Susan Sarandon dishes on botox

Actress Susan Sarandon has been speaking to PEOPLE magazine about botox:

..while she's "not against" plastic surgery, the Oscar-winner said she is opposed to the fear of aging that drives people to take extreme measures, like "exaggerated lip plumping."

"You can see I haven't had Botox [or] these things would be gone," she said, pointing to her frown lines. "I can't afford to have my face not moving."

In the end, Sarandon thinks her more natural look could be the secret to professional staying power.

In a few years, "I'll have an advantage of being the only one who looks 60," she said with a laugh. "Everyone else looks so much younger. [I'll] probably get all those parts!"

She has an interesting point about getting work. In England, our actresses may have the odd nip and tuck (Julie Christie and Vanessa Redgrave both admit to having had "work" done) but at least they still look like themselves. Maybe it's just a cultural difference, but we're used to our actresses gaining lines on their faces as they get older and it'd be hard to imagine Judi Dench or Helen Mirren with smooth botoxed faces. I just don't think that we'd accept it!

However, American actresses seem hell-bent on getting every last expression line botoxed off their faces, leaving them with a weird waxy smooth mask in some cases - I'm looking at you Faye Dunaway! What I don't like is how it's happening with younger actresses too. I was watching a DVD of Dallas the other day and what struck me was how the actresses in that show were able to actually move their faces. They could frown and their eyes crinkled up when they smiled. In other words, they had expressive faces.

Ok, so that was back in the seventies, but today you hardly ever see an actress frown or raise her eyebrows - they simply can't do it! I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not totally against getting a little "freshen up" when required, but I like to see expressive faces that can move but these days it's gotten to the point where it's pretty much unacceptable for an actress to have a single wrinkle on their faces so they've ended up freezing the damn things!

Julie Christie at sixty seven

It's hard to believe that Julie Christie is sixty seven today. When I was younger, she was always one of my favourite actresses and, being a symbol of sixties youth and forever associated with that decade, you could never quite envisage her as an old lady but he we are on her sixty seventh birthday. She's still feisty and still beautiful. Sure, she's had a facelift, but at least she still resembles herself and allows herself to have some wrinkles, unlike some of her peers - I'm looking at you, Faye Dunaway!

Jane Fonda "My Life So Far"

I've just finished Jane Fonda's autobiography "My Life So Far". It's a thick ol' book so I'd been putting off reading it, but I saw one of her films on the telly recently and it intrigued me sufficiently to pick it up and start reading. It's very well written and as far as I can tell it is actually written by Fonda herself and not dictated to a ghost writer. There is an immediacy about her writing and her voice jumps off the page. I could hear her distinctive voice with each line I read.

Obviously, as the daughter of Henry Fonda, she met many famous actors throughout her life, but I particularly enjoyed her stories about two ladies in particular - Katharine Hepburn during the filming of "On Golden Pond" and Greta Garbo whom she met while on holiday as a teenager with her father in the South of France.

Fonda describes the various different people she became throughout her life, from young comic actress to sex bomb Barbarella, to political activist and anti-war campaigner, back to acting and becoming the top leading lady of American cinema in the seventies with two Academy Awards and huge box-office success as a film producer, then came the Jane Fonda Workout business and videotapes followed by her retirement from acting to focus on her third marriage.

What she also talks about at length and very candidly is the relationships she had with her three husbands. I've always liked Jane Fonda and admired her courage and outspoken views, but what I hadn't realised is how submissive she was in her marriages. With all three of them she describes how she lost herself while trying to please her husbands and ended up forgetting who she was while moulding herself into the wife that her husbands wanted her to become.

She doesn't bitch and moan about her husbands and she managed to remain friends with all three of them, but at times it doesn't make for comfortable reading, though there is a very funny scene where Fonda describes how she caught her third husband Ted Turner cheating on her after only one month of marriage and she beats him over the head with her car phone. Sassy lady!

She's made two films since "retiring" fifteen years ago. Neither of them were particularly good, but at least it's got Fonda acting again. I can't stand it when actors just fade away and I still love seeing older actors in films like Fonda, Julie Christie and Vanessa Redgrave. My favourite Fonda film? I've always liked "The China Syndrome" with its anti-nuclear message and I've always been a sucker for those paranoid political thrillers from the Seventies. Also, Fonda has the best hair in this film, bright Brenda Starr red hair, plus she has a pet turtle!

