Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring has won ten of its nominations for 2001 Phoenix Film Critic’s Awards. Most noteworthy wins include best picture, best director, best score and best acting ensemble. Nuno kindly provides the list of winners.
Best Picture: The Fellowship of the Ring Best Director: Peter Jackson for The Fellowship of the Ring
Best Actor: Russell Crowe for A Beautiful Mind Best Actress: Halle Berry for Monster’s Ball Best Supporting Actor: Ben Kingsley for Sexy Beast Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Connelly for A Beautiful Mind Best Acting Ensemble: The Fellowship of the Ring
Best Original Screenplay: Christopher Nolan for Memento Best Adapted Screenplay: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson for The Fellowship of the Ring
Best Cinematography: Andrew Lesnie for The Fellowship of the Ring Best Film Editing: Dody Dorn for Memento Best Production Design: The Fellowship of the Ring Best Costume Design: The Fellowship of the Ring Best Makeup: Planet of the Apes Best visual Effects: The Fellowship of the Ring
Best Family Film: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Best Animated Film: Monsters, Inc. and Shrek (tie) Best Foreign-Language film: Amélie
Best Song: “May It Be” from The Fellowship of the Ring Best Original Score: Howard Shore for The Fellowship of the Ring Best Previously Published or recorded music: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Best Newcomer: Christopher Nolan for Memento Best Youth Performance: Dakota Fanning for I Am Sam
I’ve heard many people saying they missed Elijah Wood’s appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, so I thought I’d send this transcript of the show. There are a couple of references during the interview– one about a shnook”, the other about a pool– that allude to Dave’s interview with Mariah Carey earlier in the show, which you wouldn’t get if you hadn’t seen that, but you wouldn’t really be missing much.
From “The Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS)
DAVID LETTERMAN: Our next guest is a talented actor. He stars in the new epic motion picture “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”. It opens December 19th. Here’s Elijah Wood. (applause) ELIJAH WOOD: (points to mug on the edge of the desk) Is this for me or is it for you? DAVE: It’s all yours. ELIJAH: Oh, cheers, man. DAVE: How ya doing? ELIJAH: Very well. DAVE: Good. ELIJAH: Overwhelmed. This movie’s coming out; it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever been a part of. DAVE: Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself, then we’ll talk about the film. You’re like, a kid, right? You’re going to be 21? ELIJAH: I’m going to be 21. DAVE: Yeah, that’s a kid. (applause) ELIJAH: Thank you, thank you. I’ve always felt older than I was, so finally I feel like I’m catching up with myself. DAVE: Tell me about your early life. How did you begin in show business, where are you from, what did you do? ELIJAH: I’m originally from Iowa, actually, and I… (scattered applause) ELIJAH: Oh, are there people from Iowa here? Fantastic! And then I sort of moved to Los Angeles, started auditioning, and one thing led after another. DAVE: You moved with your family? Is that what? ELIJAH: Yeah, we all moved out there. DAVE: Why did the whole family go to California from Iowa? ELIJAH: Basically for me and my brother to kind of pursue acting. My brother got out of it early and I kind of kept going, and here I am. DAVE: It’s turned out pretty well, hasn’t it? ELIJAH: Pretty well. I’m very lucky. DAVE: And you did this movie in New Zealand, is that correct? ELIJAH: I did. I lived there for 16 months, unbelievably. DAVE: Wow. ELIJAH: It was a life experience. It was profound. DAVE: I understand it’s physically quite a lovely place, but other than that, what was it like? Were you there on your own? ELIJAH: I was there on my own, had my own house, had my own car. Aside from making the