What about Pi? Definately the most intelligent film I saw last year. And didn't Dark City come out last year? Yeah, I know the script was a mess but nothing touched it for art direction. I just saw Bulworth and I agree it did not deserve all the negative reviews. I'm not even a Beatty fan and I was blown away by this film. I also liked Office Killers and think Carol Kane will one day get the recognition she deserves. And what about Cube for art direction? I'm pissed Ryan was even in the running at all. It's Platoon meets A Bridge too Far with better special effects. I don't care if it is a true story, it should win for most cliches. There wasn't anything I hadn't seen a million times before (my dad loves war movies) and I predicted everything in the whole movie. The people in front of me thought I'd seen it before. I'm glad they gave it to Shakespeare. I'm actually amazed that nearly all of the people I wanted to win did. I've been a fan of Roberto for years and thought Life was genius. I would have liked to see more recognition go to Rushmore, A Simple Plan, Bulworth, and The Truman Show, though I am happy with most of the winners. What was with the music last year? Disney hasn't written a decent tune since Little Mermaid. The music in Mulan was such crap! And for such a supposedly feminist picture, it sure as hell petered out at the end with male dominated society sending her off to get married with nothing more than a medallion. She should have dumped the prince the way he did her, told the ruler to retire, and affect some radical change in government. And if you're gonna nominate that Armegeddon piece of shit, why not any of the music from City of Angels? I also really liked the Opposite of Sex (much more than Happiness, by the way. I think he's a great director and I loved Dollhouse, but the pacing was all wrong. He should watch some Spielberg. And vice versa for some new story ideas. Enough with the war movies already! Yes, even ones set in the future unless the words Star or Wars are in the title.) By the way, for some killer sword fights, Six String Samurai kicks Zorro's ass! I still can't believe you went for that Hollywood bullshit fest. Talk about formula movies.
Dono
ps - Can you believe none of us got any work in all of those Elizabethan and sword fight movies?
I would have to say I was bored to tears by the Oscars this year. I
actually flipped between ABC and VH-1's "Behind the Music" segment on David
Cassidy. Often. Four hours, and the only moments I appreciated were
ROBERTO and the appearance of Harrison Ford to annouce the only shocker of
the night, in my opinion. Judi Dench, who had less then ten minutes in the
film, was nonetheless a dead ringer for Queen Bess (wouldn't it have been a
kick in the rubber parts to have her play the Queen in the Poconos?? She
would have wowed 'em at Wendys, too). She did have Whoopi syndrome, though;
got it for S.I.L., deserved it for Mrs. Brown. What can you do? Kathy
Bates is more stage oriented, in my opinion, but she'll get hers. And I
have to say, Primary Colors was a bit of a disappointment to me. Started
out strong, and then frayed out all over the place. To tell the truth, I
kind of had the same feeling about Elizabeth; half non-fiction, half
fiction, and mixed all together to just generally leave me with more
questions than what I had coming in to the theatre.
Warren Beatty gave Elia Kazan a standing O.
To ALL,
Well, the oscars are over are here's how I feel. Roberto Benigni, awesome
man, good actor, great film BUT NOT best actor when compared with Ian
Mclellen and Nick Nolte (particularly in the roles they played). I mean
Roberto is amazing and loving and FUNNY, but even Edward Norton had a more
tour-de-force ACTING job in History X. So, good choice, but not the BEST
choice
Shakespeare in Love as best picture --- I can handle because I feel it was
brilliant --- BUT not as brilliant when compared to SPRyan, and the
academy balked at a movie it probably considered NON-uplifting and too
horrific- TOO bad!!!! The academy awards are BY NATURE a hierarchical,
COMPARATIVE event, and thus by that nature, SPRYAN is comparatively a much
BIGGER film, a more amazing accomplishment and evoked far more from its
audience.
James Coburn as Best Supporting actor?? Again, good performance, but
incredibly tiny and not as influential within the film as Billy Bob Thorton
in Simple Plan!!!! Not near the range of complexity. Good acting, but
narrower in necessity for ability and range than Billy Bob's. And Ed
Harris, who again is awesome, had such a minor role in Truman Show, his
nomination was silly compared to the likes of great supporting performances
like 3 actors in SPRyan, especially the guy who played the nervous, scared
kid/interpreter (or the blonde "religious" sniper) I mean COME ON.
Judi Dench had a small role but was so awesome I can handle her winning.
She got SCREWED last year for not winning for Mrs Brown, I mean come on,
Helen Hunt was good, but again, COMPARATIVELY, Dench in Mrs Brown was
BEYOND COMPARE. I hope they didn't give it for that kind of reason. maybe
they gave Benigni best actor to quell how pissed the Italians are at
America for our military releasing, without blame, the pilots who killed
the MANY people in the skilift.
Gwyneth Paltrow was deserving of her award, she was amongst other
well-deserving actresses as well, but she was great, so -- cool.
ART DIRECTION: My favorite category this year because I TRULY felt ANY
could and SHOULD win. First time ever I felt all nominees equally
deserving so Shakespeare won, cool. (Although ya gotta think
Pleasantville, man oh man)
Costume, to be honest, I felt Elizabeth had more engaging costumes, but
Shakespeare and Elizabeth were looking at complete opposite social statuses
so its hard to compare. It's easier to like the opulence of "richer"
clothing. Spielberg got best director RIGHT ON but, then again, Best
Picture should just automatically get best director/producer/ but that's an
old argument
Film Editing, you BET YOUR AS^$%^$#%&*&^($@!!#@(*&&* Saving Private
Ryan
I feel makeup should have went to SPRYAN as well, Elizabeth was limited to
the opulence of few characters, the whole world of WWII was incredibly
re-created and lifelike and there was far more versatilty needed in the
makeup as well.
