Golden Globes & Oscars

With the grueling boot camp behind them, the cast and crew of Platoon were finally ready to begin filming in the Philippine jungle. The air was thick with anticipation, a mix of nervous energy and focused determination.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in the dazzling lights of Hollywood, the 43rd Golden Globe Award nominations had already been announced in the first week of January. 'Catch Me If You Can', the film Alex had poured so much into, had received a remarkable seven nominations, making it the most nominated picture of the year.

The nominations were as follows:

Best Motion Picture – Drama (Producers: Steven Spielberg, Alex Hayes, Frank Wilton Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy)

Best Director: Steven Spielberg

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Alex Hayes

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Gene Hackman

Best Screenplay: Alex Hayes received a nomination for his work on the film's script.

Best Original Score: John Williams

With six nominations, Catch Me If You Can joined the lead pack, equaling Out of Africa, Prizzi's Honor, and Witness, which also received six nominations each. Adding to Spielberg's impressive showing, his other directorial venture that year, The Color Purple, also garnered four nominations. The Color Purple was a powerful and moving drama based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Set in the early 20th-century American South, the film tells the story of a young African-American woman named Celie and her journey through hardship, love, and self-discovery. It featured a talented ensemble cast and tackled themes of racism, sexism, and poverty, earning critical acclaim for its compelling narrative and strong performances.

It would have likely received a fifth nomination in the Best Director category for Steven Spielberg. However, due to the Golden Globe rules, a director can only be nominated once in the same category for different films in the same year. Since Spielberg was already nominated for Best Director for Catch Me If You Can, he couldn't receive a second nomination in that category for The Color Purple.

This was Alex Hayes' second Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, his first being for Risky Business. While he hadn't attended or won for Risky Business, the buzz around his performance in 'Catch Me If You Can' was significantly stronger. This year, however, history would repeat itself regarding his attendance.The 43rd Golden Globe Awards were scheduled for January 24, 1986, and as Alex was filming Platoon in the Philippines, he wouldn't be attending.

The 43rd Golden Globe Awards had come and gone, and while Alex couldn't attend, the film he'd poured his heart into, Catch Me If You Can, had enjoyed a successful night.

The film had indeed secured the prestigious Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama. It was a moment of immense pride for Alex, knowing their collective efforts had been recognized on such a prominent stage. Adding to the accolades, Gene Hackman's masterful performance in the film also earned him the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

The award for Best Director eluded Steven Spielberg, who lost to the legendary John Huston for his work on Prizzi's Honor. John Huston was a celebrated figure in Hollywood, a masterful American film director, screenwriter, and actor whose illustrious career spanned over five decades and encompassed a wide range of cinematic genres.

The Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama went to Jon Voight for his portrayal in 'Runaway Train'. The award for Best Screenplay was bestowed upon the brilliant Woody Allen for his whimsical and imaginative work in The Purple Rose of Cairo. And finally, the evocative and memorable score of 'Out of Africa' earned John Barry the Golden Globe for Best Original Score.

With the buzz of the Golden Globes still in the air, Paramount Pictures announced the release date for 'Say Anything...' as March 28th, 1986.

The announcement of the 'Say Anything...' release date only amplified the existing buzz. Being touted as his last foray into high school roles, the film carried the weight of expectation. There was a palpable curiosity in Hollywood, a silent question of whether Alex could deliver his twelfth consecutive hit. In an industry known for its fickle nature, such sustained success inevitably drew scrutiny. For competing talent agencies and other actors, a potential stumble by Alex could offer an opening, a chance to renegotiate their own positions and challenge the example he had inadvertently set for keeping salaries in check.

*****

With the grueling boot camp etched into their muscles and minds, the filming of Platoon commenced in the dense Philippine jungle. Oliver Stone's vision was uncompromising, his pursuit of realism bordering on obsession. The two-week training had served its purpose, forging a raw camaraderie amongst the actors and stripping away their Hollywood veneer. Now, they were ready to immerse themselves fully in the harrowing world of the Vietnam War.

Stone's commitment to authenticity extended beyond the actors' preparation. The Vietnamese villagers depicted in the film were played by real Vietnamese refugees who were living in the Philippines, lending a genuine layer of experience and emotion to those scenes. The harshness of the environment became a character in itself, the oppressive heat and humidity mirroring the psychological pressure cooker of the battlefield.

As the intense filming of Platoon continued in the Philippines, news arrived from Hollywood once again. On February 4th, the nominations for the Academy Awards were announced, and Catch Me If You Can had garnered an impressive eleven nominations, firmly placing it among the frontrunners of the year.

The film received nominations in the following categories:

Best Picture (Producers: Steven Spielberg, Alex Hayes, Frank Wilton Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy)

Best Director (Steven Spielberg)

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Alex Hayes)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Gene Hackman)

Best Adapted Screenplay (Alex Hayes)

Best Music (Original Score) (John Williams)

Best Sound

Best Art Direction

Best Cinematography

Best Film Editing

Best Costume Design

With these eleven nominations, Catch Me If You Can stood shoulder to shoulder with two other critically acclaimed films of the year, Out of Africa and The Color Purple, which also received eleven nominations each.

Adding to the film's impressive showing, Steven Spielberg achieved a rare feat, receiving double nominations for Best Director for his exceptional work on both Catch Me If You Can and The Color Purple. He became only the third person in the history of the Academy Awards to receive two Best Director nominations in the same year, a distinction previously held by Frank Lloyd and Michael Curtiz.

Frank Lloyd first accomplished this at the 2nd Academy Awards in 1929, earning nominations for The Divine Lady, Weary River, and Drag, ultimately winning for The Divine Lady. Michael Curtiz followed suit at the 11th Academy Awards in 1939 (for films released in 1938), receiving nominations for both Angels with Dirty Faces and Four Daughters. Spielberg now joined this elite company, further cementing his status as one of cinema's most accomplished directors.

For Alex, the news of the eleven Academy Award nominations, including his own for Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and as a producer for Best Picture, was exhilarating. The grueling work in the Philippine jungle suddenly felt even more significant, knowing that the film he had poured his heart into back home was being recognized at the highest level. Unlike the Golden Globes, he knew, barring unforeseen circumstances, he would be in Hollywood for this prestigious event.

Earning three Oscar nominations for his first time was a rare feat, solidifying his position as more than just a teen idol, marking a significant turning point in his career. This recognition motivated Alex to work even harder on the demanding filming of Platoon.