Happy Birthday Paul Haggis

Happy Belated Birthday Academy Award Winning Director Paul Haggis

In the Valley of Elah (2007)

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Crash (2004)

Saltzman Sees...Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Million Dollar Baby won my Best Actress (Hilary Swank) and Best Screenplay (Paul Haggis) and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Clint Eastwood), Best Actor (Eastwood) and Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) in 2004.

Saltzman Sees...2004 Oscars

2004 Nominees & Award Winners of My Oscars

• Best Picture

Crash
Million Dollar Baby
Miracle
Something The Lord Made


• Best Director

Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby)
Paul Haggis (Crash)
Michael Moore (Farenheit 9/11)
Gavin O'Conner (Miracle)


• Best Family Picture

The Incredibles
The Polar Express
Shrek 2


• Best Screenplay

Eric Guggenheim (Miracle)
Taylor Hackford & James L. White (Ray)
Paul Haggis (Crash & Million Dollar Baby)
Allan Knee & David Magee (Finding Neverland)


• Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Aviator)
Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby)
Jamie Foxx (Ray)
Kurt Russell (Miracle)


• Best Actress

Cate Blanchett (The Aviator)
Kim Basinger (Cellular)
Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby)
Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)


• Best Supporting Actor

Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Along Came Polly)
Michael Pena (Crash)
Steve Zahn (Employee of the Month)


• Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Espisito (Crash)
Diane Kruger (Troy)
Thandie Newton (Crash)
Natalie Portman (Garden State)

To see all the movies I've seen in 2004, Click Here

Saltzman Sees...2004 Top Ten Lists

2004

1. Crash**


2. Miracle


3. Million Dollar Baby


4. Hotel Rwanda


5. Ray


6. Something the Lord Made


7. Anchorman. The Legend of Ron Burgundy


8. The Terminal


9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind


10. Finding Neverland

** Crash won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Picture, despite being a 2004 movie. 

For all of the movies I have seen in 2004, Go to: http://saltinuts40.tripod.com/movies2004.html  

Saltzman Sees...Top 10 Sports Movies of All-Time

Moneyball doesn't make my top 10, despite being a top 10 movie in 2011.  Here is my top 10 sports movies of all-time

1. Field of Dreams: A love story between a father and son and their love for the game of baseball.  One of the most beautiful stories ever on screen.

2. Hoosiers: The greatest underdog story in movie history, with incredible performances by Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper, and the small town of "Hickory."

3. Rudy: Underdog stories are a common theme in sports, and Rudy is as inspirational as they come of a young boy living his life long dream.

4. Remember the Titans: The hard truths of racism in America during the 1960's is documented brilliantly through the eyes of two men coaching football in Virginia. Denzel Washington is coach Herman Boone.

5. Rocky: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young and Carl Weathers are magnificent in a true tale of opportunity in America. A beautiful love story that proves the American Dream is still possible.

6. Miracle: One of the greatest upsets ever, documented beautifully by Disney. A true David and Goliath. Kurt Russell is tremendous.

7. Brian's Song: One of the most unlikely but truly great friendships ever immortalized on film.  James Caan and Billie Dee Williams are terrific as Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers.

8. Million Dollar Baby: A story of determination and love that captures the human spirit. Clint Eastwood's heartfelt story of a woman's dedication to make something of herself.

9. Radio: The true story of a young man who brought out the best in everyone he ever touched. Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris, Alfre Woodard and Debra Winger are masterful telling the tale of 'Radio."

10. Seabiscuit: Jeff Bridges, Tobey Maguire and Chris Cooper learn about hope during one of the darkest times in our nation's history. During the depression, America fell in love with an undersized, overweight horse.

For more on my love affair with the Cinema, please go to: SaltzmanSees.blogspot.com