Mickey Rourke Goes Behind The Iron Curtain To Prepare For ‘Iron Man 2’

Be prepared
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

Golden Globe winning actor Mickey Rourke, who has just signed on to play the role of Iron Man villain Whiplash in the upcoming sequel, made his way to Russia last week to tour the grounds of the Butyrka Prison in Moscow in order to prepare for his comic book role. Here are a few photos of Mickey inside Butyrka Prison getting a feel for what it must be like to be a prisoner in Russia:


Less than a month after he capped a remarkable comeback with an appearance at the Oscars, Mickey Rourke spent three hours in a high security Russian prison. The American actor, who was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for his turn in The Wrestler, visited the Butyrka prison in Moscow to research his latest role. Rourke has signed up to play Russian villain Whiplash in the upcoming sequel to comic book movie Iron Man, in which he’ll star alongside Robert Downey, Jr. In a bid to understand his character’s experiences, Rourke was given a guided tour around Butyrka prison on Friday. He was accompanied by guards during his visit and spent some time in the cells to get a feel for how the inmates live. Rourke even ate a prison meal and played table tennis with a guard. At one point when he lay down on an inmate’s bed, Rourke quipped: “My sofa seems much stiffer.” Butyrka prison was notorious during Stalinist times for its brutal conditions and thousands are believed to have been killed by firing squad there. The Iron Man sequel will also star Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Scarlett Johansson. It will be directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Jon Favreau.

HMMM … I somehow doubt that the Russian guards allow prisoners to wear bright blue designer loafers and sunglasses but, overall, it looks like he got the gist of being a Russian inmate. I have to say, I’m very glad that the rumors about Mickey getting the Whiplash role in the sequel turned out to be true … I think we all know at this point that he is a superb actor and will deffo bring much to the character. I’m less excited about the news that Scarlett Johansson will be appearing in the movie as well. In my estimation, Emily Blunt would’ve been a much better pick … but, sadly, that rumor did not pan out. In any event, we know that production has officially begun on Iron Man 2 and now that we know that Mickey has begun his movie prep things should be coming along very quickly from here on out. Woot!

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

The 81st Annual Academy Awards Are Handed Out

Penélope, Heath, Kate, Sean & 'Slumdog' take home Oscars
Monday, February 23rd, 2009

The 81st Annual Academy Awards were given out at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA last night and pretty much everyone on Earth tuned in to watch the show … or, at least, they should have because last night’s Oscars were the most entertaining of any show in recent memory. A bunch of tweaks to the traditional format, coupled with an energetic and engaging (ie. HOT) host conspired to give us, IMHO, THE best Academy Awards ever. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:


God bless Brangelina, they showed up to last night’s awards with the biggest smiles they could muster to try and show the world that they were honored “just to be nominated” because, judging by their collective track records during this year’s awards show season, they knew they were going home empty-handed … which is exactly what ended up happening by night’s end. Sarah Jessica Parker looked like a DREAM in that beautiful dress … it was a little Carrie Bradshaw but she pulled it off wonderfully. Generally, I was quite pleased with what I saw on the red carpet … Sophia Loren didn’t scare the hell out of me until she showed up on the Oscar stage to present her award. In HD, she was not treated too kindly.

For me, tho, the big star of the night was Hugh Jackman. He really turned in an amazing performance and totally made the show. His opening number (and subsequent numbers, I must add) really showed that there is life yet in the old Academy Awards and they are worth watching:


I was also very impressed with the way the Academy chose to honor the acting nominees by having former winners in their categories come on stage to say nice things about them. I know I was touched by some of the nice things said about the actors who were nominated this year … I can only imagine what an honor it was for the nominees to hear those same things being said about them, to them. I hope they will continue to honor the nominees in this way in future shows … it was my second favorite thing about the show after Hugh’s job hosting.

