Murph - Morse is not to be missed Agree - if anyone out there has not seen Morse, do so. IMO it's a fantastic series. The Remorseful Day screened over here last year and is, believe me, a tear-jerker. Karen - I too guffawed at the top ten lists . Just who do they survey? Sometimes I just despair of my fellow Britons - I hardly think Huge warrants such lauding and as for EH !??@@! The male list is on the whole fair enough, though one person is so obviously absent:-), but the ladies' is a curious collection. Barbara Windsor, Carry On films being I think more or less her entire big-screen repertoire, is so out of place there it is laughable! *climbing down from soap-box*

"Harry is Here to Help" is the name of the French film. Has anyone seen it?

I heard about that and thought 'somebody must have misread an article,' but the info seems pretty certain and nonambiguous at About.com. Seems that PBS really has no choice if they're competing with cable networks. But I do foresee problems in quality if PBS cannot find partners to help them produce original Mystery programming. ] Hey, I read the article correctly:p

Nominations for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards were announced this morning. Juliette Binoche got in and edged out Renee Zellweger!! *bummer* Wonder Boys was shut out too...v. interesting, as well as CZ-J. These are precursors to Best and Supporting Actor nominations for the Oscars: For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. Jamie Bell Billy Elliot Russell Crowe Gladiator Benicio Del Toro Traffic Tom Hanks Cast Away Geoffrey Rush QUILLS For Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. Joan Allen THE CONTENDER Juliette Binoche CHOCOLAT Ellen Burstyn REQUIEM FOR A DREAM Laura Linney YOU CAN COUNT ON ME Julia Roberts ERIN BROCKOVICH For Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. Jeff Bridges THE CONTENDER Willem Dafoe SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE Albert Finney ERIN BROCKOVICH Gary Oldman THE CONTENDER Joaquin Phoenix GLADIATOR For Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Judi Dench CHOCOLAT Kate Hudson ALMOST FAMOUS Frances McDormand ALMOST FAMOUS Julie Walters BILLY ELLIOT Kate Winslet QUILLS For Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture (SAG equivalent of Best Picture) ALMOST FAMOUS BILLY ELLIOT CHOCOLAT GLADIATOR TRAFFIC

From Ananova: Sir Michael 'stunned' as acting honour is withdrawn Sir Michael Gambon won a top acting award - but it was withdrawn because he was too busy to attend the ceremony. The actor was delighted when the Variety Club of Great Britain said he had won their Best Actor 2000 award. But when he was unable to receive the award in person, he was told the honour was being given to someone else. Sir Michael is currently working on the film Charlotte Gray with Cate Blanchett as well as appearing in the West End in Harold Pinter's The Caretaker. He says: "I was delighted to hear that I had got the award but then they said because I couldn't attend the ceremony they were going to give it to someone else. "I was just stunned. It seemed a little unfair that I couldn't get the honour because I was too busy. It is quite usual that people who can't attend ceremonies have video clips of their acceptance speeches." But the Variety Club's chief barker, composer Tony Hatch, says he is puzzled by Sir Michael's reaction. "We have an agreement with the BBC that two out of the 12 winners can have video acceptance speeches. An award show without winners present starts to become a bit of a non-runner. "We explained this to Sir Michael and he seemed very understanding. If we had realised he felt like this we would have tried to work something out."

I don't see much in these SAG noms that excites me. Can't believe these people fell for P.T. Barnum Weinstein's Chocolat factory.:-( Omission of RZ for lead actress is disgraceful, as is absence of Ehle and Harris from supportimg actress. Hype over substance, IMO, but I guess they were longshots from the start. Karen, I agree that it's interesting both Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones were snubbed. I think it's jealousy. Most of these SAG members are poor slobs whose average film earnings are less than $5,000 a year, so I suppose having an event wedding and selling the pics to tabloids didn't go down too well. IMO, what they do with their money is their own business, and frankly, I'd prefer both of them to some of these people. Murph, go ahead with your Oscar picks; I am making my list and checking it twice.;-) RE: Benicio showing up in the best actor cateogory instaed of supporting: I just read that you can nominate yourself in any category you want and apparently the enterprising Benny put himself up for Best Lead.

Well Benicio is right! He stole the show, stopped the Traffic, etc ;-) Most of these SAG members are poor slobs whose average film earnings are less than $5,000 a year, LOL, Mari! You are right. But I have a feeling Michael has so many friends at the Academy that he will be voted in as an Oscar nomimee. I agree that Chocolat is pure hype and no substance. I didn't even think Dame Judith was that good and Juliet has done so much better. Bjork was a big miss, I'd like to see those nominees attempt her role in "Dancer in the Dark". Julia was not great/is her same old. Ralph F. should have been there too.

Ralph F. should have been there too.... I am sure tht Jamie Bell is a better actor than RF..... Sir Michael Gambon....Ah feel yo pain....

Evelyn: I have a copy of Charlotte Gray (since I know you're interested in MG's work). Want me to send it to you? ;-)

Sir Michael Gambon won a top acting award - But when he was unable to receive the award in person, he was told the honour was being given to someone else. Now, that's what I call hysterical. Is he a top actor or not? Is the award to do with his work or the lack of leisure time? Stone the crows.

From what I've read at BBC online, this award was decided upon by a panel. They had chosen him as the actor to honor for 2000 for a body of work. If the honoree cannot attend, what's the point? He should get real about this. At the Oscars, they do lifetime achievement awards and other special awards, where the recipient knows in advance. It would be ludicrous if these people didn't show up IMO. Death or severe infirmity are the only reasonable excuses. But perhaps this is a cultural thing, as the awards shows in the UK are so different from those in the US.

More about Charlotte Gray in The Telegraph today, and to think of all the hand-wringing we've doing over Possession and BJD...and this isn't a Hollywood film btw: Charlotte Gray abandons RAF lover in �15m film of the book By Peterborough THE makers of a film adaptation of Sebastian Faulks's novel Charlotte Gray have rewritten the story's ending so that the heroine abandons her British airman boyfriend to run off with a Frenchman. The film tells the story of a young Scottish woman who travels to bomb-battered London during the Second World War in search of work and falls in love with Peter Gregory, a disillusioned RAF pilot. She subsequently becomes an SOE operative and is dropped into occupied France. Discovering that Gregory has been shot down near Clermont-Ferrand, she sets out to look for him and becomes a member of the emerging Resistance movement. Much of the story chronicles her growing relationship with Julien Lavade, a local Resistance leader. The book's heroine suffers moral agonies over her infidelity but is eventually reunited with Gregory. According to sources close to the film-makers, the working script now has her remaining with Lavade. It is not yet known how the script will deal with Gregory. "We are not giving anything away about the plot. All I can say is that we've consulted fully with Sebastian," said the producer Douglas Rae, whose company Ecosse Films is making it for FilmFour. "Handing over a book is a bit like handing over a baby, but Sebastian has been delighted with the work. Any screen adaptation is going to be different from the book because it is a cinematic representation." Faulks's novels have been widely praised. However, he earned the Literary Review's Bad Sex Prize - given for "the most redundant or embarrassing description of the sexual act" - for a passage in Charlotte Gray describing an encounter between the heroine and Lavade. Both Cherie Booth, the Prime Minister's wife, and William Hague, the Conservative leader, number his previous book, Birdsong, among their favourite novels. Mr Rae is confident that Charlotte Gray will be as successful a film as it was as a novel. "We're going to hit the 2002 Oscars," he said. The film will be directed by Gillian Armstrong, whose previous work includes My Brilliant Career, and Oscar and Lucinda. A budget of �15 million will make it the most expensive independent British film ever made. Shooting is due to begin in south-west France on Feb 13, with Billy Crudup as Julien and Cate Blanchett in the title role. Blanchett was first approached in 1998 when she was playing another SOE woman in David Hare's Plenty. Faulks, who was unavailable for comment last night, left a copy of his book at the stage door thinking it might be helpful to her. She liked the book and immediately arranged to have lunch with Faulks and Mr Rae to beg them to let her star in the film.

