As expected, it was Slumdog Millionaire that took most awards at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles last night. It won an incredible 8 awards including best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, the score, song, cinematography, editing and sound mixing.
Also actress Kate Winslet finally got her Oscar after 5 failed nominations for best actress for her role in The Reader’. Micky Rourke didn’t duplicate his Bafta success as Sean Penn took away the award for Best Actor for his role in Milk.
Danny Boyle was thrilled with his win for Best Director saying:-
“My kids are too old to remember this now, but when they were much younger, I swore to them that if this miracle ever happened that I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger from Winnie The Pooh and that’s what that was.”
Other winners were the late Heath Ledger for best supporting actor in The Dark Night for his portrayal of The Joker and Penelope Cruz won best supporting actress for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
First there was Meet The Parents and then there was Meet The Fockers but now a new sequel is due called The Little Fockers.
It has been confirmed that Ben Stiller will return as Gaylord Focker whilst Robert DeNiro will revive his role as disapproving father in law Jack.
Others also being cast for the comedy sequel are Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo) as Gaylords wife and Kevin Rawley (Owen Wilson) who had cameo roles in the first two films being Pam’s x boyfriend adored by her parents in ‘Meet The Parents’ and the priest who married them in ‘Meet The Fockers’. However, he is to play a much bigger part in this movie.
The film will not be directed by Jay Roach like the previous two because he is still busy working on other projects however, David Wain, Paul Weitz and Peyton Reed are all being considered.
Well its almost that time of the year when the red carpet is lit in Hollywood.
On the 27Th February Hollywood will be bursting full of high profile actors and actresses dreaming of winning an Oscar for the work they have put into movies and films from the past year.
The Oscars started in 1927 at M-G-M’s studio by Louis B. Mayer and three of his guests – actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblo and producer Fred Beetson who decided to create an organisation where members of the film industry were credited for there participation. Winners are awarded with what used to be called ‘The Academy Award of Merit’ which is now more commonly know as an ‘Oscar’ after Academy librarian, Margaret Herrick, remarked that the statuette resembled her Uncle Oscar, and the staff began referring to it as such.
The Oscars have grown to be the most pretigious award given to someone in the film industry.
This year there is a bit of a dog fight for the big awards ‘Best Actor and Actress’ with nominees such as Mickey Rourke, Brad Pitt and Sean Penn for Best Actor and Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie for Best Actress. Rourke and Winslet won a Bafta (Britains version of the Oscars) earlier this month for the same category.
However, winning isn’t everything! The little Statue is just the icing on the cake when there are a range of Promotional Merchandise are available for just appearing to the show. In past years it has included the latest ultra-thin mobile phone, free holidays, a $1,500 voucher for dinner a coffee maker, which together with a toaster and kettle carries a price tag of $700 - not bad for just turning up.
This year should prove to be an award ceremony to remember!
The British Academy Film Awards took place earlier this week at the Royal Opera House.
The ceremony used to happen in April or May, but this was changed back in 2002 so that is could precede the Oscars. The awards are mostly open to all nationalities, though there is an award for Best British Film and Best Newcomer.
It was Slumdog Millionaire that took the most awards at the Baftas this year against stiff competition like The Reader, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Doubt etc.. with a total of 7 awards.
The film was awarded with best film, best director (Danny Boyle), best music, best adapted screenplay (Simon Beaufoy) amongst others.
Although nominated for best actor, Dev Pate missed out to Mickey Rourke’s performance in The Wrestler and Kate Winslet walked away with best actress for her role in The Reader.
As expected, the late Heath Ledger was awarded best supporting actor for his fantastic version of the Joker in The Dark Knight.
As a surprising twist, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button only won three awards for best hair and makeup, best visual effects and best production despite being nominated for 11 Baftas.
Guests were all given complementary gifts for there participation in the show, consisting of various different promotional merchandise from the different sponsors.
It has been confirmed that the cervical cancer that has taken hold of Jade Goody has advanced further, spreading to her liver, bowel and groin.
Although she is trying to remain positive, doctors have withdrawn there previous expectations of a 40% chance she will survive the condition.
Focus on keeping her alive as long as possible has replaced the original goal of curing the cancer and as expected Jade is in pieces over the news:-
“I am devastated. I am frightened and I am angry. I don’t want to die because I have so much to live for.
“The whole thing is absolutely terrifying. To try and remain positive, I am hoping a new type of treatment will suppress and control the cancer, which is very aggressive. I am in a nightmare.”
The big brother veteran has said that she will be trying a different combination of drugs to halt the cancers progress.
