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**loopydate** · 01-27-2004, 12:21 PM

My thoughts on all the major noms:

Best Picture
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Is anyone surprised by this? It's the worst (IMO) of the three LOTR movies, but was still better than almost anything else released this year. Plus, with 11 overall nominations, this looks like the film to beat on February 29th.

Lost in Translation
Every year, the Academy tries to pretend that they aren't biased against comedies by putting a comedy in the Best Picture category. This year, Sofia Coppola gets her Lost in Translation nominated. As much critical praise as this has had, it is a serious darkhorse for Best Picture.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
This is what the Oscars have come to represent to a lot of casual movie fans when a film like this gets 10 nominations. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it's nowhere near my top five for the year. It seemed to be made with Oscars in mind, and the Academy lapped it up.

Mystic River
As much as I love the LOTR movies, this is, hands down, the best movie of the year. It's not a coincidence that Mystic got three out of four acting nominations, and Laura Linney and Kevin Bacon could also have slipped into the supporting categories with Marcia Gay Harden and Tim Robbins. A fantastic story, incredible acting...this is an Oscar voter's wet dream.

Seabiscuit
Although I haven't seen this, I have heard it was pretty good. This is the most surprising of the five nominees, though. I'm sure it made a lot of people's shortlists, but how many honestly put it in the top five? Big-time underdog on the 29th.

Best Picture Snub
Cold Mountain
I would have bet money that this would get a nomination here. A top-notch director, fantastic stars, and a fantastically-adapted script... This just baffles me.

Best Director
Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation
Only the third woman ever nominated in this category, and the first American woman. If she wins this, it could change a lot of the way movies are made.

Clint Eastwood - Mystic River
This was a lock. The director of the best movie of the year? If this weren't the year of the last LOTR movie, Eastwood would get this award, but...

Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Coming off his Golden Globe win, this is looking more and more like a sure thing. Pete has deserved this each of the last two years, and this is the year he finally takes it.

Fernando Meirelles - City of God
What? Um...what? I've heard this is a fantastic movie, but...what?

Peter Weir - Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World
He directed a big-budget movie with a huge star and a primarily oceanic setting. This is the kind of thing Oscar nominations are made of. Large scale, but a good story.

Best Director Snub
Anthony Minghella - Cold Mountain
What the hell?

Best Actor
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
I still stand by my opinion that Captain Jack Sparrow was the singularly most unusual performance of the year. Depp OWNED that movie, but it just didn't seem like an "Oscar performance." I love it when I'm proved wrong.

Ben Kingsley - House of Sand and Fog
I've heard this was an excellent role for him, and an actor of his caliber will always be a front-runner in this category.

Jude Law - Cold Mountain
Law had such a heavy role in Mountain. He had to carry so much sorrow, so much anger in his face, and he did it perfectly. I'd say he's the "Next Big Thing," but I think he's already arrived.

Bill Murray - Lost in Translation
YES! Bill Murray = The Man, and it's nice to see him getting the recognition he deserves. He has very little chance of winning this, but still.

Sean Penn - Mystic River
Last year, Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago was the singular best performance I saw by anyone in anything. This year, Penn gets that nod. Mystic River was an actor's movie, and Penn seized that. If he doesn't win, I'll be very surprised.

Best Actor Snub
Russell Crowe - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Just seemed to me that he could do no wrong in the Academy's eyes. A good role in a good movie, and he doesn't get the nom. I can't say I'm really disappointed, because I love that Depp and Murray got noms, but I am surprised.

I'll do Best Actress, the Supporting categories, and the Screenplay categories later.

01-27-2004, 12:21 PM	#26
loopydate FIT Challenge Slag People Posts: 13,816	My thoughts on all the major noms: Best Picture The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Is anyone surprised by this? It's the worst (IMO) of the three LOTR movies, but was still better than almost anything else released this year. Plus, with 11 overall nominations, this looks like the film to beat on February 29th. Lost in Translation Every year, the Academy tries to pretend that they aren't biased against comedies by putting a comedy in the Best Picture category. This year, Sofia Coppola gets her Lost in Translation nominated. As much critical praise as this has had, it is a serious darkhorse for Best Picture. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World This is what the Oscars have come to represent to a lot of casual movie fans when a film like this gets 10 nominations. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it's nowhere near my top five for the year. It seemed to be made with Oscars in mind, and the Academy lapped it up. Mystic River As much as I love the LOTR movies, this is, hands down, the best movie of the year. It's not a coincidence that Mystic got three out of four acting nominations, and Laura Linney and Kevin Bacon could also have slipped into the supporting categories with Marcia Gay Harden and Tim Robbins. A fantastic story, incredible acting...this is an Oscar voter's wet dream. Seabiscuit Although I haven't seen this, I have heard it was pretty good. This is the most surprising of the five nominees, though. I'm sure it made a lot of people's shortlists, but how many honestly put it in the top five? Big-time underdog on the 29th. Best Picture Snub Cold Mountain I would have bet money that this would get a nomination here. A top-notch director, fantastic stars, and a fantastically-adapted script... This just baffles me. Best Director Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation Only the third woman ever nominated in this category, and the first American woman. If she wins this, it could change a lot of the way movies are made. Clint Eastwood - Mystic River This was a lock. The director of the best movie of the year? If this weren't the year of the last LOTR movie, Eastwood would get this award, but... Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Coming off his Golden Globe win, this is looking more and more like a sure thing. Pete has deserved this each of the last two years, and this is the year he finally takes it. Fernando Meirelles - City of God What? Um...what? I've heard this is a fantastic movie, but...what? Peter Weir - Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World He directed a big-budget movie with a huge star and a primarily oceanic setting. This is the kind of thing Oscar nominations are made of. Large scale, but a good story. Best Director Snub Anthony Minghella - Cold Mountain What the hell? Best Actor Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl I still stand by my opinion that Captain Jack Sparrow was the singularly most unusual performance of the year. Depp OWNED that movie, but it just didn't seem like an "Oscar performance." I love it when I'm proved wrong. Ben Kingsley - House of Sand and Fog I've heard this was an excellent role for him, and an actor of his caliber will always be a front-runner in this category. Jude Law - Cold Mountain Law had such a heavy role in Mountain. He had to carry so much sorrow, so much anger in his face, and he did it perfectly. I'd say he's the "Next Big Thing," but I think he's already arrived. Bill Murray - Lost in Translation YES! Bill Murray = The Man, and it's nice to see him getting the recognition he deserves. He has very little chance of winning this, but still. Sean Penn - Mystic River Last year, Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago was the singular best performance I saw by anyone in anything. This year, Penn gets that nod. Mystic River was an actor's movie, and Penn seized that. If he doesn't win, I'll be very surprised. Best Actor Snub Russell Crowe - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Just seemed to me that he could do no wrong in the Academy's eyes. A good role in a good movie, and he doesn't get the nom. I can't say I'm really disappointed, because I love that Depp and Murray got noms, but I am surprised. I'll do Best Actress, the Supporting categories, and the Screenplay categories later.