James McAvoy: TIFF Review: 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him & Her' Starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis & More

INDIE WIRE
BY NIKOLA GROZDANOVIC
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 10:55 AM

Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece "Rashomon" heralded the term “Rashomon effect,” which refers to the contradictory nature of different perspectives telling the same story (something that has been employed endlessly in the years since, mostly in the context of twisty thrillers). Used effectively, it remains one of the most powerful ways interrogating truth and subjectivity? One of many strengths of Benson’s "Eleanor Rigby" is precisely that kind of exploration because it's built into the conceptual framework of the film and the structure alone allows the film(s) to become something much more than just another relationship film. The story revolves around a couple who have been together for 7 years; Connor (James McAvoy) is a 33-year-old bar-owner and Eleanor (Chastain) is struggling with unhappiness and needs a change. One day, she decides to start from scratch and disappear from Connor’s life, asking him not to contact her nor to try and find her. In “Him”, we follow Connor as he talks to his friends (including his chef played by the priceless Bill Hader) and his father (Ciaran Hinds, in a very nuanced and endearing performance), trying to understand the situation and dealing with such an impactful change in his life. In “Her” we see some of the same events that transpired in “Him” but from Eleanor’s vantage point, as she attempts to make some kind of meaningful change in her life with the help of her family (William Hurt and Isabelle Huppert are her parents and Weixler is her sister) and her teacher (Viola Davis, in easily her best role since "The Help"). How do you move on? Where does “you” stop and “us” begin? Can a person truly change? These questions and more percolate in Benson’s epic story of love, life, loss, happiness and family.

Perhaps it sounds all a bit too Hallmark (to use one of the characters phrases), and in the hands of some of other less talented artists these kinds of stories can nosedive straight into the territory of some bad made-for-cable Lifetime movie. But Benson’s multi-layered, organically paced, delicate and quite often hilarious screenplay holds it all together with wit and brio. He was also fortunate enough to land a perfect ensemble cast. McAvoy has never been better; obviously comfortable with the role and completely understanding of Connor’s confusion, he looks relaxed and is inherently likable from the very first frame. Chastain’s Eleanor is cold and distant compared to Connor, but as the delicate actress that she is, she gives all of herself and delivers another highly nuanced, human character. The rest of the supporting cast, including the perfect fathers Hinds and Hurt, the wine-drinking Huppert going through a “quiet crisis” and the cynically hilarious and gentle soul that is Viola Davis all just add to the overall strength of the film.

We’ve tip-toed carefully around the pivotal incident which is at the core of the film, because it’s something that is best discovered within the journey, layer by layer. What makes “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” truly stand apart from all the other films of its kind, be they French art-house award winners, your mother’s favorite Meg Ryan movie or the myriad of romantic comedies out there, is the emotional depth that is allowed to be dug by the film’s premise and length, executed almost perfectly. There are many meandering moments where you might find yourself thinking, “where is this going” and you will be forming opinions about these people which undoubtedly affect your judgment of the movie, but that’s all part of the bigger picture Benson is painting. Like an epic sonnet, with beautiful accompanying music and songs, “Eleanor Rigby” deals with memory, perception and the emotional toll a relationship can have on an individual as much as it deals with the more grandiose themes of love and loss. It’s a finely tuned and tenderly detailed love story of two people told on a cosmic scale, and it’s one of the year’s greatest relationship films. [A-]


READ MORE HERE: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-disappearance-of-eleanor-rigby-him-her-starring-jessica-chastain-james-mcavoy-cirian-hinds-william-hurt-viola-davis-bill-hader-and-isabelle-huppert-20130910

Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons, Emma Russum Newest Trailer For Beautiful Creatures Shows Magic And Whirlwind Romance (SKOCKYA)

Posted by monique On November - 17 - 2012

Ready to to head to the supernatural South? Take a look at the newest official trailer for “Beautiful Creatures,” starring Alice Englert, Aldan Ehrenreich, Viola Davis, Jeremy Irons, Emmy Rossum, Emma Thompson, Thomas Mann and Erwin Stoff. Richard LaGravenese directed and also adapted the film to screen from the best-selling series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. The music for the film is by THENEWO2.

