"Chicago" Jazzes Up Critics' Choice

Musical takes key step toward Oscar by claiming three trophies, including Best Picture, from Broadcast Crits

By Joal Ryan Jan 19, 2003 6:05 PMTags

A Chicago-style night at the 2003 Critics' Choice Awards.

The gloriously cynical-as-all-hell musical took three top awards--Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (for Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Best Acting Ensemble--as voted by the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

"We have never had so much fun...That joy of just playing [during a production]," Richard Gere, who makes his debut as a hoofer in the flick, said in helping accept the ensemble award.

Costar Zeta-Jones teared up early and often during her mike time for her supporting actress win. "I'm so sorry--I'm hormonal," said the pregnant and showing Mrs. Michael Douglas.

Unlike Sunday night's Golden Globes, the Critics' Choice Awards, held Friday at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, and broadcast Saturday by E! Entertainment Television, was a non-black-tie affair.

While the attire was (mostly) business (Miramax honcho Harvey Weinstein skipped the tie thing all together), the mood was loose and saucy.

"This is what happens when you give the Irish free beer," cracked Robin Williams.

Williams was the onstage invitee of Jack Nicholson, a Best Actor winner for About Schmidt with, in a tie, Gangs of New York's Daniel Day-Lewis. When Nicholson's turn came to accept his award, the icon in shades decided he'd rather have the comic do Jack shtick, than himself.

Williams, the lone non-winner in the race (he was up for One Hour Photo), obliged with a rapid-fire routine that required a couple of bleeps for broadcast and included an R-rated attempt at sign language.

For his trouble, Nicholson arranged to have presenter Salma Hayek award Williams a consolation gift--the envelope featuring the nominees' names.

"Yeah, thanks for nothing," Williams told the assembled stars and critics, ranting, "It's a tie with three people!"

The Nicholson-Williams show made up for the night's two notable no-shows: Julianne Moore, named Best Actress for Far from Heaven; and, Eminem, honored for Best Song for 8 Mile's "Lose Yourself."

Moore was marking the birthday of fiancé/filmmaker Bart Freundlich, said her stand-in, Far from Heaven director Todd Haynes. Presenter Queen Latifah didn't note where Eminem was, but she did do him a solid by delivering an acceptance speech worthy of a bad-boy rapper.

"[To] all my bitches in the Detroit area!" Latifah roared.

Adaptation proved Chicago's chief competition of the night. The comedy about screenplays, orchids and the meaning of life took two top awards: Best Supporting Actor (for Chris Cooper) and Best Writer (for Charlie Kaufman). Kaufman's award also noted his work on the Chuck Barris biopic, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

"I have too many people to thank," Kaufman said.

Like Kaufman, Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams found themselves honored once for having busy years.

Spielberg was named Best Director for having helmed both Minority Report and Catch Me If You Can. Williams did his frequent boss one better, honored for the scores for Catch Me If You Can, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Minority Report.

Complete list of winners.