Yay for Tracey!

Tracey Ullman will have a new limited series on Showtime. Supposed to be a look at pop culture and she will be doing impressions on various celebrities. It is called Tracey Ullman's State of the Union:

”TRACEY ULLMAN'S STATE OF THE UNION will feature a kaleidoscope of original characters and impersonations in a wide collection of irreverent and hilarious skits that range from sardonic parody and social satire to Bollywood musicals. The limited series is a snapshot of modern day America as seen through the brilliant comedic mind of Tracey Ullman. Tracey tackles the country's celebrity-obsessed, 24- hour news culture by portraying a variety of characters from celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellweger, Dina Lohan, Tony Sirico and David Beckham to politicians and pundits like Nancy Pelosi and Arianna Huffington. Additionally, Ullman has created a new line-up of original characters that reflect a cross-section of American society from an Indian pharmacist to a homeless woman without health insurance to a soldier on temporary leave from Iraq.”

Renee!!! Brilliant! So looking forward to her take on Sphincter Face.

"Defiance" Trailer

Danny Craig is gonna have a busy year next year. He has teamed up with Ed (Brilliant with TV, not so much with movies) Zwick with "Defiance"

Well it certainly seems to be pushing all the right buttons, and it is nice to see these actors attempting accents (please take note Mr. Cruise in your upcoming movie). This could be one of those inspirational films that is tough to ignore. Zwick always does seem to be able to score Oscar noms, especially for actors, so look out.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to some wonderfully funny people today.

Firstly the hysterical and lovely Betty White (86). Happy Birthday Betty!!! I hope Bea, Rue and Estelle come over for some cake and laughs. Her and Bea Arthur just make me pee my pants.

Did you know Betty was originally considered for the role of the sexpot, "Blanche," on "The Golden Girls". However, Betty had already been the aggressive "Sue Ann Nivens" on "Mary Tyler Moore" and Rue McClanahan had played the introverted "Vivian" on "Maude". It was thought best not to have these two actresses reprise similar characters. Therefore, Betty got the part of naive "Rose Nylund" and Rue played the oversexed "Blanche".

Hurrah!!

Secondly to the wonderful and sexy Eartha Kitt (81). Not only is she super charismatic, but she has impeccable timing and wit in all of her stage shows. A funny funny woman.

Did you know Kitt encountered a substantial professional setback after she made anti-war statements during a White House luncheon. It was falsely reported that she made First Lady Lady Bird Johnson cry uncontrollably. How delicious. If only it were true.
Still she tours and sings, and it a work of art. Here is hoping she has a wonderful and purrfect Birthday.

And who can forget funny man Jim Carrey turns 46 today.

The Oscar snubbee will have plenty more chances to prove his worth to the Academy. Did you know that Nicole Kidman calls him her best male friend? How strange? Also he was considered for the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and the role of "Willy Wonka" in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Totally different movies they would have been eh? Like his comedic work, but find he is hitting his stride with more dramatic parts. "Eternal Sunshine" is the beacon of his career (IMHO)

Lastly, my dear personal friend Lee Lee Lollipops. Entertainer to tens of people across Dartford.

Lee Lee started his career at the tender age of 7 on stage. He was in the local panto as spunky orphan Molly in "Little Orphan Annie".
From there regional amateur theater and school plays made him the talk of the estate.
Borrowing his mums clothing and makeup and making wigs out of mops and tinsel, he would entertain the local kids with songs by Cilla Black and Shirley Bassey

After his great success as Madge in "Neighbours the Musical" Lee Lee felt the stage was too much to cope with and decided to retire early. He has now taken up the career as scanning technician at ASDA, but can still be heard singing "I, Who Have Nothing" during lunch breaks in the staff room.

Here is hoping you get your comeback darling!

Anyway Birthday people....keep the talent coming.

Movie Trailer news

First off Even Rachel Wood survives a Columbine type high school event to grow up and become Uma Thurman in "The Life Before Her Eyes". Both actresses are hoping to get Oscars attention here.



Secondly, who does not love Tine Fey and Amy Poehler. Here they are in "Baby Mama".

You gotta check this out!!!!

Those of you waiting for the lovely Maria Bello to finally make a leading lady splash, well look no further.

This trailer looks like it will be a tough watch, but one that will show everyone just what Bello is capable of. It will get it's premier at Sundance this year. Not too sure if it will translate into Oscar. Films of this subject will have a hard enough time finding an audience, yet alone one with AMPAS members. Whatever happens, I will be watching it very very closely to see how it is received.


Yes...that is a bit of nipplicios you see peaking out there. She just can't keep 'em on!

