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FILM

New on the big screen...

“FLIGHT OF THE PHEONIX” {25th February} – a plane crash lands in the desert, leaving a group of people stranded and slowly going insane. Dennis Quaid tries to calm the pack and lead them to survival.

“COACH CARTER” {25th February} – Based on a true story set in America 1999, Samuel L. Jackson is the ideal basketball coach and mentor to the uneducated and rowdy students of Richmond High School. Also starring Ashanti.

“THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU” {25th February} – a massive cast (Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Owen Wilson, Willem Defoe, Michael Gambon, Jeff Goldblum, Angelica Huston) in a bizarre comedy. Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) is a world-renowned oceanographer and leads the rest of the crew in his latest adventure: to hunt down and kill the shark that took his friend’s life.

“SPANGLISH” {25th February} – a film that focuses on the relationships and characters within a seemingly typical American suburban family of 4, plus the housekeeper and her child. The lead role is played by Adam Sandler.

“THE WOODSMAN” {25th February} – As a free man, Walter is trying to put his past 12 years in prison behind him. He is a paedophile but with a job, an apartment and regular psychiatric sessions, he struggles to lead a civilized life. Trouble arises as he spots a strange man hanging around the neighborhood school. Kevin Bacon is star of the show.

“KINSEY” {4th March} – In 1947, one man dared to mention the unmentionable and that is “S-E-X”. He was a Dr Alfred Kinsey (Liam Neeson), professor at Indiana University, America. He shocked the nation with the Kinsey Report, the first scientific study into human sexual behaviour that forever changed the peoples’ outlook on the matter. Co-starring Laura Linney.

“BOOGEYMAN” {4th March} – horror that explores the fine line between fantasy and reality. The Boogeyman is a mysterious force on a killing spree.

“SOMERSAULT” {4th March} – Heidi is a dreamy and confused 16-year-old. She runs away from home after the shameful act of trying to seduce her mum’s boyfriend. When her plan to lodge with a friend at a ski resort in Australia falls through, the girl is left penniless and homeless. And so begins a series of sexual and emotional encounters. The film delves into the human psyche and observes her transformation through every experience.

“HAROLD AND KUMAR GET THE MUNCHIES” {4th March} – two twenty-something stoner roommates, one a Korean American investment banker (John Cho of American Pie), the other, an Indian American medical school candidate (Kal Penn from Van Wilder) who go on a life changing trip as they spend a night roaming New Jersey in search of White Castle hamburgers! From Danny Leiner, the director of “Dude Where's My Car?” here is a story about strength, desire, realising your dreams, but ultimately, about being hungry.

“HOTEL RWANDA” {4th March} – ten years ago saw the incident of a horrific genocide in the central African nation of Rwanda. Over one hundred days, almost one million people were brutally murdered by their own countrymen. One ordinary man, a hotel manager named Paul Rusesabagina – inspired by his love for his family and his humanity – summoned extraordinary courage and saved the lives of 1268 refugees by hiding them inside the Milles Collines hotel in Kigali.

“HITCH” {Odeon Leicester Sq., 4th March / cinemas everywhere, 11th March} – Will Smith is the “date-doctor” of New York City with all the answers regarding love. Eva Mendes investigates just how charming and powerful he really is. From the director of “Sweet Home Alabama”.

“THE CHORUS” {11th March} [subtitled] – a successful conductor reminisces back to the days when one man gave him the all important musical inspiration. In short: a boarding school full of difficult children, a new teacher arrives, forms a choir through much persuasion and alls well that ends well.

“HOSTAGE” {11TH March} – Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollack, Ben Foster and Jonathan Tucker star in a classic hostage-themed film. Jeff Talley (Willis) is the ex-negotiator who had resigned after a case went horribly wrong, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her two kids. He switched to chief police of a quiet town in California, in search of his own peace. Suddenly events occur where he is called back into action, the stakes are higher than ever and the FBI are all over it.

“Nine Songs” {11th March} – A sexually explicit British film, telling in flashback of an intense love affair, which unfolds to a soundtrack of contemporary music by some UK recording artists such as “The Dandy Warhols” and “Franz Ferdinand”

“Monster Man” {11th March} – 2 youngsters fall foul of a monstrous trucker in a cross between “Clerks” and “Jeepers Creepers”

“ROBOTS” {18th March} – Ewan McGregor voices Rodney Copperbottom, a young bot with big dreams, who ventures into the big wide world aka. Robot City. He aims to confront the world’s greatest inventor (Mel Brooks) with his bright ideas and is joined by a few characters along the way: Cappy (Halle Berry), a cute yellow robogirl, Fender (Robin Williams), a street hustler and Ratchet (Greg Kinnear) a complete nutter.

“CONSTANTINE” {18th March} – Keanu Reeves is a man cursed with an ability to recognize angels and demons in human form and has a destiny to fulfill by ridding Los Angeles of its demons. By no means heroic in nature, Constantine just wants to earn his own pass into Heaven, having already been to Hell and back. A female detective and fellow cynic, (Rachel Weisz) enlists his help. Based on the comic book “Hellblazer”.

“DON’T MOVE” {18th March} [subtitled] – Following a serious accident, a man has an imaginary conversation with his unconscious daughter. He tells of a tempestuous affair he had with a destitute young woman (Penélope Cruz) several years back and how a subsequent decision has haunted him ever since.

“THE MACHINIST” {18th March} – An insomniac factory worker (Christian Bale) lives a barren and strictly regimented life that is slowly driving him to the brink of insanity. After an accident at work and a series of bizarre events, he is forced to question whether he is the victim of a cruel conspiracy.

“5 x 2” {18th March} [may be subtitled] – The tale of a marriage is told backwards in five segment, starting with divorce proceedings and ending with the first encounter

“VALIANT” {March 25th} – Bird animation from the producer of Shrek and many a distinguished actor: Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais, Rupert Everett, Tim Curry, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, John Cleese, John Hurt and Olivia Williams. In 1944, the midst of the Second World War, birds are the secret weapons, an especially recruited flight force are set out to accomplish a crucial mission but will they come out as heroes or will General Von Talon get at them first?

“MELINDA AND MELINDA” {25th March} – Sy and Max are writers with contrasting perspectives of life, as one is bright and optimistic, the other only sees misery and disappointment. The pair talks us through a life story from 2 different angles. One describes Melinda’s life as a comedy with tragic elements, the other a bleak tragedy with funny moments. Like the comparison of parallel worlds, one where life is a tragic comedy, another where it is a comic tragedy.

"MISS CONGENIALITY 2: ARMED AND FABULOUS” {25th March} – Following Gracie Hart’s undercover success at the Miss America pageant, she has become the “face of the Bureau”, centre of media attention. But the agent is not idle for long, since two of her beauty pageant friends are kidnapped, which calls for some action. 

“POOH’S HEFFALUMP MOVIE”{25th March} – introducing a heffalump into the Hundred-Acre Wood. Voices of Jimmy Bennett, Brenda Blethyn, Jim Cummings, John Fielder, Ken Sansom, David Ogden Stiers.

“BE COOL” {1st April} – sequel to “Get Shorty”. Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is now bored of the movie business, he is about to return to his old mobster ways when he meets a wonderful singer, Linda Moon (Christina Milian), which inspires him to become a music producer. With Linda under his wing, Chili prospers in the music industry and even wins over record executive Edie Athens (Uma Thurman) along the way.

“THE RING 2” {1st April} – Director of the original Japanese version, Hideo Nakata, makes his American film debut. Six months on from the ordeal in Seattle, Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) and son have moved to a small coastal community in Oregon. However, before long the past catches up with them: evidence at a local crime scene, where a young man has been murdered, includes an unmarked videotape. Samara has returned, more determined than ever to continue her horrifying and deadly campaign.

“THE DOWNFALL” {1ST April} – The final days of Hitler’s Germany

“THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON” {8th April} – based on the true story in 1974 America. Cast: Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, Naomi Watts.

“HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY” {6TH May} – Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Slartibarfast and the rest will be giving us the low down.

“STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH” {19TH May} – After 3 years of fighting in the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker begins his journey towards the Dark Side of the Force, putting his friendship with Obi Wan Kenobi and his marriage at risk.

London Box Office Current Top 10:

1 The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou 

2 Hotel Rwanda

3 Sideways

4 Meet The Fockers

5 Ocean’s Twelve

6 Hide and Seek 

7 Shall We Dance? 

8 Spanglish

9 The Woodsman

10 The Aviator

Out to rent…

“Hero”

“Alfie”

“Spartan”

“Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”

“Old Boy”

“Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason”

“Shadow of Fear”

“The Grudge”

“Catwoman”

“Dead Man’s Shoes”

“Old Boy”

“Little Black Book”

“Layer Cake”

TV

New on the not so big screen…

[BBC 1]

“COMIC RELIEF DOES FAME ACADEMY” {20:00/21:00 until Red Nose Day, 11th March} – celebs still in the spotlight are: “Radio 1’s” Edith Bowman, “TOTP” presenter Reggie Yates, Dawn Steele from “Monach of the Glen”, comedian Adrian Edmonson, “Bad Girl” Debra Stephenson, comedienne Gina Yashere, tv presenter Nick Knowles, Kim Medcalf from “Eastenders”, Jon Culshaw from “Dead Ringers” and Christopher Colquhoun from “Casualty”.

“MAKE YOUR MIND UP” {5th March} – the show in which the public gets to vote for our British Eurovision Song Contest 2005 representative. The contestants: Andy Scott Lee (brother to Lisa from Steps, ex-3SL member), Gina G (former Eurovision competitor, reaching 7th with “Ooh Ahh”), Katie Price (aka Jordan), Javine (from Popstars: The Rivals, performing in the West End production of “The Lion King” for the past 2 years) and Tricolore (opera-style boy band, like G4 but with 3 guys) 

[ITV]

“LIFE BEGINS” {Friday around 23:00} – Drama, starring Caroline Quentin, Alexander Armstrong and Danny Webb

“Wire In The Blood” {Monday 21:00} – drama starring Robson Green and Hermione Norris

[channel 4 / E4]

“SMALLVILLE” {coming soon on C4 / Monday 21:00} – 4th season

“THE OC” {Sunday around 13:30 / Tuesday 21:00} – 2nd season

“ER” {Monday 22:00 / Thursday 21:00} – 11th season

“POINT PLEASANT” {not showing on C4 / Wednesday 21:00} – Point Pleasant is a quiet beach community in New Jersey. One day, a beautiful and mysterious 17 year-old girl is spotted floating in the sea. She is rescued and humbly welcomed into the community. Her name is Christina, she is in search of her mother and her father is the Devil. Slowly but surely, all hell breaks loose. [from the creators of Buffy The Vampire Slayer]

“SHAMELESS” {Tuesday 22:00 / Tuesday 23:00} – 2nd series

“NO ANGELS” – {15 March} 2nd eight-part series of the nurses at St. Margaret Hospital

“THE GAMES 2005” {begins 11th April on C4 / live daily on E4} – Kirsty Gallacher, Mel Giedroyc, Chesney Hawkes, Lisa Maffia, Jonathon Morris, Philip Olivier, Kevin Simm (Liberty X), Anna Walker, Craig Charles and Princess Tamara Czartoryski-Borbon have already begun a gruelling three months’ intensive training with world-class sporting experts and Olympic medal winners in preparation. To compete in eighteen athletic events for one ultimate prize: to be crowned Champion of The Games 2005.

