Winslet's awards boot camp

Not sure how much better this makes us feel about "The Reader," but Kate Winslet just told the gathered press folks backstage that she didn't necessarily like or sympathize with her character in the Holocaust drama.

At least it's nice to hear.

Doesn't really change our opinion of the drama, which has polarized audiences into either "love it" or "hate it." Yes, we'd be in the latter camp.

Winslet, luminous and flustered, wondered aloud if there's some kind of awards boot camp that would teach her how to make speeches. (Chances are she'll get good at it by Oscar time. You know, practice, practice). The press let her off the hook by asking those usual probing questions about who designed her dress (Narciso Rodriguez) and why she chose it (the color).