20 Weeks To Oscar
by David Poland

As The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Cold Mountain start screening for guilds - days ahead of any press screenings, once again proving that the media doesn’t much matter in the plans for some movies – the Oscar fog is beginning to lift.

The picture on The Last Samurai is getting pretty clear. Critics are likely to shred it. Audiences are likely to embrace it. When it comes to The Academy, the audience mood is likely to overwhelm the critical one, so I’m beginning to see Samurai as a legitimate contender for a Best Picture nomination, with all the nomination bells & whistles that go with that. (My review will run in The Hot Button on Monday.)

Gross Behavior
by Leonard Klady

"You hated my film," he boomed for all to hear.

It was clear that the man with fire in his eyes was directing his venom toward Paul. I had no idea who he was or the film that had been pilloried in the pages of Newsweek. But Paul clearly knew the man and one could see him immediately trying to bring down the temperature and decibel level that had been raised in the otherwise tranquil environment.

"But Henry, everyone hated your film," Paul responded.

Interview
Marguerite Derricks
by Gary Dretzka

"Well, Demi and I went to a lot of strip clubs together to research Striptease. I had just finished Showgirls, and had already been to some of the clubs.

They flew me into New York, where Demi was working on The Juror, and we’d go to Scores.

The girls in New York were basically just doing bump-and-grind and lap dancing, but the girls I saw in the Body Shop, on the Sunset Strip in L.A., were doing more of a striptease. It wasn’t the nudity that was important, but the teasing, costumes and the pole work."

If you are old enough and were in front of a television on November 22, 1963 you will never forget hearing about President John F. Kennedy's shooting in Dallas... (more)

Go see Ron Howard's The Missing. I'm not a big personal fan of Tommy Lee Jones but he is a great actor and is at his best in this one. He plays a white man who took up the Indian way of life. What is his connection to Cate Blanchett and the daughter? Well, this is why you go to the movies. I'm not going to tell you the story... (more)
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Because You Didn't Ask
by Patricia Vidal

My favorite Tale of The Hollywood Thanksgiving is the one my dear late daddy used to tell me and my sister Cornelia every year when we were little girls. He would turn on the fireplace and make some cocoa and we would watch the ocean crash onto the beach as he quietly told the tale.

A long time ago, in a company town far, far away, Master Richard Dover wrote a great screenplay called “Break Your Heart.” He gave a copy to his friend Gina who worked as a massage therapist. One day, just after providing a happy ending to a vigorous massage, Gina took off her rubber gloves and handed the screenplay to Hollywood’s most powerful producer....

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The Ultimate DVD Geek
The Adventures of Indiana Jones
by Douglas Pratt

like so many films created by producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg, the movies are put together so well and exhibit so much potential that any slight detriment or misstep can seem overly disheartening if one isn't just sitting back and having a good time. The films, which have been released only as a Paramount boxed set, entitled The Adventures of Indiana Jones, and star Harrison Ford, are grand fun They are not perfect, but viewers who become impatient can always scan to the next big moment, and between the three movies, there is a treasure vault of demo-worthy action scenes and other delights. And if enough time passes to clear one's memory palate, the movies are far richer in narrative, character psychology and spiritual reflection than the serials they are emulating.

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Updated throughout the day
Last update: 8:15 pm

Neil LaBute's Best Of Dark Comedy

Inuit, Artistic And Outspoken

The Return Of The King: Enthusiasm Without Cynicism

Air Rage On Thanksgiving?

