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From Deep Within The Halls of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences comes the list... a bit longer and early!!

Published at:  Feb 14, 2000 5:28:12 AM CST

My fellow film fans have I scored a treat for you. When the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences wakes up and does the bright and shiny early in the morning nominations this Tuesday the 15th of February... You... You lucky readers of AICN will already know the nominees... not only that... but as they name them... You can check it off of this list... which has the 8 nominees listed by category prior to cutting them down to the pre-determined number. Like down to just 5 nominees in most... but just 3 in others like Special Effects. Why print this list? Because... for the history of the Oscars we get to see on Feb 15 the nominees... BUT... we always wonder who didn't quite make the cut, who was 6th, 7th and 8th? What you will see here is the list that they narrow down from. 3 films or names from each category will be cut. And you will be left with the final nominees. I got the list from Doctor Evil's Evil Lite Son. And along with massive research with Robogeek, we were able to decode the statistics and make rhyme and reason out of it all. Now... Let's see if we can find out the OSCARS a day early. We are currently working on getting the final 5 in each category, as well as the Foreign Film Nominees... which didn't come in here. Enjoy the list...







BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:




Jim Carrey... MAN ON THE MOON

Jim Broadbent... TOPSY TURVY

Russell Crowe... THE INSIDER

Matt Damon.... THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY

Richard Farnsworth.... THE STRAIGHT STORY

Sean Penn... SWEET AND LOWDOWN

Kevin Spacey.... AMERICAN BEAUTY

Denzel Washington... THE HURRICANE


ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE




Michael Caine.... THE CIDER HOUSE RULES

Chris Cooper.... AMERICAN BEAUTY

Tom Cruise... MAGNOLIA

Michael Clarke Duncan... THE GREEN MILE

Jude Law..... THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY

John Malkovich.... BEING JOHN MALKOVICH

Haley Joel Osment... THE SIXTH SENSE

Christopher Plummer.... THE INSIDER


ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE




Kate Winslet..... HOLY SMOKE

Annette Bening..... AMERICAN BEAUTY

Janet McTeer.... TUMBLEWEEDS

Julianne Moore.... THE END OF THE AFFAIR

Meryl Streep.... MUSIC OF THE HEART

Hilary Swank.... BOYS DON’T CRY

Emily Watson.... ANGELA’S ASHES

Sigourney Weaver.... A MAP OF THE WORLD

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE




Cate Blanchett.... THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY

Toni Collette.... THE SIXTH SENSE.

Cameron Diaz....BEING JOHN MALKOVICH.

Angelina Jolie... GIRL, INTERRUPTED

Catherine Keener.... BEING JOHN MALKOVICH

Samantha Morton.... SWEET AND LOWDOWN

Gwyneth Paltrow.... THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY

Chloe Sevigny... BOYS DON'T CRY



ART DIRECTION




ANNA AND THE KING Lucianna Arrighi

AMERICAN BEAUTY Naomi Shohan and Jan K Bergstrom.

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH K.K. Barrett, Gene Serdena & Richard Hoover

THE END OF THE AFFAIR Anthony Pratt

SLEEPY HOLLOW Rick Heinrichs

STAR WARS EPISODE ONE Gavin Bocquet & Peter Walpole

THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY... Roy Walker

THE SIXTH SENSE Andrew Mondshein




BEST PICTURE





Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks AMERICAN BEAUTY

Stephen Woolley and Neil Jordan.... THE END OF THE AFFAIR

David Valdes and Frank Darabont.... THE GREEN MILE

Armyan Bernstein,John Ketchum & Norman Jewison..THE HURRICANE

Michael Mann and Pieter Jan Brugge.... THE INSIDER

Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Barry Mendel THE SIXTH SENSE

Simon Channing-Williams ... TOPSY TURVY

William Horberg, Tom Sternberg and Sydney Pollack THE TALENTED MR
RIPLEY


CINEMATOGRAPHY




Conrad L. Hall AMERICAN BEAUTY

Michael Seresin ANGELA’S ASHES

Roger Pratt THE END OF THE AFFAIR

Dion Beebe HOLY SMOKE

Dante Spinotti THE INSIDER

Emmanuel Lubezki... SLEEPY HOLLOW

Robert Richardson... SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS

John Seale THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY



COSTUME DESIGN




ANNA AND THE KING...Jenny Beavan

THE END OF THE AFFAIR...Sandy Powell

THE MESSENGER:THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC..Catherine Leterrier

THE MUMMY... John Bloomfield

SLEEPY HOLLOW.... Colleen Atwood

STAR WARS EPISODE ONE ...Trisha Biggar

THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY..Gary Jones,,Ann Roth

WILD WILD WEST... Deborah L. Scott




DIRECTING




MAGNOLIA...Paul Thomas Anderson

THE HURRICANE...Norman Jewison

TOPSY TURVY...Mike Leigh

THE INSIDER... Michael Mann

AMERICAN BEAUTY...Sam Mendes

THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY...Anthony Minghella

THREE KINGS David O. Russell

THE SIXTH SENSE...M. Night Shyamalan


FILM EDITING




AMERICAN BEAUTY...Tariq Anwar,,Christopher Greenbury

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY Stuart Levy,,Thomas J. Nordberg,,Keith Salmon,,Stuart
Waks

THE FIGHT CLUB...Jim Haygood

THE HURRICANE...Stephen E. Rivkin

THE INSIDER...William Goldenberg,,David Rosenbloom,,Paul Rubell

STAR WARS EPISODE ONE....Ben Burtt,,Paul Martin Smith


MAKEUP




ANNA AND THE KING....Morag Ross,, Marilyn MacDonald

AUSTIN POWERS 2: THE SPY WHO SHAG ME ..Cheryl Nick,, Will Huff,,
Brian Penikas

BLAST FROM THE PAST... Ben Nye, Jr.,, Heidi Seeholzer,, Matthew Mungle

END OF DAYS.... Jeff Dawn

LIFE.... Rick Baker,, Will Huff

MAN ON THE MOON...Brian Penikas,, Bob Zmuda

THE MUMMY...Aileen Seaton,, Sarita Allison,, Sarah Berry,, Jane Buxton,, Joanne
Manning,, Ben Nye, Jr.,, Jane Walker


SLEEPY HOLLOW...Peter Owen

STAR WARS EPISODE ONE...Paul Engelen,, Mark Coulier

TOPSY TURVY Christine Blundell,, Trefor Proud

BICENTENNIAL MAN... Rick Bongiovanni



ORIGINAL SCORE




AMERICAN BEAUTY by Thomas Newman

ANGELA’S ASHES by John Williams

THE END OF THE AFFAIR by Michael Nyman

THE INSIDER by Lisa Gerraro and Pieter Bourke

LEGEND OF 1900 by Ennio Morricone

MUSIC OF THE HEART by Mason Daring

THE STRAIGHT STORY by Angelo Badalamenti

THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY by Gabriel Yared

TOY STORY 2 by Randy Newman


ORIGINAL SONG





"How Can I Not Love You" by George Fenton ANNA AND THE KING

"Beautiful Stranger" by Madonna. AUSTIN POWERS 2: THE SPY WHO
SHAGGED ME

"Save Me" by Aimee Mann. MAGNOLIA

"Music of My Heart" by Mason Daring MUSIC OF THE HEART

"Blue Eyes Blue" by James Newton Howard RUNAWAY BRIDE

"Walking Tall" by Alan Silvestri STUART LITTLE

"You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins... TARZAN

"When She Loved Me" by Randy Newman ... TOY STORY II






SCREENPLAY - ADAPTATION




ANGELAS’S ASHES Screenplay by Laura Jones and Alan Parker

THE CIDER HOUSE RULES Screenplay by John Irving

THE END OF THE AFFAIR Screenplay by Neil Jordan

THE GREEN MILE Screenplay by Frank Darabont

THE HURRICANE Screenplay by Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon

THE INSIDER Screenplay by Eric Roth & Michael Mann

THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY Screenplay by Anthony Minghella

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY Written by John Logan and Oliver Stone,, Story by Daniel
Pyne and John Logan





SCREENPLAY - ORIGINAL




AMERICAN BEAUTY Written by Alan Ball

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH Written by Charlie Kaufman

MAGNOLIA Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

THE SIXTH SENSE Written by M. Night Shyamalan

SWEET AND LOWDOWN Written by Woody Allen

THREE KINGS Written by David O. Russell,, Story by John Ridley

TOY STORY 2 Written by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlain and
Chris Webb,, Story by John Lasseter, Peter Docter, Ash Brannon and Andrew Stanton




SOUND EFFECTS EDITING




THE MATRIX.... Dane A. Davis

THE MUMMY...Leslie Shatz

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY... Wylie Stateman and Kelly Cabral

THE FIGHT CLUB... Richard Hymns and Ren Klyce

THE GREEN MILE Mark Mangini

STAR WARS EPISODE ONE.....Tom Bellfort and Ben Burtt

THREE KINGS ... Bruce Fortune




VISUAL EFFECTS




THE MATRIX by Jon Thum, Steve Courtley, Janek Sirrs and John Gaeta

THE MUMMY by Ben Snow, Chris Corbould, Daniel Jeannette and John Andrew
Berton, Jr.

STAR WARS EPISODE ONE by Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, John Knoll and
Rob Coleman.

STUART LITTLE by John Dykstra, Eric Allard, Henry F. Anderson, III and
Jerome Chen

WILD WILD WEST by Eric Brevig, Michael Lantieri, Don Elliott and Pablo
Hellman.

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH by John Richardson, Chris Corbould and Mara
Bryan

SLEEPY HOLLOW by Jim Mitchell, Joss Williams, Kevin Yagher and Paddy Eaton




    + Expand All

    Readers Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:41:41 AM CST

    South Park?

    by krackbaby

    Damn, no south park music nominations, I'd would've loved to have seen "Uncle Fucker" nominated as best song.... :)
    "And the oscar goes to

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:42:52 AM CST

    South Park?

    by krackbaby

    Damn, no south park music nominations, I'd would've loved to have seen "Uncle Fucker" nominated as best song.... :)
    "And the oscar goes to.... Trey Parker for Uncle F-**BLEEP**-ER"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:52:08 AM CST

    Let the Shit Storm Begin!

    by f for fake

    Where are:
    Being John Malkovich for Best Picture
    "The Great Beyond" for best original Song?!?!?!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:56:31 AM CST

    Humper Dido?

    by slaanesh

    Was that a Preacher reference, or was Preacher in turn referencing something that I am not familiar with? Anyway, I'm rather miffed that Fight Club didn't appear anywhere else on that list (best editing, whooo!). Not all that surprised thoa. Tha Acadamey wouldn't know a good film if it crawled up their ass and died.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:10:31 AM CST

    "Fight Club" sure got screwed.

    by cereal killer

    But that was to be expected. As much as the Academy wants us to think that the Oscar goes to the best films they don't reward films that are a box office disappointment, no matter how good they are. "Fight Club" is only up for two awards-- Film Editing and Sound Effects Editing like anyone cares about those. This is the same number of awards as "Wild Wild West." Shouldn't "Fight Club" have been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Visual Effects at least? The effects are far superior to those in "Wild Wild West" and "The World is not Enough" which are both up for that one. And why is "Blast From the Past" up for Best Make-up? Was there anything special about the make-up in this film? Well, here's my choices based on this list and bearing in mind that I didn't see all the movies on the list. I missed "Being John Malchovic," "Boys Don't Cry," and "Straight Story." Anyway, Best Actor- Kevin Spacey. Supporting Actor- Tom Cruise or Micheal Caine (although I wouldn't mind seeing hometown boy Chris Cooper win either). Best Actress- Annette Bening. Supporting Actress- Toni Collette. Best Picture- American Beauty. Screenplay Adapted- Cider House Rules. Screenplay Original- American Beauty or Magnolia (although I'm glad to see they included Toy Story 2). I guess that's it for me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:15:32 AM CST

    David Lynch???

    by cabiria

    I'm glad to see that Richard Farnsworth made the list for Best Actor, but how can Lynch be ignored for what was one of the most lyrical and gorgeous films of the year? The Straight Story was the work of a master filmmaker, and should be recognized as such. Do you think that this has anything to do with the fact that the films are now presented on videotape or dvd to the voters, rather than organized screenings at theatres? Surely the glorious vistas that create so much of The Straight Story's poetry would be lost on the small screen. That's just my .02, way too early in the morning.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:19:50 AM CST

    lack of fight club

    by bluefugue

    I wasn't a fan of Fight Club personally, so I don't miss its presence on the list. Of course the Oscars have always been grosses-conscious, but the generous number of nominations given to Malkovich, Sweet & Lowdown, and Topsy Turvy indicates that Academy members are not total slaves to box-office success, not this year anyway. Come to think of it, I can't think of the last time I saw such a well-balanced (or at least potentially well-balanced) list of nominations. This should be a fun Oscar race.

    I have a running bet with a friend of mine; he thinks Beauty will take Best Picture, but I think Sixth Sense may pull a "Silence of the Lambs" and nab it. We shall see...

    By the way... I was not a big fan of Blair Witch, but I wouldn't have minded a Best Actress nomination for Heather Donaghue.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:33:40 AM CST

    John Williams???

    by horseflesh

    I may get shot down for this by the we hate TPM club, but um, John Williams for best score? Just a thought.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:57:57 AM CST

    Episode 1

    by gregx

    Even Episode 1 didn't fill all the expectations we though it might, where is the score? John Williams knocked his ass down making it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:00:03 AM CST

    straight story

    by sickboy245

    its's good to see the film getting two nominations, but i felt with the film being soooooooo astounding, that Lynch deserves a best Director nomination, and Freddie Francis for best cinematographer, and best picture for the film as a whole.----------------------------- feel the cheease---------http://www.indiecheese.co.uk

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:12:18 AM CST

    Happiness...

    by bluefugue

    ...came out in 1998 so it's not eligible. Of course, it didn't win any Oscars last year either...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:14:50 AM CST

    The 6th Sense

    by skagboy

    Am I the only person that thinks this was a terible film???

    With the exceprion of the kid for an acting award, why the hell is this film being nominated for so much???

