BBC - Films - High Noon - 12th February 2004

		Fat Cat Chases Mouse Cable TV honcho Brian Roberts has made a public bid to buy Walt Disney (the company, not the human ice pop) for $66 billion, after CEO Michael Eisner blew him off earlier this week. It's a manoeuvre the business analysts call a "bearhug", which barely justifies use of above film still. The suits at Miramax and Pixar (Disney subsidiaries) are reported to be "exuberant" at the prospect of Eisner's exit - Pixar especially smug following their recent dispute with the big man. The merger, according to Roberts, would create the world's "premier entertainment and leisure company" and "restore the Disney brand to prominence and growth". Wall Street apparently agrees since The Mouse's share prices have shot through the roof. That's despite an outcry from public interest groups wary of a mouse monopoly.

		London Calling Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World sailed to glory at the 24th London Film Critics' Circle awards last night. Peter Weir edged out Peter Jackson's Return Of The King to win Film Of The Year, while shipmate Paul Bettany scored Best British Actor. Weir also scored Best Screenwriting kudos along with co-writer John Collee. Jackson got another slap in the face when Clint Eastwood was named Best Director for Mystic River while Sean Penn picked up Best Actor (Who Is Not British) for his (stunning actually) performance in the film. Bill Nighy and Emma Thompson took home gongs for Best British Supporting roles in romantic comedy Love Actually while director Peter Mullan nabbed Best British Director for The Magdalene Sisters. Magdalene also won the Attenborough Award for Best British film, but let's face it, the voters weren't exactly spoilt for choice.

		Nighy In A Spin Life just gets better and better for Best Supporting British Actor Bill Nighy. (Take a breath.) He's signed up for The Magic Roundabout, a big screen CGI spin on the classic children's TV series, which may or may not be about a bunch of spaced out dope fiends. He'll be lending his vocal talents to Dylan, the may-or-may-not-be-utterly-stoned brown rabbit. Tom Baker (Dr Who), Jim Broadbent, Joanna Lumley, um, Robbie Williams, and uh, Kylie Minogue will also feature. The Magic Roundabout is slated - for release, that is - in Spring 2005.

		Justin On The Spot Writer/director David Burke has revealed a little more about Justin Timberlake's "small but pivotal" part (no sniggering in the back row) in conspiracy thriller Edison. He'll be playing Joshua Pollack, a cub reporter who stumbles upon a very big story about corruption in city government. Burke describes the character as "a fresh-out-of-college kid with a counterculture bent". Burke also reveals that the Grammy-winning pop star will be shadowing a real print journalist to get a feel for the job. (Britney Spears should be afraid, very afraid.) Edison will star LL Cool J, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey, and begins shooting in March.

		Etc... Queen Latifah is wearing her producer's cap to drive a remake of blaxploitation flick Truck Turner. The 1974 film saw Isaac Hayes as the eponymous bounty hunter marked for death by the disgruntled girlfriend of his latest mark. Although it's unconfirmed, sources close to Latifah say she will likely star in the project... Liam Neeson is in final negotiations to star opposite Christian Bale in Batman: Intimidation. The spoilsports at Warner Bros have declined to comment on Neeson's role... Unfaithful star Diane Lane has agreed to star as the "drug-addled, bohemian mother of a teenage boy" in the latest project from writer/director Griffin Dunne (Practical Magic, Addicted To Love). No doubt Lane will be downplaying her looks and perhaps even opt for some sort of facial prosthesis. It's set in the 70s (naturally) and it's called Fierce People, or as Lane refers to it, The Oscar Clincher...