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Early Oscar '02 Nominee Predictions

Opening Commentary: Last year's apathy about the Academy Awards contenders cannot compare to this year. Though I have not seen certain key films like The Hours, Adaptation, The Quiet American, the competitive slate that Hollywood currently touts is rather discouraging. 2002, in my mind, never produced anything comparable to last year's Mulholland Dr. or Werckmeister Harmonies. For my money, this could be the worst year for film in nearly a decade.

There are many films that I did like, though, but their Oscar chances are negligible. Songs from the Second Floor was in competition a year ago as Sweden's foreign film entry (it did not make the nomination short list); Bloody Sunday played on UK television and is therefore out of competition. All or Nothing, Daughter from Danang, Domestic Violence, The Kid Stays in the Picture, Last Orders, The Piano Teacher, The Rules of Attraction, The Son's Room, 13 Conversations About One Thing, Time Out, The Truth About Charlie, 24 Hour Party People, and Y Tu Mamá También will probably come out with nothing.

As much as I complain, though, this is far from abnormal -- I should just be thankful that a couple of my favorite films this year happen to be big contenders for Oscar nominations. Gangs of New York, The Pianist, and Far from Heaven should find many nominations coming their way, and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which I was much fonder of than its predecessor, will quite possibly pick up nearly all the nominations that The Fellowship of the Rings took (though it's doubtful Ian McKellen and the screenplay will probably be left out).

Enough complaining -- at least my distance from many of the frontrunners means that I'm not wishfully pushing nominations for films that really have a negligible chance. In fact, this could be one of the easier years to predict, especially in the smaller categories, which were painfully easy to decide (of course, changes might become clear as various unions begin giving out their awards).

The Golden Globes, as always, brought some contenders to the fore that had not been especially Chicago, a film that could very well take a small nomination sweep similar to Moulin Rouge. The Golden Globes also, thankfully, made some clear contenders in the acting races, raising certain performers to near death grips on spots. I'll cover those in their respective categories.

In parenthesis are awards and nominations given in that category (NBR = National Board of Review, LAFC = Los Angles Film Critics, NYFC = New York Film Critics, BFC = Boston Film Critics, TFC = Toronto Film Critics, BrFC = Broadcast Film Critics, SDFC = San Diego Film Critics, SFFC = San Francisco Film Critics, SFC = Seattle Film Critics, SeDFC = Southeastern Film Critics, EFA = European Film Awards, AFI = American Film Institute, GS = Golden Satellites, GG = Golden Globes; [H] = Honorary Award, W = Winner, N = Nominee or Runner- Up).

So now my own version of Alex Fung's "wild, flailing guesses with little basis in reality."

Note: due to how far away the actual nominations are, I'm only going to give explanatory remarks on picture, director, acting, and writing awards. Also I'm not going to work with the Best Foreign Language Film, Best Animated Short, Best Live Action Short, Best Documentary Short Subject, and Best Documentary Feature nominations since I have absolutely no idea what films are in competition.

Best Picture

23 December Predictions
Chicago (W: AFI; N: NBR, BrFC, SeFC, GS, GG)
Gangs of New York (W: AFI; N: NBR, BrFC, SeFC, GG)
The Hours (W: NBR, SeFC, AFI; N: BrFC, GS, GG)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (W: AFI; N: BrFC, SFC, SeFC, GS, GG)
The Pianist (W: BFC, SFFC; N: NBR, BrFC, SeFC, EFA, GG)

Other Possibilities: About Schmidt, Adaptation, Antwone Fisher, Catch Me If You Can, The Emperor's Club, Far from Heaven, Minority Report, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Punch-Drunk Love, The Quiet American, and Road to Perdition.

Chicago led the Golden Globes pack with 8 nominations, placing it at the lead of the early Oscar precursors. Of course, the film was in the much less competitive Musical/Comedy categories in many cases, but that shouldn't mean too much: Moulin Rouge, which was also a big nominee in these categories last year, came off with a Oscar nomination. Moulin Rouge also had two less nominations than Chicago.

Adaptation also received many nominations in the Musical/Comedy categories, though its quirkiness could very well hurt its chances of making the Oscar short list. If the Hollywood establishment, who could be smitten with the film's jesting manner with Hollywood screenwriting, gets behind the film, it might just come out with a nomination, taking the place of a more technically impressive film like The Pianist, which has a great chance of getting a strong following from all sections of the Academy (completely understandably, it is the best film in competition).