Mixed Success At Wednesday B.O
Weekend Running Just 4% Off
The Great
N/A
The Good
Cat In The Hat - $5 million
Projects To $35m 5-day, $78m total
The Haunted Mansion - $4.4 million
Projects To $31 million 5-day
Elf - $4 million
Projects To $27m 5-day, $125m total
The Not So Bad
Gothika - $2.3 million
Projects To $16m 5-day, $39m total
Master & Commander - $2.1 million
Projects To $15m 5-day, $65m total
Bad Santa - $1.7 million,
$869/screen. Projects To $13m 5-day
The Ugly
Timeline - $2 million
Projects to $14 million
The Missing - $1.9 million
Projects To $14 million

Michael Caine's Statement

The Passion As A "Teachable Moment"

The Image Behind The Man Of Tom Cruise

Episode III In The Editing Bay

Mamet On The Cinema Of the Dark

Underground Cinema In London

Film School In Havana

Cody Banks In London With Anthony Anderson: The Trailer

Two Step(s) For(d)ward, One Wife Back

PT Anderson Answers 20... Uh, 12 Questions

Jim Sheridan Leads The Conga Line In Fine Irish Tradition

Art As A Way Of Fighting Death

Getting Rid Of The Don, Corleone Wants To Change Its Name

HAL 9000 Is Up For... "I can't let you do that, Dave..."

Lou Lumenick Takes A Bite Out Of Movie Turkeys

Unbylined Piece On Bill Macy & A Master (& Commander) Rigger

It Takes A Village In America

Decision On Screener Ban Temporary Restraining Order Delayed Until At Least December 3
Harvey Weinstein Named As Co-Conspirator!
Pull Quotes Of The Day From The Court:
"You mean these awards aren't given on the merits?"
"They suddenly got their gumption up two days before Thanksgiving?"
"I don't want any rabbits coming out of any hats on Wednesday."
Full Transcript Of The Screener Ban Hearing

Observer's Front Page Smart Alec

"If you want to see my penis, you'll have to fly to Britain"

"Race Films" Get A Second Life

More Stuff From The Oscar Trail

The Bolger Sisters In America: The Photos

NY Daily News Does Djimon & Graham

Is Universal The First Major Pushing The Screener Ban... Just A Little Bit?

Australia's Leading Ladies

No Matter What You Call It, It's Still Gigli

Masters Of The House

An "Excess Of Female Heroism"?

Emergency Hearing On The Screener Ban Tomorrow at 10am

Harvey Weinstein Picks A Fight With Michael Eisner, Suggests Plans To Break The MPAA Ban (item 3)

Disney Withdrew From Live Action Peter Pan Deal Over Merchandising Rights?
Earlier Universal Replaces Disney

Something's Gotta Give Trailer
Low | High

David Thomson On Film, Truth, History And Legend

Michael Caine To The Bat Cave

Ready For The Return Of The King? Take The Quiz

"Some people use the phrase magic realism to describe the film but I always associate that with mushrooms."

Ned Beatty Questions The Credentials Of His Movie Star Broadway Co-Stars

The Screener Ban Lawsuit
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6

Newsweek's Return Of The King
The Secrets | The Oscar | The Gaffes

Production Companies File Suit Against MPAA On Screener Issue

Alec Baldwin: Character, Actor

Tyrangels' Oddly Shallow Dive Into The Depth Of Tim Burton's Pond

"I love big action-adventure movies. They're way cool."
William Macy: Action Hero

Clint Eastwood And The Musical Flow Of Mystic River

A New Shot Of Brad Pitt's Achilles (And Other, Better Parts)

Today's Stepford Wives

"And what's so great about reality anyhow?" Judy Gerstel Loves Love Actually

The Screener Ban Is Broken, Stepping Down At Paramount, And November's Boxoffice

Intermission Premieres In London

The Olsen Twins Set Sights On Features

Sean Means On Drudge's Santa Sludge

Tim Gray On This Year's Oscar Dirt

Holson On Mickey Slipping

Jeff Giles Wears The Ring
Also - Detail Trouble

Sean Smith Handicapped by Oscar
Rememeber When - MCN Broke Down The Oscar Race In The Same Way

Film Jerk Leads The Way On 2004 Super Bowl Ad Buys

Sony Classics Breaks Screener Ban By Using European Scam