Weekend To Do – Rumors/News 12-20-07

Hi Everyone:

Thought I’d do the weekend ‘to do’ stuff a little early this week as I’m not sure how many of my readers will be out on Friday and, like myself, taking next week off.  -  More snow on the horizon here in New England.  I’m tired of it and it isn’t even January yet!

Let’s see what I can write for you this week:

Out on DVD

Blade Runner (5 disc Collector’s Edition)

Once

The Last Legion

The Simpsons Movie

Stardust

In Theaters

Charlie Wilson’s War

National Treasures’ Book of Secrets

PS I Love You

Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Seville

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

(Most of these movies are probably in limited release and we may not see them in wide release until January)…

TV News

Once again, not much because of the Writers’ Strike.  Lots and lots of Reality Shows.  Ohhhh please end this torture and give us our regular shows back pleazzzeeee.

Let’s do some more Golden Globe Noms:

Best Animated Film

Bee Movie

Ratatouille

The Simpsons Movie

Best TV Drama

Big Love

Damages

Grey’s Anatomy

House

Mad Men

The Tudors

(How hard is this category going to be!  All of these dramas were very entertaining this year.  Mad Men was very surprising (1960s advertising industry.  If you’re as old as I am, boy did this series bring back memories!  The Tudors with Jonathan Rhys Meyers will follow King Henry in his very young years….late teens, early 20s.  The first season was excellent.  Next year will find him married to Ann Boleyn.  And, once again, Big Love is another great series about Mormons with Bill Paxton and Harry Dean Stanton, among others).

Best TV Comedy or Musical

Californication

Entourage

Extras

Pushing Daisies

30 Rock

(Of these, I’d have to choose 30 Rock although Entourage would be a close 2nd!)

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture for TV

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

The Company

Five Days

Longford

The State Within

(Boy, here we go again…another really tough category to choose.  If I had my druthers, I’d choose The Company which is the story of the beginning of the CIA.  Can’t believe Michael Keaton wasn’t nominated.  He was fantastic.  If these comes on again, please don’t forget to watch.  The acting is amazing).

Best Actor in a Mini Series or Motion Picture for TV

Adam Beach – …..Wounded Knee

Ernest Borgnine – A Grandpa for Christmas

Jim Broadbent – Longford

Jason Isaacs – The State Within

James Nesbitt – Jekyll

OK, of these performances, I’m torn between Nesbitt and Isaacs.  I think I’ll go with Nesbitt in Jekyll…chilling portrayal!  He’ll be back for another season too.  And Isaacs is also terrific in Brotherhood!!!

Best Actress in a Mini Series or Motion Pic for TV

Bryce Dallas Howard – As You Like It (Richie Cunningham’s daughter!)

Queen Latifah – Life Support

Debra Messing – The Starter Wife

Sissy Spacek – Pictures of Hollis Woods

Ruth Wilson – Jane Eyre

No comment….

Best Actor in a TV Series – Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock

Steve Carell – The Office

Ricky Gervais – Extras

Lee Pace – Pushing Daisies

David Duchovny – Californication (love David..not the show)

Hands down…this is Alec’s.  You haven’t lived until you’ve seen 30 Rock!

Best Actress in a TV Series – Comedy or Musical

Christine Applegate – Samantha Who?

America Ferrera – Ugly Betty

Tina Fey – 30 Rock

Anna Friel – Pushing Daisie

Mary Louise Parker – Weeds

Well, I think I’d choose Tina Fey since America has won before and so has Mary Louise.

Best Actor in a TV – Drama

Michael C. Hall – Dexter

Jon Hamm – Mad Men

Hugh Laurie – House

Bill Paxton – Big Love

Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors

Oh boy…here we go again.  Ya know, it must have been a good year for TV cause I’m stuck on a lot of these nominations!  OK, I guess I’d choose Michael C. Hall (so good in 6 Feet Under too) for Dexter.  One of the best innovative shows on TV (Showtime is definitely catching up with HBO on the quality of programs it is giving us)

Best Actress TV – Drama

Patricia Arquette – Medium

Glenn Close – Damages

Minnie Driver – The Riches

Edie Falco – The Sopranos

Sally Field – Brothers and Sisters

Holly Hunter – Saving Grace

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer

Let’s face it, of all of these lovely ladies, the one who deserves this award the most for giving us years of entertainment is Edie Falco!