2008 Academy Award winners

Well, I only got a few wrong, namely the awards for Best and Supporting Actress. Ah well, I guess it would've been awkward to give the award to Julie Christie since she scarely even makes films these days. Looking at that photograph above of the acting winners, I've just realised that they're all European, two Brits, a Spaniard and a French woman. That's sure not going to down well around Hollywood once that realisation sinks in. Anyway, here's the full list:

Best Motion Picture
WINNER: "No Country for Old Men"
· "Atonement"
· "Juno"
· "Michael Clayton"
· "There Will Be Blood"

Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role
WINNER: Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"
· George Clooney in "Michael Clayton"
· Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
· Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah"
· Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises"

Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role
WINNER: Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose"
· Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
· Julie Christie in "Away From Her"
· Laura Linney in "The Savages"
· Ellen Page in "Juno"

Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role
WINNER: Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men"
· Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
· Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War"
· Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild"
· Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton"

Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role
WINNER: Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton"
· Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There"
· Ruby Dee in "American Gangster"
· Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement"
· Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"

Achievement In Directing
WINNER: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for "No Country for Old Men"
· Julian Schnabel for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
· Jason Reitman for "Juno"
· Tony Gilroy for "Michael Clayton"
· Paul Thomas Anderson for "There Will Be Blood"

Adapted Screenplay
WINNER: "No Country for Old Men" by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
· "Atonement" by Christopher Hampton
· "Away From Her" by Sarah Polley
· "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" by Ronald Harwood
· "There Will Be Blood" by Paul Thomas Anderson

Original Screenplay
WINNER: "Juno" by Diablo Cody
· "Lars and the Real Girl" by Nancy Oliver
· "Michael Clayton" by Tony Gilroy
· "Ratatouille" by Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco
· "The Savages" by Tamara Jenkins

Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song)
WINNER: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for "Falling Slowly" from "Once"
· Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for "Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted"
· Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas for "Raise It Up" from "August Rush"
· Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for "So Close" from "Enchanted"
· Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for "That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"

Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score)
WINNER: Dario Marianelli for "Atonement"
· Alberto Iglesias for "The Kite Runner"
· James Newton Howard for "Michael Clayton"
· Michael Giacchino for "Ratatouille"
· Marco Beltrami for "3:10 to Yuma"

Achievement In Cinematography
WINNER: Robert Elswit for "There Will Be Blood"
· Roger Deakins for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
· Seamus McGarvey for "Atonement"
· Janusz Kaminski for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
· Roger Deakins for "No Country for Old Men"

Achievement In Film Editing
WINNER: Christopher Rouse for "The Bourne Ultimatum"
· Juliette Welfling for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
· Jay Cassidy for "Into the Wild"
· Roderick Jaynes for "No Country for Old Men"
· Dylan Tichenor for "There Will Be Blood"

Achievement In Costume Design
WINNER: Alexandra Byrne for "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
· Albert Wolsky for "Across the Universe"
· Jacqueline Durran for "Atonement"
· Marit Allen for "La Vie en Rose"
· Colleen Atwood for "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

Achievement In Art Direction
WINNER: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo for "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
· Arthur Max and Beth A. Rubino for "American Gangster"
· Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer for "Atonement"
· Dennis Gassner and Anna Pinnock for "The Golden Compass"
· Jack Fisk and Jim Erickson for "There Will Be Blood"

Best Animated Feature Film
WINNER: "Ratatouille"
· "Persepolis"
· "Surf's Up"

Best Animated Short Film
WINNER: "Peter & the Wolf"
· "I Met the Walrus"
· "Madame Tutli-Putli"
· "Même les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)"
· "My Love (Moya Lyubov)"

Best Live Action Short Film
WINNER: "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)"
· "At Night"
· "Il Supplente (The Substitute)"
· "Tanghi Argentini"
· "The Tonto Woman"

Best Documentary Feature
WINNER: "Taxi to the Dark Side"
· "No End in Sight"
· "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"
· "Sicko"
· "War/Dance"

Best Documentary Short Subject
WINNER: "Freeheld"
· "La Corona (The Crown)"
· "Salim Baba"
· "Sari's Mother"

Best Foreign Language Film
WINNER: "The Counterfeiters" (Austria)
· "Beaufort" (Israel)
· "Katyn" (Poland)
· "Mongol" (Kazakhstan)
· "12" (Russia)

Achievement In Visual Effects
WINNER: Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood for "The Golden Compass"
· John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
· Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier for "Transformers"

Achievement In Makeup
WINNER: Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald for "La Vie en Rose"
· Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji for "Norbit"
· Ve Neill and Martin Samuel for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

Achievement In Sound Editing
WINNER: Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg for "The Bourne Ultimatum"
· Skip Lievsay for "No Country for Old Men"
· Randy Thom and Michael Silvers for "Ratatouille"
· Christopher Scarabosio and Matthew Wood for "There Will Be Blood"
· Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins for "Transformers"

Achievement In Sound Mixing
WINNER: Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis for "The Bourne Ultimatum"
· Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland for "No Country for Old Men"
· Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kanefor "Ratatouille"
· Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe for "3:10 to Yuma"
· Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin for "Transformers"

BAFTA winners (and losers!)