I'm addicted to Inspector Morse and all the other British detective/police series (A Touch of Frost, Midsummer Murders, Dalziel and Pasco (sp?) and many more). Here, they show them every Saturday evening. When one series is finished, they bring on a another one. And yesterday, I finally got to see Billy Elliot (reason being that there was nothing else I could do but to go out. My computer crashed and is now in repair, I lost everything that was on my hard disk. I'm now in a Uni computer room) and I loved it. So many things that were so recognisable. Before the film started, they showed a trailer for Chocolat. When this huge 'chocolat' appeared on the screen, and the voice over pronounced chocolat the Americanised French way everyone started laughing. Is there a reason why they want it to be pronounced in French? It sounded so incredibly silly. People were still giggling 10 minutes after is was shown. I saw Unbreakable a couple of weeks ago and think the ending is very clear. I can't say that I liked the film though, I suppose the ending is the only thing I did like. I was a little prejudiced since I wasn't interested in seeing it in the first place. But when you go to the cinema with friends, you end up seeing the films you wouldn't have picked out yourself.

BAFTA nominations have been announced: Best Film Almost Famous Billy Elliot Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Erin Brockovich Gladiator The Alexander Korda award for the outstanding British Film of the Year Billy Elliot Chicken Run The House of Mirth Last Resort Sexy Beast The David Lean award for achievement in Direction Stephen Daldry � Billy Elliot Ang Lee � Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Steven Soderbergh � Erin Brockovich Ridley Scott - Gladiator Steven Soderbergh � Traffic Screenplay (Original) Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe Billy Elliot - Lee Hall Erin Brockovich - Susannah Grant Gladiator - David Franzoni/John Logan/William Nicholson O Brother Where Art Thou? - Ethan Coen/Joel Coen Screenplay (adapted) Chocolat - Robert Nelson Jacobs Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - James Schamus/Wang Hui-Ling/Tsai Kuo-Jung High Fidelity - D.V. De Vincentis/Steve Pink/John Cusack/Scott Rosenberg Traffic - Stephen Gaghan Wonder Boys - Steve Kloves Performance by an actress in a leading role Juliette Binoche - Chocolat Kate Hudson - Almost Famous Julia Roberts - Erin Brockovich Hilary Swank - Boys Don't Cry [I guess they couldn't work out ALL the kinks] Michelle Yeoh - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Performance by an actor in a leading role Jamie Bell - Billy Elliot Russell Crowe - Gladiator Michael Douglas - Wonder Boys Tom Hanks - Cast Away Geoffrey Rush - Quills Performance by an actress in a supporting role Judi Dench - Chocolat Frances McDormand - Almost Famous Lena Olin - Chocolat Julie Walters - Billy Elliot Zhang Zi Yi - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Performance by an actor in a supporting role Benicio Del Toro � Traffic Albert Finney - Erin Brockovich Gary Lewis - Billy Elliot Joaquin Phoenix - Gladiator Oliver Reed - Gladiator

They had chosen him [Michael Gambon] as the actor to honor for 2000 for a body of work. If the honoree cannot attend, what's the point? If he refuses point-blank to attend, then the apparent tit for tat attitude might be understandable (though still baffling in my view). But if he is scheduled to be on stage or set precisely at the same date and time, then it's a gross insult to him and his work (which includes his fellow actors and, last but not least, the audience). Performance by an actor in a leading role Jamie Bell - Billy Elliot Russell Crowe - Gladiator Michael Douglas - Wonder Boys Tom Hanks - Cast Away Geoffrey Rush - Quills The only Brit here is a child... Brits seem to be more appreciated in supporting roles.

They had chosen him [Michael Gambon] as the actor to honor for 2000 for a body of work. If the honoree cannot attend, what's the point? (Echo) If he refuses point-blank to attend, then the apparent tit for tat attitude might be understandable Last year Stephen Dillane and Jennifer Ehle won the Variety awards for best stage performers, and they attended the ceremony which was held while they were still performing at the Albery. So the ceremony must be held at a time that doesn't interfere with their stage work. (Film obligations are another can of worms.) I remember Catherine Zeta Jones accepted hers via video that year, I'm not sure if anyone else did. After her video was played, the MC said something like, "the longer she's out of the country, the more Welsh she sounds." audience laughter I bet they used to have a problem with a lot of no-shows, so they cracked down on their policy. Poor Michael, tee hee. Someone failed to properly communicate.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone. The Year of the Snake. That's supposed to be a good thing isn't it? Happy Groundhog Day (Feb.2) to all you Americans on the list. Does any other country have as silly a thing as Groundhog Day? Oh well, it's harmless.

Remember Four Feathers? Appears to be in trouble... Paramount Pictures and Miramax Films have asked Cinema Completions Inc., the bond company for "Four Feathers," directed by Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth"), to take a more active role in the film, which is headed into its fourth month of shooting in England. Sources said the bond company has not yet been asked to take over the film, but CCI has been asked to step in to make sure that costs are kept in line and that Kapur more closely controls the budget. Sources with knowledge of the situation said there were "costs unforeseen that specifically arose from shooting in Morocco" but declined to elaborate. The drama went into production Oct. 9. "Four Feathers" stars Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley and Kate Hudson. The film is being produced by Stanley and Bob Jaffe.

Remember Four Feathers? Appears to be in trouble... ********** Good! Nothing can replace the J. Arthur Rank John Clement/Ralph Richardson version in my mind. I'll get to deciding my Oscar noms this weekend, Mari. I have posted it over at his topic, but there is a nice interview at E OnLine with Benicio, in case you don't visit #142 http://www.etonline.com/html/Interviews/8718.html

Wonderful new publicity for DSL...even though his upcoming production isn't even mentioned. ;-) Cumming reveals naked pose worries Scottish Broadway star Alan Cumming says he worried his looks were more important than his talents when he posed naked for a magazine. The Cabaret actor chose to pose naked for a gay magazine. But today he told BBC Scotland's Kirsty Wark Show he had understood how actresses valued for their looks can feel. "After having done so much and feeling so confident I felt like a bit of fluff in some quarters," said Cummings. "I knew how actresses whose looks come above their talents feel." And after the picture was published, the actor was stalked in New York. "Somebody had got my phone number," he said. "It was not like someone was coming at me with an axe." And his lead role in Cabaret meant he had to mingle with the audience - at the same time as he feared he was being stalked. "Imagine you are being stalked and then you go among the audience," he said. "There were security guards watching." Starring in the Broadway musical has catapulted Cumming to fame in America - and status as a gay icon, with pictures of him used to promote the show across the country. "When it happened it was so overwhelming," he said. "It rapped into the consciousness of America. My character was about sexuality. For America that is something so rarely discussed and so rarely discussed without guilt. "I was elevated to an icon. I thought it was quite funny."

May I share my joy? :-) Stephen Dillane is currently filming The Spy Game with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. The director is Tony Scott, who also directed directed Top Gun and Days of Thunder with Cruise, The Fan with DeNiro and Wesley whats-his-name, Crimson Tide with Denzel and Gene Hackman, The Last Boy Scout with Bruce Willis, and Revenge with Kevin Costner. Filming started a couple of months ago in the Middle East, so I presume that they done with location shooting and finishing up the film in London. They were looking for American extras in London a couple of weeks ago. Shucks, we missed our opportunity! :-)

This will be a high profile movie....hooray...we'll finally get to see him on a big screen!!Great news, Donna.

