..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Kim Voynar
..Michael Wilmington

BEST PICTURE
Picture - Studio xxx(italics = little seen)	Comment
This Week's Frontrunners
The Phantom Of The Opera - Warner Bros (GG/C-M)	The movie that will take the most #1/#2 votes away from Phantom is WB's other frontrunner, M$B
Million Dollar Baby - Warner Bros (GG/D)	Clint finally showed it... critics go nuts... has so many classic Oscar triggers, it seems inevitable
Ray - Universal (GG/C-M)	Still seems to be settled in, but now just a great Spanglish away from having to wrestle the slot away from The Aviator
Sideways - Fox Searchlight	Right now, the critics' choice... but will M$B steal Best Picture thunder at LAFCA, other groups? Note that I expect this film may miss out on a Globes nod, but expect Oscar recognition in spite of that
Still Contending
Big Muscle Titles
The Aviator - Miramax (GG/D)	It's big, it's got a star performance and it's about Hollywood... kinda. The ads, which are all action and no crazy make the trouble with the film clear
Closer - Columbia	It grows on you... like mold. Weeks later, you end up chewing on little more than what got you into the theater... a great Damien Rice song and the promise of Ms. Portman. If voters want to vote for unhappy people talking in a room, I'm guessing they'd prefer it with some great aerial sequences as balance.
Finding Neverland - Miramax (GG/D)	Might be buried once and for all by M$B. A month ago, the race looked chilly... now there is warmth and emotion to spare. Needs box office to jump.
Spanglish - Columbia (GG/C-M)	With M$B as a strong reminder that the season isn't over until its over and a new TV spot emphasis on family, smelling like last in the pool could not be too late. But still, no one has really seen it.
Indie Underdogs
Hotel Rwanda - MGM (GG/D)	Great story... lots of guilt for Americans... well suited to DVDs.... probbaly stuck with awards that list 10
Kinsey - Fox Searchlight (GG/D)	A sophisticated choice that needs the critics love that Sideways seems to be getting.
The Motorcycle Diaries - Focus Features	The HFPA rules (no foreign language in top categories) really hurt. Peaked early, as Ray and Finding Neverland did... box office muscle, or lack thereof, makes the difference
The Sea Inside - New Line	Another film hurt by HFPA rule... and pretty uch out of Best Picture race thanks to being in Best Foreign Language race. Time for NL to focus on Bardem's candidacy and making sure it gets into the Foreign Language final 5... if it does, it will probably win.
Still In Golden Globe Play
Beyond The Sea - Lions Gate (GG/C-M)	Comedy
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind - Focus (GG/C-M)	Comedy
A Love Song For Bobby Long - Lions Gate	Drama
The Incredibles - Disney	Comedy
Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events - Paramount	Comedy
Meet The Fockers - Universal	Comedy
Vera Drake - New Line	Drama
A Very Long Engagement - Warner Indie	Drama
Other Possibles - By Studio
Disney
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
DreamWorks
Collateral
Shrek 2
Focus
The Door In The Floor
Fox Searchlight
I Heart Huckabee's
Lions Gate
Fahrenheit 9/11
Stage Beauty
MGM
De-Lovely
New Line
The Notebook
Newmarket
The Passion Of The Christ
Paramount
Alfie
The Manchurian Candidate
Team America: World Police
Sony
Spider-Man 2
Sony Pictures Classics
Being Julia
Bad Education
House Of Flying Daggers
ThinkFilm
The Assasination Of Richard Nixon
Twentieth Century Fox
None
Universal
Bridget Jones: Edge Of Reason
In Good Company
Warner Bros
Alexander
The Polar Express
Warner Indie
We Don't Live Here Anymore
A Very Long Engagement

20 Weeks To Oscar Charts
Picture|.|||.Director|x| |Screenplay/Adapted Screenplay
xActor/Supporting Actor ||.|Actress/Supporting Actress
x
Earlier Charts
November 18, 2004 | November 11, 2004
November 4, 2004 | October 28, 2004 | October 21, 2004
October 14, 2004 | September 22, 2004 | August 4, 2004

November 25, 2004

- Email David Poland