Birthday Girl is a 2002 American-British FilmFour-backed film featuring Nicole Kidman as a Russian mail-order bride. It is directed by Jez Butterworth and stars Ben Chaplin and Vincent Cassel.

Plot

John Buckingham (Ben Chaplin), a lonely St Albans bank clerk, orders a mail-order bride Nadia (Nicole Kidman) from Russia on the Internet. John is uncomfortable and shy, but Nadia is sexually bold. Though Nadia cannot speak English and John cannot speak Russian, they soon bond. Later on, a man she introduces as her cousin Yuri (Mathieu Kassovitz) and his friend Alexei (Vincent Cassel) turn up to celebrate her birthday. Alexei soon shows that he has a temper. After a violent altercation, Alexei holds Nadia hostage and demands a ransom from John. John has grown to care for Nadia, and is forced to steal from his bank where he has worked for ten years. After the ransom is paid, he realises that he has been the victim of an elaborate con. Nadia, Yuri and Alexei are criminals, and Alexei is actually Nadia's boyfriend.

John learns that the trio have carried out the same scam on men from Switzerland and Germany, among others. They take him prisoner, strip him down to his underpants, and tie him to a toilet in a motel. He eventually manages to free himself, and quickly learns that Nadia has been left behind after Alexei discovered she was pregnant. John gets dressed, and subsequently gets into a scrap with Nadia, who later reveals that she can indeed speak English and that her name is not Nadia.

John takes Nadia to turn in to the police - hoping to clear his name as a wanted bank robber. Ultimately, however, he sympathises for her, and decides against it. He leaves her at the airport, where she is kidnapped by Alexei – who now wants to have the baby. John rescues her, tying Alexei to a chair. They make common cause against the two Russian men. Nadia informs John that her real name is Sophia. John , disguised as Alexei, leaves for Russia with Sophia.

Cast

Nicole Kidman as Sophia, alias Nadia

Ben Chaplin as John Buckingham

Vincent Cassel as Alexei

Mathieu Kassovitz as Yuri

Reception

The film was a generally moderate commercial success, with a budget of $13 million it grossed $16,171,098.

It has a 58% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a neutral-positive critical reception. Jason Solomon of The Observer praised the casting "Cassel, Kassovitz and Kidman are beautifully graceful against the backdrop of signs to Tring and Newbury." He continued "The comedy here is gentle, formed of linguistic misunderstandings and cultural clashes and Chaplin's constant efforts to be polite are rather charming. Kidman's exoticism, encapsulated by her peasant-chic wardrobe, is fresh air in St Albans." The BBC reviewer gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, praised Chaplin's and Kidman's "infectious performances" and describe it as a "sparky" and "deviant topical comedy which is funny from start to finish." CNN praised Kidman's "astounding range" and applauded the dialogue as "often sharp, scathingly witty, and displays a wry intelligence."

The New York Times described the film as "competent" but decried the plot as too "insubstantial".

References

External links

Review of Birthday Girl by cosmopolis.ch

Birthday Girl at Rotten Tomatoes

Birthday Girl @ Box Office Mojo

Category:2001 films Category:British films Category:Comedy-drama films Category:Crime drama films Category:Black comedy films Category:English-language films Category:Russian-language films Category:Film4 Productions films Category:2000s romantic comedy films

Name	Patrick Vaughn Stump
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Patrick Martin Stump
Born	April 27, 1984Glenview, Illinois
Genre	Alternative rock, pop punk, pop rock, rap rock
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, drums, trombone, trumpet, synthesizer
Years active	2001–present
Associated acts	Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Cobra Starship, Panic! at the Disco
Label	Island, Fueled by Ramen, Decaydance
Url
Vocal range	Baritone, Tenor
Notable instruments	Gibson SG

Patrick Vaughn Stump (born Patrick Martin Stumph in April 27, 1984) is a singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist for Fall Out Boy, an American alternative rock band from Wilmette, Illinois. Stump has been credited for being a soulful vocalist

Career

Before Fall Out Boy, Patrick Stump was the drummer of a few suburban Chicago punk and hardcore bands (most notably Xgrinding processX and Patterson). Despite originally auditioning as the drummer for Fall Out Boy, and having no previous experience singing in a band, he became the somewhat reluctant lead singer after his vocal range was discovered. Several lineup changes were to follow, after which he began playing rhythm guitar for the band. At this point, current drummer Andy Hurley was also brought in. Now Joe Trohman and Patrick switch between lead and rhythm guitar.

