The Nominees

   Psychiatrists looking to inform their patients what amid-life crisis for the North American male might look like on screen would be advised to prescribe them a dose of American Beauty. Kevin Spacey is winning as Lester Burnham, a 40-something I-don't-want-to-play-this-game-anymore guy who finally finds a goal in life he initially thinks is worth pursuing - bedding down his daughter's cheerleader girlfriend.
   Annette Bening is equally strong as Lester's wife. She comes off like a guitar string wound to the end of its tether just waiting for another turn of the screw to snap in your face.
   Dope-dealing teenage neighbor Wes Bentley, the Burnham's caught-in-the-middle daughter (Thora Birch) and the come-hither cheerleader (Mena Suvari) all turn in wonderful performances. But it's Chris Cooper, as next-door-neighbor Colonel Fitts, who really shines by putting the "crisis" in "mid-life," making you wonder about that American military policy of "don't ask, don't tell."

   Never act with dogs and kids goes the old expression.  But Bruce Willis holds his own against child-star Haley Joel Osment playing physic connection Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense.
   This film came out of nowhere to captivate audiences and take home big bucks at the domestic box office. But will it have the legs to kick American Beauty in the behind come Oscar night? Not likely.
   It's just too much Ghost meets Poltergeist for Academy members to vote it in. Sure, it's serious and all, but the last film that even hinted at a horror plot to take home Oscar was, well, it's never happened (and, no, Silence of the Lambs doesn't count, that's a cop flick).
   But it's good to see the film in the running since it's smartly directed by M. Night Shyamalan from a script he wrote himself, leading to nominations in all three categories for the relative neophyte to the Hollywood scene. (Oh yeah, the kid also got a Best Supporting Actor nod while Bruce got naught.)

The Cider House Rules proves the old adage: If you want something done right, do it yourself. In this case, the book's author, John (The World According to Garp) Irving penned the screenplay from his own book of the same name about a boy raised in an orphanage who heads off into the big, bad world.
   The orphanage is no ordinary foundling's factory. It's one of the nicest places for a parentless child to find himself, as Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) finds out growing up under the tutelage of Dr. Larch (the always delightful Michael Caine). Larch teaches Homer all he knows about medicine, turning the boy into a talented, if unlicensed, physician.
   Oh yes, there's also the matter of the abortions performed at the orphanage… and Homer's coming-of-age, and a little war and some apples.
   All in all, it's a lovely-to-look at adaptation of an Irving novel (it's also up for Best Adapted Screenplay) that's as likely to win Best Picture as an orphan is to attend his parents' wedding anniversary.

   People were as slow to embrace The Green Mile as prisoners are no doubt reluctant to walk its length - the title refers to the corridor death-row prisoners must traverse on the way to their execution.
   But as the long - really long, three-hours and 18 minutes worth of long - movie rolled along, more and more people jumped on its bandwagon. Personally, I don't see it. I think it should have been left on the Best Picture sidelines as was its equally very long cousin, Magnolia.
   But this tale of a very, very big (everything's so very, very in this film) convicted murderer with the demeanor of a kitten and the healing powers of God obviously has its fans. It's as American as they come with Jimmy Stew - I mean, Tom Hanks in a lead role and America's favorite institution - prison - as a backdrop.
   But, come Oscar night, it says here The Green Mile will have to take a back seat to another American, and that's a Beauty.
- Kim Greene