Oscar night for Lord of the Rings
Monday, March 1, 2004
Talented Billy Crystal hosted 76th Academy award this Tonight. He did a great job for the 8th time. Billy's performance is quite different from Steve Martin and Whoppi Goldberg. His carries jokes in a casual and humber way while the other two are funny in a more exaggerated way.
It's a huge night for the Lord of the Rings. Clean sweep for 11 nominations, tied with epic film Ben-hur and romantic love story Titanic. When the Canadian director of THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS in the best foreign film categories got on stage, she jokingly said, "I'm glad Lord of the Ring is not nominated in this category". The J.R.R. Tolkien's the LOTR dominated this year's oscar and made the prediction not much a prediction any more. I believe everyone watching the show has the feel from the early on that Peter Jackson's 5 year hard work was gonna pay off tonight and it did. Kudos to Peter Jackson.
However, I wasn't a fantasy movie fan, at least since I get out of high school. The movies that are unique and/or exploring the human nature will always be on top of my lists. Except the movies I haven't seen, here it goes my favorate films of the year 2003:
IN AMERICA: master story teller Jim Sheridan told his own story with his two daughter about the experience when they first landed on the foreign land. The strong bonds between husband and wife, sisters, neighbors made it so special, especially in a money-dominated New York City. The extrodinary courage and love among the family and dying neighbor helped everyone to overcame the most difficult time in their lives and realized things they rarely tried to spare time to understand. I also watched another film co-produced by Jim Sheridan today which is called Bloody Sunday. Very real experience about the bloody civil rights movement over 30 years ago in Northern Ireland. Strangely enough, I keep thinking about Tiananmen Massacre while watching it. I vaguely remember what happened in 1989 from TV. But from this film, I feel the suffering of the people and inhumanity of the government. Thanks to film for bringing the closest to real experience to the audience.
Triplets of Belleville is another great animation achievement. Since I never watched Finding Nemo and the other animation feature, it's unfair to make any judgement about them. But I believe the Triplets of Belleville is one of the most exotic and unique film in animation category. The soundtrack is unique, the exaggeration of the features of characters is unique, the story is unique. Probably the only thing that doesn't make this film stands out is it's not surprising. Overall, I highly recommend everyone to see it.
There are some other films I would love them to win oscars but they were not even nominated. ☹
Someone did a prediction this afternoon on ABC and he think Diana Keaton was gonna win the best actress. I'm glad my prediction is accurate. Lovely and witty Charlize Theron won her first oscar on her first nomination. I'm excited for her, especially thinking her experienc growing up with a alcholic father. The dark period of that process made her a strong woman. Her oscar speech is so touching. When she thank her mom for what she did for her, that's the best moment of the night.
Another year of Oscar! I think overall, the awards went to who deserved them. Only wish Sting's song sung by Alison Kraus could won the best song. Alison's ethereal voice is incredible!
Posted at March 1, 2004 in Film
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