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Critic''s Choice

BY ANDY TAYLOR-FABE
Daily Arts Writer
Published March 22, 2001

The nominees for best song this year are all worthy of being included in the category, but the Academy Award should go without a doubt to Bob Dylan for the song "Things Have Changed" from the Curtis Hanson film "Wonder Boys."

Paul Wong
Jason Robards on the set of his last film, "Magnolia," with director Paul Thomas Anderson.<br><br>Courtesy of New Line Cinema

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Dylan"s fast paced and mysterious tune appears with the opening credits, setting the tone for the quirky and unpredictable film. The song features lyrics in the same league with some of Dylan"s classics and his voice, which can be almost unintelligible at concerts (what am I saying, almost), is melodic and fairly smooth. Dylan fills the song with those unique lyrics that would sound ridiculous from anyone else, e.g. " ...feel like falling in love with the first woman I meet, put her in a wheelbarrow and wheelin" her down the street." umm, yeah. With a bizarre but funny music video included on the DVD, the song fits with Dylan"s impish humor and style.

As nice as it would be to see 14 time nominee (and zero time winner) Randy Newman (who arguably equals Dylan as a songwriter) take home the Oscar for his song "A Fool in Love" from the film "Meet the Parents," Dylan is too damn good.