C'mon Karen, SPILL IT! Maybe I'm naive, but I think that review is legit. First, "Clarence" has contributed before. Second, the studio hacks are too smart to sound too smart--if you catch my drift. I think they've gotten wise to the transparency of their efforts to plant positive reviews of their films and have therefore gotten more careful to dumb them down. It sounds great! Now let's hear the ending or I won't sleep tonight . . .;-)

BIG SPOILER BELOW I think what bothered me most was the seemingly endless rushing to and fro that, imo, marred the last half-hour of the otherwise charming NOTTING HILL. It starts with Bridget, who now realizes that Daniel is the cad, forcing her parents to rush to a Christmas Day party so that she may profess her love to Darcy (which comes at a most unfortunate moment, as Darcy's father announces his son's engagement to Natasha, to which Bridget rather humorously objects.) Then, after believing all is lost, Bridget rushes back home to collect her things for an impromptu trip to Paris with her eccentric group of friends, which suddenly goes awry when Darcy shows up unexpectedly to inform her that she alone has captured his heart. Bridget, of course, opts out of the trip, and decides to spend a romantic evening with Darcy. All's well that ends well, correct? Not quite. Once up in the apartment, Bridget tells Darcy to wait in the living room while she runs into her bedroom to surprise him by donning a pair of sexy panties. In the interim, Darcy pokes around the apartment, inadvertently stumbling across her diary, which immediately piques his interest. He flips through the pages and finds that a great deal of it is dedicated to slagging him off, which upsets him enough to head out into the cold, snowy evening. So, Bridget pops back out, sees that he is gone, runs to the window where she sees him heading away from her apartment, and quickly resolves to chase him down wearing only shoes, a blouse and her panties. Actually, this part drew huge laughs from the audience, but when she finally catches him exiting a store (it turns out he was only buying her a *new* diary,) I struggled mightily to suppress a groan. It was the only false moment in a truly hilarious film.

Ok, now I can sleep.;-) Thanks, Karen. This ending works for me; I think it's kinda cute and ironic, him buying her a new diary. As far as all the rushing to and fro in the last reel, well, that's textbook Richard Curtis. You have your inevitable misunderstandings, followed by too many people piling into a car, and lots of chasing about. I wonder what the audience reaction was like, and where this screening was held. In any event, I think it's very encouraging! It wouldn't hurt if all you good folks out there added to the comments at AICN. And sound enthusiastic!;-)

(Mari) It wouldn't hurt if all you good folks out there added to the comments at AICN. And sound enthusiastic!;-) You mean like this: What Women Want: MORE COLIN FIRTH!!! Do you think your message got through? ;-)

That's the message, Karen! :-) Thanks for the spoilers. But I wonder if the film which seems to be still in the editing progress by the quality of the reel at the screening will remain. (it turns out he was only buying her a *new* diary,) Big hint to Helen. ;-)

(it turns out he was only buying her a *new* diary,) (Moon)Big hint to Helen. ;-) Oh well... Could be. Otherwise, I'd much rather they had stuck to the book :-(

It must surely have an ending to parallel P&P, ie of lovely lingering close-up kiss a' la Lizzie & Darcy!

Do you think your message got through? ;-) One must struggle to be heard above the din over there.;-) "Subtle" doesn't cut it.;-) So, is Beaks for real?

and did he say what the audience reaction was like, throughout?

I Love that ending..mobetta' than book ending. Can see MD buying new diary,and Bridget running down street. Yeah...vintage Richard Curtis..but it works every time. Give the audience what they want.I liked Notting Hill. Great role for Colin.Thanks Super Sleuth:-)

BTW, that was Mari's messsage title at AICN, not mine. Haven't heard back yet from beaks. Did ask him about Colin's screen time vs. Hugh's and about the other supporting cast members (the friends) who he didn't mention at all.

Karen, thanks for posting this review. The best thing I take out of it is that they don't seem to have monkeyed too much with the main thrust of the plot. Turkey curry buffet, short skirts to attract Daniel, MD transitioning from stiff to hunk, the disastrous dinner party...... thank goodness! Mari: So, is Beaks for real? Hmmm, Clarence Beaks ... Clarence Beaks ... isn't that the name of the Dukes' henchman in Trading Places? - just checked IMDB - he was called Clarence Beeks. Coincidence or suspicious dirty-work connotation?

Coincidence or suspicious dirty-work connotation? Hmmm, all the regulars at AICN use character name pseudonyms. There's a John Robie (mmmmmmm), among others. Can't really remember much about Trading Places, but that's a possibility about Clarence. Ahem... not so legit. ;-)

Oh yes, and have asked Clarence about talented and hunky pedestrian walking in front of Mexican restaurant.

