'The Hot Chick,' Reconsidered

One of the rites of Oscar season is the Bestowing of the Opinions. Like the ancient Greeks in the agora, each spring finds film fans gathering at water coolers, in smoky bars and on playground benches debating the finer points of Oscarology.

With fervent zeal they lobby for personal faves, dis Hollywood phonies, handicap the odds of the sassy newcomer beating the sentimental favorite or maybe just engage in catty talk on matters of celebrity dress and deportment.

In homage to this national pastime, NEWSWEEK's Andrew B. Cohen asked a sampling of dedicated film enthusiasts with specialized interests--some of them highly specialized--for their views on this year's Oscar derby: Who's hot? Who was wrongfully ignored? And who should never be allowed to work again? Here are some of the responses:

Mike Nelson is the former host of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and the author of "Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese" and the forthcoming novel "Death Rat!"

I would like to commend the Academy for not nominating Adam Sandler for anything. Because, yes, "Mr. Deeds," was an aggressive attack against all we hold dear, but also because it might have encouraged him to make more films, and we as a nation must take steps to ensure that this does not happen!

By not nominating "Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever," the 2002 Antonio Banderas-Lucy Liu flick, the Academy put filmmakers on notice that unbelievably stupid film titles will not be tolerated. This was a wise and brave act.