So, that was my two-cents-worth on this year's awards. I had predicted Chicago and Gangs of New York to be the night's big winners, both with four wins. Boy, was I wrong! Chicago bagged a dazzling six Oscars, including Best Picture, The Pianist pulled off more than one upset to grab three gold guys, and Gangs of New York got skunked!!! Not a single blessed win! Somebody must really hate Martin Scorsese... I was eleven for twenty-four on my predictions, or 46% correct overall. My worst showing in history! Other surprises included Eminem winning 'Best Original Song' for 'Lose Yourself' from 8 Mile, and docu-expose' director Michael Moore winning 'Most Booed' for his embarrassing acceptance rant. To see how I did last year, click here! For more on Oscar, click below! |
A.J.'s Oscar Wrap-Up! |
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Hello, and welcome to A.J.'s post-show wrap-up for the 75th Academy Awards! Some real shockers this year! Steve Martin hosted for a second time, and, in response to world events, the overall tone of the program was very subdued. (In Hollywood, that means that everyone wore less jewelry) Some reviewers try to pick the year's winners, and some give wishes for their own favorite choices. For the top seven I've given you 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. (I've done this for three years, and, for the first time, it seems that other Oscar predictors are now blatantly copying my methods. Don't think you can get way with it, Leonard Maltin... one day, revenge shall be mine!) Winners are highlighted in bright yellow. And now... On to the awards! |
BEST MOTION PICTURE Chicago Gangs of New York The Hours The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Pianist Should Win: Gangs of New York Why: I have to go with my favorite movie of the year. This one has so much going for it; great drama, action, history, and performances. Will Win: Chicago Why: Honestly, this is a tough call! All five films are worthy of the award. Chicago, Gangs of New York, and The Hours have the most insider buzz. The Two Towers won't win, since it's the second of three films, and cannot stand alone as a feature. The Hours and The Pianist are both incredibly intense films, but the Academy tends to favor 'crowd pleasers', so no wins there. Gangs of New York has a shot at it, but Chicago is the best adaptation of a Broadway musical ever made. I think the Academy will honor it for that. ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Adrien Brody in The Pianist Nicolas Cage in Adaptation. Michael Caine in The Quiet American Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis Why: The most memorable performance I saw last year, and that's good enough for me! Though, never underestimate the power of Jack! Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis Why: Another tight race, but I think Daniel Day-Lewis has this one locked up. Jack Nicholson would be my second choice. Adrien Brody and Michael Caine, you're both great, but not great enough. As for Nicolas Cage, which one got nominated? Confusion will deny them both the award! ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Salma Hayek in Frida Nicole Kidman in The Hours Diane Lane in Unfaithful Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven Renee Zellweger in Chicago Should Win: Renee Zellweger Why: Renee is my favorite actress, so I have a vested interest in seeing her successful career continue for as long as possible! It's sort of like that deal France and Germany have with Iraq. (Politics at the Oscars! Oh my!) Will Win: Nicole Kidman Why: Well, heck. She's due for one! I think the Academy will finally realize what a versatile actress she is. While Julianne Moore is a definite possibility, I think she'll lose for also making Hannibal and Evolution. Julianne Moore's fans shouldn't worry much, since the Academy has ways to even these things out! As for Salma Hayek and Diane Lane, I'm borrowing a page from Bill Murray by admitting that I didn't see either performance, so count them both out of the running. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Ice Age Lilo & Stitch Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) Treasure Planet Should Win: Lilo & Stitch It's the best of the bunch. Three of these are worthy; guess which ones! Will Win: Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) As long as those in the Academy don't get Spirit and Spirited Away confused, this one's gonna win. Spirited Away = a young girl's adventures in a world of spirits. Spirit = an adventure for young girls about a horse with unbreakable spirit. If they mess this up, Lilo & Stitch could still win! |
