Watch the Best Picture lineup....

then kill yourself.

Seriously, that is one bleak set of movies.

My hands hurt....

I sit there and clap for nominees. Really, only one scream because of an omission:

BEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I love you, Maria. Joan Allen was a more expected snub. I can deal. She's been MIA all season.

Isn't it wonderful we can offically say "OSCAR NOMINEE" before:
Heath Ledger, Terrence Howard, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Reese Witherspoon, Felicity Huffman, Keira Knightley, Jake Gyllenhaal, George Clooney, Amy Adams and Jen Lindley?

(Suck it, Joey Potter.)

Dolly Parton is also now a two-time nominee.

Charlize got her second. She is my bitch.

BIGGEST SNUBS:
1. Bello.
2. Walk the Line not getting Pic after all.
3. The final Star Wars only gets one.
4. Russell Crowe, thank god!
5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory not getting Art Direction.
6. Brokeback's Editing.

BIGGEST SURPRISES:
1. 14 first-time Nominees!
2. FOCUS getting an acting nom in each category, and with the exception of Rachel, all of them are under the age of 27.
3. No lone director.
4. Munich making it in, after all.
5. William Hurt

WORST MOMENTS:
1. Does Judi Dench really need another Oscar nomination?
2. Do Catherine and Frances really deserve to be there?
3. Munich getting Pic, Director & Screenplay.
4. No Maria Bello.

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES IS HERE.

BEST PICTURE
Brokeback Mountain - Capote - Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - Munich
(Ugh on the last one. All the others deserved it.)

BEST DIRECTING
Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Bennett Miller - Capote
Paul Haggis - Crash
George Clooney - Good Night and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg - Munich
(See Picture.)

BEST ACTOR
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle and Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night and Good Luck
(The strongest lineup, like, ever. See what happens you throw a phone, Russell!)

BEST ACTRESS
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Keira Knightley - Pride and Prejudice
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witehrspoon - Walk the Line
(Need to see 2 of these. Positively elated to see to Miss Knightley! Sad to not see Joan Allen, but I figured as much.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt - A History of Violence
(Hurt hams it up and gets in. This category is so weak this year I really don't care. Jake SERIOUSLY deserves this. Clooney was bleh and Giamatti is just a makeup nod.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - Junebug
Catherine Keener - Capote
Frances McDormand - North Country
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
(Go Amy, Michelle and Rachel. I love Frances and Catherine to pieces, but these are easily some of their weakest performances. MARIA! MARIA! MARIA!)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - Match Point - The Squid and the Whale - Syriana
(Syriana is convoluted. 40 Year Old Virgin should be here instead. Everything else is very deserving!)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Brokeback Mountain - Capote - The Constant Gardener - A History of Violence - Munich
(Terrific lineup, cept Munich.)

BEST ANIMATED FILM
The Corpse Bride - Howl's Moving Castle - Wallace and Gromit
(Finally, they skipped the obligatory blockbuster nomination!)

BEST ART DIRECTION
Good Night and Good Luck - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - King Kong - Memoirs of a Geisha - Pride and Prejudice
(Good stuff.)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Batman Begins - Brokeback Mountain - Good Night and Good Luck - Memoirs of a Geisha - The New World
(Great stuff.)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Memoirs of a Geisha - Mrs. Henderson Presents - Pride and Prejudice - Walk the Line
(Geisha will probably take it, but it should be Walk the Line's.)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Darwin's Nightmare - Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room - March of the Penguins - Murderball - Street Fight
(I saw 2 of these! WOW)

BEST FILM EDITING
Cinderella Man - The Constant Gardener - Crash - Munich - Walk the Line
(Brokeback's big snub of the morning. In case you didn't hear, the original editor of the film, Geraldine Peroni, took her life almost 2 months into production. She worked with Scorsese and her replacement, Dylan Tichenor, is an Altman protege. A nom for them seemed desinted. But I guess all those complaints of pacing kicked it out. A solid category anways!)

BEST MAKEUP
The Chronicles of Narnia - Cinderella Man - Star Wars: Episode 3
(Cinderella Man? Yes, they put so much makeup on Russell he looked like a decent person and so much on Renee she didn't look Asian!)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Brokeback Mountain - The Constant Gardener - Memoirs of a Geisha - Munich - Pride and Prejudice
(YES! BROKEBACK! Great to see very deserving Gardener and Prejudice here! Geisha was overdone. I don't even remember Munich's score?)

Best SOUND EDITING
King Kong - Memoirs of a Geisha - War of the Worlds
(Love those tripods!)

BEST SOUND MIXING
The Chroncicles of Narnia - King Kong - Memoirs of a Geisha - Walk the Line - War of the Worlds
(Love those country singers!)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Chronicles of Narnia - King Kong - War of the Worlds
(War of the Worlds should win. Kong was inconsistent an not finished. Narnia needed some work, too.)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"In the Deep" - Crash
"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" - Hustle and Flow
"Travelin' Thru" - Transamerica
(ONLY 3 NOMINATIONS! Cleary, the other 2 would be Brokeback songs had they been eligible. BASTARD!)

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Don't Tell - Merry Christmas - Paradise Now - Sophie Scholl: The Final Days - Tsotsi
(I saw none of these! OUCH!)

Go SANDRA OH! SAG reaction & winners!

Oh, how I love my Sandra Oh. The one bright spot in an otherwise dull night.

And S. Epatha Merkerson. This woman needs to go to the Oscars and accept the award of someone who isn't there. Seriously.

SAG WINNNERS:
Actor - Hoffman
Actress - Witherspoon
Supp. Actor - Giamatti
Supp. Actress - Weisz
Ensemble - Crash

You know, except for Giamatti, I think these were fairly deserving winners. My problem is that it was so predictable. Like, they looked at the list of upcoming movies last April and picked the winners then. And that's who won tonight. 2 stars of biopics in lead. DONE. The frequent snubbee in supporting, plus the passioned activist who has been around a bit and it starting to become more "industry." DONE. Then, the huge ensemble story set in LA, appropriately. DONE.

Dakota Fanning talked about her daughter having a doll. Aww, that's so cute. But you can't have kids, honey. You're not human.

Anne Hathaway improved a lot from the Globes but still needs a better dress. Gosh, her on the red carpet! She is SOOO well spoken and elegant. It was great to see Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris and Randy Quaid at the Brokeback table. That Busy girl from Dawson's Creek was there again, too. Heath and Jake looked the best they have looked thus far this award season. The Brokeback clips were awesome. Heath and Jake had a little trouble getting through their intro of the film. The intro sounded like someone saw the film and then wrote a Hallmark greeting card about it. Heath was having trouble with the teleprompter. Keener and Hoffman also had trouble during their intro of Capote. No biggie, but some are making it out to be.

Jamie Pressly is...(GASP!)...classy!

Reese Witherspoon - that's the same dress as the Globes almost. Seriously. Talk to Sandra Oh.

I think we're going to have our worst groomed Actor & Supp. Actor winners at the Oscars. Giamatti & Hoffman? Take a shower, get an actual suit that isn't from K-mart and has a designer label, and shave. Yes, shave. I know those of you reading this that know me personally are probably saying "kettle, this it pot. you're black" but I'm not going to a major award show. Really. These things are historic. You will be in the papers. I know you care about acting and your craft and your speeches were good (so you got that!) but you need to be cleaned up a bit. Call the Queer Eyes guys. Or Sandra Oh.