(it turns out he was only buying her a *new* diary,) I think the writer got it wrong. Mark was buying himself a new *journal*. :-) (hint: Neddy)

Ah, but Mark Darcy keeps a diary too! Remember this! (v.v.funny) Mark Darcy's Diary Bridget Jones' Diary is about to go supernova stateside: but what do men really feel about her? Welcome for the first time, to the boyfriend's view. By Michael Bywater Memo: essential make decision re Human Rights committee by 1 Jan. NB New computer system not yet working; speak to consultants. Memo: try get tickets Bayreuth next year � apply this week. Chambers curiously deserted. Telephones silent. Odd chill light in the courtyard. Calm before the storm; disputes fomenting over the Christmas season, catastrophes brewing, all doubtless good for business but rather resent a) end of SAS-style operation to retrieve B. Jones's mother from clutches of barking-mad Julio and b) equally successful attempt to insert self into clutches of B. Jones. Last few days in Hintlesham Hall great fun, but chocolates in bed, cigarette-ash all over bedclothes and endless giggling telephone calls to her friends (what kind name Shazza, for God's sake?) could become an irritant if indefinitely prolonged. Also notice odd glint eye when topic London comes up, e.g: Self: "Must get back to London and get up to speed on the Carwardine case, serious miscarriage of justice, it'll go all the way to the House of�" B. Jones: "I think it's going to be great." Self: "What?" B. Jones: "London. We can go for a walk in Holland Park." I know for a fact she would rather be dead than go for a walk in the park. Suspect it is playing-out of some minatory women's-magazine supplement: 100 Romantic Things For Winter Lovers or some such nonsense. But impossible to discuss this sort of thing, even after two hours passionate sex, e.g. last night. B. hopped out of huge bed, alarmingly energetic, thinking I'm asleep, starts doing Birdie Dance starkers in front of cheval glass, obviously v. happy. "Those women's magazines get it all wrong," I said. B. turned round startled. "What? What do you mean?" "I mean you're enchanting when you're just natural, ike this," I say. Instant gloom, peers at self in mirror, plucks at flesh, furrows brow. "So what are you saying? You're saying I'm fat? You think I'm fat. Oh God I knew it, it was just a sympathy shag, I've made an utter fool of myself", blah blah blah. End result: another two hours of quite uneccessary comforting and reassurrance. What is it about women? Wednesday 21 March Memo: collate tax papers for end financial year. Fix appointment with accountant. NB Deadline for Nelson appeal this coming Wednesday. Essential obtain his authority proceed. Odd phone call from B. in middle of conference with Tadenuma Corp. lawyers this morning. Told Derek say would call back. "Can't, Mister Darcy. She said it's urgent, absolutely critical, you needed to know ow." Excused self, took call. B: "You know how miserable I've been these last few weeks?" Self: "What? I thought you were happy." B: "That's on the surface. Underneath I've been crying inside. Anyway, we can't see each other any more." Turns out to be my fault. Haven't said I love her enough, fall asleep after sex, had to cancel planned trip to cinema, went to Los Angeles at only 12 hours notice, didn't admire new black Joseph trousers (didn't notice new black Joseph trousers; all look more-or-less same, like barrister suits, anyway how many pairs black trousers woman need for God's sake?), assume that because think bottom fat, assume think bottom fat because bottom is fat, don't fancy her any more, worst thing man can do is stay with woman out of pity, life ruined, hope this lesson for my future, if want amily life with someone will have to be caring and encouraging, promote feeling security. Have to remind myself what love about B., e.g. funny, pretty, affectionate, fun in bed, childlike sense of fun in simple things etc. But where I fit in here? Sometimes seems like I am just extra in long-running sitcom: Bridget In The City. Next thing know, B. takes course, discovers true identity, takes lesbian lover, self written out of script. Is this basis long-term future for adult human beings? Saturday 27 April Dinner party from hell. Best one could have hoped for was quiet duty evening: Dr Hiromatsu & wife (big client), Geoffrey & Tristan from chambers, Judge Gregory (tiresome, querulous), etc. etc. yawn yawn. Told B. no need for her to come, would get in caterer, usual routine. Insisted coming, said was ashamed of her. Also insisted no caterers, would cook. Arrived at house 5.30 p.m. accompanied by Shazza and sleazy, cackling newspaper person, all drunk and carrying following supplies: Complete new outfit from Joseph. Other complete new outfit from Joseph. River Caf� cookbook, Ivy cookbook, Vietnamese cookbook. Wok. Electric noodle-maker. Battery-powered aquarium with life-like swimming fish. Sprig wilted coriander. Asked about food. B. said were planning on shopping locally, nothing in Soho suitable, light but tantalising Italo-oriental dinner. Pointed out it now 5.42 p.m., leaving it bit late for butcher, fishmonger, c. B. rushed out of room followed by Shazza, leaving sleazy, cackling newspaper person staring at me with nasty look in eye. 5:55 pm Sound of hysterical sobbing coming from bedroom. 6:15 pm Sound of hysterical laughter coming from bedroom. 6:16 pm Managed to get hold of Emma at her new restaurant, reminded her of lovely fortnight on Mauritius 1995, agreed to deliver 4-course dinner plus waiter. 7:55 pm Dinner guests arrive. Cackling newspaper person goes upstairs 8:40 pm Dinner arrives 8:55 pm B. arrives doing imitation of � of God-knows-what. Of a successful lawyer's wife ca. 1958. Too embarrassing to write down. All I can say is, hope this not foretaste of future. Just about tolerable being barrister but having barrister's wife wd. be unbearable. 3:10 am B. eventually calmed down, sleeping peacefully, self utterly drained. Started with innocent remark, viz. how I preferred her when she was just being herself. Instant catastrophe. Tears, threats kill self, rage. I never loved her, was just using her, wasn't a proper relationship, wasn't going anywhere, all she wanted was husband, family, dogs, horses, big house London, bigger house country, walks in fields, straw hat, wine cellar, fulfilled old age surrounded grandchildren, great-grandchildren, peaceful death revered by all, quiet burial plot country churchyard, flowers on grave, and what was I going to do about it? Call myself a man? I was just like all the others etc. etc., didn't understand, clock ticking, soon be on shelf, everyone laugh at her, old spinster, cat, figure of pity, endless boredom into yawning tomb, might as well kill self. Wednesday 26 June Villa in Tuscany prob. bad idea. B. disappointed with pool, with arid landscape, with industrial estate visible from bedroom, with absence of good local food, with 45-mile drive to Florence, with company, with weather, with bugs, with me. Had planned pleasant fortnight � self, B., Mark & Samantha, Anthony & Julia, Richard & Jo-Jo � but turning out to be bad idea, esp. given Anthony's attack on B. this evening. "Bridget, your trouble is you have no inner life at all," he said, after she had just finished a long denunciation of Prada handbags. "This means you have no resources of your own. You have no interest in your job, no sense of the culture in which you live, no idea of your place in history. Yet trying to dismantle your self-absorption would be like trying to split the atom with a pickaxe. You seem to think of nothing but your weight, your consumption of cigarettes and booze, and what you call �relationships� which are nothing of the sort, but diversions from the emptiness of your life or, at best, appalling projections of some grisly romantic drama invented by you on the basis of the drivel you read in magazines and see on the television. You talk about commitment � which we all know means marriage, but you aren't committed to Darcy here. You aren't even committed to the relationship. You're committed to the institution. Which is exactly where you should be." The terrible thing is every single word he said is true. Which makes what happened next all the more inexplicable. Because I rose from my chair, grabbed Anthony by the collar of his powder-blue John Smedley polo-shirt, hauled him upright and � without really knowing what I was saying � hissed: "How dare you speak like that to the woman I devoutly hope will do me the honour of becoming the second Mrs Darcy." Am too stunned at own actions to think clearly. Anthony is now on his way to � oops. Must go. Bridget's signalling.

