Zoolander is a 2001 American satirical comedy film directed by and starring Ben Stiller. The film contains elements from a pair of short films directed by Russell Bates and written by Drake Sather and Stiller for the VH1 Fashion Awards television specials in 1996 and 1997. The short films and the movie feature a dimwitted male model named Derek Zoolander (a play on the name of Dutch model Mark Vanderloo), played by Stiller. The film involves Zoolander becoming a pawn in a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia by corrupt fashion executives.

Plot[link]

The dim-witted but good-natured Derek Elijah Zoolander (Ben Stiller) is ousted as the top male fashion model by the rising star, Hansel (Owen Wilson), and his reputation is further tarnished by a critical article from journalist Matilda Jeffries (Christine Taylor). After his three flatmates and colleagues are killed in a "freak gasoline-fight accident", Derek announces his retirement from modeling and attempts to reconnect with his father Larry (Jon Voight) and brothers by helping in the coal mines. Derek's delicate methods make him an impractical miner, and his family rejects him.

Meanwhile, fashion mogul Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell), and model agent Maury Ballstein (Jerry Stiller) are charged by the fashion industry to find a model that can be brainwashed to assassinate the new progressive-leaning Prime Minister of Malaysia, allowing them to retain cheap child labor in the country. Though Mugatu has previously refused to work with Derek for any show, Derek accepts Mugatu's offer to star in the next runway show. Mugatu takes Derek to his headquarters, masked as a day spa, where Derek is conditioned to attempt the assassination when the song "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is played. Matilda, who felt partially responsible for Derek's retirement, is suspicious of Mugatu's offer, and tipped off by an anonymous caller, tries to enter the spa, but is thrown out. Matilda tries to voice her concerns to Derek once he leaves, but he ignores her.

Matilda follows Derek to a pre-runway show, where he loses to Hansel in a "walk-off" judged by David Bowie. Matilda receives another anonymous call to meet at a nearby cemetery. Matilda along with Derek find the anonymous caller is hand model J.P. Prewett (David Duchovny), who explains that the fashion industry has been behind several political assassinations, and the brainwashed models are soon killed after they have completed their task. Before J.P. can explain more, Katinka (Milla Jovovich), Mugatu's chief henchwoman, and her aides attack the group, forcing Derek and Matilda to flee. They decide to go to Hansel's home, the last place they believe Mugatu will think to look, and Derek and Hansel resolve their differences while partaking of Hansel's collection of narcotics and participating in groups sex with Matilda and others. While recovering, Derek also finds that he is falling in love with Matilda. Derek and Hansel break into Maury's offices to find evidence of the assassination plot, but cannot operate his computer to find them. Derek leaves for the show, Hansel following later with the computer in hand, believing that, as told to him by Matilda "the files are inside the computer".

Matilda tries to intercept Derek before the show, but Katinka thwarts her attempt. As Derek takes the runway, Mugatu's disc jockey starts playing "Relax", activating Derek's mental programming. Before Derek can reach the Prime Minister, Hansel breaks into the DJ booth, and switches the music to Herbie Hancock's "Rockit", breaking Derek's conditioning. Hansel and the DJ have a brief fight before Hansel eventually unplugs the system, moments before Derek was about to snap the Prime Minister's neck. Mugatu attempts to cover up the incident, but Hansel offers Maury's computer as evidence, smashing it to the ground which he believes would release the incriminating files. Though the evidence is destroyed, Maury steps forward and reveals he had backed up the files, and offers to turn over the evidence of the assassination plot after years of guilt for his complicity in the conspiracy. Mugatu attempts to kill the Prime Minister himself, but Derek stops him by unleashing his ultimate model look, "Magnum", that stuns everyone. Mugatu is arrested, and Derek is thanked by the Prime Minister. At Derek's hometown, Larry proudly acknowledges his son's achievement.

In the film's dénouement, Derek, Hansel, and Maury have left the fashion industry to start "The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too". Derek and Matilda are shown as now having a son named Derek Zoolander, Jr., who has already developed his first modeling look.

