The reason why I didn't offer my usual thoughts on what's been going on in recent weeks (Indianapolis Colts winning Super Bowl XLI, the Grammy Awards, Anna Nicole Smith's death) was because my computer was experiencing "technical difficulties." The hard drive which had all my data from all those years was bad (something about lots of bad sectors) and a fresh one was installed, though I'm keeping the old drive in hopes of getting my stuff recovered so I would transfer them to the new drive. Thankfully, I have backed up all my old "NewsBeats", "Plain Truths", and other HTML files from the old Allen Report site -- except for the graphics I've created which are in the bad old drive -- to the external hard drive. It's going to be quite a while, and I'm hoping and praying that everything will be back to full strength.
With that out of the way...I'm sure you've already heard and seen by now that Britney Spears has literally lost it. Over the weekend, she went bald by shaving her head and the pictures of it would be seen around the world; now, she's in rehab.
I've said time and time again starting with my "Daily News-Miner" Letter to the Editor in 2000 defending her after her MTV Video Music Awards performance, "Let Britney Spears be Britney Spears". Now, in the wake of the aftermath of Anna Nicole's death, the self-destruction of Britney has already begun. It's only time now when she will explode.
Anyway...next Sunday is the 79th Annual Academy Awards, and all this week like I've been doing on the old site we'll be taking a look at who's up for the coveted prize, starting with the Supporting Acting nominees.
Oscar Preview Week: Supporting Actor and Actress
(As always, thanks to Oscar.com for nomination info and film synopses)
(As always, thanks to Oscar.com for nomination info and film synopses)
SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine: Alan Arkin portrays the salty, heroin-addicted Grandpa, who joins his family on a road trip to California, where his granddaughter has entered a children's beauty pageant. A two-time Best Actor nominee in the 1960's, this is his third nomination.
Jackie Earle Haley, "Little Children": Jackie Earle Haley portrays Ronnie J. McGorvey, a sex offender whose return home from prison gives rise to panic and hatred among his neighbors. Many remember Haley from the "Bad News Bears" movies; the first one starred 1973 Supporting Actress winner Tatum O'Neal.
Djimon Honshu, "Blood Diamond": As Solomon Vandy, Djimon Hounsou plays an African husband and father who hopes to save his family through the sale of an enormous diamond. Honshu was nominated in that very same category before, for "In America" in 2003.
Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls": Eddie Murphy plays James "Thunder" Early, an African-American singer in the early 1960s who is unable to make the crossover leap to a wider white audience.
Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed": As Dignam, Mark Wahlberg plays a Boston police sergeant who places an undercover cadet in a crime syndicate, unaware that one of his own men is working for its boss.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Adriana Barraza, "Babel": Adriana Barraza plays Amelia, a nanny whose longing to attend her son's wedding leads her to take her two young charges with her to Mexico.
Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal": As Sheba Hart, Cate Blanchett portrays an art teacher who becomes involved with one of her students and finds herself at the mercy of an older colleague. The last time she was up for that same category in "The Aviator", she won. Blanchett was also previously nominated for Best Actress in "Elizabeth", but it went to her "Talented Mr. Ripley" co-star Gwyneth Paltrow.
Abigail Breslin, "Little Miss Sunshine": Abigail Breslin plays Olive, a brightly optimistic seven-year-old who dreams of traveling to California and competing in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. At 10 years old, 11 months, she would become the second youngest Supporting Actress winner behind O'Neal, who picked up her Oscar at 10 years old, five months.
Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls": Jennifer Hudson plays Effie White, a talented singer whose weight leads her manager and lover to relegate her to a back-up role in her singing group. Film synopsis, since it was shut out for Best Picture: The Dreamettes, an African-American Motown trio, are spotted at a 1962 talent contest by the ambitious CurtisTaylor Jr. Sensing the women's potential as pop music crossover stars, Taylor renames them the Dreams...and relegates plump lead singer Effie to a backup role behind the more glamorous Deena. Hot off the heels of Carrie Underwood's recent Grammy wins (including Best New Artist), Hudson has all of "American Idol" rooting for her.
Rinko Kukuchi, "Babel": Rinko Kikuchi plays Chieko, a troubled deaf teenager living in Tokyo with her father and haunted by the tragic death of her mother.
Tomorrow, Oscar Preview Week continues with Best Actor and Actress; followed by Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film on Thursday, and wrapping up on Friday with Best Picture and my predictions. So long!
Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine: Alan Arkin portrays the salty, heroin-addicted Grandpa, who joins his family on a road trip to California, where his granddaughter has entered a children's beauty pageant. A two-time Best Actor nominee in the 1960's, this is his third nomination.
Jackie Earle Haley, "Little Children": Jackie Earle Haley portrays Ronnie J. McGorvey, a sex offender whose return home from prison gives rise to panic and hatred among his neighbors. Many remember Haley from the "Bad News Bears" movies; the first one starred 1973 Supporting Actress winner Tatum O'Neal.
Djimon Honshu, "Blood Diamond": As Solomon Vandy, Djimon Hounsou plays an African husband and father who hopes to save his family through the sale of an enormous diamond. Honshu was nominated in that very same category before, for "In America" in 2003.
Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls": Eddie Murphy plays James "Thunder" Early, an African-American singer in the early 1960s who is unable to make the crossover leap to a wider white audience.
Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed": As Dignam, Mark Wahlberg plays a Boston police sergeant who places an undercover cadet in a crime syndicate, unaware that one of his own men is working for its boss.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Adriana Barraza, "Babel": Adriana Barraza plays Amelia, a nanny whose longing to attend her son's wedding leads her to take her two young charges with her to Mexico.
Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal": As Sheba Hart, Cate Blanchett portrays an art teacher who becomes involved with one of her students and finds herself at the mercy of an older colleague. The last time she was up for that same category in "The Aviator", she won. Blanchett was also previously nominated for Best Actress in "Elizabeth", but it went to her "Talented Mr. Ripley" co-star Gwyneth Paltrow.
Abigail Breslin, "Little Miss Sunshine": Abigail Breslin plays Olive, a brightly optimistic seven-year-old who dreams of traveling to California and competing in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. At 10 years old, 11 months, she would become the second youngest Supporting Actress winner behind O'Neal, who picked up her Oscar at 10 years old, five months.
Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls": Jennifer Hudson plays Effie White, a talented singer whose weight leads her manager and lover to relegate her to a back-up role in her singing group. Film synopsis, since it was shut out for Best Picture: The Dreamettes, an African-American Motown trio, are spotted at a 1962 talent contest by the ambitious CurtisTaylor Jr. Sensing the women's potential as pop music crossover stars, Taylor renames them the Dreams...and relegates plump lead singer Effie to a backup role behind the more glamorous Deena. Hot off the heels of Carrie Underwood's recent Grammy wins (including Best New Artist), Hudson has all of "American Idol" rooting for her.
Rinko Kukuchi, "Babel": Rinko Kikuchi plays Chieko, a troubled deaf teenager living in Tokyo with her father and haunted by the tragic death of her mother.
Tomorrow, Oscar Preview Week continues with Best Actor and Actress; followed by Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film on Thursday, and wrapping up on Friday with Best Picture and my predictions. So long!
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