Wednesday, November 4

• Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to Host Oscars

  Hugh Jackman, just a few days ago, refused a repeat performance as Oscar host. Yesterday, Cinema Blend reported that Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. had also been offered the job, but turned it down.

  The report closed on a positive note, citing that at least the choice indicated a push towards a younger, hipper direction. In retrospect, this statement is as funny as it is wrong. Why? Because the Academy announced a short time later that its choices for next year's hosts are ... Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.

  Scratch your head. Raise a furrowed brow. Begin discussions of all the odd-couple pairings in TV and movie history. Producer Bill Mechanic had this to say about the selections, made with co-producer Adam Shankman:

  Adam and I, from our first meeting on, knew we wanted an emphasis on comedy. If we err in any one direction, we want to take a show that can feel long and boring at times and make it feel shorter and more fun. The idea of two co-hosts who could move things along just seemed like a great idea.

  In its write-up of the story, The Hollywood Reporter cited some nifty Oscar trivia, pointing out that this would not be the first time the telecast featured multiple hosts. The very first Oscar ceremony in 1929 was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and William C. de Mille. Jerry Lewis and Celeste Holm shared duties in 1957, although they were in different locations (Lewis in Los Angeles, Holm in New York).

  In 1972, the Academy chose the trio of Sammy Davis Jr., Helen Hayes, and Alan King, and again went for a trifecta in 1987 with Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, and Paul Hogan.

  In response to Tuesday's decision, Martin quipped, "I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin." Baldwin followed by saying, "I don't play the banjo, but I'm thrilled to be hosting the Oscars."

  
  

  Posted 11/04/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Adam Shankman | Alec Baldwin | Ben Stiller | Hugh Jackman | Steve Martin | Robert Downey Jr. | Bill Mechanic

Thursday, July 30

• Sam Rockwell Flattered by Oscar Buzz Over Moon

  

  

  Though most of the current buzz surrounding actor Sam Rockwell has had to do with his recent appearance at San Diego Comic-Con and his participation in next summer's Iron Man 2, Rockwell is currently starring in an independent movie with a minimal budget and an even smaller cast that's winning over fans and critics alike. Moon is the directorial debut of Duncan Jones, aka rocker David Bowie's son Zowie Bowie, and was specificially written by Jones and Nathan Parker with Rockwell in mind.

  In a performance that Wired called "intensely introspective" and The Times called "poignant," Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, a blue-collar lunar employee who struggles with the effects of long-term isolation after a three-year stint. With nods to 2001: A Space Odyssey and gritty sci-fi like Outland, Moon was initially only released in New York and Los Angeles but is now in wider release, thanks to critical praise and positive word-of-mouth. Some are even calling Rockwell's performance Oscar-worthy.

  Rockwell is less concerned about the talk of awards than he is the fact that people have the chance to see the movie. When asked about the prospect of an Academy Award nomination during Comic-Con's Iron Man 2 Q&A, Rockwell said:

  It's very flattering. It's a nice thing to say. You know, from their mouth to God's ears. But, you know, right now it's early in the year for that kind of stuff. It's very nice. It's very nice to hear that kind of validation. It's a small movie that I thought was going to disappear after a week or two that's still around, so I'm really excited about it.

  I'm a sci-fi fan, so I'm just proud to be a part of it. I'm really excited. I didn't think anybody was going to see it and more people have seen it than I thought.

  
  
  

  Moon - Clip

  Sam Rockwell gives a performance that's, sigh, out of this world.

  Posted 07/30/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Sam Rockwell | Duncan Jones | Moon

Monday, February 23

• The Academy Awards Wrap-Up: Best Director Danny Boyle

  

  In the final interview of the night, Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson spoke about the tremendous success of their small, independent movie made for only "7 million pounds" in the day of $100-million budgets and the importance of having independent movies in the days of huge blockbusters "The studios -- and it's difficult of course, because they are under pressure -- the studios have got to protect them as well. Because that's where everybody starts, and they go on," said Boyle, who started out with the low-budget thriller Shallow Grave, about which Boyle reminded the press:

  The whole film cost a million pounds. That's where you learn your craft, and you don't know what you are doing, you know. And I think that keeping it that way, you don't know what you are doing half the time; it's really important.

  Considering Slumdog's almost-$100-million box office and 8 Oscars, it seems like "not knowing what you are doing" worked out well for the uplifting love story, which Boyle described as a "heavily disguised love story."

  And all the success sure feels good. Boyle described the night by quoting W.H. Auden:

  He talks about Americans 'putting jukeboxes on the moon.' I love that expression, and that's what tonight feels like. Just amazing like that. The bringing together of things that are just so unlikely, and yet wonderful, and about entertainment and pleasure and exploring things and changing things.

