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And the envelope, please
The Academy Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards
The Movie Award Season reaches its peak this weekend with the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday and the Academy Awards Sunday night. Before settling down to watch these wildly overblown employee recognition shows, check out my picks for the various categories. Does any of this matter in the great scheme of things? Why yes. Yes it does. 
‘Lost in Translation’: Ed’s favorite film of 2003
The Academy Awards
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 A commercial and critical smash, as well as the closing chapter in one of the most ambitious and financially daring cinematic trilogies ever attempted, LOTR: ROTK is the clear winner. Probably. The thing is, the Academy traditionally doesn’t vote for fantasies. Not “important” enough, you know? So, what would the proper alternative be? Not Lost in Translation — it’s too quirky and the story is too small. Master and Commander is out — though it looks like an epic, it feels like an independent film, which is enough to give the Academy a headache. Mystic River has a shot, though the subject matter is awfully dark for the voters, which leaves us with Seabiscuit, which is both important and kinda dull. If any film can beat ROTK, it’s nice, safe Seabiscuit. And if it does, I shall chuck a pipe wrench at the TV screen. Will Win: LOTR: ROTK Should Win: In my world, Lost in Translation has already won. 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 Sorry, Johnny, Jude and Sir Ben. The race here is strictly between Sean Penn and Bill Murray, who have been taking turns since December winning prizes from various groups (both collected Best Actor trophies at the Golden Globes). Kudos to Jude Law, by the way, for telling reporters that he believes Penn deserves to win. Penn and Murray are notorious for not playing the Hollywood game, but this year they have both made it clear they want the Oscar. If Penn wins, he may use the forum to make a political statement. If Murray wins, viewers are guaranteed a hilarious acceptance speech. That will be the deciding factor for Murray. Unless … they split the vote and Johnny Depp sneaks in for his wildly entertaining performance in Pirates. Will Win: Bill Murray, just barely Should Win: Bill Murray, though Penn is equally deserving. Best Actress Keisha Castle-Hughes, Whale Rider Diane Keaton, Something’s Gotta Give Samantha Morton, In America Charlize Theron, Monster Naomi Watts, 21 Grams For young Keisha Castle-Hughes, the surprise nomination is her prize. Naomi Watts was good, but Samantha Morton was even better, and neither has a prayer. Diane Keaton deserves the Oscar. She was wonderful in a bright performance that ran the gamut of emotions. And how much fun would it be to watch her sputter and fan herself at the podium? She won’t get the chance, though, because Charlize Theron got ugly for art, burying herself under makeup and gaining 20-30 pounds for her role as a serial killer. The Academy loves actors that get ugly for art, especially pretty women. Theron is one of the producers of Monster and casting her instead of an actor that resembled the character was a stunt to win attention and prizes. It will work. Will Win: Charlize Theron Should Win: Diane Keaton 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 Tough category. Alec Baldwin is doing a great job making a transition from leading man to standout character, but he won’t get a trophy this year. Djimon Hounsou, Benicio Del Toro and Ken Watanabe — all three did powerhouse work, but the only name with any buzz is Tim Robbins. He’s very good, as is the whole Mystic River cast. I suspect his being singled out from the ensemble has more to do with the victimization of his character than his performance. Will Win: Tim Robbins Should Win: All five are deserving, but what the hey, Alec Baldwin. Best Supporting Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Sand and Fog Patricia Clarkson, Pieces of April Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River Holly Hunter, Thirteen Renée Zellweger, Cold Mountain Patricia Clarkson, Marcia Gay Harden and Holly Hunter gave solid performances, but this Oscar is Renee Zellweger’s to lose. She stomped right into Cold Mountain with a broad, ballsy performance and salvaged the home front part of the story. Her moxy will be rewarded unless the Academy decides she was overly theatrical and looks to Shohreh Aghdashloo, who was the heart of her film. Plus, the Academy might find it cool to give the prize to an Iranian exile. Will Win: Renee Zellweger Should Win: Shohreh Aghdashloo, because she was great and because she is one of the most charming, intelligent and interesting people I have ever interviewed. 