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JANUARY 2006.- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
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We´ve launched the First Part of a very special photo album. "MEL GIBSON, 1976-1990" has about 100/120 pictures and dozens of funny questions that you´ll have to answer correctly if you want to see the pics. ENJOY!!!
4 JANUARY 2007.- TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE
NOT A UTOPIA
Source: dailynews-report.com
To note the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the new world in 1992, author Kirkpatrick Sale wrote "A Conquest of Paradise," which, as the name implied, gave a rose-colored view of the Americas before Columbus. A few other books published around the same time made the same extremely dubious claim.
If nothing else, Mel Gibson’s "Apocalypto" has put an end to that nonsensical view of history.
In a column in the New York Times, Craig Childs notes the movie is all-too-true in its’ depiction of violence and death in pre-Columbus America.
"Indeed, parts of the archaeological record of the Americas read like a war-crimes indictment, with charred skeletons stacked like cordwood and innumerable human remains missing heads, legs and arms. In the American southwest, which is my area of research, human tissue has been found cooked to the insides of kitchen jars and stained in a ceramic serving ladle," he wrote.
So, it was not a time of paradise and of gentle, native peoples who were tree-hugging pacifists? Oh, well, another politically correct dream dies.
Life, before the advent of air-conditioning and antibiotics, was often hard, miserable, painful and short. In addition, humans, whether in North or South America, Asia, Africa or Europe had a tendency to slaughter one another.
This is a time when some scholars and pundits downplay Western Civilization, but it is Western Civilization that has provided humankind with science, law, and the values needed to crawl up from an extremely bloody path.
That’s something that should not be forgotten in 2007, or any year after.
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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE ANCIENT MEXICANS
The Sacrificed Princess
Coming to semi-historical times, we find a variety of legends connected with the early story of the city of Mexico. These for the most part are of a weird and gloomy character.
It is told how after the Aztecs had built the city of Mexico they raised an altar to their war-god Huitzilopochtli. In general the lives rendered to this most sanguinary of deities were those of prisoners of war, but in times of public calamity he demanded the sacrifice of the noblest in the land. On one occasion his oracle required that a royal princess should be offered on the high altar. The Aztec king, either possessing no daughters of his own or hesitating to sacrifice them, sent an embassy to the monarch of Colhuacan to ask for one of his daughters to become the symbolical mother of Huitzilopochtli. The King of Colhuacan, suspecting nothing amiss, and highly flattered at the distinction, delivered up the girl, who was escorted to Mexico, where she was sacrificed with much pomp, her skin being flayed off to clothe the priest who represented the deity in the festival. The unhappy father was invited to this hideous orgy, ostensibly to witness his daughter's deification. In the gloomy chambers of the war-god's temple he was at first unable to mark the trend of the horrid ritual. But, given a torch of copal-gum, he saw the officiating priest clothed in his daughter's skin, receiving the homage of the worshippers. Recognising her features, and demented with grief and horror, he fled from the temple, a broken man, to spend the remainder of his days in mourning for his murdered child.
NOT A UTOPIA
Source: dailynews-report.com
If nothing else, Mel Gibson’s "Apocalypto" has put an end to that nonsensical view of history.
In a column in the New York Times, Craig Childs notes the movie is all-too-true in its’ depiction of violence and death in pre-Columbus America.
"Indeed, parts of the archaeological record of the Americas read like a war-crimes indictment, with charred skeletons stacked like cordwood and innumerable human remains missing heads, legs and arms. In the American southwest, which is my area of research, human tissue has been found cooked to the insides of kitchen jars and stained in a ceramic serving ladle," he wrote.
So, it was not a time of paradise and of gentle, native peoples who were tree-hugging pacifists? Oh, well, another politically correct dream dies.
Life, before the advent of air-conditioning and antibiotics, was often hard, miserable, painful and short. In addition, humans, whether in North or South America, Asia, Africa or Europe had a tendency to slaughter one another.
This is a time when some scholars and pundits downplay Western Civilization, but it is Western Civilization that has provided humankind with science, law, and the values needed to crawl up from an extremely bloody path.
That’s something that should not be forgotten in 2007, or any year after.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE ANCIENT MEXICANS
The Sacrificed Princess
Coming to semi-historical times, we find a variety of legends connected with the early story of the city of Mexico. These for the most part are of a weird and gloomy character.
