A.J.'s Oscar Night Aftermath! |
. |
Hello, and welcome to A.J.'s post-show wrapup for the 73rd Academy Awards! Some reviewers try to pick this year's winners, and some give wishes for their own favorite choices. For the top six, I'm giving my own choices for who and what should win, followed by my predictions for who and what will win, along with my admittedly twisted reasoning for each. For the rest of the nominations, I've given my favorite choices. And now... On to the Awards! * * * THIS YEAR'S WINNERS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BRIGHT YELLOW * * * |
BEST PICTURE Chocolat Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Erin Brockovich Gladiator Traffic Should Win: Gladiator Why: My favorite movie of the year, Cast Away, wasn't even nominated, and Crouching Tiger is a great foreign action movie, but Best Picture? I'm one of the reviewers who didn't think much of Traffic, so that one's out. Chocolat and Erin Brockovich were both good movies, but not the best. I have to go with Gladiator. Will Win: Gladiator Why: Process of elimination! Chocolat is the required British nominee (did you know that at least one British film is required? It's an unwritten rule). Crouching Tiger is also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, which it will win. Erin Brockovich and Traffic were both directed by Stephen Soderbergh, and, as we all know, two Best Picture nominations for one director is a great honor in itself! However, the result is that neither will win. Also, don't underestimate the Titanic Effect, which may kick in for Gladiator. ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Javier Bardem in Before Night Falls Russell Crowe in Gladiator Tom Hanks in Cast Away Ed Harris in Pollock Geoffrey Rush in Quills Should Win: Tom Hanks Why: I simply think it was the best performance of the year, and that no other actor could have performed the role as well. Will Win: Russell Crowe Why: The Academy has to make up for not giving Russell the award for L.A. Confidential... now is their chance. Tom Hanks, the only Cast Away nominee other than Best Sound, won't win, since he's already won so many times. The Academy included his nomination because, besides being worthy of the award, they like him, they really like him! ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Joan Allen in The Contender Juliette Binoche in Chocolat Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For a Dream Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich Should Win: Julia Roberts Why: Her performance in Erin Brockovich floored me. Is that reason enough? Will Win: Julia Roberts Why: Appearing in over 30 films by the age of 33, Julia has shown Hollywood's elite that she's the genuine article. The Academy will finally recognize her body of work with this award. |
BEST DIRECTOR Stephen Daidy for Billy Elliot Ang Lee for Crouching Tiger Steven Soderbergh for Erin Brockovich Ridley Scott for Gladiator Steven Soderbergh for Traffic Should Win: Ridley Scott Why: From a directing standpoint, I was more impressed with Gladiator's overall look than with the lighting gimmicks of Soderbergh's Traffic. I saw nothing in the direction of Erin Brockovich that would put it above, or even equal to, films that were not even nominated. Crouching Tiger and Billy Elliot both use some wonderful directing techniques, but can't hold a candle to Gladiator. Will Win: Steven Soderbergh Why: When comparing Erin Brockovich to Traffic, there's a great difference in directing style, so the double nomination that'll keep Soderbergh from nabbing Best Picture doesn't apply here. His only competition is Ridley Scott. Scott won't win because we're about due for a year where the Academy will inexplicably award this and Best Picture to two different films. (Go figure!) ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Jeff Bridges in The Contender Willem Dafoe in Shadow of the Vampire Benicio Del Toro in Traffic Albert Finney in Erin Brockovich Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator Should Win: Willem Dafoe Why: This is a tough choice for me, since, in my opinion, each of this year's nominees deserve the award. Dafoe's chilling performance as Max Schreck is the one that stayed with me the longest, so I'm rooting for him. Will Win: Benicio Del Toro Why: Benicio is just a wild guess. I think the Academy will feel the time is right to award him for a supporting role. They may go for Dafoe, but, as stated above, this one's just too close to call. (I hope a re-count will not be necessary!) ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Judi Dench in Chocolat Marcia Gay Harden in Pollock Kate Hudson in Almost Famous Frances McDormand in Almost Famous Julie Walters in Billy Elliot Should Win: Frances McDormand Why: Had Crouching Tiger not been nominated for Best Picture, I think Almost Famous would have made the cut. The film deserves a win, and Frances McDormand gives a fantastic performance, which deserves to be awarded. I was not as impressed with Kate Hudson's performance in the same film. Will Win: Julie Walters Why: The Academy will realize that none of the British nominees have won in other categories, so Julie will take home the Oscar. Say what you want, but, based on the Academy's past voting history, that's an accurate assumption! Therefore, her only competition is Judi Dench. Julie Walter's role in Billy Elliot was much larger than Judi Dench's in Chocolat, so Julie will win. While Julie Walters was very good as the tough but understanding ballet teacher in Billy Elliot, I still think Frances McDormand gave a better performance. |
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Amores Perros Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Divided We Fall Everybody Famous! The Taste of Others A.J.'S PICK Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Almost Famous Billy Elliot Erin Brockovich Gladiator You Can Count on Me A.J.'S PICK Erin Brockovich BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Chocolat Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon O Brother, Where Art Thou? Traffic Wonder Boys A.J.'S PICK O Brother, Where Art Thou? CINEMATOGRAPHY Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Gladiator Malena O Brother, Where Art Thou? The Patriot A.J.'S PICK Gladiator ART DIRECTION Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Gladiator Quills Vatel A.J.'S PICK Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas |
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport Legacy Long Night's Journey Into Day Scottsboro: An American Tragedy Sound and Fury A.J.'S PICK Sound and Fury BEST ORIGINAL SONG 'A Love Before Time' from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 'I've Seen it All' from Dancer in the Dark 'My Funny Friend and Me' from The Emperor's New Groove 'A Fool in Love' from Meet the Parents 'Things Have Changed' from Wonder Boys A.J.'S PICK 'Thing's Have Changed' from Wonder Boys COSTUME DESIGN Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Gladiator 102 Dalmations Quills A.J.'S PICK Gladiator BEST SOUND Cast Away Gladiator The Patriot The Perfect Storm U-571 A.J.'S PICK U-571 BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Gladiator Hollow Man The Perfect Storm A.J.'S PICK The Perfect Storm |
So, that's where I stood (tongue planted firmly in cheek) on this year's nominees. Prediction-wise, I picked five of the top six winners this year! Where the heck did Marcia Gay Harden's Supporting Actress win come from??? If I was going to be wrong about that one, I was sure it would have been because Kate Hudson had won for Almost Famous. That was the only complete upset of the night. The top Oscar winner was Ridley Scott's GLADIATOR, with 5 awards. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Traffic each picked up 4 Oscars. For more on the Academy Awards, click the following link! |
And now... the rest of the best! |
The World's Largest Poster and Print Store |
