SINGAPORE - LIKE a plate of really famous highly-recommended-on-television chai dao kueh, The Carrot Cake Conversations is initially served up looking invitingly delectable, but ends up disappointingly below expectation by the third mouthful.

Four strangers’ lives collide two days before Christmas in Singapore over fried carrot cake and conversation. There’s Kate (Danielle O’Malley), the failed American actress in transit on the way to New Zealand; Daniel (Alaric Tay), the trader with an unfaithful wife; Matthew (Adrian Pang), the rich man cum hotel owner; and Ruth (Andrea Fonseka), the Geylang streetwalker who really wants to be Singapore’s first blues singer.

Directing from his own script, Michael Wang valiantly attempts detailed observation, trying a tad too hard to be disarming and insightful. But what the first-time director tries to cover dramatic turf with effort, he lacks in wit, sharp writing and endearing multi-dimensional characters.

The script comes across as self-indulgent and pedantic, full of idle prattle and unrealistic, it-only-happens-in-movies contrivance - the bulk of which concerns life’s perennial woes like dreams, fears, hope and loss. On repeat.

While Pang and Tay rise above the plodding storyline with commendable performances, the two female leads, unfortunately, get increasingly annoying.

Yes, there are a few inventive slice-of-life moments, and a whole lot of potential. However, too much of that potential is unfulfilled, and its sluggish pace ultimately makes it unsatisfying fare. -

Channel News Asia

SINGAPORE : There was no lack of babes and beauties at FHM Singapore’s party celebrating their annual poll of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World on Friday night.

The party also commemorated the magazine’s 10th anniversary - no mean feat, noted senior editor David Furhmann-Lim. “So many things have changed in 10 years,” he said. “Ten years ago, we didn’t have iPods. Ten years ago, we just got introduced to ‘The Matrix’. I think everybody took the right pill, because we’re all here tonight having fun.”

True to FHM form, awards were also given out in the quirkiest categories, including a “World Peace” award to popular catfighting bloggers Xia Xue and Dawn Yang, and a “Size Does Matter” award to “881″ and “12 Lotus” star Mindee Ong (we’ll let you infer what you will from that).

Among the luminaries who turned up for the do were popular TV personality Utt (Incredible Tales); and MTV VJ Taya, who looked fetching in a sexy blue outfit.

The party was the first to be held at Aqua, a new modular mobile party venue located near Clarke Quay at Merchant Loop. Complementing Aqua’s yacht-like structure, the theme of the night was Wet and Wow - complete with girls in figure-hugging outfits spraying party-goers with Super Soakers.

But nobody appeared more wowed than Andrea Fonseka, who looked surprised that she once again topped the magazine’s poll - she also won last year.

Fonseka beat international beauties, including model Heidi Klum, Chinese actress Zhou Xun, new Bond girl Olga Kurylenko and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere.

“I’m really grateful to David and his entire team because FHM basically kick-started my career in Singapore,” said the 24-year-old Malaysian.

Channel News Asia

SINGAPORE: Mention local movie directors, and names like Jack Neo, Eric Khoo and Royston Tan roll easily off the tongue.

And then, there’s Michael Wang. Michael who? “Yes, I know. People have no idea who I am,” Wang said with a sigh.

The film-maker graduated from the Florida State Film Conservatory, and worked at Cooper Town Productions (co-founded by Academy Award winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman). His short film Talking In Black And White was featured at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Wang, 25, has just set up a film company, The Vintage Film Co, and will start on its first movie, The Carrot Cake Conversations, which he wrote, next month.

The S$350,000-budget movie is about actress Kate (Australian actress Danielle O’Malley), who is stranded at Newton Hawker Centre. There, she meets Daniel (Alaric Tay), a disgruntled businessman; Matthew (Adrian Pang), a hotelier’s son; and Ruth (Andrea Fonseka), a high-end prostitute who longs to be Singapore’s first blues singer.

Choosing the leads wasn’t difficult, said Wang.

“I’ve seen Hollywood actors do auditions, and I have not seen a better audition than Adrian Pang’s! And Andrea was perfect. It’s difficult to say ‘no’ when she’s wearing a sexy dress!”

The movie is also Fonseka’s first lead role. “Ruth and I are quite similar: We’re young but have old souls, we are seeking approval from our parents. For me, it’s that I’m doing this instead of a career in law!” she said.

Right now, Vintage Film Co is a vehicle to produce the movies Wang wants to do, but that could change if Conversations, which is expected to be released early next year, takes off.

“We will try to push it internationally first - New York, maybe Cannes and Edinburgh - and then here towards the latter half of 2008,” said Wang, who is already working on his next script. -

Channel News Asia