To begin, the big news this week is the National Board of Review, as they announced their choices for the best in film for 2000, and here is what they selected:
BEST PICTURE: QUILLS
BEST ACTOR: JAVIER BARDEM, BEFORE NIGHT FALLS
BEST ACTRESS: JULIA ROBERTS, ERIN BROCKOVICH
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: JOAQUIN PHOENIX IN QUILLS, THE YARDS, GLADIATOR
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: LUPE ANTIVEROS, CHUCK & BUCK
BEST DIRECTOR: STEVEN SODERBERGH, ERIN BROCKOVICH & TRAFFIC
TOP TEN LIST:
1.) QUILLS
2.) TRAFFIC
3.) CROUPIER
4.) YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
5.) BILLY ELLIOT
6.) BEFORE NIGHT FALLS
7.) GLADIATOR
8.) WONDER BOYS
9.) SUNSHINE
10.) DANCER IN THE DARK
TOP FIVE FOREIGN FILMS:
1.) CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
2.) BUTTERFLY
3.) A TIME FOR DRUNKEN HORSES
4.) MALENA
5.) GIRL ON THE BRIDGE
EXCELLENCE IN FILMMAKING:
- AMERICAN PSYCHO
- BEST IN SHOW
- CHUCK & BUCK
- GIRLFIGHT
- HAMLET
- NURSE BETTY
- REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
- SHOWER
- SNATCH!
- TWO FAMILY HOUSE
BEST ENSEMBLE: STATE AND MAIN
BEST DOCUMENTARY: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HANK GREENBERG
BEST SCREENPLAY: TED TALLY, ALL THE PRETTY HORSES
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE: MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, GIRLFIGHT
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ACTOR: JAMIE BELL, BILLY ELLIOT
PRODUCTION DESIGN: GLADIATOR
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS: BJORK, DANCER IN THE DARK
ACHIEVEMENT IN FOREIGN FILM: DECALOGUE SERIES
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: ELLEN BURSTYN
SPECIAL FILMMAKING ACHIEVEMENT: KENNETH LONERGAN, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
The National Board of Review is not typically the biggest of the precursor awards, but it does get some titles noticed. The selection of Quills as Best Picture of the Year certainly does increase its Oscar chances. I was surprised at the strong showing by Erin Brockovich ... I expected Julia Roberts to receive an Oscar nomination, and now she may be the victor if some of the critics prizes start going to her. Steven Soderbergh winning for the directing of Erin Brockovich and the soon-to-be-released Traffic certainly gives him more exposure for a possible Oscar nomination.
As most had expected, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won the first Best Foreign Language film honor, one of which I'm sure will be many ... I think we can almost call the race for the Foreign Film Oscar for that film. There's even speculation it may get a Best Picture nod, and in this year of so little high quality films, it's certainly possible. Other than that, not a whole lot unexpected in these choices, and I think it proves how this year's Oscar race may be a lot like 1996, when Jerry Maguire was the only typical studio production up for Best Picture. I think we'll see more independent productions and actors being nominated come Oscar time.
