Every year, Oscar night leaves me confused and frustrated. Every year, I turn off my television with a sense of betrayal. Every year, I am left with even less respect for the Oscars than I had the previous year. I have to ask, why do they persist in making a mockery of themselves? Do any of the nominees who don't walk away with an Oscar actually feel like that is reflective of the kind of job they did or the type of performance that they gave? God, I hope not. Folks, Gladiator was a good action film. It had solid performances throughout. It was well put together. It had a fantastic musical score. Why did it win? Because a helluva lot of money went into it, and it followed the Oscar formula to the letter. Russell Crowe winning the Oscar for best performance in a leading role was a joke. Was he good? Yes. He did a fine job, and I think he is a very talented actor. But let me ask you this, how difficult was the role? If Russell Crowe deserved an Oscar for Gladiator, then Mel Gibson deserved one for Braveheart. Hell, if Russell Crowe deserved that Oscar, then Arnold Swarzeneggar(spelling?) deserved one for Conan, The Barbarian. These are all the same characters...the strong, noble hero fighting an epic struggle against impossible odds. Give me a break. Also, I'm sorry, I adore Julia Roberts. I love to watch her. She's cute. But she was the least deserving actress in that category. Ellen Burstyn turned in the finest performance, male or female, of the year with her performance in Requiem For A Dream. One of the best performances of all time, in my opinion. The best film was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. However, if the academy is going to insist on making the distinction between English and non-English films, they should stick to it. Period. I'm venting here, and I am not putting this as eloquently as I am normally want, but I encourage you to give your opinion. How do you feel about the Oscars? Do you even care? What were your picks? Just curious. Gascon ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
I think L.A. Confidential should have won best picture (in whatever year that was). I didn't see a single one of the films nominated in ANY category, so I can't really have a favorite or anything. But, I was rooting for Marcia Gay Harden because she has Texas ties (she went to UTexas and lived in Dallas prior to that for a while). I thought it was nice that she won. ------------------ Houston Sports Board
Yes, LA Confidential should have beaten Titanic, and that is exactly what I'm talking about. Harden was fabulous. Gascon ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
Didn't watch them, just read about them in the Globe. I agree with you on best picture- HTCG was easily the best movie this year... and I'd give second place to Traffic. I don't think Gladiator was even 3rd. I'm not sure about best actor. I didn't really have a favorite this year. I *was* glad to see del Toro (I believe) from Traffic get Best supporting actor... he was phenomenal in Traffic. Heck, I think he could have won Best Actor... the role was large enough, imo. ------------------ Boston College - Big East -East Division Regular Season Champs Worst to First in 2001!
Bob Dylan with another award was very nice. was it the golden globes earlier this year? ------------------ KD 12-21-99
Gotta agree, haven. He would have deserved it. I might have gone with Ed Harris in Pollack, though. ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
On a related note, I think Steve Martin did a better job of hosting than Billy Crystal. Steve had an edgier tone to his comedy, something than was needed in light of the boring acceptance speeches of this year. ------------------ Behad Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS
Completely agree with you. I thought it was a travesty that Gladiator won. I got into an argument about it with one of my friends. It's just a rip off of other great past epic movies like Ben Hur, and you could have put anybody in the Gladiator role and it still would have been a hit, because of the marketing it got. I was pissed that Russell Crowe got best actor. He just comes off as arrogant to me. Nice haircut too Crowe. I see you're bringing back the hairstyle Lyle Lovett made so popular. I agree on Julia Roberts too, simply because she won in a movie genre I'm getting sick of,the whole people's defender thing. Erin Brockovich was just a more well put together A Civil Action, with a more diverse subplot. Popularity won out. I was glad Benicio Del Toro won.He was well deserving. I thought that William Dafoe was just as deserving though. ------------------ "P*ssy"- Cuttino Mobley to Lamar Odom
Didn't really care for the song, though. Not sure what you mean with the question. The Golden Globes was the awards ceremony earlier this year, yes. Gascon ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
