0 0 aS 2B - The Michigan Daily - eekend iIaziieo - Thursday, March 20, 2003 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome kable of to the 75th Academy Awards show :v.en hewrong moviete ai EtYork," which should finally give him the Best award for the Director award, and the dark horse from Roman years. Wil they do iit Spring is officially in bloom as the madness of Polanskim "The Pianist." again? March returns for a retrospective look at the year in Other films like "The Lord of the Rings: The films that was 2002. Amass with wizardry, Jedi, Two Towers" and "Frida" also received their fair Best Actress 48 singing and dancing, a more traditional Adam San- share of nominations, but will the thus-far award One of the tougher c dler and Nicholas Cage playing his own twin brother, ceremonies' domination by the four frontrunners be gofles thiS yea.With no last year made its indelible mark as one of the most too much to overcome? While the world braces for dear favorite. memorable years in recent movie history. Oft consid- war, the film world anxiously awaits the culmina- ered the only remaining legitimate media awards cer- tion of one of its finest years to date. Many new Best Actor 58 emony, the Academy Awards are gearing up to unroll names and faces are gracing the nominees this Jack Nicholson has the the perennial red carpet and welcome home the best year, alongside some of the most legendary figures, chance to go where no that Hollywood has to offer. but one thing is certain: This year's Academy actor has gone before, Returning to the Kodak Theater for its second Awards will be one worth watching. year, the presentation also welcomes back come- Because of the tremendously long duration of the Never Nominated 613 dy legend Steve Martin to the hosting pedestal. ceremonies and the lack of background provided, A look at a few of our Along with some of the best films in recent we're hoping to give you some insight into the nomi- favorite filmS that were blockbuster history, some surprises have hit the nees, some predictions for winners, as well as some stage this year with "Chicago" leading the nomi- information that you might not have known or even never nominated.. nations pack at 13. With the post-Golden Globes yet considered. Best Director 78 buzz and nine nominations to its name, Mira- -Thus, without further delay, we present to you the oesk bck in max's upstart "The Hours" will certainly hope to Weekend Magazine guide to the 2003 (2002 by POtlSkly baCk in America? take away some of that jazz, not to mention the release year) Academy Awards. Brace yourselves; it Not likely, but the award long-expected Scorsese epic "Gangs of New should be one hell ofa ride! will go to Scorsese anyway- The Michigan Daily - Weekendasipie- -1 Adapted and original: d ~This year's best screi By Zach Mabee Daily Arts Writer T he Best Original and Best Adapted Screenplay categories at the 2003 Oscars are replete with quality writing and a wealth of diverse films representing numerous cinematic genres. From the musical, to the dramatic comedy, to the historical epic, to the melodrama, to the plainly absurd, seemingly every thinkable cinematic genus shows its face in this year's nominees. The Best Original Screenplay cat- egory includes: "Far from Heaven," "Gangs of New York," "Hable con Ella," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Y T6 Mama Tambien," while the Best Adapted Screenplay catego- ry features: "About a Boy," "Chica- go," "The Hours," "Adaptation" and "The Pianist." Best Original Screenplay, like its adapted counterpart, is a very uncer- tain race. Todd Haynes' work on "Far from Heaven" is a melodramatic exploration of 1950s cultural preju- dices based on the ostensibly loving but actually turbulent relationship of a homosexual man and his wife who is falling in love with their black gar- dener;,the film has been lauded for its emotive characters and its technical flawlessness. Jay Cocks, Kenneth Lonergan and Steven Zaillian's combined script for Martin Scorsese's organized crime epic, "Gangs of New York," is also in contention. The film delves into the annals of Civil War era New York street crime, examining the criminal underworld so integral to Scorsese's films. "Hable con Ella" and "Y Ta Mama Tambien" comprise this year's foreign representation, and neither of these can be overlooked. "Hable" explores the dynamics of friendship and love and the unforgiving effects that the latter can have on the former. "Mama" also explores human love, but from a more humorous and unabashedly sexual perspective. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" rounds out the Best Original Screen- play category. This film has been praised for its tender humor and its comic insight into Greek family affairs; furthermore, it represents a seemingly rare success amid the many failures in the overly sentimen- tal genre of kindhearted comedy. The Best Adapted Screenplay cate- gory presents critics with an equally nuanced and similarly competitive race. "About a Boy," Hugh Grant's recent return to cinematic stardom, tells the story of a suave, cunning Londoner who is humbled by the friendship he develops with a teenage I Open Mon.-Thrs. 10am-2:30asm eFREE Fri.- Sat. DELIVERY 10am-4a . *.CARRY OUT Sunday. 11am-11pm °> eLunch h " Dinner Visa MasterCard Dak eg OUR COMMITMENT .tN IS TO GIVE GREAT Pars SERVICE, PRODUCT. & A SMILE. THANK Call us after you YOU ANN ARBOR & try our food - U OF MI FROM SCOTT We love the feedback! & BILL WOLVERINE The Wolverine Family PIZZA OWNERS. 1141 BROADWAY " ANN ARBOR FOR DELIVERY CALL (734) 623-UOFM (623-8636) free Delivery to U of M Campus, Hotels & Downtown: "Y TO Mama Tambien," while a foreign film, has drawn a lot of attention from the Acader boy. This is an ideal role for Grant, as it pairs his boyish charm with an especially funny script. "Chicago," which has landed an astounding 13 nominations, has also found its place in the Best Adapted category. The script is based upon that of the Broadway production and is overflowing with vigor and powerful performances from Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zell- weger, Queen Latifah and Richard Gere, to name a few. "The Hours," based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Michael Cunningham, is perhaps the most dynamic and complex story of the year. It follows three women- one being Virginia Woolf herself - as they all independently battle depres- sion and peculiarly relate to Woolf's famous character, Mrs. Dalloway. Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore have all received much acclaim for their outstanding performances. Roman Polanski's Holocaust account, "The Pianist" marked his triumphant return to directorial prominence. The film is based upon the autobiography of Wladyslaw Szpilman and tells the chilling but formative tale of a young Polish Jewish pianist and his survival through World War II. The film is visually gripping, and relies heavily upon wartime imagery and the personal seclusion of Szpil- man - played brilliantly by Adrien Brody. The final contender - but one that certainly cannot be overlooked - for the crown of Best Adapted Screenplay is Charlie and Donald Kaufman's "Adaptation." Spike Jonze once again pairs his directorial know-how with the screenwriting talents of Charlie Kaufman (Donald is his fictitious brother); they last released the cult hit "Being John Malkovich." For "Adaptation," Kaufman took on the taxing challenge of writing a screenplay about himself writing a screenplay that adapts Susan Orlean's novel "The Orchid Thief.". 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Hoard, John Laughlin,sAyan Luknsith,Todd W iser ds, Cover Photo: Jason Roberts Arts Editors: Todd Weiser Mant in Editor, Jason Roberts, Scott Seril ia, Editors Editor in Chief: Louie Meizlish If you are over the age of general health, you may be E in a research program Office visits and study agent are prov participants. You may also receive comp For more informatior (734) 764- University of M Hospitals a Health Ceni The University c Department of [ is currently offerir study for facia i Courtesy ofUniversal "About a Boy?" Where's "About Schmidt?" It did win the Golden Globe.