Like Adaptation, indie favorite Far from Heaven cannot be counted out, though its support is doubtful from older members who might see the film as more of a chance to ridicule the chastity of 1950s Hollywood. Older voters might very well be brought to support My Big Fat Greek Wedding, an ugly little success story that will be the last nails on the coffin for the Academy in many critic's circles. In an open statement to the Academy voters: it'll take a miracle for the Academy to get the support of many cineastes after nominating My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

The Hours, which received 7 Golden Globe nominations, and Gangs of New York look primed to get nominations. One is the type of chamber drama that Miramax can push deep into the psyche of every single voter (even if they don't vote for The Hours, it is safe to say that Miramax (and co-producer Paramount) will make sure that they know about the film as they turn in their ballots), the other is the epic that Miramax can herald for its grand scale. Not since 1998 did Miramax come out with two Best Picture nominees and it is doubtful that they will be unable to pull it off again (and in 1998, they won with Shakespeare in Love).

While Miramax is pushing hard for their two films, expect DreamWorks to try equally as zealously to get a nomination for Road to Perdition, their only real contender this year (Catch Me If You Can is not an impossibility, but still doubtful). Meanwhile, Fox will try their best to get a nomination for Minority Report, which, of course, was directed by DreamWorks co-owner Steven Spielberg. Topping Roger Ebert's top 10 list year will certainly not hurt Minority Report's chances.

I wouldn't be surprised if the second Lord of the Rings film picks up a nomination, though it is always important to remember that voters could consider their nomination of the first one last year as enough. In this case, The Two Towers may be hurt by the success of The Fellowship of the Ring.

And all this comes down to one thing: if The Pianist or Chicago or The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers somehow lose the support and allow My Big Fat Greek Wedding to get a nomination, I may never worry about writing on the Academy Awards again. A Beautiful Mind winning last year was pretty bad -- My Big Fat Greek Wedding getting a nomination would be devastating.

Best Director

23 December Predictions
Stephen Daldry - The Hours (N: GS, GG)
Todd Haynes - Far from Heaven (W: NYFC, SFFC, SFC; N: LAFC, TFC, SDFC, SeFC, GS)
Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (N: SFC, GS, GG)
Spike Jonze - Adaptation (N: GG)
Martin Scorsese - Gangs of New York (W: SeFC; N: BrFC, GG)

Other Possibilities: Pedro Almodóvar for Talk to Her, Paul Thomas Anderson for Punch-Drunk Love, Rob Marshall for Chicago, Sam Mendes for Road to Perdition, Christopher Nolan for Insomnia, Philip Noyce for The Quiet American, Alexander Payne for About Schmidt, Roman Polanski for The Pianist, Steven Spielberg for Minority Report, and Denzel Washington for Antwone Fisher.

Thankfully, Joel Zwick will not have a chance to receive a Best Director nomination for his My Big Fat Greek Wedding direction. Safe to say, his parade of mediocrity shouldn't cut in on a heavy race for a nomination in this category.

For my money, Stephen Daldry (who received a nomination here in 2000 for Billy Elliot when the film didn't get a Best Picture nomination), Peter Jackson, and Martin Scorsese have locks on their nominations if their films get nominations. Even if The Hours and Gangs of New York somehow receive nothing in the top category, they should still feign enough support from the director's branch. There is still the chance, though, of a Lord of the Rings backlash.

I'm not bought on to Rob Marshall getting a Best Director nomination with Chicago, partly because his direction is so close to Baz Luhrmann's work on Moulin Rouge, which failed to get the director's support last year. He could still come in should a Fosse-base arise, but currently that seems doubtful.

Another probable Best Picture nominee that could very well fail to get a nomination here is The Pianist, which should carry over into a Roman Polanski nomination, but I cannot really see his support as being on par with Todd Haynes and Spike Jonze, both of whom have the critics behind them. Most of the time, this is the category that comes closest to the emotions of the critics, plus Jonze was a favorite in 1999 with Being John Malkovich and Haynes work is, bar none, the best direction of the films under consideration.

