InfoAnda - Political figures jostle for Oscar spotlight | Entertainment |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

RI bishop asked Kennedy in 2007 to avoid Communion | 23 November 2009
News Corp. buys education technology company | 23 November 2010
China's geologist premier meets unease in Iceland | | 22 April 2012

Shakira gives dance lesson in South Africa township | | 10 June 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Political figures jostle for Oscar spotlight | Entertainment |

My Profile Top News Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day. Subscribe You are here: Home > News > Entertainment > Article Home Business & Finance News U.S. Politics International Technology Entertainment Film Music People Television Arts Industry Sports Lifestyle Oddly Enough Environment Health Science Special Coverage Video Pictures The Great Debate Blogs Weather Reader Feedback Do More With Reuters RSS Widgets Mobile Podcasts Newsletters You Witness News Make Reuters My Homepage Partner Services CareerBuilder Affiliate Network Professional Products Support (Customer Zone) Reuters Media Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Political figures jostle for Oscar spotlight Tue Jan 6, 2009 10:43pm EST Email | Print | Share | Reprints | Single Page [-] Text [+] By Tom Roston NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - It seems appropriate that Benicio Del Toro takes a diplomatic stance when discussing the differences between playing a recognizable political figure and portraying a purely fictional character. "There are ups and downs," says the actor, whose turn as Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara in "Che" is receiving widespread critical praise. "The up is that there is a lot of information -- a lifetime of information. That can be overwhelming at times, but that is an up because you don't have to create it." "The down," he adds, "is the expectations, because people think they know the character. It shouldn't affect you as an actor, but inevitably it does." Del Toro is in quite a crowded field this year, one of many actors in high-profile performances as real-life politicos. There is also Josh Brolin, who plays President George W. Bush, along with James Cromwell as his father, in "W."; Sean Penn as California's first openly gay elected politician Harvey Milk in "Milk"; and Frank Langella, whose portrayal of Richard Nixon in "Frost/Nixon" is, like the others, getting plenty of awards season buzz. Although these are all meaty parts, playing political figures isn't a straight shot to Academy recognition. Oscar nods have actually been infrequent for these turns, with some notable exceptions, including nominations for Denzel Washington as Malcolm X in the 1992 film of the same name and Anthony Hopkins as Richard Nixon in 1995's "Nixon." And then there has been a smattering of Oscar wins, such as Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi (1982's "Gandhi"), and more recently Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin (2006's "The Last King of Scotland") and Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II (2006's "The Queen"). This year, Brolin has a unique view on the subject because he plays two real-life characters from the world of politics; he also co-stars in "Milk" as Dan White, the city supervisor who assassinated Milk. "With Dan White, I felt more pressure than with W.," he says, "because (director) Oliver (Stone) and I talked a lot about recreating the spirit of W., rather than making a carbon copy of him. Whereas with Dan White, I really wanted to get his voice down -- I tried to do an actual rendition of him." Brolin says that both Stone and "Milk" director Gus Van Sant left it up to him to create the two characters, and he researched primarily by studying copious amounts of video footage. For "W.," Brolin also read 13 books on the president and constantly had his speeches on a loop "until I drove my assistant crazy," he says. When actors study their political characters, they turn into veritable armchair therapists. "You can look at Bush or Obama and pick up character traits and little insecurities," says Langella, who also played Nixon in the stage version of "Frost/Nixon" and took home a Tony Award. "But they are junior league compared to Nixon, who was fabulously fascinating to watch." Del Toro had more than enough time to prepare