The Academy Award category for BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM was created September 2000, though the first award wasn't handed out until March of last year.
For this year's competition, 17 films have been deemed eligible. Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights, Alibaba & the Forty Thieves, Eden, El bosque animado (The Living Forest), Hey Arnold! The Movie, Ice Age, Jonah - A Veggie Tales Movie, Lilo and Stitch (pictured above), Mutant Aliens, The Powerpuff Girls Movie, The Princess and the Pea, Return to Never Land, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Spirited Away, Stuart Little 2, Treasure Planet, and The Wild Thornberry's Movie.
Only a maximum of 5 films could be nominated.
SCREENPLAYS WANTED
(11/13/02)
Oscar winning actor has just launched a new website - triggerstreet.com. The home page of his Trigger Street production company - is now accepting open submissions of scripts and clips along with the promise that the submissions will be seen by a panel of insiders that includes Mike Myers, Sean Penn, Annette Bening, and Bono, as well as anyone else who registers to use the site.
According to a statement on the site, Spacey wanted to give others the kind of career boost he received early on. ''Realizing that the path to his own success would have been much rockier without the support and encouragement of many outstanding mentors, Spacey has sought out a way to inspire, nurture, and help bring exposure to new and undiscovered talent,'' the statement reads. ''If you are in a position to help others, if you find yourself in the building of life and you can send the elevator back down, that becomes your earnest duty.''
There is no contest and no promise that the items submitted will ever be produced, but then there's no submission fee either.
MARTIN TO HOST
(11/07/02)
Steve Martin has been chosen to act as host of the 75th Annual Academy Awards.
The awards presentation, for outstanding film achievements of 2002 will take place on Sunday, March 23, 2003, at the new Kodak Theatre.
ENDING WITH THREE?
(10/29/02)
J.K. Rowling says there will be seven books, but there may be only three movies for Harry Potter.
The three young stars (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) just may retire their roles after Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, says film director Chris Columbus.
Why? They're getting too old. No matter how hard you try (or how much movie magic you muster) you just can't hold back puberty. Already after just two movies, the boys voices are deeper and even wizard's robes can't hide the fact that Emma's getting a bit curvy.
FINAL BOW FOR DUMBLEDORE
(10/29/02)
Acclaimed Irish actor, Richard Harris died Friday (10/25) of complications of Hodgkins Disease.
The 72 year old had most recently become a favorite to young audiences as the headmaster of Hogwart's school of wizardry in last year's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the upcoming Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He had planned on appearing in the third film Harry Potterand the Prisoner of Azkaban. The role is currently being recast. No news as to who it will be yet.
SUPERMAN READY TO SUIT UP AGAIN?
(10/08/02)
Shooting is scheduled for April or May for the next episode of the Superman franchise, but as of yet, we don't know for sure who will be donning the spandex.
There have been numerous productions of this film in various stages for a long long time, involving names like Nicolas Cage, Tim Burton and Kevin Smith.
We do know that Brett Ratner will be sitting in the director's chair. He's postponed directing the third Rush Hour, so Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker fans will just have to wait until sometime next year. Ratner would like to cast Anthony Hopkins as Jor-El (Superman's old man), but doesn't know if he'd consider the role.
Though nothing's been confirmed yet, most of the talk is that Keanu Reeves is being considered for the role. Hmmm... George Reeves played the Man of Steel on television... Christopher Reeve wore the tights on the big screen in the 70's...
Though, I definitely wouldn't mind seeing Keanu dressed in spandex, I have to give this idea a resounding NO, PLEASE DON'T DO IT!!!
George went on to commit suicide. Christopher is now in a wheelchair. No offense, but the role doesn't have a great track record for Reeves men. Keanu, dude, just say NO.
MEL GIBSON'S TONGUES
(09/25/02)
The next movie Mel Gibson directs, a biblical epic about Christ called The Passion, he's looking for complete authenticity.
He wants all the dialogue to be spoken in the exact languages in that area at that time - Aramaic and Latin. He's even thinking of going one step further - not having subtitles. Of course, he admits that if he can't convey the story through visual images alone, he may have to resort to using subtitles, but he's going to try not to.
DENIRO LOOKING FOR SCRIPTS
(09/15/02)
Robert De Niro and his partner from the Tribeca Film Institute, Jane Rosenthal, are looking for scripts for possible development.