That's great news, Donna! Best of all, we'll all get to see it. Here's more: I assume you're aware that Stephen is signed on to the new Steven Daldry film? I know the film has been mentioned here, can't recall the name, but it's the 3-story one with the killer cast--Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, etc. SD is listed for it in tomorrow's Sunday Inquirer, Arts section, Steven Rea's column.

(Mari) Best of all, we'll all get to see it. Oh, isn't that the truth! And now I can drag people to see it without them complaining that I'm taking them to see another sensitive British drama, LOL! :-) Thanks for the heads-up. Here's the blurb from the paper: "Billy Elliot helmer Stephen Daldry is doing The Hours, an adaptation of the Michael Cunningham Pulitzer-winner that weaves the life of Virginia Woolf with those of two other women in two other times. Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore are the killer troika, with Ed Harris, Claire Danes, John C. Reilly, Allison Janney and Steven Dillane in the cast. Playwright David Hare did the script."

Saw the creepy "Shadow of a Vampire", pure academia. I was disappointed, it is a rental, IMO. I was surprised to see that they were giving away posters and a comic book done for the film. Where did they get the money? I thought this was an indie.

It is an indie. Nic Cage produced it. Posters and a comic book are pretty cheap compared to television ads. ;-)

From a column about the Oscar race in the Sun-Times...under the heading: Weird but true Paramount Classics would like actress Rosemary Harris and her real-life daughter Jennifer Ehle to share a best supporting actress nomination for playing mom and daughter at different ages in the film "Sunshine." Nice try, but the Academy says that like most salad bars, there is no sharing.

Nice try, but the Academy says that like most salad bars, there is no sharing. Didn't someone say that "sharing"has happened before? Anyway...they're ole "stick-in-the muds"!

(Evelyn) Didn't someone say that "sharing"has happened before? No, there was a tie in the voting before (Katherine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand), which is different from 'sharing.'

From the London Theatre Newsletter: "SOLT (The Society Of London Theatre) report that RUPERT EVERETT has been asked to play the title role in "THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY" at the Old Vic Theatre later this year. The play is adapted from the novel by Oscar Wilde, and directed by Philip Prowse. Everett will play Gray, who sells his soul to stay looking young and beautiful, while a hidden portrait of him ages." [Lots of *interesting* people in the pipeline later this year;-)] ~~~~~~~~~~~From London Theatre Newsletter "It has been reported that actors appearing at SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE THEATRE this summer will be paid by the line. Anyone with a role of 100 lines or more will get an upfront payment of 8ukp per line, up to a maximum of 500 lines. The standard wage for an actor at the Globe is 450ukp a week. The aim, said artistic director Mark Rylance, is to enhance performers' pay while providing security in a precarious profession where people are often out of work." [Wonder what the rate is for "smouldering"....]

Evelyn: This from Joel Seigel Good Morning America on the Oscars: Zhang Ziyi is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's best shot at an acting nomination. Mother and daughter Rosemary Harris and Jennifer Ehle were exquisite playing the same character at different ages in Sunshine. And both Erika Christensen and Catherine Zeta-Jones could be nominated if Traffic causes some Oscar gridlock � and it might. http://abcnews.go.com/GMAMovies/Siegel/siegel_preoscar_010201.html

Oh Moon, I saw Shadow of the Vampire and loved it!!! Malkovich and Dafoe were amazing. Just saw Traffic as well. I thought it was familiar, I saw the PBS version of it what about 10 years ago??? It was called Traffik.

Any other Billy Campbell fans here? *************** LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Billy Campbell is in negotiations to star opposite Jennifer Lopez in Columbia Pictures' thriller "Enough," to be directed by Michael Apted. The project is slated for a March start. The film would mark Campbell's first starring feature role since earning kudos for his performance opposite Sela Ward on the ABC drama "Once and Again," now in its second season. Written by Nicholas Kazan, "Enough" revolves around a woman (Lopez) who marries the man of her dreams (Campbell) but learns that he is abusive. After a failed attempt to leave him, she takes her daughter and goes on the run. Ultimately, she is forced to take matters into her own hands to save her life and that of her child.

Fascinating (and harrowing) article from the NY Times on Steven Gaghan who wrote the adapted screenplay for Traffic (which I thought was excellent, BTW). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/05/arts/05GAGH.html Nice news for Billy Campbell, Murph. I do like him. Lopez I could sure do without, though. Good to see that Ehle/Harris are on Siegel's radar. And good for him for mentioning Erika Christenson, who was so convincing in Traffic that she scared me.

More from the latest Disney annual report, under the Miramax section: "In addition, Miramax produced the successful Broadway revival of The Real Thing, which won three Tony Awards...."

I'm quirky and thought "Shadow of the Vampire" was a comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope that Willem Dafoe gets an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting actor. Dafoe stands his best shot at winning if the Academy follows SAG and nominates Benecio del Toro in the Best Actor category. Then again, with Del Toro out of Best Supporting Actor, Albert Finney will probably win for "Erin Brokovich". *Closing note: My Oscar predictions are almost always wrong.

It's about time I opened up topics for Jude Law and/or Joe Fiennes, but for now... Enemy at the Gates to open Bradford Film Festival A new film starring Jude Law and Joseph Fiennes will get its UK premiere at the Bradford Film Festival. Enemy At The Gates also stars Bob Hoskins and Rachel Weisz. It will open this year's festival at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television on March 1. Other highlights include The Contender, a possible Oscar nominee which stars Joan Allen and Gary Oldman, and Men Of Honour which stars Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. The festival runs until March 17.

News on Gosford Park (the Altman pic) on the Northam board (43). [No mention of Clive, Murph.]

NEW YORK -- USA Films has come aboard with London's Capitol Films to finance director Robert Altman's upcoming U.K.-set satire "Gosford Park." Shooting is scheduled to start next month with an ensemble cast that includes British actors Jude Law, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emily Watson, Jeremy Northam, Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry and Derek Jacobi. A 1930s period piece, "Park" revolves around an elegant weekend at a large country estate that brings together an aristocratic family with their friends, servants, a Hollywood actor, a producer and one or two possible murderers.

Karen: I posted the above at the same time you did! Yes, no Clive - Darn! Derek Jacobi was on Frasier lst night, and was hysterical playing an actor who was the worst in the world. His Hamlet scene was priceless.

I've posted another at the Northam board that does have his name: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/drool/43/new

Re: Gosford Park--throw in two estranged sisters, bag the murderers, set it in the 50's and voila! It's Relative Values!

