D.M.'s thoughts on the Oscars.
March 25th, 2002
As the nominations for the 74th Annual Academy Awards suggested it would be, the Oscar telecast was predictable and boring.
Was there ever an Oscar show where it felt like they had about fifteen too many tributes? Everyone got one -- just about every aspect of moviemaking and three individuals. The poor folks from A Beautiful Mind, sitting in the front row, couldnt keep the boredom off their faces.
For all the back-slapping going on last night, 9/11 was caressed twice: with a moment of silence and with the highlight of the show --
When Woody Allen casually walked out onto the stage. And received a befitting standing ovation. Only one major award had been handed out by this time, and, to tell you the truth, I dont think the show ever recovered. I knew when Whoopi was going on and on about a brilliant and dedicated New York filmmaker she had to be talking about the man -- the Wood-man -- but it was still a mini-shock to see him waltz onto the stage. He slipped back into a stand-up posture as if he never stopped all those years ago. He was funny and witty and reeled off a few self-deprecating jokes. The crowd loved it, he slew them as always, and on came a montage of great New York City movie moments. And there you go: the brightest explosion of pure magic on the show.
(Wasnt it ironic that Nora Ephron, editor of the montage-movie, had once again made a film that was nothing more than a bunch of scenes from other peoples movies Scotch-taped together? She did that with her script for When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle, Youve Got Mail...)
The producers of this years show sure wanted to be hip and with-it. Hence the somewhat poorly filmed circus business. Can anyone explain why Glen Close, who does have a career, would be the announcer at the show? I felt bad for her -- saying all those cheesy lines and staring woodenly into the camera. It didnt help that she stumbled on every other word. Halle Berry...who won an Emma...Anna...emmra...EMMY...
The only inventive thing the writers and producers came up with was to ask great screenwriters to explain some of the technical categories. At least it shows a respect for screenwriters. Something downright revolutionary. Millions of people around the world were thinking, Hey, those guys can write! Among those supplying explanations: David Mamet, Buck Henry, the Coen brothers, and James Cameron.
The Academys 74th year was certainly pretty, but it held about as much interest as a sequel to Tomb Raider. It was rendered legless and dulled the minute the nominations came in.
Okay. And to the awards --
Best supporting actress: Jennifer Connelly.
This was a no-brainer. Everyone knew she would win, and she did. It took a while, but shes finally made it.
Best supporting actor: Jim Broadbent.
One of the minor surprises. I thought Ben Kingsley deserved it. I guess the voters only wanted to give the award to one bad boy; if they didnt everyone would tear up their mentally-challenged character scripts when they wanted to win an Oscar and instead find a violent movie where they curse a lot.
Best screenplay (adapted): Akiva Goldsman.
No surprise here. No competition. Im sure it was the best night of Goldsmans career (everyone thanking him and mentioning his script) and the lowest: when Opie won his award he accidentally called him Goldsmith. Oops.
Best screenplay (original): Julian Fellows.
What a sham! At least Memento cleaned up at the Independent Spirit Awards. Hey, Fellows did good work. Im not knocking him. But Memento was dazzlingly inventive and smart and wholly original.
Best actor: Denzel Washington.
Up until a few days ago I was hoping Denzel would pull it out. Then I re-watched Training Day and suddenly realized something: Denzel isnt that great in it. Its the script that deserves the praise. Were not witnessing an amazing performance; were witnessing a mans every beat and dance-step of dialogue repeated exactly as it was written. Denzel is playing a bad boy, but so what? Is this really a complex character? I dont think so. David Ayer can write dialogue like a South Central David Mamet. And that they didnt give him a nomination, when its really his performance we were seeing, is a joke.
Meanwhile, Denzel wins, he thanks his director, and David Ayer isnt even mentioned! How goddamned typical. Without David Ayer there is no Oscar for Denzel. The performance doesnt exist. Ayer put every one of those words in his mouth. He had a hell of a lot more to do with Denzel winning than the director did. And thats a fact.
Im starting to think Denzel probably beat out Crowe because they didnt want Russell to win two years in a row.
And what does it really say about Denzels stellar, solid career of good-guy parts that they finally award him for a gaudy, showy performance in a B-movie?
Best actress: Halle Berry.
Sure. A minor shock. But worthy of her near breakdown onstage? My Lord, was that embarrassing. Crying when you win the Best Actress award is now the trend: Gwen did it; Julia (of course) did it; and now Halle. Halle was so delirious she thanked someone who fought every fought.
I believe that Halles display was more genuine than the phony Roberts, but if weve learned anything over the last few months its this: everything is trivial. This is, in the end, just an award for some damned movie. Is it really worth spilling that many tears over? Is it really that important? No, its not. Halle needs two things: therapy and a reality check. Dont mean to be a party-pooper, but were at war, bodies are still being dragged out of Ground Zero -- get over your damned acting award! There are so many more important things in life.