The film is "Downloading Nancy" and according to IMDB it is about the following:

The story follows the fate of the unhappy wife Nancy who orders the guy she meets over the Internet to kill her, but the two of them fall in love.

But it looks like so much more.

The New Oscar Poster.

What is up with Oscar?

Is he all scared and shaking on his pedestal at the prospects of having to deal with Sweeney Todd, Daniel Plainview, Anton Chigurh, Briony Tallis and Edith Piaf all in one night?

Has the AMPAS finally perfected that Oscar Jello mold?

Is he just a shimmer due to all that magical "Stardust"?

Or did Edna Turnblad just start-a-dancing?

What ever the reason for the apparent shakes, this is the most glitzy, camp, jazz-hands-at-the-ready poster they have done in a while. Please let Liza Minelli sing "Everybody love you Oscar" again!

BAFTA Nominations Announced!

And they get it so right!



BEST FILM
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Brian Grazer/Ridley Scott
ATONEMENT – Tim Bevan/Eric Fellner/Paul Webster
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Quirin Berg/Max Wiedemann
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Scott Rudin/Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – JoAnne Sellar/Paul Thomas Anderson/Daniel Lupi

BEST BRITISH FILM
ATONEMENT – Tim Bevan/Eric Fellner/Paul Webster/Joe Wright/Christopher Hampton
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Frank Marshall/Patrick Crowley/Paul L Sandberg/Paul Greengrass/Tony Gilroy/Scott Z Burns/George Nolfi
CONTROL – Orian Williams/ Todd Eckert/Anton Corbijn/Matt Greenhalgh
EASTERN PROMISES – Paul Webster/Robert Lantos/David Cronenberg/Steve Knight
THIS IS ENGLAND – Mark Herbert/Shane Meadows

THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD
for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer in their First Feature Film

CHRIS ATKINS (Director/Writer) – Taking Liberties
MIA BAYS (Producer) – Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
SARAH GAVRON (Director) – Brick Lane
MATT GREENHALGH (Writer) – Control
ANDREW PIDDINGTON (Director/Writer) – The Killing of John Lennon

DIRECTOR
ATONEMENT – Joe Wright
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Paul Greengrass
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Paul Thomas Anderson

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Steven Zaillian
JUNO – Diablo Cody
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
MICHAEL CLAYTON – Tony Gilroy
THIS IS ENGLAND – Shane Meadows

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ATONEMENT – Christopher Hampton
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – Ronald Harwood
THE KITE RUNNER – David Benioff
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Paul Thomas Anderson

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
nominations announced on Friday 4 January

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – Kathleen Kennedy/Jon Kilik/Julian Schnabel
THE KITE RUNNER – William Horberg/Walter Parkes/Rebecca Yeldham/Marc Foster
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Quirin Berg/Max Wiedemann/Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
LUST, CAUTION – Bill Kong/James Schamus/Ang Lee
LA VIE EN ROSE – Alain Goldman/Olivier Dahan


ANIMATED FILM
RATATOUILLE – Brad Bird
SHREK THE THIRD – Chris Miller
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE – Matt Groening/James L Brooks

LEADING ACTOR
GEORGE CLOONEY – Michael Clayton
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS – There Will Be Blood
JAMES McAVOY – Atonement
VIGGO MORTENSEN – Eastern Promises
ULRICH MÜHE – The Lives of Others

LEADING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT – Elizabeth: The Golden Age
JULIE CHRISTIE – Away From Her
MARION COTILLARD – La Vie en Rose
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY – Atonement
ELLEN PAGE – Juno

SUPPORTING ACTOR
JAVIER BARDEM – No Country for Old Men
PAUL DANO – There Will Be Blood
TOMMY LEE JONES – No Country for Old Men
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – Charlie Wilson’s War
TOM WILKINSON – Michael Clayton

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT – I’m Not There
KELLY MACDONALD – No Country for Old Men
SAMANTHA MORTON – Control
SAOIRSE RONAN – Atonement
TILDA SWINTON – Michael Clayton

MUSIC
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Marc Streitenfeld
ATONEMENT – Dario Marianelli
THE KITE RUNNER – Alberto Iglesias
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Jonny Greenwood
LA VIE EN ROSE – Christopher Gunning

CINEMATOGRAPHY
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Harris Savides
ATONEMENT – Seamus McGarvey
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Oliver Wood
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Roger Deakins
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Robert Elswit

EDITINGAMERICAN GANGSTER – Pietro Scalia
ATONEMENT – Paul Tothill
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Christopher Rouse
MICHAEL CLAYTON – John Gilroy
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Roderick Jaynes

