oscars

A Look into My Crystal Ball (Oscars 2004)

Best Picture

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit

LOTR: ROTK will take home the "Best Picture" award, making it the first closing chapter of a trilogy to take home the Oscar. Lost in Translation is the only film that stands a chance up against Jackson’s gem; the other three can already be x-ed off of the list. Lost in Translation has many merits, but unfortunately for Miss Coppola, there will be no upset here. It is hard to deny the outstanding cinematic achievement of the final third of one of the greatest trilogies of all time.

Best Director

Fernando Meirelles, City of God
Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation
Peter Weir, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Clint Eastwood, Mystic River

Again, Jackson and his superb feature will reign over all. If the LOTR final installment hadn’t been released this year, Lost in Translation would have picked up two more of the more important statues (Director and Picture). Both Coppola and Eastwood deserve to be on this list, but in all actuality, there is no contest.

Furthermore, unfortunately Fernando Meirelles, City of God is too small and without hype to pull the chair out from the giant. Justly, in this battle, David would defeat Goliath--for City of God is not only one of the finest features of 2004, but also one of the very best films ever made.

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

Sean Penn’s emotional tough-guy portrayal is undoubtedly deserving of accolades. However, despite Penn’s work, my gut says Bill Murray will triumph and give yet another acceptance speech (his first was after winning the Golden Globe). Sean Penn should win, but I believe Bill Murray will win. Either actor is not a bad choice.

Murray plays his career-defining role, and will most likely never reach this caliber of acting majesty again. Penn is one of the greatest current actors available in all of cinema, alongside Johnny Depp, who ironically is also on this list. All-in-all, the gray-bearded Bill will take home his first--even though Sean Penn should.

Best Actress

Keisha Castle-Hughes, Whale Rider
Diane Keaton, Something's Gotta Give
Samantha Morton, In America
Charlize Theron, Monster
Naomi Watts, 21 Grams

Naomi Watts is absolutely incredible in 21 Grams. Her character is as emotional as one can imagine, and she plays the part with unrelenting talent. There is a lot of hubbub surrounding Miss “Thair-own,” as Nicholson pronounces it, and her role in Monster--rightfully so. Watts is beyond deserving, but Theron dishes out one of the best female lead role of the century. Naomi delivers a must see performance, while Theron provides a master class in acting. By the way where is Scarlett?

Best Supporting Actor

Alec Baldwin, The Cooler
Benicio Del Toro, 21 Grams
Djimon Hounsou, In America
Tim Robbins, Mystic River
Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai

Tim Robbins will win. I would rather see Watanabe’s picture-making performance, Baldwin’s career-defining tough-guy role, or Del Toro’s Jesus-loving perfect portrayal, win over Robbins. Nonetheless, my prediction stands with Tim winning and Susan crying like a baby for her husband.

Best Supporting Actress

Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Sand and Fog
Patricia Clarkson, Pieces of April
Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River
Holly Hunter, thirteen
Renee Zellweger, Cold Mountain

Step right up; pick an actress, any actress. Personally, I would have gone with Scarlett Johannson for supporting Murray, or the extremely charming Alison Lohman for skillfully playing a 14-year-old girl at age 24, in support of Nicholas Cage, but neither are nominated. So, in light of my nominees being absent, I will go with the foreign favorite in Shohreh Aghdashloo.

Original Screenplay--Lost in Translation
Adapted Screenplay--American Splendor
Animated Feature--Finding Nemo
Foreign Language Film--The Barbarian Invasions