Coens eye Oscar glory with No Country
- 00:02:13
- ITN
Coens eye Oscar glory with No Country
No Country For Old Men has become an Oscar front-runner after bagging the top gong at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.The gritty crime drama, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, won for best ensemble cast while Spanish actor Javier Bardem was honoured with best supporting actor for playing a cold-blooded killer in the movie.The film, which has eight Oscar nominations ahead of the February 24 ceremony, also won the Directors Guild Award.Some critics have slammed the film's ending but actor and member of the cast, Josh Brolin, said: "The Coen brothers are freaky little people and we did a freaky little movie, whether you liked the ending or not."Meanwhile, there were emotional scenes when British-born star Daniel Day-Lewis, who won best actor for his role as a greedy oil baron in There Will Be Blood, dedicated his trophy to Heath Ledger.The unexplained death of the 28-year-old Australian star at his apartment in New York's trendy SoHo last week, has shocked Hollywood.Day-Lewis said he had never met Ledger but paid tribute in his acceptance speech. He later said: "That's all I have been thinking about the last few days. I am absolutely certain he would have done many wonderful things in his life."Ledger's family is due to hold a private memorial in New York on Friday while a public remembrance has also been proposed for Los Angeles in coming days.Another British star, Julie Christie, 66, won the best actress award for playing a woman with Alzheimer's disease in Away From Her.She said: "It's lovely to receive an award from your own union, especially at a time when we are being so forcefully reminded how important unions are."Christie referred to the bitter dispute between Hollywood screenwriters and movie and television studios which is crippling Tinseltown and led to the annual glittering Golden Globes ceremony being scrapped.The Writers Guild Of America allowed its members to write for the Screen Actors Guild show and did not protest outside because actors have been strong allies of the writers.Movie fans were treated to some Hollywood glamour at the event, with red carpet appearances by Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Eva Longoria and Cate Blanchett.Will & Grace star said: "The entire town has been going through a very difficult time. So to be able to celebrate something is a wonderful thing."In SAG's television awards, mob drama The Sopranos swept the board, taking the trophy for best cast in a TV drama and the best actor and actress awards for James Gandolfini and Edie Falco in an emotional finish to the series that ended in June.Tina Fey and 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin won for best actress and actor in a TV comedy. The Office won for best television comedy cast ensemble.© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
ITN | January 28, 2008