“Supernanny” {April}

“Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” {May}

[Channel 5]

“CSI: NEW YORK” {Saturdays around 21:00} – different location, different team but same old drill

“TRISHA GODDARD” {weekdays 14:35} – apparently the nation’s most popular chat show host, now has a regular one-hour slot of therapeutic discussion on Five

[On Sky One]

“NIP/TUCK” {Sunday 22:00} – season 2

“24” – 18 months after the 3rd day, Jack Bauer works directly for the Secretary of Defence, James Heller after being sacked from CTU by its new uptight boss. Bauer is in a relationship with Heller’s daughter and Elisha Cuthbert has left the cast, but one thing’s for sure, the terrorists are still about.

[Living TV]

“LIFE AS WE KNOW IT” {Thursday 21:00} – inspired by Melvin Burgess’ novel, a show about three hormone-charged teenage boys: Dino's the handsome jock with the secret sensitive side; Jonathan, the artist who sees life through a camera lens; and Ben, the straight-A student who still can't make his parents happy. All are sex-obsessed, fully living up to the “thinking about sex every 15 seconds” stereotype. Starring Kelly Osbourne.

[MTV]

“TOP BUZZER” {Wednesday 22:30} – Drama Comedy about small-time dope dealer 

“THE OSBOURNES” {Wednesday 22:00} – last series

[FX]

“HUFF” {Sunday 21:00} - Doctor Craig 'Huff' Huffstodt (Hank Azaria), is a successful psychiatrist thrown into turmoil after a fifteen year old patient, who Huff persuaded to come out to his parents, commits suicide midway through a therapy session. A wake up call of the worst possible kind. Huff’s mother, Izzy (Blythe Danner) has moved into his house and his wife, Beth (Paget Bewster) and mum have been at each others throats since. Huff's once fascist father has taken to Eastern philosophy and lives with a Chinese woman who speaks only Cantonese, and Huff's teenage son Byrd is reaching sexual maturity much too fast. His oldest friend and part time legal counsel, Russell Tupper (Oliver Platt) is a charming and delightful, womanizing, alcoholic drug addict, and Huff’s younger brother Teddy (Andy Comeau), is clinically paranoid and institutionalized. With a stressful social life, medical board hearings and a law suit filed against him by the suicidal boy’s parents he faces the toughest problems he has ever encountered as a psychiatrist as he struggles to keep it together. 

[BBC3]

“High Spirits With Shirley Ghostman” {Tuesday/Thursday 21:30} – New comedy series. Marc Wootton plays Shirley Ghostman, close personal friend of every dead celebrity you care to mention and performer of jaw-dropping psychic feats. However, Marc is the only actor in the show - everyone else, even the studio audience, believes that Shirley is the real deal. Indeed, Marc is a spoof medium, promising to channel the spirits of people like Princess Diana with his special powers. The show also has its own “Spirit Academy”, in search of the most promising psychic in the UK.

MUSIC

Listen out for...

“KT Tunstall” – The Scottish nurtured 29 year-old with an Irish-Chinese background, who chose to be named “KT” rather than “Katie”. She is placed in the same singer-songwriter genre as Dido and Katie Melua and can hold her own in her much credited solo live performances armed with a guitar and Akai Headrush foot pedal. Worked with the renowned U2/New Order/Happy Mondays producer Steve Osborne on her first album, “Eye to the Telescope” released in December last year. With music ‘spanning soulful pop-rock, jazzy ballads, raw blues and mantra-like dirges’ – Daily Telegraph. Has also supported Joss Stone, sung with “klezmer hip-hop” band Oi Va Voi on the Avalon Stage at Glastonbury and had a European tour.

“John Legend” – an inevitable RnB star, already worked with the likes of people like Alicia Keys, Estelle, Talib Kweli, Dilated Peoples and Lauryn Hill. He can be heard on Jay-Z’s track “Encore” and Kanye West’s “College Dropout”. His debut album “Get Lifted” is currently high-riding in the US charts; meanwhile he is supporting and performing live with Alicia Keys on her “Diary Tour”.

New Singles…

…out this week:

Bjork – Triumph Of The Heart

Britney Spears – Do Somethin’

Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love

Fatboy Slim – The Joker

Fightstar - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead EP

Ludacris – Get Back

MC Neat Ft Beatfreak B - By Far The Greatest

Moby – Lift Me Up

The Rasmus - Funeral Song (The Resurrection)

REM – Electron Blue

Stereophonics – Dakota

The Thrills – Irish Keep Gate Crashing

…out 7th March:

Anastacia - Heavy On My Heart/Underground Army

Elvis Presley – Good Luck Charm

Marilyn Manson – The Nobodies

McFly - All About You/You’ve Got A Friend

Shania Twain – Don’t!

Soundtrack Of Our Lives – (Heading For A) Breakdown

…out 14th March:

Ana Johnsson - Don’t Cry For Pain

Avril Lavigne - He Wasn’t

Basement Jaxx - Oh My Gosh

Beverley Knight - Keep This Fire Burning

Billy Idol - Scream

Cherry Falls - My Drug

Elvis Presley - She’s Not You

Erasure - Don’t Say You Love Me

G4 - Bohemian Rhapsody

Green Day – Holiday

Gwen Stefani Ft Eve - Rich Girl

John Legend - Used To Love U

Joss Stone – Spoiled

Presidents Of The United States of America - Love Everybody

Queens Of The Stone Age - Little Sister

Shapeshifters - Back To Basics

Shaznay Lewis - Nasty Boy/TBA

VS - If You Leave Me Now

…out 21st March:

Alsou - Always On My Mind

50 Cent - Candy Shop

Damien Rice - Volcano

Dizzee Rascal - Off 2 Work/Graftin’

Elvis Presley - Return To Sender

Estelle - Go Gone

Finn Brothers - Edible Flowers

Jimmy Eat World - Work

Kasabian - Club Foot

Mario - Let Me Love You

Martha Wainwright - Factory

Mercury Rev - Across Yer Ocean

Nas - Just A Moment

Natalie Imbruglia – Shiver

…out 28th March:

Brandy - Who Is She 2 U?

Elvis Presley – (You’re The) Devil In Disguise

Garbage - Why Do You Love Me?

Hanson - Lost Without Each Other

Kylie Minogue - Giving You Up

Lemar - Time To Grow

Mariah Carey - It’s Like That

Mark Knopfler - Trawlers’ Song

Mis-Teeq - Shoo Shoo Baby

Rachel Stevens - Negotiate With Love

Thirteen Senses - The Salt Wound Routine

…out 4th April:

Anastacia - Heavy On My Heart/Underground Army

Elvis Presley - Crying In The Chapel

Feeder - Feeling A Moment

Jay Sean - U Don’t Know Me (Vs Superstition)

Kelis - In Public

Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone

Kristian Leontiou - Fast Car

Melanie C - Next Best Superstar

Natasha Bedingfield - I Bruise Easily

Razorlight - Somewhere Else

New Albums…

…out this week:

Al Green - Everything's ok

Ana Johnsson - The Way I Am

Angel City - Love me right

Cher – Gold

G4 - G4

Jennifer Lopez - Rebirth (limited edition with bonus dvd)

VA - Tsunami relief

…out 7th March:

50 Cent - The Massacre

Flaming Lips & VA - Late night tales

Idlewild - Warnings/Promises

Kaiser Chiefs - Employment (limited edition with bonus cd)

Paul Weller - Studio 150 Special limited edition

The Futureheads - The futureheads (with bonus dvd)

The Who - Tommy (Deluxe edition with bonus dvd)

…out 14th March:

Beach Boys - The platinum collection

Everything But The Girl - Adapt Of Die (10 years of remixes)

Moby - Hotel (with bonus cd)

Patricia Kaas - Toute La Musique Que J'aime (EU)

…out 21st March:

Basement Jaxx - Singles (with bonus cd)

Billy Idol - Devil's playground

Busta Rhymes - What It Is: The Busta Rhymes Collection

Daft Punk - Human after all

New Order - Waiting for the siren's call

Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze

Rod Stewart - On the run

…out 28th March:

Beck - Guero (limited edition with bonus cd or dvd)

Bjork - Army of me: remixes

Cat Stevens Majikat - Earth Tour 1976

Duran Duran - Greatest deluxe edition

Faithless - Faithless forever

Mark Owen - How the mighty falls

Shaggy - Clothes Drop

Stereophonics - Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (Limited edition with bonus dvd)

Will Smith - Lost & found

…out 4th April:

Brandy - The best of Brandy

Earth, Wind & Fire - Illumination

Faith evans - The first lady

Lisa Marie Presley - Now What?

Martha Wainwright ­ Martha Wainwright

Mel C - Best of Melanie C

Natalie Imbruglia - Counting Down the Days

Stevie Wonder - A time to love

Chart update…

…singles

[Current Top 10]

1 Nelly ft. Tim McGraw – Over and Over

2 Jennifer Lopez – Get Right

3 Elvis Presley – (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame

4 Girls Aloud – Wake Me Up

5 Akon – Locked Up

6 Kaiser Chiefs – Oh My God

7 LL Cool J – Hush

8 Futureheads – Hounds of Love

9 Usher – Caught Up

10 The Game ft. 50 Cent – How We Do

[Last five no. 1s]

1. Jennifer Lopez – Get Right

2. U2 – Sometimes You Can’t Make It on His Own

3. Eminem – Like Toy Soldiers

4. Elvis Presley – It’s Now Or Never

5. Ciara – Goodies

…albums

[Current Top 10]

1 Doves – Some Cities

2 Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters

3 Keane – Hopes and Fears

4 K illers – Hot Fuss

5 Green Day – American Idiot

6 Il Divo – Il Divo

7 Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand

8 Bloc Party – Silent Alarm

9 Athlete - Tourist

10 Tony Christie – Definitive Collection

Live shows (with tickets available now)…

“The Streets and the Mitchell brothers” {Brixton Academy, 10th March}

“Natasha Bedingfield” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 11th & 12th March}

“Ronnie Wood & Fiends” {Theatre Royal, 13th March} – including Ian McLagan & Kenney Jones 

“Judas Priest” {Hammersmith Carling Apollo, 17th March} – special guest: Scorpions

“Daniel Bedingfield” {Hammersmith Apollo, 19th & 20th March}

“Anastacia” {Wembley Arena Pavilion, 20th & 21st March}

“Matt Bianco” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 24th March}

“The Finn Brothers: Everyone Is Here” {Royal Albert Hall, 29th & 30th March}

“Musiq” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 2nd April}

“Asian Dub Foundation” {Astoria, 5th April}

“Willie Nelson” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 7th April} – plus special guest: Mary Gauthier

“Tony Hadley vs. Martin Fry and ABC” {Royal Albert Hall, 12th April}

“Tony Bennett” {Royal Albert Hall, 13th & 14th April}

“Beverley Knight” {Hammersmith Carling Apollo, 14th April} – special guest: Jamie Scott

“Rufus Wainwright and Band” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 15th April}

“Ocean Colour Scene” {Brixton Academy, 16th April}

“Manic Street Preachers” {Hammersmith Carling Apollo, 19th April} – special guest: “Delays”

“Solid Silver 60’s” {Royal Albert Hall, 22nd April} – featuring Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers, Merseybeats and The Swinging Blue Jeans

“Rooster” {London Astoria, 26th April}

“Lemar: Time To Grow Tour” {Hammersmith Carling Apollo, 27th April} – special guest Rhian Benson

“Lucie Silvas” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 27th April}

“Faithless: Forever Faithless – The Greatest Hits Tour” {Alexandra Palace, 29th April}

“Kylie Minogue: Show Girl, The Greatest Hits Tour” {Earls Court, 30th April – 7th May excluding 3rd May}

