[BODY]Britney Spears is back in the hospital.
Will stay in long enough this time to really get some help? And will her being off the street force the ever-present paparazzi - who have made an industry out of her troubles - to find something else to do and someone else to live off of.
We can only hope!
It stopped being fun some time ago reporting on Britney’s endless travails. Things changed for good on Jan. 4. That was the day she had a tense custody standoff with police, was forcibly carted off in an ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and hospitalized all-too-briefly.
Things went down differently this time. By early Thursday, Britney had been willingly taken to UCLA Medical Center as the result of a long-planned intervention by her family.
“She’ll be in there for at least 72 hours getting evaluated. She might even stay longer,” a source told People.com. “She’s more comfortable this time, she came into the waiting area, had a cigarette, made a joke about being there again. But who knows what will happen? All we can hope for is that she gets better.”
The site reported that Britney has been seeing a psychiatrist “every day” since her first hospitalization. The intervention came faster than expected because the singer had reportedly not slept since Saturday.
This being Britney, getting her to the hospital was quite a production. At least a half-dozen LAPD motorcycle officers, a police helicopter and several patrol cars got an early morning call to Britney’s Studio City home.
While some kind of motorcade had been planned, more back-up was needed because the paparazzi - more than 100 photographers in all - had already jammed the area Wednesday night.
Police Deputy Chief Michel Moore said: “We had this outrageous number of photographers and paparazzi” that got in the way...The real shame here is this is a needless complication. We are throwing precious few resources from public safety needs, and it costs.”
It is speculated that Britney may be suffering from Bipolar disorder. The damage to her life and reputation has been severe since she began to act increasingly strangely in late 2005 following her split from ex-hubby Kevin Federline.
She currently is banned from even visiting with their two sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

We learned Thursday that “Grey’s Anatomy” star Justin Chambers had checked into the same psych ward as Britney earlier this week to be treated for a sleeping disorder, according to TMZ.com.
Justin, the father of four children, went in voluntarily and has since checked out. He has played Dr. Alex Karev on the ABC medical drama since its first season. Production on the show was halted several months ago because of the writers strike.

Like Britney, Robert Downey Jr. knows what it’s like to go from the pinnacle of showbiz to fallen star. But maybe she can take some inspiration from his unlikely comeback.
Once considered virtually unemployable, it was announced on Thursday that the Oscar-nominated star of “Chaplan” and more recently of “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Zodiac,” was named ShoWest Male Star of the Year.
He will receive the award next month at the annual ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas which is an annual confab of theater owners and movie studios.
Robert has a trio films out this year: “Iron Man,” a big screen adaptation of Marvel’s legendary super hero, “Charlie Bartlett” and “Tropic Thunder.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:05 PM | Permalink

I'm backstage right now and Julie Christie - a winner tonight best actress in a movie ("Away From Her") has just left. What a fantastic-looking woman.

We were expecting Ruby Dee (above) who won for supporting actress but some girl just got on the mic and said: "No one else is coming back, please exit out the Jefferson gate...and, it's raining outside."

What a bad news bear.

Anyway, Daniel Day-Lewis was back here earlier and he was so moving in talking about Heath Ledger who he dedicated his best actor award to. This is what he said during his acceptance speech: "It’s always been the work of other actors, and there are many actors in this room tonight, including my fellow nominees who have given that sense of regeneration and… Heath Ledger gave it to me. [applause] In “Monster’s Ball,” that character that he created, it seemed to be almost like an unformed being, retreating from themselves, retreating from his father, from his life, even retreating from us, and yet we wanted to follow him, and yet we’re scared to follow him almost. It was unique. And then, of course, in “Brokeback Mountain,” he was unique, he was perfect. [applause] And that scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything that I think I’ve ever seen. And I’d like to dedicate this to Heath Ledger. So, thank you very much. Thank you so much."

It was a beautiful tribute and so from the heart. Backstage, Daniel said that even though he had never met Heath, he had been thinking of little else since the young actor's death on Tuesday at the age of 28.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sorry, I didn't get to talk to Brad and Angelina but I did see them walk by. I saw a lot of movie stars walk by, or blow by I should say. Once they do the television interviews, we print and online reporters sometimes don't get to gab with the likes of Cate Blanchett or Josh Brolin or Daniel Day-Lewis or even Zac Efron. But we get to see them wave and seeming to say under their breath: "Sorry suckers!"

But I'll tell ya, just seeing the great Ruby Dee walk by is better than talking to just about anyone and how great that once she got inside, she won the best supporting actress prize for "American Gangster." Will an Oscar follow?

Anyway, it was tough to tell whether the red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium was the site of the arrivals for the Screen Actors Guild Awards or the site of a giant family reunion - make that a reunion under a plastic tent to keep the rain out.

The ongoing writers strike meant that many of the actors who star in such shows as "Desperate Housewives," "Ugly Betty," "Mad Men" "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Office" had not seen each other since production shut down in December, or in some cases even earlier.

"It's exciting to be here and see all of our teammates," said Nicollette Sheridan of "Housewives." "It's nice to see a higher morale because the strike has been devastating for so many."

A nominee for "Samantha Who?," Christina Applegate started our chat by coughing. She was fighting a cold but being a showbiz trouper, she was there on the red carpet looking like a million bucks.

She lamented on how the strike put a halt to what is a hot new show.

"It's been a great ride and it's been hard to kind of just stop," she said. "It's like a just treadmill turning off when you're on like, nine. It's caused some damage, to everyone I think creatively but we had to support our writers, I agree with them. But it's time to get back to work because a lot of us are going looney."

Even though Tina Fey ended up winning the award for comedy actress, Christina said she was thrilled to be attending her first SAG award show as a nominee: "You don't do your work for that but when it does happen, it's so nice. I'm always surprised and I'm always so humbled and so grateful. It's huge to me to be recognized by my peers."

John Slattery was one of the few double nominees on the red carpet with the casts of both "Mad Men" and "Desperate Housewives" up for ensemble awards. But he would be sitting with the "Mad Men" gang.
"This is the first time I've been here and it's a zoo!" he told me. "It's a little overwhelming but it's good, it's fun."

What about being so in demand these days?
"It's good to be working, I've been lucky," he said. "I wish the strike would work itself out so we can all really get back to work. "

It was really fun to meet John Krazinski of "The Office" whose cast won the SAG award for best ensemble in a comedy series for the second consecutive year. Prior to the show, John wasn't too confident of another win.

"It's really hard," he said. "Not to sound political but all the shows this year, they're fantastic and I watch all of them. But this is probably one of the most fun shows to be a part of."

John is making a nice career for himself in the movies too with a starring role in the comedy "License to Wed" and will next appear opposite George Clooney in "Leatherheads."
"This guy George Clooney, he's gonna be a big star," John joked. "Mark my words."

It was so great to see the classy Hal Holbrook and his wife, Dixie Carter.
I asked Dixie how it feels to have her husband of nearly 25 years nominated for both the SAG award and an Oscar for his performance in "Into the Wild."
"I am dizziy with delight," said Dixie, best known as Julia Sugarbaker on "Designing Women." "It's dreamy and unforeseen and glorious turn of events as you can imagine. So I'm smiling all the time."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:16 PM | Permalink

I gotta get ready for the SAG Awards in a bit but wanted to share some of my red carpet interviews from last night's Director's Guild of America Awards. I had such great chats with Lorainne Bracco, Debra Messing and Kristen Chenoweth that I'm going to save those for columns later this week. But here are some of the others...

Amy Ryan, Oscar nominated for her performance in "Gone Baby Gone," was one of the presenters and I asked her how she was coping with the awards season hoopla. She has already won many critics prizes and will compete for the SAG Award tonight: "I'm hanging in there, a lot of Airborne, a lot of vitamins. I'm really enjoying it. It was surreal in the beginning but I'm more in the moment now. The nice thing is, you get used to it out there from show to show. It's a great party to be at."
So, how badly does she want to win that Oscar?
"I thought about it in the beginning and then it just dawned on me that it doesn't really matter because everyone's winner. If you don't win, look at the company you're with who also didn't win. That's really good company to be in. It's not like you get demoted back to the end of the line. You get to stay arms-length with four amazing actresses and I'd be proud to be there."

****************************************************

It was fun to talk to first-time DGA nominee Tony Gilroy who was nominated for his feature fiolm directorial debut "Michael Clayton." He also wrote the script and is a double Oscar nominee. We spoke on Oscar morning nominations morning earlier in the week and I wondered if it had sunk in yet.
"Maybe it will around Memorial Day," he said.
And he isn't sweating over whether he will win: "You know what? I would have quit in October and it would have felt like I'd already won. I have the great luxury of not expecting very much going forward - honestly not expecting very much. There's no huge expectation. I don't have that burden."
He is getting used to the awards show scene now: "We started in Venice and that was sort of like stepping into a hurricane and I'm getting a little bit better at it. I've watched George [Clooney] do this and I've seen what a real pro looks like."

*****************************************

My favorite interview of the night came when chatting up the great Hal Holbrook, Oscar nominated for "Into the Wild." We had done a telephone interview last month and he told me he had read my column on him and that he was greatly moved by it. He had meant to write a note. Who needs a note? To have him say that meant the world.

Hal has won four Emmys and a Tony Award during his long and distinguished career. To get his first Oscar nod at the age of 82 have been icing in the cake: "Well, you know there isn't any award in the whole embrace of show business that could top the Academy Award. Just getting a nomination is such a wonderful, wonderful reward - especially after you've been at this job for 65 years."

I found it shocking that Holbrook's director, Sean Penn, and co-star Emile Hirsch were not nominated for Oscars. So was Hal: "That is, that is, that is, that is unbelievable that Sean did not get nominated or the picture. And Emile! Anybody who thinks the role that Emile Hirsch had was a simple easy one, doesn't understand acting. That young man had to go through more dimensions in that role than most people ever have and they were subtle dimensions."

*************************************************

I wrote earlier about a heckler during Julian Schnabel's acceptance speech. I just read in USAToday.com that the heckler was none other than Sean Young! That girl will do anything to get back into the headlines. But this not the kind of publicity that is good publcity. Here is the report: Apparently Sean Young had endured one acceptance speech too many.

At Saturday's DGA Awards, where each of the five nominated feature film directors gets to make a speech before the winner is announced, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" director Julian Schnabel was the last to deliver his words. Shortly after he took the podium, Young, seated near the stage, cut him off by shouting out, "Oh come on — get to it!"

A shocked Schnabel searched the crowd to ask who was scolding him. When the actress repeated "get to it!" Schnabel quickly wrapped up his speech, instructing Young to finish it. But upon the audience's insistence, Schnabel finished, and Young, stumbling in her white fur coat, was escorted out of the ballroom by two security guards, and at one point fell to the floor.