Here’s the synopsis of “Beautiful Creatures:”

“A supernatural love story set in the South, “Beautiful Creatures” tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers: Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), a young man longing to escape his small town, and Lena (Alice Englert), a mysterious new girl. Together, they uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town.”


Read more: http://www.shockya.com/news/2012/11/17/newest-trailer-for-beautiful-creatures-shows-magic-and-whirlwind-romance/#ixzz2CabCKbJa

Jeremy Irons Joins Alcon's 'Beautiful Creatures' (THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

Viola Davis, Emma Thompson and Emmy Rossum are among the cast members signed on for the big-screen adaptation of the young adult novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. 5:12 PM PDT 3/13/2012 by Borys Kit

Jeremy Irons is in final negotiations to join the cast of Beautiful Creatures, Alcon’s adaptation of the young adult novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.  

Irons joins a cast that includes Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Emmy Rossum, Thomas Mann and relative newcomers Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert.

The latter duo are the centerpiece of the coming-of-age story about two star-crossed teens -- one a local boy, the other a mysterious new girl -- who uncover dark secrets about their families, their history and their town.


READ MORE OF THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER:  http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jeremy-irons-beautiful-creatures-299269

Colin Firth: Meryl Streep warns off Colin Firth’s wife after Cinderella Bafta moment Meryl Streep warned Colin Firth's wife Livia that she shouldn't hog her limelight after the star came to her rescue at the Bafta Awards when her high heel slipped off. (METRO)

The US star, 62, quipped that she was waiting for the chance to get Firth alone at the film bash after he gallantly picked up her Jimmy Choo stiletto after it fell off when she climbed the stairs to collect her award for Best Actress.

She joked later backstage: 'Livia Firth better not stand at the top of the stairs when I'm there.' Streep saw off competition from from Berenice Bejo, Michelle Williams, Tilda Swinton and Viola Davis to be named Best Actress for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Firth chivalrously got down on one knee to place Streep's shoe on the floor so she could put it back on just before delivering her acceptance speech. Streep gave him a kiss on the lips as thanks. 

Afterwards, an teary-eyed Streep revealed she had forgotten to thank J Roy Helland, her make-up and hair assistant, in her acceptance speech. She said: 'I forgot to say his name, and all because of my f***ing shoe.'





Read More:  http://www.metro.co.uk/film/890174-meryl-streep-warns-off-colin-firth-s-wife-after-cinderella-bafta-moment

Colin Firth: Livia Firth outfits BAFTA stars in eco-friendly outfits (HOLLYWOOD)

BY WENN.COM

Colin Firth's eco-warrior wife Livia convinced Fassbender to wear a Giorgio Armani tuxedo made from ethical wool as part of her Green Carpet Challenge.

 As part of the test, top fashion houses must use recycled materials for their red-carpet looks. Firth reveals there was a last-minute panic for top designer Valentino after the material for Davis' pink recycled soda can gown was almost lost in transit.

 In a post on her Vogue blog, she writes, "On a scale of calm to blind panic, we were somewhere near the latter when the fabric for Viola's dress got stuck in an epic snowstorm on the way to Turin. If it weren't for the valiant attempts of my dear friend Giorgio taking the fabric from Milan to Rome on the train, I think Viola would be wearing actual soda cans rather than the miraculously recycled ones."

Read More:  http://www.hollywood.com/news/Firth_outfits_BAFTA_stars_in_ecofriendly_outfits/16956560

Colin Firth: Michael Fassbender and Viola Davis go green for Livia Firth: (The Telegraph)

The eco warrior wife of Colin Firth convinced two BAFTA nominees to leave a green footprint on the BAFTA red carpet in London last night.

 BY ELLIE PITHERS | 13 FEBRUARY 2012

 Queen of the green carpet Livia Firth has clearly been on the warpath in recent weeks in her battle to turn the red carpet into an eco-friendly zone.

