...what a better place the world would be. Unfortunately, those 4,000 plus boneheads called "the academy" have to pick the winners. The contest carries about the same merit as a high school election, but over a billion people around the world car to tune in to see the outcome. I have tuned in every year since...well my mom allowed me to stay up late. I always cared about who won even if I didn't know the movies at all. I remember coming down the stairs the morning after the Oscars as a kid and my mom had written me a note in the kitchen of all the main winners ("Silence of the Lambs", Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster...). I had never seen the movie because I was only 10 or 11 at the time, so why did I care if it won? I also recall screaming "fuck you!" to James Cameron when he won for "Titanic" and throwing the remote across the room. How ridiculous to get angry over an awards show, I know. BUT THAT PIECE OF SHIT BOAT MOVIE TOOK HOME 11 STATUES!...ok this year I'll try not to get so worked up.
Best Supporting Actor:
Chris Cooper, ''Adaptation''
Ed Harris, ''The Hours''
Paul Newman, ''Road to Perdition''
John C. Reilly, ''Chicago''
Christopher Walken, ''Catch Me if You Can''
Should Be Nominated: Barry Pepper, "25th Hour." A breakout performance that was greatly overlooked.
Will Win: Chris Cooper. The favorite.
Should Win: Chris Cooper. I like this category this year because my favorite is the heavy favorite to win. Those of you who have seen "Adaptation" probably will agree. Cooper's brilliant portrayal of crazed flower connaisseur John LaRoche was impossible not to resist. Creepy, charismatic, and lovable.
Should Be Nominated: Patricia Clarkson, "Far From Heaven." Great performance of a nosy, superficial 50's housewife who is best friends with Julianne Moore as long as she stays "normal."
Will Win: Catherine Zeta-Jones. The fact that this more than just a supporting role will probably help her.
Should Win: Julianne Moore. She had the strongest performance in "The Hours," playing a 50's housewife who contemplates suicide after realizing that her life is a lie. Not an entirely sympatheic character because of how her acions affect her son later in life.
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, ''The Pianist''
Nicolas Cage, ''Adaptation''
Michael Caine, ''The Quiet American''
Daniel Day-Lewis, ''Gangs of New York''
Jack Nicholson, ''About Schmidt''
Should Be Nominated: Edward Norton, "25th Hour." One of the best out there. He has been nominated twice before and is long overdue in my eyes.
Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis. It comes down to him and Jack.
Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis. One of the most commanding, powerful performances in recent years. His character is a bad guy who does his own dirty work and respects his mortal enemies. Lewis lights up the screen, he is the only real reason to see "Gangs..."
Best Actress
Salma Hayek, ''Frida''
Nicole Kidman, ''The Hours''
Diane Lane, ''Unfaithful''
Julianne Moore, ''Far From Heaven''
Renée Zellweger, ''Chicago''
Will Win: Nicole Kidman. Oscar goes nuts for mental illness and physical transformation, this character has both. Though having makeup put on your nose doesn't even compare with gaining 50 pounds to play a deadbeat boxer.
Should Win: Julianne Moore. That's right, if it were up to me this woman would walk away with 2 Oscars Sunday night. I cannot give her enough praise. Her performance as housewife (that's right she played 2 of them) Cathy Whittaker was amazing. We see her transform, gradually reveal her self as she tries to shake free from that 50's conformity; only the world isn't ready to accept her behavior.
Best Director
Pedro Almodóvar, ''Talk to Her''
Stephen Daldry, ''The Hours''
Rob Marshall, ''Chicago''
Roman Polanski, ''The Pianist''
Martin Scorsese, ''Gangs of New York''
Should Be Nominated: Spike Jonze, "Adaptation" and Todd Haynes, "Far From Heaven." They really should be in here, but I am confident that they will be soon. The academy is old fashioned when it comes to young filmmakers.
Will Win: Martin Scorsese. I love this man's work, but he doesn't deserve an Oscar for this film. If he does win, it'll be more like a lifetime achievement award than a single achievement. They should've given it to him for "Taxi Driver" or "GoodFellas."
Should Win: Rob Marshall. I am not really jazzed about anyone in this category, but I would have to go with Rob Marshall for helping redefine the movie musical. Balancing the musical numbers and dramatic scenes (fantasy and reality) was a very impressive juggling act.
Best Picture
''Chicago''
''Gangs of New York''
''The Hours''
''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers''
''The Pianist''
Should Be Nominated: "Adaptation" and "Far From Heaven." The first is a brilliant telling of the difficulties of writing, fanaticism, Hollywood, and ultimately about how people interact and change with their surroundings. The second is a rehash of 50's Douglas Sirk films that treats its period without irony or condescension.
Will Will: Chicago. Though I am not a fan of the genre, I appreciated this film for breaking free of its conventions and turning out to be totally compelling and entertaining.
Should Win: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. A great, epic film that comes in between a strong opening act ("Fellowship") and a highly anticipated conclusion ("Return of the King"), which will most likely take home the prize next year. If these films continue to get better, the trilogy is sure to become the film adventure of this generation.
for what does Edward Norton have an academy award? he was nominated for his roles in Primal Fear and American History X (which i watched again friday) but he didn't win.
I thought he won for Primal Fear, but now that you mention it...I think you're right, he didn't. All the more reason to nominate him.
March 23, 2003 07:25 PM
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sara commented:
for what does Edward Norton have an academy award? he was nominated for his roles in Primal Fear and American History X (which i watched again friday) but he didn't win.
March 23, 2003 07:18 PM