Cast[link]

• Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander
• Owen Wilson as Hansel McDonald
• Will Ferrell as Jacobim Mugatu
• Christine Taylor as Matilda Jeffries
• Milla Jovovich as Katinka Ingabogovinanana
• Nathan Lee Graham as Todd
• Jerry Stiller as Maury Ballstein
• David Duchovny as J.P. Prewitt
• Jon Voight as Larry Zoolander
• Alexander Skarsgård as Meekus
• Matt Levin as Archie
• Justin Theroux as Evil DJ
• Andy Dick as Olga the Masseusse
• Jennifer Coolidge as American Designer
• Nora Dunn as British Designer
• Tony Kanal as French Designer
• John Vargas as Italian Designer
• James Marsden as John Wilkes Booth
• Anne Meara as Protestor
• Woodrow Asai as Malaysian Prime Minister Hassan
• Patton Oswalt as Director of photo shoot in which Derek is a monkey
• Smash Mouth (They play the song "All Star" and show the music video in the movie) (Deleted)

"Derelicte" is the name given to the fashion line designed by Will Ferrell's character Mugatu. It is described by Mugatu in the film as "a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique." The fashion line consists of clothing made from everyday objects that could be found on the streets of New York. Derelicte is a parody of a real fashion line created by John Galliano in 2000.^[1]

Cameos[link]

• Vince Vaughn as Luke Zoolander (uncredited)
• Judah Friedlander as Scrappy Zoolander
• Donald (speaking) and Melania Trump
• Christian Slater (speaking)
• Tom Ford
• Donatella Versace
• Cuba Gooding Jr. (speaking)
• Steve Kmetko
• Tommy Hilfiger (speaking)
• Fabio (speaking)
• Lenny Kravitz (speaking)
• Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
• Heidi Klum
• Mark Ronson
• Paris Hilton (speaking)
• David Bowie (speaking)
• Tyson Beckford (speaking)
• Fred Durst
• Lance Bass
• Lil' Kim
• Garry Shandling
• Claudia Schiffer
• Veronica Webb
• Lukas Haas
• Carmen Kass
• Natalie Portman (speaking)
• Frankie Rayder
• Victoria Beckham (speaking)
• Sandra Bernhard
• Emma Bunton
• Karl Lagerfeld
• Winona Ryder (speaking)
• Billy Zane (speaking)
• Terrell Owens
• Shavo Odadjian
• Little Kingz
• Irina Pantaeva
• Larissa Bondarenko
• Stephen Dorff (uncredited)

Censorship[link]

The film was never shown in Malaysia, the country mentioned in the film, as it is depicted as impoverished and dependent on sweatshops. Malaysia's censorship board deemed it "definitely unsuitable".^[2] The film was also banned in neighboring Singapore^[3] due to bilateral sensitivities and the movie's excessive drug use.^{[citation needed]} It was subsequently made available in Singapore in 2006,^[4] with the R rating. In the U.S., the film was originally rated R but was later re-rated PG-13 on appeal for sexual content, profanity, and drug references.

In the Asian release, all references to the country of Malaysia were changed to Micronesia, the subregion Hansel mistook Malaysia for at one point in the western version.

Reception[link]

The movie's box office was hurt^{[citation needed]} by the fact that it opened two weekends after the September 11, 2001 attacks; it was among the first comedy films after the attacks to enter theaters. In fact, the very first television footage of the attacks, which was shown on Fox 5 - WNYW, interrupted a commercial for the film.^[5] In addition, a Zoolander billboard can be seen in the film World Trade Center, a film about 9/11.

Despite its lackluster initial box office performance, the film developed a loyal cult following and solid DVD sales.^{[citation needed]} It is often shown on Comedy Central and other cable channels.

The film was received positively by critics, scoring a "Fresh" 64% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Soundtrack[link]

The soundtrack to the motion picture was released by Hollywood Records in 2001.

