The nominees were ...
And the Oscar went to ...
The English Patient. I'm torn. I think this is a magnificent picture, with exceptional performances beautifully directed by Anthony Minghella, who won, and was nominated for his screenplay. Juliette Binoche was a surprise winner for supporting actress (the smart money had been on a sentimental win for Lauren Bacall in The Mirror Has Two Faces), and Oscars went to the movie's art direction, John Seale's cinematography, Ann Roth's costumes, Walter Murch's editing (he also shared in the Oscar for sound), and Gabriel Yared's score. And I won't argue with any of those wins. But there was another picture that year which I love more.
The English Patient. I'm torn. I think this is a magnificent picture, with exceptional performances beautifully directed by Anthony Minghella, who won, and was nominated for his screenplay. Juliette Binoche was a surprise winner for supporting actress (the smart money had been on a sentimental win for Lauren Bacall in The Mirror Has Two Faces), and Oscars went to the movie's art direction, John Seale's cinematography, Ann Roth's costumes, Walter Murch's editing (he also shared in the Oscar for sound), and Gabriel Yared's score. And I won't argue with any of those wins. But there was another picture that year which I love more.
... when it should have gone to ...
 |
| Fargo |
Has there ever been a film more skilled at mythologizing an unexplored corner of America than Fargo? The Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, manage to take an ice-bound scrap of Minnesota and populate it with characters both loopy and credible, from the plucky Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) to the weaselly Jerry Lundegard (William H. Macy) to the murderous odd couple of killers played by Steve Buscemi and Pete Stormare. Plus an array of locals with strange accents and attitudes. Oscars went to McDormand as actress and to the Coens for their screenplay, with nominations to Macy, Roger Deakins for cinematography, Joel for directing, Ethan for producing, and "Roderick Jaynes" (the Coens' pseudonym) for editing. It was the brothers' first big Oscar success, and remains perhaps their most completely wonderful movie.
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