IMR: 1998: February: 10

IMR: 1998: February: 10 -- Tuesday, 6:07 a.m.
Parking Structure, Univ. of Hawai`i, Hawai`i

Rolling into campus a bit earlier than usual this morning, I got to hear this year's Academy Award nominations announced live via the Mark & Brian radio show.
Best Picture:

"As Good as it Gets"
"The Full Monty"
"Good Will Hunting"
"L.A. Confidential"
"Titanic"

Best Actor:

Matt Damon, "Good Will Hunting"
Robert Duvall, "The Apostle"
Peter Fonda, "Ulee's Gold"
Dustin Hoffman, "Wag the Dog"
Jack Nicholson, "As Good As It Gets"

Best Actress:

Helena Bonham Carter, "Wings of the Dove"
Julie Christie, "Afterglow"
Judi Dench, "Mrs. Brown"
Helen Hunt, "As Good As It Gets"
Kate Winslet, "Titanic"

Best Supporting Actor:

Robert Forester, "Jackie Brown"
Anthony Hopkins, "Amistad"
Greg Kinnear, "As Good As It Gets"
Burt Reynolds, "Boogie Nights"
Robin Williams, "Good Will Hunting"

Best Supporting Actress:

Kim Basinger, "L.A. Confidential"
Joan Cusak, "In and Out"
Minnie Driver, "Good Will Hunting"
Julianne Moore, "Boogie Nights"
Gloria Stuart, "Titanic"

Best Original Screenplay:

"As Good As It Gets"
"Boogie Nights"
"Deconstructing Harry"
"The Full Monty"
"Good Will Hunting"

Best Screen Adaptation:

"Donnie Brasco"
"L.A. Confidential"
"The Sweet Hereafter"
"Wag the Dog"
"The Wings of the Dove"

Best Director:

Cameron, "Titanic"
Cattaneo, "The Full Monty"
Egoyan, "The Sweet Hereafter"
Hanson, "L.A. Confidential"
Van Sant, "Good Will Hunting"

Best Original Song:

Go the Distance, "Hercules"
How Do I Live, "Con Air"
Journey to the Past, "Anastasia"
Miss Misery, "Good Will Hunting"
My Heart Will Go On, "Titanic"

Best Original Dramatic Score:

"Amistad," John Williams
"Good Will Hunting," Danny Elfman
"Kundun," Phillip Glass
"L.A. Confidential," Jerry Goldsmith
"Titanic," James Horner

Best Special Effects:

"Titanic"
"Lost World: Jurassic Park"
"Starship Troopers"

They're saying "Titanic" netted 14 nominations in all, which has to be a record of some sort. I think it's interesting that both Kate Winslet and Gloria Stuart were nominated, since they actually played the same person.
No doubt "Titanic" is the people's favorite, but I'll predict now it won't sweep the major categories. Winslet's performance was no more outstanding than DiCaprio's (who wasn't nominated, and I for one am not surprised). I imagine Stuart's nomination is more a tribute to her extensive career than her performance in the movie. And while the movie aspired to be nothing less than an epic, size isn't everything. My money's on "Good Will Hunting" for Best Picture.
Or maybe "The Full Monty." It was already a surprise to see it nominated at all, let alone in that category.
I think Damon or Fonda will get Best Actor, although I get the feeling Nicholson is the favorite. I'd love for Hoffman to get it for "Wag the Dog," but as far as I can tell, I'm one of only three people in the solar system who liked that movie.
I haven't seen "As Good As It Gets" (and probably won't for some time), but I can see Hunt winning Best Actress. Otherwise, Carter would be a decent pick.
Hmm. Wouldn't it be weird if Reynolds got an Oscar? But his wasn't the best performance in "Boogie Nights." Probably Hopkins for Best Supporting Actor, though Williams could probably use one too.
Anyone but Cusak for Best Supporting Actress. Basinger would be a neat choice.
For Best Original Screenplay, I can see any of the five taking the prize. It'd make my day if "Wag the Dog" took Screen Adaptation, but again, I think it takes a special mindset to truly appreciate that film.
I think everyone expects Cameron to take Best Director, and he just might get it on the grounds of sheer ambition. Too bad that despite all the work he did for authenticity (deep sea dives, computer rendering), he hung the entire plot on huge glops of fiction.
I think Van Sant has the best chance.
"My Heart Will Go On" will probably get Best Original Song, if only out of sheer market saturation. The fact that the music was written by a conventional composer (Horner) also helps.
Even though sales for the "Titanic" soundtrack top all bestseller indexes, I don't think it was the best dramatic score. I think it was mediocre work, especially for Horner. The orchestral elements seemed cut-and-pasted from several of his other, better scores ("Star Trek II" especially), and the electric synthesizer was only passably incorporated.
Frankly, I can see any of the nominees winning. I love Williams, Elfman, and Goldsmith. And Glass... well, he's Philip Glass.

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