BEST PICTURE
Titanic-- the biggest moneymaker and the biggest heartbreaker, both at the same time. This movie recalls visions of epics like Gone With the Wind or Casablanca, movies that have disappeared in today's crass-commercialism society.
BEST ACTOR
Jack Nicholson, As Good As It Gets-- I've never seen anyone play a jerk so well before (I mean that as a compliment). You just had to hate him, but you loved him at the same time.
BEST ACTRESS
Helen Hunt, As Good as it Gets-- This underappreciated, undervalued actress deserved some recognition. Her impeccable talent always seemed to get overlooked when it comes to Oscar time; this year, thank God, was an exception.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robin Williams, Good Will Hunting-- One of the world's funniest, wackiest comedians takes a serious side as he coaches Matt Damon's character through the trials and tribulations of life. Good job.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kim Basinger, L.A. Confidential-- Oh, please. Her character had almost no development, and there was nothing special or interesting about her performance. She was just a hooker that happened to look like Veronica Lake. But know I know if I ever want to win an Oscar, all I have to do is play a hooker and then sit back and wait for the Academy to come calling.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Good Will Hunting-- I know Titanic broke all our hearts, but you have to admit that some of those lines were a little clumsy. Here's a team of real-life best friends who got together to write a charming little movie.
BEST ADAPTED SCREEPLAY
Curtis Hanson and Brian Helgeland, L.A. Confidential-- The writing sure seemed pretty good (I say seemed because the plot was so complicated that I got lost about five minutes into the movie).
BEST MAKEUP
One of Titanic's most haunting scenes was where that sole lifeboat sails through the dead bodies, all frozen from the icy cold; that scene, I assume, was why Titanic got nominated for this category. The problem was, Billy Zane wore way too much eyeliner, and it was distracting when you were trying to look at his character. So the award went to Men in Black; I agree with the Academy's decision.
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BEST DIRECTOR
James Cameron, Titanic-- One of Hollywood's most talented directors put his life on the line and spent hundreds of millions of dollars to create the perfect movie, then sacrificed tens of millions of dollars of his own money just to make sure everything goes as planned. You tell me: does that deserve recognition or not?
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
Titanic-- In my opinion, it was a tie between Titanic and The Lost World. The thing is, even though Titanic's effects were state-of-the-art and all, there were times when you could tell that they were computerized. Even though The Lost World's f/x weren't as high-tech, they looked 100% real. So it evens out, and I don't have anything wrong with Titanic's win.
BEST SOUND
Titanic-- The screech of ice against steel, huge house-sized engines bumping and grinding to power the massive propellors, the ship's massive hull creaking as it slowly descends into the water-- all part of the state-of-the-art sound effects in this movie. And they don't distract away from the story the way some movies' effects do.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Titanic-- No question. From sweeping shots of the great liner sailing across the open ocean to intimate love scenes to heartwrenching scenes of the ship's demise to the dreary hulk of the liner sitting on the ocean floor in total darkness, Titanic's camera work can't be beat. The fact that the movie was partly shot on board the wreck of the real Titanic can't hurt either.
BEST ART DIRECTION
Titanic-- The beautiful costumes and ornate sets all weave together to create this seemingly genuine image of life in the Edwardian era. Beat that, Spielberg.
BEST MUSICAL SCORE
Titanic-- Rich orchestral music as the ship leaves port changes to sweeping, romantic music as the love story unfolds, which becomes ominous music as the Titanic approaches the iceberg, which, in turn, changes to tragic, apocalyptic music as the greatest ship to ever sail the seas is reduced to a ruin, taking 1500 people with it. Not even John Williams could pull that off.
BEST SONG
My Heart Will Go On, Titanic (do you see a pattern here?)-- Celine Dion's teary, emotional tribute to lost loves breaks our hearts every time we hear it. (That, and everything else that has to do with Titanic.) |
