Awards / Awards Shows

"Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit" from DreamWorks Animation SKG took the prize for best feature production. The film, which used computer animation only for some short scenes, beat the digitally animated films "Chicken Little" from The Walt Disney Co. and "Madagascar," also from DreamWorks.

The Annie Awards are presented by The International Animated Film Society. The awards often predict the winner of the Academy Award's best animated film category.

"Wallace & Gromit" also captured best directing honors for Nick Park and Steve Box, and won for best music and writing.

"Wallace & Gromit" was produced by Aardman Animations, which introduced the characters in three TV shorts from 1989 to 1995 and made the 2000 animated film "Chicken Run."

Madonna and the Gorillaz will perform together for the first time at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, which will be presented Wednesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The 47-year-old pop star will sing with the Gorillaz, who will be appearing in 3-D animated color. The brainchild of Blur frontman Damon Albarn, the Gorillaz are a melding of rock and hip-hop that represents band members as cartoon alter-egos created by animator Jamie Hewlett.

Paul McCartney has been added to the list of performers, the Recording Academy announced Thursday, who also include Mariah Carey, John Legend, Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen, U2 with Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, Sugarland and Jamie Foxx.

It will be McCartney's first ever performance at the Grammys, the Academy said. This year, he is nominated for three awards, including album of the year for "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard."

The Gorillaz are nominated for four Grammys, including record of the year for "Feel Good Inc.," which features De La Soul.

Madonna, who has won five Grammys, released "Confessions on a Dance Floor" in November. She is not nominated this year.

Dench, 71, was nominated Tuesday for an Oscar for her performance in the film, which was distributed by Weinstein's new production company, The Weinstein Co.

Weinstein, who co-founded Miramax Films, says Dench was turned down for interviews by NBC's "Today" show and ABC's "Good Morning America" and "The View."

"They said that she didn't fit their demographics," the outspoken movie mogul tells the magazine in this week's issue.

"I told that to my mother, who was pretty ... offended," he is quoted as saying. "I mean, what do they think, 25-year-old people can't watch 70-year-old people? The insanity of youth. It also assumes none of us like our families."

The International House of Publicity, which promoted "Mrs. Henderson Presents," declined to comment.

With Oscar noms only days away, TMZ reviewed the 2005 Oscar nom track records of USA Today, Us Weekly, the Associated Press and Variety, against Oscarcentral.com, Oscarwatch.com, EverythingOscar.com, and TheFilmExperience.net. So who was more dead-on, respected traditional critics or their blogging counterparts?

The envelope please.

Of the 25 most commonly-predicted nominees, the traditional critics got it right 21 times, the bloggers eeked out a better track record with 23.

Sasha Stone of OscarWatch.com has a theory: "Professionals tend to take bigger chances with their predictions in order to distinguish themselves from the others."

Tom O'Neill with TheEnvelope.com is tougher on traditional critics whom he claims are guilty of "wishful thinking. Don't give me who should win. Give me who will win." Take the poll on Oscar noms, which are announced on Tuesday. See if TMZ does better than the pros.

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Oscar Hopeful: Maria Bello
Oscar Hopeful: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Rachel Weisz of the murder thriller "The Constant Gardener" and Paul Giamatti of the boxing drama "Cinderella Man" received supporting-acting honors.

"Oh, my God, y'all. Sometimes, I can't just shake the feeling that I'm just a little girl from Tennessee," said Witherspoon, who plays Carter during her long, stormy courtship with country legend Johnny Cash. "I want to say my biggest inspiration for this movie obviously was June Carter. She was an incredible woman."

Hoffman had gushing thanks for his "Capote" co-stars.

"It's important to say that actors can't act alone, it's impossible. What we have to do is support each other," Hoffman said. "Actors have to have each others' backs. It's the only way to act well is when you know the other actor has your back, and these actors had my back, and I hope they know I had theirs."

The awards, announced Thursday, are given to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment," by Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nation's oldest undergraduate drama troupe.

Berry will lead a parade through the streets of Harvard Square on Feb. 16, with students dressed in drag.

Berry, 39, won an Oscar and a SAG award for her performance in "Monster's Ball." She also earned an Emmy for her performance in the HBO film "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge."

Berry will reprise her role as Storm in "X3," the third installment in the "X-Men" series, due May 26.

Gere, 56, won a Golden Globe for best comedy-musical actor, for "Chicago." His other work includes "An Officer and a Gentleman," "American Gigolo," "Internal Affairs" and "Pretty Woman."

Gere is also the founder of the Gere Foundation, which contributes to health education and human rights projects and is dedicated to promoting awareness of Tibet's endangered culture.

It was girls, girls, girls Wednesday when the bad boys of '80s heavy metal band Motley Crue received the 2,301st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"We're across the street from the Erotica Museum and Frederick's of Hollywood. This is a perfect place for us to be," bassist Nikki Sixx told an estimated 600 screaming fans.

Sixx joined drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars and singer Vince Neil at the ceremony in front of the Musician's Institute on Hollywood Boulevard.

Lee pretended to cry. "I think there's something in my eye," he said.

Motley Crue formed in Los Angeles in 1981, enduring a breakup, death and drugs to become one of the world's top touring groups with 40 million albums sold.

Singles such as "Girls Girls Girls, "Smokin' in the Boys Room" and "Dr. Feelgood" about sex, booze and highjinks propelled the band to rock star status during the 1980s.

Diana Ossana and James Schamus, who produced the Ang Lee-directed story of two ranch hands who conceal an ongoing homosexual affair from their families, took home the guild's top prize, the Darryl F. Zanuck producer of the year award.

