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Majors / Technicals -1 / Technicals -2 / Extras / Extras 2 / Scenes 1 / Scenes 2

 

Best Picture
the years best films are

KILL BILL, Volume 1 dir Quentin Tarantino (Miramax)	The Lord of the Rings: THE RETURN OF THE KING dir Peter Jackson (New Line)	LOST IN TRANSLATION dir Sofia Coppola (Focus Features)	RAISING VICTOR VARGAS dir Peter Sollett (Samuel Goldwyn Mayer)	thirteen dir Catherine Hardwicke (Fox Searchlight)
Tarantino's unleashes his bloody and seriously cinematic revenge flick. Here comes "The Bride"	Peter Jackson concludes the Lord of the Rings trilogy with an epic jawdropping finale.	Sofia Coppola's mood piece on dislocated lives and intimate unexpected connections.	Peter Sollett's sweet and perceptive coming-of-age film moves in with one Dominican family.	Catherine Hardwicke's sensational debut, a mother and daughter at emotional crossroads.
Click here for the full top ten list article
OSCAR Race Here

 

Best Actress in a Leading Role
goddess(es) on the mountain top

Jamie Lee Curtis as "Tess Coleman" in FREAKY FRIDAY	Scarlett Johansson as "Griet" in GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING (also "Charlotte" in LOST IN TRANSLATION)	Diane Keaton as "Erica Beney" in SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE	Uma Thurman as "The Bride" in KILL BILL, Volume 1	Evan Rachel Wood as "Trace" in thirteen
Ditching vanity and pretense (doesn't feel remotely like she's out to win awards), she gives the year's most liberated and funny performance. Bonus Points: For making it look easy. Her joyful acting never breaks a sweat.	For making herself indispensable to the movies in 2003 with two very different, equally revelatory star turns. Bonus Points: Who else could make both mouth breathing (Girls) and toe stubbing (Lost) sexy?	For harnessing her trademark goofy charm into a larger portrayal of a woman rediscovering the pull and danger of romantic love. Bonus Points: For her symphony in crying jags. Nobody does it better.	Truly iconic roles require big movie star mojo. Complex roles require enormous actorly skill. Uma's got both in spades. Bonus Points: For her bravery, chutzpah, and stamina in a difficult role.	For making good on the promise she showed on tv. For a searing and heartbreaking turn. Bonus Points: The "happy dance" after gaining peer approval. 100% believable as a teen even though her talent is so obviously adult-sized.
Finalist: Charlize Theron in Monster -terrific mimickry and pathos Semi Finalists: Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia -many shades of suffering * Oksana Askinsha in Lilja 4-Ever - heartbreaking * Rachel Hurd Wood -Peter Pan the best Wendy ever? * Helen Mirren in Calendar Girls -alive, funny, and sensual * Meg Ryan in In the Cut -unjustly shunned for a difficult "stretch"
OSCAR Race

Best Actor in a Leading Role
what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man...

Johnny Depp as "Captain Jack Sparrow" in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Curse of the Black Pearl	Sir Ben Kingsley as "Behrani" in HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG	Jude Law as "Inman" in COLD MOUNTAIN	Bill Murray as "Bob Harris" in LOST IN TRANSLATION	Sean Penn as "Jimmy" in MYSTIC RIVER (also "Paul" in 21 GRAMS)
For a highwire act of actorly bravado and comic inspiration -- a miraculous creation for the all time lists. Hilarious. Bonus Points: "But why is the rum gone?"	For acting in a grander, more meaningful movie than the one you happen to be watching. Noble, proud, maddening. Bonus Points: Need the character to have a dizzying amount of layers? Get Ben!	For beautifully expressing a soul on life-support, internally war ravaged. Bonus Points: For his tremendous monologue on all that was good inside him. Moving stuff.	All of his fine comedian's wit and dramatic weariness funnel perfectly into this memorable has-been movie star. Bonus Points: "Make it Suntori Times" -- Hey, I'd pay him 2 mil'	Mesmerizing on both the movie star and actor levels, he expertly reveals reservoirs of pain, deep hurt, and violence. Bonus Points: Jimmy and Paul --it's like two different actors.
Finalist: Russell Crowe as Aubrey in Master and Commander -(excuse the obvious) definitely 'commanding' * Semi Finalists: Victor Rasuk in Raising Victor Vargas -funny and sympathetic * Casey Affleck in Gerry -his naturalism affected me * Peter Dinklage in The Station Agent - leading man's presence and smartly stoic star turn
OSCAR Race

