According to the Daily Express gossip column, the new Firth baby was born last week and is a boy called Mateo. I don't know how accurate this is re the date, but I assume they've got the sex and name right.

Thanks, Barbara, and so ends the unfounded rumors from "people in the know." ;-D

Thanks Barbara! Mateo Firth is a lovely name, very multicultural. And I'm sure he'll be has handsome as everyone else in the family. Karen-I can't believe they called Livia "Olivia" in the Hello article. How rude.

Welcome Mateo. You have joined such a lovely family. Thanks for the article Karen.

(Shoshana)I can't believe they called Livia "Olivia" in the Hello article. How rude. Actually, there was one of each in the article: Livia & Olivia. It's a work in progress for journalists! Glass half-full :)

Thank you, Karen for the UK box office and baby news. Mateo Firth...has a nice ring to it. Congratulations!

When do you think Master Mateo was born? I was not party to all these July rumours so I don't know how reliable they were but the way these 2 articles present it, it seems that the news only came out because Colin was not at the "celebrity" screening for WAGW. Last week seems a bit vague. It seems quite possible that the baby was born a while ago and the event was just put forward as the excuse. I do like to know these things ;-)

Thanks for the news, Barbara. I've heard of Matteo, with 2 t's, and the accent on the first syllable, a version of Matthew. Moon, what say you? Do you think the tabs have screwed up the spelling? They can't seem to get his mum's name right even within the same article.;-) (Karen)so ends the unfounded rumors from "people in the know." ;- *snort*

Mateo......a version of Matthew. Hey, perhaps Livia has been following our film discussion? Let's pretend that this is her *winkie* to us, hee hee.;-)

(Pam)Welcome Mateo. You have joined such a lovely family. Thanks for the article Karen. Ditto, Pam. I have a dear friend who's first grandson is named Mateo. Her son married a woman from Peru, so I guess Mateo is Matthew in Spanish as well. Now the Firth's must work on a little Isabella or Adrianna or Maria (for our Maria). I'm so glad that he has been able to keep his family life private. Another thing that sets him apart from the movie stars. Hope Livia and Mateo are doing well.

Welcome Baby Mateo! May your days as a turnip be shortlived!! I, too, am hoping that everyone is doing well (and getting some...at least a little....sleep)!! (Hen) Now the Firth's must work on a little Isabella or Adrianna or Maria (for our Maria). YES! More baby Firths! I love ODB in 'daddy mode'. I think it suits him! Also....(selfish reason here) if he continues to reproduce, he will have to work very, very hard to support his growing family. Gotta make at least a couple more films a year! ;-)

Karen, I'll add my thanks for the Firth baby news. It doesn't matter to me when he was born, I just hope he and Livia are healthy. (Tress) Welcome Baby Mateo! May your days as a turnip be shortlived!! LOL! Thank God he wasn't named "parsnip." ;-)

Congratulation to the Firths on the arrival of Mateo. I think it's an ideal name, in that the pronunciation in English and Italian is almost the same, making it easily understood in both countries.

(Lisa)LOL! Thank God he wasn't named "parsnip." ;-) ...not pumpkin or gourd, either;-)

selfish reason here) if he continues to reproduce, he will have to work very, very hard to support his growing family. Gotta make at least a couple more films a year! ;-) Be careful what we ask for.... It's reasons like these that got us PM and perhaps HS.;-)

selfish reason here) if he continues to reproduce, he will have to work very, very hard to support his growing family. Gotta make at least a couple more films a year! ;-) (Beedee) Be careful what we ask for.... It's reasons like these that got us PM and perhaps HS.;-) I've heard (haven't seen the evidence) that there is another one that tips PM and HS off the scale. L ;--)

(Beedee) Be careful what we ask for.... It's reasons like these that got us PM and perhaps HS.;-) (LeahP) I've heard (haven't seen the evidence) that there is another one that tips PM and HS off the scale. L ;--) Ewww...I just shuddered....okay...let me rethink this...cuz I don't want any more 'L'dums'! I was trying to be optimistic....when Livia was expecting Luca we had BJD....and Conspiracy? My timetable may be off....and while she was expecting Mateo....ODB was working on LA, GWAPE and Trauma. So.....if we go off of that (instead of movies of mass production), then I still want him to reproduce. Seems his head clears when the wife is pregnant. ;-)

There's an feature on Cillian Murphy in the current IFC Rant magazine because he's in 28 Days Later, but it also briefly mentions his future roles "include 'the boring love interest' in the Vermeer biopic [sic] Girl With a Pearl Earring." I guess that isn't too bad elevating Vermeer to the central character, instead of Griet. ;-D

Hi All, Still on vacation but the DH is taking a little afternoon snooze so thought I would pop in...I've been reading Drool but the typing sometimes wakes him (esp. when I get excited typing!)so... Just ran across this, not sure if it has been posted before Karen but in the off chance... http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0800whatson/entertainment/content_objectid=13270327_method=full_siteid=50002_headline=-Colin%2Dlet%2Ds%2Drip-name_page.html

Thanks Maria..I don't remember reading this line: (CF about MD)" I phoned in an old performance really (laughs) so I was able to concentrate on it a bit, it was a couple of weeks during filming." I'm telling ya'...ROTF ,he's reading our [my] posts. (Or someone is telling him ...)

