[LollyB]

1) The Reader: Kate Winslet -- IMHO one of the best (along with Cate Blanchett) young actresses of our time; can say more with an expression than most actors can do with pages of good dialogue. Ralph Fiennes is good, too, but the actor who plays his character as a boy is phenomenal. This generation's "Sophie's Choice."

2) Benjamin Button: I was astounded to read one critic describe this film as one that had "nothing to say." Don't believe it. This movie will make you, at least, determined to fulfill your New Year resolutions -- at most, rewind the clock and take a few more risks in your life. Gut-wrenching performances by both Blanchett and Pitt. Sure to win an award for whomever did the digitized youthful face of Pitt in the film's last third. (Note: If I could find a 65-year old Brad Pitt, I'd f-ing marry him tomorrow.)

3) Frost/Nixon: I have never seen a finer performance by an actor than Frank Langella gives as Nixon. Those of you old enough to remember Nixon will be completely gob-smacked. It will be a travesty if Langella doesn't get the Best Actor Oscar. The fella playing Frost looks nothing like him, but it doesn't matter. He really has the more difficult role, since the main setting is largely the taped interview with Nixon, and he must rely on his acting skills alone -- without all the makeup, posture and singular voice inflection of Langella's role. I expected this film to be a bit dry, but there's more drama than you expect; and I was completely swept back into the 70s of my youth. I remember seeing Nixon get on that helicopter like it was yesterday. Very glad this film was release before W leaves office, although not really any kind of "statesman" he won't get it -- and he'll never give the kind of "apology" elicited from Nixon.

[tonyrockyhorror]

My rule of thumb is that if Ralph Fiennes is in the picture it has to be one of the mosy boring films ever made, I've seen the trailer for 'The Reader' it's a snoozer

[Gizmo]

Plan 9 from outer space

[mr dragon]

I'm looking forward to Benjamin Button and Frost/ Nixon as well. I never saw the original London stage play of Frost/ Nixon, but I heard it was pretty good. It's kind of funny- David Frost is now a complete 'has been' and a bit of a joke on UK television, it's been been that way for years. It's strange to think that he was once able to interview someone like Nixon at a pivotal point in American history.

I'm not sure about seeing The Reader yet, but I should mention that Steven Daldry is a very good Director.

At the moment I'm looking forward to Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, and The Watchmen movie. I know it's a bit banal to be excited about yet another comic book movie adaption- but I read the original graphic novel when I was at art college years ago, back in the late eighties. It is a really great piece of comic book art- it's more than just a comic. I wonder if they'll do it justice.

[LollyB]

If you're not sure about The Reader, just wait to rent the DVD -- it's not the kind of thing that needs to be seen on a big screen. And it's definitely not a snoozer -- for anyone with the depth to appreciate the subtleties of human emotion. It may not be to your taste, but the skills of the actors and the value of the story can't be denied.

[LollyB]

GRAN TORINO AND REVOLUTIONARY ROAD:

1) Gran Torino: Only Eastwood could've acted this part (joint writing credits go to his son, Kyle). Everyone will chuckle at the old 'squint with Clint' moments -- He virtually growls when gang members venture onto his lawn. I'm sure all my Republican friends (and family) who think of themselves as open minded will walk out of this film feeling a bit betrayed -- but this man (Eastwood) has learned some of the lessons his character has about making assumptions and unfair prejudice. Definitely worth seeing.

2) Revolutionary Road: Definitely not a 'feel good' movie but Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio turn in Oscar-worthy performances as a 50s couple who would've been better off coming of age in the next decade. Those of you able to remember "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" with Burton and Taylor, be advised -- this couple can rip each other's guts out worse than you've seen it done on film ever before. If you don't want to risk 9.75 on this one, wait for the DVD, but see it.

[mr dragon]

It may not be to your taste, but the skills of the actors and the value of the story can't be denied.

I didn't say whether it was to my 'taste' or not, ya silly arse. I just said I wasn't sure if I was going to see it at the cinema. As I mentined- Daldry is a very good director. He's very intelligent. Probably one of our best in the UK.

[eddie2003]

I watched the first hour of the Golden Globes last night...Are there any non-British actors in Hollywood? I think they awarded 10 awards in the first hour, and a British actor won like 7 of them.

