Reel Critics

* EDITOR’S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques written

by community members serving on our panel.

‘Beauty’ for picture, Washington for actor

When I saw “American Beauty” for the first time six months ago, I told

friends that it was the best film I’d seen all year. Six months and many

movies later, my opinion has not wavered.

This story touched me in unexpected ways. Although viewing such extremely

dysfunctional families was painful, there was a sort of haunting, poetic

beauty about the film, enhanced by the photography and a hypnotic score.

And seldom has an entire cast been so perfect -- there is not one

performance in the bunch that is less than extraordinary. I think it

deserves as many awards as it can get.

I love a touch of well-aimed sarcasm, and no one delivers it better than

Kevin Spacey. “American Beauty” would not be the same without his Lester

Burnham, a man in a midlife crisis.

But in spite of Spacey’s excellence, I think Denzel Washington just

slightly surpasses him for Best Actor in “Hurricane.”

Washington also became inseparable from his role and projected such

fierce anger, fear, pride and humility at the same time that it was

impossible not to be moved by this awesome performance.

Why does there have to be only one winner -- can’t there be a tie?

In “The Sixth Sense,” Haley Joel Osment was amazing, and not simply

because he is only 11 years old. His abject terror as a little boy who

“sees dead people” was so palpable that you worried about him. Osment was

more than just a supporting actor, he was the real star of the film.

For Best Supporting Actress -- Catherine Keener’s bitchy, amoral Maxine

in “Being John Malkovich,” a wild ride of a movie, was the most fun to

watch. She probably won’t win, but then, my Oscar picks seldom do!SUSANNE

PEREZ, 45, lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a

financial services company.

Academy should allow tie for Caine and Cruise

Best Picture: “The Insider”

This movie held me spellbound from the first frame to the last both times

I saw it. It’s a true story about the courage of an ordinary man facing

extraordinary circumstances.

Director Michael Mann took a story about the cigarette industry and

television’s “60 Minutes” -- not exactly the usual ingredients for a

suspense-filled drama -- and managed to create a film as intense and

captivating as any high-action or horror film.

Best Actor: Russell Crowe in “The Insider”

This athletic, handsome, 34-year-old Australian turned himself into a

heavyset, middle-aged Southerner who could still gain your sympathy and

respect.

Best Actress: None of the nominated actresses dazzled me this year.

Best Supporting Actor: First of all, if I picked the Oscars, there could

be ties. And the Oscars go to Michael Caine for “The Cider House Rules”

and Tom Cruise for “Magnolia.”

Best Supporting Actress: Another tie: Toni Collete for “The Sixth Sense”

and Angelina Jolie for “Girl, Interrupted.”

Best Foreign Language Film: “All About by Mother” (lead Cecilia Roth wins

my Best Actress Oscar).

JUNE FENNER, a Costa Mesa resident in her late 50s, is vice president of

a work force training company.

‘Sixth Sense’ star gets Best Supporting vote

A year with so many quality movies creates many tough choices for Academy

voters.

Deeply moving in different ways, all of this year’s nominees dealt with

the major questions of modern life and are worthy of consideration for

the ultimate prize.

“The Insider” is docudrama at its best. “The Sixth Sense” brought a

supernatural thriller into Oscar contention for the first time since

“Rosemary’s Baby” 30 years ago.

Young Haley Joel Osment deserves Best Supporting Actor for his astounding

role as the child clairvoyant.

“The Cider House Rules” touches on moral problems at the center of our

lives, with outstanding performances by Michael Caine and Tobey Maguire.

But dealing profoundly with ultimate issues of life, death and justice,

no film had a greater impact on me than “The Green Mile.” With

first-class acting, directing, screenplay and music, it’s my personal

choice for Best Picture.

But the film with the widest appeal across generational lines and most

likely to win the Oscar may be “American Beauty.” Blending many genres,

this picture is black comedy, drama, satire and cultural commentary on

the dysfunctional American family and society at the end of the 20th

century. Hot, hip and sexy, it’s probably the one to beat this year.

Annette Bening may have the inside track on Best Actress, but Denzel

Washington’s intense portrayal of the wrongly convicted Ruben Carter in

“Hurricane” has my vote for Best Actor.JOHN DEPKO, 48, is a Costa Mesa

resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County Public

Defender’s Office.

It’s a tossup between ‘Beauty’ and ‘Rules’

Best Picture: We agree to disagree on this one.

Gay’s vote: “American Beauty,” a comedy that hits close to home.