Thanks Maria! On vacation and she's still a googlin' (you're my hero)! And what kind of wine are you feeding the DH to make him so sleepy (may need that info for a later date)??!! ;-D Yes, all the dancing with leather trousers, I did wonder if there's a good chance it could kill my career," he laughs. "I very rarely get asked to do the self mockery thing on a big scale, I very rarely get asked to do it in front of a mirror! Makes me giggle every time I see it!

A great article Maria, Thanks! Definitely shows his sense of humor.

(Maria's article)Yes, all the dancing with leather trousers, I did wonder if there's a good chance it could kill my career," he laughs. "I very rarely get asked to do the self mockery thing on a big scale, I very rarely get asked to do it in front of a mirror! And I spent most of my youth doing exactly that, I mean that was me. Thanks Maria. Love it! Fun article. A true proficient to have found it on vacation. Googling is quieter than typing, hmmmmm. Will need to remember this! What a girl learns here.;-)

(Maria's article)I think I need someone to come along and say 'come on Colin..' Okay, I'll do it! It's a tuff job, but someone has to ;-) Thank you, Maria. Really v.v.g. article!

(Maria's article) I didn't know her really, but my kids did. - speaking about AB So that would mean Luca is also a fan?

From THR: Castle Rock's "What a Girl Wants," starring Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth and Kelly Preston, debuted at No. 2 on Video Store's weekly rental chart, earning an estimated $10.27 million in gross rental revenue during its first five days on store shelves. The comedy took the No. 3 spot on VideoScan's First Alert DVD sales chart and the No. 2 slot on VideoScan's First Alert VHS sales chart during the same frame.

(Maria's article) I didn't know her really, but my kids did. - speaking about AB (Leah)So that would mean Luca is also a fan? Oh, I was sure he meant Mateo. One kid, many kids... what's the difference? ;-)

(Mari's article)Castle Rock's "What a Girl Wants," starring Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth and Kelly Preston, debuted at No. 2 on Video Store's weekly rental chart, earning an estimated $10.27 million in gross rental revenue during its first five days on store shelves. Great! I would have loved more but I think that someone did keep an eye out for our grown-up pleasure on the DVD. I just love the outtake of ODB talking on the phone with JP and the cute Travolta clip. I run that every night.;-) I also am very fond of the Moroccon marketplace extra scene.:-)

New pictures from Love Actually: http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=4959 http://www.comingsoon.net/cgi-bin/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Comedy/Love_Actually&img= But the one with Colin is not new.

Thanks, Maria, for the article. Good one. I particularly like the Nonanswer Master at work here: ;-D Q And you would be happy to do it if the script was right? Yes. But I sort of contradict myself on this. [Ed note: Durr] If you say to me would you rather do a sequel of something I did or something completely different if I can find something completely different I would go for that (laughs). Although not necessarily, I suppose in the abstract, I would say give me some variety. On the other hand, I'm not concerned enough with varying the act to go for a lesser project just because it feels different. It's an instinctive thing, if something just grabs you there can be a load of reasons why. (CF about MD) "I phoned in an old performance really (laughs) so I was able to concentrate on it a bit, it was a couple of weeks during filming." In Oliver Platt-Doug Reed voice: Naughty actor, naughty, naughty actor. ;-D I think I need someone to come along and say 'come on Colin..' Be careful what you wish for, although it's been said quite frequently here in no-so-subtle, big bold letters. Thanks, Josie, for the heads up on the new Love Actually.

Thanks, Josie and Maria... Love the bit about the leather pants scene. Leather may kill the career, but towels definitely won't;-) I particularly like the Nonanswer Master at work here: His answers always make me a bit fuzzy.

(THR via Mari)Castle Rock's "What a Girl Wants," starring Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth and Kelly Preston, debuted at No. 2 on Video Store's weekly rental chart, earning an estimated $10.27 million in gross rental revenue during its first five days on store shelves. $10. Mil is v. good for a rental-starter. Plus the purchases at Walmart, Best Buy etc Send that to the critic-slugs in the UK.

(Maria's article) I didn't know her really, but my kids did. - speaking about AB (Leah)So that would mean Luca is also a fan? (Soshana) Oh, I was sure he meant Mateo. One kid, many kids... what's the difference? ;-) LOL, maybe not Luca and Mateo, but I'm quite sure Will knows who she is. Wasn't he there during filming and also at the Cartier Polo function, which AB also attended? My guess is he was following the "older woman" around like a little puppy. LOL. Thanks for the great article Maria, hope you're enjoying your vacation. Miss you. I wonder when this interview actually took place as I found it odd he didn't mention GWAPE or Trauma, though they could have edited that info for some reason. You'd think he'd want to mention other projects to try to kind of down-play HS. You're so right Linda, his answers leave me fuzzy too. He's got the art of "double-talk" down to a science. However will not be discouraged by his non-committal attitude towards the EOR. Lola assures us it's a go, he even said filming in September, and Renee is packing it on. So, know in my heart its a go. Just hope his denial (?) isn't because of contract disputes. Or is this a type of publicity manuever to keep interest in the film going? Thanks for the LA pics, Josie. I really can't wait to see this one.

