Kate Winslet Will Enter Academy Award History

Kate Winslet will either win her first Oscar for her performance as a woman with a secret Nazi past in “The Reader,” or get the title of biggest loser for having been nominated for the coveted honor, and lost, six times! Winslet was nominated for “Sense and Sensibility” (1995), “Titanic” (1997), “Iris” (2001), “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), “Little Children” (2006).

One more loss and she will be tied at six as Oscar’s biggest losing actress with Deborah Kerr (nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role) – “Edward, My Son” (1949), “From Here to Eternity” (1953), “The King and I” (1956), “Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison”, (1957), “Separate Tables” (1958), “The Sundowners” (1960) and Thelma Ritter (nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role) – “All About Eve” (1950), “The Mating Season” (1951), “With a Song in My Heart” (1952), “Pickup on South Street” (1953), “Pillow Talk” (1959) and “Birdman of Alcatraz” (1962).

Winslet, has already picked up two Golden Globes for her role as a German woman with a teenage lover and a secret in “The Reader” and as a frustrated 1950s American housewife in “Revolutionary Road.” She has also won BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and in emotional speeches, she has expressed shock at her wins after smiling bravely from her seat so often in the past.

The betting in Hollywood ahead of the February 22, 2009 ceremony for the world’s top film awards is that Winslet should be getting her acceptance speech ready.

“I think it is her time. When Academy members are voting, they are going to be thinking not just of “The Reader” but of “Revolutionary Road,” said Hollywood.com movie critic Pete Hammond, when talking about the two movies starring Winslet that were released within weeks of each other in 2008. “That is pretty daunting when you have two great performances like that back to back,” Hammond said.

The four other best actress nominees are Anne Hathaway as a resentful sister in “Rachel Getting Married,” Melissa Leo in border smuggling drama “Frozen River,” Angelina Jolie playing a mother searching for her child in “Changeling” and Meryl Streep for her role in “Doubt.”

“Kate has a solid lead. She is in a Holocaust movie, speaking with a foreign accent, she ages dramatically and she looks great naked – all key elements for a win,” said Tom O’Neil of awards website TheEnvelope.com.

The Reader Quad Poster and 22 Minute Featurette

The Weinstein Company has debuted the first quad-sized poster for Kate Winslet ’s latest drama “The Reader.”

“The Reader” opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.

Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from “The Odyssey,” “Huck Finn,” and “The Lady with the Little Dog.” Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.

Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life – this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna’s past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives. “The Reader” is a haunting story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another.

There’s too a 22 minute featurette online for “The Reader” featuring the lead cast members Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, producers, director Stephen Daldry and writers all talking about the film, the story, and each other, as well as the usual behind the scenes filming. Continue Reading…

Second “The Reader” Poster

The folks over at Cinematical have debuted the new poster for “The Reader.” Tagline states: “How far would you go to protect a secret?“

The story opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna (Kate Winslet), a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.

Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life – this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna’s past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives.

The Reader is directed by English filmmaker Stephen Daldry (Eight, Billy Elliot, The Hours). The screenplay was written by David Hare (Damage, The Hours) and is based on Bernhard Schlink’s novel of the same name Continue Reading…

“The Reader” Trailer And More…

Trailer for “The Reader” stars Ralph Fiennes, David Kross and Kate Winslet directed by Stephen Daldry (the Academy Award nominated director of “The Hours“), from a script by David Hare has been released.

The movie is based on the award winning novel by Bernhard Schlink. Schlink’s “The Reader” has been translated into 39 languages and was the first German novel to reach number one on The New York Times Bestseller List.

The story opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna (Winslet), a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.

Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life – this time as a defendant in the courtroom.  As Hanna’s past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives.

The Weinstein Company is pushing “The Reader” to be considered for an Oscar and will release it on December 10th 2008 in limited release.

First Look at Kate Winslet in The Reader

The Reader | Kate Winslet

The first picture from the upcoming Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) film, entitled “The Reader,” have been published on Awards Daily web site.

A haunting love story based on the best-selling novel of the same name, “The Reader” is set in postwar Germany and tells the story of a man whose life has been shaped by an illicit affair with a passionate, elusive older woman during his youth. Bernhard Schlink’s “The Reader” has been translated into 39 languages and has garnered numerous awards. “The Reader” was the first German novel to reach number one on The New York Times Bestseller List.

“The Reader stars Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes and opens limited December 12th, 2008.

Kate Winslet plays very old woman in ”The Reader”

Kate Winslet is starring alongside Ralph Fiennes in Stephen Daldry’s post-world war II drama, ”The Reader,” based on the novel by Bernhard Schlink.

In postwar Germany, a young man’s decades-long obsession with an older woman runs headlong into a war crimes trial, where he learns an awful truth.

The film, currently being shot on location in Germany, sees Kate playing an older woman involved with a young man.

You can see her on the set photos looking extremely haggard and aged.

Kate replaced Nicole Kidman after she pulled out of shooting on the drama after falling pregnant.

Kate recently finished filming ”Revolutionary Road”, which will sees her back on the big screen alongside Leonardo DiCaprio again.

Director: Stephen Daldry
Writers: Bernhard Schlink (novel), David Hare (screenplay)
Starring: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, David Kross
Release Date: 12 December 2008

Kate Winslet Replaces Nicole Kidman in ‘The Reader’

Nicole Kidman has exited the lead role in ‘The Reader’ of which Stephen Daldry began filming late last year.
Kate Winslet will be the one to replace Nicole Kidman in the lead female role opposite Ralph Fiennes.

Winslet is no stranger to the script: She was the first choice but was unable to do the movie because of a scheduling conflict with ’Revolutionary Road’, the film that reteams her with “Titanic” co-star Leonardo DiCaprio and was directed by husband, Sam Mendes. Kidman then took the role.

By the time Kidman withdrew from the project because she’s expecting a baby, Winslet was available again, and the film will remain on schedule.

The film is an adaptation of Bernhard Schlink’s novel about a teen who falls for an enigmatic older woman in postwar Germany. The Weinstein Company is distributing.