Behad- I liked Steve Martin, too. However, it's sad to see how he's lost some of his edge over the years. Didn't he work on his material with Seinfeld? Did anyone else hear that? tacoma- lol on the Russel Crowe/Lyle Lovitt comparison. Yeah, he's a real ass. I usually find the best supporting actor/actress categories to be the most compelling. The decision is usually made based on the art, and not on the hype. Unless, of course, when they give it to people like Kim Basinger for playing the same friggin' role she plays in every damned thing she does. That year may have been the worst I can remember, between Basinger and Hunt walking away with the honors. Gascon ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
It's amazing to me that the Oscars are chosen by the peers of the winners. It doesn't even seem to me that people even watch all of the nominees and entries. It just seems like directors and actors patting each other on the back for the big money movies just to make sure that money is available from the producers the next go around. ------------------ (===)
Aren't the actors supposed to go on some sort of strike soon? ------------------ "P*ssy"- Cuttino Mobley to Lamar Odom
I think you're probably a lot closer to the truth than you may know. That's why I have no respect for them any more. Gascon ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
Yes, SAG (Screen Actors Guild), the Directors Guild, and the Screenwriters guild are all going to go on strike within the next few months, I believe. Not as solid as I should be on the specifics, but then I'm not a member of SAG yet. That's why you're seeing all of these television networks attempting to stockpile "reality shows" for the coming season. They don't have to use actors or writers for that. Pretty soon, all you'll be getting are reruns and "Survivor" five days a week. Gascon ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
Surely this year is no worse than Titanic and Forrest Gump and the actors involved winning any Oscars. Go Russell you good thing, but man what was that hair ------------------ "Repression never did me any harm (I finally ceased to include "stop masturbating" as one of my guilt ridden New Year's resolutions, but that's a different topic)." Achebe - programmer by day, Mrs Palmers Husband by night
My thoughts, for what they are worth. Best Actor: Russell Crow Stupid. Tom Hanks, no matter how many he's won, turned in an unreal performance in Castaway and deserved another. I understand that Javier Barden was amazing in Before Night Falls and Ed Harris is always getting crapped on at the Oscars. My choice: Tom Hanks Best Actress: Julia Roberts I honestly had no problem with this choice. Ellen Byrsten was supposedly fabulous but Roberts waas really deserving. My choice: same Best Picture: Gladiator Horrible. Again, the Titanic effect wins out. What happened to the Midnight Cowboy and Annie Hall winners? Where are the little films? The epics are fine for movie-goers, but so many other films were just as deserving. My Choice: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro No problems here. My choice: same Best Supporting Actress: Marcia Gay Harden Really, REALLY brave choice but very deserving. Kate Hudson was the odds on favorite, but I'm totally in agreement with this choice. My choice: same Best Director: Stephen Sooderbergh Questionable. This was only the fifth time in 53 years that the winner of the award at the Directors Guild of America (Ang Lee) did not win the oscar, however. Soderburg was as deserving as Lee. Anyone but Ridley Scott!!! My choice: Ang Lee Best Score: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Man, a category I can totally appreciate. CTHD was an amazing score - a combination of Asian and Western influences combined really well. It takes a GREAT score to beat John Williams (Patriot) and this was great! My choice: same Best Song: Bob Dylan I'm biased because Sting is one of my favorites and I really like the soundtrack to Emporer's New Groove, but I'm really happy Dylan won. To be honest, this was a much more entertaining list this year - Randy Newman, Bjork (that song is stuck in my head now) and the song from CTHD. What a great list to choose from this year. No Disney CRAP. Sting may have done an animated song, but the song is pure Sting. My choice: anybody would've been fine ------------------ "I swallowed a lot of agression...along with a lot of pizzas."
The only good thing about the Oscar's was J Lo's dress... see link below. J Lo enjoy rH ------------------ Homecourt will always be 'The Summit' to me!! Until we move downtown!! The Psychedelic Groove House of Rockets Basketball Love! Come and chat with us on game nights in CC.net chat! Chickety China, the Chinese Chicken. Have a drumstick and your brain starts clickin'
I'm happy with all the choices. Especially Dylan. I think both Crouching Tiger and Gladiator were equally deserving of best picture. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
I thought Gladiator was a fine movie. Very good. Not great, but then I saw Fighting Tiger, Hidden Dragon, as well as Traffic, and neither was measurably better. There was no American Beauty this year. I was just happy that Bjork didn't win. Her music really makes me nauseous, for some reason. ------------------ I'm about to boldly go where many men have gone before.
Aw that's mean SamCassell... that movie was awesome and the soundtrack was even better. I bawled like a baby at the end of Dancer in the Dark. ------------------ (===)
