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.

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.

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.

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).

2005 Crash       Drama R, 107 Minutes
Director: Paul Haggis  
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe

 In this film, "Crash" symbolizes the effect resulting when seemingly unconnected people's lives intersect. Racism rears its ugly head as numerous cases of discrimination rise to the fore in L.A. during a 36 hour period. A good ensemble cast. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture; three other nominations were received, including Best Director and Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon).

2006 The Departed       Drama / Thriller R, 149 Minutes
Director: Martin Scorsese  
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Corrigan

 Lies, lies, and more lies proliferate when Massachusetts State Police plant one of their own, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), into Irish-American gangster Frank Costello's (Jack Nicholson) inner circle. But, Costello has been employing his own deceits, and his spy, Colin Sulllivan (Matt Damon), is working in the Special Investigations Unit that is trying to bring down Costello. With intelligence leaks on both sides, a deadly game of cat and mouse becomes the order of the day. The film received four Oscars, including Best Picture and Director; and a nomination was received for Best Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg).

2007 No Country for Old Men       Drama / Thriller R, 122 Minutes
Director: Ethan Coen  
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper, Barry Corbin, Stephen Root, Rodger Boyce

 Based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel, this story, set in Texas during 1980, is about Vietnam veteran Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) who comes across a truckload of drugs and a case containing $2 million in the middle of a half dozen murdered bodies. Moss picks up the $2 million and takes off with the cache. But, escape will not be easy. In hot pursuit are Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) who is outmatched by sadistic, psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) who stays on Moss' trail across Texas. In this film, the Coen brothers give us a masterful story. The film received four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director(s), and Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem). Four other nominations were received.