Two children tales for Danny Elfman

Bridget Fonda's husband, AKA Danny Elfman, is presently working on two new film projects for 2006, according to Music from the Movies. The first project is Charlotte's Web musical score, based on a famous fairy tale written by E.B. White. The film adaptation will be directed by Gary Winick, and will combine both computer-animated and real subjects. A super-talented girl (Dakota Fanning) tries to save a pig called Wilbur from being slaughtered by the butcher. Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Kathy Bates and Oprah Winfrey will also bring their voices to the film.

Elfman will score as well a new fairy tale from the Disney factory: A Day with Wilbur Robinson, an animated film which is based in a store written almost a century ago by Irish author James Joyce, about a boy who builds a machine to get back to mind lost memories. According to IMDB, this new project is being directed by Stephen J. Anderson.

Meanwhile, two Elfman's soundtracks are already into the pipeline; these are the scores for the latest Tim Burton's films: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride. Furthermore, the composer has undertaken the music for the third movie on Spider-Man, to open in 2007.

Horner and The Chumscrubber

According to Music from the Movies, James Horner has already composed a score for The Chumscrubber, a film which marks the debut of Arie Posin as a director, having been exposed in the last Sundance Festival.

This film takes a satirical look at a sort of Standard suburb of any American town. It is a drama about current American life, and it is going to be played by Glen Close, Ralph Fiennes, Carrie-Anne Moss and Jason Isaacs.

Horner is also about to finish other film scores such as Ask the Dust, Legend of Zorro and The Da Vinci Code (scheduled for the next year).

Oscar 2005 Nominees

As every year, the long time expected list of nominees for the 77th Oscar edition has been released. As always, we miss some expected nominees as much as we find some unusual surprises. Let's see what happens next February, 27th.

- ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx - RAY

- ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Clive Owen - CLOSER

- ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
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

- ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
Laura Linney - KINSEY
Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman - CLOSER

- ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE INCREDIBLES
SHARK TALE
SHREK 2

- ART DIRECTION
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

- CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE AVIATOR
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

- COSTUME DESIGN
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
RAY
TROY

- DIRECTING
THE AVIATOR
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
VERA DRAKE

- DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
BORN INTO BROTHELS
THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL
SUPER SIZE ME
TUPAC: RESURRECTION
TWIST OF FAITH

- DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
AUTISM IS A WORLD
THE CHILDREN OF LENINGRADSKY
HARDWOOD
MIGHTY TIMES: THE CHILDREN'S MARCH
SISTER ROSE'S PASSION

- FILM EDITING
THE AVIATOR
COLLATERAL
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY

- FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
THE CHORUS
DOWNFALL
THE SEA INSIDE
YESTERDAY

- MAKEUP
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE SEA INSIDE

- MUSIC (SCORE)
FINDING NEVERLAND
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE VILLAGE

- MUSIC (SONG)
"Accidentally In Love" - SHREK 2
"Al Otro Lado Del Río" - THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
"Believe" - THE POLAR EXPRESS
"Learn To Be Lonely" - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
"Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" - THE CHORUS

- BEST PICTURE
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS

- SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
BIRTHDAY BOY
GOPHER BROKE
GUARD DOG
LORENZO
RYAN

- SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY MUST
LITTLE TERRORIST
7:35 IN THE MORNING
TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT
WASP

- SOUND EDITING
THE INCREDIBLES
THE POLAR EXPRESS
SPIDER-MAN 2

- SOUND MIXING
THE AVIATOR
THE INCREDIBLES
THE POLAR EXPRESS
RAY
SPIDER-MAN 2

- VISUAL EFFECTS
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
I, ROBOT
SPIDER-MAN 2

- WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
BEFORE SUNSET
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
SIDEWAYS

- WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
THE AVIATOR
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
HOTEL RWANDA
THE INCREDIBLES
VERA DRAKE

Razzies 2005 announced!

