Every year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences® clears their collective throat to the eager ears of the global film world, and hacks up a loogey of nominations, what they want us to believe are the brightest celluloid achievements for the past 365. And every year, commoners like you and me gripe about their selections. We feel we have as much right to complain as anybody since we pay the outlandish ticket prices to sit in a theater with our feet stuck to the floor and watch those flickering images truck by our greedy pupils. Well, as inaugurated three years ago, I'm once again rectifying the situation with Dr. Daniel's LoscarsTM. With the Loscars, we create recognition where it has been dubiously ignored. We give notice to the unnoticed. We make Oscar losers into Loscar winners. Below, at left, you will see a list of who and what the Academy deems superior -- and the Doc's prediction to win said category. At right, you'll see my choice, the Loscar, a.k.a. the "Best of the Rest" -- or those who got left out, but still deserve attention.

The OSCARS Best Actor: Russell Crowe, The Insider Richard Farnsworth, The Straight Story Sean Penn, Sweet and Lowdown Kevin Spacey, American Beauty Denzel Washington, Hurricane Dr. Daniel's Pick: Kevin Spacey Best Supporting Actor: Michael Caine, Cider House Rules Tom Cruise, Magnolia Michael Clarke Duncan, The Green Mile Jude Law, The Talented Mr. Ripley Haley Joel Osment, Sixth Sense Dr. Daniel's Pick: Tom Cruise Best Actress: Annette Bening, American Beauty Janet McTeer, Tumbleweeds Julianne Moore, The End of the Affair Meryl Streep, Music of the Heart Hilary Swank, Boys Don't Cry Dr. Daniel's Pick: Hilary Swank Best Supporting Actress: Toni Collette, The Sixth Sense Angelina Jolie, Girl Interrupted Catherine Keener, Being John Malkovich Samantha Morton, Sweet and Lowdown Chloë Sevigny, Boys Don't Cry Dr. Daniel's Pick: Angelina Jolie Best Director: Sam Mendes, American Beauty Spike Jonze, Being John Malkovich Lasse Hallstrom, The Cider House Rules Michael Mann, The Insider M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense Dr. Daniel's Pick: Sam Mendes Best Original Screenplay Alan Ball, American Beauty Charlie Kaufman, Being John Malkovich Paul T. Anderson, Magnolia M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense Mike Leigh, Topsy Turvy Dr. Daniel's Pick: M. Night Shyamalan Best Adapted Screenplay John Irving, The Cider House Rules A. Payne/J. Taylor, Election Frank Darabont, The Green Mile E. Roth/M. Mann, The Insider Anthony Minghella, The Talented Mr. Ripley Dr. Daniel's Pick: John Irving Best Picture American Beauty The Cider House Rules The Green Mile The Insider The Sixth Sense Dr. Daniel's Pick: American Beauty

The LOSCARS Best Actor: Matthew Broderick, Election Jim Carrey, Man on the Moon Johnny Depp, Sleepy Hollow Tom Hanks, The Green Mile Bruce Willis, The Sixth Sense And the Loscar goes to: Jim Carrey Best Supporting Actor: Wes Bentley, American Beauty Rhys Ifans, Notting Hill Michael Jeter, The Green Mile John Malkovich, Being John Malkovich Eddie Murphy, Bowfinger And the Loscar goes to: Michael Jeter Best Actress: Heather Donahue, The Blair Witch Project Franka Potente, Run Lola Run Julia Roberts, Notting Hill Winona Ryder, Girl, Interrupted Reese Witherspoon, Election And the Loscar goes to: Winona Ryder Best Supporting Actress: Thora Birch, American Beauty Cameron Diaz, Being John Malkovich Carrie-Anne Moss, The Matrix Sissy Spacek, The Straight Story Mena Suvari, American Beauty And the Loscar goes to: Thora Birch Best Director: Paul T. Anderson, Magnolia John Lasseter, Toy Story 2 David O. Russell, Three Kings Myrick/Sanchez, The Blair Witch Project Wachowski Brothers, The Matrix And the Loscar goes to: David O. Russell Best Original Screenplay The Blair Witch Project - Myrick/Sanchez Bowfinger - Steve Martin Galaxy Quest - Howard & Gordon Man on the Moon - Alexander & Karaszewski The Matrix - Wachowski Bros. The Loscar goes to: Bowfinger Best Adapted Screenplay Boys Don't Cry - Pierce & Bienen Fight Club - Palahniuk & Uhls Iron Giant - Brad Bird South Park: B. L. & U. - Parker & Stone Toy Story 2 - Brannon, Lasseter, et al And the Loscar goes to: South Park Best Picture The Blair Witch Project The Matrix Man on the Moon Three Kings Toy Story 2 And the Loscar goes to: Toy Story 2

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