When the Oscar nominations were announced last month, I realized that this will be the first time in 15 years that I will not be watching the Oscars, in part, live. When I was younger and it got late (or time for Lois & Clark, if it was a new one) I'd tape the rest of the show and watch it the next day after school. This year, I can not even tape the thing. It makes me a little sad that on Sunday I won't be eating so much microwave popcorn that my tongue is sore for days after while watching the glitz and glamour of a meaningless, but fun, awards ceremony.
Even though I won't be watching them, I thought I throw out my choices to win, anyway.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson
Peter O’Toole in Venus
Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland
I actually haven't seen any of these movies, but I'd be happy if either PeterO'Toole or Forest Whitaker win. They both should have won years ago. Both bury themselves in they're roles so well that if the make-up was a bit thicker, I'd have a hard time figuring out who was playing their characters.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Penélope Cruz in Volver
Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren in The Queen
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet in Little Children
Penélope Cruz's breast should win for their amazing performance in Volver, but since just parts of an actor can not win, I choose, like everyone else, Helen Mirren for one of the most controlled and emotional performances ever on film. Just looking into her eyes in The Queen I could see that there was so much emotion being supressed to show strength and tradition to the people of England. She was outstanding. And it'd be nice for her to win for playing both Queen Elizabeths.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley in Little Children
Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg in The Departed
While I'm expecting Eddie Murphy to pull in the win, I'd really like to see Alan Arkin win for playing a crusty, but caring grandfather. His character was the one with the most life in him when Little Miss Sunshine started. And the way you could see how much he loved his granddaughter was wonderful. Here's hoping he pulls it off.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Adriana Barraza in Babel
Cate Blanchett in Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi in Babel
Jennifer Hudson was lucky. She got to play the best female characer in Dreamgirls. And she nailed it. Yes, the woman who didn't become the Idol was specactular.
DIRECTING
Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
The Queen
United 93
Although I'd like Scorsese to win, finally, I'm going with Frears and The Queen on this. It was a quiet, nuainced film. Sort of gentle in it's appoach. Startling and nice. I don't know exactly how to put it, but it was just what was needed.
MUSIC (SCORE)
Babel
The Good German
Notes on a Scandal
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Queen
Pan’s Labyrinth's score was shocking and sweet and brutal and better than anything else I've heard this year.
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Children of Men
The Departed
Little Children
Notes on a Scandal
Children of Men. See it. Read it. Understand it.
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
Babel
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Queen
Pan’s Labyrinth, for the same reason the score should win.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House
Cars. The others may have been more original, storywise, but they weren't better.
BEST PICTURE
Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen
Little Miss Sunshine should win, just for its oddness and crazy characters.
Showing posts with label Oscars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oscars. Show all posts
Friday, February 23, 2007
Friday, February 25, 2005
The Oscars, 2005
Since they're coming up this Sunday, I figured I better do my, hopefully, annual list of who I want to win, even if they won't actually pull it off.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx - RAY
So, I only saw Ray, which was better than I expected, and The Aviator, which was longer than I expected. Both of these actors were good, and, if you're betting, Jamie Foxx is the most likely to pull it off. The guy who should win, even though I haven't seen his movie is Don Cheadle. I'm constantly impressed by him when he's on screen. I want him to win because he should have been nominated years ago, especially for his part in Traffic. PS Where's Paul Giamatti nomination? Two years in a row he's been screwed over by not being nominated for outstanding leading roles! When will those Academy bastards give him some recognition?!
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening - BEING JULIA
Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE
Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Wouldn't it be fun to see Annette Bening beat Hilary Swank this time around? Bening should have won for American Beauty all those years ago, too bad she's not most deserving this year. This year the Oscar should go to Kate Winslet. Her performance blew me away. The way she was both sweet and a bitch. The way she played a memory who just didn't want to be eliminated. Wonderful.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Clive Owen - CLOSER
You'll hear a lot from me on Sidways later on in this post, but here the man with an alliterative name, Alan Alda, should take the gold phallic shaped man. He was such a great asshole, searching for the way to be the top man in the country by taking one down.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
Laura Linney - KINSEY
Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman - CLOSER
Bam! Virginia Madsen should win! Sure, Cate Blanchett was a hot Kate Hepburn, but I don't think she got to show the huge range of emotions that Madsen got to show in Sideways. Madsen made me fall in love with Maya from the beginning and feel all her hurt when she learns the truth and then understand the need to make the phone call later.
