My immediate thoughts:

1. City of God: This movie shouldn't even have been eligible for any awards. I saw this in theatres in June of 2002...2002!!....and have owned the dvd for well over a year.

2. Keisha Castle-Hughs.... I feel vindicated. Some are saying this is a major surprise. Not if you've actually seen the film she's nominated for.

3. for Peter Weir and Master and Commander. I was calling this one of the underrated films of the year.

4. Might as well just give it to ROTK already.

I'm hoping that she'll make something this year that she'll win for. Sheese, she had two films this year that a lot of critics said should have earned her at least a nom.

The Keisha Castle-Hughes nom was a bit of a surprise, but a lot of people said she did a wonderful job.

Anyone want to bet that Master and Commander will be run as the anti-LOTR film? They are both so opposite from each other it's going to be interesting what happens.

Are you sure about that? The movie didn't even open in Brazil until August of 2002.

The release date for qualification doesn't include festival showings. City of God didn't open in the United States until January of last year, so it qualifies for this years awards.

awesome set of nominations!

a truly eclectic set for many irreverently fervent discussions

Whats the problem with Harvey?

here's some useful info

11 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
10 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
7 - Cold Mountain
7 - Seabiscuit
6 - Mystic River
5 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
4 - City of God
4 - Finding Nemo
4 - The Last Samurai
4 - Lost in Translation
3 - House of Sand and Fog
3 - In America
2 - 21 Grams
2 - The Barbarian Invasions
2 - Girl with a Pearl Earring
2 - The Triplets of Belleville

The "one-and-only-one" list (aside from short films, docs and foreign films):

The Cooler (Actor - Alec Baldwin)
Whale Rider (Actress - Keisha Castle-Hughes)
Something's Gotta Give (Actress - Diane Keaton)
Monster (Actress - Charlize Theron)
Pieces of April (Supporting Actress - Patricia Clarkson)
Thirteen (Supporting Actress - Holly Hunter)
Brother Bear (Animated Feature)
Big Fish (Music Score)
A Mighty Wind (Music Song)
American Splendor (Adapted Screenplay)
Dirty Pretty Things (Original Screenplay)

from the IGN boards

You say. I don't know a soul who didn't love this film. I think it deserves all the nominations and more. And Russell Crowe should have been nominated too. What's up with Scarlett Johansson getting snubbed for both "Translation" and "Earring"? That's pretty amazing. And where did all the notice for "In America" come from? Haven't seen it yet but plan on it (and I'm sure it's great), but it hasn't been mentioned anywhere else before now (aside from 10 Best Lists).

You must have gone to Cannes that year...

Release dates for
Cidade de Deus (2002)



Country Date
France 18 May 2002 (Cannes Film Festival)
Brazil 30 August 2002
USA 31 August 2002 (Telluride Film Festival)
Canada 6 September 2002 (Toronto Film Festival)
Spain 26 September 2002 (San Sebastián Film Festival)
USA 6 October 2002 (Chicago International Film Festival)
Japan 30 October 2002 (Tokyo International Film Festival)
UK 8 November 2002 (London Film Festival)
USA 14 November 2002 (AFI Film Festival)
UK 3 January 2003
USA 10 January 2003 (Palm Springs International Film Festival)
USA 17 January 2003 (limited)

Other than some late 2002 festival screenings, it was not shown inthe US until January 17, 2003.

P.S. US release date for the DVD is February 17, 2004.

Not surprised:

Yup, I've been saying this since FOTR, you wont see any awards for LOTR till ROTK. It's taking it home this year. I'm very pleased that Lost In Translation got the nods and if there is any sanity in the votes, Bill Murray will win it. Charlize will take actress and Renée Zellweger for supporting. Nemo will of course win this one. Lets see if Sofia gets one for original screenplay.

Don't worry about Scarlett Johansson. I'm sure she'll sweep all the awards next year with The Perfect Score.

Surprised City of God got those important nominations... I thought the Oscars would screw them over.

However, it definitely deserves a Best Picture nomination. Oops, I forgot - it's a foreign film.... they usually get shafted for Best Pic.

Nice to see Barbarian Invasions get 2 nominations.

I'm only disappointed that there's no nods for The Station Agent, which I definitely consider one of the year's five best films.

I said it was good but not great to get that many nominations..... 10..... come on. Sorry but it was a good movie.... but not to get 10 nominations..

I wasn't surprised much here.
This is ROTK's year, and it will take it's oscar gold.

While I am glad for LOTR:ROTK, I am SOOOOO happy that the academy saw Master and Commander fit for so many nominations as it is a great movie that not enough people saw in its initial run. It was advertised as a "Gladiator on the high seas" when it was anything but that, and audiences walked away dumbfounded and bored, aside from me of course.

That said, I think the realy competition will be in the Best Actress category. I think it will be a really close race between Charlize Theron and Diane Keaton as it will be the classic old school vs. new school angle and that will divide voters IMO.

still trying to figure out out Depp got a nod with POTC

Yes !

LOTR should clean up at the Oscars.
It's a lock for Best Picture & Best Director.

I'm shocked Russell Crowe didn't get nominated for M&C.
He was great.
At least the movie got nominated.

I'm also surprised Tom Cruise didn't get nominated for the Last Samurai.

And I disagree. And with your multiple question marks, you'd think we were talking about "Charlies Angels:Full Throttle" here.

I'm not questioning it. He's been over looked for some years now. Though I hope that Murray will take it this year.

Aside from the expected LotR nominations and the ones for Mystic River, I was really happy to see the following get nominated:

BEST PICTURE
LOST IN TRANSLATION
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Johnny Depp - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
Bill Murray - LOST IN TRANSLATION

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alec Baldwin - THE COOLER
Benicio Del Toro - 21 GRAMS
Djimon Hounsou - IN AMERICA

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keisha Castle-Hughes - WHALE RIDER
Samantha Morton - IN AMERICA
Naomi Watts - 21 GRAMS

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Patricia Clarkson - PIECES OF APRIL
Holly Hunter - THIRTEEN

CINEMATOGRAPHY
COLD MOUNTAIN
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD

DIRECTING
LOST IN TRANSLATION
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD

MUSIC (SONG)
"A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" - A MIGHTY WIND

VISUAL EFFECTS
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL

WOW...... how about Tom Cruise..... he is missing...

Some real surprises. All in all, I'd say I'm pleased with the nominations this year.

Agree. And what a tough year. Was there a critic (or person) who didn't single out Depp's performance in "Pirates"? This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

Folks didn't believe me when I said that the oscar voters wouldn't bother voting for this the last two years for the simple reason that they will save there love for it till ROTK and it has. The vote is more along the lines a nod for the work done for making all the three films.