I loved the quick shot of Eva sitting on Marcia's lap. HAHAH. These two really are friends. Nicolette looked the least plastic she has ever looked. But she still looks like a cat. I also loved that Eva said she was glad Isaac Mizrahi wasn't there. I love you, Eva. Teri Hatcher was practically nonexistant. And way to get a very nervous Andrew Van De Kamp to accept the award. He is 19, so I'm allowed to think he's hot.

Matt Dillon's shirt was blue. Don't let that happen again.

No pics currently available, so hopefully I'll update with pics.

I LIKED -
-Maggie Grace
-Marg Helgenberger (sp?)
-Sandra Oh
-Felicty Huffman
-Ellen Pompeo
-Jennifer Esposito
-Michelle Williams
-Catherine Keener
-Nicolette Sheridan
-Eva Longoria
-Patricia Clarkson

DIDN'T LIKE -
-Rachel Weisz
-Hilary Swank
-Reese Witherspoon
-Dakota Fanning (I know I shouldn't!)
-Charlize Theron
-Marcia Cross
-Teri Hatcher
-Ziyi Zhang

the DKME Year-End Awards

My ranking of the films I've seen should be up early next week. Here are the awards! Yeah! FUN! AGH! I'm totally excited I'm shaking. Comments please. You know I love validation.

BEST ACTOR
HEATH LEDGER as ENNIS DEL MAR in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN


Runner-up: Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote in Capote
Honorable Mentions:
(3) Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line
(4) Joseph Gordon Levitt as Neil McCormick in Mysterious Skin
(5) Terrence Howard as DJay in Hustle & Flow



BEST ACTRESS
JOAN ALLEN as TERRY WOLFMEYER in THE UPSIDE OF ANGER


Runner up: Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice
Honorable Mentions:
(3) Reese Witherspoon as June Carter in Walk the Line
(4) Q'orianka Kilcher as Pocahontas in The New World
(5) Sarah Jessica Parker as Meredith Morton in The Family Stone




BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
JAKE GYLLENHAAL as JACK FUCKIN' TWIST in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN


Runner up: Kevin Costner as Denny Davies in The Upside of Anger
Honorable Mentions:
(3) Clifton Collins, Jr as Perry Smith in Capote
(4) Mickey Rourke as Marv in Sin City
(5) Matt Dillon as Officer Ryan in Crash




BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
MARIA BELLO as EDIE STALL in A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE


Runner up: Amy Adams as Ashley in Junebug
Honorable Mentions:
(3) Michelle Williams as Alma Beers in Brokeback Mountain
(4) Rachel Weisz as Tessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener
(5) Ellen Barkin as Joyce Victor in Palindromes





BEST DIRECTOR
ANG LEE - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Runner up: David Cronenberg - A History of Violence
Honorable Mentions:
(3) Terrence Malick - The New World
(4) George Clooney - Good Night and Good Luck
(5) Joe Wright - Pride and Prejudice

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
ANGUS MACLACHLAN - JUNEBUG
Runner up: Craig Brewer - Hustle and Flow
(3) George Clooney & Grant Heslov - Good Night and Good Luck
(4) Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco - Crash
(5) Noah Bambach - The Squid and the Whale

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
LARRY MCMURTRY & DIANA OSSANA - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Runner up: Dan Futterman - Capote
(3) Deborah Moggach & Emma Thompson - Pride and Prejudice
(4) Gregg Araki - Mysterious Skin
(5) Jeffrey Caine - The Constant Gardener


BEST ART DIRECTION
KING KONG
(2) Memoirs of a Geisha
(3) House of Wax
(4) The New World
(5) Casanova

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE NEW WORLD
(2) Brokeback Mountain
(3) Good Night and Good Luck
(4) King Kong
(5) Batman Begins

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
WALK THE LINE
(2) Memoirs of a Geisha
(3) Pride and Prejudice
(4) Casanova
(5) The New World

BEST EDITING
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
(2) Crash
(3) Brokeback Mountain
(4) Walk the Line
(5) The Constant Gardener

BEST SCORE
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
(2) A History of Violence
(3) The New World
(4) Pride and Prejudice
(5) The Constant Gardener

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
'A LOVE THAT WILL NEVER GROW OLD' - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
(2) 'I Don't Want to Say Goodbye' - Brokeback Mountain
(3) 'The Maker Makes' - Brokeback Mountain
(4) 'No One's Gonna Love You Like Me' - Brokeback Mountain
(5) 'In the Deep' - Crash

BEST SOUND
THE NEW WORLD
(2) King Kong
(3) Walk the Line
(4) War of the Worlds
(5) Batman Begins

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
KING KONG
Runner up: War of the Worlds

BEST MAKEUP
LAND OF THE DEAD
Runner up: Sin City

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE - DRAMA
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
(2) Crash
(3) Good Night and Good Luck
(4) North Country
(5) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE - COMEDY/MUSICAL
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
(2) The Family Stone
(3) The Squid and the Whale
(4) The 40 Year Old Virgin
(5) Hustle and Flow

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE - MALE
TERRENCE HOWARD - HUSTLE AND FLOW
Runner up: Ashton Holmes - A History of Violence

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE - FEMALE
Q'ORIANKA KILCHER - THE NEW WORLD
Runner up: Kate Mara - Brokeback Mountain

BREAKTHROUGH FILMMAKER
MIRANDA JULY - ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW

MOST UNDERRATED FILM OF 2005
HOUSE OF WAX

MOST OVERRATED FILM OF 2005
THE SQUID AND THE WHALE

SEXIEST PERFORMANCE - MALE
HEATH LEDGER - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

SEXIEST PERFORMANCE - FEMALE
SCARLETT JOHANSSON - MATCH POINT

SAG Predictions!

I really have no idea!

Actor - Heath Ledger
Actress - Felicity Huffman
Supporting Actor - Jake Gyllenhaal
Supporting Actress - Rachel Weisz

Ensemble - Crash

Oprah goes up a Mountain

Oprah Winfrey will welcome the cast of Brokeback Mountain as well as playwright Tyler Perry on her hugely influential television show on Friday January 27th. Be sure to set your VCRs and TIVOs for Heath, Jake, Anne, Michelle and - the real star of the Brokeback - Madea.

I called this last summer....

Like so many things I see coming and no one believes me...


COWBOY CHIC

FINAL OSCAR PREDICTIONS

The big announcement comes Tuesday morning at 8:30AM Eastern time. My favorite morning of the year. Given the SAGs are on Sunday and I have to announce the DKME Awards and Top Films of 2005 sometime before then, I'll just get these out of the way now. It seems in each category, there are 3 or 4 shoe-ins, then one space that is up for grabs from just about anyone. I come up with 4, then draw a blank on the last slot.

