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2003
I know, I know. Here it is the first of August and guess what...it's time for OSCARS 2004/2005!!!! It's just so shocking to me that time has gone by so darn fast. I have pretty much viewed all the movies I wanted to from 2003, with the exception of a couple that probably won't have much effect on the overall outcome of these results below. Alrighty, so without further stalling, here are the OscarSight nominees and WINNERS! I also added commentary after each category, yall have been made to wait so long. Enjoy!
| 21 Grams
(Focus Features) | Big Fish
(Columbia) | Finding Nemo
(Walt Disney Studios) | In America
(Fox Searchlight) | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
(New Line Cinema) | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Girl With A Pearl Earring
HONORABLE MENTION:
Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Station Agent, City Of God, Thirteen |
These five movies are all pretty great. A lot changed here since the initial list. Mystic River completely fell out of the top 5 (and top 10). Finding Nemo jumps into the top 5 easily after repeated viewings of the movie. It is the #4 position with 21 Grams edging out the top 5. The top three never changed, really. The great Return Of The King of course takes the #1 position. But barely, and folks I do mean barely, Big Fish takes the runner-up position. Not just here, but for a lot of these categories, it was hard to choose between the fish and the ring. ROTK delivered all though so perfectly and edges out. In America kinda disappointed me initially but with repeated DVD viewings, it is easily one of the best family dramas of the past decade and one of the best movies of the year no doubt.
| Tim Burton
Big Fish | Alejandro G. Iñárritu
21 Grams | Peter Jackson
Lord Of The Rings:
The Return Of The King | Fernando Meirelles
City Of God | Jim Sheridan
In America | Peter Weir
Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World | | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Gus Van Sant, Elephant
HONORABLE MENTION:
Peter Webber, Girl With A Pearl Earring; Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini, American Splendor; Catherine Hardwicke, Thirteen; Anthony Minghella, Cold Mountain; Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill, Vol. 1; Todd McCarthy, The Station Agent; Gore Verbinski, Pirates Of The Caribbean |
Oh wow. This list of six directors is just amazing. I could not bring myself to narrow it down to five. In fact, I wish I coulda made it 7 and included Van Sant, but that would be a little TOO much. No doubt who takes this honor. Peter Jackson without a doubt was the director of the year. Meirelles' direction still astounds me and I am so happy he ended up getting a nomination for the movie. Amazing work. Inarritu's direction in his movie lived on strong for me with repeated viewings. Also great were Burton and his ever so arful eye in a fantasy, Sheridan who really knows how to capture the perspective of children in a family drama, and Weir's amazing direction of an epic ship movie.
| Nicolas Cage
Matchstick Men | Paddy Considine
In America | Johnny Depp
Pirates Of The Caribbean:
Curse Of The Black Pearl | Ben Kingsley
House Of Sand & Fog | Sean Penn
21 Grams &
Mystic River | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Peter Dinklage, The Station Agent
HONORABLE MENTION:
Paul Giamatti, American Splendor; Bill Murray, Lost In Translation; Russell Crowe, Master & Commander; Jude Law, Cold Mountain; Hayden Christensen, Shattered Glass; Jack Nicholson, Something's Gotta Give; Ewan McGregor, Big Fish & Down With Love; Colin Firth, Girl With A Pearl Earring |
This category was so very hard for me. I had to give it a lot more thought and consideration than some of the others. Narrowing it to a top five and then placing those five was very difficult. Kinglsey barely edges out Dinklage for that fifth shaky slot. Kinglsey's performance is still impressive but not near as much as it initially was. Considine impressed me more with each viewing of his movie and stays in the top 5. It only took two viewings for me to see that Cage was completely robbed last year of a nod. A wonderful forgotten performance that delivered so much. The top 2 here is very close. I was THIS close to giving the honor to Depp and all his hilarious-ness, but overall I had to go with Penn. His performance in 21 Grams was much more impressive than his performance in Mystic River after repeated viewings of each movie, but with the two of them combined, he takes my #1 position.
| Scarlett Johansson
Girl With A Pearl Earring
(and Lost In Translation) | Samantha Morton
In America | Charlize Theron
Monster | Naomi Watts
21 Grams | Evan Rachel Wood
Thirteen | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Jennifer Connelly, House Of Sand & Fog
HONORABLE MENTION:
Uma Thurman, Kill Bill, Vol. 1 |
This category usually has so many great contenders, but compared to the other categories of this respected year, this category is disappointing as a whole. But looking at the five nominated, it's clearly one of the most competitive for me. Rounding out the top 5 is the great Johansson. So much that she emoted in her facial expressions alone with no dialogue in GwAPE. In LiT, her performance grew on me (and that was the only thing) on second viewing. Wood gave a stunning and accurate depiction of a teenager's life dwindling down to nothing. These two young talents...just look out for them. Both were stellar. A lot say that Morton did not deserve her Oscar nomination but I think she completely did. I love that my top 3 got nominated and when her name was called that morning I was ecstatic. Even though it bordered supporting, that category is too crowded and she fits in fine here. The top 2 here I had to really think about as well. The great Naomi Watts barely takes the runner-up position though in a role so meaty it just has to be seen. Her scenes were so heartbreaking and real. Where another actress could have overdone it (ahem...Halle Berry in Monster's Ball), she knew just the right amount of subtelty. Wonderful performance. But taking the gold is Theron. It's hard to think anyone could even come close to this performance and even though Watts was great, Theron just floored me here. I was expecting to think that the performance was overrated what with all the hype surrounding it, but this is a case where the hype matches the actual result. Great work.
