March 12, 2002. Copyright, 2002, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Crowe and Spacek firm favourites for Oscar glory
By Mark Samms

LONDON, March 12, Graphic News:  There have been the usual moans and groans about the 74th annual Oscar nominations, but nobody can say they are not representative of the best of the movie industry from throughout the world.

Major influences from New Zealand, Australia and France figure among the main categories, as well as the usual strong representation from Britain and the United States. So it promises to be a truly cosmopolitan evening at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on March 24.

This yearÕs nominations have two other distinguishing factors. It is the first time in 30 years that three black actors have been selected in the main categories (Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry) and there is also further evidence of the academyÕs growing obsession with mental illness.

Shine, As Good As It Gets and Forrest Gump have all caught the judgesÕ eye in recent years. This time round it is A Beautiful Mind, based on the story of maths genius John NashÕs battle to overcome schizophrenia, and it is up for Best Picture, Best Actor (Russell Crowe), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly) and Best Director (Ron Howard).

It is matched in the emotion stakes by In the Bedroom, a tender and beautifully-observed movie which chronicles the reaction of an ordinary American couple to the violent death of their son. Sissy Spacek, as the tortured mother, is firm favourite to walk off with the Best Actress statuette, while British actor Tom Wilkinson, who plays her husband, is considered by many to be CroweÕs main rival for the accolade of Best Actor. The roll of honour for this movie is completed by Marisa Tomei, up for Best Supporting Actress.

Dame Judi Dench, as usual, is in the vanguard of the British push for honours, and once again it is neuro-tragedy that takes her there. In Iris, her portrayal of author Iris MurdochÕs harrowing decline into AlzheimerÕs has already earned her a Bafta. She will be joined in the auditorium by co-stars Jim Broadbent (Best Supporting Actor) and Kate Winslet (Best Supporting Actress).

The Lord of the Rings continues to attract a lot of debate. There are those who think New Zealand director Peter JacksonÕs stunning accomplishment in bringing the ultimate fantasy to the big screen will guarantee him the Best Director and Best Picture awards, but he may be thwarted by the academyÕs notorious reluctance to honour popular, mega-buck movies.

The dark horses in one of the most open best picture races for years are Moulin Rouge and Gosford Park; the first a camp but highly-innovative musical, the second a meticulously observed study of BritainÕs class struggle between the wars, directed by veteran American moviemaker Robert Altman. Neither were considered particularly mainstream on release, but both have earned plenty at the box office.

Two of BritainÕs acting elite from Gosford Park -- Helen Mirren and Dame Maggie Smith -- are vying for Best Supporting Actress honours, while Nicole KidmanÕs previously unsuspected talents as a singer in Moulin Rouge sees her slugging it out for the title of Best Actress.

As usual, there are a few surprises among the nominations. Some people were amazed to see Ridley Scott in the mix for Best Director for his efforts on a run-of-the-mill war picture like Black Hawk Down, while others were astonished that Baz LuhrmannÕs strenuous and inspired work on Moulin Rouge has gone almost entirely unrecognised.
/ENDS