DTFF 2011 Coverage: First ‘Black Gold’ Reviews

Just as promised, I’m here reporting on the first reviews of Black Gold from the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival. So far they seem to be good, although based on the reviews Freida Pinto doesn’t have that much actual screen time (even though she’s promoted as one of the big names in the movie). Read some snippets of the reviews below, more will be added as they’re published. Keep checking back for that!

“Themes about power and control permeate through Black Gold, with many of the characters willing to die for a land that was just thought to be a worthless desert. As the hero, Tahar Rahim (A Prophet) plays a prince torn between two fathers; his biological father played by Mark Strong (as incredible as it seems, he is a great Arab actor) and Amar, the man who raised him as one of his. Antonio Banderas​ is the star of the film playing the devilish Sultan Amar in a way that could remind you of the villain Jafar in Disney’s “Aladdin”. And of course, in the middle of this violent world there is a beautiful desert flower; a princess played by Freida Pinto​.”

Guest, HeyYouGuys.co.uk

“In this post-Edward Said era, things apparently haven’t moved from the fantasy depictions of Rudolph Valentino’s “The Sheik” (1921) and 1933′s “The Barbarian” with Ramon Novarro. Annaud has acknowledged using 19th-century orientalist painters as inspiration; the harem scenes with an underused Pinto could have been lifted from a Victorian tableau vivant, and not in a good way.”

Jay Weissberg, Variety

Four New Stills of Freida Pinto in ‘Black Gold’

Just as the title says, I have added four new production stills of Freida Pinto in Black Gold. She shares scenes with “father” Antonio Banderas in two of them, and looking beautiful in every picture. The character she’s playing is named Leyla (and not Lallah or Leila as previously stated), the daughter of Emir Nesib. Locked away in her palace all day, she longs to experience the world around her. Together with Prince Auda, she will come to represent the new Arab world: young, dynamic and hungry for progress.

I have also added a new, cool, still from Immortals. Click on the previews below for full size!

DTFF 2011 Coverage: ‘Black Gold’ World Premiere

The third Black Gold-related event of the day at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival was the movie’s world premiere. It was also the movie to open the film festival, and Freida Pinto went all-out in the fashion department. Looking every inch the movie star she’s becoming in a Salvatore Ferragamo custom Resort 2012 magenta silk gown, Freida walked the red carpet with boyfriend Dev Patel. She also stopped to pose with her co-stars such as Mark Strong and Tahar Rahim.

The first pictures from the premiere have been added to the gallery. Next up is the first reviews of the movie – stay tuned!

DTFF 2011 Coverage: ‘Black Gold’ Portrait Session

Before attending the world premiere of Black Gold at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, Freida Pinto and her co-stars participated in a portrait session. Freida truly looked stunning, once again in Salvatore Ferragamo Resort 2012, in one of my favorite recent looks of hers. As always, just click on the previews below to see all the pictures in the gallery. Premiere-photos are coming in a few, so stick around!

DTFF 2011 Coverage: ‘Black Gold’ Press Conference

After attending the photocall, Freida Pinto and the cast of Black Gold continued to promote the movie at a press conference. The event, also a part of the ongoing Doha Tribeca Film Festival, was held in the capital of Qatar; Doha (duh). Freida continued to rock her striped Salvatore Ferragamo dress as she spoke about the movie to the media.

A batch of ten pictures has been added to the gallery for your viewing pleasure. Simply click on the preview to the right to see all of them in the gallery, as per usual.

Also, an official website for Black Gold has been launched at blackgold-themovie.com. Click on the link to visit!

DTFF 2011 Coverage: ‘Black Gold’ Photocall

Earlier today, Freida Pinto attended a photocall for Black Gold at the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival! She looked cute in a Salvatore Ferragamo Resort 2012 black and white striped top and skirt as she smiled for the photographers next to some of her co-stars from the movie.

I have added a couple of pictures from the event to the gallery. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more film festival coverage!

First Poster and Trailer for ‘Black Gold’ are Here

As the fourth update for this special day – once again, Happy birthday, Freida! – I have added the first (French) poster for Black Gold to the gallery! It’s very simple, but cool and golden (duh), and will probably serve as a good first teaser poster for the movie.

Not only that, but the very first trailer has been released as well! Although it’s in French as well, you get the idea of the movie and Freida looks beautiful as Princess Lallah. I have added the screen captures to the photo gallery as well. Watch the trailer at French movie website Allocine.com!

New Production Stills from ‘Black Gold’

Two new promotional stills of Freida Pinto in Black Gold have been released, thanks to the newly-launched official Black Gold Facebook and Twitter-accounts. She looks stunningly beautiful as princess Lallah (or is it Leila?) in the two new stills. The movie – also starring Antonio Banderas, Tahar Rahim, Riz Ahmed and Mark Strong – will open the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival on October 25!