Not content to be a solitary force for sustainable clothing on the arm of her husband, the inimitable Oscar-winner Colin, she's been signing movie stars up left, right and centre to join the initiative she started last year to raise the profile of sustainable style. Last night she showed off two new BAFTA-nominated recruits to her Green Carpet Challenge:

The Help actress Viola Davis, wearing eco Valentino, and Shame star Michael Fassbender, in eco Armani. See the red carpet arrivals from the Baftas



Read more:  http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG9078690/Baftas-2012-Viola-Davis-and-Michael-Fassbender-go-green-for-Livia-Firth.html

Golden Globe Nominee and 'Downton Abbey' Star Elizabeth McGovern Wears Princess Di Favorite (The Hollywood Reporter)

The actress wore one of Jacques Azagury's amazing brocade creations to the BAFTA tea on Saturday -- and she'll wear one of his couture crafted gowns to the Golden Globes, too.     
 

7:38 PM PST 1/14/2012 by Merle Ginsberg        

 

 

 

 

Getty Images

T
he Hollywood Reporter attended this year's BAFTA tea, a tradition held every year the Saturday before the Golden Globes, at the Four Seasons Hotel. And it had quite an amazing turnout, including Leo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Michelle Williams, Viola Davis, Meryl Streep and the cast of The Artist. But what stood out most to us in a room filled with the heaviest heavy hitters was the violet dress Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern was wearing, by couturier Jacques Azagury.

PHOTOS: Golden Globe Awards: The Nominees

We found it on the London-based designer's website. It's part of his fall 2011 collection. It has a fitted bodice in a brocade fabric like none we've ever seen before. It's purple on purple. The waist is tight and the skirt on the dress was very full, a very 1947 "New Look" kind of shape, with a lot of drama. It suits McGovern's role on PBS' most popular series.

"He's a real artist," McGovern told THR. "And a very sweet man. I met him in London -- and I'll be wearing one of his dresses to the Golden Globes as well."

This should be a real boost to Azagury's profile, but then, he already dresses Helen Mirren, and his most famous frequent client of all was Princess Diana. His favorite looks that he designed for her are in a special section on his website. Now, how do we get a hold of one of these dresses? They're like art, and we can't believe no star has worn him on a red carpet repeatedly.



http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/golden-globes-downton-abbey-elizabeth-mcgovern-281922

Top 10 lead actor performances of 2011 (New Jersey Newsroom)

Saturday, 31 December 2011 00:47

BY JOHN SOLTES

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

MOVIE REVIEW

A common thread among the best cinematic performances of 2011 is that the most effective roles are much smaller in scope than previous years. Many of the characters who have lingered in our collective minds are fathers and mothers trying to hold their families together. They are facing the death of their usual selves and need to change with the times, or else feel the uneasy reality of failure.

1. Vera Farmiga, "Higher Ground"
One of the most quietly moving performances in years comes thanks to Vera Farmiga, who not only stars in “Higher Ground,” but also directed the film. Playing Corinne, a woman with a good heart and strong religious beliefs, Farmiga is able to put a cinematic face on a smart, engaging Christian. The performance is so refreshing because it's the opposite of cliche. Corinne is not a zealot or fundamentalist; she's merely a mother and wife, struggling with questions she yearns to answer. Farmiga offers an ambitiously understated performance in a film that investigates what happens when one feels the pangs of dissatisfaction.

2. George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Alexander Payne, director of 'About Schmidt' and “Sideways,” has once again fascinated moviegoers with a stunning portraiture of a broken man trying to hold it all together. His clay is the always-impressive George Clooney, an actor who, like a good wine, seems to age well. Playing Matt King, a wealthy lawyer grappling with the pending death of his estranged wife, Clooney is able to convey a panoply of emotions as he works his way through the unbearable grief process. Much like Brad Pitt's role in 'The Tree of Life,' Clooney is able to create a respectable father figure who carefully tip-toes through the volatile mines of parenthood. As his wife withers in front of him, he realizes his need to take the reins.

