As the old entertainment adage says, "the show must go on." While the war in Iraq continues, the Academy Awards will still air Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. The show will be altered to better reflect the mindset of the nation.
The awards show is going to be more subdued, as the red carpet arrival portion of the night has been canceled. Guests and nominees will go directly into the Hollywood theater without the usual interviews and photography. Host Steve Martin's monologue and jokes will also be changed from the original script.
"People want to see that [the show] as an escape. You have to remember this is a very popular program. It's in the same league as the Super Bowl," Richard Meyer, a telecommunications professor said. "People have parties. It has become a real event. They really get into it as a social event."
Meyer believes that "Chicago" will dominate the show, mostly because it received the most nominations. "Academy Awards, you could argue, reflect the times.-áAnd right now people want to escape," Meyer said. "Musicals are probably the best type of escape.
"If you look at wars in general, you will find that during wars there are two kinds of movies: the war film, of course, but you have a lot of escapist movies. You have a lot of musicals; you have comedies. In fact any time there is a national crisis, Hollywood will respond with escapist films," Meyer said.
Meyer does not believe the Academy Awards truly award the best in film and acting.
"It's a popularity contest," Meyer said. "I would say that the New York Film Critics Awards reflect it better, or the Director's Guild Awards, because there they are looking at the film as an art form."
The Academy has "a tendency to give awards to people or directors who haven't been getting any awards but have been working and working," Meyer said.
Martin Scorsese is nominated for the Achievement in Directing Oscar.
"I thought Gangs of New York was horrible, but he'll probably get it," Meyer said.
Abby Walton, a freshman telecommunications major, is excited to watch the award show Sunday.
"I am a big movie fan," Walton said. "I think everyone likes to watch the whole Hollywood experience."
Walton was pleased to hear about the changes for the show due to the war.
"I think its important to keep things here normal, but I think it is appropriate that they toned it down," she said.
Walton believes that the show was toned down because "it is a self-serving and honoring night and the actors are doing it to honor the troops."
"It's going to be very interesting to see if the actors make their feelings known about the war," Walton said.
As for the actual awards, "I definitely think that Catherine Zeta-Jones will win for best supporting actress," Walton said. She also believes "Chicago" will take the award for best picture.
Tony Kubek, a junior telecommunications major, will be watching the Academy Awards Sunday night.
Kubek likes the awards because those who are awarded are chosen by the Academy, which consists of people who work in the film industry. "You are being honored by your peers. It's really cool," Kubek said.
Kubek respects the changes that have been made due to the war in Iraq.
"They are doing the right thing by not making it this huge event," he said.
Kubek does not believe political references would not be appropriate during the acceptance speeches.
"They're there for the honors and awards, not to make political statements," he said.
As far as the movies that are nominated, Kubek says this year's lineup is very good. He would like to see "The Pianist" win for best picture.
"It is-áone of the most important and powerful," of the films, he said.-áKubek compares the power and impact of "The Pianist" to that of "Schindler's List."
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