Oh my.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:12 AM | Permalink

The Directors Guild of America Awards ceremony ended about 90 minutes ago with Joel Coen and Ethan Coen winning the feature film directing award for "No Country for Old Men." They were presented the award by last year's winner, Martin Scorsese, who brought a glass of champagne with him to the podium and toasted all the nominees before announcing the winner,

It was a star-studded affair at the Century Plaza Hotel with presenters that included 2008 Oscar nominees Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Hal Holbrook, Amy Ryan, Daniel-Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page as well as Josh Brolin, Vanessa Williams, Emile Hirsch, Debra Messing, Chi McBride, Kristin Chenoweth, Anna Paquin, John Larroquette and Helen Hunt.

The evening was hosted, for the 21st consecutive year, by Carl Reiner who walked out onto the stage and confessed to the audience: "I woke up at 4 o'clock this morning feeling so [expletive]."
He wondered if he should maybe find a replacement but decided to keep the gig after "I went through a list of all the people in the business who might've done as I and I couldn't come up with one!"

Reiner, in his mid-80s, was sharp and spontanious throughout. At one point he spotted Day-Lewis sitting in the audience and said: "He [is] so (expletive] gifted. There are other actors walking around without the gift because he got most of it.'

Day-Lewis was funny and touching while presenting a silver plate nomination medallion to his "There Will Be Blood" director Paul Michael Anderson: "If you have to go stark raving mad in the desert. I'd rather do it with Paul Michael Anderson than just about anyone I can think of. ...Paul handed everything to me on a silver plate and for yiu Paul, here's a silver plate piled high with admiration and pride."

Josh Brolin was very, very funny when presenting the Coens with their nomination medallion as he alternated between praising them and roasting them: "I had the pleasure of working with these socially challenged individuals for three months. If truth be told, I had a lot of fun and I learned a lot." When Brolin left the stage with the Coens, Reiner remarked:"That is the most [expletive] charming man I've ever seen" and remarked that directors in the audience should take notice.
They already have: Aming Brolin's recent roles in addition to "Country" are "American Gangster" and "Grindhouse."

Tony Gilroy accepted his nomination medallion for "Michael Clayton"), his first film as a director and said: "Wow. What a trip. To be honored by your peers. All I was trying to do when we started this was to become a peer...I'm going to thank the people who are here and lie to everybody else. We can all tell George Clooney that it was all about him."

With Sean Penn not present at the awards ceremony, it was up to Hal Holbrook and Emile Hirsch - two of the stars of Penn's "Into the Wild" - to both present and accept Penn's nomination medallion. Holbrook got a big hand when he said of Penn: "He's been called a rebel - that's good. Rebels are who got this country started."
Holbrook also said: "He has instinct and he's willing to trust it. When you're under Sean's direction, you get the feeling he trusts you."
When it came time for Hirsch to speak, he got a boig laugh when he looked at the audience and said: "I kind of feel like I'm on this massive job interview right now." Hirsch said Penn was "challenging at a time when for me that that's what I was looking for. I don't think anyone else could have physically made this movie. He was always climbing mountains."

The evening's most awkward moment came when Julian Schnabel was accepting his nomination medallion and a woman heckled him. He stopped cold and asked, "Who just said that to me?...Why don't YOU finish my speech darling?'"

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink

...
Sean Penn sent his regrets.
Maybe it doesn't sound very glamorous, but the annual Directors Guild Awards nominee breakfast panel is one of the hottest tickets of award season and the nominated directors never miss it - even if they are far, far away.
Roman Polanski participated via live satelite from France when nominated for "The Piano," Peter Jackson joined in from New Zealand when he was stuck there editing one of the "Lord of the Rings" films, and last year, Stephen Frears ("The Queen") took part in the proceedings from London.
So the disappointment was palpable Saturday morning when the capacity crowd inside the DGA theatre in West Hollywood was told that Penn, DGA nominated for "Into the Wild" but passed over by the Academy for a best director nod, would not be participating in the event and was unlikely to attend the gala dinner later than night. The official reason: pre-production on the Gus Van Sant film that casts Penn as slain San Francisco politician Harvey Milk.
But there were still five nominated directors on hand since brothers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen were both nominated for directing "No Country for Old Men." They were joined by Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood"), Tony Gilroy ("Michael Calyton") and Julian Schnabel ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly").
You couldn't help but wonder how much different things would have gone had Penn been present though. For one thing, would smoking be allowed? Anderson paused at one point to ask if he would be allowed to have a cigarette. When he was told no, he cracked: "If Sean was here, he'd be smoking and nobody would say anything about it."
Anyway, here are some of the highlights from the event which is always held on the morning of the DGA Awards gala (To see who won the DGA Award, go to DailyNews.com).

SILENCE IS GOLDEN: Anderson was asked why there was no dialogue in the first 15 minutes of blood: "I just couldn't think of anything for them to say."

CATCHING A BREAK: Daniel-Day Lewis cracked a few ribs when filming a scene where he falls down a 50-foot mineshaft. Anderson said he thought it best to just keep the camera rolling on the scene since the actor "just had to moan and wail and act hurt."

ETHAN COEN ON JAVIER BARDEM: "Most of the time, we had conversations that Joel and I didn't know what he was talking about but they seemed to satsify him....He'd be upset because of what he thought we were saying but we didn't know what we were saying."

EXTRA CREDIT: Ethan Coen was surprised at the attitudes some of the extras in "Country" copped when shooting moved from Texas to California: "For three months in Texas, we had great extras...Then for two weeks in LA, all the extras here are so jaded. They're just so horrible and angry."

CLOONEY STAR POWER: Gilroy said having George Clooney as your leading man does have its advantages if there were production problems: "If George would come out of the trailer and take a picture (with a police captain), we could change the traffic power of La Guardia."

POLLACK'S INDECISION: Gilroy was desperate to get director-actor Sidney Pollack for the role of Clooney's boss in "Clayton" but it was no walk in the park: "Sidney kept dropping out on me. There was no one else on my list. I wanted someone with age and authority...who had to dominate George. He was in, he was out, he was in and when he was out, it was a nightmare."

NOT OVER YET: Schnabel, who was the comic relief on the panel, talked about the last frame of "Butterfly" and shared that some people think the movie is already over by then: "When people see my movie and they get up to thank me before that last scene, it pisses me off!"

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:57 PM | Permalink

As questions about how their loved one died remain unanswered, Heath Ledger’s family is expected to begin arriving in New York City Friday for his funeral.

“The family doesn’t want us to give out any information,” George Amad, the general manager of the Frank E. Campbell funeral chapel told the Associated Press.

Who can blame them? The actor’s family found out about his death in a most unfortunate way.

“I heard about his death in the press, and I called his mother to find out what was happening, and even she didn’t know,” Heath’s uncle, Neil Bell, told People. “Heath’s father found out through the press. ... It’s a pretty devastating way to find out.”

The actor had been filming “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” at the time of his death and now the Terry Gilliam-directed film has been suspended indefinitely. He had been scheduled to arrive in Vancouver today to resume filming.

A decision has not yet been made about whether to scrap the entire film or to recast his role. Sources told ET Online that the filmmakers are hoping to regroup after the weekend and then decide how to proceed.
Heath’s director in “Four Feathers,” Shekhar Kapur, said that he last spoke with the actor on Monday night when Heath told him he was jet-lagged. He tried calling him Tuesday morning but got no answer.

On his blog, Kapur wrote: “Farewell Heath. I always knew you had an ancient soul. I always said you had a wisdom beyond your years. And somehow I always knew that your spirit was too restless. Goodbye, my brother.”

Daniel Day-Lewis appeared via satellite on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” this week to talk about his Oscar nomination, but he quickly changed the subject: “I hope you don’t mind if I speak about this. I feel very unsettled at the moment... and I suppose it’s because I only just saw the news about Heath Ledger’s death. It seems somehow strange to be talking about anything else. Not that there’s anything to say really except to express one’s regret and to say from the bottom of one’s heart to his family and to his friends that I’m sorry for their trouble. I didn’t know him, I have a strong impression I would have liked him very much.”

John Travolta did know Heath who he called a friend and “my favorite actor and my favorite talent.”
“I did know Heath and I adored him,” Travolta told reporters at an event celebrating Australia Week. “I am pretty devastated over this. ... It’s like losing James Dean.”

*******************************

In far happier news, Tori Spelling and her actor husband Dean McDermott are expecting their second child, the couple confirmed Thursday. Their son, Liam, was born last March.
The couple is also celebrating the fact that their Oxygen series, “Tori & Dean: Inn Love” was picked up for a third season.

**************************

And finally, there is a name for the next James Bond flick: “Quantum of Solace.”

Daniel Craig returns as Agent 007 for a second time and “Quantum” picks up where 2006’s “Casino Royale” left off.

The title had been a closely-guarded secret for some time. I hate to be difficult but ya know something, the title doesn’t really send me. It’s not provocative as “Octopussy,” “Dr. No” and “Goldfinger” or as fun as “From Russia With Love” and “Diamonds Are Forever.”

Maybe It’ll grow on me.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:48 PM | Permalink

]Rambo is back! But will anyone care?
After enjoying surprising success with “Rocky Balboa” a year ago, Sylvester Stallone revives the other of his iconic movie heroes in “Rambo” which opened in 2,800 theaters today.
The “Rocky” franchise had dormant since 1990 and the low-budgeted “Balboa” managed to earn strong reviews and a domestic gross of $70.3 million.
The character of John Rambo has been absent from the big screen even longer. “Rambo III” grossed just $53 million in 1988 after the franchise had peaked three years earlier when “Rambo: First Blood II” grossed $150 million.
As far as the new “Rambo” flick, I think Stallone’s return as Rocky and Bruce Willis’ successful revival of the “Die Hard” franchise last summer will bode well. It could open in first place with a gross as high as $20 million.

OTHER NEWBIES: Diane Lane, Oscar-nominated for the drama “Unfaithful” several years back, headlines the thriller “Untraceable” which bowed in 2,300 locations today.
Lane has had her share of modest hits and this looks to be another one of them. I give the movie a shot at a $12 million debut. It will likely just edge past the comedy “Meet the Spartans” which would do well to reach the $10 million mark. I don’t give the music drama “How She Move” much of a chance of doing any better than the $7 million range in its debut since it is bowing in just 1,500 locations.

HOLDOVERS: The thriller “Cloverfield” has a decent chance of repeating as number one if it can gross higher than $20 million in its second weekend. I also predict a strong sophomore outing for the Katherine Heigl comedy “27 Dresses” would could add about $14 million to its haul.
Also look for the Jack Nicholson-Morgan Freeman flick “Bucket List” to keep filling seats to the tune of about $10 million over the weekend.

OSCAR BUMP? The legal thriller “Michael Clayton” was a critical fave but has only grossed just under $40 million at the box office. Warner Bros. hopes to take advantage of the movie’s seven Oscar nominations - including best picture and best actor for George Clooney - by re-releasing “Clayton” onto 1,000 screens today.
Similarly, fellow best picture nominee “No Country or Old Men,” which earned eight Oscar nods this week, expanded today into 1,500 theaters to try and build on it’s domestic gross of $50 million.