“Nancy Sinatra” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 1st May}

“Tears For Fears” {Hammersmith Apollo, 2nd & 3rd May}

“Nitin Sawhney: Philtre UK Tour” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 3rd & 4th May}

“Alison Moyet: One Blue Voice” {Royal Festival Hall, 16th May}

“Avril Lavigne: Bonez Tour” {Hammersmith Carling Apollo, 20th May}

“Girls Aloud” {Hammersmith Apollo, 29th May}

“Ben Folds” {Hammersmith Apollo, 31st May}

“Neil Diamond” {Earls Court, 31st May & 1st June}

“Download Festival” {Donington Park / 10th – 12th June} – acts already announced: Feeder, Garbage, Billy Idol, Black, Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, Him, System Of A Down, Slipknot, Slayer, Dinosaur Jr, Megadeth, The Used, My Chemical Romance, Biffy Clyro and JJ72

“Styx: 30th Anniversary Tour” {Hammersmith Apollo, 18th June}

“U2: Vertigo Tour” {Twickenham, 18th & 19th June}

“Green Day” {National Bowl Milton Keynes, 19th June} – plus special guests: Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday and Simple Plan

“Kings of Leon” {Hammersmith Apollo, 20th June}

“Audioslave” {Brixton Carling Academy, 22nd June}

“Brian McFadden” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 24th June}

“Coldplay” {Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, 27th & 28th June}

“Al Green” {Royal Albert Hall, 29th June}

“Oscar Peterson” {Royal Albert Hall, 1st July}

“R.E.M.” {Hyde Park, 6th July} – plus special guests “Feeder” and “The Zutons”

“Festival of Music” {Tower of London, 6th – 16th July} – the days are split between “The Opera Anna Bolena” with music by The Philharmonia Orchestra and “Jazz At The Tower” with acts including Amy Whitehouse, Kyle Eastwood, Humphrey Lyttelton, Katie Melua, Lisa Stansfield and Swing Out Sister

“Lenny Kravitz: Electric Church” {Hammersmith Apollo, 21st July}

“V Festival” {Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire / 20th – 21st August} – headline acts so far: Scissor Sister, Franz Ferdinand

“Ray Davies & Band” {Royal Albert Hall, 28th September}

“McFly” {Wembley Arena Pavilion, 1st October}

“Donny Osmond” {Hammersmith Apollo, 7th – 9th October}

“Ronnie Jones: Dio” {London Astoria, 22nd October} [no support]

“Al Stewart” {Barbican Centre, 25th October}

“Blondie” {Royal Albert Hall, 23rd November}

“Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: The Quality Of Mercy” {Shepherds Bush Empire, 9th December}

BOOKS

New on a shelf near you…

“GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS” {David Wolstencroft} – a spy novel and debut from the creator of “Spooks”

“THE BROKER” {John Grisham} – The CIA releases a notorious Washington powerbroker from his twenty-year sentence in prison in order to lure the other bad-cats from hiding. Question is who will be caught first?

“SATURDAY” {Ian McEwan} – Britain’s leading novelist describes how within a day set in London on Feb 15 2003, a life can change in an instant as Henry Perowne, a successful neurosurgeon in a happy and prosperous family experiences a surprise encounter. Appears to be a love or hate type of novel, but of a similar style to his previous work 

“KAFKA ON THE SHORE” {Haruki Murakami} – Kafka is a fifteen-year-old run-away, Nakata an aging man damaged by a wartime affliction both destinies are entwined and gradually revealed. A story in which cats and people carry on conversations, a ghostlike pimp employs a Hegel-quoting prostitute, a forest harbors soldiers apparently unaged since World War II, and rainstorms of fish fall from the sky. Plus, there is a brutal murder, with the identity of both victim and perpetrator a riddle.

“COLLAPSE” {Jared Diamond} – investigating the history of human societies and their ultimate fate. What happened to the people who built the ruined temples of Angkor Wat, the long-abandonded statues of Easter Island, the crumbling Maya pyramids of the Yucatan? All saw their cultures collapse because of environmental crises. What lessons are to be learnt here? Will the modern world survive?

“THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB” {Karen Joy Fowler} - Six people five women and a man meet once a month in California’s Central Valley to discuss Jane Austen’s novels. They are ordinary people, neither happy nor unhappy, but each of them is wounded in different ways, they are all mixed up about their lives and relationships. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable under the guiding eye of Jane Austen a couple of them even fall in love.

“THE LITTLE PRISONER” {Jane Elliott} - An inspirational true story of a 4 year old girl who fell into the power of a man whose evil knew no bounds. She encountered terrifying mental and physical torture from her psychopathic stepfather for a period of 17 years until she managed to break free, her spirit still unbroken. A story which is inspiring, uplifting and horrifying.

“THE RULE OF FOUR” {Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason} – the Hypnerotomachia Poliophili is one of the most complex books in the world and has baffled scholars since 1499. Just as two lads from Princeton make a breakthrough, uncovering a Renaissance tale of passion and blood, a hidden crypt and a massive secret, a fellow researcher is murdered and the pair must fight desperately to stay alive, at least long enough to expose the book’s secret.

“BROTHER AND SISTER” {Joanna Trollope} – Nathalie and David are now settled, with partners and children of their own. Though they share the same parents, both were adopted. The time has come that they feel an overwhelming need to trace their birth parents but sometimes the answers are harder than the questions.

“FEEL: ROBBIE WILLIAMS” {Chris Heath}

“LIVE THE DREAM” {Josephine Cox} – a tragic romance, two love-wounded souls reluctantly fall for each other but along with all the emotional turmoil, disaster strikes and the future looks grim

“ALWAYS THE SUN” {Neil Cross} – An uncompromising exploration of the lengths to which a father will go to protect his son

“SMASHED: GROWING UP A DRUNK GIRL” {Koren Zailckas} – the story of a girl who used alcohol to help herself grow up but eventually found herself surrendering to binge drinking

“BEAUTY TIPS FROM MOOSE LAW” {Will Ferguson} – a journey of discovery through Canada’s hidden history and landscape

“CLOUD ATLAS” {David Mitchell} – A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-the-wars Belgium; a high-minded journalist in Governor Reagan' s California; a vanity publisher fleeing his gangland creditors; a genetically modified ' dinery server' on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacific Islander witnessing the nightfall of science and civilisation - the narrators of Cloud Atlas hear each other' s echoes down the corridor of history, and their destinies are changed in ways great and small. In his extraordinary third novel, David Mitchell erases the boundaries of language, genre and time to offer a meditation on humanity’s dangerous will to power, and where it may lead us.

“SNOBS” {Julian Fellowes} – a novel about aristocrats and social climbers, from the writer of Gosford Park. With twists and turns aplenty, this is a comical tale and of Jane Austen-like material.

Events…

“Jake Arnott and Tony Thompson” {Borders Lakeside, 8th March} – Jake Arnott, author of “The Long Firm” and “True Crime” holds a discussion with Tony Thompson 

“Poetry Reading” {Borders Charing Cross Road, 10th March 18:30} – June English, Katherine Gallagher and Ruth O’Callaghan read from and discuss their latest poetry collections [free]

“Dr Ali” {Borders Oxford St, 10th March} – Famous author of best-selling book “The Nutrition Bible” talks about improving your diet and general well being

“Crumbland” {Foyles Charing Cross Road, 15th March} – Mrs. Robert Crumb in conversation with co-author Pete Poplaski on “The R. Crumb Handbook” [£4 – £5]

“Witi Ihimaera” {Borders Charing Cross Road, 16th March 18:30} – The Maori writer, author of the international bestseller “Whale Rider”, talks about his two new books “Band of Angels” and “The Uncle’s Story” [free]

“How To Read Freud” {Borders Charing Cross Road, 17th March 18:30} – Josh Cohen talks about his book [free]

“Titania” {Borders Charing Cross Road 23RD March 18:30} – Titania the White Witch talks about her magical powers and signs copies of her new book “Love Potions” [free]

“Gordon Ramsay” {Borders Oxford St, 4th May}

SPORT

Football

Carling Cup…

[Final]

Liverpool 2 Chelsea 3

Riise 1min Gerrard 79mins (og)

Nunez 113mins Drogba 107 mins

Kezman 112 mins

(Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho was sent off for taunting the Liverpool crowd)

Barclays Premiership…

[League Table]

P W D L Pts 

Chelsea 27 21 5 1 68

Man Utd 28 18 8 2 62

Arsenal 28 17 7 4 58

Everton 28 15 6 7 51

Liverpool 27 13 4 10 43

Middlesborough 28 11 9 8 42

Bolton 28 11 7 10 40

Tottenham 27 11 6 10 39

Charlton 27 11 6 10 39

Aston Villa 28 9 8 11 36

Newcastle 27 8 10 9 34

Man City 28 8 9 10 33

Birmingham 28 8 8 12 32

Portsmouth 28 8 6 14 31

Fulham 27 8 5 14 29

Blackburn 27 6 10 11 28

Crystal Palace 28 6 7 15 25

Southampton 28 3 12 13 21

Norwich 28 3 11 13 20

West Brom 27 2 12 13 18

Women’s Premier League Cup…

[Final, 6th March]

ARSENAL vs. CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Tennis

Dubai Tennis Championships…

[Men’s Singles Final]

ROGER FEDERER (SUI) 6 6 6

IVAN LJUBICIC (CRO) 1 7 3

[Men’s Doubles Final]

MARTIN DAMM (CZE) / RADEK STEPANEK (CZE) 6 6

JONAS BJORKMAN (SWE) / FABRICE SANTORO (FRA) 2 4

[Women’s Singles Final, 6th March]

LINDSAY DAVENSPORT (USA) vs. JELENA JANKOVIC (SCG)

[Women’s Doubles Semi-Finals, 6th March]

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS) / ALICIA MOLIK (AUS)

vs. VIRGINIA RUANO PASCUAL (ESP) / PAOLA SUAREZ (ARG)

Basketball

[Trophy Final, 6th March]

WORTHING THUNDER vs. CITY OF SHEFFIELD ARROWS

Rugby Union

[Powergen Cup Semi-Finals, 6TH March]

GLOUCESTER vs. BATH

LEEDS vs. LONDON IRISH

THEATRE

“WILD EAST” {Royal Court Jerwood Theatre, until 12th March} – Frank has got the interview; it's his big break, the one he's been waiting for. All he has left to do is convince two rather formidable women from the corporation and he'll be off back to Russia. But, as often happens with once in a lifetime opportunities, history seems to be working against them all.

“TYNAN” {Arts Theatre, until 26th March} – based on the diaries of Kenneth Tynan

“THE DOG IN A MANGER” {Playhouse, until 26th March} – The RSC's acclaimed season shows from the Spanish Golden Age begins with this new translation of Lope de Vegas' farce about a Duchess who risks her honour in pursuit of a socially acceptable marriage.

“THE LUNATIC QUEEN” {Riverside Theatre, until 27th March} – a brutal contemporary satire and classical revenge tragedy, the story of Juana, a young woman full of religion and passion but driven to madness. Her parents, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon, leaders of Spain are the two most powerful people on the planet at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Whilst they seek more power and alliances, they are eager to marry off Juana to some European prince.

“MAN AND BOY” {Duchess Theatre, 16th April} – The play, set in New York in the 1930s, confronts the relationship between father and son against a backdrop of love, betrayal and high finance. The lead is played by David Suchet.

“NATIONAL ANTHEMS” {Old Vic, until 23rd April} – Set in Detroit, Michigan, in the heart of 80’s suburban America, a story told in real time of an affluent couple whose idyllic lives are spoiled somewhat by the arrival of an inner city fire fighter. Kevin Spacey stars.