The scripts, due Nov. 1, should have a leading character who is a scientist, mathematician or engineer. Each submission should include a feature-length script, a short synopsis up to two pages, and the writer's resume. Science fiction story lines won't be accepted.
Two writers will be chosen in the first year of the program, and will receive financial support and insight from filmmakers and science experts. At least one script will be read at the second annual Tribeca Film Festival in spring 2003, and the completed film will screen at the 2004 festival.
Scripts should be sent to the Tribeca Film Institute, 375 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013, Attention: Tribeca/Sloan Film Program.
ON TRIAL FOR BLACKMAIL
(06/23/02)
Two men (Phillip Cropper & Malcolm Mercer, both 38) are currently on trial for trying to sell Russell Crowe a video tape allegedly showing him starting a fight outside an Australian nightclub in 1999.
In the tape (which hasn't been shown yet in court) supposedly shows a drunken Crowe manhandling a man and being verbally abusive to a woman before pulling away in a black limousine. This wouldn't be the first time his temper has gotten the better of him.
The five day trial will take place in New South Wales District Court in Coffs Harbor (reportedly near Crowe's Australian farm).
Russell Crowe is not scheduled to make an appearrance in court, instead, his father will give testimony on his son's behalf.
FILMMAKER FINALLY GRADUATES
(05/31/02)
It only took him 33 years, but Stephen Spielberg has finally graduated from California State University - Long Beach.
Spielberg dropped out of school in his junior year to make his first film - a short entitled Amblin.
He later named his production company after it.
Last year, the 55 year old, quietly began finishing his requirements for a Bachelor's degree in Film and Electronic Arts. He was quoted as saying it was his longest "postproduction schedule" to date.
GERIATRIC JONES TO HIT THEATRES?
(05/31/02)
Some 16 years after the last Indiana Jones movie made it's way into theatres, the next installment will be opening at a multi-plex near you.
Producer George Lucas finally found the right screenwriter (Frank Darabont - The Shawshank Redemption). The fourth installment will again star Harrison Ford and be directed by Stephen Spielberg.
Look for it in July 2005 (just in time for Ford's 63rd birthday).
HAS BRUCE GOT A SWEET TOOTH?
(05/12/02)
We all have a weakness for Girl Scout cookies, some more than others. But what would possess someone like Bruce Willis to buy 12,000 boxes?
His daughter Tallulah Belle. She suggested to her big hearted dad that it would be a great idea to buy girl scout cookies for the U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan. So dad, wrote a check for $36,000.00 and did just that.
Now that's what I call a care package.
LEARNING HISTORY WITH CROWE
(04/13/02)
So far, we've learned about the secrets of the tobacco industry, the gladiators of ancient Rome, the history of game theory mathematics. Soon it will be a chapter from World War II.
Russell Crowe is slated to next tackle The Long Green Shore about an Australian brigade's bloody battles against the Japanese. Crowe not only stars, but has also written the script and will make his debut at directing.
And if that's not enough, he's also signed on to star in the feature length dramatization of Hogan's Heroes. And of course, Crowe will play Hogan (portrayed on tv by Robert Crane).
HALLE INJURED ON THE SET
(04/09/02)
Halle Berry was injured on the set of Die Another Day, the James Bond film she's shooting with Pierce Brosnan.
During a helicopter battle, Bond blows up one of the choppers. A piece of debris from an exploded smoke grenade lodged in Berry's eye.
She underwent a 30 minute procedure at a local hospital to remove the fragment and reports are that there was no permanent damage. She will just have a very sensitive eye for a while.
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...