[LollyB]

It may not be to your taste, but the skills of the actors and the value of the story can't be denied.

I didn't say whether it was to my 'taste' or not, ya silly arse. I just said I wasn't sure if I was going to see it at the cinema. As I mentined- Daldry is a very good director. He's very intelligent. Probably one of our best in the UK.

Actually, I wasn't addressing you at all. That was a reference to Tony's post, if anyone's.

[LollyB]

I watched the first hour of the Golden Globes last night...Are there any non-British actors in Hollywood? I think they awarded 10 awards in the first hour, and a British actor won like 7 of them.

Whaddaya expect? It IS the Hollywood Foreign Press that gets to vote -- noboby else. They're known as a bunch of freeloaders in Hollywood. I happen to agree with most of their choices, however. Actors are actors, no matter what side of the pond they're from. Actors like Winslet and Fiennes raise the bar in a healthy way for everyone. That little British girl (from Happy Go Lucky) will cherish her GG for the rest of her life (and may never get another role worthy of one), unlike Meryl Streep, who's really counting on the Oscar.

[ukus]

Without meaning to sound like a mardy pants, I have given up watching all of these 'pat on the back' award shows ... there are far to many of them.

[mr dragon]

It may not be to your taste, but the skills of the actors and the value of the story can't be denied.

I didn't say whether it was to my 'taste' or not, ya silly arse. I just said I wasn't sure if I was going to see it at the cinema. As I mentined- Daldry is a very good director. He's very intelligent. Probably one of our best in the UK.

Actually, I wasn't addressing you at all. That was a reference to Tony's post, if anyone's.

Lol. Then you should address your comments to the actual poster, instead of putting them directly under mine- as if you were directly responding to me. Ya dickwad. Think!

Regarding the issue with the Golden Globes. To be honest I don't really care which 'nationalities' won more awards. Most of these film awards aren't given out on good merit judgement. The whole issue over who enjoys a film is purely subjective (like all art)- and most of these 'art' awards ceremonies often have more to do with who curries the most 'favouritism' in the judges eyes at the time. If you haven't realised that by now- have a good long look back through the 'history' of the Oscars for the last fifty years. You'll be surprised at how many real classics, which have stood the test of time, have also lost out to very average films which have 'won' during the film awards ceremonies which have now completely disappeared over time - 'Driving Miss Daisy' anyone?

As for the Brits (or any other nationality) in Hollywood issue. Seriously- get over it. Hollywood is super successful financially because it brilliantly sells it's products on a large scale outside the US on a worldwide scale, knows how to, and also has the muscle to market it better than anyone else. If you only want to see 'American actors' in American films in a 'Hollywood' 'but also selling on a worldwide scale' and still make mega bucks out of it- sooner or later you'll realise the business is going to tank outside the US because there wont be a broad appeal on an international scale- and there also wont be the wealth of international talent on every level that brings so much to many of these movies. I saw that Slumdog Millionaire won several awards and basically cleaned up at the Globes. I think that's great. It's a multi-financed film from both American and European companies, directed, written and produced in Britain, but made with a cast and crew of mainly Indians- it's a truly international film. The fact that parts of American audiences and that the American critics love it this year is not a bad thing for the US. It's not damaging the US economically- particularly given that it's American business partner is going to make a lot of money out of it. I mean, fuck me, how many awards do we give out to American films, actors or directors in the UK every year- more than any other nationality. And how many American produced films do we actually pay to go and see every year- thus basically helping finance Hollywood. But you don't see the Brits complaining about that. We're happy to award good American film talent every year in the UK. And also very openly let *star* American actors come over and get some time walking the theatrical floorboards of our west end theatres- even when they aren't always up to the job and wouldn't have ever been chosen other than the fact they are a Hollywood 'A' lister- those actors mainly do it purely because they think it will give them extra acting 'kudos' and some extra 'cred' in their profession. But every time that happens it stops a talented Brit actor from getting the job. But we don't complain!

Just because some of our talent, from here in the UK, or worldwide, is helping to make money for Hollywood is nothing to complain about. And hey- if they weren't any good- why are they being bought, used and marketed. It's not like the US is a small place that doesn't have a large population to draw on for acting talent....

