Tuesday morning, February 10, the annual Oscar nominees were announced. Titanic led the nominations with 14 nominations, a tie for the record set years ago. Below is the entire list of nominees, along with my personal opinion of who deserved the nomination, who didn't, who was left out, and who deserves to win. As I know you just want to get onto the list, here it is. Think I'm wrong? E-mail me and complain! respect@aros.net.
Note: I haven't seen all the films, and so my decisions are based on what I have seen and what other critics and people have told me about them. Sorry about this, but hey, I'm not being paid to see these films.
The awards will be announced Monday, March 23, 1998 on ABC.
Best Picture
As Good As It Gets
The Full Monty
Good Will Hunting
L.A. Confidential
Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
Only three. Titanic was a sure bet, as was L.A. Confidential. Both were powerful films that deserved the nomination. I was pleseantly surprised to see The Full Monty included in the group..
Who didn't deserve it?
As Good As It Gets and Good Will Hunting. The comedy was not as funny as it could have been, and it wasn't as romantic as it should have been. The genius/rebellion film was a very good film, but there were too many that were better.
Who was left out?
Contact, Boogie Nights, and Cop Land. These three films were much stronger than As Good As It Gets or The Full Monty (although the latter is good enough to warrant the nomination). However, two of them suffered from early release dates, and Boogie Nights was too audacious for the conservative Academy voters.
Who deserves to win?
Titanic. Not only has it broken many box office records, but it touched the hearts of almost everyone who has seen it. L.A. Confidential is the only other possible contender, but if it wins, I would have no problems with it.
Best Director
Peter Cattaneo, The Full Monty
Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting
Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential
Atom Egoyan, The Sweet Hereafter
James Cameron, Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
Atom Egoyan, James Cameron, and Curtis Hanson.
Who didn't deserve it?
Peter Cattaneo and Gus Van Sant. Both are good, but neither are spectacular. They both took more of an objective approach without using the camera effectively (one of my pet peeves).
Who was left out?
Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights and David Fincher, The Game. The first is obvious, but the latter is my personal opinion. Fincher will one day be recognized with a gold statue!
Who deserves to win?
James Cameron, Titanic. He's provided years of entertainment for audiences, and finally is getting recognized for his epic. It's almost a guaranteed win. Director James L. Brooks was left off this list, and as a result, As Good As It Gets will more than likely not win Best Picture. Atom Egoyan is also a very good choice, as is Curtis Hanson. But my odds go with everyone else's.
Best Actor
Matt Damon, Good Will Hunting
Robert Duvall, The Apostle
Peter Fonda, Ulee's Gold
Dustin Hoffman, Wag the Dog
Jack Nicholson, As good As It Gets
Who deserved the nomination?
This one is tough. Dustin Hoffman certainly did. I haven't seen Duvall or Fonda's performances, so I can't judge. There were so many good performances this year to choose from.
Who didn't deserve it?
Jack Nicholson and Matt Damon. I picked both for a nomination at first, but when the nominees were announced, there were several omitted performances that deserved it more.
Who was left off?
Leonardo DiCaprio, Titanic, Kevin Kline, In & Out, Sylvester Stallone, Cop Land, and Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter. DiCaprio was screwed over and left off for no apparent reason. Kline gave the funniest performance of the year (and could have replaced Hoffman who has had more than enough nominations). Stallone deserved the nomination probably the most for his incredible portrayal of a hearing-impared sheriff. Stallone was screwed again, and only because his film was released at the beginning of the year. Ian Holm could have replaced Damon and made the list one of all older men. However, Holm also deserves it more.
Who deserves to win?
This one is difficult. Damon was very convincing as the genius with a past and Hoffman was impressive as a Hollywood producer. However, Fonda will most likely snag it due to his win at the Golden Globes. The one deserving to win wasn't nominated (Stallone or Holm).
Best Actress
Helena Bonham Carter, The Wings of the Dove
Julie Christie, Afterglow
Judi Dench, Mrs. Brown
Helen Hunt, As Good As It Gets
Kate Winslet, Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
Kate Winslet, Judi Dench, and Helena Bonham Carter. I didn't see Julie Christie's performance (never even heard of the film), but one glaring omission should have the Academy voters shot.
Who didn't deserve it?
Helen Hunt. Her performance was good, but she could have easily been cut for a much better performance by...
Who was left off?
Jodie Foster. This was probably the most obvious mistake by the Academy. Her performance was incredible, and should have warranted a nomination, if not the actual award. The Academy should be shot for leaving her off.
Who deserves to win?
Helena Bonham Carter. While Judi Dench's performance may have been good, and Winslet overpowered all the special effects and even DiCaprio to steal the film, Carter managed a very powerful performance (perhaps the strongest this year). If Helen Hunt wins the award, my opinion of the Academy Awards will decline greatly. After all, her performance was nothing special, with most of her dramatic moments coming off as artificial.
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Forster, Jackie Brown
Anthony Hopkins, Amistad
Greg Kinnear, As Good As It Gets
Burt Reynolds, Boogie Nights
Robin Williams, Good Will Hunting
Who deserved the nomination?
