Oscars 2006: the Critics' Choice
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Section:GDN RR PaGe:5 Edition Date:060303 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 1/3/2006 20:41 cYanmaGentaYellowblack The Guardian | Friday March 3 2006 5 Tory Metzger for a moment. “I probably should have at the idea of even answering!” There is a started working at a small agency amount for Terrence. He’s a really Directors’ agent made a list. But I didn’t.” sly chuckle. “I’m hoping it’s before me, promoting foreign films in the late 1970s: wonderful actor who hasn’t been noticed This year, Metzger’s focus will be on not behind me. How about that?” getting people to take notice of indepen- enough, and the role wasn’t a traditional “One of the things about Hollywood,” says Ang Lee once again, who was up for best dent movies, often in ingenious ways. Academy role, as it were.” Victoria Metzger, “is that agents, produc- picture, foreign language film, and Cynthia Swartz “I worked on Kieslowski’s Red years To some, the nomination of Crash has ers and studio executives, to some degree, director in 2001 for Crouching Tiger, Hid- Oscar campaign organiser ago, and that was a film I thought could been an even bigger surprise. “Crash was all do the same thing, which is put films den Dragon, and thanked Metzger when get nominated for best director,” she says. great,” says Swartz, “although we had a together.” And, as anyone who has ever he collected his Bafta last month for Cynthia Swartz is not a film-maker, and “There was a bit of a controversy, because real battle because people didn’t think it tried knows, this assembling of a movie — Brokeback Mountain. How is she feeling yet she has more best picture nominations everyone thought it would be a foreign was going to make it. We’ve been talking when directors, producers, writers, actors about this year’s awards? “Nervous. I’m to her name than Steven Spielberg (five), language entry, and it wasn’t eligible in the Crash talk since the summer, and for a and financiers are all stirred together by knocking on wood,” she says. “I’m not a Francis Ford Coppola (five), and both the foreign language category. So we long time people looked at us like we had their agents over a script — can be a long terribly superstitious person, although Coen brothers (one) put together. By my aggressively publicised that, as well as three heads, but we knew it had a really and painful process. Perhaps this is why when something appears to be the front count, since joining Miramax in the early getting the tapes out around the same good chance.” agents are so unpopular in some circles. runner it always pays to keep a healthy 1990s, she has run the Oscar campaigns time that the publicity was coming out.” One factor thought to count against it But, though some do not welcome the attitude, never to count on anything.” for 12 films that went on to receive best This publicity took the form of a PR was how long ago it was released. “But agents’ influence, most of the films we Metzger denies there is such a thing as picture nominations. They were: The Cry- campaign. “There was a petition that was Lions Gate was able to turn that into an know and love would certainly have been an “Oscars movie” but finds herself ing Game, The Piano, Pulp Fiction, The circulated to try to get the Academy to advantage,” she explains, “because it very different without them. And few tempted to make an exception for Broke- English Patient, Good Will Hunting, reconsider its decision,” Swartz explains. meant they could go very wide with their agents are more influential than Metzger, back Mountain. “There are things that you Shakespeare in Love, The Hours, Chicago, “And you tell journalists what’s going on DVDs because there was no piracy issue.” of the Creative Artists Agency in Beverly know will get other artists’ attention. But Gangs of New York, Finding Neverland, and they want to write about it.” Sure Swartz is a defender of the Academy, Hills, founded by Michael Ovitz in 1975 you probably never speak it, because you The Aviator and now, in her new job at the enough, Red received a best director insisting its taste is more wide-ranging and now reputed to be the most powerful don’t want to jinx it. And you don’t send Dart Group, Crash. (She did not work on nomination, as well as two more, for writ- and less predictable than people think, entertainment agency in the world. something to a client and say, ‘This is an Chocolat, as she was at