Dec 24, 2004

Issue #798

Cover Story

How ''The Aviator'' got off the ground

by Steve Daly | Dec 17, 2004
For their latest project, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio pilot a larger-than-life story -- but will they land Oscars for their efforts? Read it
Magazine Cover (Dec 24, 2004)

Books

EW judges a book by its cover

Dec 20, 2004
What's the newest trend in literary covers? Read it

Features

The story behind ''The Aviator''

by Steve Daly | Dec 20, 2004
Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese talk to EW about the trials and tribulations of making their new biopic about Howard Hughes Read it

''Life Aquatic'' director reveals his muses

by Nancy Miller | Dec 20, 2004
Wes Anderson discusses the quirky soundtracks of all his films Read it

Q&A

Tammy Lynn Michaels talks about nannying

by Nicholas Fonseca | Dec 20, 2004
The former ''Popular'' star dishes on creative ways to deal with bratty kids Read it

Review

The Aviator

by Owen Gleiberman
But Martin Scorsese's flamboyant Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator isn't quite divine. Read it

The Woodsman

by Owen Gleiberman
A terrific lead performance lifts an otherwise slight film Read it

Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events

by Lisa Schwarzbaum
A morose kiddie classic gets an unfortunate makeover Read it

Million Dollar Baby

by Owen Gleiberman
A revitalized Clint Eastwood hatches a knockout boxing tale Read it

Flight Of The Phoenix

by Scott Brown
This sandy remake sets down squarely on the funway Read it

Spanglish

by Lisa Schwarzbaum
James L. Brooks delivers a clunker... in any language Read it

Beyond The Sea

by Lisa Schwarzbaum
Kevin Spacey throws his heart into a bizarro popster biopic Read it

Television

TV's funniest quotes for the week of December 24, 2004

Dec 20, 2004
We pick our favorite quips from talk shows and sitcoms Read it

What to Watch for week of DECEMBER 20

by Alynda Wheat, Jay Woodruff | Dec 20, 2004
A day-to-day guide to notable programs. Read it

Ask The Critic

Our TV critic answers your questions

by Gillian Flynn | Dec 20, 2004
Read their responses and post your own questions Read it

Book Article

''Southern Fried Divorce'' becomes national success

by Whitney Pastorek | Dec 20, 2004
The book garnered buzz in the author's home state of Louisiana before becoming popular nationwide Read it

Carnival con man pens memoir about his youth

by Gilbert Cruz | Dec 20, 2004
''National Enquirer'' reporter Peter Fenton talks about his new book, ''Eyeing the Flash'' Read it

Book Review

The Family Tree

by Jennifer Reese | Dec 22, 2004

Eleanor Rigby

by Jennifer Reese | Dec 20, 2004

Mary After All

by Melissa Rose Bernardo | Dec 20, 2004

Home Land

by Nicholas Fonseca | Dec 20, 2004

Small Mediums At Large

by Gilbert Cruz | Dec 20, 2004

Animals In Translation

by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh | Dec 22, 2004

Liberation Road

by Brian Palmer | Dec 20, 2004

The Motive

by Paul Katz | Dec 20, 2004

The Good Guys

by Adam B. Vary | Dec 20, 2004

Downtown

by Gilbert Cruz | Dec 20, 2004

Life Studies

by Nancy Miller | Dec 20, 2004

Checking In With...

Cover Story

How ''The Aviator'' got off the ground

by Steve Daly | Dec 17, 2004
For their latest project, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio pilot a larger-than-life story -- but will they land Oscars for their efforts? Read it

DVD Review

Garden State

by Jeff Labrecque | Dec 21, 2004

Movie Article

Kevin Bacon reflects on his movie career

by Missy Schwartz | Dec 20, 2004
The actor talks about his career and his riskiest film to date: ''The Woodsman'' Read it

''Shaun Of The Dead'' is the Freak of the Week

Dec 20, 2004
''Shaun Of The Dead'' Read it

Kevin Kline talks about ''De-Lovely''

by Melissa Rose Bernardo | Dec 20, 2004
The Oscar-winning actor discusses his love of musicals and playing Cole Porter Read it

Q&A with ''Anchorman'''s Fred Willard

by Mandi Bierly | Dec 20, 2004
The actor discusses his role in the Will Ferrell comedy and how to stay professional while shooting a movie Read it

Spanish films rack up Oscar buzz

by Michelle Kung | Dec 20, 2004
''Bad Education'' and ''The Sea Inside'' are among the movies garnering award nominations Read it

Smaller films garner most Golden Globe nods

by Allison Hope Weiner | Jan 01, 2005
Indie movies like ''Sideways'' win more nominations that big-budgeted mainstream fare Read it

First look at Charlize Theron as ''Aeon Flux''

by Missy Schwartz | Dec 20, 2004
EW gives you the inside scoop on the Oscar-winning actress's upcoming action film Read it

Virginia Madsen's favorite ''Sideways'' moment

by Vickie An | Dec 20, 2004
The Golden Globe-nominated actress recounts a memorable scene from her movie Read it

Q&A with Kevin Spacey

by Allison Hope Weiner | Dec 20, 2004
The Oscar-winning actor discusses his new film, the Bobby Darin biopic ''Beyond the Sea'' Read it

EW mixes it up with ''Million Dollar Baby'''s Hilary Swank

by Scott Brown | Dec 21, 2004
The boxing drama makes the 1999 Oscar winner a contender to reclaim Best Actress crown Read it

Movie Review

Beyond the Sea

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 15, 2004

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 15, 2004

Million Dollar Baby

by Owen Gleiberman

Spanglish

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 15, 2004

The Aviator

by Owen Gleiberman

The Woodsman

by Owen Gleiberman | Dec 15, 2004

Flight of the Phoenix

by Scott Brown | Dec 15, 2004

Blade: Trinity

by Owen Gleiberman | Dec 20, 2004

Dolls

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 20, 2004

The Life Aquaitc with Steve Zissou

by Owen Gleiberman | Dec 20, 2004

Ocean's Twelve

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 20, 2004

Movie on DVD Review

The Simpsons Christmas 2

by Jeff Labrecque | Dec 20, 2004
Charo, Cher, break dancing, bellboys... Get your DVD jollies with these new holiday titles Read it

Open Water

by Mandi Bierly | Dec 21, 2004

Napoleon Dynamite

by Gilbert Cruz | Dec 21, 2004

Elf

by Brian M. Raftery | Dec 20, 2004

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

by Steve Daly | Dec 20, 2004

Eloise At Christmastime

by Melissa Rose Bernardo | Dec 20, 2004

The Sonny & Cher Christmas Collection

by Mandi Bierly | Dec 20, 2004

Music Article

EW's open letter to the radio industry

Dec 20, 2004
We ask radio station bigwigs to pay attention to critical faves like The Walkmen and Rilo Kiley Read it

The Killers' holiday wishlist

by Leah Greenblatt | Dec 20, 2004
Here's that the Grammy nominated group wishes they could have on tour with them Read it

Download This

Dec 20, 2004
EW recommends tracks from The Octopus Project, Quasimoto, and L'Altra Read it

Ex-Guided by Voices member talks old and new music

by Andrew Parks | Dec 20, 2004
Robert Pollard discusses the demise of his influential band and making his new solo album, ''Compound Eye'' Read it

Jay-Z is new head of Def Jam Records

by Michael Endelman | Dec 20, 2004
EW speculates on what the rapper's new job means for the record industry Read it

Music Review

At Last...The Duets Album

by Jim Farber | Dec 20, 2004

Who's Got Trouble

by Scott Schinder | Dec 20, 2004

Afterglow Live

by Jenny Williams | Dec 20, 2004

The Dirtiest Thirstiest

by Chuck Mindenhall | Dec 20, 2004

Concrete Rose

by Raymond Fiore | Dec 20, 2004

Turning Point

by Jem Aswad | Dec 20, 2004

LP

by Michael Endelman | Dec 20, 2004

News Article

EW reviews three silent films

by Tim Purtell | Dec 20, 2004
Here's what we think about ''Different From the Others,'' Michael,'' and ''Sex in Chains'' Read it

Letters from our readers

Dec 20, 2004
Check out the readers who agreed with us, and those who didn't Read it

EW reviews noteworthy music from 2004

by David Browne, Michael Endelman | Dec 20, 2004
David Browne and Michael Endelman round up 10 albums we missed this year -- but that you shouldn't Read it

Who's making deals in the week of Dec. 24, 2004

by Gregory Kirschling | Dec 20, 2004
The biggest upcoming projects in entertainment Read it

Dalton Ross's Hit List

by Dalton Ross | Dec 20, 2004
The 10 hottest topics of the week Read it

Celebrity updates for the week of Dec. 24, 2004

by Gilbert Cruz, Jamie Attenberg | Dec 20, 2004
Brief updates on births, divorces, court dates, and more Read it

EW grades celebrity lingerie

Dec 20, 2004
Here's what we think of Pamela Anderson and Jennifer Lopez's lingerie lines Read it

Pinch Hitter Of The Week

Stage Review

Pacific Overtures

by Whitney Pastorek | Dec 20, 2004

Modern Orthodox

by Melissa Rose Bernardo | Dec 20, 2004

Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit

by Melissa Rose Bernardo | Dec 20, 2004

Fat Pig

by Whitney Pastorek | Dec 20, 2004

Slava's Snowshow

by Whitney Pastorek | Dec 20, 2004
This 'Snow' Is Hot, Hot, Hot Read it

EW reviews two comedic one-man shows

by Scott Brown | Dec 20, 2004
Here's what we think of Billy Crystal's ''700 Sundays'' and Mario Cantone's ''Laugh Whore'' Read it

La Cage Aux Folles

by Mary Kaye Schilling | Dec 20, 2004

Gem Of The Ocean

by Scott Brown | Dec 20, 2004

TV Article

Fall TV ratings: the shows that soared (or sank)

by Jennifer Armstrong | Dec 17, 2004
Here's a network-by-network analysis of TV's winners and losers Read it

Is It Just Us...

by Whitney Pastorek | Dec 20, 2004
''The Real Gilligan's Island" reminds EW of ''Survivor'' Read it

Is ''Desperate Housewives'' a comedy?

by Allison Hope Weiner | Dec 20, 2004
Some dispute whether the hit ABC dramedy should have been entered as a drama for awards show consideration Read it

Why ''The Apprentice'' is full of hot air

by Mark Harris | Dec 20, 2004
Mark Harris says it's time viewers got wise to the show's treatment of African-American contenders and Trumped-up fantasies Read it

Are transsexuals the latest TV trend?

by Jennifer Armstrong | Dec 20, 2004
''ER,'' ''CSI,'' and ''Cold Case'' are among the shows that have featured transsexual characters Read it

TiVo marketers turn grammar police

by Karyn L. Barr | Dec 20, 2004
To protect their brand, the company wants to stop people from using ''TiVo'' as a noun or verb Read it

Chrismukkah comes to the ''O.C.''

by Karyn L. Barr | Dec 20, 2004
Seth Cohen's made up holiday has sparked a cultural trend Read it

''Las Vegas''

DECEMBER 20 Read it

TV Review

Arrested Development

by Gillian Flynn | Dec 20, 2004

Television Preview

Networks plan ahead for fall 2005

by Lynette Rice | Dec 20, 2004
TV exes talk about how they'll take some risks while looking for laughs next season Read it

The Must List

10 things EW loves: Week of Dec. 24, 2004

Dec 20, 2004
A guide to the best in recent movies, TV, DVDs, music, books and more Read it

''Lost'' guy leads Must List

Feb 12, 2008
Jeremy Davies, ''U2 3D,'' ''Rock of Love 2,'' MGMT, and 11 other things we -- and you -- love this week See photos

The Pop of King

Stephen King picks his 10 favorite movies of 2004

by Stephen King | Feb 01, 2007
A great year at the multiplex ends on a note of ''Grace'' for EW's pop-culture columnist Read it

What Would Have Happened

What would have happened on ''Cupid''?

by Mandi Bierly | Dec 20, 2004
Jeremy Piven's Trevor might not have actually been the title character Read it