LIMITED BOWS: Some movies need to be handled with care - specialty films that can’t just be thrust upon the masses in one fell swoop.
The idea is to slowly roll them out and build strong word-of-mouth. Of course, if no buzz is built, the flick dies on the vine and hopes for a strong life on DVD.
National Geographic Films releases the rock-and-roll documentary “U2 3D” in 60 locations. Among the other movies poking their heads into theaters today: “The Air I Breathe” in seven LA and New York City theaters and “Trailer Park Boys: The Movie” in three LA and NYC theaters.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:14 PM | Permalink

...this morning on "The Today Show."
Check it out!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:05 PM | Permalink

The loss of Heath Ledger is still so tough to absorb. I think a lot of people are wondering why it has struck such a deep place in them. It still seems unbelievable not matter how many newspapers or magazines you read or how many TV shows you see. Good God., last night, it seemed that "The Insider" had literally changed it's name to something like "The Death of Heath Ledger." Most of the time, those shows are harmless fun but sheesh, give them the death of a young celebrity, and they will go wall-to-wall for weeks - sometimes months as was the case with Anna Nicole Smith.

Anyway, I guess I'm part of it in a way as I am writing a lot about Heath right now but I am trying to do so with respect and restraint. What has been so disgusting is the hateful anti-gay speech some so-called "Christians" have directed at the actor because he starred in "Brokeback Mountain." The vile Fred Phelps has threatened to picket the funeral and Fox commentator John Gibson has said some unforgiveable things. I didn't post about them yesterday because I felt too angry, too disgusted. These people cannot claim to be human beings.

What I was heartened about some is that MSNBC's Dan Abrams spoke out about it in the video posted below calling them "nuts on the fringe right" saying in part: "This is insanity. Yes I thought it was going to happen to some degree. But the notion that there are going to be some people there picketing at his funeral. I mean this is disgusting beyond what I even expected, and I think it's going to continue to some degree..."

"The Today Show" had a good five-minute update with the latest news and an interview with Dave Karger of "Entertainment Weekly" who described Ledger as a dedicated actor but a reluctant star. When they had a two-hour interview in a bar to promote "A Knight;s Tale," Karger said of Ledger: "I've never seen anyone with such an amount of nervous energy...He was always uncomfortable in the spotlight."

Here is the piece:

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:20 AM | Permalink

The shocking loss of Heath Ledger is still being absorbed and we are no closer to knowing what killed this brilliant young actor at the age of 28.

An autopsy performed on the “Brokeback Mountain” star was inconclusive Wednesday so it will not be known for days or maybe weeks what happened the day before, when he was found dead inside the bedroom of his SoHo apartment.

The New York City Medical Examiner’s said office toxicology and tissue testing must now be done. Found in his apartment were prescription sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication as well as a rolled-up $20 bill that is being tested for any possible drug residue.

An accidental drug overdose seems to be the leading theory since the actor did not appear to be suicidal, according to friends and family. People.com reported that Heath was suffering from pneumonia at the time of his death.

The tributes to the Oscar-nominated star have been pouring in and none were more touching than the one read by his father, Kim Ledger, before television cameras in Australia: “We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time,” the father said. “Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many.”

Heath’s ex-girlfriend, Michelle Williams, was on location in Sweden at the time of the death with the former couple’s 2-year-old daughter, Matilda. She and Heath fell in love on the set of “Brokeback” but their three-year romantic relationship quietly ended last year.

Michelle was photographed Wednesday at an airport in Sweden preparing to board a flight back to the U.S.
Michelle’s father, Larry Williams, told The Daily Telegraph from his Sydney home that Heath’s death has left his family broken-hearted. He described the 28-year-old as a “great talent” who was devoted to daughter Matilda.

“I think Tennyson got it right in the poem when he described someone as having died at a young age but burning the candles at both ends, and oh what a beautiful flame he made, that was Heath, what a beautiful flame he made and a great talent. My heart goes out to everyone in his family and my family.”

“Brokeback” director Ang Lee called Heath’s death “heartbreaking.”
“Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life,” the director said in a statement. “He brought to the role of Ennis (Del Mar) more than any of us could have imagined – a thirst for life, for love, and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him.”

At the end of taping her syndicated talk show on Wednesday, Ellen DeGeneres called Heath an “amazing, amazing, talented young man... He was a friend – and we will miss him.”
She then ran a brief but delightfully fun clip of Heath’s most recent appearance on the show nearly a year ago then signed off with a simple, quiet wave.

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With everyone still reeling from the death of Heath Ledger, the ongoing Britney Spears drama seems even more annoying than usual.
How maddening it is that a little girl named Matilda Ledger will never know her dad while two little boys named Sean Preston and Jayden James might not know their mom because she refuses to get the treatment she needs?
A judge on Wednesday denied Britney visitation rights with her two sons. She had arrived for an emergency custody hearing Wednesday that she had requested – then left the courthouse before it began.

For more celebrity news, go to blogs.dailynews.com/hollywoodjoe and blogs.dailynews.com/outinhollywood

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:56 PM | Permalink

AmericanLife TV Network (www.americanlifetvnetwork.com), the cable network devoted to the Baby Boomers and their babies, will run a marathon of “The Bob Newhart Show” in memory of Susanne Pleshette on Monday, January 28 from 9:00 pm – 12:30 am ET/PT.

The marathon will include the following episodes:

- Fly the Unfriendly Skies – Emily joins Bob's group to conquer her fear of flying (9:00-9:30 pm ET/PT).
- Tracy Grammar School, I'll Lick You Yet – Bob isn’t invited to vocation day in Emily’s class (9:30-10:00 pm ET/PT).
- Come Live With Me – Bob and Emily interfere in Carol's love life (10:00-10:30 pm ET/PT).
- Don't Go to Bed Mad – Emily objects when Bob watches Monday-night football (10:30-11:00 pm ET/PT).
- Emily, I'm Home -- Emily? – Bob is upset when Emily takes a full-time job (11:00-11:30 pm ET/PT).
- Bum Voyage – Bob resists Emily’s idea of a European vacation (11:30-12:00 am ET/PT).
- Emily in for Carol – Emily fills in as receptionist (12:00-12:30 am ET/PT).
- Mister Emily Hartley – Bob learns Emily’s IQ is higher than his (12:30-1:00 am ET/PT).

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:30 PM | Permalink

Left the office this afternoon to catch up on some sleep after such an early Oscar morning. I woke up a few hours ago and Heath Ledger's shocking death is obviously all over the news. The footage of his covered body being taken out of his apartment pretty much made it real. And the sight of his stoic parents reading a statement from Australia was quite moving.

I saw Heath at all the awards shows during the year of "Brokeback Mountain" when he was nominated for best actor but we never spoke. I did interview Michelle Williams on Oscar nomination morning two years ago and she told me how excited they were to be nominated.
So why is his death hitting so many of us so hard? It's his youth, his immense talent and his un-movie star personality. He was an actor who happened to be famous but you sensed that he was an actor first - and a very good one.

For me, I know the reason I feel it in the stomach is because of that portrayal of Ennis in "Brokeback Mountain." He broke my heart in that film and I have said, ever since seeing it, that it was one of the best screen performances of all time. It stayed with you: Ennis' heartbreak, his conflict, and he showed vividly how much love can hurt - love between two men. I know Phillip Seymour Hoffman got the Oscar that year, but Ledger's performance is what will stand the test of time - even more so now that he's gone.

In addition to "Brokeback," I was also deeply moved by Heath's performance in "Monster's Ball" as Billy Bob Thorton's son. It was a small part, but a memorable one. And, of course, who can forget how he burst onto the scene as Mel Gibson's son in "The Patriot" and followed it up with "A Knights Tale." I loved him in "Lords of Dogtown" and he was what saved "The Four Feathers" from being a complete disaster.

I have not seen all of Heath's movies, but have had some DVDs around the house for some time that I now plan to watch: "Casanova," "Brothers Grimm," and "10 Things I Hate About You." I will also watch "I'm Not There" soon in which he is one of the many actors portraying Bob Dylan.

We still have "The Dark Knight," the Batman sequel he completed that will be released this summer but it will never be enough. He was that good at just 28. Imagine what he could have done as the years went on.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:27 AM | Permalink

This is the latest in my "Whatever Happened To" series...
Alison Arngrim will forever be known to most people as mean girl Nellie Oleson on “Little House on the Prairie.”

Now 46, the one-time child star figures if you can’t beat the rap, make the most of it. Instead of moaning about how tough it is to transition to adult stardom unless you’re Jodie Foster, Arngrim has taken put together an act and taken it on the road.

“I do my stand-up comedy, I do my one-woman show called ‘Confessions of a Prairie Bitch’ which has become quite successful,” she said last week. “The title says it all. show, I do have a facsimile of the wig and we make fun of that and ask,’How do I look now? Do I look the same?’ I tell people I had myself laminated in the early 80s.”

Even without the wig, the actress hasn’t really changed much since those days.

“Unlike a lot of Hollywood, I never had any work done or got a nose job so I just kind of look exactly the same which is a little spooky,” she said. “Some days I go out and no one says anything and other days, it's like they put out an APB - I can’t go 10 feet without: ‘You’re Nellie Oleson! what are you doing here?’ It’s pretty cool.”

She has kept busy with her stage act which is popular in France and a lot of other unlikely places: “I’m going to be up with the Vancouver Gay Men’s Chorus in February and then I’m doing a prison guard's convention in Las Vegas. I’m sort of all over the map.”

She’s also kept busy with various television guest appearances and a decades-long dedication to AIDS/HIV activism spurred on by the AIDS-related death of her “Little House” co-star Steve Tracy who played her husband.

“I lost a lot of friends,” she said. “A lot of people were afraid to talk about AIDS in 1986 but for some bizarre reason, were willing to talk about it with someone from ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ With Nellie Olseon it was OK. So I was able to reach people that other people had trouble reaching.”

Arngrin, who appeared in more than 100 episodes of “Little House” between 1974 and 1982, was in the headlines just last month when she made Mr. Blackwell’s infamous worst dressed list.
She had a sense of humor about it.

“He said I looked like a fashion correspondent for the 1940s Farmers Almanac,” she said, laughing. “I kind of had it coming. There was this fabulous event in Tombstone, a ‘Little House on the Prairie’ cast reunion, ...I did have on a particularly henious outfit involving an orange skirt and a purple top and a cowboy hat., So, yes, I got to be number 10. I was getting calls from every newspaper, every magazine and from friends who were driving down the street and heard it on the radio and nearly totaled the car.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:12 AM | Permalink

This is just stunning. So upsetting. Completely tragic.

Heath Ledger, Oscar-nominated for his performance as a gay rancher in "Brokeback Mountain," was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence in a possible drug-related death, police said. He was 28.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said the Australian-born Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let Ledger know the masseuse was there found him dead at 3:26 p.m.

When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play and said they found pills near body."