“EASTER” {Riverside Theatre, until 23rd April} – Lund, Sweden. Good Friday, 1901. The Heyst family live under a shadow. The father is in prison for embezzlement and the daughter has been committed to an asylum. Mrs. Heyst and her son live moment to moment, on the edge of collapse. They fear that they are on the brink of ruin, but as the snow melts and a single daffodil appears, Easter Eve brings them hope, joy and mercy.

“TWO INTO WAR” {Riverside Theatre, 19th – 24th April} – Two playwrights, one British, one American, combine for these rare and powerful solo pieces focussing on war (“Gifts of War” by Fraser Grace / “The Retreating World” by Naomi Wallace). They both expose personal, moving and often hilarious tales of human suffering and celebration.

“LIFE IN THE THEATRE” {Apollo Theatre, until 30th April} – Patrick Stewart and Joshua Jackson are new found friends in this play which tells of the emotional rollercoaster and incidents surrounding life in the theatre.

“WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?” {Comedy Theatre, until 30th April} – asks “Sex and the City’s” Kim Cattrall, addressing one of the most complex issues of our times – do we have the right to choose how we want to live and when we want to die?

“DON CARLOS” {Gielgud, until 30th April} – The French princess Elizabeth fills the heart of the youthful Don Carlos. They were once betrothed and Don Carlos is deeply in love with her. However, being a kind, caring type of Father, King Phillip II of Spain decides to marry the young French princess himself. As one would imagine, Don Carlos is not too happy with the state of affairs; his anger boiling into a hatred of monumental proportions. Carlos' old friend Rodrigo acts as go between for the two young lovers, but also stirs their powerful passion into a full-scale rebellion against the oppressive king. Cast includes: Derek Jacobi, Claire Price, Richard Coyle, Ian Hogg, Una Stubbs.

“FESTEN” {Almeida, 25th March – 1st May} – set in Denmark, a family celebration, initially for a birthday but what ends up being centered around a dark family secret.

“ONCE UPON A TIME IN WIGAN” {Riverside Theatre, 10th – 14th May} – from 1973 to 1981, the birth and demise of Wigan Casino. The heart of Northern Soul and home to weekly all-nighters of pure rhythm and dancing to 60’s and 70’s soul music classics.

“A DREAM PLAY” {National Theatre, until 11th May} – ‘Everything can happen, everything is possible and probable. Time and place do not exist.’ – August Strindberg in his preface to A Dream Play, 1901

“THE DRESSER” {Duke of York’s Theatre, until 14th May} – In a war-torn provincial theatre an ageing actor manager, 'Sir' (Julian Glover), is struggling to keep a grip on his sanity and complete his 227th performance of King Lear. Despite all the able-bodies actors being in uniform in war-torn Britain and bombs destroying theatres, the show must go on. Ensuring that it does is Norman, Sir's devoted dresser (Nicholas Lyndhurst), who for sixteen years has been there to fix his wig, massage his ego, remind him of his opening lines and provide the sound effects in the storm scene. main actors: Nicholas Lyndhurst and Julian Glover

“The RAT PACK: Live From Las Vegas” {Strand Theatre, until 28th May} – With a talented cast and 15-piece orchestra, take a trip back to the glamorous, hot, glitzy nights of Las Vegas

“Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP” {St. Martin’s Theatre, 25th March – 28th May} – Cast includes: Kirsty Yates, Tom Sykes, John Lyons, John Fleming, Alan Freestone, Jan Waters, Adam Kay, Liz Carney

“CAKE” {Riverside Theatre, 24th – 29th May} – exploring the extraordinary up side and dark down side of motherhood

“THE WOMAN IN BLACK” {Fortune Theatre, until 3rd September} – A keen young solicitor is sent to wind up the affairs of a recently deceased woman. He pieces together the details of her strange reclusive life alone in a remote and mysterious house. Years later, he recounts his experiences, desperate to exorcise the ghosts of the past. Susan Hill's thriller is currently in its 16th year, now with a cast including Brian Miller & William Rycroft.

“THE FAR PAVILIONS” {Shaftesbury, 14th April – 4th September} – Set in the evocative environs of Northern India, The Far Pavilions spans the 25 years between the Sepoy Uprisings of 1857 and the Second Afghan War, telling the story of an illicit love between a British Officer (Ashton Pelham-Martyn) and an Indian Princess (Anjuli). Inspired by M. M. Kaye's novel of the same name, The Far Pavilions has book and lyrics by Olivier Award-winning Stephen Clark and music by Philip Henderson

“Willy Russell’s BLOOD BROTHERS” {Phoenix Theatre, until 2nd April} – Liverpudlian twins who are separated at birth and go on to lead very different lives. However, their paths are destined to cross again

“STOMP” {Vaudeville Theatre, until 2nd October} – combines elements of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion to turn the clutter of urban life into the source of infectious rhythm and wonder

“BLITHE SPIRIT” {Savoy Theatre, until 28th May} – Penelope Keith leads the way

MUSICALS

“JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT” {New London Theatre, until 2nd April} – the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber classic is reproduced by Bill Kenwright with performers Darren Day and Suzanne Shaw

“ON THE TOWN” {Coliseum, 5th March – 19th April} – Director Jude Kelly and choreographer Stephen Mear, who created the Olivier award-winning Singin' In The Rain are responsible for this production of Bernstein’s nautical musical, in which 3 American sailors explore the delights of New York in a day’s shore leave

“ACORN ANTIQUES” {Haymarket, until 26th April} – Julie Walters and Victoria Wood star in this musical version of the classic spoof soap

“THE PRODUCERS” {Drury Lane, until 29th October} – Lee Evans and Cory English star in Mel Brooks' musical - Broadway's biggest ever hit

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE” {Palace, until 3rd September} – adapted from the classic novel by Wilkie Collins; music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics by David Zippel; book by Charlotte Jones

“GUYS AND DOLLS” {Piccadilly, 1st June – 1st October} – Set in New York, a group of gamblers gather for “The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York”, but Nathan Detroit (played by Douglas Hodge) needs $1,000 to set the game up. As any right thinking gambler would do in that situation, he bets Sky Masterson (Ewan McGregor) $1,000 that he can’t get Salvation Army prude Sarah Brown to accompany him to Havana. On top of his gambling problems, Detroit also has to deal with the affections of the amorous Miss Adelaide (Ally McBeal's Jane Krakowski), who is trying to make him settle down.

EXHIBITIONS

“BLIND ART: SENSE & SENSUALITY” {Royal College of Art, 2nd – 7th March} – a contemporary selling exhibition where all art can be explored through touch [free entry]

“COUNTRY LIVING FAIR” {Business Design Centre, 16th – 20th March}

“IDEAL HOME SHOW” {Earls Court, 3rd-28th March}

“TURKS: A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND YEARS, 600-1600” {Royal Academy of Arts, until 12th April}

“WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR” {Natural History Museum, until 17th April}

“Africa Remix” {Hayward Gallery, until 17th April}

“Joseph Beuys” {Tate Modern, until 2nd May} – the first major survey exhibition ever to take place in the UK for Joseph Beuys (1921-86), one of the most influential figures in modern and contemporary art.

“Tina Barney: The Europeans” {Barbican Art Gallery, until 2nd May} – an exquisite collection of photos that capture the essence of different nationalities across Europe and the subtleties of gesture and expression

“TURNER WHISTLER MONET” {Tate Britain, until 15th May} – exploring the influences of these three giants on nineteenth century art and the relationships between their work

“AUGUST STRINDBERG” {Tate Modern, until 15th May} – August Strindberg (1849-1912) is known as a prolific writer of novels and plays but he was also an extremely radical painter for his time. On show are over 60 of his paintings, 30 pioneering photographs, illustrated manuscripts, drawings and sculptures.

“CARAVAGGIO: THE FINAL YEARS” {National Gallery, until 22nd May}

“THE LONDON LOOK” {Museum of London, until 10th July} – fashion from the street to the catwalk

“GREAT ESCAPES” {Imperial War Museum, until 31st July}

COMEDY

“THE BEST COMEDY DVD IN THE WORLD” – comprised of comedic performances from all the following acts: Peter Kay, Little Britain, Blues Brothers, Jimmy Carr, American Pie, Norman Wisdom, Men Behaving Badly, Have I Got News, Uncle Buck, Bo’ Selecta, The Office, Spaced, Spike Milligan, Father Ted, Carry On Camping, Withnail And I, Ed Byrne, John Cleese, Fawlty Towers, Lily Savage, Joe Pasquale, Monty Python, Kenny Everett, Tommy Cooper, Creature Comforts, Royle Family, Black Books, Peter Cook, Laurel & Hardy, Dudley Moore, Mel Brooks, Wallace & Gromit, Bob Hope and Richard Pryor. Available for £9.99 in stores or via the self titled website, all proceeds go to (Unicef) Tsunami Relief.

“THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: 3 HILARIOUS COMEDIES EVERY WEEK” {Criterion Theatre, until 3rd April}

“THE ANNIVERSARY” {Garrick Theatre, until 16th April} – Sheila Hancock leads this 60s comedy

“LOSING LOUIS” {Trafalgar Studios at the Whitehall, until 25th June} – Interwoven events from the past and present blend together in this touching new comedy involving the reunion of Jewish and non-Jewish family members

EATING OUT

“NANCY LAM’S ENAK ENAK” {Lavender Hill SW11} – famous for its Indonesian and Far Eastern Cuisine as well as its eccentric TV chef. The restaurant has recently been refurbished and extended to seat 60-70 people.

“A’ FENESTELLA” {196 Lavender Hill} – translated, it is called “Small Neapolitan Window”, which opened Christmas last year. On the menu are a dozen starters, a dozen pasta dishes, a dozen traditional main courses, 20 different pizzas and one Italian dessert. It comes highly recommended for its many fire-wood heated, with melted toppings and crispy base pizzas, the cheapest being £6.

