Oscar Winners

2000 Gladiator           Action / Adventure / Drama R, 150 Minutes
Director: Ridley Scott  
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, David Schofield, John Shrapnel, Tomas Arana

 Set in 180 A.D., this action film uses real historical events and people as background for its tale of greed and corruption versus loyalty and truth. After Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), he forces trusted general Narcissus Maximus (Russell Crowe) into exile. Rescued by slaves, Maximus is sold as a gladiator and ends up fighting in the Colosseum under the alias of "The Spaniard." The film won five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Actor (Crowe), Costume Design, Sound, and Visual Effects. It also received seven other nominations, including Best Director.

2000 Traffic       Drama R, 145 Minutes
Director: Steven Soderbergh  
Starring: Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Luis Guzman, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Steven Bauer, Jacob Vargas, Erika Christensen, Clifton Collins Jr.

 Interlocking stories allow this film to cover the cocaine world from several aspects. In one story, Tijuana cops (Benicio Del Toro and Jacob Vargas) are involved in efforts to crash a drug cartel, but they begin to suspect motives of authorities. Meanwhile, on the San Diego side of the border, DEA agents (Don Cheadle and Luis Guzman) arrest a big drug supplier (Steven Bauer), leaving his pregnant wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) in a precarious situation. Finally, an Ohio Supreme Court Justice (Michael Douglas) is appointed to head the U.S. war on drugs, but he has his own personal problems: a daughter who has been freebasing with friends. An excellent examination of the illegal drug world. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Director and Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro). A nomination was also received for Best Picture. Based on the British miniseries "Traffik."

2000 Gladiator           Action / Adventure / Drama R, 150 Minutes
Director: Ridley Scott  
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, David Schofield, John Shrapnel, Tomas Arana

 Set in 180 A.D., this action film uses real historical events and people as background for its tale of greed and corruption versus loyalty and truth. After Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) murders his father, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), he forces trusted general Narcissus Maximus (Russell Crowe) into exile. Rescued by slaves, Maximus is sold as a gladiator and ends up fighting in the Colosseum under the alias of "The Spaniard." The film won five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Actor (Crowe), Costume Design, Sound, and Visual Effects. It also received seven other nominations, including Best Director.

2000 Erin Brockovich       Drama R, 130 Minutes
Director: Steven Soderbergh  
Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Marg Helgenberger, Cherry Jones, Peter Coyote, Veanne Cox, Conchata Ferrell, Tracey Walter, Jamie Harrold

 Twice-divorced and mother of three, Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) talks her way into a job at a law office and is given a job by Ed Masry (Albert Finney). While filing records, she notes a case that interests her and initiates her own investigation. The result is a conviction of Pacific Gas and Electric for pollution that caused widespread sickness. Based on a true story, there are good performances by all. Julia Roberts won an Oscar for Best Actress; nominations included Best Picture, Director Steven Soderbergh (who received an Oscar that year for "Traffic"), and Supporting Actor (Albert Finney, with his fifth nomination).

2000 Traffic       Drama R, 145 Minutes
Director: Steven Soderbergh  
Starring: Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Luis Guzman, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Steven Bauer, Jacob Vargas, Erika Christensen, Clifton Collins Jr.

 Interlocking stories allow this film to cover the cocaine world from several aspects. In one story, Tijuana cops (Benicio Del Toro and Jacob Vargas) are involved in efforts to crash a drug cartel, but they begin to suspect motives of authorities. Meanwhile, on the San Diego side of the border, DEA agents (Don Cheadle and Luis Guzman) arrest a big drug supplier (Steven Bauer), leaving his pregnant wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) in a precarious situation. Finally, an Ohio Supreme Court Justice (Michael Douglas) is appointed to head the U.S. war on drugs, but he has his own personal problems: a daughter who has been freebasing with friends. An excellent examination of the illegal drug world. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Director and Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro). A nomination was also received for Best Picture. Based on the British miniseries "Traffik."