The henchman has answered a few more questions: Q: How much screen time does Colin have v that other one A: Colin Firth..... I've yet to see the man give a bad performance, and he certainly didn't disappoint here. Colin gets plenty of screen time, constantly appearing at social functions with the icily condescending Natasha (including a book release party where Bridget, who only has to introduce Mr. Fitzherbert, embarrasses herself in front of the attendees, including a couple of well-known authors making some surprising cameos.) I would say Firth's screen time is nearly roughly equal to Grant's. Q: What about Shazz, Jude and Tom??? A: Bridget's friends..... while not at the fore, they are in a number of sharply-written scenes, and we quickly warm to them. I particularly enjoyed Tom, the singer of an 80's hit who has since quit his musical career, but all three provide solid laughs. They're also in the scene which, imo, is one of the film's highlights: Bridget's botched dinner party. Q: Does BJD suffer from a surfeit of annoying Curtis-isms? A. yes, this script does have its share, but the difference is the rougher language. The word "f!@#" is used quite freely, and the frank discussions of sex are more explicit than usual in his work. I'd say this is my favorite script of his, but I haven't seen FOUR WEDDINGS... in years. Anything else you want to know?

Oh, I like the sound of it more and more, roll onApril. One question Karen, willm you ask him what the audience reaction was like and if they laughed at all the right places.

Thanks, Karen. Glad to know he shares the screen time with HG. I would like to know: 1) If MD does rescue BJ mom from Julio. 2)Why was he disapponted in the ending? How did he feel it should end? 3) Does RZ nail the accent? ;-)

and was the chemistry good between Colin and Renee?

Any "real good"[rumpy-pumpy] love scenes between MD and Bridget?

Colin Firth..... I've yet to see the man give a bad performance, and he certainly didn't disappoint here. Colin gets plenty of screen time, There is a God!:-) Am liking this Harvey Beaks person more and more.;-) Karen, I'd echo Ann's question on audience reaction, and I'd like to know in which city this screening was held. Also, was it a test screening or an industry screening? The word "f!@#" is used quite freely, and the frank discussions of sex are more explicit than usual in his work Good, they haven't toned it down, though I'd like to see more than mere "discussions" of sex where MD is concerned.;-) Then again, I'm one of those people who thinks the upcoming Jon Firth film on Victoria & Albert sounds pretty darn good. I hope we get to see it here. *Give the people what they want!* Thanks, K!

