My picks for the Oscars

My picks for the Oscars 2002

Yes, it's that time again for the sham of the Oscars, which are usually wrong. While I haven't seen all the films included, I can assume that they aren't as good as the one that I picked. An * denotes I haven't seen the movie/performance. Bold is who should win. A - denotes that they shouldn't have been nominated.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Adrien Brody
Nicolas Cage
Michael Caine
Daniel Day-Lewis
Jack Nicholson

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Chris Cooper
Ed Harris -
Paul Newman
John C. Reilly
Christopher Walken

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Salma Hayek
Nicole Kidman
Diane Lane *
Julianne Moore
Renée Zellweger -

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kathy Bates
Julianne Moore
Queen Latifah
Meryl Streep
Catherine Zeta-Jones -

CINEMATOGRAPHY
CHICAGO -
FAR FROM HEAVEN
GANGS OF NEW YORK
THE PIANIST
ROAD TO PERDITION

DIRECTING
CHICAGO -
GANGS OF NEW YORK
THE HOURS -
THE PIANIST -
TALK TO HER *

FILM EDITING
CHICAGO -
GANGS OF NEW YORK
THE HOURS
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS -
THE PIANIST

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
ABOUT A BOY
ADAPTATION
CHICAGO -
THE HOURS -
THE PIANIST

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
FAR FROM HEAVEN
GANGS OF NEW YORK
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING *
TALK TO HER *
Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN

SOUND EDITING
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS -
MINORITY REPORT
ROAD TO PERDITION

MUSIC (SONG)
CHICAGO -
8 MILE
FRIDA
GANGS OF NEW YORK
THE WILD THORNBERRYS MOVIE *

BEST PICTURE
CHICAGO -
GANGS OF NEW YORK
THE HOURS -
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS -
THE PIANIST

That's it. Notice how Chicago didn't win anything on my list? That's because it isn't Oscar-worthy in any way. Minority Report was only nominated for Sound Editing, which is wrong. Gangs of New York should win in almost every category. I have yet to see the Pianist, but I have this feeling that it is going to be a depressing WWII movie that may have been nominated not because it was a great film, but because of the content, but I have to watch it before I decide for myself. Let's face it, the Oscar winners are hardly ever the best choice.

*Updated* I saw the Pianist and have updated the list.