BBC - Films - High Noon - 1st March 2004

		King Of The Oscars Peter Jackson's The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King won 11 Oscars at this year's Academy Awards. The JRR Tolkien adaptation won in each of its categories, giving it the same number of awards as Ben-Hur and Titanic. As well as best picture and best director, Rings won a slew of technical awards. Away from Middle-earth, the Academy honoured Mystic River stars Sean Penn and Tim Robbins (best actor and best supporting actor respectively); Charlize Theron (best actress for Monster); Renée Zellweger (Cold Mountain); and Sofia Coppola (best original screenplay for Lost In Translation). For full Oscars coverage, visit BBC News.

		Mel To Pay! The Passion Of The Christ was an astonishing hit in America over the weekend, taking $76.3 million. Its five day gross since opening on Ash Wednesday is now an estimated $117.5 million, making it the most popular opening of the year. Controversy about the movie - depicting the final 12 hours of Christ's life in unflinchingly brutal fashion - continues to rage, however. The New York Times published an article on 26th February claiming that two unidentified "major studio heads" have decided to never work with Gibson again. The alleged decision follows ongoing rumours of anti-Semitism by Gibson, although most of that is as a result of the Holocaust-denial claims by his seemingly ga-ga da-da. The Passion Of The Christ will open in the UK on Friday 26th March.

		Lost In Good Spirit Sofia Coppola's Lost In Translation was the biggest winner at the 19th annual Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday night. The film win best film, best director, best screenplay, and best actor (Bill Murray). In America, Monster, and The Station Agent each won two awards: best supporting actor (Djimon Hounsou) and cinematography; Monster won best actress (Charlize Theron) and best first feature (director Patty Jenkins); and The Station Agent claimed best first screenplay and best feature made for under $500,000. Other gongs went to Whale Rider (best foreign film); Nikki Reed (best debut performance in Thirteen), Shohreh Aghdashloo (House Of Sand And Fog); and The Fog Of War (best documentary).

		DiCaprio Eyes Affairs Leonardo DiCaprio is in talks to star in Martin Scorsese's remake of Infernal Affairs. The duo have already worked together twice in the last few years - firstly on Gangs Of New York, and most recently on Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator. Brad Pitt is also likely to star in the high-profile redo. The original Infernal Affairs has just opened in the UK, and has been a huge hit in its native Hong Kong, breaking box office records and spawning two sequels. The crime thriller is about two men working as moles - one within the police force, the other in a Chinese Triad gang.

		Gigli Sucks - Official! The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation lavished disdain on Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's Gigli, with the much-derided pic taking home six Razzies. The film 'won' Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Screen Couple, Worst Director and Worst Screenplay (dual honours for Martin Brest). Sylvester Stallone claimed Worst Supporting Actor for his efforts on Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, while Demi Moore pocketed Worst Supporting Actress for Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Throttle also claimed Worst Remake or Sequel, while The Cat In The Hat won the new category Worst Excuse For An Actual Movie.