    Can someone please explain to me either what I missed or why it's been nominated for BEST FILM??? and Toni 'i'm on screen far time than it took to figure the twist out' collette has a best supporting actress vote???????

    All I have to say is that I hope all the nominations for this terrible film are cut before the final vote.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:17:23 AM CST

    Oscars

    by poxyvonsinister

    Gee, no South Park, no score nomination for TPM, and Wild Wild West might get a nomination??? Curiouser and curiouser....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:03:09 AM CST

    This is made up

    by rule britannia

    I'll be going through this list with a fine tooth comb when the real nominees are revealed tomorrow. Methinks someone has just listed the films they think will be nominated but have quoted 8 in each catagory just to cover all their bases.

    On a completely irrelevant note since I am over here in jolly old England I have no idea which Simpsons character kicked the bucket so would appreciate it if someone told me who it was (Maud Flanders???) as I cant find the previous thread. Cheers.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:03:57 AM CST

    Oscars

    by billyweeds

    I can't believe "Election" was completely shut out. Not only Reese Witherspoon, my favorite performance by a female star, but also the great screenplay. This makes the entire list suspect. But what else is new with the Oscars?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:14:28 AM CST

    As usual...

    by teko

    ...the Academy shows itself to be clueless, pandering, doddering old fools, nominating the least common denominator. Where's Fight Club? Where's The Straight Story? And most importantly, WHERE'S JOHN MALCOVICH? Spike Jonze didn't even make the almost-final cut for best director....are you JOKING?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:19:09 AM CST

    malkovich

    by bluefugue

    I would have liked to see Malkovich nominated for best picture, but I don't think there's anything particularly nefarious in the omission of Spike Jonze as director. It was a competent job, but not outstanding. The real star of Malkovich is the brilliant screenplay, which was (at least so far) nominated, and rightly so. Simplistic auteur theories aside, Malkovich was a real showcase for the writer's talents.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:24:36 AM CST

    Magnolia got screwed...

    by r_dimitri22

    ...and I concur regarding the Episode I score. It's not Williams' best work, but those other nominees don't hold a candle to it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:26:09 AM CST

    F*cking Academy!

    by gilmour

    I can't believe South park doesn't have a chance. It's the best damn musical in years and the stuffed shirts won't give them a chance. Will I have to listen to Randy Newman's song at Oscar night? Geeze what a joke. I'm SICK of Walt Disney films getting the automatic nomination every f*cking year!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:30:46 AM CST

    I have to defend Toni Collette.

    by gilmour

    One of the talbackers said she didn't deserve to be recognized, well I thought she was brilliant the first time I saw the film. I'm a huge fan of the Sixth Sense, I thought there was way more to the film then just the Twist. Not a masterpiece but very impressive nonetheless.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:33:59 AM CST

    Fight Club didn't get...

    by wesreviews

    A nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay but that piece of crap Any Given Sunday DID???? PLEASE! What a crock. I'll be happy to see Fight Club (hopefully) walk away with two nominations. I hate the Academy anyway, so why am I so surprised that the true best movies of the year are never nominated? I mean, what kind of true test of a film's greatness comes from a group of people who got rid of a whole category just so one movie (South Park) wouldn't win an award? Protest the Academy. Who needs them? Not I, and certainly not the rest of you screwed over film fans. Forget American Beauty and Magnolia. Fight Club was the best film of the year and 15 years down the road, who is going to be talking about Magnolia or American Beauty? No one. If either of them win, it will be a case of Annie Hall (Best picture for 1977). Who hears about Annie Hall these days? No one. It might be a good movie, but a classic it ain't. Fight Club will live on.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:34:34 AM CST

    My guesses....

    by white_hat_2000

    Hmm, I guess based on this list I'd have to go for.... (mind you, this is my dream result based on what I'd like to see happen...)Kevin Spacey as BEST ACTOR, Carrey or Malkovich as BEST SUPPORTING (Does anyone else think that it's odd that he only gets a Best Supporting nod when in fact his name was in the movie's title? Yeah, I know, I know; he didn't get top billing. Still....), Bening or Moore for BEST ACTRESS, either Keener or Diaz for BEST SUPPORTING (then again, since they'll be working at cross-purposes for votes... sigh.), Episode One for ART DIRECTION, American Beauty for BEST PICTURE, The Talented Mr. Ripley for CINEMATOGRAPHY, Episode One for COSTUME DESIGN, Magnolia for DIRECTING (although I'd be satisfied but not happy with American Beauty there...), Fight Club for EDITING, Life or Episode One for MAKEUP, American Beauty for SCORE, Aimee Mann for BEST SONG (I know it'll never happen, but this is my dream, okay?), Green Mile for BEST ADAPTED, and Magnolia for BEST ORIGINAL (although I'd be satisfied with either Malkovich or Beauty here, too.), Matrix or Episode One for SOUND EFFECTS EDITING, and certainly Episode One for VISUAL EFFECTS. Personally, and this is just my opinion, but I felt that Malkovich, while very good, wasn't quite as good as I was led to believe (it still makes the lower stretches of my top-ten list, though). Fight Club was good, and extremely well-made as far as that goes, but lost a lot of credibility in my book for its trick ending. The very nature of film makes us see these things as being real and even the schizophrenia of the Narrator doesn't really explain it all away. I felt it was an odd cop-out, and that Fincher should have strayed from his source material and given us some real character interaction towards the end instead. Just for the record, Magnolia was my favorite film of the year; I just got back from seeing it for the second time about six hours ago, and if I can swing the money I'll see it again. Anyway, that's my two cents; hope no one gets too angry or upset at my opinions or of the length of this talkback. :->

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:38:02 AM CST

    I have to get this off my chest...

    by gilmour

    Maybe its just me but WTF was so great about Jim carrey in Man On The Moon? I thought the film was very dissapointing and taught us nothing more about Kaufman. Jim carrey was only doing an impression of him. Half the scenes of him in the film are of him just recreating stuff we've seen on t.v already! I thought it was a great impression, not performance.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:54:03 AM CST

    TOPSY TURVY wasn't nominated for Best Costumes?

    by geekzapoppin

    Did the Academy see this film? The costumes and set design were immaculate! I fell in love with this film from the start.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:01:46 AM CST

    what a screw job!!!

    by tropical plumber

    TOY STORY 2... MAGNOLIA... THE PHANTOM MENACE... the three best films of the year and none of them got a best picture nomination!!! Neither did BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, THE MATRIX, THE IRON GIANT, THREE KINGS, or RUN LOLA RUN!!!! What the fuck?! This year was filled with tons of great new talent unleashing their genius in fantastic films. But god forbid they could actually honor them. No, just be safe and go with the period pieces, Tom Hanks films, and biopics. Damn AMPAAS.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:07:15 AM CST

    DON'T GIVE THE SIXTH SENSE KID AN OSCAR

    by mickey finn

    Please. Don

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:07:21 AM CST

    Now that that's off my chest...

    by mickey finn

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:24:31 AM CST

    Annie Hall WAS brilliant!

    by gilmour

    Remember the split screen scene with Allen and Keaton talking to their psychiatrists? Allen says that they only have sex 3 times a week, almost never and Keaton tells hers' that they constantly have nothing but sex 3 times a week. One of the best scenes in a film i think.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:26:58 AM CST

    MUMFORD=GREAT FILM

    by skippy

    Just another "HEY THIS FILM GOT SCREWED!!!!!!" comment. I really feel that MUMFORD was a film that deserved some Academy recognition. It was a small unassuming film that had some great performances by a terrific emsemble cast. Loren Dean, Hope Davis, Jason Lee (you'll never guess what he does alone in his lab............go ahead.....take a guess!) are all wonderful as are all the other actors/actresses! At least one should have had a Best Supporting Actor/Actress nomination. At the very least! It was an understated story directed by Lawrence Kasden who didn't hit you over the head with what he wanted to tell the audience (which I will let you discover on your own when you see it). The reason I'm going to use to rationalize why it hasn't recieved any nominations is that it was released around the same time as THREE KINGS and AMERICAN BEAUTY which with its loud explosions and risque subject matter (respectively) might have overshadowed this pleasant little film which had a lot to say. Or another reason might be that the Academy is on glue! But what can you do?.........except go see MUMFORD if you haven't already!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:34:02 AM CST

    Too many films vs Not enough categories

    by mcbane

    I mean lets face it people. The reason that the oscars are a bag of shi-ite is one simple reason. There are simply too many films about. The Academy members have to balance popularity with box office gross and i suppose peoples perceptions of what should win. I mean take Happiness for instance. (I know 1998) No matter what you might think of it, you must accept its sheer brilliance as a film.

    But did more than about 5 people go and see it? Er... No. As usual, one film will clear up a nice chunk of the awards followed by a few that take a couple each. Then one film will get one award which everyone agrees should have one more. And finally two or three films will get nothing which people will moan about.

    People take too much stock of the oscars. All it is is a celebrity piss up where at the end of it, all the excess champagne and expensive munchies are given to the homeless in L.A. (One good reason to move there.)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:37:53 AM CST

    The Shit Storm? Or rather The Ice Storm!

    by stosslova

    So, The Green Mile's been shafted. Eyes Wide Shut totally shat on. But it's great to see Ripley lead the field - I'm sure American Beauty will take the biscuits, but it's nice that Minghella's devastating anti-convetional drama has held up so well. Whether your fave films or not have made the grade, guys, don't worry. Think of The Ice Storm, which got zero nominations in the wake of Titanic. Remember what the Oscars are.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:40:06 AM CST

    Tak Fujimoto

    by stvrick

    Hmm...Tak isn't in the short list for Best Cinematography (The Sixth Sense). He probably should be.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:43:47 AM CST

    Underdog

    by kraven

    Jim Broadbent for best actor, Mike Leigh for best director and TOPSY TURVY for best film. I just managed to see that film and, folks, you gotta believe me, THIS is ABSOLUTELY the best film of the year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:54:54 AM CST

    WHO THE HELL CARES

    by scott1458

    Actually who the fuck gives a shit...

    after the academny dumped SPR for that shitfest Shakespeare in Love they can kiss my golden oscar ass...

    to hell with them

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:59:19 AM CST

    Shouldn't John Malkovich be disqualified for having an unfair ad

    by palmer eldritch

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:08:45 AM CST

    My 2 cents on the Oscar nominations

    by kubrick

    Regarding the Academy awards nomination, on the whole, I'm quite pleased. A good select of choices of praised films which
    most everybody but me has seen
    (I still haven't seen American Beauty or Topsy-Turvy but did see Being John Malkovich and liked it a lot). Concerning Annie Hall, it was very good but hardly Allen's best (my pick would be The Purple Rose of Cairo). Now I do know this sounds stupid but
    I still think either Star Wars
    or Saturday Night Fever or even
    Close Encounters should have won
    Best Picture for 1977. As for EWS, too many people hated it and many believe since Kubrick died just after showing the film to it's main actors it might have been of embarassement/shame. Plus Kubrick already got a tip of the hat by the Academy last year with that clip show and tribute by Spielberg. Besides, while EWS was okay it was hardly great (the worst film Kubrick made would be Clockwork Orange and yes, I've seen every film Kubrick made from
    Killer's Kiss in 1955 onward to
    1987's Full Metal Jacket). I would have greatly prefered Kubrick's earlier films, The Killing, Paths of Glory, Dr.Strangelove or 2001 getting nominated for Best Picture and winning. But sadly they did not. Odd how the Academy rightfully disregards Kubrick at his weakest, yet ironicaly and I think unfairly disregarded Kubrick at his best. As for other qualms, I am dissapointed David Lynch didn't getting Best Director nominations for The Straight Story, which I thought was the best work he's done in a long time. Still, if I have one film I wish to win an Award at the Oscars it would be Toy Story 2 winning for Best Original Screenplay.
    I know I'll be hated by everyone for liking an animated cartoon like Toy Story 2 but to me, it had more honest real emotional power and imagination that any film I've seen in 1999. As for The Fight Club, most critics hated it and believe David Fincher's films are all style and no substance. The late Edward Margulies over at MrShowbiz's Confidential Column even pointed out that he was displeased with the news media getting critics' opinions of Fight Club after they saw it because critics aren't influential when it comes to the young kids eager to see the latest dose of Finchervision and believed that the trend of reviews of film critics before they write their reviews would be a sign that the world is coming to an end.
    As films go Edward prefered
    Mansfield Park, Jesus' Son, and
    The Cider House Rules, films which I've haven't seen but will see because of his glowing discussions of them in his column. These are also films, which I'm surprised that despite all the praise and rewards they're getting have yet to be discussed on AICN. Plus,
    Entertainment Weekly gave it
    a D, they even wrote a top 10 list
    of things they hated about the movie and even Roger Ebert panned it.






    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:20:27 AM CST

    Why did eXistenZ not get a nomination for visual effects?

    by stephen dedalus

    I didn't think that the movie itself was that good, but the visuals were far better than most of the films on that list. And I'm not just talking about Jennifer Jason Leigh in the tight black miniskirt.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:25:17 AM CST

    End of the Affair

    by samthelion

    It's absolutely ridiculous that this movie is getting so much praise. Have you ever actually talked to anyone or, read from anyone, who really liked it? That Magnolia and Three Kings don't make it and that pretensious Neil Jordan stuff does . . . Neil Jordan is SO overrated! The Crying Game was original, yeah maybe. But what else has he done except make boring, pointless, unwatchable movies like In Dreams and The Butcher Boy? Also, is anybody else but me SHOCKED that Blair Witch isn't up for anything? I mean, hell, it wasn't the best movie of the year but it was definitely bold and original and deserves something.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:28:32 AM CST

    Samth..you're kidding right?

    by scott1458

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:29:48 AM CST

    Samth..you're kidding right?

    by scott1458

    You think a movie made for $40,000 with NO studio or unionized actors that grossed almost 200 million and showed up every studio and director etc al. is going to get a nod?

    Here's a clue, Hollywood protects and favors thier own....see Orson Wells.

