Being a pianist myself, of course I was going to rush off to watch The Piano (1993) as it came out on the big screen. Having no real idea what it was about (the days before YouTube and where trailers were pretty much only seen at the cinema) I was totally blown over by this wonderful movie. So much so that I bought the soundtrack sheet music (for piano, naturally), the soundtrack CD and even the book. This is one superb movie. Regardless of the Oscar nominations and wins. But, those too, it is absolutely deserving of:
Best Picture: oh wow…yes! Yes! Beautiful. Different. Totally engrossing. Sadly, no win but that’s fine because we’re still left with this work of art to watch over and over and over.
Best Director: Jane Campion was nominated for doing such a sterling job. Not winning this one though, she did win for…
Best Original Screenplay: The story is wonderful (See Best Actress for a very brief overview). To come up with such a unique tale requires great skill and creativity. No wonder this was a win for Jane Campion!
Best Actress: Holly Hunter plays mute Ada who is married off to a man she has never met and so is sent to New Zealand from Scotland with her beloved daughter. Landing on a beach from which there is quite a trip by foot to reach her new home, she is forced to leave her prized piano behind by her husband (Sam Neill). Baines (Harvey Keitel) sees an opportunity (which I won’t disclose) and manages to bring the piano back to his home and the story unfolds from there. Holly Hunter is fantastic as Ada. I can’t imagine it easy to play the role she does here. And so convincingly.
Ada‘s character naturally flows over to and probably goes hand-in-hand with…
Best Supporting Actress: Flora, Ada‘s daughter, played by a then roughly 11 year old Anna Paquin is perfectly cast with Holly Hunter. She portrays a confident child that still has a lot to learn. Her role, which in my opinion, brings the situation to a head, is deserving of the win. Without a doubt.
Best Cinematography: Receiving this nomination but not winning is Stuart Dryburgh. Without the beautiful cinematography, most of the magic and passion of this movie would definitely have been lost.
Best Costume Design: Oh wow…need I mention the amazing costumes. Beautiful. Every single one of them. All courtesy of Janet Patterson who unfortunately didn’t win.
Best Film Editing: As with the cinematography, the editing is what brings across the magic. Brilliantly done to bring us this work of art. This nomination went to Veronika Jenet.
But….The Piano wouldn’t be The Piano without the exquisite soundtrack composed by Michael Nyman. Ah….just to think of it now. I can hear it in my head. It is well worth listening to…or even playing if you can (not an easy one though, but once those fingers glide…ahhhh….). I agree with Debbie’s post (here) that it was overlooked at the Oscars.
Thanks Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken and Freckled and Paula’s Cinema Club for letting me take part in this 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon again. For my last year’s entry, The Sting, click here. Hmmm….The Piano, The Sting…I’m clearly starting a pattern here in terms of titles.
This movie was so evocative and passionate. Hunter was absolutely superb in the lead.
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1993…it was a very good year!
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Just went to look up 1993 and boy are you right…Tombstone, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Age of Innocence, True Romance, Sleepless in Seattle, Nightmare Before Christmas and the list goes on! And of course, The Piano.
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Having looked up 1993, I’ve had a look at 1997 ones that turn 20 this year…can you guess which one is turning 20? Hmmmm….no, you’d never guess, hee hee….
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The 23rd of May is marked in my diary. Blogathon anyone?
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Ah….I was waiting for that….and if you didn’t bring it up I would have nudged you to host a blogathon. Of course…hmmmm, need to think about this one….hmmm…hmmm….ok, I’m in š
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Hopefully it won’t be just you and I, whatever happens it will be fun!
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That’s exactly what it’s about! Have a lovely Sunday.
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Hope the weekend is treating you well thus far. If you have any blogathon ideas please let me know.
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Gosh…the weekend is already over…shortly to be joined by Monday. I have a Blogathon idea…just want to think it through some more.
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My Monday at work is already over, thank goodness. As for your blogathon idea… I’m intrigued.
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Hmmmm….me too…wondering if it will work…but hang in there…I won’t keep you waiting too long.
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So…that blogathon idea…here’s the seed I’m planting…”Addicted to Love” blogathon – what is your love addiction movie…or something along those lines. Or, anything related to “Addicted to Love”….from movies about addicted to love to the movie in question itself…just ideas…
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I love it. It sounds a pretty ingenious way of touring through a particular subject. I know not many people have seen Addicted to Love so having more films gives you more room to play around a little. Yes, this is brilliant!
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Have fun! Consider me in – need to think of something now š
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It’s your idea, it’s your baby. If you’d like to host your own blogathon you’re welcome. Have a think about it!
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No, no, no, no, no….not going to happen….you asked me for “any suggestions/ideas for a blogathon”…and I gave you an idea…and tada…it’s all yours. Sorry Paul…nice try š Hee, hee, hee…
I’ll gladly contribute a post or two… š
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Hmmm….we could, however, have an Addicted to Love Marathon – how does that sound?
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It sounds marvellous. Maggie would approve!
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Yaaay! I’ll be in touch š
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So, Paul…you’ve got me reading up a bit more on screwball comedies (thanks to you last few posts) and I’ve found it really interesting. I mean, yes, I’ve known roughly what they are but not properly. I was surprised (pleasantly) at some of the movies that fall into this genre. What I also found interesting was that often screwball comedies have film-noir type secondary elements – how true is that of Addicted to Love! So, a great big Thank You for getting me to look at Screwball a bit more.
Oh…another idea for YOUR blogathon (tee hee)…An “Addicted to Love and Other Screwball Comedies” Blogathon…
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I missed The Piano first time around, but I bought the DVD not long ago, and I can see why Hunter and Paquin won their Oscars. They were absolutely brilliant in this movie. For me, Hunter gives perhaps the greatest performance of her career without even saying one word. Likewise, Paquin gives one of the greatest child performances I’ve ever seen in any movie.
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Glad you enjoyed it! I only just re-watched it this week and enjoyed it just as much as I did back in…hmmm…94? Can’t believe it is that “old” already.
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