It is told how after the Aztecs had built the city of Mexico they raised an altar to their war-god Huitzilopochtli. In general the lives rendered to this most sanguinary of deities were those of prisoners of war, but in times of public calamity he demanded the sacrifice of the noblest in the land. On one occasion his oracle required that a royal princess should be offered on the high altar. The Aztec king, either possessing no daughters of his own or hesitating to sacrifice them, sent an embassy to the monarch of Colhuacan to ask for one of his daughters to become the symbolical mother of Huitzilopochtli. The King of Colhuacan, suspecting nothing amiss, and highly flattered at the distinction, delivered up the girl, who was escorted to Mexico, where she was sacrificed with much pomp, her skin being flayed off to clothe the priest who represented the deity in the festival. The unhappy father was invited to this hideous orgy, ostensibly to witness his daughter's deification. In the gloomy chambers of the war-god's temple he was at first unable to mark the trend of the horrid ritual. But, given a torch of copal-gum, he saw the officiating priest clothed in his daughter's skin, receiving the homage of the worshippers. Recognising her features, and demented with grief and horror, he fled from the temple, a broken man, to spend the remainder of his days in mourning for his murdered child.
6 JANUARY 2007.- "APOCALYPTO", CONTROVERSY IN ITALY
Source: BBC News
Italy may change the way films are rated after its cinema review board ruled that Mel Gibson's graphic epic Apocalypto was suitable for all ages.
A consumer group has begun a legal attempt to change the certificate so under-14s do not see its violence.
Culture minister Francesco Rutelli said he would look on Monday at the current system, which was "now 45 years old and no longer suited to current times".
Apocalypto - rated 18 in the UK - depicts the decline of a Mayan kingdom.
It features violent scenes of human sacrifice, and censors in countries including Germany, Poland and Hungary have also considered it unsuitable for those aged 17 and below.
Viewers in France must be at least 12. However, some countries - including Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Denmark - have yet to release the film.
Apocalypto opened in Italy on Friday with a universal rating.
But consumer group Codacons said it would appeal against the ratings decision in court.
"The film is probably very beautiful and well done," Carlo Rienzi, the organisation's president, said.
"However, minors must be protected more than the economic interests of film production companies."
Mr Rienzi claimed his group was not advocating censorship, but would seek court action to have children younger than 14 banned from attending the movie.
The film entered the North American box office chart at number one and has earned a Golden Globe nomination for best foreign-language film.
Last month Italy's board of censors, which is usually made up of parents, industry experts and a psychologist, gave it a universal rating.
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Italy may change the way films are rated after its cinema review board ruled that Mel Gibson's graphic epic Apocalypto was suitable for all ages.
A consumer group has begun a legal attempt to change the certificate so under-14s do not see its violence.
Culture minister Francesco Rutelli said he would look on Monday at the current system, which was "now 45 years old and no longer suited to current times".
Apocalypto - rated 18 in the UK - depicts the decline of a Mayan kingdom.
It features violent scenes of human sacrifice, and censors in countries including Germany, Poland and Hungary have also considered it unsuitable for those aged 17 and below.
Viewers in France must be at least 12. However, some countries - including Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Denmark - have yet to release the film.
Apocalypto opened in Italy on Friday with a universal rating.
But consumer group Codacons said it would appeal against the ratings decision in court.
"The film is probably very beautiful and well done," Carlo Rienzi, the organisation's president, said.
"However, minors must be protected more than the economic interests of film production companies."
Mr Rienzi claimed his group was not advocating censorship, but would seek court action to have children younger than 14 banned from attending the movie.
The film entered the North American box office chart at number one and has earned a Golden Globe nomination for best foreign-language film.
Last month Italy's board of censors, which is usually made up of parents, industry experts and a psychologist, gave it a universal rating.
6 JANUARY 2007.- "THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST", "DEFINITIVE EDITION" DVD
'The Passion of The Christ' releases as
'Definitive Edition' DVD
The Passion of The Christ: Definitive Edition, which
features several commentaries, including a first-ever
one with director Mel Gibson, will be released on Jan.
30.
The two-disc DVD set also includes an alternative
version of the film, Passion: Re-Cut, By His Wounds We
Are Healed: The Making of the Passion of The Christ,
deleted scenes, galleries and the theatrical trailer.