(Mari) I'd like to know in which city this screening was held. Also, was it a test screening or an industry screening? Didn't his review say it was a test screening? I did ask him the LA/NYC question in my first message and didn't get an answer. Am working on follow-up, but he might get tired of this *badgering* ;-)

(Karen) Didn't his review say it was a test screening? I did ask him the LA/NYC question in my first message and didn't get an answer. No, he didn't indicate the nature of the screening. Interesting that he ignored the venue question. You could try asking these again, maybe lob him a softball too, like, what's the approximate running time. Also, audience reaction.

(Moon) I would like to know: 1) If MD does rescue BJ mom from Julio. If I read the review aright, Moon, no. Simply because Julio doesn't enter into it or at least the character (possibly of that name) has changed identities pretty severly: "... briefly setting her world aright /.../ before her mother drops the bombshell that she's engaging in an affair with the flamboyant host of a popular Home-Shopping program, sending Bridget's father spiraling into a pit of depression ... This removes her Mom's "boyfriend"'s foreign origin and the nature of his "shadiness". Whether he is still called Julio remains to be revealed.

Remember, he was renamed Julian. That was from the producer's website.

I wonder how they kept the P&P parallel.

Whether he is still called Julio remains to be revealed. And I hope other plot twists remain concealed as well. Do we reeeeaally want to know so much 3-1/2 months before we get to see the film? Oh, ok, some do so go to it. ;-) It's been fun reading so far and I'm happy so many of our fears have been put to rest, thanks to Karen's resourcefulness. I'm still hoping for some surprises in April.

BJD2 - Someone mentioned a hope for this. I second that. Would CF do it? Anyone else would ruin it. Does anyone know if a CF calendar is available? Maybe after BJD, there'll be one.

Karen, thanks for all the news from "Mr. Beaks". I hope he's more than just a plant and that his positive review turns out to be correct! V. encouraging that CF's time is equal to HG's :-).

To Tineke, I have been to the IMDB and I see that BJD opens in Belgium on the 25th April. No date for the UK as yet.

There is an interview with Colin Firth in the Sunday London Times: http://www.sunday-times.co.uk. Scroll down to "culture" section, on right hand side of column, then click to go there. Scroll down a few more, and there you are. Cheers!

Thank you, Rhonda. If you'll check the general Colin Firth topic, #134, we've been discussing it there. Isn't the article wonderful, especially with the news of his next project? We'd love to hear your comments there. :-)

On the BJD location page, I've added v.v. large pics for each one. Never realized before that the BJ/DC one is when he's watching cricket most likely and can really see blood on DC's face. Our boy landed a few. ;-) http://www.spring.net/karenr/mdbro/bjdloc.html

Thanks Karen, they are great, boy am I looking forward to this film.

The Observer (abbreviated).. Whether you are a fan of Cervantes' original epic, or merely a fan of Firth, the acting in this allegory for a modern audience amkes it compelling viewing and extremely moving... This is a sentimental story for an unsentimental age, but the dialogue, the cast and the well chosen targets raise it far above expectations. The emotional points are subtly made and the story's simple portrait of personalities in a state of collapse is painfully effective.

February's Issue of Total Film mag has a two page trailer for BJD.There are 3 pics,which Karen has already shown us-BJ smoking,in the gym & the one with Colin.Although HG is in the cast list its CF that gets the mention in the article.

Thanks, Judy, what does it say about Colin? The usual stuff?

Nothing new but here's the article-: ...page-turner pics are hotter than ever-and BJD is just the latest. Even if you've never ventured inside HF's bestseller (and its sequel The Edge of Reason),you're probably aware of Miss Jones,the British answer to Ally McBealIts a simple pitch:single woman looking for love, eating,dieting and smoking too much,and worrying whateveryone thinks about her.And now,with hefty studio backing courtesy of Miramax and Universal,she's ready to hit multiplexes. There were always going to be obstacles:Jones purists were visibly frothing over the choice of lead actress .RZ? A Yank? What no KW?(She was offered the role but chose to pass)And director Sharon Maguire(on who the book's outspoken Shazza character is apparently based) had never helmed a movie before.And how could they pick anyone other than CF to play the object of Bridget's obsession, Mark Darcy? And..And.. Such concerns are forgotten now,as Jones slaps on some lippy and readies herself to meet the public.And Z has already earned Fielding's stamp of approval ("She's very sweet,and has no trace of an American accent") But then its hardly surprising:JC's other half piled on a few pounds & spent a fortnight as intern "Bridget Cavendish" in a London publishers office during spring to get a feel for the part. The scripts been through such talented hands as Richard Notting Hill Curtis,while filling out the role of lust object Mark Darcy is.. you guessed.. Colin "That Mr Darcy From Out Of Pride And Prejudice" FirthAnd with a huge,ready made audience of book lovers ready to judge the film,looks like the box office will be busy ..

And how could they pick anyone other than CF to play the object of Bridget's obsession, Mark Darcy? while filling out the role of lust object Mark Darcy is.. you guessed.. Colin "That Mr Darcy From Out Of Pride And Prejudice" Firth YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Here's an article with exactly the right slant and knows WHAT'S important!! (and no mention of that other guy) Thanks so much, Judy, for typing it in. I'm sure the Feb issue won't hit our shores for some time.

