Governors Awards revs Oscars engine

Honorary Award recipient Dick Smith at the 2011 Governors Awards.Oprah Winfrey receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2011 Governors Awards.It may not be the fall's very first kudofest, but the Academy's Governors Awards ceremony Saturday night officially kicked Hollywood's awards season into high gear.The quality of the honorees, the star power of the crowd, the emotion of the evening and - last but not least - the intensity of the campaigning at the Hollywood & Highland grand ballroom left no doubt the race for Oscar gold has begun in earnest. This year's awards went to James Earl Jones and makeup legend Dick Smith, who both received Honorary Oscars, and to Oprah Winfrey, who received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards. As attendees arrived they were met with Moet champagne, Wolfgang Puck canapes such as sangria-soaked watermelon, and the music of a live jazz trio. Winfrey and Smith greeted well-wishers during an hour of cocktails, while publicists scrambled to put their clients from this year's Awards hopeful in the path of luminaries and journalists. Among Hollywood kudofests, Governors Awards attracts a unique audience, who represent the cream of the industry across generations and disciplines: Sidney Poitier and Seth Rogen; Evan Rachel Wood and June Foray; Michael Fassbender and Peter Fonda; Glenn Close and Viola Davis; Richard Edlund and Gary Oldman; Julie Taymor and Malcolm McDowell, to name just a few.In its third year, the Governors Awards has become a major stop for publicists hoping to get their clients some attention in the target-rich environment of tastemakers and thought leaders. Among the hopefuls in attendance on Saturday were helmers Sean Durkin ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), Steve McQueen ("Shame") and Drake Doremus ("Like Crazy") and Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist"). During cocktails McQueen lurked alone in the back. He admitted he was "too awestruck, and too jet-lagged," to approach some of the stars in the room, saying "I'm just going to gape from afar." Evan Rachel Wood ("Ides of March") was equally wowed: "You're trying to eat your dinner but you're scanning the room, and your heroes are everywhere you look." The program kicked off with an appearance by Darth Vader and "Star Wars" Storm Troopers. Vader approached honoree Winfrey, then made his way to the podium, and took off his mask to reveal Acad prexy Tom Sherak, who quipped "How was your week?" Sherak offered an emotional toast to the late Laura Ziskin and Gil Cates. His voice cracked as he expressed his gratitude for Ziskin's battle to cure cancer "for all of us who have struggled with cancer," one of the few times he has publicly acknowledged his fight with the disease. The Academy kept the burgundy, gold and cream drapes of years past but changed up the layout of the ballroom from the inaugural years of the banquet. Instead of splitting the ballroom in two, with half for cocktails and half for dinner and ceremony, this year the entire room was opened up and cocktails were held in the dining area. The screen and stage were in the middle of the long wall, bars were at either end of the room, and the dining area was defined by a semicircle of banquettes in the middle. The layout provided a more spacious feeling, especially for tables at the back and sides, and brought even the farthest tables closer to the screen and podiums.Following a steak dinner accompanied wines from John Lasseters vineyards - with Mr. & Mrs. Lasseter on hand to share in the pour - the award presentations began, starting with Jones. Alec Baldwin, who'd eschewed most of cocktail hour to eat early and prepare notes, rose as the night's first speaker. He said Jones' career, moving from stage to screen, was the career Baldwin himself wanted. "That's what every actor wants," he said. He that during "The Hunt for Red October," he had waited until well into the shoot to ask Jones for career advice. As they shared a cigarette break outside the soundstage, Baldwin asked for advice as an actor, and Jones, after a long pause, offered "My advice is to quit smoking."Jones was unable to attend, as he is in London acting in the stage production of "Driving Miss Daisy" opposite Vanessa Redgrave. The Acad's solution was to send a camera crew to record Jones receiving his statuette after Saturday's matinee