DIRECTING
THE AVIATOR
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
VERA DRAKE
So, once again, Martin Scorsese gets a pity nomination for best director. He should have won in 1980 for Raging Bull and the Academy is trying to make up for that fuck-up. He's not the person who deserves to win, though; that person is Alexander Payne for Sideways. I can't really describe the melancholy perfection that is this movie. I can only say you need to go and see it yourself. Payne is the main cause, since he directed it and co-wrote the screenplay. Give this man an award.
MUSIC (SCORE)
FINDING NEVERLAND
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE VILLAGE
John Williams has not, in my opinion, written a better score than the one he wrote for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It has the amazing Potter theme he wrote for the first movie and it has more. It seems to me that Williams was willing to play with the music like the director was willing to play with the scenery. Go Williams!
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
BEFORE SUNSET
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
SIDEWAYS
Guess which one I want to win? Don't be an asshole, I want Sideways to win. I can't help it. This movie ruled. Go see it.
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
THE AVIATOR
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
HOTEL RWANDA
THE INCREDIBLES
VERA DRAKE
A large chunk of me would like to see The Incredibles win because it was fun, fast, and funny, but the winner should be (and probably will be) Charlie Kaufman's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Honestly, it if was up for best picture, this is the movie I'd choose. Kaufman crafted a masterpiece of twists and turns, never showing where he was leading us. Best movie out last year.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE INCREDIBLES
SHARK TALE
SHREK 2
What moron put Shark Tale in this category? That movie wasn't best anything. Even that stupid Disney movie Home on the Range was better and it sucked. Why not nominate The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, that was as funny as Shrek 2 and as charming as anything else out there? Probably because it was traditional cel animation and not CG animation, fuckers. Anyhow, the winner should and will be The Incredibles. The Incredibles gave me a grin throughout its entirety and on my walk out of the theater and for the rest of the day. Spectacular movie!
BEST PICTURE
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
Sideways. Do I need to say anything else?
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx - RAY
So, I only saw Ray, which was better than I expected, and The Aviator, which was longer than I expected. Both of these actors were good, and, if you're betting, Jamie Foxx is the most likely to pull it off. The guy who should win, even though I haven't seen his movie is Don Cheadle. I'm constantly impressed by him when he's on screen. I want him to win because he should have been nominated years ago, especially for his part in Traffic. PS Where's Paul Giamatti nomination? Two years in a row he's been screwed over by not being nominated for outstanding leading roles! When will those Academy bastards give him some recognition?!
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening - BEING JULIA
Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE
Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Wouldn't it be fun to see Annette Bening beat Hilary Swank this time around? Bening should have won for American Beauty all those years ago, too bad she's not most deserving this year. This year the Oscar should go to Kate Winslet. Her performance blew me away. The way she was both sweet and a bitch. The way she played a memory who just didn't want to be eliminated. Wonderful.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Clive Owen - CLOSER
You'll hear a lot from me on Sidways later on in this post, but here the man with an alliterative name, Alan Alda, should take the gold phallic shaped man. He was such a great asshole, searching for the way to be the top man in the country by taking one down.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
Laura Linney - KINSEY
Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman - CLOSER
Bam! Virginia Madsen should win! Sure, Cate Blanchett was a hot Kate Hepburn, but I don't think she got to show the huge range of emotions that Madsen got to show in Sideways. Madsen made me fall in love with Maya from the beginning and feel all her hurt when she learns the truth and then understand the need to make the phone call later.
DIRECTING
THE AVIATOR
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
VERA DRAKE
So, once again, Martin Scorsese gets a pity nomination for best director. He should have won in 1980 for Raging Bull and the Academy is trying to make up for that fuck-up. He's not the person who deserves to win, though; that person is Alexander Payne for Sideways. I can't really describe the melancholy perfection that is this movie. I can only say you need to go and see it yourself. Payne is the main cause, since he directed it and co-wrote the screenplay. Give this man an award.
MUSIC (SCORE)
FINDING NEVERLAND
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE VILLAGE
John Williams has not, in my opinion, written a better score than the one he wrote for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It has the amazing Potter theme he wrote for the first movie and it has more. It seems to me that Williams was willing to play with the music like the director was willing to play with the scenery. Go Williams!
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
BEFORE SUNSET
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
SIDEWAYS
Guess which one I want to win? Don't be an asshole, I want Sideways to win. I can't help it. This movie ruled. Go see it.
