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Steven Soderbergh beats himself
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HOLLYWOOD rising star Steven Soderbergh beat some tough competition -- including himself -- to win the Oscar for best director on Sunday for his unflinching look at the world of drugs on both sides of the US-Mexican border in "Traffic."
Soderbergh's gritty docudrama-style film won for its unvarnished portrayal of drug trafficking and its impact both in producer countries and in first-world nations, and its toll on those who sell and police drugs.
He was also nominated for his true-life tale of a crusading law clerk who discovers contamination of the drinking water in a California town, "Erin Brockovich", which won a best actress (Julia Roberts).
Soderbergh paid tribute to all those who devote even part of their lives to creative endeavours and thanked colleagues and friends.
"I think the world would be unlivable without art and I thank you. That includes the Academy, that includes my fellow nominees here tonight. Thank you for inspiring me .. thank you for this," he said.
Speaking to reporters backstage, the director said he did not expect to win.
He said the victory was especially sweet, since many had told him "Traffic" -- which starred Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Oscar-winner Benicio Del Toro -- would have no box office appeal.
"It was a difficult film to set up, and one we were told time and time again had no commercial potential," he said. "So it was really exiting to see that the audience went."
(SD-Agencies)
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