Ok, so I got it wrong and Marion Cotillard beat out Julie Christie for Best Actress, but I didn't do too badly with the other categories did I?

Best film
Winner:
Atonement
Also nominated:
American Gangster
The Lives of Others
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best British film
Winner:
This is England
Also nominated:
Atonement
The Bourne Ultimatum
Control
Eastern Promises

Leading actor
Winner:
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Also nominated:
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
James McAvoy - Atonement
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises
Ulrich Muehe - The Lives of Others

Leading actress
Winner:
Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose
Also nominated:
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away From Her
Keira Knightley - Atonement
Ellen Page - Juno

Supporting actor
Winner:
Javier Bardem - No Country For Old Men
Also nominated:
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
Winner:
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
Also nominated:
Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
Kelly Macdonald - No Country For Old Men
Samantha Morton - Control
Saoirse Ronan - Atonement

Director
Winner:
No Country For Old Men - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Also nominated:
Atonement - Joe Wright
The Bourne Ultimatum - Paul Greengrass
The Lives of Others - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
There Will Be Blood - Paul Thomas Anderson

Original screenplay
Winner:
Juno - Diablo Cody
Also nominated:
American Gangster - Steven Zaillian
The Lives of Others - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Michael Clayton - Tony Gilroy
This is England - Shane Meadows

Adapted screenplay
Winner:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Ronald Harwood
Also nominated:
Atonement - Christopher Hampton
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
Winner:
The Lives of Others
Also nominated:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Kite Runner
Lust, Caution
La Vie En Rose

Animated film
Winner:
Ratatouille
Also nominated:
Shrek the Third
The Simpsons Movie

Carl Foreman award for special achievement by a British director, writer or producer in their first feature film
Winner:
Matt Greenhalgh (writer) - Control
Also nominated:
Chris Atkins (director/writer) - Taking Liberties
Mia Bays (producer) - Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Sarah Gavron (director) - Brick Lane
Andrew Piddington (director/writer) - The Killing of John Lennon

Music
Winner:
La Vie En Rose - Christopher Gunning
Also nominated:
American Gangster - Marc Streitenfeld
Atonement - Dario Marianelli
The Kite Runner - Alberto Iglesias
There Will Be Blood - Jonny Greenwood
Cinematography
Winner:
No Country For Old Men - Roger Deakins
Also nominated:
American Gangster - Harris Savides
Atonement - Seamus McGarvey
The Bourne Ultimatum - Oliver Wood
There Will Be Blood - Robert Elswit

Editing
Winner:
The Bourne Ultimatum - Christopher Rouse
Also nominated:
American Gangster - Pietro Scalia
Atonement - Paul Tothill
Michael Clayton - John Gilroy
No Country For Old Men - Roderick Jaynes

Production design
Winner:
Atonement - Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
Also nominated:
Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Guy Hendrix Dyas, Richard Roberts
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Stuart Craig, Stepheanie McMillan
There Will Be Blood - Jack Fisk, Jim Erickson
La Vie En Rose - Olivier Raoux

Costume design
Winner:
La Vie En Rose - Marit Allen
Also nominated:
Atonement - Jacqueline Durran
Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Alexandra Byrne
Lust, Caution - Pan Lai
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Colleen Atwood

Sound
Winner:
The Bourne Ultimatum - Kirk Francis, Scott Millan, Dave Parker, Karen Baker Landers, Per Hallberg
Also nominated:
Atonement - Danny Hambrook, Paul Hamblin, Catherine Hodgson, Becki Ponting
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
Winner:
The Golden Compass - Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris, Trevor Wood
Also nominated:
The Bourne Ultimatum - Peter Chiang, Charlie Noble, Mattias Lindahl, Joss Williams
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, John Frazier, Spencer Cook