DVD sales of Gibson's blockbuster The Passion of The
Christ hit 4.1 million in the first day of sales on
Aug. 31, 2004. The film's combined video and DVD sales
trailed the one-day sales record of 8 million by
Finding Nemo, but was significant since the film was
rated R and subtitled.
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The Passion of The Christ: Definitive Edition, which features several commentaries, including a first-ever one with director Mel Gibson, will be released on Jan. 30.
The two-disc DVD set also includes an alternative version of the film, Passion: Re-Cut, By His Wounds We Are Healed: The Making of the Passion of The Christ, deleted scenes, galleries and the theatrical trailer.
DVD sales of Gibson's blockbuster The Passion of The Christ hit 4.1 million in the first day of sales on Aug. 31, 2004. The film's combined video and DVD sales trailed the one-day sales record of 8 million by Finding Nemo, but was significant since the film was rated R and subtitled.
7 JANUARY 2007.- PAYBACK (Straight Up: The Director's Cut) on DVD
On April 10, 2007, Paramount Home Entertainment will release Payback (Straight Up: The Director's Cut) on DVD. The double dip of the Mel Gibson revenge action-black comedy will feature tons of bonus materials and extra features, although they are currently to be announced. It will be available for the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) of $19.99.
Final content information is currently unavailable.
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Final content information is currently unavailable.
7 JANUARY 2007.- SPEAKING PARTS, RUDY YOUNGBLOOD
Source:The Charlotte Observer
CURRENT MOVIE: "Apocalypto." Youngblood, 25, plays Jaguar Paw, the soulful-eyed protagonist in the film, set in the waning days of the Mayan empire. Youngblood outruns an angry jaguar, survives a plunge down a waterfall and escapes a quicksand pit, all while being chased by some highly motivated individuals with very sharp weapons.
BEFORE `APOCALYPTO': He's an American Indian grass dancer and powwow singer from Belton, Texas.
HOW HE ENDED UP IN THE FILM: "I kind of stumbled upon an open casting call. ... I met with Mel (Gibson), and he had me run around his conference table to see how I moved.
HOW HE PREPARED FOR THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE ROLE: "I've always stayed in shape ... and I'm a runner and a dancer ... That helped a lot, trust me. ... I had three ripped ligaments on my left foot and my right foot, two bruised heels, I tore my whole right side of my body -- ripped that whole muscle -- separated my shoulder, popped out my collarbone, fractured bones, bangs, bruises, cuts. ... I did all my own stunts."
WHAT ABOUT THAT TINY COSTUME REVEALING HIS BUM: "Oh! I know! Don't tell me! It just makes me nervous. ... I had to do all my butt exercises. ... I was like, "Where's the rest of (the costume)?" ...
"But I have no shame. I was like, hey, might as well show it off. The first week is kind of funny. You want to put your hands behind your booty, but I'm running, I'm fighting, then it just becomes, `I'm dirty.' "
THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF THE MOVIE: "The emotional part, because I'm from Texas. I don't carry my emotions on my sleeve. We're country boys over there. You know, you take a bangin' and a beatin', you don't cry, because if you cry we're going to make fun of you."
ON LEARNING TO SPEAK MAYAN: "Yeah, that's what I was having my dialogue coach do: `Talk to me in Mayan. I don't want to know just my lines. Talk to me in Mayan and I'll talk to you in English, and we can teach each other.' It was like a give-and-take situation.
"I know a few things, just to charm the ladies."
DID THEY HAVE BARRELS OF FAKE BLOOD ON THE SET? "Yeah, of course, it's all fake. It's all fake blood."
EXCEPT FOR THE BLOOD THAT THEY GOT OUT OF HIM? "Yeah. I left some bloodstains there."
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CURRENT MOVIE: "Apocalypto." Youngblood, 25, plays Jaguar Paw, the soulful-eyed protagonist in the film, set in the waning days of the Mayan empire. Youngblood outruns an angry jaguar, survives a plunge down a waterfall and escapes a quicksand pit, all while being chased by some highly motivated individuals with very sharp weapons.
BEFORE `APOCALYPTO': He's an American Indian grass dancer and powwow singer from Belton, Texas.
HOW HE ENDED UP IN THE FILM: "I kind of stumbled upon an open casting call. ... I met with Mel (Gibson), and he had me run around his conference table to see how I moved.