[ukus]

Has anybody been to see Marley? ... I might like to take my folks but not if it was a sad ending.

I never quite got over "ol' Yeller" sniff.

[JuanaLaLoca]

Jeez, Ben. I don't think anybody is really upset about British actors in American films. I don't know precisely which awards Eddie was talking about, but they could have been just as likely TV as movies, and I suspect they were, to elicit his comments. There is actually what to me seems like a rather strange phenomenon going on now, in that more and more of our TV shows are starring British actors or actresses, doing American accents. I'm not complaining about that at all, understand. It's just a relatively new phenomena and seems kind of unusual. Hugh Laurie, Damian Lewis, Jonny Lee Miller, and on and on... The girl who played the new Bionic Woman was British, too. I wonder how many television viewers realize that some of these people are British and I tend to chuckle to myself when someone like Laurie wins an award and goes up to accept it. I can imagine people all over the country getting surprised and confused when he starts speaking in his British accent!

[tonyrockyhorror]

Batman Begins:

Christian Bale-Welsh

Michael Caine-British

Liam Neeson-Irish

Gary Oldman-British

Cillian Murphy-Irish

Tom Wilkinson-British



It's just a matter of going where the money is

I'm still waiting to see a movie where Clive Owen speaks in his own accent

[SilverMiniCooperS]

Jeez, Ben. I don't think anybody is really upset about British actors in American films. I don't know precisely which awards Eddie was talking about, but they could have been just as likely TV as movies, and I suspect they were, to elicit his comments. There is actually what to me seems like a rather strange phenomenon going on now, in that more and more of our TV shows are starring British actors or actresses, doing American accents. I'm not complaining about that at all, understand. It's just a relatively new phenomena and seems kind of unusual. Hugh Laurie, Damian Lewis, Jonny Lee Miller, and on and on... The girl who played the new Bionic Woman was British, too. I wonder how many television viewers realize that some of these people are British and I tend to chuckle to myself when someone like Laurie wins an award and goes up to accept it. I can imagine people all over the country getting surprised and confused when he starts speaking in his British accent!

I know Juana, and I have been wondering about it too. Let's not forget Simon Baker who is Aussie, and plays The Mentalist - a really good show. What I don't understand is why have them speak with an American accent? Why not their native accent?

[JuanaLaLoca]

What I don't understand is why have them speak with an American accent? Why not their native accent?

I've wondered that myself. Surely in at least some of these shows, it would be just as credible to have the character be British, Australian, or whatever!

Although I guess the Bionic Woman is kind of an all-American character! (Even if a lot of her parts might be "Made in Japan"! )

[SilverMiniCooperS]

or China as the case may be today!

[LollyB]

Having the character speak in his native accent just adds another (perhaps unnecessary) element to the storyline. For an actor, it must be a treat to play a character unlike himself, anyway. Anthony LaPaglia, Simon Baker and Hugh Laurie are all serious actors, so no need to change the characters to make things easier on them, as was done for Olivia Newton-John in Grease. Anthony LaPaglia is so good, I thought he was an American playing a Brit accent when he guested on Frasier many years ago.

[JuanaLaLoca]

I always thought that Anthony LaPaglia was American! I think he is very talented. The first roles I noticed him in were both Mob roles, as a comedic character in Betsey's Wedding, and as a very scary guy in The Client. I thought that to play essentially the same type of person in such very different ways illustrated a great range. I see that he moved to the U.S. around his late teens, so I wonder how much he lost his original Aussie accent. It's interesting, because I have seen Brits complain heartily about what a bad accent he did on Frasier. I knew that the character was supposed to be Mancunian, but my own impression was always that it sounded very Australian to me, so I guess I was right without realizing it! But even when I mentioned that it sounded Australian to me, I was told that it was a terrible Australian accent, too.

[Natasha]

I think it's easier for a brit or an aussie to do an american accent than vice versa. Anthony LaPaglia does a very good American accent although you might be right Juana..he's been doing it for so long it could be natural now. Poppy Montgomery (also in Gone Without a Trace) is also Aussie and her accent is good as is Mariane Jean Baptiste's who's a brit.

I love Anthony LaPaglia..he was so good in Empire Records and So I Married an Axe Murderer..two of my favourite films from the 90's. I don't think I've ever heard him speak with his natural accent.

