'Star Wars' Theme To Be Released As a Single
20 April 2005
Die-hard Star Wars fans will have something
extra to purchase when the final installment is
released next month - the theme tune is set to
be released as a single. The song - composed and
conducted by five-time Oscar winner John
Williams and played by the London Symphony
Orchestra - could force its way into the top 10
in music charts around the world, a rare
achievement for a choral and orchestral piece.
Sony BMG will release "Battle Of The Heroes" on
May 23. The song depicts the fateful struggle
between Jedi knight Anakin Skywalker and his
mentor Obi-wan Kenobi. Star Wars: Episode III
Revenge Of The Sith is the final installment in
the six-part series and stars Ewan McGregor,
Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen. It hits
cinemas worldwide on May 19.
Final 'Star Wars' Episode Is Reportedly Rated
PG-13
11 April 2005 (StudioBriefing)
Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith,
starring Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor and
Natalie Portman, has become the first film in
the franchise to be given a PG-13 rating by the
Motion Picture Association of America's
Classification and Ratings Administration,
several websites reported Saturday, citing
sources with the MPAA. According to the reports,
the film received a PG-13 rather than the usual
PG for the other Star Wars episodes because of "sci-fi
violence and some intense images." The film is
set for release on Thursday, May 19.
Portman Wows German Crew with Language Skills
23 March 2005
Actress Natalie Portman impressed everyone on
the Berlin set of her latest film V For Vendetta
when she started speaking fluent German. Unlike
many actors, who would be silenced by the
language barrier, linguistic Portman, 23,
immediately started communicating in the native
language. A source says, "She just turned up one
day talking German. It has made her very popular
with the Germans on the crew." The Star Wars
actress, educated at top American university
Harvard, is fluent in Hebrew, French and
Japanese, as well as German. V For Vendetta
explores how different life would be if Germany
had won World War II.
Scarlett Set for 'Indiana Jones 4'?
14 March 2005
Harrison Ford is set for a new sidekick when he
returns to the big screen as Indiana Jones - in
the shape of actress Natalie Portman. Tom
Cruise has been championing the Oscar nominee
for a part in pal Steven Spielberg's fourth
Indiana Jones movie as the pair work together on
Armageddon drama War of the Worlds. Cruise has
been working with Johansson on the third Mission:
Impossible movie and he's convinced she'll be
perfect for the new Jones film, according to
Australia's NW Magazine. An insider says, "Steven
was saying there is a shortage of young
actresses who can carry off a strong role. He
considered Natalie Portman, but she's too
connected with Star Wars - Tom suggested
Scarlett."
Portman Apologizes for Western Wall Kiss
2 March 2005
Natalie Portman accepts her kissing scene in the
shadow of Jerusalem, Israel's Western Wall was
an unfortunate mistake. The Israeli-born actress
stirred up controversy last week by kissing
actor Aki Avni for their new movie Free Zone
near the holy prayer site. Portman, Avni and the
film's crew were escorted from the religious
site by local police after Jewish bystanders
took offence and started shouting at the pair.
In a statement released on Monday, the Closer
actress says, "I really don't want to offend
anyone's beliefs or impose anything on anyone
and it was mistaken to do it. As soon as it
offended people, we moved. We had a very hectic
work schedule, so we weren't thinking. We
shouldn't have done it." The incident underlined
the sensitivity of the site, a remnant of the
biblical Jewish temples - the holiest place
where Jews can pray.
Portman Upsets Jews with Western Wall Kissing
Scene
25 February 2005
Natalie Portman has stirred up controversy in
her native Israel by kissing actor Aki Avni in
the shadow of sacred site the Western Wall in
Jerusalem. The Closer star and Avni were
shooting a romantic scene for new movie Free
Zone near the holy prayer site, when Jewish
bystanders took offence. One bystander says, "People
were shouting that they were being immoral and
police asked the two to leave the area. They
agreed." According to a head rabbi at the site,
the actors' actions had violated a strict code
of conduct that prohibits anything romantic at
the site.
