A Blockbuster night

Friday, March 13, 1998

A Blockbuster night

AWARDS: Awards show lets fans vote for favorite celebrities

By Aimee Phan

Daily Bruin Staff

For the last month, Hollywood has been in the thick of awards
season, dishing out honors to anybody and everybody who’s done a
movie in anticipation of the mama of all awards, the Oscars. On
Tuesday night, the celebrities came out for the Blockbuster
Entertainment Awards, where members of the mega-chain video and
music stores voted for their favorite movies, actors and musicians
of the year.

What makes the Blockbuster Awards different from, say, the
Golden Globes or the Grammy Awards, is that not the usual
critically lauded films and musicians are honored. This is an
unabashed popularity contest more like the People’s Choice Awards,
and the actors who attended the event appreciated the
difference.

Julia Roberts, who took home two trophies, for Favorite Actress
in a Comedy ("My Best Friend’s Wedding") and Favorite Actress in a
Suspense ("Conspiracy Theory"), said that these awards are
particularly gratifying because they come from true fan
support.

"(Although) it’s nice when your peers give you something because
they understand exactly what you go through, for people who simply
go and watch the result and appreciate it, there’s something really
tremendous about that," Roberts said.

Will Smith, another double-time winner for Favorite Actor in a
Science Fiction movie and Favorite Soundtrack ("Men in Black"),
adds, "What’s great about this award is the fans actually vote.
They take time out of their day to send in a ballot or get on the
internet to vote for you. This is like the raw, uncut truth."

The celebrities arrived at the Pantages Theatre amidst
screaming, manic fans and even louder and more manic photographers,
who pushed and shoved their way into getting the best shot of the
actors and musicians who strolled down the red carpet. The ceremony
started promptly at 5 p.m. where it was broadcast live for the East
Coast.

A wide range of famous personalities, from ice skater Michelle
Kwan to Howard Stern, graced the stage either by presenting or
receiving a Blockbuster trophy. The show also featured live
performances by Boyz II Men, Savage Garden, Garth Brooks and Mariah
Carey.

The evening was also marked with sadness as the news of
85-year-old veteran actor Lloyd Bridges’ death filtered to the
stunned and grieved celebrities, who all paid their condolences to
the family. Among the actors who expressed their sadness over the
loss was Filmmaker Award recipient Robert Duvall.

"He was a lovely man," Duvall said. "I knew him fairly well. He
was a wonderful member of the film community and a wonderful guy.
My feelings go out to the family."

Added presenter Joan Cusack, "I just feel so sad. I’m actually
working on a movie with Jeff Bridges, so I feel so terrible for
him. It must be very very hard."

After the winners gave their acceptance speeches, they were
shuttled off to the photographers and press tents where they
answered questions from reporters and posed adoringly with their
trophies.

Linda Hamilton, who won the Best-Actress-in-an-Action-Adventure
award for "Dante’s Peak" joked about the hectic pace of the past
few weeks with all the awards shows that she and her husband,
director James Cameron of "Titanic," have been going to.

"I think we cannot wait until this is over," Hamilton said.
"It’s amazing the level of stress that comes with all of this. No
matter what he says about not thinking about it all the time, it is
a tremendous ordeal to be on top of your game. I can’t wait until
we get to just put this all behind us and go away and do something
real."

Garth Brooks, who took the honor of Favorite Male Country
Artist, expressed modest gratitude for his award, which is proof of
the loyalty of his long-devoted fans.

"I think the awards are more meaningful because the longer
you’re in this business, the less of these you get," Brooks said.
"So instead of becoming more blase and taking them for granted,
they almost become more precious."

One of the few major highlights of the rather predictable show
was when Howard Stern, the Best Male Newcomer, got distracted by
presenter Heather Locklear and impulsively decided to make out with
her on the stage instead of saying a thank-you speech.

"I just went up there and got carried away," Stern said. "I
thought it was a great moment to be on top of Heather Locklear. I
have no problem telling all of you that I was aroused while I was
on top of her. The woman is exceptionally beautiful."

And while the winners were grateful for their prizes since they
were given by the most valuable "critics," the people, Will Smith
says that the opinion he values most is of his 5-year-old son,
Trey.

"The best thing about my son is that he actually watches all the
movies and listens to music," Smith said. "So his opinion is really
important to me (because) he just tells the truth." GENEVIEVE
LIANG/Daily Bruin

Linda Hamilton, who was nominated for best actress in an action
film for "Dante’s Peak," arrives with her husband, "Titanic"
director James Cameron.

GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin

Movie fans voted Will Smith as favorite actor in the
science-fiction category.