Site created 12/15/97.		page added: 2/12/02 Todd's Oscar Picks for 2002 It's a day full of celebration: Happy Year of the Horse to all of you, and for the folks in the Southern LA, pull a golden baby for me, okay? But even more important than Chinese New Year and Marti Gras, it's Oscar Day for film fans everywhere. There were a few surprises this morning, but mostly I think the nominations fell into what people were thinking. I'm going to take a look at all of the nominations, and give my two cents and see if I can pick a few winners. Let the good times roll! ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind: Crowe won last year. Can he do it again? Sean Penn - I Am Sam: The Academy seems to love mentally challenged adults, and Penn WAS quite good in this. In my opinion, Sean Penn will always deserve the Oscar when he's nominated, but will he get it this time? Will Smith - Ali: C'mon, the buzz for his performance has been next to nothing. If he were going to win and actually deserve it, they'd be talking about it already. Denzel Washington - Training Day: I just watched Training Day and I have to say I wasn't all that impressed with Denzel in it. In fact, I didn't think the film was all that great in the first place. I just don't think they can't give it to him simply because. Tom Wilkinson - In The Bedroom: This is his first nomination, but he's had plenty of great work in the past. But the fact remains: no one really knows who he is. Todd's Pick: Right now, I'm leaning towards Crowe repeating or Penn pulling a surprise win. Either would be fine in my book. ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Jim Broadbent - Iris: Jim's always great. I liked him better in Moulin Rouge, but he's a fine actor regardless. He could surprise us all and get it. Ethan Hawke - Training Day: See my above comments on Denzel. This film didn't seem too "Academy friendly". I'm surprised Hawke pulled a nomination for this. I'm sure he is too. Ben Kingsley - Sexy Beast: This was a great role for Ben. It's possible he could get a supporting Oscar to join his Actor award for Gandhi. Ian McKellen - Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring: Without a doubt, McKellen was and is Gandalf the Grey. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he pulled it out of his ass. In my book, this guy is the greatest living actor, out Siring Hopkins. Jon Voight - Ali: An Oscar for playing Cosell? I dunno about this one. Voight is great and all, but he looked like Jack in Hoffa for Christ's sake. On the flip-side, it's too bad Jolie won in 1999, she could have possibly read his name this year. Todd's Pick: At this very moment, I'm going with my heart and saying McKellen. But I wouldn't be surprised if Kingsley gets it. ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Halle Berry - Monster's Ball: People ARE talking about her. It would be a very nice pull for her even, she has a Golden Globe and an Emmy. After this she could start singing, get a Grammy and then do some Broadway and get that Tony. Odder things have happened. Judi Dench - Iris: She's always nominated; I think they just do this because it's expected. Nicole Kidman - Moulin Rouge: -Sniff-, poor girl. We hate Tom, don't we? She was really pretty in Moulin, but not the best thing ever. Sissy Spacek - In The Bedroom: I think she'll get it. I haven't seen the film (well I did see the trailer which gives the whole damn thing away) but I hear that she's apparently great in it. Her buzz is deafening. Renée Zellweger - Bridget Jones' Diary: Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Wait. Didn't see gain a lot of weight for the role. It could be 1980 all over again. Yeah. Todd's Pick: I'm liking Spacek. Berry might get the shocker though, which would be great for her. ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Jennifer Connelly - A Beautiful Mind: If Crowe gets it, Connelly could follow suit as a bookend. I seriously doubt it, but right now she may be the lock. Helen Mirren - Gosford Park: People LOVE Gosford. I dunno why, but they do. Do they love Ms. Mirren as much though? Maggie Smith - Gosford Park: Again, with the Gosford thing. Could Mirren and Smith cancel each other out? Should they have nominated Smith for Harry Potter? Marisa Tomei - In The Bedroom: Just keep Jack Palance away from reading the winner and she won't get it. Kate Winslet - Iris: Here we have an oddity; up above you'll find Judi Dench playing the older version of Winslet's character. If Dench snags it, then Winslet might pull one in and make it, what, the first or third time that's happened? I'm not up on my Oscar history, but if you are: chime in. Either way, Winslet's never won after two previous noms and deserves the award if you ask me. Todd's Pick: I'm again, going with the ticker, and saying Winslet will get it. BUT - Connelly could pull it easily. ANIMATED FEATURE FILM Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Monsters, Inc. Shrek Todd's Pick: This is a historical moment in film history. Too bad the pickings were light. Where's Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust? It was up for consideration, right? Ah. I say, let's give it to Shrek. ART DIRECTION Amelie Gosford Park Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Moulin Rouge Todd's Pick: Amelie IS a beautifully designed film. Lord of the Rings shimmers and Moulin Rouge is all about design. It's really a drop for those three, but I think Moulin has the edge. All the Academy needs to see is that stellar DVD. CINEMATOGRAPHY Bruno Delbonnel - Amelie Slawomir Idziak - Black Hawk Down Andrew Lesnie - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Roger Deakins - The Man Who Wasn't There Donald M. McAlpine - Moulin Rouge Todd's Pick: Amelie was shot incredibly well, as was Black Hawk. Man Who Wasn't There was in black and white, and the last major b/w won (Schindler's in 1993) so I don't think we can drop that one. If there could be a tie though, I think it's between Rings and Rouge. COSTUME DESIGN The Affair of the Necklace Gosford Park Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Moulin Rouge Todd's Pick: Rouge wins this just because. DIRECTING Robert Altman - Gosford Park Ron Howard - A Beautiful Mind David Lynch - Mulholland