for Guevara. He spent seven years intermittently working on "Che," reading books, traveling to Cuba and Argentina. "Sometimes, when you play a part, you create a whole backstory," he says. "And it might be three pages long. But for Che Guevara, it would probably have to be 1,200 pages." Del Toro says he and director Steven Soderbergh "wanted no one to tell us that what we shot didn't happen, even though a movie in itself is make-believe and we had to compress stuff. We wanted to make sure what we saw Che do in the movie was based on fact." To find his character, Del Toro says his favorite tool was using photographs of the revolutionary leader. When the actor saw an image of Guevara being interviewed on an American television show and noticed he was wearing makeup, that inspired him to incorporate a scene in which his character asks for some powder before being interviewed. Like Brolin, Del Toro felt most challenged when he tried to mimic his character, as he did when playing Guevara during a speech he delivered at the United Nations. "That speech is memorized verbatim in some Latin American countries," he says. "I listened to the tape over and over again." What was most difficult was speaking Spanish in the "scholarly" way that Guevara did. Del Toro stopped learning the language when he was 13, so he had some catching up to do. It's not surprising that for many actors, discovering something intimate and private -- rather than something of public or global political importance -- is what most defines how they find their characters. For Langella, it was being in Nixon's childhood home for a day, on the grounds of the Richard Nixon Library in the little house that his father had built in Yorba Linda, Calif. Langella read the president's copy of Charles de Gaulle's "The Edge of the Sword," in whose margins Nixon had written notes. And for Del Toro, it was something he learned about Guevara during a trip to Argentina, where he met Guevara's younger brother, nephew and others who knew him. "It was really moving to learn that when Che was 1 or 1-and-a-half years old, he had an asthma attack," Del Toro says, "and the whole family moved from one town to another -- like the distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco -- for the benefit of this kid. There's something about that sense of love, family and protection that really vibrated in my brain and stuck with me through the making of the movie." Continued... View article on single page Share: Del.icio.us Digg Mixx My Web Facebook LinkedIn Next Article: Networks devoted more time to election: report Also on Reuters German billionaire commits suicide after VW losses Slideshow Slideshow: Jump! A look at those seeking higher ground Show us the money: Shovel- ready projects set to go More Entertainment News Travolta's son cremated, ashes flown to Florida | Video Scared Swayze says may have only 2 years to live Jennifer Garner delivers another daughter Networks devoted more time to election: report Charges to be dropped against actor Josh Brolin More Entertainment News... Editor's Choice Slideshow A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow Most Popular on Reuters Articles Video Egypt floats truce plan after 42 killed in Gaza school UPDATE 3-Bank of America sells $2.8 bln China bank stake Jennifer Garner delivers another daughter UPDATE 1-Scared Swayze says may have only 2 years to live German billionaire commits suicide after VW losses Egypt floats truce plan after 42 killed in Gaza school | Video German tycoon Adolf Merckle commits suicide | Video Scared Swayze says may have only 2 years to live "What are you doing here?": man asks wife at brothel Israeli shells kill 42 at U.N. school: Gaza medics Most Popular Articles RSS Feed Video UN takes on Gaza Obama speaks out on Gaza Iran and Gaza Talk of the Town: Jett cremated Billionaire Merckle's suicide Burris blocked from Senate Congress, Obama focus on economy Jett Travolta..the autopsy Russia-Ukraine gas row spreads Israel demands Hamas disarm Most Popular Videos RSS Feed Reuters Deals The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators Knowledge to Act Reuters.com: Help and Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Mobile | Newsletters | RSS | Interactive TV | Labs | Reuters in Second Life | Archive | Site Index | Video Index Thomson Reuters Corporate: Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Professional Products | Professional Products Support | About Thomson Reuters | Careers International Editions: Africa | Arabic | Argentina | Brazil | Canada | China | France | Germany | India | Italy | Japan | Latin America | Mexico | Russia | Spain | United Kingdom | United States Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Deadly Israeli raids on schools take Gaza toll to 660
