Oscar Picks by Someone who has no Business Making Oscar Picks
Mar 06 '01 (Updated Mar 25 '01)
The Bottom Line I make my picks based on pretty superficial things but that doesn't stop me from picking them anyway!
Just like everyone else, I pick my favorites for the Oscars. And just like everyone else, I haven't seen all of the movies nominated. Okay maybe some people have, but they are not in the majority. Therefore I make my picks based on what I did actually see, what I've heard about a film or other completely random criteria. But will this stop me from writing down my list of Oscar picks? Of course not!
Just a note, updated with a star next to actual winner.
Best Picture
Chocolat
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Erin Brockovich
*Gladiator
Traffic
Although some people on Epinions have said that Gladiator is overrated fluff, I really liked it. It condemned violence, while at the same time glorified it. That takes talent.
Bet on it: Gladiator
What I want: Gladiator
Keep Dreaming: Chocolat
Best Director
Ang Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ridley Scott, Gladiator
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot
Steven Soderbergh, Erin Brockovich
*Steven Soderbergh, Traffic
This is really a toss-up factoring in Soderbergh's two nods. Personally, I like to share the wealth between movies, so what the heck, Traffic looks good.
Bet on it: uhh... Ridley Scott, Gladiator
What I want: Steven Soderbergh, Traffic
Keep Dreaming: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot
Best Actor
Ed Harris, Pollock
Geoffrey Rush, Quills
Javier Bardem, Before Night Falls
*Russell Crowe, Gladiator
Tom Hanks, Cast Away
Everyone keeps saying that Hanks gets too many Oscar nods and the Hanks backlash has started. Personally, I don't like giving one person lots of awards, you know, share the wealth. But Hanks really deserves this one, he carried that film.
Bet on it: Tom Hanks
What I want: Tom Hanks
Keep Dreaming: Javier Bardem
Best Actress
Ellen Burstyn, Requiem for a Dream
Joan Allen, The Contender
*Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich
Juliette Binoche, Chocolat
Laura Linney, You Can Count On Me
I think everyone knows that this will go to Erin Brock.. I mean Julia Roberts. I saw the movie and thought it was pretty good but not that good. And I really like Joan Allen so I'm going with her.
Bet on it: Julia Roberts
What I want: Joan Allen
Keep Dreaming: everyone except Roberts
Best Supporting Actor
Albert Finney, Erin Brockovich
*Benicio Del Toro, Traffic
Jeff Bridges, The Contender
Joaquin Phoenix, Gladiator
Willem Dafoe, Shadow of the Vampire
Everyone says that Del Toro is a lock but I wouldn't know 'cause I haven't seen Traffic (I tried to, but that's a different story). Plus, he's kinda creepy. I did see Gladiator though, and loved Phoenix. I felt empathy for his villain, while at the same time, I utterly detested him. That's good acting.
Bet on it: Benicio Del Toro
What I want: Joaquin Phoenix
Keep Dreaming: Jeff Bridges
Best Supporting Actress
Frances McDormand, Almost Famous
Judi Dench, Chocolat
Julie Walters, Billy Elliot
Kate Hudson, Almost Famous
*Marcia Gay Harden, Pollock
Okay, when did being a twenty-something daughter of another famous actor become a prerequisite for best supporting actress. And has Kate Hudson ever been in another movie? She must have a great publicist. I want Julie Walters to win this because not only was she good but Billy Elliot was, and it should have gotten a nod for best picture as well as one for Jamie Bell for best actor.
Bet on it: Kate Hudson
What I want: Julie Walters
Keep Dreaming: Marcia Gay Harden (I told you I was unqualified)
Best Foreign Language Film
Amores Perros
*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Divided We Fall
Everybody Famous
The Taste of Others
Well, duh!
Bet on it: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
What I want: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Keep Dreaming: everything else
Best Original Score
Chocolat, Rachel Portman
*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tan Dun
Gladiator, Hans Zimmer
Malena, Ennio Morricone
The Patriot, John Williams
Hands down, Gladiator. It is just wonderful music that perfectly fits the movie. And John Williams has really gone downhill, The Patriot's score was overblown and cliche.
Bet on it: Gladiator
What I want: Gladiator
Keep Dreaming: Malena
Best Original Song
"A Fool In Love" (Meet the Parents) by Randy Newman
"I've Seen It All" (Dancer in the Dark), music by Björk, lyrics by Lars von Trier and Sjon Sigurdsson
"A Love Before Time" (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, music by Jorge Calandrelli and Tan Dun, lyrics by James Schamus
"My Funny Friend and Me" (The Emperor's New Groove, music by Sting and David Hartley, lyrics by Sting
*"Things Have Changed" (Wonder Boys) by Bob Dylan
I blame Disney. This is what happens when you don't release a good animated musical. Has anyone even heard one of these songs? Let's just give it to Newman because he is the Susan Lucci of the Oscars.
Bet on it: the thing by Dylan
What I want: the thing by Newman
Keep Dreaming: the thing by Sting
I told you that there would basically be no rhyme or reason to my decisions. I would do the other categories but I have to tell you, I make my decision on best documentary or short film based on which has the weirdest title.
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Epinions.com ID:
epogurl
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Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Reviews written: 49
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"Somewhere in this building is our talent!" - Toby
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