Best director: Ron Howard.
No suspense here. Though I thought Altman might have made a late run. I dont mind Ron Howard getting it. Hes talented and -- even better -- a truly nice guy. I was just happy Peter Jackson didnt win.
Did David Lynch merit this award? Of course he did. But todays Academy wouldnt give him a prize for his stunning vision for all the prospective moviegoing money in a day care center.
Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind.
A Beautiful Mind is a good movie. Simple. But its not really a movie that will last through the ages, I think. Its not Godfather or Annie Hall or GoodFellas or Blue Velvet or Midnight Cowboy. To be honest, none of the films awarded in the last few years are movies that will live on. People will remember Gladiator, Shakespeare in Love, American Beauty and Saving Private Ryan, but theyll never last in any meaningful way.
And heres the rest:
Best editing: Black Hawk Down.
Best make-up: Lord of the Rings.
Best costume design: Moulin Rouge.
Best cinematography: Lord of the Rings. (There was no award that angered me more; Roger Deakins was robbed.)
Best art direction: Moulin Rogue.
Best animated film: Shrek.
Best visual effects: Lord of the Rings.
Best song: Randy Newman finally wins! Thank God thats over...
That was the show: nearly preordained in its obvious choices. And you cant blame voters: they were stuck with a limited list. I place all this blame on those that made the nominations.
Heres something I had to mention...
For a while last night...(OMITTED; POSSIBLE SENSITIVE MATERIAL.) Sidney Poitier is an amazing man and an amazing actor. His speech was moving. And he deserves his award and his praise.
But I was a little irked and maybe even sickened by...(OMITTED; POSSIBLE SENSITIVE MATERIAL.)
But I have no problem with this at all! Denzel has worked hard. Denzel is a talent. Of course, the first man to win Best Actor post-Sydney should have been Morgan Freeman (our greatest living actor) but thats for another time.
What really got under my fingernails was...(OMITTED; POSSIBLE SENSITIVE MATERIAL.)
I havent seen the ratings yet, but Im sure theyre down. Whoopi wasnt funny. There were hardly any surprises. And the show stretched on into the new day.
I think the two best films of the year were Mulholland Dr. and With a Friend Like Harry. Neither one was really represented at the Oscars. Which is why, I think, when people say we shouldnt care -- its just an award -- it really means nothing...
Well, I say believe them.
-- Darwin Mayflower (darwinmayflower@yahoo.com)
Was there ever an Oscar show where it felt like they had about fifteen too many tributes? Everyone got one -- just about every aspect of moviemaking and three individuals. The poor folks from A Beautiful Mind, sitting in the front row, couldnt keep the boredom off their faces.
For all the back-slapping going on last night, 9/11 was caressed twice: with a moment of silence and with the highlight of the show --
When Woody Allen casually walked out onto the stage. And received a befitting standing ovation. Only one major award had been handed out by this time, and, to tell you the truth, I dont think the show ever recovered. I knew when Whoopi was going on and on about a brilliant and dedicated New York filmmaker she had to be talking about the man -- the Wood-man -- but it was still a mini-shock to see him waltz onto the stage. He slipped back into a stand-up posture as if he never stopped all those years ago. He was funny and witty and reeled off a few self-deprecating jokes. The crowd loved it, he slew them as always, and on came a montage of great New York City movie moments. And there you go: the brightest explosion of pure magic on the show.
(Wasnt it ironic that Nora Ephron, editor of the montage-movie, had once again made a film that was nothing more than a bunch of scenes from other peoples movies Scotch-taped together? She did that with her script for When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle, Youve Got Mail...)
The producers of this years show sure wanted to be hip and with-it. Hence the somewhat poorly filmed circus business. Can anyone explain why Glen Close, who does have a career, would be the announcer at the show? I felt bad for her -- saying all those cheesy lines and staring woodenly into the camera. It didnt help that she stumbled on every other word. Halle Berry...who won an Emma...Anna...emmra...EMMY...
The only inventive thing the writers and producers came up with was to ask great screenwriters to explain some of the technical categories. At least it shows a respect for screenwriters. Something downright revolutionary. Millions of people around the world were thinking, Hey, those guys can write! Among those supplying explanations: David Mamet, Buck Henry, the Coen brothers, and James Cameron.
The Academys 74th year was certainly pretty, but it held about as much interest as a sequel to Tomb Raider. It was rendered legless and dulled the minute the nominations came in.
Okay. And to the awards --
Best supporting actress: Jennifer Connelly.
This was a no-brainer. Everyone knew she would win, and she did. It took a while, but shes finally made it.
Best supporting actor: Jim Broadbent.
