Oscar Preview Week: Best Actor/Actress
Hello, everybody. I'll get to the (very) latest on Britney Spears' antics in a bit, but we continue our Oscar Preview Week with a look at the Lead Acting nominees. Best Actor has two black nominees; one of them was up before for "Ali" while another is fresh off his Golden Globe win. We also have another ex-Mouseketeer, an Honorary Oscar winner, and a double nominee in the mix.
BEST ACTOR:
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond": Leonardo DiCaprio plays Danny Archer, a South African smuggler who forms a partnership with a man who has found a valuable diamond. Film synopsis: Amid the chaos of Sierra Leone's civil war, fisherman Solomon Vandy is parted from his family and forced to work in mining camps. When he escapes after finding a valuable pink diamond, he enters into an uneasy alliance with a South African smuggler who advises him to sell the stone in order to save his family. "Blood Diamond's" other nominations include Film Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.
Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson": Ryan Gosling portrays Dan Dunne, a teacher and basketball coach struggling with a drug problem as he attempts to mentor a talented young girl. Film synopsis: High school history teacher Dan Dunne leads a troubled personal life that is mired in a downward spiral of drugs and drinking. A committed teacher and girl's basketball coach despite his problems, he becomes a mentor to 13-year-old Drey, a studious girl whose own difficult family life has left her in desperate need of a father figure. Other than the third incarnation of the "Mickey Mouse Club" (along with Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and of course, the very troubled Britney), Gosling is also best known from "The Notebook" with girlfriend and fellow Canadian Rachel McAdams.
Peter O'Toole, "Venus": Peter O'Toole plays Maurice, an aging actor who begins an unlikely friendship--and tentative courtship--with his best friend's great-niece. Film synopsis: Maurice is an aging, albeit still working, actor whose main source of social interaction is his friendship with fellow thespian Ian. When Ian's great-niece, the working-class Jessie, moves in with him, Maurice finds himself smitten with the girl, and the two begin an unlikely friendship that Maurice hopes will lead to something more. He may have received an Honorary Oscar in 2002, but this is his eighth straight Best Actor nomination and at 74, he may be the second oldest winner behind Peter Fonda. Besides "Venus", O'Toole was also in "One Night With The King" last year.
Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness": Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a loving father who struggles to care for his young son while trying to regain his financial footing after becoming homeless. Film synopsis: When Chris Gardner loses both his money and his wife through a disastrous investment, he struggles to care for his young son while attempting to get back on his feet. Without a home or income, Chris must find a way to last through his six-month internship at a brokerage firm without losing custody of five-year-old Christopher. Like I mentioned, Smith's last nomination was for "Ali"; he lost to Denzel Washington.
Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland": Forest Whitaker plays Idi Amin, the notorious Ugandan dictator whose charismatic personality cannot mask the savage brutality of his actions. Film synopsis: An idealistic Scottish doctor working in Uganda unexpectedly finds himself selected by the nation's dictator, Idi Amin, to serve as his personal physician. As young Nicholas Garrigan succumbs to the seductive extravagances of palace life, he also becomes an eyewitness to the horrors and brutality of Amin's regime. Whitaker along the way received Golden Globe and BAFTA honors for that role, and there's a good chance he may score the trifecta on Sunday night.
On the Best Actress side, two nominees took the Oscar stage before, while two of them after a few nominations has yet to. Add in a spicy Spaniard and this is one hot battle.
BEST ACTRESS:
Penelope Cruz, "Volver": As Raimunda, Penélope Cruz portrays a Spanish woman dealing with a series of surprising events that threaten to throw her life into chaos. Film synopsis: The women in a Spanish family support one another through a series of dramatic changes in their lives. When young Paula kills her abusive father, her mother, Raimunda, hides his body in the freezer of a neighbor's vacant restaurant and then decides to run the business herself, while her sister Sole is stunned by the reappearance of their mother, who perished in a fire years ago.
Judi Dench, "Notes On A Scandal": Judi Dench plays Barbara Covett, a lonely teacher who develops a crush on a new colleague and uses herknowledge of the woman's affair with a student to manipulate her. Synopsis: Barbara Covett is a lonely teacher who develops an unrequited infatuation with her school's newest staff member, the beautiful Sheba Hart. When Barbara catches Sheba in an affair with a student, she uses her knowledge to place Sheba in her debt...a situation she hopes will give her the upper hand in their relationship. With nomination #6 now, Dench's only win was in 1998 for "Shakespeare in Love" (Supporting Actress).