3. Viola Davis, “The Help”
“The Help” is an effective cinematic adaptation that occasionally can feel too much like the usual "best-seller" fare that hits movie theaters. Surely, the film would not be as popular or noteworthy if Viola Davis were not involved. As Aibileen Clark, a black maid working in Jackson, Miss., the talented actress is able to ground the film in historical reality. She holds the weight of her son's death and her community's discrimination on her shoulders. Watching her stomach the racism around her and somehow hold her head up high is a marvel to behold. In a year when much-heralded impersonations are getting all the ink (Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn” and Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”), it's Davis' turn in “The Help” that leaves a lasting impression.















4. Brendan Gleeson, “The Guard”
I've seen Brendan Gleeson in many bad films, but I've never seen a bad Brendan Gleeson performance. In “The Guard,” a small Irish film from John Michael McDonagh, Gleeson plays Sgt. Gerry Boyle, an offensive policeman with a dirty mouth and penchant for enjoying hookers on his days off. He's far from the model of humanity, but Gleeson smartly plays him with no pretense or judgment. This makes the character a wonderful complexity of emotions. At one minute, Boyle could be insulting a black FBI agent (Don Cheadle) and in another minute, he's caring for his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan). The fact that he can do both with a straight face shows a commitment to the character.

5. Kirsten Dunst, “Melancholia”
Despite the inherent controversy over director Lars Von Trier's work, the filmmaker knows how to engage audiences with thoughtful, provocative movies. His latest is 'Melancholia,' and it features a believable, often heartbreaking performance from Kristen Dunst. Living up to its title, the movie depicts the final hours before the end of the world. The only way we as an audience are allowed to comprehend the doom and gloom is through the tortured eyes of Justine (Dunst), a newly wed bride who somehow can identify with the looming destruction. It's a complicated performance that fits perfectly in a complicated film.

6. Dominic Cooper, “The Devil's Double”
Although “The Devil's Double” came and went from movie theaters without much fanfare, Dominic Cooper's powerhouse performances deserve recognition. He not only plays Uday Hussein, Saddam's sadistic son, but also Latif Yahia, Uday's body double. They may look similar (except for buck teeth), but these men are polar opposites. Cooper is given the unenviable task of not only bringing both to life, but also having them interact with each other and still prove believable. He pulls it off, and the results are scarily effectual.

7. Brad Pitt, “The Tree of Life”
Brad Pitt has had a banner year, and although his performance in “Moneyball” will likely nab him an Oscar nomination, it's his role in Terrence Malick's “The Tree of Life” that deserves recognition. As a strong, sometimes fierce father, Pitt embodies a loving sternness. The man looks to his sons as his greatest legacy, and he's determined to make them respectful, successful and presentable.

8. Juliette Binoche, “Certified Copy”
Juliette Binoche anchors much of Abbas Kiarostami's exquisite new film. The talented French actress, who won an Academy Award for 'The English Patient,' always keeps the audience guessing throughout the romantic movie. We never come to know whether Elle (Binoche) and James (William Shimell) are falling in love, have fallen in love already or what exactly is going on. It's to Binoche's credit that we enjoy the guessing game so much.

9. Demian Bichir, “A Better Life”
Demian Bichir turns in a powerful performance as an illegal immigrant faced with the possibility of deportation. He works long hours cutting the lawns of the posh Los Angeles crowd, while at night he watches over his son, trying to keep him out of the local gang activity. Much like Pitt in 'The Tree of Life' and Clooney in “The Descendants,” Bichir plays a father figure with the world stacked against him. One always knows a performance resonates when it eclipses the rest of the film.

10. Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
“The Artist” has become a critical darling, mostly because of its courage to tell an entire story with no words and in black and white. This leaves the audience with the facial emotions of the talented cast, and there is probably no better actor suited for the challenge than Jean Dujardin. As George Valentin, a fading film star unwilling to change with the times, the actor cleverly pays homage to the silent movies of the early 20th century and simultaneously creates a real man with real emotions. It's a deceptively layered performance.

