Page 28 - FOYER_Cannes 2001

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BERLIN • LOSANGELES • MILAN • FOYER • CANNES • TOKYO • LONDON DIARY
.ANDTHENTHEREWASOSCAR’SSHINDIG continued from page 25
suit. With the supporting actors pic- tured in their various guises of devil- may-care bonhomie, Albert Finney was noticeably absent as he was sen- sibly somewhere in Europe betting on the horses... But then, after five nomi- nations and no wins, he’s an old hand at this awards game.
“And the Oscar goes too... Benicio Del Toro” No big surprise
there. Hilary Swank swanned on for Best Actor... “And the Oscar goes to... Russell Crowe!” And he did look a little flum- moxed for a moment. “I owe this (holding his Oscar on high) to one bloke, and his name is Ridley Scott.” He then men-
tioned Jamie Bell, which was another nudge for the Brits.
Next, presenter Martin intro- duced Kevin Spacey, who then voiced the most predictable words of the evening: “And the Oscar goes to... Julia Roberts!” Julia strode up to the stage, took the little fellow off Kevin and just laughed. And what a laugh. It was a bracing, isn’t-this-a-fabulous- time-to-be-alive laugh. Then, after giv- ing her co-nominees their due, she thanked the absent Finney, calling him “a friend and a pleasure to act with”. Then, mid-stream, she screamed “I love it up here! I love the
world! I’m so happy! Thank you!” Thank God for some emotion. And without a tear in sight. Then the sec- ond Crowe called when Almost Famous won its sole Oscar for best original screenplay - for Cameron Crowe. Then Steven Soderbergh stood up to collect his gold man for directing Traffic. Making an impas- sioned speech about the value of cre- ators everywhere - whether they be writers, painters or filmmakers. Soderbergh beat out some stiff com- petition for Best Director: Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, Stephen Daldry and, hardest of all, himself - for directing Erin Brockovich.
As the evening began to warm up, Tom Cruise revealed that the Best Film was not Traffic, nor Crouching Tiger, but Gladiator. Ridley Scott looked somehow pained, as if to say, “HowcouldIhavenotdirectedsucha great film?” The praise of his produc- ers must have given him some suc- cour. Yet, in spite of more thanks doled out to the late and great bon viveur Oliver Reed, it was hardly a great year for the British.
Our glory was consigned to a trophy for best costume design - Janty Yates for Gladiator - and a life- time achievement award for the ven- erable cinematographer and director Jack Cardiff. The latter, introduced via an emotional speech by Dustin Hoffman, who sounded like he was about to break into tears, proved to be a particularly graceful and digni- fied winner. Cardiff, who has been in the business for over 70 years, simply gripped his statuette and announced, movingly, “It’s a dream, isn’t it?” It was, rather, like one of those reveries that seem to go on and on without any real narrative direction and then suddenly stop at the best bit. ■
Bjork; Jack Cardiff and Dustin Hoffman; Jennifer Lopez; Courtney Love Photos courtesy of PA, Alpha, Rex, Camera Press, Corbis Sygma and Splash.