Bruins voice their choice in Daily Bruin Oscar poll

Thursday, March 13, 1997

SURVEY:

Voters mostly agree with critics’ picks for Academy Awards By
Emily Forster

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Given their own chance to vote for Academy Awards through the
Daily Bruin Online Oscar Poll, UCLA students primarily opt for the
same films that critics predict members of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences will choose.

One might think that a younger, less-tainted perspective would
lead students to choose with more originality and independence.
Unfortunately, they are either slaves to "The English Patient"
band-wagon, or they are as jaded as current Academy members in
their view that unless a film is based on a best selling novel or
an actor is playing a historical figure, Oscars are undeserved.

According to the poll, Best Picture is, as most predict, "The
English Patient." Close behind is "Jerry Maguire," showing that
students have interest in Hollywood quality as well as independent
controversy. Tied for fourth place are "Fargo" and "Shine," and far
behind the rest is the quiet but magnificently well-made "Secrets
& Lies." The Academy, like Bruin voters, will most likely
ignore this brilliant piece of work.

Director of "The English Patient," Anthony Minghella wins the
Best Adapted Screenplay category for his conversion of Michael
Ondaatje’s novel from the page to the screen. The runner-up is John
Hodge, with his adaptation of Irving Welch’s eccentric novel
"Trainspotting." Arthur Miller comes in third for the screen
adaptation of his own dramatic play based on the Salem witch hunt
trials, "The Crucible." Just behind are Billy Bob Thornton for
"Sling Blade" and Kenneth Branagh for "Hamlet."

Best Original Screenplay goes to Ethan and Joel Coen for their
dark, disturbing "Fargo." Cameron Crowe, of "Singles" fame, is
close behind for his screenplay of "Jerry Maguire." Jan Sardi and
Scott Hicks come up right behind Crowe with their script for the
factual-based "Shine." John Sayles gets a few votes for his little
known mystery, "Lone Star," and Mike Leigh catches a meager two
votes for his "Secrets & Lies."

For Best Actress, Frances McDormand wins with her charming
portrayal of a small-town police detective in "Fargo." Next up is
normally comedic actress Kristin Scott Thomas playing a decidedly
serious role in "The English Patient." Diane Keaton is just one
vote behind for her role in "Marvin’s Room," and "Secrets &
Lies’" Brenda Blethyn and "Breaking the Waves’" Emily Watson trail
far behind.

Australian Geoffrey Rush wins the Best Actor category with his
powerful portrayal of mentally disturbed pianist David Helfgot in
"Shine." Ralph Fiennes, an assumed shoe-in to win the Oscar
category, is next up for his romantic lead in "The English
Patient." Tom Cruise comes in third for his role in "Jerry
Maguire," followed by Billy Bob Thornton, a surprise nomination, in
"Sling Blade" and Woody Harrelson in "The People vs. Larry
Flynt."

Cuba Gooding Jr., who debuted in the ground-breaking "Boyz in
the Hood," wins the Best Supporting Actor category for his role as
a disgruntled professional football player in "Jerry Maguire."
Runner-up, William H. Macy gets honored for his wonderfully
pathetic car salesman character in "Fargo." Newcomer Edward Norton
comes in third for his role as a murder suspect in "Primal Fear"
and Armin Mueller Stahl is fourth for his portrayal of an
overbearing parent in "Shine." James Woods’ characterization of a
murdering racist in "Ghosts of Mississippi" is overlooked receiving
only four poll votes.

Favored French actress Juliette Binoche wins the Best Supporting
Actress category by a landslide for "The English Patient." Next is
British Marianne Jean-Baptiste for "Secrets & Lies." Lauren
Bacall’s comeback with her self-centered character in "The Mirror
Has Two Faces" gets her a third place in the poll. Joan Allen
garners five votes for her unpretentious, genuinely emotional role
in "The Crucible," and Barbara Hershey reaped only two votes for
"The Portrait of a Lady."

The winner for Best Director is Joel Coen for his "Fargo."
Anthony Minghella pops in just behind with his work in "The English
Patient," followed by Milos Forman for his controversial "The
People vs. Larry Flynt." Runners up are Scott Hicks for "Shine" and
Mike Leigh for "Secrets & Lies."

The poll exhibits that UCLA students pick "The English Patient"
for three major awards, and focus their attention on popular
nominated films, like "Fargo" and "Shine." It seems that they have
mapped out the Academy’s Oscar distribution. But there is always a
surprise or two on Oscar night. On March 24, the evening of the
Academy Awards, UCLA will discover just how much Bruin voters and
Academy members have in common.

The Academy, like Bruin voters, will most likely ignore this

brilliant piece of work ("Secrets & Lies").