The Razzies, commonly also known as the "Anti Oscars" have been announced. Here are the nominees:

25th Annual Golden Raspberry (RAZZIE®) Award Nominations

- WORST PICTURE

ALEXANDER (Warner Bros.)
CATWOMAN (Warner Bros.)
SUPERBABIES: BABY GENIUSES 2 (Triumph Films)
SURVIVING CHRISTMAS (DreamWorks)
WHITE CHICKS (Columbia/Revolution)

- WORST ACTOR

Ben Affleck / JERSEY GIRL and SURVIVING CHRISTMAS
George W. Bush / FAHRENHEIT 9/11
Vin Diesel / CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
Colin Farrell / ALEXANDER
Ben Stiller / ALONG CAME POLLY, ANCHORMAN, DODGEBALL, ENVY and STARSKY & HUTCH

- WORST ACTRESS

Halle Berry / CATWOMAN
Hilary Duff / CINDERELLA STORY and RAISE YOUR VOICE
Angelina Jolie / ALEXANDER and TAKING LIVES
Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen / NEW YORK MINUTE
Shawn & Marlon (The Wayans Sisters) / WHITE CHICKS

- WORST SCREEN COUPLE

Ben Affleck & EITHER Jennifer Lopez OR Liv Tyler / JERSEY GIRL
Halle Berry & EITHER Benjamin Bratt OR Sharon Stone / CATWOMAN
George W. Bush & EITHER Condoleeza Rice OR His Pet Goat / FAHRENHEIT 9/11
Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen / NEW YORK MINUTE
The Wayans Brothers (In or Out of Drag) WHITE CHICKS

- WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Carmen Electra / STARKSY & HUTCH
Jennifer Lopez / JERSEY GIRL
Condoleeza Rice / FAHRENHEIT 9/11
Britney Spears / FAHRENHEIT 9/11
Sharon Stone / CATWOMAN

- WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Val Kilmer / ALEXANDER
Ah-Nuld Schwarzenegger / AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAZE
Donald Rumsfeld / FAHRENHEIT 9/11
Jon Voight / SUPERBABIES: BABY GENIUSES 2
Lambert Wilson / CATWOMAN

- WORST DIRECTOR

Bob Clark / SUPERBABIES: BABY GENIUSES 2
Renny Harlin and/or Paul Schrader / EXORCIST 4: THE BEGINNING
"Pitof" / CATWOMAN
Oliver Stone / ALEXANDER
Keenan Ivory Wayans / WHITE CHICKS

- WORST REMAKE OR SEQUEL

ALIEN v PREDATOR (20th Century-Fox)
ANACONDAS: HUNT FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID (Screen Gems)
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAZE (Disney)
EXORCIST 4: THE BEGINNING (Warner Bros.)
SCOOBY DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED (Warner Bros.)

- WORST SCREENPLAY

ALEXANDER, Written by Oliver Stone, Christopher Kyle and Laeta Kalogridis
CATWOMAN, Written by Theresa Rebeck and John Brancato & Michael Ferris and John Rogers
SUPERBABIES: BABY GENIUSES 2, Written by Steven Paul and Gregory Poppen
SURVIVING CHRISTMAS, Written by Deborah Kaplan & Harry Elfont and Jeffrey Ventimilia & Joshua Sternin
WHITE CHICKS, Written by Keenan & Shawn & Marlon Wayans and Andy McElfresh, Michael Anthony Snowden and Xavier Cook

- Special "Worst of Our First 25 Years" Awards

- WORST RAZZIE LOSER of Our First 25 YEARS

Kim Basinger (With 6 Nominations Total)
Angelina Jolie (With 7 Nominations, including 2 for 2004)
Ryan O'Neal (With 6 Nominations Total)
Keanu Reeves (With 7 Nominations Total)
Ah-Nuld Schwarzenegger (With 8 Nominations, including 1 for 2004)

- WORST 'DRAMA' of Our First 25 YEARS

BATTLEFIELD EARTH (2000)
THE LONELY LADY (1983)
MOMMIE DEAREST (1981)
SHOWGIRLS (1995)
SWEPT AWAY (2002)