(03/25/02)
Honorary Oscars: Lifetime Achievement: Sidney Poitier
Robert Redford Jean Hershel Humanitarian Award:
Arthur Hiller
Best Cinematography: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Best Costume Design: Moulin Rouge Best Documentary Feature: Murder on a Sunday Morning Best Documentary Short Subject: Thoth Best Film Editing: Black Hawk Down Best Sound: Black Hawk Down Best Sound Effects Editing: Pearl Harbor Best Visual Effects: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Best Art Direction: Moulin Rouge Best Makeup: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Best Music (Score): The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Best Music (Song): Monsters, Inc. (Randy Newman - first win after 16 nominations) Best Animated Feature: Shrek Best Short Film - Animated: For The Birds Best Short Film - Live Action: The Accountant Best Foreign Language Film: No Man's Land (Bosnia) Best Adapted Screenplay: A Beautiful Mind Best Original Screenplay: Gosford Park Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Connelly - A Beautiful Mind Best Supporting Actor: Jim Broadbent - Iris Best Actress: Halle Berry - Monster's Ball (first African American woman to ever win) Best Actor: Denzel Washington - Training Day (first African American man to win since Sidney Poitier) Best Director: Ron Howard - A Beautiful Mind Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind
WILL'S DISAPPEARRING ACT
(03/25/02)
You may have noticed that Best Actor nominee Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith were nowhere to be seen when it came time for Julia Roberts to read the names of his category's nominees.
Turns out, the couple had to leave unexpectedly when they heard that their daughter Willow had suddenly taken ill. She had a high fever and an earrache.
Seems that some things are more important than accolades and awards. Thank goodness.
PUTTING MY REP ON THE LINE
(03/23/02)
Okay, it's that time again (to face public mockery and ridicule). I'm giving my picks for this years Oscars (at least for what I consider the major categories). Please keep your sniggering to a minimum.
BEST PICTURE: A Beautiful Mind
BEST DIRECTOR: Ron Howard
BEST ACTOR: Russell Crowe
BEST ACTRESS: Renee Zellweger (though I know she won't win)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Sir Ben Kingsley
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Connelly
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: A Beautiful Mind
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Memento
HOW DO I GET ON THIS LIST?
(03/23/02)
The lucky celebrites who are asked to be presenters and performers at the Oscars get a little perk for the job. A lovely gift basket.
Here's a sample of the items this year's baskets contain...
* A complimentary 3 night stay at a resort called Esperanza (in Cabo)
* A gift certificate for a $1700 Tempur-Pedic Mattress
* An Ebel Watch ($1600 for the ladies, $1450 for the mens)
* An Allsteel #19 Office Chair (worth $1195 to $1495)
* $600 Brite Smile teeth whitening service
* $499.99 Hewlett Packard Photosmart Camera
* A gift certificate for Birkenstocks ($300)
* Assorted (designer) scarves, candles, perfumes and sunglasses
* A gift certificate for a La-Z-Boy recliner (4 models to choose from ranging from $539 to $1199)
Can't you just see it now? Presenter Maggie Smith, wearing her Birkenstock sandals going in to claim her La-Z-Boy recliner? Well, at least most of their christmas shopping is done.
STEPPING OUT IN STYLE
(03/23/02)
One very lucky woman (whose identity is being kept well under wraps) will be the belle of the ball at this year's Oscar celebration as she wears a specially created pair of shoes designed by Stuart Weitzman.
The sandals (and matching bag) are made of a fabric of very fine filament weave platinum. The mesh is a flexible as leather. They also have a diamond-studded ankle strap and gold plated sole.
The sandals, estimated to be worth $1 million dollars, will be put up for auction (or sale) and the proceeds will be donated to the as-yet-unnamed celebrity's favorite charity.
DEADLINE IS DRAWING NEAR
(03/15/02)
The deadline for getting Oscar ballots is drawing near. All completed ballots have to be in the possession of PricewaterhouseCoopers before 5:00pm Tuesday, March 19.
Ballots received after 5:00pm will be ineligible.
So, times a ticking. If you haven't sent in your ballot yet, you'd better hurry.
PRAISE FROM THEIR PEERS
(03/09/02)
The Screen Actors Guild held it's 8th annual awards ceremony this evening at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Recipients included: For Male Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture - Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring), for Female Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture - Helen Mirren (Gosford Park). In the lead actor categories, the winners were Halle Berry (Monster's Ball) and Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind). Yes, Russell kept his speak short, blunt and to the point to prevent any mishaps like the recent one at the BAFTA awards.
For the category of Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture, the award went to the cast of Gosford Park.
CAT IN THE HAT IS BECOMING SHAGADELIC
(03/09/02)
When Tim Allen dropped out of the upcoming live-action version of the Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat to film The Santa Clause 2, the production almost went into mothballs. That is until the title character was recast. With Mike Myers.
