Waiting for Oscar?: Keep It In The Family! = Who's Your Daddy?!

In many ways I would imagine being the son or daughter of a famous (and possibly award-winning) parent is a tough act to follow. Your whole career has the potential to be introduced with the statement "son of legend [fill in the blank!] .....", to whose accomplishments you never match up to. But then maybe it's easier? You grow up meeting famous people, hanging out on movie sets, and when it comes time to casting you already have an "in" because the producer knows your parents and used to take you horse-riding as a kid. I'm not saying that any of the following names have favours and connections to thank for where they are today. It just stands to reason that Hollywood might have a soft spot for the children of its own community! Which of them might be welcomed to the Oscars in the near future?

1. Josh Brolin – he was the lead in the Oscar-winning “No Country For Old Men” as well as featuring in two other 2007 Academy Award nominees, “In The Valley of Elah” and “American Gangster”. He is soon to play George W. Bush in Oliver Stone’s “W.”

2. Emma Roberts – the niece of Oscar-winner Julia Roberts and daughter of Oscar nominee Eric Roberts has already got several teen movie starring roles to her name so it’s only a matter of time before she graduates to grown-up material.

3. Bryce Dallas Howard – director Ron Howard’s daughter has already garnered attention for her parts in “The Village” and “Manderlay”. The film of Tennessee Williams’ “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond” is next!

4. Drew Barrymore – she seems to have always been in the movies, ever since playing Gertie in “E.T.”. I like her in “Donnie Darko”, “Riding In Cars With Boys”, “Music and Lyrics”, and “Lucky You”. One of the legendary Barrymore acting clan.

5. Colin Hanks – son of double Oscar winner, Tom Hanks, it may be that Colin isn’t able to step out of his father’s shadow. However he surely has plenty of Hollywood types rooting for him so I’m sure his breakout role will come.

6. Danny Huston – a very accomplished actor, but less well-known than half-sister Anjelica Huston or father John. He’s one of those faces you recognise but are not sure where from! Try him in “Birth” as Nicole Kidman’s husband, or not being completely honest with Ralph Fiennes in “The Constant Gardener”.

7. Liv Tyler – daughter of Aerosmith rocker, Steven Tyler, Liv has made a curious career from the excellent “Stealing Beauty”, through “Onegin” to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “Reign Over Me” and “The Incredible Hulk”. Is she art house or blockbuster?

8. Jared Harris – son of the incredible Richard Harris, Jared plays some real oddballs as in “Happiness” and “Igby Goes Down”. He’s very good in “Sylvia”, and I will always have a soft spot for Paul Auster’s “Smoke”. Not likely to get a starring role, but look out for his Supporting turns.

9. Jennifer Ehle – a very good actress, the daughter of Oscar nominee Rosemary Harris. They played the same character at different ages in Istvan Szabo’s brilliant “Sunshine”. Other good roles include “Possession” and her debut in TV drama “The Camomile Lawn”. I always think she should be cast as Meryl Streep’s daughter (although Mamie Gummer, Streep’s real daughter, might disagree!).

10. Scott Caan – son of James Caan, noticeable for being short and often having big hair! He’s always fighting with Casey Affleck in the “Ocean’s” trilogy, and he’s very funny in “Friends With Money”.

Honourable Mention:

Schuyler Fisk – daughter of Sissy Spacek

Mamie Gummer – daughter of Meryl Streep

Jordan Ladd – daughter of Cheryl Ladd

Waiting for Oscar?: Old Timers Ready for Reward!

There are plenty of actors and actresses who receive countless Oscar nominations and always go home with the words "it was an honour to be nominated" sounding in their minds. But then this is a group of performers who have been in movies with Oscar nominees but always been ignored when it comes to the acting categories. Which of them will make up for lost time?

1. Frank Langella – his year might have arrived already as he portrays Richard Nixon in Ron Howard’s “Frost / Nixon”. Worth watching as the bad guy in Kevin Kline comedy “Dave” or Adrian Lyne’s “Lolita”, not to mention a supporting turn in “Good Night and Good Luck”.

2. Richard Gere – one of the Hollywood pretty boys who may have become “too political” to some more conservative voters’ taste. Could have had a nom for “Chicago”, but he has been the leading man to a number of Oscar-nominated women in films such as “Unfaithful”, “Pretty Woman”, and “An Officer and a Gentleman”.

3. Donald Sutherland – in recent years he has taken on many minor film roles so even a shot at Supporting Actor might be a step too far. But I have a feeling that at some point he’ll get a nom as a tip of the hat for a brilliant career. I think he’s terrific in “Without Limits” and “Six Degrees of Separation”, gave a great cameo in “JFK”, and in his heyday the Oscar movies “M*A*S*H” and “Ordinary People”.