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 Great choices all, especially surprise nominee Fernando Meirelles and Sofia Coppola, but Peter Jackson has this all sewn up. The Director’s Guild gave him the prize, and almost all of their winners also get the Oscar. Plus, he took on the formidable Lord of the Rings trilogy and actually pulled it off! Give him a statue already! Will Win: Peter Jackson Should Win: Peter Jackson Best Adapted Screenplay American Splendor City of God The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Mystic River Seabiscuit The race here is between Mystic River and LOTR: ROTK, because Seabiscuit wasn’t adapted all that well and, sadly, both City of God and American Splendor aren’t on the Academy’s radar screens. My guess is that, because LOTR will win in so many other categories, Mystic River will get the nod. Will Win: Mystic River Should Win: American Splendor Best Original Screenplay The Barbarian Invasions Dirty Pretty Things Finding Nemo In America Lost in Translation Because Lost in Translation will not win Best Picture or Best Director, the Academy will reward it here. Still, In America looms as a possible darkhorse. Will Win: Lost in Translation Should Win: Lost in Translation Best Animated Feature Film Brother Bear Finding Nemo The Triplets of Belleville Oh, please. Will Win: Finding Nemo Should Win: Finding Nemo Best Art Direction Girl With a Pearl Earring The Last Samurai The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit In another year, the gorgeous Girl With a Pearl Earring would have this sewed up, but this year has LOTR: ROTK in it. Will Win: LOTR: ROTK Should Win: Girl With a Pearl Earring Best Cinematography City of God Cold Mountain Girl With a Pearl Earring Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit The camerawork in City of God manages to dazzle while always remaining true to the moment. Master and Commander moves skillfully between the openness of the sea and the claustrophobic innards of the ship. Girl w/a Pearl boasts a very impressive pullaway shot and the opening battle of Cold Mountain is skillfully portrayed, but Seabiscuit will win for the race scenes. Will Win: Seabiscuit Should Win: City of God Best Costume Design Girl With a Pearl Earring The Last Samurai The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit Ngila Dickson is up for both LOTR: ROTK and The Last Samurai. She will win for the former. Will Win: LOTR: ROTK Should Win: I don’t know — they all looked convincing to me. Best Documentary: Feature Balseros Capturing the Friedmans The Fog of War My Architect The Weather Underground Capturing the Friedmans has the buzz in a category where you can’t vote without proof that you’ve seen all five films. Will Win: Capturing the Friedmans Should Win: Capturing the Friedmans Best Documentary: Short Subject Asylum Chernobyl Heart Ferry Tales Chernobyl Heart will win because of the topic. Will Win: Chernobyl Heart Should Win: Right — like any of these have been screened here. Best Film Editing City of God Cold Mountain The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Seabiscuit Remember the battle scenes in LOTR: ROTK? So will the Academy. Will Win: LOTR: ROTK Should Win: LOTR: ROTK Best Foreign Language Film The Barbarian Invasions Evil The Twilight Samurai Twin Sisters Zelary Barbarian Invasions is the most seen film of the five, so … Will Win: The Barbarian Invasions Best Makeup The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Pirates of the Caribbean is the favorite, thanks to Johnny Depp’s character, though LOTR might sweep this one too. Will Win: Pirates of the Caribbean Should Win: LOTR: ROTK Best Score Big Fish Cold Mountain Finding Nemo House of Sand and Fog The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King I realize this is getting tedious, but LOTR probably has this