The Winners of the 73rd Oscars  So after all the hype, the anticipation and the kidnap plots, it's all over now, as the winners of this years Oscars have been announced at a spectacular ceremony, which was a thrill to watch and a triumph for good films.
While the favourite Gladiator walked away with the most awards, five including the prestigious Best Picture, it was even affair with two other fantastic pictures been giving the recognition they deserve. None more so than Steven Soderbergh, who despite having two nominations in the same category, was named Best Director for the heart-stopping and  mesmerising Traffic, which received four awards in total. Not only that but the magnificently beautiful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon grabbed four awards as well, a great achievement and advance for foreign cinema. Unlike other years, where speeches have become legendary due to their excruciating length, this year a 45-second time restriction was placed on the winners. This worked wonders, as there wasn't anybody dragging the proceedings on, by mentioning all their goldfish, cats, dogs and imaginary friends. This trimmed the running time of the show down to a mere mini-epic of 3 and a half hours. So if you saw the predictions I made last week you're probably wondering how they matched up, well here's a guide to the winners along with my faves and my predicted winners.  Best Film
Winner: Gladiator
Predicted Winner: Gladiator
My Choice: Traffic
No real surprises here as Gladiator picked up the top award of the night.
 Best Actor in a Leading Role
Winner: Russell Crowe - Gladiator
Predicted Winner: Tom Hanks - Cast Away
My Choice: Russell Crowe - Gladiator
I got it wrong but my personal choice won, which was really cool as he deserves it and gave a great speech as well. Crowe's a fine actor and will now be regarded as one of the best in the world. Winner: Julia Roberts - Erin Brockovich
Predicted Winner: Julia Roberts - Erin Brockovich
My Choice: Ellen Burstyn - Requiem for a Dream
No real competition here and although Burstyn was my choice I'm happy that Roberts got it.
Best Director
 Winner: Steven Soderbergh - Traffic
Predicted Winner: Ang Lee - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
My Choice: Steven Soderbergh - Traffic
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes....it was 5:30am in the morning and I jumped out of bed to celebrate this shock of the night. If you've read my review of Traffic you'll know I love that film so much, it's a great film and an important and honest statement, so this was simply an incredible achievement. Two nominations in the same category would surely split the vote but Soderbergh pulled it off and had a great speech as well. A mention must got to Ang Lee and Ridley Scott s they were so close and also nearly as deserved.
Winner: Benicio Del Toro - Traffic
Predicted Winner: Benicio Del Toro - Traffic
My Choice: Benicio Del Toro - Traffic
Great choice and well deserved. Winner: Marcia Gay Harden
Predicted Winner: Judi Dench Julie Walters
My Choice: Kate Hudson
This was probably the shock of the night. I haven't seen Pollock but I gather she is rather good but Kate Hudson is fantastic in Almost Famous and I felt she really missed out here.  Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:
Nominees:
Almost Famous - Winner, Predicted Winner and My Choice,
Yes, brilliant, thoroughly well-deserved and better than bloody 'Chocolaaatt'...god knows what that was doing in Best Film ahead of this and Wonder Boys...ludicrous!!!!
 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:
Traffic - Winner and Predicted Winner,
Wonder Boys - My Choice
Yep agree with that, although the brilliant Wonder Boys was criminally overlooked.
Best Cinematography:
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Winner,
Gladiator - Predicted Winner,
O Brother, Where Art Thou? - My Choice, For more info, winners, facts, figures, speeches and a lot, lot more go to www.oscars.com.
by ChrisM
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