Following a 2002 Split EP with Project Rocket, the band's first full-length album, Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend, was released in 2003 on Uprising Records, though they shortly left the label to sign to Fueled By Ramen. They released Take This To Your Grave in 2003, their second full-length album. It's been credited with earning the band's first significant fan base, as well as some minor commercial success.

In 2003, Stump and his band mates went on to sign with Island Records, and released the acoustic-based EP My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue CD and DVD in 2004. This was followed with their third studio album, From Under The Cork Tree, which went double-platinum in 2005. Their fourth studio album, Infinity On High, was released to generally positive reviews in 2007, and their most recent album, Folie à Deux, was released on December 23 and 16, 2008 in the United States/worldwide, respectively.

;With Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend(2003)

Take This to Your Grave(2003)

From Under the Cork Tree (2005)

Infinity on High (2007)

Live in Phoenix (2008)

Folie à Deux (2008)

Believers Never Die – Greatest Hits (2009)

;With other artists

References

External links

Official Patrick Stump Website

Official Fall Out Boy Website

Fueled by Ramen

Decaydance Records

FriendsOrEnemies.com

Patrick Stump "In My Room" SPIN Dec. '08 Issue

Patrick Stump playing with Daryl Hall at livefromdarylshouse.com

Category:1984 births Category:1990s singers Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:American male singers Category:American record producers Category:American rock singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:Musicians from Chicago, Illinois Category:Fall Out Boy members Category:Living people Category:People from Cook County, Illinois Category:People from Glenview, Illinois Category:People with synesthesia

Caption	Kidman in April 2010
Birth date	June 20, 1967
Birth place	Honululu, Hawaii, United States
Birth name	Nicole Mary Kidman
Occupation	Actress, Spokes model
Years active	1983–present
Spouse	Tom Cruise (1990–2001)Keith Urban (2006–present)
Website	http://www.nicolekidmanofficial.com/

Nicole Mary Kidman, AC (born 20 June 1967) is an Australian actress, Spokes model, and humanitarian.

After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm. Her performances in films such as To Die For (1995), Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Rabbit Hole (2010) received critical acclaim, and her performance in The Hours (2002) brought her an Academy Award for Best Actress, a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award. Her other films include the box office hits Days of Thunder (1990), Batman Forever (1995), The Others (2001), Cold Mountain (2003), The Interpreter (2005) and Australia (2008).

Kidman has been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNIFEM since 2006.Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleNominated—Academy Award for Best ActressNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama |- | 2001 | Birthday Girl | Sophia/Nadia | |- | 2002 | | Virginia Woolf | Academy Award for Best ActressBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama |- | 2003 | Dogville | Grace Margaret Mulligan | |- | 2003 | | Faunia Farley | |- | 2003 | Cold Mountain | Ada Monroe | Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama |- | 2004 | | Joanna Eberhart | |- | 2004 | Birth | Anna | Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama |- | 2005 | | Silvia Broome | |- | 2005 | Bewitched | Isabel Bigelow/Samantha | |- | 2006 | Fur | Diane Arbus | |- | 2006 | Happy Feet | Norma Jean | voice |- | 2007 | | Dr. Carol Bennell | |- | 2007 | Margot at the Wedding | Margot | |- | 2007 | | Marisa Coulter | |- | 2008 | Australia | Lady Sarah Ashley | |- | 2009 | Nine | Claudia Jenssen | |- | 2010 | Rabbit Hole | Becca Corbett | Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated-Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role |- | 2011 | Just Go With It | Rea Ann Devlin | Completed |- | 2011 | Trespass | Sarah | Post-production |}

Awards

In 2003, Kidman received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to her 2003 Academy Award for Best Actress, Kidman has received Best Actress awards from the following critics' groups or award-granting organisations: the Hollywood Foreign Press (Golden Globes), the Australian Film Institute, Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Empire Awards, Golden Satellite Awards, Hollywood Film Festival, London Critics Circle, Russian Guild of Film Critics, and the Southeastern Film Critics Association. In 2003, Kidman was given the American Cinematheque Award. She also received recognition from the National Association of Theatre Owners at the ShoWest Convention in 1992 as the Female Star of Tomorrow and in 2002 for a Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film.