John Soltes is an award-winning freelance journalist based in New Jersey. He currently serves as publisher of Hollywood Soapbox (www.HollywoodSoapbox.com). E-mail him at john.soltes@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ALSO BY JOHN SOLTES

'El Sicario' movie review, trailer: A haunting portrait of a cold-blooded killer
'The Adventures of Tintin' movie review, trailer: Spielberg finds his inner boy
'Carnage' movie review, trailer: Polanski's take loses some bite
'A Dangerous Method' movie review, trailer: Cronenberg explores the human mind
'The Muppets' movie review, trailer: Kermit and friends are back
'Hugo' movie review, trailer: Wondrous entertainment

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/top-10-lead-actor-performances-of-2011/page-2

Top 10 Film Performances of 2011 (according to Patrick Broadnax)(Examiner)

Patrick Broadnax

, Huntsville Movie Examiner

December 22, 2011 - Like this? Subscribe to get instant updates.

Film in 2011 brought upon some dazzling new titles that will forever go down as classics, and along with the movie as a whole, came performances that stood out. Personally, there were more than ten performances that struck as more than the average performance, being amazed, surprised, and even generally shocked. The top ten of which caught me by surprise inflicting emotions such as anger, hate, pity, sadness, happiness and more come from an eclectic group of films and even more eclectic groups of actors and actresses. Here are the Top 10 Performances of 2011 in film:

10. Melissa McCarthy of Bridesmaids: Stealing just about every scene she was in on the year’s best comedy film, Bridesmaids, Melissa McCarthy is number ten on the list. She played one of the quirky, colorful bridesmaids that brightened the screen with gut-busting hilarity and even a little bit of heart. Ms. McCarthy portrayed one of the most memorable characters of this year.

Advertisement

 

9. Joseph Gordon-Levitt of 50/50: The always charming Mr. Gordon-Levitt helmed a character going through the struggles of cancer in the tragic comedy film, 50/50. Not only did he sustain the film’s sharp humor (with Seth Rogen), but also delivered some raw emotion as well. The film itself was unexpectedly effective, particularly in a scene that comes later in the film involving his character and his therapist, played by Anna Kendrick. It’s pretty masterful stuff for such a fine young actor.

8. Alan Rickman of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2): Professor Snape has always been a generally exquisite part of every single Harry Potter film to date; however nothing can compare to his performance in the last film. Anyone who had the pleasure to view part two of the last Harry Potter chapter knows just how important Snape’s Memory scene is. And one can only credit director David Yates and the great Alan Rickman for appropriately displaying, what goes down in my book as, the best scene in any Harry Potter film.

7. Elizabeth Olsen of Martha Marcy May Marlene: The lost Olsen sister makes a valiant debut in a dark film involving a vicious cult. As surprised as I was to find out that there was another Olsen sister, I was even more surprised to see that she might be better than her two twin sisters. Giving a chillingly shocking performance in the film, often more quiet than one would think. Still, Elizabeth plays scared quiet very well, indeed, which is the best explanation why I cannot shake this film from my head.

6. Octavia Spencer of The Help: In what I consider to be this year’s best film, The Help, there were a myriad of downright excellent performances, and one of the most standout performances must be Octavia Spencer’s portrayal as the strong, feisty, defiant, smart-mouthed maid Minny Jackson. Also one of the most memorable black characters I’ve seen in a while. You laughed with her, you cried with her and was even shocked by the terrible, awful thing she did in the movie, which was also rather hilarious. Spencer revealed that playing Minny was the meatiest role she had ever had, and finally got to do more than just a few scenes. I’m hoping to see much more of her in the future.

5. Andy Serkis of The Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Some will argue that it was all visual effects. I will beg to differ. In fact, Mr. Serkis gives such a powerful and nuanced performance that he doesn’t even need to be seen in the film. By that fact alone, it would be hard for some academies to award him anything. Playing the mighty Caesar from this year’s epic prequel to the "Planet of the Apes" series, Andy Serkis clearly pulled of one of the year’s most memorable performances just with facial expressions, ranging from anger, confusion, depression, rage, sadness, amazement, and of course vengeful. The film could have failed completely, but luckily they cast the right chimpanzee to take over as the main character.

