LotR nabs 11 Oscars

Here’s the list of winners from last night’s Oscars. There were no really big surprises. I was wrong about my pics for best picture and adpated screenplay, the Lord of the Rings – Return of the King won them both. I can’t say I was disappointed to see Peter Jackson and the rest of New Zealand accepting Oscars for absolutely everything they were nominated for. They were snubbed for the two years previous but you got the feeling all of these Oscars were not just for the third film in the trilogy but for all three. It’s nice to see a filmmaker who’s work I’ve followed for quite some time truly make the leap from independent horror films to the biggest and most ambitious film project to this point in film history.

Sophia Coppola got her one, sad little Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Though I thought her film was best this year, I do understand why it didn’t win.

Sadly, I nailed the acting categories in a previous post. Having to listen to the unprepared and often arrogant Sean Penn stumble through his speech was irritating to say the least. Hey Sean, when you can’t come up with anything else to say, sit the hell down and spare us your drivel. Sean Penn should have received an Oscar for his portrayal of Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, then never been allowed to work (or speak again).

Poor Bill Murray looked as though he were going to cry, but Johnny Depp looked truly happy for Penn. Renée Zellweger pretended to look surprised when she got the nod for Best Supporting actress for Cold Mountain, as did Tim Robbins as Best Supporting Actor for Mystic River. Charlize Theron was very gracious and also unsurprised by her win as Best Actress in Monster. Sigh! It’s all over for another year.