Make-up and hair
Winner:
La Vie En Rose - Jan Archibald, Didier Lavergne
Also nominated:
Atonement - Ivana Primorac
Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Jenny Shircore
Hairspray - Judi Cooper Sealy, Jordan Samuel
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Ivana Primorac, Peter Owen

Short animation
Winner:
The Pearce Sisters - Jo Allen, Luis Cook
Also nominated:
Head Over Heels - Osbert Parker, Fiona Pitkin, Ian Gouldstone
The Crumblegiant - Pearse Moore, John McCloskey

Short film
Winner:
Dog Altogether - Diarmid Scrimshaw, Paddy Considine
Also nominated:
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)
Winner:
Shia LaBeouf
Also nominated:
Sienna Miller
Ellen Page
Sam Riley
Tang Wei

Academy Fellowship
Sir Anthony Hopkins

Outstanding British contribution to cinema
Barry Wilkinson

The fourteenth Annual SAG Screen Actors Guild Awards

The fourteenth Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) have been announced:

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Daniel Plainview – There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage)


Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JULIE CHRISTIE / Fiona – Away From Her (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh – No Country For Old Men (Miramax Films)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas – American Gangster (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Miramax Films)

JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh
JOSH BROLIN / Llewelyn Moss
GARRET DILLAHUNT / Wendell
TESS HARPER / Loretta Bell WOODY HARRELSON / Carson Wells
TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell
KELLY MACDONALD / Carla Jean Moss

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – As You Like It (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – Life Support (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – 30 Rock (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – 30 Rock (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE OFFICE (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Universal)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24 (FOX)


Screen Actors Guild Awards 44th Annual Life Achievement Award
Charles Durning

In case you didn't realise, that's Burt Reynolds presenting veteran character actor Charles Durning with his award. WTF has Burt done to his face? His skin is pulled and stretched as tight as a drum!

Compare Burt's overworked face with the beautiful Julie Christie. Sure, she's had a little bit of work done (she was a bit vague about it, but she's admitted to having her jaw lifted and maybe a lower face lift) but she still looks great, don't you think? I reckon that a few wrinkles on a face is nothing to be ashamed of, we earn them and they add character.

At least Christie still looks like her old self, unlike Burt who kinda looks Chinese these days. Poor Burt, he was such a hot stud back in the day.

Academy Award nominations for 2007

Here's the full list of Academy Award nominees for 2007. Take a deep breath!

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
(DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah” (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises” (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War” (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in “Into the Wild” (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal)
Julie Christie in “Away from Her” (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose” (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in “The Savages” (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in “Juno” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There” (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in “American Gangster” (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement” (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone” (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
“Persepolis” (Sony Pictures Classics) Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney) Brad Bird
“Surf's Up” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

Achievement in art direction
“American Gangster” (Universal)
Art Direction: Arthur Max
Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
“Atonement” (Focus Features)
Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood
Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Golden Compass” (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners)
Art Direction: Dennis Gassner
Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Art Direction: Dante Ferretti
Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Art Direction: Jack Fisk
Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

Achievement in cinematography
“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (Warner Bros.) Roger Deakins
“Atonement” (Focus Features) Seamus McGarvey
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn) Janusz Kaminski
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roger Deakins
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) Robert Elswit

Achievement in costume design
“Across the Universe” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
“Atonement” (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
“Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
“La Vie en Rose” (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood

Achievement in directing
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn) Julian Schnabel
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight) Jason Reitman
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.) Tony Gilroy
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) Paul Thomas Anderson

Best documentary feature
“No End in Sight” (Magnolia Pictures)
A Representational Pictures Production
Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
“Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience” (The Documentary Group)
A Documentary Group Production
Richard E. Robbins
“Sicko” (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company)
A Dog Eat Dog Films Production
Michael Moore and Meghan O’Hara
“Taxi to the Dark Side” (THINKFilm)
An X-Ray Production
Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
“War/Dance” (THINKFilm)
A Shine Global and Fine Films Production
Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

Best documentary short subject
“Freeheld”
A Lieutenant Films Production
Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
“La Corona (The Crown)”
A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production
Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
“Salim Baba”
A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production
Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
“Sari’s Mother” (Cinema Guild)
A Daylight Factory Production
James Longley

Achievement in film editing
“The Bourne Ultimatum” (Universal) Christopher Rouse
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn) Juliette Welfling
“Into the Wild” (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment) Jay Cassidy
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) Dylan Tichenor