Forster deserved it, along with Kinnear and Williams. Reynolds definitely deserved it, and Hopkins was a likely choice.
Who didn't deserve it?
None.
Who was left off?
Tom Selleck in In & Out and Kevin Spacey for L.A. Confidential. Selleck was very good and very funny, but Spacey definitely should have been nominated. Spacey was very strong in his performance, but the Academy probably couldn't distinguish which of the male actors was the supporting one.
Who deserves to win?
Definitely Burt Reynolds. If not for his performance, then to hear him apologize to his agent at the podium whom he fired after seeing Boogie Nights.
Best Supporting Actress
Kim Basinger, L.A. Confidential
Joan Cusack, In & Out
Minnie Driver, Good Will Hunting
Julianne Moore, Boogie Nights
Gloria Stuart, Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them. They are all very good choices. Kudos to the Academy.
Who didn't deserve it?
None.
Who was left off?
Two actresses were definite contenders. Charlize Theron for The Devil's Advocate and Sigourney Weaver for The Ice Storm. Theron wouldn't have been nominated for her powerful performance because the film is a very liberal look at lawyer life. Weaver could have been nominated, but she's been screwed by the Academy before, so why stop now?
Who deserves to win?
Kim Basinger. Her performance was subtle, soft, and significant. It was definitely the best of the year. Gloria Stuart also has a chance to win due to her veteran status, and her emotional performance. Moore was great, but her risque performance may turn away many voters. Driver was also terrific, but she is the black horse of the group. If Cusack wins, I wouldn't have any problem either.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Attanasio, Donnie Brasco
Brian Helgeland & Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential
Atom Egoyan, The Sweet Hereafter
Hilary Henkin and David Mamet, Wag the Dog
Hossein Amini, The Wings of the Dove
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them deserved it, but Attanasio is perhaps a very liberal choice.
Who didn't deserve it?
None.
Who was left off?
Elmore Leonard and Quentin Tarantino for Jackie Brown, and James V. Hart and Michael Goldenberg for Contact. Jackie Brown was one of the smartest films of the year, and Contact was one of the best films of the year. However, the latter film was forgotten by the Academy in almost every category it deserved.
Who deserves to win?
Brian Helgelan & Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential. This is one of the smartest films of the year and should get this award (as it probably won't win Best Picture).
Best Original Screenplay
Mark Andrus & James L. Brooks, As Good As It Gets
Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights
Woody Allen, Deconstructing Harry
Simon Beaufor, The Full Monty
Ben Affleck & Matt Damon, Good Will Hunting
Who deserved the nomination?
Paul Thomas Anderson deserved it. Beaufor also deserved it, as did Ben Affleck & Matt Damon.
Who didn't deserve it?
Woody Allen's script was good, but it wasn't really Oscar worthy. As Good As It Gets's screenplay was really nothing special, but the Academy must like it (I guess I don't get it).
Who was left off?
James Cameron's screenplay was smart, cheesy, and wonderfully romantic. The biggest surprise here was that the Academy didn't seem to even bother watching In the Company of Men, certainly deserving of this nomination.
Who deserves to win?
Surprisingly, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon deserve it. Not only is it funny and charming, but it contains a lot of moral messages, putting new perspectives on cliched plot elements.
Best Foreign Film
Beyond Silence, Germany
Character, The Netherlands
Four Days in September, Brazil
Secrets of the Heart, Spain
The Thief, Russia
I have not seen any of these, and so I can not judge. Any of them could win.
Best Art Direction
Gattaca
Kundun
L.A. Confidential
Men in Black
Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them, though Men in Black could have been bumped for a better choice.
Who didn't deserve it?
Perhaps MIB, but it was pretty good.
Who was left off?
The Devil's Advocate. This was visually impressive, with a fantastic art design. Another film was The Fifth Element which had some of the best sets this year.
Who deserves to win?
It's a toss-up between three films. Gattaca was stunningly gorgeous, L.A. Confidential's film noirish look was more than just film noir... it seemed like director Hanson took a time machine back a few decades to film it. Titanic's look was quite incredible and could win. In fact, it probably has the best chance at winnning.
Best Cinematography
Amistad
Kundun
L.A. Confidential
Titanic
The Wings of the Dove
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them.
Who didn't deserve it?
None.
Who was left off?
Boogie Nights, Contact, and The Game. Boogie Nights had some of the most impressive camera work I've seen all year, and the second film used some inventive techniques (including the famous mirror shot). Fincher's The Game is the most visually impressive of the year. Fincher is the most gifted director since Hitchcock and Welles.
Who deserves to win?
It's hard to tell, but I would pick Titanic or Amistad. Kundun is also a good choice and could win as well. My bets are on Titanic though.
Best Sound
Air Force One
Con Air
Contact
L.A. Confidential
Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them are good, though one is a bit questionable.
Who didn't deserve it?
Con Air may be the only one which shouldn't have been nominated. The sound was sometimes hard to distinguish.
Who was left off?
How should I know? It's not like I listen for sound in a film.
Who deserves to win?
Titanic deserves it. The sound is wonderfully mixed with great clarity.
Best Sound Effects Editing
Face/Off
The Fifth Element
Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them deserved it, and they were all my choices for this category.