    I'll NEVER forgive them for what they did to him.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:38:42 AM CST

    WHERE THE HELL IS WES BENTLEY??????????

    by stephen dedalus

    DAMN!!! The one truly dissapointing moment on this list. I didn't really expect BEING JOHN MALKOVICH to be nominated for Best Picture, but why the hell did Cooper's one-dimensional (although powerfully played) role get credit above Bentley's? Oh well, here's hope AMERICAN BEAUTY gets the Best Picture trophy...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:46:25 AM CST

    Blair Witch?

    by bic



    What kind of award would you give that movie? Best original concept? Sure that would fit it perfectly, but that's not an award. The big dissapointment for me was that Magnolia wasn't nominated for Best Picture. But it's up for a couple other goodies. What's up with no Williams? No Great Beyond? Strange. Fight Club doesn't surprise me much... it was a cool movie, but it wasn't in the top ten if you ask me. Just lots of Coolness ideas.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:46:35 AM CST

    Reese gets screwed!

    by frank enstein

    The academy's snub of Reese Witherspoon's performance in Election just proves (once again) the sham that is the Oscars. Her performance as the evil, hypermotivated Tracy Flick is one of the best of the decade.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:51:19 AM CST

    STARWARS:EPISODE I THE PSYCHOTIC MENACE got royally screwed!!

    by darthpsychotic

    if THE HURRICANE'S denzel washington got best actor nomination(the hurricane's murder victim's are heap'um angry at THAT film) surely LIAM NEESON should have got a nomination. not that it matters, american beauty looks like a oscar sweep with kevin spacey picking up best actor.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:51:40 AM CST

    And the winners are...

    by icemonkey

    Here's who should win:
    Actor-Spacey
    Actress-Benning
    Sup. Actor-Osment (and for those who don't think he is deserving, you obviously haven't seen the film.)
    Sup. Actress-Collette
    Director-Shyamalan
    And in one of the odd years that movie and director do not match:
    Movie-American Beauty

    That's a wrap.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:55:47 AM CST

    because I just can't stop bitching...

    by tropical plumber

    what the hell is up with these omissions?:

    Actress in a Supposting Role: Melora Walters(MAGNOLIA)

    Cinematography: David Tattersall(THE PHANTOM MENACE), Tom Sigel(THREE KINGS)

    Film Editing: Dylan Tichenor(MAGNOLIA), Zach Staenberg(THE MATRIX)

    Original Score: John Williams (THE PHANTOM MENACE)

    Original Song: R.E.M-The Great Beyond(MAN ON THE MOON)
    (How the fuck did Music of My Heart get nominated and this didn't?)

    Screenplay-Adaption: Brad Bird and Tim McCanlies(THE IRON GIANT)

    Just a few more horrible omissions.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:08:16 AM CST

    Malkovich got robbed!!!

    by subhound

    Well, the Academy has once again dissapointed me with their picks.
    The largest travesty of all was that "Being John Malkovich" wasn't nominated for Best Picture. Personally, I thought it was the best film of the year if only because it was a true piece of originality that broke the rules. But when you think about it, the academy has been more interested in formula these past few years and it doesn't look like this year is any different.

    Reply to Talkback

  • That must be one of the funniest misprints I've ever seen. Surely, that was supposed to be THE IRON GIANT. I expect to see things cleared up tomorrow.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:13:09 AM CST

    Fight Club? C'mon, it was overhyped.

    by emorr

    People, stop ranting about Fight Club. It wasn't that good. It was overhyped. And the trick of the movie just doesn't stand up to scrutiny. I am suprised SW:EP1 score didn't get nominated.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:14:27 AM CST

    To Kubrick: Re: Fight Club

    by dustin

    Regarding your "Most critics panned Fight Club", that's probably quite untrue. The best meter I've found for confirming/ denying that sort of thing is rotten-tomatoes.com. They do a good job of figuring critical consensus. Fight Club got a 54/16 good/bad review ratio. That's nothing to sneeze at, especially for such an outwardly violent movie (which some people are predisposed to dislike anyway). Heheh, I'm not presenting that as "proof" that FC deserved a nomination, but rather that the film was certainly not as widely critically panned as you seem to think. And, as you skim past those 70 reviews, you may notice that FC is absolutely one of those love it or hate it movies.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:28:31 AM CST

    Where's the Fincher?

    by direktor

    Hi, it's been a long time since I've written, but I'm back now so you can clap... or not. Anyhoo, where's Fincher? Fight Club is my favorite film of last year with American Beauty in close second. Best editing? maybe. Best sound effects? Two words... Ep. 1 (is that two words?). What about adapted screenplay? Best cinematography? The film had so much texture and was so ALIVE. And best direction by Fincher? Com'on! It's not like I'm surprised or anything, but throw me a frggin' bone here! Please! Pretty please! Other than those unfortunate omissions, the rest seems fine, except for the 6th Sense. Am I the only mammal who didn't really care for that one? It was ok at best, but best pic of the year? Well bend me over and shove a pool stick up my rear, it's already been done by the lack of Fincher or Fight Club. Will they EVER learn?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:30:21 AM CST

    For real?

    by movie man

    Is this list for real? I have my doubts about its authenticity, although I usually trust Harry's word on things. I thought that "Being JM" was a near-lock for a Best Picture nod, and that Julianne Moore was likely as Supporting Actress for "Magnolia", but I don't think anyone will be majorly surprised if they don't get the nominations. I guess we'll find out soon enough anyway...tomorrow morning. If this list is real, then it certainly takes a lot of fun out of the surprise and the predicting for me. Then I shouldn't have looked at all, right? I just can't imagine how AICN managed to get their hands on this...it looks like this would be something that, if true, will shake up a lot of people inside the industry, especially the fortress-like Academy. I thought only a couple of people knew the names of the nominees until they are announced?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:31:00 AM CST

    Sixth Sense is ridiculous....

    by spell checker

    but I must admit (most) of the other possible picks for best picture are better than usual (or I should probably say they're not AS BAD as usual). But still, once again, Hollywood proves how much it really likes to pat itself on the back...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:31:14 AM CST

    Contrarian

    by ted terrific

    Since everybody should have 15 minutes of opinions expressed, here are mine: Fight Club - overrated; Topsy Turvy - Broadbent great, screenplay muddled, overrated; Green Mile - underrated, Hanks should get a nom (even if he has won 2 already); Malkovich (picture) overrated, Malkovitch (actor) - great; Straight Story - great; Magnolia - was great until the frogs.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:32:46 AM CST

    Academy pre-list

    by goon one

    Is this list for real? A few possibilities:

    The list is genuine, and Harry has scored the first serious breach of security in AMPAS history. This is precedent setting. No one has had access to nomination lists, vote totals, etc., at least no one who has written about it publicly. If this is for real, I can't imagine that AMPAS won't be raining lawyers on your head any second now.

    Or maybe the list is a hoax and Harry got duped. The nominees look realistic, but maybe it's just a clever fake.

    Or maybe Harry's just playing with us and this is a joke. I hope it's not, and doubt that it is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:38:04 AM CST

    John Williams is a fucking GOD!

    by darth brian

    How the hell did he not get nominated for best score for Episode I??!!??!!?? What a fucking travesty! Regardless of what you thought of the movie, Williams score was perfect. Every scene he hit the perfect balance of mood, tempo, and energy. Those people who think that Williams score was invisible, think again! Part of the score's job is to not draw attention to itself and instead enhance the film. The academy really blew it on this one. And where are all the Matrix nominations? No Original screenplay nomination? No Art Direction nomination? No Cinematography nomination? No Directing nomination? (Wachosky Brothers are one of the most creative directing teams I've EVER seen!) No Film Edition nomination? No BEST PICTURE nomination?!? And speaking of Best Picture, Episode I should DEFINITELY have received one! (I'm gonna take a lot of crap about that but I've seen the movie 18 times and it amazes me every time I see it.) And that's it for me. I've boycotted the Academy Awards for a few years now. They've earned their three strikes. Star Wars getting beat out by Annie Hall??!!?? Beauty and the Beast getting beat by whatever it was. Couldn't have been that great if I can't remember it. And Pulp Fiction beat out by Forrest Gump!?! PLEASE!!! What a crock of SHIT! And that was three strikes even before they gave the Best Picture award to Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan. Oh my God! What were they thinking? Was it mostly chicks in the academy that year? Just think about the scene where the guy gets stabbed really slowly while the German soldier whispers "shhhh. shhh." BRRRR! That scene rocked! Anyway, I've spoken my peace for now. See ya guys l8r.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:39:17 AM CST

    The Matrix?

    by duo-sonic

    Only best editing and special effects? Hell, the Phantom Menace will probably take the effects. Is anyone else upset that we finally got a sci-fi movie with a real plot (a very cool one at that) and it was completely ignored. We couldn't possibly nominate a sci-fi movie for best picture or screenplay, etc. I know Keanu ain't getting best actor, but come on! To me the awesome SFX and fight scenes are secondary to the awesome plot.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:50:59 AM CST

    I agree - Magnolia is screwed.

    by doctor zaz

    Or maybe this is all screwed. I'm hoping PT Anderson still is in the top 5 for best director tomorrow morning. Magnolia should be in for Best Picture but what's done is done. At least Tom is poised to win the Oscar. It truly was the best picture of last year and nothing you can say will change my mind.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:51:02 AM CST

    Me thinks this list is bogus.

    by fatal discharge

    I've never heard that the Academy would have a list of 8 and narrow them down to 5. I always thought it was the number of tabulated votes - period. Anyway, my own list that I compiled from previous award lists and Oscar knowledge pretty much resembles this one - any dimwit can do the same. I didn't have THREE KINGS on any nominations though - not enough impact, and too long ago for the Academy to remember.

    I do think a few front-runners are missing:

    BEING JOHN MALKOVICH for best picture and director - it may be too weird for conservative members to vote for best picture but Jonze does have a DGA nod.

    JULIANNE MOORE for supporting actress in MAGNOLIA - unless her best actress nod eliminates this one but that hasn't stopped the Academy in the past.

    FRANK DARABONT for directing THE GREEN MILE - he also got a DGA nomination and the Academy likes feel-good tearjerkers.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:01:31 PM CST

    Episode One and Fight Club's scores.

    by wesreviews

    For those of you who seem puzzled as to why EPISODE ONE wasn't nominated for best score, well I'll tell you why right now...It was HORRIBLE! Lame and completely un-inspired. Now, granted I enjoyed Episode One as a film, but it's score was horrible. Duel of the Fates was the only memorable part of it. The ending music sounded like something you'd hear playing at the end of a freakin' video game. Now, more about FIGHT CLUB...I hate techno music and I hate all that electronic sounding crap, but am I the only one who really thinks the Dust Brothers should've been nominated for best score? I hate the genre of music, but it was so well done that I was propelled to actually go out and buy the score on CD without shame. It is easily the most memorable score of the year, with SLEEPY HOLLOW coming in a close second. Just a few thoughts, I'd like to hear what you guys have to think about this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:09:26 PM CST

    oscar vs. dga

    by deuce10

    wasn't darabont and jonze nominated for director guild awards? i find it hard to believe that the academy would pass over 2 DGA nominees. one maybe but not two. this list is bogus btw.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:10:05 PM CST

    Hmmmmmm, this smells fishy...

    by paco j

    I just spent ten minutes writing half of this crap down ( for some reason, it would have 242 pages to print the screen), and I started to wonder, All it takes is one nominee that's not on this list to upset this whole apple cart. I don't mind saying I'm not convinced. But....Topsy Turvy deserves many accolades, as does American Beauty (not nominating Wes Bentley would suck, though). Well, we'll see.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Check out his interview on Mr.Showbiz that ran several months ago. He said there were some things that were eerily accurate about his life, but that ultimately he was playing another character, not autobiographically. Anyway, it looks like Being John Malkovich sure got the Royal Shaft Treatment from the academy. This is the movie that pretty much got four stars and made everyone's top ten list? And it gets beaten out by the Sixth Sense for a Best Picture nod? What the hell is up with that? Has the Academy sold out to mainstream commercialism too? They figure they get more viewers by putting up a movie that most of the world has actually seen?

    Reply to Talkback

  • I really enjoyed the score, there were a lot of powerful moments that almost seemed too good for the movie, but when you get down to it, its still Star Wars. There are a lot of the same musical themes from the original that have been boiled down or altered (I personally think that the score is the best foreshadowing done in the entire film), so there really wasn't a whole lot of crafting new musical ideas going on. And finally, the score is supposed to enhance the viewer's emotive response. Since emotional response to Episode One = nada, it was kind of hard for Williams to inject emotion into a lifeless film..Ooh, I'm gonna get it for that one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:18:54 PM CST

    Run Lola Run

    by wizardx

    Someone about halfway up mentioned Run Lola Run. It was a German film, remember? Honestly, though, if it DOESN'T get a nod for Best Foreign, I'll be seriously disappointed. That was one of my favorite flicks all year.
    BTW, as a soundtrack person, I think most of their score choices were wacked, although I don't think leaving off TPM was a mistake. It doesn't hold a candle to Williams' work on ANH or ESB. (that is, of course, assuming the list is real)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:22:39 PM CST

    Shocking!

    by anton_sirius

    Are you people suggesting that perhaps the Academy has made mistakes? I am APPALLED. The Academy is NEVER wrong. NEVER. They are PERFECT.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:36:47 PM CST

    Blair Witch and Terence Stamp (though I'm not surprised)

    by samthelion

    Okay, everyone who disagrees with me about Blair Witch - here's where I think it should get the nomination: cinematography. Go ahead and tell me how nauseated you were but it did what it set out to do: It freaked you out in some way. I also think it should get a best original screenplay nomination even if there wasn't a glossy, two holed, industry formatted script. Kenneth Branagh got an oscar nomination for adapting Hamlet (All he did was put in some INT.s and a FADE OUT!), BWitch should be up for screenplay. They key word is ORIGINAL. You're right though Scott, I shouldn't be shocked. That was the wrong word. I should have taken into account the biases of the academy. BTW, Terence Stamp should be up for Best Actor, and the Limey should be up and win for Best Editing (EASY!) Kevin Bacon should also be up for Stir of Echoes. And was anybody else but me unimpressed by Denzel? What did he actually do in that movie besides like Hurricane? This guy is an electric performer and should have won for Malcolm X. But in Hurricane (which drowns itself in Formula), he gives something that isn't on par with HE GOT GAME or DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS. I'd put this up with his PELICAN BRIEF performance. Any thoughts?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:37:19 PM CST

    PLEASE POST THE LIST FOR NARRAITIVE SHORT

    by lunarnaut

    ...if you got it that is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Okay, so what movie was everyone buzzing about earlier this spring? The Matrix. Now, this post isn't about how good the Matrix is (if you've seen my other posts about the Matrix you'd know what I think about it), it's about the commercialism and fickle nature of the Academy. You get to that point late in the year and everyone has already forgotten the films that came out earlier. So when a box office monstrosity like the Sixth Sense plows down the house, it weighs in heavily on their minds. The Sixth Sense is not "best picture" material (neither is the Matrix). They are both very very entertaining popcorn flicks and they are fun, but come on. In terms of value or development, do they hold a candle to American Beauty or the shafted Being John Malkovich? I think not. Someone on TV said that two years ago the indies ran the Oscars, last year it was the studios and this year they're going for some sort of equilibrium. Bullshit. The best pictures shouldn't be determined by whether they carry the label of "studio" or "indie" on them. As George C. Scott said, the oscars are nothing more than "a two hour meat parade."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:44:32 PM CST

    it's my birthday

    by jed

    my 21st birthday--woo, dating myself. what a cool little gift. printing it out to share with my scriptwriting class right now.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:51:38 PM CST

    Notable Nominees

    by lazlo hollyfeld

    To General Custer: Happiness was last year, you idjit.

