March 24, 2003
The Academy Awards
The lowpoint of the proceedings had to be Michael Moore winning the award for best documentary; the highpoint had to be Michael Moore being booed offstage and Steve Martin making a joke about him. Parade magazine reported that Richard Gere wasn't nominated for his role in Chicago because some members of the Academy didn't want to listen to his politics -- the problem is that Richard has been known to decry China's occupation of Tibet (Richard is a Buddhist). C'mon Richard, get with the program: America is the problem in the world today, and the Republicans are the problem with America.
Chicago won big. I managed to get a couple of spare minutes together the other week and saw it. Outstanding singing and dancing, but the movie is completely cynical and lacks even one character that provokes a reaction more friendly than disgust. The Pianist also won big, which goes to show that the academy doesn't hold drugging 13 years old and then having sex with them against you. They've moved on. I was disapointed that the Two Towers didn't garner more awards, but I really its better to make a ton of money and not win an award than to lose a ton and win big.
Posted by Kevin Murphy at March 24, 2003 10:20 AM | MoviesKevin,
Saw "Chicago" as a broadway play. Lots of two-dimensional portrayls of 20's-era "Chicago" gangsters who spoke with thick Brooklyn accents. I agree: Nobody I could care much about. Haven't bothered to see the movie based on that.
Its clear that being a popular favorite is the kiss of death for award-winning potential. If you're part of the elite, you can't agree with the masses, you have to show you're above them somehow, and that includes issues of aesthetics.
My observations, anyway...
Posted by: tim at March 24, 2003 07:29 PM