Supporting Actor in a Series/Mini Series/Motion Pic for TV

Ted Danson – Damages (like him better in Curb)

Kevin Dillon – Entourage (should be your winner)

Jeremy Piven – Entourage (won before)

Andy Serkis – Longford

William Shatner – Boston Legal (always a hoot!)

Donald Sutherland – Dirty, Sexy Money (one for the new series)

Supporting Actress in a Series/Mini Series/Motion Pic for TV

Rose Byrne – Damages

Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy

Rachel Griffiths – Brothers and Sisters

Samantha Morton – Longford  ( my prediction – winner)

Anna Paquin – ….Wounded Knee

Jaime Pressley – My Name is Earl

—————————————————————————————–

News

Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton became parents for the 2nd time this past weekend.  They have a new daughter (no name as yet) who will join her older brother, Billy.

Greg Norman and Chris Evert are engaged.  (They didn’t even tell me they were going together!).  As you all know, Greg is a terrific golfer and Chris was phenomonal as a tennis player battling her good friend Martina Narvratalova(?) all those years ago.  Greg, 53 is getting divorced after 26 years  of marriage…I heard it may cost him a cool 100M!  Chris went with Jimmy Connors many, many years ago; then married Englishman John Lloyd (tennis player) and then married US Olympic Skiier, Andy Mill who she was married to for 18 years.  No date set for the weddiing.

Seems that Pam Anderson and sleazy Rick Salomon are divorcing after only 2 months of marriage.  I don’t know why she just doesn’t realize she and Tommy Lee are made for each other and move on!

Both Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien are coming back to live TV after the first of the year…without writers.  Should be interesting.  Letterman is trying to negotiate with his writers so that he and Craig Ferguson can also return to TV but agreeing to settle for whatever the contracts are when the strike is over.

Jamie Lynn Spears is preggers…she’s all of 16!  Apparently she’s 12 weeks along and her parents LOVE her boyfriend.  They say he’s been a very good influence on her.  Mom was supposed to publish a parenting book but that is now on hold.  Why do I see a Jerry Springer episode in the Spears’ family future!!!!!!!!

Peter Jackson (of LOTR fame) has settled his differences with whomever and will now produce the prequel to LOTR, The Hobbit.  No word on a director or production startup as yet.

Well, I guess Writers’ are asking Golden Globe noms and Oscar hopefuls NOT to show up at the ceremonies.  No film clips will be shown either…

Another change to the movie, State of Play.  First Brad Pitt bowed out and Russell Crowe took his place.  Now Edward Norton has stepped away from the film and Ben Affleck will take his place.  Ed’s problem was scheduling.  He has a new movie that he is starring and directing in, Leaves of Grass that was booked before this….

Comments…more or less

Rhys Ifans (Danny Deckchair) and Sienna Miller (Jude’s ex) are a couple.  OK..stranger things have happened.

American Idol will be starting up next month on Jan. 15 and 16 – FOX at 8.

One last thought, Ellen Page is nominated for a Golden Globe for the little Indie movie, JUNO.  Never heard of her before but the industry loves her.  I was ’surfing’ the movie channels this weekend and found a movie called HARD CANDY starring her and Patrick Wilson (so good in Angels in America and Evening).  It was very compelling and she is such a terrific actress that I can’t wait to see JUNO now.  hmmmmmm.

OK, I guess that’s it for this week.  I’m sure there’s upteen things I forgot to write about (Go Clark Bros. on the Next Great American Band – Fri. night).

Sorry about that.

GO PATRIOTS – beat Miami on Sunday!!!!!