This was published in the TV supplement to the Toronto Star: TWEEN POWER by Norm Wilner I admit it: Until last year, I couldn't tell Hilary Duff and Amanda Bynes apart if my life depended on it. (And it might, someday; my niece turns two next month, which means she'll be in their prime demographic before too long.) But 2003 was the year of the tween-girl breakthrough, and both actresses found themselves becoming A-list stars. Duff co-starred with Malcolm In The Middle's Frankie Muniz in the spy-kid comedy Agent Cody Banks before breaking out on her own with The Lizzie McGuire Movie, a fish-out-of-water story that transplanted Duff's TV character to Italy on a Roman vacation. Meanwhile, Bynes - a TV comic who'd starred opposite Muniz last spring in Big Fat Liar - got her very own fish-out-of-water movie, What A Girl Wants, playing a wacky Manhattan girl who discovers that the father she never knew is English royalty, and jets off to London to find him. And in an amazing twist of fate, he looks just like that repressed guy from Bridget Jones's Diary! The Lizzie McGuire Movie won't be on video for another week, but we might as well examine the whole tween thing now. After all, it's not like Agent Cody Banks is aimed exclusively at boys. Tweens - which is to say, kids between the ages of about nine and thirteen - are a desirable target market with a great deal of disposable income that marketing teams have, apparently, discovered only recently. And now that Britney's, like, so last weekend, Bynes and Duff have stepped in as the faces of tween culture. How prominent are they? Duff's decision earlier this summer to abandon the Lizzie McGuire franchise actually made the daily papers, rather than just the entertainment weeklies. (This, by the way, is why Duff gets equal billing and representation on the Agent Cody Banks video release, despite it actually being Frankie Muniz' movie.) Bynes' What A Girl Wants, unfortunately, can't cloak its marketing department's aspirations in, you know, a movie. The credited source material is a 1958 Sandra Dee movie, The Reluctant Debutante, but it' s essentially a remake of The Princess Diaries with Bynes either dressing up or falling down, as the situation demands, while trying to fit in with Colin Firth's stuffy family and thwarting the machinations of scheming adviser Jonathan Pryce. And without someone like Julie Andrews to balance out the music-video interludes, there's only Bynes, bouncing around one palace after another, until an appropriate running time is reached. On the other hand, if tween girls discover Colin Firth early enough, it could lead them to discover Bridget Jones's Diary - and its attendant self-esteem message - before they become slaves to the teen market. And that, in its way, could be a very good thing for the future. I'll just remember to skip over the Hugh Grant bits, should I happen to watch it with my niece. - StarWeek magazine, August 2, 2003

(Karen's Article)On the other hand, if tween girls discover Colin Firth early enough,........ I'll just remember to skip over the Hugh Grant bits, should I happen to watch it with my niece. Now how cute is that?;-)

Karen's Article)On the other hand, if tween girls discover Colin Firth early enough,........ I'll just remember to skip over the Hugh Grant bits, should I happen to watch it with my niece. Hmm, makes you wonder at that comment. Doesn't like HG, or is it about the behavior of DC? I know it wouldn't be difficult for me to skip over either one.

Lions Gate announced quarterly results in a press release, which included the following statement on future operating highlights: The fall slate also features the topical `Shattered Glass', produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner and starring Hayden Christensen; the critically acclaimed `The Cooler', which has already generated great buzz at the Sundance and Los Angeles Film Festivals and stars William H. Macy, Maria Bello and Alec Baldwin; and `Girl With A Pearl Earring', an epic period piece starring the prestigious cast of Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson and Scarlett Johannson, opening for award season consideration.Nice to see it in black and white from the company. ;-D

(Wilner) On the other hand, if tween girls discover Colin Firth early enough,........ I'll just remember to skip over the Hugh Grant bits, should I happen to watch it with my niece. (Cyndy) Hmm, makes you wonder at that comment. Doesn't like HG, or is it about the behavior of DC? I know it wouldn't be difficult for me to skip over either one. The latter, i.e., shielding young niece from knowledge of such slimey characters. I've confirmed with him. In his own words, "It's more of the last thing, yeah ... I'd just as soon she go directly to a Mr. Darcy type, you know?"

prestigious cast of Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson and Scarlett Johannson... Oooo, I like the words prestigious and Colin Firth in the same sentence. :-) I'm looking forward to The Cooler, too. Thanks Karen for the article tidbits and press releases. (Maria's article) I didn't know her really, but my kids did. - speaking about AB (Leah)So that would mean Luca is also a fan? (Soshana) Oh, I was sure he meant Mateo. One kid, many kids... what's the difference? ;-) My first thought was to wonder if he has other kids we aren't aware of. And he really did WAGW because Will begged him to, so he could meet AB, not because Dennie flattered him so. ;-D

Great article, Maria--thanks! (Colin)And I spent most of my youth doing exactly that, I mean that was me. That was far more me than the guy in the suit that I'm sort of known for playing. Exactly, but some critics want to pigeonhole him as Mr. Proper Darcy--yet they'll turn around and bitch about stereotyping.:-( I liked on the DVD commentary where Dennie G. says they really hadn't worked out what he'd do in that scene other than showing him trying on the pants, but that she "dropped the needle" on the song and let him go at it! it owns up to being a fairytale. It's not a fairytale disguised as a heart rending drama at all, it practically starts with Once Upon A Time... I guess the critics missed that. :-( she reminded me of Tracy Ullman, she has this multi talent for different characters and different voices, amazing sort of expansiveness High praise indeed. BTW, catch Tracy's new special on HBO, "Trailer Tales." Hysterical! I did a couple of articles a few years ago for Harpers I believe I remeber reading one of these articles, on AMITC I think, but can't recall a second. Anyone? Bridget gave me plenty of time, it wasn't a very difficult part to play. Well, he's honest anyway.

