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Complete Oscar nominees by category
DPA

Los Angeles, Feb 28 (DPA) The 78th Annual Academy Awards will be presented on March 5 in 24 different categories. Following is the complete list of the nominations for the awards:

Best motion picture of the year: "Brokeback Mountain", "Capote", "Crash", "Good Night, And Good Luck", "Munich"

Achievement in directing: "Brokeback Mountain" - Ang Lee, "Capote" - Bennett Miller, "Crash" - Paul Haggis, "Good Night, And Good Luck" - George Clooney, "Munich" - Steven Spielberg

Performance by an actor in a leading role: Philip Seymour Hoffman - "Capote", Terrence Howard - "Hustle & Flow", Heath Ledger - "Brokeback Mountain", Joaquin Phoenix - "Walk the Line", David Strathairn - "Good Night, And Good Luck"

Performance by an actress in a leading role: Judi Dench - "Mrs. Henderson Presents", Felicity Huffman - "Transamerica", Keira Knightley - "Pride & Prejudice", Charlize Theron - "North Country", Reese Witherspoon - "Walk the Line"

Performance by an actor in a supporting role: George Clooney - "Syriana", Matt Dillon - "Crash", Paul Giamatti - "Cinderella Man", Jake Gyllenhaal - "Brokeback Mountain", William Hurt - "A History Of Violence"

Performance by an actress in a supporting role: Amy Adams - "Junebug", Catherine Keener - "Capote", Frances McDormand - "North Country", Rachel Weisz - "The Constant Gardener", Michelle Williams - "Brokeback Mountain"

Best foreign language film of the year: "Don't Tell" - Italy, "Joyeux Noel" - France, "Paradise Now" - Palestine, "Sophie Scholl - The Final Days" - Germany, "Tsotsi" - South Africa

Best animated feature film of the year: "Howl's Moving Castle", "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride", "Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit"

Adapted screenplay: "Brokeback Mountain", "Capote", "The Constant Gardener", "A History of Violence", "Munich"

Original screenplay: "Crash", "Good Night, And Good Luck", "Match Point", "The Squid And The Whale", "Syriana"

Achievement in art direction: "Good Night, And Good Luck", "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", "King Kong", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Pride & Prejudice"

Achievement in cinematography: "Batman Begins", "Brokeback Mountain", "Good Night, And Good Luck", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "The New World"

Achievement in costume design: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Mrs. Henderson Presents", "Pride & Prejudice", "Walk the Line"

Best documentary feature: "Darwin's Nightmare", "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room", "March of the Penguins", "Murderball", "Street Fight"

Best documentary short subject: "The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club", "God Sleeps in Rwanda", "The Mushroom Club", "A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin"

Achievement in film editing: "Cinderella Man", "The Constant Gardener", "Crash", "Munich", "Walk the Line"

Achievement in makeup: "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "Cinderella Man", "Star Wars: Episode iii - Revenge of the Sith"

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Score): "Brokeback Mountain", "The Constant Gardener", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Munich", "Pride & Prejudice"

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Song): "In the Deep" - "Crash", "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" - "Hustle & Flow", "Travelin' Thru" - "Transamerica"

Achievement in visual effects: "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "King Kong", "War of the Worlds"

Best animated short film: "Badgered", "The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation", "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello", "One Man Band"

Best live action short film: "Ausreisser (The Runaway)", "Cashback", "The Last Farm", "Our Time is Up", "Six Shooter"

Achievement in sound editing: "King Kong", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "War of the Worlds"

Achievement in sound mixing: "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "King Kong", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Walk the Line", "War of the Worlds"

Indo-Asian News Service

  
Dramatic low-budget films to dominate Oscars
DPA

Los Angeles, Feb 28 (DPA) Contrary to the usual expensive and lavish productions, the Oscars ceremony this year is expected to be dominated by a string of low-budget dramatic films.

Of the top contenders for the Oscar glory, only "Munich" and "Memoirs of a Geisha" can be considered traditional studio products - a sign of Hollywood's mould-breaking trend this year.

"Munich" is perhaps Steven Spielberg's most independent-minded film ever, filmed on a tight budget with a tough narrative and few special effects. "Geisha", meanwhile, garnered its nominations in relatively minor categories.

That leaves the Oscar gala in Hollywood Feb 5 open for a roster of films that challenges the mainstream comfort zone more than any other selection in recent years.