  
  

  Posted 02/23/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Danny Boyle | Slumdog Millionaire

• The Academy Awards Wrap-Up: Best Actor Sean Penn

  

  Sean Penn, who next to Best Original Screenplay winner Dustin Lance Black, made the most political statements in his acceptance speech, was asked mostly political questions backstage after his Oscar win. Both Penn and Black were asked what they think President Obama should do about gay rights in America. Penn felt confident that gay rights would change:

  We know his public position as far as the specific issue of gay marriage has not been, let's say, officially supportive of that. I would like to believe that that's a political stand right now and not necessarily a future one or a felt one. Because it's not a luxury, it's a human need, [Obama]'ll adapt. I'm more focused in letting him know that we will support him in taking those kinds of initiatives.

  Earlier, Black was also vocal about gay rights after he accepted his Oscar:

  There's a few things that I would love him to do immediately, which is to repeal "don't ask don't tell," and DMA, Defensive Marriage Act. But I do think that for inspiration for the gay community, we need to look not to Proposition 8, but dream bigger and look back to 1964 and the Civil Rights Act, because no group has ever won full civil rights in this country going state by state or county by county. I think it is time for the gay and lesbian community to have a federal civil rights act for full civil rights.

  As for Mickey Rourke, Penn continued to be complimentary to the actor he took the Oscar from:

  I've known Mickey for over 25 years. He had me almost throughout The Wrestler, weeping. Comebacks are funny, and we talk about it with [Rourke], but everyone in this room has to make a comeback every day. I think what's sensational about him is what's always sensational about him; he's one of the great poetic talents in acting that we have.

  
  

  Posted 02/23/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Sean Penn | Milk

• The Academy Awards Wrap-Up: Best Actress Kate Winslet

  

  In the press room, Kate Winslet was asked whom she would like to pass the gutsy nude-scene torch to, and Winslet took a long time to answer. "I got to go for a woman actually and be really controversial. Susan Sarandon."

  Winslet said she still feels like a "Reading [England, her hometown] girl," telling backstage that her parents, who were at the Oscars, were pretty excited about her mother winning a pickled onion competition. She posed with her Oscar in front of the microphone for the local Reading paper. "This is for you," she said.

  As for the possible actor's strike, Winslet says "I really, really hope we don't strike right now. Not for us actors here, but for the actors like my dad who depended on the occasional voice over or commercial job."

  Back to the nude scenes, how was it for her to do a nude scene with her husband as director? "He saw me nude before he ever met me, so honestly he's used to it."

  
  

  Posted 02/23/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Kate Winslet | The Reader

• The Academy Awards Wrap-Up: WALL-E Director Andrew Stanton

  

  After winning for Best Animated Feature Film, director Andrew Stanton was asked if the character development and depth of WALL-E was a sign of where animated movies were heading:

  To be honest we were trying to go that deep with the first movie we made at Pixar. Toy Story was an attempt to just show that it's a movie and we just happen to be using animation as a medium to tell it. It's like saying because it's in black and white suddenly it means it has to be a cop movie or mystery. It's very odd. We have just been trying to make the most sophisticated film that we can with the very deep characters, and we assume that if it's well told then any age will understand it. So, that's been sort of the same attack on every film.

  While Stanton already has an Oscar, he was no less pleased with the Oscar for WALL-E:

  WALL-E really was the most unique personal film I could have made, and I really expected it to speak to a minority, not a majority, because I felt I had gotten away with that with Nemo. So, to get this kind of response, it just really gives you a lot of confidence to listen to that little voice inside you again the next time.

  For more with Stanton, read our pre-Oscars interview.

  
  

  Posted 02/23/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Andrew Stanton | Wall-E

Sunday, February 22

• 81st Academy Awards Winners

  

  Actress in a Leading Role		Kate Winslet, The Reader
  Actor in a Leading Role		Sean Penn, Milk
  Actress in a Supporting Role		Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
  Actor in a Supporting Role		Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
  Best Animated Feature Film		Wall-E
  Achievement in Directing		Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle
  Original Screenplay		Milk, Dustin Lance Black
  Adapted Screenplay		Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy
  Best Motion Picture		Slumdog Millionaire
  OTHER AWARDS
  Animated Short		Le Maison en Petits Cubes
  Art Direction		The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Donald Graham Burt
  Costume Design		The Duchess, Michael O'Connor
  Makeup		The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Greg Cannom
  Cinematography		Slumdog Millionaire, Anthony Dod Mantle
  Live Action Short		Spielzeugland (Toyland)
  Documentary		Man on Wire
  Documentary Short		Smile Pinki
  Visual Effects		The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  Sound Editing		The Dark Knight
  Sound Mixing		Slumdog Millionaire
  Film Editing		Slumdog Millionaire
  Original Score		Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman
  Original Song		"Jal Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman
  Foreign Language		Departures

  
  

  Posted 02/22/2009 by reelz

  Related: Kate Winslet | Simon Beaufoy | Danny Boyle | Sean Penn | Heath Ledger | Penelope Cruz | Dustin Lance Black | A.R. Rahman | Donald Burt | Anthony Mantle | Greg Cannom | Milk | Slumdog Millionaire | Wall-E | The Reader | Vicky Cristina Barcelona | The Duchess | Departures | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Man on Wire

• The Academy Awards: Live Blogging Part 3

  

  8:02 Heath Ledger's family spoke backstage about the late actor's Oscar going to his daughter Matilda. According Heath's father, Kim Ledger: "With the Oscar you're all aware what they do in this special circumstance for somebody when somebody passes away, then the next of kin, in this case Matilda, will be the recipient really. But she can't sign for it until she's 18, so it stays in trust here or in Australia. We'll work that out, but possibly in trust here until Matilda turns 18." Onstage, Slumdog wins for the 6th time, this time with Best Song winner "Jai Ho."

