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Hollywood stars swish out for Golden Globes
DPA

Los Angeles, Jan 17 (DPA) With a panoply of stars parading down the red carpet, the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards kicked off at the Beverly Hills Hilton, sending the Hollywood award season into high gear in the run-up to the Oscars.

Stars like Johnny Depp, Charlize Theron, Russell Crowe and Hillary Swank looked relaxed Monday night as they entered the awards show, considered second only to the Oscars in the prestige it commands in the US film industry. 

Black movie star Queen Latifah hosted the show, which she hailed as the "party of the year".

The controversial gay cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain" was the top contender with seven nominations, including best drama, best director for Ang Lee and best actor for Heath Ledger. 

The film was leading a field filled with independent and low budget movies with its main competition coming not from big budget studio spectaculars like "Memoirs of a Geisha" or "King Kong", but from other indie movies, "The Constant Gardener", "Good Night, and Good Luck", "Mrs Henderson Presents", "A History of Violence", Woody Allen's "Match Point" and "The Squid and the Whale".

"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.

In the television categories, "Desperate Housewives" led with five nominations for its second season, despite lukewarm reviews from critics and falling TV ratings.

Besides Lee, the nominees for best director were George Clooney, Woody Allen, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and Fernando Meirelles.

In the best musical or comedy shortlist, the contenders were "Pride and Prejudice", "Mrs Henderson Presents", the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk The Line", "The Producers" and "The Squid and the Whale".

The best actor nominees saw Russell Crowe ("Cinderella Man") vying with Ledger, Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote", David Straithairn in "Good Night and Good Luck" and Terrence Howard in "Hustle and Flow".

Nominees in the best actress category included Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron, Maria Bello, Ziyi Zhang and Felicity Huffman. 

British actor Sir Anthony Hopkins was to receive the Cecil B. Demille award for lifetime achievement.

The awards are widely seen as a predictor of Oscar victory. Two years ago, the Golden Globes correctly predicted winners in all key categories. But last year the Globes missed the mark, picking "The Aviator" as best picture, an honour that went to "Million Dollar Baby" at the Oscars.

Indo-Asian News Service

'Star Wars' actress signs autographs for money
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Jan 17 (IANS) Actress Carrie Fisher, best known as Princess Leia in "Star Wars", has turned to signing autographs to make some extra money. 

According to pagesix.com, Fisher seems to be more aware of this than other stars who have done this and admits: "In a way, by accepting money for my signature, I have become a whore." 

She adds: "I have prostituted a token, a souvenir and a gesture of my goodwill, and seen from an awfully odd angle, couldn't 'lovemaking' also be regarded as such a gesture? At least with an autograph you get a picture."
 
Oscars are dangerous, says Phoenix
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Jan 17 (IANS) Actor Joaquin Phoenix is not allowing Oscars to dictate what movie roles he chooses to take.

According to contactmusic.com, Phoenix, who is tipped for an Oscar for his portrayal of singer Johnny Cash in the movie "Walk The Line", says an Oscar is a great honour, but remains doubtful after witnessing the disappointment of a friend who 'did a spectacular job' but did not get the nomination. 

He says: "For most actors, it is the highest recognition of one's work, but to me it is a danger. I don't want it to matter that much. I don't want it to start dictating my actions. After my nomination for 'Gladiator', I was offered several roles that were sold as 'guaranteed Oscar parts'. I turned them down all of them. But you know what? With each one the guy got nominated. Every single time! But I won't take them, that's not what it's about for me."


'Summer of 69' jokes send Ryan Adams to therapy
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Jan 17 (IANS) Rocker Ryan Adams had to undergo therapy after his last tour because he couldn't handle fans screaming Bryan Adams' song titles from the audience.

According to contactmusic.com, Ryan even had a fight with one fan who screamed Bryan Adams' song 'Summer of 69' during one show. He decided it was time to confront the issues he had with having a name similar to the "Run to you" hit-maker.

He says: "I used to go onstage, and I couldn't hear any of the clapping. I could only hear, 'F**k you..!' I turned that into such a negative thing that it paralysed me. So now it's not like someone is not going to shout 'Summer Of 69', but I can choose not to let that ruin my evening."
 
