[Brinniel]

I stayed up late last night to watch it. Looks like there will be some good movies coming out this fall and winter. Also, some competition for ROTK.<P>Here are some movies that I saw previews for that may be a threat to ROTK when it comes to the Oscars (my apologies if the summaries aren't quite accurate):<P><B>Radio:</B> (starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris) Based on a true story about a mentally challenged guy named Radio and football. <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B>All movies based on a true story seem to have a message attached to them. This movie is no exception. <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor<P><B>Cold Mountain</B>: (starring Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger) Does the summary really matter? As long as you know it's a Civil War movie. <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B> A large part of American history is brought to life with Nicole Kidman in it. <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Picture, Best Director<P><B>Mona Lisa Smile</B>: (starring Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles) Taking place in the 50s, the story is about a teacher at a women's college and her students. <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B> This movie is supposed to be the best Julia Roberts movie yet. <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director<P><B>Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World:</B> (starring Russell Crowe, Billy Boyd) Based on the tenth novel of the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brian, it's a high seas adventure set in early 19th century. <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B>The action! The history! The leading actor! <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound<P><B>The Missing:</B>(starring Cate Blanchett, Tommy Lee Jones, Evan Rachel Wood) The story takes place in 1886, New Mexico, where a father teams up with his daughter to rescue her daughter, Lily, who's been kidnapped by outlaw Army deserters. <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B> This is another movie based on a novel and has a well-known director (Ron Howard). <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay<P><B>The Last Samurai</B> (starring Tom Cruise) In the 1870s, a Civil War veteran arrives in Japan to train troops of the emperor, Meiji. <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B> Hello? Two Words: TOM CRUISE. Oh, and it really is supposed to be a major epic film. <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Sound<P><B>The Alamo:</B> (starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton) The story of the fall of the Alamo. <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B> It's another major part of American history. <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Visual Effects, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound<P><B>The Matrix: Revolutions</B> (starring Keanu Reeves, Hugo Weaving, Lauren Fishburne...) The conclusion of the Matrix trilogy (I don't think I need to say anymore). <B>Why an Oscar nomination?</B> This movie will be big competition for special effects. <B>Oscar Nominations (My Predictions):</B> Best Visual Effects, Best Sound<P>What can I say? That's an awful lot of competition for ROTK. But hey, ROTK was #1 on this list, so perhaps it'll become #1 for the Oscar nominations list. We know ROTK is the best movie out of all of them.