Best Director
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ORIGINAL S'PLAY
 STAND-ALONE
PICTURE
THE FIVE NOMINEES:
UPDATED FEBRUARY 23
THE WINNER:
CLINT
EASTWOOD
"MYSTIC
RIVER"
 PETER
WEIR
"MASTER &
COMMANDER"
 FERNANDO
MEIRELLES
"CITY OF
GOD"
 SOFIA
COPPOLA
"LOST IN
TRANSLATION"
After writing, producing,
and directing three of
arguably the best fantasy
films of all time, he's due
to be recognized.
 Fantasy films aren't for
everyone; Clint's film
(and direction) are
more classical and
typical Oscar fare.
 He's a near-genius
auteur who's been
nominated before
but never taken hom
the gold.
 Unexpected nominations
sometimes lead to
shocking wins, and the
pic's multiple nods
indicate broad support.
 Isn't it about time that a
woman took home this
trophy?  Coppola definitely
deserves it for this superb
mediatation on loneliness.
AGAINST HIM:
 AGAINST HIM:
 AGAINST HER:
NO NOM THIS YEAR:
ANTHONY
MINGHELLA
"COLD MOUNTAIN"
A backlash against Miramax's
Oscar dominance caused him to
sit this year out.
L
I
K
E
L
Y
TIM
BURTON
"BIG FISH"
He's definitely in the running, but
he'll have to overcome the film's
love it/hate it divisiveness.
 ALEJANDRO
G. INARRITU
"21 GRAMS"
The movie's overwhelming
sense of despair could be a
turn-off to some voters.
 EDWARD
ZWICK
"LAST SAMURAI"
After a decent early start,
buzz has dropped off
significantly in the awards
race.
M
A
Y
B
E
R
I
S
K
Y
KEEPING TRACK:

FEB 15 -- ZWICK  /  MINGHELLA  /  WEIR  /  ROSS  /  JACKSON*
JULY 22 -- BURTON  /  MINGHELLA  /  SHERIDAN  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
SEPT 5 -- BURTON  /  MINGHELLA  /  INARRITU  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
SEPT 26 -- BURTON  /  MINGHELLA  /  INARRITU  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
OCT 19 -- BURTON  /  MINGHELLA  /  INARRITU  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
NOV 11 -- BURTON  /  MINGHELLA  /  WEIR  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
DEC 4 -- BURTON  /  MINGHELLA  /  WEIR  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
DEC 15 -- COPPOLA  /  MINGHELLA  /  SHERIDAN  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
DEC 24 -- COPPOLA  /  MINGHELLA  /  SHERIDAN  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
JAN 6 -- COPPOLA  /  MINGHELLA  /  WEIR  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*
JAN 22 -- COPPOLA  /  MINGHELLA  /  WEIR  /  EASTWOOD  /  JACKSON*


PETER
JACKSON
"RETURN OF
THE KING"
QUENTIN
TARANTINO
"KILL BILL"
Too violent for sure, but once
in a great while the Academy
throws a curveball.
GARY
ROSS
"SEABISCUIT"
Oversentimentality is a charge
that may be thrown around
by his film's opponents.
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ACTOR
ACTRESS
SUP. ACTOR
TECH
ADAPTED S'PLAY
SUP. ACTRESS
GUS
VAN SANT
"ELEPHANT"
It's an important film...but
too violent and topical to
garner Academy support.
In the rare case that voters
may want to spread the
wealth, they could Oscar
him in other categories and
leave this one up for grabs.
FOR HIM:
AGAINST HIM:
FOR HIM:
After the Oscar sweep
for "Unforgiven,"
voters probably won't
be giving the legend
another trophy.
FOR HIM:
AGAINST HIM:
FOR HIM:
FOR HER:
JIM
SHERIDAN
"IN AMERICA"
His tiny film (in this year of
epics and action) didn't make
some crucial shortlists.
VADIM
PERELMAN
"HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG"
DreamWorks will be putting all of
their might behind this, so a
nomination is possible.
There are some gripes
that "co-director" Katia
Lund wasn't given the
credit due.  Plus, the film
wasn't nommed.
With this
competition it's just
not his year. But the
next Oscar could be
his.
If only her film hadn't
been released the same
year as the "Lord of the
Rings."  She'll settle for a
screenplay Oscar.