'Sideways,' 'Aviator' Win Golden Globes
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - The Howard Hughes epic "The Aviator" and the road-trip romp "Sideways" earned best-picture Golden Globes on Sunday, boosting their status as front-runners for the upcoming Academy Awards.
"The Aviator" won for best dramatic film, giving it an edge at the Oscars, which favor heavyweight drama. "Sideways" won for comedy film.
Jamie Foxx of the Ray Charles film biography "Ray," Hilary Swank of the boxing saga "Million Dollar Baby," Annette Bening of the showbiz comedy "Being Julia" and Leonardo DiCaprio of "The Aviator" also boosted their Oscar odds by winning the top acting Globes.
"Can I just tell you that I am having the ride of my life right now?" said Foxx, considered the favorite to win the best-actor Oscar for his uncanny emulation of Ray Charles, who died last year. "I wish I could take what I'm feeling right now and put it in the water system, and we would all love each other a whole lot more."
Earning a record three Globe nominations, Foxx lost in his other two categories, supporting movie actor for "Collateral" and actor in a TV movie or miniseries for "Redemption."
Bening won for best actress in a movie musical or comedy, playing an aging stage diva in 1930s London who plots gleeful revenge against the men in her life.
Backstage, Bening said that while Hollywood economics is geared toward roles for younger actresses, she said there are filmmakers eager to present tales of older women.
"I think there's no question that sexism exists, but I think that as long as people are willing to fight and create interesting stories that involve women of all different ages, then the movies will get made," Bening said.
Swank's and Bening's Golden Globe wins set up an Oscar rematch between the actresses, who competed against each other five years ago for best actress. Underdog Swank won the Golden Globe and Oscar for "Boys Don't Cry" over Bening, who had been considered the favorite for "American Beauty."
In "Million Dollar Baby," Swank plays a determined boxer whose life takes a tragic turn. Swank paid tribute to director and co-star Clint Eastwood.
"I don't want to ruin your `go ahead, make my day image,' but you have such a huge heart and you envelop all the people around you. ... You guided us so brilliantly, while you also, in my humble opinion, gave the performance of your career," Swank said.
As Hughes in "The Aviator," DiCaprio reunited with his "Gangs of New York" director Martin Scorsese." DiCaprio said that for all his good fortune in Hollywood, the "pinnacle of all that is to work alongside one of the greatest contributors to the world of cinema of all time, and that is the great Martin Scorsese."
Eastwood won the directing honor for "Million Dollar Baby," solidifying his chances to win the same honor at the Oscars. Eastwood, who previously won the directing Oscar for "Unforgiven," thanked the "great Hilary Swank and the world's greatest actor, Morgan Freeman," who co-starred with him in "Million Dollar Baby."
Natalie Portman and Clive Owen won supporting-actor honors for the sex drama "Closer," their wins coming as something of a surprise.
Both offered profuse thanks to "Closer" director Mike Nichols.
"Mike Nichols, I love you, you're the nicest, smartest, wisest daddy — friend, rock star," Portman said.
The oddball romance "Sideways" won the screenplay honor for Jim Taylor and director Alexander Payne, who thanked the cast for "servicing our screenplay so beautifully."
"The Aviator" earned composer Howard Shore the Globe for film score, while Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart won the song honor for "Old Habits Die Hard" from "Alfie."
"I'd like to thank Dave Stewart for getting me into this mess," Jagger said on stage alongside Stewart, formerly of the Eurythmics.
Spain's "The Sea Inside" — starring Javier Bardem in the real-life story of Ramon Sampedro, a paralyzed man who fought a decades-long battle for his right to die — was picked as best foreign-language film.
The Globes serve as the most prominent ceremony in Hollywood's pre-game show leading up to the Academy Awards on Feb. 27. The awards are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, whose small membership of about 90 people pales compared to the nearly 6,000 film professionals eligible to vote for the Oscars.
Yet the Globes historically serve as a solid forecast that helps set the odds for subsequent film honors.
Golden Globe winners gain attention that can put them on the inside track for prizes from acting, directing and other filmmaking guilds — momentum often sticks with them right through Oscar night.
In the TV categories, "Desperate Housewives" won for best musical or comedy series, while Teri Hatcher beat her show's co-stars Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman for best actress in a TV comedy. Hatcher thanked ABC for giving "me a second chance at a career when I couldn't have been a bigger has-been."
