This film didn't blow me out of the water like LOTR, but it was good. I don't think that it should have won over LOTR though- which was obviously a better movie all around. The highligth of this film was Jennifer Connely- she was amazing and totally deserved the Oscar. Russel Crowe was also brilliant. This was the year of the snubbs at the Oscars. Denzel sucked in Training Day and LOTR was better than this- this should have won BEST DIRECTOR< ACTOR< AND SUPPRTING ACTRESS and thats it.