| Sean Astin
Lord Of The Rings:
The Return Of The King | Paul Bettany
Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World | Benicio Del Toro
21 Grams | Albert Finney
Big Fish | Ian McKellen
Lord Of The Rings:
The Return Of The King | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Peter Sarsgaard, Shattered Glass
HONORABLE MENTION:
Djimon Honsou, In America; Bobby Cannavale, The Station Agent; Tom Guiry, Mystic River; Elijah Wood, The Return Of The King & Master & Commander; Billy Boyd, Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King; Tim Robbins, Mystic River; Bill Nighy, Love, Actually; Geoffrey Rush, Pirates Of The Caribbean; Rawiri Paratene, Whale Rider; Jeff Friedlander, American Splendor; Alec Baldwin, The Cooler; Jeff Bridges, Seabiscuit; Eugene Levy, A Mighty Wind |
Looking over these lists, I really do think that 2003 was a better year for movies than 2002 was. Especially performances-wise. The fifth slot here was a real toss-up. I thought Sarsgaard was great in his movie (but also a little overrated) but McKellen really shined in his ROTK scenes. His speech about death warrants the nomination alone. Bettany also did a commendable job in his movie. Such a good job that he showed up Russell Crowe. Great performance from him. The top three here is very strong. First is Del Toro who had my jaw dropping in the theater while seeing his movie. I couldn't believe how chillingly real it was. The top two is strong here. Astin shocked us all when he was on the backburner for the first two installments and then comes in on the third one and knocks our socks off. That speech at the end of TTT was a real indication of what was to come for him. Who knew he had it in him? Peter Jackson, of course. But taking the gold in this category is the great Albert Finney. I really still can't believe he was nominated for Erin Brockovich and not this. This performance had me rolling with laughter and also drowning in my tears. And that accent. He can't be British. He just can't. lol
| Shorheh Aghdashloo
House Of Sand & Fog | Patricia Clarkson
Pieces Of April &
The Station Agent | Marcia Gay Harden
Mystic River | Jessica Lange
Big Fish | Alison Lohman
Matchstick Men &
Big Fish | Renée Zellweger
Cold Mountain | | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Holly Hunter, Thirteen
HONORABLE MENTION:
Emma & Sarah Bolger, In America; Emma Thompson, Love, Actually; Natalie Portman, Cold Mountain; Essie Davis, Girl With A Pearl Earring; Laura Linney, Love, Actually & Mystic River; Vicky Haughton, Whale Rider; Miranda Otto, Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King; Maria Bello, The Cooler; Hope Davis, American Splendor; Helena Bonham Carter, Big Fish; Catherine O'Hara, A Mighty Wind |
This large group of supporting actresses is just too great for words. Every single one of these performances really were something. I had to extend this one to six nominees for me as well. This competition was just too great. I know many would disagree, but I think Jessica Lange's performance was one of the most underrated of the year. Thing is, what hurt her was lack of screentime. But in her scenes (the bathtub and goodbye scenes particularly), she completely won me over. And she just looked amazing in the movie too. Alison Lohman had another great year what with two very good performances (especially MM). This young woman is loaded with talent and I can't wait to see where her career goes. The great Clarkson comes in fourth with two powerhouse performances that just scream 'awards.' And I mean that in a good way. She really surprised me this year. Many feel Aghdashloo was robbed of the Oscar, and while I wouldn't go that far, I do think she gave a stellar performance in her trainwreck of a movie. The runner-up position goes to Harden who made me bring up so many emotions in her breakdown and final scenes of her movie. And, send in the mail. Attempt to sue me. I think Zellweger rightfully won the Oscar and she takes my personal award for Supporting Actress as well. She was hilarious yet touching in this role and while many see it as an over the top romp, I thoroughly enjoyed it and support her Oscar win. From the minute she said "Them cows needs milkin'!!!", I knew I was in store for a treat.