"Nip/Tuck" won for best dramatic TV series, while "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" took the Globe for best TV movie or miniseries and Jason Bateman of "Arrested Development" was honored as best actor in a comedy series.
Other TV winners included Mariska Hargitay of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" as dramatic actress, Ian McShane as dramatic actor for "Deadwood," Anjelica Huston as supporting actress for the suffrage film "Iron Jawed Angels," and William Shatner as supporting actor for "Boston Legal."
"I really wanted to win," Shatner said afterward backstage, where he fielded questions about playing sinister attorney Denny Crane after decades of being typecast as space hero Capt. Kirk in "Star Trek." "It's all part of the fun of acting. Acting is like being in a sandbox and pretending, so this is part of the pretense."
Robin Williams, a five-time Globe winner for such films as "The Fisher King" and "Good Morning, Vietnam," received the Cecil B. DeMille award for career achievement. Williams dedicated his award to the late Christopher Reeve, who died last year.
Williams' manic acceptance speech included jibes at the foreign-press group's occasionally embarrassing history, such as presenting Pia Zadora with the best newcomer award for her movie flop "Butterfly" just two years after giving Williams the same honor for "Mork & Mindy."
But Williams praised the group for having a separate category for comedy, which often is overlooked in other Hollywood movie honors.
"You allow us to be in the room with the adults," Williams said.
Sexy 'Housewives' Rule Golden Globes
The stars pulled out their party clothes for the Golden Globes Sunday night, with on-screen boxer Hilary Swank looking like a bronze goddess in a simple-yet-slinky Calvin Klein gown, and all the "Desperate Housewives" in sexy dresses instead of twin sets and jeans.
Among the ABC series' fashionable stars were Teri Hatcher in a multi-metallic stretch Donna Karan gown with a very low back, braid detailing and hand-cut embroidery, and Felicity Huffman in a formfitting, bronze-beaded gown with a deep V-neck.
Co-star Eva Longoria said she wanted to "do pretty" in a black, cocktail-length dress by Oscar de la Renta with the designer's signature pouffy skirt, since she spends so much time in "va va voom" outfits on her show. And Marcia Cross wore wore one of the night's biggest trends: a fishtail train.
Cate Blanchett kept the train of her lilac Jean-Paul Gaultier gown under control by holding the end in her hand. The dress, with its floral appliques and asymmetrical shape, fit the carefree mood of the Globes.
"This event is a lot more playful than a lot of the other awards. It's loose and lighthearted, and the dresses reflect that," said designer Monique Lhullier, who made Diane Lane's jade chiffon gown with jade organic stone clusters at the neckline.
Lhullier said silk chiffon, soft colors and metallics were popular.
Nicole Kidman, however, went bright in a Gucci dress with a blue peacock feather detail on her shoulder, and Charlize Theron wore a structured dark teal gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior that played up her new short dark hair.
"The dress is such an amazing color," said Shane Paish, makeup artist for Dior. "I didn't want to do anything too strong. I wanted to keep her looking like herself," he said, which was done with dewy skin and peachy colors.
Emmy Rossum, who plays Christine in "Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera," wore a sophisticated Ralph Lauren with tiers of tulle but also looked her age — 18 — thanks to loose hair, delicate Harry Winston drop earrings and the light color of the dress. Meanwhile, Natalie Portman picked up on one of spring's major fashion trends — bohemian chic — in a billowing tank dress with a black beaded cummerbund.
Jennifer Garner, with wavy hair held back with a 12-carat diamond crescent by Harry Winston, had on a siren-red, scoop-neck vintage Valentino that showed off her slim and well-toned back.
Many gowns had draping and delicate details that will translate well to clothes for average women, said Glamour editor in chief Cindi Leive.
Leive particularly liked Halle Berry's one-shoulder, nude-color gown. "She really looks great. That looks like a dress that'll be knocked off and in the mall in three and a half days."
Swank's gown came to a gathered V in the back. She wore a pony tail, simple Chopard conical diamond drop earrings and sheer makeup.
"We didn't go overboard. ... She looks like a bronze goddess who has the most beautiful skin and who just walked off the beach," described Dior makeup artist Pati Dubroff, who worked with Swank. The only strong makeup is her mascara, which is complemented by praline-colored lip gloss, Dubroff said.
Mariska Hargitay preferred pink. She wore an asymmetrical, dusty-rose satin gown by Vera Wang and soft rose makeup.
