2004

Best Picture nominees:

The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby *
Ray
Sideways

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The Aviator - The story of Howard Hughes.  Several hammy portrayals, including diCaprio as Howard Hughes, a nutty recluse; Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn (for which she won the Oscar), and a large cast.

Finding Neverland - The story of J.M. Barrie (the author of Peter Pan) and the fantastic life he led in giving a good upbringing to the children of his platonic friend Silvia Llewellyn Davies.  Standout performance of Freddie Highmore (now playing Norman Bates on Bates Motel).

Million Dollar Baby - Outstanding performance by Hilary Swank as the ill-fated boxer trained by Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood.  Probably the best movie directed by Clint Eastwood and a good soundtrack by him as well, but not nominated.

Ray - The story of Ray Charles, with a tour-de-force acting performance by Jamie Foxx, who wins the Best Actor award.

Sideways - Comedic film about two men who go on a weeklong wine-tasting binge in Santa Ynez.   Funny, but not really a Best Picture.

***

My rankings of the Best Picture nominees:

1.  Million Dollar Baby
2.  The Aviator
3.  Finding Neverland
4.  Sideways
5.  Ray