(CF) I did a couple of articles a few years ago for Harpers (Mari) I believe I remeber reading one of these articles, on AMITC I think, but can't recall a second. Anyone? Might be staff reporter has tends to pluralize everything, as in "my kids." ;-)

(CF) I did a couple of articles a few years ago for Harpers There was this article on Valmont. http://www.geocities.com/kgjart/HandQValmArtclCF90.html (Maria's article) I didn't know her really, but my kids did. - speaking about AB (Leah)So that would mean Luca is also a fan? (Soshana) Oh, I was sure he meant Mateo. One kid, many kids... what's the difference? ;-) It's a bit of stretch but I think back to when he and Meg were living together. She had children from a previous marriage/relationship that I imagine he became close to during the years they were together.

Thank you Sandy, much appreciated (article is made more special by the close up pic of ODB as Valmont!!)!! (ODB) Forman's conviction and control, by virtue of his very powerful personality, made spontaneity difficult unless the actor was able to absorb his vision and appropriate it as his own. The approach could be heavy handed and yet the product was incredibly delicate. Very nice way to say the guy was a control freak! I imagine that it would be very hard to work in that environment as an actor...when your every gesture was under such scrutiny...still, I liked the end product....so..... All the various courtly arts had to be mastered by the actors: riding, fencing, dancing, calligraphy and music. For my part, the hours spent on a highly-strung horse developed into a kind of metaphor for my relationship with the director. Is this ODB's first stint on horseback? He makes it sound as if he had to spend some time working on that....(if it is, I thank Mr. Forman for his attention to detail (control freakishness), because it has paid off....I love nothing better than to see ODB in the saddle!) The most frequent criticism was levelled at a lack of danger or nastiness in the film and its characters (chiefly mine). And why I love this film so much. DL wore its nastiness on its sleeve (don't get me wrong, I loved DL, I just like Valmont much more). I couldn't understand why anyone (let alone a woman) would be drawn to Malkovich's Valmont (again, love JM, just this role was a bit over the top)....while ODB's version seemed tame on the outside, I thought he was the more devious. You can see Malkovich coming a mile away...ODB kinda snuck up on you. I could see how someone would be drawn to him....

What an interesting article. I thought I had read everything by now. Thank you Sandy! I wonder what Fabia Drake really thought of him? Perhaps she was watching his relationship with Meg. Fuel for thought ;-)

starring the prestigious cast of Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson and Scarlett Johannson Oh, I love the sound of that. Prestigious sounds so much better than repressed and I especially like the last part... opening for award season consideration. Thank you Sandy, Maria, and Karen Oh, one more thing, I only bought two copies of WAGW one for me, and one for my closet firthette...so I can't take any credit for the excellent DVD/Video sales reports;-)

(Mari )I liked on the DVD commentary where Dennie G. says they really hadn't worked out what he'd do in that scene other than showing him trying on the pants, but that she "dropped the needle" on the song and let him go at it! Answers my question :Why isn't the choreographer listed". If he ever loses his day job.... "my children..." Must be Meg's Zinnemann kids.

Gossip column today in Metro newspaper, The Green Room by Neil Sean: Colin 'Mr Darcy' Firth is in great demand - the star of Bridget Jones's Diary has been asked to star in Will & Grace.

Colin 'Mr Darcy' Firth is in great demand - the star of Bridget Jones's Diary has been asked to star in Will & Grace. Madge must have dropped a hint. ;-D

(Emma/Neil Sean) Colin 'Mr Darcy' Firth is in great demand - the star of Bridget Jones's Diary has been asked to star in Will & Grace. Wait...not Hugh Grant? Not Ralph Fiennes? Not.....? ODB? Really!? "Jack" must be watching P&P! ;-) Thanks Emma!!

(Mari), I've heard of Matteo, with 2 t's, and the accent on the first syllable, a version of Matthew. Moon, what say you? Do you think the tabs have screwed up the spelling? It's Matteo. You'd think a magazine as large as Hello would check these things. With Luca and Matteo, are they going for a biblical thing? ;-D (Emma/Neil Sean) Colin 'Mr Darcy' Firth is in great demand - the star of Bridget Jones's Diary has been asked to star in Will & Grace. Have a missed something here? Isn't that a TV show? Or is it about Princess Grace and Prince Wilhelm of Bavaria? Nice to be back.

(Moon) Have a missed something here? Isn't that a TV show? Yes, but it is big on having celebs appear on episodes: Madonna, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Matt Damon, Gregory Hines, Natasha Lyonne, Michael Douglas, Cher, Minnie Driver (a recurring part, hey, maybe that's the connection!), Rosie O'Donnell, Molly Shannon, Debbie Reynolds, Blythe Danner, Harry Connick Jr (recurring part), Sydney Pollack, Lesley Ann Warren....

