There’s no science behind this year’s Oscar nominations
Academy credits a few newcomers
By Lael Loewenstein
and Michael Horowitz
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Proving once again that it defies both probability and
prognosticators, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
yesterday announced its nominations for the 68th Annual Academy
Awards.
Copping the lion’s share of nominations, the epic saga
"Braveheart" rode off with 10 nods – more than many would have
expected – while the patriotic "Apollo 13" blasted off with nine.
As anticipated, "Sense and Sensibility" also took a number of
nominations, seven in all.
But few would have predicted the strong showings of two other
films. The crowd-pleasing "Babe" nabbed seven nominations, and "The
Postman" ("Il Postino"), a sentimental favorite, took five.
In the Best Picture category, both "Sense and Sensibility" and
"Apollo 13" earned nominations. "Braveheart," though hindered by
its early release date last May and its inordinate violence (not to
mention its distressing homophobia), also picked up a nod. But the
biggest surprises were the nominations of "Babe" and "The
Postman."
Both films were critically acclaimed, but "Babe" was thought to
be a long shot because of its nontraditional animatronics – the
protagonist is a talking pig. And "Postman," an Italian-language
film deemed ineligible for Best Foreign Film, was considered an
outsider. But Miramax’s massive publicity campaign for "Postman"
paid off, making it the first non-English language film to be
nominated for Best Picture since Sweden’s "Cries and Whispers" in
1973.
Several omissions in the Best Picture category left
Oscar-watchers agape, specifically that of "Leaving Las Vegas."
Though it had won the top prize of almost every major critics
group, the film may have been considered too much of a downer by
academy voters. Also shut out were "Nixon" and "The American
President," perhaps victims of a backlash against political films,
and the lighter "Get Shorty."
Despite its box office success, "Get Shorty" failed to win any
nominations, leaving likely Best Actor pick (and Golden Globe
honoree) John Travolta out in the cold. Instead, Richard Dreyfuss
scored a nomination for "Mr. Holland’s Opus," making that his first
nod since winning for "The Goodbye Girl" in 1977.
Perennial favorite Anthony Hopkins earned a bid for his
tour-de-force performance in "Nixon," and odds-on favorite Nicholas
Cage was nominated for his no-holds-barred turn as an alcoholic in
"Leaving Las Vegas." In a move most did not expect, Sean Penn was
nominated for his performance as a convict in "Dead Man Walking."
And finally, in the first posthumous nomination since Peter Finch
in "Network" (1976), Massimo Troisi was nominated for "The
Postman."
The academy’s Best Actress nods were a surprising set, ignoring
Nicole Kidman’s assured performance in "To Die For," not awarding
the brilliant Jennifer Jason Leigh for "Georgia," and nominating
Sharon Stone for her sturdy but not stellar work in "Casino." Meryl
Streep’s nomination for "The Bridges of Madison County" showed a
similar lack of imagination and proves the Streep Theory
practically infallible: If she’s in a movie, she’ll be nominated
(this is her 10th bid).
Fortunately, Elisabeth Shue won a deserved nod, her first, for
"Leaving Las Vegas," and continual Oscar favorite Emma Thompson was
acknowledged for "Sense and Sensibility." Rounding out the
category, Susan Sarandon received an unexpected mention for "Dead
Man Walking." Though Sarandon is always solid, the nomination may
be a bid for career achievement (likewise, her nod last year for
"The Client," an otherwise anemic film).
Remarkably, in the Supporting categories and the Best Director
roster, novelty was the common thread. Some are new to the craft,
and many are career veterans, but not one of the supporting actors,
actresses or directors had ever received an academy nomination
before.
Joan Allen led off the Best Supporting Actress nods with one of
the academy’s brief honors of "Nixon." Mira Sorvino received the
annual Jennifer Tilly nomination for talking strangely in a Woody
Allen film, in this case "Mighty Aphrodite." To end the disturbing
news, Kathleen Quinlan received an even less deserved honor for
"Apollo 13" for a part that required little more than her gazing
despondently out a window at the moon.
Luckily, the talented Kate Winslet and the luminous Mare
Winningham brought quality to the category (for "Sense and
Sensibility" and "Georgia," respectively).
Best Supporting Actor proved the coolest of the categories,
nominating Tim Roth for his first studio excursion in "Rob Roy"
(especially surprising given its release last spring and Oscar
voters’ usually short memories). The academy also recognized Kevin
Spacey for his turn in "Usual Suspects," a standout in the actor’s
strongest year of performances yet. And in the most exciting,
innovative selection of the day, James Cromwell ("Farmer Hoggett")
got a nod for "Babe."
Brad Pitt’s walk on the wacky side earned him a nomination for
"Twelve Monkeys" – aided, perhaps, by his recent Golden Globe – and
Ed Harris, predictably, filled the fifth spot for "Apollo 13."
"Babe"-mania swept into the director’s nods also, giving Chris
Noonan a nomination in his feature film debut. Mel Gibson and Tim
Robbins also were honored in their forays behind the camera (for
"Braveheart" and "Dead Man Walking," respectively); and Michael
Figgis was nominated for directing "Leaving Las Vegas," which he
also wrote.
Finally, "The Postman" earned another nod for director Michael
Radford. Of the five Director’s Guild nominees – which usually
parallel the Oscar nods, only Figgis and Radford were expected,
while Rob Reiner, Ron Howard and Ang Lee were shut out.
With "The Postman" ineligible for Best Foreign Film, the
category was a crapshoot. The acclaimed Dutch film "Antonia’s Line"
was acknowledged, as expected. But Cannes film festival honorees
"Underground" (from the former Yugoslavia), "The White Balloon"
(from Iran) and "Ulysses’ Gaze" (from Greece) failed to win berths.
"All Things Fair" (Sweden), "Dust of Life" (Algeria), "O Quatrilho"
(Brazil) and "The Star Maker" (Italy) were all nominated.
The Academy Awards on March 25 will decide the winner of these
contests. The Oscar battle is now down to its essential combatants,
ready for another month and a half of madness.
Mel Gibson stars in "Braveheart," which received 10 nominations,
including one for best picture.
James Cromwell and Babe in "Babe".
Left to right: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon in "Apollo
13."
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