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Show OSCARS continued from page i actor-turne- d R9 Drive." Somebody obviously saw this movie, because David Lynch was nominated for best director. Maybe they were confused by all the name changing in the movie. But the fact remains that her performance was one of the most versatile and disturbing from any actor in recent memory, and she wasn't even acknowledged for this. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" "Monsters, Inc." "Shrek" Wait, this is a joke, right? The best animated feature category makes its debut by selecting a Drive" grade Nickelodeon is David Lynch's best crapfest over one of the, movie ever. Don't worry, or the depending on it is still really weird. which of us you ask most innovative, motion picture to grace the thought-provokin- g ver screen this year, Richard Linklater's "Waking Life." If this year's nominations are any indicator, we can expect to see a heated battle between "Rug rats in Moscow" and "Pokemon 2002" next year. Brent's Pick: Finally, a film that opens with a song by Smashmouth has seen its day in the Oscar sun. "Mystery Men" was slighted this honor two years ago, but then, it wasn't animated. To be perfectly honest, I haven't seen any of these films except for the first five minutes of "Shrek," but I'm going to have to go with "Monsters, Inc." I mean, have you seen the previews? The guy's just got one eye! Sorry for not taking this more seriously, but honestly, "Waking Life" was, in my humble opinion, the best film of the year. It was the very reason that a category such as this should have been created. Though it may not have looked as advanced as its CGI competitors, it broke new ground with its rotoscoping technique of animation. This hallucinatory effect contributed a whole other dimension to the film, much like the visual effects of "The Matrix," often mimicked but never equalled, did for that film. And I'd say more on the matter, but the quarter on the soapbox just expired. Jeremy's Pick: Brent considers himself "Waking Lite" is the superior because he reason the Academy picked "Waking Life" as should have created the the best film of the Best Animated Film year, and it was only didSomeone number two on my list, Category. n't tell the Academy. But I've seen all the nominated films and can guarantee it is better than all of them put together. By shooting the film on digital video and digitally rotoscoping with consumer-grad- e Macs, Linklater made a groundbreaking film that looks as good as any other animated film and is a brilliant work of art. From what's nominated, "Shrek" is a clever g and film that's fun for everyone, like Brent. It was so good that it except squares picked up business after its first week, unlike "Pearl Harbor's" 50 percent drop. It went on to be the summer's biggest money maker and was considered a Best Picture contender. It'll great-lookin- win, and it should, although the fur and final scene in "Monsters, Inc." are really cool. ACHIEVEMEHT IN DIRECTING Ron Howard, "Shrek" is a clever movie that everyone can love except squares like Brent I and he's never, ever won an Oscar. Ever. He shouldn't lose to some dopey director like Scorsese always does. This may be the Academy's last chance to honor a truly great film by a truly great director. Ron Howard is favored in the category since everyone likes and respects him, but the smear campaign may put the award in the right hands. I predict Altman. Brent's Pick: I don't know that it's their last chance to pick Altman. 1 mean, he's still got a few more years in him, and if he's really that good a director, then he can earn his keep with the next film. Ron Howard will probably win, not that he deserves it for "A Beautiful Mind," but more as retribution for his being snubbed "A Beautiful Mind" Ridley Scott, "Black Hawk Down" Robert Altman, "Cosford Park" Peter Jackson, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" David Lynch, "Mulholland Drive" Two directors of the Best Picture nominees were snubbed to make room for David Lynch and Ridley Scott in this category, and usually only one is. And ifyou're thinking we're going to make an Opie joke here, you're wrong. Jeremy's Pick: Sure, "Mulholland Drive" is Lynch's best film and Ridley Scott didn't make a rotten film. But I'm curious as to how "Moulin Rouge!" was nominated in eight categories the second largest number and yet the man who directed all the aspects of it, Baz Luhrman, was snubbed. As my man Ewan put it, "I guess the film directed itself." Regardless, Robert Altman is in his 70s and is still making great films. Like Martin This story contains Scorsese, he's one of no the two best living Opie absolutely American directors jokes, guaranteed. for "The Grinch." Seriously though, I'm going Lynch all the way on this one. It took keen direction to sweep up the shambles of his failed TV pilot in "Mulholland Drive" and make a beautifully bizarre film that was perfectly cohesive in its own way. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR "Amelie" (France) "EHing" (Norway) "Lagaan" (India) "No Man's Land" (Bosnia St Herzegovina) "Son of the Bride" (Argentina) "Lagaan" marks the first time that Bollywood like Hollywood, only in India and with less assholes but more mob hits has made an entry into the esteemed "Best Foreign What?" category, even though India churns out more films in a year than any other country. And "Amelie" puts France as the most frequent country to be nominated for best film. Brent's Pick: All I can say here is that "Amelie" had better win, dammit, 'cause it's the only foreign film I seen, I tells ya. Even were it not for that, though, "Amelie" has all the makings of a best picture romance, people speaking French, a guy with a pegleg doing a jig what's not to love? "No Man's Land" will win, though, because I never get my way. Jeremy's Pick: Traditionally, the most popular U.S. release wins, but voters in this category must see all the films, which means "No Man's Land," an absurdist war film that's supposed to be excellent but hasn't opened in Utah yet, could steal the award from Miramax's highly advertised "Amelie." "Amelie" was deliciously fun, and I'd be happy to see it win. But I won't complain whatever happens, until I see the winner. The other nominees should find U.S. release in time. BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR Beautiful Mind" "Gosford Park" "In the Bedroom" "The lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" "Moulin Rouge!" The nominees are an epicfantasy, an epic musical, an epic ensemble acting mystery, an epic small-scal- e domestic drama and an epic faux So real winner here is the epic. the biopic. "Moulin Rouge!" is easily the Pick: Jeremy's most creative, energetic and vibrant film of the year. Baz Luhrman's unforgettable musical will bring a smile to anyone who is willing to let a film entertain them. The film will sweep the technical awards and, since it is much more than a technical achievement, should be "A awarded the grand prize. It will win because only a churl wouldn't like it, it's been catching on lately, it is about showbiz and it has no negative points against it (like "A Beautiful Mind" favored to win) does. "Lord of the Rings," which is next in line to win, is an impressive achievement from a great financial risk, but is repetitive and Hollywoodized and didn't speak to the older Academy voters. The two other great films are "Gosford Park," an ensemble film made like no one but veteran director Robert Altman could make it, and "In the Bedroom," Todd Field's masterful tale of anger after a tragedy. Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson and Marisa Tomei all give amazing performances in the latter. Brent's Pick: Can I just be the voice of reason here and say that "Moulin Rouge!" sucked ass? Ouch, Jeremy, stop punching me. It's true though. I even saw it a second time just to make sure and hated it even more. No s times infinity! If I had my way, the best picture category would consist of "Waking Life," "Mulholland Drive," "Amelie," "Memento," and "The Royal Tenenbaums." Since I don't, I'm torn between "Lord of the Rings" and "In the Bedroom," the latter of which is probably the best film nominated here, but "Rings" did receive more noms than any other picture this year, so I'm putting my money on it. take-back- |