'The Hot Chick,' Reconsidered

Rose "Bams" Cooper of Lansing, Mich., is a co-creator of www.3BlackChicks.com and a coauthor of "3 Black Chicks Review Flicks: A Film and Video Guide with Flava!"

Quite surprisingly, I find myself in general agreement with what Oscar smiled on during this crazy awards season. There were some notable, popular exclusions--wither Richard Gere ("Chicago"), Dennis Quaid ("Far From Heaven") and Peter Jackson ("The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"; what, it directed itself?)--but for the most part, I have to nod my head that for once, the members of the Academy got it right. But ...

Best motion picture of the year: I'm torn between two: I loved the big-bold-brassiness of "Chicago," and favor it for the Oscar; "The Hours" was moving and interesting, but slow--a trait the stuffy Academy goes for. But I wept for the non-inclusion of "Antwone Fisher." Not because it was a great "black" film; it was a great film, period.

Performance by an actress in a leading role: I hate to keep repeating myself but, I find little fault in the nominations here. In "Far From Heaven," Julianne Moore took "Pleasantville" and turned it on its darker ear. And Nicole Kidman equally rocked in "The Hours"; to describe her performance as "otherworldly" is an understatement. Guess we know where the talent was in that marriage, eh, Tom?

Performance by an actress in a supporting role: Kathy Bates took a gutsy (or should that be, breasty?) gamble in the otherwise atrocious "About Schmidt," and it paid off for her. But no one rocked the house like the "Chicago" twosome of Queen Latifah and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I love me some Queen La, but Zeta-Jones's surprisingly good hoofer skills should rule the day. Of course, Meryl Streep might have a little something to say about that....

Best documentary feature: I'd be completely shocked if "Bowling for Columbine," Michael Moore's scathing examination of the fear that has gripped America, doesn't get the gold this year. But I have to scratch my head that the wonderful documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" wasn't even nominated. What's wrong with those people?