One of the minor surprises. I thought Ben Kingsley deserved it. I guess the voters only wanted to give the award to one bad boy; if they didnt everyone would tear up their mentally-challenged character scripts when they wanted to win an Oscar and instead find a violent movie where they curse a lot.
Best screenplay (adapted): Akiva Goldsman.
No surprise here. No competition. Im sure it was the best night of Goldsmans career (everyone thanking him and mentioning his script) and the lowest: when Opie won his award he accidentally called him Goldsmith. Oops.
Best screenplay (original): Julian Fellows.
What a sham! At least Memento cleaned up at the Independent Spirit Awards. Hey, Fellows did good work. Im not knocking him. But Memento was dazzlingly inventive and smart and wholly original.
Best actor: Denzel Washington.
Up until a few days ago I was hoping Denzel would pull it out. Then I re-watched Training Day and suddenly realized something: Denzel isnt that great in it. Its the script that deserves the praise. Were not witnessing an amazing performance; were witnessing a mans every beat and dance-step of dialogue repeated exactly as it was written. Denzel is playing a bad boy, but so what? Is this really a complex character? I dont think so. David Ayer can write dialogue like a South Central David Mamet. And that they didnt give him a nomination, when its really his performance we were seeing, is a joke.
Meanwhile, Denzel wins, he thanks his director, and David Ayer isnt even mentioned! How goddamned typical. Without David Ayer there is no Oscar for Denzel. The performance doesnt exist. Ayer put every one of those words in his mouth. He had a hell of a lot more to do with Denzel winning than the director did. And thats a fact.
Im starting to think Denzel probably beat out Crowe because they didnt want Russell to win two years in a row.
And what does it really say about Denzels stellar, solid career of good-guy parts that they finally award him for a gaudy, showy performance in a B-movie?
Best actress: Halle Berry.
Sure. A minor shock. But worthy of her near breakdown onstage? My Lord, was that embarrassing. Crying when you win the Best Actress award is now the trend: Gwen did it; Julia (of course) did it; and now Halle. Halle was so delirious she thanked someone who fought every fought.
I believe that Halles display was more genuine than the phony Roberts, but if weve learned anything over the last few months its this: everything is trivial. This is, in the end, just an award for some damned movie. Is it really worth spilling that many tears over? Is it really that important? No, its not. Halle needs two things: therapy and a reality check. Dont mean to be a party-pooper, but were at war, bodies are still being dragged out of Ground Zero -- get over your damned acting award! There are so many more important things in life.
Best director: Ron Howard.
No suspense here. Though I thought Altman might have made a late run. I dont mind Ron Howard getting it. Hes talented and -- even better -- a truly nice guy. I was just happy Peter Jackson didnt win.
Did David Lynch merit this award? Of course he did. But todays Academy wouldnt give him a prize for his stunning vision for all the prospective moviegoing money in a day care center.
Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind.
A Beautiful Mind is a good movie. Simple. But its not really a movie that will last through the ages, I think. Its not Godfather or Annie Hall or GoodFellas or Blue Velvet or Midnight Cowboy. To be honest, none of the films awarded in the last few years are movies that will live on. People will remember Gladiator, Shakespeare in Love, American Beauty and Saving Private Ryan, but theyll never last in any meaningful way.
And heres the rest:
Best editing: Black Hawk Down.
Best make-up: Lord of the Rings.
Best costume design: Moulin Rouge.
Best cinematography: Lord of the Rings. (There was no award that angered me more; Roger Deakins was robbed.)
Best art direction: Moulin Rogue.
Best animated film: Shrek.
Best visual effects: Lord of the Rings.
Best song: Randy Newman finally wins! Thank God thats over...
That was the show: nearly preordained in its obvious choices. And you cant blame voters: they were stuck with a limited list. I place all this blame on those that made the nominations.
Heres something I had to mention...
For a while last night...(OMITTED; POSSIBLE SENSITIVE MATERIAL.) Sidney Poitier is an amazing man and an amazing actor. His speech was moving. And he deserves his award and his praise.
But I was a little irked and maybe even sickened by...(OMITTED; POSSIBLE SENSITIVE MATERIAL.)
But I have no problem with this at all! Denzel has worked hard. Denzel is a talent. Of course, the first man to win Best Actor post-Sydney should have been Morgan Freeman (our greatest living actor) but thats for another time.
What really got under my fingernails was...(OMITTED; POSSIBLE SENSITIVE MATERIAL.)
I havent seen the ratings yet, but Im sure theyre down. Whoopi wasnt funny. There were hardly any surprises. And the show stretched on into the new day.
I think the two best films of the year were Mulholland Dr. and With a Friend Like Harry. Neither one was really represented at the Oscars. Which is why, I think, when people say we shouldnt care -- its just an award -- it really means nothing...
Well, I say believe them.
-- Darwin Mayflower (darwinmayflower@yahoo.com)
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