After a few weeks of rumour and wild speculation, it became official that our Cate has, indeed, joined the cast of the superb Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

The official press announcement went something like this:
"Cate Blanchett stars as the elf Galadriel, the wise visionary queen of Lorien. For her performance in the title role of Elizabeth last year, the Australian actress won the Golden Globe and BAFTA awards as well as an Oscar nomination. She has also been lauded for her performances in such films as An Ideal Husband, Thank God He Met Lizzie, and Oscar and Lucinda."

Shooting has commenced in New Zealand, and will proceed to make film history as all three films will be shot back-to-back. Cate should be commencing her part of the shoot in several weeks. In other related news, it was announced this week that Stuart Townsend ("Wonderland", "Shooting Fish") is out of Lord of the Rings, one week into production. Looks like Viggo Mortensen, one of the creepiest guys in the biz, will replace him. Sounds like Harvey Keitel's departure from "Eyes Wide Shut" with some reports suggesting he was given the boot, with others saying he left voluntarily. Official notices say he departed due to "creative differences". Sounds like the boot.

In any case, good luck to Cate. The prestige of the already distinguished project just rose tenfold by her mere attachment. More news as it becomes available.

CATE GOES REPUBLICAN

For Stateside readers, this news is not as dire as it sounds (smile). Regular readers will remember a story a short time back speculating that Cate might be siding with the Aussie Republicans come referendum time in November. Here's an excerpt of an update as originally reported by Damien Murphy.

(October 6)
It's a flashy republic or a dowdy monarchy

Both sides of the republic referendum have recruited a chorus line of famous Australians to capture the hearts and minds of voters on November 6. The Australian Republic Movement's ranks are filled with a mixture of popular culture celebs and a scattering of suits from business and politics while monarchists - (No Republic: Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) - have engaged a raft of former judges, ex-politicians, a retired Army officer or two and a dowager to convince others to remain the Queen's men and women. With the poll exactly a month away today, the ARM campaign seems very Sydney, very flashy, the emphasis on attracting young voters who are still showing up on opinion polls as being "very soft" about the issue.

ARM named the actress who became internationally famous as an English Queen, Cate Blanchett, as an ambassador yesterday. She joins Geoffrey Rush, another member of the Elizabeth cast, as publicly pro-republic. Both monarchists and ARM have "ambassadors" and they will continue naming high flyers to attract publicity over the next four weeks.

ARM's line-up also includes Newcastle Knights Andrew and Matthew Johns, AFL legend Ron Barassi, athlete Nova Peris-Kneebone, film directors Baz Luhrmann and Fred Schepisi, publisher Cameron O'Reilly, dancer Graeme Murphy, comedians Roy Slaven and H.G. Nelson, architect Harry Seidler, actors Ruth Cracknell, Robyn Archer, Rachel Ward, John Bell and Max Gillies, musicians Reg Mombassa and John Williams, businesswoman Janet Holmes a Court, radio personality Wendy Harmer, astronaut Andy Thomas, Brisbane mayors Sallyanne Atkinson and Jim Soorley, cooks Margaret Fulton and Stephanie Alexander and the recently resigned Anglican archbishop George Browning.

No Republic-ACM's Mr. David Elliott believes the public would not be blinded by celebrity: "It insults people. This is an issue, not a popularity contest." ARM's Mr. Wayne Burns countered: "Republicans have cross-sectional support across the generations. They haven't."

With Cate on the side of the Republic, the voting would, it would seem to us, be a mere formality at this stage. But, then again, we may be biased.

THE MYSTERIOUS MR. RIPLEY

Here's one of the few mentions of "Ripley" that we've come across, from an Oscar preview on CNN:

Once again, it's the names involved in this film, "The Talented Mr. Ripley," that automatically make it a project with Oscar potential and pretentsions. Starring Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett and Academy Award winners Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow, and directed by Oscar honored writer/director Anthony Minghella, this movie could be a strong contender come nomination time.