'Star Wars' Bosses Warn Websites Again
22 February 2005
Movie bosses financing forthcoming prequel Star
Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith are
threatening to take legal action against
internet sites that leak pictures and plot
details. Currently, various websites are
displaying photographs of a pregnant Padme
Amidala, played by Natalie Portman, and a new
android villain named General Grievous. Other
shots online include an aggressive light-saber
duel between Anakin Skywalker and his former
mentor Obi-wan Kenobi - which leaves Skywalker
horribly scarred and propels him to don the
black suit of Darth Vader. Producers of the film
had issued a warning to various internet sites
last year, and have now renewed their threat of
legal action. Revenge Of The Sith is due to hit
American cinemas on May 19.
'The Aviator' Revs Up for Oscars
25 January 2005 (StudioBriefing)
Martin Scorsese's The Aviator was given a big
Oscar take-off this morning as the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that
the Howard Hughes biopic had received 11
nominations, more than any other film. The
nominations included best picture, director,
actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), supporting actress
(Cate Blanchett), and supporting actor (Alan
Alda). The film's closest competitors were
Million Dollar Baby and Finding Neverland with
seven nominations each. Aviator, Baby, and
Neverland were joined in the best film category
by Ray and Sideways. Clint Eastwood received an
acting and a directing nomination for Baby.
Jamie Foxx also received two nominations, for
best actor in Ray and best supporting actor in
Collateral. Nominations in the top categories:
Best picture: The Aviator, Finding Neverland,
Million Dollar Baby, Ray, Sideways
Best director: Martin Scorsese - The Aviator,
Clint Eastwood - Million Dollar Baby, Alexander
Payne - Sideways, Taylor Hackford - Ray, Mike
Leigh - Vera Drake
Best actor: Don Cheadle - Hotel Rwanda, Johnny
Depp - Finding Neverland, Leonardo DiCaprio -
The Aviator, Clint Eastwood - Million Dollar
Baby, Jamie Foxx - Ray
Best actress: Annette Bening - Being Julia,
Catalina Sandino Moreno - Maria Full of Grace,
Imelda Staunton - Vera Drake, Hilary Swank -
Million Dollar Baby, Kate Winslet - Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Best supporting actress: Cate Blanchett - The
Aviator, Laura Linney - Kinsey, Virginia Madsen
- Sideways, Sophie Okonedo - Hotel Rwanda,
Natalie Portman - Closer
Best supporting actor: Alan Alda - The Aviator,
Thomas Haden Church - Sideways, Jamie Foxx -
Collateral, Morgan Freeman - Million Dollar Baby,
Clive Owen - Closer
Best original screenplay: The Aviator, Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Hotel Rwanda, The
Incredibles, Vera Drake
Best adapted screenplay: Before Sunset, Finding
Neverland, Million Dollar Baby, The Motorcycle
Diaries, Sideways
Best foreign film: As It Is In Heaven, The
Chorus, Downfall, The Sea Inside, Yesterday.
Globes Are No Crystal Ball
17 January 2005
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association
distributed its largesse around fairly evenly
Sunday night, thereby giving no film a special
boost for Oscar consideration. The Paramount/Miramax
film The Aviator picked up most of the
organization's Golden Globe awards, but that was
only three, including best dramatic movie, best
actor in a dramatic movie (Leonardo DiCaprio),
and best original score (Howard Shore).
Twentieth Century Fox's Sideways received two
awards, including best comedy and best
screenplay (Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor).
Warner's Million Dollar Baby also received two
awards, including best actress in a dramatic
movie (Hilary Swank) and best director (Clint
Eastwood). Other winners included Jamie Foxx for
best actor in a comedy or musical (Ray); Annette
Bening for best actress in a comedy or musical (Being
Julia); Clive Owen for best supporting actor (Closer);
and Natalie Portman for best supporting actress
(Closer).
The Aviator Flies at the Golden Globes
17 January 2005
A number of movies took home high-profile honors,
but ultimately it was The Aviator that dominated
the Golden Globes, winning three awards
including Best Picture (Drama). The Howard
Hughes biopic also walked off with Best Actor
(Drama) for Leonardo DiCaprio and Best Score,
though Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby)
bested Martin Scorsese for the Best Director
award. Baby's Hilary Swank nabbed Best Actress,
while Closer pulled a two-fer in the supporting
categories, winning Supporting Actor and Actress
for Clive Owen and Natalie Portman. Sideways
continued its winning streak with Best Picture (Comedy/Musical)
and Best Screenplay, and the Comedy/Musical
acting honors went to expected winners Jamie
Foxx (Ray) and Annette Bening (Being Julia).
