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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1998)
The Battalion onday • March 23, 1998 mint: Weighing the Scales of Oscar r Oth Academy Awards show awards the best in film of ’97 dcd;:| witli By Michelle Voss Staff writer ' 1 tonight Hollywood will waddle along a red car- ' 1 j pet in Prada gowns and Armani tuxes to cele- L brate the fact they have more money than most 1 intries in South Africa. Yes, this is the evening for Lord of All Knickknacks — the Oscars. 1 In fact, the Academy Awards is basically a multi- He; ials e of beautiful people who stuff themselves into an alent room so they can reward themselves. So, let’s cut the chit-chat and get down to bidness lere’s my unofficial, unabridged version of tight’s proud new owners of a little gold guy. Nota bene: These are the winners that the Acade- will most likely pick — not necessarily who I or r other sane person might choose. For Best Adapted Screenplay the list is as follows: L.AlConfidential, Wag the Dog, The Wings of the ve, Donnie Brasco and The Sweet Hereafter. Usually reserved for great literature written by id white people with settings in lavish mansions i sheep grazing in the back ground, this category is usually leaning toward L.A. Confidential. Critics at /e been raving over Brian Helgeland and Curtis nson’s adaptation of a novel thought unadaptable the screen. By giving these guys the nod for Best apted, it’s sort of like a warm, fuzzy hug that says: m’re good enough, you’re smart enough and dog- hf' tie it people like you” without having to hand over y of the other major awards. • Best Original Screenplay, which reads like so: As Good As It Gets, Boogie Nights, Deconstructing rryXThe Full Monty and Good Will Hunting. .While Deconstructing Harry is constantly witty d incredibly weaved together, perhaps the best en in years, it is still just quintessential Allen — lilism, sarcasm and cynicism.” Plus, the Academy s shown America’s neurotic New Yorker much love the past, so that’s a no go. Sure, As Good As It Gets les through with some ’90s truisms, but really, the igiOutshines the writing. Who remains but two well-bred studs, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for | eir heart-warming tear-jerker, Good Will Hunting. lese guys are almost sure-fire bets for the Oscar, unplex characters and realistic dialogue combined th iron-melting, sassy smiles make these boys a pd pick simply ‘cuz they’re bound to look hot while Jking away from the stage. • Moving on to the ladies, the nominees for Best ppor ting Actress are: Kim Basinger, L.A. Confidential; loan Cusak, In & |tf;Minnie Driver, Good. Will Hunting; Julianne tore, Boogie Nights; and Gloria Stuart, Titanic. OK, 1 know what you’re thinking—Who the heck Jloria Stuart? Well, exactly. She’s the old lady from i< ; anic — ya know, the one who the whole stinking try is about — and most likely, she will not be car- ng home a little gold man in the basket of her mo- ized wheelchair. Sure, Minnie’s cute and has a te name, but her role in Good Will Hunting is newhat scanty — she’s just a chemise and a warm d for Damon’s character. Moving along, Cusak’s irk in In & Out is respectable, even entertaining, t an Oscar for a comedy is sort of like a cherry for a irtini — it would just be odd. So, that more or less ils it down to Kim Basinger’s hooker with a heart of Id in L.A. Confidential. Basinger delivers on de- ind as a luscious blonde who’s got troubles and nts to be rescued. • Then, we have the candidates for Best pporting Actor: Anthony Hopkins, Amistad; Greg Kinnear, As Good Jt Gets; Burt Reynolds, Boogie Nights; Robert " ster, Jackie Brown; and Robin Williams, Goodwill Ynting. 'First off, Hopkins is not in good form as John Quincy Adams in Amistad, too much overacting leaves a sour taste even your box of Milk Dud’s won’t cure. Anyway, his Hannibal the Cannibal from Silence of the Lambs already garnered him an Oscar. Kinnear is the token gay character nominee, but his gay artist in As Good As It Gets just doesn’t have the umph the Academy is looking for. Burt Reynolds’ sleazy role in Boogie Nights will not earn him an Os car simply because the movie itself is just too raunchy for the mainstream crowd. The umph comes along in Robin Williams’ portrayal of a nurturing surrogate fa ther/shrink in Good Will Hunting. We haven’t seen Williams like this since Awakenings and Dead Poets Society. He made me cry with his emphatic “It’s not your fault” line and really brought depth to the film. • Next, the women line up for Best Actress: Helena Bonham Carter, The Wings of the Dove; Julie Christie, Afterglow; Judi Dench, Mrs. Brown; Helen Hunt, As Good As It Gets; and Kate Winslet, Titanic. As much as I am an anglo-phile, this category is so painfully over-stuffed with Brits that it resembles a packed elevator at a Weight Watcher’s Convention — it’s just getting claustrophobic. So, I’m going to opt for the dazzling Yank — Helen Hunt as a struggling mom with a forceful spirit and intoxicating beauty in As Good As It Gets. Please see Oscars on Page 6. Titanic seeks ultimate merit with regurgitated storyline By James Francis Aggielife editor T lonight is the night when viewers all over the world might witness a triumphant record-breaking 70th Academy Award Oscar giveaway. On the other hand, it also could be the night people remember as the day Oscar dreams fell short for one ship-sinking film. Of course the film in question is Titanic, starring the ever- adored young adult actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and directed by the big-budget action guru him self, James Cameron. Yes, Titanic wiW surpass Star Wars as the all-time top grossing domestic film ever. Yes, Titanic wiM give its actors and director a leg up in the film industry due to its popu larity. And yes, Titanic fans will see the film 10 times at the theater and pre-order their