To many people, even to some in the film industry, the Academy Awards are nothing more than an excuse to wear expensive clothes and pat each other on the back.
Steve Sewell, a professor at College of the Mainland, wouldn’t argue with that assessment of the Oscars, which will air Sunday night on KTRK Channel 13, but he is also one of the millions of people who tune into the awards show every year.
The ceremony does serve a purpose, said Sewell, who is the co-founder of the Great Film Series at COM that screens classic movies at the college for free.
The Oscars, first and foremost, help advertise Hollywood’s movies, he said. Sewell also enjoys the ceremony because they generally honor the most deserving actors, directors and movies of the year. (2001, not withstanding, when “Gladiator” won the best picture prize over “Traffic.” It was probably the biggest rip-off in recent Academy Award’s history, Sewell said.)
Although he hasn’t gotten a chance to see many of this year’s nominees, Sewell has paid close enough attention to the entertainment media and critics to form his own opinions on who will win this year’s awards.
Sewell foresees a split in the best picture and best director categories between two of Hollywood’s most respected figures. Clint Eastwood will walk away with the Oscar for his directorial work in “Million Dollar Baby,” and “The Aviator,” directed by Martin Scorsese, will claim the best picture Oscar.
Hal Wixon, the director of the Gulf Coast Film Festival, said he also believes this will be the year Scorsese, who has been nominated a total of four times, will finally get his due. However, Wixon believes that the “Raging Bull” and “Goodfellas” filmmaker will walk away with the best director award.
Wixon had surgery early in 2004, which limited the number of movies he was able to see last year. During any normal year, he said, he would go watch about 30 movies a year.
When he did get to go to the movies, Wixon and his wife more often than not brought their grandchildren along so they got to see a lot of animated movies.
He also enjoyed “Shark Tale,” Wixon said, and wouldn’t be surprised if it upset “The Incredibles” is the best animated feature category.
He also liked “Sideways” and said it could sneak up and take the best picture prize.
“I like films that are kind of small, that don’t get a lot of play,” he said.
Like many of the critics and journalists who have chimed in on who they think will win at the Oscars, Sewell and Wixon believe Jamie Foxx is a lock for best actor for his performance as Ray Charles in the bio-pic “Ray.” Wixon admits he hasn’t seen the movie and is a bit upset with this fact because he was a fan of Charles’ music.
Maureen Patton, the executive director of The Grand 1894 Opera House, said she felt the same way. She has yet to see “Ray.” Charles performed at the opera house and was scheduled to do so again before he died in June 2004.
Because of her busy schedule, Patton doesn’t get to see as many movies as she’d like to, but she said she always finds time to sit down and watch the Academy Awards. If a movie showcased during the ceremony catches her attention, she said she tries her best to go out and see it.
If that happens, then the purpose of the Oscars will have been served.
Like millions of other people, Sewell said, he’ll be in line to see the winning movies in the days and weeks following the awards ceremony.