ALTERNATIVE

“THE SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE” {Sadler’s Wells, 8th – 13th March or New Wimbledon Theatre, 15th – 19th March} – 23 Olympic, World, European & National Championship Ice Skaters

“RIVERDANCE” {Hammersmith Apollo, 4th – 10th April} – the tenth anniversary and final UK Tour

AWARDS

*BRITS*

[Category] [Nominees]

British Male Solo Artist: Jamie Cullum

Lemar

Morrissey

The Streets < WINNER

Will Young

British Female Solo Artist: Amy Winehouse

Jamelia

Joss Stone < WINNER

Natasha Bedingfield

PJ Harvey

British Group: Franz Ferdinand < WINNER

Kasabian

Keane

Muse

Snow Patrol

British Album: Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand

Keane – Hopes and Fears < WINNER 

Muse – Absolution

Snow Patrol – Final Straw

The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free

British Single: Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas

George Michael – Amazing

Jamelia – Thank You

Keane – Everybody’s Changing

LMC vs. U2 – Take Me To The Clouds Above

Natasha Bedingfield – These Words

Shapeshifters – Lola’s Theme

The Streets – Dry Your Eyes

Sugababes – In The Middle

Will Young – Your Game < WINNER

British Breakthrough Act: Franz Ferdinand 

Joss Stone

Keane < WINNER

Natasha Bedingfield

The Zutons

British Urban Act: Dizzee Rascal

Jamelia

Joss Stone < WINNER

Lemar

The Streets

British Rock Act: Franz Ferdinand < WINNER

Kasabian

Muse

Snow Patrol

The Libertines

British Live Act: Franz Ferdinand

Jamie Cullum

Kasabian

Muse < WINNER

The Libertines

Best Song: Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

Queen – We Are The Champions

Robbie Williams – Angels < WINNER

Will Young – Leave Right Now

Pop Act: Avril Lavigne

Girls Aloud

Natasha Bedingfield

McFly < WINNER

Westlife

International Male Solo Artist: Brian Wilson

Eminem < WINNER

Kanye West

Tom Waits

Usher

International Female Solo Artist: Alicia Keys

Anastacia

Gwen Stefani < WINNER

Kelis

Kylie Minogue

International Group: Green Day

Maroon 5

Outkast

Scissor Sisters < WINNER 

U2

International Album: Killers – Hot Fuss

Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane

Outkast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters < WINNER

U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

International Breakthrough Act: Jet

Kanye West

Killers

Maroon 5

Scissor Sisters < WINNER

Outstanding Contribution To Music: Sir Bob Geldof < WINNER

*British Academy Film Awards*

Best Film: 

The Aviator < WINNER

Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind

Finding Neverland

The Motorcycle Diaries

Vera Drake

British Film Of The Year: 

Dead Man’s Shoes

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

My Summer of Love < WINNER

Shaun of the Dead

Vera Drake

Special Achievement by A British Director/Producer/Writer In Their First Feature Film: Amma Asante – A Way Of Life < WINNER

Andrea Gibb – Afterlife

Matthew Vaughn – Layer Cake

Nira Park – Shaun of the Dead

Shona Auerbach – Dear Frankie

Achievement in Direction: 

Martin Scorsese – The Aviator

Michael Mann – Collateral

Michel Gondry – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Marc Forster – Finding Neverland

Mike Leigh – Vera Drake < WINNER

Best Original Screenplay: 

John Logan – The Aviator

Stuart Beattie – Collateral

Charlie Kaufman – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind < WINNER

James L White – Ray

Mike Leigh – Vera Drake

Adapted Screenplay: 

Christophe Barratier / Philippe Lopes-Curval – The Chorus

Patrick Marber – Closer

David Magee – Finding Neverland

José Rivera – The Motorcycle Diaries

Alexander Payne / Jim Taylor – Sideways < WINNER

Best Film Not In English: 

The Chorus

The Motorcycle Diaries < WINNER

A Very Long Engagement

Bad Education

House of Flying Daggers

Best Actor in Leading Role: 

Gael García Bernal – The Motorcycle Diaries

Jamie Foxx – Ray < WINNER

Jim Carey – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Johnny Depp – Finding Neverland

Leonardo Dicaprio – The Aviator

Best Actress in Leading Role: 

Charlize Theron – Monster

Imelda Staunton – Vera Drake < WINNER

Kate Winslet – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Kate Winslet – Finding Neverland

Ziyi Zhang – House of Flying Daggers

Best Actor in Supporting Role: 

Alan Alda – The Aviator

Clive Owen – Closer < WINNER

Jamie Foxx – Collateral

Phil Davis – Vera Drake

Rodrigo De La Serna – The Motorcycle Diaries

Best Actress in Supporting Role:

Cate Blanchett – The Aviator < WINNER

Heather Craney – Vera Drake

Julie Christie – Finding Neverland

Meryl Streep – The Manchurian Candidate

Natalie Portman – Closer

Achievement in Film Music: 

Howard Shore – The Aviator

Bruno Coulais – The Chorus

Gustavo Santaolalla – The Motorcycle Diaries < WINNER

Jan A P Kaczmarek - Finding Neverland

Craig Armstrong – Ray

Best Cinematography:

Robert Richardson – The Aviator

Dion Beebe / Paul Cameron – Collateral < WINNER

Roberto Schaefer – Finding Neverland

Zhao Xiaoding – House of Flying Daggers

Eric Gautier – The Motorcycle Diaries

Best Editing: 

Thelma Schoonmaker – The Aviator

Jim Miller / Paul Rubell – Collateral

Valdís Óskarsdóttir – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind < WINNER

Cheng Long – House of Flying Daggers

Jim Clark – Vera Drake

Best Production Design: 

Dante Ferretti – The Aviator < WINNER

Gemma Jackson – Finding Neverland

Stuart Craig – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Huo Tingxiao – House of Flying Daggers

Eve Stewart – Vera Drake

Best Costume Design: 

Sandy Powell – The Aviator

Alexandra Byrne – Finding Neverland

Emi Wada – House of Flying Daggers

Sammy Sheldon – The Merchant of Venice

Jacqueline Durran – Vera Drake < WINNER

Best Sound: 

Philip Stockton / Eugene Gearty / Petur Hliddal / Tom Fleischman

– The Aviator

Elliott L Koretz / Lee Orloff / Michael Minkler / Myron Nettinga – Collateral

Tao Jing / Roger Savage – House of Flying Daggers

Steve Cantamessa / Scott Millan / Greg Orloff / Bob Beemer – Ray <WINNER

Paul N J Ottosson / Kevin O’Connell / Greg P Russell / Jeffrey J Haboush

– Spider-man 2

Achievement in Special Visual Effects: 

Rob Legato / Pete Travers / Matthew Gratzner / Bruce Steinheimer

– The Aviator

Karen E Goulekas / Neil Corbould / Greg Strause / Remo Balcells

– The Day After Tomorrow < WINNER

John Richardson / Roger Guyett /Tim Burke / Bill George / Karl Mooney

- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Angie Lam / Andy Brown / Kirsty Millar / Luke Hetherington

– House of Flying Daggers

John Dykstra / Scott Stokdyk / Anthony La Molinara / John Frazier

– Spider-man 2

Best Make-up and Hair:

Morag Ross / Kathryn Blondell / Sian Grigg – The Aviator < WINNER

Christine Blundell – Finding Neverland

Amanda Knight / Eithné Fennell / Nick Dudman

– Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Kwan Lee-Na / Yang Xiaohai / Chau Siu-Mui – House of Flying Daggers

Christine Blundell – Vera Drake

Best Short Animation: Birthday Boy < WINNER

City Paradise

Heavy Pockets

His Passionate Bride

Little Things

Best Short Film: The Banker < WINNER

Can’t Stop Breathing

Elephant Boy

Knitting a Love Song

Six Shooter

Film of the Year: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban <WINNER

Academy Fellowship: John Barry < WINNER

AWARDS

*Screen Actors Guild Awards*

- The only awards voted for by the actors/actresses themselves

{Theatrical Motion Pictures}

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:

Don Cheadle – Hotel Rwanda

Johnny Depp – Finding Neverland

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Aviator

Jamie Foxx – Ray < WINNER 

Paul Giamatti – Sideways

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Annette Bening – Being Julia

Catalina Sandino Moreno – Maria Full of Grace

Imelda Staunton – Vera Drake

Hilary Swank – Million Dollar Baby < WINNER

Kate Winslet – Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Thomas Haden Church – Sideways

Jamie Foxx – Collateral

Morgan Freeman – Million Dollar Baby < WINNER

James Garner – The Notebook

Freddie Highmore – Finding Neverland

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Cate Blanchett – The Aviator < WINNER

Cloris Leachman – Spanglish

Laura Linney – Kinsey

Virginia Madsen – Sideways

Sophie Okonedo – Hotel Rwanda

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:

The Aviator

Finding Neverland

Hotel Rwanda

Million Dollar Baby

Ray

Sideways < WINNER

{Primetime Television}

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:

Jamie Foxx – Redemption

William H. Macy – The Wool Cap

Barry Pepper – 3

Geoffrey Rush – The Life and Death of Peter Sellers < WINNER

Jon Voight – Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:

Glenn Close – The Lion in Winter < WINNER

Patricia Heaton – Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl

Keke Palmer – The Wool Cap

Hilary Swank – Iron Jawed Angels

Charlize Theron - The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series:

Hank Azaria – Huff

James Gandolfini – The Sopranos

Anthony LaPaglia – Without a Trace

Jerry Orbach – Law & Order < WINNER

Kiefer Sutherland – 24

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series:

Drea De Matteo – The Sopranos

Edie Falco – The Sopranos

Jennifer Garner – Alias < WINNER

Allison Janney – The West Wing

Christine Lahti – Jack & Bobby

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series:

Jason Bateman – Arrested Development

Sean Hayes – Will & Grace

Ray Romano – Everybody Loves Raymond

Tony Shalhoub – Monk < WINNER

Charlie Sheen – Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series:

Teri Hatcher – Desperate Housewives < WINNER

Patricia Heaton – Everybody Loves Raymond

Megan Mullally – Will & Grace

Sarah Jessica Parker – Sex and the City

Doris Roberts - Everybody Loves Raymond

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:

24

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation < WINNER

Six Feet Under

The Sopranos

The West Wing

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:

Arrested Development

Desperate Housewives < WINNER

Everybody Loves Raymond

Sex and the City

Will & Grace

Life Achievement Award:

James Garner < WINNER

*GRAMMY Awards*

Record of the Year: 

The Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started

Ray Charles & Nora Jones – Here We Go Again < WINNER

Green Day – American Idiot

Los Lonely Boys – Heaven

Usher ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris – Yeah!

Album of the Year:

Ray Charles & Various Artists – Genius Loves Company < WINNER

Green Day – American Idiot

Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys

Usher – Confessions

Kanye West – The College Dropout

Song of the Year:

John Mayer – Daughters < WINNER

Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You

Kanye West – Jesus Walks

Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying

Hoobastank – The Reason

Best New Artist:

Los Lonely Boys

Maroon 5 < WINNER

Joss Stone 

Kanye West

Gretchen Wilson

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:

Björk – Oceania

Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is The Deepest

Nora Jones – Sunrise < WINNER

Gwen Stefani – What You Waiting For?

Joss Stone – You Had Me

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:

Elvis Costello – Let’s Misbehave

Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up

John Mayer – Daughters < WINNER

Cinnamon Girl – Prince

Seal – Love’s Divine

Best Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:

Evanescence – My Immortal

Hoobastank – The Reason

Los Lonely Boys – Heaven < WINNER

Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved

No Doubt – It’s My Life

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals:

Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer – Redemption Song

Ray Charles & Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Ray Charles & Norah Jones – Here We Go Again < WINNER

Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton – Something

Stevie Wonder & Take 6 – Moon River

Best Pop Instrumental Performance:

Herb Alpert, Russ Freeman, James Genus, Gene Lake And Jason Miles – Chasing Shadows

George Benson – Take You Out

Ben Harper – 11th Commandment < WINNER

Bruce Hornsby – Song F

Brian Setzer – Rat Pack Boogie

Best Pop Instrumental Album:

Boney James – Pure

Dave Koz – Saxophonic

Various Artists – Forever, For Always, For Luther

Various Artists – Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar < WINNER

Mason Williams – EP 2003: Music For The Epicurean Harkener

Best Pop Vocal Album:

Ray Charles & Various Artists – Genius Loves Company < WINNER

Norah Jones – Feels Like Home

Sarah McLachlan – Afterglow

Joss Stone – Mind, Body & Soul

Brian Wilson – Brian Wilson Presents Smile

Best Dance Recording:

Basement Jaxx ft. Lisa Kekaula – Good Luck

The Chemical Brothers ft. K-OS – Get Yourself High

Kylie Minogue – Slow

Scissor Sisters – Comfortably Numb

Britney Spears – Toxic < WINNER

Best Electronic/Dance Album:

Basement Jaxx – Kish Kash < WINNER

The Crystal Method – Legion of Boom

Paul Oakenfold – Creamfields

The Prodigy – Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned

Paul Van Dyk – Reflections

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:

