Posts Tagged ‘Sally Field’

Sunday night’s 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Award ceremony was almost a carbon copy of the Golden Globes two weeks ago with “Slumdog Millionaire,” “30 Rock,” Kate Winslet and “John Adams” winning big.

Since the SAG Awards only honors actors it doesn’t award a Best Picture, but “Slumdog Millionaire” took home the biggest award of the night: Cast in a Motion Picture. The cast of unknown Indian actors was shocked and grateful. Anil Kapoor accepted the award saying it was enough to be nominated and the win was “unbelievable,”and Freida Pinto took a moment to personally acknowledge all the children who played the actors’ younger counterparts.

“30 Rock” swept the show once again with the cast winning Ensemble in a Comedy series and stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin winning Female and Male Actor in a Comedy Series.

Fey threw in a jab at the ongoing contract negotiations between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers when she thanked her young daughter, Alice. “Someday, she’ll be old enough to watch 30 Rock reruns on the Internet and understand where mommy was going at 6 a.m. every day for all that time. And she’ll look up at me and say, ‘What do you mean, you don’t get residuals for this?’ I love you, Alice. Take care of me when I’m old and broke!” 

“Mad Men” also scored big yet again winning Ensemble in a Drama Series, and star Jon Hamm thanked their “dozens of viewers.”

Surprise winners Hugh Laurie from “House” and Sally Field from “Brothers and Sisters” won Male and Female Actor in a Drama Series. They were even shocked themselves: “I had $100 on James Spader – this is just not my night,” Laurie deadpanned, and Field admitted, “Oh dear, I thought it would be a cable girl.”

“Doubt’s” Meryl Streep who won Female Actor in a Leading Role was so shocked she won she didn’t even buy a dress as she showed all of us when she stepped around the podium to show off her simple black pants. Yet, after Winslet’s astonishing double-win at the Globes, we were all kind of surprised too.

Alas, Winslet didn’t go home empty-handed. She won Female Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Reader” and gave a much more subdued speech this time around.

Sean Penn beat out Mickey Rourke for Male Actor in a Leading Role for “Milk” and gave a much more dynamic speech talking about the statue’s “rather healthy package,” saying he “wept” at his fellow nominee’s performances, dissing the voters for not acknowledging actors like Benicio Del Toro, and reprimanding the media for making the award competition a “dog fight.”

Not all competitions have been a dog fight, however. Heath Ledger once again won a posthumous award for Male Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Dark Knight” with costar Gary Oldman accepting on his behalf and “John Adams” stars Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney won acting awards in the Television Movie or Miniseries category again.

Besides honoring the year’s best actors, the Guild also honored James Earl Jones by giving him the Lifetime Achievement Award. While these awards can often be the boring part of ceremonies, we learned some interesting things about Jones such as that he had a stutter as a child and subsequently barely spoke for twelve years.

Who would have guessed that about the man who breathed “Luke, I am your father” ?

“Slumdog Millionaire” vs. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?” Brad Pitt vs. Mickey Rourke? “Mad Men” vs. “True Blood?”

Who will win?

We’ll find out when the 66th annual Golden Globes air Sunday on NBC at 8/7 c, but in the meantime here’s Positively Celebrity’s picks for who will be seeing gold.

Best Motion Picture – Drama

* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

The Reader

Revolutionary Road

Slumdog Millionaire

While “Slumdog Millionaire” is equally if not more deserving, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is the most popular and beloved movie right now.

Best Actor in a Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road

Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn, Milk

* Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Rourke will most likely win at the Oscars, but Pitt will win at the Globes because he is more popular and mainstream.  

Best Actress in a Drama

* Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie, Changeling

Meryl Streep, Doubt

Kristin Scott-Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long

Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Fresh off her Critics Choice Award Thursday night, Hathaway will go on to win the Golden Globe as well.

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Burn After Reading

Happy-Go-Lucky

In Bruges

Mamma Mia!

