Fellowship is an Oscar contender

By Peter T. Chattaway

TWO MONTHS after it was released, Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring is an unqualified success. The film, which faithfully conveys many of the principles espoused by the book's devoutly Catholic author, is already one of the 10 highest grossing films of all time worldwide, and it has received a near-record 13 nominations for this year's Academy Awards, including nods for best film, best director, and best supporting actor -- the last of which is for Ian McKellen's stirring performance as the wizard Gandalf.

The film with the most Oscar nominations usually wins the top prize; but no epic fantasy has ever been declared best film before, and many of Fellowship's nominations are in technical categories. Therefore, some observers think it might win the bulk of the awards while losing the best-film trophy to one of its artier or more conventionally dramatic competitors -- A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, Moulin Rouge or In the Bedroom.

Oh well, there's always the sequels -- the first of which comes out in December.

The Oscar winners will be announced March 24.