Best Actor

23 December Predictions
Adrien Brody - The Pianist (W: BFC; N: GG)
Nicolas Cage - Adpatation (W: TFC; N: GS, GG)
Tom Hanks - Road to Perdition (N: GS)
Daniel Day-Lewis - Gangs of New York (W: LAFC, NYFC, SDFC, SFC, SeFC; N: TFC, BrFC, GS, GG)
Jack Nicholson - About Schmidt (W: LAFC; N: NYFC, TFC, BrFC, SDFC, SeFC, GS, GG)

Other Possibilities: Michael Caine for The Quiet American, Leonardo DiCaprio for Catch Me If You Can, Leonardo DiCaprio for Gangs of New York, Eminem for 8 Mile, Richard Gere for Chicago, Hugh Grant for About a Boy, Samuel L. Jackson for Changing Lanes, Greg Kinnear for Auto Focus, Kevin Kline for The Emperor’s Club, Derek Luke for Antwone Fisher, Edward Norton for 25th Hour, Dennis Quaid for The Rookie, Sam Rockwell for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Adam Sandler for Punch-Drunk Love, Campbell Scott for Roger Dodger, and Robin William for One Hour Photo.

Daniel Day-Lewis, a supporting player in the film, seems to have the strong support of everyone to get a nomination for Gangs of New York. He will probably be facing off with Jack Nicholson for who ultimately wins, and their nominations are pretty much assured.

Nicolas Cage hasn't been in anything worthy of real Oscar attention in some time, but his double performance as the Kaufman brothers in Adaptation should be well enough to get him into the final nominees list. Don't expect him to rock the boat between Day-Lewis and Nicholson, but his nomination is fairly certain.

Perennial favorite Tom Hanks looks highly likely to get a nomination for his quiet, against type turn as the paternal hitman in Sam Mendes' Road to Perdition. Though this is certainly one time when his support is less than normal, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get the nomination in a packed category that will have many people taking votes from each other.

Of course, choosing him is just as much a shot in the dark as choosing Adrien Brody, who could get a nomination even if The Pianist fails elsewhere, though that is doubtful. As long as the actor's branch takes the time to watch the film and appreciates the solemnity of his performance, he should take a spot.

If Hanks and/or Brody fail to make the short list, Leonardo DiCaprio (for Catch Me If You Can, not Gangs of New York), Michael Caine (for The Quiet American, not the ineligible Last Orders), Greg Kinnear, and Campbell Scott all look good in their bids for the fifth spot.

Best Actress

23 December Predictions
Nicole Kidman - The Hours (N: BrFC, SFC, SeFC, GS, GG)
Diane Lane - Unfaithful (W: NYFC; N: BrFC, GS, GG)
Julianne Moore - Far from Heaven (W: NBR, LAFC, TFC, SDFC, SFC, SeFC; N: NYFC, BrFC, GS, GG)
Meryl Streep - The Hours (N: BrFC [H], GS, GG)
Renée Zellwegger - Chicago (N: BrFC [H], GS, GG)

Other Possibilities: Jennifer Aniston for The Good Girl, Maggie Gyllenhaal for Secretary, Salma Hayek for Frida, Isabelle Huppert for The Piano Teacher, Catherine Keener for Lovely and Amazing, Samantha Morton for Morvern Collar, and Nia Vardalos for My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

In the battle of the prolific actors, expect Nicole Kidman (who competed against her The Others performance to get a nomination for Moulin Rouge last year) and Julianne Moore (who will surely get a nomination for Far from Heaven here and quite possibly a Best Supporting Actress nomination for The Hours, where she supports none other than Nicole Kidman) to receive their nominations and battle for the actual award. Their The Hours costar Meryl Streep, also prolific with her performance in Adaptation, should also get a spot.

The other two spots look to probably go to Diane Lane for her incredible work in Adrian Lyne's underrated Unfaithful and Renée Zellweger, a nominee last year for her work in Bridget Jones's Diary, for Chicago.

Initially I didn't intend to add Zellweger, but the more certain I became about Catherine Zeta-Jones getting a Best Supporting Actress nod for the film, the more I doubted voters would vote for one and not the other. Zellweger is consistently a fresh face in modern cinema and she deserves to be thrown into the Best Actress mix her for musical work in Chicago.

If any of the three less stable predictions lose their momentum by the time nominations are prepared, there's a collection of performers who would be happy to pitch hit for the other ladies. This includes indie darling Jennifer Aniston for her overrated work in The Good Girl, Salma Hayek for being a trooper trying to make Frida, and Isabelle Huppert giving the performance of a lifetime (in a career that has many performances that would be the performance of a lifetime for anyone else) in The Piano Teacher.

And I won't even humor the idea of Nia Vardalos getting a nomination over Isabelle Huppert.

