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10B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend M azine - Thursday, March 21, 2002
The Michigan Daily - Weekeid Magi
'Shrek' w'i
victoriou
By Ryan Blay
Daily TV/New Media Editor
Let's get one thing straight right
away, there is no way in hell that
Nickelodeon's "Jimmy Neutron:
Boy Genius" will take home this
Oscar. In fact, even if it did actually
merit some consideration (which it
doesn't), it should be disqualified
simply due to screenplay author
Steve Oedekerk's involvement with
"Patch Adams" and "Kung Pow:
Enter the Fist," arguably the year's
poorest film.
So what this category really
comes down to is "Shrek" vs.
"Monster's Inc.," DreamWorks
vs. Pixar. These two films were both
outstanding, with "Shrek" opening
in May while "Monsters, Inc."
entered the race in November. Both
took home over $250 million in the
U.S. Critics and moviegoers alike
reacted well to each film.
Ilemerge
s Sunday
Here's a quick recap for those
who have forgotten Shrek (it has
been 10 months, after all) or don't
have the spectacular DVD. Shrek
(the voice of Mike Myers, the best
casting decision this year) is an ugly
green ogre. With the help of a don-
key voiced by Eddie Murphy, he
risks his life to save Princess Fiona
(Cameron Diaz) from a dragon and
the evil Lord Farquaad. The film
contains numerous jokes about fairy
tale characters (including a classic
scene with the Gingerbread Man)
and Farquaad's "compensating" for
something with his huge castle (a
joke which young kids would never
get, but a clever line for the adults
and psychology majors in the audi-
ence).
As the audience gets a typical
cartoon lesson (beauty is on the
inside), the constant comedy of
Murphy and company keeps the
film from degenerating into a stale
Disney retread. One of the only
things holding this film back is its
use of the Baha Men and Smash
Mouth's "All Star" (this isn't "Mys-
tery Men," guys, pick a fresh
song).
By Jeff Dickerson
Daily Arts Editor
Connelly favorite among
supporting actresses
uuriesyo
Sulley and Watemoose planning to beat up Jimmy Neutron after the show.
As for Monsters Inc., James P. "Sul-
ley" Sullivan (John Goodman) and
Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) work at
the titular company, which produces
power by the shrieks of terrified little
boys and girls. Sulley is the No. 1 pro-
ducer of power, and Mike is his friend
and assistant.
But a little girl acci-
dentally wanders
into the mon-
ster
[ - 4 pk
U R Enjoy an oboe recital of 20th century music withr
electronic accompaniment on Saturday March 23rd
featuring:
Kate Eakin
Show starts at 8 p.m.
Admission is $5, $3for students, with proceeds benefiting
the Ann Arbor Hunger Coalition
D NV Sunday evening Jazz Mass at 5p.m.
Alternative worshio featurina live music by Stephen Rush and Quartex
world, scaring Sulley and Mike (chil-
dren are considered a contaminant). As
they try to nudge the adorable Boo back
into the human world, they grow
attached to her, and slowly discover that
all is not well at the power plant.
Pixar managed to create another
blockbuster, following the "Toy Story"
series and "A Bug's Life." Although the
film did scare a few young children in
theaters, there is nothing objectionable
in the film to kids or adults.
And if you really need another reason
to give "Monster's, Inc." the award, then
here's two words; Steve Buscemi.
Shamelessly overlooked for his capti-
vating role in "Ghost World," Buscemi
(along with Frank Oz and John
Ratzenberger) voices a character in
this fine film.
This battle between two heavy-
weights mirrors that of "A Beautiful
Mind" vs. "Lord of the Rings," two
films which could easily take home the
Oscar with few strong objections.
In a tough decision, "Shrek" should
win. It had more laughs, and the sup-
porting characters were fleshed out
slightly better. But if the Academy dif-
fers, I won't object.
However, because of the Pixar
name, the later release date, and the
presence of former Oscars host
Crystal, "Monsters, Inc." will most
likely snare the prize.
Supporting Actor and Actress cat-
egories often provide some of the
more surprising winners in the
rather mundane and pompous exhi-
bition that is the Academy Awards.
Last year's winner Marcia Gay
Harden ("Pollock") was an Oscar
shocker, as most analysts predicted
either Frances McDormand or
Goldie Hawn wannabe Kate Hudson
to win for their work in "Almost
Famous."
All of the candidates this year
have been previously nominated for
an Academy Award, aside from Jen-
nifer Connelly of "A Beautiful
Mind". The contest this year may
seem competitive, but in compari-
son to other categories, the race for
Best Supporting Actress is rather
lopsided.