2000 Pollock       Comedy R, 122 Minutes
Director: Ed Harris  
Starring: Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Amy Madigan, Jennifer Connelly, Jeffrey Tambor, Bud Cort, John Heard, Val Kilmer, Stephanie Seymour, Tom Bower

 Jackson Pollock (Ed Harris) is the subject of this biography, which doesn't hesitate to illustrate his degrading personal life. But the film shows how Pollock's energetic and creative work of splashing paint on canvas resulted in his rise to fame as an abstract artist. Marcia Gay Harden won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and Ed Harris was nominated for Best Actor.

2001 A Beautiful Mind       Drama PG-13, 130 Minutes
Director: Ron Howard  
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Christopher Plummer, Josh Lucas, Judd Hirsch, Vivien Cardone, Anthony Rapp

 This biography traces the life of paranoid-schizophrenic, math genius John Forbes Nash Jr. (Russell Crowe) who overcame the odds to win the Nobel Prize in Economic Science. His life changes while he is working in cryptology at MIT where he meets Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). They fall in love and marry, but problems follow when Nash's paranoid schizophrenia sets in leading to years of illness with loyal Alicia standing by him in good times and bad. The film's four Academy Awards included Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly). Four additional nominations were received, including Crowe for Best Actor.

2001 A Beautiful Mind       Drama PG-13, 130 Minutes
Director: Ron Howard  
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Christopher Plummer, Josh Lucas, Judd Hirsch, Vivien Cardone, Anthony Rapp

 This biography traces the life of paranoid-schizophrenic, math genius John Forbes Nash Jr. (Russell Crowe) who overcame the odds to win the Nobel Prize in Economic Science. His life changes while he is working in cryptology at MIT where he meets Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). They fall in love and marry, but problems follow when Nash's paranoid schizophrenia sets in leading to years of illness with loyal Alicia standing by him in good times and bad. The film's four Academy Awards included Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly). Four additional nominations were received, including Crowe for Best Actor.

2001 Training Day       Drama R, 120 Minutes
Director: Antoine Fuqua  
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger, Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray, Eva Mendes, Charlotte Ayanna, Harris Yulin, Raymond J. Barry

 Training day holds more than a few tense moments for rookie LAPD cop Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) as he struggles his first day on the job. Heading up Hoyt's training is department head Detective Sergeant Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) who has his own share of demons with which to contend. Intense. Denzel Washington won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Ethan Hawke received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

2001 Monster's Ball       Drama R, 108 Minutes
Director: Marc Forster  
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Peter Boyle, Heath Ledger, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Mos Def, Coronji Calhoun, Taylor Simpson, Gabrielle Witcher, Amber Rules

 Racism is uncovered when Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) falls for Leticia (Halle Berry) whose husband (Sean "Diddy" Combs) was executed in a "monster ball" (no lawyer or minister was present). Hank has quit his job as a death-row prison guard, but he can't deal with the fact that he was part of the team that executed the husband of the woman he now loves. Halle Berry received an Oscar for Best Actress.

2001 Iris       Drama R, 90 Minutes
Director: Richard Eyre  
Starring: Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Broadbent, Eleanor Bron, Angela Morant, Penelope Wilton, Sioban Hayes, Juliet Aubrey, Joan Bakewell

 After 40 years of marriage, playwright/novelist/philosopher Iris Murdoch (Judi Dench) is the subject of husband John Bayley's Jim Broadbent) memoirs. The story skips back and forth from young, sexually adventurous, Oxford student Iris (Kate Winslet) to Alzheimer-ridden Iris in this profile of an amazing woman's life. Jim Broadbent received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor; Judi Dench and Kate Winslet were nominated for Best Actress and Supporting Actress.

2001 A Beautiful Mind       Drama PG-13, 130 Minutes
Director: Ron Howard  
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Christopher Plummer, Josh Lucas, Judd Hirsch, Vivien Cardone, Anthony Rapp

 This biography traces the life of paranoid-schizophrenic, math genius John Forbes Nash Jr. (Russell Crowe) who overcame the odds to win the Nobel Prize in Economic Science. His life changes while he is working in cryptology at MIT where he meets Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). They fall in love and marry, but problems follow when Nash's paranoid schizophrenia sets in leading to years of illness with loyal Alicia standing by him in good times and bad. The film's four Academy Awards included Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly). Four additional nominations were received, including Crowe for Best Actor.

