What I love about the success of Little Miss Sunshine and other movies of similar low budget status that have burst into the stratosphere is the way they bring so much talent with them that might otherwise have gone on playing second fiddle to the "big" stars. eg Toni Colette, Greg Kinnear and that guy from The 40 Year Old Virgin, as well as the films deserving writer, director and producer. The above names are good actors who get a lot of good work, but they can often be overshadowed by the Cate Blanchetts and Leo di Caprio'sof Hollywood. Who of course are also great, but I like it when quieter but no less accomplished talents make it into that group. Like Paul Giamatti and the writer/director of "Sideways" a few years ago.

Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener, Steve Buscemi, Alfre Woodard, Brenda Blethyn, America Ferrara, John and Joan Cusack, the child actors in Lovely and Amazing and Little Miss Sunshine ... there are so many great actors who I want to see more of, and when one of these films that regularly employs these actors makes it big, they drag a whole lot of great talent into a more monied realm with them. And that's great for fans of good little stories well told, like me, and great for movies.

but some things about it are very very clear and easy to solve. ie someone you love and trust has betrayed you and lied and hasn't stopped. That would make ANYONE anxious, let alone someone who already has a problem with anxiety.

The wife in question shouldn't be married right now, and she shouldn't be parenting two step children; and she DEFINITELY shouldn't be having any babies in the near future. The ball is in her court now to STOP the LW from leaving, and it seems like she's not very interested in doing that. Therefore it's time to face facts, the writing is on the wall, etc etc - it's time to go it alone. Cary's dead on the money about this one.

A WORD OF WARNING: This womans attitude to having a baby sounds about as mature as her attitudes to marriage and step parent-hood, so .... wear a condom, LW. She wouldn't be the first woman in the world to confusedly mix up her birth control and accidentally on purpose get pregnant.

For me the whole meaning of the Academy Awards is the section in People and Hello magazines where all the dresses are displayed and me and one of my best friends - a hypercritical Italian man - take them down, cleavage by cleavage, foundation layer by foudation layer. Other than that there's always the hope that someone will make a total ass of themselves a la Gwyneth Paltrow or else that a long loved heroine or hero will finally get what they deserve. John Cusack? Ever?

Other than that it's just another opportunity to talk movies.

Oh, and Little Miss Sunshine? I thought it was totally realistic that that Grandfather would teach his daughter that routine. What I loved about it was that it so firmly placed her in the position of active subject, rather than coy little object of the whole beauty contest. It also made the sexual connotations of the whole thing overt, and therefore, obscene in a fantastically spirited way.

As to the actual writing and plot etc - well, it wasn't incredible and it wasn't bad. I felt better at the end than when I went in and I enjoyed a lot of moments along the way. It's a little film, no doubt about it, but in giving it recognition I hope more little films will get made.

Cary says: "I think that if you stay within the law and are not doing any harm to anyone, you may do whatever you wish."

But there's the rub. How do you know you're not doing any harm to anyone? Least of all to yourself? (The point made previously about how these drugs can affect fertility, as well as likelihood of cancer is one I've heard made before.)

I agree with all the excellent points made previously. A young woman should be very careful about decisions she makes regarding her reproductive and sexual potential. Because this stuff has consequences for life, and it's sometimes hard to see how decisions will affect you down the track. That doesn't mean don't do anything, but it does mean display due caution - this isn't like selling your hair to someone.

Some children of donated sperm are now getting old enough to express a lot of pain and doubts about the circumstances of their conception, and no doubt some children of donated eggs will grow up to do the same. How will you feel if you see someone on telly doing that who looks like you? Or what if you can't have children and become haunted by the knowledge that you have biological kin out there ... somewhere.

IVF is big business, and the amount your being paid for your eggs is a fraction of what people will be paying for them. There are a lot of ethical problems with IVF and it begins with the economic exploitation of people who are vulnerable and desperate. Do you really want to be a part of this industry?

Finally, just because a lot of people do a lot of things lightly doesn't mean it won't be a burden to you. Just because babies are born and die and miscarry all the time doesn't mean it isn't significant each time. That's the most specious argument of them all and perhaps reveals someone who has only experienced birth and death on a theoretical level.