Jeff's Oscars - The 90's

1999
Oscar's Pick - American Beauty
Jeff's Pick - The Insider
I enjoyed American Beauty mainly because of its open homage to other Oscar-winning films that I love, like The Apartment and Ordinary People. Its story and performances were a little overdone, in my opinion. The Insider, on the other hand, is an intense and complex story with a real issue of moral integrity, and it is executed flawlessly by director Michael Mann and actors Al Pacino and Russell Crowe. Again, Crowe should have one for this performance, not for Gladiator.

1998
Oscar's Pick - Shakespeare in Love
Jeff's Pick - The Thin Red Line
Terrence Malick is perhaps one of the most underrated directors in Hollywood, and I personally believe that The Thin Red Line is a masterpiece, both in its visual spectacle and its poignant script. Set during World War II, it contrasts the horror of modern warfare with the natural beauty of Guadalcanal and its native population. Even deeper, it allows the viewer to experience the internal conflicts and diverse perspectives of the American soldiers, most notably the character played by Jim Caviezel. A little slow-moving, yes, but well worth it!

1997
Oscar's Pick - Titanic
Jeff's Pick - L. A. Confidential
Oscar went with popular sentiment and voted for the "big" film, with 15 nominations and 11 wins. But seriously, L. A. Confidential stands with The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, and Chinatown as one of the classics of film noir. Kim Basinger's win for supporting actress should have been met with, at the very least, nominations for Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce...all who deliver pristine performances as 1950's L. A. detectives. In my opinion, L. A. Confidential is the iceberg that should have sunk Titanic.

1996
Oscar's Pick - The English Patient
Jeff's Pick - Fargo
Again, the "big" film won. And what exactly was the point of The English Patient? I mean, other than it being a way-overdone love story? Ethan and Joel Coen made a great film in Fargo. Is it a thriller? A comedy? A crime drama? (Apparently it's even based on a real-life story). And the acting from Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, and Steve Buscemi was just plain fantastic. When The English Patient won, all I could do is sit in...total silence.

1995
Oscar's Pick - Braveheart
Jeff's Pick - Braveheart
Okay, so sometimes I think the "big" film should win, and this is one clear example. Gibson took a great script by Randall Wallace and then weaved in the scenery of Scotland, evocative music, fervid battle sequences, and earnest performances to perfectly express the emotional depth of that script. In the category of historical dramas, this film rates as one of the all-time best.

1994
Oscar's Pick - Forrest Gump
Jeff's Pick - The Shawshank Redemption
I had a tough time on this one, because I do love Forrest Gump and think it's a great film. But in this particular case, I have a bias towards any films that were made in a town where I lived, and Shawshank was made in Ashland, Ohio where I attended college and seminary. (The old prison still exists in nearby Mansfield). Plus, it's based on a favorite short story by Stephen King, and I think Morgan Freeman should have won Best Actor for this one.

1993
Oscar's Pick - Schindler's List
Jeff's Pick - Schindler's List
I think The Pianist is a better Holocaust drama (see my last post), but after years of being snubbed by the Academy for other great films (Jaws, E.T., and The Color Purple) they finally rewarded Spielberg's brilliance for this mature, passionate movie. The black-and-white adds atmosphere, John Williams' score sets a perfect tone, Ralph Fiennes is absolutely remarkable in revealing the psychology of a Nazi, and the last scene with the real "Schindler Jews" was a great sentimental touch.

1992
Oscar's Pick - Unforgiven
Jeff's Pick - Unforgiven
It's been a while since I saw this film, but I remember being impressed with how different it was from earlier Eastwood westerns. It seemed less about the violence (although there was quite a bit) and more about the reflective nature of Eastwood's character. Definitely not your typical western, but one thoroughly deserving of Oscar.

1991
Oscar's Pick - The Silence of the Lambs
Jeff's Pick - The Silence of the Lambs
If it's possible for a horror film to be psychologically deep and philosophically intelligent, this film does that and more. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster deliver two of the best performance ever to grace the screen. Director Jonathan Demme uses ever frame of film to deliver symbolism and reinforce the bizarre nature of the plot. Every time I watch this film, I catch something I missed before.

1990
Oscar's Pick - Dances with Wolves
Jeff's Pick - Goodfellas
Yeah, I like Kevin Costner's film, but it was a little too "politically correct" for my taste. Martin Scorsese is a great director, and crime drama is his forte. This is one of the films he should have won the Oscar for (Taxi Driver is another), and not for The Departed.