“Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” Directed by Guy Ferland Miramax Films I am sad to say I didn’t have the time of my life “¦ again with “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.” While the film slavishly follows the formula of the original “Dirty Dancing,” all of the familiarity that hooked audiences in the original rendition is rushed through without a second thought in the remake. Read more...

WILL Win: “Lost in Translation” SHOULD Win: “Lost in Translation” While “Lost in Translation” is nominated for a total of four Oscars, it will probably lose Best Picture and Best Director to more glaring blockbusters like “Lord of the Rings.” To prevent Sofia Coppola and the film’s fans from feeling completely shafted, the Academy will most likely honor the subtly poignant film with Best Original Screenplay. Read more...

Fueled by charges of anti-Semitism for its depiction of the death of Jesus, the release of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ” may have already ignited enough controversy to be considered an event of biblical proportions. Read more...

WILL Win: Charlize Theron, “Monster” SHOULD Win: Keisha Castle-Hughes, “Whale RIder” Theron will undoubtedly take home this prize, as the Academy loves to reward really hot women who make themselves look ugly for parts. Read more...

WILL Win: “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” SHOULD Win: “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” There’s just no arguing with the power of the “Ring.” Just as one fabled Ring of Power ruled over every species of Middle Earth, so will one trilogy rule over the entire Academy Awards ceremony this year. Read more...

“The Big Lebowski” and “Raising Arizona” New Beverly Cinema Feb. 20 ““ 21 How cool are the Coen brothers? We should all thank the New Beverly programmers for screening two of their best comedies back-to-back all weekend long. Read more...

“Eurotrip” Directed by Jeff Schaffer Dreamworks Just when movie-goers started to think they were locked in a perpetual cycle of bad bathroom humor, “Eurotrip” brings something new. Read more...