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In this episode: 2001 Oscars (My, there's so many...) |
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OSCARS 2001!
To celebrate my new web home, I decided to compose an "article" on the Oscars. I have seen a good deal of movies that are nominated this year, so I feel I can give you my own opinions on the important races. (All the Oscar races are important, really, but I figured instead of groping around for new terminology, I'd just use what was already available to me.) Some of the movies I talk about I haven't gotten around to reviewing yet, so you may not recall my take on those at the time. Here we go!
Best Supporting Actress Judi Dench (Chocolat), Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock), Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), Frances McDormand (Almost Famous), and Julie Walters (Billy Elliot) I feel that this one should go to Marcia Gay Harden, and not just because I had dinner with her at some chi chi Middle-Eastern place. No, everyone is quite good who was nominated in this category, but Marcia gets to pull off one of those roles that supports the main character of the movie (Ed Harris as Jackson Pollock) while at the same time having to not seem useless. Marcia plays Lee Krasner with strength and assuredness, exactly what the character Pollock is not. I think she's very engaging to watch. Judi is fantastic, of course, because she always is. But her role is not so challenging, Chocolat itself not being a very challenging movie. Kate is fantastic as well, and very real and sympathetic. Frances is very good but sort of caricature-y. And Julie is good but not as solid as some of the others. Marcia's got this one for me. The Oscar will probably go to Marcia or, if Chocolat pulls off some miracles, Judi.
Best Supporting Actor Jeff Bridges (The Contender), Willem Dafoe (Shadow of the Vampire), Benicio Del Toro (Traffic), Albert Finney (Erin Brockovich), and Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator) Willem Dafoe was hilarious and committed, but the movie he was in made no sense. It was junk. Joaquin was very good, but he was food for the spectacle of Gladiator. Albert Finney was very realistic and fine, but, EH! And Jeff Bridges was good but really of no consequence a non-Bartlett President. I think Benicio has to get this one. He was the most interesting part of Traffic, and his story arc was the most dramatic, the most intriguing, the most gritty, and, as I said in my review, could have been a movie on its own. I hope he wins because he's so varied and unique an actor. I think the Academy might agree.
Best Actress Joan Allen (The Contender), Juliette Binoche (Chocolat), Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream), Laura Linney (You Can Count on Me), and Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich) Julia may win this for her star power, and if she does, I won't mind. She was very good. I'm not a huge fan of hers, but I thought she did a great job in Erin Brockovich. Joan Allen has a sort of boring role to play, but if you watch her carefully, she pulls of an astoundingly subtle performance that definitely deserves this nomination. Juliette Binoche is charming and very fine, as usual, but once again it's just Chocolat. Laura Linney bothers me on screen, but she had some very good moments. If you know anything about what I think of Requiem for a Dream, you could predict I'd want Ellen to win. Really, no role in this lot calls for such energy, such devotion to character, and such trust in where the story and the director is headed. The movie itself is a miracle of cinematic emotion, and Ellen is the center of it all. Without her inclusion in this movie—as a character and an actress—the movie would have been only half of what it was. Alas, I think the Oscar will go to Julia Roberts.
Best Actor Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls), Russell Crowe (Gladiator), Tom Hanks (Cast Away), Ed Harris (Pollock), and Geoffrey Rush (Quills) This is the only category I'm writing about where I missed one performance. I didn't see Quills, so I have no idea how Geoffrey's performance is. My guess is, though, that he won't win. As for the others, Javier Bardem is very good but distant. His character, based on a real-life author, is not completely sympathetic, so he won't win. I did like him in Before Night Falls, though. Tom Hanks was very good, as usual, but Cast Away was also somewhat emotionally distant, so I don't think he'll win. That leaves Russell and Ed. Ed should get this. I loved Russell in Gladiator because he brought a seething, emotionally-centered balance to his character and was the perfect actor around which to center the epic. But Ed captures a very elusive glimpse into artistry. Jackson Pollock isn't really sympathetic as a character, either, but you just gotta be bowled over by Ed. He is completely lost in the role. Just watch how he paints! How many actors could so become Pollock that they could paint like him with seemingly effortless ease? It's brilliant work, and considering Ed directed the movie as well, I think he deserves the honor here. I think either Ed or Russell will win this one.
Best Director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot), Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich and Traffic), and Ridley Scott (Gladiator) Many people believe Billy Elliot should have gotten a Best Picture nomination over Chocolat. I think I have to agree with that. But at least Stephen is honored with a nomination here. His movie was charming and true. Ang Lee is the master of seething emotion, but here he allows some of that internal energy to explode on-screen via the amazing fight sequences. His work is always a joy to watch. Ridley Scott is hit-and-miss, but Gladiator is one huge hit. I like what he did with the movie. However, I want Steven Soderbergh to win. Not only can you see the range of his talents by comparing the classically-directed Erin Brockovich to the stylistic and challenging Traffic, but I have yet to see a movie of his that hasn't drawn me in in one way or another. He is an artist. The Limey will always stick in my head as a true success in modern movie experiments. It's just too bad the votes will be split for him. He has no chance here because of that. The Oscar will go to Ridley or Ang.
Best Picture Chocolat, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Erin Brockovich, Gladiator, and Traffic Now, I wish Requiem for a Dream or Billy Elliot or even Pollock were here. Ah, well. Chocolat is light and fluffy, and while I enjoyed it thoroughly, I think it's only here as a favor to Miramax. Traffic was terrific in most respects, but it didn't gel the way it should have. And this is where it gets messy. Gladiator is everything a huge epic spectacle movie should be, and maybe even a little more. Its winning would be a nod to the classic Hollywood style. But Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was unique and entrancing. The combination of love story and fanciful action was a surprising match. And Erin Brockovich was a very entertaining, very solid little guy vs. big guy movie. I really liked it. If I had to vote, I'd be torn. Erin would lose out first, then I'd have to watch Gladiator and Crouching again and go with my gut feeling. This is hard to predict. The actual win could go to Gladiator if the Academy tends to vote that way, or to Crouching based on its stunning popularity. I can't say. Erin could even pull an "upset" here. There. That's my say. I would love to have reviewed a lot of these movies, but time just wasn't kind to me. I may do one of those quick-take thingies in the next week or so just to catch up. But at least this is what I can offer up to placate the Review Gods. Man, do they get angry! Enjoy the awards on Sunday. Eat lots of cheese puffs.
—Steve |
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3/23/01 |
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©2001 Steven Lekowicz except |
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Yes, friends and neighbors, I've been gone a long while. What have I been doing? Well, living life, for one, and for
another, I've been moving my websites to NEW SERVERS! Since Go.com is getting rid of their free web space, I wanted to
give my sites their very own home. I even have a new and exciting (according to my marketing
staff) completely re-designed (according to fact)
