0 U U w U U U _____ - -_ T 12B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magazine - Thursday, March 21, 2002 The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magadi Overlooked films get their recognition for screenplays Spacek leads in class of Best Actress nominations Todd Weir Daily Arts Writer Salvation at last. The two awards dished out at the Academy Awards for screenplays are usually a place of com- fort for many film admirers upset at see- ing some of the best, most innovative films of the past year shut out in the so- called major categories. Do the names "Trainspotting" and "Election" ring a bell? Both were highly honored and well reviewed during their release years but then overlooked by Oscar. That is, over- looked except for the screenwriting cat- egories. Neither won the big gold guy, but their nominations proved that the old, crusty, traditional voters could rec- ognize brilliance in at least the screen- play format. This year's nominees boast at least three films that many think were ignored come nomination time. Neither "The Royal Tenenbaums" or "Ghost World" have much of a shot this Sun- day, but their nominations kept a few movie aficionados from jumping off buildings. (Both movies received only this nomination.) "Memento" also picked up a nomination for film editing (where its odds are meager), but the highly profitable independent film, told in reverse, is one of the favorites for original screenplay. In the award for screenplay based on material previously produced or pub- lished, "Ghost World" goes up against "A Beautiful Mind," "In the Bed- room," "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and "Shrek." Yes, that's correct, "Shrek." (It is based on a children's book about as long as a blue book.) As for a screenplay written directly for the screen, "Memento" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" battle "Amelie," "Gosford Park" and "Monster's Ball." The screenplay for "A Beautiful Mind" was penned by Akiva Goldsman, a writer notorious for churning out mediocre big-budget action flicks that kill possible franchises ("Lost in Space" and "Batman and Robin"). Goldsman Courtesy otTouchstone Director and screenwriter Anderson regrets to inform Gene he won't get an Oscar. took home the Golden Globe award for this category and will likely take home Oscar for his overrated script that hinges on a large plot twist.followed by the mundane medical ups and downs of its hero John Nash. With its victory, "A Beautiful Mind" will be prevailing over some of the best scripts of recent memory. Many said it was impossible to successfully adapt "The Fellowship of the Ring" into a film that pleased old fans and new. However, Peter Jackson stuck closely to the novel while instilling a constant energy into every sequence. That "Ghost World" was even nomi- nated is noteworthy; the very alternative anti-mainstream indie has no real reso- lution and takes at least half an hour before viewers even know what its really about. It was one of the quirkiest and funniest films of 2001, and at least the nomination will help more people see it. Todd Field's "In the Bedroom" is bril- liant in its simplicity and its execution of College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Twenty-Fourth Distinguished Senior Faculty Lecture Terrorism and Testimonia l: consequences of aftermath Ross Chambers Marvin Felheim Distinguished University Professor of French and Comparative Literature 2001-2002 Warner G. Rice Humanities Award Recipient Tuesday, March 26 4:10 pm Pendleton Room, Michigan Union Presented by _LSA creating an exposition hinting at one film but turning into something com- pletely different. Finally, "Shrek" deliv- ered a very clever and humorous tale that appealed to children and adults, but the Academy would not be caught dead giving a screenplay award to an animat- ed picture. In the original screenplay category, the two favorites are "Memento" and "Gosford Park." It is truly a toss up as for who will win, and each would be a worthy winner. This reviewer is going to give the edge to Julian Fellowes' "Gos- ford Park" which has earned itself four awards so far. Julian Fellowes is an actor turned screenwriter, and it shows in all the wonderful and dialogue and charac- ters he created. The screenplay for "Memento" deserves to take home the Oscar, and it has won many critics' awards already, but the Academy has proved that it is not too fond of the Guy Pearce picture by only honoring it with two nominations. With story help from his brother Jonathon, Christopher Nolan wrote one of the most cleverly crafted and inven- tive scripts ever (that's right, ever). The story itself is quite good, but the imagi- native structure is what gives its punch. Several studios rejected the screenplay because they found it too confusing - now Nolan is getting the last laugh. Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson col- laborated on "The Royal Tenenbaums;' mixing offbeat, subtle humor with beau- tiful sequences of honest family emo- tion. The Oscars are not ready to embrace the "Rushmore" creators yet, but one day they will have their chance to thank their moms and teachers on the stage at the Kodak Theater. "Monster's Ball" is an excellent melodrama that deals with real-life tragedy in a sometimes explicitly real manner. The script was elevated to even greater heights by an incredible cast. The two first time writers behind the project showcase a great understanding for the human condition, especially hurt, which they will feel once they suffer defeat. The - optimistic French import "Amelie" would probably have a great chance if it came out of America, but the Academy tends to neglect superior for- eign films when it comes time to name the winners. When a screenwriter develops his characters within a three-act structure that includes scenes playing out as little movies of their own, he dreams of a sat- isfied audience. An Oscar is just an added bonus to commemorate his achievement. By Todd Weiser Daily Arts Writer While Hollywood is still full of talk about the lack of great roles supplied for women in film, it is very difficult to believe this based on the performances from actresses in 2001. The category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role boasts three first- time nominees and two veterans used to the pressure of Oscar night. In addition to these five terrific performances, there were several other leading actresses who deserved to have their 2001 roles nominated but sadly got shut out due to the intense competition. It was a fantastic year for women and here are some of the reasons. The nominees for best actress include first time nominees Halle Berry for her perform- ance in "Monster's Ball," Nicole Kidman in "Moulin Rouge" and Renee Zellweger in "Bridget Jones's Diary." Judi Dench picked up her fourth career nomination for her work in "Iris" and Sissy Spacek earned her sixth for "In the Bedroom." The biggest surprise in this group is Zellweger who stole a nomination many thought might go to Audrey Tatou for "Amelie" or Naomi Watts for "Mulholland Drive." However, those workhorses over at Miramax pulled a miracle again getting a nomination for "Bridget Jones's Diary", which was released in April. Films released in the spring are usually too early to be remem- bered by the Academy. The surprisingly enjoy- able film owes most of its fun to its weight- adding starlet, but Zellweger should practice her "happy just to be nominated" speech because come Sunday she won't be giving any thanks. Besides Zellweger, the award really could fall into the hands of any of the other four nominees. For some, the day the nominations were announced was a day of surprise, not because Nicole Kidman was nominated but because of the film for which she earned it. Kidman's performance in "The Others" was also Oscar-wor- thy but the press' love for Baz Luhrmann's drug-like experience "Moulin Rouge" was enough to make it the film of choice. Kidman might win because often the voters favor the star quality of their actresses over the actual perform- ances given (see last year's Julia Roberts' win over Ellen Burstyn). Also, "Moulin Rouge" has recently picked up Oscar steam by winning the Producer's Guild Award for best picture. Kidman was beautiful in the film and proved she can rtesy of Miramax sing, too. However, this is not Kidman's year. Judy Dench's per- formance as British writer Iris Murdoch, a talented woman stricken with Alzheimer's, was one of the best of last year, but not many people in Ann Arbor know this because "Iris" has yet to be released here (it finally opens at the Berry stole gold at the Scr Michigan Theater tomorrow,, March 22). Dench is one of Oscar's favorites, win- ning for her small but explosive supporting role in "Shakespeare in Love" and recently nominated for "Chocolat." Dench scored a recent victory at the BAFTA awards but there is no telling if the British Oscars are any kind of forecast for the real Oscars. At one point, Halle Berry was not even a guarantee for a nomination but now she is quickly emerging as one of the two frontrunners. Berry gave the performance of her career as an emotionally hungry and fragile widow seeking comfort in the arms of Academy snub Billy Bob Thornton. Berry has won numerous awards for her role, including the key Screen Actors Guild trophy. Berry's nomination is also important because no black woman has been nominated for Best Actress since Angela Basset in 1994. However, this Kid year the Academy is not going to make Osca another mistake; the actress who truly deserves the award will get it. Sissy Spacek is that actress. Spacek has been the favorite since early December, later winning the Golden Globe and other press awards. Her amazing performance as a moth- er deal frontin Spacel years c talent. 20th Centur in as clo as she': If Sp it woul enjoyal she is life, or Ma :ar een Actor' Judi Dench will not win an Oscar. So there. Experience Stanford this Summer * Engage in thought-provoking study with Stanford faculty 0 Live on campus - a short drive from West Coast beaches * Earn full-year credit in foreign languages and physics * New 3-week Institutes in Creative Writing & International Security Choose from more than 200 courses, including: Anthropological Approaches to Human Rights (Cult&SocAnth 187B) " Investment Science (MS&E 242) * Justice, Retribution, Trials, & Reparations (His 103B) * Pop Music & Cultural Identities (Cult&SocAnth 167S). Programming Methodology (CS 106X) . Conflict Negotiation & Dispute Resolution (Psy 121S) # Intensive Beg. Swahili (AME 206) I'M NOMINATED FOR 'PHIS? What's inside the mind of the Acadmy By LuI.IKESmrrH - DAILY AiRS &ErOR Who miakes thcee selections? tee as mu~ch as how integral they And on what grounds? The are to the plot. Academ~y ritualistically and However, then. the nolninations methodically botchtes selections are being placed solely ort th sub- ever~y year. 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