And to think we battled the possibility of his not being cast in BJD once. We are so worthy and wise. It is a good thing the US producers caught on. Colin should be doing a whole new set of publicity shots soon. A happy thought!

while filling out the role of lust object Mark Darcy is. One's mind reels while wondering what else he fills out. Forget the snow and ice. April is right around the corner.

The 12/30 Irish Times had an article of all the "must see" movies for first six months of 2001. For BJD, it just gave a one-line synopsis and main cast.... but said it was opening March 30th! I think it's going to open in your area one week before the US.

I hope the Premiere is the week before!!

Karen - Here's an article with exactly the right slant and knows WHAT'S important!! (and no mention of that other guy) Other guy?, IS there another guy? .......oh you mean Jim Broadbent, silly me!

Judy, thanks for that article. I hear the beat of the publicity drums starting up, and I like it! Congrats to our Karen, whose BJD pages are the LEAD story in today's Dark Horizons film site. Go to: http://www.darkhorizons.com/news.htm

Nice plug for Colin, Karen.Did you write the copy;-) He lifted the pictures entirely.

And it's been picked up by Teletext today: See Bridget Jones on the net Fans of Bridget Jones's Diary can now view stills from the movie adaptation on the internet. Renee Zellweger (Jones) is seen standing with co-stars Colin Firth (Mark Darcy) and Hugh Grant (Daniel Cleaver). There are also shots of Salman Rushdie and venues of metropolitan life, such as Cafe Rouge. The site is at - www.spring.net/karenr/mdbro/bjdloc.html

And it's been picked up by Teletext today: Karen....You're famous!!We're bursting with pride!! ... venues of metropolitan life, such as Cafe Rouge And our pictures!

Congrats to Karen! But how could this site not be recommended - it is SO good. Reading it again, I still marvel at the way that you have picked exactly the right quotes in my opinion from the book, Karen. ESPECIALLY my favourite about it being ridiculous to be called Mr Darcy and then stand snooty and aloof at a party. Will you be able to tell how much traffic a Teletext recommendation generates?

The only counter I've put on my site is on the main Bridget page. Think I'll put another on the Location page too ...have to figure out how I did it first. Must be easier than programming a VCR. ;-)

Congrats, Karen. You deserve it!

Congratulations Karen! Very much deserved!

From The Guardian's preview of FILMS 2001 by Akin Ohumu (Dec 31, 2000): There is the daring and box-office friendly casting of Texan Renee Zellweger as the eponymous Sloane Ranger in Bridget Jones's Diary (summer), counting the calories as well as the cost of getting involved with unsuitable Hoorays. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant provide the beefcake. ~~~~~ And when did Bridget turn into a Sloane Ranger???

....in Bridget Jones's Diary (summer), ... Is April considered "summer" in UK?

Progress report: in the first 24 hrs since putting up a separate counter on the picture page, there were slightly over 200 hits. The main page has had nearly 400 more hits since yesterday. BTW, this is not huge in the Internet world, where some sites get tens of thousands of hits daily.

BTW, this is not huge in the Internet world, where some sites get tens of thousands of hits daily. Like, Gold Forum. ;-)

If only you could trace origin. I think it is vvg.

What is Gold Forum? Is it mainly pictures too and mainly of women? ;-)

BTW, this is not huge in the Internet world, where some sites get tens of thousands of hits daily. I'm impressed.Just think, folks who never heard of ODB will be flabbergasted when they see the rest of his projects on The Bucket. The night of the Tony's when Jennifer won, her website got 2000 hits. "Jennifer- who?" The week after, 700-1000/day.Who says advertising doesn't pay.

I think that's a nice uptick in hits, Karen, and it will build as the film gets closer, and more publicity starts among the general public. Speaking of which . . . sitting at the hairdresser's, I was thumbing through various mags and came across several mentions of BJD. Nothing we haven't heard already, but I think they're gearing up. RZ was on the cover of Jane mag, and had lots on the film and her "training" for it. Another (maybe InStyle?) had a chart of all the literary film adaptations for the coming year, and BJD (with CF's name) was included. Stuff like that. Renee will be on Jay Leno's show on Tuesday, and it's not a repeat. I would think she'd be beating the drums for Nurse Betty, as Oscar nom ballots are due in a couple of weeks, I think, but should be worth watching.

What is Gold Forum? Is it mainly pictures too and mainly of women? ;-) Nah, totally wrong. It is where the guys that invest in gold (bigtime), hang out to speculate about the bear market. The ones that were hoping for a Y2K disaster.

*must get mind out of the gutter* ;-) Saw the Jane magazine, but as you said, Mari, nuthin' new in it. Yep, RZ would be campaigning with the Leno appearance for both an Oscar nom and a GG vote, unless they're already due in.

Congratulations, Karen, it *is* a very good site :-) (Moon)If only you could trace origin. Can be done, in a way. Problem is, you get the domains and even the computer ID, but not its owner's name...