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING Rob Marshall for Chicago Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York Stephen Daldry for The Hours Roman Polanski for The Pianist Pedro Almodóvar for Talk to Her Should Win: Martin Scorsese Why: I believe the movie that wins Best Picture should always be because it was also the best directed. Have you ever seen a Best Picture winner that was directed poorly? Apparently, the Academy sees things differently. Will Win: Martin Scorsese Why: This is one category I see as a sure win for Gangs of New York. Chicago was also well directed, but I think its quick editing and tight pacing will work against it. ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Chris Cooper in Adaptation. Ed Harris in The Hours Paul Newman in Road to Perdition John C. Reilly in Chicago Christopher Walken in Catch Me if You Can Should Win: Chris Cooper Why: Again, an easy choice for me. His was the most memorable supporting performance of the year. Will Win: Chris Cooper Why: Ed Harris has an outside chance, but I think the Academy will see things my way, this time. Christopher Walken is always great, but then he's always Christopher Walken. John C. Reilly will continue to be in every movie released, and will win when he reaches 100 films (around 2005). And Paul Newman??? I like his brand of grape juice, but that won't win it for him. ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Kathy Bates in About Schmidt Julianne Moore in The Hours Queen Latifah in Chicago Meryl Streep in Adaptation. Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago Should Win: Queen Latifah Why: She was perfect in Chicago. No question. Will Win: Julianne Moore Why: Okay, this'll make up for not giving her Best Actress. See, I said the Academy would come through for her! If Julianne Moore doesn't take this one, Queen Latifah will. Catherine Zeta-Jones, also in Chicago, wasn't nearly as good. We've come to expect fine performances from Meryl Streep, so no win there, and Kathy Bates was great, but that nude scene... oooh, boy. And now... the other winners! |
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM El Crimen Del Padre Amaro The Crime of Father Amaro (Mexico) Ying xiong Hero (China) Mies vailla menneisyyttä The Man Without a Past (Finland) Nirgendwo in Afrika Nowhere in Africa (Germany) Zuz & Zo Hotel Paraiso (Netherlands) A.J.'S PICK Nowhere in Africa BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Far From Heaven Gangs of New York My Big Fat Greek Wedding Talk to Her Y Tu Mama Tambien A.J.'S PICK Far From Heaven BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY About a Boy Adaptation. Chicago The Hours The Pianist A.J.'S PICK Adaptation. CINEMATOGRAPHY Chicago Far From Heaven Gangs of New York The Pianist Road to Perdition A.J.'S PICK Gangs of New York ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION Chicago Frida Gangs of New York The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Road to Perdition A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers ORIGINAL SCORE Catch Me if You Can Far From Heaven Frida The Hours Road to Perdition A.J.'S PICK Catch Me if You Can BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT The Collector of Bedford Street Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks Twin Towers Why Can't We Be a Family Again? A.J.'S PICK The Collector of Bedford Street BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT Fait D'hiver I'll Wait For the Next One (J'attendraile Suiyant) Inja (Dog) Johnny Flynton This Charming Man (Der er en Yndig Mand) A.J.'S PICK Johnny Flynton |
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Bowling for Columbine Daughter From Danang Prisoner of Paradise Spellbound Winged Migration A.J.'S PICK Bowling for Columbine BEST ORIGINAL SONG 'I Move On' from Chicago 'Lose Yourself' from 8 Mile 'Burn it Blue' from Frida 'The Hands That Built New York' from Gangs of New York 'Father and Daughter' from The Wild Thornberrys Movie A.J.'S PICK 'The Hands That Built New York' - by U2 from Gangs of New York COSTUME DESIGN Chicago Frida Gangs of New York The Hours The Pianist A.J.'S PICK Chicago ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND Chicago Gangs of New York The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Road to Perdition Spider-man A.J.'S PICK Chicago ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Minority Report Road to Perdition A.J.'S PICK Minority Report ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS Spider-man The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones A.J.'S PICK Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING Chicago Gangs of New York The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Hours The Pianist A.J.'S PICK Chicago BEST ANIMATED SHORT The Cathedral The Chubbchubbs! Das Rad Mike's New Car Mt. Head A.J.'S PICK The Chubbchubbs! ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP Frida The Time Machine A.J.'S PICK Frida |
So, that was my two-cents-worth on this year's awards. I had predicted Chicago and Gangs of New York to be the night's big winners, both with four wins. Boy, was I wrong! Chicago bagged a dazzling six Oscars, including Best Picture, The Pianist pulled off more than one upset to grab three gold guys, and Gangs of New York got skunked!!! Not a single blessed win! Somebody must really hate Martin Scorsese... I was eleven for twenty-four on my predictions, or 46% correct overall. My worst showing in history! Other surprises included Eminem winning 'Best Original Song' for 'Lose Yourself' from 8 Mile, and docu-expose' director Michael Moore winning 'Most Booed' for his embarrassing acceptance rant. To see how I did last year, click here! For more on Oscar, click below! |
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