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You know what the day after Thanksgiving means: the Oscars insanity begins! Miramax's Harvey Weinstein is surely wedged in the back booth of an unsmoky bar in the Valley right now, whispering cruel words about his Best Picture competitor, Clint Eastwood, and Clint's Oscar-contending Warner Brothers film Mystic River. Somewhere a tabloid reporter is repeating scurrilous gossip about Sean Penn; Harvey must keep Sean's clammy fingers away from that gold statuette if he wants an Oscar sweep.

Miramax's set-up for the Oscar-grabbing Christmas release of Cold Mountain has been exquisite. Nicole Kidman just has to keep her mouth shut and ride out her fake-nose cred from last year. Jude Law has already been expertly set up for his big leading man role.

Hollywood Stock Exchange shows Cold Mountain in a slight decline; Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman both holding good and steady.
Studios Jockey for Oscar Nods [Tribune Newspapers]
Luke Ford on Harvey Weinstein [Luke Ford]