I know, I can't believe it either, but here we are...

My apologies, but I realized too late this morning that I have absolutely no copy of the form from last year, so I had to rebuild it from scratch. Hence the cheap look and feel. If you want to come back and enter when it looks better, I wouldn't blame you. (Nor would I blame you for wondering if I will ever actually get around to making it look better.)

If you haven't been here before, it's a pretty simple operation. You're playing for a $50 gift certificate from Amazon. You can only enter once. You must must must provide a valid e-mail address. I will send a copy of your ballot to you within 48 hours, and if it bounces, I throw it out. So, if you don't hear back from me in a day or two, you should assume I have no entry from you and you can either try again or write to me.

The first six categories are worth three points, the rest are worth one point. I have a fairly elaborate tie-breaking system in my head (as a backup to the running-time question), but I haven't needed it for the past four years. If I have to use it, I'll explain it to you.

Last year, you could donate to add to the pot. This year, you can still donate, but it will only serve to lessen the blow to my checkbook. If I happen to receive more than $50 in donations, I will add the excess to the prize amount, but things got out of hand last year. (You people are crazy generous, and I'm not just saying that. Really. Seriously. I'm not.) There'll be a link when you're done entering.

And that is it! So here you go. Click the mouse and take your chances...

BEST PICTURE: Chicago Gangs of New York The Hours The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Pianist BEST DIRECTOR: Pedro Almodóvar, Talk To Her Stephen Daldry, The Hours Rob Marshall, Chicago Roman Polanski, The Pianist Martin Scorsese, Gangs of New York BEST ACTOR: Adrien Brody, The Pianist Nicolas Cage, Adaptation Michael Caine, The Quiet American Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York Jack Nicholson, About Schmidt BEST ACTRESS: Salma Hayek, Frida Nicole Kidman, The Hours Diane Lane, Unfaithful Julianne Moore, Far from Heaven Renee Zellweger, Chicago BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Chris Cooper, Adaptation Ed Harris, The Hours Paul Newman, Road to Perdition John C. Reilly, Chicago Christopher Walken, Catch Me If You Can BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Kathy Bates, About Schmidt Julianne Moore, The Hours Queen Latifah, Chicago Meryl Streep, Adaptation Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Pedro Almodóvar, Talk To Her Jay Cocks, Steve Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan, Gangs of New York Carlos Cuarón and Alfonso Cuarón, Y Tu Mamá También Todd Haynes, Far From Heaven Nia Vardalos, My Big Fat Greek Wedding ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Bill Condon, Chicago David Hare, The Hours Ronald Harwood, The Pianist Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz, About A Boy Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman, Adaptation FOREIGN FILM: El Crimen del Padre Amaro (Mexico) Hero (China) The Man Without a Past (Finland) Nowhere in Africa (Germany) Zus & Zo (The Netherlands) ANIMATED FEATURE: Ice Age Lilo & Stitch Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Spirited Away Treasure Planet CINEMATOGRAPHY: Chicago Far From Heaven Gangs of New York The Pianist Road to Perdition ART DIRECTION: Chicago Frida Gangs of New York The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Road to Perdition EDITING: Chicago Gangs of New York The Hours The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Pianist MAKEUP: Frida The Time Machine COSTUME: Chicago Frida Gangs of New York The Hours The Pianist SCORE: Elmer Bernstein, Far From Heaven Philip Glass, The Hours Elliot Goldenthal, Frida Thomas Newman, Road to Perdition John Williams, Catch Me If You Can SONG: "I Move On" by John Kander and Fred Ebb, from Chicago "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, Jeff Bass, and Luis Resto, from 8 Mile "Burn It Blue" by Elliot Goldenthal and Julie Taymor, from Frida "The Hands That Built America" by U2, from Gangs of New York "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon, from The Wild Thornberrys Movie SOUND: Chicago Gangs of New York The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Road to Perdition Spider-Man SOUND EDITING: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Minority Report Road to Perdition VISUAL EFFECTS: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Spider-Man Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones DOCUMENTARY: Bowling for Columbine Daughter from Danang Prisoner of Paradise Spellbound Winged Migration DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: The Collector of Bedford Street Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks Twin Towers Why Can't We Be a Family Again? LIVE-ACTION SHORT: Fait D'Hiver I'll Wait for the Next One... (J'ai Attendrai le Suivant...) Inja (Dog) Johnny Flynton This Charming Man (Der er en Yndig Mand) ANIMATED SHORT: The Cathedral The Chubbchubbs! Das Rad Mike's New Car Mt. Head Tiebreak: How long will the show last? hours minutes Your name, or whatever name you want to use: Your e-mail address, which must work when I return your entry, or I shall delete said entry without a second thought, don't think I won't do it: Your URL, if you have one: http:// Check this box if you have entered this pool five years in a row: Comments? Questions? Share the love:

 

abeyance