Talk to you soon.  Joanie

Weekend To Do – Rumors/News 12-13-07

Hi Everyone:

I’m going to try and quickly do what I thought would be an ‘overview’ of what’s going on in LaLa Land but, as usual, I’ve got like 6 pages here plus I wanted to ‘touch’ the Golden Globe noms given out this morning. (I will not go thru the whole list…maybe next week, early).

I’m doing this the ‘old fashioned’ way too because I doubt if Jamie will have a chance to put the info up on my blog before tomorrow and who knows if I’ll make it in with the impending snowstorm!

IN THEATERS

The Amateurs (Jeff Bridges, etc)
Atonement
Grace is Gone
All of the above in limited release
Alvin and the Chipmunks (Jason Lee)
I Am Legend (Will Smith…Tom’s BFF!)
Youth Without Youth (LA/NY only)

OUT IN DVD

The Bourne Ultimatum (excellent)
December Boys
Dirt: First Season (new season starts next month)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2 disc, sp. ed.)
High School Musical 2 (ext. ed.)
The Interview

TV NEWS

Will Arnett (Blades of Glory) has been tapped to play the voice of Knight Rider.

Journeyman has NOT been picked up for a full season. There are 2 more episodes in the can. Hopefully they will show them and come to their senses when the Writers’ Strike is over because this is a cool show!

ABC dropped BIG SHOTS (never watched it)

The Amazing Race has been picked up for a Season 13!

OK…here’s where I lose if altogether! I’ll just ramble on and give ya what I thought would be interesting:

Jessica Alba is preggers with Cash Warren’s baby. Do NOT see a wedding in their future…just a gut feeling.

Hayden (Heroes) 18, now going with Ryan Goslin, 27??? “Boy, Ryand, you like ‘em old and young! Remember the days when Sandra Bullock was your main squeeze? I guess Hayden was at the Chateau Marmont (have I said how much I’d like to go there??) and Ryan showed up, went over and talked to her and her mum, exchanged #s and they got together!

Have you seen Ohhhh So Sexy Johnny Depp on the cover of Esquire???

Seems like Queen Latifah wants to marry BFF, Jeanette Jenkins whom she’s been going with for 4 years. I think she was on Survivor?!

Whoa…here’s another hot one…check out David Beckham’s underwear ad for Armani…..OMG!!!!

I can’t believe Daniel Baldwin has been nailed with a no bail bench warrant. He says it was lack of communication. His manager was supposed to get in touch with the court because he’s in Toronto filming.

Neither Blake Lewis or Jordin Sparks can shake Josh Groban from the top of the charts!!! Josh’s Christmas CD, NOEL, is coming close to catching the all time seller, Elvis’s album. Josh will be on Larry King, GMA and again on a repeat on Oprah in the next few weeks.

Comment:

Have any of you ‘found’ The Real Housewives of the OC on Bravo? It’s quite a show and shown many times during the week…

Hope you caught LIFE ON MARS on Tuesday on BBC. I’m sure they’ll repeat it.

Saving Grace has another new episode this week!

Have you caught The Clark Bros. on The Next Great American Band on Fri. on FOX???? WOW!!! They’re good.

More NEWS

Gillian Anderson (Scully/XFiles) has been chosen to host Masterpiece Theater. She is going to host the first 3 miniseries starting Jan. 13.

Let’s do some Golden Globe Noms and then I can send this out:

Best Motion Picture – Drama

American Gangster **
Atonement (gotta see it)
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton (George)
No Country for Old Men (most everyone I’ve talked to, with the exception of my son and the critics) who have seen this pic do NOT like it!
There Will Be Blood

Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy

Across The Universe (Beatle songs)
Charlie Wilson’s War
Hairspray**
Juno (Jennifer Garner)
Sweeney Todd**

Best Actor – Drama

George for Michael Clayton
Daniel Day Lewis for There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy for Atonement*
Viggo Mortenson for Eastern Promises
Denzel for American Gangster***