PRODUCTION DESIGN
ATONEMENT – Sarah Greenwood/Katie Spencer
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Guy Hendrix Dyas/Richard Roberts
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX – Stuart Craig/Stephenie McMillan
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Jack Fisk/Jim Erickson
LA VIE EN ROSE – Olivier Raoux

COSTUME DESIGN
ATONEMENT – Jacqueline Durran
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Alexandra Byrne
LUST, CAUTION – Pan Lai
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET – Colleen Atwood
LA VIE EN ROSE – Marit Allen

SOUND
ATONEMENT – Danny Hambrook/Paul Hamblin/Catherine Hodgson
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Kirk Francis/Scott Millan/Dave Parker/Karen Baker Landers/Per Hallberg
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Peter Kurland/Skip Lievsay/Craig Berkey/Greg Orloff
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Christopher Scarabosio/Matthew Wood/John Pritchett/Michael Semanick/Tom Johnson
LA VIE EN ROSE – Laurent Zeilig/Pascal Villard/Jean-Paul Hurier/Marc Doisne

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Peter Chiang/Charlie Noble/Mattias Lindahl/Joss Williams
THE GOLDEN COMPASS – Michael Fink/Bill Westenhofer/Ben Morris/Trevor Woods
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX – Tim Burke/John Richardson/Emma Norton/Chris Shaw
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END – John Knoll/Charles Gibson/Hal Hickel/John Frazier
SPIDER-MAN 3 – Scott Stokdyk/Peter Nofz/Kee-Suk Ken Hahn/Spencer Cook

MAKE UP & HAIR
ATONEMENT – Ivana Primorac
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Jenny Shircore
HAIRSPRAY – Nominees TBC
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET – Ivana Primorac
LA VIE EN ROSE – Jan Archibald/Didier Lavergne

SHORT ANIMATION
THE PEARCE SISTERS – Jo Allen/Luis Cook
HEAD OVER HEELS – Osbert Parker/Fiona Pitkin/Ian Gouldstone
THE CRUMBLEGIANT – Pearse Moore/John McCloskey

SHORT FILM
DOG ALTOGETHER – Diarmid Scrimshaw/Paddy Considine
HESITATION – Julien Berlan/Michelle Eastwood/Virginia Gilbert
THE ONE AND ONLY HERB MCGWYER PLAYS WALLIS ISLAND – Charlie Henderson/James Griffiths/Tim Key/Tom Basden
SOFT – Jane Hooks/Simon Ellis
THE STRONGER – Dan McCulloch/Lia Williams/Frank McGuinness

THE ORANGE RISING STAR AWARD
(voted for by the public) – nominees announced on Tuesday 8 January

SHIA LABEOUF
SIENNA MILLER
ELLEN PAGE
SAM RILEY
TANG WEI

Mini Review: Gone Baby Gone.

Well I am going to keep this extremely mini.

The Good:

Ben Affleck does a commendable job with his direction and screenplay. Although the characters do not seem fully rounded or completely believable he does show understanding of what he is doing. Something that I am sure will improve with each directing outing.

Ed Harris was kind of good in a 'hey look at me acting like a tough cop' kind of way. Ed = tough = a little sexy.

Amy Madigan should have been in it more…she was one of the few characters people in this.

Morgan Freeman can break your heart with his nobility. Isn't he always noble though? How I wish for him to go and do another "Nurse Betty" role.

The film was a very glossy one to look at. Even the shit holes and crack dens looked cinematic.


The Not-so-Good:

Why all the flashbacks and narrative and voiceovers?…I am not that stupid. It felt like a "Young and the Restless" episode at times.

Why were Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan together? I got no chemistry or reason for them being an item, yet alone business partners.

A film about kid napping/child molestation should strike fear and tension in the viewer. Not once was I upset. This is mainly because of the muted tone the director chose, not only did it mute the look of the film, but the feel of it as well. A film of this nature should make you feel strongly or at least upset you. This really did neither, even though the bath tub scene tries to shock you, you have already prepared yourself for it.

Please…..someone please tell me why Amy Ryan is having all this praise and awards attention dumped all over her. Her performance is nothing more than capable. She plays a monster of a mother, but none of her actions ring remotely true. Are we supposed to believe she is concerned about her daughter’s whereabouts? There is no fluidity of character in this performance. It is being a bitch with an Bostonian accent one minute, being scared with a Bostonian accent another, and crying with a Bostonian accent the next. There is nothing remotely human here. Disney villians have more depth.

Lastly...the films big moral dilema at the end. For me at least it is a no brainer, but I still found it odd that we are supposed to buy a characters moral code when we have seen what he will turn a blind eye to to get the information he wants.

All in all this is a good start, but not great.C-

Producers Guild Announce Nominations.