  8:08 Backstage, Richard King, winner in Sound Editing for the Dark Knight said those who worked on the movie "wanted director Chis Nolan to be nominated." Onstage, Japan's Departures wins for Foreign Language Film. Domo Arigato again, Mr. Roboto. Wherever you are.

  8:15 Resul Pookutty, Sound Mixing winner for Slumdog, talked about the "history" he spoke of in his acceptance speech. "No technician from India has been nominated," he said. "I am the first technician from India to be nominated and to win. It is an honor." Another feel-good story from the feel-good movie on a hot streak of wins.

  8:23 Best Director presenter Reese Witherspoon, whose dress made it look like she was wearing a backpack, gave out the award to...Danny Boyle for his incredible work on 28 Days Later, er, Slumdog Millionaire, making the tally a strong 7 awards, clearly the movie with the most awards. Sorry, Button. There's still the Actor in a Leading Role and Best Motion Picture awards.

  8:29 Time for the big run-out of awards, with both Leading Actor and Actress awards, and Best Motion Picture. First up, Leading Actress. And the Oscar goes to...Kate Winslet for The Reader, winning over 15-time nominee Meryl Streep."I'd be lying if I didn't say I'd practiced this speech before, I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror. This [the Oscar] would have been a shampoo bottle. Well, it's not a shampoo bottle now," said Winslet.

  8:37 Now it's time for the men. This year's version of clips from the actual performance, the round table of big name presenters, here included Michael Douglas, Ben Kingsley, Robert DeNiro, Anthony Hopkins and, well, Adrian Brody, as well. Sitting behind Mickey Rourke is Twilight's Robert Pattinson, who could not look more bored. And the award went to...Sean Penn for Harvey Milk. "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns," Penn told the crowd. " Then Penn went political, talking about the "signs of hatred" which were held by protesters near the Oscars saying such loving quotes as "God Hates Obama" and had no love for the gay community. Penn ended with a shout-out to "brother" Mickey Rourke, who many thought would be the winner tonight, a small reward for the upset.

  8:50 The Best Motion Picture category went back to clips, before handing the award to the clear favorite...Slumdog Millionaire. Hope you enjoyed a great Oscars. Stay tuned to Reelzchannel.com for Oscars wrap-up!

  
  

  Posted 02/22/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Kate Winslet | Danny Boyle | Sean Penn | Milk | Slumdog Millionaire | The Reader

• The Academy Awards: Live Blogging Part 2

  

  6:45 The unofficial sequel for Pineapple Express added some levity to the proceedings, as James Franco, Seth Rogen, and 2-time Academy Award winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminsky poked fun with the rather dramatic-ness of the Best Film nominees.

  6:52 More singing and dancing with Hugh Jackman! Nothing makes a comic book fan more excited for X-Men Origins: Wolverine than seeing a full Broadway display from Wolverine himself.

  7:07 Another quorum delivers the award for Actor is a Supporting Role. For those curious about Philip Seymour Hoffman's tuxedo and knit cap outfit, it is chilly in the Kodak theater.  And the award goes to...Heath Ledger, who joins Peter Finch as an actor to receive an Oscar posthumously. Ledger's father, mother, and sister accepted the award for him.

  7:12 Best Documentary Feature goes to Man on Wire, the movie about Philippe Petit's high-wire act, and the specch ended with Petit balancing the head of the Oscar on his chin, sure to join Roberto Benigni's insanity and Jack Palance's push-up in a future "Crazy Moments of Oscar Speech History" montage.

  7:27 Another win for Benjamin Button, this time for Achievement in Visual Effects. That's 3 for Button and 2 for Slumdog. The Award for Sound Editing went to The Dark Knight.

  7:31 Slumdog evens the score at 3, winning over Button for the second time (Slumdog beat Button for Cinematography as well) with an award for Sound Mixing. Wow, make that 4 for Slumdog, with the win for Film Editing.

  7:55 Jerry Lewis wins the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and Slumdog continues its onslaught with another win for Best Score. That's 5 now for Slumdog.

  7:58 Animated Short Film winner Kunio Kato spoke backstage about his favorite part of the Oscars. "Meeting Jack Black. I've always wanted to be as funny as him." Well, saying "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto" in your acceptance speech is a good start.

  
  

  Posted 02/22/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Jerry Lewis | Heath Ledger | Philippe Petit | The Dark Knight | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Slumdog Millionaire

• The Academy Awards: Live Blogging Part 1

  

  4:58PM Hey, Ryan here live in the press room at the Academy Awards. The show has yet to officially start, with a half hour of red carpet interviews left before the show begins, plenty of time to get your Oscar Bingo Cards ready.