Could this be a move to make good with producer Brian Grazer after the Dieter hubbub? Who knows for sure, but I can't think of anyone who could do the cat justice like Myers could.
The production which will begin filming this fall will be directed by Bo Welch (producer for MIB and MIB2) with prosthetic make up effects by Rick Baker. Watch for a summer 2003 release.
OH BROTHER, WHAT A NIGHT
(03/02/02)
The soundtrack for Oh, Brother Where Art Thou? turned out to be the big winner at this years Grammy Awards. It walked away with 6 awards including the coveted Album of the Year.
When the soundtrack was first released, country radio stations refused to play it. They thought it would be the death of them to play that "olde timey" music instead of the pop flavored music currently on their play lists. Dumb move.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE EATING CROWE ABOUT NOW?
(03/02/02)
At the recent BAFTA awards (England's equivalent of the Oscar), Russell Crowe put on quite a show. Well actually, the show took place at an after party following the awards.
Russell Crowe had won the BAFTA for Best Actor (for A Beautiful Mind) and had made a rather lengthy acceptance speech - he even read a poem he felt was appropriate for the occasion. Now, here's where the trouble starts. The show's producer, edited Russell's speech for time and after the ceremony, someone told the actor about it.
So, Russell Crowe (after knocking over some chairs) found the show's producer and shoved him against a wall proceeding to chew him out. No charges are being pressed that I'm award of for the time being.
Yes, Crowe is known for being a bit volatile and hard to deal with at times, but I bet he wishes it hadn't happened. Academy members in the U.S. - generally an aging, conservative group - currently have their final Oscar ballots in their possession. What's the likelihood that they will consider changing their votes to one of the other nominees to avoid this sort of thing from happening again? On American soil?
A NEW SMILE FOR TOM CRUISE?
(02/26/02)
Amazing how a trip taking your kids to the orthodontist can change your life. It was noticed recently, that Tom's smile isn't all it could be. What ever will he do?
He'll be wearing braces of course. Invisible braces so they won't interfere with his work. He'll have to keep them on for about a year, then he'll be back smile and say cheese for the camera.
BOND ON THE SIDELINES
(02/24/02)
Pierce Brosnan, star of the upcoming Bond 20, has postponed filming for a couple of weeks due to a knee injury he suffered during filming.
Details are kinda sketchy and very top-secret. All that's being said is that he was injured during a stunt sequence involving water. Sounds like Brosnan was shaken, not stirred.
ATTENTION SCREENWRITERS
(02/22/02)
Applications are now being accepted for The Nicholl Fellowship, sponsored through the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships for screenwriting, will be awarding as many as 5 $30,000 fellowships later this year.
To enter, you must submit a completed application form, one copy of your original screenplay (in English) and an entry fee of US $30.00. Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1st, 2002. Last year there were nearly 5500 entries.
It is open to anyone who has not sold or optioned a screenplay or teleplay for more than $5,000 or been awarded a prize of fellowship the contains a "first look" clause.
For complete rules and an application, log-on to http://www.oscars.org/nicholl. Or - send an e-mail to nicholl@oscars.org and request a copy of rules and an application form. If you prefer snail mail, you can write to:
The Nicholl Fellowship
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972
AND THE NOMINEES ARE...
(02/12/02)
The movie industry was on pins and needles this morning awaiting the announcement of the 74th annual Academy Award nominees. The outcome will be announced at the award ceremony March 24th.
There were a few surprises, but most of the nominees were pretty much expected. The most nominated film was The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with 13. In the history of the awards, the film with the most nominations has won the award for Best Picture 18 times. A new category was announced this morning, Animated Feature Film. The nominees are: Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Monsters, Inc. and Shrek.
