> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # And the Oscar goes to - URL: https://www.smdp.com/and-the-oscar-goes-to/ - Published: 2005-02-25T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T06:10:11.000Z - Author: Dan Dunn - Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import (Editor’s note: Santa Monica Daily Press critic Dan Dunn offers his opinion on this year’s Oscar race.) BEST PICTURE The nominees: “The Aviator,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “Ray,” “Sideways” and “Finding Neverland.” Should win: As is the case in virtually every major category this year, there is no 800-pound gorilla like “The Return of the King” was in 2004\. Yes, “The Aviator” leads all contenders with 11 nominations, but don’t be fooled by the numbers: It says here that most Oscar office pool winners will need to be as lucky as they are intuitive. A case can be made for each of these worthy entrants, but on my ballot, I’m lightly penciling in “Million Dollar Baby.” Could win: “Sideways” and “The Aviator” probably have the best shot at knocking out Eastwood’s heavyweight boxing drama, but only a fool would count out sentimental favorite Ray Charles. Remember what happened at the Grammys? Will win: “The Aviator.” The Academy voters are suckers for extravagant period pieces with A-list actors. BEST ACTOR The nominees: Don Cheadle in “Hotel Rwanda,” Johnny Depp in “Finding Neverland,” Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Aviator,” Clint Eastwood in “Million Dollar Baby” and Jamie Foxx in “Ray.” Should win: Cheadle, Foxx and DiCaprio all delivered the finest performances of their careers. Only one will get a gold statue, though, and it ought to be Cheadle. Could win: All but Eastwood who, with all due respect, shouldn’t have even been nominated over Paul Giamatti of “Sideways.” Will win: Foxx. Two acting nominations in the same year will add up to one Oscar for the former “In Living Color” star. BEST ACTRESS The nominees: Annette Bening in “Being Julia,” Catalina Sandino Moreno in “Maria Full of Grace,” Imelda Staunton in “Vera Drake,” Hilary Swank in “Million Dollar Baby” and Kate Winslet in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Should win: Memorable performances by all the nominees in this category, but Swank — my favorite — and Bening are a bit more deserving this year than the other three nominees. Could win: Winslet’s a wild card who could turn up aces. Will win: Swank beat out Bening a few years ago in this same category, and it’s a good bet history will repeat itself in 2005. DIRECTOR The nominees: Martin Scorsese, “The Aviator,” Clint Eastwood, “Million Dollar Baby,” Taylor Hackford, “Ray,” Alexander Payne, “Sideways,” and Mike Leigh, “Vera Drake.” Should win: Scorsese because, incredibly, he’s never won this award. Could win: All but Leigh. Will win: Scorsese. The drought ends here. SUPPORTING ACTOR The nominees: Alan Alda in “The Aviator,” Thomas Haden Church in “Sideways,” Jamie Foxx in “Collateral,” Morgan Freeman in “Million Dollar Baby” and Clive Owen in “Closer.” Should win: Alda or Freeman. Could win: Alda or Freeman. Will win: Freeman. SUPPORTING ACTRESS The nominees: Cate Blanchett in “The Aviator,” Laura Linney in “Kinsey,” Virginia Madsen in “Sideways,” Sophie Okonedo in “Hotel Rwanda” and Natalie Portman in “Closer.” Should win: All were excellent, but none better than Madsen. Could win: Blanchett won best supporting actress at the SAG Awards for her portrayal of Catherine Hepburn. Portman took home the Golden Glode. Many industry types believe “Kinsey” was under-nominated and might try and remedy that with a vote for Linney. Will win: Madsen. This town loves a Comeback Kid. ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The nominees: John Logan, “The Aviator,” Charlie Kaufman, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Keir Pearson and Terry George, “Hotel Rwanda,” Brad Bird, “The Incredibles,” and Mike Leigh, “Vera Drake.” Should win: Kaufman’s surrealist script was the year’s most original. Could win: Voters might give the nod to Logan as a safeguard in case Scorsese gets slighted again in the director’s category. Will win: Kaufman’s a supreme talent, and Hollywood is ready to officially ordain him as such. ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The nominees: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, “Before Sunset,” David Magee, “Finding Neverland,” Paul Haggis, “Million Dollar Baby,” José Rivera, “The Motorcycle Diaries,” Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, “Sideways.” Should win: Payne and Taylor. Could win: All but Rivera. Will win: Payne and Taylor. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 25, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/022505.pdf?ref=smdp.com)