Best foreign language film of the year
“Beaufort” A Metro Communications, Movie Plus Production
Israel
“The Counterfeiters” An Aichholzer Filmproduktion, Magnolia Filmproduktion Production
Austria
“Katyń” An Akson Studio Production
Poland
“Mongol” A Eurasia Film Production
Kazakhstan
“12” A Three T Production
Russia

Achievement in makeup
“La Vie en Rose” (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
“Norbit” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount) Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (Walt Disney) Ve Neill and Martin Samuel

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Atonement” (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
“The Kite Runner” (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics) Alberto Iglesias
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
“3:10 to Yuma” (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Falling Slowly” from “Once”
(Fox Searchlight)
Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
“Happy Working Song” from “Enchanted”
(Walt Disney)
Music by Alan Menken
Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
“Raise It Up” from “August Rush”
(Warner Bros.)
Nominees to be determined
“So Close” from “Enchanted”
(Walt Disney)
Music by Alan Menken
Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
“That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted”
(Walt Disney)
Music by Alan Menken
Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

Best motion picture of the year
“Atonement” (Focus Features)
A Working Title Production
Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production
Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
A Clayton Productions, LLC Production
Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production
Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production
JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

Best animated short film
“I Met the Walrus”
A Kids & Explosions Production
Josh Raskin
“Madame Tutli-Putli” (National Film Board of Canada)
A National Film Board of Canada Production
Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
“Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)” (Premium Films)
A BUF Compagnie Production
Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
“My Love (Moya Lyubov)” (Channel One Russia)
A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production
Alexander Petrov
“Peter & the Wolf” (BreakThru Films)
A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production
Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman

Best live action short film
“At Night”
A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production
Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
“Il Supplente (The Substitute)” (Sky Cinema Italia)
A Frame by Frame Italia Production
Andrea Jublin
“Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)” (Premium Films)
A Karé Production
Philippe Pollet-Villard
“Tanghi Argentini” (Premium Films)
An Another Dimension of an Idea Production
Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
“The Tonto Woman”
A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production
Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown

Achievement in sound editing
“The Bourne Ultimatum” (Universal)
Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Skip Lievsay
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney)
Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Matthew Wood
“Transformers” (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro)
Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Bourne Ultimatum” (Universal)
Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney)
Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
“3:10 to Yuma” (Lionsgate)
Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
“Transformers” (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro)
Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin

Achievement in visual effects
“The Golden Compass” (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners)
Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (Walt Disney)
John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
“Transformers” (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro)
Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

Adapted screenplay
“Atonement” (Focus Features)
Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
“Away from Her” (Lionsgate)
Written by Sarah Polley
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn)
Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Original screenplay
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Diablo Cody
“Lars and the Real Girl” (MGM)
Written by Nancy Oliver
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
Written by Tony Gilroy
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney)
Screenplay by Brad Bird
Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
“The Savages” (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Tamara Jenkins

So, who's gonna win? I'd guess Daniel Day Lewis as best actor. He's the only foreigner in his category and, on past record, they tend to give it to the odd man out so against those four Americans the foreigner is gonna win. Plus, it's his fourth nomination and the Academy is easily impressed by his style of committed acting.

Best actress has to be the wonderful Julie Christie. It's her fourth nomination (she last won in 1965 for Darling!) and you're not gonna hear anyone say a bad word about her. She's not a Hollywood type but she's still super popular and admired. You always hear how no one writes good leading roles for women over a certain age. Well, Sarah Polley did so the Academy is not going to be able to resist this rarely seen sixty-six year old at her best.

As for supporting actors, Javier Bardem or Tom Wilkinson are the two foreigners so I reckon it'll be one of them, probably Bardem. For supporting actress I reckon that Cate Blanchett's got the best chance. She hits several different buttons: she's foreign; she's also nominated for best actress so a supporting actress win would be consolation if she doesn't get that; she's a previous winner; she plays a man, none other than Bob Dylan! She's a terrific actress whatever she's in.

I reckon that best director ought to go to Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. Hell, it's about time these two won it. Oh, and best picture should also be No Country for Old Men. Check back next week and see how wrong I am!

The BAFTA 2008 nominations: Julie Christie and George Clooney

Here's a list of some of the more notable Bafta Nominations 2008. I know, I know.. we don't have much of a film industry in England anymore but we do like to hand out gongs to Americans. As long as they come over for the party of course. Big breath now:

Best Film:
American Gangster
Atonement
No Country For Old Men
The Lives Of Others
There Will Be Blood


Best Actor:
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy - Atonement
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises
Ulrich Muhe - The Lives Of Others

Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away From Her
Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose
Keira Knightley - Atonement
Ellen Page - Juno

Best Director (David Lean Award):
Joe Wright - Atonement
Paul Greengrass - The Bourne Ultimatum
Florian Henckle von Donnersmarck - The Lives Of Othes
Ethan and Joel Coen - No Country For Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Best 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


Best 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

Outstanding British Film Of The Year (Alexander Korda Award):
Atonement
The Bourne Ultimatum (Eh.. wait a second.. British film? Is the director's grandmother British or something? How the heck did this qualify?)
Control
Eastern Promises
This Is England

Animated Feature Film:
Ratatouille
Shrek The Third
The Simpsons Movie

Adapted Screenplay:
Atonement - Christopher Hampton
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly - Ronald Harwood
The Kite Runner - David Benioff
No Country For Old Men - Ethan and Joel 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

Achievement In Film 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

Results are next month. I bet you can't wait! I'm trying to remember which actress called the Baftas as "basically, a load of sh*t." I think it was Sarah Miles. In fact, I'm sure it was, but I don't want to quote her without confirmation. It sure sounds like the sort of thing she say though.

Golden Globe winners 2008 - Sweeney Todd, Atonement and Julie Christie

Golden Globe winners 2008

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
"American Gangster"
"Atonement" WINNER!
"Eastern Promises"
"The Great Debaters"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie, "Away From Her" WINNER!
Jodie Foster, "The Brave One"
Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart"
Keira Knightley, "Atonement"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood" WINNER!
James McAvoy, "Atonement"
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"
Denzel Washington, "American Gangster"

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
"Across the Universe"
"Charlie Wilson's War"
"Hairspray"
"Juno"
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" WINNER!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Amy Adams, "Enchanted"
Nikki Blonsky, "Hairspray"
Helena Bonham Carter, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose" WINNER!
Ellen Page, "Juno"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" WINNER!
Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Tom Hanks, "Charlie Wilson's War"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Savages"
John C. Reilly, "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"Bee Movie"
"Ratatouille" WINNER!
"The Simpsons Movie"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" (Romania)
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (France/USA) WINNER!
"The Kite Runner" (USA)
"Lust, Caution" (Taiwan)
"Persepolis" (France)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There" WINNER!
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"
Julia Roberts, "Charlie Wilson's War"
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men" WINNER!
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"
John Travolta, "Hairspray"
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton"

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Tim Burton, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" WINNER!
Ridley Scott, "American Gangster"
Joe Wright, "Atonement"

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, "No Country for Old Men" WINNER!
Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"
Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Aaron Sorkin, "Charlie Wilson's War"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
Michael Brook, Kaki King, Eddie Vedder, "Into the Wild"
Clint Eastwood, "Grace is Gone"
Alberto Iglesias, "The Kite Runner"
Dario Marianelli, "Atonement" WINNER!
Howard Shore, "Eastern Promises"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
"Despedida" from "Love in the Time of Cholera" (Music by: Shakira, Antonio Pinto; Lyrics by: Shakira)
"Grace is Gone" from "Grace is Gone" (Music by: Clint Eastwood; Lyrics by: Carole Bayer Sager)
"Guaranteed" from "Into the Wild" (Music & Lyrics by: Eddie Vedder) WINNER!
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Music & Lyrics by: Alan Menken)
"Walk Hard" from "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (Music & Lyrics by: Marshall Crenshaw, John C. Reilly, Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
"Big Love" (HBO)
"Damages" (FX)
"Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
"House" (Fox)
"Mad Men" (AMC) WINNER!
"The Tudors" (Showtime)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Patricia Arquette, "Medium"
Glenn Close, "Damages" WINNER!
Minnie Driver, "The Riches"
Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"
Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters"
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" WINNER!
Hugh Laurie, "House"
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, "The Tudors"
Bill Paxton, "Big Love"

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY
"30 Rock" (NBC)
"Californication" (Showtime)
"Entourage" (HBO)
"Extras" (HBO) WINNER!
"Pushing Daisies" (ABC)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" WINNER!
Anna Friel "Pushing Daisies"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
David Duchovny, "Californication" WINNER!
Ricky Gervais, "Extras"
Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies"