  5:39 With the red carpet portion of the show done, it's time to see what Hugh Jackman can do as host of the Academy Awards. Plenty of jokes about his home country, and the usual host opening number. He might not be a comedian, but I can't imagine Billy Crystal pulling off the dancing so well.

  5:43 Now that Jackman's obligatory Wolverine plug is over , it's time to see an Award, starting with Actress in a Supporting Role. And the award goes to...Penelope Cruz for Vicky Christina Barcelona.

  5:52 Time to award the writers. Dustin Lance Black wins for Original Screenplay for Milk with an emotional and politically-minded speech. The Oscar for Adapted Screenplay is next, with Simon Beaufoy's script winning for Slumdog Millionaire, in what could be the first of many Slumdog Oscars.

  6:05 The fairly new catagory of Best Animated Feature Film is next, with three whole movies nominated: WALL-E, Bolt and Kung Fu Panda. And the winner, no surprise to anyone, is...Bolt. I'm kidding! Of course, it's WALL-E.

  6:10 An early favorite for best speech of the night goes to Japan's Kunio Kato, winner for Animated Short Film, who thanked a variety of people including "Mr. Roboto." Cue the band with STYX! No? Oh, ok. Well, anyway, great speech, Kunio.

  6:24 With 10 nominations for Slumdog Millionaire and 13 for Benjamin Button, the running tally for the two most nominated movies stands as 1 for Slumdog to 2 for Button after Button wins for both Achievement in Art Direction and Makeup.

  6:25 Twilight sighting! I couldn't tell what was happening when Robert Pattinson was on stage due to all the high-pitched screaming in the press room.

  6:30 Emotions still run high backstage for Dustin Lance Black. "Harvey gave me his story and it saved my life," he said. The same could be said for Penelope Cruz, however, she continued where she left off at the end of her acceptance speech, speaking mostly in Spanish. If she had said "The library is green" I definitely would have understood it, but I'm pretty sure she didn't. Wait, she spoke in English!  Cruz mentions that she wondered about the "tone" of Vicky Christina Barcelona, but "never doubted the genius of Woody Allen."

  6:34 Make that 2 to 2! Slumdog wins another, this time for Cinematography.

  
  

  Posted 02/22/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Hugh Jackman | Simon Beaufoy | Penelope Cruz | Dustin Lance Black | Wall-E | Vicky Cristina Barcelona | Milk | Slumdog Millionaire

Thursday, February 19

• It's Oscar Time, Can You Say B-I-N-G-O?

  Whether you're watching the Academy Awards at home or at a party, we've got just the item to make the event all the more entertaining. Or is that entertaining? Hugh Jackman may be People's "Sexiest Man Alive" but he isn't exactly known for his killer wit.

  So print our set of Oscars Bingo cards -- then play along to stay awake.

  
  
  Next Showing: The 81st Annual Academy Awards air Feb. 22 at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET

  Posted 02/19/2009 by reelz

  Related: Hugh Jackman

Tuesday, February 17

• Interview with Wall-E Director and Writer Andrew Stanton

  Pixar's 2008 release about a robot janitor left to tidy up a polluted earth was a hit with parents and kids, not to mention the critics. This Sunday, Wall-E is up for six Academy Awards -- Best Original Screenplay, Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.

  What's it like to garner that many nominations for an animated movie? Wall-E's director and writer Andrew Stanton told us, along with details about how he managed to get some sleep the night before the Oscar nominations were announced. See our interview with Stanton.

  
  

  Posted 02/17/2009 by reelz

  Related: Andrew Stanton | Wall-E

Tuesday, February 10

• Oscar Predictions: Who Will Win? Who Should Win?

  When the Oscar nominations were announced in January, they were pretty underwhelming. Seriously, 13 nominations for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Even card-carrying David Fincher fans, who'd been looking forward to that movie for years, have said the end result just wasn't that good.

  And where's The Dark Knight love? We're happy to see Heath Ledger get the acclaim, but we don't think a Best Picture or Directing nod should have been so far-fetched. For a movie of any kind, let alone a comic flick, Knight was a terrific achievement that raised the bar for what a superhero movie can be. It was financially successful and loved by critics and fans, alike.

  So when February 22 rolls around, who do we think will win? And, more important, who do we think should win? Find out in our Oscar predictions.

  
  

  Posted 02/10/2009 by reelz

  Related: David Fincher | Heath Ledger | The Dark Knight | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Thursday, January 22

• Oscar Nominations Announced

  The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning in Los Angeles at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills. ReelzChannel was in attendance bright and early for the 5:38 a.m. announcement made by Academy President Sid Ganis and actor Forest Whitaker.
  

  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button led nominations with 13 while Slumdog Millionaire followed with 10. 
  

  Fingers were crossed for a Dark Knight Best Picture nod, but it wasn't to be. Heath Ledger was posthumously nominated for his memorable portrayal of The Joker. Knight scored a total of eight nominations, though they were primarily in the technical categories.

  Clint Eastwood was snubbed almost all around. Angelina Jolie got the nod for Changeling, but  Gran Torino was nowhere to be found.
  