Connelly is without ques-
tion the leading candidate in
this category, having picked
up the Golden Globe forA
Best Dramatic Actress in a
votes between the two. Arguably
Smith is the more memorable char-
acter as the snotty Constance,
Countess of Trentham. Her role is
primarily for laughter and general
mirth, while Mirren as Mrs. Jane
Wilson is one of the few non-
comedic characters in "Gosford
Park." Smith is nominated for the
sixth time; the veteran English
actress has won twice, for 1969's
"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"
and 1978's "California Suite." This
is Mirren's second nomination, hav-
ing been previously nominated for
her role as Queen Charlotte in
1994's "The Madness of King
George."
In one of the most surprising
upsets in Oscar history, Marisa
Tomei won Best Supporting Actress
for the 1992 Joe Pesci vehicle "My
Cousin Vinny," ousting favorites
Vanessa Redgrave and Judy Davis.
Having already won a gold trophy,
Tomei is unlikely to lose another
Best Supporting Actress statue (she
misplaced her Oscar last Septem-
ber).
"In the Bedroom" was
lauded for the command-
ing lead performances of
Best Actor and Best
Actress nominees Tom
Wilkinson and Sissy
UK thriller "Enigma."
Traditionally, one of the support-
ing awards is the first handed out at
the ceremonies. More than likely,
Jennifer Connelly will take the first
award of the night for her role as Ali-
cia Nash, and the first of many
Academy Awards for the odds-on-
favorite "A Beautiful Mind." While
her acting was certainly noteworthy,
the overlooking of Maggie Smith for
the Robert Altman period piece
"Gosford Park," based on a few snide
remarks, would be a poor move by
Oscar voters in their continual poli-
tiking of the nominees and winners.
LIVE AN
Courtesy of Dreamworks
Shrek knows he has it in the bag.
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Connelly explains her childhood nightn
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EMAIL: jlc@umich.edu
I I
Supporting Role. Her role as Spacek, and the nomina-
John Nash's wife Alicia in "A tion of Tomei for Best
Beautiful Mind" garnered Supporting Actress
critical acclaim at the came as a surprise to
film's release in December, many. Her role as
and has grown since. In Nick Stahl's love
recent years, Connelly interest is not as
has drifted away from challenging or mem-
her early wholesome orable as her com-
roles (1986's petiors, making it
"Labyrinth," 1991's highly unlikely for
"The Rocketeer") to her to give another
establish herself as gleeful acceptance
more than just a speech.
pretty face, and a Oscar voters like to
serious actress in give credit to both Holly-
movies such as Dar- Courtesy of USA Films wood hits and limited
ren Aronofsky's Helen Mirren in "Gosford Park." release independent
controversial 2000 films, but "Iris" might
film "Requiem for a Dream" and be too small to earn any Academy
Alex Proyas' 1998 sci-fi-noir- Awards. Kate Winslet was nomi-
thriller "Dark City." The only thing nated for Best Actress in 1997 for
hindering her chances of winning is "Titanic," rightfully losing to Helen
her coworker Russell Crowe, as his Hunt from "As Good As It Gets."
performance overshadows her The 26-year-old Brit has since
equally skilled effort. avoided the blockbuster mentality,
"Gosford Park" cast members opting to choose
Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren more artistic
have publicly decreed their angst films like the
toward the Academy Awards, all but M a r q u i s
killing any chance they may have D e S a d e
had at taking home the award. Both d r a m a
actresses have similar screen time in "Quills" .
Altman's latest, and Oscar voters a n d
would be splitting the
1
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From Noh drama to scJ
investigate the ea
STUDENTS WITH
CROH N'S
PISEASE
OR
ULCER ATIVE
COLITIS
Please join
Dr. Ellen Zimmermann
Associate Professor of
Gastroenterology,
U of M
for an informal
discussion of
topics including:
*Nutrition
*New Therapies
*Latest Research
Next meeting will be:
Thursday, Mar. 21, 2002
7:00 pm - 8:30pm
Room 3406
Mason Hall
Central Campus U of M
Monthly meetings planned
(734) 763-7278
E/Motion: The
The Media Ur
North Cc
March 22-
Gallery I
M-F 12
Sat & S
This multi-media exhib
Rackham Summer Inte
and the Horace H. R
Graduate Studies v+
the Media
comparativeemot
Who's the best?
Liberty Street Video.
Ann Arbor's alternative video store 6 movies / 6 days / $6.66
119 East Liberty 663-3121 Sun-Thurs 10am-mid. Fri-Sat 10am-1am
Courtesy ossMiramax
Marisa Tomei prays that the presenter will read her name - one way or the other.