and surprise him with Sir Ben Kingsley as presenter. Kingsley saluted Jones for his versatility, honesty and passion for acting, saying "You're always so damn good." The taped aud in London and the live aud in Hollywood applauded in tandem. Jones, still in his "Driving Miss Daisy" costume. said he was "gobsmacked" by the presentation. "If an actor's nightmare is being onstage buck naked and not knowing his lines, what the heck do you call this? I had my clothes on, I knew my words, then out from the wings steps Sir Ben Kingsley, and he hands me an Oscar! What the heck do you call that but an actor's wet dream?"Acknowledging that he spends to the legit stage, Jones said "I feel like a lone wolf lurking outside the glow of the cinema campfire, who lunges in to snatch a morsel of movie now and then," and acknowledged that while some had been good, he'd been in "some of the worst movies ever." Smith was next to be feted, with Linda Blair remembering how she came to love him, even as he made her absolutely hideous as the possessed girl in "The Exorcist" - not a little girl's dream come true - because they shared an affection for animals. J.J. Abrams, next to speak, recalled writing a letter to Smith when he was a boy making 8mm movies, and getting a box back in the mail from Smith containing "an old but clean tongue" from "The Exorcist," with instructions on how to use it. "My mother was concerned," said Abrams. "Who was this man named Dick who was sending tongues to her son?" But the exchange kicked off a years'long correspondence and an enduring friendship. Then Rick Baker saluted Smith as the greatest makeup man who ever lived.Smith, looking frail, stood to say "Forgive me, my memory is not very good these days. When they showed the video (of his career highlights), I thought 'Wow, that guy had a great career!'" Then he added "This has been an incredible joy. I have loved being a makeup artist so much, but this puts a cap on all that. To have so much kindness shown to me at once is too much." Then he broke down in tears. It was the evening's most emotional moment. The video salute to Winfrey began with her acting roles and films she produced, establishing both her Oscar pedigree and her bona fides as part of the movie community, before laying out her extensive philanthropic efforts. Larry Gorden recounted a story of doing tequila shots with Oprah, and calling her "a f***ing moose" for her ability to put away liquor. Others at the party excoriated him for speaking to her that way, and he was mortified. But when she saw him the next morning, she approached Gordon, threw open her arms and shouted "Baby, it's your f***ing moose!" John Travolta followed, saying Oprah had first done tequila shots at his 50th birthday party in Mexico, where she danced all night and into the morning. Then Maria Shriver saluted her longtime friend and introduced Ayanna Hall, who received a scholarship from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation when she was a high school sophomore in Harlem and today is attending Barnard College. Hall presented Winfrey her statuette.Winfrey said she had not prepared a speech, but she spoke at some length. She said "To be here tonight, if you are not a former colored girl born in Mississippi in 1954, its unimaginable (for you) to know what this journey has meant," and remembered that she had come from a line of maids, like those in "The Help." Her grandmother's wish for her, she said, was that she "get some good white folks" she could serve as a maid.The Hersholt Award, she said, "means more to me than any film or even an Oscar, because it means you get it. Every single person who incarnates on the planet matters. That's what I've been trying to say through all of my work." After Winfrey stepped down the formal program was over, but it was only 10:15 and guests lingered for champagne, coffee and lots of picture taking. Introductions among luminaries continued. Sean Durkin marvelled "It seemed to go by so fast." Publicists scrambled for parting interviews and first-time attendees marvelled at the warmth and intimacy of the event."We'll see you at the Oscars" said announcer Melissa Disney, wrapping things up. That's 106 days of screenings, red carpets, formalwear, acceptance speeches and afterparties. But who's counting? Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Is Clyde the Orangutan in 'J. Edgar'? (And 24 Other Urgent Questions)

