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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 1997)
Aaron Steckelberg/DN SEVERAL POTENTIAL NOMINEES, including Madonna, saw their Oscar hopes dashed for this year after Ibesday morning’s nomination anaeanceaeats. Other Academy Award hepefnls who got the snob were (frea top to bottom) Courtney Love, whs played Larry Flynfs drag-addicted wife Althea la “The People Vs. Larry Flynt,N and Eddie Morphy, • who was practically a one-man cast (he played seven different rales) In “The Natty am gg professor. Independent films earn Oscar nods; Madonna snubbed ByLynnElber Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The sweeping war time epic “The English Patient” earned 12 Academy Award nominations Tuesday as Oscar voters recognized indepen dent films but snubbed a particular material girl. Madonna failed to receive a best actress bid for her star ring role as Argentina’s controversial first lady in the musi cal “Evita.” The film based on the stage play also failed to earn a best picture nomination. Independent films, led by “The English Patient,” tri umphed over major studio releases. Four of the five best pic ture slots and other top nominations were claimed by inde pendent films. nr • o at i / : » _a <m o i :n: iiitjuu a jviij maguuV) wtuvu vauivu uuiuuii, was the only picture in the i»est picture category from a ma jor studio. Other contenders were “Fargo,” “Secrets & Lies” and “Shine.” “Fargo” and “Shine” had seven nominations apiece, while “Jerry Maguire” and “Secrets & Lies” each got five. Best actor nominees were Ralph Fiennes for “The En glish Patient,” Tom Cruise for “Jerry Maguire,” Woody Harrelson for “The People vs. Larry Flyflt,” Geoffrey Rush for “Shine” and Billy Bob Thomton for “Sling Blade.” Thornton’s performance as a retarded man with a violent past was a breakthrough for the relatively obscure actor, who also received a screenplay nomination as the writer of “Sling Blade.” He also directed the film. He was a regular on the CBS situation comedy “Hearts Afire.” Top actress contenders were Kristin Scott Thomas for “The English Patient,” Brenda Blethyn for “Secrets & Lies,” Diane Keaton for “Marvin’s Room,” Frances Me Dorman d for “Fargo” and Emily Watson for “Breaking the Waves.” “The whole family is tickled pink. Although maybe next year they can move the nominations announcement time to a more reasonable hour,” said McDormand, referring to the pre-dawn ceremony at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences headquarters in Beverly Hills. “To be mentioned in same breath as those other people is quite overwhelming,” Blethyn said. “All of the nominees of course would love to win, but truthfully, it really is an honor to be up there as a nominee.” Favored but missing from the actress nominees was Debbie Reynolds for “Mother.” Oscar night is March 24. Billy Crystal will emcee the awarus. “Sling Blade,” with only $488,508 in earnings after nearly 11 weeks in release, was the most dramatic example of how • a small film, despite its quality, can have limited box office potential. “Hamlet,” with four nominations, has earned $2.1 mil lion; “Secrets & Lies,” $7.5 million; “Shine,” $16 million; and “Fargo,” $22.1 million. “The English Patient,” has earned $42 million. The controversial film “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” about the life of the Hustler sex magazine publisher, didn’t receive a best picture nomination, but director Milos Forman was nominated along with its star, Woody Harrelson. Also for gotten by the academy was Courtney Love, the rock singer and sometime actress who played Flynt’s outrageous wife. Forman competes with Anthony Minghella for “The English Patient,” Joel Coen for “Fargo,” Mike Leigh for “Secrets & Lies” and Scott Hicks for “Shine.” “We’re just reeling around in disbelief,” said Hicks, whose movie tells how Australian pianist David Helfgott overcame the childhood torment he suffered from his overbearing fa ther. • Supporting actor contenders were Cuba Gooding Jr. for “Jerry Maguire,” William H. Macy for “Fargo,” Armin Mueller-Stahl for “Shine,” Edward Norton for “Primal Fear” and James Woods for “Ghosts of Mississippi.” Gooding’s nomination was anticipated. His performance as football player Rod Tidwell, with his exuberant cry “Show me the money!” to the sports agent played by Cruise, was a movie highlight. Please see NOMINEES on 13 THOSE WHO RECEIVED HOMINATIOMS fer Academy Awards this year included Tew Cralse, whe will eel another shot at the best acter trephy fer the title rale in “Jerry Maialre." Other eeeilaees (from tep te bottom) were Weedy Harrekea (fer hest acter), whe played embattled pen pebUsher Larry Flyat to “The Peeple Vs. Larry Flyat," aad Caba Geedtaa Jr. (best sapperttai actor), whe played the eetspekea football star Red Tidwell la “Jerry Maialre.”