Golden Globe Winners and Nominees for the Year 2009

With the announcement of the Oscar nominations just hours away, let's look back at the recent Golden Globe Awards, which are seen as a barometer for Oscar nominations.

67th Annual Golden Globe Winners and Nominees:

Best Motion Picture - Drama
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"Up in the Air"
"Avatar" WINNER

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Emily Blunt, "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side" WINNER
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart" WINNER
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Tobey Maguire, "Brothers"

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
"The Hangover" WINNER
"It's Complicated"
"Julie & Julia"
"Nine"
"(500) Days of Summer"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Sandra Bullock, "The Proposal"
Marion Cotillard, "Nine"
Meryl Streep, "It's Complicated"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia" WINNER
Julia Roberts, "Duplicity"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Nine"
Robert Downey Jr., "Sherlock Holmes" WINNER
Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "(500) Days of Summer"
Matt Damon, "The Informant!"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mo'Nique, "Precious" WINNER
Julianne Moore, "A Single Man"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds" WINNER
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"

Best Animated Feature Film
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"Up" WINNER

Best Foreign Language Film
"Baaria"
"Broken Embraces"
"A Prophet"
"The White Ribbon" WINNER
"The Maid"

Best Director - Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron, "Avatar" WINNER
Clint Eastwood, "Invictus"
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, "District 9"
Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker"
Nancy Meyers, "It's Complicated"
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, "Up in the Air" WINNER
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Michael Giacchino, "Up" WINNER
Marvin Hamlisch, "The Informant!"
James Horner, "Avatar"
Abel Korzeniowski "A Single Man"
Carter Burwell and Karen O, "Where the Wild Things Are"

Best Original Song -- Motion Picture
"I See You," "Avatar"
"The Weary Kind," "Crazy Heart" WINNER
"Cinema Italiano," "Nine"
"I Want to Come Home," "Everybody's Fine"
"Winter," "Brothers"

Best Television Series - Drama
"Dexter"
"Mad Men" WINNER
"House M.D."
"True Blood"
"Big Love"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Glenn Close, "Damages"
January Jones, "Mad Men"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife" WINNER
Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgewick, "The Closer"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" WINNER
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House M.D."
Bill Paxton, "Big Love"

Best Television Series - Comedy
"30 Rock"
"Entourage"
"Glee" WINNER
"The Office"
"Modern Family"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" WINNER
Steve Carell, "The Office"
David Duchovny, "Californication"
Thomas Jane, "Hung"
Matthew Morrison, "Glee"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Toni Collette, "United States of Tara" WINNER
Courteney Cox, "Cougar Town"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Lea Michele, "Glee"

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
"Georgia O'Keefe"
"Grey Gardens" WINNER
"Into the Storm"
"Little Dorrit"
"Taking Chance"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Joan Allen, "Georgia O'Keefe"
Drew Barrymore, "Grey Gardens" WINNER
Jessica Lange, "Grey Gardens"
Anna Paquin, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler"
Sigourney Weaver, "Prayers for Bobby"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Bacon, "Taking Chance" WINNER
Kenneth Branagh, "Wallander: One Step Behind"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Endgame"
Brendan Gleeson, "Into the Storm"
Jeremy Irons, "Georgia O'Keefe"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Adams, "Hung"
Rose Byrne, "Damages"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Janet McTeer, "Into the Storm"
Chloe Sevigny, "Big Love" WINNER

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Michael Emerson, "Lost"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
William Hurt, "Damages"
John Lithgow, "Dexter" WINNER
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"

Cecil B. DeMille Award
Martin Scorsese

Thanks to the L.A. Times' The Envelope.
 

Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland Gets a Week of Sneek Peeks

Press release from Business Wire:

ABC, ESPN and ABC FAMILY Viewers Are Headed Down the Rabbit Hole: Exclusive First Looks of “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” to Hit Three Networks Starting Jan. 31; Cross-Network Stunt Culminates with Huge Super Bowl Spot Feb. 7

60-Second Custom Spots to Reveal Never-Before-Seen Footage of the 3D Motion-Picture Event of the Year; In Theaters Nationwide March 5, 2010

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is teaming up with sister networks ABC, ESPN and ABC FAMILY for a week-long, cross-network extravaganza that will send viewers straight down the rabbit hole with “ALICE IN WONDERLAND.” The stunt provides 60-second first-looks customized for each network, all of which will air between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, 2010. Featuring exclusive, never-before-seen footage from visionary director Tim Burton’s 3D theatrical motion-picture event, the first looks will culminate with a spectacular Super Bowl spot on Feb. 7, 2010. Entitled “Tick-Tock,” this action-packed spot features intense imagery and a few surprises from Burton’s Wonderland.

“We wanted to kick off our television campaign for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in a big way,” says David Singh, executive vice president of worldwide marketing for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. “With Tim Burton at the helm and a cast that includes Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and rising star Mia Wasikowska, the film already has a passionate following. Fans are eager to step into the incredible 3D Wonderland that Burton has created and get a glimpse at what he’s done with these brilliant characters, and we’re ready to give it to them.”