Since this film has been mentioned here . . .a real ouch: ''Enemy'' faces hostile box office Enemy at the Gates (War drama, Germany-U.K.-Ireland, English dialogue, color, R, 2:11) By Derek Elley BERLIN (Variety) - Proving again that war is hell, and some war films are, too, Jean-Jacques Annaud's ``Enemy at the Gates'' takes a great setting, some resonant themes, a turning point in 20th-century history -- and bleeds them of all power with bad dialogue and uninspired direction. Though visually impressive, the reputedly $95 million production -- mostly financed by Teuton companies and shot entirely within Germany -- shows a consistent inability to generate any kind of drama when characters open their mouths, and suffers from some spectacular miscasting in its higher reaches. Decidedly European in look, narrative and tempo, and with little for American audiences to empathize with, pic looks likely to be an early casualty in wide release Stateside, due March 16; outside the U.S., business looks likely to be spotty, with weakest legs in territories where audiences can actually understand the bad English dialogue. Though not credited on screen, title comes from William Craig's book ``Enemy at the Gates,'' about a duel between a Russian shepherd and a German nobleman during the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-43), one of the great turning points of World War II in which the Germans finally were defeated in their march eastward by stubborn resistance from the Russians. Annaud and co-scripter Alain Godard (``Quest for Fire,'' ``The Name of the Rose'') were given access to the original files of the Russian -- Vassili Zaitsev -- but found a conflicting series of legends and stories that they fashioned into a screenplay. On paper, the pic's blueprint is promising: A duel to the death in a bombed-to-hell city between a German nobleman and a Russian peasant; a love triangle among a woman, the peasant and his friend in charge of Soviet propaganda; a background of Germany's most disastrous military defeat and the unimaginable suffering and slaughter of the city's Russian population; and the feel of being on a cusp of history -- the winter of 1942-43 -- which Nazi Germany entered at the height of its powers but exited on the decline. However, on almost every level Annaud, as both director and co-writer, drops his main cards. Pic has no sense of history, even less of the city's physical geography or everyday life of its population (unlike Joseph Vilsmaier's 1993 ``Stalingrad''), and features three massively miscast Brits in leading roles, notably bright-eyed, pretty-as-a-picture Jude Law as Vassili from the Urals. The only real human drama on screen lies in Ed Harris' interpretation of the German marksman, Koenig, a perf in which dialogue is -- wisely -- mostly dispensed with and the actor is left to create a character from looks, brief exchanges and, mostly notably, real screen charisma. In a nod to the otherwise Euro casting, Harris also flattens out his American accent. After a brief pre-credits sequence that we only later realize is Vassili as a child hunter-marksman back home in the countryside, pic proper opens on Sept. 20, 1942, with a 10-minute sequence clearly inspired by ``Saving Private Ryan'' in which Vassili (Law) is transported to Stalingrad by train and shipped into the bombarded city across the River Volga (town is present-day Volgograd). While lacking the sheer visceral clout of its equivalent in ``Ryan,'' it's an undeniably impressive opening, with good f/x for the shattered Russian burg and a realistic feeling of shooting fish in a barrel as Russian relief troops are shipped across the River Volga and then battle their way up the exposed banks into the city's heart. On the way, Vassili picks off five Germans when he bumps into Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), a young Russian who lends him his rifle. Danilov, who is attached to the Soviet war effort's political unit, is impressed by the young peasant's marksmanship and elevates him to the status of a hero to inspire the local population in their seemingly hopeless struggle against superior forces. On one sniper expedition, Vassili is befriended by Sasha (Gabriel Marshall-Thomson), a kid whose mother (German thesp Eva Mattes, revoiced with an unsuitably posh English accent) introduces Vassili to her neighbor, Tanya (Rachel Weisz). Unfortunately, Danilov also develops the hots for Tanya, whose Jewish parents were carted away by the Germans. With the arrival of Koenig (Harris), 35 minutes in, the picture immediately ratchets up several dramatic notches with a character who is both believable and played by an actor who can hold the screen. A one-on-one private war begins between the two sharpshooters, each setting traps for the other -- Koenig to kill the ``myth'' of Vassili, and Vassili more and more nervous about living up to the legend created by Danilov. The four sniper sequences that pepper the balance of the running time contain the best of the movie, with dialogue reduced to a minimum and cutting and camerawork creating miniatures of drama and suspense, with a particularly good standoff in a bombed factory in which Vassili is cornered. Beyond those, however, Annaud shows yet again in his career that he's a landscape rather than an actor's director (viz. ``Seven Years in Tibet''). Dialogue is generally pedestrian, and often bathetic, with Law totally out of his depth in a role that requires peasant cunning vs. Harris' aristocratic poise and coolness; Weisz, an actress especially in need of a strong director, largely at sea as a token Jewess who functions as little more than a plot point; and Fiennes simply looking wrong as a political propagandist caught up in a poorly drawn love triangle. Ron Perlman appears all too briefly as a veteran Russian sniper. An extended cameo by Bob Hoskins, as a foul-mouthed Nikita Krushchev, sent by Stalin to lead the defense of Stalingrad, further adds to the picture's uncertain dramatic tone. Apart from a lazy, uninspired score by James Horner, tech credits are genuinely impressive, with production design by Wolf Kroeger that convincingly creates a wintry, Beirut-like landscape of hollow, bombed-out buildings, lived-in costume design by Janty Yates (``Gladiator''), muted widescreen lensing by Robert Fraisse that cuts easily between claustrophobic closeups and large exteriors and makeup that is convincingly under-the-fingernails in its dirt and grime. A brief animated sequence after the main titles, in which the location is described like a hectoring WWII newsreel (``Europe lies crushed beneath the German jackboot ... one last obstacle remains ... Stalingrad'') would be best eliminated in non-U.S. prints, especially in Europe.

Oooh, bad one, Mari. Trailer looked good. He's especially harsh on Jude Law (out of his depth, major miscasting, etc), isn't he? And he continually mentions 'accents'. A production can really suffer when they make no attempt at a semi-authentic depiction of the participants. Who didn't chuckle at all the English accents (of various social levels) in Quills?

I too saw the preview and was thinking the same thing about Jude. The photography seems a gimmicky too. Unlike Pearl Harbor which is beautifully photographed. Have you seen the one for Corelli's M, yet Karen? Acting looked terrible.

(Karen) A production can really suffer when they make no attempt at a semi-authentic depiction of the participants. Agreed. (who can forget Kevin Costner in Robin Hood? And that was make believe!). Glad this was addressed in Conspiracy.

(Moon) Unlike Pearl Harbor which is beautifully photographed. ...but you forgot "to offset the wooden acting prominently on display by, especially, Ben Affleck." ;-)

More on the Berlinale and "Enemy at the Gate": BERLIN (Reuters) - The Oscar-contender "Traffic," with Michael Douglas, was set to dominate the second day of the Berlin film festival on Thursday after the opening night left many viewers and critics disappointed. Kicking off 12 manic days of stars and producers pushing new movies and claims to next month's Oscars, German-made multinational "Enemy at the Gates" told the story of Britain's Jude Law and American Ed Harris as dueling Russian and German snipers in the World War Two battle of Stalingrad. Yet viewers and critics who attended Wednesday night's opening gala screening said they had expected better and could not understand how a widely reported budget of $80 million was needed to make the film. "This is a film where you have the feeling that you have already seen it before," said tageszeitung. The Berliner Kurier tabloid called it a bad film full of Western-style cliches, and the Berliner-Morgenpost said it smacked of Stalinist propaganda. While "Enemy at the Gates" received the honor of opening the Berlinale, which ranks behind Cannes and alongside Venice among Europe's top festivals, it is not among the 24 films in competition for the Golden Bear award for best movie. Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic," with Michael Douglas and his new wife Catherine Zeta-Jones depicting Washington's losing war against the drugs trade, is an early favorite in the competition. Sixteen international feature films will make their world premieres at the festival, as will many smaller-budget pictures and documentaries among the 300 or so movies on show. One film making a world premiere on Thursday was the Italian-French co-production "Le Fate Ignoranti" (Blind Fairies) about a widow who discovers that her husband had a long-time homosexual affair. The protagonist, well played by actress Margherita Buy, discovers not only the other man in her husband's life, but a whole subculture of which she knew nothing. "He didn't just have an affair, he had a whole alternative world," she says. Another competition film opening on Thursday was "La Cienaga" (The Swamp), a Argentinian-Spanish family drama set in a region of swampy forest. In the coming days, Britain's Kate Winslet of "Titanic" fame will be promoting her latest film "Quills," a potential Oscar contender built around the French writer the Marquis de Sade. "Hannibal," the sequel to "Silence of the Lambs," will also be showing, with lead actor Anthony Hopkins due in Berlin. Sean Connery will push his "Finding Forrester," the story of a reclusive writer who mentors a tough inner-city boy. Kirk Douglas, 84, will receive a Golden Bear for lifetime achievement, and French actress Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp are due in town for the screening of the comic fable "Chocolat," for which Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom is eyeing an Oscar.