Just picked up the February edition of Empire which features "21 for 2001.....the year's hottest movies" "20 Bridget Jones' Diary Starring (note order ;-) RZ, CF, HG, SH and JB Director SM HF's smash hit book gets the movie treatment, with Z as the mildly neutotic, single, thirtysomething career girl ETA April/May. Whatever your opinion of HF's bestseller , there's no denying the 'single girl' phenomenon it sparked off (the sequel EoR has sold equally well, not to mention the slew of imitations). So there's an awful lot riding on the film version, especially given the decision to cast Texan-born Z as the neurotic, journal-writing singleton over homegrown beauties like KW, EW and HB-C. " I understand the miffed aspect of that experience," Z says, " that it is a smaller market so there are fewer opportunities for English girls. I felt very lucky, and what a gift, what an incredible journey as an actress to take!" By all accounts, Z, whose much-publicised weight gain (a diet rich in pizza and Guinness, apparently) enabled her to look the part, gives the kind of performance which will silence her critics. And the casting of Firth as romantic interest MD is - given Bridget's obsession with a certain actor playing Mr darcy in the Beeb's P&P - positively inspired. So long as first-time director SM can resist the temptation to stray too far from the source material, it could be the ritish rom-com hit of 2001. If not , roll on Mad Cows: The Sequel..." And not a word of the floppy one, he-he!

"ritish" should of course be British (dur).. and also forgot to mention that the piece is accompanied by the same old pic of RZ in pyjamas.

Thanks, Tracy. The publicity ball is rolling. And the casting of Firth as romantic interest MD is - given Bridget's obsession with a certain actor playing Mr darcy in the Beeb's P&P - positively inspired. Absolutely! So why would he even heisitate to do MD in the first place? The part had been written for him. That will always be beyond me.

Thanks, Tracy. Love the slant that all your publications have with CF being highlighted. Doubt we'll get the same over here. :-(r The Times (James Christopher) has its "must sees" for 2001 and Bridget in bed is at the article's head, with this underneath: "Angst in her pants: Renee Zellweger is Helen Fielding's neurotic heroine in Bridget Jones' Diary, out in May. Colin Firth plays the man she wishes was in her life" Then this in the article: The queues for Bridget Jones� Diary (May), based on Helen Fielding�s newspaper columns, will provide fascinating anthropological insights. Will there be squads of drunk, lonely, fat, thirtysomething, smoking alcoholics heading for the cinema? Of course there will. Ren�e Zellweger as the neurotic Bridget is clever casting. But Colin Firth as Bridget�s Mr Darcy (cf Pride and Prejudice) is a brilliant choice by director Sharon Maguire. ~~~~~~ Does James Christopher has the same anatomical deficiency as AA Gill?

Inspired, brilliant casting - bah! Don't they know it was mandatory? Who would even *go* see the movie if they had a different actor? ;-)

But Colin Firth as Bridget�s Mr Darcy (cf Pride and Prejudice) is a brilliant choice by director Sharon Maguire. And here is another one. And he still hesitated to sign for MD. If I were to interview him, I would drive this point beyond the house. He may hate me afterwards, but it must be done. ;-)

"Angst in her pants: Renee Zellweger is Helen Fielding's neurotic heroine in Bridget Jones' Diary, out in May. Colin Firth plays the man she wishes was in her life" Have posted full article on #134. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,62-62377,00.html

Glad to see no mention of you know Hugh! Moon, the only reason I think he may have hesitated over this may be fear of the continuing Colin "Mr Darcy" Firth syndrome in the UK. At least one of the reviewers of DQ called him this. And another used "Mr Darcy drives the buses" as a header. No doubt we'll get "Mr Darcy plays Hamlet". No-one talks about Joe "Shakespeare" Fiennes. But i think, especially in the States, where, fingers crossed, BJD should be a great success, that Mark Darcy will allow him to move on.

There will no mention of Darcy in the States. Everytime my TV & Satellite Guide mentions him, it mentions The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. That's it. Most Americans have not seen P&P.

(Lassie) Everytime my TV & Satellite Guide mentions him, it mentions The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. That's it. In part that reflects the pro "big screen" bias here, the thinking being--"he's been in two Oscar-winning films--what more is there to tell?" And, with so very many TV channels here and the audience therefore so fragmented, it's rare for anyone to gain widespread notoriety from a one-off TV program, as compared to a regular weekly series. Whether Mr. Darcy is mentioned here (it always is in any interviews he has done here) will depend on what and how much of it is in the press kit; some critics crib that stuff almost verbatim. Also, the extent to which the P&P storyline is maintained in the film. I'd think it's too good of an in-joke (and I mean that in a positive way) to not be mentioned in the press kit, but who knows.

(Evelyn) Just think, folks who never heard of ODB will be flabbergasted when they see the rest of his projects on The Bucket. Ain't that the truth. Karen's site is the first to have stills of the film. All those Hugh Grant fans will be flocking. Wait 'til they see our boy. ;-) (Bethan) Glad to see no mention of you know Hugh! Tee-hee (Mari) the extent to which the P&P storyline is maintained in the film. I'd think it's too good of an in-joke (and I mean that in a positive way) to not be mentioned in the press kit, but who knows. I agree. And what a perfect lead-in on all those US talk shows he's going to do. Perhaps the Darcy connection might even inspire A&E to air P&P again. So why would he even hesitate to do MD in the first place? Moon, I think that would be a great question to ask him. I'd love to know if his answer (if indeed he did hesitate) would be along the lines of my own reservations about him playing Mark - that if it flopped he'd be skewered for falling back on his Mr. Darcy role. So far BJD doesn't look like it has a limp bone in its body.

