ARTSETC.
And the winner is…
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Monday, February 25, 2002
In their own Oscar push, Stadium Seating’s Adam Duerson and Keepin’ It Reel’s Anna Roberts take a brief hiatus from their respective solo spots and unite for a series of Academy Award discussions. In the weeks leading up to the March 24 ceremony, Academia will discuss the four major categories and offer their educated opinions and predictions. This week—Best Actress. The nominees are Judi Dench (“Iris”), Sissy Spacek (“In the Bedroom”), Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”), Nicole Kidman (“Moulin Rouge!”) and Renee Zellweger (“Bridget Jones’ Diary”).
Adam Duerson: The way I see it, there were four spots completely wrapped up for this catagory: Dench, Spacek, Berry and Kidman. The last spot, which Zellweger undeservingly filled, was the only opening really.
Anna Roberts: I like the fact that Zellweger was mentioned, even if it was to give the comedy genre a little deserved face-time. She was “brilliant” as she herself would say in the dead-on English accent. She would probably trip going up to accept her Oscar and then make some embarrassingly yet heart-breakingly real remark.
But then again, maybe I just want Bridget Jones to win. In my dream world, one in which I get to attend the Oscar ceremony and make my own speech when accepting the Oscar for best film reviewer, I would have thrown out Dench and added Naomi Watts (“Mulholland Drive”)
AD: Watts (and her film) really got shafted…
AR: Then give the whole thing to Nicole. She really, really acted, much more then the others and that’s what it is all about.
AD: Nicole Kidman deserves it all? Yes, maybe if Best Actress meant “girl who got the most done in a year where she got dumped—oh, we pity you,” then fine, give her the award. But I don’t think that’s the case. Let me deconstruct—or rather, destroy, Kidman for you. I hate to do this, but you made me do it. 1) It was a musical. 2) It was a comedy…sort of. 3) She’s never really been Oscar worthy before.
AR: Ignoring your pent up bitterness (Did you try out for Satine and lose to her or something?) I believe she deserves it based on “Moulin Rouge!” alone, not her life this year (if anything, that will work against her). She sang well, she danced well, she was funny, and she was sad. It was a big, risky performance and deserves to be honored.
AD: Nicole was great in the role because she could sing (kudos) and she looked the part—strung out but sexy/vampy. Also, I think there’s a sentiment that Nicole deserves this. Why? Because Tom dumped her and she had a reawy, reawy hard year? Nonsense. Oh, the life of a wealthy Hollywood megastar—must be soooo rough. Sissy out-acted Nicole left, right, up, down and all over her face.
AR: Spacek was truly good but I feel she and the film were an acquired taste. This is the same Academy that rewarded Russell’s Maximus and Julia’s Erin last year—two very safe and watered-down performances. It could be they are looking for a change in which Spacek is at one extreme (the subtle, realistic portrayal) and Kidman is at the other (balls and vocal chords to the wall).
AD: Spacek, Tom Wilkinson and the film should all win (they were, in my mind, the best in their respective categories), but the Academy will likely only reward one. Unless, and it seems unlikely to impossible, Wilkinson wins, Spacek will take the Oscar for the film. It’s wrong, but it’s what the Academy sees as a democratic way of dispersing an Oscar to a movie that may be too smart/depressing/artsy for them in the first place.
AR: Berry may be the safe-way out, a nice middle ground and a hell of a powerhouse performance in itself. She’s the right age (the average age of a Best Actress is about 30), so that rules out Dench. Plus, the Academy would finally get props for acknowledging a minority woman—it’s a win-win for them.
AD: Sad, now that we’re so far into this, that “The Dame” hasn’t been mentioned. But really, how many people saw “Iris?” It’s sad that this stops movies from winning, but it will. Spacek deserves it and I’m calling it now, she’ll take it. She’s a proven Academy favorite and the movie is impossible to ignore.
AR: Truth be told, giving Kidman or Spacek the Oscar would be the right choice, both did an incredible job. But as a movie, music and McGregor lover, my heart is with Kidman. Her performance saves the film from being a complete mess and in fact, helped elevate it to Oscar status. But in the end, Spacek will get the gold.