The Hollywood Reporter's review is different. Doesn't criticize the acting, but the director: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/reviews/IndividualReview.asp?StaffReviewID=3696 And the Writers Guild has announced its nominations. These typically go on to be the official Oscar noms and winners, as only members of the Guild vote for both. Best Original Screenplay: Cameron Crowe for "Almost Famous" Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy for "Best in Show" Lee Hall for "Billy Elliot" Susannah Grant for "Erin Brockovich" Kenneth Lonergan for "You Can Count on Me" Best Adaptation: Robert Nelson Jacobs for "Chocolat" Wang Hui-Ling, James Schamus and Tsai Kuo Jung for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack and Scott Rosenberg for "High Fidelity" Stephen Gaghan for "Traffic" Steve Kloves for "Wonder Boys"

They shudda at least tried to do it with an accent.... "..Annaud shows yet again in his career that he's a landscape rather than an actor's director (viz. ``Seven Years in Tibet''). Dialogue is generally pedestrian, and often pathetic,..." That's my opinion about Carlos Saura too;-) $80. million bucks...they'll never make it. Sounds like a real bomber for Jude and Joe F.

Evelyn, we agree on Saura! The protagonist, well played by actress Margherita Buy, discovers not only the other man in her husband's life, but a whole subculture of which she knew nothing. "He didn't just have an affair, he had a whole alternative world," she says. Sounds like an inspiration/copy from "All About My Mother", frankly, who gives a s... if those people were dead. Why would anyone want to see a film about this? Let alone give money for it. We need transcendance! (I am starting to sound like my DH);-D

Evelyn, we agree on Saura! The protagonist, well played by actress Margherita Buy, discovers not only the other man in her husband's life, but a whole subculture of which she knew nothing. "He didn't just have an affair, he had a whole alternative world," she says. Sounds like an inspiration/copy from "All About My Mother", frankly, who gives a s... if those people were dead. Why would anyone want to see a film about this? Let alone give money for it. We need transcendance! (I am starting to sound like my DH);-D

RE: accents. This is from Roger Ebert's Answer Man column: Q: I recently saw the movie "Quills" with Geoffrey Rush and noticed something that has bothered me with other films. Why do films set in France, like 1998's "Les Miserables," have the actors speak in a British accent? Obviously, these characters would have spoken French, so there would be no need for them to use a British accent. I understand that some of these actors are British or Australian, but in "Les Miserables" and "Quills," American actors like Uma Thurman and Joaquin Phoenix use British accents. I think it's kind of dumb to try and be so accurate with sets and costumes from a certain period in history, but to so blatantly mess up the language by trying to make France more British. -- Jacob DeSomery, Marlboro, Mass. A: It makes no logical sense at all, but it is an ancient Hollywood tradition that in English-language pictures, Americans use an American accent and foreigners use British accents. There are exceptions, and sometimes French characters will have French accents, etc., but the rule is still often observed. In "Hannibal," on the other hand, the Italians have Italian accents, perhaps because they are played by Italian actors who have shaky British accents.

"Hollywood tradition that in English-language pictures, Americans use an American accent and foreigners use British accents." *Bull*: SHINDLER'S LIST. Thanks Mari.I think it depends on the actor. Some are better than others imitating accents.

(Evelyn) *Bull* My thoughts too. Personally, I have no problem with people speaking naturally. Just because a story takes place in France, I do not need to have everyone feign a French accent. In fact, if the accents are bad (and they usually are), I find it distracting. I like the concept adopted for Conspiracy, sort of a neutralized accent, but not a phoney German one. (Or so we think, LOL.) Just my opinion. Hmmm, would that have helped Valmont? :-) I always think of a ridiculous comment a woman said long ago. We were discussing Evita and she was outraged that it was considered an opera. After all, in her reasoning, it was sung in English, which somehow disqualified it from being considered a true opera. By that reasoning, Madame Butterfly should be sung in Japanese, Carmen should be sung in Spanish, etc.

From the IMdb news today. What a disgrace - IMO Piece Producers Sue Dreamworks The producers of An Everlasting Piece sued DreamWorks Thursday, accusing the studio of intentionally dumping the film after director Barry Levinson refused to remove scenes that reflected unfavorably on the British government. In an interview appearing in today's (Friday) London Financial Times, Jerome O'Connor, one of the producers, said that DreamWorks principal Steven Spielberg who had recently received a knighthood, wanted to avoid the embarrassment of backing a film that lampooned the British government's policies in Ireland. Although DreamWorks released the film on only six screens, it insisted Thursday that it did not dump it. "We did right by the film, " a studio spokesperson told the FT.

And this bit...WHEW!! How do all of you feel about these reality shows? To my mind they, along with the XFL, cheapen a medium already in the dregs most of the time. ********************* Wing Takes Flight Again A new episode of NBC's The West Wing boosted the hit drama's ratings considerably Wednesday after last week saw a rerun of the White House drama being clobbered by Fox's Temptation Island.This week there was no contest. West Wing scored a 14.5 rating and a 21 share (versus last week's 11.5/17) while Temptation Island pulled an 11.6/17 (last week: 12.1/17). Still, the numbers for the Fox reality show remained spectacular by Fox standards and helped the network finish third for the night overall (behind NBC and ABC respectively) and first among 18-49 year-olds.

Re: Accents Shall I go find a picture of bull? ;-) Think I'm going to go rent the miniseries Nuremberg (unless they're going to rebroadcast it soon) because I'm now very curious about the accents. I don't think they were British, but am not positive. G�ring was played by Brian Cox (UK actor), Hess was played by Colm Feore, but Speer was played by a German actor (Herbert Knaup). However, when I look at the full cast listing, I hardly see any German actors. (Donna) In fact, if the accents are bad (and they usually are), I find it distracting. Don't you think it is more a case of us being used to an American/British actor's normal accent and, when they go for something else, it *appears* bad. What about Joaquim Phoenix's British accent in Quills? I thought he blended right in...even though he and the others were French. ;-) ~~~~~~~ An Everlasting Piece...of crap! If DreamWorks dumped it, that's the reason. Not any political nonsense. The trailer was couldn't have portrayed a more stupid and inane movie IMO. Frankly, I think it's a matter of whether they care enough to use dialect coachs.

Looks like this will be the DFL poster:

Here's the rest of it...I hope...

If you decide to do accents then it has to carry through the whole film too. I hate it when it drifts in and out. "Chocolat" should have been in French too. The producers of An Everlasting Piece sued DreamWorks Thursday, accusing the studio of intentionally dumping the film after director Barry Levinson refused to remove scenes that reflected unfavorably on the British government. (Karen), If DreamWorks dumped it, that's the reason. Not any political nonsense. It might be crap. But it is also political. It is not the first time that we hear about Dreamworks and their "democratic" gestapo. Speaking of Dreamworks, they are now ready to cast "Lindbergh". What a great role for ODB.

Love the poster, Evelyn!

