m FRIDAY, 'MARCH 20, 1987 The Tech PAGE 9 II ~ea~-~---arlBPI~ -~-~~ ----- [[[-~~--- 'p _ _~ ,C -[ I-- -~ [qLPC-F--- _ _-~---- -I~I--- __ [ _ -I- ··- __- __ _ _I -- I _____ __ _ - - I -· A R T S ---· --- -- I - -- -- Good pickings to be had for Oscars night this year THE ACADEMY AWARDS' eral exceptional films since "Annie Hall" won Best Picture in 1977, and I think that By PETER DUNN the Academy will reward him for these. and JULIAN WEST I hope you are right, because I really en- joyed "Hannah" too, whereas I didn't see O, JULIAN, REMIND ME OF WHAT'S anything special about "Platoon." It was been nomrinated for Best Film. All supposed to be a new look at Vietnam, that I remember are "Hannah and and all we got was more of the same stuff with a View," her Sisters," "Room we've heard for a decade. The war was a and "Platoon." bad trip, the United States did some bad the dark The other ones are probably things; and so forth. But "Platoon" seems horses: "Children of a Lesser God," and to be Hollywood's darling right now. It " both very fine films. I am "T'e Mission, also came out in December, while "Han- thrilled with the nominations; I have been nah" cam, out a year ago. Anyway, if the for years, and annoyed with the Academy Academy rants to reward Allen in par- they picked some winners for a change. ticular, it can always give him the Best Di- win- Rubbish - they've been picking rector award. like. I person- ners, just not the ones you Now you've broached a touchy topic: with the Oscar ally haven't been unhappy how much credit goes to the film as a nominations for Best Picture in previous whole and how much to the director? It's been disap- years, though I've sometimes a pretty fine line. This year I'm a bit dis- in- pointed with the other categories. But appointed by the omissions in the nomina- Mia Farrow and Michael Caine in a scene from "Hannah and her Sisters," stead of playing Siskel and Ebert, why tions, first since "Color of Money," Woody Allen's film which is nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. who will don't we'decide who shouald and "Round Midnight," and "She's Gotta However, I was astonished by her nomina- Elizabeth Mastrantonio from "Color of Oscar. win the Best Film Have'It" were not nominated for Best tion. I don't think it means anything, oth- Money." Her subdued, pantherlike sexiness Film, but especially since Martin Scorcese er than to say that space epics have joined was very engrossing. was not nominated for Best Director for the mainstream. As for the other awards, I pick the "Money." His jumpy/fluid- camera style My other theory is that the Academy French-Canadian "Decline of the Ameri- complemented the mood of the film per- felt that their nominations were too sensi- can Empire" over Jean-Jacques Beineix's fectly. I still think "Hannah" should get ble this year, so they nominated '54liens" stylish "Betty Blue" if only because it was Best Picture because Allen took a back for seven Oscars just to add a silly touch. so intelligent. Best Original Screenplay is seat both directorially and as an actor. And of course, it is going to win some again a toss-up. Of those I have seen, I'd For Best Director, in my mind it's a toss such as Best Visual Effects, and Best have to pick "Hannah" over "Crocodile up. I think the award will go either to Da- Sound Effects. Dundee" and "Platoon" simply because vid Lynch for "Blue Velvet" or to Roland We should discuss the Supporting Ac- the script is so much wittier. Joffe for "The Mission" because the Acad- tors and Actresses. With all of the so- I'm with you on "Le Declin." But as for erfy has a tendency to give the Best Direc- called major characters in "Hannah," Original Screenplay, I favor Hanif Kurei- tor award to the more abstract, stylised, "Platoon," and "Room," who gets nomi- shi's "My Beautiful Laundrette," because easy-to-see-the-influence-of-the-director nated for Best Actor/Actress and who gets it is such a strong script, and the film has films. But I would rather see the award go relegated to Best Supporting Actor/Ac- not been nominated for anything else. It to any of the other three nominees. tress? Is it determined by number of spok- would be just one more award for "Han- Well, I'd like to see it go to James Ivory, en lines, number