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
the outstanding women are...
*In the interest of those who love Oscar comparisons...
if I had a ballot I would replace Miranda (who is not eligible this year for Oscar) with Marcia Gay Harden (perhaps)*

Shohreh Aghdashloo as "Nadi" in HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG	Patricia Clarkson as "Olivia Harris" in THE STATION AGENT	Holly Hunter as "Melanie" in thirteen	Catherine O'Hara as "Mickey Crabbe" in A MIGHTY WIND	Miranda Richardson as "Yvonne, Mrs. Cleg, & Mrs. Wilkinson" in SPIDER
In her quiet effortless performance, you see years of backstory. Bonus Points: A partner and aid in Kingsley's magnificent work.	Her artful portrayal lets you see the good, the bad, and ugly in friendship and grief. Bonus Points: Superbly watchable even when it isn't her scene.	Never one-dimensional, she captures both the woman and the mother with fierce precision. Bonus Points: Prevents the movie from toppling into histrionics.	The cream of the expert comedic crop on hand, she also gives the film heart and dramatic undertow. Bonus Points: "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow"	Embodying three characters within a shattered psyche, she is nearly without peer. Bonus Points: The most haunting laugh I've ever heard onscreen.
Finalists: Marcia Gay Harden & Laura Linney in Mystic River -alas, I could never decide between them. Both fantastic * Frances McDormand in Laurel Canyon -'hotter than Georgia asphalt' -Does anyone have more sheer "life force" onscreen these days? * Semi-Finalists: Sarah Paulson in Down with Love - nailing the difficult tone * Altagracia Guzman in Raising Victor Vargas -endearing and hilarious * Jacquelin Kim in Charlotte Sometimes -retaining her mystery * Hope Davis in American Splendor -dryly funny * Samantha Morton in In America -her eyes so expressive...
OSCAR Race

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
the reliable men are...

Paul Bettany as "Maturin" in MASTER AND COMMANDER: The Far Side of the World	Benicio Del Toro as "Jack" in 21 GRAMS	Geoffrey Rush as "Barbossa" in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Curse of the Black Pearl	Peter Sarsgaard as "Chuck" in SHATTERED GLASS	Ken Watanabe as "Katsumoto" in THE LAST SAMURAI
Providing perfect balance to the leading man -- like character like actor Bonus Point: Heal thyself!	For fleshing out a "Jesus Freak" -the kind of role that never turns three-dimensional. Bonus Points: Despite the editing, you can still see his arc.	Sparring with Depp to great effect, he strikes the right comic tone. Bonus Points: Finally a role suited to his gleeful hamming.	In a film full of verbal clashes, when he speaks you catch every word, every hint of nuance. Bonus Points: Just as effective when he's not saying a word.	For blinding us with his own calm charisma. Bonus Points: Notice how Cruise sinks when Watanabe isn't forcing him to keep up.
Finalists: None * Semi-Finalists: Billy Boyd in Return of the King -deepening his character * Bobby Cavanale in The Station Agent -completely believable * Sir Ian McKellen in Return of the King -wonderfully perfect (again) * Jason Isaacs in Peter Pan -Ably embodying both weary Mr. Darling & vicious Hook * Sean Astin -The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King -the world resting on his sobbing shoulders * Allesandro Nivola in Laurel Canyon -rocker chic * Jeff Bridges in Seabiscuit -dependable as ever * Alan Cumming in X2:X-Men United -Blending beautifully into Mutantdom.
OSCAR Race

 

Best Director
the auteurs are...

