Oscar 2000

The Wrap
========

Not bad, Oscar.  The 72nd Annual Academy Awards, while long, were a 
bit more fun than usual.  The opening collection of clips inserted 
host Billy Crystal *not* into footage of the Best Picture nominees, 
but, rather, into the frames of such classics as TAXI DRIVER, THE 
GODFATHER, and THE GRADUATE.  (The latter complete with Crystal in 
drag.)  Then came the jokes, from Regis Philbin to Dr. Laura, and 
Crystal's customary calling out to Jack.  (Other topical targets 
that night included John Rocker, David Crosby, and NRA president 
Charleton Heston.)  The first montage of the evening was screened 
at 8:59, a forgettable collection of child actor clips.  Better was 
the 9:20 take on the history of the world, including Mel Brooks as 
Moses in a clip from the film of the same name.  Most of the pre-
senters played things straight, if too often too stiffly.  (Arnie's 
introduction of the Visual Effects category was the most wooden.)
Notable acceptance speeches included heartfelt ramblings by Ange-
lina Jolie, Michael Caine, and an surprisingly flustered Warren 
Beatty.  (He received the Thalberg award and then talked for twenty 
minutes.)  One winner thanked "the bikers" involved, while a non-
English speaker stumbled as best he could.  And then there was the 
coolly crazy Pedro Almodovar, who Crystal quipped "makes Roberto 
Benigni seem like an English teacher."  (Last year's spastic win-
ner bore the brunt of *many* jokes over the evening.) 

On the fashion front, there were sights a-plenty: Erykah Badu wear-
ing a two-foot hair wrap, Winona Ryder strapped into a black even-
ing gown, Ms. Jolie dressed as Morticia Addams, Cate Blanchett 
dressed as Gwenyth Paltrow, presenter Vanessa Williams' chest, holy 
cow, and Cher wearing something on her head that looked like black 
pasta.  (She also apologized to the Academy for "dressing like a 
grown-up.")  The high-tech set was also something to see, with its 
many multimedia features and strange sci-fi sound effects added by 
the TV producers.  (Or, as Crystal noted, "thanks to Soul Train for 
lending us their set.")  Conductor Burt Bacharach conducted an ex-
cellent medley of classic film songs, sung by Garth Brooks, Ray 
Charles, Queen Latifah, and others.  (One unintentionally hilarious 
moment, later referenced by Crystal, saw Issac Hayes disappear un-
der a blanket of fog during "The Theme From Shaft.")  The boring 
Best Song nominees were livened up by a "Springtime For Hitler"-ish 
rendition of "Blame Canada" from SOUTHPARK: BIGGER, LONGER, AND UN-
CUT, sung by Robin Williams.  (Though not as show-stopping as the 
year Jerry Orbach sang "Be Our Guest.")  Alas, even with the nixing 
of the interpretive dance numbers-- yeah!-- and the truncating of 
select speeches, the whole thing still felt long.  Part of the pad-
ding are those damn clips that get played during the actor and ac-
tress categories.  Just name the names!  And, of course, all the 
montages, which never do go away.  Clips of those who passed away.  
Clips of Warren Beatty's films.  Clips of Warren Beatty's co-stars, 
commenting on Warren Beatty.  And so on.  At least at the end we 
got to hear presenter and Best Actor nominee Russell Crowe speak in 
his native Aussie accent.  Wow!


The Winners
===========

BEST PICTURE
 AMERICAN BEAUTY

DIRECTING
 AMERICAN BEAUTY

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
 Kevin Spacey, AMERICAN BEAUTY

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
 Hilary Swank, BOYS DON'T CRY

SCREENPLAY - ORIGINAL
 AMERICAN BEAUTY

SCREENPLAY - ADAPTATION
 THE CIDER HOUSE RULES

CINEMATOGRAPHY
 AMERICAN BEAUTY

FILM EDITING
 THE MATRIX

ART DIRECTION
 SLEEPY HOLLOW 

ORIGINAL SCORE
 THE RED VIOLIN

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
 ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER

VISUAL EFFECTS
 THE MATRIX

SOUND EFFECTS EDITING
 THE MATRIX

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
 Michael Caine, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
 ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
 KING GIMP

ORIGINAL SONG
 TARZAN

SHORT FILM - ANIMATED
 THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

SHORT FILM - LIVE ACTION
 MY MOTHER DREAMS THE SATAN'S DISCIPLES IN NEW YORK

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
 Angelina Jolie, GIRL INTERRUPTED

MAKEUP
 TOPSY-TURVY

SOUND
 THE MATRIX

COSTUME DESIGN
 TOPSY-TURVY

Copyright 2000 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

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