Two Jews on Film - By Joan Alperin Schwartz: Okay, so first I have to say that I loved 'John Carter', the Disney 3D Sci-Fi adventure film directed by Andrew Stanton (WALL-E). The plot can seem slightly more complicated than it is, so I'll just give you the main points.

First, there's John Carter (the very handsome, Taylor Kitsch) a post Civil War Veteran who's absolutely fed up with war. All he wants to do is find, a certain cave, (that is supposedly filled with gold) and spend the rest of his life far far away from any kind of conflict. Good luck with that.

While running away from the U...

Every year, the Oscar nominations seem all sewn up. There are so many predictors – winners of critics’ awards, Golden Globe nominees and winners, BAFTA nominees and the SAG nominees. Yet somehow, almost every year, a nominee slips in out of nowhere, and pundits shake their heads asking, “Where did that come from?”

This year’s Oscar nominees will be announced next week, Jan. 25. We won’t speculate yet, but there are bound to be some surprise nominees, even to the pundits.

Let’s take a look back at the last 10 years and look at what was particularly surprising among the major Oscar nomin...

The definition of fail: "The state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective and may be viewed as the opposite of success." Where there is success there is always failure, and this year there were lots of star-powered failures on the red carpet and out and about in public.

Take a look back at some serious celebrity fashion fails from 2010:

Bonnie Somerville showed up to the Trevor Live Fundraiser at the Hollywood Palladium looking like a hot mess. While revealing underwear is hot right now, it has to be done right.

There's nothing good about this outfit. Madonn...

British actress Samantha Morton showed up to the "Mr. Nice" U.K. premiere in London today looking like she had on a tablecloth. The ill-fitting frock had a horrendous flower pattern on it and was very unflattering.

Samantha stars in the upcoming film "John Carter Of Mars" about a Civil War soldier (Taylor Kitsch) who finds himself magically teleported to the planet Mars.

She most recently starred in "The Messenger" about an Iraq War veteran who narrowly escaped death in combat struggles with his new post at the Casualty Notification Office.

See more photos of Samantha here!

Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and movie musical Nine are leading the awards season charge with 10 nominations apiece from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

The World War II film and Rob Marshall's all-star musical will both compete for the coveted Best Picture prize at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, alongside Avatar, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Invictus, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, and Up in the Air.

James Cameron's epic Avatar picked up nine nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, while The Hurt Locker and Up in the Air received eight nominati...

At some point this week I hope to catch the wacky comedy "The Men Who Stare at Goats." While I have read some bad reviews of the film, I believe my tendency to disagree with the mainstream, could be a wild card for my own appraisal of the movie.

I'm having difficulty believing the collection of George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges could contribute to a horrific film considering I how much appreciate their abilities on screen.

Roland Emmerich destroys the world yet another time this week with his apocalyptic tale "2012." The quirky animation of Wes Anders...

In The Messenger, an Iraq War veteran who just narrowly escaped death in combat struggles with his new post at the Casualty Notification Office while anticipating his upcoming discharge.

Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) has spent his fair share of time in army hospitals, and with just three months to go before returning to civilian life, he discovers that his girlfriend back home (Jena Malone) has decided to move on with her life. Crestfallen, Will discovers that his latest hope for a fresh start will be training to work for the Casualty Notification Office under the mentorship of senior off...

A man has been cleared of harassing actress Samantha Morton - but ordered to stay away from the star. Noel Watts, 42, was said to have imagined a "fantasy relationship" with the Minority Report star, after becoming infatuated with her when he began dating one of her friends in the 1990s.

During the trial, Morton told the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court how Watts bombarded her agent with "angry" letters, calls and texts declaring his love for her.

Watts escaped the harassment charge, because Morton only ever received one text message. However, he was given a restraining orde...