Best Actress – Drama

Cate for Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie for Away from Her (on ON DEMAND now)
Jodie Foster – The Brave One
Angie for A Mighty Heart***
Kiera Knightly for Atonement

Best Actor Musical/Comedy

Johnny for Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks for Charlie Wilson’s War
Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Savages
John C. Reilly for Walk Hard….***

Best Actress Musical/Comedy

Amy Adams – Enchanted
Mikki Blonsky – Hairspray**
Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd
Marion Cotillard – LaVien Rose
Ellen Page – Juno

Best Actor – Supporting Role

Casey Affleck – Jesse James…
Javier Bardiem – No Country..
Philip S.H. for Charlie Wilson’s War
John Travolta – Hairspray***
Tom Wilkinson – M Clayton*

Best Actress – Supporting Role

Cate – I’m Not There
Julia – Charlie..
Saoivise Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – MC**

Best Director – Motion Picture – Drama

Ridley Scott – American Gangster****
Tim Burton – Sweeney
Coen Bros. – No Country..
Julien Schnaebel…?
Joe Wright – Atonement

There’s more but I’ll catch up next week.

Be careful going home. Talk to you later.

Joanie

The Other Boleyn Girl

Starring
Scarlett Johansson
Natalie Portman
Eric Bana
Jim Sturgess
Directed by
Justin Chadwick
Distributed by
Sony Pictures
Focus Features
Release date
February 29, 2008

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The project was filmed in the UK in late 2006, and will be released in February, 2008 (UK March 2008). The film is directed by Justin Chadwick from a script by Peter Morgan (who also wrote a two-part television drama on Henry VIII in 2003).

Scarlett Johansson has been cast in the lead role, alongside Eric Bana as Henry VIII and Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn. The supporting cast includes Eddie Redmayne as Mary’s second husband William Stafford, Kristin Scott Thomas as Lady Elizabeth Boleyn (Mary and Anne’s mother), Bill Wallis as Archbishop Cranmer, Tiffany Freisberg as Lady Mary Talbot and Jim Sturgess as George Boleyn, with Brice Stratford as William Henry Bourchier, Captain of the King’s bodyguard, Rue McClanahan as Mary and Anne’s grandmother, and Ana Torrent as Catharine of Aragon. It also features an appearance by UK Model of the Year 2006/7, Siobhan Hustler, as Anne Boleyn’s Lady-in-Waiting.

Costumes design is by Sandy Powell who also worked on Shakespeare in Love, and filming locations include Penshurst Place, Knole Park and Dover Castle in Kent, and Bude in Cornwall. The film company are currently (Aug/Sept 2007) shooting some additional scenes at Ely Cathedral, with some reshoots due to take place in Kent.

In addition to the criticism the novel received for its presentation of Anne Boleyn, there was further criticism from some sections of the British press for the decision to cast three foreigners in the main roles. Critics included veteran academic and broadcaster Dr David Starkey, author of several best-selling factual accounts of the Tudor royals. Johansson dismissed these criticisms, stating her only reservations about the filming were about its melodramatic storyline.

According to some of the tour guides at Dover Castle in Kent part of the movie was shot on location.

Trailer:

In Bruges

Starring
Colin Farrell
Brendan Gleeson
Ralph Fiennes
Directed by
Martin McDonagh
Distributed by
Focus Features
Release Date
TBDFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Bruges (pronounced “broozh”) is an upcoming film directed and written by Martin McDonagh. The film stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes.

This film is believed to be heavily inspired by various dark, extreme English mobster films, especially the 1990 film called The Krays (referring to the current hit men Ray and Ken when compared to the Kray twins), which then in turn, greatly mixed in with strong laughable comedies, such as Mr. Bean.[citation needed]

On the 22nd of November 2007, it was announced that In Bruges would be the Opening Night film of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival

This darkly comic suspense thriller from Academy Award-winning writer/director Martin McDonagh tells the story of hit men Ray and Ken (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson). After a botched job in London, the team is ordered by their boss Harry (two-time Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) to cool their heels in the storybook city of Bruges, Belgium. Very much out of their comfort zones, the men find themselves drawn into increasingly dangerous entanglements with locals, tourists, and a film shoot. As their stay in Bruges gets weirder, they realize Harry may have other plans for them than a simple vacation.

