Oscar: Best Actor
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 25, 2004 9:00 p.m.
WILL Win: Bill Murray, “Lost in
Translation”
SHOULD Win: Johnny Depp, “Pirates of the
Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”
This is a two-man race. Sean Penn’s fierce portrayal in
“Mystic River” of a father grieving his
daughter’s murder while being forced to face the sins of his
past is considered the front runner. But Murray’s
heart-breaking portrayal of a disillusioned movie star who forges
an unlikely bond with a lonely, young wife will edge him out. This
is the Academy’s chance to reward “Lost in
Translation,” a great film that will no doubt be shut out in
the Picture/Director categories.
But when choosing the best performance of the year, we have to
go with Depp, who is also long overdue for an Oscar. Think about
it: He took what was essentially a summer popcorn movie (based on a
THEME PARK RIDE, people) and made it into one of the best films of
the year. Any other actor would have turned Captain Jack Sparrow
into a caricature, but Depp, a character actor in a leading
man’s body, threw his heart into an underwritten role and
turned it into a gem. If that’s not Oscar-worthy, what
is?
