With some of the critics pulling for LA Confiidental and the fact they dislike Titanic...could this picture loose the oscar?

-- Al Jollimore (tah@netcom.ca), February 26, 1998

Answers

The AMPAS membership seems to have a subtle dislike of films that are **too** successful at the box office (Spielberg's "E.T." is a good example). LA Confidential is supposedly a more "arty" film, plus it's set in 1950s Hollywood, so the industry folks can identify with it more.

Titanic is deservedly the favorite for best picture, plus several other awards, but I wouldn't bet next month's rent on it.

Cheers!

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), February 26, 1998.

The popular success of Titanic has probably doomed it for best picture. Look for LAC to win since the academy members will want to give it a boost at the box-office and appear to be the arbiters of artistic merit over popular sentiment. Cameron might have a difficult time winning as best director (though he deserves it), the academy voters may attempt to jealously limit his power in Hollywood by denying him (a la Spielberg). His difficult nature during the production didn't win him any friends and this may give the voters justification. Titanic will win many of the technical awards it so richly deserves. For me , the number of Oscars a movie wins doesn't really matter. Fine films have lost and mediocre movies have won, and I won't be disappointed either way come Oscar night.

-- Dan Dalton (DDa2309070@aol.com), February 27, 1998.

I would love to see 'Titanic' win the best picture Oscar, but I would not be surprised if it didn't. I was very surprised when it won the Golden Globe best drama.

Like Kip indicated, the success of 'Titanic' may actually work against it in this regard. The Academy voters may have it in for such a "popular" film. I've also heard that James Cameron is not liked by most Hollywood people, including the Academy; he is considered "arrogant" and criticized to spending too much money.

My best advice here is: don't expect it to win. If it does, then great. If it doesn't, remember this: the Academy doesn't affect your enjoyment one iota. In the end, *your* enjoyment, and *your* judgement, is all that really matters, right?

-- Thomas Shoebotham (cathytom@ix.netcom.com), February 27, 1998.

I believe Titanic WILL win the oscar for best movie and best director. This movie is just too big and too good to ignore. Titanic is nearing one billion dollars in sales because people love it. Lots of people. I don't think the voting members of the academy want to anger that many people. After all, they are the same people who work in the industry and make a very nice living. Can you imagine how angry people would be with Hollywood? As for acting, I would be surprised if Titanic won anything there, not that Kate Winslet does not deserve it. She does. She did a fantastic acting job. But in the end, the best actor in Titanic was the ship and that is why it deserves best picture and director.

-- Linda (Ashokan4@yahoo.com), February 27, 1998.