But it won't be easy. Just like he did with his award-winning movie "The English Patient," Minghella has chosen a very difficult novel to adapt to the big screen. Written by Patricia Highsmith, "The Talented Mr. Ripley," is set in Italy in the 1950s and requires the audience to identify with a murderer, played by Damon.

Tom Ripley is a sociopath who becomes enamored of the life of his wealthy friend, played by Jude Law. So he murders him and tries to take over his life. Paltrow plays Law's girlfriend; Cate Blanchett plays a friend of Ripley's.

So, there you have it. The publicity machine OUGHT to get cranked up soon, as it's rather difficult to believe Harvey W. is going to let a picture starring his muse, Gwyneth, twist slowly in the wind. Once again, when news breaks, we'll be there!

BLACK DAY FOR BLACKADDER

You'll remember we spoke previously of the special "Blackadder" film being commissioned to show in London's Millennium Dome. We were excited in that Cate was being courted to play Queen Elizabeth in the role originally made famous in previous "Blackadder" episodes by the wonderfully hilarious Miranda Richardson. Well, it seems things didn't work out as hoped for, but, with Miranda reprising her role, it is certainly nothing to cry about. Cate would have been rich, however! Here's the official release:

The feature film BLACKADDER BACK AND FORTH will screen at London's Millennium Dome throughout the year 2000. Written by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, the film will follow Edmund Blackadder and his sidekick Baldrick (Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson) on a chaotic event-changing voyage through human history. Among the sea of British talent appearing in the film are Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rik Mayall and Kate Moss.

Our London-based friend and colleague, Rich Cline of "Shadows on the Wall" will be attending a preview screening and promises to file a report with us.

TOP 100 BRITISH FILMS

The British Film Institute recently polled 1,000 people in the film industry, from creative talent to distribs, exhibs, critics, journalists, academics and politicians. They were given a list of 300 "culturally British" films and were asked to assess which of them had made "a strong and lasting impression." Respondents were allowed to vote for up to 100 films, and to add ones not on the BFI's suggested list. A total of 25,700 votes were cast, covering 820 different films.

We are pleased to report that "Elizabeth" made the list, coming in at number 71. Congrats to Shekhar, Working Title, and, certainly, our Cate, without whom...

Other facts of interest regarding the poll:
Carol Reed's "The Third Man" was voted the top British film of all time.
The BFI's list of 100 favorite Brit pics anoints David Lean as the leading director (Bob Blanchett will be pleased!), with six entries in total, and a remarkable three films in the top five.
Alec Guinness emerges as the BFI 100's biggest star, with nine films on the list. Michael Caine nabs second place with seven, and Julie Christie confirms her iconic status with six.

Only one film from the 1990s, Danny Boyle's "Trainspotting," made the top 10. It is one of just four pics made since 1970 to appear in the top 20.
Lean's "Brief Encounter" comes in at No. 2, "Lawrence of Arabia" at three and "Great Expectations" at five. Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 suspenser "The 39 Steps," the oldest film on the list, is in fourth. Following closely behind Lean, Michael Powell makes five appearances, four as co-director with Emeric Pressburger and one solo. "The Red Shoes" is his highest entry at No. 9.

Other multiple entrants are John Schlesinger, four pics, and Tony Richardson and Alexander Mackendrick, three apiece). There are no female directors on the list. The most recent pics selected are "Shakespeare in Love" (No. 49), "Elizabeth" (No. 71) and "My Name Is Joe" (No. 91), all from 1998.

BFI director John Woodward commented, "The BFI 100 pays tribute to the wonderful filmmakers and talent who have produced imaginative, innovative and enjoyable films through the decades, and this project reminds us that we have a film culture in Britain of which we should be immensely proud."

We certainly agree, and on that happy note, would suggest that everyone grab a partner, head to the dance floor, for it's been far too long since we've had a chance to call out, "PLAY A VOLTA!". See you next time.