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
THE AVIATOR
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
HOTEL RWANDA
THE INCREDIBLES
VERA DRAKE
A large chunk of me would like to see The Incredibles win because it was fun, fast, and funny, but the winner should be (and probably will be) Charlie Kaufman's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Honestly, it if was up for best picture, this is the movie I'd choose. Kaufman crafted a masterpiece of twists and turns, never showing where he was leading us. Best movie out last year.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE INCREDIBLES
SHARK TALE
SHREK 2
What moron put Shark Tale in this category? That movie wasn't best anything. Even that stupid Disney movie Home on the Range was better and it sucked. Why not nominate The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, that was as funny as Shrek 2 and as charming as anything else out there? Probably because it was traditional cel animation and not CG animation, fuckers. Anyhow, the winner should and will be The Incredibles. The Incredibles gave me a grin throughout its entirety and on my walk out of the theater and for the rest of the day. Spectacular movie!
BEST PICTURE
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
Sideways. Do I need to say anything else?
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Oscar, Oscar, Oscar!
Okay, this is a little late, but I've been busy. Here's my look at who won the Oscars and what I thought about the show in general.
The funniest thing in the whole show was the beginning where Billy Crystal was in all those different movies. Micheal Moore popping up saying "You have to stop this war. Hobbits, you're fighing a fictional war." had me on the floor laughing. I also enjoyed the songs Crystal sang about the best picture nominees. That was all for the funny, I hope Steve Martin hosts next year, he's the best.
On to the winners (only one of my picks won, by the way):
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Sean Penn - MYSTIC RIVER
Okay. He was nominated three times before and he won for the one he actually showed up for. That's nice.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Charlize Theron - MONSTER
Haven't seen the movie. Don't know if I want to. I heard her called a good rolemodel for women. It's nice that a serial killer can be a rolemodel.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tim Robbins - MYSTIC RIVER
Okay, he's a good actor. I respect that he won. I almost fell asleep during his speech, though.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Renée Zellweger - COLD MOUNTAIN
Nope. I don't see how she did it. I just don't. Yes, she's a decent actress, but I don't think this was the role that sould have won her an award, that should have been Bridget Jones's Diary. It's like Russel Crowe winning for Gladiator instead of The Insider, what the fuck was that about?
DIRECTING
Peter Jackson - THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Honestly, he should have won for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring because it just felt better. More surprising. More amazing. I don't know what it was, exactly, but that would have been the right time. I guess the academy felt guilty for ignoring the other installment of the trilogy, but they sure made up for it with this year's awards.
MUSIC (SCORE)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Didn't the music in this film sound exactly like the music in the other two? If it didn't win then, why now? Guilt, plain and simple.
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
It was nominated for three years in a row but only won this year. It shouldn't have. The voters should have know better, too.
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Here's where I was most thrilled for the night. I thought this movie was brilliant and the writing was wonderful. This was my happiest moment during the telecast.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
FINDING NEMO
Okay, I relly like this movie. It's not as good as Toy Story 2, but it was very good. I still laugh at it, a lot.
BEST PICTURE
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Was anyone surprised by the time this one was handed out? I wasn't. I was disappointed.
The funniest thing in the whole show was the beginning where Billy Crystal was in all those different movies. Micheal Moore popping up saying "You have to stop this war. Hobbits, you're fighing a fictional war." had me on the floor laughing. I also enjoyed the songs Crystal sang about the best picture nominees. That was all for the funny, I hope Steve Martin hosts next year, he's the best.
On to the winners (only one of my picks won, by the way):
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Sean Penn - MYSTIC RIVER
Okay. He was nominated three times before and he won for the one he actually showed up for. That's nice.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Charlize Theron - MONSTER
Haven't seen the movie. Don't know if I want to. I heard her called a good rolemodel for women. It's nice that a serial killer can be a rolemodel.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tim Robbins - MYSTIC RIVER
Okay, he's a good actor. I respect that he won. I almost fell asleep during his speech, though.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Renée Zellweger - COLD MOUNTAIN
Nope. I don't see how she did it. I just don't. Yes, she's a decent actress, but I don't think this was the role that sould have won her an award, that should have been Bridget Jones's Diary. It's like Russel Crowe winning for Gladiator instead of The Insider, what the fuck was that about?
DIRECTING
Peter Jackson - THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Honestly, he should have won for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring because it just felt better. More surprising. More amazing. I don't know what it was, exactly, but that would have been the right time. I guess the academy felt guilty for ignoring the other installment of the trilogy, but they sure made up for it with this year's awards.