And how about those winners! I think everyone was pretty surprised by that “shocker” of a winner. After the jump, check out some photos of some of the winners posing with their shiny new Oscars and read about what went down last night — oh, and watch Hugh Jackman’s amazing Oscar opening one more time — it’s deffo worth it …

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The 2009 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards Are Handed Out

Mickey Rourke is having a great awards show season
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Various celebs from the world of independent film made their way out to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, CA yesterday to attend the annual Film Independent’s Spirit Awards which are traditionally handed out on the eve of the Academy Awards. Honoring independent film and independent filmmakers, the Indies are handed out in a casual and usually celebratory atmosphere … and last night’s awards show was no exception. The Wrestler and the film’s lead Mickey Rourke did very well at this year’s Indies, taking home the top film and male acting prize … setting the stage for a possible repeat at tonight’s Academy Awards. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals and some info on last night’s awards show:


Mickey Rourke and “The Wrestler” have won top honors at the Spirit Awards, the annual eve-of-Oscars salute to the best of independent cinema. Rourke, a nominee at Sunday’s Academy Awards, won the best actor for his performance as a washed-up prizefighter in director Darren Aronofsky’s moving drama, which later scooped the ceremony’s best picture prize. Rourke’s award was the latest in a series of honors that have gone to the 56-year-old, who has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after his career suffered a prolonged slump through the 1990s. In a typically profanity-laced acceptance speech, Rourke dedicated the win to “Wrestler” director Aronofsky — and his pet chihuahua, who died last week. “I’ve just gotten thousands of letters from strangers and people that know me about my dog that died six days ago, Loki. This is for you baby,” he said. “Thank you Darren Aronofsky for believing in me. Directors like Darren come around every 25 years,” added Rourke. Aronofksy said he had been drawn to the “The Wrestler” because of its subject matter. “Wrestling was a world no one had tackled in a serious way, and the more we looked into that world, the more complex it seemed,” he said. In other awards Saturday, Oscar nominee Melissa Leo won the best actress award for her performance in the human-trafficking drama “Frozen River.” Tom McCarthy meanwhile took best director honors for “The Visitor,” which is notable for helping journeyman Richard Jenkins earn a best actor nomination at Sunday’s Oscars. In the supporting actor and actress categories, Spanish siren Penelope Cruz won for her performance in Woody Allen’s steamy comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Cruz will be seeking to emulate the success at the Oscars, where she is nominated in the best supporting actress category. “I didn’t expect this,” Cruz said. “I go to all awards like this, not expecting anything, so it’s always a surprise when I win.” Meanwhile James Franco picked up the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of gay politician Harvey Milk’s long-time lover Scott Smith in the Gus Van Sant biopic “Milk,” which also earned best first screenplay for writer Dustin Lance Black. Black later paid tribute to Sean Penn’s portrayal of Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official. “Sean’s performance really captured Harvey,” Black said. “That’s why this film has such a connection beyond gay and lesbian audiences. We need to continue building the coalitions that Harvey was so good at.” In other notable awards Saturday, France’s “The Class (Entre Les Murs)” won the best foreign film, while the best documentary went to “Man on Wire,” director James Marsh’s exhilarating account of Frenchman Philippe Petit’s tight-rope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. “What Philippe did was to stop time, it was a little miracle,” Marsh told reporters.

Altho the Film Indepedent’s Spirit Awards are only 25 years old, I love that there is a place for Indie films to get their due when, overwhelmingly, the Motion Picture Academy tends to overlook many amazing performances due to, well, their indieness. True, some Independent Films and actors get honored at the Academy Awards but, for the most part, name recognition plays a huge part in the voting process. I’m sure many of you have never even heard of the film Frozen River and yet, it was one of the year’s strongest films. After the jump, check out a couple photos from the show itself and some pics of a few winners posing with their Indie trophies in the press room afterward …

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The 2009 Elle Style Awards Are Handed Out

Not even torrential downpour could spoil the party
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

The Elle magazine Style Awards were handed out at Big Sky London in London, England last night where Freida Pinto of Slumdog Millionaire was awarded the prize for Best Actress, Mickey Rourke of The Wrestler took home the prize for Best Actor and — get this — Courtney Love was named Woman of the Year. Yep. For reals. Here are a few photos of some of the red carpet arrivals along with some info on the affair last night:


