to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a kind of blood cancer. The diagnosis had been confirmed in March 2010, as reported by some newspapers.

Andy Whitfield, aged 39, passed away on September 11, 2011

Andy Whitfield was born in Wales on July 17, 1972. He completed his education at the University of Sheffield, graduating with a degree in Engineering, and worked in that line for some time. In 1999, Andy Whitfield moved to Australia where he felt the calling of ashow-biz career; to that end, he attended Sydney’s Screenwise Film & TV School for Actors. Andy Whitfield went on to star in several Australian television serials, such as Opening Up, All Saints, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters and McLeod’s Daughters.
Whitfield first came to be noted for his performance in the Australian supernatural-themed movie Gabriel. His most memorable role came in the 2010 television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, shot in location in New Zealand. He played the title role of the historical figure Spartacus, a warrior forced to be a gladiator in the Roman arenas and who ultimately leads an uprising against his Roman masters (the Third Servile War).

After being diagnosed with the fatal disease last March, Whitfield underwent treatment in New Zealand; though this disrupted the production of the second season of the show, producers were quick to conceive and shoot a six-part prequel, which featured Whitfield in a brief voice-over. After an apparently successful course of treatment that led to his being declared cancer-free a few months after treatment, he suffered a relapse later in 2010 that forced him to quit the show.

His wife, Vashti, issued a statement on Sunday confirming the unfortunate demise of Andy Whitfield and thanking fans and well-wishers for the love and support that carried him through the eighteen-month long struggle with lymphoma.

Starz Network, the cable network that airs ‘Spartacus’ released a statement by CEO Chris Albrecht expressing sorrow, commending the stellar work done by Andy Whitfield and offering condolences to the bereaved family.

Andy Whitfield is survived by his wife Vashti and their two children.

For more celebrity news and gossip, keep watching this space.