Other film winners included The Sea Inside (Foreign
Language Film) and Alfie (Best Song for "Old
Habits Die Hard"). Over on the TV side, it was
hello to some newcomers, as Desperate Housewives
won Best Comedy and Best Actress (Comedy) for
Teri Hatcher and Nip/Tuck was the Drama winner;
Ian McShane (Deadwood), Jason Bateman (Arrested
Development), and Mariska Hartigay (Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit) were also all first-time
winners. Robin Williams was this year's Cecil B.
DeMille honoree.
The Aviator Flies at the Golden Globes
16 January 2005
A number of movies took home high-profile honors,
but ultimately it was The Aviator that dominated
the Golden Globes, winning three awards
including Best Picture (Drama). The Howard
Hughes biopic also walked off with Best Actor
(Drama) for Leonardo DiCaprio and Best Score,
though Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby)
bested Martin Scorsese for the Best Director
award. Baby's Hilary Swank nabbed Best Actress,
while Closer pulled a two-fer in the supporting
categories, winning Supporting Actor and Actress
for Clive Owen and Natalie Portman. Sideways
continued its winning streak with Best Picture (Comedy/Musical)
and Best Screenplay, and the Comedy/Musical
acting honors went to expected winners Jamie
Foxx (Ray) and Annette Bening (Being Julia).
Other film winners included The Sea Inside (Foreign
Language Film) and Alfie (Best Song for "Old
Habits Die Hard"). Over on the TV side, it was
hello to some newcomers, as Desperate Housewives
won Best Comedy and Best Actress (Comedy) for
Teri Hatcher and Nip/Tuck was the Drama winner;
Ian McShane (Deadwood), Jason Bateman (Arrested
Development), and Mariska Hartigay (Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit) were also all first-time
winners. Robin Williams was this year's Cecil B.
DeMille honoree.
Sheridan Tops Mr. Blackwell's Worst-Dressed
List
12 January 2005
Desperate Housewives star Nicolette Sheridan's
fashion sense has earned her top place on style
critic Mr Blackwell's 45th annual list of worst-dressed
celebrities. The Desperate Housewives star,
noted for her sexy outfits, has caught the eye
of Blackwell for all the wrong reasons. He says,
"In barely-there bombs, she's a taste-free pain.
Let's crown her the Tacky Temptress of Wisteria
Lane." Lindsay Lohan landed in second place on
the list, with Blackwell deeming her "over-hyped
and under-dressed", while sisters Jessica
Simpson and Ashlee Simpson tied for third place.
The "fabulous fashion independents" who won
praise from Blackwell for 2004 are Nicole Kidman,
Natalie Portman, Barbara Walters, Kate Winslet,
Annette Bening, Oprah Winfrey, Scarlett
Johansson, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Garner and
Sheridan's Desperate Housewives co- star Teri
Hatcher. Blackwell's previous worst-dressed star,
hotel heiress Paris Hilton, dropped to number
five. The top 10 is as follows: Nicolette
Sheridan, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson and
Ashlee Simpson, Courtney Love, Paris Hilton,
Serena Williams, Britney Spears, Paula Abdul,
Meryl Streep, Anna Nicole Smith.
'Star Wars' Actors Reunited
6 January 2005
Actors Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Natalie
Portman and Ewan McGregor have teamed up with
other stars of all six Star Wars movies for a
new Vanity Fair photo spread. The American
magazine grouped together 22 major performers in
the legendary franchise, inviting cast members
from the original 1977 film Star Wars: Episode
IV - A New Hope to this year's final installment
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith.
Mastermind George Lucas, who directed four of
the intergalactic movies, joined Ford, Fisher,
Portman and McGregor as well as original Luke
Skywalker star Mark Hamill, Samuel L. Jackson,
Liam Neeson and Hayden Christensen. Robots R2-D2
and C3PO also joined their human co-stars for
the reunion shoot. Lucas admits the final part
of the opening trilogy marks the end of an era
in his career - and he now plans to stop making
successful films. He says, "I'm going to make
movies nobody wants to see. I've earned the
right to fail."