Member of Iraq president party killed in drive-by
Afghans, Pakistan fight militants together-Zardari | International |
Dutch museums probe Nazi loot
Apple to sell all iTunes music without anti-piracy software
Europe fears spike in anti-Semitism as Gaza burns
US, Iraqi troops get the picture (not their man)
Chinese Internet portals argue porn crackdown easier said than done
Zimbabwe court dismisses activists' bid for freedom | International |
2008 slump wipes out 17 trillion dollars in stock value: S&P
Israeli strike near UN school kills at least 30
Logitech to cut 15 percent of workforce as outlook darkens
Police Believes That Paris Hilton's House Burglar Had Been There Before
Rip Torn Pleads Not Guilty To DUI
Chronology of Israel's relationship with Gaza
Apple disappoints--no Jobs or big news at Macworld | Technology |
China face economic pain, sensitive anniversaries
Chinese navy begins landmark Somali piracy patrols: state media
Democrat vying to replace Obama turned away from Senate
Primary school committee hears feedback from over 600 persons
10 mln Indians to lose jobs by March says exporters' body: report
Petrol companies raise pump prices by 4 cents
Sri Lanka seizes key rebel defense line in north
Indian PM accuses Pakistan over Mumbai attacks
President-Elect Barack Obama To Get New Presidential Limousine
2 Malaysians caught smuggling contraband items at Woodlands Checkpoint
Services Sector Shows Slowing Contraction In December
Roland Burris (D-IL) Turned Away At Capital After Attempting To Be Sworn Into Controversial Appointed Senate Seat
Pending Homes Sales Hit Record Low Pace In November
Patrick Swayze angry, scared, determined on cancer | Entertainment |
Charges to be dropped against actor Josh Brolin | Entertainment |
Apple disappoints--no Jobs or big news at Macworld | Entertainment |
Stooges guitarist Asheton found dead in Ann Arbor | Entertainment |
Travolta family returns to US with son's remains
Prosecutors oppose Polanski bid for rape dismissal
Supremes singer surprised at continued success of girl group
Kraftwerk co-founder leaves German group
`Dark Knight,' `Iron Man' battle for effects Oscar
Travolta family returns to US with son's remains
Serbia struggles to root out copyright piracy
Myanmar sees 25 pct fall in tourists in 2008: airport figures
The Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton found dead at 60
Attorney says charge against Brolin to be dropped
California Boy Uses Choke Hold On Vicious Pit Bull To Save Girl From Attack
Aussie Woman Facing Murder Charges For Setting Husband's Genitals On Fire
Palestinian working for Iran media held in Israel
AMD gets US clearance for Abu Dhabi joint venture
Israel agrees to Gaza "humanitarian corridor"
Gas shortages spread as Russian-Ukraine row flares
Venezuela expels Israeli ambassador over Gaza
Bush names marine monuments, defends environmental record
Verizon Wireless plans to support Kindle rivals | Technology |
Motorola unveils phone made from recycled bottles | Technology |
As laptops dominate, desktop PCs face obsolescence | Technology |
Wii boosts UK games sales, music resilient | Technology |
US food aid due in NKorea this week
Strong quake rattles Indonesia
Police: Private TV station in Sri Lanka attacked
S.Korea won at 1-wk high as risk appetite rises
Seoul shares open up as techs, POSCO advance
CPSC, Taiwan Firm Recall 56,000 Baby Cribs
Wall Street Rises Despite Poor Economic Data, Fed Comments
Fugitive filmmaker Polanski seeks U.S. case moved | Entertainment |
Actress Alyssa Milano to wed Hollywood agent
Apple Announces Several Changes At Macworld Finale
Swayze faces cancer (and a new TV series) bravely
Actress Alyssa Milano to wed Hollywood agent
Alan Colmes plays Colbert's sidekick for a day
British buses spread godless message in atheist campaign
CNN: Gupta approached about surgeon general post
B'way grosses, attendance were a bit higher in '08
Izzard performs stand-up for Mumbai attack victim
Egypt floats truce plan after 42 killed in Gaza school | International |