Track listing[link]

1. "Start the Commotion [radio edit] [feat. Greg Nice]" – The Wiseguys
2. "Relax" – Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3. "Call Me" – Nikka Costa
4. "Love to Love You Baby" – No Doubt
5. "I Started a Joke" – The Wallflowers
6. "He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" – Rufus Wainwright
7. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" – Wham!
8. "Rockit" – Herbie Hancock
9. "Beat It [Moby's Sub mix]" – Michael Jackson
10. "Madskillz-Mic Chekka [remix]" – BT
11. "Faces" – Orgy
12. "Ruffneck [feat. Navigator]" – Freestylers
13. "Now is the Time" – The Crystal Method
14. "Relax [feat. Danny Boy]" – Powerman 5000
15. "All Star" (in movie) – Smash Mouth (deleted)

Accusations of plagiarism[link]

Glamorama, a 1998 black comedy/thriller novel by Bret Easton Ellis, tells the story of a vacuous and unintelligent supermodel who becomes the pawn of an international terrorist conspiracy hidden deep within the fashion industry.^[6] In 2005, Ellis stated that he was aware of the similarities between Zoolander and Glamorama, and said that he considered and attempted to take legal action.^[7] Ellis was later asked about the similarities in a BBC interview, but said that he is unable to discuss the similarities due to an out-of-court settlement.^[8]

Sequel[link]

In December 2008, according to media reports Ben Stiller did confirm that he intends to make a sequel to this movie, currently called Zoolander 2 which is presumably only a working title at this early stage.^[9] When interviewed on the May 15, 2009, episode of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Stiller said that he was looking at a number of scripts.^[10] It was reported by various sources that Iron Man 2 writer Justin Theroux, who also co-wrote Tropic Thunder with Stiller, is set to write and direct the sequel. As of March 2, 2010 Ben Stiller has confirmed he is writing Zoolander 2, stating, "We're in the process of getting a script written, so it's in the early stages. But yeah, it's going to happen."^[11]

On a December 2010 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Owen Wilson stated that a second Zoolander will most likely get made^[12] with a working title Twolander.^[13]

In January 2011, Ben Stiller confirmed that the script has been completed though confirmation of the film depends on the studios.^[14] Stiller commented on the plot of the sequel,

It’s ten years later and most of it is set in Europe... it’s basically Derek and Hansel... though the last movie ended on a happy note a lot of things have happened in the meantime. Their lives have changed and they’re not really relevant anymore. It’s a new world for them. Will Ferrell is written into the script and he’s expressed interest in doing it. I think Mugatu is an integral part of the Zoolander story, so yes, he features in a big way.”

Stiller reprised his role as Zoolander on Saturday Night Live while hosting on October 8, 2011.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Zoolander

• Zoolander at the Internet Movie Database
• Zoolander at AllRovi
• Zoolander at Rotten Tomatoes
• Zoolander at Box Office Mojo
• The original short film and background story
• Derek Zoolander: Male Model at the Internet Movie Database

Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger in 2010
Born	Thomas Jacob Hilfiger (1951-03-24) March 24, 1951 (age 61) Elmira, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Fashion designer
Spouse	Dee Ocleppo (2008-present) Susie Hilfiger (1980-2000)
Children	Alexandria ("Ally") Richard Elizabeth Kathleen Sebastian Thomas
Labels	Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger (Thomas Jacob Hilfiger, born March 24, 1951) ^[1] is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.

Early life[link]

Hilfiger was born in Elmira, New York. The second of nine children of a jeweler and an Irish-American nurse, he grew up in an German-Swiss/Irish-American family.^[2] Hilfiger also claims direct descendence from the Scottish poet Robert Burns.^[3] His parents originally intended for him to be an engineer.

He attended the Elmira Free Academy for high school. He also attended GST BOCES Bush Campus ^[4] in Elmira, New York for Fashion Design.

Career[link]

Rather than furthering his education, he started to work in retail at the age of 18. Hilfiger would go to New York City to buy jeans and bell-bottom pants, which he customized and resold at Brown's, a local downtown Elmira store.

