Last year's dark comedy "The Opposite of Sex" earned rave reviews and a cult fan base, but unfortunately it didn't earn any Oscar nominations -- even though many critics thought Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow both deserved nods. But that was about the only downside for Don Roos, the film's writer/director. Although he was already an established screenwriter ("Boys on the Side"), Roos was catapulted to the next tier of Hollywood's elite with his directorial debut. Now working on two new projects -- the love story "Bounce" and an NBC comedy about a teenage dropout who works in her principal's office -- Roos talked with EW Online about "Sex," his year of living famously, and why the Academy Awards ceremony is the most miserable place to be.
Sorry about the nomination robbery. Was it stressful waiting for the news?
It's a challenge to get through this whole season, it really is. It reminds me of why I never ran for anything in high school. There's this air of competition that's really not helpful. You try to be above it. But I'm above nothing.
Have you ever been to the Oscars?
I was there in 1992. It was fun watching the stars arrive downstairs. You don't expect stars to be nervous, but everyone was having a really horrible time. If you invite the top people in Hollywood into a room and say, "Out of every five people that are here, four of you are going to go home miserable," then you're going to have a tense little group.
Is there a noticeable mood shift after the awards?
Oh, yeah. You can tell who didn't win. Bitter, bitter, bitter. Trying to be above it all... but bitter, bitter, bitter.
When did you realize "The Opposite of Sex" was going to be a hit?
When (New York Times critic) Janet Maslin saw it at Sundance. We could tell just from her expression after the movie that she had enjoyed it. That was the first indication that maybe I was going to escape unscathed. Because your real fear is that you'll make a movie and just be laughed out of town and kicked out of the business.
The movie really transformed Christina Ricci into a major star.
It was Christina's year, with "Buffalo 66" and "Pecker." There was that teen part of her career where the roles weren't that interesting, and that's behind her now. She's also really talented and compelling to watch, and that's rare. That's why there are stars...and everybody else.
How did the movie's success transform your career?
You're treated with more respect by studio people, by executives, by producers, by other directors. They don't have as much respect for writers as they should, and they have more respect for directors than they should.... Sony Pictures Classics sent me to film festivals in Venice, Deauville, New York, and Seattle. And you never have to reach into your pocket. Now come on, that's pretty good. Order the in-room movies at your hotel, and if you don't like it, turn it off after 10 minutes. And you don't have to fight with the clerk to get it taken off your bill. It's good.
Did it take you a while to readjust to normal life after all that?
Yeah, because people in your personal life aren't really inclined to treat you as a director. They're basically inclined to treat you as an a--hole, if you are one. So I had to rein back a little. Not entirely, but a little.
You recently did a Newsweek roundtable with Warren Beatty and Tom Stoppard...
I was thrilled just to be in the same room...and not serving them coffee.
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