    Here are my picks as of 2/14/00 at 12:38PM EST:

    Best Adapted Screenplay
    ========================
    The Cider House Rules
    Election
    The Talented Mr. Ripley
    The Insider
    The Hurricane

    Dark Horse: Fight Club

    Best Original Screenplay
    ========================
    Magnolia
    American Beauty
    Being John Malkovich
    The Sixth Sense
    Topsy-Turvy

    Dark Horse(s): Three Kings, Man on the Moon, The Straight Story

    Best Supporting Actress
    ========================
    Catherine Keener - Being John Malkovich
    Chloe Sevigny - Boys Don't Cry
    Angelina Jolie - Girl, Interrupted
    Julianne Moore - Magnolia
    Sissy Spacek - The Straight Story

    Dark Horse(s): Mena Suvari, Thora Birch - American Beauty

    Best Supporting Actor
    ========================
    Tom Cruise - Magnolia
    Michael Caine - The Cider House Rules
    Christopher Plummer - The Insider
    Haley Joel Osment - The Sixth Sense
    Jude Law - The Talented Mr. Ripley

    Dark Horse(s): John Malkovich - Being John Malkovich
    Michael Clarke Duncan - The Green Mile
    Chris Cooper - American Beauty
    Wes Bentley - American Beauty

    Best Actress
    ========================
    Annette Bening - American Beauty
    Hilary Swank - Boys Don't Cry
    Janet McTeer - Tumbleweeds
    Sigourney Weaver - A Map of the World
    Reese Witherspoon - Election

    Dark Horse(s): Julianne Moore - The End of the Affair

    Best Actor
    ========================
    Kevin Spacey - American Beauty
    Russell Crowe - The Insider
    Jim Carrey - Man on the Moon
    Denzel Washington - The Hurricane
    Richard Farnsworth - The Straight Story

    Dark Horse(s): Ed Norton - Fight Club
    Terence Stamp - The Limey
    Tobey Maguire - The Cider House Rules
    Kirk Douglas - Diamonds


    Best Director
    ========================
    Sam Mendes
    Michael Mann
    Norman Jewison
    Mike Leigh
    Spike Jonze

    Dark Horses: Anthony Minghella
    P.T. Anderson

    Best Picture
    ========================
    American Beauty
    The Insider
    Topsy-Turvy
    The Hurricane
    The Cider House Rules

    Dark Horses: Being John Malkovich
    Magnolia
    The Talented Mr. Ripley
    The Straight Story

    Just see if I ain't right...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 12:52:09 PM CST

    PS:

    by quentin2

    Stanley Kubrick = best director for EWS...... come on...... and that wouldn't even be a "you deserve it for your life achievment" nom, I think Kubrick did the best directing job of the year with EWS, which may not have been the best film of the year, regardless, Kubrick did the best directing job in 99.

    Reply to Talkback

  • How the fuck was Matrix not nominated for editing and, the mother of all fuck-ups, cinematography?!?!?!? Those people invented a whole new fucking cinematographic system for chrissakes!!!!!! Ugh. And Wes Bentley should be on there without a doubt, although I'm not surprised too much cuz they didn't nominate Bill Murray for Rushmore last year. If TPM wins anything, especially visual effects over Matrix, Luca$ can chug my cock.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:19:23 PM CST

    RE:DARTHPSYCHOTIC...

    by gilmour

    For you to make a statement about Rubin Carter being guilty is ludicrous! Learn the facts of the case first and watching the film won't do that. It left out too much in my opinion. Which is why I was slightly dissapointed in it. The man was innocent. And people seem to be confused, this list isn't the actual oscar nominations, lets see tomorrow morning before we get our panties in a bunch shall we? Oh and the Matrix doesn't deserve shit besides F/X awards, it wasn't much of a film, neither was Phantom Menace so calm down geeks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:19:33 PM CST

    oscars

    by roberino20

    This is all bullshit. I had the understanding that the Price-Waterhouse firm handled the oscar tabulations and the nominess as well. Well, apparently someone supposedly is on the inside- but i doubt it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:21:54 PM CST

    Eyes Wide Shut?

    by pipsorcle

    Boy, the Academy sure has taste for movies these days? How come Eyes Wide Shut wasn't in here? What about cinematography?! It probably had the most photorealistic cinematography out of any movie released in 1999!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:22:41 PM CST

    Final Noms

    by baltimore

    Nothing would make me happier than to see The Talented Mr. Ripley get shut out of a Best Picture nomination.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:31:58 PM CST

    Sixth Sense came out in August not November Slapnutz!

    by gilmour

    Matrix is eye candy yes but sixth sense is much more. Even if Matrix came out late in the year it wouldn't have gotten a best picture nod.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:42:49 PM CST

    Oscars = fake as Pam Lee's boobs

    by lk

    Like everyone above, i just cant believe Reese Witherspoon didn't get a nom for her role as Tracy Flick in Election. I mean... holy crap she was so deadon she sent shivers down my spine. And it should have been in the best adapted screenplay too!!!! Oh well.... probably cuz it's an MTV Movie production, the farts at Oscar think its a Beavis and Butthead movie. Sigh.... that's Hollywood for you. I am chuckling over TGM and Amercan Beauty running for best picture, though. Its the good and wholesome vs. dark and screwed-up again... remember Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:48:53 PM CST

    Oh, and one more thing...

    by lk

    ...Wild Wild West shouldn't be on an award nom list for ANYTHING. *shudder*

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:48:54 PM CST

    darthpsychotics response to gilmour

    by darthpsychotic

    my apologie's if it seemed i was making a judgement against rubin 'the hurricane' carter's guilt or innocence. IT IS TRUE however, that the victims surviving families BLAME HIM. i like phantom menace(seen it 12times) and its soundtrack, thats why i'm psychotic!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:52:52 PM CST

    The Sixth Sense?!?!?

    by portnoy

    Am I the only one who thought that this one trick pony movie was just incredibly OK? The kid gave a great performance and all, but really.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:53:37 PM CST

    GOD THIS MAKES ME HAPPY

    by ricky

    ALL THE MOVIES THAT WERE NOMINATED WERE GOOD...STILL MANY OF US ARE PISSED 'CAUSE SO MANY WERE LEFT OUT. THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY! 'CAUSE IT SHOWS HOW GOOD FILM WAS THIS YEAR. YES, 1999 WAS ONE OF THE BEST YEARS FOR FILM, EVER!

    Reply to Talkback

  • For as long as I can remember, the various branches of the Academy have internally produced a short list of potential nominees just prior to the final, official nominations. For example, every year, the Visual Effects branch of the Academy holds what's known as a "bake-off" where the potential nominees make a presentation before their fellow Academy members, explaining their work and presenting a "best of" reel to highlight their finest moments. THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR! The short list is known well in advance of the actual nominations. And since guests are allowed into these bake-offs, the short list isn't THAT top secret. That's just the way it is. Frankly, I'm surprised more people don't publicize these pre-nomination lists. Anyway, as far as my own Oscar gripes, although I fully expected such deserving films as "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Fight Club" to be left off the list, I'm slightly disappointed that "Being John Malkovich" is up for only a couple, and I'm downright shocked that "Three Kings" didn't fare better than it did. Additionally, I don't quite understand why so many people in this Talk Back are outraged over how "few" potential nominations "The Phantom Menace" got. Frankly, I think it got too many. But we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how it REALLY fared. If it gets anything more than Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Design and Best Sound Effects Editing, I'll puke.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 1:55:45 PM CST

    Your post did make it sound that way...

    by gilmour

    But its ok DARTHPSYCHOTIC, i'm kinda nuts too. And you're right, some of the victims do think he is guilty.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 2:07:44 PM CST

    You missed Ebert's memo to the Academy show...

    by gilmour

    It was on about 3 weeks ago although the segment lasted only a couple of minutes and wasn't the same without Siskel.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 2:08:07 PM CST

    Topsy Turvy? I don't get it...

    by sith lord byron

    ...The movie was all right, but really nothing special. It took a half hour just to get remotely interesting and the only parts that were really something were the performances of the Mikado. A good movie, I suppose, but not nearly in my top ten...I'm just depressed that we won't get to see Ed Norton beating the shit out of himself as an Oscar clip for best actor, which he should have gotten. I guess Ed's spot went to Mr. Farnsworth, and that's okay because Mr. Farnsworth is really old so I guess he deserves an award for sitting on a tractor and driving real slow. I'm gonna get a drink. Bye.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 2:16:01 PM CST

    Why no Oscar nominations for EWS ?

    by kubrick

    Strange. When EWS came out, everybody hated it saying it was the case of the emperor's new clothes and gave it the grade of an F and bombed at the box office and now on AICN, you're all
    calling it "a masterpiece" and complaining why it didn't receive any Oscar nominations? Here's the answers: Because the movie wasn't great or good, much less very good. I found it okay and that's just a positive review!
    Back when the movie was released people were demanding their money back after seeing the movie, for Pete's sake! Most have dismissed it as a bomb at the box office and have forgotten it (as oh say Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman have), and also a majority of people and critics hated it and found it boring, sexist, outdated (some wondered the film wasn't made in 60's since the material was right out of that decade). Plus, the detractors decried it as being all hype by marketing and Internet buzz (unlike the positive word of mouth buzz generated by American Beauty, Being John Malkovich, and The Green Mile which was caused by people who saw the movies and liked them). Plus, many a person has said Tom and Nicole were privately outraged at all the wrong takes of them being used in the film and despised waiting so many years on making the film and faulted them for putting on a good face telling happy stories of tales on the set. That's why. Too much negative opinion, if you like the movie,
    well I'm glad for you but there'll
    be no nominations and I hope there isn't any. Kubrick deserved
    the award for 2001, Strangelove
    and that he or his cast and crews
    on such films didn't receive them
    proves how screwed up the Oscars really are. Finally, why no news or excitement over the upcoming re-releases of 2001 in America this December or ACO in Britian this March ? Quite frankely, after hearing all this damn whining and complaing by people about how EWS is inferior to Kubrick's work in these films (if I had a dollar every time I've heard that phrase...) I'd love to see if now when these great earlier films of Kubrick are released, people will actually praise them (I doubt it).
    But I know I'll praise and shout
    hooray when 2001 is released
    to movie theatres. It will be
    a great day, the most beautiful magical mind-boggling weird and fantasic journey ever traveled and you can bet you'll find me in a movie theater watching it with
    a smile on my face.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 2:17:11 PM CST

    quentin2 fucked up the screen!

    by gumpas lev

    Good one, quentin2.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 2:57:15 PM CST

    Run Lola Run will NOT be nominated for Foreign Film

    by errol morris fan

    Each country can only make one submission, and Germany submitted "Aimee and Jaguar". Sorry to disappoint.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 2:59:21 PM CST

    No BP nominations for 'The Matrix,' 'FC,' and 'EWS.'

    by powerslave

    And that's just the way it should be. "The Matrix?" Come on, it got the nominations it deserved to get ; there's nothing there that says "Best Picture." It was a cool technical achievement, nothing more. "Fight Club?" Next category, please. I'm glad 'EWS' didn't get a best picture nom; seriously, how many people would have even liked - or seen - this movie if Kubrick's name wasn't on it?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 2:59:43 PM CST

    THREE KINGS?

    by ben murphy

    it deserved a best picture nomination over most of the other flic's up there

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:05:56 PM CST

    No John Williams? No REM? WTF?

    by not bill gates

    Its a bloody outrage, it is. Williams should have gotten a nomination for Duel of the Fates in and of itself. And no nomination for "Great Beyond" for best song? Its an amazing piece of work by REM for Man on the Moon. They gave one to Madonna tho, what are they smoking? Im going to listen to MP3s if you need me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:06:11 PM CST

    OSCARS AND NO BLAIR WITCH a conspiracy is afoot

    by gwilly

    WERE IS THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT IN THE NOMINATIONS.ALRIGHT IT WAS AN UNORIGINAL STORY BUT IT PROVED HOLLYWOOD CAN BE BEATEN WITH A MINISCULE BUDGET RATHER THAN A MILLION $s HERE.IS THAT WHY IT'S NOWHERE?I THINK SO,HOLLYWOOD DOESN'T LIKE BEING EMBARRASSED NOW DOES IT.PLUS I THOUGHT HEATHER DONAHUE SHOULD HAVE GAINED A NOMINATION IF ONLY FOR THAT CLOSE UP CAMERA SHOT IN THE TENT THE MOST MEMORABLE AND NERVE SHREDDING SCENE IN ANY FILM FOR YEARS WILL THE BLAIR WITCH EXACT HER REVENGE COME OSCAR NIGHT WE WAIT WITH BAITED BREATH.......