movie, I had my own life there, which is pretty incredible. And we got into some pretty crazy stuff. I learned to surf while I was there, which is amazing, and did this thing called paraponting… DAVE: Para… I’m sorry, what is the word? Para— ELIJAH: Paraponting. DAVE: Paraponting? ELIJAH: Yes. DAVE: P-o-n-t-i-n-g? ELIJAH: I think that’s how you spell it. DAVE: I’ve not heard of that. ELIJAH: You get a parachute and you jump off a hill and you kind of ride the air. (scattered laughter) ELIJAH: Exactly. DAVE: You can also do the same thing by jumping out of a shnook. (laughter) ELIJAH: A shnook. As— I was watching. As she was saying. DAVE: A shnook. (applause) ELIJAH: Right. DAVE: And the people in New Zealand have a real zest for life, they love that kind of dangerous stuff, don’t they? ELIJAH: They do. They love bungee jumping, jumping out of planes, snowboarding, that sort of thing. I didn’t go bungee jumping. I think I was a little too nervous for that. DAVE: You were there, you say, a year and a half, and everybody got to know one another, got along pretty well and did stuff as a family. ELIJAH: As a group, yeah. I mean, we really became a fellowship like that in the film. Some of the best friends of my life, I made on that, so… DAVE: What kind of things would you do, when you weren’t shooting the movie, with your buddies in the film? ELIJAH: Uh, we did the surfing… I got a wetsuit and a surfboard, got involved in that… A lot of bars. Went to a lot of bars. (applause) ELIJAH: (laughs) The local pubs, as you do. I got very ingrained in the English culture, very familiar with that. DAVE: Was there talk of everybody getting tattoos, did that happen? ELIJAH: That did happen. We became so close on the movie as a fellowship, we felt that the experience and the profundity of the experience deserved to be branded physically. So we all went to a tattoo parlor about a week before we finished and got branded together. DAVE: Really? ELIJAH: Ian McKellen actually got a tattoo as well. DAVE: I don’t see it. I don’t know if I wanna see it. ELIJAH: It’s here (points to lower right torso) so I don’t think I can show it. I don’t think that would be good. (laughter) DAVE: And what does it say? ELIJAH: It’s actually Elvish, which is the language of— DAVE: You have a tattoo of Elvis? (laughter) ELIJAH: It’s Elvish, which is actually the language of the Elves. DAVE: Oh. ELIJAH: And it stands for “nine,” the nine members of the fellowship. DAVE: Was it painful? ELIJAH: REALLY painful. (laughter) ELIJAH: Yeah. And the funniest thing about that is, I was asking various people who had tattoos if it was painful, and they were like “No no no, it’s fine, you’re going to be fine.” My GOD… (laughter) ELIJAH: Ridiculous. I’ve never been in so much pain in my life. DAVE: And how long before you got over, whenever you take a shower, how long did it take you to get over “Oh, jeez!” that? You know what I’m saying? ELIJAH: I know. It took about a couple of months, actually. (Dave laughs) ELIJAH: I’m very proud of it, though. I still look at it when I get out of the shower. (laughter) ELIJAH: Sorry. It’s a little personal, I know. (laughter and applause) DAVE: How long do you think you can go in a pool? Nevermind. (laughter) DAVE: And when is your 21st birthday? ELIJAH: January 28th. DAVE: Oh, you got a big celebration planned? ELIJAH: I’m thinking about going to Vegas. I think it’s time to go to Vegas. DAVE: That’s the thing to do. ELIJAH: We’re gonna— a prerequisite to wear suits, do the whole Rat Pack thing, you know, bring all my friends. I think it’ll be good. Lots of debauchery. Lots of drinking, as you do. (Dave laughs) DAVE: Now this movie, as you talked about, you’re very excited, because it looks like it’s gonna be very— and has been widely and decidedly so— it’s gonna be an enormous film, so that must be a big thrill for you. Is it already making a difference in your daily life? ELIJAH: It’s kind of scary. I’ve never been a part of