(Moon)With Luca and Matteo, are they going for a biblical thing? ;-D LOL, look out, here come Marco and Giovanni!;-) Welcome back, dearest Moon, I missed you. Thanks for the confirmation on the spelling and pronunciation. (Emma/Neil Sean) Colin 'Mr Darcy' Firth is in great demand - the star of Bridget Jones's Diary has been asked to star in Will & Grace. Oh, I'd love to see him do a guest shot on this. Will could use a gorgeous love interest! (Moon, does that answer your question about the show's plot?;-)

Sandy, thanks for the Harper's Valmont article! (Tress)Very nice way to say the guy was a control freak! Agreed! And because of it, his film suffered by getting there a year too late. He had a 2-year jump start on DL, and should have been out first. If you snooze, you lose. As Colin once said about this, it was like walking into a room and telling a joke that everyone had already heard.

(Mari) Oh, I'd love to see him do a guest shot on this. Will could use a gorgeous love interest! (Moon, does that answer your question about the show's plot?;-) Pfft! The fleet must be in. ;-D

Hi everyone If anyone will be in the Toronto area, we will be premiering LOVE ACTUALLY at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 7th. I apologize for the length of time it takes me to post but I have been out of the country at least 3 times in the last few months on junkets and have not had much time to do anything but work. Karen I am going to respond to your questions as soon as I can. Take care guys!

Thanks Lola! Any chance of Colin attending the FF? Mari), LOL, look out, here come Marco and Giovanni!;-) My thoughts exactly! ;-) Oh, I'd love to see him do a guest shot on this. Will could use a gorgeous love interest! (Moon, does that answer your question about the show's plot?;-) Yuk! Sheesh, when they said star in I got scared. Guest star is le mot juste. Now why can't he be asked to guest on Angel as another vampire, that I would like much better.;-D

Thank you, Lola...Welcome back, Moon. (Mari)Agreed! And because of it, his film suffered by getting there a year too late. He had a 2-year jump start on DL, and should have been out first. I would love to know how V would have done if it had gotten out of the starting gate first. ...I'd still love to see ODB on So Graham Norton.

(Mari) Oh, I'd love to see him do a guest shot on this. Will could use a gorgeous love interest!... I'd love to see him in it too. Some heavy hitters guest star as Karen's list shows. It's well written and very funny. He might just enjoy it. Perhaps they won't have him for Will, how hysterical would it be if Karen fell for him? I can see the quizzical expressions he would make and I'm certain there would be alot of "wots". I hope he does it. Would be great to see him in something this good on tv. Hey, better than being on his friend Mike's Married Man Show. The prestiegous Colin Firth, how great and well deserved is that. Kudos to them. Thanks Lola for LA premiere info. I wonder if he'll go, but if it comes to a choice would rather have him on the set of EOR so we can see MD as soon as possible. Thanks for all the interesting news and articles ladies.

(Mari) Oh, I'd love to see him do a guest shot on this. Will could use a gorgeous love interest!... Maybe they both fall for him! I'd love to see him on Parkinson. I think this is the year it could happen.

News for Downunder Droolers I've been told that L-dum is available on VHS and DVD in your video rental shops (and perhaps for sale as well) under the title Fourplay. The cover art is the pic of the four four of them, walking along the Thames. Thankfully, it is not the same cover as the German release, which had two women and guy in bed, none of them being the actors.

Entertainment Weakly has its Fall Movie Preview issue out. Love Actually gets a full-page. Just a brief mention of CF in cast list. Mostly Huge Gnat spinning tales that I'm sure will be regurgitated ad nauseam on the talk show circuit, blah blah I made Richard make my character not so nice, blah blah, blah, I pulled tricks on Billy Bob, blah blah. Pic of Liam Neeson and child. GWAPE gets a paragraph, plus a pic that includes Scarlett J, Tom W., and 2 women whom I assume are Catherina and Maria. Issue also includes the column below: Oscar Watch The fall films that might grab Oscar's attention -- From the final installment of ''Lord of the Rings'' to flicks starring Nicole and Julia, here are the movies that might vie for Academy Awards by Dave Karger It's a good thing the Academy Awards aren't next week, because the Kodak Theatre would be nearly empty. With only ''Finding Nemo'' and ''Seabiscuit'' attracting any Oscar talk, fall movies will have to fill the ballots (and quickly, since next year's ceremony takes place a month earlier, on Feb. 29). Here's the early line on who could be contenders: September ''The Human Stain'' features Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman, and is directed by three-time winner Robert Benton, while past critics-award winners Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson try for their first nominations with ''Lost in Translation.'' (Johansson also has the December drama ''Girl With a Pearl Earring.'') October The Clint Eastwood-directed ''Mystic River'' began earning momentum at Cannes as a potential Best Picture and for Sean Penn's lead performance. Quentin Tarantino is back in action with ''Kill Bill.'' And Gwyneth Paltrow could find herself in the race for the first time since her ''Shakespeare in Love'' win thanks to her Sylvia Plath biopic ''Sylvia.'' November A puppet show starring Russell Crowe would make anyone's Oscar shortlist, so imagine what Academy voters might think about his period epic ''Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.'' Other nominees could emerge from the smaller-scale pool, namely Tim Burton's ''Big Fish'' (starring Albert Finney and Ewan McGregor), Jim Sheridan's ''In America,'' the grim drama ''21 Grams'' (Sean Penn again), the ensemble romantic comedy ''Love Actually'' (Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and Laura Linney), and ''House of Sand and Fog,'' featuring Academy faves Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley. December What a shocker -- Christmastime will be stuffed with Oscar bait. ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' will hope the third time is the charm, but it will have stiff competition from three other lavish productions -- ''Cold Mountain,'' ''The Alamo,'' and ''The Last Samurai.'' ''The Missing'' and ''Veronica Guerin'' star Cate Blanchett will have to compete against herself. And never count out the ''Mona Lisa Smile'' of Julia Roberts. (Posted:08/15/03)

Hi guys. Ok real quick, here's some more dates for Love Actually. As I mentioned before we will have the world premire at the Toronto Film Festival Sept. 7th There will be a press junket October 10-12 in London with the cast. The movie will have it's New York premiere on November 6th The movie will have it's general release in the US on November 21st and there will be a press junket from November 21 through November 23rd. We are flushing out everyone's itinerary so I'll come back soon with more. Take care!

