Who said Y2K was a bad year for film? Okay, April through September was pretty damn awful, but there were still plenty of films-some big, but mostly small-that struck a nerve with Americans who were able to find them. Since everyone else has their take on the big show, Recess thought we'd offer our own predictions:
BEST PICTURE: With no clear-cut choice this year, it may come down to process of elimination. Chocolat has no shot; the deserving Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will be anointed Best Foreign Language Film and Steven Soderbergh's dual nominations for Erin Brockovich and Traffic will split his constitutents. Look for a win for the sword-and-sandal favorite, Gladiator. Still, perhaps the topical Traffic or breathtaking Crouching Tiger will triumph over Ridley Scott's pretentious Spartacus throwback.
BEST DIRECTOR: The Academy is dying to give Crouching Tiger some love. As at the Golden Globes, its director Ang Lee will beat out the rest of the pack. Still, Soderbergh threatens. If voters back him, they'll do it for Traffic, not Brockovich.
BEST ACTRESS Julia Roberts won't be able to claim that she is surprised by her win. Erin Brockovich was made solely for winning the lady with the $20 million smile (and in this film, cleavage) this award.
BEST ACTOR As the titular Gladiator, Russell Crowe will win as easily as he won every coliseum clash. Tom Hanks is his only real competition, and while his is the type of performance voters eat up (weight loss, friendship with a volleyball), Hanks has already won twice, and few adored Cast Away.
Ed Harris is most deserving for Pollock, his labor of love. Moreover, he's a respected actor whose losses for The Truman Show and Apollo 13 have earned him his due.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kate Hudson was a marvel in Almost Famous-enchanting, captivating and inspiring. Her co-star Frances McDormand also has a shot, as do Marcia Gay Harden in Pollock and Julie Walters in Billy Elliot. But sentiment will propel the luminous Hudson: Her mother won the same award three decades ago, and voters will want to highlight Crowe's movie.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Look for Albert Finney, Benicio Del Toro and the one-note Phoenix to fight it out for this one. Phoenix has the clout of Gladiator going for him and Finney's performance was about the only unpredictable aspect of Brockovich. But Del Toro should take home this Oscar for his sympathy and force amid a Traffic jam of an ensemble.
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