The Hollywood Minute

January 8, 1996
Web posted at: 10:20 p.m. EST

From Entertainment Correspondent Dennis Michael

Still more Oscar indicators ... the Broadcast Film Critics Association has released its list of winning films from 1995. The Association, composed of 56 film critics from television, radio and on-line services, chose "Sense and Sensibility" as best picture. Mel Gibson scored best director honors for "Braveheart," Kevin Bacon was named best actor for "Murder in the First," and Nicole Kidman's work in "To Die For" earned her a best actress award.

"Sisters" is getting ready to say goodbye. The six-year-old NBC series will wrap up production at the end of the season. Daily Variety cites sources saying the ratings are OK, but keeping the ensemble cast together is getting too difficult.

The return of "The Prisoner" will also be a continuation of the return of Patrick McGoohan, the actor who starred in the original enigmatic English television series. The Hollywood Reporter indicates McGoohan will write and produce the upcoming big-screen version. McGoohan came out of semi-retirement to appear in "Braveheart" with Mel Gibson.

The cast of Richard Dreyfuss' next film, "Trigger Happy," is getting bigger and brighter. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Ellen Barkin, Burt Reynolds, and Gregory Hines have joined the cast of the gangster comedy, along with Gabriel Byrne and Jeff Goldblum.

Good news from Star Fleet -- all the members of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" cast have signed up for the next movie. Brent Spiner, who plays the starship's resident android Data, was the last member of the group to agree to appear in "Star Trek - Resurrection." According to the Hollywood Reporter, shooting is set to begin in April.

Actor siblings John and Joan Cusak are doing a project together. Both will appear in the film "Grosse Point Blank," a comedy about a hit man attending his high school class reunion. Dan Aykroyd and Alan Arkin are also in the cast. The Hollywood Reporter says that filming begins late this month.

More honors for Mel Gibson, the director. The National Board of Review will present Gibson with the 1995 Award for Filmmaking in late February. The award praises his work as the director, producer, and star of "Braveheart. James Earl Jones will also be on hand to receive the Career Achievement Award from the Board.

Sean Penn is -- reluctantly -- acting again. In an interview with the Associated Press, Penn admits he worked in "Dead Man Walking" to earn some money. And he'll follow that up with an appearance in "Behan," playing the titular Irish poet, Brendan Francis Behan. Then he'll go back to directing. The actor calls the craft of acting "tearing oneself apart for the amusement of the audience."

Ice T is going prime time. TV Guide reports the rapper has joined the cast of NBC's new series "The Player," which is being called a "Mod Squad" for the 90s. Ice T has been in a number of movies and plays a recurring role in "New York Undercover."

The Hollywood Minute

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