The Lord of the Rings:
The Return of the King
irector Peter Jackson’s mammoth adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved trilogy finally comes to a close with The Return of the King, an installment many critics have argued is the strongest of the three. Despite the fact that predecessors The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers received oodles of nominations, the series has thus far walked away with technical awards only. Certainly the most emotional entry in the trilogy, The Return of the King provides just the sort of excitement and drama that fans have come to expect from this series. Despite being shutout in the acting categories, the film has already been named best film of the year by several film critic associations and at the Golden Globes — but will the Academy honor what is deemed a fantasy film? Millions of fans moved by the films certainly hope so.

Lost in Translation
ever underestimate the underdog. While a small movie in a year filled with historical epics and heavy dramas, Lost in Translation managed to leave a mark on audiences. Best Actor nominee Bill Murray plays Bob Harris, an aging movie star looking to make a quick buck shooting a whiskey commercial in Tokyo. Scarlett Johansson is Charlotte, a young woman who has tagged along with her photographer husband, only to find he is too busy for her. The two cross paths and connect in a way that only two sleepless, lonely visitors to a strange city can. Their friendship is bittersweet with both knowing that it must come to an end. Coppola proves she is a talent to be reckoned with, bringing out a solid performance from Johansson and a brilliant one from Murray, whom she wrote the part for. While it likely won’t bring home Oscar gold for Best Pic, Coppola could very well step onto the podium for Best Original Screenplay.

Master and Commander:
The Far Side of the World
nspired by two Patrick O’Brian novels (hence the title), Master and Commander brought back the seafaring adventure with a bang. Russell Crowe stars as Captain Jack Aubrey, the tough yet compassionate leader of a British vessel whose assignment is to track down the enemy ship that fired upon them. Director Peter Weir has fashioned a story that’s packed with compelling characters and thrilling action sequences, not to mention some fantastic performances (the aforementioned Crowe, Paul Bettany as the ship’s doctor, etc). While Crowe was overlooked for his role, there is no denying Weir’s attention to detail and ability to create a film that deserves to be in this category.

Mystic River
his murder mystery certainly doesn’t qualify as the feel good movie of the year, but certainly as one of the best. This adaptation of the best-selling novel by Dennis Lehane boasts a second-to-none cast, led skillfully by director Clint Eastwood. The story begins with one of three childhood friends getting into a car with two strangers. Abused for days, he escapes to find his life and the lives of the people around him, have changed. Years later, the three men are reunited by tragedy when Sean Penn’s daughter is murdered. Penn is pitch perfect as a father filled with grief and rage. Together with Tim Robbins’ traumatized murder suspect, Kevin Bacon’s torn homicide detective and Marcia Gay Harden and Laura Linney as the women trying to hold it all together, this film is an acting tour de force. It is up to the voters to decide if this Boston tale will be able to overshadow Middle-earth.

Seabiscuit
ot on the heels of its Golden Globe nomination, Seabiscuit -- like the titular horse -- defied all the odds and managed to snag an Oscar nod, even though most pundits agreed it didn’t stand a chance since it hit screens early in the year. Director Gary Ross’ delightfully old-fashioned tale of Seabiscuit, a Depression-era racehorse that captured the interest of a nation, proved that audiences are hungry for well-crafted stories, appropriate for the whole family. Ross also manages to create a film with tension and anticipation -- even though many people already knew how the story ends. With a superb cast that includes Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper, Seabiscuit could gallop home a winner one more time.




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