Directed by: Joel Coen
Written by: Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen
Based on the poem by: Homer
Produced by: Ethan Coen
Starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Charles Durning, Daniel von Bargen, Lee Weaver

The Coen Brothers go for a completely different change of pace, creating a more family-friendly comedy, and it really works. After three bandits, lead by Ulysses escape from prison, they go on a long journey to find their hidden treasure. Their adventure, however, brings a lot of danger encountering a cyclops, sirens, and Ulysses's ex-wife. Along the way, they stop to record an album. Based on Homer's "The Odyssey", this is a delightful comedy that could also be classified as a musical with brilliant songs like "Man of Constant Sorrrow" and "You Are My Sunshine." George Clooney and John Turturro also give funny performances along with a great cameo from John Goodman.

Oscar nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Brian Baumgartner, Leslie David Baker, Angela Kinsey

The idea of the United States remaking a wonderfully funny British comedy is absurd. However, in a surprise turn of events, the American version of The Office is just as great as its English counterpart. The plot is the same with the boss (here called Michael Scott) wanting to be everyone's friends, the assistant to the regional manager annoying everyone and the sales rep in love with the secretary. This version is presented in its own creative way, though, with the supporting players playing important roles as well and getting just as much screen time as Michael. Steve Carell was good in The 40 Year Old Virgin, but he is at his best here making the character his own and not at all trying to copy off the great performance from Ricky Gervais. There are still some people who are yet to discover this program, but I'm hoping that it will rise in popularity.

Most Recent nominations:
Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Television Series-Comedy/Musical (Steve Carell)

Directed by: Wilfred Jackson
Produced by: Walt Disney

Walt Disney decided to try something completely different and breakthrough is this incredibly animated short film that nature lovers and film audiences will love and adore. A bunch of animals start living in the title old mill setting up homes for their families and fellow species. All the birds, frogs, mice, and other very well animated creatures come there. Everything is quiet until a storm arrives and soon everything is destroyed. This is such a marvelous short film that children might find extremely boring but animation and film buffs should look at it to see all the small details.

Oscar: Best Animated Short Film

Directed by: Carol Reed
Written by: Vernon Harris
Based on the book by: Charles Dickens
Produced by: John Woolf
Starring: Ron Moody, Mark Lester, Oliver Reed, Shani Wallis, Jack Wild, Joseph O'Connor, Harry Secombe, Hugh Griffith, Leonard Rossiter

In this lavish musical, we meet Oliver Twist, an orphan sold to an undertaker who then runs away. He heads to London where he joins a bag of pick-pockets, and gets foiled in a scheme by the evil Bill Sikes. The film has very memorable music with amazing performances by Rom Moody, and Jack Wild. Carol Reed runs a smooth crew, while the sets bring out the landscape of a Broadway stage. The numbers are organized very well, and the film is incredibly. Although I've never read a book by Charles Dickens, it wouldn't hurt to start now. He has made an incredible world with incredible characters.

Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director (Carol Reed), Best Original Song Score and/or it's Adaptation, Best Sound, Best Art Direction
Other Oscar nominations: Best Actor (Ron Moody), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Wild), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

Directed by: Jayme Monjardim
Written by: Rita Buzzar
Based on the book by: Fernando Morais
Produced by: Rita Buzzar
Starring: Camila Morgado, Caco Ciocler, Fernanda Montenegro, Edgar Amorim, Leona Cavalli, Maria Clara Fernandes, Pascoal da Conceicao

In this Brazilian super-production, we see Brazil's attempt to enter the Oscar race, and I think it is going to be very successful. Camilla Morgado gives a reviting performance as Olga Benario, a German activist who moves to Brazil on a mission. Along with her, Luis Carlos Prestes, and they soon become bride and groom. Their happiness is killed early on, when Nazis go to Brazil and deport the pregnant Olga back to Germany where she is placed in a concentration. Soon, without her knowledge her newborn baby is taken away and given to her mother-in-law. I can really see this getting a nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film of 2004. Although acting, set design, and music are top-notch, it plays a lot like a soap opera which brings it down a little. Overall, this is a great look at Brazil's involvement is World War II.

Directed by: Milos Forman
Written by: Bo Goldman, and Lawrence Hauben
Based on the book by: Ken Kesey
Produced by: Michael Douglas, and Saul Zaentz
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Brad Dourif, Dean R. Brooks, Will Sampson, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd

In this classic film starring Jack Nicholson, we look at life inside a mental hospital. Randall McMurphy is a criminal who becomes crazy so that he goes to the loony bin, instead of prison. There, he meets the retched Nurse Ratched who gives him a hard time. He soon becomes friends with the other patients, including a stuttering teenager and a deaf Indian chief. There are many crucial scenes in the film, including when McMurphy pretends to watch a baseball game, when the patients go fishing, and when McMurphy sprays water at the Monopoly-playing patients. This all adds tension to the surprise ending.

Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Best Director (Milos Forman), Best Adapted Screenplay
Other Oscar nominations: Best Supporting Actor (Brad Dourif), Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

Directed by: Siddiq Barmak
Written by: Siddiq Barmak
Produced by: Siddiq Barmak, Julia Fraser, Julie LeBrocquy, and Makoto Ueda
Starring: Marina Golbahari, Arif Herati, Zubaida Sahar

The first Afgani film does very well showing life in that country when the Taliban was in control with a number of flaws. A young girl and her mother try to make a good life, but the Taliban take over. To survive, the mother cuts her daughter's hair, so she looks like a boy. She is then taken away to a school where the boys learn to be warriors. Most of the students then find out who she is, but a young street boy comes to her rescue and gives her a name, Osama. When the teachers find out who Osama really is, they have a sentence, but an unlikely person saves her. Although the story is interesting, the writer doesn't do it very well. The film is very well directed, and the girl playing Osama is really good. Overall, it's too violent and dark for my tastes.

Golden Globe: Best Foreign Language Film