| 21 Grams
Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts, Melissa Leo, Clea DuVall, Charlotte Gainsbourg, etc. | Big Fish
Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Helena Bonhan Carter, Billy Crudup, Danny DeVito, Steve Buscemi, etc. | In America
Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Emma Bolger, Sarah Bolger, Djimon Honsou | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Billy Boyd, Miranda Otto, Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis, Bernard Hill, etc. | Mystic River
Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Tom Guiry, Laurence Fishburne, etc. | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
City Of God
HONORABLE MENTION:
The Station Agent, Love, Actually, A Mighty Wind, Elephant, Girl With A Pearl Earring, Cold Mountain, Master & Commander, Pirates Of The Caribbean |
It's hard to think that anyone could top the cast to ROTK but their competition is fierce here. Especially from the amazing cast of In America. Every single one of the main players were so accurate in portraying a family that at times it felt as if I was watching a documentary of REAL and actual people coming to America and the American dream. Great cast there. The award for best CASTING would hands down go to Big Fish (for Lange/Lohman and McGregor/Finney alone), but as a cast they make the top five but miss out on the top three. The third spot goes to the cast of 21 Grams. This group of actors was astonishing. Mystic River's strongest aspect and the only thing that held up with repeated viewings was the cast ensemble. They edge out the top 5.
| YOUNGER ACTING PERFORMANCE |
| Emma & Sarah Bolger
In America | Keisha Castle-Hughes
Whale Rider | Scarlett Johansson
Girl With A Pearl Earring
(and Lost In Translation) | Max Pirkis
Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World | Evan Rachel Wood
Thirteen | | | | | | |
The Bolger's take it. Amazing work from these two sisters (I can't separate them, I see them as a team). Wood takes silver with Johansson coming in third.
| American Splendor
Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini | Big Fish
John
August | City Of God
Bráulio Mantovani | Girl With A Pearl Earring
Olivia Hetreed | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
Frances Walsh, Philippa Boyens, & Peter Jackson | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Brian Helgeland, Mystic River
HONORABLE MENTION:
Billy Ray, Shattered Glass; Peter Weir and John Collee, Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World; Anthony Minghella,Cold Mountain |
Goodness, this one was hard to come to conclusions about as well. The screenplay to Splendor was just so interesting, entertaining, and informative to me. And the story to GwAPE was equally intriguing. The City Of God story had me glued to the screen in it's informative and honest storytelling method. It once again though came down to ring vs. fish. I had to really sit and think about this one. The adaptation of ROTK is mind-boggling really and I should give it the award, but edging out is the father/son flick known only as Big Fish. The story here was so involving and captivating. The end of the movie too is just not word worthy. You have to see it to believe it and as a whole the story here was very well put together.
| 21 Grams
Guillermo Arriaga | Finding Nemo
Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, & David Reynolds | In America
Jim, Kirsten, & Naomi Sheridan | The Station Agent
Todd McCarthy | Thirteen
Catherine Hardwicke &
Nikki Reed | | | | | | |
RUNNER-UP:
Gus Van Sant, Elephant
HONORABLE MENTION:
Richard Curtis, Love, Actually; Eve Ahlert & Dennis Drake, Down With Love; Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy, A Mighty Wind |
In America wins this in a cakewalk. This story was so wonderfully written. 21 Grams had a very effective story to tell about love, loss, depression, and revenge. The third place spot goes to Finding Nemo. This story had me laughing so very hard and at the same time it held my interests. The screenplays to Thirteen and The Station Agent were great as well and round out the top 5.
| Big Fish
Dennis Gassner | Down With Love
Andrew Laws | Girl With A Pearl Earring
Christina Schaffer | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
Grant Major | Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World
William Sandell | | | | | | |
| 21 Grams
Rodrigo Prieto | City Of God
César Charlone | Girl With A Pearl Earring
Eduardo Serra | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
Andrew Lesnie | Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World
Russell Boyd | | | | | | |
| Big Fish
Colleen Atwood | Cold Mountain
Ann Roth | Down With Love
Daniel Orlandi | Girl With A Pearl Earring
Dien van Straalen | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
Ngila Dickson | | | | | | |
| 21 Grams
Stephen Mirrione | City Of God
Daniel Rezende | Kill Bill, Vol. 1
Sally Menke | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
Jamie Selkirk | Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World
Lee Smith | | | | | | |
| Big Fish | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King | Monster | | | | |
| Big Fish
Danny Elfman | Finding Nemo
Thomas Newman | Girl With A Pearl Earring
Alexandre Desplat | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
Howard Shore | Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World
Iva Davies &
Christopher Gordon | | | | | | |
The flip-flopping of BF and ROTK had me almost going insane. The fish edges out. But barely. For Shore's score is truly remarkable, but Elfman's work was just so flowing and it was all original.
| Big Fish
"Man Of The Hour" | In America
"Time Enough For Tears" | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King
"Into The West" | A Mighty Wind
"A Kiss At The End
Of The Rainbow" | A Mighty Wind
"A Mighty Wind" | | | | | | |
| Cold Mountain | Finding Nemo | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King | Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World | Pirates Of The Caribbean:
Curse Of The Black Pearl | | | | | | |
| Finding Nemo | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King | Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World | | | | |
| Big Fish | Lord Of The Rings:
Return Of The King | Master & Commander:
The Far Side Of The World | | | | |
To see the 3rd
Annual Oscar Sights Awards, click here
To see the 1st Annual Oscar Sights Awards,
click here. | 
