BILL MURRAY - MURRAY, JOHANNSON + LOST IN TRANSLATION BIG FOR OSCARS

BILL MURRAY and SCARLETT JOHANSSON won't forget this week in a hurry - their movie LOST IN TRANSLATION has overtaken THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING as the OSCAR favourite.

Both stars were nominated for GOLDEN GLOBES yesterday (18DEC03) and their movie LOST IN TRANSLATION picked up a Best Picture nod as part of five-nomination haul.

But the film and its stars have picked up a clutch of other film awards from critics groups across America.

The quirky film has been honoured as the movie of the year in Boston, Massachusetts; Toronto, Canada, and New York, while Murray and Johansson and director/writer SOFIA COPPOLA have also been lauded across the US.