A family friend said:-
“She can’t seem to win this fight - the cancer is too advanced and the doctors don’t hold out much hope.”
Although i can’t say i am a keen fan of Jade Goody for various reasons but my heart goes out to her through this traumatic experience.
Best of Luck to her and i hope she pulls through.
Patrick Swayze has given up on his chemotherapy! Unfortunately Doctors have concluded that there is nothing more they can do for him but make him feel comfortable.
Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, since then he has been fiercely battling with the condition however, the actor has decided to stop all treatment.
“His condition is inoperable and they have stopped the chemo. He’s still losing weight and he’s very weak,” a family friend told the magazine.
“Patrick regards himself as a cowboy and is determined to die with his boots on and no regrets.”
The 56 year old has now arranged to write his memoirs, accompanied with his wife Lisa.
Warner Brothers are said to be making a third Tomb Raider movie.
Paramount had made the previous two installments Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft: Cradle Of Life, however the rights to the Tomb Raider franchise have since reverted back to the games makers ‘Eidos’. Who is turn sold the rights to Warner Brothers as part of an agreement when Warner Brothers increased its stake in Eidos.
For those that don’t know, the very popular video game surrounds the adventures of the sexy/acrobatic archaeologist played by Angelina Jolie in the last two movies. Although no cast has been released for the movie yet it seems unlikely that Angelina will revive the role and rumours have it that Transformers Megan Fox may take it on instead.
I am personally a keen fan of Megan Fox (for many reasons) but i do think that Angelina was made for this role and i just can’t see how she could measure up against her.
However, i sincerely hope i am wrong!….
Lost actor Matthew Fox has promised Lost fans that the final episode will have nothing short than a “global and epic ending”.
The show closed the last series on yet another cliff hanger, seeing the island being transported away from its current location. The fifth season will be its last, hopefully answering some of the many questions viewers have been dieing to know about since the shows beginning.
“All of us knew that if the show was strung out indefinitely, it was going to ruin the story,” he told Details. “It’s not like a doctor drama, where you have a new case each week.
“This show started with a plane crash on an island in the South Pacific, and it’s going to have a very global and epic ending.”
Fox, aged 42 plays Jack Shephard on the thrilling TV show. He has been very happy with his charater throughout the last few seasons and added:-
“When it’s all said and done, you’ll be able to look at the five seasons of Lost and see a pretty amazing character arc,” he said. “Jack has been evolving, and not necessarily into a good place.
“We started the show with him being this hero who had no concept of what that required, sort of trying to live up to the expectations . . . and then finding the way to redeem himself.”
Tom Cruise is due to appear on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross later this month, however he is now considering canceling his participation on the show after learning of Jonathan Ross’s suspension surrounding his role in the Andrew Sachs prank a few months back.
Ross has been wanting to land more big names on the TV chat show to boost ratings and Tom Cruise on the show would do just that, talking about his new movie Valkyrie. Tom was unaware of the controversy involving Jonathan Ross and is scared it will damage his image further by appearing on the show.
“Tom was not aware that Ross had been suspended because of his behaviour,” said an associate of the actor.
“Now that Tom has been told about the phone calls he is having second thoughts. He does not want to be involved in any controversy.”
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have already declined offers to appear on the show and BBC bosses are concerned that more will follow suit and boycott the show.
A BBC spokesperson denied the speculation, saying: “We are not having any trouble booking the same high-calibre guests we have always had on the show. It is business as usual.”
Ross’s hopes that the unfortunate event was now behind him are shattered and it would seem that the Andrew Sachs prank will still haunt him for sometime to come.
after a long three year break, the guy we all love to hate ‘Cain Dingle’ returns in a spectacular fashion to Emmerdale. He left the show back in April 2006 after an explosive exit where he kidnapped Tom an Sadie king in an extortion plot and abandoned his daughter Debbie whilst he ran off with the money.
Jeff Hordley (38) who plays Cain decided to quit the show to pursue other projects but couldn’t resist a come back after it was offered to him. The story line sees him sending an expensive and high profile solicitor to the town to help get Debbie released from prison but when he arrives in Emmerdale he is instantly arrested.
Hordley said: “I am really looking forward to returning to Emmerdale. The story lines that lead to Cain’s return are in keeping with his character and a perfect way to bring him back to the heart of the Dingle clan where he belongs.”
Series producer Anita Turner added: “I’m delighted to welcome Jeff back to the show. This storyline presented the exciting opportunity in which to reintroduce Cain. Debbie will be going through hell in the next few months and it’s such a boost to have her dad fighting alongside her.”