Harrison Ford dreams of scaling highest mountain
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Jan 17 (IANS) Harrison Ford still has dreams after his successful movie career - like climbing one of the highest mountains in the US.

According to contactmusic.com, Ford admits that he may not be in the best of physical shape at 63 but he still hopes to climb the Grand Teton in the state of Wyoming. He says: "Even with my bad knees, I am told I could do it." 

He also spoke of the other goals in his to-do list, "I used to be more of a list-maker, but within the last five or six years I sort of stopped. I don't know why. I guess I am focused more on what's right in front of me."
 
'Stairway...' tops solo guitar survey
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Jan 17 (IANS) Guitarist Jimmy Page of the band Led Zeppelin has been voted the top guitar soloist of all time for the song "Stairway to heaven".

According to contactmusic.com, Page's performance topped the survey held by the website aboutguitars.com and beat out the likes of Eddie Van Halen for the track "Eruption". 

The third place was occupied by the dual guitar solo by Allen Collins and Gary Rossington on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird". 

The top 10 guitar solos are: 

1. "Stairway to heaven" - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) 
2. "Eruption" - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) 
3. "Freebird" - Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) 
4. "Comfortably numb" - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) 
5. "All along the watchtower' - Jimi Hendrix 
6. "November rain" - Slash (Guns N' Roses) 
7. "One" - Kirk Hammett (Metallica) 
8. "Hotel California" - Don Felder and Joe Walsh (The Eagles) 
9. "Crazy Train" - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne) 
10. "Crossroads" - Eric Clapton (Cream)

 
Starbucks to promote Fishburne movie
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Jan 17 (IANS) The Starbucks coffee chain has signed a deal to promote Laurence Fishburne's latest movie "Akeelah And The Bee".

According to contactmusic.com, Starbucks will sell the movie soundtrack, the DVD and tickets for the previews at their coffee shops. Starbucks chairperson Howard Schultz says: "Just as we have demonstrated with music, we believe that Starbucks can ultimately change the rules of the game for film marketing and distribution."

The film is about a poor girl from Los Angeles who wants to join the national spelling bee contest. It stars Fishburne and Angela Bassett and will be released later this year.

'Brokeback Mountain' wins big at Golden Globes (LEAD)
DPA

Los Angeles, Jan 17 (DPA) Controversial gay cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain" was honoured as the best movie of the year Monday at the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards, strengthening its position as the hot favourite to dominate the Oscars.

The movie, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gylenhaal was nominated for seven Golden Globes. 

It saw director Ang Lee win for best director, Larry McRurtry and Diana Osanna win for best movie screenplay and also picked up the award for best song in a movie.

The Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line" won the prize for best musical or comedy and saw its co-stars Reese Witherspoon and Joaquim Phoenix take home the best actor prizes in the category.

Stars like Johnny Depp, Charlize Theron, Russell Crowe and Hillary Swank looked relaxed as they sipped champagne at the lavish awards show that is considered second only to the Oscars in the prestige it commands in the US film industry. 

Movie star Queen Latifah hosted the show, which she hailed as the "party of the year".

The prize for best foreign language film went to the Palestinian movie "Paradise Now".

George Clooney won the best supporting actor prize for his role in the movie "Syriana", with Rachel Weisz picking up the best supporting actress award for "The Constant Gardener". 

British actor Sir Anthony Hopkins received the Cecil B. Demille award for lifetime achievement.

"Desperate Housewives" won the prize for best TV comedy but Mary-Louise Parker beat out four nominees from the show to win the top TV comedy actress prize for her role in "Weeds". 

Geena Davis won the best TV actress in a drama for portraying a female US president in "Commander in Chief" and Hugh Laurie was named best dramatic TV actor for "House", with Steve Carrell winning the corresponding comic category. 

"Empire Falls" was named best TV movie or mini series, and also garnered a best supporting actor award for veteran actor Paul Newman.

The awards are widely seen as a predictor of Oscar victory. Two years ago, the Golden Globes correctly predicted winners in all key categories. But last year the Globes missed the mark, picking "The Aviator" as best picture, an honour that went to "Million Dollar Baby" at the Oscars.

Indo-Asian News Service