A Beautiful Mind

Easily the favorite to win for Best Picture this year, A Beautiful Mind tells the true story of schizophrenic mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. Episodic in scope, the film chronicles his life from his beginnings in college to his eventual Nobel Prize win. Oscar winner Russell Crowe plays Nash, in a performance that runs the gamut of emotions (from the joy of marriage to the depths of despair brought on by his mental illness). Ron Howard, whose most recent work was the silly but enjoyable How the Grinch Stole Christmas, proves that he's one of the finest directors working today. Combine his talent with Crowe's amazing performance (and an unusually gifted supporting cast, led by Jennifer Connelly), and you've got Oscar gold.

Gosford Park

Featuring over 30 speaking parts, Gosford Park is Robert Altman's homage to old-time murder mysteries. A large group has assembled at an English country estate for the weekend. Amongst the various squabbling guests and servants lies a murderer who eventually does what murderers do, leaving only the who-dun-it to figure out. Filled to the brim with Altman's trademark overlapping dialogue, Gosford Park represents a throwback to character-based films from the '70s. While not heavy on plot, the film's structure is easy enough to follow and it's impossible not to become involved in the lives of these wacky and compelling characters. Gosford Park proves that the 77-year-old Altman is not going to let a little thing like age prevent him from cranking out top-flight entertainment.

In The Bedroom

Actor Todd Field makes good as a director, with an Oscar nod for In The Bedroom, a film that proves simple storytelling can sometimes be the most effective. Nick Stahl stars - for a little while, anyway - as a young man who's fallen in love with an older woman (a single mother played by Marisa Tomei). When catastrophe strikes, the boy's parents (Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson, both note-perfect in their roles) are devastated and a gap between the couple begins to emerge. In The Bedroom recalls a time when movies weren't dependent on big stars or bigger explosions but, rather, finely-tuned performances and realistic dialogue. It's most recent predecessor is probably Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter. And while it likely won't take home Oscar gold, it does prove there's still room for thoughtful and introspective films such as this.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Peter Jackson had his work cut out for him when he decided to tackle J.R.R. Tolkien's infamous trilogy. For starters, the books are epic in scope, featuring scenes and characters that would have been impossible to film if not for the assistance of computers. And let's not forget Tolkien's rabid fanbase, a group that makes Trekkers look like grandma's sewing circle. But Jackson pulls off the impossible in creating a film that appeals to both die-hard Tolkien enthusiasts and folks that wouldn't know an elf from a wizard.
  The story follows a young hobbit named Frodo who is charged with the almost insurmountable task of destroying a powerful and incredibly dangerous ring. Frodo is accompanied on his daunting quest by a small army comprised of rogue humans and elves. The Lord of the Rings may fall under the category of fantasy, but it's a film that anyone with an imagination can enjoy. It's interesting to note that for a relatively inexperienced director, Jackson must have insisted on one heck of a contract rider. If you've been paying attention, you'll notice every time you hear or see an ad for the film you also hear the words - "directed by Peter Jackson."