MARCH 19, 1999

GAY PEOPLE's ChroNICLE

EVENINGS OUT

Roll out the rainbow carpet-it's Oscar night

by Kaizaad Kotwal

At this year's Academy Awards, it would not be too far-fetched to expect to see a rainbow flag flying as the stars make their way down the red carpet, considering the amount of gay-related films and queer talent that the academy has seen fit to honor.

This is the first year in Oscar history that the Academy has nominated an openly gay actor, and for playing a flamboyantly com-

lence against gays, people of color, women and other oppressed groups, is learned and can be unlearned.

Disney's Mulan, which celebrated diverse gender expressions, went unnoticed in the major categories but scored a nomination for best original musical or comedy score. That film gave a powerful message to children about challenging conventional bigotry and stereotypes.

While there is much to congratulate the Academy for opening up WALTER THOMPSON to the GLBT community, a lot of great work went unnoticed as well. Stephen Frye's virtuoso performance as Oscar Wilde in Wilde was overlooked, as was Ally Sheedy's comeback as a lesbian photographer in the film High Art, which earned rave critical reviews but also got lost in the haze of early releases last year.

.Radha Mitchell, left, and Ally Sheedy in High Art.

plex gay man yet. Ian McKellen has made Oscar history, but has gone largely unmentioned in the press and media reports leading up to the awards on March 21.

It's not just McKellan's accolade for his role in Gods and Monsters that needs celebrating, several other nominations are of great relevance to gay and lesbian viewers who have in many ways been Hollywood's most loyal audiences.

There's Kathy Bates's nomination as the

Studio 54 was a bad film, and as a result Mike Meyer's brilliant portrayal as one of the owners of the famed 1970s dance club got sidestepped in the supporting actor category. Both the gay-tinged Love and Death on Long Island and The Object of My Affection were mediocre films, but John Hurt's performance in the former and Nigel Hawthorne's in the latter were overlooked as nominees.

By far the most overlooked gay film of the year was Don Roos's The Opposite of Sex. Christina Ricci's performance was stunning and was probably a serious contender. But the Oscars don't often award youth, figuring they have plenty of time to pay

BOBAKESTER

Martin Donovan, left, and Johnny Galecki in The Opposite of Sex.

tough political advisor in Mike Nichols's biting satire Primary Colors. Bates's character also happens to be an out lesbian and in many ways, her portrayal, funny and chillingly poignant, was the moral center of the film. Primary Colors and Gods and Monsters are also both nominated for screenplay Oscars.

Velvet Goldmine, a film about the glam rock era in England, with its frank and passionate portrayal of homosexuality and bisexuality, was perhaps too bold for Hollywood to garner major nominations. It did however bag a nomination for costume designer Sandy Powell, whose brilliant images are obviously inspired not just by punk couture but also by the divine designs of drag divas. Interestingly Powell's chief competition is herself, also nominated for the costumes in Shakespeare in Love.

Lynn Redgrave's turn as the Hungarian housemaid in Gods and Monsters is nominated for best supporting actress. Her performance, laced with God-fearing homophobia, has obviously gotten attention because she avoids caricature.

Edward Norton, as a neo-Nazi, takes hate to dizzying heights in American History X, a brilliant dissection of hate and how vio-

their dues. However, Lisa Kudrow's heartbreaking turn as a sharp-toungued spinster should not only have been nominated in the supporting actress category, but she should have been given the statuette in advance.

Jason Patrick's performance as a latently homosexual misogynist in Your Friends and Neighbors was probably the most daring breakthrough of the year and he should have been given the prize in advance too. However, the sheer despicability of such a character is not a favorite with the academy on awards night.

Many Oscar aficionados know that the awards are not really about the best or most deserving. More often than not, especially in the last few years, the award goes to someone who has been snubbed for a truly great performance in the past. How else can we explain Whoopi Goldberg's win for Ghost and her loss for The Color Purple. Whoopi, by the way, is hosting this year's festivities.

Some predictions: In the best actress lineup, Cate Blanchett's performance as the virgin Queen Elizabeth is hands down the best of the year. However, like the past two years in this category which had been dominated by foreigners, Americans Helen Hunt and Frances McDormand came up winners. This trend probably means that Gwyneth Paltrow's role as the cross-dressing actress and bard's muse in Shakespeare in Love will win out.

The best supporting actress category will probably end in a photo finish. Judy Dench lost last year for her brilliant role in Mrs. Brown, which means she may be compensated this year for her role as the virgin Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love. But this award should probably be split between Kathy Bates's tough talking lesbian with a heart of gold in Primary Colors

Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters.

and Lynn Redgrave's sweet-talking homophobe in Gods and Monsters.

While this year is a landmark for gay actors, themes and material, there is not enough reason to get complacent. Regardless of who wins and who loses we know that the Oscars are really about who came with who, and who was wearing what.

Besides, it's another excuse to throw a great party. In Columbus, the Union Station Cafe will have its annual Oscar-

watching party, where the patrons are tougher on the fashion than Joan Rivers

ANNE FISHBEIN

on a really bad day. The Drexel Theatre is also throwing its annual "Unofficial" Academy Award bash. For more information call 614-231-1050.

Wall Street Night Club will present an Academy Awards AIDS Charity Benefit on Sunday, March 21. Call 614-464-2800 for more information. Proceeds benefit The AIDS Service Connection and Columbus AIDS Task Force. ✓

Kaizaad Kotwal is a Chronicle contributing writer in Columbus.

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