BEST DIRECTOR:
Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Paul Haggis - Crash
George Clooney - Good Night and Good Luck
David Cronenberg - A History of Violence
Steven Spielberg - Munich
(alt: Bennett Miller - Capote)
Potential Surprise - Fernando Merielles

BEST ACTOR:
Ralph Fiennes - The Constant Gardener
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night and Good Luck
(alt: Russell Crowe - Cinderella Man)
Potential Surprise - Terrence Howard or Jeff Daniels

BEST ACTRESS:
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Keira Knightley - Pride and Prejudice
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
(alt: Joan Allen - The Upside of Anger)
Potential Surprise: Bello goes lead, along with Laura Linney. Ziyi strikes back.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
Terrence Howard - Crash
(alt: William Hurt - A History of Violence)
Potential Surprise: Clifton Collins, Jr. Bob Hoskins or Don Cheadle strike back.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Amy Adams - Junebug
Maria Bello - A History of Violence
Catherine Keener - Capote
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
(alt: Frances McDormand - North Country)
Potential Surprise: Original predicted winner Scarlett Johansson makes it in after all.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Cinderella Man - Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - Match Point - The Squid and the Whale
(alt: The 40 Year Old Virgin)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Brokeback Mountain - Capote - The Constant Gardener - A History of Violence - Munich
(alt: Walk the Line)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
Chicken Little - Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Wallace and Gromit

BEST ART DIRECTION:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Chronicles of Narnia - Good Night and Good Luck - King Kong - Memoirs of a Geisha

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Batman Begins - Brokeback Mountain - Good Night and Good Luck - King Kong - Memoirs of a Geisha

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:
King Kong - Memoirs of a Geisha - Mrs. Henderson Presents - Pride and Prejudice - Walk the Line

BEST FILM EDITING:
Brokeback Mountain - Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - King Kong - Walk the Line

BEST MAKEUP:
Chronicles of Narnia - Cinderella Man - The New World

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
Batman Begins - Brokeback Mountain - Cinderella Man - Memoirs of a Geisha - The New World

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - "Remains of the Day"
Crash - "In the Deep"
Hustle and Flow - "Hustle and Flow"
The Producers - "There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway"
Transamerica - "Travelin' Thru"

BEST SOUND:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - King Kong - Star Wars: Ep. 3 - Walk the Line - War of the Worlds

BEST SOUND EDITING:
Batman Begins - Star Wars: Ep. 3 - War of the Worlds

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:
King Kong - Star Wars: Ep. 3 - War of the Worlds


AND....

BEST PICTURE:


Munich doesn't seem to have much support. Walk the Line has a last minute surge that will kick it in. Watch out for The Constant Gardener

TALLY:
Brokeback Mountain - 9
Crash - 7
Good Night and Good Luck - 7
Walk the Line - 6
King Kong - 5
Capote - 4
Cinderella Man - 4
Memoirs of a Geisha - 4
Batman Begins - 3
The Constant Gardener - 3
A History of Violence - 3
Star Wars: Ep 3 - 3
War of the Worlds - 3
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - 2
Mrs. Henderson Presents - 2
Munich - 2
The New World - 2
Pride and Prejudice - 2
Transamerica - 2
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 1
Chicken Little - 1
Chronicles of Narnia - 2
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 1
Hustle and Flow - 1
Junebug - 1
Match Point - 1
North Country - 1
The Producers - 1
The Squid and the Whale - 1
Syriana - 1
Wallace and Gromit - 1

Box Office Predictions: Jan. 27-29

1. Big Momma's House 2 - $13m / $13m / $32m
2. Underworld: Evolution - $12m / $47m / $68m
3. Nanny McPhee - $9m / $9m / $32m
4. Hoodwinked - $8m / $39m / $58m
5. Brokeback Mountain - $6.5m / $51m / $110m
6. Last Holiday - $6m / $34m / $46m
7. Glory Road - $5.5m / $35m / $46m
8. Annapolis - $5m / $5m / $13m
9. Chronicles of Narnia - $3.5m / $277m / $285m
10. Fun With Dick and Jane - $3m / $106m / $111m


this and underturd 2 will be the top movies in the country...let's think about that for a second

Weisz Wise to Join Kar-Wai for 'Shanghai'

Say that 5 times fast.

Pregnant recent Golden Globe Winner Rachel Weisz has signed on to join Nicole Kidman in The Lady From Shanghai for auteur Wong Kar-Wai. The actress, due in May with director Darren (good name!) Aronofsky, will film her scenes for the New York portion of the shoot. It will also be shot in Hong Kong and San Petersburg.

Just thought I'd throw in some news before I amp up on the end-of-the-movie-year blowout: SAG coverage, final Oscar predictions, and - don't you know it! - my top 10 films of 2005 which will be up by the end of the week.

BAFTA Noms!

No KEIRA!?!?!??!?

Best Film:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
The Constant Gardener
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck

Best British Film:
A Cock and Bull Story
The Constant Gardener
Festival
Pride and Prejudice
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit

Best Actor in a Leading Role:
David Strathairn - Good Night, and Good Luck
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Ralph Fiennes - The Constant Gardener

Best Actress in a Leading Role:
Charlize Theron - North Country
Judi Dench - Mrs Henderson Presents
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Reese Witherspoon - Walk The Line
Ziyi Zhang - Memoirs of a Geisha

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
Don Cheadle - Crash
George Clooney - Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney - Syriana
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
Matt Dillon - Crash

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Brenda Blethyn - Pride and Prejudice
Catherine Keener - Capote
Frances McDormand - North Country
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
Thandie Newton - Crash

Original Screenplay:
Cinderella Man - Cliff Hollingsworth/Akiva Goldsman
Crash - Paul Haggis/Bobby Moresco
Good Night, and Good Luck - George Clooney/Grant Heslov
Hotel Rwanda - Keir Pearson/Terry George
Mrs Henderson Presents - Martin Sherman

Adapted Screenplay:
Brokeback Mountain - Larry McMurtry/Diana Ossana
Capote - Dan Futterman
The Constant Gardener - Jeffrey Caine
A History of Violence - Josh Olson
Pride and Prejudice - Deborah Moggach

The David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction:
Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Bennett Miller - Capote
Fernando Meirelles - The Constant Gardener
Paul Haggis - Crash
George Clooney - Good Night, and Good Luck

The Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director/Producer or Writer in Their First Feature Film:
David Belton (Producer) - Shooting Dogs
Peter Fudakowski (Producer) - Tsotsi
Annie Griffin (Director/Writer) - Festival
Richard Hawkins (Director) - Everything
Joe Wright (Director) - Pride & Prejudice

Best Film Not in the English Language:
De Battre Mon Coeur S'est Arrete
Le Grand Voyage
Kung Fu Hustle
Joyeux Noel
Tsotsi

The Anthony Asquith Award for Achievement in Film Music:
Brokeback Mountain - Gustavo Santaolalla
The Constant Gardener - Alberto Iglesias
Memoirs of a Geisha - John Williams
Mrs Henderson Presents - George Fenton
Walk The Line - T Bone Burnett

Cinematography:
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Crash
March of the Penguins
Memoirs of a Geisha

Editing:
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
March of the Penguins

Production Design:
Batman Begins
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha

Costume Design:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Memoirs of a Geisha
Mrs Henderson Presents
Pride and Prejudice

Sound:
Batman Begins
The Constant Gardener
Crash
King Kong
Walk the Line

Achievement in Special Visual Effects:
Batman Begins
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
King Kong

Make Up and Hair:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Memoirs of a Geisha
Pride and Prejudice

Short Animation Film:
Fallen Art
Film Noir
Kamiya's Correspondence
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
Rabbit

Short Film:
Antonio's Breakfast
Call Register
Heavy Metal Drummer
Heydar, An Afghan in Tehran
Lucky

Box Office Predictions: Guess What the #1 Movie In the Country Is!!!

