Latest News Update

Minnie Driver, Matt's ex-girlfriend and co-star of Good Will Hunting seems to be
hanging around David Duchovny a lot these days, but apparently it's strictly
proffesional. Minnie has been making a movie with David called Return to Me (which
opens this month). Now word has come through that Minnie and David will re-unite, this
time on an episode of The X Files.

Gwyneth Paltrow seems to be snapping up a few good roles since playing Marge in
The Talented Mr Ripley. Next up she'll play in Ridley Scott's Taking Lives
in which she'll play a FBI agent tracking down a cannabalistic serial killer. Apparently
Gwyneth apparently wanted the Clarice Starling role in the sequel to Silence of the Lambs
called Hannibal, but missed out to Julianne Moore, so she will have to settle for
this one.

Another of Matt's Talented Mr Ripley co-stars, Cate Blanchett, has another film role
too. She's just joined Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton for Outlaws.
The film is about two ex-crims that fight over the affections of a woman they kidnapped during
a heist. Blanchett has also just finished filming the Gift with Keanu Reeves and
Katie Holmes.

Ben Affleck's next movie Pearl Harbor is shaping up to be a big movie with
cast announcements happening all the time, we now have Tom Sizemore, Josh Harnett and Cuba
Gooding Jr in the film. Michael Bay directs the film about two soldiers fighting
over the one woman.



_________________________________________________________________________________________________

A writer for the Matt Damon Column shared her thoughts on his
snubbing of not being nominated for an Oscar.
But once again, the Academy left many Oscar hopefuls out in the cold: Jim Carrey,
who for the second time in a row failed to get a Best Actor nod with a Golden
Globe-winning role, this time for his portrayal of Andy Kaufman in ''Man on the
Moon''; Matt Damon, whose pre-Oscar buzz for playing a '50s psychopath killer in
'The Talented Mr. Ripley'' may have been too jarring for the voters, and Damon's
director Anthony Minghella, who did not get his much anticipated follow-up to his
1997 win for directing ''The English Patient.'' 
(Damon's pre-Oscar buzz too jarring??) 
I'm really upset about the Oscars - Green Mile, Sixth Sense and Cider House Rules
for best picture? And Minghella and John Seale not nominated, let alone Matt... It's indeed a
backlash: Miramax's Cider House has got all of Ripley's supposed nominations.
Harvey Weinstein, what are you doing?! And Jude definitely doesn't deserve his
nomination - hope he gives Matt lots of credit in the lead-up press. 
Last night (at a workshop) I think Minghella was just happy to get the five
nominations, but he was tired, sick and not giving too much anyway. And nobody
asked directly... 
You've probably seen this from the LA Times: 
One wonders if Miramax had spearheaded the "Ripley" Oscar campaign
(co-production partner Paramount released it domestically and Miramax is handling
the film overseas), if that picture might have fared better in the top categories. Before
Tuesday, most best picture bets were on "Beauty" and "Insider," but the three
remaining spots for best picture were up for grabs. "Ripley" and ‘Being John
Malkovich‘ apparently proved too ‘weird‘ for the older-skewing overall membership
of the academy, although they were recognized by voters in individual branches
(directors, writers, actors). 
I'll write more on the Minghella evening later (when I re-find my notes), but he didn't
say anything really news. He is a lot of fun to listen to, putting in lots of literary
references and interesting stories in an easy-listening, very educated manner. 
From Fox News columnist Roger Friedman: 
Shut out almost entirely was The Talented Mr. Ripley, which the Academy decided to
hate and carried through with. Too bad — because Ripley, I think, will stand the test
of time far better than Mile. Anthony Minghella is a real director, while Frank
Darabont is an excellent technician. There's a difference. 
Nice one here from gossip columnist Liz Smith: 
OSCAR VOTERS wanted to dislike "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and they did! Jude
Law at least was worthily nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category. Perhaps
"Ripley," despite is serial-killer plot, was too glamorous? You know Hollywood, you
can't be pretty and talented. But I happen to think that director Anthony
Minghella and star Matt Damon got stiffed. Thanks to Matt Damon Column

"The Talented Mr Ripley" is screening this weekend in Australia
but only at advance screenings. It is screening at the Jam Factory
cinema and it starts elsewhere down under next week, which will
be the 24th of Feb.
Also, have noticed posters of the Damon-voiced "Titan A.E" floating
around town, must mean a release is ahead soon.