* Vicky Cristina Barcelona

This one goes to the beloved Woody Allen’s film. The Coens (fresh off last year’s “No Country for Old Men” accolades) won’t win again for “Burn After Reading,” not enough people saw “Happy-Go-Lucky” or “In Bruges,” and many didn’t take “Mamma Mia!” too seriously.

Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy

Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Colin Farrell, In Bruges

James Franco, Pineapple Express

Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges

* Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey

If Bardem didn’t just win last year for “No Country for Old Men,” I’d say he’d win, so this year it could be a toss-up between Farrell and Hoffman. Given Hoffman’s popularity and long, great career, I’ll predict him.

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy

Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

* Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading

Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!

Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey

Hawkins is the critical favorite who has the best chance of all these ladies to be nominated for an Oscar. Yet, look out for Streep, whose popularity and work in “Doubt” could help score her a win.

Best TV Series- Drama

Dexter

House

In Treatment

* Mad Men

True Blood

“Mad Men” did win last year, but its second season was even better than its first. Plus, the show didn’t have much of a chance to celebrate last year because a boring press conference took the place of an actual show due to the writer’s strike.

Best TV Series- Comedy

* 30 Rock

Californication

Entourage

The Office

Weeds

“30 Rock” is the best comedy on TV right now, and it is yet to win a Golden Globe for best comedy.

Best Actor in a TV Drama

Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment

Michael C. Hall, Dexter

* Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Hugh Laurie, House

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors

This could be a toss-up between Hamm and Hall, but I’ll give the edge to Hamm due to “Mad Men’s” enormous popularity.

Best Actress in a TV Drama

Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters

Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU

* January Jones, Mad Men

Anna Paquin, True Blood

Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Field, Hargitay, and Sedgwick are starting to become clichés in this category, and Paquin’s “True Blood” isn’t well-known. Plus, Jones really had a chance to flex her acting muscles on this season of “Mad Men.”

Best Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy

* Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Steve Carell, The Office

Kevin Connolly, Entourage

David Duchovny, Californication

Tony Shaloub, Monk

Baldwin won two years ago in this category, but, again, no comedy is better than “30 Rock” right now. Plus, Baldwin’s great lines and even greater delivery of them really makes the show.

Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy

* Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?

America Ferrera, Ugly Betty

Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Debra Messing, The Starter Wife

Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Fey has been on a complete winning streak this last year with all her accolades and praise. Either she could continue her streak or there could be a backlash. I’ll go with the latter and give the edge to Applegate for her fresh, funny performance. Plus, she’s yet to win an Emmy or a Golden Globe for “Samantha Who?” and it’s about time.

The Hollywood Foreign Press recently announced the nominees for this year’s Golden Globes airing on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. on NBC. This year’s Golden Globes has special significance because last year the winners were announced during a lackluster press conference due to the writer’s strike. 

Usually, the Golden Globe nominations and winners are a good indicator of who and what will be nominated for the Academy Awards. So if you haven’t seen these movies or TV shows yet, now is your time to start checking them out.

MOTION PICTURES

Drama

Best picture

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Frost/Nixon”

“The Reader”

“Revolutionary Road”

“Slumdog Millionaire”

Positively fact: Kate Winslet has two chances to be in a Best Picture winner. She stars in “The Reader” and “Revolutionary Road” where she is reunited with “Titanic” costar, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Best actress

Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”

Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”

Meryl Streep, “Doubt”

Kristin Scott Thomas, “I’ve Loved You So Long”

Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”

Positively fact: While all the other actresses are previous nominees, this is Hathaway’s first Golden Globe nomination.

Best actor

Leonardo DiCaprio, “Revolutionary Road”

Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”

Sean Penn, “Milk”

Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

Positively fact: This is Rourke’s first Golden Globe nomination, and Langella’s first nomination since 1970’s “Diary of a Mad Housewife.”

Comedy or musical

Best picture

“Burn After Reading”

“Happy-Go-Lucky”

“In Bruges”

“Mamma Mia!”