A good black dress always looks great, and among the standouts was Renee Zellweger in a strapless Carolina Herrera dress reminiscent of the 1950s.
Julianna Margulies wore a long, black skirt with a layer of beaded tulle and a white wrap top. "I saw the skirt and I fell in love with it," she said. "It was about trying to find the shirt. I feel glamorous."
Star Jones Reynolds used the word "glamazon" several times as she offered fashion commentary for E! on the red carpet. It's how she described Minnie Driver in a silver, V-neck gown with floral embroidery by Randolph Duke.
TV Guide Channel's Joan and Melissa Rivers, Jones Reynolds' on-air rivals, wore black. The elder Rivers' strapless gown featured fur around the bust and white embroidery on the bodice, while her daughter's gown had a bustier top and jeweled straps.
Most of the red carpet's bling came from dangling earrings, but Jones Reynolds wore a $7 million diamond brooch from Chopard that was sewn directly onto her sea-foam goddess gown by Kevan Hall.
For men, the most popular look was pairing a regular tie with a tux; it was worn by Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Ewan McGregor and Denis Leary, whose purple Hugo Boss tie matched the purple gown worn by his wife, screenwriter Ann Lembeck. Jamie Foxx, meanwhile, skipped the tie altogether and wore his midnight-blue shirt open at the collar, and fashion rebel Johnny Depp wore a blue suit and pink tie.
"This is men saying, 'This isn't the Oscars, we're trying to keep this in perspective,'" said Glamour's Leive. "It's the evening version of men wearing their shirts untucked during the day."
Stars and Stories From Golden Globes
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - William Shatner will forever be Captain Kirk to most, or a bombastic lounge singer to a musical cult following. But it's Denny Crane that's winning him some hardware.
Shatner picked up a Golden Globe for his performance as boastful lawyer Crane on "Boston Legal," a few months after winning a guest actor Emmy for the same character in "The Practice" last year.
"I'm truly thrilled," he said. "I really wanted to win."
He wasn't buying any backstage talk of a comeback. "I don't feel I've ever left," he said. "I've been gainfully employed all these years."
It would be just like Crane to ask for a raise for his work.
"And so will William Shatner," he said.
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — "Wouldn't you like to know!" a saucy Anjelica Huston replied when asked backstage about what a woman over 40 knows that a woman under 40 doesn't.
She turned serious, however, when she talked about Hollywood life for a maturing actress. She picked up her first Golden Globe award after eight nominations for HBO's "Iron Jawed Angels."
"I spent a lot of my youth feeling insecure," said Huston, 53. "I look back at those pictures and think, `What was wrong with you?'"
Huston had been considering wearing a daring white dress designed by Stella McCartney, but figured it was a magnet for red wine. So she wore a simple black Calvin Klein.
"Maybe that's one of the things you learn after 40," she said. "You don't show too much skin."
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — First-time attendees trekked down the red carpet taking in the glamorous gowns, screaming fans, camera flashes and long line of journalists.
"It feels like we're going to somebody's wedding or a prom," said Denis Leary, nominated for best actor in a dramatic series for "Rescue Me."
Another rookie was Thomas Haden Church, nominated in a supporting movie role for playing Paul Giamatti's vain actor sidekick in "Sideways."
"I'm just moving along in a herd of famous people. Whenever they go to water, I'll go to water. When they go to feed, I'll go to feed," Church said.
Sharon Warren, who played the mother of a young Ray Charles in "Ray," worked the carpet on her own. Without a publicist hovering nearby, Warren introduced herself to reporters with a firm handshake.
"I'm from Alabama," she said. "The South is debutante balls, teas and luncheons. This is like debutante balls, teas and luncheons rolled into one with famous people."
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The storms that battered Southern California cleared out several days ago, but there was a flood on the red carpet.
A barrel containing bottled water fell over with a thud while being wheeled toward the end of the carpet near the entrance to the Beverly Hilton. Water from melted ice gushed out, creating a flood that workers feverishly tried to blot with white towels.
"This is what counts as a disaster in Hollywood," joked actor David Cross of Fox's "Arrested Development."
The Globes not only escaped the rain that has been the rule in Southern California lately, but with temperatures pushing toward 80, the day felt more like summer than midwinter.
