March 30, 2001
Till next year, Oscar - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- So the Oscars of last Sunday night have passed into the annals of history and it’s one more year until the requisite blend of cleavage and cash adorned on Hollywood’s jet set. I was totally shocked that "front-runners" Kate Hudson and Dame Judi Dench did not win and that Marcia Gay Harden did win the Supporting Actress Oscar for Pollock. It sort of restores the faith in the whole Oscar system that a good performance like Ms. Harden’s actually gets rewarded. She is not well known in film circles and the sheer fact she was nominated is good work on the Academy’s lack-jaw voters.
There were some decent winners this year. More on that later. But a word on Steve Martin. The Academy Awards telecast being what it is, criticism begins and ends with the host. Steve Martin was no Billy Crystal. Unlike some, I enjoy a little singing on the Oscar show. Martin did not sing, but he was extremely funny and actually did a decent job. His opening monologue was chock-full of decent jokes and the highly enjoyable gems that were in self-depreciation. The show was under four hours which was a surprise. I think people generally expect the Oscars to be four hours and this year it went by in a whiz. However since it is just a once a year, couldn’t we all just bear four hours? This year’s telecast crafted to fit in the time allotted, was an acquired mix of Hollywood that seemed rushed. Even the dignified Julie Andrews looked flummoxed.
On the subject of the winners, I think there were some decent Academy selections. I haven’t seen Pollock yet, but I agree that she was probably the most deserving. Julia Roberts winning for Erin Brockovich was expected and I think deservedly so. Perhaps Ellen Burstyn should have won, but the best actress trophy went to the right person. History shall decide if Ms. Burstyn was robbed.
I was more than pleased to see Steven Soderbergh win for Traffic. I had cut his chances in this space a week ago, because of the double nominations, he’ d split his vote. At the end of the day, I think it comes down to excellence and good on the Academy on tapping Soderbergh’s work in the remarkable Traffic. I still think that compared to Gladiator, the picture that won the best picture prize, I think that Traffic was the better film.
The annual Entertainment Weekly rundown hits the news-stands today, so I suggest we look into that and see what they thought. EW has the surprising way of holding the same opinions as me. Good weekend to all, back Monday.
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .