Here are my picks for the Oscars this weekend:

Best Picture
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit

Best Director
Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation)
Clint Eastwood (Mystic River)
Peter Jackson (LOTR)
Fernando Meirelles (City of God)
Peter Weir (Master and Commander)

Best Actor
Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Ben Kingsley (House of Sand of Fog)
Jude Law (Cold Mountain)
Bill Murray (Lost in Translation)
Sean Penn (Mystic River)

Best Actress
Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider)
Diane Keaton (Something's Gotta Give)
Samantha Morton (In America)
Charlize Theron (Monster)
Naomi Watts (21 Grams)

Best Supporting Actor
Alec Baldwin (The Cooler)
Benicio del Toro (21 Grams)
Djimon Hounsou (In America)
Tim Robbins (Mystic River)
Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai)

Best Supporting Actress
Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand of Fog)
Patricia Clarkson (Pieces of April)
Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River)
Holly Hunter (Thirteen)
Renee Zellwegger (Cold Mountain)

Best Original Screenplay
The Barbarian Invasions
Dirty Pretty Things
Finding Nemo
In America
Lost in Translation

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
American Splendor
City of God
Mystic River
Seabiscuit

STAR WARS DVDS!!

After years of waiting, hype and hope, the rumors can at last be laid to rest: the holy grail of DVD will finally be released this September. Yes, it is the original Star Wars trilogy: Episodes IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (which many regard as the best in the series) and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

While a full press release has yet to be issued, both Lucasfilm and Fox Home Entertainment confirmed today that the trilogy will touch down on September 21st as a four-disc set, available in both anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, containing the three films plus a bonus fourth disc with extras, a la the top-selling Adventures of Indiana Jones set released late last year. The films will not be sold separately, at least initially, according to Fox representatives.

--I will buy this the first day. No suprise there. Thanks to De Baisch for the heads up!