Not Such a Happy Day for Embassy Partygoers
Staff Reporter

It was just like being at the Oscars - well sort of. About 700 Wellingtonians turned up at the Embassy Theatre yesterday to watch New Zealand's push for Oscar glory on the big screen with Peter Jackson's The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring up for 13 awards.

Expectations were high with the belief the Rings team would win gold.

It was going to be 6½ -hour marathon haul for the audience, and they were all supplied with a food pack that included a lunch of a roll, biscuit, pear, cheese, fruit juice, mineral water and bubbly.

Entertainment at the theatre was provided by a duo known as the Improvisors, who praised Rings while slamming the main opposition, A Beautiful Mind and its director Ron Howard.

The pair even kept their own score between the two films which saw Jackson, wearing a smart dinner suit, get points for being hairy and Howard losing them because he had red hair and was balding.

It was a jack-up but that didn't matter - the crowd was as one-eyed as a Canterbury rugby supporter.

There was even a hint of glamour at the occasion with some people having dressed up, including a Jackson lookalike - minus about 30kg - and a group of women wearing "roadkill" around their necks.

Scorecards were handed out to a selected few who were asked to judge what the stars were wearing. Needless to say, Gwyneth Paltrow got a droopy response.

One bloke was asked what he thought of Halle Berry's outfit. "It's pretty sexy, aye?"

And how about Jackson's? "Yeah, sexy."

Any time the Rings was mentioned there was a big cheer. And when Weta's special-effects wizard Richard Taylor received his Oscars, the audience went nuts with furious handclapping and foot-stomping. Tears of joy welled up in people's eyes and plastic corks from the mini bottles of Lindauer went flying.

The afternoon was a rollercoaster of emotions for many - especially after a few drinks.

While people were pleased Rings had picked up four awards, there was a growing sense of disappointment that many Rings nominees hadn't won, including Best Supporting Actor nominee Sir Ian McKellan.

But after Russell Crowe missed out there was a feeling that A Beautiful Mind might be usurped by Rings for either Best Film or Best Director. However, this wasn't to be Jackson's hour and judging by the moaning crowd, Ron Howard's win wasn't Happy Days either.

But great movies haven't always won oscars.

Citizen Kane, Apocalpse Now and 2001: A Space Odyssey never won best picture Oscars. In 10 years time, which film will people remember more: A Beautiful Mind or The Fellowship Of The Ring?