26 March 2001 Media Statement

Crowe's outstanding achievement

Russell Crowe's achievement in winning the coveted Best Actor award at this year's Academy Awards was truly outstanding, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark said today.

"In recent years, Russell Crowe's talents have become increasingly recognised and he is regarded as one of the finest film actors in the world.

"Winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in The Gladiator cements his position and is just reward for many years of work. He was considered unlucky to miss out last year for his role as the tobacco industry whistle-blower in The Insider.

"The Academy Awards have seen a number of New Zealand winners in recent years, with the likes of Anna Paquin and Jane Campion.

"This award is further illustration of the burgeoning film industry in New Zealand, and of the sheer quality of New Zealand's creative talent," Helen Clark said.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>