When looking at the Oscars some time ago, I realised how much I hated the picks. The Academy is filled with conservatives who don't realise good movies. That is why I decided to give some awards of my own. They include all the major categories and some other minor ones. Before you get upset over a movie I didn't include, so my list of movies I saw this year.
The winners have been announced, and are in red.
Best Movie
A.I.
The Lord of the Rings
Memento
The Royal Tenenbaums
Vanilla Sky
This one went down to Lord of the Rings and Memento. Memento edged in by being able to deliver a very original story on more than one level.
Best Director
Ridley Scott - Black Hawk Down
Peter Jackson - Lord of the Rings
Baz Lurhman - Moulin Rouge
Christopher Nolan - Memento
Steven Soderberg - Ocean's Eleven
The level that Lord of the Rings DID deliver is directing. Watch it again, and concentrate on Jackson's sweeping camera movement.
Best Actor
Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind
Guy Pierce - Memento
Billy Bob Thornton - Monster's Ball
Gene Hackman - The Royal Tenenbaums
Denzel Washington - Training Day
Upon second viewing of Training Day, I was able to see that not only was Denzel's performance better than Crowe's, but it was A LOT better. This movie gives Denzel his second Johnny in three years.
Best Supporting Actor
Steve Buscemi - Ghost World
Joe Pantaliono - Memento
Sean Combs - Monster's Ball
Luke Wilson - Royal Tenenbaums
Ben Kingsly - Sexy Beast
I must boo the academy for not even nominating Steve Buscemi who has done such brilliant work in the past, and this film is no exception.
Best Actress
Stockard Chaning - Business of Strangers
Thora Birch - Ghost World
Halle Berry - Monster's Ball
Nichole Kidman - Moulin Rouge
Zhang Zhi-Yi - The Road Home
The little seen Road Home deserves recognition, and I applaud the Academy for choosing Halle Berry, but Thora Birch wins by a healthy margin.
Best Supporting Actress
Francis O'Connor - A.I.
Jennifer Connely - A Beautiful Mind
Carrie Anne Moss - Memento
Gwyenth Paltrow - Royal Tenenbaums
Angelica Houston - Royal Tenenbaums
Cameron Diaz - Vanilla Sky
As the mother in A.I., Fancis O'Connor gives one of the most touching performances of the year. It brings an amazing human aspect to the film. But Jennifer Connely was amazing as well.
Best Ensemble
Ghost World
Memento
Ocean's Eleven
Royal Tenenbaums
Training Day
So many great performances in The Royal Tenenbaums lifts it above Ocean's Eleven.
Best Adapted Screenplay
A.I.
Ghost World
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Shrek
Vanilla Sky
Ghost World was one of the most real and well-written movies of the year. Who would have thought it was based on a comic book?
Best Original Screenplay
Memento
Monsters Inc.
Moulin Rouge
Royal Tenenbaums
Training Day
The Royal Tenenbaums fantastic dialogue puts it past Memento.
Best Cinematography
Black Hawk Down
Lord of the Rings
The Road Home
Ocean's Eleven
Royal Tenenbaums
All Beautifully shot movies, but go back to what I said about the Best Director.
Best Editing
Black Hawk Down
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Lord of the Rings
Memento
Moulin Rouge
I love all the fast cuts in Moulin Rouge and Black Hawk Down. This could have gone to either.
Best Music
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Moulin Rouge
Ocean's Eleven
The Royal Tenenbaums
Vanilla Sky
The jazzy/funk tracks on Ocean's Eleven are great. I recomend The Royal Tenenbaums and Vanilla Sky soundtracks as well, however the rock-opera Hedwig simply has fantastic music.
Best Special Effects
A.I.
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
Moulin Rouge
The One
Best Comedic Performance
John Lovitz - Rat Race
Bill Murray - Royal Tenenbaums
Chris Tucker - Rush Hour 2
Jack Black - Saving Silverman
Eddie Murphey - Shrek
Jack Black is one of the funniest men alive. Saving Silverman is amazing if you appreciate his humor, though I understand why some people would hate it... with a passion.
Best TV Show
The Family Guy
The SImpsons
Six Feet Under
The Sopranos
24
Six Feet Under is so incredible real, sad, and thought provoking, thanks to genius Alan Ball.
Best CD
Tenacious D - Tenacious D