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Positively fact: You may not have heard of some of these comedies. “Happy-Go-Lucky” came out in April and is about a woman who’s optimism has a less than cheerful effect on others. “In Bruges” was released in February and stars Colin Farrell as a hitman in Belgium.

Best actress

Rebecca Hall, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”

Frances McDormand, “Burn After Reading”

Meryl Streep, “Mamma Mia!”

Emma Thompson, “Last Chance Harvey”

Positively fact (s): This is the first Golden Globe nomination for Hall and Hawkins. Also, McDormand is married to Joel Coen, one of the directors of “Burn After Reading.”

Best actor

Javier Bardem, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Colin Farrell, “In Bruges”

James Franco, “Pineapple Express”

Brendan Gleeson, “In Bruges”

Dustin Hoffman, “Last Chance Harvey”

Positively fact: Bardem won at last year’s Golden Globes for best actor in a drama for his performance in “No Country for Old Men.”

TELEVISION

Drama

Best television series

“Dexter” (Showtime)

“House” (Fox)

“In Treatment” (HBO)

“Mad Men” (AMC)

“True Blood” (HBO)

Positively fact: If “Mad Men” wins, it will the show’s second, consecutive win.

Best actress in a drama series

Sally Field, “Brothers and Sisters”

Mariska Hargitay, “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”

January Jones, “Mad Men”

Anna Paquin, “True Blood”

Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”

Positively fact: Jones didn’t earn a nomination last year, but the Hollywood Foreign Press must have warmed up to her portrayal of cold, isolated housewife, Betty Draper.

Best actor in a drama series

Gabriel Byrne, “In Treatment”

Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”

Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”

Hugh Laurie, “House”

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, “The Tudors”

Positively fact: Hamm won in this same category at last year’s awards.

Comedy or musical

Best television series

“30 Rock” (NBC)

“Californication” (Showtime)

“Entourage” (HBO)

“The Office” (NBC)

“Weeds” (Showtime)

Positively fact: All of these shows have been nominated before, but none have ever won. Past winners include “Extras,” “Ugly Betty,” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Best actress

America Ferrera, “Ugly Betty”

Tina Fey, “30 Rock”

Debra Messing, “The Starter Wife”

Mary-Louise Parker, “Weeds”

Positively fact: Fey won last year and could be on track to win two years in a row. Messing, who also was nominated last year for “The Starter Wife,” has never won in this category despite being nominated six times for “Will & Grace.”

Best actor

Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”

Steve Carell, “The Office”

Kevin Connolly, “Entourage”

David Duchovny, “Californication”

Tony Shalhoub, “Monk”

Positively fact: All of these actors have been nominated before, but Duchovny won last year.

Apparently the rumors were true. After wondering ‘is he or isn’t he’ suffering from cancer, as a friend told reporters months ago, the legendary Paul Newman succumbed to the disease on Friday at his home in Westport, CT.

Paul Newman was bigger than anything I could possibly write here. Before I go on about his award-winning roles, his popcorn empire, his race car career, and more, I’d be remiss if I didn’t begin with his love for his beautiful and equally-talented wife, Joanne Woodward.

Their love transcended far above how we recognize lovers today, particularly in Hollywood where newfound love is as common as a pair of worn socks, and discarded just as quickly. In regards to Newman’s devotion to his wife he stated, “I have steak at home. Why go out for hamburger?” Something tells me he meant just that.

Not that I am privy to all details of the Newmans lifestyle (or any details of theirs for that matter), but in all the years of the paparazzi hounding the Hollywood elite, very little, if any, trash has ever surfaced about this couple. And in Hollywood, that’s saying a lot. The fact that they’ve been married since 1958 says something much, much more. Theirs is a love of integrity.

Paul Newman was also a man of deep conviction. Years ago I watched him in an interview with Barbara Walters, who asked about the death of his son. This man, who seemed always to be more than gracious and open, simply stated that the interview was contingent upon not discussing the death of his son. He tactfully told Walters that he would not continue if she persisted. Naturally, she relented. Even then I understood that Paul Newman was no show-boater. He stood for what he believed and the rest be darned.