A British man accused of stalking actress Samantha Morton has pleaded not guilty to two counts of harassment. Noel Watts, 42, was said to have imagined a "fantasy relationship" with the Minority Report star, after becoming infatuated with her when he began dating one of her friends in the 1990s.

He had previously been handed a harassment order after bombarding Morton with telephone calls and text messages in 2004, and he attempted to contact the Golden Globe winner again in December. He was arrested in January after breaking into the office of Morton's agent.

Appearing in London's...

British star Samantha Morton has criticized actors who are dissatisfied with their careers - insisting they should stop "moaning" and enjoy their privileged existence.

The 30-year-old actress - who picked up a Golden Globe earlier this month for her role in TV drama Longford - is convinced Hollywood stars should be more realistic about their problems. And she's especially scathing of those who resent wearing restricting costumes while working on period dramas.

She says, "They (actors) are moaning - but what for? They've got a job. It's tough, the hours are tough, the corsets are...

Johnny Depp's dark musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street was a double winner at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Depp himself claimed his first Globe after being nominated seven times - he took home gold in the Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical category and the Tim Burton film was named one of the night's two Best Films.

Acclaimed TV drama Mad Men also celebrated two awards, claiming the Best TV Drama Series and Best TV Actor honors at the Globes.

It was a semi-disappointing night for Kiera Knightley's period drama Atonem...

The writers' strike has officially infiltrated awards season. The Golden Globes have been reduced to a lackluster news conference. That means no best and worst dressed list. No boozy celebrities making a fool of themselves. All that remains is an hour-long meeting at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with angry WGA picketers surrounding the premises.

So, until the Hollywood powers-that-be finally buckle down and give the writers what they want and deserve, we here at Starpulse are going to call the winners and losers. We looked at reviews, other expert predictions, viewer attitudes and who we ...

British actress Samantha Morton has given birth to a baby girl. The Golden Globe-nominated star and her fiance Harry Holm welcomed the newborn at a London hospital in the early hours of Friday.

Karon Maskill, Morton's publicist, tells People.com, "It is fantastic news and both mom and baby are doing brilliantly."

The unnamed tot is Morton's second child - she has another daughter, called Esme, from her previous relationship with fellow British actor Charlie Creed-Miles.

- Samantha Morton Gallery

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Jennifer Jason Leigh has confessed to a lesbian crush on British actress Samantha Morton, revealing she's desperate to work with the star. Asked by gay magazine The Advocate who she'd court if she was a lesbian, the newly-married star named Morton.

She says, "I think she's a genius, and I'd go see her in anything. I would love to work with her in any way."

-Jennifer Jason Leigh Pictures

-Samantha Morton Pictures

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

The corgis who played Helen Mirren's companions in 2006's The Queen have been tipped to win the film yet another accolade - a Fido award. The five pups have been nominated for the Historical Hound category of this month's Fidos, a British award ceremony recognizing outstanding canine acting.

The competition, held as part of the London Film Festival, sees the corgis go head-to-head with fellow movie mutts including the collie-mix owned by Samantha Morton's character in Control, and the brown hunting dog from French picture Moliere.

Mirren says, "I loved those corgis because they ...

It is hard to know what to expect when coming into Elizabeth: The Golden Age, a delayed sequel of a film that 10 years prior had been a heavy player at the Oscars. Back then, the film centered around the performance of Cate Blanchett, who stunned viewers with her complex portrayal of the loose cannon lover who becomes England’s famous virgin monarch. (A Queen and Oscar buzz? Sound familiar? It should! See Oscar Queen Facts at bottom of page.)

Blanchett does a superb job, but this film has a hard time finding its center and its pains dull the effort of a strong cast.

Directo...

Winners in major categories for the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards announced by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (in bold):

Drama Series: ''Boston Legal,'' ABC; ''Grey's Anatomy,'' ABC; ''Heroes,'' NBC; ''House,'' Fox; ''The Sopranos,'' HBO.