Government honours

In 2006, Kidman was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Australia's highest civilian honour, for "service to the performing arts as an acclaimed motion picture performer, to health care through contributions to improve medical treatment for women and children and advocacy for cancer research, to youth as a principal supporter of young performing artists, and to humanitarian causes in Australia and internationally." However, due to film commitments and her wedding to Urban, it was 13 April 2007 that she was presented with the honour. It was presented by Governor-General of Australia, Major General Michael Jeffery in a ceremony at Government House, Canberra.

Discography

"Come What May" single (Duet with Ewan McGregor – October 2001) AUS #10, UK #27

"Sparkling Diamonds" (with Caroline O'Connor) – October 2001 (Moulin Rouge! soundtrack)

"Hindi Sad Diamonds" -October 2001 (Moulin Rouge! soundtrack)

"Somethin' Stupid" single (Duet with Robbie Williams – December 2001) AUS #8, UK #1l

"Kiss" / "Heartbreak Hotel" – Nicole Kidman / Hugh Jackman – November 2006 (Happy Feet soundtrack)

References

Additional reading

External links

Nicole Kidman's charity work

Category:Actors from Hawaii Category:American people of Australian descent Category:Australian child actors Category:Australian female singers Category:Australian film actors Category:Australian Roman Catholics Category:Australian people of Irish descent Category:American Roman Catholics Category:Australian television actors Category:BAFTA winners (people) Category:Best Actress Academy Award winners Category:Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Companions of the Order of Australia

Category:People from Honolulu, Hawaii Category:People from Sydney Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Former Scientologists

Category:Saturn Award winners

Name	Majic Massey
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Floyd Massey
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genre	Hip hop/R&B;
Occupation	Singer Songwriter
Years active	2007–present
Label	SRC Records/Universal Motown
Url	MyspaceMajic's Blog

Majic Massey is an artist under SRC Records/Universal Motown

Early life

In high school, Majic was busy winning enough talent shows to land a recording deal with Undeniable Records (run by Major League Baseball legend Frank Thomas) before he graduated. Despite a number of personal setbacks (friends passing away, the label folding), Massey was determined to establish his recording career. Through hard work and personal connections, Majic was able to work with fellow Chicago native and renowned producer No ID, who has worked with artists such as Common and Kanye West, as well as Swizz Beatz, who has worked with Jay-Z and DMX.

SRC/Universal

Steve Rifkind’s SRC/Universal recognized his strong work ethic, and more importantly his talent, and signed Majic to a recording deal in 2005. Rifkind connected Majic with DeVyne Stephens, who has helped develop the careers of superstars including Usher, Mariah Carey and Akon. Massey now splits time between Chicago and Atlanta, the latter being home base to Stephens’ management company UpFront Megatainment.

The Love D.N.A. Project

“My definition for Love D.N.A is baby-making music. It’s the blueprint to making love.” Maybe it’s Majic’s modesty, or his upbringing singing in church that prevents him from saying exactly what Love D.N.A. is; audio foreplay. Love D.N.A manages to include all the sights and sounds he grew up absorbing in Chicago. “Chicago is known for slick talkers, pimps…[and] it’s very religious,” begins Majic. “You can go from looking up to a lady’s man, or … you can look up to a pastor. I chose to incorporate it all in my music. When you listen to my music you’re feeling the Midwest, anyone from New York to Atlanta to California and beyond can feel what I’m saying.”

Appearances

Love D.N.A. is packed with contributions from established production heavyweights including Swizz Beatz and Scott Storch (Dr. Dre, Big Boi) as well as scorching newcomers Chris Henderson (Jaime Foxx’s “Blame It”) and Lil Ronnie (R. Kelly “Same Girl”). Chicago rap legend Twista is also featured in "Love D.N.A." on Majic's hit single "I Want Her" which is currently the #1 requested single added to Urban radio.

References

External links

Facebook

Myspace

Majic's Blog

Category:American singers Category:Living people