(Karen) Shall I go find a picture of bull? ;-) Found one: http://www1.nba.com/bulls/images/bulls_hp_hdr.gif A true story. Years ago I was traveling through O'Hare airport and I saw a neat t-shirt with a bull's head on it. I had no idea what a "bull" was, but I loved the shirt and bought one. Michael Jordan hadn't yet made it into superstar status, so I didn't have a clue as to what I was wearing. But everywhere I went, people wanted my shirt. :-) (Karen) Don't you think it is more a case of us being used to an American/British actor's normal accent and, when they go for something else, it *appears* bad. What about Joaquim Phoenix's British accent in Quills? I haven't seen Quills yet, but I probably wouldn't mind Joaquim's British accent. Actually, I kind of like the transatlantic flat approach. I just think most people (most Americans?) can't do the French or German thing convincingly, with the exception being someone like Meryl Streep. (A comedy - I'll accept anything, even Kevin Kline's looney French accents.) I think Americans tend to tackle the hispanic accents better. If I hear the, "Vot do you vant" approach, I just cringe in my seat. Too Boris and Natasha. :-) Did William Hurt talk with an accent in Sunshine? I sort of think he did. If he did, I think he underplayed it and it worked for me. I just don't think that most US actors have a good ear for accents. I remember seeing Charlize Theron in an interview and she was doing a more convincing southern accent than most Americans. But admittedly, the use of accents is one of my "buttons." :-)

The poster is great, Evelyn!

oops, here's the pic:

LOL. I really wanted a pic of *you* in the tee shirt, Donna.;-) Did William Hurt talk with an accent in Sunshine? I sort of think he did. If he did, I think he underplayed it and it worked for me. I don't remember it as a real accent, more voice intonation and mannerism. RF did the same. Apropos....the NY Times review today of HANNIBAL today says of Anthony Hopkins accent: "He works against the calmative effect of his own voice by fixing on the same bizarre mid-Atlantic accent he used in "Silence." With his voice theatrically flattened, he sounds as if he has worked in a SoHo boutique too long. " Ouch, Tony *who's been all over the tube this week* ~~~~~~~~~` Thanks on the poster..talk about people who have lost a 'few stones'...;-)

Call me disloyal to my own city, but I think this one is more to the point ;-) (Donna) I just think most people (most Americans?) can't do the French or German thing convincingly, with the exception being someone like Meryl Streep. Some may not have the talent or the ear, but how can you explain that actors all over the world learn to speak *convincingly* with American accents? I believe it's just a matter of training and taking the time to get it right. Besides, how many Americans even know what for sure what a German accent sounds like. Most don't even know where Germany or France are!

Evelyn, re the poster for DFL, isn't that Juliet Binoche in the previous Roundabout production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal?

Great poster Evelyn. Thanks.

Evelyn, re the poster for DFL, isn't that Juliet Binoche in the previous Roundabout production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal? Yes...Betrayal closed Feb 4 ...although Madam Binoche is all over the tube too plugging "Chocolat". Love the Bull, Karen.Right on target;-) (Karen) ...how can you explain that actors all over the world learn to speak *convincingly* with American accents? Good American accents = $$$$$$$

(Donna) I just think most people (most Americans?) can't do the French or German thing convincingly, with the exception being someone like Meryl Streep. (Evelyn) Good American accents = $$$$$$$ LOL! So, it's not genetics? ;-)

More on actors doing back-to-back projects (prior to the strike). Here's an excerpt of an interview in the NY Post with Ed Harris: Harris already has two films in the can: "Enemy at the Gates" (opening March 16), in which he plays a German sniper opposite Jude Law, and the indie "Prime Gig," both of which he filmed while overseeing the editing of "Pollock." He's now filming "Buffalo Soldiers" with Joaquin Phoenix, and is losing weight to star opposite Meryl Streep as a writer suffering from AIDS in "The Hours." Then in March, he starts filming Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind" with Russell Crowe. "There's a good chance there'll be five pictures I'm in coming out this year, which is kind of embarrassing," he says. "But that's the way it is."

Puts your mind at rest, doesn't it, Donna, regarding SD's role? ;-) (Harris) "There's a good chance there'll be five pictures I'm in coming out this year, which is kind of embarrassing," he says. "But that's the way it is." No, that's the way it was, way back when with Laurel & Hardy and the Three Stooges! Let some other actors work too! ;-)

I like Ed Harris and used to like him more before I saw his and Amy Madigan's sourpuss faces when Elia Kazan was honored at the Oscars. Jeez, it was 50 years ago, give it up already. I really want to see Pollock though. Looks like Ed's time may be here....again. Speaking of Harris and Madigan, which major Hollywood marriage is next for the divorce courts? Hanks/Wilson? Spielberg/Capshaw? Thornton/Jolie? ;-)

I like Ed Harris, too, and these all sound like good projects ("Gates" notwithstanding). Pollock hasn't opened here yet, but I hear he's wonderful. Let some other actors work too! ;-) Nobody is stopping them.;-) Donna, I was just watching Firelight--again--on STARZ. Sounds like quite a line-up of projects that SD has got going. Sure, you had to go fall for a guy with a work ethic.;-) Where's our Oscar chat/predictions? Anybody? They announce the noms on Tuesday. Off to see Hannibal . . .speaking of which, and following up on the "accents" discussion, I don't care what the NY Times thinks--when Dr. Lecter in "Silence" says, "A census taker tried to interview me once. I ate his liver. With a bowl of fava beans . . .and a nice chianti," the *last* thing on my mind was, gee, is that a trans-Atlantic accent he's using? LOL! If the performance is good and the film/play is good, I tend not to be too critical of the rest. BTW, I had to laugh at this: the person who runs the Empire BJD site has a link up to the trailer (probably spotted it here), and has pronounced RZ's accent as perhaps too "cut glass." HELLO?? We only hear her say "no," correct?

(Mari) Where's our Oscar chat/predictions? Anybody? They announce the noms on Tuesday. If they don't nominate Javier Bardem, it will be criminal. (Moon, you will not like the film's subject, but the acting is what it is all about IMO) ;-)

Let some other actors work too! ;-) Nobody is stopping them.;-) According to the calculations by the British Actors' Equity, the level of unemployent among professional actors is around 80%.

From AICN: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=8147 * USA Films is in talks for the domestic rights to GOSFORD PARK, Robert Altman's period film that begins shooting March 19 in England. Jude Law, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Watson, as well as Clive Owen, Maggie Smith, Jeremy Northam, Stephen Fry, Joely Richardson, Helen Mirren, Michael Gambon, Richard E. Grant and Charles Dance will star. Julian Fellow wrote the script, inspired by Jean Renoir's LA REGLE DU JEU. Karen: Clive is mentioned tis time.

According to the calculations by the British Actors' Equity, the level of unemployent among professional actors is around 80%. I'm reminded of what Ang Lee said once: "Does everybody in England act? They obviously have too many actors with not enough venture capital for productions. Let some other actors work too! ;-) What is this Socialism? Are we taking turns now? If Ed Harris is in demand, there must be a reason.No one is forcing the directos to cast him in parts.[I know I must have seen the guy, but I can't place him.]

(Murph) Karen: Clive is mentioned tis time. Yes, I know. The info was posted on the Northam board this past Wednesday. http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/drool/43.369 Sorry, I should've let you know. (Karen) Let some other actors work too! ;-) (Evelyn) What is this Socialism? Are we taking turns now? Have you not been reading the articles accusing the A-list actors of virtually collaborating with the studios to ensure that a SAG strike won't have any teeth? Besides, the SAG is a union, and unions are a socialistic approach to labor management. ;-)

If I hear that another actor has been cast in ANYTHING and it is not Colin, I shall scream. Just hope he hasn't decided to give up the day job and try his hand at full-time writing!!! which he could easily do in London, LA or Umbria?

