Styles & Scenes

Buy Bond's, James Bond's, birthplace

Want a bit of Bond history?

We’re not talking Sir Sean Connery’s autograph or a Bond DVD box set. We’re talking a $1 million Beach Cottage - or maybe just a $700 grand Cove Hut - at Goldeneye, Ian Fleming’s private Jamaican hideaway where he wrote all his 007 spy thrillers.

Goldeneye - owned by legendary music industry empresario Chris Blackwell and his Island Outpost resort corporation - will evolve over the next two years from a small, reclusive resort property into a large exclusive resort village taking up a significant chunk of Jamaica's north shore.

Countless music, fashion and film stars are already frequent guests of Blackwell’s lush, laid-back Goldeneye resort. Johnny Depp is a regular. Scarlett Johansson and beau Josh Hartnett were just there. Naomi Campell even owns one of the Goldeneye villas  - the Royal Palm – that you can rent. Other visitors include Bono, Steve Winwood, Bob Marley, Sting (he wrote “Every Breath You Take” there), Harrison Ford, Cindy Crawford and Kate Moss. Two cinema Bonds – Sir Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan - have also idled there. Connery, according to Roger Brown, Island Outpost developer, has even expressed an interest in the new Goldeye Resort property. No sign, so far, of the new 007 Daniel Craig whose “Casino Royale” is due out in November. 

But Blackwell was in LA this week looking for a few select Hollywood high rollers who might like to be residents of his revamped Goldeneye. At a party Monday in a Santa Monica home, an elite group including Angelica Huston, former Mamas and Papas singer Michelle Phillips, music industry honcho Peter Asher, Malcolm McLaren (c'mon, you remember the Sex Pistols) and record producer Richard Perry sampled Jamaican fare and fruity rum drinks while looking at plans for the new Goldeneye, scheduled for completion in Winter 2007.

As well as private homes of all sizes, the plans include a thalassotherapy spa, clubhouse, tennis courts, fitness centers, pools, restaurants and doctors offices. There will also be 30 ocean-front rental apartments, named for Bond characters like Q, Miss Moneypenny, Goldfinger, Pussy Galore, etc. “But the suites will be tastefully done,” points out Brown. “Not like Disneyland.” Darn. We were kinda hoping for a naked gold-painted blonde sprawled on the king bed. 

And, as the promo pamphlets point out, you could even retire there. But the price? Okay, it ain’t cheap. The tropical decored two-story Lagoon Villa (5230 sq ft) starts, we repeat, starts at $3 million. But chill, mon. The promo packet proposes music to play while reviewing the purchase documents included in the colorful tie-dyed gift bags given to each party guest.

Just a few ditties by Steve Winwood, Muddy Waters, Bill Withers, Neil Young, Prince, Traffic, Cat Stevens, Fleetwood Mac and The Wailers should make signing that hefty deposit check much easier.

A little Goldeneye history came to light throughout the evening...

Photo Credits: Goldeneye, Ian Fleming's Jamaican hideaway, is about to spawn an exclusive resort village. Courtesy of Island Outpost.

Sean Connery's Hollywood fans are shaken n' stirred

“If Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then flattered you must be,” AFI Chair Sir Howard Stringer told Sir Sean Connery, the iconic Scottish actor best known for being Bond, James Bond. “Because at any moment in time, people around the world are doing Sean Connery impersonations.”

That was certainly true at AFI’s Life Achievement Award dinner at the Kodak Theatre Thursday. Almost everyone paying homage to Connery -  Mike Myers, Tippi Hedren, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Andy Garcia, Craig Ferguson, “Deadwood’s” Ian McShane and Eddie Izzard - did their best (and often worst) Connery accent.

Connery’s “First Knight” costar Julia Ormond recalled that while the rest of the cast struggled in and out of period costumes, Connery had his fastened with Velcro so he could get to the golf course fast. And when she went to audition for Sabrina” with Harrison Ford, Connery gave her this advice: "Give him a Swiss kiss."

“What’s a Swiss kiss?" she asked. (Cue the accent) “It’s the same as a French kiss,” he replied. “Only you yodel.”

