Not much has changed in this regard over the years except dwindling participation from yours truly, which is most regrettable. My situation has changed drastically over the last two year's time and I don't have the accessiblility, transportation, or resources to see all the new movies all the time anymore. (I'm lucky to catch them on video.) I always make arrangements for the blockbusters, of course, but then again, with some notable exceptions, they are not routinely nominated for Oscars.

Matt Drinnenberg sent his his predictions very late over the weekend and I'm not sure how many of you saw them (to see what he picked and commented on, please review last week's Matt's Rail.) Thankfully, Matt can still catch a flick or two at his bijou up north. To me, if I can't personally see the movies, then I'm just aping the predictions of others which is essentially meaningless. Therefore, for the first time ever, I am recusing myself from voting at all. My esteemed colleagus are way more qualified than I am this year to make these choices.

So, here we go. Following are the winners of the 2003 Academy Awards (broadcast March 23, 2003), and how Mike and Matt scored. There are some pretty big surprises:

Nominations	2003 Winners	OUR PICKS
BEST PICTURE: CHICAGO GANGS OF NEW YORK THE HOURS THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS THE PIANIST	CHICAGO	Mike: Chicago Matt: Chicago
Best Director: Rob Marshall for CHICAGO Martin Scorsese for GANGS OF NEW YORK Stephen Daldrey for THE HOURS Roman Polanski for THE PIANIST Pedro Almodóvar for TALK TO HER	Roman Polanski for THE PIANIST	Mike: Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York Matt: Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York
Best Leading Actor: ADREIN BRODY in THE PIANIST NICHOLAS CAGE in ADAPTATION MICHAEL CAINE in THE QUIET AMERICAN DANIEL DAY-LEWIS in GANGS OF NEW YORK JACK NICHOLSON in ABOUT SCHMIDT	ADREIN BRODY in THE PIANIST	Mike: Daniel Day-Lewis in GANGS OF NEW YORK Matt: Michael Caine in THE QUIET
Best Leading Actress: SALMA HAYEK in FRIDA NICOLE KIDMAN in THE HOURS DIANE LANE in UNFAITHFUL JULIANNE MOORE in FAR FROM HEAVEN RENEE ZELLWEGER in CHICAGO	NICOLE KIDMAN  in THE HOURS	Mike: Renee Zellweger in CHICAGO Matt: Nicole Kidman in THE HOURS
Best Supporting Actor: CHRIS COOPER in ADAPTATION ED HARRIS in THE HOURS PAUL NEWMAN in FAR FROM HEAVEN JOHN C. REILLY in CHICAGO CHRISTOPHER WALLEN in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN	CHRIS COOPER in ADAPTATION	Mike: Chris Cooper in ADAPTATION Matt: Paul Newman in FAR FROM HEAVEN
Best Supporting Actress: KATHY BATES in ABOUT SCHMIDT JULIANNE MOORE in THE HOURS QUEEN LATIFAH in CHICAGO MERYL STREEP in ADAPTATION CATHERINE ZETA-JONES in CHICAGO	CATHERINE ZETA-JONES in CHICAGO	Mike: Catherine Zeta-Jones in CHICAGO Matt: Catherine Zeta-Jones in CHICAGO
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM EL CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO HERO THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST NOWHERE IN AFRICA ZUS & ZO	NOWHERE IN AFRICA	Mike: ZUS & ZO Matt: NOWHERE IN AFRICA
COSTUME DESIGN CHICAGO FRIDA GANGS OF NEW YORK THE HOURS THE PIANIST	CHICAGO	Mike: GANGS OF NEW YORK Matt: GANGS OF NEW YORK
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG) CHICAGO 8 MILE FRIDA GANGS OF NEW YORK THE WILD THORNBERRY'S MOVIE	"Lose Yourself" from "8  MILE," Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto.	Mike: "Lose Yourself" from 8 MILE Matt: "I Move On" from CHICAGO

And the OTHER WINNERS

Adapted Screenplay: "The Pianist," Ronald Harwood.    Mike: "The Hours" -- David Hare  Matt: "The Hours" -- David Hare

Animated Feature: "Spirited Away."    Mike: "Ice Age"  Matt: "Ice Age"

Animated Short Film: "The ChubbChubbs!"    Mike: "The ChubbChubbs!"  Matt: "Mike's New Car" (in honor of Bruce, the car)

Art Direction: "Chicago."    Mike: "Frida"  Matt: "Chicago"

Cinematography: "Road to Perdition."    Mike: "Road To Perdition" --Conrad L. Hall  Matt: Road to Perdition -- Conrad L. Hall

Documentary Feature: "Bowling for Columbine." (Michael Moore)    Mike: "Bowling For Columbine"  Matt: "Bowling For Columbine"