Unsettling to think American society has come to this -- but it’s oh so

real.

Bill’s choice: “The Cider House Rules.” I liked the movie relationship

between parents and children dealing with life’s secret suffering. Tough

subject matter poignantly handled.

Best Actress: Annette Bening in “American Beauty.” Even if one of us

rejected the movie, we agreed that she superbly played the

picture-perfect suburban housewife with a surprisingly terrific comedic

performance.

Best Supporting Actress: Samantha Morton in “Sweet & Lowdown.” Wow! Her

contribution to this touching story portraying a mute laundress is

impressive. None came close.

Best Actor: Denzel Washington in “Hurricane.” Well, we thought this one

should have been nominated for the best picture since Washington’s

performance was one of his finest. With great emotion, he told the story

well.

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Caine in “The Cider House Rules.” An

extraordinary performance as only Caine might render. He took a very

touching role and moved our souls.

Best Director: At odds again. Gay picked Sam Mendes for “American

Beauty.” Bill picked Lasse Hallstrom for “The Cider House Rules.”

GAY WASSALL-KELLY, 60, is the editor of a Balboa newspaper and is active

in the community. BILL KELLY, 58, is an industrial engineer.

Think of Oscars as a day at the races

With the number of awards given to the movie industry, you could spend a

whole day at the Los Alamitos racetrack evaluating Oscar odds. Is there a

forerunner? A sure bet -- a thoroughbred that’s won many times before and

never let you down: Michael Caine in “The Cider House Rules” for Best

Supporting Actor or Meryl Streep in “Music of the Heart” for Best

Actress.

And be sure to consider the other bestowed Triple-Crown honors: Angelina

Jolie in “Girl, Interrupted,” Golden Globe winner for Best Supporting

Actress, or Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, writers of “Election,” who

won the Writers Guild award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Of course, you could always turn toward the critics only to find out that

they differ in almost every category. And what if it’s true that the

votes can split between the two forerunners, allowing a dark horse to

come out of nowhere to win?

Or, will you simply cast your I’ve-got-a-hunch-about-this-one vote: “On

the Ropes” for Best Documentary Film because “I’m dangling here, reaching

for anything.” (“Buena Vista Social Club” is actually favored.)

It’s all a gamble, however, since I’ve seen 15 highly visible films, I’m

feeling lucky. So, I’m off to the races. Want a tip? With masterful

balancing of fantasy and reality, along with a refreshing satirical

rendering of suburban dysfunction and complacency, I wager “American

Beauty” to win in the final race.

JULIE LOWRANCE, 40, is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a Newport Beach

overnight aircraft advertising agency.

Let’s not forget the cinematographers

Far too often, one of the most important members of a production crew is

overlooked by the Academy and the general public. This crew member works

hand-in-hand with the director to create the look and feel of the film.

Their contribution is minimized to the point that most listings of

nominees, including the Academy’s, does not even mention them by name.

Instead, the film is mentioned.

These individuals who suffer in darkness are the cinematographers.

This year’s nominees include a distinguished lot and deserved to be

mentioned by name. Conrad Hall (“American Beauty”), Roger Pratt (“The End

of the Affair”), Dante Spinotti (“The Insider”), Emmanuel Lubezi (“Sleepy

Hollow”) and Robert Richardson (“Snow Falling on Cedars”).

Each of these individuals has been involved in great films: Hall traces

his career back to such classics as “Cool Hand Luke,” “Fat City,” “The

Marathon Man” and “Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here.” His work on “American

Beauty” more likely than not will earn him the award.

Pratt is best known for his work with Terry Gilliam and the Monty Python

crew, and the fact that his film was not viewed by many automatically

eliminates him.

Spinotti should have won for his lush work in “L.A. Confidential” but

lost out to the “Titanic” juggernaut of that same year.

Lubezi is probably Mexico’s best-known filmmaker outside of his frequent

collaborator Alonso Cuaron, who directed “Like Water for Chocolate.”

Lubezi should win for his creepy yet elegant portrayal of the fabled New

England town.

Coincidentally, probable winner Hall served as the director of

photography for the New York unit on this film.

Finally, Richardson’s work on “Cedars” was the best element of the film.

However, his work on another major release, Scorcese’s “Bringing Out the

Dead,” was a far superior film and technical achievement which the

Academy frequently never recognizes.

ROB OROZCO, 29, is an attorney who lives in Newport Beach with his wife

and two cats.