And so now, I reveal my predictions in the final four categories left, wrapping up my whole list of predictions.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
And the nominees are:
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Pearl Harbor
Well, A.I. is the film that clearly deserves to win this Oscar, for its absolutely astonishing and seamless visual effects, especially in the final third in the scenes of an underwater Manhattan. But everyone else will perceive that Lord of the Rings deserves this for all its visual astonishments, and it will end up coming out on top for the Visual Effects Oscar.
WILL WIN: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
ACTUALLY DESERVES TO WIN: A.I. Artificial Intelligence
DESERVED A NOMINATION, BUT DIDN'T GET IT: Jurassic Park III
BEST MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE
And the nominees are:
John Williams for "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"
James Horner for "A Beautiful Mind"
John Williams for "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Howard Shore for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"
Randy Newman for "Monsters, Inc."
Some true composing legends nominated this year. John Williams, the most nominated person in Oscar history to still be living, is nominated for two scores, and he has a pretty good shot for his wonderful score to Steven Spielberg's sadly overlooked masterpiece, A.I. He deserves to win, but I have this sneaking suspicion that Howard Shore might win for Lord of the Rings, for its epic music. James Horner's score to A Beautiful Mind was more understated, and doesn't really have a shot. But when I think back on the more recent history of this award, the Academy has tended to make some offbeat choices, and you know what, I think they will finally give Randy Newman an Oscar for his "fun" score to Monsters, Inc. It's the sort of stand out score which they could honor this year, as well as having the opportunity to honor Newman after he's been nominated so many times. Probably my boldest prediction, but I don't see any other really being the frontrunner to win this one.
WILL WIN: Randy Newman for "Monsters, Inc."
ACTUALLY DESERVES TO WIN: John Williams for "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"
DESERVED A NOMINATION, BUT DIDN'T GET IT: Angelo Badalamenti for "Mulholland Drive"
BEST MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG
And the nominees are:
"If I Didn't Have You" from Monsters, Inc.
"May It Be" from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
"There You'll Be" from Pearl Harbor
"Until" from Kate & Leopold
"Vanilla Sky" from Vanilla Sky
