I'll start with Clinton and Obama first up. Obama has just extended his primaries winning streak to nine with Wisconsin tonight, and it started with Super Tuesday and super wins for him especially in the West including Alaska. According to the Associated Press, the delegate count right now is Obama still leading with 1,294 with Clinton not far behind at 1,218. The magic number to look out for is 2,025, and that's what's needed to nominate.
March 4 is next for the two, and in the case of Hillary, an funeral for her campaign may be imminent...unless if she wins Texas and Ohio; otherwise, it's all over. Both states have a total of 370 delegates, and Clinton's doing everything in her power to stay alive in this race. The final chapter for Hillary's chances to pick up where husband Bill left off may not be written in Denver after all; she better get on the ball because Obama's really on the move!
Now...I know many of you guys wasted no time breaking out
the lube and Kleenex when we heard about Lindsay Lohan paying a photo tribute to Marilyn Monroe in a nude photo shoot for "New York" magazine. In fact, the pics were taken by Bert Stern, the same person behind Monroe's last shoot just six weeks before her death and both were done at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. Oh by the way, like I've did to Janet Jackson's exposed breast at Super Bowl XXXVIII four years ago for the "Allen Report", I've censored the naughty bits of these photos.In the issue, available now, Lohan also spoke about the death of Heath Ledger last month, saying it was the film industry to blame for it.
I think after many steps down for her in the past year (rehab as well as two box office bombs), this move is a step up in the right direction for Lindsay whose 2008 so far is starting on a high note. Now if we can convince Jennifer Love Hewitt to finally unleash the goods as well before she gets married.Anyway...this Sunday is the 80th Annual Academy Awards, and as promised, I'm getting you set with a look at the main nominees with "Oscar Preview Week" starting with Supporting Acting. And as always, thanks to Oscar.com for nominated role info/film synopses.
Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford": Casey Affleck plays Robert Ford, a young outlaw and the brother of a member of the James Gang, whose obsessive idolatry of Jesse James turns to violence. Film synopsis: With his exploits already immortalized in popular dime novels, the outlaw Jesse James has come to represent a romanticized vision of the renegade spirit of the West when he first meets nineteen-year-old Robert Ford. The younger brother of one of the members of James's gang, Ford harbors an obsessive idolatry toward James that will take a deadly turn as their relationship progresses. This may be Casey Affleck's first nomination, but remember...big brother Ben already has Oscar gold along with Matt Damon for writing "Good Will Hunting."
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men": As Anton Chigurh, Javier Bardem portrays a sociopathic killer on the trail of a young man who has stolen a bag of drug money. Bardem's second nod; he was up before for Best Actor in 2001 but lost to Russell Crowe but he's heavily favored to take it this time.
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War": Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays Gust Avrakotos, a CIA agent at odds with his superiors who assists a politician in his efforts to aid Afghanistan's rebel forces. Synopsis: Although his career is under threat from an investigation into his possible drug use, Representative Charlie Wilson manages to use his influence to gain congressional funding for the Mujahideen rebel forces during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Working with CIA agent Gust Avrakotos and Texas socialite Joanne Herring, Wilson dramatically increases U.S. covert support for the rebels and changes the outcome of the war. The last time he smelled Oscar, it was for Best Actor ("Capote") and he won.
Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild": As Ron Franz, Hal Holbrook portrays a lonely retired soldier who forms a grandfatherly bond with a young drifter. Synopsis: After graduating from college, Christopher McCandless breaks with his parents and drops out of a society he has come to regard as hollow and inauthentic. Changing his name, he leads a nomadic existence that brings him eventually to the Alaskan wilderness, where he hopes to test himself against nature by living for several months alone in the Yukon.
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton": Tom Wilkinson portrays Arthur Edens, a mentally ill attorney whose public breakdown threatens his firm's reputation on the eve of an important merger.
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford": Casey Affleck plays Robert Ford, a young outlaw and the brother of a member of the James Gang, whose obsessive idolatry of Jesse James turns to violence. Film synopsis: With his exploits already immortalized in popular dime novels, the outlaw Jesse James has come to represent a romanticized vision of the renegade spirit of the West when he first meets nineteen-year-old Robert Ford. The younger brother of one of the members of James's gang, Ford harbors an obsessive idolatry toward James that will take a deadly turn as their relationship progresses. This may be Casey Affleck's first nomination, but remember...big brother Ben already has Oscar gold along with Matt Damon for writing "Good Will Hunting."
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men": As Anton Chigurh, Javier Bardem portrays a sociopathic killer on the trail of a young man who has stolen a bag of drug money. Bardem's second nod; he was up before for Best Actor in 2001 but lost to Russell Crowe but he's heavily favored to take it this time.