4. Martin Sheen – a legend of film and TV, and perhaps the Hollywood star most likely to be elected President in line with his role on “The West Wing”. From the first time I saw his “breakdown” in “Apocalypse Now”, I’ve thought he’s ripe for an Oscar nomination. “Badlands” and a very good supporting role in “Wall Street” might have been his best chance.

5. Steve Martin – I could have included him under comedians trying to be serious, but he’s a long time removed from his early film persona. Now he just qualifies as someone who’s been around a long time! “Roxanne”, “L.A. Story”, “Shopgirl”, “Grand Canyon”, and “Novocaine” all show an actor with plenty of range, but how did he not get nominated for his supporting role in David Mamet’s “The Spanish Prisoner”?

6. Mia Farrow – She’s been to the BAFTA’s and Golden Globes, mainly for her Woody Allen film roles, but not the Oscars. It’s a long time since “Rosemary’s Baby”, so how many award-worthy performances does she have left?

7. Jeff Daniels – has a habit of being in Oscar movies while only getting a couple of Golden Globe noms. “Terms of Endearment”, “The Purple Rose of Cairo”, “Pleasantville”, “The Hours”, and “The Squid and the Whale”. A few roles in large-scale films are already in the works!

8. Jeff Goldblum – he has to be one of the most popular “quirky” actors! Leaving “The Fly” and “Jurassic Park” aside, see him in “Igby Goes Down” and “The Big Chill” in particular.

9. Scott Glenn – look out for him as Donald Rumsfeld in Oliver Stone’s “W.” He’s got one of those appealing voices that stand out in roles such as “Training Day”, “The Shipping News”, “Carla’s Song”, “The Silence of the Lambs”, and “The Right Stuff”.

10. Mel Gibson – does he have any friends left? Sure he won the big Oscars for “Braveheart” but they’ve never recognised his acting. He was pretty good in “The Year of Living Dangerously” and “Gallipoli”, but people tend to showcase their acting skills in Peter Weir movies. Maybe “Mad Max” and “Lethal Weapon” made him a movie star, not an actor?

Waiting for Oscar?: From TV Star to Big Screen Wannabe!

Not all stars of television successfully make that transition to the movies. How many of them actually get the good roles and will be taken seriously as film actors? These would be my picks for potential Oscar consideration:

1. James Gandolfini – famous for “The Sopranos” but was he unlucky that he gave a great performance in the terrible film “The Mexican”, stealing the show from Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts? I think his time will come as Ernest Hemingway when Philip Kaufman’s biopic makes it to the screen.

2. Allison Janney – “The West Wing” is her dominant credit, but she has a habit of playing decent roles in Oscar movies! Witness her in “American Beauty”, “The Hours”, and “Juno”.

3. Keri Russell – she got plenty of attention for “Waitress”, but is better known for “Felicity” on TV. Roles are starting to come her way, so we’ll see what happens!

4. Patrick Dempsey – I remember him from “JFK: Reckless Youth” on TV, but all the attention seems to be on him in “Grey’s Anatomy”. He’s recently come back to prominence in “Enchanted” alongside Amy Adams, as well as “Made of Honor”. Maybe more substantial parts will follow?

5. Gillian Anderson – she may never shed her “X-Files” identity, but I like her in a few movies: “The House of Mirth”, “Playing By Heart”, “A Cock and Bull Story”, and “The Last King of Scotland”. I’m looking forward to seeing her in Richard Kwietniowski’s “No One Gets Off In This Town”.

6. Jennifer Aniston – Rachel from “Friends” may remain in the gossip columns, but I have a hunch that an Oscar nom will be hers, even if she’s 80 when it happens! She was good in “She’s The One”, “The Break Up”, “The Good Girl”, “Rumor Has It”, and “Friends With Money”, and is scheduled to appear in any number of upcoming films.

7. Zach Braff – I’m getting a “slightly cooler Woody Allen” vibe from Zach Braff. If he keeps directing himself with cute leading ladies, and being slightly neurotic, the comparison will hold water! His next project is remaking Susanne Bier’s Danish film “Open Hearts”, but he’s very likeable away from his “Scrubs” role in films like “The Last Kiss”, “The Ex”, and “Garden State”.

8. Amy Brenneman – “Private Practice” and “Judging Amy” followed “NYPD Blue”, but her film roles are worth watching. “Your Friends and Neighbors” and “The Jane Austen Book Club” are good solid performances.

9. Jason Lee – I already liked him in “Almost Famous” and “Vanilla Sky” before he grew his moustache for “My Name is Earl”. Will he get trapped in comedy hell and not find the meatier roles?

10. Debra Messing – “Ned and Stacey” and “Will and Grace” have been her bread and butter, but with roles in the new film “The Women” and playing Drew Barrymore’s sister in “Lucky You”, maybe her future is in film?

Honourable Mention:

Sarah Jessica Parker

Teri Hatcher

Topher Grace