by Doug Young
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The public gave a ratings thumbs
down to the Oscars which anointed “Gladiator” as best picture
but all hailed Julia, Jennifer, Britney and those revealing
gowns.
The critics found the 73rd annual Oscars lacking in buzz
and mostly predictable, except for a surprise ending when the
show finished on schedule for the first time in years.
In fact, the shortage of pizzazz and major moments helped
to create an Oscars telecast on ABC that was the lowest-rated
in five years, according to Nielsen Media Research, which
tracks TV viewing.
About 42.9 million viewers watched the show, compared with
46.3 million last year when ABC also carried the telecast. The
last time fewer people tuned in to the show was 1997, when 40.1
million viewers watched.
Barry Garron of the trade publication Hollywood Reporter
gave a harsh review if the show, calling the telecast “one of
the few Academy Awards presentations that ended on time and
still managed to be too long.”
But the Reporter's cross-town rival Daily Variety was more
enthusiastic, calling the telecast “an affair so bright” — a
nod to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that
puts on the show.
Opinions were also equally split on comedian Steve Martin,
who hosted the awards for the first time after perennial
favorite Billy Crystal was unavailable.
“If Steve Martin proved anything last night, it's how good
Billy Crystal is in the role of Oscar host,” quipped New York
Post writer Adam Buckman. “Martin seemed little more than a
caretaker assigned to fill in until Billy decides to return.”
Indeed, Martin's understated monologue, filled with pokes
at Hollywood and himself, marked a sharp departure from his
more raucous brand of humor as America's original “wild and
crazy guy.”
MARTIN SAID TO LACK ZING
Most critics agreed that Martin's new brand of humor lacked
the zing from the days of old, although some saw the change as
a sign of maturity.
Variety's Phil Gallo called Martin “a careful orator of the
written word, one whose command of the author's pen has pulled
him away from the live stage he once commanded. Yet he was
skillful and at ease as he joshed with the celebs.”
Variety columnist Army Archerd, known for his close ties
with Hollywood glitterati, similarly praised Martin's
performance: “Judging by this Shrine aud(ience) last night, he
can come back any time he wants,” Archerd wrote.
Among individual performances and speeches, Julia Roberts'
acceptance of the best actress Oscar for her role in “Erin
Brockovich” was the critics' pick for high point of the
evening.
“As far as the acceptance speeches went, the longest and
one of the most wonderfully and nakedly emotional in memory was
Julia Roberts'” wrote Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times.
The critics agreed that Roberts could go down in Oscar
history for telling band leader Bill Conti to sit down after he
tried to cut her off with music when she went over her allotted
time limit. Roberts blurted out: “I may never be here again.”
Variety's Archerd said Roberts “finally topped Sally
Field's 'You like me, you really like me!” speech that Field
gave after winning the best actress Oscar for her 1984 film
“Places in the Heart.”
As usual, one of the telecast's other highlights was among
women's fashions.
In that department, Icelandic singer Bjork was singled out
for her swan-like dress, complete with matching egg-shaped
purse. Jennifer Lopez — who was the talk of the Grammys last
year for her super-low-cut Versace dress — also turned heads
with a see-through sage green number from Chanel.
Outside the main telecast, meanwhile, viewers were also
impressed with a new Pepsi ad that featured Britney
Spears in a mock video. The spot ended with a surprise
appearance by former Republican presidential hopeful Bob Dole, accompanied by a highly attentive
dog fixated on Spears' performance.
“In general … the Oscars were so lacking in excitement
that the liveliest production number wasn't part of the
telecast at all,” quipped Buckman of the New York Post. “It was
the Britney Spears' peppy new Pepsi commercial.”
© 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