HOW HE PREPARED FOR THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE ROLE: "I've always stayed in shape ... and I'm a runner and a dancer ... That helped a lot, trust me. ... I had three ripped ligaments on my left foot and my right foot, two bruised heels, I tore my whole right side of my body -- ripped that whole muscle -- separated my shoulder, popped out my collarbone, fractured bones, bangs, bruises, cuts. ... I did all my own stunts."
WHAT ABOUT THAT TINY COSTUME REVEALING HIS BUM: "Oh! I know! Don't tell me! It just makes me nervous. ... I had to do all my butt exercises. ... I was like, "Where's the rest of (the costume)?" ...
"But I have no shame. I was like, hey, might as well show it off. The first week is kind of funny. You want to put your hands behind your booty, but I'm running, I'm fighting, then it just becomes, `I'm dirty.' "
THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF THE MOVIE: "The emotional part, because I'm from Texas. I don't carry my emotions on my sleeve. We're country boys over there. You know, you take a bangin' and a beatin', you don't cry, because if you cry we're going to make fun of you."
ON LEARNING TO SPEAK MAYAN: "Yeah, that's what I was having my dialogue coach do: `Talk to me in Mayan. I don't want to know just my lines. Talk to me in Mayan and I'll talk to you in English, and we can teach each other.' It was like a give-and-take situation.
"I know a few things, just to charm the ladies."
DID THEY HAVE BARRELS OF FAKE BLOOD ON THE SET? "Yeah, of course, it's all fake. It's all fake blood."
EXCEPT FOR THE BLOOD THAT THEY GOT OUT OF HIM? "Yeah. I left some bloodstains there."
8 JANUARY 2007.- ITALY COURT SLAPS AGE BAN ON GIBSON´S FILM
This article: http://news.scotsman.com
An Italian court has barred youths under 14 from seeing Mel Gibson's new film, "Apocalypto", overthrowing a decision by the country's censors who had deemed the movie fit for children.
The censors drew widespread criticism from politicians and parents' associations last week when they failed to impose any age restriction on the film, unlike most countries where it has been released.
The court's ban is temporary pending a January 17 hearing, a lawyer for Codacons, the consumer group which brought the case in favour of setting an age-limit, said on Monday.
"Even before hearing our arguments, they've slapped the ban to safeguard minors," Codacons lawyer Marco Ramadori told Reuters.
After Italy's court ban, only Russia is screening the film without an age restriction. The film is R-rated in the United States and has an age-18 certification in Britain and Germany.
Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli, who had written to the film's distributor in Italy recommending they alert the public to the violence of some of the scenes, met the censorship commission on Monday to review current standards.
Apocalypto, which hit Italian theatres on Friday, was the second most viewed film at the weekend after James Bond's latest adventure "Casino Royale".
An Italian court has barred youths under 14 from seeing Mel Gibson's new film, "Apocalypto", overthrowing a decision by the country's censors who had deemed the movie fit for children.
The censors drew widespread criticism from politicians and parents' associations last week when they failed to impose any age restriction on the film, unlike most countries where it has been released.
The court's ban is temporary pending a January 17 hearing, a lawyer for Codacons, the consumer group which brought the case in favour of setting an age-limit, said on Monday.
"Even before hearing our arguments, they've slapped the ban to safeguard minors," Codacons lawyer Marco Ramadori told Reuters.
After Italy's court ban, only Russia is screening the film without an age restriction. The film is R-rated in the United States and has an age-18 certification in Britain and Germany.
Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli, who had written to the film's distributor in Italy recommending they alert the public to the violence of some of the scenes, met the censorship commission on Monday to review current standards.
Apocalypto, which hit Italian theatres on Friday, was the second most viewed film at the weekend after James Bond's latest adventure "Casino Royale".
9 JANUARY 2007.- MEL GIBSON´S APOCALYPTO SMASHES RECORD
Source: Press Association
Mel Gibson's new film, Apocalypto, has claimed the box office record for the biggest opening weekend for a foreign language film in the UK.
The film, spoken in the Mayan dialect and estimated to have cost £20m, has taken £1.3m since its release last Friday. It opened in 385 cinemas in the UK.
The film, which has received the kind of attention directors of other foreign language films can only dream of, beat the previous record holder, Hero, which took £1.05m in 2004 during its opening weekend. Takings also dwarf opening weekends for other titles such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (£696,000) and Amélie (£559,000).