Go here to find out what the current #1 movie is.

Jan. 20 - 22:

1. Underworld: Evolution - $22m / $22m / $48m
2. Glory Road - $8.5m / $27.5m / $46m
3. Hoodwinked - $8.5m / $27m / $48m
4. Last Holiday - $8m / $27m / $44m
5. Brokeback Mountain - $7m / $41m / $100m
6. Chronicles of Narnia - $6.5m / $272m / $284m
7. Hostel - $5m / $43.5m / $52m
8. Fun With Dick and Jane - $5m / $100.5m / $110m
9. The New World - $4.5m / $4.5m / $18m
10. King Kong - $4.5m / $210m / $220m

And then there's this....

Two new additions to the lexicon:

1) Bitch-Power

Go here to read about this

2) Gay-Molest

What Isaac Mizrahi did to these on the red carpet.

Massive Globes Post - Winners, Thoughts, Fashion

WINNERS:

Best Film - Drama: Brokeback Mountain
Best Film - Musical/Comedy: Walk the Line
Best Director: Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Best Screenplay: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana - Brokeback Mountain
Best Score: John Williams - Memoirs of a Geisha
Best Song: "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" - Brokeback Mountain
Best Actor - Drama: Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Best Actress - Drama: Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Best Actor - Musical/Comedy: Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
Best Actress - Musical/Comedy: Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney - Syriana
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener

Commentary:

E!'s Red Carpet Coverage:

In major need of a face lift. Gulianna appeared drunk and I normally like her a lot. Ryan Seacrest and Debbie Metta-shouldnotbefamousanymore didn't do anything. They just sat there. And then there was the big disaster: Isaac Mizrahi. Fire him. Stat. At least Star Jones was professional. This guy just promoted his talk show and seemed to forget about a little thing called etiquette. (The constant 'what kind of underwear are you wearing?' and poking of the cleavage was really unseemly.) Then there was his pervasive questioning of things the publicists clearly didn't want him to ask such as Swank's divorce and Mandy Moore & Zach Braff being an item. Does he not realize publicists won't let him talk to their clients if he keeps that shit up? Get rid of him, E!. And Ryan and Debbie while you're at it. Aside from that, what's with the lack of pans of the dresses? It was lots of close ups and top shots. Need some serious revamping.


Seriously.

The SHOW:

The TV stars stole it from the movie stars again. Clooney was funny and charming, Weisz was classy. But then Sandra Oh came on and seemed genuinely thrilled with, well, everything. Fantastic and funny speech. Next, Geena Davis, looking the best she has in ages, delivers that tongue-in-cheek speech which was sardonic brilliance.

"Well, that didn't actually happen. Awww. But it could have."

Then, two more funny guys: Hugh Laurie and Steve Carell.

I don't remember what happened for a while. I do like the way Globes didn't cut speeches at all and yet managed to not go overtime. How do they do that?

Seriously.

The rest will be pretty random:
-Well, I guess Reese will win the Oscar. Shirley MacLaine was sitting at her table. And if you want someone at your table, it's Shirley.
-There was some serious working of the room. Heath talking to Melanie Griffith? Wow. But that's the point of the Globes.
-My God! The Housewives were so drunk. Teri especially. Later on E!, she looked like she was going to fall over. Her eyes were so glazed over. Haha. I love it. "Fuck this shit, I won last year. I'm drowning my head in liquor." Love Teri.
-Melanie Griffith's daughter needs to learn how to stand and not look like she just got out of rehab.
-Queen Latifah could easliy host an award show.
-Pamela Anderson - minus the hair, tattoos and lips - looks classy.
-Joaquin and Jonathan Rhys Meyer look like they should be in rehab. Or in need of a tan.
-Anthony Hopkins - well, apparently it's Antony Hopkins - got the only standing ovation of the night. Seymour Hoffman almost got one but they realized he wasn't dressed that well and sat back down.
-Felicity Huffman's "It gets better. Not really." See, that's the kind of speech that can get you an Oscar. Not "My drunk husband almost pushed me over so I could get up here and my dress looks like a nightie from the set of Troy."
-Maybe Shirley MacLaine was with Reese and Ryan to prevent Ryan from drinking so much. Didn't work, Shirley.
-I like Jason Lee's stache.
-Terrence Howard oozes class.
-Jamie Foxx apparently is still campaigning for Ray.
-SJP is adorable. I love her.
-As far as presenters, would it kill them to learn how to say the nominees names correctly? Laura Lindley? Pierce Bronson?
-Ang Lee calling Clint Eastwood 'The Man' only made Clint look like an ass even more for looking the slightest bit pissed when Brokeback won. Director goes to a person Clint, not a film. You have to say Ang's name first.
-Chris Rock let loose more in his category tonight then he did during all of the Oscars. That wasn't necessarily a good thing, but his Weeds being watched by Snoop Dogg joke was hilarious. Eva Longoria - Chico & the man. LOL! Louise Parker didn't seem too thrilled with his antics.
-Anne Hathaway should have taken a note to how Mary Louise Parker was dressed and her makeup.
-Emma Thompson is so witty. Garsh. I loved her Ang Lee reference and then later when she was hanging between Ang and Anne.
-The director of Pride and Prejudice has the same cheek bones as Keira.
-Eric Bana & Kate Beckinsale on stage - don't present. Just fuck.
-S. Epatha Merskerson should win an award at every show.
-Someone could get lost in Scarlett Johansson's cleavage. SHIT.
-Virginia Madsen has her boobs under control, though. WOW. She just need to figure out what to do with those curls. I love the little pose she did when Harrison gave her his drink.
-Why does Penelope Cruz present Mrs. Henderson Presents?
-Open the fucking envelope Rosario Dawson.
-Ang Lee was so heartfelt and humble.
-Heath and Michelle were so cute acting. She just needs a smaller dress. Okay, very smaller. Like, that dress, but in a cocktail design.
-Why didn't Annette Bening present this year? Maybe she outdid herself in that bitchy speech last year and was still recovering. Ugh, that speech was awful.
-Dennis Quaid's "rhymes with chick flick" joke was the biggest flop of the night.
-I loved how Heath laughed at it then Michelle half scolded him for doing so.
-Leonardo Dicaprio is sex on a stick. But what was with him reading the names in his category in random order?
-Charlize Theron was high.
-Gwyneth Paltrow looked too busy trying to think of stupid names for her next child to look interested in anything that was going on.
-Felicity Huffman praised transsexuals. You go, girl-boy!
-Speaking of transsexuals, Hilary Skank looks pretty good.

WORST DRESSED:
-Gwyneth Paltrow - the sweedish milk maid with a little yellow (baby pee?)
-Ellen Pompeo - fake Renee looks like a frizzled hippie
-Anne Hathaway - the brokeback gals need some serious work, but with that whore makeup and hair, this one needs more

TOP 10 FASHION:
#10 - EVA LONGORIA - lady in red, lovely


#9 - EVANGELINE LILY - lady in green, lovely


#8 - LAURA LINNEY - mature lady in red, best she's looked in ages, not trying to go for the young look like she tries to do too much


#7 - NATALIE PORTMAN - the little french boy from the 1960's


#6 - JESSICA ALBA - bootiful, and her boyfriend is hot and named CASH!


