Well I thought Nicolas Cage has accomplished his best performance since "Leaving Las Vegas," but I still wonder why Ebert would pick him over Adrien Brody. I didn't see the "If We Picked the Winners" special but I've seen "The Pianist" three times already and I'd pick Brody. He's taken a lot more chances than any of the four nominees amongst him, even Michael Caine. Surely I do believe Nicolas Cage has done a good job in "Adaptation" in creating a portrait of a lonely, shy, would-be screenwriter but there are lots of performers out there who could play that role. How many people can play Mr. Szpilman? Not very many. Out of all the nominees in the Best Actor category, Brody has convinced me much greater in being physical in performing. Even his facial expressions are far more memorable and frightening.