You know, I'm no fan of most of his stuff and him in general either (just the thought of Con Air or The Rock makes me ill), but I don't see how you can totally disregard him if you seen his performances in Leaving Las Vegas or Adaptation. This guy doesn't always make the best choices, but if he plays it right and gives it his best, he's among some of the best actors out there in my opinion.

You guys also need to understand that the Oscars are for insiders, and with few exceptions they go to inside films. A nonunion, foriegn produced film like The Lord of the Rings films have very little chance of being recognized.

Ditto...

I completely agree with you kevin. I have not seen most of the films from last year but I did see Spirited Away and I will be pissed if it doesn't win.

Did you see ADAPTATION?

I am far (very far) from what I could call a Cage fan, but he was awesome in this role. I don't think he can win (it'll be Day-Lewis or Jack), but he certainly deserved the nod. As did Adaptation in general...it was a fantastic movie. I can't wait to see it again.

I didn't see Far From Heaven, but I'd like to. I'm in the camp which believes that TTT should have been knocked out of the running for Best Picture this year. Between About Schmidt, Adaptation, and (apparently) Far From Heaven, it just doesn't seem right. Sort of like Gladiator or Titanic winning the statue, although not nearly as bad.

Gangs was a good movie. Not great, but very good. Certainly a directorial performance which deserves a nod, but not one I'd give him. I was totally pulling for Jonze and Adaptation for Best Director. I guess we'll see if the Academy awards the old-time favorites this year.

Meatpants, I have to say, I pretty much agree with your assessment. Seems like pretty good odds to have the choices end up as you say. I'm not sure about Streep though--Julianne Moore had quite the year.

Oh well, now it's time to wait.

Okay, how the hell did Spider-Man beat Minority Report out for a Best VFX nom? Just another occasion where the Academy has no idea what they're voting on in these technical awards. They seemingly just put anything down.

Allow me to make it plain for you: I think the Oscars are ultimately a big circle-jerk. Yet here we are, both in this thread, getting hot and bothered about them.

Did I say anything about that cabal called the AMPAS, or anyone else, 'being forced to agree' with me? No.

Do millions and millions of moviegoers worldwide, and almost unanimous critical praise mean anything? Apparently to the Academy, maybe they don't.

Why should any of this matter? See how many people are watching, discussing, and loving Gangs of New York and The Hours in about 5 years--or if they even remember what won Best Picture in 2003 when they're asked on the spot. That'll answer your question.

It won't affect the LOTR films' legacy one bit whether they win every award in the house or get shut out. But at some point, the organization is going to look phenomenally, historically ridiculous if this group of filmmakers do not award what many people (though perhaps not you) consider to be one of the most monumental cinematic acheivements of our time with some serious recognition.

Jepthah the Academy has a history of not voting on fan favorites. That doesn't mean they're going to look anymore silly than they ever have. Everytime this year we have fans from respective films go apesh*t and call the Academy every name in the book because the film they wanted to win doesn't. In 1978 it was Star Wars fans. Last year it was LOTR fans. TTT isn't going to win this year. My guess is ROTK will get even less nominations next year. We'll see. That's how the Academy is when it comes to trilogies and sequels.

What's really going to determine next year is how many great films there are, and whether ROTK is really great and truly offers something different we haven't already seen in the first two films. I just don't get upset over who wins anymore because it all comes down to opinion. We know what the saying is there.

Nope. I've been reading this even when Snake Plissken was still here. And yeah, it IS getting old. I'm almost done with the book and while I know the movie will be diff from the book, I don't see how much it'll be from FOTR(which didn't win) and TTT(which has little chance of winning IMO)

This is hardly the first time a movie has been nominated and the director wasn't (and vice versa). Stupid? Yes. But not a first.

The only shoo-in, Spirited Away for Best Animated Feature (I hope).

big (anf good) surprises for original screenplay!

kinda glad gere wasnt nominated. he was getting kinda funny with all his recent attention! an attention-deprived child

just hope voters dont get it confused with spirit!

I say there's no "sure thing" in regards to the Oscars and who winds up winning.

-In 1972, Joel Grey won Best Supporting Actor for "Cabaret" over Al Pacino and James Caan in "The Godfather."

-In 1974, Art Carney won Best Actor for "Harry and Tonto" over Jack Nicholson in "Chinatown."

...just a few examples.

There will always be "upsets" at the Oscars...that's why we tune in, don't we? To root for our personal favorites, and getting awful angry when they don't win.

I've been pretty vocal around here how much I like Toni Colette, but I don't think anyone in a film for 5 minutes deserves a nomination. She was brilliant in "The Hours", but it wouldn't be fair to the other nominees. No, I think Colette should have been nominated for "About a Boy". As should have Hugh Grant.

Let me phrase it differently in case there's a communication problem on my part: the AMPAS is a ridiculous organization, and they can't help it. It's the nature of the beast. I don't let it bother me too much, but it sure is fun to talk about.

You are right, Terrell, except for the part of even less noms for ROTK. No chance. If you said that it might not win, I could buy into that--but it will get nominated up the wazoo, and I'd put money on it.

I like Annie Hall very much but there is hardly a film scholar, critic or filmgoer alive who will not admit to the Academy looking like they missed the boat by not awarding Star Wars more heavily. Why? Look at what a historically important film it was and is, and that's only one consideration. LOTR is one of those few times where the public and the critics are in such accord.

In the end, for about the 3rd or 4th year in a row, I won't be watching the telecast. I'm just not interested anymore. Neither is Peter Jackson, apparently--he didn't campaign (most of all because he resented the time away from working on TTT it cost him when he did so for FOTR). That will probably hurt his chances next year, if he repeats the decision; but I don't think NLC or Wingnut films will be too upset.

I hope so too, but given their track record and Disney's influence I wouldn't be surprised to see Treasure Planet win.

"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." Have people seen this movie to say it will be a shoe-in at next year's Oscars? No, the film hasn't been made yet, right?

I'm not being facetious...I'm not a fan of Tolken or the series, and have not seen the two films yet, so I'm serious in knowing. Couldn't Peter Jackson blow it?

...I hate to burst everyone's bubble but Meryl Streep wasn't nominated for The Hours. She was nominated for Adaptation.

This whole b*tchfest about Kidman having less screentime in the Hours really doesn't apply to a damn thing.

The film hasn't been finished, but it was "made" at the same time as the other two, written by the same writers, and acted by the same cast (except for new characters), with the same crew, etc. It is also the climax of the story, which those who know the story often agree is the best part.

I think the chances of PJ "blowing it" rank somewhere below us not invading Iraq at this point.

TP doesn't stand a chance. Ice Age will probably win. Disney's only chance is a film they didn't make Spirited Away. Funny Disney has yet to win the Oscar that was pretty much invented for them

Nicole Kidman was good in her "supporting" role in THE HOURS but Julianne Moore was incredible in FAR FROM HEAVEN.

She carried it on her back.

The Academy and the press are just on some "loving Nicole" spree right now. Everything she does is fantastic.

Whoo hoo! Eminem at the Oscars...

You've absolutely NAILED my sentiments regarding 25th Hour. I can't believe this film has gotten no attention...

I forget but I think it was in htf but with Makeup, apparently ttt and star trek didn't submit their applications in or something like that to get nominated.