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Director nominated for both 'Brockovich' and 'Traffic'Soderbergh, 'Gladiator' lead Oscar nominations
(CNN) -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its annual Oscar nominations Tuesday morning, and when the smoke cleared, "Gladiator" and Steven Soderbergh stood tallest. The Ridley Scott-directed "Gladiator," a return to ancient Rome and the men who fought to the death in its Colosseum, led the way in the nomination count. It garnered 12, including best picture, best director in Scott, best actor in Russell Crowe, and best supporting actor in Joaquin Phoenix. "Gladiator" producer David Franzoni said he was worried that the film's summer release and success would frighten away Academy voters.
"We had concerns people might write it off as a blockbuster or might not remember it," Franzoni. "But they remembered it, and that's a testament to the brilliant direction." Soderbergh, meantime, received a double dose of good news. Both of the films he released in 2000 -- the legal feel-good film "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic," a stinging critique of U.S. and Mexican drug policies -- were nominated for best picture and best director. Soderbergh is the first director since 1938 -- and only the third in history -- to win two best director nominations in the same year. 'A very brilliant, focused, intelligent guy'Marshall Herskovitz, one of the producers of "Traffic," credited Soderbergh with the film's five nominations. "When it's someone like Steven, you just get out of the way and let him do his thing," said Herskovitz. "He's just a very brilliant, focused, intelligent guy." Herskovitz says the nominations are redemption for "Traffic"'s creators, who believed in the controversial subject matter and overcame trepidation from studios. "Every major studio passed on this movie," he says, "and one of the great satisfactions is really discovering how strongly people feel about the subject." The nominations were announced Tuesday morning in Los Angeles by Academy President Robert Rehme and Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates. The 73rd Academy Awards will be held on March 25, 2001, at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium. Steve Martin will be the host. It will be televised on ABC. Lee: 'My homecoming project'While "Gladiator" topped all nominees, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a close second with 10 Academy nominations, including best picture, best non-English language film, and best director in Ang Lee. "This was supposed to be my homecoming project," said Lee. "I'm really taking to heart how this film is performing in America."
"Chocolat," directed by Lasse Hallstrom, rounds out the best picture nominees. Anne Thompson of Premiere Magazine told CNN that "Chocolat," which received five nominations, benefited from a strong push from its studio, Miramax. "It was something of a surprise and shows (Miramax's) marketing mettle remains," says Thompson. One notable absence from the best picture list is the Robert Zemeckis movie "Cast Away." "They had hopes for best picture, but they only had two nominations," says Thompson. Along with Soderbergh, Scott and Lee, best director nominations went to Steven Daldry ("Billy Elliot"). Will third time be charm for Roberts?Julia Roberts is hoping the third time's a charm. She was nominated for a best actress Oscar for "Erin Brockovich." It's the bankable star's third nomination by the Academy, though she has yet to win. She'll contend against Joan Allen ("The Contender"), Juliette Binoche ("Chocolat"), Ellen Burstyn ("Requiem for a Dream"), and Laura Linney ("You Can Count On Me"). It was Linney's first Oscar nomination.
"A year ago, if someone told me I'd be getting this, I wouldn't believe it," said Linney. "This is a huge, huge thing for me. I just feel so damn good." Meanwhile, Burstyn is an Oscar veteran. She won best actress for 1974's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," and she's been nominated four other times. "It's been awhile," Burstyn said. "My Oscar is getting kind of tarnished. I looked at it a couple of years ago and thought I really needed a new one." Best actor nominations went to Javier Bardem ("Before Night Falls"), Russell Crowe ("Gladiator"), Ed Harris ("Pollock"), Geoffrey Rush ("Quills"), and Tom Hanks ("Cast Away"). Hanks has already won two Oscars, and he's been nominated a total of five times. Rush has previously won one Oscar, for "Shine." Best supporting actor nominations went to Willem Dafoe ("Shadow of the Vampire"), Albert Finney ("Erin Brockovich"), Jeff Bridges ("The Contender"), Joaquin Phoenix ("Gladiator") and Benicio Del Toro ("Traffic"). Herskovitz says Del Toro, who plays a Tijuana cop who stands up to overwhelming odds in the war on drugs, should be a top contender for the Oscar. "To me, that performance, the only word that comes to mind is transcendant," Herskovitz says. "I just felt like this guy was working on another level." Nominated for best supporting actress are Judi Dench ("Chocolat"), Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock"), Kate Hudson ("Almost Famous"), Frances McDormand ("Almost Famous"), and Julie Walters ("Billy Elliot"). Best original screenplay nominations picked by the Academy: "Almost Famous," "Billy Elliot," "Erin Brockovich," "Gladiator," and "You Can Count On Me." The Academy's pick for best screenplay based on material previously published or produced went to "Chocolat," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "O Brother, Where Art Thou," "Traffic," and "Wonder Boys." More than 5,000 Academy members pick the nominees in a total of 23 categories, and 242 films were eligible for consideration this year. The Associated Press contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES: 'Crouching Tiger' snares two Globes RELATED SITES:
The 73rd Annual Academy Awards |
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