  Check out our Full List of Nominations for more.

  
  

  Posted 01/22/2009 by reelz

  Related: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Slumdog Millionaire

Thursday, January 15

• BAFTA Nominations Announced

  The BAFTA nominations were announced today in London. Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Slumdog Millionaire led the noms with 11 apiece. The Dark Knight followed with nine nominations, including another posthumous nom for Heath Ledger, while Clint Eastwood's Changeling got eight nominations.

  The five best film nominations were Slumdog, Button, The Reader, Frost/Nixon and Milk.

  The Awards will be handed out February 8th in a ceremony hosted by Jonathan Ross.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 01/15/2009 by reelz

Tuesday, January 13

• Olivia Wilde Hypes Tron Sequel

  An interview with House star Olivia Wilde before the Golden Globes shed some light on the upcoming Tron sequel. Wilde talked to MTV about the technology used in the movie, as well as the fashion, which Wilde claims will have a "ripple effect" on modern times. Get ready for clothing with neon piping throughout! Check out the interview below.

  
  

  Posted 01/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Olivia Wilde | Tron: Legacy

• Could Two-Face Return in Batman 3?

  Aaron Eckhart, the actor who portrayed Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, was interrogated by MTV at the Golden Globes about a possible resurrection of the villain in the next Batman movie, and while he does an admirable job of holding his tongue, it's what he DOESN'T say that makes one wonder whether he actually knows something we don't -- and is just not letting on. Check out the clip and let us know if you think Two-Face will return for the sequel.

  
  

  Posted 01/13/2009 by Jim

  Related: Aaron Eckhart | Batman 3

Sunday, January 11

• Golden Globe Awards Ceremony: Live Blogging Part 3

  11:40 PM And that wraps our live blog from the 2009 Golden Globes. Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Again, be sure to check out our Full List of Golden Globe Winners.
  
  11:35 PM The night's big winners from Slumdog Millionaire are now backstage to discuss their big night. Danny Boyle on the wins: "We never expected to be here, obviously, and it's incredible to be here. The Globes give us a platform that presents the film to the world. We release it Friday the 23rd in India. It's extraordinary to have this validation from Bollywood to Hollywood."
  
  11:27 PM Kate Winslet backstage on her historic double win: "I was so shocked to win one. Honestly, I absolutely cannot believe it. It's amazing."
  
  In a strange turn on the questions, a journalist follows by complimenting the actress on her nude scenes and asking her when men will do full frontal nudity like she has done. "Thank you so much," Winslet says laughing. "That was a really good segue. I have to duck out of that one. I can't answer that question. Sorry."
  
  11:20 PM Backstage Mickey Rourke is in good spirits. Rourke comments on his comeback: "I just kept trying to change and work hard and not slip back into my old ways. When I left the business I thought I could get back into it in two or three years and it took 13 or so. It was a long journey."
  
  11:11 PM Make a wish. We now have the Full List of Golden Globe Winners for you. We'll be waiting here in the press room for a little bit for a few reactions from the last winners of the night.
  
  11:02 PM The show is wrapping up with the final awards of the night. Mickey Rourke takes Best Actor for his exceptional performance as "The Ram" in The Wrestler. And for Best Motion Picture? Well, it should probably come as no surprise at this point that it's Slumdog's night. Danny Boyle's breakout hit takes home four Golden Globes, including Best Picture and Best Director.
  
  10:39 PM Kate Winslet is a double winner tonight, taking home the Globe for Best Actress for Revolutionary Road in addition to her earlier Best Supporting Actress win for The Reader. Winslet is beside herself, tearing up as she speaks and trying to pull herself together. Like millions of girls across the world, Winslet confesses her love for Leo as she thanks him for his work opposite her in Road and Titanic. 
  
  10:31 PM Sacha Baron Cohen, better known as Borat, Bruno, and Ali G, comes out to present the Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture. Commenting on the recent economic issues, he makes a few jokes about the concessions being made by celebrities.  "Madonna has had to get rid of one of her personal assistants," Baron Cohen tells the audience. "Our thoughts go out to you Guy Ritchie." Baron Cohen's underhanded remark gets a lukewarm reception from the room full of celebs.
  
  10:27 PM Backstage Sigourney Weaver comments on the possibility of returning to play Ripley in another Alien movie: "I have to say I play a very dynamic character in Avatar, so it was fun to go back into space. I think it's more satisfying to create something new. I love the Alien films, but I think enough already."
  
  

  Posted 01/11/2009 by reelz

• Golden Globe Awards Ceremony: Live Blogging Part 2

  10:22 PM Backstage Steven Spielberg is asked whether he might consider revisiting any of his characters again. "Visit them again?" asks Spielberg. "You mean like bring them out of mothballs? Not really. Some day there may be another Indiana Jones. George and I have had a couple of conversations about 'What If?' we made another Indiana Jones film, but right now we aren't in the position to do that."

  10:15 PM The Slumdog sweep continues. Last Chance Harvey co-stars Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman just handed Danny Boyle the Globe for Best Director Motion Picture.

