Best Editing Analysis

Not an easy survey; most awards don't talk about editing either.

This year's nominees are:

• Cidade de Deus - Daniel Rezende
• Cold Mountain - Walter Murch
• Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The - Jamie Selkirk
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World - Lee Smith
• Seabiscuit - William Goldenberg

The most significant indicator should be the guild (American Cinema Editors Award, the "Eddie") and they seem to have a pretty good track record.

The Eddie this year went to Lord of the Rings.

Rezende has only worked on 4 films; he won the British Oscar (BAFTA) this year.

Murch is an old pro. Nominated 8 times (3 for sound) and won three.

• 1974 - SOUND -- The Conversation
• 1977 - FILM EDITING -- Julia
• 1979 - FILM EDITING -- Apocalypse Now
• 1979 - * SOUND -- Apocalypse Now (won)
• 1990 - FILM EDITING -- Ghost
• 1990 - FILM EDITING -- The Godfather, Part III
• 1996 - * FILM EDITING -- The English Patient (won)
• 1996 - * SOUND -- The English Patient (won)

Selkirk is Lord of the Rings. Smith hasn't had a great record and Goldenberg was nominated (lost) for "The Insider."

I say, Lord of the Rings.