Heath's rep called the actor's death an "accident" and asked for privacy for his family and that people avoid speculation until all the facts are known: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by this accident," said publicist Mara Buxbaum in a statement. "This is an extremely difficult time for his loved ones."

I just saw Heath's family on television where his father, Kim Ledger, bravely read a statement about his son. Here is what he said: "We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."

Heath's ex-girlfriend, Michelle Williams, was on location in Sweden reportedly with the former couple's 2-year-old daughter, Matilda. They fell in love on the set of "Brokeback" but their three-year relationship ended last year.

"She's devastated," says a source close to the 27-year-old actress.

This is such a sad day.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:34 PM | Permalink

This is my Oscar story which will appear on tomorrow's front page of the LA Daily News:

By Greg Hernandez

Seconds after the Academy Award nominations were announced Tuesday morning, the questions inside the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theatre immediately went from “Who’s nominated?” to “What kind of Oscar ceremony will there be?”

The protracted writers strike, now heading toward the three month mark, has cast a black cloud of uncertainty over Hollywood’s biggest awards ceremony which Academy officials insist, will go on no matter what on Feb. 24.

“Obviously, it will be a different show if the writers are on strike than it will be if they’re not on strike and we're prepared for both,” said Oscar telecast director Gil Cates. “I can’t comment on what our show is going to be like, we’re in the planning stages now and we’re going to keep on planning.”

Several nominees said that despite their desire to get giddy and glitzy on Oscar night, they are not willing to defy the Writer’s Guild of America in order to stroll down that long red carpet that leads to the Kodak Theatre a month from now.

“I won’t cross the picket line and frankly no one I know will cross the picket line,” said Michael Moore, nominated for his documentary “Sicko.” “I think that means there’s higher incentive for the studios and producers to come back to the table and be reasonable. Let’s bring this to an end, that’s what everyone wants.”

The writers went on strike Nov. 5 after talks broke down between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiates on behalf of the major studios.
The stalemate is largely over how to compensate writers for use of their work on the Internet and through other forms of new technology. After a brief meeting on Dec. 7, talks were halted and have yet to resume.
Tony Gilroy, who received two Oscar nominations for writing and directing “Michael Clayton” said the issues are too important to writers to not fight for the best deal.

“I’m hoping they can work it out. There’s so many people who need to go back to work. Nobody is going to cross the picket line so with that as a given, maybe they will work it out. You want to go, but you can’t cross the picket line and whether you get to make a speech and wear a tux is subsidiary to people who are going through a lot of dark \[stuff\].”

Nancy Oliver, nominated for best original screenplay for “Lars and the Real Girl” agreed: “The issues of the strike and getting a fair deal are what is most important. My special feeling of gettng pretty and dressed-up is second to people who are losing their houses and the damage it is doing to the city’s economy. It’s a total honor to be nominated and having the ceremony would be gravy.”

Despite support for the writers, there is a growing impatience at the lack of negotiations.

“My hope is that it’s resolved as quickly as possible,” said producer Jennifer Fox, a best picture nominee for “Michael Clayton. “If this puts an arbitrary deadline on resolving \[the strike\], if it creates additional pressure, then I think that’s great. I think it’s really important that people get back to doing what they love, a lot of people are suffering from the strike and I hope it doesn’t last much longer.”
Last week, the Director’s Guild of America quickly agreed to a new tentative three-year contract which many hope will help expedite negotiations.

“I hope that the DGA deal has a positive impact on the writers but, you know, it’s the writer’s guild and they have to decide for themselves and be really comfortable with the contract that they want to sign,” said Cates, who negotiated for the DGA.

“I hope that they can do it because it would be great to get the town back to work.”
There were a few hopeful signs on Tuesday: the leadership of the WGA was expected to meet informally with a few top studio executive where they were to discuss the framework of a resumption of bargaining, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The WGA also said Tuesday that it did not plan to picket the Grammy Awards on Feb. 10 although it has not yet decided whether to grant the music industry show a waiver that would allow writers to work on the ceremony.

So far, the strike resulted in the Golden Globe Awards being reduced from a star-studded three-hour telecast to a no-frills press conference where the winners were announced. No nominees were present.
The week before, the People’s Choice Awards were presented as a two-hour telecast with clips and taped acceptance speeches.

The televised Screen Actors Guild Awards are set to take place, without pickets, on Sunday as scheduled.
Cates said the Academy Awards are one of those things that throughout history, has almost always carried on: “The first year I did the show, the Berlin Wall came down,” he said. “We did the show one year when we went to war in Iraq and we cancelled the red carpet. We’re always flexible and fluid so that we can take advantage of what’s happening in the world.”

Academy President Sid Ganis, who announced the nominees with actress Kathy Bates, said he’s looking forward to “a great show” but the reality of the situation could be read between the lines when he said of the nominees: “We hope to see them all on Feb. 24.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 2:02 PM | Permalink

The nominees for the 80th Academy Awards were announced early this morning at the Academy Theatre in Beverly Hills. I mean early: 5:30 a.m. That meant a 4 a.m. wake-up call for folks like me but hey, at least they served us breakfast.
Kathy Bates, the 1991 winner for "Misery," joined Academy President Sid Ganis to announce the nominees in the major categories.

Here are some of the reactions I've received so far today from folks who will be vying for Oscar gold:

Tom Wilkinson, nominated for best supporting actor for “Michael Clayton,” got the news of his nomination at his home in England. It’s his second Oscar nod and he said the news results in a sort of excitement “I can’t really make sense of.”
“Clayton” got seven nominations overall: “I’m thrilled for the film. I’m not that surprised because I think it’s a pretty damned good film. I always thought it was good.”
Wilkinson was candid on his chances of winning: “I don’t think I’ll win this time either. Javier Bardem has gotten all the nods so far and I don’t mind. It’s just nice to be there. It’s a long journey but then you get to LA and everyone is very nice, you stay in nice places.”

***********************************************************

Michael Moore was at home in Northern Michigan, where there is 10 feet of snow, when he found out that his documentary “Sicko” had been nominated.
“I actually overslept. I didn’t set the alarm. My last appearance at the Kodak Theatre, Steve Martin said it best: he said Teamsters were loadiung me into the trunk of a car. So I had no expectations. But I’m profoundly grateful and honored by the nomination.”
Will he give another controversial speech?
“I’ll always say what’s in my heart and be true to myself. I never got to finish what I was saying \[in the Oscar speech]. I left the comedy portion to the end. If I’m fortunate enough to get up there again, I’ll lead with comedy and thank my stylist and wardrobe designer.”

************************************

Jason Reitman is in Park City, Utah where he is on the jury of the Sundance Film Festival. He mainly watched the nominations telecast to see the expected announcements of Ellen Page (best actress) and screenwriter Diablo Cody. Then he heard his name as a nominee for best director.
“It’s unreal,” he said. “I know most people were surprised I was included but no one was more surprised than I was. Even as I say this to you now, it still doesn’t feel real.”
As far as the picture’s best picture nomination, Reitman said: “I thought we might have a chance, on the cusp. I’d been hoping and praying.”
Ironically, Reitman did not get Oscar nominated for his most previous film “Thank You For Smoking” despite getting nominated for virtually every other award. For “Juno,” he got no other award nominations leading up to Tuesday morning.
“It has been an enormous surprise and wonderful to experience.”

*********************************

Daniel Day-Lewis, best actor nominee for "There Will Be Blood" and widely considered the front-runner: "You put me shoulder to shoulder with a group of fine actors. I'm proud to be in their company and to have the broader recognition for the film is a lovely thing. I couldn't be happier for Paul Thomas Anderson to whom we owe everything."

Three-time nominee Paul Thomas Anderson who received producing, directing and writing nods for “There Will Blood” said in a statement: “I’m delighted that “There Will Be Blood” has been recognized by the Academy. These nominations are a testament to the cast and crew, who I am deeply grateful to, for their talent and collaboration. I am also very appreciative of the continued support from both John Lesher and Daniel Battsek and their staff. It's a thrill to be in this.”

***********************************************

Tilda Swinton, nominated for supporting actress for her performance in "Michael Clayton," was happy for herself and her nominated co-star: “I am tickled pink at the nomination – this film has been such a labor of love and I am very proud of it. I couldn’t be happier for our entire cast and crew and am thrilled for [writer and director nominee Tony [Gilroy], George [Clooney] and Tom [Wilkinson]. I’m celebrating with my family today and couldn’t think of a better place to be when I got the news.”

**********************************************

Julie Christie, considered the front-runner for best actress, got her fourth nomination for "Away From Her." She won the Oscar back in 1965 for "Darling" so it would be a record span between best actress wins. She said in a statement" "It's great that all of Sarah Polley's wonderful work on "Away from Her" is being recognized. I'm delighted that the film is being honoured in this way."

***********************************************************

Hal Holbrook has Emmys and a Tony but on Tuesday morning got his first Oscar nomination at the age of 84 for his performance in the Sean Penn-directed "Into the Wold." He released this statement: "I am grateful. Enormously grateful. Grateful to Sean Penn who gave me the role and directed this beautiful film, and grateful to Emile Hirsch-we really should share this nomination because we worked together. And grateful that after all these years of acting, I got a shot at recognition like this from the Academy. Miraculous. "

**************************************************************

Tony Gilroy was doubly happy this morning with TWO Oscar nominations for writing and directing “Michael Clayton.” He called on his cell phone from New York where he watched the nomination announcement at home after walking his daughter to the school bus: “It’s going to take me a little while time to get used ot this. I’m trying to think of different ways to say ‘blown away.’”
Does one nomination mean more than the other?
“I’ve been a writer for 20 years so peope ask me what I do and that’s what I say. I’m not used to saying I’m a director yet. \[Being nominated as a director\] is clearly beyond my comprehension. I couldn’t have been more surprised by the DGA nomination and now this.”

*******************************************************

Best Supporting Actor nominee Javier Barden, considered the front-runner for his performance in "No Country for Old Men": "Its an honor to receive this nomination, which is undoubtedly the recognition of the work and talent of all those creative and professional people from my trade, that have inspired and improved me during all these years. And especially to the Coen brothers' genius, because they have raised the character of Chigurh into a dimension that goes beyond my performance.
Thanks to Scott Rudin, Miramax and Paramount Vantage for giving me the chance of working alongside such talented actors - Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and Kelly Macdonald. My gratitude to all the Academy members for this wonderful gift."

**************************************

Marjane Satrapi had a bit of a roller coaster time of it as she watched the nominations announcement from her home in Paris.
Her animated film “Persepolis” - France’s official entry - didn’t make the nominations for foreign film. But then something wonderful happened: the film got an unexpected nod for best animated feature.
“It is my first movie,” an enthusiastic Satrapi said after a glass of champagne. “After I wasn’t nominatedm for foreign movie I lost my hope. I am so happy you cannot imagine. For me, it was much harder to be nominated in animation, so many of the movies are so big and so good. I can’t beleive it. It’s so incredible.”
So what movie did she think would take that third slot alongside “Ratatouille” and “Surf’s Up”?
“I love ‘The Simpsons Movie’ and was sure they would be in. I went to see it three times in the cinema.”