He later opened his own store, named The People's Place, around the block in downtown Elmira. Over the years, a number of stores closed in downtown Elmira as shopping traffic shifted to the new Arnot Mall in Horseheads, New York.^{[citation needed]} After seven years, The People's Place went bankrupt, when Hilfiger was 25. The site of the original store has since been demolished to make room for First Arena, home of the Elmira Jackals Hockey team.^{[citation needed]}

After turning to the design of clothing by designing for the rest of his stores in upstate New York, Hilfiger moved to New York City with his wife Susie. Although he was offered design assistant positions with designers Calvin Klein and Perry Ellis, and was broke, he turned down the offers.

In 1984, he founded the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation, (NYSE:TOM), with support from The Murjani Group, which went public in 1992, introducing his signature menswear collection. By 2004 the company had 5,400 employees and revenues in excess of $1.8 billion. Hilfiger was named Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1995.^[5]

In 1998, Hilfiger gave singer Aaliyah her endorsement deal, in which he honored her in his Summer 1998 fashion show in Jamaica.

In 2005, a CBS TV reality show called The Cut tracked the progress of sixteen contestants as they competed for a design job with Hilfiger in similar fashion to Donald Trump's The Apprentice. In the end Hilfiger chose Chris Cortez.

Largely due to declining sales, in 2006, Tommy Hilfiger sold his company for $1.6 billion, or $16.80 a share, to Apax Partners, a private investment company.^[6][7][8]

In March 2010, Phillips-Van Heusen, owner of Calvin Klein, bought the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation for $3 billion.^[9]

In March 2012, Hilfiger was announced as the fashion consultant on American Idol.

Personal life[link]

Hilfiger has four children with his ex-wife, Susie: Alexandria ("Ally"), Richard, Elizabeth, and Kathleen. His daughter Ally was featured in the 2003 MTV reality show Rich Girls and his son, Rich, was signed to hip hop super producer Swizz Beatz' label Full Surface.

Hilfiger put his Greenwich, Connecticut, mansion on the market in the summer of 2008 for an asking price of $27 million.

On December 12, 2008, he married his second wife Dee Ocleppo (Deniz Carolina Erbuğ), former wife of Gianni Ocleppo, famous Italian tennis player of the 1980s. On February 25, 2009, the New York Post reported that Ocleppo was three months pregnant, and Hilfiger would welcome a fifth child later in 2009.^[10] On May 4, 2009, Hilfiger and Ocleppo announced they were expecting a boy,^[11] who was born on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, and named Sebastian Thomas Hilfiger.

Criticisms[link]

Hilfiger has been criticized for having manufactured clothes in sweatshop conditions in the United States territory of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. As a U.S. Commonwealth, clothes made there can be labeled "Made in the USA", but federal labor laws including the minimum wage do not apply. In March 2000, the company, along with other defendants, settled a class action suit brought by Saipanese garment workers, which had alleged mistreatment by over 20 large U.S. clothing manufacturers.^[12]

Product lines[link]

• Hilfiger Denim, a premium-upscale denim collection for men and women. Designs are inspired by American classics and finished with a modern edge.^[13]
• True Star Gold, fragrance created by Hilfiger and spokeswoman Beyoncé Knowles
• True Star, another fragrance created by Hilfiger and with spokesperson Beyoncé Knowles & True Star Men, a fragrance created by Hilfiger and with spokesperson Enrique Iglesias
• Tommy Girl, fragrance for women
• Red Label, a line of denim-themed products including jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts
• H by Tommy Hilfiger, an upscale line which was ended after Tommy Hilfger sold his company, the same sort of style is now carried on under the Tommy Hilfiger label in their specialty stores
• Tommy Hilfiger, the company line of clothes sold in department stores, company stores, and specialty stores
• Tommy Sport, a defunct line that came out in the 1990s and capitalized on Hilfiger's popularity in urban areas.
• Tommy Hilfiger for the Home, a line of bedding and bath products
• Tommy Sailing, was due to be released in January or February 2007.
• Tommy, a brightly colored casual line.
• Tommy Jeans, a denim inspired clothing collection and corresponding fragrance
• Hilfiger Athletics, a sport inspired clothing line and fragrance

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tommy Hilfiger

• Official website
• Urban Legends that allege false claims against Hilfiger
• Anti-Defamation League; Letter to Tommy Hilfiger