Pierce nominated for Golden Globe - Best Actor-Com

[Ace]

List of nominees for 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards

Associated Press

Motion picture and television nominees for the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards announced Tuesday in Beverly Hills, Calif:

MOTION PICTURES

Picture, Drama: "Brokeback Mountain," "The Constant Gardener," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "A History of Violence," "Match Point."

Actress, Drama: Maria Bello, "A History of Violence"; Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica"; Gwyneth Paltrow, "Proof"; Charlize Theron, "North Country"; Ziyi Zhang, "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Actor, Drama: Russell Crowe, "Cinderella Man"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"; Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow"; Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain"; David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Mrs. Henderson Presents," "Pride & Prejudice," "The Producers," "The Squid and the Whale," "Walk the Line."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"; Keira Knightley, "Pride & Prejudice"; Laura Linney, "The Squid and the Whale"; Sarah Jessica Parker, "The Family Stone"; Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Pierce Brosnan, "The Matador"; Jeff Daniels, "The Squid and the Whale"; Johnny Depp, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"; Nathan Lane, "The Producers"; Cillian Murphy, "Breakfast on Pluto"; Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line."

Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson, "Match Point"; Shirley MacLaine, "In Her Shoes"; Frances McDormand, "North Country"; Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener"; Michelle Williams, "Brokeback Mountain."

Supporting Actor: George Clooney, "Syriana"; Matt Dillon, "Crash"; Will Ferrell, "The Producers"; Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man"; Bob Hoskins, "Mrs. Henderson Presents."

Director: Woody Allen, "Match Point"; George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck"; Peter Jackson, "King Kong"; Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain"; Fernando Meirelles, "The Constant Gardener"; Steven Spielberg, "Munich."

Screenplay: Woody Allen, "Match Point"; George Clooney and Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck"; Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, "Crash"; Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, "Munich"; Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, "Brokeback Mountain."

Foreign Language: "Kung Fu Hustle," China; "Master of the Crimson Armor" aka "The Promise," China; "Merry Christmas (Joyeux Noel)," France; "Paradise Now," Palestine; "Tsotsi," South Africa.

Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, "Syriana"; James Newton Howard, "King Kong"; Gustavo Santaolalla, "Brokeback Mountain"; Harry Gregson-Williams, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"; John Williams, "Memoirs of a Geisha";

Original Song: "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" from "Brokeback Mountain"; "Christmas in Love" from "Christmas in Love"; "There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway" from "The Producers"; "Travelin' Thru" from "Transamerica"; "Wunderkind" from "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

---

TELEVISION

Series, Drama: "Commander in Chief," ABC; "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; "Lost," ABC; "Prison Break," Fox; "Rome," HBO.

Actress, Drama: Patricia Arquette, "Medium"; Glenn Close, "The Shield"; Geena Davis, "Commander in Chief"; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"; Polly Walker, "Rome."

Actor, Drama: Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy"; Matthew Fox, "Lost"; Hugh Laurie, "House"; Wentworth Miller, "Prison Break"; Kiefer Sutherland, "24."

Series, Musical or Comedy: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," HBO; "Desperate Housewives," ABC; "Entourage," HBO; "Everybody Hates Chris," UPN; "My Name is Earl," NBC; "Weeds," Showtime.

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives"; Teri Hatcher, "Desperate Housewives"; Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"; Eva Longoria, "Desperate Housewives"; Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Zach Braff, "Scrubs"; Steve Carell, "The Office"; Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; Jason Lee, "My Name is Earl"; Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men."

Miniseries or movie: "Empire Falls," HBO; "Into the West," TNT; "Lackawanna Blues," HBO; "Sleeper Cell," Showtime; "Viva Blackpool," BBC America; "Warm Springs," HBO.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Halle Berry, "Their Eyes Were Watching God"; Kelly MacDonald, "The Girl in the Cafe"; S. Epatha Merkerson, "Lackawanna Blues"; Cynthia Nixon, "Warm Springs"; Mira Sorvino, "Human Trafficking."

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kenneth Branagh, "Warm Springs"; Ed Harris, "Empire Falls"; Jonathan Rhys Meyers, "Elvis"; Bill Nighy, "The Girl in the Cafe"; Donald Sutherland, "Human Trafficking."

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Candice Bergen, "Boston Legal"; Camryn Manheim, "Elvis"; Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy"; Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds"; Joanne Woodward, "Empire Falls."

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Naveen Andrews, "Lost"; Paul Newman, "Empire Falls"; Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"; Randy Quaid, "Elvis"; Donald Sutherland, "Commander in Chief."

[Ace]

The gay cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain" positioned itself as a key Oscar competitor Tuesday, roping in seven Golden Globe nominations, including best dramatic picture and honors for actor Heath Ledger and director Ang Lee.

