Oscar results leave some Chinese fans blue
By Raymond Zhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-03-01 01:37

Many moviegoers in China are dismayed that the Academy Awards have once again snubbed one of the US film industry's most distinguished members.

DiCaprio: I'm sorry for Scorses. [Reuters]

Martin Scorsese, whose latest work "The Aviator" was nominated in 11 categories, was upstaged in the two most crucial slots of Best Film and Best Director by "Million Dollar Baby," an intimate little film about boxing and euthanasia and directed by Clint Eastwood.

In a ceremony that lasted more than three hours, the academy gave the best director nod to Eastwood for "Million Dollar Baby."

That was only one of four top flight awards "Baby" won, including best actress for Hilary Swank, Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman and Best Picture.

By contrast, The Aviator won a few secondary awards and a Best Supporting Actress award for Cate Blanchett.

The ceremony held on Sunday night in Los Angeles was to be broadcast yesterday in China.

For Chinese fans, Scorsese's loss hit home. Scorsese has a sizable fan base in China, and his previously nominated works such as "Raging Bull," "Taxi Driver" and "Goodfellas" have been admired by ardent moviegoers here.

"This was truly a very cold night for Marty," said Ye Yundao, a programmer for a Guangzhou-based broadband film distributor.

As usual, the Oscar ceremony was a who's who of Hollywood insiders.

The retro glamour of Hollywood's 1930s and 40s golden era returned to Tinseltown when dazzling stars hit the Oscars red carpet in a cascade of jewels and lush, curvaceous gowns.

An elegant A-list cast of movie stars sashayed past hundreds of flashbulb-popping photographers, journalists and screaming fans at the greatest fashion show on earth that precedes the Academy Awards.

"The Aviator" star DiCaprio, nominated as best actor for his portrayal of Howard Hughes, and his Brazilian supermodel girlfriend Gisele Bundchen mixed with the likes of best actress Swank.

"To tell you the truth I could care less about fashion," said DiCaprio, who traded his trademark jeans, T-shirt and baseball cap for a black Prada suit and tie for the festivities that drew 3,300 all-star guests.

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