Thanks for the update, Hola! NYC premiere should attract some Drooleur presence, I expect. ;-D Thanks for the update on our films' hype, Mari. ;-D

(Karen)NYC premiere should attract some Drooleur presence, I expect. ;-D That would be wonderful to put together a Drool field trip and cheering section, as it were.

Colin 'Mr Darcy' Firth is in great demand - the star of Bridget Jones's Diary has been asked to star in Will & Grace. This I would like to see. Just hope one of our channels will start showing Will and Grace again before he "appears". Still just rumours, but one can allways hope. (Janet)Maybe they both fall for him! LOL, could be interesting ;-) Sandy and Mari, thanks for the articles! Thank you Hola, for the update!

Thanks for the update, Lola, we appreciate whatever you can share. US press junket after the film opens? *Crossing fingers that Colin will be doing the talk shows*

Thanks Mari, Sandy, and Lola for all the news and articles.

(Karen)I've been told that L-dum is available on VHS and DVD in your video rental shops (and perhaps for sale as well) under the title Fourplay Apparently it is also possible to rent it in Norway under the title "Life after sex" (available from July 9th 2003) See the cover here: http://www.snurrfilm.no/movie.asp?fkMID=4104

(Karen)The cover art is the pic of the four four of them, walking along the Thames. Thankfully, it is not the same cover as the German release, which had two women and guy in bed, none of them being the actors. (Annette)under the title "Life after sex" (available from July 9th 2003). See the cover here: http://www.snurrfilm.no/movie.asp?fkMID=4104 Oooh, can we play a new game? What do you think the worst CF video/DVD case/cover is? I'd have to vote for the US version of FP with the strange woman wearing soccer cleats as a "bra." Whenever I want to show the film to other people (who of course really enjoy the movie itself), I feel embarrassed associating it with that rather questionable picture. What are your opinions, ladies? Conversely, what are your favorite covers (besides the lovely, lovely smouldering P&P image)?

(Shoshana) Oooh, can we play a new game? What do you think the worst CF video/DVD case/cover is? Cute idea for Firthology (#181)

Here's the link to the EW preview on Love Actually that I mentioned yesterday: http://www.ew.com/ew/preview/movie/0,6115,474761%7E1%7E0%7Eloveactually,00.html

That link is only good for magazine subscribers or AOL members. :-(

Vice chairman Michael Burns told investors in a conference call that the next five movie releases, which also include the Tom Cruise-produced "Shattered Glass," "The Cooler" and "Girl With a Pearl Earring," would likely earn a combined $30 million at the boxoffice. I'm guessing that Burns hasn't been told about our Box Office Bastion Linda... ;-D

Oh yeah, WAGW didn't crack the top 10 in the UK for the week ending 17 August. I haven't found the figures yet, but it would be less than the $173,000 pulled in by Veronica Guerin (in 10th).

(Karen)" ..five movie releases, which also include the Tom Cruise-produced "Shattered Glass," "The Cooler" and "Girl With a Pearl Earring," would likely earn a combined $30 million at the boxoffice. "5 films combined $30 M" V. V. limited release, I'd say:-(((

(Karen), That link is only good for magazine subscribers or AOL members. :-( But it doesn't mention Colin. On an aside, if you go to their CF info page, they list New Cardiff 2002 as one of his films. ;-) I bought the WAGW DVD yesterday for $14.99, is that a good price?

Here it is, sans pic and cast list. Love Actually What's at stake With a cast this charming -- and challenging -- Curtis' directing will need to be as strong as his writing. Richard Curtis has penned modern romantic-comedy classics such as ''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' and ''Notting Hill,'' so for his directing debut, he naturally returned to a favorite theme. ''Love that's wanted, love that's not wanted, love that's fulfilling, love that's a burden, love that's mischievous -- every variation,'' says Laura Linney, who plays a woman suffering a serious office crush. There's enough love, actually, for 10 overlapping story lines (showcasing at least 12 key star players), from a widowed stepfather (Liam Neeson) who frets over his now-motherless stepson (Thomas Sangster) to a wife (Emma Thompson) whose husband (Alan Rickman) is cheating on her. The ensemble structure meant no actor had to work more than 10 days -- a big selling point for stay-at-home mom Thompson. ''She's had a quiet few years, so that was a particular joy and pleasure,'' says Curtis. Hugh Grant, meanwhile, agreed to play Britain's prime minister -- but only after he forced Curtis to give the PM a bit more tooth. ''I saw this ideal, wonderful, compassionate, lovable character, and I explained to Richard that I thought at this point in my career, that train had sailed, really,'' says Grant. Curtis says the resulting push and pull made for a nicely layered head of state. ''It was a very good balance, him always trying to make sure he behaved like a man who'd won an election would behave, and me trying to push him back into being more of a kitten.'' In addition to toying with his character, Grant enjoyed tormenting Billy Bob Thornton, who plays the U.S. President. ''He's fabulously eccentric,'' Grant says admiringly. ''You read stuff about how he can't [stand] antique furniture, anything old. He's particularly terrified of Benjamin Disraeli, and seeing as they were shooting in a 10 Downing Street set, it was very easy for me to find pictures of Disraeli. And just before they shouted action, I'd flip one in front of his face. To watch him freak.'' The Killer Moment ''The Office'''s Martin Freeman reluctantly serves as a stand-in for a hardcore sex scene.