Another torrential downpour; another awards night. BAFTA stars and celebrities braved lashing rain, ankle-deep puddles and a bone-chilling wind for the Elle Style Awards at Big Sky Studios in North London last night. Minders with brollies and a canopy hastily erected outside the main door provided a brief respite as the girls in their gowns shook the raindrops from their hair. Freida Pinto, still elated after Slumdog Millionaire’s success the previous night, and recipient of Elle’s Best Actress award, wore a funky Chanel short dress with a transparent PVC yoke embellished with silk camellias. Alexa Chung, the host for the evening and winner of the Best TV Star, was also in Chanel, looking extremely sophisticated in a teal-blue, short, fitted backless dress, accessorised with a gigantic cocktail ring by Mawi, and a new upswept hairdo. “I don’t look too mumsy, do I,” she worried. No way, Alexa. Courtney Love, who was named Woman of the Year, entertained the camera crews with impersonations of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. Her ‘Cruella de Vil’ black fishtail gown, worn with a little shrug encrusted with jet and black sequins, was by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. Roisin Murphy also played the Givenchy card, teaming her mirror-beaded top with a pair of Armand Basi grey harem pants … Mickey Rourke arrived just in time to pick up his Best Actor award and gorgeous Sienna Miller, who received the Style Icon award, made a discreet entrance, which almost fooled the photographers. She’s looking forward to the catwalk debut of Twenty8Twelve, the label she jointly runs and designs with her sister, Savannah, a Central Saint Martins graduate, and which is one of the hottest tickets for the forthcoming London Fashion Week, starting on Friday February 19th. Also joining in the Best-Dressed fun were Rolf Snoeren and Viktor Horsting, recipients of the H&M Style Visionary trophy, who dazzled in black DJs with lapels encrusted with jewels, beads and crystals, Matthew Williamson and Christopher Kane who was named best British Designer.

The Elle Style Awards are usually pretty spot on with their prizes (tho I question the wisdom of honoring Mickey Rourke for his “style” choices) … but I have absolutely NO IDEA how Courtney Love qualifies as Woman of the Year. If I recall, she only graced the mag’s pages once in the past year … and really hasn’t done anything professionally in years. Even in a ceremonial sense, awarding C. Love a prestigious award like this doesn’t make a whole lotta sense. At least, Court bothered to make the trip to the UK to collect her prize. Here are a couple pics of Courtney stumbling making her way out of the Elle Style Awards afterparty at Groucho Club early this morning:


I suppose she looks a’ight … even after a night of partying. As crazy as she seems, I do have a soft spot for Courtney Love. Sure her blogs are usually nothing more than meaningless nonsense but I am a fan of her music. I hope she still plans to release that album she was supposed to release on Jan. 1 … there’s been no news on when we might expect it, if at all. I guess we’ll have to see. In any event, Congrats goes out to Courtney and all the other award winners last night.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

The 2009 British Academy Film Awards Are Handed Out

'Slumdog', Kate Winslet & Mickey Rourke win top prizes
Monday, February 9th, 2009

The 2009 British Academy Film Awards (the “UK Oscars“) were handed out at the The Royal Opera House in London, England last night and, to no one’s real surprise, Slumdog Millionaire (the awards show darling this season) took home the award for Best Film (along with 6 other awards) … beating out The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk and others. The good news for Benjamin Button is that the film did win two awards (Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects and Best Production Design) but Brad Pitt and his pseudo-wife Angelina Jolie went home empty handed … yet again. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:


Poor Brangelina … they both looked so lost on the red carpet … wandering around like that … methinks the couple may have indulged a bit too much of the bubbly in the limo ride to the awards before they hit the red carpet. Tsk Tsk. I don’t even know what to say about Goldie Hawn … she looked frightfully bad. I mean, yeesh! Penélope Cruz looked beautiful as did Freida Pinto … for the most part, the folks on the red carpet looked stunning … well, except for Goldie. Again, I say, yeesh! After the jump, check out a bunch of photos from the BAFTA press room and find out who won what at last night’s award show

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The 15th Annual SAG Awards Are Handed Out

And the Actor goes to ...
Monday, January 26th, 2009

Last night the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were handed out here in Hollywood at the Shrine Auditorium and were broadcast LIVE on TBS and TNT for all the world to see (including me, on my JetBlue flight home from NYC). The SAG Awards, which are given out to actors by fellow actors, is the last major awards show to take place before the Academy Awards are handed out next month … and may give a sneak peek as to what may go down come Oscar time. Slumdog Millionaire won the big prize for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture while Meryl Streep (Doubt), Sean Penn (Milk), Kate Winslet (The Reader) and the late Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) won the awards for Best Actress, Actor, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor respectively. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:


Amy Adams and Emily Blunt looked amazing … Jon Hamm (of Mad Men) looked weird without his now trademark slicked-back hair. I don’t like the longer locks on him. Katrina Bowden, who stars in NBC’s 30 Rock, wore a beautiful blue dress designed by Project Runway season 4 winner Christian Siriano. She looked really supercute fierce in her dress, I think.