Felicity from The Matt Damon Column has this
to say about a recent Matt Premiere:
          News from Felicity:
          Firstly, the premiere. I'm not sure what coverage you've seen (or any of the London
          papers), but apparently ET showed some of the premiere, including Gwyneth saying
          how she had Oscar hopes for Matt and Jude, and also the film (that clip also made it
          to the late night London news). Gwyneth (solo) made the cover of three of the seven
          daily papers, once also with Matt, and once with Minghella. She's certainly dominated
          all coverage here. Matt didn't get any solo pics (!), but there's a great group shot of
          him, Gwyneth, Jude, Jack Davenport and Minghella. Not many quotes from Matt,
          only that he wasn't trying to anticipate the Oscar nominations, because he didn't want
          to be disappointed. He was asked whether he received a Valentine's card, and he
          said: 'I only wanted one'. Question: 'Did you get it?' A: 'Yes'. (Winona was definitely in
          NY and did not attend.) He was also asked about the last time he was nominated, and
          he said that he took years to 'internalise' the event. 
          Interruptions: From the Boston Herald: 
          The talented Mr. Damon downplays Oscar hopes 
          Arts and TV briefs 
          Tuesday, February 15, 2000 
          Gwyneth Paltrow, last year's Best Actress Oscar winner for ``Shakespeare in Love,''
          knows whom she'd vote for in the Best Actor race this year. ``I'm looking forward to
          being just a presenter and hopefully present it to Matt Damon, because he deserves
          it,'' said Paltrow, who could be named again herself when Oscar nominees are
          announced today. 
          Damon has been at the Berlin Film Festival promoting ``The Talented Mr. Ripley'' with
          co-stars Paltrow and Jude Law. He sounded as though he didn't have his hopes up -
          or down - for an Oscar nomination. ``Jude and I had a conversation about this the
          other night,'' said the Cambridge native, who was a big winner at the Oscars two years
          ago with partner Ben Affleck for ``Good Will Hunting.'' ``We said it's really important
          not to use the Oscar nominations as a yardstick by which we measure our success or
          failure. We're proud and happy with `Ripley.' It is what it is. It exists. I think we're
          setting ourselves up for disappointment if we use this external barometer to gauge our
          internal satisfaction.'' 


 
******* A Cormac Catch for Matt to raise his price for acting in 
the new flick by "Billy Bob Thornton".************

Matt signed up for his biggest paying role of $7,5m (US)to star in a movie
"All the Pretty Horses". The film which is based on the novel written by
Cormac McCarthy, which was originally to star none other than Leonardo DiCaprio.
The role now stolen by Matt is about a young Texan who falls for the daughter of a 
wealthy ranch owner of whom he is thrown into prison.
However after later retaining justice Damon'character becomes a man and
later returns to Texas. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

ALL THE PRETTY HORSES - test screening
Matt Damon's next film "All the Pretty Horses", directed by Billy
Bob Thornton, is nearing a release and a test screening has
taken place.
dark horizons managed to get an early review of
the film click here to go there.


Review of "THE THIRD WHEEL"
Dark Horizons have published an early test
screener's review of Matt's newie "The Third Wheel". The film is another producing effort for Matt
and Ben Affleck. It also stars Denise Richards. The reviewer didn't seem to like the
film but that doesn't mean us Matt fans won't.

"Dogma" opens in Australia
Kevin Smith's crazy film "Dogma" has been scheduled for release at
Australian Cinemas on Thursday Feb 3rd 2000. I have had a chance to 
see this film early and it's good, if you want to read a review of it,
my boyfriend has reviewed it on his page, Moviehole, it's here


"TITAN A.E" pics
Yahoo Movies have some brief info on the upcoming animated film
in which Matt, Drew Barrymore and Bill Pullman provide voices.
In a journey that begins after Earth ends, a rebellious teenager named
Cale embarks on an adventure through space to find a legendary
spacecraft, the Titan, which holds the secret to salvation for the human
race. With the deadly Drej aliens close behind and betrayal from within,
Cale must become a renegade warrior and a new kind of hero as he
completes his mission to find a whole new world. 
Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria (Godzilla) also provide voices.


Matt's not a winner
Matt didn't win the Golden Globe for "Talented Mr Ripley"
When asked about his loss Matt replied 
"He was praying that someone else other than him would win,
 because if it was him then 'the backlash would be pretty severe'".  
He still has a chance with the Oscars coming up soon.





..........'MORE RIPLEY NEWS'........................

* In the new issue of Premiere (which has Jude Law on the cover), from the
Jude Law article Matt praises the 'contagious' energy which Jude shows in
his acting. This info springing form a previous interview comment Jude made
upon Matt's acting vibrance in an article by Diane sawyer. "http://fortunecity.com/lavendar/fullmonty/282/"> provided that
info and some more..This news comment followed on by a comment from the
director of the movie Anthony Minghella stating that the two actors (Matt and Jude)
 and their willingness to exceed in their thrive to work. This coming from
his outstanding ability shown in scenes from 'Mr Ripley'.

From the Premiere magazine  in the issue of 7th Feb 2000 presents a large pic from 
recent Golden Globe awards of Matt and Winona engaged in a kiss.This being shown
on the world wide web.

Find more info or recent articles on "The Talented Mr.Ripley" at 
"http://www.eonline.com">
Also other useful reviews found on 
<"http://about.com/">