tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569750317755310322.post8961812045377834539..comments2023-11-19T04:43:33.827+11:00Comments on Matt vs. the Academy: Best Picture of 1998Matt Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317583098531787395noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569750317755310322.post-49101262342549227772011-11-01T08:42:09.432+11:002011-11-01T08:42:09.432+11:00As I'm sure you could tell from my comments on...As I'm sure you could tell from my comments on your Shakespeare in Love post, that is my pick for the best picture of that year. I probably would have Saving Private Ryan second still. I agree with you on The Thin Red Line. Elizabeth was good, but it was the makeup transformation (which deservedly won the Oscar) that really made that movie. As for Life is Beautiful, the humor didn't always work for me, given the situation.Chiphttp://tipsfromchip.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569750317755310322.post-3139127146068721032011-10-30T03:37:44.088+11:002011-10-30T03:37:44.088+11:00I have to admit that it was a lot tougher to rule ...I have to admit that it was a lot tougher to rule out Shakespeare In Love than I thought it was going to be. It was actually a tough decision between the top three. And if The Truman Show had been nominated, it would have been a four-way decision. I also loved that film. On my list of faves from 1998, I also cited Primary Colors, Pleasantville, A Simple Plan and A Civil Action.<br /><br />As for the performances, I'm perhaps biased but I would have picked Aussie Cate Blanchett for Best Actress. My Supporting Actress pick was Kathy Bates in Primary Colors. Her final scene is heartbreaking. <br /><br />For the actors, it would have been nice to see Rush win for Supporting Actor. Such comedic performances are too rarely rewarded. For lead actor, I'd need to have another look at Gods and Monsters to be truly fair, but I have no qualms about Benigni winning. (I suppose Benigni's performance could be classified as comedic, but the performance works because of its dynamic. I think if it was a solely comic performance, I would not select him.)Matt Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10317583098531787395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569750317755310322.post-27417448899458318252011-10-30T00:25:38.781+11:002011-10-30T00:25:38.781+11:00Reviewing my Top Ten list from 1998, only Elizabet...Reviewing my Top Ten list from 1998, only Elizabeth from the nominees, was missing. Some of my choices included Croupier, Gods and Monsters, Dark City, The Spanish Prisoner and The Truman Show. This last one is probably the one that came closest to have been officially nominated.<br /> <br />So, Elizabeth finishes fifth, followed by:<br /><br />The Thin Red Line: Fourth<br /><br />Life is Beautiful: A strong third<br /><br />Saving Private Ryan – a very close second, but despite being the more prestigious film, had a few weaknesses that cost it the top prize. The D-Day sequence was so riveting, that it would have been nearly impossible for the remainder not to feel like a letdown of sorts. <br /><br />Shakespeare in Love: I agree with the Academy this time. It is always hard to pick a romantic comedy over a dramatic film, but I can’t deny a film that covers all its bases nearly flawlessly. For the 28 film years we have evaluated, this is the 6th time I’ve picked a film with comedy elements for the top prize. The others, which have various degrees of comedy were: Stage Door (1937), Dr. Strangelove (1964), The Graduate (1967), The Sting (1973) and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986).<br /><br />My 1998 Ballot for the top categories:<br />Picture: Shakespeare in Love<br />Director: Steven Spielberg<br />Actor: Ian McKellen, Gods and Monsters<br />Actress: Gwyneth Paltrow, Shakespeare in Love<br />Supporting Actor: Billy Bob Thornton, A Simple Plan<br />Supporting Actress: Judi Dench, Shakespeare in Love. Comparing her performance to say Rachel Griffiths, who had probably 8 times the screen time as Dench is grossly unfair. However, that is the nature of this category.<br /><br />I’ve only seen All Quiet on the Western Front from the 1929/30 Best Picture contenders. Although that picture is no doubt the prohibitive favorite, I think youtube has the others. As always, I'll try to keep an open mind.Mike Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953461679716236054noreply@blogger.com