Harry Connick Jr. – Only You

Barbara Cook – Count Your Blessings

Monica Mancini – Ultimate Mancini

Ronnie Milsap – Just For A Thrill

Rod Stewart – Stardust...The Great American Songbook Volume III 

^ WINNER

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance:

Ryan Adams – Wonderwall

Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts Now

Melissa Etheridge – Breathe

Bruce Springsteen – Code of Silence < WINNER

Tom Waits – Metropolitan Glide

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:

Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Monkey To Man

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

Green Day – American Idiot

The Killers – Somebody Told Me

U2 – Vertigo < WINNER

Best Hard Rock Performance:

Incubus – Megalomaniac

Metallica – Some Kind Of Monster

Nickelback – Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good

Slipknot – Duality

Velvet Revolver – Slither < WINNER

Best Metal Performance:

Cradle of Filth – Nymphetamine

Hatebreed – Live For This

Killswitch Engage – The End of Heartache

Motörhead – Whiplash < WINNER

Slipknot – Vermilion

Best Rock Instrumental Performance:

The Allman Brothers Band – Instrumental Illness

Los Lonely Boys – Onda

Rush – O Baterista

Steve Vai – Whispering A Prayer

Brian Wilson – Mrs O’Leary’s Cow < WINNER

Best Rock Song:

Green Day – American Idiot

Velvet Revolver – Fall To Pieces

Modest Mouse – Float On

The Killers – Somebody Told Me

U2 – Vertigo < WINNER

Best Rock Album:

Elvis Costello & The Imposters – The Delivery Man

Green Day – American Idiot < WINNER

Hoobastank – The Reason

The Killers – Hot Fuss

Velvet Revolver – Contraband

Best Alternative Music Album:

Björk – Medulla

Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand

PJ Harvey – Uh Huh Her

Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News

Wilco – A Ghost Is Born < WINNER

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance:

Janet Jackson – I Want You

Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You < WINNER

Teena Marie – I’m Still In Love

Jill Scott – Whatever

Angie Stone – U-Haul

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance:

Anthony Hamilton – Charlene

R. Kelly – Happy People

Brian McKnight – What We Do Here

Prince – Call My Name < WINNER

Usher – Burn

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:

Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath

Earth, Wind & Fire Featuring Raphael Saadiq – Show Me The Way

Floetry – Say Yes

Alicia Keys Featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! – Diary

Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo < WINNER

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance:

Anita Baker – You’re My Everything

Ray Charles & B.B. King – Sinner’s Prayer

Al Green – I Can’t Stop

Patti LaBelle – New Day 

Prince – Musicology < WINNER

Best Urban/Alternative Performance:

Mos Def – Sex, Love & Money

Musiq – Are You Experienced?

N.E.R.D. – She Wants To Move

The Roots – Star

Jill Scott – Cross My Mind < WINNER

Best R&B Song:

Usher – Burn

Prince – Call My Name

Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo

Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris – Yeah!

Alicia Keys – You Don’t Know My Name < WINNER

Best R&B Album:

Anita Baker – My Everything

Al Green – I Can’t Stop

Alicia Keys – The Diary Of Alicia Keys < WINNER

Prince – Musicology

Jill Scott - Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds Vol. 2

Best Contemporary R&B Album:

Usher – Confessions < WINNER

Best Rap Solo Performance:

Jay-Z – 99 Problems < WINNER

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group:

Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out

The Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started < WINNER

The Roots – Don’t Say Nuthin’

Snoop Dogg & Pharrell – Drop It Like It’s Hot

Terror Squad – Lean Back

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:

Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris – Yeah! < WINNER

Best Rap Song:

Snoop Dogg & Pharrell – Drop It Like It’s Hot

The Black Eyed Peas – Hey Mama

Kanye West – Jesus Walks < WINNER

The Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started

Jay-Z – 99 Problems

Best Rap Album:

Kanye West – The College Dropout < WINNER

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:

Alison Krauss – You Will Be My Ain True Love

Loretta Lynn – Miss Being Mrs.

Martina McBride – In My Daughter’s Eyes

Shania Twain – She’s Not Just A Pretty Face

Gretchen Wilson – Redneck Woman < WINNER

Best Male Country Vocal Performance:

Johnny Cash – Engine One-Forty-Three

Lyle Lovett – In My Own Mind

Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying < WINNER

Willie Nelson – You Are My Flower

Keith Urban – You’ll Think Of Me

Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal:

Dixie Chicks – Top Of The World < WINNER

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:

Loretta Lynn & Jack White – Portland Oregon < WINNER

Best Country Instrumental Performance:

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Earl’s Breakdown < WINNER

Best Country Song:

The Notorious Cherry Bombs – It’s Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long

Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying < WINNER

Loretta Lynn – Miss Being Mrs.

Loretta Lynn & Jack White – Portland Oregon

Gretchen Wilson – Redneck Woman

Best Country Album:

Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose < WINNER

Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying

Tift Merritt - Tambourine

Keith Urban – Be Here

Gretchen Wilson – Here For The Party

Best Bluegrass Album:

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder – Brand New Strings < WINNER

Best New Age Album:

Will Ackerman – Returning < WINNER

Best Contemporary Jazz Album:

Bill Frisell – Unspeakable < WINNER

Best Jazz Vocal Album:

Nancy Wilson – R.S.V.P. {Rare Songs, Very Personal} < WINNER

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo:

Herbie Hancock – Speak Like A Child < WINNER

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:

McCoy Tyner With Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride & Lewis Nash – Illuminations < WINNER

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:

Maria Schneider Orchestra – Concert In The Garden < WINNER

Best Latin Jazz Album:

Charlie Haden – Land Of The Sun < WINNER 

Best Gospel Performance:

Ray Charles & Gladys Knight – Heaven Help Us All < WINNER

Best Rock Gospel Album:

Third Day – Wire < WINNER

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album:

Steven Curtis Chapman – All Things New < WINNER

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album:

Randy Travis – Worship & Faith < WINNER

Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album:

Ben Harper & The Blind Boys Of Alabama – There Will Be A Light <WINNER

Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album:

Smokie Norful – Nothing Without You < WINNER

Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album:

Carol Cymbala – Live…This Is Your House

Best Latin Pop Album:

Marc Anthony – Amar Sin Mentiras < WINNER

Bacilos – Sinverguenza

Paulina Rubio – Pau-Latina

Diego Torres – Diego Torres: MTV Unplugged

Carlos Vives – El Rock De Mi Pueblo

Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album:

Ozomatli – Street Signs

Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album:

Israel López "Cachao" – ¡Ahora Sí! < WINNER

Best Salsa/Merengue Album:

Spanish Harlem Orchestra ft. Ruben Blades – Across 110th Street <WINNER 

Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album:

­Intocable - Intimamente

Best Tejano Album:

David Lee Garza, Joel Guzman & Sunny Sauceda – Polkas, Gritos y Acordeónes < WINNER

Best Traditional Blues Album:

Etta James – Blues To The Bone < WINNER

Best Contemporary Blues Album:

Keb’ Mo’ – Keep It Simple < WINNER

Best Traditional Folk Album:

­Various Artists – Beautiful Dreamer – The Songs of Stephen Foster <WINNER

Best Contemporary Folk Album:

Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts…Now < WINNER

Best Native American Music Album:

Bill Miller – Cedar Dream Songs < WINNER

Best Hawaiian Music Album:

Various Artists – Slack Key Guitar Volume 2 < WINNER

Best Reggae Album:

Toots & The Maytals – True Love < WINNER

Best Traditional World Music Album:

Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Raise Your Spirit Higher < WINNER

Best Contemporary World Music Album:

Yousssou N’Dour – Egypt < WINNER

Best Polka Album:

Brave Combo – Let’s Kiss: 25th Anniversary Album < WINNER

Best Musical Album For Children:

Various Artists – cELLAbration! A Tribute To Ella Jenkins < WINNER

Best Spoken Word Album For Children:

Tom Chapin – The Train They Call The City Of New Orleans < WINNER

Best Spoken Word Album:

Bill Clinton – My Life < WINNER

Best Comedy Album:

Jon Stewart And The Cast Of The Daily Show – The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents...America: A Citizen's Guide To Democracy Inaction

^ WINNER

Best Musical Show Album:

Stephen Schwartz – Wicked < WINNER

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album:

Various Artists – Garden State < WINNER

Best Score Soundtrack Album:

Thomas Newman – Angels In America

Danny Elfman – Big Fish

Jon Brion – Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

John Williams – Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Howard Shore – The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King < WINNER

Best Song Written For Visual Media:

Annie Lennox – Into The West (From LOTR: ROTK) < WINNER

Best Instrumental Composition:

Yo-Yo Ma – Merengue < WINNER

Best Instrumental Arrangement:

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra – Past, Present & Future < WINNER

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s):

Ray Charles & Johnny Mathis – Over The Rainbow < WINNER

Best Recording Package:

Wilco – A Ghost Is Born < WINNER

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package:

Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime

Best Album Notes:

Woody Herman & His Orchestra – The Complete Columbia Recordings Of Woody Herman And His Orchestra & Woodchoppers (1945-1947) < WINNER

Best Historical Album:

Various Artists – Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970 < WINNER

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:

Ray Charles & Various Artists – Genius Loves Company < WINNER

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:

John Shanks < WINNER

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical:

No Doubt – It’s My Life < WINNER

Best Surround Sound Album:

Ray Charles & Various Artists – Genius Loves Company < WINNER

Best Engineered Album, Classical:

Robert Spano – Higdon: City Scape; Concerto For Orchestra < WINNER

Producer Of The Year, Classical:

Manfred Eicher

David Frost < WINNER

James Mallinson

Robina G. Young

Daniel Zalay

Best Classical Album:

New York Philharmonic – Adams: On The Transmigration Of Souls <WINNER

Best Orchestral Performance:

New York Philharmonic – Adams: On The Transmigration Of Souls <WINNER

Best Opera Recording:

Concerto Köln – Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro <WINNER

Best Choral Performance:

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – Berlioz: Requiem <WINNER

Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra):

Boston Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Orchestra – Previn: Violin Concerto "Anne-Sophie"/Bernstein: Serenade <WINNER

Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra):

David Russell [guitar] – Aire Latino (Morel, Villa-Lobos, Ponce, Etc) <WINNER

Best Chamber Music Performance:

Martha Argerich [piano] & Mikhail Pletnev [piano] – Prokofiev (Arr. Pletnev): Cinderella - Suite For Two Pianos/Ravel: Ma Mère L'Oye <WINNER

Best Small Ensemble Performance (with or without Conductor):

Southwest Chamber Music – Carlos Chávez - Complete Chamber Music, Vol.2 ^ WINNER

Best Classical Vocal Performance:

Susan Graham [mezzo soprano] – Ives: Songs (The Things Our Fathers Loved; The Housatonic At Stockbridge, Etc.) < WINNER

Best Classical Contemporary Composition:

New York Philharmonic – Adams: On The Transmigration Of Souls <WINNER

Best Classical Crossover Album:

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet – LAGQ’S Guitar Heroes < WINNER

Best Short Form Music Video:

U2 – Vertigo < WINNER

Best Long Form Music Video:

Various Artists – Concert For George < WINNER

AWARDS

*Radio 2 Folk Awards*

Folk Singer Of The Year:

Martin Carthy < WINNER

Dick Gaughan

Karine Polwart

Eddi Reader

Best Duo:

Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham < WINNER

John Spiers & Jon Boden

Show of Hands

Chris While & Julie Matthews

Best Group:

Bellowhead

Brass Monkey

Planxty 

Oysterband Big Session < WINNER

Best Album:

Karine Polwart – Faultlines < WINNER

Oyster Band Big Session – Volume 1

Lúnasa – The Kinnitty Sessions

Martin Carthy – Waiting For Angels

Best Original Song:

Kirsty McGee – Coffee Coloured Strings

Seth Lakeman – Kitty Jay

Karine Polwart – Only One Way

Karine Polwart – The Sun’s Comin’ Over The Hill < WINNER

Best Traditional Track:

Chris Stout – Da Day Dawn

Susan McKeown – Eggs In Her Basket

Martin Carthy – Famous Flower Of Serving Men < WINNER

Oyster Band Big Session ft. Jim Moray – The Cuckoo’s Nest

Horizon Award:

Seth Lakeman

Anna Massie

Karine Polwart < WINNER

Uiscedwr

Musician Of The Year:

Andrew Cronshaw

Martin Simpson

Chris Stout

Kathryn Tickell < WINNER

Best Live Act:

Bellowhead < WINNER

Martin Simpson

Oysterband

Chris While & Julie Matthews

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ramblin’ Jack Elliott < WINNER

Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): Tom Paxton < WINNER

Best Dance Band:

Whapweasel < WINNER

Good Tradition Award:

Steeleye Span < WINNER

Folk Club Award:

Hitchin Folk Club < WINNER

*Elle Style Awards*

Best Actress:

Cate Blanchett < WINNER

Best Actor: 

Daniel Craig < WINNER

Best Male Music Star:

Will Young < WINNER

Best Female Music Star:

Jamelia < WINNER

Best TV Star:

David Williams & Matt Lucas < WINNER

Levi Hot Look:

Alison Mosshart < WINNER

Levi Hot Talent:

Estelle < WINNER

Best Model:

Susan Aldridge < WINNER

Best British Designer:

Matthew Williamson < WINNER

Best International Designer:

Phoebe Philo < WINNER

Best Young Designer:

Giles Deacon < WINNER

Best Individual Style:

Cat Deeley < WINNER

Elle Style Icon:

Helena Christensen < WINNER

Woman of the Year:

Cate Blanchett < WINNER

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Kylie Minogue < WINNER

*Shockwaves NME Awards*

[Category] [Nominees]

Best British Band: Kasabian

Snow Patrol

Muse

Franz Ferdinand

The Libertines < WINNER

Best International Band: The Killers < WINNER

Kings of Leon

The Strokes

U2

Scissor Sisters

Best Solo Artist: Morrissey

Graham Coxon < WINNER

The Streets

Ian Brown

Eminem

Best New Band: Bloc Party

The Killers

Razorlight < WINNER

Kasabian

Babyshambles

Best Live Band: Muse < WINNER

Razorlight

The Libertines

Franz Ferdinand

Babyshambles

Best Album: The Libertines – The Libertines

Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters

Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand ^ WINNER

Green Day – American Idiot

The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free

Best Track: U2 – Vertigo

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out <WINNER

The Libertines – Can’t Stand Me Now

Razorlight – Golden Touch

The Streets – Dry Your Eyes

Best Live Venue: Birmingham Academy

Brixton Academy < WINNER

Glasgow Barrowlands

London Astoria

Manchester Academy

Best Live Event: Glastonbury < WINNER

Carling Weekend

T in the Park

V2004

Download

Best Video: The Streets – Fit But You Know It

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

Eminem – Mosh

Beastie Boys – Triple Trouble

Green Day – American Idiot < WINNER

Best TV Show: Little Britain < WINNER

Peep Show

Gonzo

The Mighty Boosh

Green Wing

Best Radio Show: Zane Lowe < WINNER

Chris Moyles

Steve Lemacq

Christian O’Connell

Colin Murray & Edith Bowman

Best Film: Shaun Of The Dead < WINNER

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Spiderman 2

School of Rock

Lost In Translation

Best Website: www.thelibertines.org.uk

www.morrissey-solo.com

www.muse.mu

www.nme.com < WINNER

www.u2.com

Hero Of The Year: Carl Barat

Bono

Pete Doherty

Morrissey

John Peel < WINNER

Villain Of The Year: Tony Blair

George Bush < WINNER

Pete Doherty

Justin Hawkins

Wolfman

Sexiest Man: Carl Barat

Pete Doherty

Brandon Flowers < WINNER

Alex Kapranos

Morrissey

Sexiest Woman: Brody Dalle

Charlotte Hatherley

Ana Matronic

Karen O

Gwen Stefani < WINNER

Best Dressed: Carl Barat

Pete Doherty

Brandon Flowers < WINNER

Alex Kapranos

Morrissey

Worst Dressed: Pete Doherty

Goldie Lookin Chain

Har Mar Superstar

Justin Hawkins

Britney Spears < WINNER

Worst Album: Busted – A Present For Everyone <WINNER

Keane – Hopes And Fears

Embrace – Out Of Nothing

Lostprophets – Start Something

McFly – Room On The Third Floor

Worst Band: Busted < WINNER

The Darkness

Keane

Maroon 5

McFly

Best Music DVD: Oasis – Definitely Maybe < WINNER

The White Stripes – Live Under Blackpool Light

Nirvana – With The Lights Out

Pixies – Pixies

Scissor Sisters – We Are Scissor Sisters And So Are You

Phillip Hall Radar Award: Kaiser Chiefs < WINNER

John Peel Award For Musical Innovation: The Others < WINNER

Godlike Genius Award: New Order and Joy Division < WINNER

Special Award For Lifelong Service To Music: John Peel < WINNER

*T4 Honours*

Biggest Drama in a Drama:

Coronation Street: Karen, Steve & Tracey love triangle

Eastenders: Zoe, Sharon & Dennis love triangle

Hollyoaks: Dan, Toby & Ellie murder triangle < WINNER

New Male Drama Star of the Year:

The OC: Adam Brodie (Seth) < WINNER

The OC: Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan)

Eastenders: Joe Swash (Mickey)

New Drama Queen of the Year:

The OC: Micha Barton (Marissa)

The OC: Rachel Bilson (Summer) < WINNER

Eastenders: Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater)

Best Soap or Drama:

The OC

Eastenders

Hollyoaks < WINNER

Comedy Genius Award:

Peter Kay

Matt Lucas & David Williams < WINNER

Ricky Gervais

Best Comedy Show:

Little Britain

Friends < WINNER

The Simpsons

Fashion Icon:

Gwen Stefani < WINNER

Sienna Miller

Mischa Barton

Sporting Icon:

Amir Khan

Wayne Rooney

Kelly Holmes < WINNER

Best Musical Newcomer:

Scissor Sisters < WINNER

Natasha Bedingfield

Joss Stone

Popworld Best Single:

Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath < WINNER

Usher – Yeah!

Britney – Toxic

Best T4 Live Performance:

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

Scissor Sisters – Take Your Mama < WINNER

Robbie Williams – Radio

Unforgettable Reality Moment:

BB5: Michelle and Emma return < WINNER

I'm a Celebrity: Natalie's disastrous bushtucker trials

Hell's Kitchen: Amanda Barrie trying to hit Gordon Ramsey

Reality TV Star of the Year:

BB5: Nadia < WINNER

Strictly Come Dancing: Jill Halfpenny

Simple Life: Nicole Richie

Best Movie Newcomer:

Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls) < WINNER

Scarlett Johannson (Lost in Translation)

Kate Bosworth (Beyond The Sea)

Best Movie:

School of Rock

Shrek 2 < WINNER

The Incredibles

Best Year Ever Award:

McFly

Will Young < WINNER

Nigel Harman

AWARDS

*Laurence Olivier Awards*

- the most prestigious awards in London theatre

Best Actress:

Victoria Hamilton for SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER at the Albery

Clare Higgins for HECUBA at the Donmar Warehouse < WINNER

Anna Maxwell Martin for HIS DARK MATERIALS at the Olivier

Caroline O’Connor for BOMBSHELLS at the Arts

Best Actor:

Michael Gambon for ENDGAME at the Albery 

Richard Griffiths for THE HISTORY BOYS at the Lyttelton < WINNER

Jonathan Pryce for THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? at the Almeida and Apollo

Ben Whishaw for HAMLET at The Old Vic

Best Performance in a Supporting Role:

Samuel Barnett for THE HISTORY BOYS at the Lyttelton

Judi Dench for ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL at the Gielgud

Amanda Harris for OTHELLO at Trafalgar Studios < WINNER

Eddie Redmayne for THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? at the Almeida and Apollo

Best New Play:

BY THE BOG OF CATS by Marina Carr at Wyndhams

FESTEN A dramatisation by David Eldridge Based on the Dogme film and play by Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov and Bo hr. Hansen at the Almeida and the Lyric

THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? by Edward Albee at the Almeida and the Apollo

THE HISTORY BOYS by Alan Bennett at the Lyttelton < WINNER

Best Revival:

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL by William Shakespeare at the Gielgud

ENDGAME by Samuel Beckett at the Albery

HAMLET by William Shakespeare at The Old Vic < WINNER

JOURNEY’S END by R C Sherriff at the Comedy, Playhouse and Duke of York’s

Best New Musical:

MARY POPPINS a musical based on the stories of PL Travers and the Walt Disney Film; original music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman; book by Julian Fellowes; new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe; co-created by Cameron Mackintosh at the Prince Edward

THE PRODUCERS book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan; music and lyrics by Mel Brooks and by special arrangement with StudioCanal at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane < WINNER

THE WOMAN IN WHITE a new musical freely adapted from the classic novel by Wilkie Collins; music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics by David Zippel; book by Charlotte Jones at the Palace

Outstanding Musical Production:

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart; music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim at the Olivier

GRAND HOTEL book by Luther Davis; music & lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest; additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston; based on Vicki Baum’s Grand Hotel at the Donmar Warehouse < WINNER

SIMPLY HEAVENLY book and lyrics by Langston Hughes; music by David Martin at Trafalgar Studios

SWEENEY TODD music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; book by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond at Trafalgar Studios and the New Ambassadors

Best Actress in a Musical:

Maria Friedman for THE WOMAN IN WHITE at the Palace

Leigh Zimmerman for THE PRODUCERS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Laura Michelle Kelly for MARY POPPINS at the Prince Edward < WINNER

Best Actor in a Musical:

Lee Evans for THE PRODUCERS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Paul Hegarty for SWEENEY TODD at Trafalgar Studios and New Ambassadors

Nathan Lane for THE PRODUCERS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane < WINNER

Gavin Lee for MARY POPPINS at the Prince Edward

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical:

Michael Crawford for THE WOMAN IN WHITE at the Palace

David Haig for MARY POPPINS at the Prince Edward

Conleth Hill for THE PRODUCERS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane < WINNER

Best Director:

Richard Eyre and Matthew Bourne for MARY POPPINS at the Prince Edward

Nicholas Hytner for THE HISTORY BOYS at the Lyttelton < WINNER

Rufus Norris for FESTEN at the Almeida and Lyric

Susan Stroman for THE PRODUCERS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Best Theatre Choreographer:

Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear for MARY POPPINS at the Prince Edward

^ WINNER

Adam Cooper for GRAND HOTEL at the Donmar Warehouse

Susan Stroman for THE PRODUCERS at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Best Lighting Design:

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL designed by Paul Pyant at the Gielgud

FESTEN designed by Jean Kalman at the Almeida and Lyric

HIS DARK MATERIALS designed by Paule Constable at the Olivier <WINNER

MARY POPPINS designed by Howard Harrison at the Prince Edward

Best Set Design:

FESTEN designed by Ian McNeil at the Almeida and Lyric

HIS DARK MATERIALS designed by Giles Cadle at the Olivier < WINNER

MARY POPPINS designed by Bob Crowley at the Prince Edward

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER designed by Christopher Oram at the Albery

THE WOMAN IN WHITE designed by William Dudley at the Palace

Best Costume Design:

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL designed by Deirdre Clancy at the Gielgud

^ WINNER

HAMLET designed by John Gunter and Mark Bouman at The Old Vic

MARY POPPINS designed by Bob Crowley at the Prince Edward

THE PRODUCERS designed by William Ivey Long at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Best Sound Design:

FESTEN designed by Paul Arditti at the Almeida and Lyric

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER designed by Adam Cork at the Albery

THE WOMAN IN WHITE designed by Mick Potter at the Palace < WINNER

Oustanding Achievement or Performance in an Affiliate Theatre:

Kevin Harvey for his performance in YELLOWMAN at Hampstead

Aidan McArdle for his performance in THE SHADOW OF A GUNMAN at the Tricycle

Andrew Scott for his performance in A GIRL IN A CAR WITH A MAN at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court < WINNER

The Tricycle Theatre for its production of GUANTANAMO

Best New Opera Production:

The Royal Opera’s LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK at the Royal Opera House

^ WINNER

Les Arts Florissants, Compagnie Montalvo-Hervieu, Théâtre Du Châtelet and BITE 04’s LES PALADINS at the Barbican

The Royal Opera’s PETER GRIMES at the Royal Opera House

Outstanding Achievement in Opera:

Ben Heppner for The Royal Opera’s PETER GRIMES

John MacFarlane for his designs of The Royal Opera’s PETER GRIMES and LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK at the Royal Opera House

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House under the musical direction of Antonio Pappano for their season’s work

Thomas Adès and the Royal Opera House for the world premiere of THE TEMPEST < WINNER

Best New Dance Production:

Northern Ballet Theatre’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at Sadler’s Wells

Royal New Zealand Ballet’s MILAGROS at Sadler’s Wells

Royal New Zealand Ballet’s ROMEO AND JULIET at Sadler’s Wells

Rambert Dance Company’s SWAMP at Sadler’s Wells < WINNER

Outstanding Achievement in Dance:

Julien Macdonald for his costume designs for Richard Alston Dance Company’s SHIMMER at Sadler’s Wells

San Francisco Ballet for their season at Sadler’s Wells < WINNER

The Royal Ballet for their recreation of SYLVIA at the Royal Opera House

Rambert Dance Company for the range and quality of new work in their November season at Sadler’s Wells

*Independent Spirit Awards*

Best Supporting Female:

Virginia Madsen – Sideways < WINNER

Best Supporting Male:

Thomas Haden Church – Sideways < WINNER

Best Director:

Alexander Payne – Sideways < WINNER

Best Screenplay:

Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor III – Sideways < WINNER

Best First Screenplay:

Joshua Marston – Maria Full of Grace < WINNER

Best Cinematography:

Eric Gautier – Diarios de motocicleta < WINNER

Best Documentary:

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster < WINNER

Best Foreign Film:

Mar Adentro < WINNER 

Best First Feature:

Garden State < WINNER

Best Male Lead:

Paul Giamatti – Sideways < WINNER

Best Debut Performance:

Rodrigo De la Serna – Diarios de motocicleta < WINNER

Best Feature:

Sideways < WINNER

Best Female Lead:

Catalina Sandino Moreno – Maria Full of Grace < WINNER

Special Distinction Award:

Mean Creek < WINNER

John Cassavetes Award:

Mean Creek < WINNER

Truer Than Fiction Award:

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids < WINNER

Producers Award:

Gina Kwon – The Good Girl < WINNER

Someone To Watch Award:

Jem Cohen – Chain < WINNER

*RAZZIES*

Worst Picture:

Catwoman < WINNER

Worst Actor in a Leading Role:

George W. Bush – Fahrenheit 9/11 < WINNER

Worst Actress in a Leading Role:

Halle Berry – Catwoman < WINNER

Worst Supporting Actor:

Donald Rumsfeld – Fahrenheit 9/11 < WINNER

Worst Supporting Actress:

Britney Spears – Fahrenheit 9/11 < WINNER

Worst Screen Couple:

George W. Bush & EITHER Condoleeza Rice OR His Pet Goat / FAHRENHEIT 9/11 < WINNER

Worst Remake or Sequel:

Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed < WINNER

Worst Director:

Pitof – Catwoman < WINNER

Worst Screenplay:

Catwoman < WINNER

Worst Musical of Our First 25 Years:

From Justin to Kelly < WINNER

Worst Comedy of Our First 25 Years:

Gigli < WINNER

Worst Drama of Our First 25 Years:

Battlefield Earth < WINNER

Worst Razzie Loser of Our First 25 Years:

- amassed the most nominations without winning a Razzie

Arnold Schwarzenegger < WINNER

AWARDS

*OSCARS*

Best 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 < WINNER

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Alda – The Aviator

Thomas Haden Church – Sideways

Jamie Foxx – Collateral

Morgan Freeman – Million Dollar Baby < WINNER

Clive Owen – Closer

Best 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 < WINNER

Kate Winslet – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Cate Blanchett – The Aviator < WINNER

Laura Linney – Kinsey

Virginia Madsen – Sideways

Sophie Okonedo – Hotel Rwanda

Natalie Portman – Closer

Best Animated Feature Film:

The Incredibles < WINNER

Shark Tale

Shrek 2

Best Art Direction:

The Aviator < WINNER

Finding Neverland

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

The Phantom of the Opera

A Very Long Engagement

Best Cinematography:

The Aviator < WINNER

House of Flying Daggers

The Passion of the Christ

The Phantom of the Opera

A Very Long Engagement

Best Costume Design:

The Aviator < WINNER

Finding Neverland

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Ray

Troy

Best Directing:

The Aviator

Million Dollar Baby < WINNER

Ray

Sideways

Vera Drake

Best Documentary Feature:

Born into Brothels < WINNER

The Story of the Weeping Camel

Super Size Me

Tupac: Resurrection

Twist of Faith

Best Documentary Short Subject:

Autism is a World

The Children of Leningradsky

Hardwood

Mighty Times: The Children’s March < WINNER

Sister Rose’s Passion

Best Film Editing:

The Aviator < WINNER

Collateral

Finding Neverland

Million Dollar Baby

Ray

Best Foreign Language Film:

As it is in Heaven

The Chorus

Downfall

The Sea Inside < WINNER

Yesterday

Best Makeup:

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events < WINNER

The Passion of the Christ

The Sea Inside

Best Music (Score):

Finding Neverland < WINNER

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

The Passion of the Christ

The Village

Best Music (Song):

“Accidentally In Love” – Shrek 2

“Al Otro Lado Del Rio” – The Motorcycle Diaries < WINNER

“Believe” – The Polar Express

“Learn To Be Lonely” – The Phantom of the Opera

“Look to Your Path” – The Chorus

Best Picture:

The Aviator

Finding Neverland

Million Dollar Baby < WINNER

Ray

Sideways

Best Short Film (Animated):

Birthday Boy

Gopher Broke

Guard Dog

Lorenzo

Ryan < WINNER

Best Short Film (Live Action):

Everything in this Country Must

Little Terrorist

7:35 in the Morning

Two Cars, One Night

Wasp < WINNER

Best Sound Editing:

The Incredibles < WINNER

The Polar Express

Spider-man 2

Best Sound Mixing:

The Aviator

The Incredibles

The Polar Express

Ray < WINNER

Spider-man 2

Best Visual Effects:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I, Robot

Spider-man 2 < WINNER

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay):

Before Sunset

Finding Neverland

Million Dollar Baby

The Motorcycle Diaries

Sideways < WINNER

Best Writing (Original Screenplay):

The Aviator

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind < WINNER

Hotel Rwanda 

The Incredibles

Vera Drake

Honorary Award:

Roger Mayer < WINNER

Honorary Award:

Sidney Lumet < WINNER

*Man Booker International Prize* [winner announced in early June]

- awarded every 2 years for the achievement of one fiction writer

[Nominees]

Margaret Atwood

Saul Bellow

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gunter Grass

Ismail Kadare

Milan Kundera

Stanislaw Lem

Doris Lessing

Ian McEwan

Naguib Mahfouz

Tomas Eloy Martinez

Kenzaburo Oe

Cynthia Ozick

Philip Roth

Muriel Spark

Antonio Tabucchi

John Updike

A.B. Yehoshua

BONUS OPINGNIONATED REVIEWS:

Before Sunset (Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy)

Without trying very hard, this film has class. Set in real time, with a story told practically by word of mouth, it is surprisingly compelling, entertaining and original. Following the reunion of 2 long lost lovers, this fiction-like romance struggles to survive in the painful reality. Through in depth conversation we learn of these two characters and obligingly gain a liking for them. They are adorable, believable and down-to-earth like the film itself. With only the slightly dissatisfying ambiguous ending to fault, this film is excellent on all accounts, a wonderful script, great acting, beautiful scenery and a perfect presentation. {And to think this is actually a sequel!}

House of Flying Daggers (Andy Lau, Ziyi Zhang)

It was always going to be a tough challenge to follow suit after the masterpiece that was “Hero” and the originality that came with “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” been thoroughly snuffed out by the huge influx of oriental martial art movies that have arrived since. But if anyone should be able to rise to the challenge it’s the director of “Hero” and the producer of “CTHD” however regrettably, this time they failed to deliver. There is still admirable attention to detail as stunning costumes and beautiful scenery are put on show once more but the quality of story-telling is much less impressive. Here’s a story of love, conflict, duty and senseless passion with a few added twists, a plot well worthy of sustaining a movie. But the film does not care to elaborate and instead, is in the habit of “stopping and starting” whilst unnecessarily prolonging some scenes and cutting short others. With a paragraph of text for an introduction, the film proceeds lacking in gusto, it then peaks mid-way as the bamboo, surprises, emotions and daggers start flying in only to end with too little realism and conclusion. In all fairness, this film would be well worth a cinema visit if it didn’t require the reading of subtitles but otherwise it can be missed, especially to spare disappointment to any who’ve seen “Hero”.

Closer (Jude Law, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen)

Quote: ‘closer is a terrible film! Nobody must see it!!!’ – Beware-of-the Baby

Enough said.

Ocean’s Twelve (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Vincent Cassel, Andy Garcia, Casey Affleck, Bernie Mac, Carl Reiner, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould, Shaobo Qin)

Attempting to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, the movie is slightly led astray, focusing more on the funny antics of the team as they go about planning how to save their hides (by of course, stealing millions of dollars worth of stuff) than the heists themselves. The momentum that was carried off so well before has been lost; instead the pace is almost painstakingly slow at times as they count down what could potentially be the last days of their lives without any real urgency.

Although this production looks weak in comparison to “Ocean’s Eleven”, there are still some good laughs here and there, pretty faces all round (Catherine Zeta-Jones joins in the fun), a few inventive twists and the same unique “snap-shot” style of telling the story, which all amounts to an enjoyable watch but nothing to get too hyped up about.

Coming soon to Entertainment Googooly…

* Many more sport updates e.g. athletics (European Indoor Championships), formula one racing (Australian Grand Prix), boxing (World Championship), tennis (Davis Cup), football (Champion’s League / UEFA), etc.

* Premieres: where, when and what? (As requested by Binary-Weapon Baby)

…plus more new release films, rentals, tv programmes, music singles, albums, charts, plays, musicals, etc.

P.S. any entertainment news, suggestions for reviews or comments on any films, music, theatre productions, literature or anything entertainment related are very welcome.