The powerful gay cowboy story and Oscar frontrunner "Brokeback Mountain", racial drama "Crash" and political period piece "Good Night, and Good Luck" - all of them indicate a thumb down to Hollywood's most expensive and lavish productions like "King Kong", "War of the Worlds" and "The Chronicles of Narnia".

No wonder Hollywood wags are joking they might move the next Oscar ceremony to the Sundance Film Festival - especially since that independent film showcase is fast moving towards the mainstream.

But it's no surprise that Hollywood's artistic community plumbs for the movies that are seen as the best expression of their art.

With low-budget dramatic films dominating the Oscars this season, pundits are hailing edgy movies that are made cheaply as a sure-fire ticket to riches. While that may be true for the select few that get Oscar nominations and statues, research institute Kagan Research finds such independent- calibre dramas generally are a poor economic bet.

"Hollywood talent often makes these films because of a passion for the material," says Wade Holden, analyst with Kagan Research. "But the entire low-budget drama category doesn't have a good track record from an economic perspective."

The figures bear it out. Of all the movies at the forefront of this year's Oscars, only "Brokeback Mountain" has a chance of breaking the $100 million mark at the US box office, a figure seen as the minimum requirement for a hit movie.

Last year's winner "Million Dollar Baby" just squeaked past the $100 million mark and you have to go back to the success of "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" to find that rare instance where popular taste coincided with that of the movie industry insiders.

This divide between the tastes of mainstream audiences and Hollywood is reflected in the themes of the movies chosen for Oscar consideration.

"Brokeback Mountain" has the message that same-sex relationships occur in all walks of life with a love that is as powerful as a heterosexual couple's.

"Crash" addresses the real-world ambiguity of race and tolerance. "Capote" examines the literary genius of a man most Americans have likely never heard of. "Good Night, And Good Luck" delves into the relationship between the press and politics, and "Munich" asks searching questions about the human price exacted by an unrelenting war on terror - not exactly easy-viewing entertainment topics.

So is Hollywood's power as an arbiter of cultural tastes on the wane? With box office receipts falling by some six percent last year, that might seem to be the case. But much of that shortfall could well be accounted for by the huge rise in DVD rentals as viewers choose their home movie theatres over the local multiplex.

Yet in the Internet age, Hollywood's celebrity culture has never been more popular around the world. With 84 countries broadcasting the show to over one billion people, the ultimate Hollywood competition remains a source of endless fascination.

Indo-Asian News Service

Midler reveals marriage secret
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Feb 28 (IANS) Hollywood actress Bette Midler has revealed that she did not love her husband Martin Von Haselberg when she married him.

According to contactmusic.com, Midler, who starred in the hit movie "Beaches", married Haselberg in a Las Vegas chapel after only a six-week courtship in 1985. Midler now admits she has often questioned such kind of romantic spontaneity, since it took a while to fall fully in love with her new husband.

She says: "I am in love with my husband. I ended up with a great guy. I haven't always been in love with him. It goes in and out. Sometimes you think, 'What did I do'?"

Freeman tips 'Brokeback' for Oscar win
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Feb 28 (IANS) Oscar winning actor Morgan Freeman has tipped "Brokeback Mountain" to win at the upcoming Oscar awards even though he admitted the film did not dazzle him.

According to contactmusic.com, Freeman acknowledges that the movie has a contemporary appeal but says he has another as a favourite. 

He says: "'Brokeback Mountain' is this year's right subject at the right time, which is all that counts. I liked the movie... but I wouldn't choose it over 'Capote' or (its star) Philip Seymour Hoffman."
 

Mariah Carey to make movie comeback
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Feb 28 (IANS) After her successful second innings in music, singer Mariah Carey is making a big screen comeback with "Tennessee".

According to contactmusic.com, Carey had starred in the dismal 2001 movie "Glitter" and had also appeared in "WiseGirls" in 2002 with Mira Sorvino. In the new movie "Tennessee" she plays a waitress who with her two brothers sets off to find their estranged father to save their younger brother who has leukaemia. 

Director Aaron Woodley decided to cast Carey after her Grammy winning album "The Emancipation Of Mimi" became the highest selling album of 2005. He was also impressed with her after seeing her in "WiseGirls". 

He says: "I never saw 'Glitter', but I liked her work in the other film. Because this character is inter-racial and struggles with all sorts of issues, because of that, I thought she was perfect."

Cuba relieved that rape scene edited
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Feb 28 (IANS) Oscar winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is relieved that a graphic rape scene from his new movie "Dirty" has been considerably edited.