Other best drama picture contenders were the murder thriller "The Constant Gardener," the Edward R. Murrow tale "Good Night, and Good Luck," the mobster story "A History of Violence" and "Match Point," a drama about infidelity.

The Globes were a triumph for smaller budgeted films over big studio productions.

"This is the first time in the history of the Golden Globes that all of the best (dramatic) film nominees are independent movies made for under $30 million," said Philip Berk, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the awards.

The Globes have a separate category for musical or comedy films. Nominated were the theater tale "Mrs. Henderson Presents," the Jane Austen costume pageant "Pride & Prejudice," the Broadway musical "The Producers," the divorce story "The Squid and the Whale," and the Johnny Cash film biography "Walk the Line."

The Globes were the latest recognition for "Brokeback Mountain," a critical darling that has received top honors from critics groups in New York City, Los Angeles and Boston.

Still, the film has an uphill trail to the Oscars, whose voters may hesitate to anoint a gay-themed movie as its champion.

"It's going to be a front-runner, but it really has a mountain to climb, because never have we seen a gay romance in the best-picture race before," said Tom O'Neil, who runs theenvelope.com, an awards Web site.

Movies with gay angles have earned acting honors, Tom Hanks winning for "Philadelphia" and Hilary Swank for "Boys Don't Cry," but those movies did not break into the best-picture pack.

Yet "Brokeback Mountain" has proved a favorite at film festivals and debuted with huge box-office grosses last weekend, taking in almost $550,000 in just five theaters. The movie goes into wider release over the next few weeks, its backers hoping it will find a broad audience despite the subject matter.

"Clearly, we felt that because the film speaks a very universal emotional language; it's going to surprise people, when it comes out, how accessible it is," said James Schamus, a producer on "Brokeback Mountain" and co-president of Focus Features, the NBC Universal banner that released the film.

Best dramatic actor nominee Ledger plays a husband concealing a homosexual affair with an old sheepherding buddy from his family. Other nominees included three actors playing real-life figures: Russell Crowe as Depression-era boxer Jim Braddock in "Cinderella Man," Philip Seymour Hoffman as author Truman Capote in "Capote," and David Strathairn as newsman Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck." The fifth nominee was Terrence Howard as a small-time pimp-turned-rap singer in "Hustle & Flow."

"Good Night, and Good Luck" was tied for second-most film nominations with four, along with "Match Point" and "The Producers." The Murrow tale earned a best-director nomination for George Clooney, who also had a supporting actor movie nomination for the oil industry thriller "Syriana."

Felicity Huffman received two nominations - best dramatic actress in a film for her role as a man preparing for sex-change surgery in "Transamerica" and best actress in a TV musical or comedy for "Desperate Housewives." Her "Desperate Housewives" co-stars Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria also were nominated, and the ABC show earned a best TV comedy bid.

ABC also scored three nominations for best dramatic TV series: "Commander in Chief," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost." Bids also went to Fox's "Prison Break" and HBO's "Rome." Other nominees for best comedy or musical TV series were HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Entourage," UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris," NBC's "My Name is Earl" and Showtime's "Weeds."

Other best dramatic film actress nominees were Maria Bello as a wife learning painful secrets about her husband in "A History of Violence," Gwyneth Paltrow as an unstable math genius' daughter in "Proof," Charlize Theron as a woman leading a sexual harassment lawsuit in "North Country" and Ziyi Zhang as a poor girl who becomes the belle of Japan's geisha houses in "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Based on a short story by Annie Proulx, "Brokeback Mountain" grabbed a supporting actress nomination for Michelle Williams as Ledger's wife, who chooses to ignore his affair with a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) to hold her family together. The movie also scored a directing nomination for Lee and received nominations for best screenplay, score and song.

For best actor in a movie, musical or comedy, Globe voters nominated Pierce Brosnan as a burned-out hit man in "The Matador," Jeff Daniels as a husband unglued by divorce in "The Squid and the Whale," Johnny Depp as candyman Willy Wonka in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Nathan Lane as a Broadway con man in "The Producers," Cillian Murphy as a cross-dressing Irishman in "Breakfast on Pluto," and Joaquin Phoenix as country legend Cash in "Walk the Line."

Best musical or comedy film actress nominees: Judi Dench as a 1930s British dame who opens a nude theatrical review in "Mrs. Henderson Presents," Keira Knightley as the romantic heroine in "Pride & Prejudice," Laura Linney as a divorcing wife in "The Squid and the Whale," Sarah Jessica Parker as a woman hated by her fiance's relatives in "The Family Stone," and Reese Witherspoon as country singer June Carter in "Walk the Line."

