Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / March 23, 1989, edition 1 / Page 16
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DTHOmnibusThursday, March 23, 19899 r V Glenn Close (above, left) is a strong contender for Best Actress; "Dangerous Liaisons,"the movie she starred in, is among the movies nominated for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay. - is,- V ' 1 I theme from "Bagdad Cafe," "Cal ling You," doesnt stand a chance. There isn't much to choose between Phil Collins's Doo-be-doo-be "Two Hearts" from "Buster" and Carly Simon's labored "Let the River Run" from "working Girl." But early will probably win. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE The irony here is that the two most renouned film composers, John Williams and Maurice Jarre, wrote the least memorable of the nominated scores (for "The Accid ental Tourist" and "Gorillas in the Mist" respectively). On the other hand, George Fenton's score for "Dangerous Liaisons" and Hans Zimmer's music for "Rain Man" enhanced each film enormously. It's hard to pick a winner, since they are so different. BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Three excellently written come dies are nominated here: "Big," "Bull Durham" and "A Rsh Called Wanda." The Academy, however, will go for Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass's script for "Rain adaptation given the abstract cirt" pretty much directs itself, nature of Kundera's prose, and Alan Parker's slick treatment of "Dangerous Liaisons," which is "Mississippi Burning" attains his more likely to win. ennstopner Hampton initially adapted the story for the stage, and his second rework of the 18th century novel is still sharper and better written than its competitors. BEST FOREIGN FILM After last year's victory with the deserving "Babette's Feast," Denmark has another strong can didate with "Pelle the Conqueror." Hungary's finest filmmaker Istvan Szabo has his new film "Hanussen" nominated. Szabo has already won Frances McDormand is in the running for Best Supporting Actress, while "Mississippi Burning" is up for Best Picture. required stature to claim the honors. "Mississippi Burning" is the most controversial of the bunch, which could work in its favor. However, its message is ineptly expressed and the film as a whole lacks conviction. The battle is between "Dangerous Liaisons" and "Rain Man." Like the 1985 Winner usual level of sensationalism. This is not in itself a bad thing, but the film's subject matter needed a greater sensitivity than Parker gave it. Which is exactly the reason why "Rain Man" worked, and why Barry Levlnson will win. He leaves an unmistakable impression on the "Amadeus," "Dangerous Liaisons" film with his beautifully refined not only establishes its period with style, and makes the smallness of impeccable precision, but also the film work heavily in its favor, incorporates contemporary senti ments with its sparkling dialogue. BEST PICTURE In spite of its undeniable quality, Despite some excellent perfor- the film's chances are sadly dim- mances, "The Accidental Tourist" inshed by the fact that its direc tor his brillianfMephisto," and his was disappointing and simply not tor. Stephen Frears, did not receive latest work with Klaus Maria important enough to win the a director's nomination; no film Brandauer once again in the lead, major award. Similarly, "Working has ever won Best Picture without also stands a good chance. Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay." is an extremely welcome nomination that has been well-accepted in the United States. The favorite here, however, is "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Break down" from the new king of Spanish cinema, Pedro Almodovar. Almodovar has had a phenomenal Man." The atypical way it treats year, and his brilliant new comedy Girl," the only comedy, lacks the its director being nominated. its sensitive subject matter is commendable enough. Above all, though, it proves that, as with "Tootsie" in 1 982, it doesnt matter how many times a script is re written, it can still work. BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY "Gorillas in the Mist" and "The Accidental Tourist" can be dis counted; the former is too bio graphical to be a real adaptation, and the latter is literal to such a degree that you can only fully enjoy the film if you've read the book. "Little Dorrit," by all deserves all the rewards it can get. BEST DIRECTOR The nomination of Martin Scor sese for "The Last Temptation of Christ" is more of a gesture to the director's tenacity than the direc tion of the film. Like David Lynch's nomination two years ago for "Blue Velvet," it shows the respect and support the Academy is willing to give to such individual filmmak ers. Charles Crichton's innocuous direction in "A Fish Called Wanda" is hardly worthy of this kind of praise,- it seems to be yet another accounts, is horribly unfaithful to case of the Academy's predilection the Dickens original. This leaves for old British men. Mike Nichols "The Unbearable Lightness of is the only past winner (for "The Being," which is a remarkable Graduate" in 1967), but "Working "Rain Man," therefore, will win, and not just by default, it is accessible, enjoyable, moving and extremely successful. More impor tantly, it contains an understated depth that raises it above the level of standard Hollywood melo drama to give it a unique and special quality. So there are our predictions. We've used considerable logic and common sense in putting them together. So they'll probably be all wrong. Nevertheless, it'll be worth sitting through those pathetic jokes, horrible acceptance speeches and unbearable rendi tions of the nominated songs to find out who will win the coveted little statuettes. .... ..::" : v w!.jiUiuuuup.u.m M jva ifii A tt ' r-trr- , Spanish producer Pedro Aldomovar is favored to win in the Best Foreign Film category for his comedy "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown."
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 23, 1989, edition 1
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