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:19:14 PM CST

    Gwilly...

    by powerslave

    'TBWP' isn't nominated for one reason: while the cinema verite style employed by the movie was unique - if not original - overall, 'TBWP' overlooked small details, like a script, story structure, coherence, and acting skills. Humor was misplaced, dialogue was repetitively profane, and so-called "serious" scenes came off as funny instead of terrifying or gripping. In other words: 'TBWP' sucked. Heather WhatsHerFace for best actress? What have you been smoking, and, more importantly, where can I get some?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:22:48 PM CST

    Visual FX Nominees

    by gordo-15

    Come on - get with it. The bake-off for VFX Oscar nominees was like two weeks ago: The three nominees are: Matrix, SWE 1, and Stuart Little. No scoop there.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:32:53 PM CST

    How To Tell This List Is Fake

    by hedgy

    (1) The 5 finalists for Make-Up were already announced weeks ago. No write-in votes are allowed on Oscar ballots, so it would be impossible to have the other six films be on any sort of "finalist" list.

    (2) "Any Given Sunday" is not an Adapted Screenplay--it is an Original Screenplay (hence the credit for story listed). This is according to the Writer's Guild of America--the final word on credit approval and arbitration.

    (3) The Academy already determined that sequels are considered Adapted Screenplays, since they are based on characters and situations "previously published or produced". Hence, "Toy Story 2" is in the wrong category also.

    What has happened here is that someone has passed off a reasonable looking list of "finalists" with a few ringers thrown in to get people all hot and bothered. No doubt, the person thinks that they've hedged their bets and covered their bases. But rest assured, tomorrow something is going to come out of left field that NOBODY was expecting, and this'll show the list up as a joke.

    And anyway, if they got the Picture finalists, how hard could it be to get Foreign Language Film or the Shorts? Or are those too hard to guess?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:34:36 PM CST

    I hate people who use caps.

    by gilmour

    I say, I HATE PEOPLE WHO USE CAPS!!!!! its annoying. Heather Donahue sucked in BWP. You can't nominate her for one particularly good, snotty scene. Hollywood does hate to be embarassed or South Park would get alot of nominations. But still, BWP sucked i've already forgotten about it thanks to all those lame takeoffs of it that we saw on t.v last fall.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:34:51 PM CST

    yay! at least Kate Winslet is THERE for Holy Smoke!!!

    by londnrose

    now if they nomintae her tomorrow is another story ::tightly crossed fingers:: anyone whos seen holy smoke.. im sure will agree wityh me... that girl gave the most amazing brilliant wonderful performance in this film, and has been overlooked by every other awards circle this year!!! I really hope they recognize her this time
    (oh yea.. plus the fact I GET TO GO if shes nominated..hehe)
    later!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:43:19 PM CST

    bowfinger

    by moviebuffster

    What about Bowfinger for best screenplay????? Magnolia for best picture????? Go for best everything????? I even liked Notting Hill alot for it to get nods for a coupla things. And to the above poster who had bad things to say about End of the Affair and Neil Jordan, I didn't think End of the Affair was awesome but it did hit a nerve with me. Especially the ending, with him hating god for everything they (Ralph and Julianne) went through. I'd feel the same way. And Neil Jordan's Butcher Boy was awesome, in fact all his movies are at least B+ material except for that overblown Interview with a Vampire mess. OUT

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:53:39 PM CST

    Good selections but...........

    by fight

    The nominations all sound good but my only gripe is that half the films nominated haven't even come out here (that would be jolly old England) I'd love to have my own opinion on what deserves to win but I can't. All I can say to that is (in a declaration of annoyance) BOLLOCKS.
    However, I do hope Tom Cruise wins Best Supporting Actor. I think his acting skills are hugely underrated. And he deserves it for the roles he didn't get nominated for in the past.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 3:55:17 PM CST

    I too Hated Jim Carrey!

    by gilmour

    2nd year in a row he's getting WAY too much credit for a role. I know this year he's a lock to get one but it still pisses me off!
    all I saw in MOTM was Jim Carrey, not Andy Kaufman he sucked.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:16:23 PM CST

    BURN THE ACADEMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    by the kid

    ENOUGH!!! ENOUGH I SAY!!! WHERE THE HELL IS WILLIAM'S SCORE FOR EPISODE ONE? HUH?!!?! GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK, DUEL OF THE FATES, 'NUFF SAID. HEAR ANY CLASSICS COMING OUT OF ANGELA'S ASHES??! Ok, rant over, but I'm pissed. Williams nailed this category for Episode I. Damn it, the film may not have been the instant classic we wanted, but the score was sure as hell up to par.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:17:47 PM CST

    Fuck The Matrix! Dissed like a stupid bitch!

    by the fatherland

    Thank the maker The Matrix got almost nothing, 'cause that's what it deserves!!! I don't know how you Japanimation watchin', Meat Lover's pizza scarfin' hessians can think this gloroified rock video is worth half of half a fuck! You must the type of people that turned on MTV first thing when you came home from school! In truth you only dislike TPM 'cause it made TWO AND A HALF times what your stupid "awesome plot" (HA!) movie made! The better part of you all obviously ran down your dad's legs! Now on to the real reason why TPM was not nominated for best score: can you say LOCK UP! It would have unanimously won, and John Williams already has countless awards for Best Score, so the Academy feels they owe him nothing! Politics, not talent, these days (why do you think Titanic won all those Oscars? The truth is after everybody told James Cameron he was crazy and the movie would flop, when it didn't they treated him as "king of the world" just to be apologetic!) So not to be insulting, they gave him a nomination for the somewhat obscure Angela'a Ashes. Will he win? HELL NO! But hey, he got nominated, tsk tsk!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:22:09 PM CST

    PICK FLICK!!!

    by wheel99

    I agree. Ms. Witherspoon should have been nominated if only so we could see her face and picture her War Cry music from the movie when her name wasn't called. (On the serious side it was one of the better roles this year hands down.)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:23:17 PM CST

    And just to clarify

    by the kid

    I have not seen Angela's Ashes. Nor read the novel, though my mom loved it. Call me a hypocrite. But I know without a shadow of a doubt that William's TPM score should be up there.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:25:38 PM CST

    What about the other big categories?

    by biglarz

    I mean, I know these were most of the big categories, but c'mon! Where the hell is "Best Kiss" and "Best Fight"? For Best Kiss, I was tempted to go with Trinity/Neo only because it was a very rare necrophiliac moment in movie history, but I am leaning more towards that dorky kid with the flute girl in American Pie. As for best fight, any other year this would belong to Darth Maul vs. the Jedi, but, I believe the edge has to go to Ed Norton vs. himself in "Fight Club". Hey, does the Academy have a policy on hermaphrodites? I mean, suppose you replace Kevin Spacey with a hermaphrodite in American Beauty? Could it be nominted for best actress and best actor? On more thought, I suppose it would have to do with the sexuality of the role played. What about a hermaphrodite playing a hermaphrodite then? Something to think about....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:32:44 PM CST

    Williams Missing

    by anakinskywkr777

    Aren't these the SUSPECTED nominations? Not the actual Nominations. The choices for each seem a tad too long, don't they usually only have about 4-5 names in each? This seems more like a AICN wishlist then an actual list of nominations. Guys, I know you have inside tracks to alot of films and info...but Not to include Williams for score (Duel of the Fates) is a crime. I could give a hairy rats ass what anyone else thinks...I like Episode I and I eagerly await Episode II. Williams did a great job, although I wish he would have done something with the end title, like he did with the original trilogy...but whatever. I've said my peace.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:40:09 PM CST

    My comments on EWS

    by pipsorcle

    Say whatever you feel about Kubrick, but think about it. A crap movie like Wild Wild West got nominated for an academy award. Now what's up with that? The reason why Eyes Wide Shut was dissed, was cause people's expectations were so big on Kubrick, that they failed to notice the point in just thinking, "just don't think about it before I go to the movies... then maybe it'll be better". I for one don't think Eyes Wide Shut is the best movie by Kubrick, but I wonder if people of the public would think EWS is boring, yet still be able to see a movie like Wild Wild West. People were also turned off by EWS, because of its subject matter. Well, they obviously didn't pay attention or have the maturity to take a film like EWS. Now, again, I didn't suggest that the academy give Kubrick a director nom, but geez, how easy is it to get EWS's photorealistic photography the way it was? I honestly think he got the best and most realistic depiction of New York life I've ever seen. In addition, the script really captured the way people behaved and acted around each other. Corny script? Hell no! I think the word people would think, would be lagging, overlong, or just slow. Personally, whether I would like the movie or not (it's not my favorite movie of 1999 by the way), I still think it has something to say, when a bunch of junk that is released in summer do not.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 4:47:27 PM CST

    Supposed short list

    by carlye

    Hi,

    I'm sitting a few feet away from the locked down room where the real Oscar list is being generated and I can assure you that your information is bogus. For instance, on your make-up list, there has already been a preliminary pick of 5 films: Austin Powers, Bicentennial Man, Blast From the Past, Life and Topsy Turvy. That means that these are the only films that have a chance of being nominated. Nice try at a scoop though. I usually am fascinated with your magazine but after this I'm going to have to take all your cool news with a grain of salt.

    Carlye

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:00:14 PM CST

    Where are all of the Mrgnolia nominations!?

    by mod29

    At least Paul Anderson is eligible for director and screenplay. I want to know why magnolia isnt eligible for editing too! ARG. At least it looks as if these will be better than last years shakespeare in love shit fest.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:09:01 PM CST

    WES BENTLEY

    by american life

    All I can say is that I am shocked that one of the most brilliant actors was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Chris Cooper was incredible, but I have to say that Wes Bentley was so breathtaking. He is being robbed of a chance to get the oscar. Damn. These are the bonehead kinds of things that the Academy does.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:12:19 PM CST

    The Academy and why most of you aren't in it...

    by mini ebert

    Eyes Wide Shut?Fight Club? You guys have got to be kidding. I understand some ommitions: David Lynch,Reese witherspoon..even South Park, but you film geeks have got to get a grip. This has been called one of the best years of cinema in a long long time, with all to choose from why back such mediocre fluff? Sure movies are to entertain, and FightClub did that, but to even think it will stand as well as American Beauty or Topsy Turvy....you need to seee more film if that is the case.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:14:33 PM CST

    PLEASE

    by gfmcbay

    PLEASE don't post any more messages about how X Y or Z got ROBBED!!! This list is pure speculation on someone's part, which will be made patently clear tomorrow. I don't know what Harry was thinking posting this shit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:17:40 PM CST

    MAGNOLIA

    by fidelio

    I thought that Wise Up would be nominated,not Save Me, until I realized that Wise Up was on the Jerry Maguire soundtrack originally and thus is ineligable. That sucks. Also, I really have a problem with the credibility of this "insider" list. Where the hell is Being J M? I hated the film (one of the few), but I think it's a lock for a nominations. At least one of the top 8 choices: it can't be right. Also, Magnolia should be one of the 8 as well. End of the Affair? WHat the hell is that doing on there? It's also important to remember that The Green Mile got lukewarm reviews and nothing really positive has been said about it: it's considered a disappointment. There's all of that controversy surrounding Hurricane. I think Topsy Turvey has a real chance at it. However, this list is certainly not real. (the lack of Eyes Wide Shut noms makes me sick, even if it is a phony list.)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:30:23 PM CST

    Fight Club is garbage...

    by tywebb

    Let's face it. This movie appealed to the exact people it mocked. Everyone I know who liked is a computer geek, office hound, or lazy ass that does nothing for himself. Are you one of these people? Perhaps it gives you hope that you will rebound out of your sorry little existence and do something esciting. For those of us who don't have a problem becoming motivated or thinking for ourselves, the movie was a lecture in boredom and violent excess...

    Oh yeah, Fincher's comment about Saving Private Ryan also shows that, although Seven was pretty good, his ignorance,stupidity, and ego don't help make a great movie.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:32:25 PM CST

    I know

    by tywebb

    I didn't spell check. Lo sciento amigos.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:33:06 PM CST

    SW should win everything!

    by rw44

    I feel bad for the people like General Custer who think TPM didn't belong on the Oscar list, it obviously reflects some personal problem that makes them want to pick on something for no apparent reason. TPM was the BEST movie of the year. Not only was it the most exciting, fun, and complex movie with all kinds of inside themes and symbols only SW fans get, it was revolutionary in terms of special effects. It was so revolutionary that the movie industry backlashed at it b/c it threatens to put so many people out of jobs. TPM should be nominated for and win, almost everything

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:34:16 PM CST

    WOW! Local news said list was leaked so this is legit.

    by fatal discharge

    Just saw news snippet at 5pm EST that an Oscar list was leaked. Will have to wait until 6pm to see if AICN is mentioned.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:37:46 PM CST

    Hey Gilmour! You're an idiot.

    by sith lord byron

    I said YOU'RE AN IDIOT! BWP was in many ways a flawed film, but what do you expect for a movie that only cost a hundred and fifty bucks to make? It doesn't deserve best picture, but it is definitely one of the most important films of the year simply because it made people argue and debate and get interested in movies and the process of making movies and sometimes that's more than can be said for Hollywood shit like Any Given Sunday and Wild Wild West. Oh, and about Jim Carrey? He is so much more of an actor than you realize, and although I don't think he was the best actor this year (although I still think he deserves a nomination), to downplay his work in The Truman Show is a sign of ignorance and an inability to recognize good work when you see it. Fight Club? I think it was the most daring and mind-bending and BALLSY movie in a decade, and was by far the best movie of the year. I did not believe for a second (well, maybe for a few seconds back in October) that it would be nominated for Best Picture, and I don't care. It is the 1999 version of BLADE RUNNER (yes, I know the caps piss you off), and like that film will come into its own praise as the years pass. People hated Blade Runner when it came out. They hated A Clockwork Orange. They hated Vertigo. You, however, liked Batman & Robin (I know I should let that one go, but you make it so easy sometimes). And with regards to Best Score, no one was robbed as much as the Dust Brothers. That was the most inventive and sonically original score I have ever heard in a movie, EVER. Drop the names Morricone and Williams and Badalamenti and Herrmann and all the others...I love them all, but this score has been in constant rotation in my CD changer for four months, and everytime I listen to it I'm blown away. I can't say that about any other CD I heard last year (with the exception of Underworld's BEAUCOUP FISH). Anyway, I'm done.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:39:35 PM CST

