Imagine watching a live event where actors celebrate their own brilliance amidst a moral decay that mirrors the plots of their films. That was the 72nd Academy Awards for you. Held on March 26, 2000, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, this grand gala, hosted by comedian Billy Crystal, was a showcase of not just cinematic achievements but also a glaring spotlight on the Hollywood agenda. Crammed into their tuxedos and gowns were Hollywood's finest, patting each other on the back for standards they've otherwise abandoned.
Let's start with “American Beauty,” the big winner of the night, sweeping five awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Kevin Spacey. The film, a dark, satirical take on the suburban American life, attempts to romanticize nihilism and dysfunctional morality. It revels in despair and treats it as profound. Spacey’s portrayal of Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man in a crisis, resonates with Hollywood’s own satisfaction in glamorizing decadence.
Then there's “The Matrix,” winning four technical awards. Contrary to what many think, it wasn’t just an action-packed blockbuster. It served as a metaphor for the cultural seduction Hollywood thrives on, masking its moral desert with compelling special effects. The Matrix allows the escape from reality, much like the films promoted that evening, preferred to gloss over harsh truths.
Being John Malkovich and The Sixth Sense, two films that offer intriguing storylines, reveal a preoccupation with psychological manipulation and eerie predictability. A mind-bending journey does more than entertain; it raises questions about the underlying intent Hollywood producers have when they pull the strings on themes.
Sam Mendes as Best Director was celebrated for “American Beauty,” but real-life American communities have far different troubles to face. What gave Mendes and his ilk their celebratory status? A celebration of the nihilistic cancellations of virtue and value. These directors stand apart from trying to build community strength or family values on screen.
It was a time when big names like Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington, nominated for Best Actor, and Annette Bening for Best Actress, made headlines. These are the individuals whose personal and professional lives contradict the stories they tell. Rather than focusing on films that resonate with genuine mandates of truth and honor, awards recognized actors engaged in narratives that undermine these values.
The award for Best Foreign Language Film went to “All About My Mother” from Spain. Naturally, a plot centering around themes of unorthodox family setups won the day. Pointing out Hollywood’s obsession with non-traditional, some might say destabilizing, values runs counter to the wholesome family dynamics that many cherish.
And who can overlook “The Cider House Rules” winning Best Supporting Actor for Michael Caine and Best Adapted Screenplay? A film that questions life's sanctity did not win its accolade by chance. It’s a mirror into a societal view that devalues life's absolute essence. Far from being a celebration of life, it’s a negotiation of its importance or lack thereof.
But after all, what’s an awards show without a few jabs at conservative-minded folks here and there? Ricky Martin and Dionne Warwick might have performed with dynamic vocals, but the spectacle paralleled the awards' consistent political themes. Celebrating art? More like propelling an ideology.
Meanwhile, media darling Angelina Jolie took home Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted. In a film punctuated by mental disturbances, her win is almost ironic. Does Hollywood’s acclaim site in bravery or mockery? Instead, it signals entertainment’s perpetuation of troubled narratives almost fetishized by award selectors.
So here’s the Academy, supposedly a symbol of artistic excellence, almost ignoring films that captured traditional resilience. Films like “The Green Mile,” which urged sentiments of redemption and collective good over personal gain, made mere nominations, not anchored by the Academy’s whims—simply not as abrasive.
All this may have happened over twenty years ago, but the 72nd Academy Awards was a clear indicator of how the values we hold dear are often depicted as fossils of a past era by the very stewards of media today. The legacy lies not in envelopes and statuettes, but in a culture that, one hopes, watches with discerning eyes.