Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 25, 1991 TAG: 9103230216
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
The first award to be presented on tonight's show (9 p.m. on WSET Channel 13 in the Roanoke viewing area), following a production number with Jasmine Guy and Steve LaChance, will be for best supporting actress. The announcement in this category could be the first indication of a "Dances With Wolves" rout.
Coming into the 63rd Annual Academy Awards, Kevin Costner's epic Western had 12 nominations, the most of any film. With a best supporting actress victory for Mary McDonnell, "Dances With Wolves" may collect a wave of momentum and never look back until it gallops off with the best picture Oscar.
Here, then, is a viewer's guide to the Oscar telecast, based on a script subject to change, with pivotal moments described. Plan refrigerator and bathroom visits accordingly.
\ Award No. 1: Best Supporting Actress. McDonnell (Stands With a Fist in "Dances With Wolves") is not the clear favorite for supporting actress, but her competition is weak. The upset pick would be Whoopi Goldberg, the dimestore psychic of "Ghost."
\ Award No. 3: Makeup. Will have no real bearing on the eventual big winner, but a fascinating competition this year. The contestants are "Cyrano de Bergerac," "Dick Tracy," "Edward Scissorhands." If "Cyrano" wins here, it's almost a sure-bet for best foreign-language film.
Stay tuned to see if Madonna does anything nasty while singing "Sooner or Later" from "Dick Tracy."
\ Award No. 4: Best Supporting Actor. Graham Greene (Kicking Bird in "Dances With Wolves") is nominated. Even if Bruce Davison wins for his depiction of a selfless care-giver in "Longtime Companion," this should not be seen as a "Dances With Wolves" defeat.
\ Award No. 10: Film Editing. This category can be a bellwether, and "Dances With Wolves" is in it. Last year, "Born on the Fourth of July" won both here and for best director for Oliver Stone. It lost best picture to "Driving Miss Daisy." Upset specials: "The Godfather Part III" and "GoodFellas."
Reba McEntire, who lost most of her band in a recent airplane crash, is set to follow with her version of "I'm Checking Out" from "Postcards From the Edge." This might be the evening's most emotional moment.
\ Award No. 15: Cinematography. Last year's winner was "Glory." The most significant competition the stampeding buffalo photography in "Dances With Wolves" will face this year comes from the nostalgically filmed "Avalon."
\ Awards No. 16 and 17: Original and Adapted Screenplays. "Dances With Wolves" already has won the adaptation award from the Writers Guild of America and should repeat. The WGA honored Barry Levinson's original script for "Avalon." The presenters are an interesting pair: FBI trainee Jodie Foster and the cannibalistic killer Anthony Hopkins from "The Silence of the Lambs."
\ Award No. 20: Best Actress. All of the smart (and sentimental) money is on Joanne Woodward for "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge." Kathy Bates ("Misery") and Anjelica Huston ("The Grifters") could be spoilers. Start looking at your watch to see if the show is (yet again) going to run long.
\ Award No. 21: Best Actor. Costner will have to get past Jeremy Irons from "Reversal of Fortune." Don't bet on it. A win for "Dances" here means it's all over.
\ Award No. 22: Best Director. Costner won the top prize from the Directors Guild of America. The first-timer faces a very real challenge from Martin Scorsese, who made "GoodFellas."
\ Award No. 23: Best Picture. Well, maybe presenter Barbra Streisand will sing the winner's name.
Director Jeff Margolis, who also directed last year's well-received show, says the 1991 Oscars will move right along.
"We cut down other things to try to keep it as close to three hours as you can," Margolis said. "You hope that everyone says their thank yous within 30 seconds to one minute."
by CNB