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — "Desperate Housewives" co-stars Eva Longoria and Marcia Cross shared a true Hollywood moment, exchanging air kisses and compliments on their dresses as they passed each other heading in different directions.
Enjoying her first major success on the ABC series, Longoria said she knows why the show has been a breakout hit.
"People were tired of reality TV and crime dramas," she said. "It was something different and new and it was accurately what women go through today."
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Raquel Welch remembers when stars played it fast and loose with their outfits on the red carpet.
"In the '60s, people were not so careful. There were a lot of different faux pas," she said. "They dressed like they felt. They would do outrageous things. We never talked about the labels. It was considered gauche."
Welch said Hollywood's younger stars should take some fashion risks.
"I'm over-the-hill," she said, "but I'd like to see people be a little less conservative and let it hang loose. We're actors in Hollywood, not the first lady."
Welch, 64, won a Globe in 1975 as lead actress in a musical or comedy for "The Three Musketeers."
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — What was Kathy Griffin thinking?
The comedian, doing red-carpet reporting duty for E!, made repeated and apparently joking references to 10-year-old actress Dakota Fanning entering drug rehab. She even went so far as to ask Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat, teenage co-stars on Fox's "Arrested Development," if they had any words for Fanning as fellow young people.
Messages left for Fanning's representatives were not immediately returned.
Griffin co-starred with Brooke Shields in the '90s sitcom "Suddenly Susan. Her other credits include TV's "Celebrity Mole: Hawaii" and the role of "armed female" in the 1999 movie "Muppets From Space."
'Coach Carter' Wins Box-Office Tourney
LOS ANGELES - Samuel L. Jackson coached his latest movie to a box-office championship. "Coach Carter," stars Jackson as a real-life high-school basketball mentor who shuts down the program to focus on his players' lagging academic education. The film debuted as the top weekend movie with $23.6 million, studio estimates released Sunday show.
The blockbuster comedy "Meet the Fockers," which had been No. 1 for three straight weekends, slipped to second place with $19 million, lifting its total domestic gross to $230.8 million.
The family film "Racing Stripes," a live-action and computer-animation combo about a talking zebra that yearns to be a racehorse, opened at No. 3 with $14 million.
"In Good Company," a workplace comic drama starring Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace and Scarlett Johansson, had a strong nationwide debut after two weeks of limited release. The film expanded to 1,566 theaters and came in at No. 4 with $13.9 million, averaging a healthy $8,876 per cinema, compared to $9,350 in 2,524 theaters for "Coach Carter."
Jennifer Garner's action flick "Elektra," a spinoff of the Marvel Comics adaptation "Daredevil," finished fifth with $12.5 million. That was less than a third of the weekend haul for "Daredevil," which debuted as the No. 1 movie in February 2002.
The acclaimed martial-arts epic "House of Flying Daggers," from director Zhang Yimou, had a weak nationwide debut after six weeks in narrow release. The film managed just $1.8 million in 1,190 theaters, averaging $1,500.
Hollywood continued its robust start to 2005, with revenues rising for the third-straight weekend. The top 12 movies took in $115.7 million, up 23 percent from the same weekend last year.
"This is the right way to start the year, without question," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "These three weekends set the tone for what will hopefully be much improved box office for the year."
Movie theaters had record revenues of $9.4 billion in 2004, but only because of higher ticket prices. Factoring in the rise in admission prices, attendance last year was off slightly for the second straight year.
Produced by MTV Films, "Coach Carter" follows the company's "Varsity Blues" and "Save the Last Dance" as box-office successes for teen and twenty-something audiences early in the year, typically a quiet time at movie theaters.
Films competing for Sunday's Golden Globes and the upcoming Academy Awards nominations held up well as they continued their expansion to more theaters.
"The Aviator" was No. 7 with $4.8 million and "The Phantom of the Opera" came in ninth with $3.55 million. In narrower release, "Sideways" remained strong with $2.2 million, as did "Million Dollar Baby" at $1.7 million and "Hotel Rwanda" at $1.55 million.
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Coach Carter," $23.6 million.
2. "Meet the Fockers," $19 million.
3. "Racing Stripes," $14 million.
4. "In Good Company," $13.9 million.
5. "Elektra," $12.5 million.
6. "White Noise," 12.2 million.
7. "The Aviator," $4.8 million.
8. "Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events," $4 million.
9. "The Phantom of the Opera," $3.55 million.
10. "Ocean's Twelve," $2.9 million.