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Friday, February 20, 2004
This is one of the most exciting weeks of the year for Possum. Pitchers and catchers report for spring training, UNC opens up it's season at the Bosh, the Academy Awards are fast approaching, and I'm proud to offer the second helping of the highest rated event in Possum's Online Journal/Possum Holler history, Possum's Oscar Prophecies! You can review last year's POPs at the old Possum's Online Journal . Last season's fulfillment was 50%, and after extensive time in the theatres studying a worthy group of films I hope to better this number. Here we go...
BEST PICTURE: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
I can't remember ever being as blown away by a film as I was by the final chapter of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I went so far as to call it the most incredible cinematic experience of my life. It takes ahold of it's audience like no other movie I've witnessed because, essentially, it is the three hour climax to one of the greatest stories ever told. There have been better movies, even this year, but as an overall film experience there is no competition. LOTR successfully dethrones Star Wars as the ultimate trilogy in Hollywood history and finally takes home the Oscar gold.
BEST ACTOR: Bill Murray
I know that Sean Penn is going to win this award, and I can't say that he doesn't deserve it. He has compiled a list of worthy credits and this is finally his year. However, I risk taking the hit to my POP Percentage on the principal that Sean Penn's performance in Mystic River was NOT the best acting performance of the year. The best acting performance of the year WAS Sean Penn in 21 Grams. So, making up for this and the fact that Scarlett Johannson was not even nominated I will go with Bill Murray's worthy performance in Lost in Translation.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Benecio Del Toro
Three amazing performances drive the non-linear tail of three lives intertwined in tragedy. Del Toro should take home his second Supporting Actor trophy for 21 Grams.
BEST ACTRESS: Charlize Theron
I didn't get around to seeing Monster, but the buzz is that this is the closest thing to a sure bet there is this year (in another year, Naomi Watts would have had a strong chance).
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Rene Zellweger
Marcia Gay Harden was nearly as impressive as Scarlett Johannson. Holly Hunter was good, but not as good, I thought as co-star Rachel Evan Wood. Irregardless, it is Rene's year, and she completely stole the show in Cold Mountain.
BEST DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson (LOTR)
Sofia Coppola deserves consideration for her sophomore effort, and Peter Weir crafted an incredibly solid film much like my choice in this category last year, Martin Scorcese (Gangs of New York). However, Peter Jackson wins basically for his efforts in all three LOTR episodes, and very deservingly, I might add.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Lost in Translation
This film deserves to win something, and this is more than likely it. I thought Coppola did a beautiful job of fleshing out the relationship between the two main characters divided by such a huge generation gap. While there are hints of a relationship beyond friendship, the script never gives in to Hollywood romance.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Mystic River
This is the first category that we come to that forced me to make choices. While I was not a fan of Mystic River and thought that there were holes in the movie that I can only assume were more fully developed in the book, everyone else seems to love it. Thusly, I prophecize it will edge out Return of the King.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Barbarian Invasions
It's hard to find a place to watch these movies. I'm just getting the chance to watch last year's winner in this category (Hable Con Ella; I am putting it in as soon as I finish this). Honestly, I'm going with the only one I've heard of.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Finding Nemo
I hear Triplets of Belleville is great and may check it out this week, but I think Nemo pretty much has it in the bag.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Fog of War
The only film in this category that I saw was Capturing the Friedman's which was extremely thought provoking and intriguing, but I've seen The Fog of War on too many overall top 10 lists to prophecize against it at the Oscars.
BEST DOCUMENTARY, SHORT SUBJECT: Cherynobl Heart
And we get into the "I'm completely guessing" categories where I had surprising success last year.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: You Will Be My Ain True Love (Cold Mountain)
I wanted to pick the song from A Mighty Wind, but alas, it is just a bit too campy to be taken into serious consideration.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Big Fish (Danny Elfman)
How can you not pick the guy who does the theme song for the Simpsons?!?
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
I wrestled back and forth between Master and Commander and Seabiscuit. Seabiscuit was a beautiful film, but I finally settled upon Weir's film because of the awe-inspiring recreation of life aboard a ship of the British fleet.
BEST FILM EDITING: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Again I don't understand why 21 Grams isn't nominated, and nothing else stands out to me in the way that Chicago did a year ago. Yet, LOTR was very well put together and gets the Possum nod on this one.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: The Last Samurai
The only redeeming quality in this movie?
BEST ART DIRECTION: Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit gets the prophecy here because I feel bad for not picking it for Cinematography.
BEST MAKE-UP: Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Folks, I'm just throwing darts here.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Three films with stunning effects. One sounds as good as another to me.
BEST SOUND: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Hey, it won last year.
BEST SOUND EDITING: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
eenie, meenie, minie, mo
BEST SHORT FILM, LIVE ACTION: Most
Why not?
