Oscar Nominations

Demiurge · Post by **Demiurge** » 2004-01-27 03:28pm

Lord of the Rings 3 was OK. I didn't think it was that great. I liked the first one better.

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2004-01-27 04:35pm

Looking at the list again, i just noticed something great: Kiesha Castle-Hughes got a nomination for her lead in Whale Rider! Great news. I have to say, this is a very surprisingly good year for the oscars--even with the controversial screener ban, independent films have got probably the fairest representation alongside studio films that the academy has ever given them.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-01-27 05:30pm

I'm rooting for RoTK, but I'd be happy with Mystic River.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-27 05:42pm

Well, it's refreshing to see that all the films for Best Picture had real releases that gave everyone in the country time to see them, as opposed to those lame-ass limited releases that some companies do where they release the film in snobby arthouse theatres to qualify for Oscar nominations and wait a few weeks before releasing it to everyone else.

While I hope LoTR takes home the trophy (and it should, or else Peter Jackson will go down as the most shafted guy in Oscar history), I wouldn't be unhappy if Mystic River got it, since the Academy has never been very kind to Clint Eastwood and he deserves a LOT more than that Oscar he got for Unforgiven.

It's going to be a tough decision this year for the dinosaurs in the academy, however, since none of the films nominated are snobby arthouse shit specifically designed to cater to them. They're all films that anyone can enjoy, in my opinion.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-27 06:26pm

Huh. Russell Crowe didn't get nominated for Best Actor for Master and Commander.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-01-27 07:07pm

I want to see Tom Cruise win best actor then i'll tune in to see Nicole Kidman deposite the Oscar straight up his midget arse.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-01-27 07:59pm

M&C nominated for 10- that'll probably make it sell a metric assload of DVDs and VHSs when it comes out, 10 nominations is huge.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-01-27 08:00pm

Let's be realistic, here. LotR is the best trilogy AT LEAST since Star Wars and Back to the Future, and possibly EVER. If it doesn't take home at least one Best Picture trophy then it will have been robbed. I'm glad that films like M&C were recognized for their greatness as nominees, but realistically NONE of those films are as good as RotK. For that matter, none of the films the last two years have been as good as their respective LotR competition.

Now, as to the rest of the nominations. I'm glad that Twenty One Grams got so much recognition in acting categories, since its actors really were pretty good, and I'm also glad that they recognized so many smaller studio films. Realistically, though, the best thing they did this year was refrain from giving Cold Mountain a nomination for best picture. That would've sucked.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-01-27 08:59pm

What is this screener ban people have spoken of?

LoTR better get something good. Apparently Andy Serkis is ineligible because he was digitally Gollumed. That's not cool, he deserves something for that.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-01-28 01:27am

Gandalf wrote:What is this screener ban people have spoken of?

Basically, they traced footage leaked prior to a film's release back to a critics' private screening.

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2004-01-28 08:59am

Gandalf wrote:What is this screener ban people have spoken of?

"Screeners" are private copies of the film which are sent to Academy voters, so that they can re-evaluate the film on their own time in their own home. In the past, these copies have mysteriously leaked onto the net, giving bootlgers DVD-quality version of films that are still in theaters.
To combat the problem the Acedemy banned them. However this would result in the massive exclusion of smaller and independent film because many voters wouldnt get a chance to see them due to their limited release. Screeners are the one thing that puts indy films on equal ground with studio films; the acedemy voters already see the big studio films anyway, and screeners are really the only hope indy films have of gaining mass-viewings by the acedemy voters.

The controversy was dropped when they gave in due to pressure from the industry, and instead initiated an equally-stupid system that has been in use in theaters for some time now, where tiny dots randomly appear in the left hand screen, which are unique on each copy of the film and thus authorities can trace the exact location of the bootleg. I think its called the CAP code, but has been dubbed the "CrAP coce" because of its intrusiveness. Anyway, they put these on the screeners this year i order to trace each voter's copy, but some have still managed to leak out. This will probably result in a perm ban next year.

Luzifer's right hand · Post by **Luzifer's right hand** » 2004-02-01 11:07am

'Rings' characters discuss Oscar snub

MINAS TIRITH (AP) – The city of Minas Tirith has been abuzz today over the news that 'The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King,' while receiving 11 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director, did not receive any nominations for acting.

"Eleven nominations?" said Pippin Took, of the Shire. "Well, that's good news."

His friend Meriadoc Brandybuck responded by swatting him over the head with the newspaper and protesting, "But the cast is a part of this movie! Aren't they?"

Their kinsman Frodo Baggins shared Brandybuck's dismay. Upon reading the list of nominations, Baggins commented with an ironic chuckle, "They've left out one of the chief characters: the cast. I want to hear more about them." Waxing solemn and soulful, he added, "The movie wouldn't have got far without the cast."

"You almost don't want to watch the awards ceremony," contributed Baggins' gardener and loyal valet, Samwise Gamgee, "because how can it be happy? How can the awards go right when so much bad has been nominated? Folks in that Academy had lots of chances of voting for these actors, only they didn't."

Legolas Greenleaf, of the Mirkwood realm, commented somewhat cryptically on the Academy's choices, "A red sun rises. Lame decisions have been made this night." When asked to clarify his opinion, he told reporters that he had not the heart, for the grief was still too near, and retired for a walk in the forest.

His companion, Gimli son of Gloin, had sharper remarks to make upon the chosen nominees. "Mystic River? What madness drew them there? You'll find more cheer in a graveyard!"

But wizard Gandalf the White urged a more optimistic approach. "Do not be too eager to deal out Oscars in judgement," he advised. "That is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the Oscars we are given."

Meanwhile, his colleague Saruman the formerly-White was in favor of retaliation against the Academy: "Too long have those peasants stood against us," Saruman said, referring to the Academy's failure to give any fantasy film the Best Picture Oscar yet. "Leave none alive! To war! There will be no dawn for film critics!"

Treebeard, of the Ents, told reporters after much deliberation and exchanging of long names, that he was in agreement with this proposed course of action. "There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of Men for this treachery," he declared. "My business is with Beverly Hills tonight. With heads made of cotton candy and rock."

"I do not doubt their hearts," Eomer of Rohan conceded. "Only the size of their brains." He then returned to the task of loading up forty of his men and horses with toilet paper and Maps to the Stars' Homes, for a "secret midnight mission" that he regretted he could not give details about.

At least one individual, calling himself Smeagol, claimed to be making plans to steal the Oscar statuettes. "Oscar is sooo pretty, sooo golden," said Smeagol. "We will take the statuesss once the Hollywood snobses are dead! Ye-esss, precious!" He then quickly added, groveling at the feet of reporters, "No! No! We were only joking! Smeagol wouldn't hurt a fly! Nice movie industry." He crawled away before he could be questioned further.

Still others appeared not to care about the snub. Lady Eowyn of Rohan said with a shrug, "The women of this country learned long ago that those without Oscar nominations may still get dates to awards ceremonies. I fear neither critics nor fans." Lord Boromir, a native of Minas Tirith, dismissed the concerns, claiming, "Gondor has no actors. Gondor needs no actors."

But overall the mood was one of mild disgust. As Lord Aragorn put it to reporters, "The day may come when the Academy is able to find their ass with a flashlight. But this is not that day."

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2004-02-01 11:51am

priceless!

but in all fairness these are the best oscar noms that i can remember in a long time, aside from Sean Astin's snub. Dont foget that Johnny Depp got one for Pirates of the Caribbean.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-02-01 11:54am

At least it nabbed a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.