Ever since I was a little girl I have been a fan of movies and awards shows, especially the Academy Awards. In my family predicting the Oscars has been a tradition. Every year since I was 10 or 12 my family has made predictions as to who should win. The person who has the most predictions right gets to go to their favorite restaurant. The past 10 years or so I have usually always won (as I say unpretentiously). In order to keep the tradition alive, I would like to make my own predictions for Sunday’s event.
I consider myself a movie fanatic and often see about two to four movies a month. This past year has been a great year for innovative and inventive movies. There have been two movies this year that have made me gasp in awe, laugh uncontrollably and applaud the creative mind. Both movies have been snubbed by the Academy in someway.
The first is “Being John Malkovich,” a twisted black comedy where a puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) finds a portal that leads into the mind of actor John Malkovich. As strange and confusing as this film may sound, it is orchestrated beautifully and is my favorite movie this year.
Cameron Diaz who is better known for silly romps in movies like “There’s Something About Mary” really shows that she is an actress, can do almost any type of film and should have been nominated for her role as Lotte Schwartz. John Malkovich, playing himself, was incredible.
When an actor can make a parody of himself it is just amazing. He was robbed of a nomination. As well, the movie should have been nominated because it has to be one of the most innovative films for first time film director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.
The second film is “Election,” a biting satire on a high school election for senior class president, starring Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, who is terrific as feisty go-getter Tracy Flick. Her performance is the best from a former child actress in a long time and she should have been nominated for best actress. Witherspoon makes her character, Tracy, the villain who everybody loves to hate.
Now on to my Oscar picks. I am not necessarily saying that all the people I name will win, just that if I could solely choose they would.
In the category of best supporting actor, I feel that Tom Cruise did an incredible job in “Magnolia” and deserves to win. Tom Cruise is one of those actors who I do not like, but in this role he had so much emotion in his character.
Angelina Jolie’s performance as Lisa in “Girl Interrupted” was phenomenal. She is an actress who can make a small role shine and stick out in one’s mind. On the other hand Catherine Keener as Maxine in “Malkovich” is marvelous as the bitchy and edgy character who cuts like a knife. I am really torn on this category and would be ecstatic if either Keener or Jolie won the Oscar.
Annette Bening was outstanding in “American Beauty.” This has been her best acting to date since her last nomination in the gritty drama, 1990’s “The Grifters.” She is perfect as the bitchy wife.
In the best actor category, Kevin Spacey deserves a second Oscar for his performance as the lecherous father going through a mid-life crisis in “American Beauty.”
The best original screenplay award should go to Charlie Kaufman for “Being John Malkovich,” that has the most creative plot and cast of characters that I have ever seen.
“Election,” written by director Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, deserves to win for best adapted screenplay. It is the first film in a long time that clearly shows the harsh competition, cruelty and reality of high school life with dry, sardonic humor.
Finally out of the nominations for Best Picture, “American Beauty” is most deserving. Director Sam Mendes does masterfully in showing the true dysfunctional side of family life. All the actors are top notch and “American Beauty” is a film that has one leaving the theater valuing their own life.
Jazmine Ponce, a junior journalism major, is arts & entertainment editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at jponce@ulv.edu.
