Marketplace has a great interview with Andy Serkis; New Line has been suggesting a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Gollum, which would be a first. No one has ever been nominated for a “voiceover” role - but then, Gollum wasn’t a voiceover role at all. Serkis acted each of Gollum’s scenes during the regular shooting of the film, and then again in a motion capture studio; all of Gollum’s expressions and gestures are his, and his voice wasn’t even altered. The studio is encouraging voters to think of Gollum not as an animated character but as nothing more than an elaborate sort computer generated makeup job, worn by Sekris. That may be pushing it, but it seems beyond question that the performance of Gollum is certainly no less Sekris’s than is that of any of the other characters. Really, though, I’m not all that interested in the Oscars. The interview was great on a geeky Lord of the Rings fan level more than anything else, and the highlight is definitely Andy describing how his Gollum’s gollum was inspired by his cat’s hairball noises.

In other news, a philanthropic reader sent a sixpack of this delectable confection, which has done wonders for my early-morning alacrity. Not to imply I’ve sworn off Jolt Espresso, but there’s something to be said for a minty-fresh source of caffeine, excessive consumption of which doesn’t make one have to pee every twenty minutes. Hooray for Jolt gum!