nailed, unless Nemo gets found again. Will Win: LOTR: ROTK Should Win: ditto Best Song “Into the West” (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” (A Mighty Wind) “Scarlet Tide” (Cold Mountain) “The Triplets of Belleville” (The Triplets of Belleville) “You Will Be My Ain True Love” (Cold Mountain) Only two contenders here: Annie Lennox for her closing credits number in LOTR, or the title track for the Christopher Guest folk music send-up. The lovely Annie is the favorite, but I’m betting on A Mighty Wind. Will Win: A Mighty Wind Should Win: A Mighty Wind Best Sound The Last Samurai The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Seabiscuit They all sounded equally credible to me, but LOTR will likely win most of the technical awards, so … Will Win: LOTR: ROTK Should Win: LOTR: ROTK Best Sound Editing Finding Nemo Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Look, it’s a technical category without LOTR in it! Remember that CGI ocean in Finding Nemo that felt real? The sound was a big part of that. Will Win: LOTR: ROTK in a write-in victory. Seriously, Finding Nemo. Should Win: Finding Nemo Best Visual Effects The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Golem, anybody? LOTR owns this. Will Win: LOTR: ROTK Should Win: LOTR: ROTK Ed’s 20 Best films of 2003
1. Lost In Translation 2. City Of God 3. American Splendor 4. In America 5. Finding Nemo 6. Shattered Glass 7. X2: X-Men United 8. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King 9. Mystic River 10. Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World 11. Elf 12. The Station Agent 13. House Of Sand And Fog 14. Raising Victor Vargas 15. The Italian Job 16. 21 Grams 17. Secondhand Lions 18. The Cooler 19. Capturing The Friedmans 20. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl Honorable Mentions: Winged Migration, Something’s Gotta Give, 28 Days Later and Kill Bill Volume One. The Independent Spirit Awards
The most lively awards show doesn’t even consider the big studio films. Plus, John Waters usually pops up to deliver a riotous speech. Those lucky enough to have the Independent Film Channel can watch the uncensored festivities live this Saturday at 5 p.m. Everyone else can see the tidied up rerun on Bravo at 10 p.m. Saturday. My favorites in the main categories are marked. Best Feature American Splendor In America Lost in Translation (Ed’s Pick) Raising Victor Vargas Shattered Glass Best Director Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini, American Splendor Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation (Ed’s Pick) Jim Sheridan, In America Peter Sollett, Raising Victor Vargas Gus Van Sant, Elephant Best Screenplay American Splendor Lost in Translation (Ed’s Pick) A Mighty Wind Pieces of April Shattered Glass Best First Feature Bomb the System House of Sand and Fog (Ed’s Pick) Monster Quattro Noza Thirteen John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000) Anne B. Real Better Luck Tomorrow Pieces of April The Station Agent (Ed’s Pick) Virgin Best First Screenplay Blue Car Monster Raising Victor Vargas (Ed’s Pick) The Station Agent Thirteen Best Female Lead Agnes Bruckner, Blue Car Zooey Deschanel, All the Real Girls Samantha Morton, In America (Ed’s Pick) Elisabeth Moss, Virgin Charlize Theron, Monster Best Male Lead Peter Dinklage, The Station Agent Paul Giamatti, American Splendor Ben Kingsley, House of Sand and Fog Bill Murray, Lost in Translation (Ed’s Pick) Lee Pace, Soldier’s Girl Best Supporting Female Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Sand and Fog Sarah Bolger, In America (Ed’s Pick) Patricia Clarkson, Pieces of April Hope Davis, The Secret Lives of Dentists Frances McDormand, Laurel Canyon Best Supporting Male Judah Friedlander, American Splendor Troy Garity, Soldier’s Girl Djimon Hounsou, In America (Ed’s Pick) Alessandro Nivola, Laurel Canyon Peter Sarsgaard, Shattered Glass Best Debut Performance Anna Kendrick, Camp Judy Marte, Raising Victor Vargas Victor Rasuk, Raising Victor Vargas (Ed’s Pick) Nikki Reed, Thirteen Janice Richardson, Anne B. Real Best Foreign Film City of God (Ed’s Pick) Lilya 4-Ever The Magdalene Sisters The Triplets of Belleville Whale Rider Best Documentary The Fog of War Mayor of the Sunset Strip My Architect OT: our town Power Trip
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