2002 Chicago       Musical / Comedy / Drama PG-13, 113 Minutes
Director: Rob Marshall  
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, Queen Latifah, Christine Baranski, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, Colm Feore, Dominic West

 Set in 1920s' Chicago, this film centers on two murderesses, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), who sought fame and fortune in vaudeville and now use the notoriety gained through murder to become stars in the tabloids. But fame is fleeting as another murderess is due for her own tabloid fame. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Actress in a Supporting Role (Catherine Zeta-Jones). The seven additional nominations included Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John C. Reilly), Actress in a Supporting Role (Queen Latifah), and Director.

2002 The Pianist       Drama R, 148 Minutes
Director: Roman Polanski  
Starring: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner, Jessica Kate Meyer, Ruth Platt, Michal Zebrowski

 After conquering Poland, Nazis place celebrated Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody) and his family in a Warsaw ghetto from which he escapes the planned deportation to a concentration camp. But there is no relief for Szpilman who is forced to endure not only Nazi brutality but disease and starvation as well on Warsaw's streets. A good film depicting the power inherent in man's inhumanity to man. The film won three Oscars, including Best Director and Best Actor (Brody), and received four other nominations, including Best Picture.

2002 The Pianist       Drama R, 148 Minutes
Director: Roman Polanski  
Starring: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner, Jessica Kate Meyer, Ruth Platt, Michal Zebrowski

 After conquering Poland, Nazis place celebrated Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody) and his family in a Warsaw ghetto from which he escapes the planned deportation to a concentration camp. But there is no relief for Szpilman who is forced to endure not only Nazi brutality but disease and starvation as well on Warsaw's streets. A good film depicting the power inherent in man's inhumanity to man. The film won three Oscars, including Best Director and Best Actor (Brody), and received four other nominations, including Best Picture.

2002 The Hours       Drama PG-13, 114 Minutes
Director: Stephen Daldry  
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Stephen Dillane, Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Miranda Richardson, John C. Reilly, Linda Bassett, Toni Collette

 Virginia Woolf's novel "Mrs. Dalloway" connects the stories of three different women–Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman), Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), and Clarissa (Meryl Streep)–in three different eras–1925, 1951, and 2001–who resort to suicide as the solution for their problems. Very well acted, but with this cast what else could one expect? Nicole Kidman won the Best Actress Oscar for her excellent performance. In addition, the film received eight nominations, including Best Picture, Director, Actress in a Supporting Role (Julianne Moore), and Actor in a Supporting Role (Ed Harris).

2002 Adaptation       Comedy / Drama / Romance R, 110 Minutes
Director: Spike Jonze  
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Judy Greer, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ron Livingston, Jay Tavare

 Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage) takes on the project of adapting Susan Orlean's (Meryl Streep) non-fiction book, "The Orchid Thief," into a movie. Orlean's story involves John Laroche's (Chris Cooper) poaching of "ghost orchids" from a Florida Everglades natural preserve. Charlie faces a mid-life crisis when his brother Donald (also played by Cage), who is following in his brother's footsteps as a screenwriter, moves in with him. Donald breezes through the writing of his assigned screenplay. Meanwhile, paranoid Charlie encounters more than a few problems writing his and, in the process, ends up as the subject in his script that tells of his inability to adapt Orlean's book into a film. Cooper won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role; three other nominations were received, including Best Actor (Cage) and Actress in a Supporting Role (Streep).

2002 Chicago       Musical / Comedy / Drama PG-13, 113 Minutes
Director: Rob Marshall  
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, Queen Latifah, Christine Baranski, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, Colm Feore, Dominic West

 Set in 1920s' Chicago, this film centers on two murderesses, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), who sought fame and fortune in vaudeville and now use the notoriety gained through murder to become stars in the tabloids. But fame is fleeting as another murderess is due for her own tabloid fame. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Actress in a Supporting Role (Catherine Zeta-Jones). The seven additional nominations included Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John C. Reilly), Actress in a Supporting Role (Queen Latifah), and Director.