According to contactmusic.com, Cuba feared that the scene would shock his religious parents. He knew that his mother would not have been too happy with him portraying a crooked cop in the movie. He also didn't want to further upset his mother by making her watch him rape a young woman in film. So he was relieved and delighted when the director Chris Fisher edited the graphic scene. 

He says: "I thought, 'You know, my mom has to see this movie!' That was the light version of that scene we shot. That was the hardest thing to shoot. This was based on actual instances that the director researched that dirty cops did."

He adds: "But when you see a movie about a rape, to watch it and to act out certain things you don't need to show a lot of stuff. So, in the final version, you see suggested things that happen, like my character removing the panties, and that's strong enough. As actors, we have to go through the emotions and it was a really hard shoot but it was all in the script."

Victoria says she won't sing without her band
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Feb 28 (IANS) Former pop star Victoria Beckham says she will not sing again unless her band, The Spice Girls, reunites.

Contactmusic.com reports that Victoria, who is the wife of footballer David Beckham, misses her former band mates and confesses she will sing only if they sing with her.

She says: "I am never going to sing again, unless it was a chance to do something with The Spice Girls. I don't really miss the shows we did together. I miss the girls more. I see Geri (Halliwell) a lot - I love her, she's amazing. I speak to the others from time to time. I love them too and miss them."
 

50 Cent praises Eminem for help
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Feb 28 (IANS) Hip-hop star 50 Cent is praising his rapper friend Eminem for helping him keep his feet on the ground.

According to contactmusic.com, 50 Cent says he observes how Eminem deals with success and tries to follow his example. He says: "I kind of look to Eminem to gauge how I should respond to success. He's had even bigger success than I have in some areas. He has been extremely helpful to me to kind of stay level-headed."
 

Ben sorry for forcing people to call him 'Sir'
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Feb 28 (IANS) Sir Ben Kingsley, Oscar winning star of "Gandhi", has apologised for insisting on being called 'Sir', both by colleagues and on publicity material, saying he has no recollection of making the demand.

Contactmusic.com reports that Kingsley had recently announced there is 'no Mr. Ben Kingsley anymore'. He had reportedly scolded a German reporter for not addressing him with his full title and was also criticised by former Bond star Sir Roger Moore who slammed his insistence on being called 'Sir' on posters for his new movie as 'pretentious B**locks'.

But his co-star Morgan Freeman admitted that Kingsley did ask people to call him Sir Ben - Kingsley is claiming his innocence to avoid an embarrassing backlash. 

He says: "I was shocked when I found out what had happened. No one's ever asked for the title to be used in this way because that's not the way we work in this profession. It's always been and will always be Ben Kingsley. If I have ever insisted on being called 'Sir' by colleagues on a film set then I am profoundly sorry. I don't remember ever doing that and I tend not to forget."

Rolling Stones to perform in China
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 1 (IANS) Veteran British rockers The Rolling Stones will hold their first concert in China in April, three years after cancelling shows in Shanghai and Beijing due to the SARS outbreak. 

The band will play at the 8,000-seat Grand Stage in Shanghai April 8 as part of the "A Bigger Bang" tour that has seen them perform in Canada and more recently a free concert in Brazil, the BBC reported.

Ticket prices for the Shanghai gig ranges from 300 to 3000 yuan (21.50-215 pounds) according to Chinese promoters, Emma Entertainment. 

"The Rolling Stones' first-ever concert in China, do not miss it," the company said on its website. 
 

Hilton's challenge to Theron
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, March 1 (IANS) Hotel heiress Paris Hilton has warned Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron to watch out - as the pair could be battling soon for the same movie roles.

The 25-year-old socialite, who previously appeared in the horror film "House of Wax", is confident she shares a similar screen style to Theron, reports hollywood.com. 

And Hilton has no qualms about putting herself in direct competition with Theron. 

"My acting coach told me I have a similar style of acting to her so we may end up vying for the same parts," she explains.
 
Britney Spears parties at Mardi Gras
DPA

New Orleans, March 1 (DPA) Pop star Britney Spears has been partying at New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras festival, boosting the spirits of the residents of the city devastated by Hurricane Katrina six months ago.

Spears told the TV show Good Morning America that she surprised a group of high school dancers, taking them shopping and out to eat at a top restaurant.

"They dance so great," said Spears, 24, a Louisiana native. "It was an honour to be here with all of them."

Pictures showed Spears dancing on a balcony and throwing beads down on the Mardi Gras parade. Spears gave birth to a son last year and said the devastation of New Orleans has shocked her more than most people.

