Jude Law Jude Law Tony or Not Tony, That is the Question by Brad Balfour With the Tony Awards taking place Sunday, June 13, 2010, the Broadway award season will be over – so nominee Jude Law spoke about his expectations and insights, both in his respective shows and in the season in general. This season has a few wrinkles. For the musicals, it has been the overwhelming impact of pop music on Broadway’s new productions, and that has made for a very different sound to be judged

Carey Mulligan and Alfred Molina at the NY press day for “An Education.” Carey Mulligan An English Actress Gets An Education and Award Noms by Brad Balfour With An Education, the 24-year-old British actress Carey Mulligan has come out of nowhere to garner the kind of critical acclaim and award notice that few receive so quickly – she’s up for a Golden Globe tomorrow for example. But her performance as 16-year-old Jenny in Danish director Lone Scherfig’s version of Lynne Barbe

Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci at the New York press day for “Julie and Julia.” Bon Appetit with Oscar-nominees Meryl Streep & Stanley Tucci by Brad Balfour Originally posted on February 23, 2010. Looking very Julia Child-like, actor Meryl Streep, the latter half of Julie and Julia, stepped up to the press conference table in a long grey dress cut to mid-calf, wearing a string of pearls. Her screen husband, Stanley Tucci, wore a sport coat and a white open-collar shirt. At th

Melissa Leo in “Frozen River.” Melissa Leo Down by the Frozen River by Brad Balfour There was early Oscar® buzz about the work veteran actress Melissa Leo has done in Frozen River ever since the feature won last year’s Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for director Courtney Hunt (her feature film debut). Now, of course, her first nomination for Best Actress is official. As the star of this tale about a down-and-out unemployed mother of two struggling to feed her kids in

Director MARTIN SCORSESE discusses a scene with actors LEONARDO DiCAPRIO and MATT DAMON on the Boston location set of Warner Bros. Pictures crime drama The Departed. MARTIN SCORSESE, LEONARDO DiCAPRIO, MATT DAMON, VERA FARMIGA AND WILLIAM MONAHAN MEETING WITH MARTIN AND THE DEPARTED BY BRAD BALFOUR The following documents two 40-minute press conference sessions merged together that tell the tale about Martin Scorsese’s latest elaborate feature, The Departed, one that finally

Helen Mirren in “The Queen.” Helen Mirren Presents a Queenly Performance by Brad Balfour For Golden Globe-winning actress Helen Mirren, playing Her Majesty Elizabeth II in The Queen wasn’t such a stretch since she had already given a masterful rendition of another monarch with her uncanny portrayal of Elizabeth I in the 2005 British mini-series. The 61-year old Mirren’s experience in preparing for the royal role was enhanced by her wide-ranging acting history – including five

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain. HEATH LEDGER MAKES HIS STAND ON BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN By Brad Balfour Doing Brokeback Mountain, was as much a challenge for Heath Ledger, taking on what might seem to be a risky role — playing Ennis, a gay cowboy in love with Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) — as it was taking on a complex restrained character at a time when so many are broad and brutal. In Ang Lee’s film, he has to negotiate a character that says little and shows much in his eyes

Rachel Weisz in “The Constant Gardener.” RACHEL WEISZ STEPS THROUGH THE GARDEN By Brad Balfour Though Rachel Weisz has received accolades before, none are more appreciated than an Academy Award nomination. And given that she dies a few minutes in the film The Constant Gardener, it’s even more appreciated she got this attention. But the film is a powerful statement – about drug company manipulations to create a powerful AIDS drug in Africa – in a year of powerful statements. S