The critical community is totally divided inside the benefits -- or lack there of -- in the new biopic, 'J. Edgar.' Inside the film, Clint Eastwood ('Firefox') directs Leonardo DiCaprio ('The Beach') as J. Edgar Hoover, possibly most likely the very best guy in the last century. Is 'J. Edgar' headed for just about any date with Oscar gold, or will 'J. Edgar' be sitting home on your evening, dictating lies about its prominence? Just like a service, we answer every question you can possible have about 'J. Edgar.' Q: What's 'J. Edgar' about? A: 'J. Edgar' can be a biopic round the existence and occasions of J. Edgar Hoover. Q: The 31st Leader from the united states . States? A: You're thinking about Herbert Hoover, who's stated inside the theme song for 'All inherited.A J. Edgar Hoover was the Director in the Federal Bureau of Research from 1935 until his dying in 1972. Q: Hoover dies?! Um, would you've got a the least labeled using a "Spoiler Alert"? A: OK, fine, "Spoiler Alert," J. Edgar Hoover remains dead for pretty much four decades. Q: How's Leonardo DiCaprio as Hoover? A: His acting is great, obviously. Honestly, though, you will discover no less than a few moments will have the ability to only suppose he'd have loved another shot. Q: Why would he want another shot? A: Because Clint Eastwood established fact about filming one take, then continuing to move forward. Q: Who is regarded as the intriguing character in 'J. Edgar'? A: That could be the level of smoothness of Clyde. Q: Oh! See, I like Clyde in 'Every Which Way But Loose." That's great to hear that Eastwood introduced him back for the next movie. A: No, you're thinking about Clyde the orangutan. In 'J. Edgar,' Clyde is really a person named Clyde Tolson, carried out by Armie Hammer. Q: Anytime in 'J. Edgar' does Hoover tell Tolson, "Right turn, Clyde," then Tolson punching someone hard. A: No. But that'll be a much better movie. Q: Does 'J. Edgar' explore the gossips that Hoover stood a long-term affair with Tolson? A: A simple theme in the entire film is about Hoover's mysterious relationship with Tolson. Q: Does 'J. Edgar' portray Hoover as gay? A: The easy fact is "yes," however it is much more complicated than that. Q: What famous cases does Hoover address through the path of 'J. Edgar'? A: Numerous, really. Most prominent, though, through the path from the film, might be the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's 18-month old boy. Q: What's the best factor about 'J. Edgar'? A: The fact the particular Hoover was this type of interesting figure and, concurrently, this type of enigma. I felt like the moments that we loved most likely probably the most had little associated with the film itself, but more the subject. Q: The thing that was the very first thought after departing your screening of 'J. Edgar'? A: "Well, that wasn't a whole disaster." Q: The amount of occasions perhaps you have cringe throughout 'J. Edgar' within an awful kind of dialogue? A: Six. Q: For the amount of straight seconds perhaps you have cringe when J. Lawn lawn edger puts on his mother's dress? A: Six. Q: A sum make 'J. Edgar' better? A: My second thought getting seen 'J. Edgar' was "You understand, Martin Scorsese may have developed a great version of 'J. Edgar.'" Q: Whoever else got against Clint Eastwood? A: Nothing. Really, I really like Eastwood a good deal. I am in a position to honestly the only real three Eastwood movies that we dislike are 'J. Edgar,' 'Hereafter' and 'City Warmth.' I even loved 'Every Which Method That You Should.A Q: The age of had you been the ultimate time you saw 'Every Which Method That You Should?A A: Six. Q: What's the worst factor about 'J. Edgar'? A: DiCaprio's voice-over. The simplest way will have the ability to describe it's if an individual mentioned to Leo, "OK, of those voiceovers, do your better Darth Vader voice. It'll be great, trust me.In . Q: The thing that was the second worst factor about 'J. Edgar'? A: The makeup applied to Armie Hammer when he's representing Tolson within the senior years. It's comparable while using makeup applied to Serta Aykroyd as Reeve Alvin Valkenheiser in 'Nothing but Trouble.' (Though, DiCaprio's does look particularly good.) Q: Is it possible to consider another question that you could answer "six"? A: How about "The amount of more fake questions can i develop of a boring movie?" Q: The amount of Oscars will 'J. Edgar' win? A: Zero. Q: What infuriated probably the most about 'J. Edgar'? A: (Spoiler alert, of sorts) Near to the finish in the movie, we uncover the handful of moments, that individuals needed at face value, never happened. Q: Haven't good movies transported this out before? A: Why particularly frustrating is always that these bankruptcies are not particularly over-the-top moments that individuals would at all doubt. When "the realityInch is revealed, it's met getting a collective shrug. I'm speaking about, one of the "large unveils" involves in case your meaningless handshake happened or else. A handshake! Q: Within the finish of 'J. Edgar,' what scene would you like might have been revealed as really happening, though wasn't proven? A: You'll be able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook [Photo: Warner Bros.]