    Also, something strange...

    by the kid

    I just noticed that whenever you move the mouse cursor to the border of the site (right next to the blue or orange, while still inside the white margin) you get sort of a reflection of it, even while you're moving up and down? Just another mystery of AICN, I guess.....along with how the hell Harry flies out to L.A. all the time when he doesn't have a paaing job and the ads allegedly don't make him much (which I believe).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:48:04 PM CST

    Ode on Topsy Turvy...

    by sith lord byron

    Fair recipient of awards undeserved/How thy overrated visage lays claim upon praise/Due unto visions, wild and untamed/3 Kings and Fight Club, how thou brightened my days.../Oh, how that Trinity gives me a raise. (Sith, Lord Byron, 2-14-00)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:49:13 PM CST

    Whatever Happens, PLEASE SPARE ME...

    by geekbasher 3.0

    the cringe-inducing when she loves me song by Sarah Mceatmypussy and Randy washed up Newman! I do hope Madonna performs again, maybe she will make up for her cancelled performance at the superball.
    As far as best pictures go..The MATRIX AND RUN LOLA RUN were robbed!!! Topsy Turvy? Please, can we say BORING!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:50:32 PM CST

    i meant Superbowl...

    by geekbasher 3.0

    it's monday and i am tired!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 5:54:20 PM CST

    Iron Giant?

    by fatdan

    Ah shit - fuck me sideways. Come on people.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:08:05 PM CST

    HALLELUIAH!! FIGHT CLUB COULD GET NOMINATED FOR BEST FILM EDITIN

    by el duderino

    I WAS ALMOST SURE THAT HOLLYWOOD HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS FILM!! IF IT AT LEAST GETS ONE NOD I WILL BE HAPPY!! THIS WAS MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF THE YEAR RIGHT AHEAD OF THE HURRICANE!! YES, EVEN AHEAD OF THE HURRICANE!! NO, I NEVER SAW THE FILM A SECOND TIME!! YES, I COULD TAKE MY WORDS BACK COME APRIL WHEN FIGHT CLUB IS RELEASED ON HOME VIDEO!! YES, EDWARD NORTON AND BRAD PITT WERE THOROUGHLY SCREWED OVER, ALONG WITH THE INGENIOUS DAVID FINCHER, WHO WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE FILM DESPITE THE LESS THAN AVERAGE SCREENPLAY!! HAVE YOU READ IT YET?? YOU CAN SEE JUST HOW MUCH FINCHER'S FINAL VERSION WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE SCREENPLAY!! okay, I'm going to talk normal now, and tell everybody that Fight Club was an especially good film and that if you are an open minded person that you will enjoy this film. FIGHT CLUB RULES!! IF I EVER BECOME WORTH ANYTHING WHEN I GROW UP AND IF I ACTUALLY DO A GOOD JOB WRITING AND DIRECTING I WILL FLICK OFF EVERY SINGLE PERSON AT THE ACADEMY FOR NEGLECTING THIS MODERN AMERICAN CLASSIC!! PEACE OUT!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:10:38 PM CST

    Here's who I think got robbed

    by dragonfrog

    As a personal parlor game, i like to draw up my own personal list of nominees for every category in the Oscar's. In my humble opinion, some very deserving films are almost totally missing or partially missing from the Oscar list you provided (by the way, what a coup, Harry!):
    Nice to see Topsy Turvy in the top categories, although I am not confident that it'll make the top five, but what happened to An Ideal Husband? Completely forgotten! Rupert Everett? Cpstume? Art direction? And magnolia not even in the top 8 best pictures? Scandelous! They better nominate pt anderson for direction and script. Another completely overlooked film is Titus. You'd think they'd at least give it costume and art direction, but maybe the hollywood crowd is jealous of Julie Taymor's prodigious talent. And Andrew lennix (Spelling?) and Jessica Lange definately deservered acting nods. The matrix deserved to be in many more technical categories than the measly two it (might) get. And Run Lola Run, particularly since it can't be a foreign film nominee (when will they liberalise those elligabillity rules) deserved some noms in editing and script...and Philip Seymour Hoffman should have been nominated for something, any one of his performances.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:12:34 PM CST

    Magnolia and John Williams

    by corleone

    I don't know if anyone is even reading these posts anymore, but am I the only person who absolutely HATED Magnolia? I practically walked out on it, waiting for iot to get interesting, and I demanded my money back. I would honestly rate that movie as one of the top five worst movies I have ever seen. I am not kidding. In my showing, people were BOOING it and many people walked out on it. That is why I was so surprised so many AICNers liked it. I'm glad its not up for best picture. I am not trying to cause controversy, but can anyone tell me what they could possibly like about this movie? Just curious...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:12:34 PM CST

    Magnolia and John Williams

    by corleone

    I don't know if anyone is even reading these posts anymore, but am I the only person who absolutely HATED Magnolia? I practically walked out on it, waiting for iot to get interesting, and I demanded my money back. I would honestly rate that movie as one of the top five worst movies I have ever seen. I am not kidding. In my showing, people were BOOING it and many people walked out on it. That is why I was so surprised so many AICNers liked it. I'm glad its not up for best picture. I am not trying to cause controversy, but can anyone tell me what they could possibly like about this movie? Just curious...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:15:51 PM CST

    Williams

    by corleone

    Oh, and BTW, it is a complete travesty that John Williams was not nominated for best original score. John williams is an absolute genious, and his score made Episode I (as well as every other SW movie) from a pretty good movie to excellent.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:21:08 PM CST

    here's who i personally hope makes the final cut

    by dragonfrog

    Carrey, Crowe, Damon, Spacey and Broadbent for Actor, Cooper, Cruise and Osment for Supple Actor; Swank (no one else needed, but it will be nice for Streep to tie Kate hepburn for Oscar Noms, 12)for Actress; ple-e-e-ease Toni Collette for supple actress; Anderson for Directing, if there is a God who knows mercy, and p t would say there is. Beauty,Sense,Ripley,Turvy for Best Picture, and I forgot to add while I fumed about magnlia's omission, where the FUCK is Being John Malkovich on this list or Spike Jonze on the directing list? Oh please let The Green Mile NOT be nominated, but seeing it's near absencs on other categories, chances are hopefully good it won't be. Not that I hated it, but it just isn't on the same level as the other films (I suspect the same of Hurricane, but haven't seen it yet, so can't judge...) This is fun, my oscar appetite is definately whetted!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:49:07 PM CST

    JOHN WILLIAMS, DAVID FINCHER, ED NORTON, THE IRON GIANT, STAN, K

    by darth siskel

    'F' the academy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:51:11 PM CST

    Also, MAGNOLIA got robbed!!!! It was better than most of those "

    by darth siskel

    But who cares? Awards shows are like assholes.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:54:20 PM CST

    Eyes Wide Shut Out- proving once more that the Academy is bought

    by fuck the police

    Eyes Wwide Shut is probably the best movie ever made, and I gaurentee that it's 40 times better than any of the other nominations, Cruise gave the best performance of his career, as did Kidman and the directing was mesmerizing. I do say, the acedemy sucks my dear.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 6:57:05 PM CST

    The Lame Mile...

    by shaithis77

    The Green Mile for Best Picture? That movie was over rated, by far. I do agree with the Supp. Actor Nom., but best picture? The Acad. must have a hard-on for Tom Hanks movies(though I'm glad to see he didn't get a Nom.). Magnolia should take it's place. That, Princess Mononoke(sp?), Being John M., and Phantom Menace(for geek reasons) were my favorite last year. Never saw American Beauty, dyin' too though. Oh yeah, fuck The Mummy. Take away anything that over pile of shit was nominated for. Just some ventin'. Thanks for reading/not reading.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:10:15 PM CST

    On Magnolia....

    by white_hat_2000

    To the guy who hated Magnolia (and the ten thousand others who agree with him and didn't bother posting), I'd like to talk about why _I_ loved this film. I know there are plenty of people out there whose responses went from "I don't get it" all the way down to "That was the worst movies I've ever seen". For me, it's the exact opposite; it's one of my very favorites. Why do people dislike it so? Is it because it can be so hard to follow, because the storylines diverge and people feel they can't get involved with the characters? Is it its length, which can cause viewers to be bored and restless if not constantly intrigued. (I personally could have handled a movie twice as long had it been as good as this one was.) Is it the much-lauded and also much-hated twist at the end? Or is it something deeper, more elemental? I have no idea. For me, I love all the actors in this film; I love each and every individual story and was interested enough to wish I could see a full-length movie based around each one. But there's so much more to love here; the film is more than the sum of all its parts. This is a movie, not just about characters, but about the ways that those characters are interrelated, the way that one person's life can affect another's, which affect's anothers, et cetera. For me, the film is a meditation on the nature of the universe, on the mysterious things that happen around us all the time, and how even the most horrible things perhaps have a place in a larger plan. This is a movie that makes a grand statement about the nature of the very universe itself, and in a very real way about the nature of God. Is it coincidence when something bizarre happens, or is it merely the hand of God showing through the fabric of our lives? This movie is very philosophical, and gave me more to think about than any other I've seen this year, and probably more than any other I've ever seen. My question is, I suppose, why would you _dislike_ this movie?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:21:51 PM CST

    Oscars

    by suess

    Oh, if only we were all members of the academy, then the real winners would get their due. Right? Hardly, with so many different opinions you can never make everyone happy, and with only one winner you'll make most people unhappy.
    I too think Election got the shaft, although I skipped it until it came out on video and I'd bet that most of those in the academy let it come and go. Poor Reese, she'll get 'em next time.
    There's a lot of squabbling over the John Williams score. For people who don't pay attention to the boring technical stuff you sure are passionate about your scoring. Too bad for REM, their beautiful music truly deserves a nod. But we all know some Disney tune will win so don't sweat it.
    I still think Fincher's best work was Seven, not Fight Club. I found it very cold, not alive in the least. It's a shame that Kubrick died and left Eyes Wide Shut as his final work. As a former film major, I was able to appreciate the film as art. However my poor parents who accompanied me to the theatre for that one, had no idea what was what. I believe there is a place for supposed high brow movies, but shouldn't the medium of film be accessible to all? Isn't that what makes it so spectacular?
    Blah, Blah, Blah, enough of me. I'm so pleased to see American Beauty get all this credit and hope to see it get the best picture hardware, along with Spacey, his best work since The Usual Suspects.
    One last thing. I thought Shakespeare in Love was a brillant and rich film, that everyone-high, middle, and low brow could enjoy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:24:02 PM CST

    Fight Club! wow the oscars suchs

    by roli

    Ok they are better than last time

    but even if i dont fight club i see how good it is made and how god the actors acted!

    they really suck

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 7:24:43 PM CST

    I thought TALENTED MR RIPLEY sucked the most.

    by gsolo

    And Minguella sucks as well. Especially for the English Patient. American Beauty will win everything. I just hope Aimee Manns song wins...and not Phil Collins. Whatever.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:26:32 PM CST

    Lifetime

    by gregx

    The academy says you can't give a lifetime achievement award after they died on their website, but still... Kubrick literally worked till the day he died on this film. Not only that, but he fits the bill perfectly for best director. He took care of a film like no one else did. He spent almost two years shooting it. Half these "nomineese" didnt spend two fucking months. Kubrick got fucked out of 12/13 Oscars he was nominated for, won one, and it wasn't for directing. it was for fucking special effects. give him one last hurrah for the love of god.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:31:38 PM CST

    What the hell

    by a177anda

    Never has a score so perfectly expressed a movie as John Williams' TPM score did. The damn score comunicated everything the actual movie could not. Duel of the Fates! Anakins' Theme! THE HIGH COUNCIL MEETING!!!! ALSO-If Jim Carrey gets a nomination for playing Andy Kaufman, then Ewan McGregor should definatley get one for his spooky acuracy in the Obi-wan role........and maybe even something for Rob Lowe as #2?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 8:51:31 PM CST

    Doubts and Raspberries (and some Star Wars)

    by movie man

    I still have my doubts about the authenticity of this list, but I guess we'll find out in 12 hours. If this is real, it is the first time in history that the Academy's airtight security has been broken, and it's also the first time we will know who the runners-up were. And I like Harry, but he shouldn't have posted this and ruined the fun of the nominations tomorrow morning. I hope that whoever leaked this from the Academy gets the firing they so truly deserve. Anyway, since we're on the subject of awards, here are the nominees for this year's Raspberry Awards, honoring the Worst in film: Worst Picture --- Big Daddy, Blair Witch, The Haunting, The Phantom Menace (you heard me), and Wild Wild West. Worst Actor --- Kevin Costner (For Love of the Game), Kevin Kline (WWW), Adam Sandler (Big Daddy), Arnie Schwarz (End of Days), Robin Williams (Bicentennial and Jacob). Worst Actress --- Heather Donahue (BWP), Melanie Griffith (Crazy in Alabama), Milla Jovovich (Joan of Arc), Sharon Stone (Gloria), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Entrapment and The Haunting). A most excellent choice of selections, I think, except for the fact that everyone is way too hard on Blair Witch. It will be remembered many years from now as one of the scariest movies ever made, wait and see.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:03:15 PM CST

    Beautiful Stranger not Original!!

    by mandy-girl

    I remember listening to Rick Dee's late one night and they commented that Beautiful Stranger is a cover for another song! The background is the same as to an old Disco song! How the Hell can this be original?? That and SOUTH PARK GOT ROBBED!!!!! BLAME CANADA IS A GREAT SONG AND EXCELLENT TRIBUTE TO THE LATE, GREAT MARY KAY BERGMAN, WHO DIED LATE LAST YEAR!! Okay, enough of the caps. They should at least nominate SP and EWS, for the people who died. (Stanley Kubrick and Mary Kay Bergman.) At least a pity nom, come on, people! She did all of the female vocals in that song, which must have been "hella" hard to do! (Spookyfish reference ;) ) Well, that's my 2, maybe 3 cents. And John Williams, too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:18:58 PM CST

