So, that was my take on this year's awards. I had predicted The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King to win ten of its eleven nominations. It ended up taking them all, for a clean sweep of eleven Oscars. Seabiscuit with seven nominations and Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl with five nominations both went home empty handed. As far as other predictions, I think I fell victim to "share the wealth" syndrome. There was such strong competition this year in most categories that I felt every film should win at least once... now I see that's what the nominations are for! Next year I won't be so charitable. (evil laugh) I was five for seven this year in the top categories, missing both Lead Actor and Lead Actress. I was shocked to realize that I was guilty of doing exactly what the Academy had done for so long - ignoring a brilliant performance by Sean Penn. Sorry Sean! However, though I didn't pick Charlize Theron to actually win, she was my personal choice. Hurrah! Overall, I picked nineteen out of twenty-four wins correctly. That works out to a 79% success rate, my best showing ever, but I must admit that this year was less challenging than previous ones. Peter Jackson made sure of that! To see how I did last year, click here! For more on Oscar, click below! |
A.J.'s Oscar Night Wrap-Up! |
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Hello, and welcome to A.J.'s post-show wrap-up for the 76th Academy Awards! The tag line was "Expect the Unexpected". Not bloody likely with a five second broadcasting delay! Oscar's attempt to woo a younger audience this year failed rather un-spectacularly. Billy Crystal hosted for the Nth time, and gave us what we've come to expect. No surprises whatsoever. And did anyone not think The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was going to rule the night? 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. The weird thing is, this time around, my 'should wins' and 'will wins' mostly agree! Here's a tiny hint... One film shall rule them all. (By the way, I've done this for four years, and now it seems that everyone is blatantly copying my methods. For the record, I and I alone am responsible for how convoluted all of these award predicting thingys have become. Hahahahahahaha!!! My evil plan is now complete!) But anyway... On to the awards! Winners are highlighted in RED. |
BEST MOTION PICTURE The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Lost in Translation Master and Commander: Far Side of the World Mystic River Seabiscuit Should Win: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Why: Hey, it's about freakin' time! The third part of a series that never let us down. Will Win: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Why: There are a great bunch of films nominated this year. Same as above! ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Johnny Depp in The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the lack Pearl Ben Kingsley in House of Sand and Fog Jude Law in Cold Mountain Bill Murray in Lost in Translation Sean Penn in Mystic River Should Win: Bill Murray Why: His performance floored me. It's just that simple. Will Win: Johnny Depp Why: This is a tough one! I think the Academy will choose whimsy over depth on this one, in yet another attempt to gain a more hip audience! Don't get me wrong, though, Depp was awesome as Capt. Jack Sparrow. ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider Diane Keaton in Something's Gotta Give Samantha Morton in In America Charlize Theron in Monster Naomi Watts in 21 Grams Should Win: Charlize Theron Why: An unforgettable transformation. She deserves to win. Will Win: Diane Keaton Why: Another tough call. I think the Academy will feel that Charlize hasn't yet paid her dramatic dues. Diane, however, bared all for a laugh. You can't ignore that! BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Brother Bear Finding Nemo The Triplets of Belleville Should Win: Finding Nemo Why: Um, 'cause they found Nemo? No, because it's one of the best animated features ever made, silly! Will Win: Finding Nemo Why: If not for this category, it would have been nominated for Best Picture. |
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles for City of God Peter Jackson for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation Peter Weir for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Clint Eastwood for Mystic River Should Win: Peter Jackson Why: Third time's the charm! Will Win: Peter Jackson Why: All are deserving of the award, but Jackson deserves it three times over! ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Alec Baldwin in The Cooler Benicio Del Toro in 21 Grams Djimon Hounsou in In America Tim Robbins in Mystic River Ken Watanabe in The Last Samurai Should Win: Tim Robbins Why: An easy choice for me. His was the most memorable supporting performance of the year. Will Win: Tim Robbins Why: Well, Mystic River deserves to win SOMETHING! Now the rental box can say "The Academy Award Winning" Mystic River! And it will also prove to Robbins that Hollywood can forgive and forget. Art above politics??? ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Shohreh Aghdashloo in House of Sand and Fog Patricia Clarkson in Pieces of April Marcia Gay Harden in Mystic River Holly Hunter in Thirteen Renée Zellweger in Cold Mountain Should Win: Renée Zellweger Why: She's my favorite actress! Didn't you know that? Will Win: Renée Zellweger Why: She should have won a bunch of previous times, so now she will! Well, that and the fact that the Academy just loves hillbillies. Yeehaa! And now... the other nominees! |
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BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM The Barbarian Invasions Evil The Twilight Samurai Twin Sisters Zelary A.J.'S PICK The Barbarian Invasions BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The Barbarian Invasions Dirty Pretty Things Finding Nemo In America Lost in Translation A.J.'S PICK Lost in Translation ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING Finding Nemo Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl A.J.'S PICK Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY American Splendor City of God The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Mystic River Seabiscuit A.J.'S PICK Mystic River CINEMATOGRAPHY City of God Cold Mountain Girl With the Pearl Earring Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit A.J.'S PICK Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION Girl With the Pearl Earring The Last Samurai The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ORIGINAL SCORE Big Fish Cold Mountain Finding Nemo House of Sand and Fog The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT Asylum Chernobyl Heart Ferry Tales A.J.'S PICK Chernobyl Heart BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket) Moste (The Bridge) Squash Torzija Torsion Two Soldiers A.J.'S PICK Two Soldiers |
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Balseros Capturing the Friedmans The Fog of War My Architect The Weather Underground A.J.'S PICK Capturing the Friedmans BEST ORIGINAL SONG 'Belleville Rendez-vous' from The Triplets of Belleville 'Into the West' from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 'A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow' from A Mighty Wind 'Scarlet Tide' from Cold Mountain 'You Will Be My Ain True Love' from Cold Mountain A.J.'S PICK 'Into the West' - music and lyrics by Fran Walsh, Howard Shore, and Annie Lennox - Sung by Annie Lennox from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King COSTUME DESIGN Girl With the Pearl Earring The Last Samurai The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING The Last Samurai The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Seabiscuit A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS (AKA The Battle of the Long Titles) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING City of God Cold Mountain The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King BEST ANIMATED SHORT Boundin' Destino Gone Nutty Harvie Krumpet Nibbles A.J.'S PICK Harvie Krumpet ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP (AKA Battle of the Long Titles II: The Return of the Curse at the Far Side of the Nominee List) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl A.J.'S PICK The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
So, that was my take on this year's awards. I had predicted The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King to win ten of its eleven nominations. It ended up taking them all, for a clean sweep of eleven Oscars. Seabiscuit with seven nominations and Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl with five nominations both went home empty handed. As far as other predictions, I think I fell victim to "share the wealth" syndrome. There was such strong competition this year in most categories that I felt every film should win at least once... now I see that's what the nominations are for! Next year I won't be so charitable. (evil laugh) I was five for seven this year in the top categories, missing both Lead Actor and Lead Actress. I was shocked to realize that I was guilty of doing exactly what the Academy had done for so long - ignoring a brilliant performance by Sean Penn. Sorry Sean! However, though I didn't pick Charlize Theron to actually win, she was my personal choice. Hurrah! Overall, I picked nineteen out of twenty-four wins correctly. That works out to a 79% success rate, my best showing ever, but I must admit that this year was less challenging than previous ones. Peter Jackson made sure of that! To see how I did last year, click here! For more on Oscar, click below! |
