Last night the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards were handed out in rainy SoCal at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA … and, I gotta say, the show did a pretty fantastic job with spreading the wealth to many deserved winners. No one movie or TV show ran away with all the awards … Dexter was the only TV series to win 2 awards while Avatar, Crazy Heart and Up were the only movies to win 2 awards as well (with the former film taking home the biggest movie awards of the night). Here are a few pics from the rainy red carpet arrivals last night:

I am *amazed* that the organizers of the Golden Globe Awards this year did not plan for the rain. We knew all week long that it was going to rain yesterday … hell, it even started raining early enough in the day to give folks the head’s up that they might want to plan for a wet red carpet and yet … there was no planning involved. Everyone on the red carpet, celebs and reporters alike, were just meandering around like wet lost sheep. How dreadful. Many of the celebs had to scramble to find umbrellas and people to hold their umbrella’s for them … only Mariah Carey came prepared with her very own personal valet/husband Nick Cannon who is always at the ready to hold her umbrella for her whenever she needs him. Such a good boy.

But, the show did go off without a hitch. Ricky Gervais, IMHO, wasn’t that great of a host but he did a passable job I thought. And as I mentioned earlier, I was very pleased with many of winners last night — save for just a few winners I did NOT agree with at all. After the jump, check out some photos from the show itself and find out who won and who I thought got robbed …

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The big musical movie that everyone is talking about this holiday season Nine held it’s NYC premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in Manhattan … and managed to bring out all the stars. Altho Madonna is not at all involved with the film in any way, she managed to steal some of the spotlight from the film’s principal cast as she walked the red carpet with her eldest daughter Lourdes Maria as her guest. Here are a few pics from the red carpet arrivals of the NYC premiere of Nine:

Madonna turned the New York premiere of Nine into a family affair last night as she arrived on the red carpet with daughter Lourdes. The film may have been set in the Sixties, but Madonna was clearly reprising her own Eighties look as she turned up in a figure-hugging outfit. With her incredibly youthful face and Like A Prayer outfit, comprising lace Dolce & Gabbana bustier dress, long gloves and silver crucifix, the 51-year-old didn’t look much older than she did during the 1989 video. Her 13-year-old daughter was also going for the Eighties look in a D&G fringed skirt, biker gloves, leather jacket, Doc Martens boots and several beaded necklaces … Last night’s screening saw the biggest showing of the film’s cast with Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Fergie and Kate Hudson all stepping out in their finest couture for the glittering night. The movie’s leading man Daniel Day Lewis was also in attendance, but the only female castmember missing was Italian screen legend Sophia Loren. The cast stepped out just hours after they heard the film had received five nominations at the Golden Globes. Despite a mixed response from critics, Nine is up for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), Best Original Song, and three acting nods for Day-Lewis, Cruz and Cotillard. Day-Lewis plays director Guido Contini, who is suffering a mid-life crisis. Arriving on the red carpet last night, Kidman shunned her favourite neutral colours for a girlie black prom dress. Appearing slightly too tight for the Australian actress around the bust area, the 42-year-old’s dress gave her a cleavage a boost. She was joined by 35-year-old Cruz – who dated Kidman’s ex Tom Cruise soon after their marriage split – who went for old school Hollywood glamour in her red hot satin asymmetrical gown. Excited Cruz, who was earlier nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for her portrayal of Guido’s mistress Carla, said: ‘I am so honoured to be nominated for Nine. I had an incredible time working on the film with such an amazing director, Rob Marshall, and with this extraordinary cast.’ Her co-star Hudson, 30, went for a more unusual gown – a embellished monochrome jersey dress with a long train … Hudson’s night on the red carpet come as widespread reports claimed she had split from baseball player Alex Rodriguez after a six-month romance. Sources close to the high-profile couple said they split a week ago after their return from England, where A-Rod had attended the London premiere of Nine with Hudson … Other stars in attendance last night included Kidman’s actress friend Naomi Watts, who looked pretty in a pink shift dress, millionaire twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Tobey Maguire and his wife Jennifer Meyer. The film follows Guido attempting to balance the relationships of the various women in his life including his wife (Cotillard), mistress (Cruz), muse (Kidman), his confidante (Dench), an American fashion journalist (Hudson), his glamorous courtesan (Fergie) and his mother (Loren). The screenplay – an adaptation of a 1982 Broadway stage hit – was written by the late Anthony Minghella.

I’ve not read any reviews for Nine and, to be honest, I’m not at all familiar with the story … but there is a lot of buzz going on about this film and it’s made me curious. Nine was directed by Rob Marshall who directed the Academy Award-winning musical film Chicago and the cast looks fantastic … I’m sold. Are any of y’all excited to see this film?

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

Congratulations are in order for Penélope Cruz & Javier Bardem who friends say have gotten quietly engaged to be wed. Altho the couple have yet to publicly confirm that they are even dating, intimate friends of the couple are divulging that the couple have recently gotten engaged to be married (tho no wedding date is being discussed). In recent weeks, Penélope has been dogged by persistent rumors that she is pregs but her blabby friends insist that the couple are not expecting a baby … they’re just planning to get hitched!

Congratulations, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. The fiercely private couple is still playing coy about whether or not they’re dating. But, take it from us, they are in fact engaged. Rumors that they might be betrothed have been floating around since April. Not true then. True now. “They’re telling friends they will get married,” says a pal, who heard the news directly from one of them. A wedding is bound to comfort Cruz’s Catholic parents, considering stubborn rumors that she’s pregnant. But she continues to deny she’s with child – even to friends. Despite a photo showing the smiling pair leaving an OB/GYN clinic in Madrid last month, they’ve been telling friends to hold off on the baby gifts. “They say the pregnancy stories aren’t true,” says another skeptical friend. Publicists for the stars declined to comment … While many reports have time-stamped Cruz and Bardem’s romance as starting in 2007, few know they first fell for each other in 1992 while making “Jamon, Jamon,” where their fiery sex scenes were improved by some real-life rehearsals. Cruz broke it off with Bardem after the film, but they teamed again for 1997’s “Live Flesh.” By the time Woody Allen cast them in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” both were older, wiser and international superstars. They fell in love all over again. Cruz’s convincing performance as Bardem’s virago ex earned her an Oscar. (He came home with one, too, for “No Country for Old Men.”) Some reports claimed they’d broken up last year, alleging she was mad at him for breaking a promise to take a year off from work. “Penelope is really angry because she turned down a few really good roles because she was so committed to their sabbatical,” one source was quoted as saying. Her brother Eduardo contended Cruz was also disappointed that Bardem wouldn’t go along with her plan to adopt a baby from India. Despite those reports, the two have remained inseparable, doing a very bad job of pretending to be friends. From the sound of things, they’re finally ready to give up their ruse.

Honestly, I’d hold off any rushing out to get any wedding gifts for these two … considering how fiercely private they have been about their dating life, I’m not sure I believe the couple’s so-called “friends” who insist the couple are engaged. That being said, I really do love these two together … they make a beautiful couple and I would love nothing more than for them to get hitched and start makin’ beautiful Spanish babies ;) Even if the couple are engaged, don’t count on hearing any confirmation at all … I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see if a wedding comes to fruition. Engagements can last years so … don’t hold y’all’s breath just yet.

[Source]

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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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 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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