- WORST 'COMEDY' of Our First 25 YEARS

ADVENTURES of PLUTO NASH (2002)
THE CAT IN THE HAT (2003)
FREDDY GOT FINGERED (2001)
GIGLI (2003)
LEONARD PART 6 (1987)

- WORST 'MUSICAL' of Our First 25 YEARS

CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC (1980)
FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY (2003)
GLITTER (2001)
RHINESTONE (1984)
SPICE WORLD (1998)
XANADU (1980)

- NOMINATIONS PER PICTURE

CATWOMAN = 7 (Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Couple, Director, Screenplay)
ALEXANDER = 6 (Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Director, Screenplay)
WHITE CHICKS = 5 (Picture, Actress, Director, Couple, Screenplay)
FAHRENHEIT 9/11 = 5 (Actor, Couple, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress 2x)
SUPERBABIES = 4 (Picture, Supporting Actor, Director, Screenplay)
SURVIVING CHRISTMAS = 3 (Picture, Actor, Screenplay)
JERSEY GIRL = 3 (Actor, Supporting Actress, Couple)
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAZE = 2 (Supporting Actor, Remake or Sequel)
EXORCIST 4: THE BEGNINNING = 2 (Director, Remake or Sequel)
NEW YORK MINUTE = 2 (Actress, Couple)
STARSKY & HUTCH = 2 (Actor, Supporting Actress)

©2005, Golden Raspberry Award Foundation and John Wilson

BFCA awards Howard Shore as best composer

Just a few weeks ago we posted here the nominees to the Critics' Choice Awards, given by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA). Now it's time to hail the winners: Howard Shore has been awarded as best composer for his work in The Aviator. This is, in fact, his third award of that kind, because he was also awarded last year for LOTR's third part, and also in 2001 for the first part of the trilogy. The other two nominees for this year's award were, remember, Michael Giacchino and Rolfe Kent.

"Old Habits Die Hard" (Alfie), written by Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart, was awarded as best song. The best soundtrack award went to Ray, with the songs of bluesman Ray Charles and a score written by Craig Armstrong.

BFCA's award to best film was for Sideways, directed by Alexander Payne ?who's getting a nice fistfull of awards with that production-, while the best director award was for Martin Scorsese by The Aviator.

Jamie Foxx (Ray) and Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) won the acting categories, while Emmy Rossum was awarded best young actress for The Phantom of the Opera.

Spanish film The Sea Inside won an award as best foreign language film.

Last Holiday, George Fenton's new project

British composer George Fenton is back on the track. He's working now on Last Holiday's score, a dramatic comedy directed by Wayne Wang about a woman who's diagnosed a terminal disease, so she decides to spend her last days on vacation visiting Europe. The cast will feature well known names, such as Gérard Depardieu, Timothy Hutton and Queen Latifah.

But this is not he only project on Fenton's agenda on the starting year; he?s also writing scores for Valiant, an animated film about a messenger pigeon with actor Ewan McGregor playing voices; Hitch, a comedy played by Will Smith; Mrs. Henderson Presents..., by Stephen Frears and with actress Judi Dench; a documentary film -Planet Earth- and The Regulators, a crime-thriller directed by Phil Joanou.

Fenton might finally get involved in Bewitched's soundtrack, the TV series taken to the big screen which is going to be directed by Nora Ephron and starring Nicole Kidman; but definitive involvement still has to be confirmed.

A new Award for Michael Giacchino

The Las Vegas Cinema Critics Asociation has given his annual award to Michael Giacchino for his work for the movie "The Incredibles". Giacchino won a few weeks ago this award from the Los Angeles Cinema Critics Asociaction.

In the category of best song, the winner has been "Old Habits Die Hard" from the movie "Alfie", written by Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart.

The most awarded film in this awards has been "The Aviator" from Martin Scorsese, who receive the best director award. The film has been receive the best supporting actress award for Cate Blanchett, best cinematography, best edition, best costumes and best artistic direction.

The best actor has been Jamie Foxx for "Ray" and the best actress, Kate Winslet for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Finding Neverland".

The website of this award is: Las Vegas Cinema Critics Association Awards