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Beverly Hills, CA—Actress Scarlett Johansson will present the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards on Saturday, February 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. Woody AllenMichael Bay

Johnny Carson, an entertainment industry icon whose comedy dominated American television and popular culture for 30 years, died of emphysema on Sunday morning at his Malibu, California, home, according to NBC. Mr. Carson was 79 years old.

S{file:holleran2004favs.htm}elf-doubting superheroes slamming into buildings, gothic vampires swooping down and people standing in front of oncoming tornadoes as the world comes crumbling down—last year's top-grossing movies were like a malevolent storm descending upon a nation at war, with the public shivering in fear and clinging to deeply-held beliefs. Liberal dogmatists flocked to see blowhard Michael Moore's anti-war tract, Fahrenheit 9/11, while the resurgence of religious fundamentalism was evident both in the grosses for cross-clutcher Mel Gibson's latest display of blood, sweat and self-sacrifice (The Passion of the Christ) and in the re-election of a religious president. It is tempting to deem 2004 the year "Let's Roll" gave way to "Let's Pray," and two bearded saviors appeared to satisfy the demand. Robert De NiroPeter ChelsomMartha CoolidgeJoel SchumacherRobert ZemeckisEric BanaKurt RussellSusan SarandonGena RowlandsJohnny Depp

What: Hollywood's Master Storytellers™ to host Back to the Future 20th Anniversary Cast Reunion James CameronJeffrey KatzenbergGeorge Clooney

Beverly Hills, CA—Actor Orlando Bloom has been tapped to present at the 77th Academy Awards®, telecast producer Gil Cates announced today. This will be his first appearance as a presenter on the show. Ridley ScottCameron Crowe

Beverly Hills, CA—Renée Zellweger will present at the 77th Academy Awards® ceremony, telecast producer Gil Cates announced today.

BURBANK, CA, January 19, 2005—Acclaimed British television helmer David Yates (State of Play, The Way We Live Now) has been signed to direct Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved novel series, for Warner Bros. Pictures. The announcement was made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures. Mike Newell

Beverly Hills, CA—Telecast producer Gil Cates has set actress Charlize Theron to present at the 77th Academy Awards Ceremony on February 27.

Alexander marched to the top of the international box office last weekend, raking in in $14.5 million from 3,600 screens in 51 territories and lifting its total to $88 million—or over two and half times its $34.2 million domestic haul. Oliver StoneNatalie PortmanTrey Parker

As Coach Carter cleaned up over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Elektra and Racing Stripes were out of the gates at over 3,000 theaters each and In Good Company and House of Flying Daggers unfolded nationally. Dennis QuaidJennifer GarnerZiyi ZhangYimou Zhang

Coach Carter grabbed $29.2 million from 3,200 screens across 2,524 theaters to claim the top spot over the four-day Martin Luther King, Jr. frame. Paramount and MTV Films' $30 million production's $24.2 million three-day weekend marks star Samuel L. Jackson's best start as the headlining star, topping Shaft's $21.7 million. Among basketball movies, only Space Jam from 1996 had a bigger three-day debut at $27.5 million. Thomas Carter

LOS ANGELES (January 17, 2005)—Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of IFP/Los Angeles, announced today that Samuel L. Jackson will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the 20th Independent Spirit Awards. Jackson who previously hosted the Awards Ceremony in 1996 and 1997, returns to host the Awards which celebrate its 20th Anniversary this year. Quentin TarantinoSpike LeeSofia CoppolaBill MurrayCharlize TheronDeclan Quinn

Director Thomas Carter's story of a basketball coach's mission to remake high school athletes, Coach Carter, is practically a throwback to movies like Boys Town and To Sir, With Love. For this reviewer, a simple tale of a goal-driven man of principle beats a million-dollar downfall any day.

To borrow a favorite line from Warner Bros.' latest children's movie, Racing Stripes earns its keep. The live action, talking animal picture is crisp and clean, with good characters in a fun, light plot about self-esteem. Its flimsy premise, a zebra thinks he's a racehorse, is enhanced by writer David Schmidt's innocent script, which adheres to virtues such as independence and personal responsibility through a band of farm animals that would be right at home alongside Charlotte's Web.

Beverly Hills, CA—The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the seven films being considered for Achievement in Makeup for the 77th Academy Awards®.

Alexander had a mixed reception last weekend overseas. In the United Kingdom, the picture grossed a sturdy $2.295 million from 415 screens. This was a somewhat poor start, however. Although Warner Bros. touts it as higher than the opening of The Patriot (the English have never been too kind to American Independence pictures), it performed below expectations. The opening didn't even math The Beach or Twister. Oliver StoneWesley Snipes

In a season with no single front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar, major contenders Million Dollar Baby and Hotel Rwanda expanded successfully this week, while Sideways, Finding Neverland and The Aviator consolidated their bases and Kinsey was flaccid in its near nationwide release. Clint EastwoodMartin ScorseseLeonardo DiCaprioAlexander PayneCharlize TheronNicole Kidman

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THIS AND THAT Partners Anthony Bregman, Anne Carey and Ted Hope to produce Holofcener's new comedy that boasts an impressive cast of actors Jennifer Aniston