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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1997)
By Gerry Beltz and Bret Schulte Ahhh, mid-March, and the Oscars are once again upon us. After a few years of no-guess races led by lumbering giants (such as "Forrest Gump" and "Schindler's List"), 1996 seems to be a year more ready-made for neck-and-neck competition for that golden statuette. In addition, it would seem the film industry is finally following the lead of its musical counterparts with a surge of support for independent filmmakers and their work. However, for those movies made outside the omnipresent "Hollywood machine," nominations may be easier to come by than actual wins because of the politics involved in academy voting. Still, this is the Academy Awards, home of the big surprises (Marisa Tomei?), so for best supportint actor anything can happen. Two of the Daily Nebraskan's film critics already have made their and actress nicks, see choices, and if they don't match yours, hard cheese to you. cscAis cn nace 13. Best Picture — "Secrets and Lies" "Jerry Maguire" "Fargo" "Shine" "The English Patient" Bret: Regardless of Gerry’s obvious insensitivity to abused Australian pia nists, we already have our “Piano” winner for the decade, and while quirky madcap murder-mysteries can be done with style and bravado as in “Fargo,” they can rarely compete with the heavier themes that typically com pose best picture films. In an indie year, “Jerry Maguire” is too bright and glossy, while “Secrets and Lies” a bit too opaque, I opt for the studio ren egade “The English Patient” as well. CAMERON CROWE (left) mi Tra Craisa (Iscus a Best Director Scott Hicks, "Shine" Joel Coen, "Fargo" Mike Leigh, "Secrets and lies" Milos Forman, "The People vs. Lariy Flynt" Anthony Minghella, "The English Patient" Bret: I want Milos to win—for bend ing PC over and spanking it with por nography, obscenity and a brilliant and pointed message about First Amend ment rights in the Land of the Free. But the subject matter is far too racy and, well, real for an Oscar. I don’t think Coen is as deserving, but he’s my pick for his ballsy brainchild, the dark comedy “Fargo.” Gerry: Bret, you ignorant twit. Milos has already won in the past, and the academy of stingy, Anglo-Saxon males won’t give it to him again. Even though he deserves it, Coen will suf fer because “Fargo” was too cool for its own good. I’ll go with a pairing between best picture and director, and hand the gold-plated thing to Minghella for his fantastic work with - “The English Patient.” MILOS FORMAN (certer) received bis third Best Dlrectsr nemlsatien fer his wetfc ee "The Peeele Vs. Lorry Flyet.” Best Actor Geoffrey Rush, "Shine" Tom Cruise, "Jerry Maguire" Ralph Fiennes, "The English Patient" Woody Harreison, "The People vs. Larry Flynt“ Billy Bob Thornton, "Sling Blade" -i Bret: Although in the past Cruise has given us such memorable characters as Maverick, the American pop cul ture superhero who can fly a plane, drive a car real fast and make a flying cocktail, the fast-talking success story “Jerry Maguire” is a bit too easy for this uni-dimensional Hollywood per sonality. I’ll go with Billy Bob Thornton; not only does his name strike a twang in my heart, but his portrayal of the mentally challenged in “Sling Blade” is the most endear — ing character of the year. Gerry: I’d have to agree with Bret; Cruise just won’t see the money. No one who has ever worn an American flag for a diaper has won best actor, and the same will go for Woody. Thornton should get it for his out standing performance, but it will prob ably go to Fiennes so he doesn’t think he has to portray a Nazi scumbag to win an award. «• BILLY BOB THORHTOtf mete, directed aed starred le ”01101 Blade.” He received eereiaatleRSfer Best Acter aad Best Adapted Screeaptatf. Best Actress Brenda Blethyn, "Secrets and Lies" Diane Keaton, "Marvin's Room" Frances McDormand, "Fargo" Emily Watson, "Breaking the Waves" Kristin Scott Thomas, "The English Patient” Bret: Diane Keaton’s tacitly, banal performances invariably leave me waiting for Woody Allen to mutter his favorite catch phrase “masturbation.” Kristin Scott Thomas is simply toe tightly strung, and I am simply con fused by Blethyn. McDormand’s “Fargo” performance was a deliciously light and disturbing romp, and one foi which she should be acknowledged. t Gerry: “Tacitly banal?” Guess who swallowed a dictionary last night! Still, this (me will be a toughie. No one has even heard of Watson, let alone “Breaking the Waves,” and Bret’s confused about more than Brenda’s last name. I’ll go with McDormand on this one, breaking the streak of “The English Patient,” while. still giving a major award to a deserv ing Elm, I Gerry: Nobody cares about abused Australian pianists or funny murder mysteries, so “Shine” and “Fargo” go down. While nobody saw “Secrets and Lies,” everybody was heading out to “Jerry Maguire,” and while Cruise did give a good performance, it wasn’t THAT great of an overall film. I’ll stick with the tear-jerker “The English Patient.”