My personal Oscar winners from the list of nominations, along with a predicted win if it runs counter to my bias.

Best Picture
Lost in Translation
Prediction: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Director
Peter Weir, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Prediction: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Original Screenplay
Lost in Translation

Best Adapted Screenplay
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Prediction: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Actor
Bill Murray, Lost in Translation

Best Actress
None, I didn’t watch any of the films nominated
Prediction: Charlize Theron, Monster

Best Supporting Actor
Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai
Prediction: Alec Baldwin, The Cooler

Best Supporting Actress
None, I again did not watch any of the films nominated
Prediction: Renee Zellweger, Cold Mountain

Best Cinematography
Only saw two of the five, of which I’d give it to Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Prediction: No clue

Best Costume Design
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Prediction: The Girl with the Pearl Earring (I always predict Victorian-style period pieces for this award, it appears to be the general trend)

Best Art Direction
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Prediction: The Girl with the Pearl Earring (see above)

Best Makeup
No preference
Prediction: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Original Score
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Original Song
Annie Lennox, Into the West, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Sound
Seabiscuit
Prediction: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Sound Editing
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Best Film Editing
Sea Biscuit

Best Animated Feature
Finding Nemo

Having not seen any of the shorts or documentaries nominated, I have no comment on them.

Obviously, I expect the academy to give Peter Jackson a technical awards sweep, along with best picture, director, score, and song. It’s sort of expected, now that he has completed his massive epic.

Naturally, as a Tolkien fan, I wish him all the best. But I cannot with conscience give him credit where credit is not due. As the Oscars are technically concerned with the year in review, and as they concern themselves with films released to theaters, I cannot give Jackson a sweep on my list. I prefer the DVD editions to LOTR, and as for ROTK, it has to stand up against a fine assortment of films released last year, among them my favorite little gem: Lost in Translation. I also enjoyed the strong performances of the main cast of Mystic River, but cannot give them an award as I saw better performances from the other films.

The Oscars are a political quagmire as it is, so to be honest, I really couldn’t care less. I’m just glad 2003 was a good year for movies, even considering the amount of shit we’ve had to wallow through, like, oh, The Order.

Anyhow, there’s that. Now all that remains to be seen is whether or not I called it on my predictions.

Runs a bit long, but is enjoyable. Very close to the original source material, which is a plus, considering the most recent blockbuster production of the story was terrifying (think about it: a short, hairy, middle-aged Peter Pan!?). Casting Mr. Darling and Hook with the same actor is a brilliant piece of casting judgement. That, and making sure Tinkerbell doesn’t talk.

I do believe in fairies, I do, I do.

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Great performances all around this indy flick. The story loses some steam in the third act, but makes a quick recovery in the last five minutes. Good movie, but probably better off as a matinee or rental.

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