FIRST LOOK SCHEDULE:
ABC
“Desperate Housewives,” Jan. 31, 9/8c
“The Bachelor,” Feb. 1, 8/7c

ESPN
2010 NFL Pro Bowl, Jan. 31, 7:20ET
NBA NUGGETS/LAKERS game, Feb. 5, 10:30ET

ABC FAMILY
“Greek,” Feb. 1, 10/9c
“The Parent Trap,” Feb. 6, 8/7c

Cross-network promo spots for the stunt begin on Jan. 26, 2010. The campaign will be supported, and the creative maximized on the studio’s online/social networking sites including Facebook (Facebook.com/Disney), Twitter (Twitter.com/disneypictures), You Tube (YouTube.com/DisneyMovieTrailers), Disney.com and more.


ABOUT THE MOVIE
From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure ALICE IN WONDERLAND, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. JOHNNY DEPP stars as the Mad Hatter and MIA WASIKOWSKA as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes ANNE HATHAWAY, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and CRISPIN GLOVER. The screenplay is by Linda Woolverton.

Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and “Through the Looking-Glass” (1871) with stunning, avant-garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in literary history, ALICE IN WONDERLAND comes to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D on March 5, 2010 (U.S. theaters).

Website: Disney.com/wonderland
Mobile: Disney.com/wonderland
Become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AliceInWonderland
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImportantDate

Review: "The Book of Eli" is Another Denzel Winner

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 2 (of 2010) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Book of Eli (2010)
Running time: 118 minutes; MPAA – R for some brutal violence and language
DIRECTOR: Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes
WRITERS: Gary Whitta
PRODUCERS: Joel Silver, Denzel Washington, Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, and David Valdes
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Don Burgess (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Cindy Mollo

SCI-FI/ACTION/DRAMA

Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals, Evan Jones, Joe Pingue, Frances de la Tour, Michael Gambon, Tom Waits, and Malcolm McDowell

Regarding The Book of Eli, I don’t really have to say that Denzel Washington is good in this film, do I? Washington is always good, usually great – even in mediocre movies. Like the performances Washington gave in his Oscar-turn, Training Day, not to mention in films like Malcolm X and The Hurricane, the performance in The Book of Eli reflects both a meticulous craftsman and an artist. The craftsman shows in the way Washington knows the habits, the mannerisms, and the other physical details that will make the audience buy Eli as a real character. The artist is the one who turns his acting, his performance, his portrayal into a work that transfixes the viewer and transports him to another world.

So we know that Washington delivers, as always, but is The Book of Eli a good film? It’s an excellent film, and is on par with The Road Warrior as a superb post-apocalyptic science fiction film. The Book of Eli takes place in the not-too-distant future, about 30 years after some kind of nuclear war. The cities are apparently largely empty; the highways are broken, and the earth is thoroughly seared. The most noticeably absent color is green, and everything looks faded and washed out.

Across this wasteland where there is no civilization and no law, a solitary man named Eli (Denzel Washington) walks, heading west. He hopes to find a place, a city where there is a spot of civilization. There, he can deliver a mysterious book he carries. A warrior by necessity, Eli is a peaceful man, but when challenged, he uses almost supernatural speed, cunning, and fighting skill to cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake in fooling with him (think Wesley Snipes’ Blade character).

In a makeshift town, Eli finds his most dangerous adversary yet, Carnegie (Gary Oldman), a self-appointed despot with a small army of thieves and gunmen. Besides Eli, Carnegie is the only one who realizes the power of Eli’s mysterious book. However, Carnegie’s stepdaughter, Solara (Mila Kunis), surprisingly becomes fascinated by Eli, and her decision to choose between Eli and Carnegie will change each man’s fate.

Besides Washington, Gary Oldman also delivers a grand performance, creating the broken down tyrant Carnegie in subtle layers, giving this film the kind of showy crackpot that every action movie needs. In Oldman’s hand, however, this loud, crazy, killer villain is always way, way more than the standard bad guy.

There are other things about The Book of Eli that capture my attention. The religious and spiritual elements are probably the secret ingredients that make this film a winning dish. Or let’s say religion is the independent voter that wins The Book of Eli the election. I think that Hollywood often forgets the complex flavors that Christian elements and themes can give science fiction films.

The other thing that just blows my mind is how good the Hughes Brothers are at directing films (and music videos). Albert and Allen Hughes have both the eye and the visual storytelling acuity in which to tell gripping, grabbing narratives in the motion picture medium. Everything that the brothers direct the camera to capture – a still moment, a scene that cuts from one place to another, a long moving shot – not only looks great, but is also mesmerizing storytelling. The truth is that these guys just don’t make movies as often as they should, and they are robbing us of their amazing talent.

