Arts
Hell unleashed:'Gladiator'nabs 12 nominations
■The foreign martial arts film
'Crouching Tiger,Hidden
Dragon'scored 10 nominations,
while Steven Soderbergh won
two nods for best director.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. —
“Gladiator," Hollywood’s high
tech return to the glories of Rome*
led Academy Awards contenders
Tuesday with 12 nominations,
including best picture, actor and
director.
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon,” the Mandarin-language
martial arts epic, was close behind
with 10 nominations, including
best picture and best director. The
other best-picture nominees were
the French romance “Chocolat,"
the legal drama “Erin Brockovich”
and the gritty drug-war saga
“Traffic."
, Steven Soderbergh had two
directing nominations, for “Erin
Brockovich” and “TYaffic,” the first
time that has happened since
1938, when director Michael
Curtiz was nominated for “Angels
With Dirty Faces” and "Four
Daughters.” (Curtiz lost to Frank
Capra, who directed “You Can't
Take It With You.”)
The other director nominees
were Stephen Daldry for “Billy
Elliot,” Ang Lee for "Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and Ridley
Scott for “Gladiator.”
After directing several English
language movies, Lee said he was
delighted to see Western audi
ences embrace “Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon.”
“This was supposed to be my
homecoming project,” said the
Taiwanese-born Lee. “I'm really
taking to heart how this film is per
forming in America.”
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon” is only the third film to
earn both best-picture and for
eign-language film nominations,
rhe others were “Life Is Beautiful”
in 1998 and“Z” in 1969. Last week
end, “Crouching Tiger” hit $60
million and passed "Life is
Beautiful" as the domestic box
office champ among foreign-lan
guage films.
Besides best picture,
“Gladiator,” the first Roman spec
tacle since the genre fell out of
favor in the 1960s, grabbed nomi
nations for actor Russell Crowe
and supporting actor Joaquin
Phoenix. Hans Zimmer’s score
was nominated, and the comput
er wizardry Scott’s crew used to
recreate ancient Rome was
named for visual effects.
Along with Crowe, the actor
nominees were Javier Bardem for
“Before Night Falls,” a film biogra
phy of Cuban writer Reinaldo
Arenas; Tom Hanks as a man,
stranded on an island in “Cast
Away;” Ed Harris for “Pollock,” a
film biography of abstract painter
Jackson Pollock; and Geoffrey
Newsmakers
Russell Crowe picked up one of 12 Academy Award nominations for"Gladiator,'a
best actor nod,Tuesday morning in Beverly HUIs.
Rush as the asylum-bound
Marquis de Sade in “Quills.’'
Hanks has won two Oscars,
and Rush has one.
Best actress nominees were
Joan Allen as a vice-presidential
nominee in “The Contender,”
Juliette Binoche as an itinerant
chocolatier in “Chocolat,” Ellen
Burstyn as a diet-pill addict in
“Requiem for a Dream,” Laura
Linney as a sister coping with her
prodigal brother in “You Can
Count On Me” and Julia Roberts as
a tart-tongued legal aide in “Erin
Brockovich.”
Binoche and Burstyn are past
Oscar winners.
“A year ago, if someone told
me I’d be getting this, I wouldn’t
believe it,” said Linney, a first-time
nominee. "This is a huge, huge
thing for me. I just feel so damn
good.”
Snubbed for a best-actress
nomination was Icelandic pop
singer Bjork, who made her film
debut in the dark musical “Dancer
in the Dark.”
Bjork did score a nomination
for best song, “I’ve Seen It All,”
which she cowrote.
The best song category was
heavy on big names, including
Bob Dylan for “Things Have
Please see OSCAR on 6
Candles? Check. Flowers? Check. Dinner arrangements and a collec
ip g tion of sonnets by Shakespeare? Done and done. Candles, flowers, a
\ p -¥ home cooked meal, all of these are relatively easy elements to take
4 ■, u care of on Valentine's Day. ■ Music plays a trickier role in the success
or failure of a good Valentine's Day for your significant other.The choic
es are abundant but the motives are limited: either the music is played
to create a romantic atmosphere or a not-so-subtle hint of wanting to re-create scenes from "9 Vi Weeks,""Basic
lnstinct"and"American Booty"in the appropriate area of your choice. .