#5 - GEENA DAVIS - elegant and regal


#4 - SARAH JESSICA PARKER - love the hair, she is luminous


#3 - RENEE ZELLWEGER - va va voom, not bridget, not roxy, finally the perfect look, very kidman-esque dress


#2 - KEIRA KNIGHTLEY - perfect for a hot young ingunue


#1 - SANDRA OH - does this woman ever go wrong or ever look anything other than perfection?

Golden Globe Predix!

They air Monday night at 8PM (Eastern) on NBC. Red carpet coverage, of course, an hour before and all day on E!

For TV, goooooooo EVA and SANDRA OH! That's right Sandra, show them your OH face!

Fashion watch - the ladies I am most looking forward to seeing work the red carpet:
1. Reese Witherspoon
2. Sandra Oh
3. Charlize Theron
4. Keira Knightley
5. Michelle Williams

Best Supporting Actress:
Johansson - MacLaine - McDormand - Weisz - Williams
(I've seen 4/5 of these; not seen: Johansson)
Will Win: Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
Next In Line: Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener (I'd say Johansson, but she is surprisingly MIA from many other lists, which leaves Focus' W gals to duke it out.)
Should Win: Jen Lindley. Joey Potter marries a gay guy in real life, Jen knows that those things stay on-screen.


Best Supporting Actor:
Clooney - Dillon - Ferell - Giamatti - Hoskins
(I've seen 4/5 of these; not seen: Hoskins)
Will Win: Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man (ONLY because he lost for Sideways.)
Next In Line: Matt Dillon - Crash (Clooney gets recognized elsewhere.)
Should Win: Gyllen...errr.. Matt Dillon

Best Actor - Comedy/Musical:
Brosnan - Daniels - Depp - Lane - Murphy - Phoenix
(I've seen 4/6 of these; not seen: Brosnan & Murphy)
Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
Next In Line: Jeff Daniel - Squid and the Whale
Should Win: Joaquin Phoenix

Best Actress - Comedy/Musical
Dench - Jessica Parker - Knightley - Linney - Witehrspoon
(I've seen 4/5 of these; not seen: Dench)
Will Win: Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Next In Line: Keira Knightley - Pride and Prejudice
Should Win: Keira or Reese, I'd be elated with either choice.

Best Actress - Drama
Bello - Huffman - Paltrow - Theron - Zhang
(I've seen 2/5 of these; not seen: Huffman, Paltrow and Zhang)
Will Win: Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Next In Line: Maria Bello - A History of Violence
I can't 'Should Win' this, but...MARIA!!! I just love that girl named Maria!

Original Song:
Brokeback Mountain - Christmas In Love - Chronicles of Narnia - Producers - Transamerica
Will Win: 'A Love That Will Never Grow Old' - Brokeback Mountain; it helps that it is ineligible for the Oscar
Next In Line: 'There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway' - The Producers
Should Win: Brokeback's tender ballad

Original Score:
Brokeback Mountain - Chronicles of Narnia - King Kong - Memoirs of a Geisha - Syriana
Will Win: Gustavo Santaolalla - Brokeback Mountain
Next In Line: John Williams - Memoirs of a Geisha
Should Win: Gustavo's Brokeback is among the best...EVER.

Picture - Drama:
Brokeback Mountain - Constant Gardener - Good Night and Good Luck - History of Violence - Match Point
(I've seen 4/5 of these; not seen: Match Point)
Will Win: That Gay Cowboy Movie
Next In Line: Good Night and Good Luck

Picture - Comedy/Musical:
Mrs. Henderson Presents - Pride and Prejudice - Producers - Squid and the Whale - Walk the Line
(I've seen 4/5 of these; not seen: Mrs. Henderson Presents)
Will Win: Walk the Line
Next In Line: The Squid and the Whale
Should Win: a toss up between the love stories Walk the Line & Pride and Prejudice

Screenplay:
Brokeback Mountain - Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - Match Point - Munich

Director:
Lee - Brokeback; Meirelles - Constant Gardener; Clooney - Good Night; Jackson - Kong; Allen - Match Point; Spielberg - Munich

(seen everything above but Match Point)

Here's where it gets interesting...

Ang Lee won Director 5 years ago, so are they really going to give it to him again so soon? Maybe, if he doesn't win, Clooney is easily - and deservingly - next in line. However, if Clooney wins Director, Brokeback takes screenplay. If Ang takes director, Clooney won't go home empty handed, but with a Screenplay award. If Brokeback wins both, it probably wins everything it's nominated for. The only potential upset in either category would be Crash in screenplay. Maybe Match Point since they seem to have liked it.

Nevertheless, I'll lean toward Ang taking home a second Directing award and Clooney getting screenplay.

And finally, the category everyone is anxiously awaiting for...

Best Actor - Drama:
Crowe - Hoffman - Howard - Ledger - Strathairn
(seen everything but Howard)

Remember in 2002 when Julianne Moore won everything in sight, then came the Globes and they gave it to Kidman? Then Kidman seemed destined for Oscars but her fellow Globe Winner in the opposite category Zellweger took the SAG? Then we had a two way race between the starlets in which the original fave Julianne was shut out. This could be a repeat:

Hoffman has taken home most of the awards thus far, but it seems everyone is waiting for the Globe to declare him the favorite. Even if he takes this, I think whoever wins the BAFTA will win the Oscar. I expect Joaquin to take the SAG. Hoffman's biggest threat is Heath Ledger, who you just know the Globes want to see hand in hand with Michelle Williams and in each of their other hands: the award. However, if Hoffman does win and shows up unkempt and ungracious - the way he has appeared mostly so far, Ledger wins the Oscar. Yes, they really are that superficial. Heath also needs some fashion improvement. If they both show up looking like hobos, June Carter and Johnny Cash reign on Oscar night. But, to be safe...

Will Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Next In Line: Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Should Win: People go into Brokeback Gyllenhaalics. They leave Heathens.


Recap:
Picture - Drama: Brokeback Mountain
Picture - Comedy/Musical: Walk the Line
Director: Ang Lee
Screenplay: Good Night and Good Luck
Actor - Drama: Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Actor - Comedy/Musical: Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
Actress - Drama: Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Actress - Comedy/Musical: Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain
Score: Brokeback Mountain
Song: Brokeback Mountain

Scheduled to present: Denzel Washington, Nicolette Sheridan, Emma Thompson, Chris Rock, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Travolta, Renee Zellweger, Queen Latifah, Emmy Rossum, Natalie Portman, Drew Barrymore, Jamie Foxx, Harrison Ford, Pamela Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba, Tim McGraw, Eric Bana, Hilary Swank, Tobey Maguire, Virginia Madsen, Evangeline Lily, William Petersen, Benjamin Bratt, Maura Tierney, Josh Duhamel, Ian Mcshane, Mariah Carey, Clint Eastwood, Lindsay Lohan, Catherine Deneuve and the cast of Will and Grace.

Thompson will be presenting the Red Button's Lifetime Acheivement Award for Distinguished Career in Dramatic Musical or Dramatic Comedy to Anthony Hopkins. Go EMMA! I thought maybe she would be presenting Brokeback, but I'm thinking Tobey Maguire will.

