Saturday, January 27, 2007

SNAKES. I HATE SNAKES: One of the most interesting things about EW's annual Oscar issue is the blow-by-blow recap of the Oscars of 25 years earlier. 1982's was particularly noteworthy for the good (Henry Fonda finally wins his Oscar, the makeup category is instituted) and the bizarre ("Academy Award Nominee Dudley Moore?," "Arthur's Theme" beating out "For Your Eyes Only" and "Endless Love" as "original song"). Most significantly, though, in a year in which Chariots of Fire won Best Picture, with Reds and On Golden Pond being considered the critical and sentimental favorites, respectively, is there any question that Raiders of the Lost Ark (nominated for Picture, Director, and six other Oscars, tying Chariots of Fire by winning four (Sound, Editing, Set Design, and Visual Effects, plus a special award for Sound Effects Editing, not yet a category at that time), is the most enduring film of the year? Spielberg lost to Warren Beatty for Reds, John Williams' score lost to Vangelis' for Chariots of Fire, and the cinematography lost to Reds. In retrospect, shouldn't at least a couple of those have gone to Raiders?

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