As I mentioned above, some of my fave actors took home the top prizes last night … here are pics of the big winners accepting their awards (called Actors) on stage or posing with them in the press room after winning their awards:


The actors of “Slumdog Millionaire” won outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, and Heath Ledger posthumously won best supporting male actor at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday. “It was overwhelming enough to be nominated, but to win this is unbelievable,” said “Slumdog” actor Anil Kapoor of the award given to him and his cast mates at Los Angeles’ Shrine Exposition Center. The cast’s win comes two weeks after the modestly budgeted movie, about a poverty-raised orphan in Mumbai who goes on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” won the Golden Globe award for best drama. The film has been nominated for 10 Oscars, including for best picture. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” the big name when the Academy Award nominations were announced earlier this week, was shut out at the SAG Awards. The movie leads all films with 13 Oscar nods. Ledger, who was 28 when he died just more than a year ago of an accidental prescription drug overdose, won his award for his role in “The Dark Knight,” 2008’s box-office king. Ledger’s performance was widely praised, and he won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor two weeks ago. He also is considered the front-runner for an Academy Award for supporting actor. Actor Gary Oldman accepted the SAG award for his friend. “He was an extraordinary young man with an extra ordinary talent, and it is wonderful that you have acknowledged that and honored that talent tonight,” Oldman said. Josh Brolin, one of four actors who lost to Ledger on Sunday night, compared the SAG awards to “a big campfire we’re all showing up for.” “It’s not a competition,” Brolin said. “We’re just happy to party together.” Meryl Streep echoed Brolin’s words when she accepted for best leading actress in a movie for her role in “Doubt.” “Can I just say there’s no such thing as the best actress,” Streep said. Streep was dressed as if she might ready for Brolin’s campfire, wearing black pants, a black blouse and no jewelry except for earrings. “I didn’t even buy a dress,” she said. Sean Penn, chosen as best leading male actor in a movie for “Milk,” told the four actors he won against that he wept when he watched their work. “You’re stunning,” Penn said. Penn’s took a brief political turn when spoke about “Milk,” the story of a gay San Francisco politician assassinated in 1978. “This is a story about equal rights for all human beings,” Penn said. Kate Winslet’s win as best supporting actress for her performance as Hanna Schmitz in “The Reader” could help her best actress Oscar nomination for the same role. Winslet was nominated for SAG’s lead actress in a movie for “Revolutionary Road,” but lost to Streep. The SAG Awards are watched closely by Oscar fans, but they’re not always a guarantee of Oscar gold. Last year, for example, Julie Christie won the SAG’s outstanding lead actress for her work in “Away From Her.” At the Academy Awards, she was beaten by Marion Cotillard, who played French singer Edith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose.” Most of the SAG trophies handed out during the first half of Sunday night’s show were for TV categories. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney won for their roles in HBO’s “John Adams.” Giamatti got the trophy for best male actor in a TV movie or miniseries for his role as President John Adams, while Linney won the female actor award for her portrayal of first lady Abigail Adams. Veteran actress Sally Field won her first SAG Actor trophy after seven nomination over the past 14 years. Field won outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series for her work on “Brothers & Sisters.” Hugh Laurie won best male actor in a TV drama series for a second time for his work in “House.” He won the same trophy two years ago. “I actually had $100 on James Spader,” Laurie said. “This is just not my night.” Spader was also up for the best actor award. The TV drama ensemble award was given to the cast of AMC’s “Mad Men.” The evening began with NBC’s “30 Rock” sweeping best actor and ensemble trophies. Tina Fey won the outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series category, while Alec Baldwin won the male honor for his “30 Rock” role. The 10 actors in the “30 Rock” cast also captured the trophy for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series. The 16 SAG categories include honors for both television and film actors. James Earl Jones was given SAG’s 45th Life Achievement Award. “Whatever medium he tackles, he consistently delivers,” actor Forest Whitaker said. Jones’ trademark deep voice has been heard in movies as “the most evil voice in the entire universe… and the voice of God,” Whitaker said.

