AS THE stars of Friends knock back the monkey glands in preparation for Sunday's main Emmy Awards ceremony, the people who do the real heavy lifting are already trying to find space for the hilariously bulky statuettes that were handed out at the Creative Arts Emmy bash last Sunday writes Donald Clarke.
Congratulations are due to our own Consolata Boyle, who picked up the award for Best Costumes for a Mini-Series, Movie or Special for her work on the Showtime remake of The Lion in Winter, starring Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart.
Boyle, who is currently gearing up for Oliver Parker's new film, Click, in London, was unable to attend the ceremony and, feeling that it would be presumptive to remain awake by the phone, was tucked up in bed when the news came in. "Those who choose the winners are designers themselves and that is a lovely feeling," she says.
Sheridan redoes Kurosawa
Word that Jim Sheridan is to direct a remake of one of Akira Kurosawa's great films caused Reel News to muse upon the image of Brenda Fricker hitting Daniel Day Lewis with a big sword. Sadly, the film in question is not one of the master's samurai epics. Ikiru (1952) tells the story of a terminally ill man who, after first having a crack at debauchery, decides to do something worthwhile with his few remaining months. Rumours suggest that cinema's current Sultan of Sob, Tom Hanks, is being manoeuvred into the title role.
Sony buys up ex-grand MGM
It's amazing what those Japanese can do these days. Earlier this week it became clear that the Sony Corporation, which had been locked in a who'll-blink-first contest with Time Warner, was set to acquire the once-mighty MGM for $5 billion. The deal will give Sony the rights to Hollywood's biggest back catalogue and the chance to further develop valuable MGM franchises such as James Bond.
The pact also allows Reel News the opportunity to wearily point out that, at time of writing, the current favourite to replace Pierce Brosnan is Scottish hunk Dougray Scott. By the time you read this, he, and another dozen or so actors, will doubtless have turned the role down.
A whole new 'Anchorman'
At least one recent DVD release has featured so many outtakes that punters could, if they had nothing better to do, assemble an entire second feature with just the use of a remote control. The makers of the current hit Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy seem prepared to save us the trouble.
In a recent interview, Anchorman star Will Ferrell explained, "They're actually going to release a whole other movie called Wake Up Ron Burgundy. When we do the DVD, there's going to be a new hour-and-40-minute movie on it."
Apparently the first cut of the original film was nine hours long. Expect The Anchorman Trilogy boxed set any time soon.
Feel-bad flicks not for Bill
Bill Clinton's friends in Hollywood have been eager to find some jolly new movie releases to help the ex-pres recuperate from the heart surgery he underwent earlier this month. Sadly, our angst-ridden age being what it is, it appears that every notable film coming our way this winter touches upon death, disease or devastation. Bill's buddies have been forced to dig out classics from earlier, more golden ages.
Reel News seems to recall that in the aftermath of 9/11, newspapers were awash with think-pieces suggesting that, as happened during the Depression, Hollywood would henceforth devote itself to the production of zany comedies, whacky musicals and inspiring tales involving Jimmy Stewart surrogates. So, what was burning up the US box office three years to the day after the attacks? Resident Evil: Apocalypse, that's what.
