The hour of reckoning

By Anand Parthasarathy

Will the ``Gladiator'' kill the ``Crouching Tiger?'' Will the rush of ``Traffic'', overrun the charms of ``Erin Brockovich?'' Will the Academy Award voters succumb to the taste of ``Chocolat?''

On the eve of Oscar night, the race for the Best Picture award has suddenly become an open one. The last of the pre-Oscar contests, the Screen Actors Guild Award - traditionally a weathercock of Academy Award intentions - plumped heavily for the drug drama ``Traffic,'' suggesting that ``Gladiator'' may not necessarily make a killing as widely expected. The Chinese language: ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' has had a second run in the U.S., but this may propel it firmly towards a Best Foreign Film Oscar rather than the Best Film statuette.

Can Tom Hanks ``Castaway'' the other contenders for Best Actor? Will Russell Crowe all the way home from his gladiatorial conquests - or will Geoffrey Rush in to grab the Oscar, ``Quills'' in hand? Can Ed Harris make it as ``Pollock'' or will Javier Bardem scoop up the statuette ``Before Night Falls?'' This category is generally expected by Hollywood punters to be in the firm grasp of two-time winner Tom Hanks.

Will Ellen Burstyn's ``Requiem for a Dream'' come true? Joan Allen may be ``The Contender'' that Julia Roberts' ``Erin'' may have to reckon with. There's Laura Linney telling her supporters: ``You Can Count On Me'' - but Juliette Binoche might woo them with ``Chocolat.'' The Best Actress category is the most unpredictable this year.

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Section  : International
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