R.I.P. Andy Rooney

The 60 Minutes essayist died at age 92. Rooney, who retired on October 2, fell ill after complications from surgery on October 25. The curmudgeonly journalist was best known for his humorous observations of everyday life, a regular 60 Minutes feature since 1978. He joined the top-rated CBS news program in 1970 after a long newsman career that began in WWII as a Stars and Stripes correspondent. Rooney’s death was announced by CBS this morning. “It’s a sad day at ’60 Minutes’ and for everybody here at CBS News,” said Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and the executive producer of “60 Minutes.” “It’s hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much.”

Fox Searchlight Inks First-Look Deal With Martha Marcy Producer Borderline Films

Borderline Films, the company behind the Sundance hit Martha Marcy May Marlene, has signed a two-year first-look deal with Fox Searchlight, the studio that picked up the the Elizabeth Olsen-starring psychological thriller during the festival.Borderline Films was launched in 2003 by Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin and Josh Mon, who rotate their roles as writer, director and producer. Sean, Antonio and Josh are an exciting talent collective with unique voices and a bold vision,” said Searchlight presidents Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley, who announced the deal today. “They are not afraid to challenge audiences with thought provoking films. We are thrilled to be in business with them and look forward to a very creative partnership.” UTA’s David Flynn, Melissa Breaux at Washington Square Arts and attorney Peter Nelson repped the filmmakers in the deal; Searchlight was repped by SVP Megan OBrien. SVP Production Zola Mashariki will oversee Borderline’s production slate.

CBS Stars to think about Over Show Twitter, Facebook Accounts

CBS"The Big Bang Theory" Following its April Tweet Week, CBS is letting the celebs of the reality, comedy and drama fare dominate the network's social media comprises about each week incorporated in the Social Sweep Week. Stars from programs like the Large Bang Theory, two and a half Males, The Mentalist, The Truly Amazing Wife, The Way In Which I Met Your Mother, NCIS and Survivor will need inside the official Facebook comprises concerning the show's official pages throughout your day. Every day fans can look to the Facebook account pages -- or CBS.com -- to uncover which stars from your evening's programming will probably be posting exclusive show content, status updates and reacting to fan questions. The large event starts Saturday, November. 5 when CBS Sports broadcasts no. 1-ranked LSU game against No. 2-ranked Alabama and continues Sunday while using Nfl, Amazing Race, Good Wife and CSI: Miami. An entire schedule follows. Saturday, November 5 SEC on CBS Facebook.com/SEConCBS @SEConCBS Sunday, November 6 Nfl on CBS Facebook.com/NFLonCBS @NFLonCBS The Astounding RACE Facebook.com/AmazingRace @AmazingRace_CBS The Truly Amazing WIFE Facebook.com/TheGoodWife @TheGoodWife_CBS CSI: MIAMI Facebook.com/CSIMiami @CSIMiami_CBS Monday, November 7 The Way In Which I MET YOUR MOTHER Facebook.com/HowIMetYourMotherCBS @HIMYM_CBS 2 BROKE Women Facebook.com/2BrokeGirls @2BrokeGirls_CBS two and a half Males Facebook.com/TwoandaHalfMen @TwoHalfMen_CBS MIKE & MOLLY Facebook.com/MikeandMollyCBS @MikeMolly_CBS HAWAII FIVE- Facebook.com/HawaiiFive0CBS @HawaiiFive0CBS Tuesday, November 8 NCIS Facebook.com/NCIS @NCIS_CBS NCIS: La Facebook.com/NCISLA @NCISLA_CBS Memorable Facebook.com/CBSUnforgettable @un4gettableCBS Wednesday, November 9 SURVIVOR: SOUTH Off-shoreline Facebook.com/Survivor @Survivor_Tweet CRIMINAL MINDS Facebook.com/CriminalMinds @CrimMinds_CBS CSI: CRIME SCENE Analysis Facebook.com/CSICrimeSceneInvestigation @CSI_CBS Thursday, November 10 The Big BANG THEORY Facebook.com/TheBigBangTheory @BigBang_CBS RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Facebook.com/RulesofEngagement @RulesEngagement PERSON Of Curiosity Facebook.com/PersonOfInterestCBS @PersonInterest THE MENTALIST Facebook.com/TheMentalist @Mentalist_CBS Friday, November 11 A GIFTED Guy Facebook.com/AGiftedMan @AGiftedMan_CBS CSI: NY Facebook.com/CSINY @CSINY_CBS BLUE BLOODS Facebook.com/CBSBlueBloods @BlueBloods_CBS Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com Twitter: @Snoodit CBS

Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace to Star in 'Dragon Tattoo' Director's Revenge Thriller

Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace will star in Dead Man Down, a mob drama to be directed by Niels Arden Oplev, who helmed the original The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which starred Rapace. IM Global is behind the movie and is unveiling it at AFM. Neal Moritz is producing the movie with Ori Marmur via their Original Films banner. J.H. Wyman, a writer-exec producer on Fox's sci-fi series Fringe, is also producing. Wyman also wrote the script, a revenge tale featuring a mobster's hitman (Farrell) who falls for a disfigured former beauty (Rapace), with the two of them going on a violent spree. PICTURES: Colin Farrell at the 2011 Scream Awards A shoot in early 2012 is being eyed. Since breaking through with the international hit Dragon Tattoo in 2009, the ICM-repped Oplev has become attached to several Stateside projects, although none has yet gone before cameras. Rapace, repped by UTA and Magnolia Entertainment, has also gone the Hollywood route since her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Stieg Larsson adaptations, and will appear in December's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and in next summer's Ridley Scott's sci-fi epic Prometheus. STORY: 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Inspires H&M Collection Ferrell, repped by CAA, next stars in Columbia's Total Recall and is reuniting with his In Bruge director Martin McDonagh for the quirky thriller Seven Psychopaths. Wyman, repped by CAA and Benderspink, also wrote the Brad Pitt-Julia Roberts movie The Mexican. Email;: Borys.Kit@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Kit Related Topics Colin Farrell International The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Noomi Rapace

CNN, MSNBC Match Demo for October Rankings

A newsy October using the deaths of Jobs and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi along with a ongoing Republican primary fight is finished with MSNBC and CNN tied in primetime within the key 25-54 demographic.our editor recommends'Erin Burnett OutFront': Exactly what the Experts Are SayingAnderson Cooper Defends Kim Kardashian on 'AC360's' Ridiculist Segment (Video) Both systems averaged 197,000 within the demo (Monday through Friday, from 8-11 p.m., excluding CNN's March. 18 GOP debate). CNN was up five percent in comparison to October 2010 once the live save from the Chilean miners riveted the country. PHOTOS: Probably The Most Spoken-About TV News Faces MSNBC was lower 25 % year-over-year and cable news leader Fox News was lower 28 percent. MSNBC still capped CNN among total audiences. Within the 8 p.m. hour, Physical Violence Worsens 360 capped The Final Word With Lawrence O'Donnell within the demo (178,000 versus. 175,000) for any 21 jump in comparison to October 2010. But MSNBC still capped CNN among total audiences (843,000 versus. 546,000). Consider Last Word and also the Erectile dysfunction Show swapped time slots on March. 24, MSNBC has returned on the top at 8 and 10 p.m. within the demo and among total audiences. CNN's new 7 p.m. show Outfront with Erin Burnett averaged 146,000 audiences within the demo and 490,000 among total audiences for gains of nine percent and seven percent year-over-year. MSNBC's Morning Joe is constantly on the top CNN's American Morning among total audiences (390,000 versus. 252,000) and also the demo (141,000 versus. 105,000). CNN will quickly update its morning selection with former ABC News anchor Ashleigh Banfield likely to dominate the five-7 a.m. change and Soledad O'Brien anchoring from 7-9 a.m. Related Subjects TV Rankings Physical Violence Worsens Erin Burnett