Best Supporting Actor

23 December Predictions
Chris Cooper - Adaptation (W: NBR, LAFC, TFC, SDFC, SFFC, SFC, SeFC; N: NYFC, BrFC, GS, GG)
Ed Harris - The Hours (N: BrFC [H], GG)
Paul Newman - Road to Perdition (N: TFC, BrFC, SeFC, GS, GG)
Dennis Quaid - Far from Heaven (W: NYFC; N: TFC, SFC, GS, GG)
Christopher Walken - Catch Me If You Can (N: LAFC)

Other Possibilities: Alan Arkin for 13 Conversations About One Thing, Jim Broadbent for Gangs of New York, Willem Dafoe for Auto Focus, Tom Hanks for Catch Me If You Can, Dennis Haysbert for Far from Heaven, Dustin Hoffman for Moonlight Mile, Jude Law for Road to Perdition, Ray Liotta for Narc, Ian McKellen for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Alfred Molina for Frida, Christopher Plummer for Nicholas Nickleby, Sydney Pollack for Changing Lanes, John C. Reilly for Chicago, John C. Reilly for The Good Girl, Denzel Washington for Antwone Fisher, and Robin Williams for Insomnia.

It has almost become a running gag for me to uselessly predict something for Ed Harris and then turn out wrong. I incorrectly predicted for him to win in 1995, 1998, and 2000; then last year I began incorrectly predicted him to get a nomination. It'll probably happen again this year.

In the rest of the list, I feel pretty good about predicting Chris Cooper, the critic's favorite, and Paul Newman, the sentimental favorite. The Golden Globes also threw in Dennis Quaid in Far from Heaven, which doesn't seem wholly unlikely. The fifth spot is literally up in the air, with a slight edge going to Christopher Walken, who hasn't been nominated for an Academy Award since winning Best Supporting Actor in 1978 but is incredibly respected by everyone. Any excuse to give him a nomination will probably not be passed at.

But he shouldn't be too cocky for the time being (as if that's possible), since there's a slew of actors who could jump into the mix, including the much ballyhooed Ray Liotta performance in the barely released Narc, perennial favorite Jim Broadbent in Gangs of New York, the perfectly threatening Robin Williams in Insomnia, and the oddly compelling Willem Dafoe in Auto Focus.

Don't expect Ian McKellen to recreate his nomination last year -- though always a slight possibility, his very small part in the second Lord of the Rings shouldn't be enough to get him a nomination again.

Best Supporting Actress

23 December Predictions
Kathy Bates - About Schmidt (W: NBR; N: LAFC, TFC, BrFC, SDFC, GS, GG)
Julianne Moore - The Hours (W: LAFC; N: BrFC [H], GS)
Susan Sarandon - Moonlight Mile
Meryl Streep - Adaptation (W: SeFC; N: BrFC, GS, GG)
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Chicago (N: BrFC, GG)

Other Possibilities: Ellen Burstyn for Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Patricia Clarkson for Far from Heaven, Toni Collette for About a Boy, Hope Davis for About Schmidt, Cameron Diaz for Gangs of New York, Edie Falco for Sunshine State, Queen Latifah for Chicago, Emily Mortimer for Lovely and Amazing, Samantha Morton for Minority Report, Michelle Pfeiffer for White Oleander, Emily Watson for Punch-Drunk Love, and Do Thi Ha Yen for The Quiet American.

Catherine Zeta-Jones was nominated in the Best Actress category at the Golden Globes, but she should still be moved into the Best Supporting Actress race for the Academy Awards. This is, of course, a smart move since she has a much better chance of getting a nomination here than in the more competitive Best Actress race.

Kathy Bates and Meryl Streep, meanwhile, have gotten much acclaim for their work in Abouth Schmidt and Adaptation, respectively, and should easily get notices. Even if Streep doesn't get that lead nomination for The Hours, she'll still get the supporting nod. This is not as clearly sure for The Hours' Julianne Moore, though, who could easily be replaced by someone else.

Such is the case with Susan Sarandon, too, who was terrific in Moonlight Mile (her best work since Dead Man Walking, if you ask me). She was nominated by the Hollywood Foreign Press, but for her performance in Igby Goes Down. I have my doubts that the Academy will go for that one instead of Moonlight Mile.

Patricia Clarkson, who is getting a surprising amount of attention, and Edie Falco will be waiting in the wings should any of the other ladies not prove to have the staying power until February.