*************************************************

Casey Affleck, who had a career year with stellar reviews for both "Gone Baby Gone" and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" got the first Oscar nomination of his career on Tuesday. He is up for best supporting actor for "Jesse James" and said in a statement: "It is an honor to be recognized by the Academy and to be included in such a talented group of actors. With the help of Andrew Dominick and Brad Pitt, JESSE JAMES was an incredible experience."

***********************************************

Acting legend Ruby Dee received her very first Oscar nomination on Tuesday for her performance as Denzel Washington's mother in "American Gangster." She said in a statement: "I am excited to be recognized. It is always a delight to work with Denzel, and I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Ridley Scott and to be a part of such a dynamic cast and crew. Of course, Harlem is home, and its stories hold a special place in my history and my heart. "

************************************************

Composer Alan Menken had the thrill of getting three Oscar nominations for “Enchanted” in the original song category but now faces the prospect of competing against himself and splitting the vote.
“I think this year it will be very tough to win with three nominations. I think the song from “Once” is going to get a lot of attention. I hope voters will coalesce around one song. But I’m focused on the honor of having three nominations and assuming there will be an Oscar telecast, That ‘Enchanted’ will get some extra attention.”
Even if he doesn’t win, Menken can always go home and polish the eight Academy Awards that he has already won.

Nancy Oliver, nominated for best original screenplay for “Lars and the Real Girl” had put herself in the “no chance” category: “My head is basically exploding,” she confessed. “This movie has been one surprise after another. I was just so thrilled that it got made and that it made it into the multiplexes. I was afraid that it would be a precious little art film.”

****************************************************

Stefan Ruzowitzy was in an editing suite in Austria with CNN on watching the nominations on a 30-second delay when his wife, watching live from home, called him with the news that his movie, “The Counterfeiters,” was nominated for best foreign film.
“I was still watching the nominations of the actors and she was already yelling,” he said.
“It’s wonderful, of course. The best you can get. For me, these awards by the Academy always have much more value than let’s say a festival award. An Academy nomination, that’s some of the finest filmmakers, experts you have admired all your life. A big group of these people thinks your movie is one of the five best. Rhat means a lot.”

Producer Jennifer Fox, best picture nominee for “Michael Clayton” : “I couldn’t be more excited. It’s incredible. Hopefully I get to do more. It’s a great privledge to get to work on movies with such incredibly talented people and to deal with subject matter that’s challenging and complicated and ambitious.

Christopher Rouse, a second-time nominee in the editing category. He was nominated for “United 93” last year. This year’s nod is for “The Bourne Ultimatum.” “I’m absolutely thrilled and blown away. I’m incredibly flattered by the company I’m in. Five very distinctive film with distinctive sdtyles. I’m proud to be in their company.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

i talked to Oscar producer Gil Cates this morning about what impact the writers strike might have on the Oscar telecast next month if it is not resolved by then:

Here is some of what he said:
“Absolutely! Bring your tuxedo, bring your gown, we’re going to have a ball.”

What kind of contingency plans are being made for a strike-telecast: “The interesting thing about the Oscars is that you have to plan for everything. The first year I did the show, the Berlin Wall came down. We did the show one year when we went to war in Iraq and we cancelled the red carpet. We’re always flexible and fluid so that we can take advantage of what’s happening in the world.”
“Obviously, it will be a different show if the writers are on strike that it will be if they’re not on strike. We’re prepared for both.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:20 AM | Permalink

Best motion picture of the year
"Atonement" (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight) A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
"Surf's Up" (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

Achievement in art direction
"American Gangster" (Universal): Art Direction: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount): Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

Achievement in cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
"Atonement" (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit

Achievement in costume design
"Across the Universe" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood

Achievement in directing
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Jason Reitman
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson

Best documentary feature
"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins
"Sicko" (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara
"Taxi to the Dark Side" (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
"War/Dance" (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

Best documentary short subject
"Freeheld" A Lieutenant Films Production: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
"La Corona (The Crown)" A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
"Salim Baba" A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production: Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
"Sari's Mother" (Cinema Guild) A Daylight Factory Production: James Longley

Achievement in film editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Christopher Rouse
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Juliette Welfling
"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment): Jay Cassidy
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor

Best foreign language film of the year
"Beaufort" Israel
"The Counterfeiters" Austria
"Katyn" Poland
"Mongol" Kazakhstan
"12" Russia

Achievement in makeup
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
"Norbit" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount): Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): Ve Neill and Martin Samuel

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Atonement" (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner" (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.): Nominees to be determined
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

Best animated short film
"I Met the Walrus" A Kids & Explosions Production: Josh Raskin
"Madame Tutli-Putli" (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski "Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" (Premium Films) A BUF Compagnie Production Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)" (Channel One Russia) A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production Alexander Petrov
"Peter & the Wolf" (BreakThru Films) A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman

Best live action short film
"At Night" A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production: Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)" (Sky Cinema Italia) A Frame by Frame Italia Production: Andrea Jublin
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)" (Premium Films) A Karé Production: Philippe Pollet-Villard
"Tanghi Argentini" (Premium Films) An Another Dimension of an Idea Production: Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
"The Tonto Woman" A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production: Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown

Achievement in sound editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Matthew Wood
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins

Achievement in sound mixing
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney): Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate): Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin

Achievement in visual effects
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

Adapted screenplay
"Atonement" (Focus Features), Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
"Away from Her" (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Original screenplay
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Diablo Cody
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 7:15 AM | Permalink

Academy Award nominations will be announced early Tuesday morning and tomorrow, I’ll have reaction from some of the nominees.

But if we were to leap ahead 12 months, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Bette Midler makes the cut in the best supporting actress category for her terrific performance in the Helen Hunt-directed “Then She Found Me” in which she plays Hunt’s birth mother. The film won the audience award at this month’s Palm Springs International Film Festival where it made its U.S. debut.

Bette already has two Oscar nods under her belt for “The Rose” and “For the Boys” and she also recently wrapped a role in the remake of “The Women.”

But before she starts preparing any acceptance speeches for her acting, the Grammy-winning Divine Miss M is taking her act to Las Vegas. Starting Feb. 20, she replaces Celine Dion at the 4400-seat Colosseum theatre at Caesars Palace.

I love the name of her new act: “Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On.”

“Because I am a live performer, my legacy is ephemeral,” Bette said in this week’s issue of Parade. “I’ve made some good movies, I’ve made some bad movies. They will last. But the rest of it, what I did live, that’s only memory.”

All the more reason to catch her in Vegas where for the next two years, the 62-year-old icon will be doing 100 shows a year: “You never know when a zipper is going to break, when you’re going to sprain your ankle,” she said. “Every day is a crap shoot.”

***********************

One actress who is likely to be nominated today is Ellen Page, such a sensation as lead in “Juno.” The movie is not only a hit with critics, but audiences love it too and it is close to passing the $100 million mark in domestic box office grosses.

Ellen plays an independent 16 year old who gets pregnant and decides to not only have the baby, but to pick its adoptive parents.

I had gabbed a bit with Ellen at the film festival in Palm Springs about her newfound fame - something that might be too much for some 20 year olds to handle.

“It’s kind of surreal, of course. It’s definitely new,” she said. “But all in all, I’m an actor because I love to act and when there’s excitement around this film, it just helps me get to have more choice and control. That’s really wonderful as an actor.”

I also checked in with “Juno” director Jason Reitman at the festival and he told me about recently going to a movie theater and watching the film for the first time as a moviegoer and not the director in the cutting room.
“I don’t mean for this to come off the wrong way, but I actually cried during the birth scene,” he confessed. “It moved me and it made me laugh. It turned out better than I ever could have imagined.”

******************************

AND FINALLY, Britney.
Full disclosure here: I am trying to ignore Britney Spears’ endless antics for my own sanity but feel obligated to provide updates when they involve legal developments, head-shaving or ambulances.
Legal development: On Monday, she gave a second deposition at the law office of the attorney representing Kevin Federline in their ongoing custody battle - a week after she lost visitation with both her sons indefinitely.
She has previously missed several appointments for the court-ordered cross-examination. This time, Britney testified for more than two hours. K-Fed’s attorneys will use the testimony in their effort to convince the court that he should retain primary physical custody of the children.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dear readers,
Sorry about the sporadic postings on this blog in recent weeks. There has been some question about how to juggle it with my Out In Hollywood blog and my News Lite column in the print version of the paper.

I've come up with this: Each day, this blog will have the next day's News Lite column posted so you will be first to see it. I will also post short items here and there as well as each week's "Whatever Happened to" feature (Wednesday's) and Box Office Buzz column (Fridays). You will find it all here. Out In Hollywood remains unchanged and some items will run in both blogs.

Thanks for your patience and welcome to the new era of Hollywood Joe!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:00 PM | Permalink

...with hubby Marc Anthony.
I must say, she is more beautiful than ever as an expectant mommy...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:55 PM | Permalink

If you know who this "singer" is, place your answer in the comments section. I will reveal the identity tomorrow!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dude, wear a belt!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Reuters) - Two New York firemen posing as a gay couple, psychically linked identical twins and a mild-mannered man dominated by his latex-wearing obese wife are all contenders this year for the worst screen couples in Hollywood.

Among the nominations announced on Monday for the 28th annual Golden Raspberry awards, which celebrate the worst in filmmaking, are Adam Sandler, Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy for their respective work in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," "I Know Who Killed Me" and "Norbit."

It's a double-whammy for Lohan and Murphy, who play multiple roles in their cinematic fiascos and were nominated opposite themselves in the worst screen couple category.

"I Know Who Killed Me," a teen thriller in which Lohan plays psychically connected twins, "is a Lindsay Lohan 'vehicle' that proved as dangerous for its star as any car she ever ran off the road," said John Wilson, who heads the group that spoofs the Oscars by celebrating the year's worst films.

"Norbit" garnered Murphy five nods for what Wilson described as a "latex-laden, nearly laugh-free 'comedy.'"

In that film, Murphy plays Norbit, as well as his adopted Asian father and hugely obese girlfriend.

Rounding out the list is "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," in which Sandler and co-star Kevin James claim to be domestic partners in order to receive medical benefits, a comedy Wilson describes as a "gag-inducing 'gay romp.'"

"I Know Who Killed Me" received a total of nine nominations by the Razzies -- worst screen couple, picture, horror movie, screenplay, director, remake/rip-off, supporting actress and two nods for actress -- trailed by "Norbit" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," which both received eight.

The worst film category also includes "Bratz," based on the popular toy dolls -- the four lead actresses were all named in the worst actress category in a "four-for-one deal" -- and "Daddy Day Camp," starring Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.

The worst actor category also includes Nicolas Cage for his turns in "Ghost Rider," "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" and "Next" and Jim Carrey for "The Number 23."

