`Chocolat’

Easily the underdog in the race for this year’s Best Picture trophy, “Chocolat” is a light-hearted romantic comedy that is beautifully crafted and well acted.

It’s a simple idea that works – the classic tale of the rebellious rabble-rouser is manifested through the unlikely hero of a chocolate shop owner.

A mysterious woman named Vivianne (Juliette Binoche), moves into a conservative French village where she charms the community with her delectable chocolate creations. The conflict comes when the town’s religious leaders decide to boycott her shop because they believe it is corrupting the village.

With plenty of humor and an impressive performance from Johnny Depp, who plays Vivianne’s love interest, this movie has all the ingredients of a tasty film.

Though lower profile than some of its competitors, this film’s unique personality might win over members of the Academy more than films such as “Gladiator” and “Erin Brokovich,” which come across as throwback films and offer little new to the world of film.

****

– Conor Bezane

`Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’

The highest grossing foreign language film ever, Ang Lee’s martial arts masterpiece took a while to spread across the nation. The epic motion picture eventually enchanted audiences with its romance and mythology, making real a version of China that never really existed.

“Crouching Tiger” redefines the action/special effects genre, proving that visual brilliance can enhance a solid story rather than replacing it a la “The Matrix” or any movie starring Steven Seagal.

Strong female leads who do not rely on their sexuality to survive add to a motion picture that stands out in an industry dominated by masculinity.

There really isn’t any identifiable flaw in “Crouching Tiger,” except perhaps that the film seems too short, even though it is over two hours long. From the vivid backdrops to the stunning soundtrack by Tan Dum and Yo-Yo Ma, the picture does not fail to to please.

Director Lee recently won this year’s Director’s Guild Award for “Crouching Tiger,” making it highly likely that his work will deservedly take home Best Picture this weekend.

*****

– Jon Dahlager

`Erin Brockovich’

Director Steven Soderbergh hit a gold mine when he cast Julia Roberts as the role of Erin Brockovich. Her magnificent performance drove this film into a category of excellence – a place it wouldn’t be without her presence.

Telling the story of an overbearing single mother with a mission to find the truth behind a city’s contaminated water supply at any cost, “Erin Brockovich” provides a boat load of intense drama and touching storylines.

Despite some boring moments, the tenacity of Roberts’ character keeps eyes glued to the screen throughout the film. Along with Roberts’ nomination for best actress, Albert Finney is also up for best supporting actor for his portrayal of Erin’s boss, Ed Masry.

Though Roberts will most likely nail the best actress nod, “Erin Brockovich” probably won’t win best picture, but this film does belong in the category.

****

– Kyle Moss

`Gladiator’

“Gladiator” was all the buzz when it was released this summer with words such as epoch being used to describe it.

This Ridley Scott-directed film starring Russell Crowe tells the tale of the Roman Empire thrown out of whack in the year 180 after the death of the emperor.

Filled with intense action, flawless acting and a love story for the ages, “Gladiator” has been thrust to the top of many critics picks for best picture.

Only the excessive length and a few boring instances are blemishes for this film, but those are easily overpowered by the magnitude to which this film has been presented and accepted.

****

– Kyle Moss

`Traffic’

Combining slick artistic technique, a provocative storyline and compelling characters, “Traffic” stands out in a relatively boring year for the movie industry.

The lives of a Drug Czar (Michael Douglas), his heroin-addicted daughter, Mexican and American police officers and a millionaire drug lord intertwine to form one centralized story.

Though some may dismiss the film as drawn out and boring, its soap opera-like technique of switching between storylines is really effective in captivating viewers.

Also directed by Steven Soderbergh, “Traffic” deserves more recognition than his other film slated for a Best Picture nomination, “Erin Brokovich.”

Though I’m guessing “Gladiator” will take home the Oscar, I would like to see either “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” or “Traffic” win the award for Best Picture.

**** 1/2

– Conor Bezane