Two years ago, The Passion of the Christ only took £229,426 at its opening weekend in the UK in 2004. It only opened in 46 cinemas, compared with 385 for Apocalypto.
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Mel Gibson's new film, Apocalypto, has claimed the box office record for the biggest opening weekend for a foreign language film in the UK.
The film, spoken in the Mayan dialect and estimated to have cost £20m, has taken £1.3m since its release last Friday. It opened in 385 cinemas in the UK.
The film, which has received the kind of attention directors of other foreign language films can only dream of, beat the previous record holder, Hero, which took £1.05m in 2004 during its opening weekend. Takings also dwarf opening weekends for other titles such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (£696,000) and Amélie (£559,000).
Two years ago, The Passion of the Christ only took £229,426 at its opening weekend in the UK in 2004. It only opened in 46 cinemas, compared with 385 for Apocalypto.
10 JANUARY 2007.- GUATEMALA OFFICIAL SAYS APOCALYPTO PAINTS MAYAN PEOPLE IN A DEROGATORY LIGHT
Source: International Herald Tribune (France)
Guatemala's presidential commissioner on racism said Tuesday that Mel Gibson's record-breaking film "Apocalypto" paints Mayan people in a derogatory light.
Ricardo Cajas said the film sets back the understanding of the Mayan people by 50 years and compared it to the negative images of Native Americans in U.S. movies from the 1950s.
"It shows the Mayans as a barbarous, murderous people that can only be saved by the arrival of the Spanish," Cajas told The Associated Press.
The film tells the story of the Mayan people - who built a civilization in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras - in a Mayan language. Gibson employed modern-day Mayans and has said he wants to make the Mayan language "cool" again and encourage young people "to speak it with pride."
However, the movie also depicts Mayans as being extremely violent and carrying out beheadings and human sacrifices.
Cajas said the level of bloodshed is historically inaccurate and makes the Mayans seem savage.
"It's a case of Western civilization imposing its view about other civilizations," he said.
Apocalypto has broken box office records for foreign language films in its opening weekends in several countries, including Britain. It has also earned a Golden Globe nomination for best foreign-language film.
Guatemala's presidential commissioner on racism said Tuesday that Mel Gibson's record-breaking film "Apocalypto" paints Mayan people in a derogatory light.
Ricardo Cajas said the film sets back the understanding of the Mayan people by 50 years and compared it to the negative images of Native Americans in U.S. movies from the 1950s.
"It shows the Mayans as a barbarous, murderous people that can only be saved by the arrival of the Spanish," Cajas told The Associated Press.
The film tells the story of the Mayan people - who built a civilization in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras - in a Mayan language. Gibson employed modern-day Mayans and has said he wants to make the Mayan language "cool" again and encourage young people "to speak it with pride."
However, the movie also depicts Mayans as being extremely violent and carrying out beheadings and human sacrifices.
Cajas said the level of bloodshed is historically inaccurate and makes the Mayans seem savage.
"It's a case of Western civilization imposing its view about other civilizations," he said.
Apocalypto has broken box office records for foreign language films in its opening weekends in several countries, including Britain. It has also earned a Golden Globe nomination for best foreign-language film.
10 JANUARY 2007.- REASSESSING MEL GIBSON´S APOCALYPTO
Reassessing Mel Gibson's Apocalyto by Marc Norton
"The success of Apocalypto can and should be a tool for those working to defend and preserve Mayan culture, both present-day and historical. The critics who want to bury Apocalypto because of Gibson's ideological failings, or because of the historical liberties he took in the movie, actually play into the hands of those would hand over Mayan history to curio shops, elite museums, and the cloistered world of academia...
READ ARTICLE Click Here
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"The success of Apocalypto can and should be a tool for those working to defend and preserve Mayan culture, both present-day and historical. The critics who want to bury Apocalypto because of Gibson's ideological failings, or because of the historical liberties he took in the movie, actually play into the hands of those would hand over Mayan history to curio shops, elite museums, and the cloistered world of academia...
READ ARTICLE Click Here
11 JANUARY 2007.- OSCAR NOMINATIONS: PICTURE THE CONTENDERS
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Pinpointing the five best picture nominees has become as much a sport for the industry as predicting weekend boxoffice grosses, but that doesn't mean that entertainment's well-heeled populace doesn't enjoy a good mystery now and then.