Documentary (short subject): "Twin Towers."    Mike: (no vote)  Matt: (no vote)

Film Editing: "Chicago."    Mike: "Chicago"  Matt: "Gangs of New York"

Live Action Short Film: "This Charming Man (Der Er En Yndig Mand)."    Mike: (no vote)  Matt: (no vote)

Makeup: "Frida."    Mike: "Frida"  Matt: "The Time Machine"

Original Score: "Frida."    Mike: "Catch Me If You Can"  Matt: "Road To Perdition"

Original Screenplay: "Talk to Her," Pedro Almodovar.    Mike: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" Nia Vardalos  Matt: "Gangs of New York"

Sound: "Chicago."    Mike: "Chicago"  Matt: "Chicago"

Sound Editing: "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."    Mike: "Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers"  Matt: "Minority Report"

Visual Effects: "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."    Mike: "Star Wars: Episode Two--Attack of The Clones"  Matt: "Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers"

THE RESULTS: An earlier edition of PCR erroneously indicated Mike did not enter a vote for Best Original Score, but he did (my aging eyesight -- N). However, the vote was not a winner so that doesn't change the final score. The only two categories not voted upon, Documentary Short Subject and Live Action Short Film, will be ignored for this excercise. That leaves 22 out of 24 categories voted on by both gentlemen. FINAL SCORE: Mike -- 11, Matt -- 9. But look at that! Even though Mike takes the crown again, it ain't by much and check this: just half of his final list agreed with the actual winners, which I don't think has never happened before! The biggest upset in our short PCR history.
Thanks to Matt Drinnenberg and Mike Smith for taking part in our annual Oscar Picks Challenge. Maybe next year, I will have seen enough movies to be able to vote!

President Bush visits MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL
As I write these words, and I mean at this actual moment (Wednesday, 26th, 10:45am), President George W. Bush is speaking on television at our own MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, barely 2 and a half miles from my front door. Weird. Altho "Central Eastern Command" has allegedly been moved to the Saudi deserts from Tampa, there is apparently enough still here to warrant a personal visit from the Dubya-meister. Seated behind him in the audience is his brother, our Governor, Jeb Bush. I'm afraid I'm not hip enough on political matters to know exactly what The Prez is doing here, but it's pretty exciting (or disturbing) having the two Bush brothers this close together this close to home. Dubya's speech is pretty much what you'd expect. Progress in the war on Iraq.
I hope he stops by 7-Eleven for a Slurpee, you know, sort of a Joe-6-pack, photo-op kind of thing. I'd love to get some snaps with him to show the kids.

La Floridiana tidbits....    by William Moriaty

TROPICS, WHITE WITCH FOUNDER BUDDY PENDERGRASS DEAD AT 55
Tampa rock icon Buddy Pendergrass, who founded the 60's group The Tropics, and the early 70's group White Witch died on Sunday March 16, 2003 at the age of 55. The cause of death has not yet been released.

MIAMI: RENOVATIONS DISTRESSING
Famed Miami strip club "Club Pink Pussycat" is slated for potential purchase and subsequent demolition as a result of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) purchasing the building located at 3890 N.W. 36th Street not far from Miami International Airport and Miami Jai-Alai.

The bright pink club with neon lights has hosted celebrities, athletes and even a group of owners from a New York organized crime family according to press reports.

MDX wants the land and surrounding area for its planned $245 million dollar Interconnector Expressway expansion project envisioned as a way of linking the Dolphin Expressway (S.R. 836) to the Airport Expressway (SR 121).

In the same manner that the Miami Intermodal Center has destroyed much of the circa 40s through 60s buildings and hotels east of LeJuene Street next to Miami International Airport, the proposed Interconnector poses a threat to the remaining buildings of that era further east. Hopefully the Miami Jai-Alai fronton will not be one of the victim's of this proposed roadway.

If the authority buys the land that the club is on, the state agency will be willing to lease the building back to the club's owner, William Seidle, until the construction begins. Construction is scheduled in 2007 with completion slated for 2012.

Although the expansion of Miami International Airport has been necessary, it is tragic to see so many historic icons having been destroyed and proposed to be destroyed for this growth. Almost 3/4ths of the northern perimeter of the airport had hangers and buildings dating back to the 30's and 40's demolished to make way for a third Runway 9/27. Then all the circa 40's through 60's hotels, restaurants and buildings along LeJeune were removed to make way for the associated Miami Intermodal Center, and now the latest about the proposed removal of the "Club Pink Pussycat" and possibly the Miami Jai-alai fronton.

I admire Miami for looking toward the future, but admonish it for neglecting its past. --- William Moriaty