  9:59 PM This year's Cecil B. DeMille Award is being presented to Steven Spielberg. Martin Scorsese presents the award before a montage of clips from the lengthy list of movies and shows directed and produced by Spielberg. Spielberg gives a speech thanking the Hollywood Foreign Press for the award and leading off with a story about his first trip to the movies, which was, in fact, a DeMille Picture.

  9:45 PM Kate Beckinsale and Sean Combs (aka Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, Sean John, Diddy Bop, and Stay Puft) hand out the Globe for Best Original Score from a Motion Picture. A.R. Rahman wins for Slumdog Millionaire, which takes home its second award tonight along with Best Original Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy. Looks like Danny Boyle's breakout hit might be on its way to a big night.
  
  9:29 PM Renee Zellweger is on stage to present The Reader as one of the nominees for Best Motion Picture. Zellweger is wearing an absolutely hideous dress that looks like a reject from Cruella De Vil's wardrobe.
  
  9:05 PM EST Backstage Tom Hanks gets asked about the Prop 8 vote pertaining to gay marriage in California and gives a nice little speech about how everyone should be free to love openly. Another journalist tries to get Hanks to comment on the ever-impending actors' strike and upcoming related meetings. When Hanks gives a standard answer, the journalist accuses him of avoiding the question. Hanks sarcastically jokes that he doesn't have the journalist's clairvoyance to see into the future to a meeting that hasn't happened yet. A little tense in the press room for a moment there. 

  
  

  Posted 01/11/2009 by reelz

• Golden Globe Awards Ceremony: Live Blogging Part 1

  8:57 PM Queen cougar Demi Moore is on stage to hand out Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. And the Globe goes to... Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight. The posthumous win creates a somber tone in the audience. Christopher Nolan accepts the award for Ledger. "He will be eternally missed," says the director.
  
  8:48 PM Backstage WALL-E director Andrew Stanton comments on his win. "It was made out of such pure love of cinema," says the director. "I've never narrowed it to a demographic. We've just made what we want to see. We're just lucky enough that we're immature enough that the kids seem to like it, too."
  
  8:43 PM Johnny Depp hands out the Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy to Sally Hawkins from Happy-Go-Lucky, which is the night's first big upset. The young actress wins over heavyweights Emma Thompson, Frances McDormand, and Meryl Streep.
  

  8:38 PM Ricky Gervais is injecting some much-needed life into the show with a few off-color jokes. He looks to Kate Winslet and says: "I told you, do a Holocaust movie [if you want an award]. The trouble with Holocaust movies is there's never a gag reel on the DVD." The Jonas Brothers hand out the award for Best Animated Feature. WALL-E takes it. No surprise at all there. One of my favorite's of 2008.

  8:30 PM A lot of the TV awards are going on right now. Future Star Trekkers Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are out to present the Best Actress TV Award.

  8:09 PM "The Boss" just scored a Globe for his theme song to The Wrestler. He makes a joke about this being the only time he'd be nominated against Clint Eastwood.

  8:00 PM EST Jeff Otto from ReelzChannel.com live here in the Golden Globes press room. All the celebrities are finishing up their red carpet dance and the show is about to get started. J-Lo  comes out in a slinky gold dress. Up first is Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. And the Golden Globe goes to... Kate Winslet for The Reader.
  

  
  

  Posted 01/11/2009 by reelz

Thursday, January 8

• Slumdog Goes the Distance

  Echoing its own underdog plot, Slumdog Millionaire came out on top with five "Bests" at the Critics' Choice Awards tonight: Picture, Director, Writer, Young Actor/Actress, and Composer.

  The only other multiple award winner was Sean Penn (Milk), who received critical nods for Best Actor and Best Acting Ensemble. For more details, see 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards Winners.

  
  

  Posted 01/08/2009 by reelz

  Related: Sean Penn | Slumdog Millionaire | Milk

• DGA Director Nominees Announced

  The Directors Guild of America has announced its nominees for 2008. They are Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire; David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon; Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight and Gus Van Sant for Milk.

  Ron Howard is the only previous winner from the group, having taken home the award twice for A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13.

  Winners will be announced January 31st at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

  Source: Variety
  

  
  

  Posted 01/08/2009 by reelz

  Related: David Fincher | Gus Van Sant | Slumdog Millionaire | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Wednesday, January 7

• A Dark Knight for Fans

  Awards season began tonight and the people have spoken. As box-office records have already shown, The Dark Knight is a huge hit with fans. It won five "favorites" at the People's Choice Awards: Movie, Action Movie, Cast, On Screen Match Up, and Superhero.

  Other multiple award winners include The Secret Life of Bees and Will Smith. For more details, see our list of Winners in the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards.

  
  

  Posted 01/07/2009 by reelz

  Related: Will Smith | The Dark Knight | The Secret Life of Bees

Monday, January 5

• PGA Nominations Announced

  The Producer's Guild of America has announced its nominees for the 2008 movie year. Producers of Slumdog Millionaire, The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button were nominated. The 3,600 members of the PGA will vote on winners, which will be announced January 24th at the Hollywood Palladium.