4. Charlize Theron of Young Adult: The story of Young Adult came out of nowhere and surprised movie nerds and buffs everywhere. Even greater was the performance of the selfish, bitter, devastated thirty-nine year old approaching forty, by the always wonderful Charlize Theron. This portrayal could have simply come off as ridiculously cartoonish in the hands of a less masterful actress, however the character comes off as more relatable than one would think, although rather cold and unapologetic for her obviously inappropriate actions. It is apparent that Charlize definitely understands this character, her darkness, her devastation, and her daring. It’s only up to the audience to be able to find what lies deep within this stunning, complicated character.

3. Michelle Williams of My Week With Marilyn: Who can portray the great Marilyn Monroe? That was the biggest question on everyone’s mind. Michelle Williams pulls it off perfectly. The transformation from private to public figure is quiet honestly thrilling, it’s so surprisingly done with such ease it seems like second nature to Ms. Williams. The small little gestures and movements, just emulate the blonde bombshell. If the darling young actress doesn’t receive a myriad of awards this season, there is literally no justice in the world. If it were anyone else in that film pretending to be the most famous movie star of all time, no one would even give her the time of day. But when Michelle Williams transfigures into Monroe, she’s not pretending and we accept her as no more than the true 20th century legend, herself.

2. Viola Davis of The Help: What is there to say, besides finally. A film that gives Viola Davis more than just eight or so minutes to show she is one of this century’s best actresses. Playing the coy, strong-willed, devastated black domestic maid, Abilene. Much like her co-star, Octavia Spencer, you feel everything she feels, from laughter, to depression and devastation, loss and regret. Playing a loving surrogate mother to white children and a put upon servant to their parents, Davis brings a hopeful warmth to the screen, as the radiating warmth from her eyes counter the often fear and worry that accompany her, everywhere she goes. Possibly the most enduring, loveable character to grace the screens this year in film, Abilene triumphs. And of course so does Viola Davis. And she’s right…"Stop calling black actresses dignified!" Davis proves to be more than that.

1. Rooney Mara of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Some will remember Rooney Mara as the icy ex-girlfriend of Mark Zuckerberg from David Fincher’s 2010 hit, The Social Network. She had a great stint inthat film. Now after very recently viewing David Fincher’s adaptation of the late Stieg Larsson’s first novel to his Millennium Trilogy, I am shocked, a bit disturbed and very impressed with everyting involving and especially Ms. Mara’s portrayal of character favorite, Lisabeth Salander. Critics are calling her performance a “revelation” and “hypnotic and fearless”. These mere words do not really do Rooney Mara’s portrayal any justice. In fact, most words won’t describe how great she was. If there is any reason to see the film, Mara is it. Lisabeth in Fincher’s version is bleak, strong but delicate, beyond intelligent, even darkly charming and sexy at times. A real broken heroine. A rush of different emotions are generated just simply from the two and a half hours that is the film, and it sticks with you. Not only has Fincher given the world a new wonderfully dark, brutal film, but he has also introduced us to one of this generations’ better talents. Which is why Rooney Mara is the number one film performance of 2011!

http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-huntsville/top-10-film-performances-of-2011

2012 Oscar Predictions: Best Actress Nominees! (E! OnLine)

Fri., Dec. 16, 2011 6:53 AM PST by Team Truth

'Tis the season...for Oscar predictions!

And since our fave race of the Academy Awards is (duh!) the Best Actress slot, we decided to narrow down which par-tick babes we think will make the tough cut. Now that we've analyzed the SAG and Golden Globe noms for further clues, we realize our first hunches were right on target: We've settled on a list that's inspired by such iconic chicks as Marilyn Monroe and Margaret Thatcher.
Talk about beauty and the beast, eh?

READ: Golden Globe Nominations 2012: Five Shockers and Snubs!

Let's start with the obvious.

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady:
While the legendary actress has 16 Academy Award nominations and two wins to her credit, Meryl hasn't taken home the Oscar since 1982. That is simply a crime, people, a crime! Gal's most definitely due in for some more modern recognition, but, we're not entirely sure Streep's precise portrayal of bullish British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is more Oscar-worthy than her previous noms.