Since Damian Lewis was mentioned earlier I thought I'd add that I love him. Life is one of the best shows on right now...

[wakeyboy]

The trouble with an american trying to do a british accent is that you have to do your homework.

What class/social background is the person supposed to be from?

Where abouts in the country are they from?

What dialect words do people in that area use?

What dialect words do people of that class use?

What dialect words to people within that subgroup use?



And you cant mix and match, or get it wrong. You have to be faithful to the part you are playing otherwise the 'accent' sounds like complete bollocks.

[Caer Ibormeith]

The same is true of US dialects, wakey. Southerners, especially, can narrow accents down to counties.

[mr dragon]

Jeez, Ben. I don't think anybody is really upset about British actors in American films.

I think it irks me slightly because I've heard it being critisised several times on here in the past.

Truth is: western (and also world) media markets are dominated by American products, an awful lot more than the US is dominated by their media products in return. On average, over a year, all the multiplexes in the UK (and most of Europe) will be showing about 95 per cent Hollywood films (and some predominately Hollywood 'greenlit' (ie funded) movies that are more international in scope/ production). Hollywood completely dominates the market worldwide. I don't fully have a problem with that scenario (in case anyone thinks I'm moaning!), I like US movies. But that's the state of play. The reason for that is mostly about distribution. The US has a very large market to distribute to domestically- in order to get a return. Whereas countries, like Britain, don't in comparison (in terms of population). What that ultimately means is that a good budget can be applied to a US movie because they know they have a large market to sell to domestically already, before it even gets sold to foreign markets. A country like the UK can't compete with that in terms of scale and distribution. For example- Slumdog Millionaire was made for less than £15,000 because that was all the money they could raise to get it off the ground- and even then some of it initially came from a US distributer: Fox Searchlight. If that film hadn't been released just before the Toronto film festival, and just before the Golden Globes and the Oscars, and hadn't gotten the buzz it did from the Toronto film festival, it would have been dead in the water in regard to the US market and would only have gotten a very limited release there- and just fizzled out. They probably would have made their money back on UK and European markets but it would be half, or probably even much less, than what it might well be in terms of overall gross profit as it now stands. It also wouldn't have won anywhere near as many awards as it has done already in the US. Now- it's debatable as to whether it should have won as many awards from a merit pov as a movie, but this is the situation for the British film industry. Unless it's a costume drama, a period piece, or a 'generic' film that fits some kind of 'international stereotype'- like a 'Hugh Grant' movie, it's very hard to get the funding to make good films here and get them distributed in a large market like the US. The other side to this is that nearly all major Hollywood movies approximately double their gross profit (or more) by selling and distributing in foreign markets. Basically it's cinema goers in places like Britain that give Hollywood an equal mass chunk of profits to what they already receive domestically in the US- so it seems slightly gauche to complain about some British (or other foreign) actors working there. At the end of the day it's a bit of 'give and take'. In terms of power Hollywood holds most of the cards, but to give something back to the system it's fair to allow a proportion of foreign actors to work there. And let's face it- apart from Kate Winslet's annoying acceptance speech at the Globes (!), like most top British actors she's very good and people want to go and see her (them). They also make money for Hollywood. I can use the same argument of movies with the tv industry (though) on a lesser scale. US shows shown in the UK far outstrip UK shows shown in the US. On any weeknight I can turn on my tv and find a large number of well known US shows on mainstream UK tv, but can the average American do that in the same fashion in the same way. I'd say very unlikely.

To be clear- I don't have a problem with this. I'm just pointing out some factors in response to the notion that there are 'too many British actors in Hollywood'. It's just the way the cookie crumbles, and I like American films, and more particularly I think some of the current US TV shows are superb- I believe it's the 'Golden Age' for American TV right now in regard to the major US tv shows sold worldwide. But there has to be some give and take. If the products are going to be sold outside the US on such a large scale there has to be some diversity in the nationality of the actors. And let's face it, most American movies and tv shows have a majority of American actors in them. Lol, it's not like the Brits outnumber the Americans! Actually right now, when it comes to A listers, I'd say it was the Aussies that have more presence in Hollywood than the Brits. And they have some damn fine actors too!