2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King       Action / Adventure / Fantasy PG-13, 201 Minutes
Director: Peter Jackson  
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Bernard Hill, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan

 In the conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, Gollum (Andy Serkis) continues to lead the gentle Hobbits–Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin)–on the trek to Mount Doom in their quest to destroy the One Ring. Meanwhile, the deposed King Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) strives to unite the people of Middle Earth in preparation for battle in the forthcoming massive attack by the Dark Lord Saurons' minions. Winner of 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, and Original Score and Song.

2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King       Action / Adventure / Fantasy PG-13, 201 Minutes
Director: Peter Jackson  
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Bernard Hill, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan

 In the conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, Gollum (Andy Serkis) continues to lead the gentle Hobbits–Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin)–on the trek to Mount Doom in their quest to destroy the One Ring. Meanwhile, the deposed King Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) strives to unite the people of Middle Earth in preparation for battle in the forthcoming massive attack by the Dark Lord Saurons' minions. Winner of 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, and Original Score and Song.

2003 Mystic River       Drama / Mystery R, 137 Minutes
Director: Clint Eastwood  
Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Kevin Chapman, Adam Nelson, Emmy Rossum, Cameron Bowen

 Three childhood friends–Jimmy (Sean Penn), Dave (Tim Robbins), and Sean (Kevin Bacon)–reunite after Jimmy's 19-year-old daughter, Katie (Emmy Rossum), is found murdered. Sean is a policeman assigned to the case and finds clues pointing to Dave who had been abused as a boy. He must also deal with Jimmy's rage. Great acting in this one. Sean Penn won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Tim Robbins won for Best Supporting Actor. The film also received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), and Director.

2003 Monster       Drama R, 110 Minutes
Director: Patty Jenkins  
Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Scott Wilson, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Lee Tergesen, Annie Corley, Marco St. John, Bubba Baker, Marc Macaulay

 This crime drama attempts to delve into the psyche of highway prostitute Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) who killed seven men in Florida and is known as the first female serial killer. Charlize Theron won an Oscar for Best Actress.

2003 Mystic River       Drama / Mystery R, 137 Minutes
Director: Clint Eastwood  
Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Kevin Chapman, Adam Nelson, Emmy Rossum, Cameron Bowen

 Three childhood friends–Jimmy (Sean Penn), Dave (Tim Robbins), and Sean (Kevin Bacon)–reunite after Jimmy's 19-year-old daughter, Katie (Emmy Rossum), is found murdered. Sean is a policeman assigned to the case and finds clues pointing to Dave who had been abused as a boy. He must also deal with Jimmy's rage. Great acting in this one. Sean Penn won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Tim Robbins won for Best Supporting Actor. The film also received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), and Director.

2003 Cold Mountain       Drama / Romance R, 155 Minutes
Director: Anthony Minghella  
Starring: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Donald Sutherland, Ray Winstone, Brendan Gleeson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Kathy Baker, James Gammon

 During the Civil War, a wounded Confederate soldier, Inman (Jude Law), goes AWOL and struggles to return home to Cold Mountain, North Carolina, with dreams of reuniting with the woman (Nicole Kidman) he loves. Renee Zellweger won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film was nominated for five other Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Law).

2004 Million Dollar Baby       Drama PG-13, 132 Minutes
Director: Clint Eastwood  
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter, Lucia Rijker, Brian F. O'Byrne, Anthony Mackie, Margo Martindale, Riki Lindhome

 Searching for a way to improve her lot in life, wannabe boxer, 31-year-old single-mom/waitress Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) walks into the gym and asks trainer Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to teach her how to be a viable boxer. Frankie agrees, Maggie makes great strides, the two bond, and, in the process, overcome hurdles of the past. The film received Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank), and Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman). Three other nominations were received, including Best Actor (Clint Eastwood).