anything quite this big before. So yeah, a bit. I think, um, actually, while we were still filming, I came home a few times, and people were already calling me Frodo, which is the name of my character. So it’s starting to have an impact. DAVE: Is that all right with you, to be called Frodo? (laughter) ELIJAH: (laughs) I’m very familiar with it. I’m taking the character on as a piece of me, so… that’s all right. You can call me Frodo. Go on, Dave, it’s okay. DAVE: (laughs) All right, Frodo. (laughter and applause) DAVE: Whatever you want. This is, uh… ELIJAH: Oh, what do you have there? DAVE: It looks like— I think it’s your action figure, is that right? You can’t have a movie anymore without having action figures? This looks like a chess piece. ELIJAH: Oh my god. DAVE: Is that you? ELIJAH: Is this from Burger King? DAVE: You know, I don’t— (laughter) ELIJAH: I have one question. Why is one foot invisible and the other not? What is that all about? Have you seen this? DAVE: I assumed it was part of the movie. ELIJAH: No, it’s not, actually. DAVE: It goes on that thing there… (struggles to fit figure on its base) Some assembly required. I’ll get it. ELIJAH: Put it the other way, the other way around, I think. DAVE: Please, Frodo. ELIJAH: All right. (laughter) ELIJAH: Just trying to help. (laughter and applause) ELIJAH: You all right, Dave? DAVE: It looks like he’s standing on a pork chop. I don’t know… (laughter) ELIJAH: It kinda does resemble a pork chop. DAVE: Is that part of the story? ELIJAH: There it is. DAVE: Wow. That’s a nice piece of work, isn’t it? (laughter) ELIJAH: Very nice. DAVE: Now, do you get a little case of these, whenever they sell these things? ELIJAH: I do— I actually went to New Line recently and said “I need to be on the mailing list. I want all the merchandise.” I don’t wanna be on eBay in twenty years having to search this stuff down. (laughter) ELIJAH: I’m a total geek for this stuff. I’ve been collecting action figures for years, so it’s really cool to have my own figure. (Dave continues struggling with the toy) ELIJAH: Oh, come on, get it right. (laughter) DAVE: Let’s show them a little bit of the movie here. Do you know what the clip is we’re going to see? ELIJAH: I don’t, actually. DAVE: Oh, come on. ELIJAH: What is the clip? DAVE: You gotta know what the clip is! I don’t know, I wasn’t in the movie! (laughter) DAVE: You gotta know! You were in New Zealand for a year and a half, for god’s sake! ELIJAH: I think I know what it is. I’m being chased by a Ringwraith, a Black Rider. DAVE: Okay, here we go, being chased by a Ringwraith. ELIJAH: A Ringwraith. DAVE: That’s right. Elijah Wood. Take a look. (clip of “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”) (applause) DAVE: Wow. There you go. All right, well listen, happy birthday. ELIJAH: Thank you. DAVE: Enjoy yourself in Las Vegas. December 21st is the movie? ELIJAH: December 19th for the film. DAVE: December 19th, great. Well, good. I know it’s gonna be a big hit. Congratulations. ELIJAH: Thank you very much. DAVE: Thanks for being here. (cheers and applause) DAVE: We’ll be right back with Stereophonics. (applause)
The Dragonlance author has a really interesting website, especially for aspiring fantasy authors, and this week’s newsletter is of special interest to LOTR fans:
“HARRY POTTER AND THE LORD OF THE RINGS
How do you translate beloved classic fantasy into film? This is a question which has haunted both novelists and film makers for decades. From ‘Conan’ to ‘Beastmaster’ … from ‘Ladyhawk’ to ‘Willow’ … various directors have taken many different approaches and had wildly varying success.”
You have to subscribe to their newsletter to read the rest of his thoughts on LOTR and Harry Potter and the art of turning stories into film. It’s free.
To get more information, use the sites I use like the ones below. Simply find a movie or actor you want to see, go to one of the sites below and see if the film is playing in your area.