Another slap to Atonement, but this year there have been very strong American films. What with this being an election year with most of the world watching to see if the U.S. can fix their mess themselves, no wonder they are looking inward.

The lone exception is "Diving Bell" (pictured) but it is apparently (need to see it NOW) inspirational, and that is a universal language.
For this year, "Atonement" could seem far to foreign (overly British and old fashioned) to be heaped with praise from a country looking inward.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax)
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax/Paramount Vantage)
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage/Miramax)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN ANIMATED THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

“Bee Movie” (Dreamworks Animation)
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation)
“The Simpsons Movie” (20th Century FOX)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN DOCUMENTARY THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

“Body Of War” (Phil Donahue Productions/Mobilus Media)
“Hear And Now” (HBO)
“Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song” (The Weinstein Company)
“Sicko” (The Weinstein Company)
“White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki” (HBO)

The Golden Gobes Winners!

Best Picture: Atonement This is a wonderful boost for "Atonement" and it's chances at an Oscar nomination. If it is not nominated this will be the first time since 1963 that a Globe winner has not gone on to be nominated for an Oscar.

Best Actor, Drama: Daniel Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood Wonderful news, but still think George or Johnny can take the Oscar.

Best Actress, Drama: Julie Christie, Away From Her If the Academy trend of giving Oscar to older women is still going then she will make a wonderful winner (still a little doubtful.

Best Picture Comedy/Musical: Sweeney Todd Cool..some life in the old girl (then again "Dreamgirls" beat "Little Miss sunshine" here last year.

Best Screenplay: No Country for Old Men Duh

Best Actor Musical/Comedy: Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd Duh

Best Actress - Musical Comedy: Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose Category fraud but I am still happy.

Best Director: Julian Schnabel, Diving Bell and the Butterfly! Hardly the surprise people think it is. The awards body voting are call The Hollywood FOREIGN Press!

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There Yawn

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men Zzzzzz

Animated Film: Ratatouille Expected, but still YAY!

Best Song: Guaranteed - Into the Wild Yawn

Best Score: Atonement Fantastic!

Best Foreign Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Expected.

On a personal note. Very happy that Sam Morton won for Longford in Best Supporting Actress for TV. She has given a few wonderful performances this year, and nothing to show for it.

Best of 2007

Sasha Stone over at Awards Daily" posted this, and it was just so beautiful and a nice reminder that whatever happens with the Oscars and all these silly awards, 2007 has been a great year for film.

I don't feel so bad for them now.

Boy I bet they are really funny in person.
This interview made me feel all warm and cozy, and not at all upset that these two fantastic actors will probably not be nominated for Oscars.
This interview shows them relaxed, head strong, full of good humor and wit, and especially in the case of Keira, totally in on the joke of awards season, Oscars and celebrity.

"EW: Both of you have also been through the Oscar-season process before. What was it like for you?

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY: For me it was the first time that anyone said that I could remotely act. So going from just a pretty face who's shit to somebody being nominated for an Oscar was hilarious! And also I knew that I hadn't got a fucking hope in hell of actually winning it, so it took the pressure off. But I never read a script and go, ''Ooh, that could be an Oscar.''"

I love them. Judging by what they both have lined up, it looks like their careers will not be over soon. Read the whole interview here!

This is Oscar.

I asked who you felt deserved the Best Supporting Actress Oscar back in 1989.

And the results of this were hardly surprising:

5) With 4% of the votes we have Angelica Huston – “Enemies: A Love Story”
Tied with
5) With 4% of the votes we have Lena Olin – “Enemies: A Love Story”

3) With 8% of the votes we have Julia Roberts – “Steel Magnolias”

2) With 32% of the votes we have Dianne Wiest – “Parenthood”

1) With a 53% we have Brenda Fricker – “My Left Foot”

No one could really vote against Christy Browns Mum could they.
She became the eventual Oscar winner for her portrayal of a mother who’s strong will never allowed her to give up on her son who was born with crippling cerebral palsy never gives up.
She was up against much bigger names, but in the end the performance won out.

However, poor Brenda never did go on to make many other films of great note. Always getting the small roles of either wise old woman (“Home Alone 2: Lost In New York”) or Irish Ma (“So I Married and Axe Murderer” and “Veronica Guerin”) or any other old mother/grand ma role going.

I think it is about time for a comeback! Someone cast her and prove this was no fluke.

For my next poll we will be looking ahead in the Best Actress category, 1990.
The women you have to choose from are:


Kathy Bates - Misery
Anjelica Huston - The Grifters
Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman
Meryl Streep - Postcards from the Edge
Joanne Woodward - Mr. and Mrs. Bridge

Vote to the right ->