By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
June 8, 2000
CULVER CITY, CALIF. — How fetching was Janet Jackson in her floor-length black leather dress?
After she presented Keanu Reeves with his MTV Movie Award for best male performance Saturday, the actor paused in the middle of his acceptance speech to stare at her in awe and utter, “God . . . beautiful.”
Other ladies wore their leather a little more casual at the ceremony, airing at 8 tonight on MTV. “American Beauty” Mena Suvari accented her leather bell bottoms with a bold, Pucci blouse that was much more age-appropriate than the matronly gown she wore to the Oscars.
Sarah Michelle Gellar topped her leather pants with a skimpy halter top.
As for the XYs, men in black ruled. Opting for a monochromatic look, Reeves chose a sleek, handsome suit.
Chris Klein (“American Pie”), whose looks have been compared to Reeves, also chose all black, from his tight black shirt to a pair of matching trousers. His girlfriend, “Dawson’s Creek” cutie Katie Holmes wore a slim dress that hit just below her knees, with a sleeveless top that showed off her slender, toned arms.
But the hands-down winner for coolest man in the room was Samuel L. Jackson. A vision in white, he accented his trademark Kangol beret with an impeccable jacket. The look didn’t work as well for Benicio Del Torro, who hid his handsome face in a goofy white cap.
Another don’t: ‘N Sync’s Justin Timberlake, who sported corn rows. He could have taken a cue from bandmate JC Chasez, whose slicked-back hair perfectly offset his tight shirt/loose pants combo.
Note to Metallica: Drummer Lars Ulrich should never be allowed onstage shirtless.
And then there was Adam Sandler, who looked like he was going to shoot hoops in his yellow T-shirt and green shorts.
Congenial hostess Sarah Jessica Parker showed a comic flair for dressing with her dozen costume changes. She looked fabulous in a Union Jack mini-dress. But the see-through dress with a red corsage attached to her bodice had to go. Ditto for the towering camouflage dress that was equal parts Scarlett O’Hara and G.I. Joe.–a gown so cumbersome that two people had to help her walk off stage.