[Natasha]

To be fair, I think Eddie is the one that grumbles about the British actors the most and well, we don't take him seriously. Not when it comes to those sorts of things. He grumbles about everything. I think it has to do with the squirrel in his pants.

Personally I'd take Daniel Craig over Tom Cruise any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[JuanaLaLoca]

I have (Antonio Banderas) no problem (Antonio Banderas) with non-American actors (Antonio Banderas) in American movies (Antonio Banderas).

As a matter of fact, I was thrilled to see Eduardo Noriega in Vantage Point, which I saw on cable last weekend. I am familiar with (and own) some of his Spanish movies (Open Your Eyes [much-superior Spanish original of Vanilla Sky], Thesis, and The Devil's Backbone) and like him very much. Plus, he's gorgeous! I was wondering if he only took the part because they were filming in Spain (it takes place in Salamanca), or if this is perhaps a first step towards following Banderas, Cruz, and Bardem into American movies, and we will be seeing more of him.

[mr dragon]

I have (Antonio Banderas) no problem (Antonio Banderas) with non-American actors (Antonio Banderas) in American movies (Antonio Banderas).

[SilverMiniCooperS]

Who?

[LollyB]

The trouble with an american trying to do a british accent is that you have to do your homework.

What class/social background is the person supposed to be from?

Where abouts in the country are they from?

What dialect words do people in that area use?

What dialect words do people of that class use?

What dialect words to people within that subgroup use?



And you cant mix and match, or get it wrong. You have to be faithful to the part you are playing otherwise the 'accent' sounds like complete bollocks.

Any actor worth his/her salt would do this kind of research, not just Yanks playing Brits. Gina Magee and Maggie Smith have done very good portrayals of American Southern women, and Albert Finney has done a very decent Southern accent, too. Jeremy Northram was completely believable as a young Dean Martin.

I think we can agree most Brits were pretty satisfied with Renee Zellweger's accent in Bridget Jones' Diary and Gwynneth Paltrow's in Sliding Doors and Emma. But I was embarrassed for Mel Gibson in Braveheart and Tom Cruise in Far and Away. IMOH, both of them were always overrated.

[LollyB]

After seeing the Oscar nominations today, I was dismayed that Clint Eastwood didn't get his props for Gran Torino, nor Leo DiCaprio for Revolutionary Road. The critics weren't fond of this film but I thought it was much better than they've given it credit for.

[LollyB]

THE WRESTLER: If you see nothing else before the Oscars, see this one. Mickey Rourke, who had such a promising start back in the 80s, dropped off the face of the earth for a few decades. Now he's back, showing what everyone knew he was capable of from the start. Who knows, though... without that stint he might not have been so believable as a washed up wrestler. This film relies completely upon its star, who never disappoints -- He had me in tears. Bonus for the guys: Marisa Tomei struts her still-fantastic-at-40 stuff in the buff as an aging stripper, but never makes the role into a caricature.

[mr dragon]

I like Darren Aronofsky as a director. He's a very interesting film maker as an 'indie'. I've been meaning to check out 'The Wrestler' for a while now- I might go and see it next week. Though, I don't get the whole 'must see' thing with films when they pick up that style of 'buzz'. I think it's a little pretentious. Liking a film is a very personal thing, individual and subjective- as with all art.