Besides Lee and Clooney, the directing contenders were Woody Allen for "Match Point," Peter Jackson for "King Kong," Fernando Meirelles for "The Constant Gardener," and Steven Spielberg for "Munich."

In addition to Clooney, supporting movie actor nominees were Matt Dillon for "Crash," Will Ferrell for "The Producers," Paul Giamatti for "Cinderella Man," and Bob Hoskins for "Mrs. Henderson Presents."

Playing a bigoted cop who dotes on his sickly dad, Dillon was the lone acting nominee from an ensemble of great performances in "Crash," which interweaves multiple story lines on a single tension-filled day in Los Angeles.

"It was honest and truthful to what I believed was an L.A. cop, not typical of what every cop is," Dillon said. "It went and explored these two extremes ... bitter racist cop and really loving son who cares about his sick father. These are the complicated things we see in life."

Supporting actress nominees: Scarlett Johansson for "Match Point," Shirley MacLaine for "In Her Shoes," Frances McDormand for "North Country," Rachel Weisz for "The Constant Gardener," and Williams for "Brokeback Mountain."

Two years ago, the Golden Globes correctly predicted Oscar winners in all key categories, including best-picture champ "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."

But a year ago, the Globes missed the mark, picking "The Aviator" as best picture, an honor that went to "Million Dollar Baby" at the Oscars.

Winners of the Golden Globes will be announced Jan. 16, five days before polls close for Oscar voters. Oscar nominations come out Jan. 31, and the awards will be presented March 5.

[sparklingblue]

Ohhh! Ohhh! This is wonderful!! I'm very, very happy for Pierce and wish him the best of luck that he gets it.

[Kristýna]

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Pierce Brosnan, "The Matador"; Jeff Daniels, "The Squid and the Whale"; Johnny Depp, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"; Nathan Lane, "The Producers"; Cillian Murphy, "Breakfast on Pluto"; Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line."

He has to get it... there´s noone else, who should get this award more than him... Maybe the only one, who can beat him is Johnny Depp, but hey, his role in Charlie was maybe wonderful, but it was really close to all, Johnny has played!!!

Pierce deserves Golden Globe... this year more than ever... and then... Academy Awards are coming

[Ace]

From reviews Depp is the only one that doesn't belong on the list; most U.S. reviews said his performance was the worst thing in an otherwise very good film. All I know is that he creeped me out in the commercials by looking and sounding like Michael Jackson.

Phoneix is in the lead as of now, especially since he's playing a much respected and loved real person, he's received very good reviews and the film has been pretty big at the box office, which helps.

Still, I'm crossing my fingers. for Pierce.

Ace

[Kristýna]

I have seen Charlie, yes, it´s a great movie and I think, Depp is a great actor, but his performance in this role wan´t the best, he has given JHe´s fine as always, but I think this year, they should give it to someone else

To Joaquin... I haven´t seen this movie, so I can´t say how good he is... in Czech, it is going to be showed since 2nd February, so I have to wait... but the bad luck is, Phoenix is a great actor also... I have seen him only in Gladiator, The Village, Ladder 49 and in small role in Hotel Rwanda, but he was pretty good...

I´m crossing my fingers also, because it there was a role, Pierce should get any award for, it was The Matador (and maybe also Tailor of Panama )

[Barbara]

All I can say is

HALLEUJAH! HALLEUJAH! GLORY HALLEUJAH!

Take that you *bleep*ers at Eon!

Love...B

[Ace]

LA Times: Hey, the pretty boy can act too

Pierce Brosnan hates that tag. His nomination for 'The Matador' puts the focus squarely on the quality of his work.

By Mary McNamara
December 14, 2005

Pierce Brosnan entered the public imagination as a hit man and spent most of the next 25 years defining the urbane super sleuth, on the little screen as "Remington Steele" and the big as James Bond. Attempts to go against type — "Evelyn," "Laws of Attraction" — met with mixed reviews at best.

But in "The Matador," opening Dec. 23, he plays Julian Noble, a hit man having a midlife existential crisis. It's a role that has the gun and some acting guts — and now a Golden Globe nomination for best performance by an actor in a motion picture musical or comedy.

Only the second Golden Globe nomination of his career, the nod increases Brosnan's Oscar potential. (He has never been nominated for an Academy Award.) But more important, it validates the rumor circulating since "The Matador" debuted at the Sundance Film Festival: That for all his square-jaw good looks, Brosnan is actually a pretty good actor.

