THE GRAMMY AWARDS
Producers select Grammy openers
One would think the selection of the Grammy openers are the brainchildren of savvy music managers and record label execs who lean on the show's producers. Yet when it comes to jumpstarting the Grammys, the labels nowadays have nothing to do with it.
• Academy tries to reverse ratings slide
• Recording Academy adds programs
• Neil Diamond's long-lasting appeal
• Brubeck's timeless 'Time Out'
BAFTA AWARDS
BAFTA draws from across the globe
After an outstanding 2008 for U.K. cinema, it's no surprise to find homegrown talent represented at this year's British Academy Film Awards, but the Brits don't dominate the nominations. BAFTA has proved once again that it loves its American and continental European movies too.
• BAFTA voting to be re-examined
• BAFTA Alexander Korda Award
• BAFTA Rising Star Award
• 2008 BAFTA nominees
DGA AWARDS
DGA nominees borrow from the masters
Many of this year's Directors Guild of America feature film award nominees cite specific inspirational sources or cinematic starting point.
• How the DGA closed the deal
• Multicamera shows get no respect
• DGA Award gives lift to rising directors
• 2008 DGA Nominees
CHART: Ebert's desert island dialogues
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS
James Earl Jones built multifaceted career
Actor is best known for voice acting and theater work.
• Role in 'White Hope' opened doors
• Rosenberg deals with tough role
• SAG's first-time nominees
• SAG Awards keep things simple
• SAG honors stunt ensembles
• SAG's repeat contenders
PRODUCERS GUILD AWARDS
PGA nominees ponder recession
An economic recession, like a great white shark, does only one thing: eat anything in its path. So how recession-proof is the biz? Several current PGA nominees for the Darryl F. Zanuck Award have pondered the risks of producing films in the jaws of this unpredictable economic climate.
• Hollywood defies economic odds
• 2009 Producers Guild Award Nominees
Producers Guild Award Honorees
A look at this year's recipients.
Stanley Kramer Award: 'Milk'
This award honors films that "dramatically illuminate provocative social issues." This year's recipient, Gus Van Sant's "Milk"...
This award honors films that "dramatically illuminate provocative social issues." This year's recipient, Gus Van Sant's "Milk"...
David O. Selznick Award: Michael Douglas
Thirty-five years ago, Michael Douglas was in the home stretch of the event that would jumpstart a new career....
Thirty-five years ago, Michael Douglas was in the home stretch of the event that would jumpstart a new career....
Vanguard Award: Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe
Since MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe and prexy Tom Anderson co-founded the site in 2003...
Since MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe and prexy Tom Anderson co-founded the site in 2003...
Visionary Award: Jeff Skoll
As a teenager, Jeff Skoll's family summered in the Adirondacks where he spent endless hours watching films...
As a teenager, Jeff Skoll's family summered in the Adirondacks where he spent endless hours watching films...
Milestone Award: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard
At a time when many producers are finding Hollywood a cold place, it's hard to imagine these two any hotter...
At a time when many producers are finding Hollywood a cold place, it's hard to imagine these two any hotter...
Norman Lear Award: David Chase
David Chase knows where the bodies are buried in New Jersey. He buried a lot of them...
David Chase knows where the bodies are buried in New Jersey. He buried a lot of them...
AWARD SEASON FOCUS: THE ACTOR AND ACTRESS
Many iconic actors never earned an Oscar
No one ever promised that the Academy would be just, let alone fair. Over the course of the Oscars long history, many myths have developed about the mysterious selection proccess, which has left a sizeable number of iconic actors and actresses out of the winners circle.
• Rookies register with awards voters
SAG PREVIEW
Casting directors: Search and employ
Find "cute"! Find "dark"! Find "chemistry"! Find "unknown"! And, oh yes, find me a Pygmy! And of course, they gotta be able to carry a film. That's the kind of phone call casting directors live for.
Actor on Actors: Thesps champion their colleagues' performances
Dustin Hoffman on
Melissa Leo
It's funny. When you're in the business, you can tell something in the first minutes of watching...
Melissa Leo
It's funny. When you're in the business, you can tell something in the first minutes of watching...
James Franco on
Heath Ledger
Heath in "The Dark Knight" was great. With any superhero movie villain, everybody is still contending with...
Heath Ledger
Heath in "The Dark Knight" was great. With any superhero movie villain, everybody is still contending with...
Catherine Keener on Michelle Williams
The film allows you to breathe through long shots and a beautiful pace. I like to think my dog sat through it...
The film allows you to breathe through long shots and a beautiful pace. I like to think my dog sat through it...
Kevin Spacey on
Jeff Goldblum
In the opening frame of Paul Schrader's "Adam Resurrected," Jeff Goldblum's wandering eye turns out...
Jeff Goldblum
In the opening frame of Paul Schrader's "Adam Resurrected," Jeff Goldblum's wandering eye turns out...