The Ewen Bremner ad that P put up on another thread reminded me of Slumdog Millionaire (both having connections to director Danny Boyle). I saw it a couple of weeks ago and thought it was a terrific film- I went away with so much of the imagery burnt into my mind. I kind of went in to the cinema having slightly negative feelings because it's been hyped so much in the last few weeks- but I loved it. The audience actually clapped at the end- which is unusual for British cinema audiences. What's surprising for me is that normally this kind of film by a British 'indie' film maker would probably get a certain amount of critical acclaim internationally, but it wouldn't normally pick up the level of international hype that it's been getting. Some of it's slightly misplaced- I've read some American film critics are very generously calling it a 'masterpiece'. It's not a masterpiece of cinema as a story- but it is a fucking fab film (in my view) if you ignore certain slightly fantastical plot contrivances it uses as a device to tell the story and just let yourself be drawn in by it emotionally as an experience. The little Indian kids they used in the film are also wonderful as actors. I'm slightly biased because I've been a fan of Danny Boyle's work since the early nineties when he made 'Shallow Grave'. He's got the most visceral and energetic film making style in the business, he's also not scared of taking risks and being creative, or just being different if he comes up with an interesting idea (note the clever use of subtitles for the Hindi section in the movie)- I love that kind of thing. Slumdog's not the best film I've ever seen, and although I think he probably should get the Oscar for Best Director (just for the fact that he went out to India to make a small budget movie that was never intended to be so popular worldwide, yet people have fallen in love with it through word of mouth- and he's also a nice guy, and very creative visually- which I personally appreciate) and the cinematography and soundtrack definately should be Oscar material because they really are exceptional in my view; however I'm not sure if the movie should win the Oscar for 'Best Film'. If it does I'll be over joyed- it means Boyle get's to make more films more easily (definitely a good thing in my view), and the film will rake in more cash- which is nice for the people involved; but I'm slightly unsure if it's Oscar material for 'Best Film'. It's a fab piece of film making, but it's not a very profound, or a deep and meaningful piece of literature as a story- but then, does that matter? We'll see. However, if it cleans up at the Oscars- I wont be complaining. Anything that promotes independently produced British (or European) cinema, on an international scale, is a good thing in my obviously very biased view!

For the Roundies who haven't seen it yet, but are intending to see it- I wont spoil it for you- however the soundtrack, photography and editing are absolutely cracking stuff. The incidental music score is a mix of classic traditional Indian music, mixed up with Bollywood, fused with European techno, and also western style film scores (and an MIA track- a Sri Lankan/Brit indie rap hit from last year). I loved it- exactly my thing. I love that creative kind of fusion of styles- especially when it's done so well as they have with this film.

Some little visual tasters- without giving away the plot:

Mausam and Escape:



MIA- Paper Planes (used brilliantly in the film in the train sequence- when the little kids are scamming the passengers):

[Persephone]

I went to see Will Smith´s Seven Pounds the two days ago. I loved it! I honestly had tears in my eyes in the end.

[Persephone]

Yesterday I saw ´The Waiting Room´. Not the best movie I saw lately, but it was quite enjoyable. It won some film price, I believe it was from a festival in Edinburgh.

[mr dragon]

I was going to see The Wrestler tonight but it was sold out, so we went to see Valkryie instead (which I wasn't really intending on seeing). I didn't think it was as bad as some of the reviews have made out- it was a reasonably good film and enjoyable in parts. I was also surprised, they did actually get most of the basics of the actual historical physical events more or less right (with a bit of obvious dramatic embellishment and artistic liscence in between). However the historical characters are obviously dramatised in a certain way for the film in their portrayal, and they didn't really explore von Stauffenberg's real character in life- which is a shame. It's also a little bit hard to get your head around Cruise having an American accent whilst playing a German in WW2, but I managed to let that go about half way through the film. I am glad the film was made though, it is about time that part of history was told on the big screen- even if it was a little sanitised. I saw a brilliant docu drama on the subject on tv a few years ago and remember thinking at the time that this would make a really good feature film- though it has already been dramatised before.

[Persephone]

And, if I may ask, how was Carice in your opinion? I still haven't seen the movie, that's why. There are so many good movies in the cinema right now, and since this one isn't in my top 3 either, I haven't seen it either (yet). I still want to see some other ones first!

[mr dragon]

To be honest she's hardly in it. They have several scenes with her, but I think it's merely to establish that he has a wife and kids- and obviously that he will loose them if (when) it goes wrong. That was the big disappointment of the movie- they never really developed his character and his relationships with other people (including his brother who was also instrumental in his decision to commit 'treason'). Von Stauffenberg was quite a complicated and interesting guy in real life, and his relationship with his family (including his own parentage- his aristocratic roots) are important aspects in explaining his motivations. It's not a bad movie (and there are some good scenes), but it's not a great movie. You're right there are much better films on release right now. I'd wait for it to go to dvd. There is one scene I really did like though, but it was more to do with the photography. There's an aerial shot that pans away and onto a scene with rows upon rows of Swastikas on flags outside the headquarters of the SS- as the German Reserve Army are duped in to taking the building because of the 'phoney coup' these guys set up. It was a very good piece of cinematography- completely caught the idea of the power of the SS without having to actually say anything.