Gaza war rages on as diplomats seek ceasefire
Cambodians mark 30 years since fall of Pol Pot | International |
Egypt and France propose plan to end Gaza conflict
British terror trials deter attacks, slump adds risks: MI5 chief
Humid weather brings out Australia's deadly funnel web
Pakistani spy chief says no war with India | International |
Gas shortages spread as Russian-Ukraine row flares
Ukraine says Russia halts all European transit gas | International |
South Korea parliament returns to work on reforms | International |
Japan marks anniversary of wartime emperor's death | International |
China disinfects after first bird flu death in a year | International |
Gunmen throw grenade at Mexican TV station | International |
Afghans, Pakistan fight militants together-Zardari | International |
Desperate China grads vie for dwindling nanny jobs | International |
Bush, Obama to lunch with former US presidents
SKorea urges Japan against research in disputed sea
Transcript: Mumbai gunmen were commanded by phone
US train conductor text messaging before fatal crash: lawyer
Seoul shares at 3-month closing high as techs rise
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,222
Honda to delay start of Argentina plant: official
Blockbuster CEO open to partnerships with telecoms | Technology |
Women take lead in new Bangladesh cabinet
China warns economic woes could trigger major unrest
Apple to sell copy protection-free songs | Technology |
SKorean 2008 auto output falls amid global crisis
NKorea tightens controls on mobile phones
FACTBOX-South Korea's stalled economic reforms
Airport siege cost Thailand 8.3 bln dollars: central bank
Malaysian Muslims plan boycott of American goods
Japan's emperor marks 20th anniversary of reign
China inspects poultry after bird flu death
2 polytechnics unveil latest rehabilitative aids for patients
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush Says He Will Not Run For Senate
Taiwan court rejects ex-leader Chen's detention appeal
California Pastor Pleads Guilty To Molesting Minors, Gets 90-Year Sentence
Cambodia marks 30th anniversary of Khmer Rouge ouster
Five Die From Texas Shelter Fire
Police Search Dump Sites For Dead Baby Thrown In Trash
Mitsubishi Motors eyeing 900 more job cuts: report
Chinese bank says Bank of America selling shares
Honda to delay production in Argentina
Travolta's son cremated, ashes flown to Florida | Entertainment |
Jennifer Garner delivers another daughter | Entertainment |
Political figures jostle for Oscar spotlight | Entertainment |
Networks devoted more time to election: report | Entertainment |
HBO lands rights to inaugural ceremony | Entertainment |
Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck welcome 2nd daughter
QVC retail network banks on Obamamania
Advertising Campaign Encourages Atheists To Come Out In The Open
Marks & Spencer says will axe 1,230 jobs and close 27 stores
Truce plan floated after Gaza school deaths
TVs, toys, and translators among inventive CES gadgets
Shi'ites in Iraq mark Ashura in show of force | International |
Bar Brawl Case Against "W." Stars Josh Brolin And Jeffrey Wright Dropped
Russia stops all gas shipments to Europe via Ukraine: Kiev
UK's finance minister says country 'far from through' downturn: report
Turk police detain around 30 in coup probe
Israel to stop Gaza bombing for three hours daily: army
India says all options open to dismantle terror groups | International |
Sudan protesters call for attacks on Westerners: U.S. | International |
China pushes to ease grim graduate unemployment | International |
U.S. says troops kill 32 insurgents in Afghanistan | International |
China, US upbeat on future of bilateral relationship
Bangladesh: SAsia must cooperate to end militancy
China restricts transport of poultry to Beijing
2 S’poreans shot and injured in Copenhagen restaurant
Employment and Employability Institute gearing up to retrain retrenched workers
BNP appoints Johnson Tan as SE Asia corp finance head
Economists say NWC should address wage reduction in current economic climate
Ship nearly sinks off Indonesia with 200 onboard
UN: 8,000 Bhutanese refugees settle abroad
U.S. Airman Wanted For Allegedly Pilfering Over $40M Of Oil In Iraq To Be Deported
With Millions Expected In Washington For Jan. 20, Residents Temporarily Flee Area
Bush, Obama, Ex-Presidents To Gather For 'Historic' Luncheon Wednesday
