Best Picture:
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit
I really want Lost in Translation to get it so badly, but I think Lord of the Rings will get it because everyone wants it to win. Mystic River may be an upset, and I won't be dissappointed if it does.
Best Actor:
Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Ben Kingsley, House of Sand and Fog
Jude Law, Cold Mountain
Bill Murray, Lost in Translation
Sean Penn, Mystic River
I think Ben, Bill, and Sean are all in a league of their own in this category and any of these three are deserving. I really hope Bill Murray gets it though, because he had a perfect mix of comedy and poigancy in his acting. I can't believe a ham performance of Disney ride character got nominated. I'm sorry, but Johnny Depp's nomination is just ridiculous. He wasn't acting, he was doing a characature.
Best Actress:
Keisha Castle-Hughes, Whale Rider
Diane Keaton, Something's Gotta Give
Samantha Morton, In America
Charlize Theron, Monster
Naomi Watts, 21 Grams
Charlize is defintely gonna get this, but there isn't anyone in this category who I don't think deserves a nomination...which makes it much harder for me to complain about Evan Rachel Wood being snubbed for "thirteen". I can't believe this brilliant performance didn't get nominated...let me tell you...before watching this movie I didn't want to think she was snubbed...but afterwards, she was. Who would I take out to put in Rachel? That's the hard part considering all five of these ladies should be nominated also.
Best Supporting Actor:
Alec Baldwin, The Cooler
Benicio Del Toro, 21 Grams
Djimon Hounsou, In America
Tim Robbins, Mystic River
Ken Watanbe, Last Samurai
Hmmm..I think Tim is gonna get it, but I hope Benicio can upset. Won't be upset if any of these guys get it.
Best Supporting Actress:
Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Sand and Fog
Patrica Clarkson, Pieces of April
Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River
Holly Hunter, Thirteen
Renée Zellweger, Cold Mountain
I love Patricia Clarkson, but Holly Hunter totally deserves it for thirteen. She was so amazing in this film. I have to keep saying this "WATCH Thirteen NOW!!!!!" Anyways, lol...I think Clarkson (New Orleans hometown girl!), Aghdashloo, and Zellweger are the big contenders in this category. It's really between Aghdashloo and Zellweger but Clarkson and Harden has a following. I hope Aghdashloo, Clarkson, or even Hunter are able to upset Zellweger, because out of all of the nominees, Renee's character was the least deep.
Best Director:
Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation
Clint Eastwood, Mystic River
Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Fernando Meirelles, City of God
Peter Weir, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Sofia vs. Peter vs. Clint....This is a deadly three-way bloodbath. Any of these three should get it, but Jackson defintely has it. Fernando Meirelles may be the upset and get it. Him being nominated is an amazing feat in itself and much deserved.
Best Original Screenplay:
The Barbarian Invasions, Denys Arcand
Dirty Pretty Things, Steven Knight
Finding Nemo, Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds
In America, Jim Sheridan & Naomi Sheridan & Kirsten Sheridan
Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
Lost in Translation definitely deserves to win here...I can see why the other films (other than Finding Nemo) deserve it, but I love Lost in Translation so much.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
American Splendor, Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman
City of God, Braulio Mantovani
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson
Mystic River, Brian Helgeland Seabiscuit, Gary Ross
Sea Biscuit
I really think American Splendor should get it since it was snubbed in every other category. I really enjoyed this film and gave it 4 stars personally. Mystic and City of God I think should get it if Splendor doesn't win. I know many people want Lord of the Rings to win, but I felt that the writing was the weakest part of the LOTR trilogies.
Best Animated Feature:
Brother Bear
Finding Nemo
The Triplets of Belleville
I'm so mad that Millenniuem Actress from Japan wasnt' nominated. One of the best anime I have ever seen, and it wasn't science fiction or action based...but a story of an actress and her life. A rare gem.
Finding Nemo vs. Triplets of Belleville. Could go either way. I pick Finding Nemo, but can see why Triplets should get it too.
Best Foreign-Language Film:
The Barbarian Invasions, Canada
Evil, Sweden
The Twilight Samurai, Japan
Twin Sisters, The Netherlands
Zelary, Czech Republic
I haven't seen any of these films, but Barbarian Invasions is gonna get it.