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War": Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays Gust Avrakotos, a CIA agent at odds with his superiors who assists a politician in his efforts to aid Afghanistan's rebel forces. Synopsis: Although his career is under threat from an investigation into his possible drug use, Representative Charlie Wilson manages to use his influence to gain congressional funding for the Mujahideen rebel forces during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Working with CIA agent Gust Avrakotos and Texas socialite Joanne Herring, Wilson dramatically increases U.S. covert support for the rebels and changes the outcome of the war. The last time he smelled Oscar, it was for Best Actor ("Capote") and he won.
Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild": As Ron Franz, Hal Holbrook portrays a lonely retired soldier who forms a grandfatherly bond with a young drifter. Synopsis: After graduating from college, Christopher McCandless breaks with his parents and drops out of a society he has come to regard as hollow and inauthentic. Changing his name, he leads a nomadic existence that brings him eventually to the Alaskan wilderness, where he hopes to test himself against nature by living for several months alone in the Yukon.
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton": Tom Wilkinson portrays Arthur Edens, a mentally ill attorney whose public breakdown threatens his firm's reputation on the eve of an important merger.
Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There": Cate Blanchett plays Jude, a Bob Dylan-like figure whose experimentation with new musical styles alienates many of his old fans during a concert tour of England. Her chances double this year with an additional Best Actress nomination ("Elizabeth: The Golden Age"); and oh yeah, she already won that very same Supporting Actress prize three years ago for "The Aviator." Synopsis: The lives of several characters, all of whom resemble signer-songwriter Bob Dylan, are interwoven to create a collage of the enigmatic artist's life. As their stories unfold a portrait emerges of one of the music world's most influential figures.
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster": Ruby Dee portrays Mama Lucas, a poor Southern woman whose son becomes a wealthy New York drug dealer. Synopsis: Ambitious Harlem drug dealer Frank Lucas reaches the pinnacle of the criminal underworld with a scheme to smuggle heroin directly from Thailand to the streets of New York City; a plan made easier by the extensive corruption within the city's police department. Threatening his operation, however, is Richie Roberts, a pugnacious cop unafraid to take on both Lucas and his own dishonest colleagues.
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement": Saoirse Ronan plays thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis, an aspiring writer whose misunderstanding of her older sister's actions leads to a series of tragedies.
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone": As Helene McCready, Amy Ryan portrays a substance-abusing single mother whose small daughter disappears. Synopsis: When four-year-old Amanda McCready, the child of a neglectful, substance-abusing single mother, disappears, her distraught aunt and uncle ask private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro to help the police find the little girl. As they team up with the detectives assigned to the case and follow a trail that appears to lead to a local drug dealer, it slowly becomes clear that the truth behind Amanda's disappearance may be more disturbing than it seems.
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton": As Karen Crowder, Tilda Swinton plays a ruthless corporate attorney acting on behalf of a company engaged in a multimillion dollar lawsuit.
Tomorrow, Oscar Preview Week continues with Best Actor/Actress, followed by Director/Foreign Language Film/Animated Feature Film on Thursday, and then Best Picture and my predictions on Friday. Till then, so long and stay strong.
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster": Ruby Dee portrays Mama Lucas, a poor Southern woman whose son becomes a wealthy New York drug dealer. Synopsis: Ambitious Harlem drug dealer Frank Lucas reaches the pinnacle of the criminal underworld with a scheme to smuggle heroin directly from Thailand to the streets of New York City; a plan made easier by the extensive corruption within the city's police department. Threatening his operation, however, is Richie Roberts, a pugnacious cop unafraid to take on both Lucas and his own dishonest colleagues.
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement": Saoirse Ronan plays thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis, an aspiring writer whose misunderstanding of her older sister's actions leads to a series of tragedies.
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone": As Helene McCready, Amy Ryan portrays a substance-abusing single mother whose small daughter disappears. Synopsis: When four-year-old Amanda McCready, the child of a neglectful, substance-abusing single mother, disappears, her distraught aunt and uncle ask private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro to help the police find the little girl. As they team up with the detectives assigned to the case and follow a trail that appears to lead to a local drug dealer, it slowly becomes clear that the truth behind Amanda's disappearance may be more disturbing than it seems.
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton": As Karen Crowder, Tilda Swinton plays a ruthless corporate attorney acting on behalf of a company engaged in a multimillion dollar lawsuit.
Tomorrow, Oscar Preview Week continues with Best Actor/Actress, followed by Director/Foreign Language Film/Animated Feature Film on Thursday, and then Best Picture and my predictions on Friday. Till then, so long and stay strong.
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