Something rotten in the state of Texas

IN my humble opinion the greatest play ever written, Hamlet withstands any number of different interpretations and settings on stage and on screen.

Next up is a fresh spin on the material in Texas Lullaby, written by Steve Allison and to be directed by Malcolm Venville, transposing the narrative to east Texas in the late 1980s. Josh Hartnett plays a young man tormented by the mysterious death of his father and bothered that his mother (Ellen Barkin) is now married to his uncle, the town sheriff (John Malkovich). Alison Lohman plays the Ophelia character.

Ireland's pre-Oscars honour

The US-Ireland Alliance is organising a high-profile event in Hollywood to honour writer-directors Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan and music producer and soundtrack composer David Holmes for their contribution to cinema. The event will be held in the traditionally bustling party week before the Oscars ceremony in early March. It will be presented by Riverdance diva Jean Butler.

The organising committee, headed by Trina Vargo of the US-Ireland Alliance, is stacked with heavyweights from the Hollywood studios, among them Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook, Sony Pictures vice-chairman Amy Pascal and producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, whose many credits include ET, Back to the Future, Schindler's List, The Sixth Sense, and Munich.

The guestlist for the evening includes Cillian Murphy, Anjelica Huston, Irish director John Moore, Fox Searchlight president Peter Rice, producer John Calley and casting agents Jane Jenkins, Janet Hirshenson and Jeanne McCarthy, along with many Hollywood agents, financiers, studio executives and independent filmmakers. The event's sponsors include The Irish Film Board, Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and American Airlines.

Cashing in on CHiPS

The splendidly named Wilmer Valderrama, the Venezuelan-raised actor who came to prominence on TV in That '70s Show, has been signed to play one of the motorcycle cop buddies in the feature film based on the quaintly formulaic late 1970s TV show, CHiPS, which ran for six years. Valderrama is a close friend of Ashton Kutcher, was a guest at his wedding to Demi Moore and has been a victim on Kutcher's impish TV show, Punk'd, more often than anybody else. In CHiPS Valderrama will play Ponch, the dark-haired highway patrol officer originally played by Eric Estrada. Casting continues to find the actor to co-star as Baker, the blond officer first played by Larry Wilcox.

Dublin film fest seeks help

The fourth Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is seeking volunteers to be part of the team for the event, which runs from February 17th to 26th.

The festival is looking for people to fill various roles in the areas of hospitality, administration, transportation and venues. Volunteers must be 18 years or older to volunteer. Applicants should contact volunteers@dubliniff.com or download the volunteer form online at www.dubliniff.com.

Dublin film fest seeks help

While the members of the London Film Critics Circle may know their movies, they are not so hot on history and geography. In their nominations for 2005 releases, they chose actors from Dublin and Cork in the category of best British actor in a supporting role - Brendan Gleeson for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Cillian Murphy for Batman Begins. Reel News wishes them the best of British luck, and for good measure, the luck of the Irish.

And all best wishes for 2006 to Reel News readers, and thanks for the mass of feedback, much of it entertaining, throughout 2005.