Few studio pictures interest Brad Pitt these days. With their emphasis on aliens, superheroes and the relentless drive in Hollywood for cash-generating franchises, Pitt now happily produces - through his company Plan B - the kind of films he'd like to see still get made.
Killing Them Softly harks back to the golden age of independent American cinema. It features a pair of inept hustlers (played by Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn), who are hunted down by a black leather-clad hit man (Brad Pitt), after they rob the wrong poker game. The dark, dialogue-heavy journey is set against a grim, bleak vision of America, circa 2008: a nation that appears to be self-imploding with a crippling financial crisis and natural disasters that wreak havoc on ordinary people.
"Why I was interested in it, for me, it was at the time when the whole mortgage scandal was being uncovered," says Pitt. "A lot of people were losing their homes, it was very upsetting. And it was due to deregulation. Under the rules of capitalism, it was OK. Which brings up the question: What is responsible capitalism?"
Although the film doesn't seek to answer the question, it does reunite Pitt - who turns 50 next year - with the director of The Assassination of Jesse James, the Australian Andrew Dominik. The two became firm friends during the making of their undervalued 2007 film: one which, like their new movie, took years to get the green light.
Like his friend and benefactor, Dominik, 45, remains committed to independent, intelligent cinema that speaks about the world we live in. He admits his choices are not remotely commercial (which partly explains the US$15 million [Dh55] film's disappointing opening in the US last week, taking in a surprisingly low $7m over its opening weekend). Still, he bristles at the notion that the film - whose cast is all male - is, as some have claimed, misogynistic in any way.
"They're all talking about women all the time," Dominik reasons. "It's about men. Men are interested in women. It's about men talking about women."
Killing Them Softly is also notable for impressive turns from The Sopranos star James Gandolfini as a washed-up hit man and the Goodfellas star Ray Liotta as a small-time mobster who gets caught in the crossfire.
Liotta - enjoying a career renaissance at 57; he has a clutch of other movies coming up, including The Details with Tobey Maguire - believes the film is about far more than America, its bitter political and economic battlegrounds and its socially divided people. Everyone, he insists, can relate.
"The uprising in Egypt and all these other places, it's because people aren't making money and want the opportunity and feel forgotten," he says. "It resonates with everybody. We're just pretty blatant about it [in the US]. Money makes the world go around. If you have to support your family, you need to get a job. That's just how it's set up. You're not going to get food for free. Unless you go and kill a deer."
Liotta's tough, east-coast view on life belies a softer side, largely unseen to audiences in cinema. Usually, he's "the one chasing the bad guys and beating them up" as he puts it. In Dominik's new film, he's the one getting beaten. Brutally. Which may surprise some but not him. "I've never been in a fight in my life," he says, matter of factly, "so I'm intrigued by these things. It makes you feel better about your life, watching the violence on the screen. I think people like to watch things almost as a voyeur. Most people live a decent, solid life."
The beating that Liotta's character suffers in the movie is stomach-churning in its intensity and is one of several key scenes that remain embedded in one's consciousness after viewing. No longer the tough guy, he adds that the political views within the film - which veer more towards Barack Obama's than the opposite - may well be largely lost on many who see it.
"This movie could have gone during the Reagan years, when everyone was doing really well," he says. "Some people won't even realise the political implications: that Obama's saying he wants everyone to make money and work as one and be one nation. I think a movie like this, even with Brad, doesn't guarantee [an audience]. It's not your formulaic, big blockbuster kind of movie. Some of it will go over people's heads. But what can you do?"
• Killing Them Softly is out now in UAE cinemas
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Autumn international scores
Saturday, November 24
Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia
Teams
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shanwari, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
RESULT
Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