Box Office Predictions: Jan 13 - 15

1. Glory Road - $14m / $14m / $48m
2. Last Holiday - $11m / $11m / $35m
3. Hostel - $10.5m / $36m / $55m
4. Chronicles of Narnia - $10m / $261m / $283m
5. King Kong - $7.5m / $203m / $218m
6. Fun With Dick and Jane - $7.5m / $91m / $105m
7. Hoodwinked - $7m / $7m / $22m
8. Brokeback Mountain - $6m / $31m / $85m
9. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 - $5.5m / $73m / $85m
10. Munich - $5m / $33m / $45m
*Tristan and Isolde - $4m / $4m / $12m

Critics Choice: Brokeback!

Critics Choice Awards Winners:

Best Film - Brokeback Mountain
Best Director - Ang Lee

Best Actor - Philip Seymour Hoffman "Capote"
Best Actress - Reese Witherspoon "Walk the Line"
Best Supporting Actor - Paul Giamatti "Cinderella Man"
Best Supporting Actress - TIE
Amy Adams "Junebug"
Michelle Williams "Brokeback Mountain"

Best Writer - Crash
Best Ensemble - Crash


Complete List.

Box Office Prediction: Jan 6 - 8

1. Chronicles of Narnia - $16m / $249m / $286m
2. King Kong - $15m /$196m / $230m
3. Hostel - $11m / $11m / $26m
4. Munich - $10m / $27m / $56m
5. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 - $9.5m / $68m / $90m
6. Fun With Dick and Jane - $9m / $78m / $96m
7. Rumor Has It - $5.5m / $35m / $45m
8. Memoirs of a Geisha - $5m / $38.5m / $49m
9. Brokeback Mountain - $4.5m / $21m / $86m
10. The Family Stone - $4m / $52.5m / $60m
11. Casanova - $3.5m / $4.5m / $15m
12. The Producers - $3.5m / $16.5m / $32m
13. Grandma's Boy - $3m / $3m / $7m
14. Harry Potter - $3m / $282m / $288m
15. The Ringer - $3m / $27m / $32m
16. Match Point - $2.5m / $3.3m/ $20m
17. Bloodrayne - $2m / $2m / $4.5m

DGA, SAG, WGA & PGA nods

Director's Guild of America:
Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Bennett Miller - Capote
Paul Haggis - Crash
George Clooney - Good Night and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg - Munich

Screen Actors Guild Nominations:

(The place where category confusion always leads to a major snub! This year it was Maria Bello! BBBBBEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO!)
Actor:
Russell Crowe - Cinderella Man
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night and Good Luck

Actress:
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Charlize Theron - North Country
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Ziyi Zhang - Memoirs of a Geisha
(KEIRA!!!! JOAN!!!! ?????)

Supporting Actor:
Don Cheadle - Crash
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain

Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams - Junebug (!!!!!!!!! YEEEEESSSS!!!!!)
Catherine Keener - Capote (UGGGGHHHH!)
Frances McDormand - North Country
Rachel Weisz - Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain

Ensemble:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night and Good Luck
Hustle & Flow (!!!)

Producers Guild of America:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night and Good Luck
Walk the Line
(I'm starting to think that is this year's Best Picture lineup. Very similar to the 1996 Oscars - English Patient - Fargo - Shine - Secrets & Lies - Jerry Maguire)

Writers Guild of America:
Original Screenplay:
Cinderella Man
Crash
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Good Night and Good Luck
The Squid and the Whale

Adapted Screenplay:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Syriana


My scores:

PGA: 4/5
WGA: 4/5 in both categories
SAG:
Actor: 3/5
Actress: 3/5
Supp. Actor: 4/5
Supp. Actress: 3/5
Ensemble: 3/5

JON STEWART IS HOSTING THE OSCARS!!!

I'm just ecstatic.

Jon Stewart IS hosting the Oscars.

Yes, Ellen and Conan would've been fab. But obviously, the Academy knew of the sudden surge of liberal leaning films and made the right decision. You know they love their themes.

Anywho, expect huge ratings in the blue states. And the red states can tune in to see the reincarnation of June Carter take home actress. :-) And a "western" win Picture. Tehehe.

Gosh, this year's award season has just been fabulous! So many surprises!

Scarlett Johansson will bang him backstage!

Guild Predix: The Make or Break Moments

All seem to announce within the next 24 hours...

PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA:
Brokeback Mountain - Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - King Kong - Walk the Line

DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA:
Woody Allen - Match Point
George Clooney - Good Night and Good Luck
David Cronenberg - A History of Violence
Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Steven Spielberg - Munich

WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA:
(adapted)
Brokeback Mountain - Capote - The Constant Gardener - A History of Violence - Munich

(original)
The 40 Year Old Virgin - Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - Match Point - The Squid and the Whale


SCREEN ACTORS GUILD:
Ensemble:
Brokeback Mountain - Crash - Good Night and Good Luck - Pride and Prejudice - The Squid and the Whale

Actor:
Jeff Daniels - The Squid and the Whale
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle and Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line

Actress:
Joan Allen - The Upside of Anger
Judi Dench - Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Keira Knightley - Pride and Prejudice
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line

Supp. Actor:
George Clooney - Syriana
Matt Dillon - Crash
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt - A History of Violence

Supp. Actress:
Amy Adams - Junebug
Maria Bello - A History of Violence
Scarlett Johansson - Match Point
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain

MY MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS 0F 2006!!!!

(Yes, I'm aware that's not what she's doing in the final picture!)

I like making these lists so I can have something official. It would be silly to not make a list. That way someone could ask me at the beginning of the year what my most anticipated films were and I would randomly say Kingdom of Heaven and A History of Violence. Then, as the year is up, I would review Walk the Line where I would declare it my most anticipated film of the year. That would just be silly. And rude to others who asked my valuable opintion. However...

I'm not ranking them. I can't decide on a #1 film, but I'd say all of these films, including the 7 I mentioned yesterday would typically make up the #3-5 slots of a standard "most anticipated" list. So, that's a good thing! Special thanks to ComingSoon, Dark Horizons, JoBlo and IMDB for all the info and pics.

Here goes...

AMERICAN DREAMZ

(Universal - April 14 - TRAILER)

On the morning of his re-election, the President decides to read the newspaper for the first time in four years. He begins reading obsessively, reexamining his black and white view of the world, holing up in his bedroom in his pajamas. Frightened by the President’s apparent nervous breakdown, his Chief of Staff pushes him back into the spotlight, booking him as a guest judge on the television ratings juggernaut: the weekly talent show American Dreamz, hosted by self-aggrandizing, self-loathing Martin Tweed. His latest crop of hopefuls includes Sally, a conniving steel magnolia, and Omer, a recent SoCal immigrant (who just happens to be a bumbling, show tune singing, would-be terrorist awaiting activation). When both Sally and Omer make it to the final round of Dreamz – where the President will be judging along with Tweed – the stage is set for a show the nation will never forget.