Helen Mirren, "The Queen": As Queen Elizabeth, Helen Mirren portrays the British monarch facing changes in her traditional role during thedifficult period following the 1997 death of Princess Diana. With BAFTA and Golden Globe prizes for "The Queen" (to go along with the Emmy and Golden Globe she already got for "Elizabeth I"), she is the odds-on favorite to take it all the third time around.
Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada": Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, the icily difficult fashion editor whose outrageous demands make the lives of her two assistants a nerve-wracking challenge. Synopsis: When idealistic journalism major Andy Sachs lands a job as an assistant to fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, she is soon struggling to cope with both the high-pressure demands of the critical Priestly and her colleagues' open disdain for her own lack of style and fashion sense. In her 14th nomination with two wins in 1979 ("Kramer vs. Kramer") and 1982 ("Sophie's Choice"), Streep is the most nominated actress in Academy Awards history. Also, she is the only lone American up for this year's Actress prize.
Kate Winslet, "Little Children": Kate Winslet plays discontented wife and mother Sarah Pierce, whose affair with a neighbor may destroy both their marriages. Synopsis: When Sarah and Brad, two young parents dissatisfied with the boredom of their suburban lives, meet through their children at the park, they begin an affair that may destroy both their marriages. Interwoven with their story is the troubled life of sex offender Ronald McGorvey, who becomes an object of suspicion and rage following his return to the neighborhood. This is Winslet's third Best Actress nomination to go along with her two previous Supporting Actress nods, making it five overall.
Tomorrow, we continue Oscar Preview Week with Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film; then on Friday, Best Picture and my predictions.
Now...Oops, she's out of rehab again! Just a little after 24 hours, Britney Spears checked out of Promises Treatment Center in Malibu on Wednesday just a few days after going bald, donning a wig, and adding another tattoo.
I said last night that the self-destruction for Britney has already begun, and it wouldn't be long until she explodes. And while Aguilera has added two more Grammys this year while Ryan Gosling is hoping to upset Forest Whitaker on Sunday, Britney meanwhile continues to fall off the deep end. And if she is reading this blog, I have a very urgent and open message to her: GROW UP BEFORE YOU SCREW UP!!!!!
But the one story we serious news junkies care about is that British troops are scheduled to be pulled out of Iraq by this summer. As for the casulaties, only 130 of those were killed since 2003 while the U.S. continues to lead the tally with over 3,000 of our troops. The news on the withdrawal may be a wake-up call to President Bush to do the same here.
Well, with all that said...have a good night.
Hello, everybody. I'll get to the (very) latest on Britney Spears' antics in a bit, but we continue our Oscar Preview Week with a look at the Lead Acting nominees. Best Actor has two black nominees; one of them was up before for "Ali" while another is fresh off his Golden Globe win. We also have another ex-Mouseketeer, an Honorary Oscar winner, and a double nominee in the mix.
BEST ACTOR:
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond": Leonardo DiCaprio plays Danny Archer, a South African smuggler who forms a partnership with a man who has found a valuable diamond. Film synopsis: Amid the chaos of Sierra Leone's civil war, fisherman Solomon Vandy is parted from his family and forced to work in mining camps. When he escapes after finding a valuable pink diamond, he enters into an uneasy alliance with a South African smuggler who advises him to sell the stone in order to save his family. "Blood Diamond's" other nominations include Film Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.
Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson": Ryan Gosling portrays Dan Dunne, a teacher and basketball coach struggling with a drug problem as he attempts to mentor a talented young girl. Film synopsis: High school history teacher Dan Dunne leads a troubled personal life that is mired in a downward spiral of drugs and drinking. A committed teacher and girl's basketball coach despite his problems, he becomes a mentor to 13-year-old Drey, a studious girl whose own difficult family life has left her in desperate need of a father figure. Other than the third incarnation of the "Mickey Mouse Club" (along with Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and of course, the very troubled Britney), Gosling is also best known from "The Notebook" with girlfriend and fellow Canadian Rachel McAdams.
Peter O'Toole, "Venus": Peter O'Toole plays Maurice, an aging actor who begins an unlikely friendship--and tentative courtship--with his best friend's great-niece. Film synopsis: Maurice is an aging, albeit still working, actor whose main source of social interaction is his friendship with fellow thespian Ian. When Ian's great-niece, the working-class Jessie, moves in with him, Maurice finds himself smitten with the girl, and the two begin an unlikely friendship that Maurice hopes will lead to something more. He may have received an Honorary Oscar in 2002, but this is his eighth straight Best Actor nomination and at 74, he may be the second oldest winner behind Peter Fonda. Besides "Venus", O'Toole was also in "One Night With The King" last year.
Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness": Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a loving father who struggles to care for his young son while trying to regain his financial footing after becoming homeless. Film synopsis: When Chris Gardner loses both his money and his wife through a disastrous investment, he struggles to care for his young son while attempting to get back on his feet. Without a home or income, Chris must find a way to last through his six-month internship at a brokerage firm without losing custody of five-year-old Christopher. Like I mentioned, Smith's last nomination was for "Ali"; he lost to Denzel Washington.
Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland": Forest Whitaker plays Idi Amin, the notorious Ugandan dictator whose charismatic personality cannot mask the savage brutality of his actions. Film synopsis: An idealistic Scottish doctor working in Uganda unexpectedly finds himself selected by the nation's dictator, Idi Amin, to serve as his personal physician. As young Nicholas Garrigan succumbs to the seductive extravagances of palace life, he also becomes an eyewitness to the horrors and brutality of Amin's regime. Whitaker along the way received Golden Globe and BAFTA honors for that role, and there's a good chance he may score the trifecta on Sunday night.
On the Best Actress side, two nominees took the Oscar stage before, while two of them after a few nominations has yet to. Add in a spicy Spaniard and this is one hot battle.
BEST ACTRESS:
Penelope Cruz, "Volver": As Raimunda, Penélope Cruz portrays a Spanish woman dealing with a series of surprising events that threaten to throw her life into chaos. Film synopsis: The women in a Spanish family support one another through a series of dramatic changes in their lives. When young Paula kills her abusive father, her mother, Raimunda, hides his body in the freezer of a neighbor's vacant restaurant and then decides to run the business herself, while her sister Sole is stunned by the reappearance of their mother, who perished in a fire years ago.
Judi Dench, "Notes On A Scandal": Judi Dench plays Barbara Covett, a lonely teacher who develops a crush on a new colleague and uses herknowledge of the woman's affair with a student to manipulate her. Synopsis: Barbara Covett is a lonely teacher who develops an unrequited infatuation with her school's newest staff member, the beautiful Sheba Hart. When Barbara catches Sheba in an affair with a student, she uses her knowledge to place Sheba in her debt...a situation she hopes will give her the upper hand in their relationship. With nomination #6 now, Dench's only win was in 1998 for "Shakespeare in Love" (Supporting Actress).
Helen Mirren, "The Queen": As Queen Elizabeth, Helen Mirren portrays the British monarch facing changes in her traditional role during thedifficult period following the 1997 death of Princess Diana. With BAFTA and Golden Globe prizes for "The Queen" (to go along with the Emmy and Golden Globe she already got for "Elizabeth I"), she is the odds-on favorite to take it all the third time around.
Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada": Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, the icily difficult fashion editor whose outrageous demands make the lives of her two assistants a nerve-wracking challenge. Synopsis: When idealistic journalism major Andy Sachs lands a job as an assistant to fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, she is soon struggling to cope with both the high-pressure demands of the critical Priestly and her colleagues' open disdain for her own lack of style and fashion sense. In her 14th nomination with two wins in 1979 ("Kramer vs. Kramer") and 1982 ("Sophie's Choice"), Streep is the most nominated actress in Academy Awards history. Also, she is the only lone American up for this year's Actress prize.
Kate Winslet, "Little Children": Kate Winslet plays discontented wife and mother Sarah Pierce, whose affair with a neighbor may destroy both their marriages. Synopsis: When Sarah and Brad, two young parents dissatisfied with the boredom of their suburban lives, meet through their children at the park, they begin an affair that may destroy both their marriages. Interwoven with their story is the troubled life of sex offender Ronald McGorvey, who becomes an object of suspicion and rage following his return to the neighborhood. This is Winslet's third Best Actress nomination to go along with her two previous Supporting Actress nods, making it five overall.
Tomorrow, we continue Oscar Preview Week with Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film; then on Friday, Best Picture and my predictions.
Now...Oops, she's out of rehab again! Just a little after 24 hours, Britney Spears checked out of Promises Treatment Center in Malibu on Wednesday just a few days after going bald, donning a wig, and adding another tattoo.
I said last night that the self-destruction for Britney has already begun, and it wouldn't be long until she explodes. And while Aguilera has added two more Grammys this year while Ryan Gosling is hoping to upset Forest Whitaker on Sunday, Britney meanwhile continues to fall off the deep end. And if she is reading this blog, I have a very urgent and open message to her: GROW UP BEFORE YOU SCREW UP!!!!!
But the one story we serious news junkies care about is that British troops are scheduled to be pulled out of Iraq by this summer. As for the casulaties, only 130 of those were killed since 2003 while the U.S. continues to lead the tally with over 3,000 of our troops. The news on the withdrawal may be a wake-up call to President Bush to do the same here.
Well, with all that said...have a good night.
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