Invictus News

By Dennis Lim 'THIS is the first time I've done an interview with an ice pack down my pants," Matt Damon says, having retreated to the relative comfort of his trailer on a wet, chilly New York film set.

It has been a tough year for actors - and not just because studio belt-tightening has pretty much put the kibosh on those $20-million, A-lister paydays.

It's been less than a dazzling year at the movies, so fingers crossed that Hollywood is saving the best for last.

The expansion of the Oscar race guarantees Jason Reitman's Up in the Air will snag a best picture nomination.

By Shereen Low The last time Matt Damon had to change the way he looked for a movie role, he lost 40 pounds in 100 days and ended up on medication.

One's a hot young star in a budding franchise. The other, a screen legend who has became a serious Oscar threat behind the camera.

FOR MOST Americans, the next few weeks constitute the holiday season. In the land known as Hollywood, though, it's the Oscar season.

As all Oscarologists know, the movie that wins best picture usually wins best director too, and the recipient of that prize is usually the same person who claims the top honor from the Directors Guild of America.

Caption: Clint Eastwood signs an autograph as he leaves Dan Tana's restaurant after having dinner with his son Kyle and friends West Hollywood, California .... CLINT EASTWOOD's NELSON MANDELA movie is facing some serious competition - JENNIFER HUDSON has signed on to a rival project about the former South African president's wife.

Only two men in Oscar history have ever received acting nominations for two different performances in the same year: Al Pacino and Jamie Foxx .

Clint Eastwood works fast. He had two films out last year, Changeling and Gran Torino .

CNN host Lou Dobbs shocked his viewers Wednesday when he announced that he would be leaving the network effective immediately.

The decoration was bestowed upon the 79-year-old actor and director by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his contribution to cinema.

Morgan Freeman says he agreed to participate in a Canadian-made documentary about his Mississippi hometown because he felt that children there were being "warped" by racism.

Morgan Freeman says he agreed to participate in a Canadian documentary about his Mississippi hometown because he felt that children there were being "warped" by racism.

It's a fine October weekend, and I'm on the phone with God himself. Well, more accurately, I'm on the phone with Morgan Freeman, who has played God a couple of times, as well as any number of human saints.

Yep, you read that headline right! Last night, a story hit Variety reporting that Belgian actress Cecile de France had joined the cast of Clint Eastwood's new film Hereafter , which has been described as a supernatural thriller, without any major plot details beyond that.

Morgan Freeman will receive the Career Achievement Award for acting from the Palm Springs Film Fest.

Belgian actress Cecile de France has signed to star opposite Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood's supernatural drama "Hereafter" for Warner Bros.

Earlier this week I posted about a trio of last-minute Best Actress contenders .