    Witherspoon snubbed

    by jayhawk15

    The best performance by any person last year was by Miss Witherspoon. Anyone who can display emotion with her nostrils gets my vote. I don't know why this awesome actress doesn't generate the press that many of her less talented contemporaries receive.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:27:34 PM CST

    RE:Darthvegas

    by gilmour

    Nice little rant you had going there about how great Fight Club was:one problem, I NEVER said one simgle word concerning fight Club in any of my posts you f*cking idiot! To this day I have yet to even see the film. And I said that Jim carrey in my opinion was not nearly as good in MOTM or Truman show as others say. I never said he sucks just that I never thought he "was" Andy Kaufman like so many people said. He was pretty good in both parts but not good enough to get a nomination so next time read. I didn't realise I was speaking Spanish.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:32:33 PM CST

    RE:Darthvegas

    by gilmour

    Nice little rant you had going there about how great Fight Club was:one problem, I NEVER said one simgle word concerning fight Club in any of my posts you f*cking idiot! To this day I have yet to even see the film. And I said that Jim carrey in my opinion was not nearly as good in MOTM or Truman show as others say. I never said he sucks just that I never thought he "was" Andy Kaufman like so many people said. He was pretty good in both parts but not good enough to get a nomination so next time read. I didn't realise I was speaking Spanish.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:40:34 PM CST

    On the Academy's lifetime achievement awards...

    by sith lord byron

    ...the real lifetime achievement awards are the out-of-left-field nominations it gives to actors whose work in the nominated film wasn't really that good but since they've been around for a long time or because they've screwed them over in the past they'll give them a nomination for an okay performance in a movie this year. You hear me Coburn? Bacall? I liked Jim Carrey in Man on the Moon. A lot. However, if he gets the nomination it will be because he was screwed over last year out of a nom for the Truman Show. I think Kubrick was one of the most amazing directors who ever lived, and anyone who says otherwise is just trying to piss you off for the sake of hollow notoriety on this website. However, if Eyes Wide Shut got nominations for Best Picture or Best Director it would either be because a)he died or b) it had just been so long since they had a chance to nominate the guy. I still appreciate the Oscars for providing the exposure needed to get the dumbed-down masses to see worthy movies (a function the Academy failed to perform with the whole Titanic circle-jerk), and it would have been nice to see Fight Club and Being John Malkovich get more awards, but harbor no illusions my good fellows that the Best PictureTM of 1999 is actually the best picture of 1999 (although if it is American Beauty it will be pretty damn close).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:43:39 PM CST

    Dogma? John Williams? God DAMN the Academy is Ignorant

    by guido_182

    First of all, Dogma should be best original screenplay. The only other contenders would be Three Kings, Being John Malkovich and MAYBE American Beauty. Second, John Williams is God. Third, next to Dogma, Magnolia was my favorite movie of the year and the best. Fourth, The Sixth Sense: Most overrated movie of the year. The Academy always makes ass filled decisions. Shakespeare in Love? Good Lord, do they really want to be British THAT much? And does anyone remember Secrets and Lies? No? Thought not. I guess what I'm trying to say is... American Movie for Best Documentary! (P.S. Sorry, but Michael Caine and Meryl Streep must have had a huge, massive orgy with the Academy to be nominated)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:44:41 PM CST

    "Sorry about the cunt at reception"

    by microwaiver

    For present purposes read: cunts at the Academy.

    Malkovich rules.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:47:31 PM CST

    Gilmour, thou art now a hypocrite

    by sith lord byron

    **I 2 hated Jim Carrey...all I saw in MOTM was Jim Carrey not Andy Kaufman he sucked** What part of that was supposed to show that you thought otherwise? You changed your opinion with your last post which not only makes you wrong, it makes you sad. Oh, and about my comments on Fight Club? Who says everything in my posts has to be a reply to some whiny nearsighted neanderthal piece of perinium (look it up) like yourself? Vaya con dios...

    Reply to Talkback

  • She is probably never going to win an oscar again and the academy almost yearly wastes a nomination on her. She does an accent, she gets an award.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 9:57:48 PM CST

    In Canada the word "Suck" means good actor.

    by gilmour

    Get your fingers out of your ass and stop thinking you're a hotshot in the world of talkbacks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:11:47 PM CST

    Awards are never given for thinking progressively

    by magnoliaman

    Am I the only one to notice that none of the films with any kind of a progressive attitude ever win awards (including critics awards). Safe Hollywood crap is always being considered, over the more risky, inteliigent, audacious kind of work that would be taking the awards in a less mainstream art such as literature. The fact is the Oscars have become the Grammys of movies. The Hurricane! The Green Mile! These films may be well acted and good intentioned but the thinking behind them is on a high school level of simplicity. Mean guards are bad! Racist people are bad and, oh yeah, they're all really dumb and obvious in their racism. This kind of simplicity does not make for intelligent filmmaking. Why aren't risk-taking masterworks like Magnolia, Being John Malkovich, Fight Club, Three Kings, Eyes Wide Shut, The Limey, etc. ever nominated for Best Picture. Think about Driving Miss Daisy or Rain Man or Shakespeare in Love or Kramer vs. Kramer. I don't know, I can't remember most of them because, while entertaining, they are friendly fluff and they're given awards because people all vote for the movies that suck up to them. In actuality, these movies inult their intelligence. The last great, brave, badass movie that won Best Picture was The Deer Hunter and that was the late 70s. This sucks. Oh yeah and why didn't Cronenweth get a nomination for the Fight Club cinematography or Elswit for Magnolia. Are these voters high?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 10:49:32 PM CST

    Where the hell is Deuce Bigallow: Male Gigalo?!

    by regulator

    Where is the recognition for Rob Schneider? That man just gives and gives... And Superstar should have been a shoo-in for Best Actress. And don't get me started on the lack of a Supporting Actor nod to whomever voiced Jar Jar Binks. Oh well, there's always the MTV movie awards

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:02:04 PM CST

    Secrets and Lies

    by suess

    I remember Secrets and Lies. Mike Leigh is the director. His current work is Topsy Turvey, also in oscar contention this year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:10:51 PM CST

    good score & Ripley is talented

    by tommy terror

    Hey Harry, cool list sneaky scoring there - if it's the real thing this should cause a little fit. Pretty good list too, tho RIPLEY should win, it's the only truly crafted film, and the only film with true psychological depth andmeaning unlike AMERICAN BEAUTY which seems to have hyped its inner catch phrase - just silly & sophomoric fun - not worthy of best picture. And please, Jim Carrey sucked - so what if he pulled a Rich Little - what about the real person? That movie was so lame. "Andy - you're crazy! But you just might be brilliant." ugh.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:11:06 PM CST

    This list is so fake

    by pete797

    Im sorry, but whoever made this list seems to be just making it up. Being Joh Malkovich has twenty times more buzz then End of the Affair ever did. My jaw dropped when I saw that, and even though I have very little faith in the Acadmeys judgement, I seriously doubt that they are that stupid. I havent heard more than a fairly positive review on that one, save Julianne Moores performance. And Topsy-Turvy has no chance either. Maybe 10000 people saw that movie, and I doubt more than a tenth of them were Acadmey voters.
    The movies that have the real shots at this are: American Beauty and The Insider, for sure. Either The Sixth Sense or Green Mile b/c one blockbuster Hollywood-type movie alwayts gets in. Then theres the indie slot which will go to Being John Malkovich, unless the Academy just dedcided not to include an indie movie this year and give the last two slots to The Hurricane and The Talented Mr. Ripley. So there you go, thats what the category looks like, if anyone cares.
    I pray to God that that BJM will recieve the attention that it deserves

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:37:00 PM CST

    Get over it people

    by dawson's crack

    For all of the posters who are so OUTRAGED that TPM did not get nominated for best score, GET OVER IT! The reason why it was largely omitted is...brace yourself, IT WAS A SHITTY MOVIE! The fact that more of you care that it was shut out for score and not best picture proves that fact. And am I the only one that was bowled over by the fact that Gwyneth Paltrow was on the list for supporting actess? Puleeeeeeze! That was a nothing role in a pointless movie. She had about as much presence as a piece of toast. There have to be TONS of other supporting female roles that should have been considered over her. But the acadamy loooooves it's favourites! Ripley was nothing but a glorified thriller which happed to have really good cinematography.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:42:17 PM CST

    To All the Al Pacino Haters

    by princethomas

    I know all of you fanboys think that Al Pacino is just a big windbag full of hot air. But I d like to say that he's getting screwed. Not so much that he should be nominated, but that because of his brilliant career, it becomes increasingly difficult for him to be nominated. If you just look at Donnie Brasco and The Insider. Id stack those two performances up against any other from 99 or 97. Carlito's Way? Incredible. Al Pacino was brilliant in the Insider. But because it was "Al Pacino at his usual stellar self" he wont get remembered at oscar time. Plus, he is in a movie with multiple leads.
    Anyway. 8 oscar nominations In only 30 films says a lot to me. Maybe he should start seeking out roles where he is more the center piece like As Good As it Gets. Jack and DiNiro face the same problem. Oh well. Ok, all of you clever fanboys can feel free to tell me how much of scenery chewing hack he is now.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:55:39 PM CST

    On the SHOULD-BE Best Pictures....and Fight Club

    by greedo1028

    I'm disappointed overall. The Green Mile, I'm sad to say (my most eagerly awaited film of the year), was overlong and emotionally dry. An unworthy followup to the masterful Shawshank Redemption. The Hurricane, aside from Denzel Washington's incredible performance, was a merely above average film, and while The Sixth Sense was a good film, it does not outrank those that were left off. What should have been on? Magnolia, by all means: an intensely personal, gorgeous, soul-searching film. Three Kings, the most realistic (not in the Saving Private Ryan way) war film since Full Metal Jacket. Toy Story, a technical masterpiece combined with one of the finest screenplays of the year. The Iron Giant, a beautiful, touching film with infinitely more emotional impact than The Green Mile. Being John Malkovich, perhaps the most original comedy to hit Hollywood in years. Any or all of these would be acceptable, but once again (remember the Truman Show?) the Academy has blown it. Shame on them. On the subject of Fight Club, give it up. Fight Club had terrific performances from its leads, interesting visual effects and cinematography, clever editing, and a good score. But is it one of the best films of the year? No. Storywise, it doesn't work. Neither as a satire nor a probe of an insane man's madness. It's a case of all style with no substance. The message is lost in a fury of Brad Pitt's rhetoric. One poster compared it to Annie Hall, saying "Who remembers Annie Hall?" Well, lots of people. Annie Hall is a modern classic. Fight Club is a cult film. Do not confuse the two. People will still be watching Woody Allen in twenty years. The only people who will be watching Fight Club are the by-then balding ex-Generation X'ers who fondly remember the testosterone filled days of their youth.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 14, 2000 11:56:50 PM CST

    Wwwooohhhh!!

    by xtra-deed

    Whether or not this list is legit it sure got people's attention. So many responses, so much space. The categories & selections do look Academy-ky though. Too bad, because some of the omissions were better than the inclusions.







    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 12:56:15 AM CST

    What a scoop!

    by cds

    For the first time in the history of the Academy Awards they suddenly decide to narrow down the nominations to eight, and then LEAK IT TO AICN the night before the nominations are announced. Yeah, right. Harry must have gotten into too much native punch on his cruise.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 1:02:12 AM CST

    Fight Club's Screenplay!

    by obiwankenobi1138

    I have been reading screenplays ever since I was young. There have been some horrible ones (Armageddon) and Some good ones (Bulworth). Fight Club is possibly the single best screenplay I have ever read. Jim Uhls is such an incredible writer. This movie was very much snubbed this year expressing how tight the Academy's asses are. Oh well. If you ask me Apocolypse now was snubbed majorly but considered one of the best movies ever. Trainspotting too. I'm still rooting for Ripley and Mile though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 1:06:17 AM CST

    Does anyone know how the academy works?

    by coopcooper

    Why eight films? Is this for real? Who's ever heard of this before? Wouldn't they just take the top five vote getters? This reeks of a studio's list to me. If they come out tomorrow, why would they only know the eight films, not five? This is fucking retarded. This list should have come out a month ago. It's bullshit. Fuck this crap. Great guess asshole, your probably right just because I wrote that.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 1:13:23 AM CST

    Winslow and 13th Warrior

    by cortcort

    I am a huge American Beauty fan, so I am happy to see all the potential nominations.

    I would have liked to see some nods to The Winslow Boy. I also think the 13th Warriors score should have been nominated. South park got shafted.

    I am very glad that Blair Witch Project got the shaft. It was an overhyped pile of crap. The only thing that scared me about was the thought they might make a second one.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 1:38:50 AM CST

    Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, c'mon, chant with me...

    by coopcooper

    If this fuck doesn't work for PriceWaterhouse whatever, then it's shit. Fucking shit. Why does this site have an explaination for every fucking "real" scoop, but it's vague and gay when it reports: 1. whoever pays off Harry, 2. Harry's pitiful attempt to squash movies his "employer" wants squashed. Conspiracy, conspiracy!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 1:54:45 AM CST

    6th Sense is great! Stop being so pretentious!

    by d'jesus

    Why is it that anytime a movie makes big bucks, so many people instantly hate it? It's happened to 6th Sense and Blair Witch, and it's annoying to see this negative backlash. I hate hype too, but sometimes it is well deserved. And 6th Sense earned its hype. It was strictly word of mouth that this film made its money, and that's becuase it is a great film. I think it's the best film, followed only by Magnolia. What GREAT scripts!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 2:18:17 AM CST

    Williams TPM Score my thoughts

    by jaustin

    While I will agree that there is a great deal of talent missing from this list I think I can see the reason the TPM score didn't get a nod. Most of the music was rehashing of old music. Think about it just two tracks were really new(the darth Maul fight scen and Augies Band. Even Anakins theme was old(Imperial March played backwards). While I think that the old stuff is better than anything done this year I can see why it they didn't give it a nomination. Which is more than I can say for some of the other oversights. Also I think if Osment doesn't get Best Supporting it will be an injustice, no other kid has been able to portray that kind of emotion in any other movie I've seen. I just hope this hype doesn't go to his head.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 2:37:15 AM CST

    Here Here NightHeat

    by corleone

    I'm so glad someone is with me on "Magnolia" NightHeat. Great post, my feelings exactly! Everyone who thinks I am an idiot for not likgin this movie feels the need to explain it like I don't understand it. I undertand it, I get it, its just is an absolutely unintersting and "full of itself" movie

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 2:41:01 AM CST

    Iron Giant falls below radar; South Park jams radar

    by ck dexter haven

    Once again the Iron Giant is ignored. Of course, the folks at Warner Bros. most likely did a similar job of promoting IG in the Oscar race as they did in promoting it during the theatrical release (read: they sat around with their thumbs stuck in a very dark place). I found IG far better and far more original than Toy Story 2, which was, itself a great movie.