"I got one of these when I came to this country years ago," he said. "I figured, 'hey that was easy, I'll get one every year.' Instead, it's been slow and steady. The timing is delicious," he added. "It's nice to have people say, 'He does have it, he's pulled something out of the bag.' "

Brosnan, 52, tends to be practical and frank when discussing his career — when he was told last year that his services as James Bond would no longer be required, he responded with surprise and anger rather than the typical Hollywood spin. Now, with a glint in his baby blues, he wishes the newly anointed Daniel Craig all the best.

"Compared with all the Bond insanity," he said, referring to the many midcareer revival interviews he has given about "The Matador," "this is nothing."

Brosnan's looks have defined him since he hit the screen. Many people remember him from 25 years ago, as the IRA hit man in "The Long Good Friday," despite the fact that he had no lines. "I cannot tell you how many people come up to me and say, 'I loved you in that movie,' " he said, "and I show up in the last 15 minutes and say nothing. Baby-faced Brosnan with those blue eyes."

He cultivated the suave but steely image that has taken him so far, so he can't be too upset that it has occasionally worked against him.

"In my 30s, I got that pretty boy tag," he said, "and I hated it. I kept squinting to try to create lines around my eyes, to give myself more character. But it's given me a great career."

In the darkly comedic "The Matador," he saw an opportunity to take his image a bit off-road. A ruthless professional, Noble is everything Bond is not — scruffy, coarse, drunk and, as he loses his nerve, pathetic. "I could always play the nasty well-groomed gentlemen and get a good payday," he said. "But it's nice to do something a bit more meaningful."

Brosnan is currently shooting "Seraphim Falls," a post-Civil War drama, in a role that has required the actor to sport a long beard and spend months filming outdoors in New Mexico. "It's great," he said, adding with a laugh, "but I am looking forward to getting back to the nice suits and pretty women."

[Barbara]

You know, I remember him saying Keely wanted his beard in a bag for Christmas...do you think she will accept the nomination instead?

Pierce's website has updated again with him acknowledging his nomination, and strangely, mentioning that the Matador will now come out on December 30th. If he is trying to make the Oscar deadline...he missed it.

-- B

[Ace]

xenobia said:

You know, I remember him saying Keely wanted his beard in a bag for Christmas...do you think she will accept the nomination instead?

Pierce's website has updated again with him acknowledging his nomination, and strangely, mentioning that the Matador will now come out on December 30th. If he is trying to make the Oscar deadline...he missed it.

-- B

No I believe that meets the deadline, as long as its before Dec 31st and opens in NYC or LA. Woody Allen's Match Point is opening the 28th and I doubt he's missed it either. I saw the Dec 30th mention in the earlier LA Times article about the premiere.

Ace

[londonstreet]

I'm so happy for him...........and I really hope he'll get it.

Good luck Pierce.

[Ace]

Hollywood Reporter: Nominees Reflect on Their 'Great News'
December 14, 2005
By THR Staff Report

A surprise nominee as actor in a comedy for his turn as a scruffy hit-man in "The Matador," Pierce Brosnan said, "I am so proud and honored to be nominated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. for my role as Julian Noble in 'The Matador' and for all my friends and colleagues who helped make the movie. Bravo. Bravo."

****

Real estate magnate-turned-independent producer Bob Yari woke up Tuesday to the welcome news that he had produced two Golden Globe nominees: Paul Haggis' "Crash" and "The Matador," starring Pierce Brosnan. "I had high hopes for both since seeing their early footage," he said. "It's tremendously satisfying, when you're out there trying to make independent films that are a mix of commercial and art, to have people recognize them as being meaningful and artistic. It helps expose them to the public." "Crash" already has been released on DVD, and "The Matador" opens Dec. 30 in theaters and goes wide in January.


****

[Ace]

NY Daily News: Dolly's tune owes a lot to transsexual

Rush & Malloy[/url]

Gold standard Dolly Parton told us she had insider knowledge when writing her Golden Globe-nominated 'Travelin' Thru' for 'Transamerica.'

Bosomy Dolly Parton was even more buoyant than usual yesterday as she floated on the news of her first Golden Globe nomination.

"I'm just so tickled," chirped the country goddess, whose tune "Travelin' Thru" received a nod for Best Original Song.

Dolly composed the ballad for "Transamerica," in which fellow Globe nominee Felicity Huffman plays a woman who comes by her breasts the hard way - through a sex-change operation.

Parton told us you don't have to know the song is about a transsexual to like it. Given its Christian imagery, she said, "country fans may think it's gospel.

"That's not particularly the kind of movie they'd go to see. But it's a beautiful movie, and they might be lured to it by the song.