28 Days (2000) UK Walk on the Moon, A (1999) UK Portrait of a Lady, The (1996) UK Ruby Cairo (1993)
Liv Tyler (Arwen)
Cookie’s Fortune (1999) UK Onegin (1999) UK Plunkett & Macleane (1999) Can’t Hardly Wait (1998) UK Armageddon (1998) UK Inventing the Abbotts (1997)
Ian Holm (Bilbo)
Bless the Child (2000) Fifth Element, The (1997) Frankenstein (1994) UK Blue Ice (1992) Naked Lunch (1991) Kafka (1991) UK Dance with a Stranger (1985) Dreamchild (1985) UK Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) UK Time Bandits (1981) UK Alien (1979) UK Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) Fixer, The (1968) UK
Sean Bean (Boromir)
Ronin (1998) Field, The (1990) Stormy Monday (1988)
Peter Mackenzie (Elendil)
In Crowd, The (2000) Chill Factor (1999) UK Inherit the Wind (1999) (TV) Lorenzo’s Oil (1992) UK
Hugo Weaving (Elrond)
Matrix, The (1999) Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The (1994)
Miranda Otto (Eowyn)
What Lies Beneath (2000) Jack Bull, The (1999) (TV) Dead Letter Office (1998)
David Wenham (Faramir)
No Escape (1994)
Elijah Wood (Frodo)
Bumblebee Flies Anyway, The (2000) Faculty, The (1998) UK War, The (1994) UK Radio Flyer (1992) UK Paradise (1991) Internal Affairs (1990) UK
Cate Blanchett (Galadriel)
Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999) Pushing Tin (1999)
Ian McKellen (Gandalf)
X-Men (2000) Apt Pupil (1998) UK Rasputin (1996) (TV) Jack and Sarah (1995) UK Scandal (1989) UK Plenty (1985) UK Alfred the Great (1969) UK Touch of Love, A (1969) UK
Secret of the Andes (1998) UK Under Cover (1991) (TV) Desperado: Badlands Justice (1989) (TV) UK Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1982)
Sky Is Falling, The (2000) Kimberly (1999) Deterrence (1999) UK Low Life, The (1994/I) Encino Man (1992) UK Toy Soldiers (1991) UK War of the Roses, The (1989) UK Staying Together (1989) UK Like Father, Like Son (1987) UK
Christopher Lee (Saruman)
Sleepy Hollow (1999) UK Jinnah (1998) UK Last Unicorn, The (1982) Safari 3000 (1982) Arabian Adventure (1979) Return from Witch Mountain (1978) Three Musketeers, The (1973) UK Gorgon, The (1964) UK Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1959) UK Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) UK Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) UK
Brian Sergent (Ted Sandyman)
Meet the Feebles (1989) UK
Bernard Hill (Theoden)
True Crime (1999) UK Midsummer Night’s Dream, A (1999) UK Mountains of the Moon (1990) UK Gandhi (1982) UK
Brad Dourif (Wormtongue)
Progeny (1999) UK Storytellers, The (1999) UK Death Machine (1995) Color of Night (1994) UK Amos & Andrew (1993) Child’s Play 3 (1991) UK Child’s Play 2 (1990) UK Desperado: The Outlaw Wars (1989) (TV) UK Mississippi Burning (1988) Blue Velvet (1986) UK
Jim Rygiel (SFX)
Anna and the King (1999) Ghost (1990) Solar Crisis (1990) Last Starfighter, The (1984)
Howard Shore (Composer)
Score, The (2001) High Fidelity (2000) Dogma (1999) Analyze This (1999) Cop Land (1997) White Man’s Burden (1995) Moonlight and Valentino (1995) Guilty as Sin (1993) Prelude to a Kiss (1992) Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) Naked Lunch (1991) Dead Ringers (1988) Big (1988) Fly, The (1986) After Hours (1985)
Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn)
Liv Tyler (Arwen)
Ian Holm (Bilbo)
Sean Bean (Boromir)
Peter Mackenzie (Elendil)
Hugo Weaving (Elrond)
Miranda Otto (Eowyn)
David Wenham (Faramir)
Elijah Wood (Frodo)
Cate Blanchett (Galadriel)
Ian McKellen (Gandalf)
Andy Serkis (
Craig Parker (Haldir)
John Leigh (Hama)
Orlando Bloom (Legolas)
Bruce Spence (Mouth of Sauron)
Sean Astin (Sam)
Christopher Lee (Saruman)
Brian Sergent (Ted Sandyman)
Bernard Hill (Theoden)
Brad Dourif (Wormtongue)