"5 films combined $30 M" Wot kind of box office is that? Five films...an average of 6 million each? (Karen)I'm guessing that Burns hasn't been told about our Box Office Bastion Linda... ;-D Imagine how it would boost the numbers;-)

I've put up the article from the Daily Express' Saturday magazine that Aishling so kindly sent me: http://www.firth.com/articles/03dailyexpresssat_809.html

"I think people�s imaginations must be very strong!� He has NO idea! LOL! Thanks Aishling and Karen for the great article!

Toronto film fest promises excellent program, unveils lineup Updated at 15:04 on August 19, 2003, EST. TORONTO (CP) - Barring a rain of frogs or a plague of locusts, the 28th annual Toronto International Film Festival is "good to go," Michelle Maheu, managing director of the Festival Group, declared Tuesday. Organizers admit there were some doubts in recent months as to what kind a festival it was going to be, in the wake of the SARS outbreak and then last week's major power outage. But in unveiling the final program lineup for Sept. 4-13, director Piers Handling was optimistic that it was going to be a festival to be proud of. Handling said health workers in Canada had done an incredible job on the SARS front, and he didn't think there was going to be any problem with power for the projectors when the festival itself begins. "We've been through some pretty major crises over the last little while," he told a news conference. "Air strikes and postal strikes, projectionists' strikes, we went through 9/11 in the middle of our festival. I think we'll roll with the punches." The festival will present 336 films from 55 countries, including 252 features, most of them either world or North American premieres. The closing night gala - usually lighter fare to send patrons home on a happy note - will be Danny Deckchair, an Australian film and the directorial debut of Jeff Balsmeyer. It's the story of a downtrodden Sydney cement truck driver named Danny (Rhys Ifans) who tries to escape his suburban life by launching into the skies on a garden chair tied to helium balloons and landing in another town where he feels he can change his life. Other gala presentations announced Tuesday include: Girl With a Pearl Earring: Peter Webber's directorial debut starring Colin Firth and Tom Wilkinson. Supposedly the story behind one of Dutch painter Vermeer's most famous and enigmatic works. World premiere. The School of Rock: The irrepressible Jack Black stars as a hell-raising guitarist put in charge of the music class of a group of private-school fifth-grade prodigies and who decides to turn them into a high-voltage rock band. Also stars Joan Cusack. The Boys From County Clare: Director John Irvin's heartwarming tale of two estranged brothers competing at a traditional all-Irish band-music competition. Stars Colm Meaney and Bernard Hill. Nathalie: Anne Fontaine's story of a wife of 25 years shocked at learning of her husband's infidelity and who hires a prostitute to find out what he's really like. Stars Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Beart and Gerard Depardieu. World premiere. Bon Voyage: Oscar-nominated director Jean Paul Rappeneau's sophisticated farce about a young man who must choose between a famous actress and an impassioned student during the German occupation of Paris in 1940. Stars Isabelle Adjani, Gerard Depardieu and Peter Coyote. North American premiere. Good Morning, Night: Writer-director-producer Marco Bellocchio takes an impassioned and sensitive look at the 1978 kidnapping and killing of Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro by Red Brigades terrorists. North American premiere. "I think Bellocchio has made a masterful film about a very controversial issue," said Handling. The news conference also included the traditional test of Handling's breath control as he listed all the celebrities who plan to attend. They include: Denys Arcand, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas Cage, Joel Schumacher, Jonathan Demme, Neil Young, Robert Altman, Robert Lepage, Gary Sinise, Jack Black, Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Oliver Platt, Deepa Mehta, Edward Fox, Darryl Hannah, Marcia Gay Hardin, Sarah Polley, Gong Li, Val Kilmer, Dan Aykroyd, Katie Holmes, Scott Speedman, Charles Martin Smith, Emmanuelle Beart, Toni Collette, Jerry Bruckheimer, Chloe Sevigny, Colm Meaney, Dylan McDermott, Mario and Melvin van Peebles, Ridley Scott, Anthony Hopkins, Woody Harrelson, Kate Beckinsale, Miranda Richardson, Guy Maddin, Tilda Swinton, Meg Ryan, Benicio del Toro, Robert Downey Jr., Sean Penn, Omar Sharif, Kate Blanchett, Parker Posey, Tim Robbins, Rita Moreno, Colin Firth, Denzel Washington and Nicole Kidman. "We talked about not doing this list this year," said Handling, concerned that the focus would be on the stars and not the films. "But clearly it's been such a different year for Toronto and for the film festival, we just thought we'd put the list out there. "Just the support that we're getting from the international film industry around the world, I think, speaks volumes about this city and the festival." Handling, meanwhile, refused to be drawn into a feud with his Montreal counterpart, Serge Losique, who said recently that the overlapping dates for the two cities' festivals were Toronto's fault. The Montreal fest runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7 and Losique said Toronto has been pushing up its calendar and that it should move to the spring instead. "We've been on the first Thursday after Labour Day since 1979," Handling said bluntly. "And we have not shared dates with another major Canadian film festival since 1980. It's almost a quarter of a century." On the Web: www.bell.ca/filmfest � The Canadian Press, 2003

