1999 Academy Awards

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Hi, everybody, were people surprised that Saving Private Ryan did not win best picture? I was because that was everybody talked about this past year. I was sick and tired of hearing how it was better than Titanic. I was glad it got upset. I did not see Shakespeare in Love, but heard it was good. Was it deserving of the Best Picture? I think that because it did not win best picture, Saving Private Ryan lost some of its luster. What does everyone think?

-- Najmul M Islam (najmi@udel.edu), March 24, 1999

Answers

I saw Shakespeare in Love, and while it was good, it wasn't (in my opinion) worthy of an Oscar. Don't get me wrong, I loved the film, as most would agree it was great, but to me it just didn't top as Oscar material. One thing for sure I didn't understand was Mame Judy Dench getting the best supporting actress award for her 8 minutes on camera. I do believe that that foreign woman (name?) proved an excellent performance, even though I didn't see the movie. (the clip was pretty good) Overall, I was dissapointed at the lack of morality at the hosting. Whoopi Goldberg proved tasteless and neurotic at her constant slams to the Republican party. I myself, a Republican, found it ridiculous for Hollywood to portray Republicans in such a way as the awards did. (anyone who watched it would know what I'm talking about) I suppose most of Hollywood is Liberal (not all, but some as proved that night), and it was dissapointing to see politics brought into something I get to enjoy once a year. Did anyone know that Monica Lewinsky was there? Anyway, let's not get into that.

I did see Saving Private Ryan, and I suppose it could have won best picture. Of the five or so films up for a nod, I only saw SPR and Shakespeare in Love (though I would have liked to have seen Life is Beautiful, I couldn't find the chance), so I have to say I didn't really have a wide range to choose from. I really did expect SPR to win, with all the controversy over such a graphic war film that brings both glory and honor to the men that died in the war, I expected the academy to slide toward SPR out of respect. Even still, Steven Speilberg got Best Director. His parents must have been darn proud! (well deserved in my opinion) Well, I'm glad SIL won. Good for them! Gweneth Paltrow sure seemed to be happy when she accepted her Best Actress award. Who wouldn't be? She did a great job in SIL and I say good for her! I think she's got a bright future ahead. However, though I didn't see One True Thing, I would have liked to see Meryl Streep take it home. It seemed (by critics and friends) that Streep did an amazing job playing a cancer stricken mother. It came too close to home for me though; I couldn't bring myself to see it. But it was honorable for Gweneth to have the grace to mention all the actresses up for her win and acknowledge them for their talent. Well, I've bended your ears for long enough. Any thoughts?

-- Kelly (kelly_rose1@hotmail.com), March 24, 1999.


I myself am a republican too. I found it tastless. Another thing that aggrevated me is the whole Elizabeth thing in the beginning. Does Hollywood find it humorous to poke fun of the most famous Queen of all time? I was not amused at all. It is fine for an African-American to dress as a white person, yet if Gwenyth Paltrow came out dressed as Aunt Jamima from "Roots" there would be an outcry. Oh well, I am glad I got that off my chest.

-- Laura (alimcbeil@aol.com), March 25, 1999.

I'm more Republican than Democrat, and I really enjoyed the show, including Whoopi's jokes. It seemed like a fair distribution of awards. I felt strongly that Lynn Redgrave should have gotten Best Supporting Actress for "Gods and Monsters", but Judi Dynch probably got it because many felt she deserved Best Actress last year (when it went to Helen Hunt). Politics. I don't mind Shakespeare winning Best Piccie, though I preferred SPR. But last I checked SPR made over $200 million, while Shakespeare made around $70 million. Speilberg is crying all the way to the bank.

-- BobG (bob@bob.bob), March 25, 1999.

I too lean more conservative than liberal...but I must say, I didn't notice an exceptional amount of slams on the Republican party myself. I noticed more jokes with sexual connotation (sp?) than anything else. I DID however, feel that the show was TOO DANG LONG!!! Enough with the tributes to this person and that person for cryin' out loud! I was shocked at SIL winning over SPR, if only for the fact that it's so rare for the best director and best picture awards to not be one and the same. Other than that...I didn't see any of the films nominated this year, so I don't have an opinion.

But how fabulous were Celine and Andrea??? Whitney and Mariah needed to just SIT DOWN!

-- Gilded Age Junkie (gildedagejunkie@yahoo.com), March 29, 1999.


It was a pity that Titanic didn't get "upset"; it really was an awful film, and didn't deserve a shower of awards...

-- Matthew (pope_matthew@hotmail.com), April 02, 1999.


yes, gilded, mariah and whitney needed to sit down!! i hate the way whitney always sweats when she sings. i thought celine and andrea's song really deserved to win; it's such a beautiful song.

-- cgk (cbroce@usit.net), April 03, 1999.

Well, I sweat when I sing, so when I am asked to perform at the Oscars someday you might want to take that opportunity to get a little snack from the kitchen. LOL. ;^

-- Gilded Age Junkie (gildedagejunkie@yahoo.com), April 04, 1999.

hi i saw titanic. It is very nice i saw many films but i didnt like other film as titanic i didnt saw shakespeare in Love but if i see also the titanic film will be the great film for me than other film ankit

-- ankit tanna (ankittanna_2002@yahoo.co.in), February 03, 2003.

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