Comedy Series: ''Entourage,'' HBO; ''The Office,'' NBC; ''30 Rock, NBC; ''Two and a Half Men,'' CBS; ''Ugly Betty,'' ABC.

Miniseries: ''Broken Trail,'' AMC; ''Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS; ''The Starter Wife,'' USA.

Made-for-TV Movie: ''Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,'' HBO; ''Inside the Twin Tow...

Reprising the roles they originated in seven-time Academy Award®-nominated Elizabeth, Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush return for a gripping historical thriller laced with treachery and romance—The Golden Age. Joining them in the epic is Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh, a dashing seafarer and newfound temptation for Elizabeth.

The Golden Age finds Queen Elizabeth I (Oscar®-winner Cate Blanchett) facing bloodlust for her throne and familial betrayal. Growing keenly aware of the changing religious and political tides of late 16th century Europe, Elizabeth finds her rule openly challen...

Happy Birthday to "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" actor Robert Pattinson, (1988), Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito (1978), "The Libertine" actress Samantha Morton (1977), Hootie & The Blowfish singer Darius Rucker (1966), TV host/comedian Stephen Colbert (1964), former basketball player Dennis Rodman (1961), prolific singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder (1950), La Bamba singer Ritchie Valens (1941; d. 1959), "Reservoir Dogs" actor Harvey Keitel (1939), director Herbert Ross (1927; d. 2001), "Golden Girl" Bea Arthur (1923), boxing's "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis (1914; d. 1981), and Canadian jazz ...

Woody Harrelson is set for a Christmas trip across the former Soviet Union as part on an all-star thriller set on the Trans-Siberian Express. The movie will shoot on location in Russia, Lithuania and Beijing later this month.

Harrelson and British actress Samantha Morton will play husband and wife in the fast-paced film, "Trans-Siberian," which will also feature Ben Kingsley as a Russian cop.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

British actress Samantha Morton refuses to embark on endless publicity tours to increase her Hollywood profile, because she enjoys her relative anonymity. Despite having been nominated for two Oscars, mother-of-one Morton rarely gets spotted while out and about.

She says, "I'm not a Hollywood star. I don't get recognized. I never get, 'Samantha Morton, can I have an autograph?' On the very, very rare occasions when I get, 'You really look like that Hollywood actress,' I do say, 'Yeah, I'm an actress.' And they go, 'No, you're not!'

"There are certain things you have to do to be ...

Minority Report star Samantha Morton is getting married. The British actress - who is best friends with Kate Moss - accepted fiance Harry Holm's proposal when he asked her to marry him last Saturday. Morton said: "We're over the moon. We're very much in love and looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together."

The couple were in Paris, France celebrating her 29 th birthday at the time. They are expected to tie the knot in September. Johnny Borrell - the frontman of British rock group Razorlight - has been named as best man.

Meanwhile the actress has signed up to play c...

Happy Birthday to "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" actor Robert Pattinson, (1988), Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito (1978), "The Libertine" actress Samantha Morton (1977), Hootie & The Blowfish singer Darius Rucker (1966), TV host/comedian Stephen Colbert (1964), former basketball player Dennis Rodman (1961), prolific singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder (1950), La Bamba singer Ritchie Valens (1941; d. 1959), "Reservoir Dogs" actor Harvey Keitel (1939), director Herbert Ross (1927; d. 2001), "Golden Girl" Bea Arthur (1923), boxing's "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis (1914; d. 1981), and Canadian jazz ...

Cate Blanchett is returning to her role as Queen Elizabeth I in new film The Golden Age - the sequel to 1998 movie Elizabeth. The Shekhar Kapur-directed biopic, which will begin filming next month in the U.K., picks up the tale 15 years after the events in "Elizabeth" and will climax with the Spanish Armada's attempt to invade Britain.

Blanchett will be joined by actress Samantha Morton who will play Mary Queen Of Scots. Also reprising his role is Hollywood star Geoffrey Rush as spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)