I hope I'm picking the right topic - this is news of a sort, so I thought it should go here, but if it doesn't Karen, please accept my apologies in advance. There is a new topic at meetup.com for Colin Firth fans, so if you're interested in meeting CF fans in your area, you can go sign up at: http://firth.meetup.com - it's free, and it's pretty cool. They'll probably have a link back to drool on there, Karen. :-)

...and someone used my name and email address at that site, suggesting the creation of that group. What gall! and why would they have a link back to Drool? Thanks for posting the Toronto news, Mari!! Yippeee!!

Thanks, Mari. Was bummed it wasn't up when I looked earlier. Wish they had the screening schedule, but I think that's not up til the 26th. Quite a list of stars attending. That John Cusack movie sounds cute.

Girl With a Pearl Earring: Peter Webber's directorial debut starring Colin Firth and Tom Wilkinson. Supposedly the story behind one of Dutch painter Vermeer's most famous and enigmatic works. World premiere. Had to check this out...seems it will play at Roy Thomson Hall. A Gala Presentation. RT Hall will not have their schedule posted until August 28th. Here is the link for the festival and you can see schedules/ticketing info here as well (e-mail and phone numbers for some contacts at the bottom if you have questions): http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2003/mediacentre/release.asp?id=172 I have already looked at ticket prices...don't know how I would tell the DH that I want to spend roughly $600.00 - 700.00 to see one showing of an ODB film. Hmmmm...must think about how to approach this.....

Meetup sounds like a cute website....pictures,agendas... I got my CF tee shirt ready;-) Roll on Toronto FF! Who knows, if Toronto & Colin push GWAPE enough it might make more than the $6. M forecast.

Thanks for all the articles and news ladies. Is he really going to be on this side of the pond in two weeks or so? Can't believe it. Perhaps he'll tie in a visit with Will as well. But then he'll have to hurry back to start work on EOR, or atleast I hope so. Thanks again for the good news.

(Tress) spend roughly $600.00 - 700.00 to see one showing of an ODB film. Where did you see that price? All the Gala Passes (good for eight) are sold out, as well as all the Festival Pass/Coupon book categories. Toronto is a very tough FF to get in to see anything worthwhile. Even the critics complain because they can't get into screenings. According to the website: Gala single tickets are available to VISA cardholders in person starting Saturday, August 23, 2003 - 11 days before they are available to the general public (subject to availability). Advance tickets for Viacom Gala screenings at Roy Thomson Hall are $26.00; all other screening tickets are just $14.50. You do not require a Pass or Coupon Book to purchase single tickets.

(Karen) Where did you see that price? Round-trip airline ticket from Portland to Toronto: $398.00 Hotel and food: $250.00 Tickets to premiere showing: Approx $14.50 - 26.00 To be the first kid on the block to see GWAPE: priceless! ;-)

ROTF, Tress! Bravo!

(Tress) To be the first kid on the block to see GWAPE: priceless! ;-) ROTF! You are priceless!

(Tress)To be the first kid on the block to see GWAPE: priceless! ;-) You Rock girl!

Ahhh, the new math. Got it. ;-D

Just to clarify, Karen. Although I did give meetup.com your email address as one of the people who should be notified if firth.meetup.com was created, and told them that you run firth.com, I did not, in any way, suggest that *I* was *you*. I gave them email addresses of "interested parties", so that they could notifiy them once firth.meetup.com was created, and they do have strict standards about not selling those email addresses.

Thanks Mari for the info on the Toronto FF. Let's hope this is the beginning of better things to come. Tress, LOL, at you MasterCard commercial. ;-) Too funny. Moon, I know this is belated, but welcome back. Any Georgie sightings? ;-)

GWAPE screens on Sunday, September 7, 9:30 PM. As Lola noted, same day as Love Actually, which is down for 6:45 PM--and presumably not at the same theater. Lola, are you going to clone him?;-)

Moon, I know this is belated, but welcome back. Any Georgie sightings? ;-) Terrible heat this summer in EU. 3000 dead in France! Skipped the lake completely. I will be in Italy in Nov. maybe then. ;-D (Tress)To be the first kid on the block to see GWAPE: priceless! ;-) LOL! clap, clap! Thanks for the TFF article, Mari. Not a word on LA or any of actors besides Colin. Didn't Lola say it would be the world premiere? Colin is here for GWAPE. Happy to see Colin out there.

(Mari), GWAPE screens on Sunday, September 7, 9:30 PM. As Lola noted, same day as Love Actually, which is down for 6:45 PM--and presumably not at the same theater. Lola, are you going to clone him?;-) LOL! It's never easy for Colin is it? Maybe that should be the theme for his birthday party. ;-D I can hear Jethro Tull playing "Nothing is Easy".