2001

Best Picture Nominees:

A Beautiful Mind *
Gosford Park
In the Bedroom
Lord of the Rings:  Fellowship of the Ring
Moulin Rouge!

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A Beautiful Mind - A fictionalized account of Mathematician John Nash, who was brilliant but suffered from schizophrenia.  Total Oscar fodder, but I still enjoyed the movie.

Gosford Park - A large ensemble film directed by Robert Altman and a precursor to Downton Abbey (written by Julian Fellowes).  Reminiscent of Upstairs, Downstairs, and also a murder mystery.  Years later, I enjoyed both of the above series because I like the dichotomy of the upstairs and downstairs separate class systems.

In the Bedroom - A dramatic film about family relationships and how those relationships ruin lives.  Hard to watch, but well-acted.

Lord of the Rings:  Fellowship of the Ring - As a HUGE fantasy/sci-fi fan, I am biased when one of these films is nominated for Best Picture.  This is the first of three films.  A great story, amazing special effects, and was the 2nd highest grossing picture of the year (behind the first Harry Potter movie).

Moulin Rouge! - At the time, I was not overly fond of this movie, because it meshed modern times (and modern music) with the era portrayed in the picture.  The movie has grown on me over time, because of the way they mash-up music and update the 1952 movie.

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My ranking of the Best Picture nominees:

1.  Lord of the Rings:  Fellowship of the Ring
2.  Moulin Rouge!
3.  A Beautiful Mind
4.  Gosford Park
5.  In the Bedroom