Others nominated for worst actresses include Diane Keaton in "Because I Said So," Jessica Alba in "Awake," "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" and "Good Luck, Chuck."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:09 PM | Permalink

Lovebirds Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, expecting their first child this summer, watched some tennis matches at the Australian Open on Monday. Nicole is taking some time off from making movies as she prepares for motherhood although she wrapped the epic "Australia" with Hugh Jackman and directed by Baz Luhrman...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:35 AM | Permalink

Our Emily is gone...

The beautiful Suzanne Pleshette, a movie star in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" and forever known as Bob Newhart's television wife, died on Saturday. She was just 70 and had been battling lung cancer.

As a kid growing up in the 70s, "The Bob Newhart Show" was part of my Saturday nights as it aired between "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Carol Burnett Show" and as Emily Hartley, Pleshette's character was the voice of reason among all the wacky characters on the classic show - a hit for all six years of its run.

Let's face it, as lovely as the late Mary Fran was as Newhart's wife in his following series, it made for one of television's most classic scenes: When "Newhart" ended in 1990, Pleshette reprised her role from the first show. It had Newhart waking up in the bedroom of his "The Bob Newhart Show" home with Pleshette at his side. He went on to tell her of the crazy dream he'd just had of running an inn filled with eccentrics.

Best known as a television star (she also played Karen Walker's mother on "Will & Grace" and Leona Helmsley in a TV movie), Suzanne starred on Broadway in "The Miracle Worker," the 1959 drama about Helen Keller, replacing Anne Bancroft in New York then taking it on the road. She also starred in "The Birds" with Tippi Hedren and attracted a teenage following with her youthful roles in such films as "Rome Adventure," "Fate Is the Hunter," "Youngblood Hawke" and "A Distant Trumpet."

She married actor Troy Donahue in 1964 but the union lasted less than a year. She was married to Texas oilman Tim Gallagher from 1968 until his death in 2000 then married actor Tom Poston to whom she was with until his death last year.

Suzanne's last public appearance came in September when she reunited with the cast of "The Bob Newhart Show" for a Museum of Television and Radio event in Beverly Hills.
She was once asked about the reason for her longevity in showbiz: "I'm an actress, and that's why I'm still here. Anybody who has the illusion that you can have a career as long as I have and be a star is kidding themselves."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:03 AM | Permalink

Since the ongoing writer's strike reduced last weekend's Golden Globe Awards to a bland press conference, "Mad Men" nominee Jon Hamm was at the Chateau Marmout in West Hollywood with co-stars and friends when his name was announced as the winner for best actor in a drama series.

Among the actors he beat out: last year's Globe champ Hugh Laurie ("House") and reigning Emmy winner James Spader ("Boston Legal"). The show also won the outstanding drama series prize.

"It was a surprise to say the least," Jon said when we met a few days ago. "Very stiff competition and I'm certainly the new guy. I'm incredibly honored to have been chosen.... We were sitting on the balcony watching the sun go down, we had a TV out there. As those things go, it was pretty nice. It was amazing. Everybody cheered and it felt really collegial and fun - like a good thing had happened to the family. It really felt great."

There's a good chance for more awards on Sunday at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (There will be a star-studded ceremony for that one) with Jon, 36, again nominated for outstanding actor in a drama series and the show's cast up for outstanding ensemble.

On "Men," Jon plays Don Draper, creative director and eventually junior partner of Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency on New York City's Madison Avenue in the 1960s; He is the show's protagonist with a mysterious past.

"When I read the script - and I never say this because I don't want to jinx things - I said to several friends of mine and my girlfriend, 'I really want to be in this. I wonder what movie star they're gonna to give the lead to, I'll never get that. But I want to be a part of this.' And, somehow, six or eight auditions later, I ended up getting it and it's obviously been great."

Before "Mad Men" caused such a sensatiion last year, Jon had been working steadily in recurring roles on a succession of television series including "The Unit," "What About Brian," "The Division" and "Providence" along with the occasional feature film ("Ira & Abby," "We Were Soldiers").

But the show, AMC's first original scripted drama, wowed critics and quickly gained a loyal following.
"I think it's found the perfect home on AMC," he said. "It's not unlike the first season of 'The Sopranos.' The first year of that show, a lot of people didn't know what it was and didn't want to watch a gangster show or whatever. Then they found it and realized how deep it was. I think that's similar to our show. Our fans are very, very loyal and excited about the show and I wish we were just about to make some more for them but unfortunately we're stuck in this strike."

They were due to begin shooting the second season in February or March but at this point, there are no scripts prepared and the strike continues.

"I wish we were working, we;re not. But I understand why.I was fortunate though to work on a couple of films."
One of those movies are the big-budget sci-fi flick "The Day the Earth Stood Still" which stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly. The other is the mystery-thriller "The Boy in the Box." Between the series, the awards and the upcoming movies, Jon is on the verge of major stardom.

"It's all still pretty new and I think fortunately, I look a little bit different on the show than I look in real life. I don't walk around around wearing three-piece suits with my hair slicked back so that makes it a little but easier. But it's always nice when people recognize you for your work and they say good things about you."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:00 AM | Permalink

There's no way that Emile Hirsch isn't going to get an Academy Award nomination for his out-of-this-world performance in the superb drama "Into the Wild."

I caught up with the Sean Penn-directed movie Friday night, then less than 24 hours later found myself face-to-face with the talented 22-year-old actor at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where he was honored for "breakthrough performance."

Emile's character, a recent college grad who leaves it all behind to live in the Alaskan wilderness, encounters a lot of people along the way, played by the likes of Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener and Hal Holbrook.

"What was great about it was I'd be going around and I'd be with all these different actors with different qualities and different things about them that were wonderful, and I would get to experience all of those and try and learn from them," he said. "(Keener) was terrific. You can never catch her acting. She's just that effortless and puts that much understated feeling into it."

But the co-star who clearly touched him the most was Holbrook, who has also been generating heavy Oscar buzz.

"It's so incredible - working with Hal," Emile said. "He would really be just so honest and so kind-of-naked in his performance. It all seemed so effortless. Really, that's master acting. To get to be there with such a kind, gentle soul as he is was really special and also a relief for me on the shoot.

"For the seven months before that, I had been running from grizzly bears and climbing mountains. Finally getting to spend two weeks with Hal was really a joy."
He was philosophical about the Golden Globes ceremony being effectively canceled due to the writers strike: "I think it's really hard. It's hard on the Globes. It's hard on the viewers. It's hard on the people nominated. It's hard for everybody.

"Unfortunately, it's just part of the process that the writers guild and SAG are going through in order to get what they want. I support SAG and right now we support the writers guild so that's the way it is."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:33 PM | Permalink

The National Football League playoffs are this weekend, and that means plenty of guys will be staying home on Sunday, parked on the sofa, with the remote control in one hand and a beer in the other.

But for those who don't know the difference between the New England Patriots' Tom Brady and "The Brady Bunch," there are three new wide releases aimed at luring you to the multiplex.

The sci-fi thriller "Cloverfield" is the most highly anticipated of the newcomers, and it should have no problem attracting big crowds of its target younger audience since it is rated PG-13 and opening in more than 3,400 locations.

"Cloverfield" doesn't have any big names among its young cast, but Internet buzz has been building for months around this film about a group of Manhattan hipsters trying to survive a giant killing beast.

The flick should easily scare reigning box office champ "The Bucket List" right out of first place with a robust $25million-plus opening.

CHICK FLICK SHOWDOWN: After "Knocked Up" became an unexpected smash last year, its star, Katherine Heigl, won an Emmy for "Grey's Anatomy" and was featured on a recent Vanity Fair cover.

But her appeal as a box office attraction will be put to the test with the romantic comedy "27 Dresses," which opens in just more than 3,000 theaters. Heigl's co-star, James Marsden, also had a career year in 2007 with roles in the hits "Hairspray" and "Enchanted," so his drawing power as a romantic lead will also be tested. "Dresses" has been heavily promoted, and I think it will have a solid opening of about $20million - a total that will be boosted on Sunday by plenty of football widows.

On the other hand, I've seen "Mad Money" so I know this movie has to make a whole lotta dough on opening weekend before word-of-mouth drags it into the poorhouse.

Leads Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes have worked hard drumming up publicity for the movie including ringing the NASDAQ opening bell this week. Keaton also caused a stir when she let the F-bomb slip during an interview with Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America."

But reviews have been very unkind, and the movie, opening in just fewer than 2,500 locations, will probably bow in the $12million to $15million range.

EXPANDING: A lot of people, myself included, try to see all the Oscar contenders before the Academy Awards are handed out. Even though nominations will not be announced until Tuesday morning, it's a sure bet that Daniel Day-Lewis will be among the Best Actor nominees for his performance in "There Will Be Blood."

"Blood" had previously been in extremely limited release, but, beginning today, it expands to nearly 400 theaters.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:27 PM | Permalink

Mary Hart is such a sunny presence on television that it was wise of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to have her be among those reading Golden Globe Award winners on Sunday at an otherwise dull press conference that replaced the usually glitzy affair.

As a co-host of "Entertainment Tonight" for more than 25 years, Mary hasn't lost any enthusiasm for the job.

"Even on those days when I get up kind of on the wrong side of the bed, I am so fortunate," she told me recently. "I put a lot of energy into what I do. If I woke up one morning, or on a series of mornings and said, `This is just not what I want to do anymore,' I'd probably do something about that. But I still love it, there are so many great stories, great people in the business."

When she started out on the show, there were only three television networks and the Internet boom had not yet begun. I wondered how much the advances in technology have affected what Mary does.

"What I see is the pressure on our staff to cover the news 24/7," she said. "Things break overnight that we have to be covering - they always did - but not to the extent that it is now. You are chasing down real stories and unreal stories so you have to be real careful to weed out and find out what's true. ...

"It's a little tougher when the news is bad, or sad," she admitted. "There are a lot of troubled people. But you know, by and large, it's a great job."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:23 PM | Permalink

[BODY]In a strike-plagued television season over-populated with reality shows, ABC’s new drama “Eli Stone” has a better chance than ever of standing out when it makes its debut on Jan. 30 right after the season premiere of “Lost.”

But Natasha Henstridge, one of the stars of “Eli,” knows what it’s like to get your hopes up about a well-regarded show only to see them dashed.

It happened two years ago, somewhat inexplicably, to ABC’s “Commander In Chief” on which Natasha was cast as Donald Sutherland’s partner-in-crime against the U.S. President played by Geena Davis.

“It was such a great show, really well-written,” she said of “Commander.” “People even say it may have cleared the way for Hillary Clinton.”

“Commander” started off as the hottest new show of the 2005-06 fall season but creative differences, lengthy hiatuses and network politics led to cancellation after just one season.

The actress feels like lightning has struck again with “Eli.” She is cast as about Taylor Weathersby, the type-A wife of the show’s title character played by Jonny Lee Miller. Eli is a successful attorney suffering from an inoperable brain aneurysm that causes him to have bizarre illusions.