"I've known a few transsexuals," said Parton, who's something of a gay icon. In fact, she thinks "Travelin' Thru" turned out as well as it did thanks to the guidance of a friend who used to be a woman. "I have firsthand knowledge of how complicated the whole process can be," she went on. "I knew this person before, during and after he was a man. You might call him 'A Boy Named Sue.' That's what his name used to be.

"He works for me," Dolly went on. "He typed up the lyrics when I was writing and rewriting it."

Also celebrating yesterday was Pierce Brosnan, whose Globe nomination for "The Matador" was one of seven that the Weinstein Co. picked up. (Not bad for an outfit that's been in business 74 days.)

Though Brosnan was recently dubbed the consummate woman's fantasy - an "uber-sexual" - his risk-taking in "Matador" may have been what nabbed him only his second Globe nomination in 23 years.

Not only does he play a villainous hit man, but a bisexual one. "We call [my character] Julian trisexual," said Brosnan, phoning in from the mountains of New Mexico, where he's shooting "Seraphim Falls." "He'll try anything."

Dissipated Julian may have "lost his way," but Brosnan said, "I'm very happy for myself - to have pulled this nomination out of the bag at this time of my life."

Naturally, he was alluding to losing his place on Her Majesty's Secret Service to the new James Bond, Daniel Craig. Though he's made his displeasure with the Bond producers known, he'll say nothing bad about his younger replacement.

"He's an interesting choice, and I wish Daniel well," said the gent.

[Ace]

From Dave Poland's Hot Blog -- Reaction to the Globe Noms:

The Golden Globes Acts...

... like The Golden Globes.

An utter mess.

Even Brokeback Mountain, which led with 7 nominations - pretty much 2 short of the most possible - came up short of Jake Gyllenhaal, who couldn't make it past Paul Giamatti (one of two nods, the other Russell Crowe) or Will Ferrell (one of four Producers nods, with Best Pic/Musical, Nathan Lane, and Song)

Munich got one of 5 Best Screenplay nods and one of 6 Best Director nods... but no Best Picture slot and no other slots. The other three films that got director and screenplay (BBM, Good Night, And Good Luck, and Match Point) all got Best Picture nods. Meanwhile, Crash got a Screenplay nod, but only one other nod (Matt Dillon) while King Kong scored only one nod... for Peter Jackson's directing.

There was plenty of old fashioned Globes butt sniffing... Russell Crowe, Gwyneth Paltrow, Johnny Depp (for Charlie & The Chocolate Factory... don't expect him to show up for this when his Libertine turn was snubbed), Will Ferrell, Zhang Ziyi (the celebrity of Geisha, which had only a Score nod in addition).

There were also some happy surprises. The embrace of The Squid & The Whale, Terrence Howard, Pierce Brosnan, Cillian Murphy, Maria Bello.

But for a small group that doesn't vote in branches, there is no real comprehnsible logic here. They loved Brokeback. I see that. And they really liked Match Point. After that... smells like consultant spirit.

Of course, this is also a reflection of the awards year we are knee deep in... there are no answers, just endless questions. Brokeback Mountain is clearly the will-be-nominated leader. But last year, we were reminded of two things: 1. The Oscar winner didn't need to dominate the precursors and 2. Every critical award in the town didn't make Sideways the Oscar winner.

Readng through the list of nominations... still, after reading them a few times... a little like being on a bad drunk.

[Barbara]

And now ladies and gents, some grade A Hallmark card worthy, Schlock.

Composed by yours truly, at 3 am in the morning yesterday

To Mr. B— on occasion of his Golden Globe Nomination, December 2005
From his numerous and devoted admirers

So many heartfelt congratulations
So very little time to take it in
Remember amidst the declarations
Those who have adored you since
God knows when.

Through the Golden statues on your mantle
And with the receipts to prove that you draw
Or cruel signs saying “Box office poison”
We are with you till the next Ice Age thaw.

Yes, eons ago, fools were created
They haunt us all until the bitter end
But out love has never abated
While the idiots’ choice they now defend.

Give to the devils their black-hearted due
Receive from us the love we give to you.

[Ace]

Is it wonderful or scary when Harvey publically praises you. Hopefully this means I'll be seeing a commercial for The Matador on TV soon (I've seen ones for every other film coming out)

Liz Smith (syndicated)

Globe nods leave Weinstein bubbling over with glee

Originally published December 15, 2005

WE'VE BEEN in business 74 days. After 74 days we've collected eight Golden Globe nominations. I'm pretty thrilled!"

