Glenn Close's Big Screen Transformation: Will 'Albert Nobbs' Finally Land the Actress an Oscar?

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  Albert Nobbs

Could Albert Nobbs nab its main star a Best Actor Oscar at next year’s Academy Awards? Not possible, but close! Glenn Close, that is.

The actress is getting lots of awards-season buzz after her gender-swapping role as the titular Albert Nobbs in Rodrigo Garcia’s new movie which premieres at the Toronto Film Festival September 11.

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Close has been nominated five times at the Oscars, but has never won. Historically, stepping this far outside of the box has worked for others (see: Charlize Theron in Monster or Marion Cotillardfor La Vie en Rose), so why not Close?

The film, set in 19th century Ireland, is about a woman who passes herself off as a man in order to work at an elegant hotel in Dublin. To pull it off, Close changed her voice, posture (Charlie Chaplinwas an inspiration), and kept her eyes open wide. Even her fashion choices were affected. Close said her shoes were too big for her, her pants were too long and her suit was too roomy, to emphasize the character's discomfort in her own skin.

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The film has been a pet-project for Close since she first played the character on the stage in New York in 1982.

She also worked with a makeup artist to transform her features from feminine to masculine. Close said the 20 year gap between playing the character on stage and the start of filming added a "lived-in" aspect to her visage.

Some are saying this transformative performance, for which even her voice changed, is the actress’ best shot at the golden statue in years. The actress is so passionate about the project, she even co-wrote the adaptation. She told the Hollywood Reporter it was a very rare and tricky character to play because of her purity.  "I loved Nobbs because in her ignorance, she tries to create a life for herself," Close said.

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This isn't the first time Close has cross-dressed on film. She had a brief cameo in Steven Spielberg'sHook back in 1991. She was almost unrecognizable as pirate (she even wore a beard) who gets sentenced to punishment in Captain Hook's "Boo" box.

But Close hasn't given the only performance garnering awards buzz at this year’s festival.

Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley and Michael Fassbender are getting good reviews forDavid Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method. George Clooney is packing a double punch with The Descendents and The Ides of March and his buddy Brad Pitt stars alongside Oscar-winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Bennett Miller's Moneyball.

Breaking Dawn’ Exclusive Preview: Bella’s Not Looking So Good as Her Baby Bump Gets Bigger

First things first: Are you sitting down? Great, because we just got our hands on an exclusive new clip from "Breaking Dawn: Part 1," featuring Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli), and Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).

The 15-second theatrical trailer preview opens with some familiar snippets: Bella finds out that she's pregnant, and the baby is quite the kicker.

The following scene is where the never-seen-before footage begins. We're back in Forks, Washington, and a worried Carlisle informs Bella that "the fetus is too strong and fast growing." Anyone who has read the "Breaking Dawn" novel knows what's coming next is not going to be a pretty sight, as evident in the quick cut to what the unusual pregnancy has done to Bella. In place of a mother-to-be glow, her complexion is pale and sickly, and the bags under her eyes indicate she's had very little rest since discovering she's pregnant. Edward tells Bella, "It's crushing you from the inside out." No wonder the poor girl looks completely miserable and distraught; that baby -- who's only getting bigger and bigger -- is literally killing her!

The Cullens aren't the only ones worried about Bella. Jacob and the rest of the wolfpack have found out that Bella's in trouble, and they're determined to rescue her from the vampires before she becomes one. "Get ready, we're coming for Bella," warns Jacob. But Edward isn't about to let the wolves take the mother of his unborn half-human, half-vampire child away that easily. "You're not going to touch her," he says. We hear werewolf growls and the clip ends with a standoff between the werewolves and the vampires. Once again, the fight over Bella continues.

Harry Potter + Emma Watson

2 Hot 2 Handle

Emma Watson channels her inner punk at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.

photo by INFDaily.com

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Momentum builds behind Amanda Knox appeal

By Mike Krumboltz | The Envoy

Is the incarceration of Amanda Knox coming to an end?

The American college student and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty of murdering Meredith Kercher in 2007. Knox has long proclaimed her innocence. Now, after Knox and Sollecito have spent years in prison and turned up for countless court appearances, an Italian prosecutor says that both suspects are likely to be acquitted.

According to the U.K. Telegraph, "court appointed experts have criticised the way the original forensic investigation was carried out by police." Knox won a recent victory in court, when the prosecutors' request to conduct further examinations on DNA evidence was denied. Independent experts contend that some of the DNA evidence against Knox should not have been admitted as evidence.

This doesn't necessarily mean that Knox will be freed, but it does give the jailed 24-year-old hope. Her days behind bars may come to an end if judges see things her way in the appeal. Below, a brief history of the case that has kept millions transfixed for years.

Click on image to view photos of Amanda Knox

Amanda Knox, the U.S. student convicted of killing her British flatmate Meredith Kercher in Italy on November 2007, …

The crime: Knox, Sollecito, and a third man, Rudy Guede, were accused and jailed for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher. Kercher, who was from England, was stabbed to death in the house she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy. She was also sexually assaulted.

The rumors: After Kercher's body was discovered, rumors began to swirl that the crime was some sort of sexual act gone horribly wrong. Many in the media took to referring to Amanda as Foxy Knoxy. Some people, including Knox's parents, felt that this nickname painted Amanda as some sort of seductress and helped convict her.

The evidence: Much of the case hinged on DNA taken from a 12-inch knife found at the murder scene. Investigators found Kercher's DNA on the blade, and Knox's on the handle. A recent review found that much of that DNA was unreliable and may have been contaminated by sloppy police work. That's good news for Knox.

The frenzy: Ever since the murder was reported, Web searches have been incredibly high. Even now, four years later, online interest in Knox remains huge. Over the past 24 hours, searches on "amanda knox" and "amanda knox trial" have both roared to huge gains. Not surprisingly, "foxy knoxy pictures" are also popular.

What's next: The closing arguments on the appeal are set to start later this month, on Sept. 23. Perhaps shortly thereafter, there will be real closure for all involved.

After Labor Day: OK to Wear White?

By Claudine Zap

As sure as temperatures cool and leaves start to change color, the question arises: Should the white wardrobe be stored along with bathing suits and sun hats?

Traditionally, in the Northeast, a dress code was clear: The summer whites came out after Memorial Day and went away after Labor Day. Fashion historian Bronwyn Cosgrave remembers how, growing up, "You had this short season to wear white."

But in the age of Lady Gaga, anything seems to go. (We're looking at you,meat dress.) And yet the outdated rule still causes a closet crisis come the end of summer. "Don't wear white after Labor Day" rose 2000% in Yahoo! searches. Fashionistas also looked up "why can't you wear white after labor day" and "no white after labor day" in the last week.

The question spilled onto the Web. Fashion forums were contradictory. One blogger for the retail site Zapposcautioned that white should not be worn "below the waist" after Labor Day.

Another advised against white shoes (although LaJollaMom approved wearing Manolo Blahnik white boots from Neiman Marcus, if you could stomach the $1,695 price tag.)

How did we get stuck in this anti-white rut? The curator for the museum at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), Kevin Jones, says that it all started with America's high society, who dressed for the season -- the social season.

"If it's summer, you're not in the city, you're at your country home," Jones explained. The popular choice, white cotton clothing, reflected light and kept you cool. Jones adds, "Once the season ended, their garments changed." Back in town for fall, women, who wore long skirts in the dirty city streets, changed their wardrobes to heavier, darker fabrics.

Nice lifestyle if you were part of it. But for the rest of us, and the fashion world, times have changed -- and the rule really doesn't apply. Even the 2004 book "Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition" says it's fine to wear whiteafter Labor Day.

Still not sure? Let Colleen Sherin, senior fashion director for Saks Fifth Avenue, offers some tips. From her office in New York City she assures shoppers, "There are really no rules anymore. It's just about making the look appropriate." Translation: It's not what you wear, it's how you wear it: Sherin suggests winterizing those white jeans from summer with boots, not sandals, and a jacket instead of a tank top.

"It's the way you put it together that makes the look work year-round," she adds. The department store is promoting several looks in "winter white" for the colder months, including a suit and a faux fur coat in the snowy shade.

Cosgrave, the fashion historian, thinks fashion is actually having a "white moment." She argues, "Wearing white is timeless." And therefore seasonless: She points to the stunning white gown worn by first ladyMichelle Obama at the inaugural balls in 2009. And Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard rocked a white mermaid dress when she accepted her Academy Award.

But you don't have to be a first lady or a movie star to break the white rule. "Anything that can break up the dominance of black, in my point of view, bring it on," Cosgrave says.

Caster Semenya gets silver medal in 800 at worlds

DAEGU, South Korea (AP)—With a shiny silver medal hanging around her neck, Caster Semenya is already looking forward to another meeting with Nelson Mandela.

The South African runner, who won the 800 meters at the 2009 world championships in Berlin, finished second Sunday in her return to the global stage after sitting out nearly an entire year as she was engulfed in a gender controversy.

“I was doing this for him,” Semenya said of the first freely elected South African president. “He is a very good man and gave me good advice.”

“He said ‘Just toughen up and face the world.’ I have to go visit him again now. When I get back home, I will go straight to him.”

The 20-year-old South African sat back in the pack for the first lap Sunday at Daegu Stadium but then moved into the lead with about 200 meters to go. After she made the turn into the home straight, however, Mariya Savinova of Russia took over.

Savinova ended up winning the race, and the gold medal, in 1 minute, 55.87 seconds. Semenya crossed in 1:56.35 and 2007 world champion Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya finished third in 1:57.42.

“I achieved what I wanted, which was to get back to the podium,” Semenya said. “For now, I now have to work as a professional athlete, stay strong and be positive. It wasn’t easy for me, but I had support from family, friends and my coach.”

After winning the gold in Berlin two years ago, Semenya’s muscular build and dramatic improvement in times led the IAAF to order gender tests. She was then forced out of competition for 11 months.

During that time, she threatened to take the governing body to court but was then cleared to run without explanation.

Until Sunday, she had not really come close to the 1:55.45 she ran in Berlin. And when she had to push harder to keep her gold medal in the event, she ran out of gas.

“As a normal person, you get tired,” Semenya said. “I wasn’t strong enough to finish fast.”

Semenya celebrated both on the track and on the podium with big smiles, but she again declined to talk about her past troubles. She has been media-shy since the news of her gender tests became public two years ago, repeatedly refusing to give interviews and instead concentrating on her running.

“Normally I don’t talk about the past. I’m still young and I have to focus on the future,” Semenya said. “Every human being has ups and downs, so you cannot always be happy. You have to toughen up, pull up your socks and face the world.”