Businesses Raise Concern Over Last-Minute Bush Rule On Homeland Security Collection Of Electronic Data
Over 1,300 Ash Dumps In The U.S. Unregulated
Bush Tells Troops In Military Farewell, 'Your Mission Has Always Been Just And Right'
Family Of Man Allegedly Shot Dead By CA Subway Police Files $25-Million Claim
Satyam Computer head quits, admits doctoring books
Thai economic ministers extend stimulus measures
Franklin Templeton-backed Taiwan firm to raise fund
China issues 3G mobile phone licenses
Taiwan cuts interest rate after exports drop
HK stocks fall as China Construction Bank dives
FACTBOX-Recent comments by Taiwan officials on economy, policy
Taiwan dollar firms on foreign fund buying
Bank of America sells shares in Chinese bank
Billions at stake as China issues 3G licences
Data Loss Of Sensitive Information Feared By American Business Groups
Stooges guitarist Asheton found dead in Michigan | Entertainment |
Aerosmith gets back to work after '08 break | Entertainment |
Little known actor lands lead in Tron sequel | Entertainment |
Digital boom helps British music sales hit record
DiCaprio, Eastwood are Palm Springs film winners
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Jennifer Garner delivers another daughter
Little known actor lands lead in "Tron" sequel
Disputed Holocaust memoir could reappear as fiction
HBO lands rights to inaugural ceremony
Aerosmith gets back to work after '08 break
Stooges guitarist Asheton found dead in Michigan
US-TECH Summary
Rocket fire defines life in southern Israeli town
Measles is reviving in Europe, doctors warn
Atta-Mills sworn in as president of Ghana
Jamie Lynne Spears' LAX Airport Decoy Sues Police For Using Her As Bait
Intel warns of big slump in revenues
China urges deferral of Bashir war crimes case | International |
The Stooges Guitarist Ron Asheton Found Dead At 60
Two million pilgrims swarm holy Iraqi city for Shiite festival
Apple disappoints: No Jobs or big news at Macworld
Ghana swears in opposition leader Mills as president | International |
Turkish police detain 40 in coup probe | International |
Ground war in Gaza drives up civilian casualties
Sri Lanka hits Tigers again with ban, assaults | International |
Shi'ites in Iraq mark Ashura in show of force
Transcript: Mumbai gunmen were commanded by phone
India says all options open to dismantle terror groups
Bodies of 2 Singaporeans killed in Bangkok fire brought back home
Sri Lanka outlaws rebel group
Passenger numbers for taxis drop but rise for MRT trains
Apple disappoints: No Jobs or big news at Macworld | Technology |
Intel warns again on fourth-quarter revenue | Technology |
Motorola unveils phone made from recycled bottles | Technology |
Tsonga recovers from slow start at Brisbane tennis
Singaporeans sent 1.5 million views to REACH in 2008
Satyam Computer head quits, admits doctoring books
China announces jobs programs for college grads
Taiwan makes snap rate cut as exports collapse
UN adviser: Asia should tap reserves to ease slump
Private Employment Falls 693,000 Jobs In December
Poll: 45 Percent Of Americans Want Caroline Kennedy Named To Hillary's Senate Seat
CNN's Sanjay Gupta Tops Obama Shortlist For Surgeon General
About 400 Donors Raise Almost $40 Million Bill For Obama Inaugural
Some Democrats Begin Calling For Roland Burris To Be Seated In Senate
Discount Mentality May Have Stayed On With American Shoppers
U.S. Mogul Steven Good Found Dead In Apparent Suicide
Social Security Administration Opens Online Service In Anticipation Of Retirement Applications Surge From Baby Boomers
More IOUs Expected From California As Schwarzenegger Vetoes Budget Proposal
MN Senate Race To Drag On; Coleman Files Lawsuit Challenging Recount Results
Scientists Discover Dangerous New Method Bacteria Toxins Transfer
Hundreds Of Pelicans Found Dead Or Dying Along The West Coast
Motorola Introduces Phone Made From Recycled Water Bottles
Sitcom Actors Featured In Social Security Launch Of Online Retirement Service
T.I. cuts $8,000 check for overdue lawyer fees
Americans to get free Tussauds entry for Obama inauguration
Motorola Introduces Cellphone Made From Recycled Water Bottles
Obama's New Presidential Limousine To Have Eight-Inch Thick Doors, Withstand Almost Anything
With Millions Expected In Washington For Obama Inauguration, Some Residents Temporarily Flee Area
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01