Sony at the time.) ing and cinematography. It did not win in although there are distinctions between Usually known as Tory (“spelled like Academy award-winning movie’, you sim- Altogether, during her time at Miramax, any category, but to Swartz this is less different juries. “There are some films that the party”), she mostly represents direc- ply send something and you say, ‘This is the company received more than 150 important. “To be honest, I’m not inter- you know might not win critics’ awards,” tors such as Ang Lee, Cameron Crowe and a good movie’.” Oscar nominations in all categories. ested in wins,” she says. “If a film gets she says, “but you think would have good Spike Jonze, but has also worked with And if she were to win an award for one And yet Swartz sounds surprised that I nominated, that’s a win, in my opinion.” luck with the Academy.” Could she give Akiva Goldsman and James Schamus as piece of work she had done as an agent, might want to talk about her work at all. This year, Swartz has been behind two an example? There is a long pause. “Every- writers, along with Tom Cruise, Gwyn- what would that be? “You can’t be totally “The film is the most important factor,” campaigns believed to have succeeded thing I’ve ever worked on.” neth Paltrow and Danny DeVito. I ask how modest and be an agent,” she concedes. she says, “clearly and always. But the against the odds: Crash for best picture, many Academy awards and nominations “In fact, nobody in Hollywood who has more marketing and publicity awareness and Terrence Howard for best actor. “The Live coverage of the 78th Academy her clients have gathered in her 17 years achieved a level of success can be a com- a film has the more people will look at it.” Terrence Howard thing was really excit- Awards starts at 12.05am on Sunday in the business. “Gee . .” she considers pletely modest person — but I’m blushing This has been Swartz’s speciality since she ing,” she says, “because it meant a huge night on Sky Movies 1. Oscars 2006: the critics’ choice Will win Should win Should’ve been a contender Peter Sukhdev Derek James Peter Sukhdev Derek James Peter Sukhdev Derek James Bradshaw Sandhu Malcolm Christopher Bradshaw Sandhu Malcolm Christopher Bradshaw Sandhu Malcolm Christopher (Guardian) (Telegraph) (Evg Std) (Times) Best film Crash Brokeback Brokeback Brokeback Brokeback Good Night, Brokeback Capote Hidden Howl’s Moving Hidden The Constant Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain and Good Luck Mountain Castle Gardener Best director Ang Lee Ang Lee Ang Lee Ang Lee Ang Lee Ang Lee Ang Lee Bennett Michael Stephen Chow Michael Fernando Brokeback Brokeback Brokeback Brokeback Brokeback Brokeback Brokeback Miller Haneke Kung Fu Hustle Haneke Meirelles Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Capote Hidden Hidden The Constant Gardener Best actor Joaquin Philip Philip Philip David David David Philip Andy Serkis Viggo Pierce Brosnan Ralph Fiennes Phoenix Seymour Seymour Seymour Strathairn Strathairn Strathairn Seymour King Kong Mortensen The Matador The Constant Walk the Line Hoffman Hoffman Hoffman Good Night, Good Night, Good Night, Hoffman A History Gardener Capote Capote Capote and Good Luck and Good Luck and Good Luck Capote of Violence Best actress Reese Reese Reese Reese Reese Felicity Reese Reese Juliette Sibel Kekilli Naomi Watts Natasha Witherspoon Witherspoon Witherspoon Witherspoon Witherspoon Huffman Witherspoon Witherspoon Binoche Head-On King Kong Richardson Walk the Line Walk the Line Walk the Line Walk the Line Walk the Line Transamerica Walk the Line Walk the Line Hidden Asylum Best supporting actor Jake George George George Jake George Paul Giamatti Jake Val Kilmer Deep Roy Mickey Rourke Tom Hollander Gyllenhaal Clooney Clooney Clooney Gyllenhaal Clooney Cinderella Man Gyllenhaal Kiss Kiss Charlie and Sin City Pride & Brokeback Good Night, Good Night, Good Night, Brokeback Good Night, Brokeback Bang Bang the Chocolate Prejudice Mountain and Good Luck and Good Luck and Good Luck Mountain and Good Luck Mountain Factory Best supporting actress Frances Rachel Weisz Frances Rachel Weisz Rachel Weisz Michelle Frances Rachel Weisz Tilda Swinton Rachel Tilda Swinton Thandie McDormand The Constant McDormand The Constant The Constant Williams McDormand The Constant The Chronicles McAdams The Chronicles Newton North Country Gardener North Country Gardener Gardener Brokeback North Country Gardener of Narnia Wedding of Narnia Crash Mountain Crashers.