MUSIC (SCORE)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Didn't the music in this film sound exactly like the music in the other two? If it didn't win then, why now? Guilt, plain and simple.
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
It was nominated for three years in a row but only won this year. It shouldn't have. The voters should have know better, too.
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Here's where I was most thrilled for the night. I thought this movie was brilliant and the writing was wonderful. This was my happiest moment during the telecast.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
FINDING NEMO
Okay, I relly like this movie. It's not as good as Toy Story 2, but it was very good. I still laugh at it, a lot.
BEST PICTURE
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Was anyone surprised by the time this one was handed out? I wasn't. I was disappointed.
Thursday, January 29, 2004
OSCAR TIME!!!
Understand, I have no good basis for telling you who I think should win at this years Oscars, but I'm gonna do it anyway, at least in the categories I think I understand. Oh, and I'm doing this as if I were the only voter, these are who I would pick based on the movies I've seen this year.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Johnny Depp - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
Ben Kingsley - HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
Jude Law - COLD MOUNTAIN
Bill Murray - LOST IN TRANSLATION
Sean Penn - MYSTIC RIVER
This one's simple, it should go to Bill Murray for being amazing and for not getting a nomination for Rushmore. This was not the Bill Murray from Ghost Busters or Groundhog Day, this is Bill Murray being brilliant. Sure, the other actors are amazing (although I haven't seen these movies, I've seen them in other things), but Murray was outstanding. It was the Bill Murray I've seen before, but only in appearance, the attitude and mannerisms had me completely mystified. I hope he's the winner.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keisha Castle-Hughes - WHALE RIDER
Diane Keaton - SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
Samantha Morton - IN AMERICA
Charlize Theron - MONSTER
Naomi Watts - 21 GRAMS
Keisha Castle-Hughes is my choice. Sure, kids rarely win, but she was great in Whale Rider and since I haven't seen the supposedly amazing performance by Charlize Theron, I'm sticking to my choice until I see Monster, probably on video in several months.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alec Baldwin - THE COOLER
Benicio Del Toro - 21 GRAMS
Djimon Hounsou - IN AMERICA
Tim Robbins - MYSTIC RIVER
Ken Watanabe - THE LAST SAMURAI
I haven't seen any of these movies, but I'm saying that I want Alec Baldwin to win just because I like the guy when he does interviews or when he appears on Saturday Night Live. Does anyone else remember the brilliant sketch "The Mimic"? Seriously, though, he's a great actor even if he's been in some horrible movies. Let's see him get the little gold man this year.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Shohreh Aghdashloo - HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
Patricia Clarkson - PIECES OF APRIL
Marcia Gay Harden - MYSTIC RIVER
Holly Hunter - THIRTEEN
Renée Zellweger - COLD MOUNTAIN
I've only seen Thirteen out of these movies, and while I think Holly Hunter was good, I don't know if she is deserving of another Oscar. So, I guess I won't be making a choice on this, I'm just hoping that Renée Zellweger doesn't win. The only role she nailed was Bridget Jones, but she didn't win for that, now did she.
DIRECTING
CITY OF GOD
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
LOST IN TRANSLATION
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
MYSTIC RIVER
Part of me wants City of God to win because I kinda like to see foreign films take major Oscars away from American films, but if I have to be honest, which I like to be, I have to give this award to Sophia Coppola for her masterful work in Lost in Translation. Sure, she was a horrible actress, but the two films she's directed have been amazing pieces of work. I think, given time and opportunity, she's gonna outshine her dad as a director.
MUSIC (SCORE)
BIG FISH
COLD MOUNTAIN
FINDING NEMO
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Many people out there are going to be saying that Howard Shore should win for his epic style music in The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King, but I disagree. The winner should be Danny Elfman for the emotional score beneath Big Fish. Elfman is one of the most talented composers film has right now and he has earned an award with this film.
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
AMERICAN SPLENDOR
CITY OF GOD
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
MYSTIC RIVER
SEABISCUIT
Simply, American Splendor is the best one in this category. If this film was in the Best Picture category, I'd have a tough time choosing a winner, but it's only in this one category and must be declared the winner.
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS
FINDING NEMO
IN AMERICA
LOST IN TRANSLATION
While I don't think I had more fun at the theater last year than when I went and saw Finding Nemo, Lost in Translation is the better film and the better screenplay. It has everything that I want in a screenplay and more. Another Oscar to Sophia Coppola
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
BROTHER BEAR
FINDING NEMO
THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE
Once again, Finding Nemo was an outstanding film, but not the best in this category. That goes to The Triplets of Belleville because it is a brilliant movie that uses many forms of animation to great effect. I'm pretty sure it'll be the winner. This is the only category I have faith in me being right because last year they choose Spirted Away last year rather than the normal American stuff.