Collin Farrel on Sally Hawkins
Sally is brilliant. From the opening frame as Poppy cycles from London, we encounter someone completely engaged in...
Sally is brilliant. From the opening frame as Poppy cycles from London, we encounter someone completely engaged in...
Emma Thompson on
Sally Hawkins
It's a remarkable piece of work by Sally Hawkins, because the Poppy character is so fascinatingly irritating...
Sally Hawkins
It's a remarkable piece of work by Sally Hawkins, because the Poppy character is so fascinatingly irritating...
Virginia Madsen on
Dennis Hopper
When you Google "Dennis Hopper," you will find words like "unconventional," "revered" and...
Dennis Hopper
When you Google "Dennis Hopper," you will find words like "unconventional," "revered" and...
Richard Belzer on
Brendan Gleeson
Mr. Gleeson is always a very real and naturalistic presence onscreen. In the film "In Bruges," the weight of...
Brendan Gleeson
Mr. Gleeson is always a very real and naturalistic presence onscreen. In the film "In Bruges," the weight of...
Natalie Portman on
Sean Penn
"They only need to know one of us," Harvey Milk explains to his campaign team in the film "Milk." Sean Penn's...
Sean Penn
"They only need to know one of us," Harvey Milk explains to his campaign team in the film "Milk." Sean Penn's...
James McAvoy on
Anne Hathaway
The character of Kym is a challenge both for the actor and the audience. She is clearly our protagonist and...
Anne Hathaway
The character of Kym is a challenge both for the actor and the audience. She is clearly our protagonist and...
Sigourney Weaver on Raosmarie Dewitt
It's easier to describe Rosemarie DeWitt's performance by first saying that she doesn't give one. She...
It's easier to describe Rosemarie DeWitt's performance by first saying that she doesn't give one. She...
Noah Emmerich on
Patricia Clarkson
Patricia Clarkson's work is a master class in fullness and minimalism. The scope and power of what she...
Patricia Clarkson
Patricia Clarkson's work is a master class in fullness and minimalism. The scope and power of what she...
Andy Garcia on
Elsa Zylberstein
Elsa has this very facile and very available emotional depth and spontaneity, which is very attractive...
Elsa Zylberstein
Elsa has this very facile and very available emotional depth and spontaneity, which is very attractive...
Scarlett Johansson on
Kristin Scott Thomas
From the first shot, her face is this incredible vessel of her emotions. You can see the character's whole...
Kristin Scott Thomas
From the first shot, her face is this incredible vessel of her emotions. You can see the character's whole...
TALENT PREVIEW
Actors try to emulate political personas
One election season may have ended on Nov. 4, but with the preponderance of actors playing real-life politicians in this year's films, it's a safe bet the awards season will have a political aura, too.
• Comeback tales a Hollywood tradition
• Hip clip can nab awards, draw auds
• Stars pull off acting, directing duties
• Cash, awards not always hand in hand
Cheat Sheets:
Supporting Actor
James Cromwell, Robert Downey Jr., Ralph Fiennes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger, Michael Shannon
James Cromwell, Robert Downey Jr., Ralph Fiennes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger, Michael Shannon
Lead Actress
Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Kristin Scott Thomas, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet
Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Kristin Scott Thomas, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet
GLOBAL CONTENDERS
World directors take dark view of U.S.
As usual, overseas talent stands poised to take many of Hollywood's top prizes this awards season. But some among this group -- especially the directors -- could be seen as biting the hand that feeds them.
This year's "The Dark Knight," by Christopher Nolan, provided a bleak look at how American society is so violent that it needs a superhero to save its members from killing themselves.
• Boyle gets cultural help on 'Slumdog'
International Contestants:
THE WOMEN
Actresses transition into complex roles
Anne Hathaway is at the forefront of a new crop of actresses, including Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johansson, Michelle Williams, Amy Adams, Natalie Portman and Emily Blunt, who charmed audiences as teenagers and, now in their 20s and 30s, are transitioning to more complex adult fare.
• Walker and Alberti up female d.p. profile
Chart: Distribution of Oscar wealth
LAUNCH
Will Oscar recognize superhero perfs?
Judging by how often the Academy has nominated a performance in a fantasy epic or a superhero movie over the past 80 years, you'd think that wearing a cape and giving a decent performance were somehow mutually exclusive.
• Red-carpet photogs make stars shine
• Anya Sarre makes red carpet 'pop'
• Docs may get short shrift at award time
• Rundown of new awards and new rules
• Charting award organizations (part I)
• Charting award organizations (part II)
• Award Season Calendar
OVERVIEW
Oscar contenders skip festival route
The Oscar derby is running late this year. Whereas the festival circuit has reliably launched roughly half the best picture candidates in the recent past, most of the favorites have yet to be seen this year, leaving the race wide open.
• 2008 issue pics have Oscar precedent
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