Article

Oscar Predictions 2004

Written by Eric, Patrick, Scott

First Posted: February 22nd, 2004

Oscar week 2004 has arrived. There’s just seven days left, from the time of the writing of this article, until we’ll know who’s going to take home the little gold statue at the 76th Academy Awards. While we anxiously wait for the big night, we can only ponder these questions: Will The Lord of the Rings finally get some Oscar recognition? With so many certainties in each category, where will the surprises, which Oscar Night is known for, come from? Does Billy Crystal still have what it takes to be a funny host?

While we may not have all the answers, we do have our opinions. And as usual, we’re not shy about sharing them. Here then, for your consideration, are The Three Movie Buffs' predictions of who you’ll be seeing making their acceptance speech come Sunday, February 29th.

Best Picture:
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit

If Return of the King doesn’t win Best Picture, it will be the biggest upset the Academy has ever seen. And let’s face it, the movie deserves it, and not just because it’s a part of a huge franchise that’s finally going to be rewarded, but because it’s a damn good movie. Enough said.

Best Director:
Fernando Meirelles - City of God
Peter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation
Peter Weir - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Clint Eastwood - Mystic River

Peter Weir may have won the BAFTA, but we just can’t take him seriously as a threat. Clint’s already won his directing award, Fernando Meirelles should just consider himself lucky that he was nominated, and Sofia has a long career ahead of her, with future awards to come. That can only mean, Peter Jackson takes home the Best Director Statue.

Best Actor:
Johnny Depp – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Ben Kingsley – House of Sand and Fog
Jude Law – Cold Mountain
Bill Murray - Lost in Translation
Sean Penn – Mystic River

This one’s a two man race, between Murray and Penn, but we’ve got to go with Bill if for no other reason than his acceptance speech is bound to be more entertaining than Sean’s would be. And who wants to take the chance that Penn will make some embarrassing political statement?

Best Actress:
Charlize Theron – Monster
And some other Women

In Monster, Charlize Theron gave the performance of her lifetime. Hopefully she is polishing her speech right now, and all the other women (Trust us, you don’t need to know who they are.) in this category should be huddled in front of their mirrors practicing their losing with dignity face, because this award is hers already.

Best Supporting Actor
Alec Baldwin – The Cooler
Benicio Del Toro - 21 Grams
Djimon Hounsou – In America
Tim Robbins – Mystic River
Ken Watanabe – The Last Samurai

If anyone from Mystic River should be honored with an Oscar, it should be Tim Robbins. And based on all the earlier awards he’s racked up for this role, he looks to be a lock for Best Supporting Actor.

Best Supporting Actress
Shohreh Aghdashloo – House of Sand and Fog
Patricia Clarkson – Pieces of April
Marcia Gay Harden – Mystic River
Holly Hunter - Thirteen
Renée Zellweger – Cold Mountain

Of all the Oscars handed out, this is the one that seems the most prone to upsets. Still, we’ve got to take the safe bet on this one and say that the one Oscar Cold Mountain is sure to get, is the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Renée Zellweger’s colorful performance.