Best Adapted Screenplay

23 December Predictions
About Schmidt - Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (W: LAFC; N: NYFC, BrFC, SDFC, GG)
Adaptation - Charlie Kaufman (W: NBR, NYFC, BFC, TFC, SDFC, SeFC; N: LAFC, BrFC, GS, GG)
Chicago - Bill Condon (N: GS, GG)
The Hours - David Hire (W: SFC; N: TFC, SeFC, GG)
The Pianist - Robert Harwood (N: GS)

Other Possibilities: About a Boy by Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, and Paul Weitz, Catch Me If You Can by Jeff Nathanson, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind by Charlie Kaufman, The Emperor’s Club by Neil Tolkin, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair, and Frances Walsh, Insomnia by Hilary Seitz, Minority Report by Scott Frank and Jon Cohen, My Big Fat Greek Wedding by Nia Vardalos, The Quiet American by Christopher Hampton and Robert Schenkkan, and Road to Perdition by David Self.

Four of the five films nominated for the Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes are adapted and they should all find equal success with the Academy. This is certainly true with About Schmidt, Adaptation, and The Hours, though Chicago could forfeit its spot if the film doesn't go over with the voters as expected.

I'm giving the fifth position to The Pianist under the belief that the film will also pick up that Best Picture nomination. Should The Pianist not get the nomination, there's the heavy push for Road to Perdition that might bring it a nomination.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers will probably not get a nomination even though it was in this list last year. I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt when it comes to a backlash, but I just cannot buy that voters will give it a nomination over The Pianist or Road to Perdition, or even About a Boy.

Also, this is the one category in which a My Big Fat Greek Wedding would not be devastating. Disappointing, yes; devastating, no.

Best Original Screenplay

23 December Predictions
Antwone Fisher - Antwone Fisher
Far from Heaven - Todd Haynes (W: SFC, SeFC; N: SDFC, GS, GG)
Gangs of New York - Jay Cocks, Kenneth Lonergan, and Steven Zaillian
Punch-Drunk Love - Paul Thomas Anderson (N: TFC)
Roger Dodger - Dylan Kidd (N: NYFC, SeFC)

Other Possibilities: Changing Lanes by Chap Taylor and Michael Tolkin, 8 Mile by Scott Silver, Igby Goes Down by Burr Steers, Moonlight Mile by Brad Silberling, Narc by Joe Carnahan, Talk to Her by Pedro Almodóvar, 13 Conversations About One Thing by Jill Sprecher and Karen Sprecher, and Y Tu Mamá También by Alfonso and Carlos Cuarón.

The one Best Screenplay nominee at the Golden Globes that was an original screenplay, Far from Heaven, should have no problem grabbing a slot in the Academy Awards race. It was a good choice on the part of publicists behind Far from Heaven, which takes much from the Douglas Sirk film All that Heaven Allows, and Gangs of New York, which gets much of its information from a non-fiction book, to place their films in the Best Original Screenplay category considering how light the competition is here.

Normally a stomping ground for smaller independent films that have a following but not enough for consideration elsewhere, Igby Goes Down, Roger Dodger, Punch-Drunk Love, and 13 Conversations About One Thing are all likely candidates. For my money, Roger Dodger's witty exchanges and Punch-Drunk Love's peculiar romantic wonderland have the edge.

For the fifth spot, I'm going with Antwone Fisher instead of one of the indie films. This is a film that grovels for Academy consideration and I doubt that it will come out without any nominations. This is its most likely place to pick up one thanks to the slight competition here and the writer's occasional embrace for the schlock. The fact that it was written by the film's subject and his back story (Fisher was a Sony security guard who happened to give his spec script to Denzel Washington) certainly doesn't hurt.

Best Cinematography

23 December Predictions
Far from Heaven - Edward Lachman (W: LAFC, NYFC, BFC, SFC; N: SDFC, GS)
Gangs of New York - Michael Ballhaus (N: NYFC, SFC, GS)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Andrew Lesnie (N: GS)
Minority Report - Janusz Kaminski (N: GS)
Road to Perdition - Conrad L. Hall (W: SDFC; N: NYFC, GS)

Other Possibilities: Adaptation, Antwone Fisher, Catch Me If You Can, Chicago, The Four Feathers, The Hours, The Pianist, Punch-Drunk Love, The Quiet American, Signs, and Y Tu Mamá También.

Best Film Editing

23 December Predictions
Chicago - Scott Richter and Martin Walsh (N: SDFC)
Gangs of New York - Thelma Schoonmaker (N: GS)
The Hours - Peter Boyle (N: SDFC)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - D. Michael Horton (N: SFC, GS)
Minority Report - Michael Kahn

Other Possibilities: Adaptation, Antwone Fisher, The Bourne Identity, Catch Me If You Can, 8 Mile, Far from Heaven, Femme Fatale, Insomnia, The Pianist, The Quiet American, Road to Perdition, and 13 Conversations About One Thing.