BEST PICTURE
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
LOST IN TRANSLATION
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
MYSTIC RIVER
SEABISCUIT
Once again, Lost in Translation is the great winner. Go and see it and you'll understand why.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Johnny Depp - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
Ben Kingsley - HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
Jude Law - COLD MOUNTAIN
Bill Murray - LOST IN TRANSLATION
Sean Penn - MYSTIC RIVER
This one's simple, it should go to Bill Murray for being amazing and for not getting a nomination for Rushmore. This was not the Bill Murray from Ghost Busters or Groundhog Day, this is Bill Murray being brilliant. Sure, the other actors are amazing (although I haven't seen these movies, I've seen them in other things), but Murray was outstanding. It was the Bill Murray I've seen before, but only in appearance, the attitude and mannerisms had me completely mystified. I hope he's the winner.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keisha Castle-Hughes - WHALE RIDER
Diane Keaton - SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
Samantha Morton - IN AMERICA
Charlize Theron - MONSTER
Naomi Watts - 21 GRAMS
Keisha Castle-Hughes is my choice. Sure, kids rarely win, but she was great in Whale Rider and since I haven't seen the supposedly amazing performance by Charlize Theron, I'm sticking to my choice until I see Monster, probably on video in several months.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alec Baldwin - THE COOLER
Benicio Del Toro - 21 GRAMS
Djimon Hounsou - IN AMERICA
Tim Robbins - MYSTIC RIVER
Ken Watanabe - THE LAST SAMURAI
I haven't seen any of these movies, but I'm saying that I want Alec Baldwin to win just because I like the guy when he does interviews or when he appears on Saturday Night Live. Does anyone else remember the brilliant sketch "The Mimic"? Seriously, though, he's a great actor even if he's been in some horrible movies. Let's see him get the little gold man this year.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Shohreh Aghdashloo - HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
Patricia Clarkson - PIECES OF APRIL
Marcia Gay Harden - MYSTIC RIVER
Holly Hunter - THIRTEEN
Renée Zellweger - COLD MOUNTAIN
I've only seen Thirteen out of these movies, and while I think Holly Hunter was good, I don't know if she is deserving of another Oscar. So, I guess I won't be making a choice on this, I'm just hoping that Renée Zellweger doesn't win. The only role she nailed was Bridget Jones, but she didn't win for that, now did she.
DIRECTING
CITY OF GOD
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
LOST IN TRANSLATION
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
MYSTIC RIVER
Part of me wants City of God to win because I kinda like to see foreign films take major Oscars away from American films, but if I have to be honest, which I like to be, I have to give this award to Sophia Coppola for her masterful work in Lost in Translation. Sure, she was a horrible actress, but the two films she's directed have been amazing pieces of work. I think, given time and opportunity, she's gonna outshine her dad as a director.
MUSIC (SCORE)
BIG FISH
COLD MOUNTAIN
FINDING NEMO
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Many people out there are going to be saying that Howard Shore should win for his epic style music in The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King, but I disagree. The winner should be Danny Elfman for the emotional score beneath Big Fish. Elfman is one of the most talented composers film has right now and he has earned an award with this film.
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
AMERICAN SPLENDOR
CITY OF GOD
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
MYSTIC RIVER
SEABISCUIT
Simply, American Splendor is the best one in this category. If this film was in the Best Picture category, I'd have a tough time choosing a winner, but it's only in this one category and must be declared the winner.
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS
FINDING NEMO
IN AMERICA
LOST IN TRANSLATION
While I don't think I had more fun at the theater last year than when I went and saw Finding Nemo, Lost in Translation is the better film and the better screenplay. It has everything that I want in a screenplay and more. Another Oscar to Sophia Coppola
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
BROTHER BEAR
FINDING NEMO
THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE
Once again, Finding Nemo was an outstanding film, but not the best in this category. That goes to The Triplets of Belleville because it is a brilliant movie that uses many forms of animation to great effect. I'm pretty sure it'll be the winner. This is the only category I have faith in me being right because last year they choose Spirted Away last year rather than the normal American stuff.
BEST PICTURE
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
LOST IN TRANSLATION
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
MYSTIC RIVER
SEABISCUIT
Once again, Lost in Translation is the great winner. Go and see it and you'll understand why.
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