of minutes on screen, or nah, " which also has a fine script, but one because while '5A Room with a View" is star billing in ads? Or;- as with 12-meter which is really only shown off by Allen's much the best work he has ever done, yachting, is. it some esoteric combination freewheeling direction. Woody Allen-has made other great films, of all of these? It should be no surprise that I think 'A Best Actor nominee, Dexter Room with a View" was the best adapta- will makce ,. ("Platoon") ,,,.. ., .. AC..,H and Oliver Stone .. S.. "Round MIidnight." f Gordon, from more in the future. tion, and I also pick "Room" for Best I know that your pick is "Room With a But most people go to the movies nor Costume Design. View" but it seems to me you're biased. for the directors but to watch the stars. I I'm surprisedyou have no view on Best Answer me two questions: (1) what do you really don't have a Best Actor pick, be- Score, because I think Herbie Hancock for have to say in favor of "Room" besides the cause I haven't seen all the movies. .1adore "RoundMidnight" is the clear choice. The undeniable attractiveness of Helena Bon- William Hurt, but I don't believe he can Best Sonrg must be from "Little Shop of ham-Carter? (2) Do you think that the win twice in a row. And while Dexter Gor- Horrors," but I am' surprised by the song Academy will give the award to "Room" don was good in "Round Midnighf," he they chose, "Mearn Green Mother from or do you simply believe it deserves the was by and large just playing Dexter Gor- Outer Space." Oscar? don. I guess that the score for "Round Mid- No, I just think it deserves it, andfor a As for Best Actress, this is my most night'" is a good choice, but listening to lot of reasons. It's a terrific story, and all confident pick: Marlee Matlin, Hurt's cos- the soundtrack while watching a film is the performances are great, including Bon- tar in "Children of a Lesser God." She one of the least of my worries. What's love for harn-Carter, but also including Danaiel Day was terrific, and the voters know that a more, I'm a little biased by my argu- Lewis, Denholm Elliott, and Maggie deaf actress is not going to get another jazz. Although you put forth a good Smith as well. Also, the cinematographyis role that good for years. It's now or never. ment for "Laundrette," I think it hardly a vote for it because-it "has extremely attractive. And it isn't beyond The rest of the Best Actress field is not good reason to for anything else." British films to win the Best Picture award, strong - they are all women we have seen not been nominated sum up our choices. although "Room" will presumably split in other films, and they have all done How about we Best Actor nominee, Paul Newman, liked "Han- the artsy vote with "The Mission. " As for much better work before. Okay, for Best Pictureyou from "The Color of Money." I liked '4 Room which film I think' is likely to win, that's I am in just the opposite position as you nah and her Sisters, " and those prejudices tended easy. "Platoon," hands down. I've seen the Best Actor nominees but Anyway, my pick for Best Supporting with a View, " and other categories, like Best Sorry, Julian, but I've got to disagree on only Kathleen Turner ("Peggy Sue Got Actor is Willem Dafoe in "Platoon." True, to spill over to betting money, both counts. Woody Allen's "Hannah" is Married') in the Best Actress category. Dafoe's co-star Tom Berenger was also Director. But if people are go with "Platoon.'"For definitely my favorite to win. As with On Dexter Gordon I agree with you to a very good, but in my mind this seemed a we advise them to think Matlin can "Room" it ias great ensemble acting and point. True, he was only playing Dexter great deal to have to do with the makeup Best Actress, we both Dexter Gordon although the cinematography is perhaps Gordon but he was more than just good, work as well as the acting. Despite Dafoe's win it, while you preferred not as attractive, Allen's use of camera he was fabulous. Moreover, it is hard to sensationalised death scene, his perfor- as Actor, and I lean to William Hurt. We money is on Paul New- work and mise-en-sckne to evoke mood- level against an actor that he is only play- mance in the rest of the film was a fine ex: think the smart e.g.