HOLLYWOOD GEARS UP FOR OSCARS 2005

[ 27 February 2005 ]

Los Angeles is gearing up for the glittering extravaganza that is Oscars night. Johnny Depp will pit the immeserable genius of Sir James Matthew Barrie (Finding Neverland) against Clint Eastwood, (Million Dollar Baby), Jamie Foxx (Ray), Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) and Leonardo Di Caprio (The Aviator) for the coveted Best Actor Academy Award.

Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Babt) will spar with Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Annette Bening (Being Julia) and Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace) for Best Actress. Alan Alda (The Aviator) will face off against Clive Owen (Closer), Jamie Foxx (Collateral), Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) for Best Supporting Actor.

Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) will battle with Virginia Madsen (Sideways), Laura Linney (Kinsey), Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) and Natalie Portman (Closer) for Best Supporting Actress. Martin Scorsese (The Aviator) engages Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby), Alexander Payne (Sideways), Taylor Hackford (Ray) and Mike Leigh (Vera Drake) for Best Director.

Productions tendering for Best Picture include: The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby, Ray and Sideways. The 2005 Academy Awards begins at 01:30 GMT and we'll have live coverage on the winners as they are announced from the Kodak Theatre right here on www.tombraiderchronicles.com

Best Actor: Jamie Foxx

Best Actress: Hilary Swank

Best Supporting Actor: Morgan Freeman

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett

Original Score (Music): Jan A.P. Kaczmarek - Finding Neverland

Best Director: Clint Eastwood

Best Motion Picture: Million Dollar Baby

A full list of those nominated for an Academy Award and winners can be found at www.oscars.com and www.bbc.co.uk and www.imdb.com