Place your bets on hobbits!

It is that time of the year again!

 

The nominations for the 76th Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars are out.

 

The hobbits have clearly romped home with an early victory, by rounding a massive 11 nominations.

 

Closely followed by the rousting sea fare, Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World.

 

Peter Jackson's last offering in the Tolkien trilogy did not spring many surprises. But it disappointed those who expecting some acting nods: Andy Serkis as the sly Gollum and Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, the wise wizard.

 

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The biggest surprise the Academy sprung this year was in nominating 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes in the low profile Whale Rider. Though she might not win, the acknowledgement, along with Johnny Depp's nomination for Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl will go down as genuine gestures in Oscar history for appreciating good work irrespective of nationality, age and genre.

 

Miramax, which ranks amongst one of the biggest and most lavish Hollywood studios, met with huge disappointment with Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain

getting a cold shoulder at the Oscars. With the exception of Jude Law and Renee Zellweger, this civil war epic failed to muster up any substantial nods despite its heavy clout. The studio finally got a slap on its face for its over-the-top publicity by wooing voters with early screenings and free dinner rounds.

 

The dark horse in the Oscar race turned out to be Seabiscuit, which overtook Cold Mountain and made it in the best picture category.

 

Peter Weir's adventurous sea epic, Master And Commander, in my opinion, is highly overrated and will not be able to live up to the excitement generated by its nominations. Though it is a large-scale setup with a mammoth budget, and heavily researched characters.

 

Along with million-dollar budgeted sagas, the year also saw small independent movies that won critical as well as commercial success. For instance, Lost In Translation, directed by Sofia Coppola, heiress of Francis Ford Coppola's school of filmmaking. Her movie has won critical acclaim in the American press, and will be a force to reckon with.

 

Similarly, Jim Sheridan's In America, a story about an immigrant family of Irish origin coming to terms with living the American dream, has made headlines in Hollywood and has won strong support from the Academy.

 

All said and done, the year definitely belongs to the wizards, elves, balrogs and war creatures of Middle Earth. The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King will be the undisputed king on February 29. This is the second time a trilogy has been nominated for all its parts. The first was the Godfather series.

 

Peter Jackson has won the director's trophy at all the pre-Oscar award ceremonies this year. I won't be surprised to see him take home the golden boy.

 

What would be a surprise is if Johnny Depp manages to win best actor for a character that is comic and lively rather than paralysed or defective, which generally are Oscar favourites.

 

If predictions are to be believed, the following wins could be inevitable:

 

Best Picture: The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King

Best Director: Peter Jackson, The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King

Best Actor: Bill Murray, Lost In Translation

Best Actress: Charlize Theron, Monster

 

Who do you think will win? Write in to us!

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