Posts Tagged ‘Sean Penn’

“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.

There aren’t many actors out there who shrug off their new movie as “just a film,” but Diego Luna does.

The 28-year-old told People at the premiere of his newly released film, “Milk,” that his almost four-month-old son, Jeronimo, changed his perspective on life.

“I’m here just talking about a film – it’s just a film – everything now is just what it is,” he said. “It can’t be so important. Now, there’s just one thing that really matters.”

Luna was born in Mexico City, Mexico to an English mother and Mexican father, but sadly his mother died in a car accident when he was two. Luna, whose father is a celebrated theater, cinema and opera set designer, began acting at an early age and became friends with fellow actor, Gael Garcia Bernal.

Luna got his big break in 2001 when he starred with Bernal in the critically acclaimed Mexican film, “Y tu mama también,” and he has gone on to star in films such as “Frida,” “The Terminal” and “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.”

In his latest role in Gus Van Sant’s “Milk” he falls in love with Sean Penn’s character, Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay elected official. “Milk” has earned rave reviews from critics and is already garnering Oscar buzz.

Making great films is something Luna cares a lot about even starting a production company with Bernal. They will next be producing a documentary directed by John Malkovich about illegal aliens.

But it seems films will be a little lower on his priority list these days because of Jeronimo.

“There is just one reason for you to be here,” he told People. “It’s to make sure someone else is happy, and has everything he needs. It’s as simple as that.”

When it comes to her men Madonna’s like a praying mantis. Having only recently announced her impending divorce from husband number two, Guy Ritchie (Sean Penn was number one), London’s High Court has already granted a preliminary divorce on the part of Madonna, who filed for divorce, citing “unreasonable behavior” on Ritchie’s part. (Apparently it’s quite unreasonable for a husband to express displeasure at his wife’s infidelity. Yeah. Whatever.)

Madonna seems all-too-eager to move on, no doubt with some baseball giant nicknamed ARod. I’m not one to pass judgment (not my job), but even I can admit that the thought of Madge and ARod, while a little creepy, is far less traumatic than the Dennis Rodman image which I couldn’t get out of my head. I guess I could close by saying, “Madonna, go forth and conquer!” but if you know Madonna (and who doesn’t?) she’s going to do that anyway.

Only a legend with Paul Newman’s status could pull off something like this. Newman, who died in September, held an annual fundraiser for his kids’ camp, and the very elite of Hollywood appeared for a dramatic reading of The World of Nick Adams, in tribute to the late, great Hollywood thespian.

Celebrities like Warren Beatty, Danny Glover, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Bonnie Raitt and Sean Penn joined 2,500 others to benefit Newman’s Painted Turtle camp, which hosts children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

Over the years, Newman and his Newman’s Own brand have donated more than $250 million to children’s charities. A true legend leaves a lasting mark and effects others in a positive way even after his demise, which makes Paul Newman one of few real legends the glitzy land of Hollywood will ever know.

Burn After Reading: Fresh off their Best Picture-winning No Country for Old Men, the Coen brothers bring us this comedy with an all-star cast. Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand play foolish gym employees who try to extort a CIA agent (John Malkovich) after finding his top secret CD-ROM. Best Supporting Actress Tilda Swinton and George Clooney also star. Sept. 12

Righteous Kill: Robert De Niro and Al Pacino team up for the first time since 1995’s Heat to play NYC detectives searching for a serial killer. De Niro and Pacino are reason alone enough to go. Sept. 12

Eagle Eye: Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are being tracked by a stranger on their cell phones in a story conceived by Steven Spielberg that is pertinent in today’s technological times when everyone’s always within reach of a Blackberry or iPhone. Sept. 26

Rachel Getting Married: Anne Hathaway takes a departure from her chipper roles as a recovering drug addict and black sheep who’s attending her sister’s wedding. Oct. 3

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist: Michael Cera of Superbad and Juno and Kat Dennings of The 40 Year-Old Virgin play high schoolers who fall in love en route to a secret late-night concert in a realistic teen comedy. Oct. 3

Changeling: Clint Eastwood’s 1920s story of a woman (Angelina Jolie) whose young son disappears is already creating Oscar buzz for Jolie. Oct. 24

Quantum of Solace: The highly-anticipated “Bond” film picks up an hour after Casino Royale left off. Nov. 7

The Soloist: In this potential Oscar fare, Jamie Foxx plays a musical prodigy who ends up homeless and mentally ill on the streets of L.A. and is paired with Robert Downey Jr. as a journalist. Nov. 21

Milk: Sean Penn stars in this biopic of Harvey Milk who was the first gay man elected to political office. Directed by Gus Van Sant and also starring Emile Hirsch and James Franco. Nov. 26

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Brad Pitt ages backwards from age 80 to eight in this fantasy based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story. Also starring Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. Dec. 25

Marley & Me: Dog lovers rejoice! Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star in the film adaptation of the beloved book about the “world’s worst dog.” Dec. 25

Revolutionary Road: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite for the first time since Titanic – only this time they’re not a love-struck couple. This is a story about what happens to a suburban-living married couple after they fall out of love. Dec. 26