Happy 80th Birthday Sir Sean Connery

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Being Sean Connery is one great achievement already. Being Sean Connery for 80 whole years should be a world record in itself.

The finest thespian to ever bear a Scottish twang, the penultimate 007, Sir Thomas Sean Connery celebrates his 80th birthday today August 25.

If you want to see and support his charity works, visit his official website at SeanConnery.com.

Also check out this piece from The Daily Record:
Sean Connery at 80: My acting days are over but I'm still loving life - The Daily Record

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• Sean Connery: the Measure of a Man by Christopher Bray: review (telegraph.co.uk)

Venice Film Fest Climax: Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt Wins

The 64th Venice International Film Festival came to another glitzy conclusion, September 8, with the film worlds' top honors awarded to some familiar illustrious names.

The envelope is open, the names are out, and the winners are:

• Volpi Coppa for Best Actress - Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There", a Bob Dylan biopic by Director Todd Haynes
• Volpi Coppa for Best Actor - Brad Pitt in "The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" by Director Andrew Dominik
• Golden Lion for Best Film - Ang Lee for "Se, Jie (Lust, Caution)"
• Silver Lion for Best Direction - Brian De Palma for "Redacted"

Complete film festival winners at the Venice Film Festival official website.

A hearty congratulations to the winners. 'Til the next Mostra Internazionale D'Arte Cinematografica La Biennale di Venezia.

HSM Star Hudgens Says Sorry for Strip Shots

Disney's "High School Musical" franchise was rocked by scandalous photos of their young leading lady, Vanessa Hudgens, which spread over the Internet last week.

The 18 year old actress-singer who is romantically linked to HSM co-star Zac Efron, apologized to her fans for "the situation" and expressed regret for producing said nude images. She also thanked the outpouring of support from family and friends.

Ms. Hudgens' official MySpace erupted with comments from supportive fans since the incident. Her reprisal of her role in an anticipated "High School Musical 3" is now in question.

Kids these days, eh. Young, passionate, carefree in glitzy, glamorous Hollywood.

Who can blame them?

Pavarotti Sings Final Note

Luciano Pavarotti, world acclaimed tenor and recording artist bowed a final farewell to opera fans worldwide sans an encore as he passed away earlier today in his hometown of Modena, Italy. He was 71.

The opera maestro was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006. His international farewell tour was canceled due to this medical condition. Concerns for his health resurfaced on entertainment headlines last month when he was rushed to the hospital with a fever.

While renown for his full voice and ability to hit incredibly high notes, Pavarotti is also credited for bringing opera out of the sole realm of classical purists and within the reach of the "pop" audience. He performed alongside such pop icons as U2's Bono, Sting, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Sheryl Crow and the Spice Girls. One of Pavarotti's pet projects, Pavarotti and Friends, gives proceeds to various charity work.

He is also part of the legendary "The Three Tenors" with Jose Carerras and Placido Domingo. The trio's brand of classical music made an impact to millions of people around the globe. This also brought millions in profits from recording sales and concert tours which again brought the ire of "high society" snobs.

As of writing the official Luciano Pavarotti website simply shows the beloved tenor's picture with his characteristic perfect smile and an epitaph which quoted Pavarotti - "I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have devoted my life to."

Actor Owen Wilson Survives Suicide Attempt

One of Hollywood's popular actors Owen Wilson was reportedly hospitalized over the weekend in an alleged suicide attempt. Various reports indicate the 38-year old star of "Wedding Crashers", "Cars" and "Behind Enemy Lines", may have overdosed on pills and slashed his wrists.

Speculations arose as to what may have triggered the act, ranging from being upset over a fight with a "close friend", to a jealous fit regarding erstwhile girlfriend Kate Hudson. At this point, family and representatives of Owen Wilson downplayed any reference to the cause of Wilson's suicide try.

Latest reports say that Owen Wilson is in "good condition" and is recovering at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Wilson, through his publicist, requested for privacy during "this difficult time".

Choose "Your Own Emmys!"

In celebration of the 2007 Emmys this coming September, Dotventures invites everyone to make your vote count. Pick among the nominees from the key categories of the Emmys. Who among them are deserving to take home the award? Chances are your votes here would not match with the real Emmys but hey, its just for fun! Scroll down to the lower-right sidebar to post your votes.

Were your favorite shows or actors not nominated? Leave a comment on this post and explain why they should be the winners. After 15 days, that would be on September 1, we will hold a special poll for the non-nominated favorites among the comments. Who will be the winning non-nominees? You will make that choice.

Vote now!

One Month Countdown to the 2007 Primetime Emmys

Televisions' biggest night is just around the corner. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will be rolling out the red carpet once more next month as the stars come out for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Primetime TV favorites will be pitted against each other for the honor of being distinguished for excellence in their respective categories. The nominees were announced early morning of July 19 amidst wows and woes from TV aficionados and critics. As in past years, many commentators felt that exceptional television programs were again overlooked by the Academy.

The following is a short listing of key categories of the Emmys and the respective nominees. I've indicated my first and second picks. For those who care to voice out their own choices, do participate at The Dotventures Polls (sidebar below) and cast your votes for "Your Own Emmys".

Ahem...and the nominees are...

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
"Boston Legal"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Heroes"
"House" (1st pick)
"The Sopranos" (2nd pick)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
"Entourage"
"The Office" (1st pick)
"30 Rock" (2nd pick)
"Ugly Betty"
"Two and a Half Men"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Denis Leary, "Rescue Me"
Hugh Laurie, "House" (1st pick)
James Spader, "Boston Legal"
Kiefer Sutherland, "24" (2nd pick)
James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" (1st pick)
Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2nd pick)
Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"
Minnie Driver, "The Riches"
Patricia Arquette, "Medium"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" (2nd pick)
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" (1st pick)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"
Mary Louise Parker, "Weeds"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk" (1st pick)
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" (2nd pick)
Ricky Gervais, "Extras"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men"

For a complete list of 2007 Emmy nominations visit the TV Academy website at emmys.tv.

Mark your calendars - the 2007 Primetime Emmys will be held on September 16, Sunday, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

Julie Delpy Returns for "2 Days in Paris"

She's all the buzz again these days, this French-American film artiste.

Julie Delpy, the star of the critically acclaimed 1995 indie film "Before Sunrise" and its 2004 sequel "Before Sunset" re-appears to the delight of fans sans her pet co-star Ethan Hawke for her latest production "2 Days in Paris".

Julie Delpy pulls a one-woman auteurship for "2 Days in Paris" as writer / director / editor / co-producer, and co-star alongside Adam Goldberg (appeared in "Saving Private Ryan" and "A Beautiful Mind"). The culture-clash comedy already won a Coup de Coeur Award at the Mons International Festival of Love Films in Belgium.

Ms. Delpy was captivating in "Before Sunrise" and daring in "An American Werewolf in Paris". Unfortunate though that her memorable performances seems to be typecasted to her "Before Sunrise" character.

Her talent for filmmaking has grown through the years and this particular project is bound to move her career forward towards more notable movie projects both on-screen and behind-the-scenes.