The Age: Blanchett determined despite pregnancy

An antidote to the Portia bile, Cate Blanchett. She's just wonderful, marvellous, fab. Not a dud performance in her, not that I've seen.

I saw her first TV series back in '94, in Australia, Heartland, she was pretty damn good straight out of NIDA.. She and Judy Davis and Nicole Kidman, all of them resolutely Australian and proud, just good.

The Age: Stay true says Rush
"Australian filmmakers should not change story lines or "homogenise" them to please the tastes of overseas audiences, says Oscarwinning actor Geoffrey Rush."

Geoffrey! Mate! Ken Oath!

Anthony La Paglia also gets points for making the effort to go home every other movie and put his clout to good use in a really truly Australian movie. Anna tells me his latest, Lantana {also with Geoffrey Rush!} is being released in the US before the end of this year, so it can qualify for the Academy Awards. It's supposed to be *that* good. I hope so, I get a big time kick out of seeing Australians nominated in the Big Categories, let along actually up there on the dias. I'll have to keep an eye out on the listings, make the cut lunch and waterbag to NYC to see that flick.

Portia de Rossi? Birth name Amanda Marie Rodgers, commonly known as Mandy, she gets no points. She doesn't acknowledge being Australian, and I see her on Leno talking about her mum and then capping that with a patronising "Oh yes, she's Australian." Uh, Mandy? Cut the being a snot and get back in your box.