Written & Directed by Paul Weitz (In Good Company, About a Boy)
Starring Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Klein, Sam Golzari, Judy Greer, Seth Meyers, Jennifer Coolidge, Shohreh Aghdashloo and John Cho

WHY AMERICAN DREAMZ? Did you not read any of the above? Did you not see that brilliant trailer? (Who would have thought in that cast Mandy Moore would be the one to shine?) Early reviews have called it the best 'pop culture meets politics' satire since Primary Colors and Wag the Dog. Of course, it could also be a more obvious, star studded satire in the vein of EdTV. Weitz is on a roll and most of the subject material is just dying to be spoofed.


FUR

(Picturehouse - Fall)
Set in New York in the late 1950s, the film explores an unlikely romance that leads legendary photographer Diane Arbus into a strange new world, sparking her evolution into one of the most provocative and visionary photographers of all time.

Directed by Steven Shainberg (Secretary)
Written by Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary)
Starring Nicole Kidman, Robert Downey Jr, Jane Alexander, Emily Bergl and Ty Burrell

WHY FUR? Kidman has described the film as an acid trip. Shainberg has said it's a fairy tale for adults. It sounds like they are straying from the conventions of the standard biopic and into a more unique territory. Nic should be able to lead the early pack of Best Actress contenders with another performance as an artist who ultimately commits suicide. Buzz should pick up once the film debuts at Sundance later this month.


HOLIDAY

(Columbia - Fourth Quarter 2006)
A woman plagued by man trouble finds her fortune improves when she befriends an Englishwoman while on vacation.

Written & Directed by Nancy Meyers (Something's Gotta Give, The Parent Trap, What Women Want)
Starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black

WHY HOLIDAY? A fun chick flick from a lady who knows how to do them. It should be worth noting that this is one of the few times Winslet will "lighten up" on screen. She's quite a funny woman in real life - check out her Inside the Actor's Studio appearance and various other talk shows. Next to Diaz, this could be gold. Production begins later this month in Europe. Expect an appropriate Holiday release.


INFAMOUS

(Warner Independent Pictures - October 13)
By turns hilarious, compassionate, chilling and heartbreaking - this is the true story of young Truman Capote and his investigation into the 1959 murders of a wealthy Kansas family of four. What starts out as a journey to figure out "whodunit" with his childhood friend Harper Lee, turns into something utterly unexpected: an intense and complex bond with one of the murderers that inspired his greatest work ("In Cold Blood") and indelibly changed his life.

Written & Directed by Douglas McGrath (Emma, Nicholas Nickleby)
Starring Toby Jones, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Peter Bogdanovich, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Isabella Rossellini, Sigourney Weaver, Lee Pace, Juliet Stevenson and Gwyneth Paltrow

WHY INFAMOUS? The Volcano vs. Dante's Peak/Armageddon vs. Deep Impact of our time? Capote was an engrossing drama with compelling performances. This is said to be a more entertaining - and certainly star packed - retelling of the (in)famous story. Early stills are available at the Warner Independent website. The cinematography was done by the man who did Amelie and A Very Long Engagement. Expect a gorgeous looking film in the least. However, I prefer the film's original title: Every Word Is True.


LITTLE CHILDREN

(New Line - TBA 2006)
Based on the book by Tom Perrotta, Little Children is about two recently married couples living in the same community, whose lives become interconnected in dangerous ways.

Directed by Todd Field (In the Bedroom)
Written by Field and Tom Perrotta (author of Election)
Starring Jennifer Connelly, Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Noah Emmerich, Gregg Edelman, Sarah Buxton and Trini Alvarado

WHY LITTLE CHILDREN? Does't Winslet look fugly in that pic? And Connelly so skinny? Having loved Field's In the Bedroom, I'm amped for his follow up. I've heard great things about the source material and it sounds like the exact kind of dark and twist character films we need more of. Sordid suburban lives are so in.


MARIE-ANTOINETTE

(Columbia - October 13 - TRAILER)
Based on Antonia Fraser's biography of Marie Antoinette, a naïve 14-year-old Austrian and queen of France. At a young age, she was arranged to marry Louis XVI and was very unprepared for the woes of politics. She continued to be ridiculed by France and was decapitated during the French Revolution. This is a stylized, $40 millon budgeted retelling of her life.

Written & Directed by Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation, The Virgin Suicides)
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Rip Torn, Judy Davis, Asia Argento, Molly Shannon, Danny Huston, Marianne Faithfull, Steve Coogan, Shirley Henderson and Jamie Dornan

WHY MARIE-ANTOINETTE? Sofia + a period piece = ....how many days till this baby is released? I'd watch just about anything that woman did at this point. This could easily be a disaster. But isn't that the fun of watching an auteur go the edge without quite going over the top (see Baz Lurhman)? The casting is wicked inspired and it'll be exciting to see what Sofia does with a budget 10x her norm. And who doesn't want to see Dunst lose her head? Suggested tagline: This Fall, Eat Cake.




A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

(Picturehouse - June 9)
A Prairie Home Companion is a fictionalized account of Garrison Keillor's award-winning show, which currently runs on more than 558 public radio stations. The film follows the show's cast of characters preparing for the final live broadcast on the eve of being shut down after 30 years. As passions erupt, secrets emerge and a mysterious stranger lurks in the shadows, the vigilant stage manager must hold it all together since the "show must go on."

Directed by Robert Altman (Nashville, Gosford Park, need I go on?)
Written by Garrison Keillor
Starring Garrison Keillor, Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Tommy Lee Jones, Lily Tomlin, Lindsay Lohan, John C. Reilly, Woody Harrelson, Maya Rudolph and Virgnia Madsen.

WHY A PRARIE HOME COMPANION? Doesn't it sound kind of like A Mighty Wind? Anything Altman does is worth looking forward to and would you believe this is his first collaboration with Meryl Streep?!?!? Paul Thomas Anderson stepped in for a slightly ailing Altman, 80, and will be credited as executive producer. There seems to be a silent realization that this might be Altman's last film and if so, what material and cast to go out with!



SUNSHINE

(Fox Searchlight - October 13)
Fifty years from now, the sun is dying, and mankind is dying with it. Our last hope: a spaceship and a crew of eight men and women. They carry a device which will breathe new life into the star. But deep into their voyage, out of radio contact with Earth, their mission is starting to unravel. There is an accident, a fatal mistake, and a distress beacon from a spaceship that disappeared seven years earlier. Soon the crew is fighting not only for their lives, but their sanity.

Directed by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Trainspotting)
Written by Alex Garland (28 Days Later)
Starring Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Troy Garity and Benedict Wong

WHY SUNSHINE? A relatively standard storyline gets pimped up (sorry, couldn't resist) by the 28 Days Later team and that cool cast. I've enjoyed all of Boyle's films I've seen. I can't wait to see his take on the sci-fi genre after witnessing his terrific reviving of the zombie genre. I'd say the trio of Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans and Michelle Yeoh in space outfits might bring about a new space suit fetish. Tehe.



THE VISITING

(Warner Bros - August 11)
The Visiting tells the story of a mysterious epidemic that alters the behavior of human beings. When a Washington D.C. psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) discovers the epidemic's origins are extraterrestrial, she must fight to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping an imminent invasion.

Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall, The Experiment)
Written by Dave Kajganich
Starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Veronica Cartwright and Jeffrey Wright

WHY THE VISITING? This $50 million unofficial Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake sees acclaimed filmmaker Hirschbiegel making his American film debut. It'll be one of the last chances to see actor Craig before he Bond-ages his career for good. Though the thought of Kidman and a remake seems illfated of late, I'm hoping this one is a good as everyone makes it sound. The script is said to be top notch and as long as they take a more natural approach to things - as opposed to lots of effects and gores - The Visiting could be a creepy late summer sleeper.


THE WICKER MAN

(Warner Bros - TBA 2006)
In a remake of the 1973 British horror thriller of the same name, Nicolas Cage plays a reclusive sheriff who goes to search for his astranged daughter after she mysteriously disappears on a secluded island. When he arrives, he senses something more is amiss among the island's secretive residents as he starts to uncover a mystery involving strange sexual rituals, a harvest festival and possible human sacrifice.

Written & Directed by Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski, Frances Conroy and Molly Parker

WHY THE WICKER MAN? How timely is this! Rent the original and you'll know EXACTLY why this should be relevant to today. The storyline is similar with just enough changes to warrant a remake. Get ready for more weird dance numbers to odd folk songs, but I doubt you'll see any of those ladies pulling a Britt Eckland. Labute is best known for his scathing and twisted take on humans and a glossy, studio movie might be an excellent choice for him. (Hey, I say keep giving the guys who know how to make movies bigger budgets, as opposed to Brett Ratner or Michael Bay.)


HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT 2006!

My Most Anticipated Films of 2006: Honorable Mentions

Before the top 10 comes...

(listed alphabetically of course)

BABEL

(Paramount - Fall) Armed with a Winchester rifle, two Morrocan boys set out to look after their family's herd of goats. In the silent echoes of the desert, they decide to test the rifle... but the bullet goes farther than they thought it would. In an instant, the lives of four separate groups of strangers on three different continents collide. Caught up in the rising tide of an accident that escalates beyond anyone's control are a vacationing American couple (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett), a rebellious deaf Japanese teenager and her father, and a Mexican nanny who, without permission, takes two American children across the border. None of these strangers will ever meet; in spite of the sudden, unlikely connection between them, they will all remain isolated due to their own inability to communicate meaningfully with anyone around them. From Alejandro González Iñárritu comes a film that is at once intimate and epic, shot in four countries, cast with actors and non-actors, and concludes his trilogy that started with Amores Perros and 21 Grams. Babel costars Gael Garcia Bernal and Elle Fanning (Dakota's lil' sis.) WHY BABEL? 21 Grams made a very strong entry in my top 10 films of 2003 and I'm excited to see what this guy will do next.


CHILDREN OF MEN

(Universal - September 29) Children of Men envisages a world one generation from now that has fallen into anarchy on the heels of an infertility defect in the population. The world's youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction. Set against a backdrop of London torn apart by violence and warring nationalistic sects, Children of Men follows disillusioned bureaucrat Theo (Clive Owen) as he becomes an unlikely champion of Earth's survival. When the planet's last remaining hope is threatened, this reluctant activist is forced to face his own demons and protect her from certain peril. Directed and co-written by acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Y tu mamá también), the film also stars Julianne Moore as the leader of an underground opposition group. Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam and Chiwetel Ejiofor round out the supporting cast. WHY CHILDREN OF MEN? A cool, original premise with a hip director, and Owen and Moore making a very sexy team.


THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

(20th Century Fox - June 30) Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands her dreamjob: the assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of the hip sophisticates that populate her world into a scared, whimpering child. Andrea is sorely tested each and every day--and often late into the night. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul. Based on the bestseller by Lauren Weisberger, this comedy features a hip supporting cast that includes Simon Baker, Stanley Tucci, Anthony Anderson, Tracie Thoms, Emily Blunt and Adrian Grenier. WHY THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA? Sounds like a blast. In-law movies are so out. Hathaway vs. Streep for the smack down of the summer. Admit it: you love Streep bitching it up.


FRIENDS WITH MONEY

(Sony Pictures Classics - April 7) This is the telling new comedy from the acclaimed writer/director Nicole Holofcener (Lovely and Amazing, Walking and Talking). Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack and Catherine Keener star as a quartet of west coast, life-long friends who have achieved a level of comfort in their lives and have now settled into a life of designer clothes, charity events, and caring for the men (and offspring) in their lives. But as they approach 'a certain age,' unsettling things are starting to throw their comfortable lives off balance. Friends with Money is a modern comedy drama about contemporary adults in search of love, friendship, and filthy lucre but finding everything in a state of constant flux. It costars Jason Isaacs, Scott Caan and Greg Germann. WHY FRIENDS WITH MONEY? I've loved both of Nicole's previous films both of which starred Keener. She makes great indie chick flicks and I can't wait to see what she does with that foursome.


THE HILLS HAVE EYES

(Fox Searchlight - March 10 - TRAILER) A new take on Wes Craven's 1977 film of the same name, The Hills Have Eyes is the story of a family road trip that goes terrifyingly awry when the travelers become stranded in a government atomic zone. Miles from nowhere, the Carters soon realize the seemingly uninhabited wasteland is actually the breeding ground of a blood-thirsty mutant family...and they are the prey. The much anticipated remake stars Aaron Standord, Ted Levine, Kathleen Quinlan, Vinessa Shaw, Emilie de Ravin and Robert Joy and is from High Tension director Alexandre Aja. It is produced by Wes Craven and his longtime producing partner Marianne Maddalena. WHY THE HILLS HAVE EYES? I'd amire the intentions behind the original Craven film and Aja's debut, but combine the potential of those two and I think you could get one hell of a great gorefest. Plus, that trailer kicked all kinds of ass.


RUNNING WITH SCISSORS

(Columbia - September 22 - TRAILER) Based on the acclaimed memoirs by Augusten Burroughs, a boy with an alcoholic father and a bipolar poet mother is given up for adoption to her psychiatrist while she undergoes further treatment. The young man finds himself amidst a Victorian squalor living with the doctor's bizare family - they like to engage in shock therapy as a recreational activity - and befriends a pedophile who resides in the backyard. Writer-Director Ryan Murphy (TV's Nip/Tuck) helms the much anticipated dark comedy which features this all-star cast: Annette Bening, Joseph Cross, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brian Cox, Evan Rachel Wood, Gabrielle Union, Joseph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave, Alec Baldwin, Jill Clayburgh, Patrick Wilson and Kristin Chenoweth. WHY RUNNING WITH SCISSORS? Actually, why not Running With Scissors: I read the book and actually found it kind of repititive. The film could easily go either way, but I can't help but admire how perfectly cast this baby is. Should make for a twisted time at the movies no matter what my problems with the book may have been.


SOUTHLAND TALES

(Universal - TBA 2006) Southland Tales is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Boxer Santaros (The Rock) is an action star who's stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar), an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and David Clark (Seann William Scott), a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy. Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) wrote and directed this futuristic film - a mosaic of comedy, sci-fi and musical - and has described it himself as a "strange hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. Dick." Lending their support are Miranda Richarson, Janeane Garafalo, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, John Larraoquette, Jon Lovitz, Bai Ling and Wallace Shawn in small parts. WHY SOUTHLAND TALES? Sounds nifty, huh? Even though his last screenwriting effort Domino tanked, it was a very original work. And this film is said to make his now classic Donnie Darko look mainstream.