Best Picture
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ORIGINAL S'PLAY
 STAND-ALONE
THE FIVE NOMINEES:
THE WINNER:
MYSTIC
RIVER
 SEA-
BISCUIT
 LOST IN
TRANSLATION
 MASTER &
COMMANDER
FOR IT:
 FOR IT:
It's the most
actor-friendly
nominee, and that
may count big with
the Academy.
 If critics could cast votes,
"Lost" would surely be near
the top of the list.  Coppola
is the year's breakthrough
filmmaking talent.
 With the second-highest
nomination total it clearly
appealed to many branches
of the Academy.  It has
three studios' support.
AGAINST IT:
AGAINST IT:
While the trilogy is a
monumental undertaking,
"King's" final twenty minutes
might have left a few voters  
slightly underwhelmed.
NO NOM THIS YEAR:
THE LAST SAMURAI
Good reviews, not great reviews.  But its
vigorous campaign -- and early precursor
lead -- might do the trick.
 COLD MOUNTAIN
The Miramax streak has come to an
end as support for this epic waned
in the final days of the campaign.
 IN AMERICA
This well-reviewed drama never
picked up any precursor steam.  
If it makes it, it'll be pure luck.
21 GRAMS
This complex film might be too
dark and edgy to land a Best
Picture berth -- but it's worthy.
HOUSE OF SAND & FOG
Although out of the race last year,
DreamWorks has a contender with this
drama -- which has gotten some raves.
FINDING NEMO
This movie's great reviews should be
enough, but cartoons have now been
"ghettoized" to their own category.
 THE MISSING
The movie had a so-so box
office run, so it's up to Cate
Blanchett to carry the torch.
KILL BILL
Will Quentin Tarantino reclaim his former
glory?  Or will he go out swinging like Uma
Thurman with a 3-foot sword?
KEEPING TRACK:

FEB 15 -- SEABISCUIT  /  LAST SAMURAI  /  MASTER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
JULY 22 -- 21 GRAMS  /  IN AMERICA  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
SEPT 5 -- 21 GRAMS  /  IN AMERICA  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
SEPT 26 -- 21 GRAMS  /  BIG FISH  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
OCT 19 -- IN AMERICA  /  BIG FISH  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
NOV 11 -- IN AMERICA  /  BIG FISH  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
DEC 4 -- IN AMERICA  /  BIG FISH  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
DEC 15  --  IN AMERICA  /  LAST SAMURAI  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
DEC 24 -- IN AMERICA  /  SEABISCUIT  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
JAN 6 -- MASTER  /  SEABISCUIT  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*
JAN 22 -- MASTER  /  SEABISCUIT  /  MYSTIC RIVER  /  COLD MOUNTAIN  /  RETURN OF THE KING*


THE RETURN
OF THE KING
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FOR IT:
It's the least "epic" of the
five nominees.  The film's
best chances for gold may
be in the writing and acting
categories.
FOR IT:
AGAINST IT:
Many liked it, but few
called it the best of the
year.  It'll fare better in the
technical categories rather
than in the Big Race.
FOR IT:
AGAINST IT:
AGAINST IT:
After two consecutive
strikeouts at Oscar's plate, it's
time for "The Lord of the
Rings" to hit a home run and
walk away with the big prize.
DIRECTOR
ACTOR
ACTRESS
SUP. ACTOR
TECH
ADAPTED S'PLAY
SUP. ACTRESS

BIG FISH
It's a little too sappy to appeal to
Burton die-hards, and it may be
too quirky for the average voter.
UPDATED FEBRUARY 23
Without a Best
Director
nomination to go
with it, there's no
chance it'll win.
The fact that it
scored a nod
despite a summer
release attests to
its appeal.
L
I
K
E
L
Y
M
A
Y
B
E
R
I
S
K
Y
Some are calling
the film overrated,
and there's no
denying it's the
year of "King."