Another small article, this time in Film Review(The Essential 2001 Preview) The Nineties woman wins her own film... The best selling novel finally reaches the silver screen next year.Adapted from HF's novel by the team of Richard (Blackadder/Notting Hill/Four Weddings& a Funeral) Curtis & Andrew Davies,the TV writer responsible for top class adaptations of P&P & House of Cards as well as the sitcom Game On; all early indications suggest that Bridget Jones' filmed diary should be at least on a par with the page-turner. Jerry Maguire cutie RZ stars as the eponymous, put-upon,romantic heroine - and she will be adopting an English accent for the part.Unlike last years High Fidelity the novel's important London setting has been retained,and so the rest of the cast is rounded out by a filofax of familiar Brits,including Curtis' regular HG & former Bond Girl Honor Blackman. A nice conceptual joke at the heart of the film is the casting of CF as our heroine's love interest,MD. In the novel,Bridget is obsessed with the BBC TV version of P&P,& in particular its roguish anti-hero Darcy,played by ...CF. If all goes well,the movie has a ready prepared sequel in the novel's follow-up Bridget Jones The EdgeOf Reason. Ah well I suppose somebody had to mention HG-)

i love it....:)

Heide), Moon, I think that would be a great question to ask him. I'd love to know if his answer (if indeed he did hesitate) would be along the lines of my own reservations about him playing Mark - that if it flopped he'd be skewered for falling back on his Mr. Darcy role. So far BJD doesn't look like it has a limp bone in its body. I am surprised at you having reservations about BJD. It was not only custom made for him but: The best selling novel finally reaches the silver screen next year.Adapted from HF's novel by the team of RichardBlackadder/Notting Hill/Four Weddings& a Funeral) Curtis & Andrew Davies,the TV writer responsible for top class adaptations of P&P & House of Cards as well as the sitcom Game On; all early indications suggest that Bridget Jones' filmed diary should be at least on a par with the page-turner. That is reason enough for him not to have hesitated. Definitely a question to ask him.

Thanks for the newest mention, Judy. At least Hughie is mentioned within the context of being only a RC "regular" and in the same breath as Honor Blackman, who is only doing a cameo. ;-) Like the fact that CF got two whole sentences. Tells me that these magazines believe his casting was crucial and HG's was...well...you know... as one of RC's regulars. ;-) As far as P&P goes, didn't Colin say that all references to himself had been taken out? My guess is that P&P has been excised from the script. I doubt Bridge, Shazz and Jude will sit around talking about the miniseries and they won't be huddled about the telly watching the wet shirt scene for its therapeutic value.

closing italics sorry.

... roguish anti-hero Darcy... Rougish? Anti-hero? Anyone going to defend Darcy on his (long neglected!) discussion board, then? :-)

(Karen) As far as P&P goes, didn't Colin say that all references to himself had been taken out? My guess is that P&P has been excised from the script. Oh, it probably has. We were talking about whether it will be mentioned in the publicity materials, not the film. Although . . .who would have expected P&P, Darcy and CF's pic to show up in You've Got Mail?;-) I *still* think it would be funny if the gals were sitting around, scarfing chocolates, drinking Chardonnay, and watching a video of SIL, scene where Wessex kisses Viola and she smacks him, then Bridget says why the hell do all the good parts go to Americans?:-) Hee, hee . . . Thanks for the latest, Judy!

If all goes well,the movie has a ready prepared sequel in the novel's follow-up Bridget Jones The EdgeOf Reason. Aha! This may be wishful thinking, but I do so agree. I may be in the minority but I preferred TEOR to the original BJD. Lots of laugh out loud scenarios, and a whole new range of characters....Rebecca, Gary the builder, Giles, Wellington, even fat Nigel and Jed! I think there's more than enough material for a sequel, and I think sequels are a good thing! Didn't harm Mel Gibson's career! There seems to be a very positive buzz about BJD...I really don't think the knives will be out for the movie, or, for once, for CF. But I hope it opens first in the US (seems probable) and he *must* do talk shows in the US. No-one will expect him to be the smoulderingly sexy Mr Darcy, and if he turns out to be a rather shy, unassuming (but articulate!) Englishman, I'm sure everyone will find him perfectly charming. This is the ideal opportunity (and not a bad time age-wise) to make an impact in Hollywood. And he must realise by now, that small Brit films lead nowhere...we don't even see them. You need Hollywood backing, even for British based movies.