  Traditionally, these PGA nominations have helped to determine the producers nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration.

  The PGA also nominated Bolt, Kung Fu Panda and WALL-E in the animated feature category.

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 01/05/2009 by reelz

Friday, December 26

• The Critics' Choices for 2008

  Tune in tonight at 6:00 PM ET/PT, and then throughout the weekend, for RC Special Edition: The Critics’ Choice for 2008. This half-hour show takes a look at the best movies of the year, as chosen by individual members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

  Host Sam Rubin (a member of the BFCA) interviews five critics from around the country, who give us their top movies, actors, and actresses of the year. The featured critics are Pete Hammond of Hollywood.com and Backstage Magazine, Scott Mantz of Access Hollywood, Carrie Keagan of No Good TV, Chris Gore of G4TV's Attack of the Show and publisher of FilmThreat.com, Dorothy Lucey of Good Day LA, and David Poland of Movie City News.

  In addition, four other members debate the lists in two lively sessions, patterned after Dailies popular Reelz in the Round format. Curious what movies are earning top nods from critics? See our list of Movies with 85+ Ratings from the BFCA.

  
  

  Posted 12/26/2008 by reelz

Friday, December 19

• Casting Doubt

  John Patrick Shanley's Doubt has traveled far in the past four years -- from its off-Broadway beginnings to Broadway success to holiday-release movie. Awards buzz has followed Shanley's work throughout. The play won a Pulitzer Prize along with several Tony and Drama Desk awards. To date, the movie has racked up 10 SAG and Golden Globe nominations, with Oscar season fast approaching.

  Shanley's success isn't too surprising, given the caliber of talent he's brought to his casts. In the movie, Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman star as the embattled Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn. Recently, ReelzChannel sat down with both stars to discuss bringing this tale about the consequences of blind justice to the big screen. See our interview with Meryl Streep and interview with Philip Seymour Hoffman.

  
  
  

  Doubt - Trailer

  Now In Theaters

  Posted 12/19/2008 by reelz

  Related: Meryl Streep | John Patrick Shanley | Philip Seymour Hoffman | Doubt

Thursday, December 18

• Heath Ledger Nominated by SAG

  The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild has nominated Heath Ledger in the category of "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role" for his take on The Joker in The Dark Knight. This marks the second time Ledger's name has been put forth for a SAG award. He claimed two SAG Awards for his work on Brokeback Mountain -- one for "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role" and one for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture."

  Although snubbed for "Best Picture," The Dark Knight was nominated in another category, that of "Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture."

  
  

  Posted 12/18/2008 by reelz

  Related: Heath Ledger | The Dark Knight | Brokeback Mountain

• Mamma Mia! What a Week It's Been

  The Winner Takes It All; Money, Money, Money -- there's no shortage of puns to describe Mamma Mia! The Movie's blockbuster week. The Golden Globe-nominated comedy is now the "most successful movie musical of all time worldwide."

  On the first day of sales, DVD purchases topped 2.25 million, which translates into nearly $40 million in gross revenues. Also on Tuesday, news broke that Mamma Mia! capsized the UK box-office sales record that was held for nearly a decade by Titanic.

  Our best guess for this phenomenal success? That the world is in need of some unbridled cheer right now -- not that Pierce Brosnan's singing is bringing the fans in droves.

  
  

  Posted 12/18/2008 by reelz

  Related: Pierce Brosnan | Mamma Mia!

• The Wrestler Review

  The Wrestler is an eye-opening look at the dark underbelly of professional wrestling. On the big screen, pro wrestling has traditionally been approached from a comical perspective. After all, it's fake, right? But writer Robert D. Siegel's dark script goes far deeper, an examination of the tolls such a lifestyle can take on a former hero once the big shows have stopped calling.

  By now, you've probably heard plenty about Mickey Rourke's revealing emotional performance as The Ram. The praise is no exaggeration. He digs deep, disappearing within this characterization, turning in the finest performance of his career.

  Read more in our review of The Wrestler.

  
  
  

  The Wrestler - Trailer

  Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei Star - Now in Theaters

  Posted 12/18/2008 by reelz

  Related: The Wrestler

Thursday, December 11

• Golden Globe Nominations Announced

  David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon lead nominations with five apiece. Heath Ledger received his expected posthumous nomination for his stellar performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight, although the nod was the only love the Globes showed the year's most successful fan favorite.

  In the "Musical or Comedy" categories, much love was shown for In Bruges and Vicky Christina Barcelona, with both being nominated for Best Picture as well as two nods apiece in the Musical or Comedy acting categories.

  Mickey Rourke continues to draw acclaim for his transformation in The Wrestler, while his costar Marisa Tomei (considered an outside chance) was nominated in the supporting category. Bruce Springsteen's theme song was also nominated.

  78-year-old Clint Eastwood shows no signs of slowing down. The Hollywood legend surfaced in two unusual categories, nominated for Changeling's score and the theme song to Gran Torino, which Eastwood sings.

  See all the movie Golden Globe Nominations.

