----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Neil Pollock writes:
 
>Pulp Fiction swept the JERZY AWARDS at the Australian Film Television and
>Radio School.  These annual awards are made by staff, students and
>friends of the AFTRS to promote excellence in filmmaking.  The winners were:
>
>BEST FILM:      Pulp Fiction
>BEST DIRECTION: Once Were Warriors
>BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Three Colours: Red
>BEST SCRIPT:    Pulp Fiction
>BEST ACTOR:     John Travolta (Pulp Fiction)
>BEST EDITING:   Pulp Fiction
>BEST SOUND:     Christopher Skase Wheezing [Down under people will understand]
>BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:  Interview with the Vampire & Hudsucker Proxy (tied)
>BEST ANIMATED FILM:  The Wrong Trousers
>BEST DOCUMENTARY: 50 Years of Silence (Ned Lander)
>BEST INDIVIDUAL SCENE: The burnt lawn in Muriel's Wedding
>BEST MULTIMEDIA CREATION: Myst
>BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN INAMINATE OBJECT: The Gladwrap in Bad Boy Bubby
>BEST SHORT SHORT FILM: Lemming Aid (Grant Lahood)
>BEST LONGER SHORT FILM: Only the Brave (Ana Kokkinos)
>BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS: Heavenly Creatures
>BEST TITLE DESIGN: Once Were Warriors
>BEST RADIO PROGRAM: Sandman - JJJ Networj
>BEST TV PROGRAM: Cracker
>MOST MEMORABLE DIALOGUE: "She only sucked him off out of respect for me"
>- Sophie Lee in Muriel's Wedding
>WORST RADIO PROGRAM: Mike Carlton - MixFM
>WORST FILM:     Forrest Gump
>BEST PERFORMANCE BY A BUS IN A NON-SPEAKING ROLE: In a particularly
>strong year for buses the AFTRS has given awards both to Priscilla
>(Adventures of Priscilla) and to the various buses in Speed (especially
>the one that does the big leap - Wow!!!!!
>BEST PERFORMANCE BY A PENIS: Harvey Keitel's (Various) narrowly from
>Bruce Willis (Colour of Night)
>SPECIAL JOHN HOWARD/JOHN MAJOR/NEWT GINGRICH/LEE KWAN YEH & OTHERS (we're
>trying to be international here) AWARD FOR THE REINFORCEMENT OF
>CONSERVATIVE VALUES: Forrest Gump
 
Is it the case that we in Oz see something different in films than the
people who vote for the Oscars?  I racked my brain trying to understand why
people would vote for _Forrest Gump_ over _Pulp Fiction_.  I watched and
yawned my way through Gump and thought it was a great film, with some
decidedly interesting constructions of goodies and baddies, but not in the
same league as Priscilla or Pulp Fiction.
 
I was disappointed when Pulp Fiction ended, simply because it was over.
And I wasn't swamped by its so-called violence (Sam Peckinpah showed me all
I need to see).  And the fact that I lost track of time is one criterion
for a good film, but not the only one.
 
Why was Gump given the nod?  Was it because you US people saw some
resurrection of the US of A in it?  Did it make you feel good to be
American?  Certainly it was an interesting film, but how was it the best
film of the year?
 
Floundering,
 
Errol Vieth