Sofia Coppola LOST IN TRANSLATION	Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings: THE RETURN OF THE KING	Peter Sollett RAISING VICTOR VARGAS	Quentin Tarantino KILL BILL, Volume 1	Gus Van Sant ELEPHANT (& GERRY)
For turning personal specifics into a tale of universal dislocation and melancholy soul searching.	Delivering the finale of the mainstream trilogy of my lifetime with great passion. Star Wars looks so 'tiny' now.	For the year's most impressive debut; beautifully told, well performed. His future looks bright.	Becoming the current "great appropriator" of cinema. He makes everything his own (and then makes it yours.)	For saving his own soul. Art films to challenge the audience and, more importantly in this case, their own auteur.
Finalists: * Robert Altman observing The Company * Semi Finalists: Peter Weir skillfully steering Master and Commander * Danny Boyle expert genre-peddling with 28 Days Later * Catherine Hardwicke charging through Thirteen
OSCAR Race

 

Best Original Screenplay
the nominees are...

THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS by Denys Arcand	KILL BILL, Volume 1 by Quentin Tarantino	LOST IN TRANSLATION by Sofia Coppola	RAISING VICTOR VARGAS by Peter Sollett & Eva Vives	YOSSI & JAGGER by Avner Bernheimer
For its witty and scathing gabfest on economics, politics, and the collision of idealogies w/ actual life	Know thyself : Who needs trademark pop culture riffs when the film itself functions as one?	A consistently fascinating meeting-of-lost-souls and gorgeous sustained mood. Charlotte and Bob 4-ever.	For its authenticity, simple pleasures, and genuine human warmth. A terrific debut.	For its beautiful economy. No scene or random conversational line of dialogue feels superfluous
Finalist: Thirteen -Catherine Hardwicke & Nikki Reed's dramatic take on the onslaught of adolescent hormones, groupthink, and media damage was ferociously charged. Semi Finalists: Down With Love -Eve Ahlert & Dennis Drake's spoofy tribute to Day/Hudson sex comedies. One almost wants to give them an award for that "I knew how things were at KNOW before NOW. " scene -- almost * Casa De Los Babys John Sayles's painful lullaby was sadly overlooked * The Station Agent -Funny ha ha but with a distinct voice. Way to go.
OSCAR Predictions

 

Best Adapted Screenplay
the nominees are...

AMERICAN SPLENDOR by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini	GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING by Olivia Hetreed	LotR: THE RETURN OF THE KING by Frances Walsh, Phillipa Boyen, and Peter Jackson	MASTER AND COMMANDER: The Far Side of the World by Peter Weir and John Collee	PETER PAN by P.J. Hogan and Michael Goldenberg
For the witty scramblings of the voices of comic authors Joyce Brabner "Our Cancer Year" and Harvey Pekar"American Splendor" mixed with their own point of view.	For adapting the speculative biographies within the novel"Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier, with restraint and a blessed lack of overkill.	Three books in and this great writing trio, here adapting "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkein, are still making the right choices.	For combining two novels in the Aubrey/Maturin series "Master and Commander" and "The Far Side of the World" by Patrick O'Brian so seamlessly.	Finally someone has adapted the play "Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie faithfully. It was about freaking time. Funny, high spirited, and subtextual. Well done lost boys.
Finalists: Mystic River Brian Helgeland smart and serious, but I wish there had been more connective tissue to help the ending elevate the film into the greatness realm. Semi Finalists: X2: X-Men United Adapting from the acclaimed comic book series "The Uncanny X-Men" particularly the Claremont/Byrne years and picking out all the best bits. X-citing stuff * Hulk A chain of writers totally transforming (some would say obliterating) the comic book series "The Incredible Hulk"and rebuilding it into a pop psychology/Freudian tragedy. Daring if not entirely successful and blessedly bonkers! *
OSCAR Predictions

 

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