Streep's simply perfect star-deliveries in Devil Wears Prada and Julia & Julia, et. al, just keep on getting ignored by the Academy, albeit she always manages a nom. Will Meryl be Susan Lucci-ed out yet again in 2012? Come on, even Hilary Swank and Dianne Weist have two Oscars. Shouldn't our most talented living actor today have at least one more little statuette? Don't worry, she will—soon.

RELATED: Five SAG nomination stunners

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn:
Williams has at least two strong factors going for her: one, while Marilyn isn't exactly getting rave reviews, Michelle's eerily sexy-lonely turn as Marilyn Monroe (while she made the film The Prince and the Showgirl in England with Laurence Olivier) certainly is—across the board. Plus, more on the sentimental side, Michelle has been Oscar-nominated twice before (Brokeback Mountain and Blue Valentine), and for a pretty young, former Dawson's Creek gal, Michelle's damn respected by the Academy. Lastly, do not forget Williams represents the possible continuation of Heath Ledger's tragically halted career talents, as she is the mother of their daughter, Matilda. Those are two pedigrees Oscar never sniffs at, in fact, just the opposite.

RELATED: Michelle Williams Channels Her Inner Marilyn Monroe—Even Between Takes!

Viola Davis, The Help:
Let's be very clear and on the record, we lived for many of the performances in The Help, particularly those of Davis and Jessica Chastain (who could easily get nominated in the Supporting Actress category for one of her many stand-out acting jobs this year). And even though Davis's gut-wrenching, bravura performance as a put-upon 1950s maid in the racist deep south is utterly beyond compare, it just sort of sucks that it took a white woman (Emma Stone) to inspire Viola's character to do something about it. Come again?

Yeah, it would be akin to writing Rosa Parks's story, but, making her trailblazing inspiration some do-gooder, white housewife in pearls. Laughably insulting, but, Davis's uniformed trajectory is so stunningly moving, you kind of forget about all that nonsense, which is often what winning an Oscar is all about.

READ: The Help Star Viola Davis Adopts Baby Girl!

Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo:
OK, quit gasping and just realize you've gotten to the total wild-card portion of the tabulation. Glenn Close playing a sad woman playing an even sadder man in Albert Nobbs is just as likely as Rooney to nab an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, we say.

Both women deliver knock-out emotionally brittle performances that make you shudder and shake—in very different ways. One's all about tatts and blood and revenge, the other's all about bleeding to death from a heartless existence on the inside. A-plus to both superiorly talented actors, we're just saying Rooney has a slight edge, despite Close's myriad prior Oscar nominations.

Only because the Academy (sometimes) seems obsessed with going for a younger demographic. So, since Billy Crystal got the hosting gig, poor Glenn stands a tiny less chance—though, remember, Close, not Mara, got the SAG nomination, always a good indicator.

But, on the third hand, go and watch Tilda Swinton (also a SAG nominee) go and swoop it from both women for We Need to Talk About Kevin, which we really should but, we'd rather say Tilda totally got robbed not even getting nominated for last year's absurdly heart-breaking I Am Love. Never under estimate the power of make-up Oscar noms and wins!

RELATED: Rooney Mara Dishes on Her "Necessary" R-Rated Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Piercings

Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
OK, so Elizabeth (yes, younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) is the real long shot—especially since she hasn't earned any recognition from the SAG or Golden Globe voters—but we're still saying that the newbie actress could manage an ascendancy from nowhere and steal a nomination for her first big screen role.

She wasn't completely overlooked this award season (she managed to score a Spirit Award nomination against William's Marilyn) and there was tons of award season buzz about her performance as an emotionally wounded young woman escaping a violent cult when the film first hit (select) theaters. To be frank, she's damn good in the role and deserves the credit.

The only question is whether the lack of campaigning will cause her to be seriously overlooked. Or, ya know, if the Academy isn't willing to honor two younger gals (along with Rooney) in their first leading roles. Sure, they always love to gush over a fresh face (think Gabourey Sidibe in Precious), but two of those rosy pusses may be a tad too much young blood for the Academy's elite tastes.
Let's hope we're wrong.