Take this year, for example. While Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Departed," Miramax's "The Queen" and Paramount/DreamWorks' "Dreamgirls" are almost certain announcements on Jan. 23, the other two nomination slots have insiders buzzing about the possibilities.
"Usually, at this stage, I'm sure of at least two or three, and then I'll have seven or eight others as contenders," says producer Mark Gill, former president of Warner Independent Pictures. "But this year, I'm not even sure of that many, and there are 14 or 15 real contenders."
Among the films competing for a spot are not one but two Clint Eastwood pictures: Paramount/DreamWorks' "Flags of Our Fathers" and Warners' "Letters From Iwo Jima," which the studio sneaked into the 2006 release schedule just in time for Oscar consideration, adding to the intrigue as prognosticators ponder if Eastwood could see two of his movies get nominated for best picture in the same year.
But while many awards trackers look to the mid-December Golden Globe nominations for a hint at what's in store for the Academy Awards, this year's announcement did little to shed light on the race. Neither of Eastwood's films earned best drama noms, though Eastwood earned two best director noms. "Flags" was overlooked entirely in the drama category; "Letters" was ineligible because it was deemed a foreign-language film - but it did get nominated for best foreign film.
Until the Globes gave Eastwood those two directing nominations, nobody had seriously thought both films could get best picture nominations. By press time, insiders still felt it was improbable and that "Letters" stood the better chance - that's if its votes aren't siphoned off by "Flags."
"It will be Iwo Jima,'" manager J.C. Spink of Benderspink says. "You can feel the response is stronger. It's even starting to feel like that could win best picture. I liked Flags of Our Fathers,' but I don't think enough people felt the way I did. But I do think the Academy (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) loves Eastwood and wants to honor him in some way."
If "Letters" does earn a nomination and "Dreamgirls," "Departed" and "Queen" fill up the other three best picture slots, the remaining part of the quintet stands to be the subject of much debate until the end of January. Following is a look at the films that have the greatest potential to occupy the fifth nomination slot.
- "Apocalypto" (Buena Vista)
- "Babel" (Paramount Vantage)
- "Bobby" (MGM/The Weinstein Co.)
- "Borat" (Fox)
- "The Good Shepherd" (Universal)
- "Little Children" (New Line)
- "Little Miss Sunshine" (Fox Searchlight)
- "Notes on a Scandal" (Fox Searchlight)
- "Pan's Labyrinth" (Picturehouse)
- "The Pursuit of Happyness" (Sony)
- "United 93" (Universal)
- "Volver" (Sony Pictures Classics)
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Pinpointing the five best picture nominees has become as much a sport for the industry as predicting weekend boxoffice grosses, but that doesn't mean that entertainment's well-heeled populace doesn't enjoy a good mystery now and then.
Take this year, for example. While Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Departed," Miramax's "The Queen" and Paramount/DreamWorks' "Dreamgirls" are almost certain announcements on Jan. 23, the other two nomination slots have insiders buzzing about the possibilities.
"Usually, at this stage, I'm sure of at least two or three, and then I'll have seven or eight others as contenders," says producer Mark Gill, former president of Warner Independent Pictures. "But this year, I'm not even sure of that many, and there are 14 or 15 real contenders."
Among the films competing for a spot are not one but two Clint Eastwood pictures: Paramount/DreamWorks' "Flags of Our Fathers" and Warners' "Letters From Iwo Jima," which the studio sneaked into the 2006 release schedule just in time for Oscar consideration, adding to the intrigue as prognosticators ponder if Eastwood could see two of his movies get nominated for best picture in the same year.
But while many awards trackers look to the mid-December Golden Globe nominations for a hint at what's in store for the Academy Awards, this year's announcement did little to shed light on the race. Neither of Eastwood's films earned best drama noms, though Eastwood earned two best director noms. "Flags" was overlooked entirely in the drama category; "Letters" was ineligible because it was deemed a foreign-language film - but it did get nominated for best foreign film.
Until the Globes gave Eastwood those two directing nominations, nobody had seriously thought both films could get best picture nominations. By press time, insiders still felt it was improbable and that "Letters" stood the better chance - that's if its votes aren't siphoned off by "Flags."