  
  

  Posted 12/11/2008 by reelz

  Related: Clint Eastwood | Marisa Tomei | Bruce Springsteen | Heath Ledger | The Wrestler | Vicky Cristina Barcelona | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | The Dark Knight | Frost/Nixon

Friday, November 21

• The Wrestler Trailer

  Nearly two months ago Variety teased us with their review of Mickey Rourke's performance in The Wrestler, calling it a "galvanizing, humorous, deeply moving portrait that instantly takes its place among the great, iconic screen performances." The movie, directed by Darren Aronofsky, is getting Oscar buzz, too, and we've finally got the trailer.
  
  
  

  
  
  Next Showing: The Wrestler opens in limited release December 17

  Posted 11/21/2008 by reelz

  Related: Darren Aronofsky | The Wrestler

Wednesday, November 12

• Will Slumdog Millionaire Win the Big Prize?

  In Slumdog Millionaire, a poor orphan without any schooling makes it to the final round of India's biggest quiz show, causing an entire nation to wonder how he's doing it -- and the police to arrest him on suspicion of cheating when the show breaks for the evening.

  Despite winning numerous festival and audience awards, Slumdog initially wasn't going to be released in the U.S. Director Danny Boyle says, "It's sort of a bit like the story in the film really -- the film and this guy apparently [have] no prospects and then they get turned around and suddenly fortune beckons."

  The movie was inspired by Q & A: A Novel, the first book by Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup. To write the movie's original script, Simon Beaufoy "had to go to Bombay and rediscover a whole life story for this character...while keeping this very seductive core of [the novel]."

  To find more details about Slumdog Millionaire, which is being viewed as an Oscar contender, see our interview with Slumdog director and interview with the movie's writer.

  
  
  Next Showing: Slumdog Millionaire opens nationwide today

  Posted 11/12/2008 by reelz

  Related: Simon Beaufoy | Danny Boyle | Slumdog Millionaire

Wednesday, November 5

• Defiance, the Other Daniel Craig Flick

  Quantum of Solace may be the center of attention at the moment, but another Daniel Craig flick, Defiance, could be the one enjoying the spotlight come Oscar time. The Ed Zwick-directed period piece, based on the true story of three Belarusian brothers who helped liberate a Nazi death camp during World War II, has been steadily gathering buzz as a possible awards contender.

  Defiance is set to premiere at the AFI Fest on November 9; the rest of us will get a chance to see what all the buzz is about when it opens wide on January 16, 2009. In the meantime, check out the new Defiance trailer.

  
  
  

  Defiance - New Trailer

  Daniel Craig Stars - Opening wide on January 9, 2009

  Posted 11/05/2008 by reelz

  Related: Daniel Craig | Defiance

Friday, October 31

• Wall-E Coming to DVD and Blu-ray November 18

  Disney announced today that Wall-E, the top-grossing animated feature of 2008, will arrive on DVD and Blu-ray on November 18. The home-video debut of the highly acclaimed CG flick, which the Mouse House co-produced with Pixar, comes just in time for Holiday shopping season -- and to remind Academy voters that Wall-E is a legitimate contender for the Best Picture Oscar.

  No less than three different DVD versions and two different Blu-ray versions of Wall-E will be available for consumers to choose from. Each release will contain the feature film as well as several bonus features, including the all-new animated short film BURN-E.

  
  

  Posted 10/31/2008 by reelz

  Related: Wall-E

Wednesday, October 15

• Frost/Nixon Leaving Some Critics Cold

  When news broke that Frost/Nixon, the acclaimed stage play from British playwright Peter Morgan, was going to be adapted for the big screen with Academy favorite Ron Howard attached to direct, pundits immediately pegged it as a potential Oscar contender.

  Looks like something was lost in the translation.

  According to Los Angeles Times writer Patrick Goldstein, reviews so far have been decidedly mixed for the flick, which premiered last night at the London Film Festival. Criticism for Frost/Nixon is broad-based, with director Howard and co-stars Frank Langella and Michael Sheen all taking their lumps.

  Frost/Nixon could very well turn out to be the Mitt Romney of the Oscar race: Good-looking, highly-hyped, and destined for an early exit.

  
  
  Next Showing: Us Yanks will get the chance to form our own opinion on Frost/Nixon when it opens in select theaters on December 5th.

  Posted 10/15/2008 by reelz

  Related: Frost/Nixon

Monday, September 22

• Spike Lee on His New Joint: Miracle at St. Anna

  Spike Lee's latest -- the 2-hour-and-40-minute war epic Miracle at St. Anna -- is getting a lot of buzz for its graphic portrayal of the horrors of war. It's also being mentioned as an early Oscar contender. We recently chatted with the prolific director about the movie and a potential Inside Man sequel in our interview with Spike Lee.

  
  
  Next Showing: Miracle at St. Anna opens fairly widely Friday, September 26
  

  Miracle at St. Anna Trailer

  Laz Alonso in this Spike Lee Joint

  Posted 09/22/2008 by reelz

  Related: Spike Lee | Miracle at St. Anna