Best Movie of the Year: What's your take?

[BevReview Steve]

Well, they've announced the nominations for the Best Picture of the Year at the Oscars (which take place March 25). Has anyone seen any of these movies? What's your take on them, and who do you think will win?

• CHOCOLAT - A small French village is transformed by the arrival of a mysterious young woman and her daughter. The chocolate shop they open will change the lives of several of the villagers and enrage the town's autocratic mayor.
• CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON - The disappearance of a legendary sword leads two martial arts experts to do battle with a dangerous assassin and her young protégée...and confront their long-hidden feelings for each other.
• ERIN BROCKOVICH - A feisty single mother takes on a powerful utilities company in this story of one woman's determination to win justice for a community decimated by water pollution. The title character, a flamboyant legal assistant, comes to terms with her own chaotic life as she gathers evidence for a ground-breaking lawsuit.
• GLADIATOR - When the dying Roman emperor names his powerful general Maximus as his heir, the emperor's jealous son Commodus betrays Maximus, murders his family and seizes the throne. The embittered general is made a gladiator and soon becomes the fiercest fighter in all of Rome.
• TRAFFIC - Three interwoven storylines trace the destructive trail of drugs and drug smuggling in America and Mexico. As a newly-appointed drug czar faces his daughter's addiction, two DEA agents pursue the wife of a jailed smuggler, and a Mexican policeman walks an uneasy path through a web of corruption.

(Note: Synopsis of films sourced from Oscar.com)

[Anneke]

CHOCOLAT - Saw it. Eye candy, nothing more. This movie is to Babette's Feast what Three Men and a Baby was to Trois Hommes et un Couffin. Empty calories, in more ways than one.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON - Didn't like the feminist undertone. I wouldn't have minded it if it were appropriate from a historical perspective. Altogether beautiful, interesting, restrained (hallelujia!) and most deserving of an Oscar.

ERIN BROCKOVICH - This movie makes a joke of anyone who cares for the environment because it is based on grotesque lies. THerefore, a perfect candidate in Hollywood for the Oscars. A bad idea altogether. (Does Julia Roberts ever play anyone other than herself?)

GLADIATOR - Saw this one on a 13" screen and still enjoyed it. Deserving of an Oscar? I dunno.. If you have forgotten the plot 15 minutes after the end, I don't really think it should be nominated.

TRAFFIC - Have yet to see it. Seems like a giant flashback to a popular 80's genre to me but I'd really like to see it. Personally I'm getting a bit sick of hearing Catherine Zeta-Jones-Douglas repeating "just shoot him in the head" 200 times a day on the radio and on TV. Kind of makes me want to shoot myself in the head - figuratively speaking of course.

Didn't see any of them. Haven't seen a movie at the theater probably in about 4 years or so. I fantacize enough as it is.

[Nicko]

I am going to have to go for Gladiator it was my kind of film even if it was not totally historically accurate.

[shroomgirl]

Crouching tiger leaping lizards was pretty good! Oscar, didn't thrill me that much.

Traffic have not seen

The others...OK hated coughing up $7 to see them after the fact, better on TV.
Were those the only choices?????

What about Time for Drunken Horses?

[theloggg]

Have only seen two...

Gladiator- Fell asleep twice (in the theater).

Chocolat- Got really hungry, went food shopping after and ate well that night.

I vote for Chocolat!

[holydiver]

Gladiator by a country mile.

[SeattleDeb]

Gladiator, for the men in cute costumes and their hairy legs.

Just kidding, as I haven't seen any of the others.

[Isa]

I have to go for Chocolat. Among all the nominees it's the only non violent film plus it's a nice fable.

I tried to post this a minute ago, and don't see it posted, so here it goes again, hope it doesn't double!
I am all for Chocolat! Yes it was just a simple little fable, but what is wrong with that? It made me feel happy. It made me go home and bake a chocolate tart, so it even made my husband and son who didn't go see it with me happy... what other movie made people who didn't see it happy? Of course, if I decided to wear very low cut shirts and short skirts when I can home from Erin Brocovich I suppose my husband would have been happy too!!! Anyway, my vote is for Chocolat!!!!

[mudbug]

CHOCOLAT - I have yet to see it but I don't think this will win best picture. I'm sure it will be one of the best food films made though.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON - Feminist undertones? Anneke you're reading too much into it. Couldn't you say the reverse for 90% of the movies out there? I loved it. Very well edited and directed with multiple story lines. I would be surprised to see this foreign film win best picture primarily because it is foreign. I give it a 9.5 out of 10.

ERIN BROCKOVICH -Excellent film. Entertaining, smart, and informative. This has an excellent chance at best picture.

GLADIATOR - My gut tells me this won't win best picture but it is a great film. I'll say 9.0 out of 10.

TRAFFIC - I have not seen this but I believe it will be between Erin Brockovich and Traffic. I think this will sweep at the Oscars and win best picture.

[Anneke]

"Couldn't you say the reverse for 90% of the movies out there? "

..No, I really couldn't.

I'm surprised you didn't see it. Didn't you notice that all the toughest characters in this movies were women? Made you boys look bad! (Charlies Angels could have benefitted from seeing this movie first!)

I agree with you however and it really didn't bother me at all. I loved it and would give it a 9 out of ten. Minus one for the bamboo forest scene which got a bit silly..

[Nicko]

I have to respectfully disagree about crouching tiger. I think by far the strongest character in the movie was Chow yun Fat. There were more fight scenes with Michelle Yeoh and the other, but Chow yun Fat led the pack. Always in control of his emotions, not agressive, and no one was his match.

Feminist overtones? It is a story, great drama about treachery, love, mystery and intrigue.

[Anneke]

"no one was his match"

Without revealing the ending, let's just say it was clear he had and would still be defeated by women, in more ways than one.

Good strong story, I liked it a lot!

[palmier]

Was there a feminist undertone in that last reply?
I saw Crouching Tiger. Loved it through and through. Every aspect.
I also saw Gladiator. Very Good
Erin was good as well, but not the winner here, I dont think.

How come Almost Famous wasnt nominated????