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/the_awful_truth/2012_oscar_predictions_best_actress/281109#ixzz1goFbu98P

Daniel Radcliffe - Entertainer of the Year

Play CBS News Video

(CBS News)
It was a big year in entertainment with some big names and not-so-big names making a mark on the showbiz industry. So who was tops this year?


Entertainment Weekly magazine named its choices for the biggest and best in this week's "Entertainer of the Year" issue. Daniel Radcliffe earned the top spot, but several others, such as singer Adele and "The Help" star Viola Davis, made the list.

• Pictures: Daniel Radcliffe
• Pictures: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Premiere

How did the publication make its selections?

The staff votes and debates, editor Jess Cagle said on "The Early Show." The staff then whittles the list down to 15, and then decides which one really deserves to be named Entertainer of the Year.

Daniel Radcliffe is EW's entertainer of the year


"This year, it seemed pretty clear that it was Daniel Radcliffe," Cagle said. "Between 'Potter' and Broadway, he's the one who surprised us the most and got us most excited."


In the issue, celebrities write about the entertainers on the list. But how are those celebrities chosen?

Entertainment Weekly, Cagle explained, looked for a personal or professional connection.


"We asked Meryl Streep to write about Viola Davis because they're both great actresses in the forefront of the Oscar race. And even though Meryl and Viola are competitors, Meryl couldn't wait to say nice things about the very talented and popular Viola Davis," Cagle said.


"We asked Steve Carell to write about Ryan Gosling because they costarred in one of our favorite movies this year, 'Crazy Stupid Love.' In a couple of instances, we invited celebs to write just because they were fans: Julia Roberts loves Adele; Sandra Bullock loves 'South Park' and 'Book of Mormon,' so we asked her to write about Trey Parker and Matt Stone."


Cagle also shared thoughts on each of the entertainers on the list:


Entertainer of the Year: Daniel Radcliffe
No one has ever had a year like him: a billion-dollar blockbuster and a Broadway show. Radcliffe starred in the finale of the biggest movie franchise in history (nearly $8 billion in global box office), he spent 11 months learning to dance so he could star in Broadway's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (and he was great in it) and he also found time to shoot another film -- a thriller called "Woman in Black," which opens in February. Despite wealth and fame at an early age, he's never fallen into the teen-star trap. He has shown that he's humble, curious and dedicated to the craft of acting, and he has made a point of learning all he can from great actors (like Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman during the 'Potter' films) and directors, and challenging himself whether it's in a Broadway musical or 'Equus,' which he did on stage a few years ago. This means he's got a bright future: He's interested in learning and growing, that's the key to longevity.


Adele:
When picking Entertainer of the Year, it was actually hard to choose between Adele and Radcliffe. Adele had the top-selling album of the year and as a singer, she touches her audience more deeply than any other singer today. Julia Roberts in her essay pointed out that people have a deep personal connection to Adele. It's because Adele puts so much of her soul into her music, we really feel like we know her.


Brad Pitt:
He had two very interesting movies this year: "Tree of Life" and "Moneyball." While neither was designed to be a huge commercial hit, both movies were critically-hailed artistic accomplishments from one of this generation's finest and most interesting actors. I think this year the conversation moved away a bit from his personal life, and toward his career, which, artistically, reached a new peak.

Pictures: Brad Pitt

The cast of "Bridesmaids":
Individually, the cast members were great, from Kristen Wiig to Melissa McCarthy to Maya Rudolph. Any of those women could have been named an Entertainer of the Year on their own. But, as a cast, they were something really special. Their chemistry in "Bridesmaids" was a huge part of the movie's success -- a movie that really changed the way Hollywood thinks about female-driven comedies, and the way it thinks about the female audience (studios now take both more seriously). Already you can see the impact this movie has had in television, where so many female-driven comedies are succeeding.

Pictures: Kristen Wiig
Pictures: Melissa McCarthy


Viola Davis:
No actress touched us more than she did in "The Help." She's had a great career, but she's always had more respect and admiration from the industry than with audiences. This year that changed, and she's the frontrunner for a Best Actress Oscar. Meryl Streep wrote the essay on her in the magazine and really said it best: "Her modesty is her majesty."

the CBS Early show