By Sean McCarthy
Though not a lock-down, defin
itive list, the 10 CDs listed below
make a good starter set to get just
about anyone in the mood for love.
Some are strictly romantic while
others are much more suggestive.
And no list of the most romantic CDs
can be complete without a list of
some of the most bitter and jaded CDs
you can listen to after a breakup or during a
healthy dose of self-pity and angst.
£ V
10 Great Romantic/Make Out CDs
1. Marvin Gaye, "Let’s Get it On”
A no-brainer if there ever was one. Released in 1973,
Gaye’s masterpiece remains a timeless staple in soul and
R&B. With “Let’s Get it On” in your collection, you don’t have
to worry ever again about the right mood music.
2. Isaac Hayes, "Hot Buttered Soul”
Long before he was singing about his chocolate salty balls on
"South Park,” Isaac Hayes was creating some of the funkiest, smoothest
music in rock and R&B. Though “Hot Buttered Soul” only contains four
songs, there is enough emotion and mastery in those songs to fill a double
albuip. If played continuously, expect your stereo speakers to ooze honey.
3. Afghan Whigs, “1965”
The last full-length album released from these Cincinnati rockers is a
superb blend of soulful crooning and guitar squalls. Greg Dulli’s voice can be
both menacing and heartfelt at the same time. "Gentleman" still stands as
their finest moment, but "1965” is an excellent testament to one of the most
underrated bands of the 1990s.
4. Tom Jones, "The Best ofTom Jones”
It's Tom Jones! What more can be said? This collection, released in 1998, is
a great introduction to one of the coolest, slyest cats on the planet. It’s not
unusual to be swooned by this definitive collection.
5. D’Angelo, “Voodoo”
This may be the make out CD of the moment, but D'Angelo’s neo-Curtis
Mayfield, bubbling cauldron of soul, funk and R&B puts him on track for leg
end status. Light some candles, bum some incense and let “Voodoo” work its
magic.
6. Patti Smith, “Gone Again”
The punk priestess makes a comeback album dealing with loss and death.
An album revolving around the loss of a husband, a brother and a best friend
may not be the best friction-inducing material out there, but Smith eloquent
ly details how loss and mourning are interwoven with love and romance.
7. Moby, “Play” (V2 Records)
Fusing almost every popular form of music genre onto one CD, Moby’s
majestic album is a great blend of dance-floor catharsis and delicate inti
macy. Though the CD is great for getting anyone in the mood, you may
have to do some explaining when songs like “Why Does My Heart Feel So
Bad” and “Natural Blues” come on.
8. Mazzy Star, “So Tonight That I Might See”
. Hope Sandoval's ghostly, hazy voice can give you the chills and warm
you up simultaneously. If aU you want to do is veg out with your loved one,
this is the CD to do it to. The pacing of the album makes bands like the
Cowboy Junkies and Portishead seem lively by comparison.
9. Morphine, “Yes”
A band that has no guitar, a 2-slide string bass guitar, a baritone sax and
drums is already going to sound recognizable. But lustful burners like "Honey
White” and “Super Sex” put “Yes” on another level in terms of standing out. Mark
Sandman's deep, husky delivery remains one of the most missed voices in rock
today (the singer died of a heart attack in 1999).
10. Massive Attack, “Mezzanine”
These trip-hop pioneers fused elements of hard rock and sparse club beats to
make another essential album in their collection. A perfect make-out album for
your favorite goth boy or giii.
t
Sick of paying a 400 percent markup for flowers and
candy? Survived a recent break-up? Fed up with the
dating scene in general? You can be happy and
single, but on Valentine’s Day, nothing can be
\ more satisfying than spinning one of these
B benchmarks of bitterness.
" 10 Great Bitter CDs for this overpriced,
over-hyped holiday
1. Joy Division, “Closer”
Lead singer Ian Curtis relied on eternal suffer
ing and loss for inspiration for most of Joy Division's
groundbreaking material. "Closer” will haunt you
like few albums can.
