----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I was dismayed by Jack Nicholson's snickering introduction to the Antonioni tribute--maybe the tone of the evening was set early on by host Letterman's dumb pet and cabbie tricks. Antonioni's themes of alienation and the inadequacy of human communication have nothing to do with anything the Academy holds in high regard. When a weepie like Gump sweeps the awards, it makes me wonder why any members of the Academy wanted to laud an uncompromising artist like Antonioni at all--except for the reason that he is old and, hence, worthy of respect. Artists would be well advised to eschew the honors bestowed any "academy"--it is almost always an indication that their work has become safe and/or complacent. -r. k. ferncase [log in to unmask]