Article: The 71st Academy Awards: Just Some Thoughts...

Well, the award's show was a mess in my never humble opinion. I was bothered by most of the results, and over half the presenters were bad. This show, between Whoopi, and Val Kilmer's skit, was one of the worst I have ever seen. Bring back Billy Crystal.

Is it just me? Or do those gay (Yes, I said gay. I don't claim to be PC or sensitive. Don't be offended. Lighten up, will ya? Don't you be so sensitive.) dance numbers bother anyone else? What was up with Mariah and Whitney? Was it the mix, or were these two trying to out-wail one another? I thought it sounded bad. Why did Peter Gabriel look like he just escaped a mental hospital? How come professional actors read teleprompters worse than bad politicians? Why do actors have to act when they are not on stage (or reading a teleprompter). I mean like when they were interviewed by Joan Rivers and her multi-untalented daughter (Would it be mean if I called both of them ugly?). Well, at least this was the first year I noticed no one wearing ribbons. Like they really care or something? Who are they kidding? Why do celebrities want us to believe they are the weirdest people on the planet. Finally, why do they feel like they must always have a cause and start unneeded drama?

Are you still reading? Are you ready for me to get to the point?

Okay, I wasn't entirely happy with the results. I'm sure some of you weren't as well, but most will probably disagree with what I think should've won that didn't in about every category. Oh well. Since this is my article, I will proceed to tell you what I think. I won't discuss all the awards handed out, but I will mention the ones I am interested in. I'll begin in reverse order to how they were presented on the show.

First off, I think that the award for Best Picture should not have been given to 'Shakespeare in Love'. While it was a very good movie, it didn't have everything needed to constitute its win. I am one of those who believe that Miramax bought this award through marketing. However, I am not one of those who think 'Saving Private Ryan' should've won either. I loved that film, but the most superior movie this year was 'The Thin Red Line'. My reason is because the writing, acting, directing, score, and cinematography were all simply the best in film this year. I'd have to write a whole other article to explain why I thought it was better than 'Saving Private Ryan' (Which I just might!). Trust me though, there was no finer film than Terrence Malick's master-piece.

While I liked Roberto Benigni's performance in 'Life is Beautiful', I don't think he topped Nick Nolte. His performance in 'Affliction' was tremendous. Top notch acting. Sheer perfection and unparalleled love for the craft. I saw no better performance all year, aside from his performance in 'The Thin Red Line'.

I do agree with Gwyneth Paltrow's win. Her every movement, spoken dialogue, and facial expressions were flawless and carefully calculated. This woman gave a hell of a performance. She really shined in 'Shakespeare in Love'.

Stephen Spielberg was a shoo-in. I don't think he deserved it over Terrence Malick though. While 'Saving Private Ryan's first thirty minutes were pure genius, the rest of the film was cliché, after cliché, after cliché. The last two-and-a-half hours weren't more than average directing (Well, average for Spielberg). Malick, however, was flawless from start to finish and directed a movie that will be long remembered after the SPR hype has fizzled away.

I agreed with both of the Supporting award winners. James Coburn did a fantastic job in 'Affliction'. He literally made my skin crawl. I, being only twenty-two years old, never thought of him as more than a character actor like in 'Maverick', or 'Eraser', but the man definitely has skills. No disrespect to Helen Hunt, but Judi Dench deserved the Oscar last year for 'Mrs. Brown'. She is a tremendous actress and I am glad to see her win an Oscar this year. Her turn as Queen Elizabeth was wonderful and very entertaining. She made the most of her eight minute screen time.

As for the screenplay awards, both adapted and directly for the screen, I was in disagreement. 'Shakespeare in Love', no matter how original and witty, wasn't better than the script to 'Bulworth'. Which was more original and more witty, as well as brave, funny, and sharp. 'Gods and Monsters' was an incredible adaptation, but 'Out of Sight' was a hell of a lot more entertaining. Not to mention cooler. It seemed that it was nothing more than a consolation prize to 'Gods and Monsters' anyway. I sure think 'Out of Sight' was also robbed out of a couple other nominations for some of the cast members, as well as the movie itself.

As for Best Cinematography, I am astounded at how 'Saving Private Ryan' beat 'The Thin Red Line'. John Toll is the greatest that ever lived. TTRL was beautifully shot. Every frame a priceless picture. SPR's cinematography was good for the first thirty minutes, although it was borderline Michael Bay-ish (Dare I say that!). Not that I mean in the hectic pace of it, I understood the realism, but make it able to be followed. Thirty minutes, however, is not an entire film. Most of the look was achieved with effects and filters. Where as John Toll did his magic with the camera actually there on the set. His talent is unmatched. Boo Academy...

As for Best Sound and Sound Effects Editing, I agree with the SPR wins. That sound was superb. That did more for making me feel like I was there in the war more than the visuals and camera work. That was about the best sound job in movie history, I think.

As for best editing, I don't think SPR should've won. That should've went to 'Out of Sight' or 'The Thin Red Line.'

I agreed with the Best Costume Design winner 'Shakespeare in Love', Best Visual Effects winner 'What Dreams May Come', and Best Make-up winner Elizabeth.

For Best Art/Set Direction, SIL didn't deserve the win. I mean come on, it seems they were voting on SIL for all these "little" Oscars just for the sake of it earning a lot of Oscars. 'What Dreams May Come', other than being a good drama, was almost all Art/Set Direction. It was better than SIL's too.

For Best Score, while it was extremely good, 'Life is Beautiful' did not have a better score than TTRL. That was the best score of the last few years. But, like with SIL, it was a consolation prize for LiB. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

I did agree that LiB is the Best Foreign Film of the year. I really think Roberto Benigni is a talented guy.

Remember, just because I don't agree with the decisions doesn't mean I hate any of these movies.

On a personal note. To all those people who praise Gwyneth Paltrow's (fake) weepy speech, I say get a life. The best, truly heart-felt speech came from Keiko Ibi. She was the lady who won Best Documentary on a Short Subject. That speech was the one that made me shed a tear. Very, very inspirational young lady. I'm hoping she comes through when our Documentary Festival hits in a couple of months.

Lastly, I wasn't bothered with Kazan's recognition. He was a great filmmaker. All politics aside, which I don't have anything against the man, I think Nolte, Harris and the others didn't make much of a statement. Rather, they made asses of themselves. I expect men and women to act like gentlemen and ladies. I mean, do people really care that much? If you do, get a life. Politics, Politics. Causes, causes. Drama, drama. Whatever... If you weren't there to have fun, then why the hell did you go?

Closing statements are as follows:

1, Whoopi, if you impressed yourself for being risqué and saying "shit" like three times, then so be it. To impress me though, you should've said "f--k." Otherwise, leave it alone. I mean, it is a family show for crying out loud.

2. Val Kilmer sunk to a new low with a terrible skit that almost ruined a great tribute.

3. Some of Hollywood's most beautiful looked absolutely horrible. What was up with that?

4. Harrison Ford (my favorite) looked almost half asleep.

And finally,

5. The show pretty much sucks without Billy Crystal's intro parody.

Thank you for reading.

Johnathan Pritchett
(Movie-Page's 4th Grade Correspondent)

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