If they don't nominate Javier Bardem, it will be criminal. (Moon, you will not like the film's subject, but the acting is what it is all about IMO) ;-) I saw "Before Night Falls", last week, Karen. I have seen many films that deal with Cuba. In Miami, they are hard to avoid. I liked the film because that story needed telling. Julian S, the director should have had it end when they are in NY leaning back on the convertible while it snowed. That was the perfect ending. The way it dragged on lessen the impact, IMO. It was also great to see Olivier Martinez, my cutie pie from "Horseman on the Roof", Sean Penn and the outrageous Johnny Depp. Julian Fellow wrote the script, inspired by Jean Renoir's LA REGLE DU JEU. Such a brilliant classic. I fear what that senile Altman will do. (Karen), Have you not been reading the articles accusing the A-list actors of virtually collaborating with the studios to ensure that a SAG strike won't have any teeth? And here we all lead to believe that they were all liberals! Ha!

BTW, that is supposed to be "Les r�gles du Jeu".

According to the calculations by the British Actors' Equity, the level of unemployent among professional actors is around 80%. I'm surprised it's even that low. In the U.S., there are over 90,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild (including Colin, I'm sure), and the average member makes less than $5,000 per year from acting. If we remove the people who make millions per film, the "average" is that much lower. There's no shortage of waiters and cabdrivers in NYC (or London, I'd bet) who are *really* actors.;-) But Colin is not at that average level, and I firmly believe that actors such as him could work whenever they wished to these days, and in decent-sounding projects. We read about them every day. Well, maybe we'll read his name in there soon. Or not.:-( So how was Before Night Falls, Karen, aside from Javier? Moon, sounds like you liked it. BTW, I think that is only Julian Schnabel's second film; he's a painter in NYC (or maybe a waiter?;-) ;-) I saw Hannibal. It's no Silence Of The Lambs that's for sure, but has its moments. "Bowels in, or out?" Not for the faint-hearted, though the gore is done very, you'll excuse the expression, tongue-in-cheek.;-).

I think I'll wait to rent "Hannibal", so I can ff all the gore. So how was Before Night Falls, Karen, aside from Javier? Moon, sounds like you liked it. BTW, I think that is only Julian Schnabel's second film; he's a painter in NYC (or maybe a waiter?;-) ;-) It is worth seeing. This is JS second film his first was "Basquiat", and, he is a very successful painter in NY. He also has a place in Miami and I believe his wife is Cuban/American. This film had a special screening in Miami and Julian insisted on speaking Spanish for his introduction. Needless to say, his Spanish is so poor that even the people who spoke little English asked him to stop because they could not understand one word.

(Moon) I have seen many films that deal with Cuba That wasn't what I meant. ;-) BTW, Johnny Depp has two outrageous parts. (Mari) So how was Before Night Falls...aside from Javier? Definitely worth-seeing, as Moon said, and I agree also with her about the ending. It lost me. When I got home, I needed to look up Arenas to find out what had happened. From a story-telling standpoint, Schnabel isn't too strong. Perhaps he tried to cover too much, but it was difficult getting from Point A to Point B. But the visuals are excellent and it has a gorgeous, artistic sense of time and place. Some of the reviewers criticized Schnabel for his use of friends and family (wife, kids, parents). Frankly, they're not recognizable to the general public so what difference does it make. (Mari) But Colin is not at that average level, and I firmly believe that actors such as him could work whenever they wished to these days, and in decent-sounding projects. There are lots of jobs for character actors. ;-)

If I hear that another actor has been cast in ANYTHING and it is not Colin, I shall scream. The trouble with Colin is that if you give him one good pay cheque a year he uses it to fund a long long holiday. I assume he is getting paid something breathtaking by normal pay standards for BJD. Look how long he took off after SIL which was the last bonanza pay he had. I hope he is using his time usefully. Like decorating the nursery:-))

Can anyone really confirm the need for a nursery? BTW, Johnny Depp has two outrageous parts. I know! He was really brilliant. Definitely worth-seeing, as Moon said, and I agree also with her about the ending. Well it's about time, Karen! ;-))))

(Mari)I saw Hannibal. It's no Silence Of The Lambs that's for sure, but has its moments LOL. I just saw Hannibal and liked it more than Silence of the Lambs. Principally because Julieanne Moore is brilliant as Clarice.And Anthony Hopkins by now owns the role of Dr. Lecter.The gore is so ridiculous and contrived to shock (as in Nurse Betty) that I hardly winced.Filmed with sumtuous backgrounds in Florence.And the cinematographer uses mid-night blue filter a la DQ; Anthony Hopkins never disappoints me. Actually, IMO it's a bizarre love story. ~~~~~~~~~~~ I agree Allison..give that man a paycheck and he's gone. Why do we bother? Let's keep him hungry doing Brit TV , ...but working;-)

Here are my picks for nominations. Evelyn and Mari, you guys helped make Hannibal a HUGE opener - $58 million. I have absolutely no desire to see it myself. Hate gore, unless it becomes cartoonish, like in The Limey, or Gladiator. And torture? -- forgedabouddid! I left Traffic for the ladies room when I thought they were going to torture someone. I have never seen Dafoe's scene in TEP (left theater again). Always skip over it on the DVD. I am such a chicken.... ******************* BEST PICTURE The nominees will be: "Cast Away", "Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon", "Erin Brockovich", "Gladiator", "Traffic" Titles that could squeeze in: "Almost Famous," "Billy Elliott," "Chocolat," "Quills," "Thirteen Days," "Wonder Boys" and "You Can Count on Me." BEST DIRECTOR The nominees will be: Cameron Crowe, "Almost Famous", Ang Lee, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Ridley Scott, "Gladiator", Steven Soderbergh, "Erin Brockovich", Steven Soderbergh, "Traffic" Directors that could squeeze in: Lasse Hallstrom ("Chocolat"), Philip Kaufman ("Quills") and Robert Zemeckis ("Cast Away"). BEST ACTRESS The nominees will be: Joan Allen, "The Contender", Juliette Binoche, "Chocolat", Ellen Burstyn, "Requiem for a Dream", Laura Linney, "You Can Count on Me", Julia Roberts, "Erin Brockovich" Actresses that could squeeze in: Gillian Anderson ("The House of Mirth"), Cate Blanchett ("The Gift") and Ren�e Zellweger ("Nurse Betty"). BEST ACTOR The nominees will be: Javier Bardem, "Before Night Falls", Jamie Bell, "Billy Elliott", Russell Crowe, "Gladiator", Tom Hanks, "Cast Away", Geoffrey Rush, "Quills" Actors that could squeeze in: George Clooney ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?"), Michael Douglas ("Wonder Boys"), Mel Gibson ("What Women Want"), Ed Harris ("Pollock") and Chow Yun-Fat ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS The nominees will be: Judi Dench, "Chocolat", Kate Hudson, "Almost Famous", Frances McDormand, "Almost Famous", Julie Waters, "Billy Elliott", Kate Winslet, "Quills" Actresses that could squeeze in: Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock"), Catherine Zeta-Jones ("Traffic") BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR The nominees will be: Jeff Bridges, "The Contender", Willem Dafoe, "Shadow of the Vampire", Benicio Del Toro, "Traffic", Albert Finney, "Erin Brockovich", Joaquin Phoenix, "Gladiator" Actors that could squeeze in: Michael Douglas ("Traffic"), Bruce Greenwood ("Thirteen Days"), Gary Lewis ("Billy Elliott"), Gary Oldman ("The Contender") and Fred Willard ("Best in Show").