Pierce Brosnan recalled seeing “Goldfinger” at age 11 in London and finally meeting Connery after a dangerous fireball stunt in Brosnan’s first Bond flick. “We got the take and later on the lot, I ran into Sean who said (cue the accent),  “I saw what you did. Pretty good. Are they paying you enough money?”

His “Untouchables” costar Garcia recalled Connery impatiently watching director David Mamet try to get Garcia to turn towards the camera so they could see his face. Cut the accent. “C’mon kid. Its not Hamlet,” Connery groused from off-set. Several takes later, Mamet whined, 'We still can’t see both your eyes.' Connery rolled his eyes and said (accent, please), “You saw both his eyes. They’re just very close together.”

But it wasn’t all impersonations...

Photo Credit: Sir Sean Connery - better known as James Bond - still the actor that men want to be and women want to be with - at the American Film Institute 34th Life Achievement Award.
WireImage/Gregg DeGuire

Hollywood's hunt for Lincoln's killer

Who will be Booth?

That’s the burning question as Walden Media and producer Lawrence Bender search for an actor charismatic enough to play actor-assassin John Wilkes Booth in “Manhunt.”

Whoever is chosen will costar with Harrison Ford, who recently presented at the Golden Globes and the People’s Choice Awards. Ford has already signed on to play Col. Everton Conger, who led the hunt for Booth, captured hiding in a Virginia barn. But that George Lucas-like silver goatee Ford’s been sporting may have to grow a bit to portray the heavily bearded Conger.

The period film will be based on Lincoln scholar James Swanson’s just-released, critically-hailed book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” about Honest Abe’s death, the search for the missing murderer and his henchmen in April 1865.

“I just heard a report that they’ve made an offer to someone but I haven’t heard who it is,” said Swanson, from his Washington home. "Johnny Depp would be perfect. But Will Kemp, Orlando Bloom or Christian Bale would also be good. So would Matthew McConaughey. He actually looks very much like Booth around the eyes.”

The actor who will play Booth would also have to grow and then shave off his moustache, which Booth did to avoid capture during his days hiding in swamps.

“The problem with casting someone to play John Wilkes Booth is that you really need to find another John Wilkes Booth,” says Swanson. “Theatrical, incredibly handsome, seductive, an incorrigible ladies man. When he was captured, he was carrying photos of five girlfriends.” Sounds right up Depp's dark, swaggering pirate alley.

New Ecuadorian filmmaker Sebastian Cordero is set to direct Andrew W. Marlowe and Mike Rich’s “Manhunt” screenplay. But seriously, wouldn’t Oliver Stone be a better choice to direct a movie about a conspiracy to shoot the President? Just a thought.

Steven Spielberg's not available. He's already got his own Lincoln movie, "The Uniter," based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, a film rumored to star Liam Neeson as Abe. Last time Spielberg worked with Neeson was in that little Oscar-winning picture called "Schindler's List."

Which Lincoln movie will hit theaters first? My money's on "Manhunt" if only to take advantage of the book's big buzz. Also, according to producer Kathleen Kennedy, Spielberg has another movie ahead of "Uniter." "We're definitely going ahead with the project but the Lincoln film won't be the next film Steven does," Kennedy said at the BAFTA/LA Tea Party last month.

Photo: Can Harrison Ford find Lincoln's assassin in "Manhunt," after his recent David Letterman Show appearance?
(James Devaney / WireImage)

Photo: Is this the face of John Wilkes Booth — Johnny Depp, seen here at the Golden Globes?
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

No losers at the Peeps Choice

Why are there are no sore losers at the People’s Choice Awards?

Because every nominee who attends knows they’re not leaving without a big shiny crystal trophy.  So everyone who won (or presented) anything was happily milling around backstage during Tuesday night’s show, waiting to be congratulated, photographed and/or interviewed. Or, in some cases, trying not to be interviewed.

Jessica Simpson was one of several stars – including Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres and Harrison Ford -  who skipped the backstage print press room. Most stars preferred to chat with the kinder, softer TV entertainment shows like "Access Hollywood," "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider," all of which had decorated booths set up for brief, intimate tete-a-tetes with the stars.

Degeneres, wearing a white  Neil Barrett suit and gal pal Portia de Rossi, in a sexy bright blue Vera Wang gown, killed some time between TV talks by chatting with Ray Romano.