    The South Park snub was inevitable, I guess, in spite of the fact that it was one of the smartest, funniest, most observant movies in years. I thought it might get at least a music nomination of some kind. On the other hand, can you imagine the Academy trying to put on some cheesy performance of a South Park "best song" nomination during the awards show? The best songs off the SP soundtrack are almost all either (delightfully) profane (Uncle F*****; It's Easy, M'Kay, Kyle's Mom's a...) or politically incorrect (I'm Super) or incomprehensible to non-fans (What Would Brian Boitano Do?).

    Ultimately, I believe, both of these movies will stand the test of time and will receive the recognition they are due.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 3:04:43 AM CST

    EYES, Matrix, Fight Club

    by tigerbus

    Regardless of what you think of the movie as a whole, i think it's pretty absurd that Eyes Wide Shut didn't make the short list for cinematography. i didn't expect it to get nominated but, but surely it should be in the top eight. pleasantly surprised to see james haygood get nominated for Fight Club editing, but shocked that The Matrix didn't make the list. That's just silly.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 3:32:25 AM CST

    Why South Park won't be nominated...

    by ben dobyns

    The Academy excluded it and Tarzan from consideration a few months ago. Even if everybody voted for South Park, it wouldn't be nominated. They couldn't get rid of it alone without causing a major fuss, so Tarzan took the fall as well. (If I were a Phil Collins fan, I would be complaining, but luckily, I'm not!) Play safe, boys and girls.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 3:38:44 AM CST

    Overall...

    by kerle

    Not too bad. Most of the nominations are fair (but why does Any Given Sunday get anything??). I'm still trying to figure out why The Matrix wasn't nominated for Cinematography. It basically (although Fight Club offerred new stuff as well) changed the entire way that movies can be filmed. As far as soundtracks go...while I laughed my ass of at South Park (or at least the songs), I can't honestly say that they had the best song. Funny, but only great in the context of the satire of the movie, during the movie. They were hilarious, though. Why Williams wasn't nominated for Episode 1 eludes me completely. And why the hell doesn't Fight Club have a nomination for adapted screenplay? But really, aside from those...not too bad this year.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 3:52:41 AM CST

    Iron Giant and American Beauty

    by derpavian

    I guess I'm the only person in America that thinks American Beauty is overrated. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it's not the be all end all that it has roundly been made out to be. You want an insightful film on what it is to be human, check out the Ice Storm.

    And I agree with the Iron Giant comments....what a great film.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 4:45:39 AM CST

    What A Good Year For The Movies

    by vimto

    Ahem........Eyes Wide Shut, Blair Witch, Fight Club, Sixth Sense (at a push), Drop Dead Gorgeous, Bowfinger, Still Crazy and a couple of others. Not bad films at all, at least I thought.
    Bugger the Oscars, Scorsese, Kubrick and so on have never won, so to win is obviously to lose.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 6:00:02 AM CST

    I wanna f*ck a midget!

    by hidden finger

    Julia Robers is the best actress in the world. She is made of cheese and cannot act under any light equipment -- Because of her massive popularity, Julia Roberts is bringing Dogme 95 here to the states. Now, I think RUNAWAY BRIDE she be nominated for every award there is -- It rocks. I haven't had such an adreniline rush for that many hours since the time I ass pummeled a one legged midget. In fact, I have an academy screening VHS tape of RUNAWAY BRIDE which i cherish so much the I've removed the tape from the case and shoved it all inch by inch up my butt... Oh, and DEEP BLUE SEA was by far the best studio porn movies I have ever seen. Is there an award for a movies that makes you jerk off in the theater? Well, if so, that movie needs to win it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • L&G,
    Here's the link:
    http://canoe.ca/JamOscar2000/feb14_bogusoscar.html

    Next time, check your stuff before posting man... you're gonna look like an incredible joke come tomorrow.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 6:14:30 AM CST

    Alexander De Large for President!

    by methos

    If anyone bothers to scroll down this far, I've seen Sam Mendes' "American Beauty" twice, and I've got the original script. I'm now convinced more than ever that it is a good film, but it is highly overrated. Check out Michael Wilmington's review of it. This is unfortunate because it takes away nominations from other more deserving (insert your favorites) films.
    RE: "The Insider" Although many people missed it along with Lynch's "The Straight Story" thanks to the marketing efforts, or lack of, from Disney. I think people would be surprised at how good a film it really is. I just cn't believe Michael Mann hasn't won anything since "The Jericho Mile" twenty years ago.
    RE: "Eyes Wide Shut" Kubrick worked on adapting Schnitzler's novel for almost thirty years. I wish they'd show him some courtesy.
    RE: Madonna "Beautiful Stranger" The repeating guitar chord during the song is ripped off from Robin Guthrie from the title track of the Cocteau Twins' 1988 album "Blue Bell Knoll." Of course Madonna's producer William Orbit hung out with them way back then. Did I mention Madonna is huge fan of the vocal stylings of Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins. Hmmm.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 6:35:03 AM CST

    All about my mother???

    by vicrui

    I must vote for "All about my mother" for Best Picture Overall. I mean last year "Life is beautiful got robbed for best picture". We must face that foreigns films are making their way into best movies categories. Soon american films will have to fight off the foreign films. We must be thankful though, this is good for film everywhere.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 7:20:22 AM CST

    UNtalented Mr. Ripley (except Jude)

    by cthulu

    Paltrow and Damon were absolutely horrible in this movie. Would have nominated Brendan Frasier (in "Dudley Do Right") before Damon and Russian chick in "American Pie" before Paltrow.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 7:59:44 AM CST

    Run Lola Run

    by justkim

    I would like to know why "Lola" isn't on the Academy's list of eligible films this year. Is wasn't on last years list either (last year's list is available through Oscar.org; this year's through Oscar.com) What's the deal?

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  • Feb 15, 2000 8:13:08 AM CST

    All about my mother should be up there

    by moreno

    Ok... lemme just ask you ppl something... why is the academy so gay? honest... like fightclub didnt this great movie deserve WAY more nominations???? or any of those GREAT ones :) All about my mother is/was amazing... Life is beau. Is/was amazing... Dogma (the danish films) are amazing... lets face, Europe are now talking... and allthough hollywood is rich, they have RUN OUT OF IDEAS! well... lets face it... new batman, x-men, true lies2, spiderman... all based on stuff doomed to fail *snifffff*, SO i say we just relax and let the invasion go on. Afterall, in a couple of years im sure the SU is going to be making re-makes or adaptations of them all (Moreno looks at Tim Robbins movie which has a plot too similar to life is beautiful)... ps: ADVISE: See DOGMA! its queer, its sounds funny (like most danish words sound) but it kicks!

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  • Feb 15, 2000 8:54:21 AM CST

    joining the ranks

    by roger mortis

    First off, if this list is the real thing it's pretty damn cool, if not well, we got a pretty good talk back out of it...:-)

    Secondly, it's fu**ing outrageous that the Matrix wasn't nominated for best score, best original script, art direction and just about any godamn award concieveble...

    Third, Sixth Sense was NOT all that it's been cracked up to be, it was an ok movie filled with logical fallacies and a twist...so is that Oscar material - I think Not.
    In that case, why not give the best movie award to...oh I don't know, TPM (Logical fallacies Galore, but no twist. And let's not forget that brilliant, lovable animatated cutie, Jar-Jar...MHBIH).

    Finally I will end my rant by asking, ney Demanding, that Fight Club be given a(t least) nomination for the excellent Dust Brothers soundtrack. ( for other ravings on Fight Club, see Matrix section of post)

    C YA'll!

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  • Feb 15, 2000 8:55:50 AM CST

    It seems Harry's list had a crack...

    by zakchase

    since Cider House Rules got a best picture nomination.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 8:58:59 AM CST

    Told you this list was made up...

    by rule britannia

    What a load of rubbish. Total bull. South Park got nominated after all - who came up with this made up crap?

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:01:38 AM CST

    Pretty Damn Accurate...

    by sooprrr

    just missing CHR, but accurate on every other point. Not bad, considering how weird the choices turned out to be, and how many great movies were out this year!

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:01:38 AM CST

    Pretty Damn Accurate...

    by sooprrr

    just missing CHR, but accurate on every other point. Not bad, considering how weird the choices turned out to be, and how many great movies were out this year!

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:06:51 AM CST

    oscar list huh

    by jasonnick

    where the hell did you get this information? what did you get a list:

    "Hey Harry I have a list, post it"
    -Anonymous

    I mean come on this list was just flat out fucking wrong and caused a lot of angst! Check your facts jack!

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:08:55 AM CST

    This list is now OFFICIAL bullshit

    by paco j

    Example: Lasse Halstrom. End of Story. But never mind that shit: Howsabout BLAME CANADA as Best Song. YEAH! FUCKIN'YEAH!!!!!! How do all those old academy farts like the sound of "Oscar Nominee Trey Parker", or, "...from the Oscar Nominated SOUTH PARK: BIGGER ,LONGER,AND UNCUT"

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:11:13 AM CST

    Hits, misses, picks

    by t. earl grey

    Looks to me like this list must have been culled from several different sources. All of the actor/actress nominees were right on target, while the rest given so far this morning (I've only seen those announced by Rehme and Hoffman) completely missed a couple. Be that as it may, here are my picks for the eventual winners: Best Actor - Denzel Washington; Best Actress - Annette Benning; Best Supporting Actor - Haley Joel Osment; Best Supporting Actress - Angelina Jolie; Best Original Screenplay - Sixth Sense; Best Adapted Screenplay - The Insider; Best Director - Sam Mendes, American Beauty; Best Picture - American Beauty.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:11:13 AM CST

    This list is now OFFICIAL bullshit

    by paco j

    Example: Lasse Halstrom. End of Story. But never mind that shit: Howsabout BLAME CANADA as Best Song. YEAH! FUCKIN'YEAH!!!!!! How do all those old academy farts like the sound of "Oscar Nominee Trey Parker", or, "...from the Oscar Nominated SOUTH PARK: BIGGER ,LONGER,AND UNCUT"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 9:11:32 AM CST

    This list is now OFFICIAL bullshit

    by paco j

    Example: Lasse Halstrom. End of Story. But never mind that shit: Howsabout BLAME CANADA as Best Song. YEAH! FUCKIN'YEAH!!!!!! How do all those old academy farts like the sound of "Oscar Nominee Trey Parker", or, "...from the Oscar Nominated SOUTH PARK: BIGGER ,LONGER,AND UNCUT"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 9:12:16 AM CST

    THE LIST IS A BUST

    by dragonfrog

    It's official. The list is bogus. How else could Cider House Rules be nominated as film and director and Jonze be nominated as director, since they weren't on Harry's list. Someone pulled the wool over harry's eyes with a list of educated guesses. So much for knowing the 6th 7th and 8th choices . It's all unreliable. To the actual nominees I must add. Carrey got robbed, Magnolia got robbed (somewhat). Ina year of brilliant , daring fair like magnolia, Malkovich, and even TopsyTurvy, it's disappointing to see middlebrow, unexciting stuff like Cider House and Green Mile Best picture nominees.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:12:58 AM CST

    Whoops...

    by paco j

    Sorry folks, got a bit crazy there.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 9:19:03 AM CST

    Right on! Screw the hecklers!

    by opolock

    Are you talkbackers on fucking crack? The list was COMPLETELY accurate with only ONE exception! HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER STUDIED PROBABILITY?!?!? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CHANCES OF THAT WERE? What a bunch of fucking MORONS.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 9:30:27 AM CST

    GREAT GREAT LIST!

    by xjeangreyx

    Okay.. this list is one of the BEST oscar lists I have seen in a LONG time!!! With the exception of Kate Winslet and the American Beauty CRAP EVERYONE who has deserved an oscar wink has gotten one. I can't think of a year when I agreed with almost EVERY nomination. Jim is a longshot, but being a long time Jim fan it's nice to see him nodded at. I'm also excited that the kid from 6th Sense got a nomination!! He was SO GREAT. And Any Given Sunday deserves the sound editing award.. even if you don't like Football or the movie you have to admit those were some pretty awesome sound effects very effectively used.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:30:45 AM CST

    GREAT GREAT LIST!

    by xjeangreyx

    Okay.. this list is one of the BEST oscar lists I have seen in a LONG time!!! With the exception of Kate Winslet and the American Beauty CRAP EVERYONE who has deserved an oscar wink has gotten one. I can't think of a year when I agreed with almost EVERY nomination. Jim is a longshot, but being a long time Jim fan it's nice to see him nodded at. I'm also excited that the kid from 6th Sense got a nomination!! He was SO GREAT. And Any Given Sunday deserves the sound editing award.. even if you don't like Football or the movie you have to admit those were some pretty awesome sound effects very effectively used.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 15, 2000 9:35:10 AM CST

    glaring omissions

    by imperialguy

    Disappointed that Carrey and Bently did not get nominated.
    More importantly, where the hell is AMERICAN MOVIE on the Best Doc. list?!? Clearly, one of the year's best films, it deserved at least that.

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  • Feb 15, 2000 9:35:21 AM CST

    Stupid bloody thing

    by wugly

    Dear Opolock, this was supposed to be an accurate list, probability shouldn't have come into it (and it was more than one wrong as well).
    Harry, I'm waiting for a public apology on this, how are we supposed to believe your scoops now??? Too bloody eager to score big points to check the source. Worst thing is if the academy hadn't gone a little unpredictable on us, we'd probably never have found out!!!

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