Here's a listing of the other nominees... Best Cinematography: Amelie, Black Hawk Down, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Man Who Wasn't There, Moulin Rouge. Best Costume Design: The Affair of the Necklace, Gosford Park, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge. Best Documentary Feature: Children Underground, Lalee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton, Murder on a Sunday Morning, Promises, War Photographer. Best Documentary Short Subject: Artists and Orphans: A True Drama, Sing!, Thoth. Best Film Editing: A Beautiful Mind, Black Hawk Down, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Memento, Moulin Rouge. Best Sound: Amelie, Black Hawk Down, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge, Pearl Harbor. Best Sound Editing: Monsters, Inc., Pearl Harbor. Best Visual Effects: A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Pearl Harbor. Best Art Direction: Amelie, Gosford Park, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge. Best Makeup: A Beautiful Mind, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge. Best Music (Score): A.I. Artificial Intelligence, A Beautiful Mind, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Monsters, Inc. Best Music (Song): Kate & Leopold, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Monsters, Inc., Pearl Harbor, Vanilla Sky. Best Short Film - Animated: Fifty Percent Grey, For The Birds, Give Up Yer Aul Sins, Strange Invaders, Stubble Trouble. Best Short Film - Live Action: The Accountant, Copy Shop, Gregor's Greatest Invention, A Man Thing (Meska Sprawa), Speed for Thespians. Best Foreign Language Film: Amelie, Elling, Lagaan, No Man's Land, Son of the Bride. Best Adapted Screenplay: A Beautiful Mind, Ghost World, In the Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Shrek. Best Original Screenplay: Amelie, Gosford Park, Memento, Monster's Ball, The Royal Tenenbaums. Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Connelly - A Beautiful Mind, Helen Mirren - Gosford Park, Maggie Smith - Gosford Park, Marisa Tomei - In The Bedroom, Kate Winslet - Iris. Best Supporting Actor: Jim Broadbent - Iris, Ethan Hawke - Training Day, Sir Ben Kingsley - Sexy Beast, Sir Ian McKellan - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Jon Voight - Ali. Best Actress: Halle Berry - Monster's Ball, Dame Judi Dench - Iris, Nicole Kidman - Moulin Rouge, Sissy Spacek - In the Bedroom, Renee Zellweger - Bridget Jones's Diary. Best Actor: Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind, Sean Penn - I Am Sam, Will Smith - Ali, Denzel Washington - Training Day, Tom Wilkinson - In the Bedroom. Best Director: Ron Howard - A Beautiful Mind, Ridley Scott - Black Hawk Down, Robert Altman - Gosford Park, Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, David Lynch - Mulholland Drive. Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge.
FIND YOUR TRUE LOVE
(02/10/02)
It's almost Valentine's Day! Need a date for the Oscars?
Well, here's something I found that I thought would be especially fun. The Celebrity Matchmaker.
It's a quick little test you can take to see who is your perfect match. There's a teen version of the test too, if you are the kind of person who thinks that George Clooney is too old for you. And shame on you if you do.
My perfect match was Russell Crowe. No big surprise there, I realize I could have told you that without even taking the test. But seriously, who will yours be?
AN ACTOR IN THE WHITE HOUSE?
(02/02/02)
Sounds pretty crazy right? Except for remembering those 8 years when the Bedtime for Bonzo star...oh never mind.
But seriously, there currently is an internet campaign to elect an actor as president. And just who is that actor you ask? John Cusack. Yep, that's right. John Cusack for President.
Check out the website at http://www.cusackforpresident.com. You can even buy yourself a t-shirt. Show your patriotic colors.
HONORING THEIR OWN
(01/29/02)
Nominations were announced this morning for the 8th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. If you paid attention to the Golden Globe Awards, some of them came as no surprise. On the other hand, some would.
In the category of Best Supporting Actress, the nominees are Judi Dench - The Shipping News, Cate
Blanchett - Bandits, Cameron Diaz - Vanilla Sky, Helen Mirren - Gosford Park and Dakota Fanning - I Am Sam. For Best Supporting Actor, the nominees are Jim Broadbent - Iris, Ben Kingsley - Sexy Beast, Ethan Hawke - Training Day, Hayden Christensen - Life as a House and Ian McKellen for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
The nominees for Best Actress are Jennifer Connelly - A Beautiful Mind, Halle Berry - Monster's Ball, Judi Dench - Iris, Renee Zellweger - Bridget Jones's Diary and Sissy Spacek - In the Bedroom. Notably missing in this category is Nicole Kidman who's turn in Moulin Rouge won her a Golden Globe award in this very category.
The Best Actor nominees are Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind, Kevin Kline - Life as a House, Sean Penn - I Am Sam, Denzel Washington - Training Day and Tom Wilkinson - In the Bedroom. Though he is believed to be a serious Oscar contender, a nomination for Will Smith was nowhere to be found.
