The Envelope In Print: The Grammy / Oscar Issue (Feb. 6, 2008)

February 6, 2008

GRAMMYS

Leslie Feist is welcomed to the club

LESLIE FEIST has a metaphor for the Grammy Awards -- and it's not one that features her in a starring role.

February 6, 2008

CONTENDER Q & A

One stand-up coward

STARTING right off with its title, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" puts people off-balance. Does it follow the gun-slinging exploits of the legendary Wild West outlaw or does it place unexpected emphasis on the sidekick who forced his way into history?

February 6, 2008

AWARDS

Country's Taylor Swift keeps on the move

THE music world is racing to keep pace with Taylor Swift. It's a none-too-easy job requiring speed, stamina and dexterity now that the just-18 singer and songwriter is in high demand for TV talk-show guest spots, award-show performances and hosting gigs and gearing up for opening slots on three of country music's big headlining tours for 2008.

February 6, 2008

EXTENDED PLAY

Glen Hansard, Eddie Vedder crash Grammy Awards

GLEN HANSARD had given up on the Grammy Awards. The leader of the successful Irish rock group the Frames since 1990, he saw the Grammys as representing an aspect of music that he wasn't really a part of, a world, he said, "that's fully industry based."

February 6, 2008

OSCARS

Oscar's no populist

Quick trivia No. 1: What are the only three films since 1980 to win both the box-office crown and the Academy Award for best picture? Read on while you ponder.

January 14, 2008

CONTENDER Q & A

Halle Berry is always up for a challenge

AFTER a string of critical and commercial disappointments that followed her 2002 Oscar win for "Monster's Ball," Halle Berry drew accolades for her dramatic performance in this year's "Things We Lost in the Fire," including an NAACP Image Award nomination for outstanding actress in a motion picture.

February 6, 2008

THE CORNER OFFICE

Phil Ramone's 34th Grammy nomination

PHIL RAMONE, who has 14 Grammys at home, was dubbed "the Pope of Pop" some years ago and though it's not the sleekest of nicknames it does capture one defining attribute of his career -- Ramone's long résumé is densely packed with divine studio moments.