So says Harvey - and we all know who "Harvey" is. He is the head of the spanking new Weinstein Co., reacting to nods for Transamerica, Mrs. Henderson Presents and The Matador. Of his new life, the once derailed, terrible-tempered Mr. Big of independents says, "I am calmer, better. After almost three years of soap opera with my previous business partners, I am feeling the excitement of a fantastic freedom. Disney's Bob Iger and I have a wonderful relationship. The pressure's down. And I think even the people who work for me every day would say I'm in a less tumultuous frame of mind." (OK, I didn't take a poll of Harvey's employees, but I know his intentions are always the best - his passion for moviemaking and being a big success have gotten the better of him in the past.)

Harvey spoke glowingly of Martin Sherman's script for Mrs. Henderson Presents, which stars the magnificent Judi Dench, of Transamerica's Felicity Huffman, a woman playing a man who's about to become a woman, and of Pierce Brosnan, nominated for best actor in The Matador. The film mogul said, "Oh, now is going to be the best time for Pierce. While he was making this, the word came - and without his knowledge - that he had been replaced as James Bond. He was not happy. He wanted to do one more. But now I think he sees, as I do, that his post-Bond career is just the beginning. I call this time 'the emancipation of Pierce!' He's a great actor."

What's next and exciting for the Weinstein Co.? Lucky Number Sleven with Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis and Ben Kingsley. A crime thriller, I think it's going to get a great reception at Sundance in January.

I generally use this adjective with starlets - bubbly. Harvey Weinstein is bubbly these days. And as long as the hits keep coming, the fizz won't go flat.

[Ace]

VARIETY: THE NOMINATIONS: COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTOR

01/13/2006 04:16:06 PM EST
Daily Variety

PIERCE BROSNAN, "The Matador"

How it got there: Globe-nominated once near the beginning of his career for the British mini "Nancy Astor," Brosnan shed his suave James Bond image to play "The Matador's" sleazy hitman. "He was a delightful surprise and completely different," says an HFPA member.

JEFF DANIELS, "The Squid and the Whale"

How it got there: Tapped in this category in 1985 for "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and in 1986 for "Something Wild," Daniels plays a self-absorbed intellectual going through a messy divorce in "The Squid and the Whale." Sporting a long beard and playing an unlikable character --- against type for him --- Daniels won the best reviews of his career and another shot at gold. "He has been overlooked in the past, but he finally has a performance that caught (HFPA voters') attention again," says an awards consultant.

JOHNNY DEPP, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

How it got there: Depp was passed over for his dramatic role in "The Libertine," but his original take on Willy Wonka made the grade. "He is the actor that can do no wrong. Even if you don't like the movie, you like him," says an awards consultant. It's Depp's fifth mention in the Globes' comedy/musical thesp category following "Edward Scissorhands" (1990), "Benny and Joon" (1993), "Ed Wood" (1994) and "Pirates of the Caribbean" (2003). He was also tapped last year in drama for "Finding Neverland."

NATHAN LANE, "The Producers"

How it got there: As the sleazy producer who comes up with a scheme to get a tax break by creating a flop musical, Lane brought all the elements to the movie that won him a Tony for the stage version. It's his second nomination in this category, having been tapped for "The Birdcage" in 1996.

CILLIAN MURPHY, "Breakfast on Pluto"

How it got there: Murphy receives his first Globes attention for this biopic on Irish transvestite cabaret singer Patrick "Kitten" Brady. Murphy's coming off a breakout year, having appeared in summer pics "Batman Begins" and "Red Eye." "Pluto" helmer Neil Jordan has generated HFPA love before, garnering a drama pic nom in '93 for "The Crying Game." As one HFPA member notes, "He's not a bad looking woman, either."

JOAQUIN PHOENIX, "Walk the Line"

How it got there: As the legendary Johnny Cash, Joaquin Phoenix not only follows the lead of Jamie Foxx --- a winner in this category for another music-legend biopic, "Ray" --- he passes him by doing his own singing. Phoenix's only other Globe nom was for supporting actor in "Gladiator" in 2001.

[Ace]

E! Online: We predict the Globes

Cowboys and Hustlers and Hausfraus, Oh My--We Weigh in on Who'll Go Home with the Gold

It's the first big blowout of awards season and a good indicator of who'll be winning at those other kudofests. That said, after much thought, analysis, a few names drawn from a hat and one eeny-meeny-miney-mo, we bring you the E! Online picks for who will walk away a winner, as well as the deliciously snarky take of some of your fave columnists.

Best Actor: Musical or Comedy

The Contenders

• Pierce Brosnan, The Matador
• Jeff Daniels, The Squid and the Whale
• Johnny Depp, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Nathan Lane, The Producers
• Cillian Murphy, Breakfast on Pluto
• Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line

Who SHOULD Win


Pierce Brosnan: Have you seen that insouciant mustache? Like we said, playing ugly usually wins the prize, though you'd have to mess up Brosnan a lot more than this ever to make him ugly. Still, this sly send-up of male Bonding is both clever and affecting and shows the guy isn't just charming, he's a damn good actor.