very own personal copy once it is released on video cassette. But, will Titanic score big at the Oscars and take home all of its 14 nominated little golden statuettes? Hopefully, that answer will be no. Before everyone begins to question why anyone would ever say anything bad about Titanic, especially be fore the Academy Awards, here is an in-depth explana tion covering the good, the bad and the reasons of why or why not the film should receive so much attention and critical praise. The focus on Titanicbegyns with its cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Gloria Stuart, and v ., <01 ~D m ends with its director and Best Picture nomination. • Leonardo DiCaprio Although he can be a formidable force in the enter tainment industry, his performance in Titanic was not ground-breaking or earth-shattering. In essence, he was not snubbed when Oscar decided to not give him a nod. In the past, projects such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Total Eclipse and The Basketball Diaries warranted praise for the young actor. From a mentally disabled characterization of a boy by the name of Amie to an angst-empowered literary figure with homosexual ten dencies to a true-life portrayal of Jim Carroll, DiCaprio has taken on roles that define an actor’s career—those that break away from the cliche teenybopper scene. In Titanic, however, as Jack Dawson, a young man at tempting to break the social barriers between rich and poor and win the heart of his delicate muse, DiCaprio does a good job with the role he was given. Still, there was nothing about the character of Jack or DiCaprio’s embod iment of him that would merit an Oscar nomination. Titanic fans be assured, even without a nomination DiCaprio’s career will go on, as will the sappy lyrics of Ce line Dion’s soundtrack tie-in song. • Kate Winslet Here is an actress with the power of Hollywood at her fingertips. From her mind-altering performance in Heavenly Creatures to the celebrated period piece, Sense and Sensibility, Winslet is on a course for over whelming stardom, although some people would say she has already arrived. In Titanic, Winslet is Rose, the high-class love interest of Jack Dawson. Her performance is endearing and on track with all of the other good work she has done, but worthy of an Oscar nomination — no. • Gloria Stuart Nostalgia is the only word fitting for the eightysome thing-year-old actress. Oscar looks back at her career and the fact that Titanic is the only film Stuart has worked on in over half a century. She appeared in the film for about five minutes and suddenly she deserves a nomination? This is where the Academy Awai ds shows its true col ors, when someone is nominated only because she might not be around to make another film before her ca reer or life is over. Stuart seems like a nice lady and her acting in the film was funny and serious at the same time, but next time, nominate someone who had a poignant role to offer. • James Cameron and Best Picture OK, here’s the deal. Cameron has finally made a film that does not rely on action scenes to hold an audience’s attention. Titanic does, however, depend on computer graphics to make it larger than life. Cameron’s earlier works, such as True Lies, Aliens and Terminator 2: Judg ment Day were box-office hits and action films at their best. In his direction of Titanic, however, Cameron must have had water in his eyes. And as for the film’s Best Picture nomination, As Good As It Gets is all that needs to be said. • Titanic in the Long Run In total, Titanic is a good film, but not great one. Surely it will garner all of the technical awards hands down, but it is not great in the sense that the plot is unique or the acting is astounding. Titanic made its mark and created a wild-and-frenzied craze of dedicat ed fans because the film itself is enormous. From the $200 million budget to audiences falling in love with the tragic relationship between Jack and Rose to James Cameron computer-generating actors’ breath in the arctic wind, the film was the biggest movie undertaking of all film history. But think back to the black-and-white version, A Night to Remember, which was declared a classic and a film many people feel is superior to Cameron’s remake. Classics de serve to be left alone. Retooling the story and history of the ill-fated ship only calls attention to Hollywood’s never-end ing search to do better. Titanic may have gone down by the icy hands of a way ward iceberg a long time ago, but the film and all of its un necessary praise deserve a good splash in the face. O a . 'V'-'VV AS ; I Campus Tux Party atWings iT More Across from the campus on Texas Ave. /, March 26 from 11am to 4PM to DJ, Barb Flares will be broadcasting //Ve 11-1 /isit ATs Mobile Tuxedo Store for on-site rental reservations until 4pm. It’s easy & fun...or come to the Harvetj Rd. store. ,Msi* If/llfe An Aggie Tradition since FORMAL WEAR 1957 1WO Harvey Rd. next to Post Dak Mall.... 403-333-0347 See store for details. Some restrictions apply, expires 4/25/98 Register tu Win the Ultimate Ring Dance Date • A Tuxedo from Al’s Formal Wear • Dinner at Outback Steakhouse • Flowers by University Flowers • Hair by Dana at Couffieurs • Nails by Nails Magnifiq ck R P su £ N\SC Visual Arts Committee invites you to VOTE for the Artfest ‘98 People’s Choice Award Vote for your favorite work of art at the Artfest ‘98 student art exhibition Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24 in the MSC Visual Arts Gallery. Artfest ‘98 is on display until April 10 in the MSC Visual Arts Gallery(room 289 MSC, next to the Browsing Library) Winners will be publicly announced at a free reception on March 25 at 7pm in the MSC Visual Arts Gallery. VAC is accepting applications for officer positions until April 1. Contact: tel. 845-9251; e-mail: vac@msc.tamu.edu; http://vac.tamu.edu PROFITABLE NUMBER! The Battalion Classified Advertising