Drive Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Ridley Scott - Black Hawk Down Todd's Pick: Lynch would be a fun win, wouldn't he? But my Magic Eight Ball is showing Altman seems destined to get it after all of his awards this year. DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Children Underground LaLee's Kin: The Legacy of Cotton Murder on a Sunday Morning Promises War Photographer Todd's Pick: I know nothing about these, but kids in the title win it every year, so let's go with Children's Underground. DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT Artists and Orphans: A True Drama Sing! Thoth Todd's Pick: Again, I know nothing, but let's Sing! FILM EDITING Jill Bilcock - Moulin Rouge Dody Dorn - Memento John Gilbert - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Mike Hill and Dan Hanley - A Beautiful Mind Pietro Scalia - Black Hawk Down Todd's Pick: I'm feeling Black Hawk Down, but because of its style, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Memento gets it. FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Amelie (France) Elling (Norway) Lagaan (India) No Man's Land (Bosnia & Herzegovina) Son of the Bride (Argentina) Todd's Pick: I loved Amelie, so I'd like that to win. But where's Japan's Spirited Away? Did that come out last year? MAKEUP A Beautiful Mind The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Moulin Rouge Todd's Pick: Geez, where's Planet of the Apes? Wouldn't that have been a lock, or was it held back because of Baker's continuous wins? In that case, I think Rings had the more interesting stuff in it. MUSIC (SCORE) A.I. Artificial Intelligence - John Williams A Beautiful Mind - James Horner Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - John Williams The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Howard Shore Monsters, Inc. - Randy Newman Todd's Pick: Gut feeling: Rings is in more people's CD players right now, so that's my bet. MUSIC (SONG) If I Didn't Have You - Randy Newman (Monsters, Inc.) May It Be - Enya, Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) There You'll Be - Diane Warren (Pearl Harbor) Until - Sting (Kate & Leopold) Vanilla Sky - Paul McCartney (Vanilla Sky) Todd's Pick: This is an odd round up. Everyone has a reason to win. Pearl Harbor's Diane Warren's never won with all of her cheesy songs. Neither has Randy Newman. He did a song for Monster's Inc.. And who doesn't love Sting (Kate & Leopold)? He could get it just for being himself. Enya and company (with Rings) have to be the most ripped off performers in film history, so giving it to them would be a nice nod. But my vote is for Paul McCartney. Just hand it to him. Besides: he has that Dylan appeal from last year. Vanilla Sky, all the way. BEST PICTURE A Beautiful Mind Gosford Park In the Bedroom The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Moulin Rouge Todd's Pick: This is a hard year to call. Will Gosford pull it? Can A Beautiful Mind handle the pressure? Is Bedroom a sleeper? Does Rings have the commitment needed? Can-Can Moulin Rouge be the Best? I, personally, like Rings as the surprise of the year, but that puts a lot of pressure on the next two films, doesn't it? Kinda makes the trilogy a best picture when it's all done. But ultimately I think Gosford will win. Then again, I've been wrong a lot in the past. SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) Fifty Percent Grey For the Birds Give Up Yer Aul Sins Strange Invaders Stubble Trouble Todd's Pick: All right, For the Birds was the Pixar short that appeared before Monsters, and it was awfully cute. But Strange Invaders might get it. Have you ever seen Cat Came Back a few years back (1988). Genius. SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION) The Accountant Copy Shop Gregor's Greatest Invention A Man Thing (Meska Sprawa) Speed for Thespians Todd's Pick: I have no idea about any of these. SOUND Amelie Black Hawk Down The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Moulin Rouge Pearl Harbor Todd's Pick: Well, historically Sound and Sound Editing go hand in hand, so the only one repeated is Harbor. I give it to Black Hawk Down. SOUND EDITING Monsters, Inc. Pearl Harbor Todd's Pick: Fifty-fifty, huh? I'm going with Monsters. I didn't like Harbor, can you tell? VISUAL EFFECTS A.I. Artificial Intelligence The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Pearl Harbor Todd's Pick: Harbor is bigger and badder than them all, but Rings would be a great win for New Zealand's WETA. I'm going with Rings. WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY) Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff - Ghost World Akiva Goldsman - A Beautiful Mind Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman and Roger S.H. Schulman - Shrek Rob Festinger and Todd Field - In the Bedroom Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Todd's Pick: As you know, I loved, loved, loved Ghost World. That would be a great win. Then again, Rings could get it, which would be great for Jackson. I'm torn. WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY) Milo Addica and Will Rokos - Monster's Ball Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson - The Royal Tenenbaums Julian Fellowes - Gosford Park Guillaume Laurant and Jean-Pierre Jeunet - Amelie Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan - Memento Todd's Pick: I personally think Tenenbaums was the best-written film last year. Memento might pull it though. Again, Torn. Surprises? The list, for me, is short: Hawke getting nominated for Training Day, the lack of Planet of the Apes in make-up and Baz Luhrmann not getting a best director nod. The only other thing I'm surprised, but really happy about, is that Memento didn't get Best Picture. But as I said to all my friends after I saw it, it just didn't deserve Picture, but it absolutely deserved to be nominated for Script. So, I'm glad to have my faith in the Academy renewed. That's it for today's special spontaneous edition of Doogan's Views. I'll be back later this week with a real column and a handful of great DVDs I watched over the weekend. Stay tuned and keep spinnin' those discs! Todd Doogan todddoogan@thedigitalbits.com
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