[Persephone]

Ok, thanks for that respond! As I said, I like to see it, but it is not in my top 5-6.

[LollyB]

I saw 'Doubt,' which was kind of a downer, but I knew it would be. The performances were so good that it's at least worth renting, if you don't want to pay nine bucks or more to see it in the theatre. I still think Anne Hathaway (for Rachel Getting Married) will beat out Streep and Winslet for Best Actress, but the Best Supporting Actress had better be Viola Johnson for 'Doubt', snot bubble notwithstanding.

[Gaia]

I liked Ink Heart and enjoyed Helen Mirren immensely. Andy Serkis was rather good too. I thought Jim Broadbent played his character well, but it was just a bit Jim Broadbent really.

Directed by Iain Softley and also starring Brendan Fraser, not sure of the British to American quota on that one.

Am really looking forward to The Watchmen, as the trailer for that looks fantastic.

[eddie2003]

On a side note...

Is there any media outlet Kate Winslet has not appeared on in the last 2 weeks?...I really like her, and I know she REALLY wants to win an Oscar...But I hope this doesn't become like it became with Scorsese...Where we go though some sort of national trauma until she gets her Oscar "because she deserves it".

[LollyB]

On a side note...

Is there any media outlet Kate Winslet has not appeared on in the last 2 weeks?...I really like her, and I know she REALLY wants to win an Oscar...But I hope this doesn't become like it became with Scorsese...Where we go though some sort of national trauma until she gets her Oscar "because she deserves it".

Oh, give me a break, eddie -- she hasn't been around long enough for there to be any 'outrage' if she doesn't win an Oscar. And, to be fair, the nominees are all expected to do a bit of campaigning leading up to the actual vote -- it's expected, because a win can add so much to your future cache in the the industry. So, why wouldn't she? In the Oscars, where we regularly see overrated actors like Julia Roberts get undeserved nominations, where's your outrage that Clint Eastwood's fine performance in Gran Torino was totally overlooked this year? He certainly has the chops, but you won't see him kvetching because he wasn't nominated. Nor, I suspect, will you see Frank Langella kvetching when he loses to Mickey Rourke for Best Actor. These people don't go into the film business because they can't take disappointment.

[mr dragon]

I have a feeling she will win. I also agree, she is a very fine actress. But the big question is- can we all handle another episode of Weeping Winslet going to melodramatic pieces as she accepts the award....Oh God Oh God...*fans oneself dramatically*...

[SilverMiniCooperS]

LOL!!!

[Caer Ibormeith]

I have a feeling she will win. I also agree, she is a very fine actress. But the big question is- can we all handle another episode of Weeping Winslet going to melodramatic pieces as she accepts the award....Oh God Oh God...*fans oneself dramatically*...

Maybe she'll just grab Hugh Jackman and kiss him (ala Halle Berry/Adrien Brody). I would.

[eddie2003]

We went through this with Scorsese, and to a degree with Pacino..."Oh we have to give him/her an Oscar..It would be such an outrage if he/she doesn't win one."

Peter O'Toole should have won one...they gave him a honorery Oscar a few years ago.

Actresses don't have the long career actors have...I believe Winslet is 33?...Who knows, if she doesn't win one this year, she may never get one.

[mr dragon]

Maybe she'll just grab Hugh Jackman and kiss him (ala Halle Berry/Adrien Brody). I would.

Man, I'd grab Halle Berry. She's a fox.

[mr dragon]

Does anyone have any Oscar predictions or hopefuls for tommorow? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Slumdog, but I also think Mickey Rourke should win best actor. I'm hoping they honour Heath Ledger as well.

[Mr Retro]

According to Las Vegas odds makers, the following should happen Sunday night at the Oscars;

Best actor..........Mickey Rouke

Best director.......Danny Boyle

Best supporting actor...Heath Ledger

Best Actress....Kate Winslet

Best supporting actress..Penelope Cruz

Best picture....Slumdog Millionaire

[Caer Ibormeith]

Pretty good calls by the oddsmakers, Tom. Only one wrong. It would have been a hard choice for me between Sean Penn and Micky Rourke for best actor. Either performance was Oscar worthy.