BEST SHORT FILM, ANIMATED: Gone Nutty
And so have I. Tune into the the Academy Awards Sunday, February 29 and play along at home as you keep score with Possum. I'll be back after the awards to breakdown my prophecies as well as unveil my very own top 10 list for 2003. If you feel like contributing, let us know what your favorite movie of 2003 was.
BEST PICTURE: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
I can't remember ever being as blown away by a film as I was by the final chapter of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I went so far as to call it the most incredible cinematic experience of my life. It takes ahold of it's audience like no other movie I've witnessed because, essentially, it is the three hour climax to one of the greatest stories ever told. There have been better movies, even this year, but as an overall film experience there is no competition. LOTR successfully dethrones Star Wars as the ultimate trilogy in Hollywood history and finally takes home the Oscar gold.
BEST ACTOR: Bill Murray
I know that Sean Penn is going to win this award, and I can't say that he doesn't deserve it. He has compiled a list of worthy credits and this is finally his year. However, I risk taking the hit to my POP Percentage on the principal that Sean Penn's performance in Mystic River was NOT the best acting performance of the year. The best acting performance of the year WAS Sean Penn in 21 Grams. So, making up for this and the fact that Scarlett Johannson was not even nominated I will go with Bill Murray's worthy performance in Lost in Translation.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Benecio Del Toro
Three amazing performances drive the non-linear tail of three lives intertwined in tragedy. Del Toro should take home his second Supporting Actor trophy for 21 Grams.
BEST ACTRESS: Charlize Theron
I didn't get around to seeing Monster, but the buzz is that this is the closest thing to a sure bet there is this year (in another year, Naomi Watts would have had a strong chance).
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Rene Zellweger
Marcia Gay Harden was nearly as impressive as Scarlett Johannson. Holly Hunter was good, but not as good, I thought as co-star Rachel Evan Wood. Irregardless, it is Rene's year, and she completely stole the show in Cold Mountain.
BEST DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson (LOTR)
Sofia Coppola deserves consideration for her sophomore effort, and Peter Weir crafted an incredibly solid film much like my choice in this category last year, Martin Scorcese (Gangs of New York). However, Peter Jackson wins basically for his efforts in all three LOTR episodes, and very deservingly, I might add.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Lost in Translation
This film deserves to win something, and this is more than likely it. I thought Coppola did a beautiful job of fleshing out the relationship between the two main characters divided by such a huge generation gap. While there are hints of a relationship beyond friendship, the script never gives in to Hollywood romance.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Mystic River
This is the first category that we come to that forced me to make choices. While I was not a fan of Mystic River and thought that there were holes in the movie that I can only assume were more fully developed in the book, everyone else seems to love it. Thusly, I prophecize it will edge out Return of the King.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Barbarian Invasions
It's hard to find a place to watch these movies. I'm just getting the chance to watch last year's winner in this category (Hable Con Ella; I am putting it in as soon as I finish this). Honestly, I'm going with the only one I've heard of.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Finding Nemo
I hear Triplets of Belleville is great and may check it out this week, but I think Nemo pretty much has it in the bag.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Fog of War
The only film in this category that I saw was Capturing the Friedman's which was extremely thought provoking and intriguing, but I've seen The Fog of War on too many overall top 10 lists to prophecize against it at the Oscars.
BEST DOCUMENTARY, SHORT SUBJECT: Cherynobl Heart
And we get into the "I'm completely guessing" categories where I had surprising success last year.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: You Will Be My Ain True Love (Cold Mountain)
I wanted to pick the song from A Mighty Wind, but alas, it is just a bit too campy to be taken into serious consideration.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Big Fish (Danny Elfman)
How can you not pick the guy who does the theme song for the Simpsons?!?
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
I wrestled back and forth between Master and Commander and Seabiscuit. Seabiscuit was a beautiful film, but I finally settled upon Weir's film because of the awe-inspiring recreation of life aboard a ship of the British fleet.
BEST FILM EDITING: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Again I don't understand why 21 Grams isn't nominated, and nothing else stands out to me in the way that Chicago did a year ago. Yet, LOTR was very well put together and gets the Possum nod on this one.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: The Last Samurai
The only redeeming quality in this movie?
BEST ART DIRECTION: Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit gets the prophecy here because I feel bad for not picking it for Cinematography.
BEST MAKE-UP: Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Folks, I'm just throwing darts here.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Three films with stunning effects. One sounds as good as another to me.
BEST SOUND: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Hey, it won last year.
BEST SOUND EDITING: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
eenie, meenie, minie, mo
BEST SHORT FILM, LIVE ACTION: Most
Why not?
BEST SHORT FILM, ANIMATED: Gone Nutty
And so have I. Tune into the the Academy Awards Sunday, February 29 and play along at home as you keep score with Possum. I'll be back after the awards to breakdown my prophecies as well as unveil my very own top 10 list for 2003. If you feel like contributing, let us know what your favorite movie of 2003 was.
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