“I sat in the bathtub - I read all my scripts there - and I was absolutely enthralled and felt the same way as when I read ‘Commander In Chief,’” she said. “It’s just a dream job for me, there’s a lot of drama going on in the script. She’s the kind of person who’s planned and plotted everything her whole life and this throws a wrench in the spokes.”

There will be plenty of opportunity for viewers to get to know the characters on “Stone” since all 13 episodes ordered were completed before the writer’s strike brought most shows to a premature halt.
Natasha, 33, rose to fame in the feature film “Species” in the mid-90s and appeared in its two sequels. The mother of two young children is now a lot more choosy about what projects to accept.

“I made a lot of decisions in my career based on really ridiculous things,” she admitted. “I was growing up and needed the experiences in life. But I didn’t always make the best career choices. I’d ask, ‘Where is that film? Brazil! Sounds great.’ I don’t really have regrets. You come into your own when you’re ready.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:50 PM | Permalink

Sometimes, my life is so surreal. I found myself on the soundstage where "I Love Lucy" was filmed this afternoon scooping some salmon onto my plate as I chatted up Florence Henderson.

Me: "I really loved all the "Brady Bunch" shows except for the ones with cousin Oliver."

Me: "But hey, look at you. You're still here."

My Daily News column tomorrow is all about Florence and her new talk show. But details of the lunch itself, which won't be in the column, are what I want to share with you. Among a handful of journalists who were invited were a smattering of guest stars including Barbra Streisand's little sister, Roslyn Kind - a very talented singer who is back on stage after a long hiatus. I'll share my chat with her tomorrow. Freda Payne and I gabbed for a minute and Pat Boone was also there but I didn't bother to strike up a conversation with him. Also there was Mr. Blackwell who I wanted to chat up but he was engrossed by an anecdote being told by Tippi Hedren. I thought it was funny that he was at the same table as Allison (Nellie Olson from 'Little House on the Prairie) since he had dissed her on his worst dressed list.
But she was thrilled to be on the same list as Posh Spice! She's a hoot and I will have that interview in the coming days.

Anyway, here's my column on Florence Henderson:

When I was a kid, every Friday night my parents would buy us McDonalds for dinner then we’d all pile into the living room to watch “The Brady Bunch.” So it was really cool on Thursday to meet Mrs. Brady herself, Florence Henderson, at an intimate luncheon event celebrating the premiere of her new talk show.

The chatfest, which airs on the fledgling Retirement Living TV channel, may be aimed at the 55-plus crowd but Florence told me she wants to play host to guests of all ages.

“I’d love Tom Cruise as a guest, or Julia Roberts. Certainly Clint Eastwood,” said the lovely lady. “I want to talk to people who are contributing and who are talented and have something to say. I’m the most appreciative fan you’ll ever meet.”
So far, some terrific guests have taped interviews for “The Florence Henderson Show” including Carol Burnett, Jason Alexander, Bob Newhart, Judge Judy and Garry Marshall, among others. Before lunch, she had finished taping a show with guests Tippi Hedren, Freda Payne and Roslyn Kind.

“On most talk shows, if you’re on for five minutes you’re lucky,” she said. “My guests don’t feel pressured. We sometimes do 30 minutes and you find out things about these great performers. I love talking to people, I love that intimate one-on-one.”

Yes, two of her on-screen kids from “Brady Bunch” - Eve Plumb and Susan Olsen - have already guested with others sure to follow.
“I can’t get rid of them!” she joked.

Florence, who turns 74 on Valentine’s Day, looks remarkably youthful after more than 50 years of stardom. She was originally a big Broadway star in such shows as “Wish You Were Here” and “Fanny” before she landed a high-profile gig “The Today Show” in 1959 as what was then referred to as a “Today girl.”
“In a way, doing this show is going full circle because one of the first things I did was ‘Today.’ To be so young and to work with people like Dave Garroway. I’ve just been very fortunate.”

Since Retirement Living TV is just over a year old, the show is available locally only through Direct TV and Comcast Cable so Florence knows it’s an uphill climb for viewers: “It’s difficult these days unless you’re hot or you’re Britney Spears and you’re sick.”

Britney Spears could really use a Mrs. Brady right now.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 6:12 PM | Permalink

Florence LaRue may be celebrating her 64th birthday next month, but the last remaining original member of The 5th Dimension still looks much as she did during the pop group's heyday in the 1960s and '70s.

"I hope I've gotten some wisdom with the age," she said Saturday at the Palm Springs Film Festival, where she dazzled on the red carpet. "God is good. Life is wonderful. I'm looking forward to many exciting things."

LaRue has never stopped performing such hits as "Up, Up and Away," "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "One Less Bell" "Last Night I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" and "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" with various configurations of the group which she has been a part of since 1965.

"I still have The 5th Dimension continuing, we still tour all over the world and are carrying on The 5th Dimension tradition of good family entertainment," she said. "People come to our show and say things like, `We sang `Up, Up and Away' when I was in high school.'

"It's also wonderful when young people come to the show who have never heard of The 5th Dimension. They come reluctantly because their parents bring them but then at the end of the show, they say, `Hey! You guys are hot.' They're surprised. Our show is very well-rounded."

LaRue, who lives in Los Angeles, has also carved out a solo career for herself, appearing in the national tour of Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical, "Ain't Misbehavin"' and starring in a Toronto production of "Mo Magic."

When she's not on tour with The 5th Dimension, LaRue performs concerts on her own.

"Of course I have to sing my 5th Dimension medley because that's what people want to hear, but I also sing standards, some jazz."

In addition to LaRue, the original members of the group were Billy Davis Jr., Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson. McCoo and Davis left in 1975 for a successful career, but the group just kept plugging along and scored a minor hit in the late '70s with "Love Hangover" which featured LaRue in the lead.

The original members of the quintet reunited briefly in 1990 for a tour.

"I'm very proud of the quality of the music we recorded," she said. "It is an honor to be a part of people's memories."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:38 PM | Permalink

Bryan Cranston had reason to be in good spirits when we chatted Tuesday night on the Sony lot in Culver City. It was a splashy premiere party for his buzz-worthy AMC series "Breaking Bad," which premieres on Sunday night.

There was a screening and a party and I gotta say, I've never seen anything like it!

Bryan plays a high school chemistry teacher sleepwalking through life. But in a Jekyll and Hyde twist, turns to making and selling drugs (after finding out he has terminal cancer) to leave his family taken care of financially.

"When I read it I thought, Well, this isn't even an issue of breaking the Hal on `Malcolm in the Middle' scenario," said the actor, nominated for three Emmys for his role as the dad on "Malcolm." "It transcended that. When you have this kind of character and this kind of writing, it's rare and you have to take advantage of that. We have such a great cast and it's all coming together."

"Breaking" is only the second series to air on AMC, the first being "Mad Men" which won the Golden Globe Award this week for Best Drama series. But the execs at AMC and at Sony Pictures Television who produce the show weren't immediately sold on Bryan.

"They were thinking, and rightfully so, `Wait a minute. The goofy dad? He's not right for this guy. This guy is a weighty, deep kind of character."'

But Bryan had a champion in series creator Vince Gilligan who he had worked with on an episode of "X-Files" more than a decade ago.
"We scheduled a 20-minute meeting and it turned out to be an hour and a half and we just hooked in. I locked into the character, he locked into me and he was my champion from that point on and he told Sony and AMC, `This is the guy, this is the guy I want.' Trust me, it'll work."'

After seven seasons on a successful show like "Malcolm," which ended its run in 2006, Bryan was content to keep steadily working in TV and films without any thought to lightning striking twice as far as being a series lead.

"I've never felt like the industry owes my anything," he said. "I work hard and whatever comes my way I take advantage of. I actually thought - and deservedly so - that `Malcolm' would be the lead line in my obituary at some point but who knows? Maybe it won't."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:55 PM | Permalink

Kaye Ballard's brash comedy instincts and powerful singing voice are still in such fine form that, at age 81, she headlined "Palm Springs Follies!" last fall to sellout crowds throughout the two-month run.

"I've done it twice and now I have something else cooking," says Ballard, the stage and television star who once graced the cover of Life magazine and starred with Eve Arden in "The Mothers-In-Law," the NBC sitcom that ran from 1967-69.

Ballard has always had a big personality and been quick with a quip. When she arrived at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on opening night earlier this month, she cracked: "I'm very happy to be here - I'm happy to be anywhere."

With roots in vaudeville and burlesque, the Cleveland native got bitten by the acting bug at age 5. She began performing professionally while still in high school.

She became a big name in nightclubs in the 1950s and '60s, performing at The Bon Soir and The Blue Angel in New York. She was a frequent guest on the talk-show circuit, sitting down with Jack Parr, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, Perry Como, Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin.

In addition to "The Mothers-In-Law," her better-known television credits include playing one of the ugly stepsisters in the original television production of "Cinderella" that starred Julie Andrews and as part of the cast of "The Doris Day Show."

She also made several movies ("The Girl Most Likely," "A House Is Not a Home," "Which Way to the Front" and "The Ritz") and was a smash on Broadway ("The Golden Apple," "Carnival," "Wonderful Town" and "Pirates of Penzance").

Ballard has also toured as Mama Rose in "Gypsy" and Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly!" and appeared in productions of "Funny Girl," "Quartet" - the female version of "The Odd Couple" - and "Nunsense."

With all those credits, it is still "The Mothers-In-Law" that gets her the most attention after all these years.

"I still get letters from all over the world, which is a joke because that's 30 years ago," Ballard said, shaking her head and smiling.

So what keeps her going?

"Loving life. That's it. I've never been bored, thank you God," she said, laughing.

Ballard, a resident of Rancho Mirage, keeps up with the times, which is apparent when you check out the front page of KayeBallard.com:

"There must be a reason you Googled my name and found this site in the first place, so whatever it is, I hope you find what you're looking for. I also hope you'll sign my guest book so I can keep you updated if anything NEW should happen in my life."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:17 PM | Permalink

You woulda thought it was the 60s and The Beatles had just arrived in town the way crowds had lined up to get a glimpse of Amanda Bynes at a free outdoor screening of “Hairspray” last week at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Amanda, who played Penny Pingleton in the hit musical, took a lot of time greeting her screaming young fans and their parents before doing a single interview. She’s a young star who is still ebulient but highly professional.

You certainly don’t expect to read sordid stories about this talented 21-year-old star in the tabloids. She not only has a good head on her shoulders, but an impressive work ethic headlining the movies “What a Girl Wants,” “She’s the Man,” “Sydney White” and “Big Fat Liar.”

But “Hairpsray” is by far the biggest hit she has ever been a part of.

“The reason I wanted to be in this movie so badly is because it has such a great message to send to kids,” she said. “It’s a wonderful movie that families can watch together, it’s a movie about accepting yourself and accepting others for their differences and it’s just got great music. I feel very lucky to be in it.”

Amanda has a supporting part in “Hairpray” compared to the lead roles she is accustomed to. But she told me she would “go anywhere” to support the film.