2. John Lee Hooker, “Complete 50s Chess
Recording”
When it comes to misery, bands like Papa
Roach and Korn have nothing on most any
, blues musician. John Lee Hooker make a
simple statement like, “Heyah man,
leave my wife alone,” into a brutal ulti
matum. Music doesn't come much
bluer than this.
а. ion Amos, ooys t*>r reie
Amos had the budget to make an
epic double-album on scale with “The
Wall” and she used every bit of the 70
minutes-plus CD to explore and exor
cise her demons. Even if you can’t
decipher the meaning of some of her
songs, her anger throughout the
album is unmistakable.
4. Fleetwood Mac, "Rumours”
Bring the pain. While most people
have the luxury of being^able to be
physically distant from their ex, the
members of Fleetwood Mac had to be
locked in a studio room with each
other for months as their relationships
were crumbling. “Go Your Own Way”
and “Gold Dust Woman” remain some
of the most stinging kiss-off songs in
classic rock.
5. Fiona Apple, “When The Pawn...”
With lyrics like “Hunger hurts but starv
ing works when it costs too much to love" in
the more upbeat songs on the album,
"WhenThe Pawn...” establishes Fiona
Apple as a reigning queen of bitterness.
The tide of the album is the longest title
in contemporary pop music. It could
have been whittled down to two words,
"love sucks.”
б. Eminem, "The Marshall
Mathers IP”
Remember when you were served
with your first restraining order?
Remember using your photos of your
ex for dart practice? Hopefully not,
i but Eminem sure feels your pain.
S Love hurts, but if you take this album
literally, please, get some Phish CDs
and haul your ass off to counseling
services pronto.
Please see SAD on 6
Delan Lonowski,Shauwn Ballarin and Jerry Morgan/ON
Hotels don't come cheap for Valentine lovers looking for inexpensive deals
BY BILLY SMUCK
Got a valentine as well as roommates, yet you
want to be alone to celebrate the holiday with some
privacy, at a local hotel perhaps that is offering
reduced rates for Valentine's Day?
If so, you're better off locking your doors, putting
in the earplugs, breaking out the champagne and pre
tending that you’re in a hotel-bedroom-suite because
hotels haven't reduced prices by much, if at aU.
Hotels are expensive and students are poor, but it
is Valentine’s Day, and for those who are truly commit
ted to taking a so-called one-night hotel rendezvous,
then some of the promotions may actually be enticing
enough to consider.
Of three hotels close to campus that were asked,
Embassy Suites and The Comhusker did reduce rates.
However, the third hotel, Holiday Inn, offers a stan
dard rate that is lower than either of the two.
Embassy Suites, 1040 P St., reduced prices from
$119 to $104, which is “based upon availability,” said
Revenue Manager Dawn Wren.
Embassy Suites is the closest to campus, and most
students are probably familiar with the outside of it
However, Wren said any students thinking of staying
were welcome to check out the^howrooms.
The Comhusker, 333 S. 13th St., is offering a $115
special featuring a picnic theme basket including a
bottle of wine, cheese, breads and fruits.
This price, which is down from the normal $160
rate, is the only significant reduction of the three
hotels, yet it is the most expensive even with the dis
count
The Holiday Inn, 141N. Ninth St, is not promot
ing any Valentine's Day specials, but its normal rate is
$99.
They do offer a Holiday Inn Worldwide promotion
that allow couples to get one night free when they pur
chase a nigft’s stay. A coupon is required and cairbe
found in newspapers, magazines or their Web site,
holiday-inn.com., said Front Desk Manager Melinda
Maendele.
Of course these three aren’t the only game in town
as far as hotels are concerned, but they are nearby and
probably more familiar to students.
Realistically, students aren’t financially set in their
ways so they can afford the luxury of going to a hotel,
in which case a motel may be a more feasible alterna
tive.
Best Western, 5200 O St, is offering their normal
t
Please see H0IH5 on 6