Trailer

The Amateurs

Starring
Jeff Bridges
Tim Blake Nelson
Joe Pantoliano
William Fichtner
Ted Danson
Directed by
Michael Traeger
Distributed by
MGM
Release date
TBD 2005From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Six friends come together to try and find fame and fortune by making the world’s most innocent adult movie ever made. Although they have literally no idea what they’re doing, they keep at it and are determined to accomplish their goal… no matter what gets in the way.”

The Amateurs, originally called The Moguls, is a 2005 comedy film written and directed by Michael Traeger and starring Jeff Bridges. Its story revolves around six friends in a small town in the US who decide to make a full length amateur adult film.

The film was released under the title The Moguls in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2006. The film was released under the title The Amateurs and opened in limited release in the United States on December 7, 2007.
Trailer:

Funny Games

Cast
Naomi Watts
Tim Roth

Distributed by
Warner Independent Pictures
Release date
February 15, 2008

Content from Wikipedia.com:
Funny Games is the American remake of the 1997 Austrian thriller of the same name. Original writer/director Michael Haneke (Caché and La Pianiste) wrote and directed, and Australian actress Naomi Watts plays role of Anne originally played by Susanne Lothar and Tim Roth plays George. The two malevolent young men are to be played by Brady Corbet and Michael Pitt. The projected American release date is scheduled by Warner Independent for February 15, 2008. The film is an exact shot-for-shot remake of its predecessor.

Trailer:

Weekend To Do – Rumors/News 12-07-07

Hi Everyone:

It’s Dec. 7th…a day that will be always remembered as “Pearl Harbor Day”.  Dec. 7, 1941….

OK, let’s see what’s going on this weekend:

In Theaters

Golden Compass (with Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, etc.)  This movie has gotten an ‘icy’ review because of it’s dark concept.  Not really for anyone under 13 years old.

Not much else new this weekend.  So, go see August Rush, Fred Claus or No Country For Old Men (maybe The Mist!)

New on DVD

 

 New York, New York (30th Anniversary Edition)  This was a terrific ’sleeper’ (if you want to call it that) Martin Scorsese movie with Robert DeNiro and Liza.  It’s a little long but the song NEW YORK, NEW YORK is terrific by Liza.  Worth a rental anyway.

Pirates – 3rd One (it’s Johnny Depp folks…..)

Rocky – The Complete Saga (ohhhh, can’t wait!)

Superbad (unrated, extended cut)  I can only imagine what else they have to show us!!!

MOVIE NEWS

John Cusack has joined the cast of the psycho thriller, The Factory (Dark Castle company – Joe Silver).  Cusack will play an obssessed(?) cop who, with his partner, is on the trail of a serial killer prowling the streets of Buffalo, NY.  When Cusack’s teenage daughter disappears, he drops any professional restraints and goes all out to get the killer.  Filming starts in January, 2008.

Edward Norton and Tim Blake Nelson will team up again (after The Hulk) for a thriller entitled, Leaves of Grass.  Ed will direct as well as star as twins; one is a philosophy professor while the other is a career criminal who gets his twin bro into big trouble.  Filming starts in March, 2008 in New Orleans.

It’s “official”….Russell Crowe will take over the Brad Pitt role in the political thriller, State of Play (the original is out on DVD in Feb.).  He will join many stars including the above-mentioned Edward Norton.   Filming will start in the spring of 2008.  It seems that Russell ’saved the day’ cause they were going to shutdown if they couldn’t find a replacement for Brad.

Christian Bale will play John Connor in Terminator4 (I kid you not).  This will be directed by McG.  Do I see disaster all over this one???  He could have just a supporting role too?

