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Oscars 2000
Well here we are again. That time of the year that I truly wish I could hide my head under a rock and simply forget that the planet Earth never existed. I can recognize the importance of the Academy Awards in their heavy-handed attempts to appreciate what they deem to be art, but in the end it stinks with the rotten cattle smell of a meat market. They aren't concerned with art, they're concerned with money. It makes no difference whether or not a small independent movie has generated a huge amount of praise for its technical prowess, or if a certain actress in that movie gave one of the greatest performances ever put on film. What concerns the Academy is how much money that movie made, what kind of advertising brought that movie to public attention, and the amount of power an actor, actress, or a director might have. Take this year, for example. In a bit I will post all the categories for nominations and give a few comments on them, but a great example is Eric Brokovich, the Julia Roberts vehicle directed by Steven Soderbergh. Soderbergh is a great director, and rarely have I been disappointed with his work. But this film was simply poorly made. I can't really blame Soderbergh for it, and eventually I will state my reasoning.
While I am glad that I made my own listing long before the nominations were announce, with absolutely no knowledge as to how the Golden Globes turned out, I'm still disappointed in how little my list resembles the Academy's list of nominations. But why? I can't seem to figure out why in the hell I'm disappointed. After all, while some of the films I picked to be the winners in their categories might be nominated, it's un-bloody-likely that they'll win. I know I'm not concerned with inaccurate guesses; I didn't make the list in an attempt to predict who and what the Academy would nominate, I made it to voice my opinions as to who I feel deserved praise for their work. I've never agreed with the Academy, and I didn't expect to start now.
I'm pissed off about a few things. The possibility, however remote or likely it may be, that Gladiator could conceivably win the best picture award. I'm pissed that Julia Roberts could possibly win a best actress award. I'm pretty fucking pissed that Soderbergh was nominated for a mediocre film and a spectacular film (Brokovich and Traffic, respectively), and thereby may just cancel himself out. I'm angry, but not surprised, that Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog failed to even get a token nomination. After all, the Academy has never taken well to intelligent filmmaking without a lot of prodding.
I think I know why I'm pissed. I forgot about The Contender (along with American Psycho) in my list and I don't like being one-upped.
Whatever. Let's just do this, eh? Here's the category listing in the random order that I'm reading them.
BEST PICTURE NOMINATIONS:
Traffic
Gladiator
Erin Brokovich
Chocolat
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Of this list, I sure as hell don't think Brokovich needs to be there, but it's very presence screws Soderbergh out of a win, leaving the big contenders here to be Crouching Tiger and Gladiator. I thought Gladiator was a very entertaining film in many ways, and technically one of Scott's better works. But I can't imagine the possibility of it winning. However, Crouching Tiger has one thing against it, and that's the foreign language. It looks like we'll be living in a world where a sheer popcorn film might just win for Best Picture. It's not the first time, but that doesn't make it any less painful. In a perfect world, Requiem for a Dream would be here.
BEST DIRECTOR:
TRAFFIC - Steven Soderbergh
BILLY ELLIOT - Stephen Daldry
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON - Ang Lee
GLADIATOR - Ridley Scott
ERIN BROCKOVICH - Steven Soderbergh
Again, Soderbergh's grab for Brokovich here clinches that he ain't too likely to receive due praise for Traffic, and Billy Elliot seems like a long shot. I have to say that Cameron Crowe deserved a mention here. I considered him as my pick for best director, and it's really odd that Crowe didn't even get a mention in this category. From this list, Lee deserves it hands down, despite the excellent work from Ridley Scott.
BEST ACTOR:
Geoffrey Rush - Quills
Javier Bardem - Before Night Falls
Tom Hanks - Castaway
Ed Harris - Pollock
Russell Crowe - Gladiator
I was pleasantly surprised to see Ed Harris shown here, he is my pick for the best actor. Although I have not seen Before Night Falls, Bardem's performance is supposed to be sensational. However, it's probably as improbable that he'll win as it is that Harris will win. Crowe is an exceptional actor, but it's pretty unlikely that he'll pick this one up. Although I'm pushing hard for Ed Harris, I have to say that either Hanks or Rush could pick this up. True, Hanks has won several times, but he had to put himself through a lot for this film and the Academy usually awards for that kind of thing. I didn't think Castaway was THAT great, so I'll have to give the nod to Rush here simply because….well, he's a God.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Jeff Bridges - THE CONTENDER
Willem Dafoe - SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE
Benicio Del Toro - TRAFFIC
Albert Finney - ERIN BROCKOVICH
Joaquin Phoenix - GLADIATOR
While I picked Robert Downey Jr. here, I sort of figured he wouldn't be nominated. A small bird laced in cocaine dropped in my window and whispered it in my ear. Finney sorta walked through Brokovich, and it seems pretty unlikely he'll get it. I'm not even going to consider Phoenix, and it seems pretty far off unless the Academy goes all out on Gladiator fever. That leaves three very solid performances…Bridges is a personal favorite of mine, and he hasn't done much that he can't be proud of, but I can't see him winning. That leaves Dafoe and Del Toro. While I absolutely loved Del Toro in Traffic, I'm pulling for Dafoe…however, it looks to be Del Toro. I can't say I'll be disappointed either way.
BEST ACTRESS:
Ellen Burstyn - Requiem for a Dream
Joan Allen - THE CONTENDER
Laura Linney - YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
Julia Roberts - ERIN BROCKOVICH
Juliette Binoche - CHOCOLAT
I have to admit I didn't see any Chocolat nominations coming. It just didn't strike me as much of a movie in the end. I was, however, tickled pink at the prospect of seeing Laura Linney take it home for You can Count on Me. I classified Burstyn as a supporting role, but it'd be great to see her take home a Best Actress. I seriously doubt that the Academy is going to award one of the single best performances ever. Roberts will win because she is a studio bitch and because she has star power. Lord I hate her. No wait, I don't HATE her. I would just like to see her dead.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Frances McDormand - ALMOST FAMOUS
Marcia Gay Harden - POLLOCK
Julie Walters - BILLY ELLIOT
Kate Hudson - ALMOST FAMOUS
Judi Dench - CHOCOLAT
Like I said, I classified Burstyn as a supporting role, but I can see how she'd be seen as a lead rather than supporting. From the list I'd like to see McDormand win it, but having to split with Kate Hudson is hurting her chances. However, Hudson is a studio darling, and I think she's got a decent shot at it. I'll just hope for McDormand.
This is where I stop my little odyssey into terror. There are of course many other categories, but on my personal picks page I only went over a few categories, and from those I just picked the top few categories to make my little guesses. When the Oscar broadcast comes on, you know where I'll be…curled up in bed with a book, because the Oscars can kiss my ass. Thank you and good night.