Fast Runner in the Genie running by MATTHEW HAYS The Genie nominees were announced yesterday morning, and to no one's surprise, Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner), the first film written, directed and starring Inuit people tied for first place (with The War Bride) with seven nominations. The other three films rounding out the Best Picture category include Eisenstein, Treed Murray and Un Crabe dans la tête. Other noteworthy nominations include Judith Thompson (Lost and Delirious) for Best Screenplay, Jillian Fargey (Protection) for Best Actress and David Cronenberg and Jody Shapiro (Camera) for Best Short Drama. The 22nd annual Genie Awards will again be telecast on CBC on Feb. 7. Special congratulations must go out to the NFB, who co-produced Atanarjuat, as well as numerous other nominees. (Both Best Doc and Best Animated Film categories are all NFB films.) If there are any disappointments on the Montreal front, it's that Denis Chouinard was nominated for Best Director for L'ange de goudron while the film itself was not up for Best Picture. It happens every year, but I'm never fully prepared for it. If the past few weeks has seemed slow in terms of movie openings, you're not just dreaming. Since so many people head out to cinemas during their Christmas holiday break, the studios save up all their movies until the weekend prior to the 25th (if not the 25th itself). Next week alone sees the release of Joe Somebody, Ali, The Majestic, The Lord of the Rings, The Impostor, Shipping News, Kate and Leopold, A Beautiful Mind and the local documentary SPIT. It ends up being one royal pain in the arse for critics. (Notice also the length of the movies; many of them, A Beautiful Mind and Rings in particular, clock in at much longer than the average feature.) If you want to get into the Christmas spirit early, I suggest you head over to the Parc this weekend for what I consider to be the greatest holiday family-values movie ever, Ridley Scott's '79 sci-fi masterpiece Alien. John Hurt gives birth in a heartwarming scene that affirms life and the love of fellow man. Ian Holm plays an endearing robot. Fun for the whole family! This Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-15. See repertory listings for showtimes. If you'd been thinking we had too many cinemas in Montreal and the surrounding area, you would be wrong. At least according to Ciné Enterprise, the group who've announced they're erecting a 10-screen megaplex in Lachenaie (corner of Transcanada and Autoroute 640, for those of you who were wondering). Called the Cinéma Triomphe (slated to open in May), the new complex is noteworthy for its architectural design. A sketch of the to-be-completed structure reveals plans for the ultimate in Euro-kitsch: the entrance is modelled after Paris's Arc de Triomphe. Which prompts the question: will they be serving fine wine at the confection stand? COMMENTS: mhays@mtl-mirror.com