This Week: Go For The Gold
The awards season shifted into higher gear this week as film critics societies from around the country named their favorite films and the Foreign Press Association announced the nominees for the Golden Globe awards.
On Thursday, the Foreign Press Association announced the Golden Globe award nominees, with "Atonement" raking in a leading seven nominations including best picture, drama. The gruesome musical "Sweeney Todd" in which Johnny Depp shows off his singing chops - you should pardon the expression - earned four nods, including best picture, comedy or musical.
The New York Film Critics named "No Country For Old Men" their favorite film and gave Joel and Ethan Coen awards for their direction and screenplay adapted from the Cormack McCarthy novel of the same name. Javier Bardem, who plays an oddly-coiffed serial killer in the movie, won best supporting actor.
Photos: Golden Globes
Over on the West Coast, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association voted "There Will Be Blood" 2007's best film with the film's star, Daniel Day Lewis, winning best actor. It also won for best director and best production design.
The Producers Guild Award will honor Oprah Winfrey and the other producers of "The Great Debaters" with the Stanley Kramer Award, the guild announced Wednesday. The award is given for films that illuminate provocative issues, in this case.
Madonna, The Dave Clark Five, Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp and The Ventureswill be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2008. Controversy over the choices has already begun with critics questioning why there are no African-American inductees and what, besides her fame, makes Madonna a rock star.
Photos: Denzel Washington
While some rock fans were grumbling about Madge, others were on a stairway to heaven as Led Zeppelin reunited in honor of Ahmet Ertegun at a London concert Monday. One writer noted that Robert Plant still rocks out with his trademark wail, but at 59 the singer is smart enough to leave his shirt on.
Photos: Madonna
The 8th World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates gave George Clooney and Don Cheadle the Man of Peace award Thursday. The two actors were honored for their efforts to raise awareness of the plight of the millions who have fled their homes in the Sudanese region of Darfur. Clooney also received a Golden Globe nomination for "Michael Clayton" this week, proving he is indeed a golden boy on and off screen.
Photos: Top Ten Celebrity Do-Gooders