Who WILL Win

Joaquin Phoenix: He turned in a terrific performance as the Man in Black, even if he may have alienated voters with seemingly begrudging efforts to promote the film. Still, Phoenix is playing a Jesus-lovin', pill-poppin', other-man's-wife-covetin' son of a gun, so maybe we should just cut him some slack. He sings purty, too.

TAB FAB's Pick


Pierce Brosnan: Globes voters love big stars stretching out in quirky big-budget projects like Johnny Depp did in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But they like it even more when a British star goes indie--hence, Brosnan in Matador.

[Ace]

London Free Press: Awards recruit A-list stars

Sat, January 14, 2006
By LOUIS B. HOBSON, SPECIAL TO THE FREE PRESS


Awards season is off and running.

The official word from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the Golden Globes, is that since 1980, its members have predicted the Oscars in the major categories with more than 70 per cent accuracy.

More to the point, however, the Golden Globe Awards show is a chance for Hollywood to shine.

There will be no shortage of star power at this year's ceremony Monday night.

The association has been able to recruit as many A-list film and television celebrities to act as presenters as there are nominees.

This year, the Globes will honour Anthony Hopkins with the Cecil B. DeMille Award, recognizing his outstanding contribution to the entertainment world.

The Golden Globe Awards will be broadcast to more than 150 countries worldwide and is one of the few awards ceremonies that honours achievements in both television and film.

Here are my picks for the awards:

Picture, drama

This will go to Brokeback Mountain because the film is this year's critics' darling and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is not about to be the odd man out.

Picture, musical or comedy

Give this one to the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line because it is the one studio film that has a chance at actually making the Oscar list.

Actor, drama

The Globes will overlook Heath Ledger's astonishing performance in Brokeback Mountain in favour of Philip Seymour Hoffman's more theatrical turn as novelist Truman Capote in Capote because he's wowed so many of their colleagues in other organizations.

Actress, drama

Felicity Huffman will be named best dramatic actress for playing a transsexual in Transamerica. Globe members will consider it a brave move on her part, although it's really just the kind of showy performance that always impresses.

Actor, musical or comedy

Pierce Brosnan will get the Golden Globe for his hilarious against-type performance as the bisexual, alcoholic hitman in Matador. The HFPA will reward him not just for his performance, but also for his accessibility. They consider Brosnan a friend.

Actress, musical or comedy

Reese Witherspoon is a lock for best performance for playing June Carter in Walk the Line. Not only is it a brilliant performance, but also the HFPA has been including her in this category for several years and this time she actually deserves the kudos.

Television

This year, the Golden Globes likely will announce Lost is the best TV drama and My Name is Earl the best comedy show.

Geena Davis is a former Golden Globe winner, so look for her to win best dramatic actress for her role on Commander in Chief and, like critics in general, the awards will acknowledge Hugh Laurie leads the drama pack as the pessimistic but brilliant doctor on House.

Mary Louise Parker is the only actress nominated for the comedy category who isn't on Desperate Housewives, so she should easily win for her new quirky comedy series, Weeds. Watch for Jason Lee to be named best actor in a comedy for his breakout title role in My Name is Earl.

[Ace]

Let the season begin: Golden Globes mark the beginning of acclaim for many pictures
By STEVEN SNYDER - TimeOut movie critic

January 11, 2006

It’s the first stop along the road to Oscar gold, and though the annual Golden Globe awards are on Monday night, those in the industry only care about them as they relate to next Saturday.

That’s the day the polls close for the 78th Academy Awards.

It was many years ago when the Golden Globes changed their calendar to more closely coincide with that of the Academy, and what really matters about these less-than-essential awards is the effect they can have on Academy voters as they fill out their ballots in the five days following.

As we count down the days to Oscar - 52 days and counting until the March 5 Oscar broadcast - consider this your official guide to the 63rd annual Golden Globes: who will win, who should win and who would benefit most from the last-minute buzz.

Nominees for Best Motion Picture - Drama include: "Brokeback Mountain," "The Constant Gardener," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "A History of Violence" and "Match Point"

Who will win: "Brokeback Mountain" has everything going for it.

Who should win: "The Constant Gardener," the year’s best thriller.

Who would benefit most from the buzz: "A History of Violence," the overrated outsider, would benefit greatly from a surprise win here and might help Academy voters think it has a real chance to take home an Oscar.