I remember the first time I saw “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” My favorite part was Butch (Newman) laughing at Sundance (Redford) when Sundance hesitated to jump off the cliff into raging waters to escape a posse because ‘he couldn’t swim.’ Butch (as only Newman could play him) threw his head back and gave a hearty laugh before saying, “The fall will probably kill ya’!” Classic.

Newman’s Michael Gallagher, the role he played opposite Sally Field in “Absence of Malice” was one of my all-time favorites. As the unaffiliated son of a mob boss, Newman plays a quiet yet proud man who turns the tide on an overbearing federal agent bent on destroying him. Bad move.

In “The Verdict” he played Frank Galvin, an extremely down-and-out attorney who goes head-to-head with a large law firm, when he takes on a client in an effort to sue a large hospital. As usual, Newman gives a stunning performance throughout, but the best part of the movie is the absolute last 30 seconds of the film. In that defining moment you see a man who has redeemed himself, albeit through pain and anguish. And as only the best actors can, he does so without a word.

I was only a child when I saw “Cool Hand Luke” for the first time. Even then I knew there was something too cool about this blue-eyed soul brother and his penchant for right and dignity. I didn’t really get the whole meaning behind the film at that time, but Luke wasn’t completely lost on me. The last time I saw it, I was so affected I swore I’d never see it again. It was just too good to repeat.

Newman and Redford reunited to make “The Sting,” the first movie ever to make me wish I had learned how to be a con-artist. Seriously. While watching “The Towering Inferno” I wondered how bad could it be—you got Paul Newman there! What a way to go. Okay, totally kidding, but as soon as he was onscreen (alongside Steve McQueen) my anxieties disappeared. His role with Kevin Costner in “Message in a Bottle” showed a kinder, gentler but stern father who helps his son heal from years of grief.

There’s much more to say, but time and space alludes me. The cinematic world has lost an enduring, endearing, phenomenal legend. More than that, the world lost a man of redeeming quality. A rarity for certain but particularly in the land of glitz and glamour…in Hollywood…where film will never be the same.

In loving memory. JBB

Ladies, don’t we know men are always one step behind? Just kidding, guys.

Seriously though, many male stars best known for their film roles are succeeding female film stars by making the move to the small screen.

With the exception of Alec Baldwin joining “30 Rock”, film actresses have inundated your TV for the past couple seasons. “Fatal Attraction” femme fatale Glenn Close joined “Damages”. After she was “The Flying Nun”, Sally Field acted in many films before returning to TV on “Brothers & Sisters”. Oscar winner Holly Hunter stars in “Saving Grace”, and Kyra Sedgwick became “The Closer” after a parlay in films like “Singles” and “Something to Talk About”.

Perhaps male film stars took notice after all four of these women recently scored Emmy nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Drama and they want to bask in the TV limelight too.

Here’s a look at male film actors coming to television in the fall:

Christian Slater (“Heathers”, “Windtalkers”) – Slater stars in NBC’s “My Own Worst Enemy” as a man with two very different personalities.

Josh Lucas (“Poseidon”, “Sweet Home Alabama”) – Lucas is in charge of a family-run pharmaceutical business in Showtime’s “Possible Side Effects” written, directed and executive produced by Tim Robbins.

Simon Baker (“The Devil Wears Prada”, “Land of the Dead”) – After a stint on CBS’s short-lived “Smith,” Baker stars in CBS’s “The Mentalist” as a… you guessed it… mentalist.

Sean Bean (“Flight Plan”, “National Treasure”) – Bean costars in NBC’s “Crusoe” based on the novel, “Robinson Crusoe.”

Kurt Russell (“Tombstone”, “Tequila Sunrise”) & Laurence Fishburne (“The Matrix” trilogy) – The movie actors “Entertainment Weekly” reported are the top choices to replace William Petersen when he leaves “CSI” after this season.