"The Lord of the Rings"
sweeps Oscars
(From Left to Right, Charlize Theron, Sean Penn, Renee Zellweger and Tim Robbins)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King swept to a record-tying 11 Academy
Awards on Sunday, including best picture and director, becoming the first
fantasy to win the top Oscar.
In the acting categories, all the winners took home their first Oscars: Charlize Theron won best actress for her performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, and Sean Penn was named best actor for playing a vengeful ex-hoodlum who falls back on his criminal ways in Mystic River.
Tim Robbins won the supporting-actor prize for his performance as an emotionally crippled murder suspect in Mystic River, and Renee Zellweger took supporting actress as a hardy Confederate survivor in Cold Mountain.
After the first two installments of the Lord of the Rings trilogy were shut out of major awards, Return of the King swept all 11 categories in which it was nominated. It matched the record 11 wins of Titanic and Ben-Hur and became only the third movie to sweep every nominated category, following Gigi and The Last Emperor, which both went nine-for-nine.
"I'm so honored and relieved that the academy and the members of the academy that have supported us have seen past the trolls and the wizards and the hobbits in recognizing fantasy this year," said Jackson, 42, who just a few years ago was an obscure New Zealander known mainly for one admired art-house film (Heavenly Creatures), a run-of-the-mill Hollywood horror tale (The Frighteners) and a scattering of cult splatter flicks (Bad Taste, the puppet massacre Meet the Feebles ).
Composer Howard Shore took his second Oscar for writing Lord of the Rings music, having won two years ago on Part 1 of the saga, The Fellowship of the Ring.
Into the West, the wistful tune of farewell from Return of the King, won the best-song Oscar. The song was written by Fran Walsh, the film's co-screenwriter; Howard Shore, its music composer; and Annie Lennox, who sings the tune.
Zellweger won for playing a character in frumpy clothes and a layer of dirt from working the fields, a year after Cold Mountain co-star Nicole Kidman received the lead-actress Oscar for wearing a fake nose to simulate Virginia Woolf's plain-Jane features in The Hours.
And best-actress winner Theron, in Monster, gained 30 pounds and was disguised behind dark contact lenses, false teeth and splotchy makeup.
"I hope it's a trend, meaning interesting parts playing women who are multifaceted and really rich in their journeys. It's what interests me most," Zellweger said backstage. "The more you can change yourself, the more removed the character is from your own experiences, the more rewarding it is."
Robbins won with his first-ever acting nomination, though he had been nominated as best director for 1995's Dead Man Walking." In this movie, I play a victim of abuse and violence," Robbins said. "If you are out there and are a person who has had that tragedy befall you, there is no shame in seeking help and counseling."
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Tim Robinson |
Peter Jackson |
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Charlize Theron |
Julia Roberts |
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Angelina Jolie |
Jennifer Garner |
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Flesh color makes fashion splash at Oscar
Flesh was in fashion at the Oscars on Sunday, but not in the way that would
make censors delay the telecast.
Flesh-toned gowns that shimmered in the sun with the help of beaded crystals or gold and silver ornaments were worn by many of the celebrities attending the gala, including best actress winner Charlize Theron , who looked stunningly beautiful in a gown designed by Gucci.
Supporting actress nominee Naomi Watts ' skin-toned Versace sparkled with crystals while designer Vera Wang's own gown was punctuated by a big gold-metal leaf broach.
Best supporting actress nominee Patricia Clarkson also wore the flesh-toned shimmering look and singer Alison Krauss' skin-toned gown was accessorized with $2 million Stuart Weitzman stiletto sandals with over 500 Kwiat diamonds.
From pastels to bold shades of the rainbow, color came back with a vengeance at the Oscars, Hollywood's ultimate black-tie and often black dress affair.
It was in vivid contrast to the last two years, when war in Iraq and the
Sept. 11 attacks darkened the mood of the country and the "red carpet"
procession.
| ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE |
MAKEUP |
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