Ossana also co-wrote the screenplay with famed Western author Larry McMurtry.

"Brokeback" won four Golden Globes last week - including best picture honors in the drama category - and has been lauded by critics' groups around the country.

The man-and-dog buddy adventure "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" earned Claire Jennings and Nick Park the producer of the year award for animated film.

Other winners at the awards ceremony held at the Universal Hilton included:

• Long-Form Television: "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers," HBO.

• Episodic Drama: "Lost," ABC.

• Episodic Comedy: "Entourage," HBO.

• Variety Television: "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Syndicated.

The pageant was held in Las Vegas for the first time in a bid to revive interest after years of declining interest from its longtime base in Atlantic City, N.J. Without coverage from a major television network for the first time since 1954, it aired on Country Music Television.

Even the new Miss America, University of Oklahoma student Jennifer Berry, said she hoped to help the scholarship organization by creating interest and marketing it to a younger crowd 18-34.

"I hope to have sponsors knocking on our door," Berry said after winning the crown Saturday night. She also earned a $30,000 college scholarship and a yearlong speaking tour.

Berry wowed the judges by dancing ballet for her talent routine, and pledged to advocate the prevention of drunken driving, a cause she chose because a childhood friend died in an alcohol-related crash at age 16.

Live from the red carpet at the 63rd annual Golden Globes, E! correspondent Isaac Mizrahi groped Scarlett Johansson's breast, looked down Teri Hatcher's dress, asked Eva Longoria about her pubic hair and otherwise caught celebrities off-guard.

The openly gay fashion designer didn't mean to offend anyone, E! Networks President and CEO Ted Harbert told The Associated Press on Friday.

In fact, Mizrahi was just what the network ordered. He's already been assigned to carpet duty at the Academy Awards on March 5.

"I've hired Isaac because I felt the red carpet work on television, not just on E!, had become predictable, staid and frankly boring. What I wanted is someone who would bring surprise," Harbert said.

But whether the staid Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will take kindly to a repeat of Mizrahi's Golden Globes behavior on its own red carpet is another question entirely.

Best Film: "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "The Constant Gardener," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Outstanding British Film: "A Cock and Bull Story," "The Constant Gardener," "Festival," "Pride and Prejudice," "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit."

Direction: Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain"; Bennett Miller, "Capote"; Fernando Meirelles, "The Constant Gardener"; Paul Haggis, "Crash"; George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Original Screenplay: Cliff Hollingsworth/Akiva Goldsman, "Cinderella Man"; Paul Haggis/Bobby Moresco, "Crash"; George Clooney/Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck"; Keir Pearson/Terry George, "Hotel Rwanda"; Martin Sherman, "Mrs. Henderson Presents."

Over each of the past four years, I have worked as one of the people handing out the gift bags at the Golden Globes. I cannot keep from laughing when I recall some of the stories I have heard from attendees of such a prestigious event when trying to obtain one of the coveted bags. And throughout the course of the evening, as more and more alcohol is consumed, these stories increase in urgency, importance and emotion.

I'm still amazed at how many creative, needy, sad and desperate stories are told in the hopes of being rewarded with a gift bag. It's almost like judging a junior high drama contest. Because, you see ... there are strict rules that no gift bags are to be handed out without a ticket stub from the actual ceremony. End of story.

OK, but my story doesn't end there.

The experiences which emerge from this fly on the wall perspective at the Globes, makes for some great storytelling.

Each has eight nominations, including album of the year for Carey ("The Emancipation of Mimi") and West ("Late Registration"). Legend's nominations include best new artist and best R&B album for "Get Lifted."

Other performers will be announced at a later date, The Recording Academy said Wednesday.

Although the film has never been screened in Nablus, many residents here have viewed several clips widely broadcast on satellite television, and some are not happy with what they have seen. Those giving the film thumbs down feel it portrays the bombers as less than heroic and godless.

"This movie doesn't help the Palestinian cause," said an armed Palestinian militant who would not give his name because he's on the run. "People who go to carry out bombings do not hesitate so much."

The film tells the story of two Nablus car mechanics who are sent to carry out a double suicide-bombing in Tel Aviv. They shave their beards to blend into Israeli crowds more easily, pray and prepare farewell videos.

The movie has generally been praised around the world and has been played in about 60 countries, according to director Hany Abu-Assad, an Arab born in Israel -- currently living in Holland -- who considers himself Palestinian.

But this year, the Globes broadcast faced a different daunting rival: the final two hours of the four-hour launch of the new season of Fox's thriller "24."

Monday, the three-hour "Golden Globes" drew 18.7 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research figures, up about 2 million viewers from last year's total.

But "24" attracted a robust 14.9 million viewers, helping keep NBC's gains to a minimum.

By comparison, in 2004 -- pre- "Housewives" and the increasingly popular "Grey's Anatomy" -- the Globes broadcast drew 26.8 million viewers.

Final numbers for this year's faceoff are due Wednesday.

Last August, NBC announced it would move "The Golden Globes" from its traditional Sunday perch to Monday to steer clear of ABC's dual drama threat.

Swank won last year for her portrayal of female boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in 'Million Dollar Baby.' She received her first Oscar in 1999 for playing Teena Brandon in 'Boys Don't Cry.' Swank's upcoming films include 'Freedom Writers,' 'The Reaping' and 'The Black Dahlia.'

Swank was in the news last week for her announcement that she and her husband of eight years, Chad Lowe, are separating. She told reporters at this year's Golden Globes that she and her husband were working on reconciling their marriage.

The Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre.