Drawing first blood in the year-end award frenzy, the National Board of Review gave its best picture honors to Clint Eastwood's Mystic River, and awarded River star Sean Penn with the Best Actor award for his performances in both that film and 21 Grams. While those awards were not entirely unexpected (River has been one of the most acclaimed movies of the year), the group had a few surprises up its sleeve, citing Diane Keaton as Best Actress for the upcoming comedy Something's Gotta Give and an out-of-the-blue Alec Baldwin for Best Supporting Actor for Sundance hit The Cooler. Indie fave Patricia Clarkson took Best Supporting Actress for her work in Pieces of April and The Station Agent, while Edward Zwick nabbed Best Director for The Last Samurai, which finished second behind Mystic River in the group's top ten list. French-Canadian flick The Barbarian Invasions won Best Foreign Film. Breakthrough performance honors went to Paul Giamatti (American Splendor) and Charlize Theron (Monster) and an ensemble award was given to the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

The year's top ten films as named by the National Board of Review: Mystic River, The Last Samurai, The Station Agent, 21 Grams, House of Sand and Fog, Lost in Translation, Cold Mountain, In America, Seabiscuit, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. --Prepared by IMDb staff

After weeks of keeping a low profile, Gwyneth Paltrow has finally announced her newest project – her first child. Paltrow's publicist confirmed reports on Wednesday that the Oscar winning actress was expecting a baby with longtime boyfriend Chris Martin of Coldplay; Stephen Huvane described the couple as "pleased" but did not comment on whether a wedding was in the future for the prospective parents. Paltrow, 31, and Martin, 26, have been dating for the past year and have been notoriously press-shy about discussing their relationship. Paltrow, who has shunned the limelight in the wake of her father's death last year, most recently appeared in the film Sylvia and accompanied Martin on Coldplay's European tour. --Prepared by IMDb staff

Thelma And Louise actress Geena Davis is expecting twins, her publicist has announced. The 46-year-old already has a daughter Alizeh, one, with fourth husband Dr. Reeza Jarrahy, who she married in September 2001. Publicist Samantha Mast told reporters that Davis was in good health and would be welcoming the new arrivals in the spring. Although the stunning actress has not made a movie since Stuart Little 2 last year, she is planning to film a guest appearance on Will & Grace in the next few weeks.

Movie hunk Ethan Hawke is planning to win back estranged wife Uma Thurman by spending Christmas with her and their two young children, Roan and Maya. The couple - who met on the set of 1997 movie Gattaca - split in September amid claims that Hawke had been openly romancing Canadian model Jen Perzow while filming upcoming thriller Taking Lives in Montreal this summer. Sources close to the Training Day heart-throb, 33, say that he is desperate to rekindle his marriage with the Kill Bill beauty but she remains unconvinced that he can curb his womanizing ways. An insider says, "They're going to give Roan and Maya the best Christmas and put everything else aside. It's going to be hard for both but they've made a pact to try and be friendly for the kids' sake. At the same time Ethan is secretly hoping it will be a chance for them to sort out their issues."

Mel Gibson is making Catholic leaders at The Vatican wait for a viewing of his controversial new film The Passion Of The Christ. Vatican officials were expecting a screening of the movie - about the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life - at their convention on spirituality in film last night, but Gibson's production company emailed them late Monday night to inform them that the final cut was still being worked on. The religious leaders will now have to wait at least a couple of weeks to watch the film - which has caused massive controversy for allegedly suggesting Jewish authorities were responsible for crucifying Jesus - but Gibson has assured them they will be treated to a private viewing before it goes on general release.

Hellraiser Colin Farrell's penchant for excess left movie bosses fuming, after his two week stay at a Moroccan hotel left them with a $64,000 bill. The beer-loving actor booked into capital Marrakech's Le Meridien Hotel for just 14 days, so film chiefs on his new movie Alexander were shocked to learn he'd splashed out the vast amount on booze. But it appears the Irishman will escape punishment for his fortnight of binge drinking, because producers of the historical epic are confident his presence in the movie will score them a huge hit. An insider says, "His suite was expensive enough, but his bosses nearly had a seizure when this bill dropped. They're not hopping mad though. Colin's a huge star and will more than make up for that by pulling audiences in when the film is released." Farrell is now back in England, shooting scenes for the eagerly-awaited movie.

Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz have tied for the position of Hollywood's top female earner in the latest Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment list. According to the trade paper's annual list, the two actresses can both earn $20 million per movie - giving them a $5 million edge over Nicole Kidman, Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon. Also on the 2003 list are Halle Berry ($14 million), Sandra Bullock and Angelina Jolie (both $12-$15 million).

Actor Robert De Niro has reportedly undergone cancer surgery on his prostate. According to American newspaper the New York Post, the Oscar-winner - who revealed he is suffering prostate cancer in October - recently underwent a medical procedure at New York's Sloan-Kettering hospital. Although De Niro's official spokesperson has refused to comment on the reports, the newspaper claims they were leaked news of the treatment by a leading figure in Hollywood, which was confirmed by an unnamed employee of the 60-year-old actor. After news emerged of the cancer diagnosis, De Niro's agent Stan Rosenfield said, "Because of the early detection and his excellent physical condition, doctors project a full recovery."

Illusionist David Blaine joked around during his first British TV interview since his Above The Below stunt - and claimed the whole episode was a charade. The American magician spent 44 days without food in a Perspex box suspended above London's River Thames in September and October, but joked on British breakfast show GMTV yesterday morning that he'd faked the whole thing. He said, "I've got a top secret. I've got a Pakistani double. He was in there the whole time. He had longer hair and was really skinny." He then added, "I was sneaking in and out every four hours. The top looked like glass but it was a hologram glass made out of glucose," before reassuring fans, "I'm just joking."

Rocker Bono is to be honored for his humanitarian work at a prestigious ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia next year. The U2 frontman will be presented with the accolade at the 2004 King Center Salute To Greatness Awards on January 17, at a dinner hosted by the family of assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King. King's widow Coretta Scott King told reporters that Bono's charity work for the victims of AIDS in Africa and his involvement in the Third World debt relief campaign marked him out among his peers. She enthuses, "We are fortunate this year to honor Bono for exemplifying many of the qualities that my husband, Martin, indicated were imperative to moving our society into the beloved community of which he so often spoke. He has focused mass public attention on the world's poorest continent and lobbied politicians around the globe to take action."

Hollywood star Matt Damon claims his pal Ben Affleck never wants to see his face on a magazine again - because the publicity he's attracted this year has made him "sick of himself". The Daredevil star's axed wedding to Jennifer Lopez in September and the subsequent press investigation into the state of their relationship has taken its toll on Affleck, and he sympathizes with movie fans across the world who are bored with reading about him. His Good Will Hunting co-star Damon says, "Ben told me he doesn't want to see his picture on the cover of another magazine. He said all this recent publicity is making him sick of himself. Ben understands why some people are sick of seeing so much being written and photographed about him and that's really frustrating for him." And Damon refutes accusations Affleck used his romance with J.Lo to raise his profile. He adds, "Ben didn't go into the relationship saying, 'This will get me a lot of coverage.' Ben was already getting plenty of work as an actor. He didn't need this kind of celebrity and he certainly never courted it."

Phil Collins is refusing Disney's request to campaign for an Oscar for his Brother Bear film score - and won't even vote for his own songs. Collins, who secured a Best Song Academy Award in 2000 for Disney's Tarzan, has been asked by the studio to fly to Los Angeles from his Swiss home to whip up enthusiasm for the new film - but the veteran rocker believes the effort would be futile. He explains, "I don't live in LA and I'm not going to travel thousands of miles to try to talk people into voting for me or twist their arm. That's not my style. The year I won I was up against Randy Newman and he campaigned really hard. But Randy had been nominated nine times before and never won, so I don't think it's the best approach - people like a bit of modest restraint." And the former Genesis star bizarrely won't even vote for himself in the ballot of Academy members next February. He explains, "I don't vote for myself, I never have. I might have won by just one vote, then it would be worthless. I don't vote, I don't tell my friends who to vote for and I don't campaign."