Can anyone really confirm the need for a nursery? No!

I think your Best Actor category is spot on, Murph!

Has anybody seen "The Gift"?

For those without the luxury of the E! channel, the BBC will be showing the Oscars noms being announced live at its website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/newsid_1150000/1150107.stm

Murph, have you been looking over Price-Waterhouse's shoulder?;-) I think your predictions are on the money insofar as who is likely to be nommed. Would love to see RZ get in there, but I doubt it. And how about Morgan Freeman, also for NB? I thought he was wonderful, in a tricky role. I also liked Don Cheadle and Erika Christenson in Traffic, but alas, the people who bestow "buzz" (and wouldn't you love to know who they are??) haven't really mentioned them. Ah well, we shall see tomorrow. BTW, the Today Show also runs the announcement live (probably GMA too). Evelyn, I agree with you about the performances in Hannibal; Hopkins and Moore are just beyond reproach. Awesome. I still preferred the psychological dance in Silence between Lecter and Starling, and the fact that the viewer is more unnerved by what we don't see, rather than by what is explicitly revealed. What did you think of Gary Oldman, BTW? Think he was better looking in this, or in The Contender?;-);-) He is on Jay Leno tonight, BTW.

Complete List of Academy Award Nods By The Associated Press, Complete list of 73rd annual Oscar nominations announced Tuesday in Beverly Hills, Calif., by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts (news - web sites) and Sciences: 1. Best Picture: ``Chocolat,'' ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' ``Erin Brockovich,'' ``Gladiator,'' ``Traffic.'' 2. Actor: Javier Bardem, ``Before Night Falls''; Russell Crowe, ``Gladiator''; Tom Hanks, ``Cast Away''; Ed Harris, ``Pollock''; Geoffrey Rush, ``Quills.'' 3. Actress: Joan Allen, ``The Contender''; Juliette Binoche, ``Chocolat''; Ellen Burstyn, ``Requiem for a Dream''; Laura Linney, ``You Can Count On Me''; Julia Roberts, ``Erin Brockovich.'' 4. Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges, ``The Contender''; Willem Dafoe, ``Shadow of the Vampire''; Benicio Del Toro, ``Traffic''; Albert Finney, ``Erin Brockovich''; Joaquin Phoenix, ``Gladiator.'' 5. Supporting Actress: Judi Dench, ``Chocolat''; Marcia Gay Harden, ``Pollock''; Kate Hudson, ``Almost Famous''; Frances McDormand, ``Almost Famous''; Julie Walters, ``Billy Elliot.'' 6. Director: Stephen Daldry, ``Billy Elliot''; Ang Lee, ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon''; Steven Soderbergh, ``Erin Brockovich''; Ridley Scott, ``Gladiator''; Steven Soderbergh, ``Traffic.'' 7. Foreign Film: ``Amores Perros,'' Mexico; ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' Taiwan; ``Divided We Fall,'' Czech Republic; ``Everybody Famous,'' Belgium; ``The Taste of Others,'' France. 8. Screenplay (written based on material previously produced or published): Robert Nelson Jacobs, ``Chocolat''; Wang Hui Ling and James Schamus and Tsai Kuo Jung, ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon''; Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?''; Stephen Gaghan, ``Traffic''; Steve Kloves, ``Wonder Boys.'' 9. Screenplay (written directly for the screen): Cameron Crowe, ``Almost Famous''; Lee Hall, ``Billy Elliot''; Susannah Grant, ``Erin Brockovich''; David Franzoni and John Logan and William Nicholson, ``Gladiator''; Kenneth Lonergan, ``You Can Count On Me.'' 10. Art Direction: ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' ``Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,'' ``Gladiator,'' ``Quills,'' ``Vatel.'' 11. Cinematography: ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' ``Gladiator,'' ``Malena,'' ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?,'' ``The Patriot'' 12. Sound: ``Cast Away,'' ``Gladiator,'' ``The Patriot,'' ``The Perfect Storm'' ``U-571.'' 13. Sound Editing: ``Space Cowboys,'' ``U-571. '' 14. Original Score: ``Chocolat,'' Rachel Portman; ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' Tan Dun; ``Gladiator,'' Hans Zimmer; ``Malena,'' Ennio Morricone; ``The Patriot,'' John Williams. 15. Original Song: ``A Fool In Love'' from ``Meet The Parents,'' Randy Newman; ``I've Seen It All'' from ``Dancer in the Dark,'' Bjork, Lars von Trier and Sjon Sigurdsson; ``A Love Before Time'' from ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' Jorge Calandrelli, Tan Dun and James Schamus; ``My Funny Friend and Me'' from ``The Emperor's New Groove'' Sting and David Hartley; ``Things Have Changed'' from ``Wonder Boys,'' Bob Dylan. 16. Costume: ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' ``Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,'' ``Gladiator,'' ''102 Dalmatians,'' ``Quills.'' 17. Documentary Feature: ``Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport,'' ``Legacy,'' ``Long Night's Journey Into Day,'' ``Scottsboro: An American Tragedy,'' ``Sound and Fury.'' 18. Documentary (short subject): ``Big Mama,'' ``Curtain Call,'' ``Dolphins, '' ``The Man on Lincoln's Nose, '' ``On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom.'' 19. Film Editing: ``Almost Famous,'' ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' ``Gladiator,'' ``Traffic,'' ``Wonder Boys.'' 20. Makeup: ``The Cell'' ``Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,'' ``Shadow of the Vampire.'' 21. Animated Short Film: ``Father and Daughter,'' ``The Periwig-Maker,'' ``Rejected.'' 22. Live Action Short Film: ``By Courier,'' ``One Day Crossing,'' ``Quiero Ser (I want to be),'' ``Seraglio,'' ``A Soccer Story (Una Historia de Futebol).'' 23. Visual Effects: ``Gladiator,'' ``Hollow Man,'' ``The Perfect Storm.''

`Everybody Famous,'' Belgium I'm happy:-)

Thanks, Mari. And the winner is: Harvey!! Can't believe he managed to muscle in Chocolat...not that I'm bemoaning the fact that Billy Elliot got edged out. For Best Picture, the only wild card slot was: Chocolat/Billy Elliot/Almost Famous and since the entire Academy votes in this category, Harvey had the best chance. Best Actor: Shocker! No one predicted Ed Harris, but am glad the kid didn't get in or Michael Douglas. Guess the Oscars just won't have that extra glam since they won't be going. Best Actress: no surprises Best Supporting Actor/Actress: no real surprises Best Director: A shocker!! Usually, it is the Directors' Guild noms repeated. Man, oh, man, they must really dislike Cameron Crowe to drop him and give his place to Stephen Daldrey with his sentimental slop of a movie, when they didn't do likewise for Lasse Hallstrom. Screenplay adaptation: boo hoo!! No High Fidelity, which I'm pretty sure is nominated by the Writers Guild.

And the nominations for the the Razzies (Worst of the Bunch) have also been announced: http://razzies.com/asp/content/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=43

Thanks, Mari! Almost Famous should have been there for Best Pic and Best Director. It looks like Soderbergh will cancel himself out. I hope Ang gets it. Of course the biggest no-shows are Bjork and Dancer in the Dark. You have to hand it to the marketing dept at Miramax, Chocolat is a very low point. And Billy Elliot? Please! Best Actor and Supporting Actor are the most interesting IMO. This will be a rather ho-hum Oscars. :-(