“I was lucky to be in this ensemble,” she said. “To be with Queen Latifah and Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Allison Janney and John Travolta, I look up to all those actors. So I got to learn a lot and I got to work with Adam Shankman who is such a talented, amazing director. I felt so blessed.”

Amanda is used to being busy so the prolonged writer’s strike has had a real impact on her usual break-neck pace.

“The strike is affecting me,” she said. “I had a few projects in the works and they were sort of stopped dead in their tracks. But I’ve taken it as a time to play with my puppy and just relax because once is over, I think everything is going to come back strong. I hope!”

She remains close to her former co-stars Jennie Garth and Leslie Grossman from the sitcom “What I Like About You” on which she played Garth’s little sister for four seasons. She was rooting for her on-screen sibling who finished fourth on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” last month.

“I’m so sad she didn’t win,” Amanda said. “I thought she was so amazing. For someone who came in as a non-dancer, I thought she did a really good job. We talk all the time. We had so much fun on that show.”

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I don't know what the deal is with OK! mag and the Spears family. Jamie Lynn did her cover last month about her teen pregnancy and pics of Britney and her sons - taken before last week's freak-out - are on newstands now.

The photographer, Dani Brubaker, reveals what the fallen pop star's reaction was when she saw the pictures for the very first time: "I'm told that when she saw the photographs she literally cried over an hour and stared at them all night long."

The magazine also quotes an unnamed friend who says:"those boys are her everything, and she's said repeatedly that life isn't worth living if she can't have her babies with her...Britney has always said, 'I would die for my boys if that's what it took to prove I loved them. I'd do anything for them.'"

I hope Britney realizes that she doesn't have to die for the boys. She just has to get the help she needs so she can mother them.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:27 PM | Permalink

Here is Dave, getting that beard buzzed off...thank God!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:46 PM | Permalink

It is official! Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman and her country music star hubby Keith Urban are expecting a baby this summer. Great news for the classy Aussie actress who endured such a public break-up with Tom Cruise back in 2001.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

... is millions of bucks going down the drain over a little event called the Golden Globes, which according to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will now amount to a news conference because presenters and winners refuse to cross the anticipated Writers Guild picket line. There's the TV rights fees that the HFPA annually parcels out to worthy film schools and film preservation endeavors. There's the Dick Clark Productions costs -- who's eating that chunk of change for the set and all the personnel who have been readying Sunday's show? But there's more.
AP reports that the event will include an hour of prime-time coverage of the "after parties." OK, you're a nominee with no assurance of winning anything, and you don't want to look like an idiot or completely needy by hanging out totally glammed at a news conference, but you're supposed to be camera-ready in designer attire for congratulatory fetes around town? Think any A-listers are going to take that gamble? Maybe Hayden Panatierre and Masi Oka, who seem never to turn down a red-carpet event, but anyone else? So no big bucks spent on Dom Perignon and no free advertising for Harry Winston and any number of gown designers.
On the plus side, for Turner anyway, is the rising cachet of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which worked out a deal with its WGA compadres and may therefore be the only Hollywood hardware event to go through as usual this season.

Posted by Valerie Kuklenski at 5:26 PM | Permalink

Since the Golden Globe Awards don't look to be much of a star-studded affair next week, I'm sure glad I was at the awards gala Saturday night at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

It really was a heady night but what was cool was with Oscar winner Sean Penn, Daniel Day-Lewis and Halle Berry among those honored and probably 2008 nominees Emile Hirsch, Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page. I gabbed with a buncha stars on the red carpet as they made their way in and everyone was pretty upbeat and chatty. They clearly have not yet been afflicted with award show fatigue yet!

"This is so exciting to be here tonight to be a part of this with people who are so talented. To even be in the same room as Daniel Day-Lewis is a huge honor," said Emile, who later received the rising star award for his performance in "Into the Wild."

I was about to speak with Mary Hart when I saw Stockard Channing trying to sneak by so I called out to this great actress and she came on over. But our conversation was kinda comical because Stockard was focused on trying not to step on the train of Mary's dress! Stockard was not only a presenter, but her film "Sparkle" is one of the festival's entries and the Tony Award winning actress told me she is returning to the Broadway stage soon in a musical.
She looked so eager to get into the dinner that I asked: "Are you fond of red carpets?"
Stockard: "I shouldn't really say anything negative since I'm on one right now! But, they are a bit blinding and you're a little worried about what you're looking like basically. The depth is not really there."

Nikki Blonsky had been fighting a cold so she was unable to open the show with a song from "Hairspray" as planned and Rikki Lake has stepped in to introduce a screening of "Hairspray" the night before.
Nikki: "I have a really bad cold and flying filled my ears with fluid. Isn't that attractive! [laughs]. "Every time I walk a red carpet, it's a chance to see my fans and a chance to let the world know what's going on in my life and just to share some moments. Having these experiences is an amazing part of my life."

MEMORABLE AWARD SHOW QUOTES:
"Having a gifted actor like [Daniel Day-Lewis] presenting, it means so much. If it's a dream, please don't wake me up."
- Marion Cotillard who was thrilled to receive the breakthrough performance award from Day-Lewis.

"I'm not a very good actor but I'm in a lot of movies because I put myself in them."
- Producer Jerry Weintraub, recipient of the Patron of the Arts Award

"So much of my career has been about making a way out of no way."
- Halle Berry as she accepted the Desert Palm Achievement Award

"I want to thank John Travolta who is the best mommy next to my own mom."
- Nikki Blonsky, recipient of the rising star award

"Danny Zucko as Tracy's mother? I just never saw it coming...People go through phases. What can you do?"
- Stockard Channing on "Grease" co-star John Travolta as she presented the ensemble cast award to "Hairpray."

"As a mother and as a woman, I'm proud of all my babies."
- Travolta, who played Edna Turnblad in "Hairspray."

THE AFTER-PARTY:The post-awards party was held down the road at The Parker. Penn didn't go near the VIP room, prefering intimate conversations with people as he puffed away on cigarettes. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were there with Zac talking to director Gus Van Sant then giving a chilled Vanessa his coat. Such a gentleman. In addition to Zac, the rest of the "Hairspray" contingent included Allison Janey and director Adam Shankman.

When director John Singleton arrived, he went straight to veteran director Norman Jewison and embraced him. Stockard Channing was spotted briefly but seemed to want to stay low-profile. She is tiny and had told me on the red carpet earlier that she is returning to Broadway soon. Congresswoman Mary Bono was there with her new husband. She had gotten choked up while on stage during the awards gala because Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of the death of her husband, former mayor and festival founder Sonny Bono.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:52 PM | Permalink

SATURDAY UPDATE: Britney Spears was released from the hospital this morning via an underground tunnel and was seen being walked to her car by TV Talk Show shrink Dr. Phil (McGraw), ET.com reports. According to the hospital, there was no reason to hold Britney any longer.

There was a sense of inevitability to the disturbing images of Britney Spears, tied down to a gurney, being placed into an ambulance by police late Thursday night and taken to a hospital where she is reportedly in 72-hour psychiatric lockdown.

But that doesn't make the scenes of her breakdown any less disturbing and leaves us to ponder some troubling questions: Is she mentally ill? Is she drug addicted? Will Britney finally get the help she so clearly needs or continue this rapid descent?

The troubled pop star had a dramatic three-hour standoff with police when she refused to turn over one of her sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline's bodyguards when her court-monitored visitation was over. Federline's attorneys went to court on Friday and successfully got Britney's visitation suspended until a Jan. 14 hearing when there will be a hearing to determine where the case goes.

Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said after a hearing with the judge: "There are no winners here."

Britney has been on a downhill slide - in full public view - for more than a year now. But emerging from cars without underwear on, shaving her head, and wandering aimlessly around L.A. with paparazzi in tow obviously all pales in comparision to the sad ambulance scenes that have been played and replayed time and time again on all the cable channels since Thursday night.

This 26-year-old mother of two, reportedly under the influence of some unknown substance, being taken away after she locked herself into a room at her L.A. home with her son, Jayden, when it came timeto return him to Federline.

The court-appointed monitor assigned to be with Britney anytime she is with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, was the person who called police. Preston had already been placed in the car of the bodyguards
when Britney locked herself in with Jayden. The cops had intially tried to resolve the situation peacefully but eventually had to resort to force.

Britney's father, Jamie, has been at the hospital while mother Lynne was reportedly on her way to L.A. from Louisiana on Friday. It was just last month that Britney's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears, 16, announced that she is pregnant. [ET.com reported Friday that despite rumors that her show "Zoey 101" was being canceled due to the pregnancy, the fourth -- and final -- season of the series will air as planned. There had been buzz was that the Nickelodeon network was concerned that by airing the show they would be sending out an inappropriate message to teen and 'tween girls.]

Lynne Spears, who participated in a big cover story with OK! Magazine that detailed Jamie Lynn's pregnancy, had less to say about this situation telling Access Hollywood via telephone that she is "extremely distraught" and said, "Just say prayers."

Britney's former dance teacher, Renee Donewar, told People.com: "I don't even know where Britney's head is. I thought she had already hit rock bottom. I can't imagine what's next."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Palm Springs International Film Festival opened with the U.S, premiere of Helen Hunt's directorial debut "Then She Found Me," a lovely comedy-drama that the actress also co-wrote and stars in along with Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick.

"I finally found a story that I loved so much I couldn't stand to see it go to anybody else," Helen told me shortly before the movie was screened before a packed audience of more than 1,000 people. "My favorite movies are movies that are hard to describe in one sentence and that's kind of what this is. It's the story of people who are very, very, very messed up."

Helen plays a woman who is facing 40 with her biological clock ticking loudly. We get to see her deal with a series of life changes that includes meeting her wacky birth mother (Midler), a talk show host who initially tells her daughter that her birth father is Steve McQueen!

The film provides both Hunt and Midler with their best film roles in years. Midler, a two-time Academy Award nominee ("The Rose" "For the Boys") has been criminally under-utilized on the big screen since "First Wives Club" more than a decade ago.

"The size of the talent is not to be underestimated," Helen said of the Divine Miss M. "Her best moments in the movie are hers. I may have contributed some and brought out some sides of her that I haven't seen on film. But her most stunning moments, she just showed up with. I would love to take all the credit but I can't."

I wondered what it was like for Helen to direct herself in a film: "It's lonely. This movie stopped being a logical experience and started being something I was so hellbent on doing that logic went out the window. Probably grace went out the window and I just did every job I could and one of them was starring in it. But I had Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick and Bette Midler and all these other incredible actors so I did feel that I was with a group of people who would not let me down."

It was a decade ago that Helen was winning every award in sight including the Oscar for the feature "As Good As it Gets" as well as numerous Emmys for her series "Mad About You." I wondered if winning
all that hardware kind of gave Helen license to do whatever she wanted to do in Hollywood.

"I was sort of blessed with not finding a million roles I wanted to play which was scary at the time but it left me space to write something that was really, truly from the bottom of my heart rather than playing 15 parts I kind of liked, I got to play one that really means a lot to me."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:38 AM | Permalink