Showbiz411

Academy Award voters have one day more, as they sing in “Les Miserables,” to get their ballots in for nominations. Tomorrow, January 4th, 5pm, and it’s over until final round voting. Yes, it’s a mad dash for the last stack of DVDs you’ve avoided all through Christmas. Presumably, you’ve seen the major films, from “Les Miz” to “Silver Linings” to “Lincoln,” “Argo,” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” But what about “Compliance”? (Forget it.) “Bernie” (very funny, well done, but Indie Spirit Awards). “Skyfall” too commercial? Not at all. Javier Bardem over the top? Who isn’t? “Intouchables”? Face it, you loved it. “Django”? It’s great, don’t worry. And what about all these other DVDs? “The Deep Blue Sea,” for example. (In a different year, maybe.) Nicole Kidman? She was good, admit it. Robert DeNiro? Comeback! Actresses, not so easy after Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain, and Marion Cotillard. Naomi Watts, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Rachel Weisz. Quick quick quick. If only we had another week! (PS Don’t forget Alan Arkin!)

Roger Friedman

Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. Friedman previously wrote the Intelligencer column at New York Magazine, He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of a film about R&B Music called “Only the Strong Survive,” which was released by Miramax in 2003 and was a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.