With their Oscar noms in the can, these actors keep busy. Time to cruise IMDb for the future projects of Best Actress Oscar nominees:
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age)
•Cate gets a piece of the Indy action in Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22) as Agent Irina Spalko. Whenever I hear the theme, I think of one of my earliest film memories attending Raiders of the Lost Ark at the drive-in. (My brother and I weren't allowed to watch the second feature, Urban Cowboy.)
•Cate is also set to star in David Fincher's film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, (Nov. 26) with the director's favorite, Brad Pitt (Se7en, Fight Club). Based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, the titular character ages in reverse. Intriguing.
•Not until 2009 awaits Wes Anderson's next lovely endeavor, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Based on a Roald Dahl book (Mr. Chocolate Factory to you) and adapted by Anderson & Noah Baumbach (the Margot at the Wedding director who helped scribe The Life Aquatic). Unfortunately no longer animated by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas), I trust it will still be a good time. Rumored to be voiced by Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Anjelica Huston plus George Clooney as Mr. Fox & Cate as the Mrs.
Julie Christie (Away from Her)
The stunning Ms. Christie has nothing up her sleeve. We'll let her rest on her laurels.
Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose)
•Sorry boys, no more Marion until 2009. She's working with Michael Mann (Miami Vice, Collateral) on a film about John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd -- Public Enemies. With Johnny Depp as Dillinger and Christian Bale as FBI agent Melvin Purvis, it should be interesting.
•Also for 2009 is Rob Marshall's (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago) next film, Nine. Cotillard joins Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz and Sophia Loren – yowza.
Laura Linney (The Savages)
•Queen of indies Linney stars in the first Ismail Merchant-less James Ivory production, The City of Your Final Destination (April 23). Ivory-regular Anthony Hopkins, Omar Metwally (Rendition) and Charlotte Gainsbourg (I'm Not There) fill out the cast. Bet on pretty and moody.
•Notes on a Scandal director Richard Eyre corners adultery films by helming The Other Man (Feb. 14, elsewhere but here). Linney costars with Liam Neeson, Antonio Banderas and Romola Garai (Atonement).
Ellen Page (Juno)
•Page stars in Noam Murro's directoral debut, Smart People (April 11), costarring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church in a story about the loves and family of a widowed professor. Hmm, we'll see.
•In 2009, Page gives another first-time director a chance with Drew Barrymore’s Whip It, about a women's roller derby team in Texas. Gimme some skates.
•Also 2009, Sam Raimi's thriller, Drag Me to Hell.