"It will be Iwo Jima,'" manager J.C. Spink of Benderspink says. "You can feel the response is stronger. It's even starting to feel like that could win best picture. I liked Flags of Our Fathers,' but I don't think enough people felt the way I did. But I do think the Academy (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) loves Eastwood and wants to honor him in some way."
If "Letters" does earn a nomination and "Dreamgirls," "Departed" and "Queen" fill up the other three best picture slots, the remaining part of the quintet stands to be the subject of much debate until the end of January. Following is a look at the films that have the greatest potential to occupy the fifth nomination slot.
- "Apocalypto" (Buena Vista)
- "Babel" (Paramount Vantage)
- "Bobby" (MGM/The Weinstein Co.)
- "Borat" (Fox)
- "The Good Shepherd" (Universal)
- "Little Children" (New Line)
- "Little Miss Sunshine" (Fox Searchlight)
- "Notes on a Scandal" (Fox Searchlight)
- "Pan's Labyrinth" (Picturehouse)
- "The Pursuit of Happyness" (Sony)
- "United 93" (Universal)
- "Volver" (Sony Pictures Classics)
12 JANUARY 2006.- MEL GIBSON WON´T ATTEND "APOCALYPTO" PREMIERE IN MEXICO
Actor and director Mel Gibson will come down to Mexico next week for a private viewing of his new movie "Apocalypto," about the ancient Mayans, but won't attend the Mexican premiere, his publicist, Alan Nierob, said Thursday.
"Apocalypto" tells the story of the Mayan people -- who built a civilization in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras -- and is in a Mayan language. Gibson employed modern-day Mayans and has said he wants to encourage young people to speak the Mayan language "with pride."
Apocalypto has broken box office records for foreign language films in its opening weekends in several countries, including Britain. It has also earned a Golden Globe nomination for best foreign-language film
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Actor and director Mel Gibson will come down to Mexico next week for a private viewing of his new movie "Apocalypto," about the ancient Mayans, but won't attend the Mexican premiere, his publicist, Alan Nierob, said Thursday. |
12 JANUARY 2007.- BAFTA AWARDS, NOMINATIONS
Source: Reuters
Toni Collette, George Miller, Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey comprised the Australian contingent in nominations for Britain's top film awards.
Collette was nominated for best supporting actress in the British Academy Of Film and Television Arts awards for her role in Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris's low-budget beauty-pageant comedy Little Miss Sunshine.
Miller's Happy Feet, on track to be the biggest grossing Australian film, was nominated for best animation BAFTA
Gibson and fellow producer Davey have been nominated in the category for films not in the English language for their historical action/drama Apocalypto. Its biggest competition would appear to be Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's Volver.
Other films nominated in this category are Mexican filmmaker Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth", Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's highly acclaimed "Rang De Basanti" and Netherlands-based filmmaker Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book".
Stephen Frears's film The Queen led the way with 10 nominations. As expected, leading lady Helen Mirren, already a frontrunner for a best actress Oscar, was nominated for her portrayal of the Queen.
James Bond thriller Casino Royale bagged nine nominations, including best actor for Daniel Craig.
The Queen is joined by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Babel, The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last King of Scotland and Little Miss Sunshine in the best film category.
The awards will be announced on Feb 11 at a ceremony at London's Royal Opera House.
Toni Collette, George Miller, Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey comprised the Australian contingent in nominations for Britain's top film awards.
Collette was nominated for best supporting actress in the British Academy Of Film and Television Arts awards for her role in Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris's low-budget beauty-pageant comedy Little Miss Sunshine.
Miller's Happy Feet, on track to be the biggest grossing Australian film, was nominated for best animation BAFTA
Gibson and fellow producer Davey have been nominated in the category for films not in the English language for their historical action/drama Apocalypto. Its biggest competition would appear to be Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's Volver.
Other films nominated in this category are Mexican filmmaker Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth", Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's highly acclaimed "Rang De Basanti" and Netherlands-based filmmaker Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book".
Stephen Frears's film The Queen led the way with 10 nominations. As expected, leading lady Helen Mirren, already a frontrunner for a best actress Oscar, was nominated for her portrayal of the Queen.
James Bond thriller Casino Royale bagged nine nominations, including best actor for Daniel Craig.
The Queen is joined by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Babel, The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last King of Scotland and Little Miss Sunshine in the best film category.
The awards will be announced on Feb 11 at a ceremony at London's Royal Opera House.
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