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Issue date: March 25, 2001
Michael
Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones gave powerful performances
in "Traffic", but Oscar voters snubbed them. Will
they work together again? Will they attend the ceremony anyway?
Tricia Marrapodi, Tucson, Ariz.
They'll be there. The beautiful Mrs. Douglas, who never fails
to wow a crowd in designer dresses to die for, will be a presenter
for a second time, along with such other glamour girls as
Julie Andrews, Julia Stiles and Best Actress best bet Julia
Roberts. Douglas, 56, and Zeta-Jones, 31, who are both in
"Traffic" but have no scenes in common, say they're
looking for a film to do together (she's hinted at something
"up our sleeves") so they can bring along baby Dylan and enjoy
some family time.
I was thrilled to see Willem Dafoe in "Shadow of the
Vampire", as well as to hear he got an Oscar nod, because
it seemed he wasn't working much. What else has he got going?
J. Egan, Santa Barbara, Calif.
You don't see him in blockbusters because Dafoe, 45, prefers
to play conflicted characters -- think Sgt. Elias in Platoon
(his first Oscar-nominated role) or Jesus in The Last Temptation
of Christ. Also, his first influences were actors in foreign
films who took edgier roles. "I'm not attracted to characters
that just reinforce what we already know," Dafoe tells us.
"They have to challenge us to take a different look." Creating
Vampire's different look was itself a challenge. Dafoe, who
lives in New York with companion Elizabeth LeCompte and their
son, Jack, 18, tells us he spent three meditative hours a
day in makeup. It's a wonder he said yes to his current job,
playing the Green Goblin in the movie version of the Marvel
comic Spider-Man, due in 2002.
My Best Supporting Actress pick is "Pollock's"
Marcia Gay Harden. She's not the type who gets much publicity.
Jim Dawson, Clinton, Md.
The petite brunette, 41, is a "Navy brat" who spent formative
years in Germany, Greece and Japan. She tells us she never
dreamed as a youngster of becoming an actress, but her affinity
for "front-porch theatrics" may have been foreshadowing. "We
sold tickets and invited the neighborhood." Harden, married
with one daughter, learned to appreciate theater in Greece
when she become "intoxicated" by plays she saw under the Parthenon.
Yet it was a drama class in Germany that set her on her current
path. She was told she was good, and that's all it took. "There
was no turning back."
We have two questions about the much nominated movie "Gladiator":
Will there be a prequel? It's perfect for that. And what are
star Russell Crowe's chances of winning Best Actor?
Loren and Rhonda Jalbert, Boise, Idaho
There are no plans for a prequel or sequel, but the odds on
Crowe are good. On his side is statistical history: "Gladiator"
has the most nominations going in, making it the most likely
candidate for Best Picture, and the Academy often gives Best
Actor and Best Picture to the same film. His closest competitor
is Tom Hanks, who could win a third Best Actor statue. On
his side: He's well liked, and some believe his Cast Away
was cheated in nominations. For timely handicapping online,
try goldderby.com.
Go to top
Speaking
of Oscar
The 73rd Academy Awards show on ABC starts Sunday at 8 p.m.
ET/ 5 p.m. PT with the usual parade of personalities on the
red carpet. At 8:30 p.m. ET, the Oscar-giving begins, and
director Louis J. Horvitz, helming his fifth consecutive show,
begins the challenge of keeping it under control. Is he worried?
Not a bit.
Q:
Last year, you had a highly technical show laden with special
effects. What's in store this year?
Because it's 2001, the theme is futuristic, starting with
the set, which is designed to be clean and elegant.
Q: The big difference this year is the evening's host:
Steve Martin [shown] instead of Billy Crystal. Does that change
the show?
No. Both are hugely talented guys, both writers, directors,
actors. It's like having John Elway or Dan Marino. Both are
terrific.
Q: What are your most memorable Oscar moments?
Roberto Benigni leaping on the chairs; Kim Basinger crying
with Alec Baldwin looking on; Cuba Gooding Jr. jumping onto
the stage.
Q: Critics always say the show is too long. Any thoughts?
I view [Oscar shows] like the Super Bowl. They're an event.
People have parties. They go get more snacks when technical
awards are on. They aren't sitting in one place for hours.
I don't think [viewers] mind at all.
Go to top
THIS
WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
(Oscar
nominees or winners, past or present, in gold
type)
March
25: Sheryl Swoopes, 30; Sarah Jessica Parker, 36; Elton
John, 54
March 26: Diana Ross, 57;
James Caan, 61
March 27: Mariah Carey, 31; Quentin
Tarantino, 38
March 28: Vince Vaughn, 31; Lucy Lawless, 33; Reba
McEntire, 46
March 29: Kurt Thomas, 45
March 30: Celine Dion, 33; Warren
Beatty, 64
March 31: Ewan McGregor, 30; Al Gore, 53; Christopher
Walken, 58
Contributing: Frappa Stout
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