Cast member Eddie Murphy attends the premiere of the film “Imagine That” in Los Angeles June 6, 2009. ©Reuters

BEIJING, Sept. 6 — Renowned U.S. Actor Eddie Murphy is now the front-runner to host the 84th Academy Awards in 2012, according to media reports Tuesday.

Eddie Murphy is said to be favored by Brett Ratner, a producer of the awards broadcast who just finished directing Murphy in the soon-to-be-released thriller “Tower Heist,” according to Hollywood Reporter.

Brett Ratner is expected to meet with Academy president Tom Sherak after the Labor Day holiday to discuss potential hosts, the magazine said.

Murphy has never acted as Oscars host before. Watchers say his onstage reputation for unpredictability, as well as high-profile public scandal has most likely made Oscars organizers reluctant in the past.

Murphy might have some competition from Billy Crystal, a successful Oscar host who recently said he would like to host the show again.

A final decision is reportedly expected by mid-September.

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/entertainment/2011-09/06/c_131103083.htm

Actors Colin Firth (L) and Helena Bonham Carter are shown in a scene from the film “The King’s Speech” in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters on January 25, 2011. The film was nominated for best picture for the 83rd Academy Awards announced in Beverly Hills January 25, 2011. The Oscars will be presented February 27, 2011 in Hollywood. ©Reuters

BEIJING, Jan. 26 — British historical film “The King’s Speech” was named the Oscar front runner with 12 nominations, including for best picture, media reports said Wednesday.

The film beat rivals including Western “True Grit” and the Facebook drama “The Social Network,” for the 83rd Academy Awards to be held on Feb. 27.

The film, staring 50-year-old British actor Colin Firth, tells the story about Queen Elizabeth II’s dad, King George VI’s struggle to overcome stammer in the 1930s.

Firth was nominated for best actor, while Helena Bonham Carter, who plays his royal wife, was nominated for best supporting actress.

Geoffrey Rush playing the speech therapist who helps the king was nominated for best supporting actor.

“The King’s Speech” also won Oscar nods for directing, editing, musical score, art direction, cinematography, costume design, sound mixing and original screenplay.

Other films nominated for best picture also include the psychosexual thriller “Black Swan”, the boxing drama “The Fighter”, the science-fiction blockbuster “Inception”, the lesbian-family tale “The Kids Are All Right”, the survival story “127 Hours”, the animated smash “Toy Story 3”, and the Ozarks crime thriller “Winter’s Bone.” 

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/entertainment/2011-01/26/c_13707641.htm

Poster of “Shrek Forever After”.

BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhuanet) — “Shrek Forever After,” the fourth and perhaps the final installment in the series about a jolly green ogre, took the lead in the weekend box office in North America, but fell short of expectations.

DreamWorks Animation SKG, producer of the movie, earned 71.25 million U.S. dollars during the movie’s first three days of release, far short of industry predictions of more than 100 million U.S. dollars.

The new movie opened “on the low end” of forecasts, said Anne Globe, DreamWorks Animation SKG’s head of worldwide marketing and consumer products.

But the latest “Shrek” installment still ranks as the fourth-biggest opening of all time among animated films, behind the previous two Shreks and “The Simpsons”, Globe added.

Of the previous “Shrek” films, “Shrek the Third” opened to 121.6 million U.S. dollars in 2007, “Shrek 2” earned 108 million dollars during its first weekend in 2004, and “Shrek” kicked off the franchise with 42 million dollars in 2001.

The installment was available for the first time in 3-D and IMAX 3-D, but it made less than 5 million dollars on IMAX screens, or 7 percent of the film’s weekend gross.

The movie also earned about 26 million U.S. dollars after opening in seven other countries. Russia accounted for 20 million U.S. dollars, narrowly beating “Avatar” to claim the country’s all-time record.

According to Globe, “Shrek Forever After” cost about 135 million dollars to make, and another 165 million dollars will be spent on the worldwide marketing. 

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/entertainment/2010-05/24/c_13311926.htm

Fans cast more than 18 million votes online to select the nominations and are also going to pick out the final winners by a public online vote. The final awards will be given out on Jan. 6 next year.

The “Twilight” movie series, which enters its second installment, was nominated for favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team with its three stars, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner each in the running for an award.

“True Blood” was up for favorite TV obsession and sci-fi/fantasy TV show, with star Anna Paquin getting nomination for TV drama actress.

“The Vampire Diaries” was also a double nominee, running for favorite sci-fi/fantasy show and new TV drama.

Fans can vote for their favorites at the websites peopleschoice.com and myspace.com/peopleschoiceawards. Voting for most categories will end on Dec. 8. 

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/11/content_12432507.htm