I can't BELIEVE Prince of Egypt did not get best Musical/Comedy Score. The
score of Shakespeare was EXCELLENT, but more background and occasional
driving. The music of Egypt was fun, sad, driving, apocalyptoc, moving,
deadly, etc. Well, they got best song, so cool.
A bit surprised Simple Plan did not get best adaptation. But Shakespeare
so deserved its best screenplay like none other in recent history, it makes
up for everything else.
Well, good news is at least the following people, events or crap did NOT
win, although their mere nominations were grotesque and SHOULD have been
absent/missing from the Oscars
Aerosmith
anything related to or concerning Armegeddon
anything related to Patch Adams (good movie, not oscar worthy)
Mighty Joe Young ... ANYTHING
Starship Troopers (OK, 2 years ago, I'm still fuming at the mere mention)
the fact that Godzilla was not even JOKINGLY muttered
The score to Thin Red Line
That stupid Horse (and Val)
MISSING
The folllowing are nominations,etc. MISSING from this years Oscars:
Bulworth - it was worth more than one nomination
Dark City - contender for best picture AND special effects, story,
costume, art direction and more!!
Babe: Pig in City - Art Direction
Lisa Kudrow : Supporting Oppposite of Sex
BOTH stars of RUSHMORE
Several actors from SPRyan
The young 15 year-old from HORSE WHISPERER who I think should have WON
supporting let alone get a nod
Gene Siskel
Chris Rock's sense of decency, I hope Deniro gives him a "ring," a
little chat for mentioning him
Spanish Prisoner - WRITING!! Mamet's time is OVERDUE
ME!!! (as if my intense jealousy is not incredibly apparent.
All my awesome friends who could rock hollywood!!!!! (That's you)
Steve
I've thought about this for a bit now, and as far as the Oscars are
concerned, well, I guess I'm over all the big let downs.
I realized long ago that the thing is just a political machine, and that
the things that SHOULD win, don't always win - so be it.
Agreed that Whoopi wasn't all that great. I didn't think she was as bad
as her first stint. In trying to come up with a good alternative host
for next year, the only person I could think of who would probably do a
good job and who I'd like to see would be Jerry Seinfeld. Perfect
choice for the Academy - He's not connected to films, so he wouldn't
have a conflict of interest, and would be (should be) neutral towards
them, he's a good comedian with skills in stand-up that are better than
Whoopi or Billy, he's not doing anything else right now, and above all -
he's Jewish, fitting right in with the rest of the Hollywood elite!
What do you think?
As far as the picks themselves:
A crime that Bulworth didn't get best script! I bought that movie and
watched it again the other day and it amazes me how such a film could
actually get made it has so much balls!
Kathy Bates should have won best supporting actress, no contest - chalk
it up to politics there.
And yes, I would have given best picture to Saving Private Ryan (can you
believe I said that?) Shakespeare in Love was definitely the
politically safe choice there, but in terms of actual filmmaking -
Saving Private Ryan was far superior. Chalk it up to Weinstein and
company doing a better job of lobbying than Speilberg.
Just thank God that Aerosmith's song didn't win.
I know there were a lot of other things I felt should have gone other
ways too, but like the years before, they are all forgotten over the
inexorablly long telecast repleat with stupid shit like a tribute to
Westerns and possibly the WORST EVER excuse for some kind of
dance/musical number I have ever seen in all the years I've been
watching the Oscars. What was that shit?! Flamenco dancing to Life is
Beautiful?! I don't know about you, but I personally had to leave the
room during that whole thing. It was like something you'd see SNL or
Mad TV do to make fun of the Oscars, not expect to see during the actual
event!
Oh well, there's always next year!
Talk to you again soon.
Tooch.
Just this...shakespeare's costumes were like the cartoon version of
elizabethan england whereas alexandra byrne's designs in elizabeth brought
a much more accurate depiction of Elizabethan life to light... she was
robbed, just because Sandy Powell did Shakespeare and Velvet Goldmine
AAARRRRRGGGH!
paul...your perspective on the elia kazan deal?
your humble costumer, - Carrie
Paul: Kazan has an Oscar, I think they should've praised the career of an unsung like Peter O'Toole. Or better yet, SHOW THE ANIMATED SHORT INSTEAD!!!!
you're right - whoopi goldberg was as funny as cancer.
fm
Well, I'm glad you had the time to say everything that I was going to, so now I
don't have to!
Hey, was it me, or could you see a look of maybe disapointed shock on Harrison
Ford's face when he open the envelope and read the best picture winner? It was
either that or he was so damn bored by the whole night's endless affair that he
was too tired to be energetic about the final night's oscar.
Gee, for once we are in total agreement about something. Guess this message
won't be making your website. Should I protest more about best picture? Maybe
throw in a curse word or two and rehash that whole Private Ryan thing from
months back? Jenn asked if I sent a sarcastic email to you laughing that it
didn't win, but then I told her that that would be like laughing at myself
because out of all the pictures nominated, it deserved to win.
Oh well, next year it will be better because I just found out that Bob Saget is
hosting the show! Boy, he'll be much funnier than Whoopi!
Tooch