Who didn't deserve it
None.
Who was left off?
No one was left off.
Who deserves to win?
It's a toss-up between Face/Off and Titanic. My choice would definitely lean on Titanic.
Best Original Musical or Comedy Score
Anastasia, Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens & David Newman
As Good As It Gets, Hans Zimmer
The Full Monty, Anne Dudley
Men in Black, Danny Elfman
My Best Friend's Wedding, James Newton Howard
Who deserved the nomination?
All are quite good.
Who didn't deserve it?
Hard to determine, but I think all are good enough to be nominated.
Who was left off?
Wag the Dog, Tom Bahler and Mark Knopfler. This score was highly catchy and very original. It's country tone set the right mood for the film.
Who deserves to win?
Men in Black. Danny Elfman is a great composer, and yet he has never won an award. He deserves to be recognized.
Best Dramatic Score
Amistad, John Williams
Good Will Hunting, Danny Elfman
Kundun, Philip Glass
L.A. Confidential, Jerry Goldsmith
Titanic, James Horner
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them are very good, except one should have been replaced by another by the same composer.
Who didn't deserve it?
Amistad was good, but it wasn't as good as Williams' other score.
Who was left off?
John Williams' inspired score for Seven Years in Tibet. Williams used the cello solo very effectively, and since I play the cello, I think it should have been nominated.
Who deserves to win?
Titanic, James Horner. Horner won at the Golden Globes, and he deserves to win the Oscar. This epic score fits the tone of the film perfectly, using wonderful Enya-like vocals from Sissel.
Best Original Song
"Go the Distance" from Hercules, Alan Menken & David Zippel
"How Do I Live" from Con Air, Diane Warren
"Journey to the Past" from Anastasia, Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens
"Miss Misery" from Good Will Hunting, Elliott Smith
"My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic, James Horner, Will Jennings, and Celine Dion
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them were good.
Who didn't deserve it?
None.
Who was left off?
No one really... perhaps a couple songs from Anastasia.
Who deserves to win?
Duh. "My Heart Will Go On" has become an audience favorite, sending the soundtrack to the top of the music charts. It's the only one deserving of the award.
Best Costume
Amistad
Kundun
Oscar and Lucinda
Titanic
The Wings of the Dove
Who deserved the nomination?
All seem like good choices, but one should have been replaced by another, more impressive one.
Who didn't deserve the nomination?
Amistad. This one is good, but not as good as...
Who was left off?
The Fifth Element. The costumes were so spectacular that one wonders why it was left off.
Who deserves to win?
Tough choice, but I'd go with the favorite: Titanic.
Best Documentary Feature
Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life
Colors Straight Up
4 Little Girls
The Long Way Home
Waco: The Rules of Engagement
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them.
Who didn't deserve it?
One of them, because...
Who was left off?
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control deserved to be nominated. In fact, if it had been nominated, it probably should have won.
Who deserves to win?
Since Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control wasn't nominated, Spike Lee's 4 Little Girls should get it. The Long Way Home is also a good choice.
Best Documentary Short
Alaska: Spirit of the Wild
Amazon
Daughter of the Bride
Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
A Story of Healing
I haven't seen any of these so I can't decide.
Best Film Editing
Air Force One
As Good As It Gets
Good Will Hunting
L.A. Confidential
Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
The last four deserved the nomination.
Who didn't deserve it?
Air Force One was edited well, but let's face it... it wasn't exactly Oscar caliber.
Who was left off?
Boogie Nights. The editing of this was quite impressive, seeming a lot like Pulp Fiction. Another great job was snubbed by the Academy.
Who deserves to win?
Titanic. All the films were good, but Cameron is a master at editing. His editing was just incredible, adding a lot of suspense to every scene.
Best Makeup
Men in Black
Mrs. Brown
Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
Well, all of them, but Mrs. Brown seems like a strange choice.
Who didn't deserve it?
Maybe the second one, but I haven't seen it, so I'm not deciding.
Who was left off?
Maybe Starship Troopers. The dead body parts were very impressive and quite gruesome.
Who deserves to win?
Men in Black. The makeup in this film was extremely effective, and Titanic's was too seamless to really be noticed.
Best Animated Short Film
Famous Fred
Geri's Game
La Vieille Dame et les Pigeons (The Old Lady and the Pigeons)
The Mermaid
Redux Riding Hood
You guessed it... haven't seen it, just like most of the American audiences.
Best Live-Action Short Film
Dance Lexie Dance
It's Good to Talk
Sweethearts?
Visas and Virtue
Wolfgang
Duh... haven't seen any of them.
Best Visual Effects
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Starship Troopers
Titanic
Who deserved the nomination?
All of them deserved it, but...
Who didn't deserve it?
The Lost World: Jurassic Park is just a copy of 1993's Jurassic Park, except with more dinosaurs.
Who was left off?
Dante's Peak. The effects of this film were remarkable and spectacular. This film certainly deserved to be nominated.
Who deserves to win?
Titanic. Not only the most impressive effects ever, but this epic reinvented visual effects as we know them. Starship Troopers could win because of its very cool effects (though that's all they are: cool).
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