“Listen, If  you’re bored, why not come on the show?,” asked Degeneres, who won Fave Funny Female Star and Fave Daytime Talk Show Host. “I don’t care if you’re in your underwear. Or mine.”

“I love your underwear,” responded Romano, “I have two pairs and they’re really comfortable.”

Okay, way too much information.

Then the El-word couple ran over to do an a deux sit-down with “The Insider,” submitting to questions posed by Pat O’Brien’s sidekick, Lara Spencer.  “So I understand that you are now wearing tap shoes to dance on your show,” Spencer announced, clearly proud of her "Insider" scoop.

“No, I’m not wearing tap shoes on the show,” said DeGeneres. “Who told you that?”

“Pat told me to ask you about wearing tap shoes,” whined a red-faced Spencer. “Gee, thanks O’Brien, great question!,” she said, smiling through gritted teeth at the camera.

Rather than hang in the unprotected hallways, many stars preferred to chill in the relatively press-free zone – the Silver Spoon freebie fest/talent lounge - decorated in seductive black velvet, funereal lily arrangements, with a small bar serving beer and bubbly.

Spotted checking out the free 'n' cheesy products to be stuffed into their suitcase-size goodie bags:  the winning Green Day dudes, “Lost” cutie Dominic Monaghan, “Star Wars” winner George Lucas and his needs-be-digitalized daughter, best male action star (just ask him) Matthew McConaughey, Jason Lee and his “Something About Earl” co-star Jaime Pressley, truly, madly, deeply “Desperate” Nicolette Sheridan, “Commander in Chief” Lady Prez Geena (“I finally have a  hit show”) Davis, “CSI” star Marg (“I can’t believe this show is still going on”) Helgenberger, L.A. nightclub empressario Amanda Demme, once-upon-a-time model-turned- reality TV star Rachel Hunter and celeb stylist Philip Bloch, actually seen in public without his omnipresent cap.

Not exactly a hot interview anymore, Kelsey Grammer, there with his still-lovely wife Camille, had time to tickle the ivories on one of Liberace’s old pianos in the lounge, patiently waiting for someone, anyone, to ask him about his upcoming projects, of which I'm sure there are many.

Photo Credit: Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres kill time hanging backstage after the Peeps Choice Awards
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

And the presenters are....

The stars are starting to align for the Golden Globes.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Jamie Foxx, Natalie Portman, and Emma Thompson will present awards at the 63rd annual Golden Globes, taking place on Jan. 16 at the Beverly Hilton.

No official word on which star will present which award. But according to Barry Adelman, executive producer of the Golden Globe awards show, it's customary for last year's winners to present in their winning category. "It's not a hard and fast rule but we usually ask last year's winners to come back and present awards for best actress and best actor."

That could mean that Leo, who won a best actor in a dramatic movie for "The Aviator," will present in that category. It could also mean that Foxx, who won for "Ray," will present for his winning category, best actor in a musical or comedy movie. And since Portman won best supporting actress for "Closer" last year, well, you figure it out.

As yet, there is no word on who will perform the coveted task of presenting the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award. This year the honor goes to Anthony Hopkins, given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. for the actor's "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field."

The lifetime achievement award requires a careful and painstaking selection process. "We try to be good matchmakers," says Adelman. We go through a research process to find someone who is either a personal or professional friend." Or both.

Adelman recalls past successful pairings: When Dustin Hoffman won his DeMille at the 1997 ceremony, Tom Cruise, his costar in "Rainman," presented it to him. Warren Beatty, one of Jack Nicholson's longtime close personal friends and a professional colleague, presented his pal with his DeMille in 1999.

Hmm. We can't help but wonder if Thompson, who costarred with Hopkins in two memorable and award-winning Merchant-Ivory productions, "Howard's End," and "Remains of the Day," may be the lucky lady who hands the distinguished British actor his overdue DeMille.

Then again, the DeMille presenter could also be....

Photo Credit: Leonardo DiCaprio warms up for Golden Globe presenter duty at the Earth to America! eco-fundraiser in Las Vegas in November 2005.
(Michael Caulfield / WireImage)