(Heide) Moon, I think that would be a great question to ask him. I'd love to know if his answer (if indeed he did hesitate) would be along the lines of my own reservations about him playing Mark - that if it flopped he'd be skewered for falling back on his Mr. Darcy role. I'm with Heide on this one. While I would have been extremely disapointed to see anyone else in the part of Mark Darcy, I was holding my breath to read the first press reports about it. The press can be so cruel with their comments. While those of us who are fans of CF and fans of Bridget know that CF's taking the part of Mark Darcy is a clever way to poke fun at himself and at Darcy mania, it could give a mean-spirited movie critic fodder to make scathing comments. I was worried we would see something like "Colin Firth taking on the part of Mark Darcy is a transparent attempt to recapture his former popularity in P&P, etc., etc.". But luckily, so far all the reporters seem to get the joke and we can sit back and anticipate CF's performance without worries :-).

No doubt we'll get "Mr Darcy plays Hamlet". For some reason, I think if Jane Austen had written a play scene in P&P, Mr. Darcy would've read the "Hamlet" part. :-p Elizabeth would've been a wonderful Ophelia as well! Okay, off topic I know. All of you are wonderful at keeping us informed of this movie, I definitely can't wait to see it!!!

No doubt we'll get "Mr Darcy plays Hamlet". I've already seen "Nazi Darcy" with reference to Conspiracy.

Looks as if Empire are really doing their bit to keep that publicity ball rolling because as well as the piece in the magazine I mentioned earlier, there's also something on their website revealing "stills from the film to keep you going in the meantime". http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=2819 Professional Firthians have seen them all before (at least will have done if they have visited the Bucket) but who cares, it's nice to see them again...pity the turtleneck pic isn't amongst them ;-(

The other Bridget website had a small image of the movie poster:

Now that I look more closely at it this might just be part of an ad campagin because it says 'coming soon' and doesn't have all the credits (director, etc) at the bottom.

Actually came from the Dutch UIP (Universal's intl distribution) site: http://www.uip-netherlands.nl/ where they also have several of the publicity stills, including the turtleneck...that is for all Professional Firthians. ;-)

From the UIP Norway site (if anyone can translate): http://www.filmweb.no/uip/filmer/9708.html

Cute, cute, poster....too bad Miramax is so far behind.Wonder if we'll get the same one.Nice to see ODB up there prominently....:-))) Tineke can do Dutch and Hanne is up there nr. Norway.

That ad is adorable! And, your eye is drawn to Colin's name as it's right above her face.:-) Universal will do a good job on promotion. I wish they were distributing here instead of Mira-lax, who seems to only know how to sell when it's awards season. Can anyone read what the list of type says under the new year's resolutions? Good find, K.

*squinting eyes* I believe the second to the last says: Never work with Hugh Grant again.... but I could be wrong. ;-)

From Jeannie Williams' column: Flashes: Will & Grace star Debra Messing is Cosmopolitan 's "Fun, Fearless Female of the Year" and is on the cover of its February issue. Messing will join eight other fearless awardees at a Jan. 29 lunch in New York: Drea de Matteo of The Sopranos; Heather Headley of Broadway's Aida; Julia Stiles, who lures Alec Baldwin in State and Main; Helen Fielding, author of Bridget Jones's Diary; MTV reporter Ananda Lewis; the timeless Bo Derek; Molly Sims, House of Style host; Colleen Fitzpatrick, better known as singer Vitamin C, and, naturally, a Survivor, Kelly Wiglesworth (who poses with a rat).

From the Peoplenews site, model Lisa B is doing one of their diary things and she wrote this: "this year got to spend time together at Shepperton Studios, where I was filming the part of Hugh Grant's girlfriend, Lara, in Bridget Jones�s Diary..."

From Ananova, not quite on topic, but liked the new slant at the end: Hollywood trio battle for film farce role Gwyneth Paltrow, Heather Graham and Renee Zellweger are battling to win the prize role in a Hollywood remake of When The Cat's Away. They want to follow in the footsteps of French beauty Garance Clavel, who starred in the original French farce about a lonely bachelor girl's novel adventures. The character is a make-up artist who gets a life while searching for her beloved pet. In the new �30 million version being plotted by Miramax insiders say the accent will be much more on humour and street life in New York in the Millennium. Though Austin Powers comedy star Graham was first pencilled in for the role, both Paltrow and Zellweger have forced their way into contention. Zellweger is soon to be seen in Bridget Jones's Diary. An insider told Ananova: "Heather thought she had this wrapped up if Miramax got the deal but they are also very close to Gwyneth and see Renee as possibly the best female comedy star around. "It's one of the strongest roles around for a girl. Renee saw off a lot of actresses to get the Jones film. So nobody is being ruled out." ~~~~~~ So now the spin is RZ fought off all the competition to get the role! ;-)

So now the spin is RZ fought off all the competition to get the role! ;-) Right, and CF battled whether to play MD or not. (Did anyone say pet peeve?);-))

Sounds as if Renee is turning things around:-)) Perhaps the UK journalists (and I use the term loosely!)won't go after her with such a sharp knife after all.

"Heather thought she had this wrapped up if Miramax got the deal but they are also very close to Gwyneth and see Renee as possibly the best female comedy star around. Good. If Mira-lax likes her maybe we'll see some decent promotion for BJ. Reminder for US viewers: RZ is on Jay Leno's show tonight.