Woot! I am THRILLED that Meryl finally won an award for her work in Doubt. My fave part of the ENTIRE awards show was when she was announced as the winner and then ran with her arms in the air in shocked excitement all the way to the stage to collect her trophy:


She gave my fave female performance this year and I sincerely hope that she wins the Oscar next month. Things don’t look so good for Benjamin Button. Another awards show, another shutout. I’m still pretty sure that it will win something next month (Best Makeup?) but I am not really counting on the film winning any of the big categories. Up against Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke, Brad Pitt ain’t got chance. The same goes for poor Angelina Jolie … no chance, no way. I love that Slumdog Millionaire won another of the big prizes … could it win the Oscar for Best Picture? I sincerely hope so … but I have to be honest and say that I REALLY HOPE that the insufferable Anil Kapoor is not allowed anywhere near the microphone if the film wins. I get that he’s excited to be in a film that is winning all these major awards (a feat that he will most likely never achieve again) but I find his manner so irritating. How ’bout letting Dev Patel give thanks instead? I was very pleased that Freida Pinto gave shoutouts to the young actors who are featured in Slumdog (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Rubiana Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) … they really made the film for me, they deserve the accolades as much as the adult actors do. In any event, I’m still pulling for Slumdog to win the big enchilada next month. After the jump, check out a few photos that were snapped of the celebs in the audience — mingling, gossiping, canoodling — the pics are not to be missed …

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The 66th Annual Golden Globes Are Handed Out

Big night for 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'John Adams'
Monday, January 12th, 2009

The Hollywood Foreign Press handed out the 66th annual Golden Globe awards last night at the famed Beverly Hilton Hotel and a Who’s Who of Hollywood’s elite came out for the grand affair. As you may recall, the Golden Globe Awards were not held last year because of the Hollywood Writers’ Strike so many celebs were geared up to strut their stuff on the red carpet last night. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals:


There were quite a few fashion disasters on the red carpet last night and I’m convinced that many of the folks who made their way down the red carpet were totally loaded. I watched NBC’s red carpet coverage and was aghast at how horrible the whole thing was. Not only did Nancy O’Dell look like she had a mop afixed to her head but she and her interviewer cohorts were simply HORRENDOUS as they interviewed the celebs:


If you watched the show, you know exactly what I’m talking about. But, once the show got underway and the awards started to get handed out, things leveled off and got sorta interesting. In the end, the Hollywood Foreign Press saw fit to bestow HEAPS of awards on Slumdog Millionaire (in the Film categories) and John Adams (in the Television categories). Here are a few pics from the press room and a rundown of what went down last night:


The movie “Slumdog Millionaire” emerged as the big winner at the 66th Golden Globes late Sunday, scooping four awards to underline its credentials ahead of next month’s Oscars. Late Australian actor Heath Ledger earned a posthumous Golden Globe for his performance in Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight” while Kate Winslet won two awards for best drama actress and supporting actress. But, ironically, on a star-studded night in Beverly Hills, it was “Slumdog Millionaire” the rags-to-riches love story about an orphan who fights his way out of Mumbai slums on an Indian television game show. The film — featuring a cast of virtual unknowns — won best drama and also picked up honors for director Danny Boyle, as well as honors for best screenplay and best music. Sally Hawkins also won the best musical/comedy actress award for her performance in the light-hearted Mike Leigh film “Happy-Go-Lucky.” The 32-year-old actress beat favorite Meryl Streep (”Mamma Mia!”), Frances McDormand (”Burn After Reading) and fellow Britons Rebecca Hall (”Vicky Cristina Barcelona”) and Emma Thompson (”Last Chance Harvey”). After a disastrous event last year that was reduced to a celebrity-free zone by the entertainment industry’s writers strike, this year’s Globes red carpet read like a who’s who of the movie industry’s A-list. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio were just a handful of the A-listers in attendance at the Beverly Hilton. Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes — which are chosen by around 80 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — have separate best picture awards for dramas and musicals. In the past four years the Globes have failed to accurately predict the best picture winner at the Academy Awards but overall, some 67 percent of Oscars best picture winners had first received a Golden Globe. As such the Globes are seen as an important staging post ahead of the Academy Awards, offering clues to which films will be successful at the Oscars, which take place at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater on February 22. The acting awards on Sunday saw Australian heart-throb Ledger honored as expected for his portrayal of arch-villain the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Director Christopher Nolan accepted Ledger’s award, saying the actor’s death at the age of 28 had “ripped a hole” in the future of cinema. “All of us who worked with Heath on ‘The Dark Knight’ accept this with an awful mixture of sadness but incredible pride,” Nolan said. “For any of us lucky enough to work with him, I think for any of us lucky enough to enjoy his performances, he will be eternally missed, but he will never be forgotten,” he added. The victory cements Ledger’s status as the odds-on favorite to win a best supporting actor Oscar at next month’s Oscars. The other big winner in the acting categories was Winslet, who scooped best actress in a drama for her performance in “Revolutionary Road” and best supporting actress for “The Reader.” Winslet, 33, who had been overlooked after five previous nominations, was overcome following her double win, apologizing to her rival nominees and thanking “Revolutionary Road” co-star DiCaprio. “I’m so sorry, Meryl (Streep), Anne (Hathaway), Kristin (Scott-Thomas), the other one… Angelina (Jolie)!,” Winslet gasped. “Thank you so much… thank you soooo much!,” before adding to longtime friend and fellow “Titanic” star DiCaprio: “I love you with all my heart, I really do!” It was only the third time in Golden Globes history that an actor or actress had been honored with two awards on the same night. In the men’s acting categories there was an emotional victory for Mickey Rourke, who won best actor in a drama for his heart-wrenching portrayal of a washed-up prizefighter in “The Wrestler.” “This has been a very long road back for me,” said Rourke, whose career nose-dived through much of the 1990s after an ill-advised spell as a professional boxer. Rourke — who famously has a pet chihuahua — also paid tribute to canine friends who had comforted him over the years. “I’d like to thank all of my dogs, the ones that are here and the ones that aren’t here anymore because sometimes when a man is alone, that’s all you’ve got is your dog, and they meant the world to me,” Rourke said. Rock star Bruce Springsteen won for best original song for his theme song for “The Wrestler.” But it was a disappointing evening though for Brad Pitt and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” which had started the night with five nods alongside “Frost/Nixon” and “Doubt”. All three films came away empty-handed.

Poor Brangelina … they walked away from the Golden Globes with nothing but a free meal and prolly a very nice giftbag — that’s it! And, to add insult to injury, Angelina got called “the other one” by Kate Winslet (which sounded an awful lot like when John McCain referred to Barack Obama as “that one” during one of the Presidential Debates). Tsk tsk. Neither The Curious Case of Benjamin Button nor Changeling have done very well at winning awards thus far, have they? HMMM. I am SO thrilled that Slumdog Millionaire cleaned up last night … truly an underdog film that is worthy of the praise and accolades it continues to win. If you’ve not see the movie yet, I urge you to do so before the Academy Awards are held next month … you don’t want to miss out. I was happy, too, that Heath Ledger won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in The Dark Knight. I really hope he is on track for an Oscar, he really deserves the win. Props to Kate Winslet for being the first person to ever win both Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress awards in the same year (I understand that has never happened before). I’ve only heard amazing things about The Reader and Vicki Christina Barcelona … so I am now on a mission to see those films (as well as The Wrestler, which I’ve been dying to see anyways) as soon as I can. I really enjoyed this year’s Golden Globe Awards mostly because so many small, relatively unknown films did so well. It gets kinda boring when the usual suspects (ie. big, blockbuster A-list celeb movies) win all the awards … it’s nice to see the talented little guys get their time in the sun. Next up, Oscar noms which come out next week. How many of last night’s winners do you think will get tapped for Academy Award nominations? Also, what did you think of last night’s show … good, bad, you’re over it already?

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]