'The Hot Chick,' Reconsidered

As usual, the most interesting awards this year will be in the supporting category. In leading roles, playing a disabled person, a criminal, or a lady who is not too particular about her boyfriends gets you halfway there. But the supporting performers are the ones who really deliver the thrillingly subtle, complex and indispensable performances. I loved Chris Cooper and Meryl Streep in "Adaptation," Christopher Walken in "Catch Me if You Can," Ed Harris in "The Hours," and Kathy Bates in "About Schmidt." I wish I could make the whole show about them. But no one would get all dressed up for that.

Tom Cotrel is an attorney in Burbank, Calif, and the creator of www.carchasefan.com

Only two film car chases come to mind from this past year: "The Bourne Identity" and "Die Another Day." The former for its classic police chase format and the latter for its high-tech over-the-top theatrics. "Bourne" makes the best use of a Mini since 1969's "The Italian Job" and "Die" gives Aston Martin the perfect comeback.

Jason Katzman, Hans Bjordahl, Randall Gaz and Holley Irvine are the creators of the Mr. Cranky Web site (www.mrcranky.com)

Best Picture: If 10 years ago you had gone to Jack Valenti and predicted, "One day a Best Picture Oscar will be awarded to a film in which Richard Gere dances," he would have impaled himself on his dinner fork. For this reason, the Academy will award the Oscar to "Gangs of New York."

Best Actor: It's between [Jack] Nicholson and [Daniel] Day-Lewis. Unfortunately, Jack is dating Lara Flynn Boyle and Lara makes everybody really ill and nobody wants to witness that shot of Jack turning to Lara after he's won and kissing somebody dressed like a hooker from the Addams Family.