Instead of a category for Best Picture, SAG awards the Best Ensemble. The nominees in this category are A Beautiful Mind, In the Bedroom, Gosford Park, Moulin Rouge and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Nominees were chosen by 4200 randomly selected members of the Screen Actors Guild, with the final votes cast by the union's entire 98,000 members. The telecast will be broadcast March 10th on TNT at 8pm ET/PT.
TAKE TWO FOR CRUISE AND SPIELBERG
(01/26/02)
Both Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg just wrapped filming or The Minority Report, and it must have been a positive experience for both, because Cruise has signed on to Spielberg's next film. Cruise will also act as co-producer on the project. Ghost Soldiers, is a WWII story based on the book by Hampton Sides' about the American survivors of the Bataan death march who then spent three years in a Japanese prison camp.
JUST LIKE BRUCE?
(01/25/02)
Word has it, that Kevin Costner is considering whether or not to change his hairstyle to one more resembling Bruce Willis, i.e. shaving it off.
Costner's hairline has been creeping for quite some time now, and various treatments haven't seemed to help.
Will a clean shaven noggin increase his film opportunities? Has Kevin been hearing voices in the cornfield? If you shave it, film roles will come.
THIRD TIMES A CHARM
(01/20/02)
He's been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for three straight years now. In 2000, for The Insider. In 2001, for Gladiator. Now in 2002, the nomination was for A Beautiful Mind. That one did the trick. Yep, that's right. The brilliant and incomperable Russell Crowe has now won his first Golden Globe Award. I'm so excited, I'm giddy. Congratulations Russell!!!
HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS HOSTS A "BEAUTIFUL" EVENING
(01/20/02)
The 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards, hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press, is touted as Hollywood's biggest party of the year, celebrating the best in both Motion Pictures and in Television.
The prestigious Cecil B DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Harrison Ford. Ford joking said that he "was nominated in a category where everyone else was dead." Ford has appeared in 35 films over a span of 40 or so years. 10 of those films have grossed over $100 million dollars at the box office.
In the categories of Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, the big winners in the acting categories were Gene Hackman for The Royal Tennenbaums and Nicole Kidman for Moulin Rouge. Best Picture - Musical or Comedy went to Moulin Rouge.
In the categories of Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Motion Picture, the winners were Jim Broadbent for Iris and Jennifer Connelly for A Beautiful Mind. Best Director went to Robert Altman for Gosford Park. A Beautiful Mind was the big winner of the evening, coming away with 4 of the 6 categories it had been nominated for. Aside from the win for Best Supporting Actress, ABM also won the categories of Best Screenplay (Akiva Goldsman), Best Actor (Russell Crowe) and Best Picture Drama.
Historically speaking, in the 58 years history of the Golden Globe Awards, the film named as Best Picture Drama has gone on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture 42 times. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
N*SYNC ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR?
(01/12/02)
Joey Fatone of the pop group N*SYNC (second from the left in the photo above) recently told the host of a Tampa radio show that he believed a scene in which he and his group mates shot for the upcoming Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones had been scrapped due to an outcry from Star Wars Fans.
In the scene, the pop group makes a cameo as doomed Jedi extras. George Lucas says he hasn't made the final decision to scrap the scene or not.
Would George Lucas really make a filming decision based on fan criticism? Well, let me just say this - Jar Jar Binks is still a member of the cast.
THAT A GIRL!!!
(01/10/02)
Whoopi Goldberg will be hosting the 74th Annual Academy Awards presentation to be held March 24th in the new Kodak Center.
This will be the fourth time Whoopi has taken the stage as hostess of the prestigious event.
IT'S IN THE MAIL
(01/08/02)
If you're a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, you should be getting your nomination ballot in the mail any day now as they have just been sent out.
This year, over 253 films are eligible for nomination for the 74th annual presentation to be held in March.
RECORDS SET IN HOLLYWOOD
(01/05/02)
Despite the attrocious selection of movies playing across the nation this summer (of have you forgotten Planet of the Apes?), Hollywood held another record setting year for ticket sales. Over 8.3 billion dollars worth.
Yes, there were fewer screens than the year before, but higher ticket prices made the difference.
