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
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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.
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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.”