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The Navigator

The red carpet, close to home

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published March 3, 2006

There's no better way to enjoy Hollywood's biggest event than Oscar Night America at Tampa Theatre.

I'll admit, though, it's been a few years since I attended. (I wonder if that statute of limitations has expired yet?)

Nevertheless, Sunday's event always is a refined but unpretentious blast. Attendees enjoy limo rides, red carpet treatment and watch the telecast in the classic theater. And there's plenty of other good stuff, regardless of whether you shell out VIP bucks.

This is an interesting year for Oscar, with nominations across a broad, diverse realm of films. But I have a few quibbles.

For Best Actor nominations, Jeff Daniels totally deserved to be in there for The Squid and the Whale. But honestly everyone in the category was great, so I can't figure out whom he would replace.

I will call out the Academy on this: William Hurt's hammy third-act appearance in A History of Violence nearly ruined the movie for me. But I still thought it was one of 2005's best films, thanks to Maria Bello's awesome work. Hurt got nominated. Bello didn't. That bites.

That's why I never take Oscars too seriously. And it's why when actors do get nominated, I tend to get nostalgic about their early - or at least less showy-roles. Loved Jamie Foxx in Ray? Sure, but all things being equal, give me Booty Call.

So let's look at some of the other acting noms:

Paul Giamatti

- Nominated: For playing Joe Gould in Cinderella Man

- Shoulda been: For playing Pig Vomit in the Howard Stern biopic Private Parts

- Why? Because not only was he Pig Vomit, but he also played Veal Chop in the 1998 comedy Safe Men. That's range, baby.

George Clooney

- Nominated: For playing Bob Barnes in Syriana

- Shoulda been: This was a toughie. - Why? Originally I vacillated between Clooney as longhaired motorcycle cop Chic Chesbro in the short-lived 1990 TV series Sunset Beat and his Major Biff Woods in the 1986 comedy Combat High. But then I couldn't remember what "vacillated" meant. So I'm going with Clooney's voice-over as Sparky the Gay Dog in South Park.

Charlize Theron

- Nominated: For playing Josey Aimes in North Country

- Shoulda been: For her super-hot catfight with Teri Hatcher in 1996's 2 Days in the Valley

- Why? Did I mention the super-hot catfight with Teri Hatcher?

Joaquin Phoenix

- Nominated: For her super-hot catfight with Teri Hatcher

- Shoulda been: For her super-hot catfight with Teri Hatcher

- Why? I'm sorry . . . what were we talking about again?

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 813 226-3431. His Times blog is at www.sptimes.com/blogs/tampaarts/

Oscar Night America Tampa Bay is Sunday evening at Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. The VIP reception is 5:30 p.m., general admission at 7. VIP tickets are $125 (includes hors d'oeuvres, champagne, beer and wine, reserved seating and official program). General admission is $35 (includes popcorn, soda and coffee). Members receive $5 off. Cash bar available. Go to tampatheatre.com/Oscar.php/.

[Last modified March 2, 2006, 13:56:08]