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" (HBO)
"The Company" (TNT)
"Five Days" (HBO)
"Longford" (HBO) WINNER!
"The State Within" (BBC America)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bryce Dallas Howard, "As You Like It"
Debra Messing, "The Starter Wife"
Queen Latifah, "Life Support" WINNER!
Sissy Spacek, "Pictures of Hollis Woods"
Ruth Wilson, "Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre)"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Adam Beach, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"
Ernest Borgnine, "A Grandpa For Christmas"
Jim Broadbent, "Longford" WINNER!
Jason Isaacs, "The State Within"
James Nesbitt, "Jekyll"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Rose Byrne, "Damages"
Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers & Sisters"
Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy"
Samantha Morton, "Longford" WINNER!
Anna Paquin, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"
Jaime Pressly, "My Name is Earl"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Ted Danon, "Damages"
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage" WINNER!
Andy Serkis, "Longford"
William Shatner, "Boston Legal"
Donald Sutherland, "Dirty Sexy Money"

14th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS®

Yet more acting nominations. I mean, it's not as if the money's enough, these people want acclaim and shiny awards too!

14th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS®
NOMINATIONS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES


Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
GEORGE CLOONEY / Michael Clayton – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Daniel Plainview – “There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage)
RYAN GOSLING / Lars Lindstrom – “Lars And The Real Girl” (Sidney Kimmel Entertainment)
EMILE HIRSCH / Christopher McCandless– “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
VIGGO MORTENSEN / Nikolai – “Eastern Promises” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
CATE BLANCHETT / Queen Elizabeth I – “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal Pictures)
JULIE CHRISTIE / Fiona – “Away From Her” (Lionsgate)
MARION COTILLARD / Edith Piaf – “La Vie En Rose” (Picturehouse)
ANGELINA JOLIE / Mariane Pearl – “A Mighty Heart” (Paramount Vantage)
ELLEN PAGE / Juno MacGuff – “Juno” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
CASEY AFFLECK / Robert Ford – “The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh – “No Country For Old Men” (Miramax Films)
HAL HOLBROOK / Ron Franz – “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell – “No Country For Old Men” (Miramax Films)
TOM WILKINSON / Arthur Edens – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
CATE BLANCHETT / Jude – “I’m Not There” (The Weinstein Company)
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas – “American Gangster” (Universal Pictures)
CATHERINE KEENER / Jan Burres – “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
AMY RYAN / Helene McCready – “Gone Baby Gone” (Miramax Films)
TILDA SWINTON / Karen Crowder – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
3:10 TO YUMA (Lionsgate)
AMERICAN GANGSTER (Universal Pictures)
HAIRSPRAY (New Line Cinema)
INTO THE WILD (Paramount Vantage)
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Miramax Films)

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
MICHAEL KEATON / James Jesus Angleton – “The Company (TNT)
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – “As You Like It” (HBO)
OLIVER PLATT / George Steinbrenner – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)
SAM SHEPARD / Frank Whiteley – “Ruffian” (ABC)
JOHN TURTURRO / Billy Martin – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)


Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ELLEN BURSTYN / Posey Benetto – “Mitch Albom’s For One More Day” (ABC)
DEBRA MESSING / Molly Kagan – “The Starter Wife” (USA)
ANNA PAQUIN / Elaine Goodale – “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” (HBO)
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – “Life Support “ (HBO)
VANESSA REDGRAVE / Woman – “The Fever” (HBO)
GENA ROWLANDS / Melissa Eisenbloom – “What If God Were the Sun?” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan – “Dexter” (Showtime)
JON HAMM / Don Draper – “Mad Men” (AMC)
HUGH LAURIE / Dr. Gregory House – “House” (FOX)
JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore – “Boston Legal” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
GLENN CLOSE / Patty Hewes – “Damages” (FX)
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
SALLY FIELD / Nora Walker – “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC)
HOLLY HUNTER / Grace Hanadarko – “Saving Grace” (TNT)
KYRA SEDGWICK / Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson – “The Closer” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 Rock” (NBC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott – “The Office” (NBC)
RICKY GERVAIS / Andy Millman – “Extras” (HBO)
JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold – “Entourage” (HBO)
TONY SHALHOUB / Adrian Monk – “Monk” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly – “Samantha Who?” (ABC)
AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – “30 Rock” (NBC)
MARY-LOUISE PARKER / Nancy Botwin – “Weeds” (Showtime)
VANESSA WILLIAMS / Wilhelmina Slater – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
THE CLOSER (TNT)
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC)
MAD MEN (AMC)
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
THE OFFICE (NBC)
UGLY BETTY (ABC)

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
300 (Warner Bros.)
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Universal)
I AM LEGEND (Warner Bros.)
THE KINGDOM (Universal)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24 (FOX)
HEROES (NBC)
LOST (ABC)
ROME (HBO)
THE UNIT (CBS)

Screen Actors Guild Awards 44th Annual Life Achievement Award
Charles Durning

That reminds me of the quote from the "The Truth About Will And Dogs" episode of Will and Grace. Grace gets a dog and when Grace brings the puppy in from the other room, Will asks, "Is that him?" and Grace sarcastically says, "No. It's veteran character actor Charles Durning." I dunno why it amused me so much but that line really tickled me. I laughed for ooh.. seconds!