Josh Brolin (having a great year in American Gangster as well as No Country for Old Men) will costar along with James Franco and Emile Hirsch (Into The Wild) and Sean Penn in a Gus Van Sant biopic called MILK.  Penn will star as Harvey Milk, an openly gay San Francisco city supervisor who was murdered a year after he took office (hate crime).

XFILES2 – Amanda Peet and Billy Connolly have joined David and Gillian for Chris Carter’s new X Files’ movie which is a standalone movie which means you don’t have to be familiar with the series not to enjoy it.  It should be in theaters the weekend of July 25, 2008.

Ridley Scott wants to do a biopic on the Gucci dynasty.  Writing will commence after the Writers’ Strike (please let it end soon….)

 

 

TV NEWS

Nothing really new because of the Strike.  Pretty soon we’ll be watching people eating their dinners at the table in Reality Shows galore!!!

The late show hosts are paying their people out of their own pockets until the Strike is over.  (that could be costly…Jay Leno may even have to part with a few of his cars!!!)

OK…let’s tackle:  RUMORS and NEWS

Lindsey Lohan and Heath Ledger dating????  I guess she gave her rehab BFF the hook a few weeks ago when she hooked up with Heath at a bar she went to.  More baggage for Lindsey if you ask me!

Britney’s househunting…would it be for a place her kids would have a backyard, nice rooms to play/live in???? Hell no…it’s a PARTY HOUSE she’s a lookin’ for.  Does it ever end????

Dennis Quaid and his wife Kim were able to take their twins home this week after they were given 1,000 times the dosage of the blood thinner Hepanin!  They seem to be fully recovered.  The Quaids are very religious and believe the twins’ recovery is a miracle.

Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan) has given birth to a second son, Ganni.  She and hubby Paolo, also have a four year old named Marco.

Check out TMZ.com for the battle of the ‘weaves’.  Travolta and Cage!!  They haven’t been this close since the movie, Face Off!!!

Keifer started serving his 48 day sentence for DUI this week.  With the Writers’ Strike going on, ‘24′ has been shutdown.  He is set to serve the FULL 48…no early release for good behavior, etc.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been let off the hook for the commotion at Dublin Airport. He said he was very sorry and is going to give a donation  to charity as part of his apology.

More Couples News

Meg Ryan and Hank Azaria (who does many voices on The Simpsons).  They’ve been seeing each other for a few months now….could work.

Jessica and Tony Romo.  Boy Tony must be something!  He’s getting a lot of hot blondes!  I guess Tony went with Jessica to her family’s place (by private jet) for Thanksgiving and was seen flying COACH on the way back.  Come on Tony…spend a few bucks, you got it!

Nicky Hilton and David Katzenberg.  She used to date Kevin Connelly of Entourage and I think he used to go with one of the Olson twins…

Genie Francis was on the View recently (looking mighty fine) and was asked if she was going to return to General Hospital.  Her answer…they haven’t asked her!  Hopefully she will be back next year…love Laura!!!

Rumor has it that Dancing is looking for another Soap Star for next season.  They are looking at Alison Sweeney (from Days who also is host of The Biggest Loser) and Bradford Anderson who plays Spinelli on GH.

Comment:

The Awards’ Season is upon us already.  The National Board of Review gave out trophies this past week. Some of the winners were:  George Clooney, Best Actor for Michael Clayton (excellent movie), Julie Christie, Best Actress for a movie about Alzheimers (it’s ON DEMAND now), Casey Affleck for Best Supporting Actor for The Assassination of Jesse James, Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone.  Best Director – Tim Burton for Sweeney Todd and Best Pic:  No Country For Old Men

One more Reminder:  MONK and PSYCH are both new tonight on USA!

Have a great weekend everyone.  The PATRIOTS are playing at 4:15PM this Sunday.

Ohhhh, I was thinking of doing the reviews on Bruno and Carrie Anne’s new show that starts in January.  For those of you who watch SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE….there was a guy on it last year (I think) named Artem who liked to dance without his shirt on!!  Well, guess what folks..he is now living with Carrie Anne…how about that?

Talk to you next week.  Joanie