Nominees for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy include: "Mrs. Henderson Presents," "Pride & Prejudice," "The Producers," "The Squid and the Whale" and "Walk the Line"

Who will win: "Walk the Line," in a close contest

Who should win: "Pride & Prejudice," a magnificent retelling of an old classic.

Who would benefit most from the buzz: "The Producers," the film that has been brushed over by critics as passable entertainment at best, could increase its prestige with a win

Nominees for Best Actor - Drama include: Russell Crowe, "Cinderella Man;" Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote;" Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow;" Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain;" and David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck"

Who will win: Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"

Who should win: Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: Terrence Howard, who has been praised widely for his portrayal of a desperate pimp, but has recently been overshadowed by bigger names in bigger movies.

Nominees for Best Actress - Drama include: Maria Bello, "A History of Violence;" Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica;" Gwyneth Paltrow, "Proof;" Charlize Theron, "North Country;" and Ziyi Zhang, "Memoirs of a Geisha"

Who will win: Charlize Theron, "North Country"

Who should win: Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: Gwyneth Paltrow, since "Proof" has been widely forgotten by critics in their year-end lists.

Nominees for Best Actor - Musical or Comedy include: Pierce Brosnan, "The Matador;" Jeff Daniels, "The Squid and the Whale;" Johnny Depp, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory;" Nathan Lane, "The Producers;" Cillian Murphy, "Breakfast on Pluto;" and Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line"

Who will win: Cillian Murphy, "Breakfast on Pluto"

Who should win: Pierce Brosnan, "The Matador"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: Nathan Lane, since "The Producers" is clearly the underdog of the night.

Nominees for Best Actress - Musical or Comedy include: Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents;" Keira Knightley, "Pride & Prejudice;" Laura Linney, "The Squid and the Whale;" Sarah Jessica Parker, "The Family Stone;" and Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line"

Who will win: Keira Knightley, "Pride & Prejudice"

Who should win: Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: Sarah Jessica Parker, as "The Family Stone" has been the most notable underperformer of the holiday season

Nominees for Best Supporting Actor include: George Clooney, "Syriana;" Matt Dillon, "Crash;" Will Ferrell, "The Producers;" Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man;" and Bob Hoskins, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"

Who will win: George Clooney, "Syriana"

Who should win: Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: Will Ferrell, who stole the show in the disappointing "Producers"

Nominees for Best Supporting Actress include: Scarlett Johansson, "Match Point;" Shirley MacLaine, "In Her Shoes;" Frances McDormand, "North Country;" Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener;" and Michelle Williams, "Brokeback Mountain"

Who will win: Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener"

Who should win: Scarlett Johansson, "Match Point"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: Frances McDormand, the forgotten name in a relatively forgotten movie, overshadowed by co-star Charlize Theron

Nominees for Best Director include: Woody Allen, "Match Point;" George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck;" Peter Jackson, "King Kong;" Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain;" Fernando Meirelles, "The Constant Gardener;" and Steven Spielberg, "Munich"

Who will win: Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain"

Who should win: Peter Jackson, "King Kong"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: While Jackson is the outsider of the pack, the real answer is Steven Spielberg, whose "Munich" was not nominated for best picture. With a win here, "Munich" could spring back to the top of the Oscar discussion.

Nominees for Best Screenplay include: "Brokeback Mountain," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Match Point" and "Munich"

Who will win: "Crash"

Who should win: "Match Point"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: "Munich" (see best director)

Nominees for Best Original Song include: "A Love That Will Never Grow Old," from "Brokeback Mountain;" "Christmas In Love," from "Christmas In Love;" "Wunderkind," from "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe;" "There’s Nothing Like A Show on Broadway," from "The Producers;" and "Travelin’ Thru," from "Transamerica"

Who will win: "There’s Nothing Like A Show on Broadway"

Who should win: "Travelin’ Thru"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: "Christmas In Love," since I have never heard of it.

Nominees for Best Original Score include: "Brokeback Mountain," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "King Kong," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Syriana"

Who will win: "Brokeback Mountain"

Who should win: "Memoirs of a Geisha"

Who would benefit most from the buzz: "Syriana," since this is likely the only award the film has any chance of winning.

Nominees for Best Foreign Language Film include: "Joyeux Noel" (France), "Kung fu" (Hong Kong), "Mo gik" (China), "Paradise Now" (Palestine) and "Tsotsi" (South Africa)

Only film seen: "Paradise Now." If it’s the only one I’ve seen, there’s a good chance it’s the only one some of the voters have seen.

Steven Snyder will be closely following the awards race through the Academy Awards on March 5. He welcomes feedback at [e-mail]