2008 Golden Globe nominations

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's 2008 Golden Globe nominations:

Best Movie - Drama
American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Actress - Drama
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away From Her (winner!!)
Jodie Foster - The Brave One
Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley,- Atonement


Best Actor - Drama
George Clooney - Michael Clayton (gorgeous George!)
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy - Atonement
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington - American Gangster

Best Movie - Comedy/Musical
Across The Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno
Sweeney Todd


Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams – Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky – Hairspray
Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd (FFS, how'd she get nominated?)
Marion Cotillard – La Vie En Rose (winner!)
Ellen Page – Juno

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling – Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks – Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Savages
John C. Reilly – Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett – I'm Not There
Julia Roberts – Charlie Wilson's War
Saoirse Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton


Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Casey Affleck – The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem – No Country For Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta – Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton

Best TV Show - Drama
Big Love
Damages
Grey's Anatomy
House
Mad Men
The Tudors

Best TV Show - Comedy
30 Rock
Californication (there must be a lot of sex-starved middle age hetties in the HFPA, this show is utter shite)
Entourage
Extras
Pushing Daisies

The National Board of Review film awards 2007

It's that time again when various review bodies give out awards for that year's best films/music/theatre etc. One of the more important ones (and usually an indicator of Academy Award success) is the National Board of Review film awards. Here are the winners for this year:

Best Film
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Top Ten Films (In alphabetical order)
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD,
ATONEMENT,
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM,
THE BUCKET LIST,
INTO THE WILD,
JUNO,
THE KITE RUNNER,
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL,
MICHAEL CLAYTON,
SWEENEY TODD

Best Foreign Film
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY

Top Five Foreign Films (In alphabetical order)
4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS,
THE BAND'S VISIT,
THE COUNTERFEITERS,
LA VIE EN ROSE,
LUST,
CAUTION

Best Documentary
BODY OF WAR

Top Five Documentaries (In alphabetical order)
DARFUR NOW,
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON,
NANKING,
TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE,
TOOTS

Top Independent Films (In alphabetical order)
AWAY FROM HER,
GREAT WORLD OF SOUND,
HONEYDRIPPER,
IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH,
A MIGHTY HEART,
THE NAMESAKE, ONCE,
THE SAVAGES,
STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING,
WAITRESS

Best Actor
GEORGE CLOONEY, Michael Clayton

Best Actress
JULIE CHRISTIE, Away From Her

Best Supporting Actor
CASEY AFFLECK, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Best Supporting Actress
AMY RYAN, Gone Baby Gone

Best Ensemble Cast
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
EMILE HIRSCH, Into The Wild

Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
ELLEN PAGE, Juno

Best Director
TIM BURTON, Sweeney Todd

Best Directorial Debut
BEN AFFLECK, Gone Baby Gone

Best Adapted Screenplay
JOEL COEN and ETHAN COEN, No Country For Old Men

Best Original Screenplay
DIABLO CODY, Juno and NANCY OLIVER, Lars and the Real Girl

Best Animated Feature
RATATOUILLE

Career Achievement Award
MICHAEL DOUGLAS

William K. Everson Award For Film History
ROBERT OSBORNE

Career Achievement in Cinematography
ROGER DEAKINS

The Bvlgari Award for NBR Freedom of Expression
THE GREAT DEBATERS and PERSEPOLIS

Um, I didn't think that Sweeney Todd had been released yet, I thought it wasn't out until December 21st. I guess that being reviewers, they've already seen it so that must mean that things are looking good since the film and Tim Burton both get an award. I keep thinking that it's going to be utter shite what with Helena Bonham Carter in it and all, but we may yet be surprised by this one. Oh, I hope so.

And note that best actress award for the very lovely Julie Christie. Here's the delightful Ms Christie from way back in the sixties in the film Darling for which she won her first Oscar.