"Words can't do it justice," she said. 

"I would see people on television saying 'You have to come here. You have to see it.' And until I actually came here and actually talked to these kids saying it was a nightmare, and they were waiting to wake up from this dream, it's heartbreaking. It really is heartbreaking."

Indo-Asian News Service

Cruz and Brody cause fury with PETA
Indo-Asian News Service

London, March 1 (IANS) Actress Penelope Cruz and Adrien Brody's new film "Manolete", based on bullfighting, has incurred the wrath of animal rights activists, who are furious after hearing reports about potential on-set animal slaughter.

According to hollywood.com, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has instructed supporters to disrupt filming on the set of "Manolete" unless the filmmakers decide to use computer technology instead of harming real bulls. 

A source says: "If it's true, it's rather shocking, because Penelope is a big animal-rights activist who has spoken out against bullfighting." 

A spokesperson for PETA adds: "Bullfights are cowardly affairs that have no place in a modern world." 
 
I always wanted to be bald, says Harrison Ford
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, March 1 (IANS) Actor Harrison Ford dislikes his rugged and good-looking screen image and wishes he was bald.

According to contactmusic.com, even at 63, Ford has a full head of hair and is about to begin work on a fourth "Indiana Jones" movie as the swashbuckling adventurer. But the actor yearns to be ugly and hairless, because that would make life simpler.

He says: "I always wanted to be bald. I love what it looks like. You don't have to f**k with hair. I hate hairdressing. Every movie, I try to do something so people aren't f**king picking at it all the time." 
 

Ex-playmate in legal wrangle over property rights
DPA

Washington, March 1 (DPA) Former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith appeared before the US Supreme Court in a fight over the inheritance of her late billionaire husband.

Dressed in black, Smith ignored reporters' questions outside the court Tuesday. At issue was whether state or federal courts have jurisdiction over the inheritance conflict, which pits Smith against the son of her husband.

Smith married billionaire oil tycoon Howard Marshall in 1994 when he was 89 and she was 26. He died 14 months later and Smith claimed a part of his inheritance.

A federal court awarded her $474 million but an appellate court threw out the decision, saying the judge did not have the authority to rule on the issue.

The question before the Supreme Court is whether Smith will get another chance to claim part of the inheritance. The ruling will be issued at a later date.
 

'Brokeback' named Hollywood word of the year
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, March 1 (IANS) Global Language Monitor, a non-profit group, has put the word 'Brokeback' at the top of its Hollywood words and phrases list.

Contactmusic.com reports that the new phrase from Oscar-nominated film "Brokeback Mountain" beat "Brangelina" - a term given to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's romance - as the word of the year.

Other words that have been added in the dictionary are 'Tomkat' - a name given to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' partnership and 'Vaughniston' - a moniker given to Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston's romance.

Third on the list is 'Petronoia', a phrase inspired by the film "Syriana", meaning an irrational fear of the collapse of the oil industry, followed by global economic crisis.

Global Language Monitor uses an algorithm to track words and phrases in print, electronic media and the Internet. 
 
DiCaprio may reprise Hughes role: Zeta-Jones
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, March 1 (IANS) Catherine Zeta-Jones is trying to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to reprise his role as Howard Hughes in her new film.

Contactmusic.com reports that Zeta Jones is going to star in the Lana Turner biopic titled "Stompanato" and the producers are trying to rope in DiCaprio to work in the film.

She says: "It would be awesome to get him to reprise the role, even for just a cameo, as he (DiCaprio) was so like him (Hughes)."

The film will re-tell the scandalous murder of thug and wannabe actor Johnny Stompanato, who was stabbed and killed by Turner's 14-year-old daughter.

The movie will also showcase the film star's numerous affairs including Howard Hughes. Keanu Reeves who will play Turner's abusive lover. 
 
Douglas sues US media firms
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, March 1 (IANS) Hollywood actor Michael Douglas has filed a suit against two US media companies for allegedly earning profit from his name and image.

Hollywood.com reports that Douglas is furious after signing up to host a supposedly non-commercial educational series. He discovered his contribution was exploited to drum up financial support for episodes that were never even aired. 

The infuriated actor filed a suit against Family Television Studios and Paradigm Media Group in Florida, requesting that both companies should immediately stop using his likeness on the Learning About project. 

He is also demanding the firms' profits from his contribution and asking them to pay the legal cost as well. The compensation may amount to $75,000.