Oscar hope for Fahrenheit 9/11
Staff and agencies
Friday June 25, 2004
With nearly eight months to go before next year's Oscars, Hollywood pundits have already begun to pick out the early favourites.
As Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 opens in 900 US theatres today, the movie's success looks set to continue: Variety reports it is being spoken of as a possible best picture nominee. No documentary has ever been nominated in this category - though the rules allow it.
The anti-Bush feature may be up against Mel Gibson: his Passion of the Christ, which has grossed more than $370m (£203m) in the US alone, is also regarded as a strong candidate for the best picture award.
But the independent circuit is making a strong case for itself: insiders are predicting exciting times ahead for festival hits like The Woodsman, starring Kevin Bacon as a released paedophile, and Mean Creek, a Deliverance-type film with children.
For the best actor category, Denzel Washington and Kurt Russell have attracted praise for their roles in, respectively, Man on Fire and Miracle. And like it or loathe it, do not discount Tom Hanks, currently starring in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal - the story of a man trapped inside an airport - when the awards' season swings into town.
Meanwhile, The Manchurian Candidate, a remake of the classic cold war thriller, is being eyed as a possible contender for top honours when the academy envelopes are opened on February 27, while Shrek 2 is thus far the clear favourite for the best animated feature prize.
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