Best Sound

23 December Predictions
Chicago
Gangs of New York (N: GS)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (N: GS)
Minority Report (N: GS)
Road to Perdition

Other Possibilities: The Bourne Identity, Catch Me If You Can, The Four Feathers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Hours, The Pianist, Signs, Solaris, Spider-Man, Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones, The Sum of All Fears, We Were Soldiers, and Windtalkers.

Best Sound Effects Editing

23 December Predictions
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Minority Report
The Sum of All Fears

Other Possibilities: The Bourne Identity, Die Another Day, Gangs of New York, The Mothman Prophecies, Road to Perdition, Spider-Man, Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones, We Were Soldiers, and Windtalkers.

Best Visual Effects

23 December Predictions
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (N: GS)
Minority Report (N: GS)
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones

Other Possibilities: Adaptation, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Men in Black II, Simone, Spider-Man, Star Trek: Nemesis, and The Time Machine.

Best Makeup

23 December Predictions
Gangs of New York
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Star Trek: Nemesis

Other Possibilities: Catch Me If You Can, Chicago, The Emperor’s Club, Far from Heaven, Minority Report, Queen of the Damned, and Star Wars: Episode II -- The Attack of the Clones.

Best Costume Design

23 December Predictions
Chicago
8 Women
Far from Heaven
Gangs of New York (N: GS)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Other Possibilities: Austin Powers in Goldmember, Catch Me If You Can, The Cat’s Meow, The Four Feathers, Frida, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Importance of Being Earnest, Minority Report, The Pianist, Road to Perdition, and Star Wars: Episode II -- The Attack of the Clones.

Best Art Direction

23 December Predictions
Chicago
Far from Heaven (N: SDFC, SFC)
Gangs of New York (W: LAFC, SFC; N: GS)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Other Possibilities: Catch Me If You Can, CQ, Die Another Day, The Four Feathers, Frida, The Hours, The Importance of Being Earnest, Minority Report, Monsoon Wedding, Nicholas Nickleby, The Pianist, The Quiet American, and Road to Perdition.

Best Original Score

23 December Predictions
Catch Me If You Can (N: BrFC)
Gangs of New York
Far from Heaven (W: LAFC, SFC; N: GG)
The Hours (N: LAFC, BrFC, GG)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (N: BrFC)

Other Possibilities: About a Boy, Adaptation, Antwone Fisher, The Four Feathers, Frida, Minority Report, The Pianist, The Quiet American, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Road to Perdition, Signs, Star Wars: Episode II -- The Attack of the Clones, and 25th Hour.

Best Original Song

23 December Predictions
"Die Another Day" - Die Another Day (N: GS, GG)
"Gollum's Song" - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
"The Hands That Built America" - Gangs of New York (N: GG)
"I Move On" - Chicago
"Lose Yourself" - 8 Mile (N: BrFC, GG)

Other Possibilities: "Burn it Blue" from Frida, "Don’t Let Go" from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, "Father and Daughter" from The Wild Thornberrys Movie, "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" from Lilo & Stitch, "Here I Am" from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, "Hero" from Spider-Man, "I'm Still Here (Jim's Theme)" from Treasure Planet, "Love Will Come Through" from Moonlight Mile, and "Sitting at the Window of My Room" from The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

Best Animated Film

23 December Predictions
Ice Age (N: BrFC, GS)
Lilo & Stitch (N: LAFC, BrFC, GS)
Spirited Away (W: NBR, LAFC, NYFC, BFC [H]; N: BrFC, EFA [H], GS)

Other Possibilities: The Powerpuff Girls, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Stuart Little 2, Treasure Planet, and The Wild Thornberrys Movie.

-- FINAL TALLY --

Gangs of New York...12
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...12
Chicago...9
The Hours...9
Far from Heaven...8
Adaptation...5
Minority Report...5
Road to Perdition...4
About Schmidt...3
The Pianist...3
Catch Me If You Can...2
Antwone Fisher...1
Die Another Day...1
8 Mile...1
8 Women...1
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets...1
Ice Age...1
Lilo & Stitch...1
Moonlight Mile...1
Punch-Drunk Love...1
Roger Dodger...1
Spirited Away...1
Star Trek: Nemesis...1
Star Wars: Episode II -- The Attack of the Clones...1
The Sum of All Fears...1
Unfaithful...1

Analysis by:
David Perry
©2002, Cinema-Scene.com

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