Hollywood's Biggest Names Expected at Golden Globes This Weekend
JIM MORET, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everyone. I'm Jim Moret in Hollywood. Laurin Sydney is on assignment. Some of the biggest names in entertainment are expected at a major awards show this weekend, the Golden Globes. Sherri Sylvester is in Beverly Hills with a preview -- Sherri.</s>SHERRI SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Jim. As you can see, preparations are well under way for the 57th annual Golden Globe Awards. We're here in the ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. A lot still has to be done. They've got the setup. They're clearly checking the microphones to make sure those acceptance speeches are loud and clear. The tables don't quite look as nice, without the tablecloths and the flowers and, of course, the stars around them, but we are assured that everything will be ready by Sunday night.</s>SYLVESTER (voice-over): Expect the unexpected at the Golden Globe awards. The Hollywood Foreign Press prides itself on creating the kind of party atmosphere that loosens the tongues of would-be winners. That said, "American Beauty" could be golden with six nominations, including best picture, best director and best actor, Kevin Spacey.</s>KEVIN SPACEY, ACTOR: We never thought that, you know, we would find ourselves in a place like this, but we always believed it was one of the most extraordinary screenplays we have ever read.</s>SYLVESTER: Other contenders for best actor in a drama: Russell Crowe lands one of five nods for "The Insider," Matt Damon one of five for "The Talented Mr. Ripley. " (</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY") MATT DAMON, ACTOR: I always thought it would be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody.</s>DAMON: The stuff that normally comes across my plate is pretty standard one, two, three, hike Hollywood filmmaking, and this was something I'd never seen before.</s>SYLVESTER: "The Straight Story," likewise, gave Richard Farnsworth an unusual ride. Denzel Washington credits director Norman Jewison for his work in "The Hurricane."</s>DENZEL WASHINGTON, ACTOR: He trusts and he loves the actors, and he protects the actors, and you just feel like you're in this nice cocoon, where you can really just stretch out and take chances.</s>SYLVESTER: Ringside for the best picture race: "The Hurricane" takes on "Mr. Ripley," "American Beauty," "The Insider," and "The End of the Affair." The directors of all five of these films compete for best director. Best actress nominees include "Beauty's" Annette Bening and "Affair's" Julianne Moore. Hilary Swank's gender-bending role in "Boys Don't Cry" was singled out, along with Meryl Streep's turn in "Music of the Heart," and Sigourney Weaver's performance in "A Map of the World. "</s>SIGOURNEY WEAVER, ACTRESS: It took me places I hadn't been before as an actor. which is a great feeling.</s>SYLVESTER: Comedies are often slighted by other awards shows. Not so here. "Being John Malkovich," "Analyze This" or "Man On the Moon" could be named best motion picture comedy. "Toy Story 2" and "Notting Hill" are also honored.</s>JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: It just feels good. You know, I just know that I am making the right decisions in every way.</s>SYLVESTER: Julia Roberts may add a Globe to her People's Choice award. She's nominated for "Notting Hill." Sharon Stone's turn in "The Muse" puts her among best-actress hopefuls, along with Reese Witherspoon in "Election," Julianne Moore, in an ideal husband, and Janet McTeer in "Tumbleweeds." Jim Carrey won last year. "Man on the Moon" is his best actor encore. Robert De Niro is a contender for "Analyze This," Rupert Everett for "An Ideal Husband." Applause as well for Hugh Grant in "Notting Hill" and Sean Penn's "Sweet and Lowdown" performance. The 57th annual Golden Globes may be remembered for other stories. Michael J. Fox is expected to attend. His nomination for "Spin City" preceded an announcement that he will leave the series. And Barbara Streisand will take center stage as the recipient of the Cecil B. Demille Award for her contribution to entertainment.</s>SYLVESTER: And joining me now live is Helmut Voss, who is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. This is his big party Sunday night. And you were telling me during the package that you know where some of the stars are going to be sitting. Could you give us a little preview of the tables?</s>HELMUT VOSS, PRESIDENT, HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION: In our line of sight, that one long table standing in the middle is the one reserved for the Cecil B. Demille Award winner, which this year, will be Barbara Streisand. And she'll have her guests sitting there with her, and probably Shirley MacLaine, and John Travolta. And the table next to that, right smack in the middle there, will be Tom Cruise's table.