The Book of Eli is the first fantastic film of 2010, which is reason enough to see it. Seeing the under-utilized Jennifer Beals and getting a Malcolm McDowell cameo are obviously delightful extras.

8 of 10
A

Monday, February 01, 2010

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Oscar-winning Director is Also America's Favorite Movie Star

To view the chart that comes with this article, visit Business Wire or Harris Interactive.

Press release from Business Wire:

Clint Eastwood is America’s Favorite Movie Star

Johnny Depp is number 2 and, last year’s favorite, Denzel Washington drops to number 3

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--2009 may be the year that brought the movies back. Between Avatar, the latest Harry Potter movie, Julie and Julia, New Moon from the Twilight series, and so many others, box office revenues topped $10 billion – a new record. Clearly people love going to the movies – and within all the various types of movies out there, everyone has their favorite movie star.

This year there is a new number one for the Harris Poll’s favorite movie star list. Hopefully, we’ve made his day; Clint Eastwood is on top, up one spot from number 2 last year. In second place, jumping up from number 8 last year is the man of many characters, Johnny Depp. Dropping from three years spent at number one, Denzel Washington is at number three this year.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,276 adults surveyed online between December 7 and 14, 2009 by Harris Interactive®.

The Usual Suspects
Returning to the list after a one year absence is Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock, and Forrest Gump, or rather Tom Hanks, moves up two spots this year to number 5. He’s both Up in the Air and back on the list - George Clooney is at number six after two years off the list, and, proving that you can have staying power in Hollywood even after you are no longer making movies, John Wayne is on the list at number 7, down from last year when he was tied for number 3.

She has multiple Academy Awards and for the first time she has a place on this list - Meryl Streep debuts at number 7. With his long career, Morgan Freeman debuted last year on the list at a tie for number 9 and this year he holds that spot alone. Rounding out the list is the Pretty Woman herself, Julia Roberts, in at number 10, down four spots from last year.

Gone With the Wind
This year there are three additions to the list from last year, which means that three actors have dropped out of the top ten. Hancock is a distant memory and Will Smith, who was tied for third place, had no movies in 2009 and is not on the list this year. 2008 saw the new Indiana Jones and last year Harrison Ford was number 5 on the list but has dropped off this year. The third to drop was Angelina Jolie, who was tied for number 9.

For Ordinary People
Different groups have their own favorite movie stars. For women, Johnny Depp is number one while for men it is Clint Eastwood. Clint is also on top for the two older generations, Baby Boomers (those aged 45-63) and Matures (aged 64 and older). The younger generations split with Echo Boomers (aged 18-32) going for Johnny Depp and Gen Xers (those aged 33-44) saying Sandra Bullock is their favorite.

The Harris Poll® #11, January 26, 2010
By Regina Corso, Director, The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive

Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States December 7 and 14, 2009 among 2,276 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.


About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world’s leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what’s next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

©2010 Harris Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. [END]

List of Grammy Winners in Some Major Categories

Winners in selected major categories at 52nd Annual Grammy Awards:


Record of the Year: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

Album of the Year: "Fearless," Taylor Swift

Song of the Year: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On it)," Beyonce Knowles

New Artist: Zac Brown Band

Pop Vocal Album: "The E.N.D.", The Black Eyed Peas

Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Halo," Beyonce Knowles

Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Make It Mine," Jason Mraz

Rock Album: "21st Century Breakdown," Green Day

Rock Song: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

R&B Album: "BLACKsummers'night, "Maxwell

R&B Song: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," Beyonce Knowles

Rap Album: "Relapse," Eminem

Rap Song: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Country Album: "Fearless," Taylor Swift

Female Country Vocal Performance: "White Horse," Taylor Swift

Male Country Vocal Performance: "Sweet Thing," Keith Urban,

Latin Pop Album: "Sin Frenos," La Quinta Estacion

Contemporary Jazz Album: "75," Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate

Classical Album: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio from Symphony No. 10"

Traditional Gospel Album: "Oh Happy Day," various artists

Dance Recording: "Poker Face," Lady Gaga

Electronic Dance Album: "The Fame," Lady Gaga

Alternative Music Album: "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix," Phoenix

Spoken Word Album: "Always Looking Up," Michael J. Fox

Comedy Album: "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!" Stephen Colbert

Go to http://www.grammy.com/ for a complete list of winners.

Beyonce Makes History with 6 Grammy Awards - A "Bits and Bites" Extra

Sunday night, January 31, 2010, at the Staples Center, Beyonce earned six Grammys, the most any woman has won in a single night in the Grammys' 52-year history.  Those six included a win for "Song of the Year" for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," an award she shared with the song's three co-writers.

The big awards were evenly split.  Taylor Swift's Fearless won the night's biggest award, "Album of the Year," beating out Beyonce's I Am...Sasha Fierce, among others.  The Kings of Leon won "Record of the Year" for "Use Somedy," from their album, Only by the Night.  The Zac Brown Band won "Best New Artist."

The Associated Press reporter David Bauder wrote this recap of the ceremony.