Well, the offical announcement was made just moments ago. Here's a sample from the list of nominees for the 76th Annual Academy Awards:
BEST PICTURE
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
LOST IN TRANSLATION
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
MYSTIC RIVER
SEABISCUIT
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Johnny Depp - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
Ben Kingsley - HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
Jude Law - COLD MOUNTAIN
Bill Murray - LOST IN TRANSLATION
Sean Penn - MYSTIC RIVER
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keisha Castle-Hughes - WHALE RIDER
Diane Keaton - SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
Samantha Morton - IN AMERICA
Charlize Theron - MONSTER
Naomi Watts - 21 GRAMS
DIRECTING
Fernando Meirelles - CITY OF GOD
Peter Jackson - THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Sofia Coppola - LOST IN TRANSLATION
Peter Weir - MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
Clint Eastwood - MYSTIC RIVER
A couple of surprises, but nothing way out of the ordinary. I'm glad to see that they gave a nod to the girl from Whale Rider instead of copping-out and going with a more obvious choice (i.e. Nicole Kidman). Of course, I'm sure she's just glad to be nominated, because she and everyone else knows that Charlize Theron is going to win.
I'm very surprised, yet very happy, to see Johnny Depp in the lead actor category. I expected him to be nominated, but in the supporting category. Of course, now he'll lose to Bill Murray, but still...Huzzah!
Supporting actor is gonna be a close race between Tim Robbins and Alec Baldwin. I have seen both performances, and it's too close to call at this point. Same with supporting actress. All of the nominees are worthy of the honor.
I expect Return of the King to take just about every category it's nominated in. If it doesn't, there will be riots. I'm just saying...
Posted by Zip at January 27, 2004 10:01 AM