by Ginger Marin
Here are the Oscar Nominations for 1999 Films as announced by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. And here’s what Lotta has to say about it.
For the best picture of the year:
AMERICAN BEAUTY: Yes – very imaginative, well done all around.
THE CIDER HOUSE RULES: I thought it was very good but not a best pix.
THE GREEN MILE: I Loved it and was torn on this one myself
THE INSIDER: Very Good but not a best pix.
THE SIXTH SENSE: I loved it, but not a best pix.
For the best performance by an actor in a leading role:
Russell Crowe in THE INSIDER: Absolutely – an excellent complex portrayal
Richard Farnsworth in THE STRAIGHT STORY: No – even though I liked him, he just played himself and this is one of those nominations because he’s old.
Sean Penn in SWEET AND LOWDOWN: Absolutely, he was super terrific.
Kevin Spacey in AMERICAN BEAUTY: Yes, very good performance.
Denzel Washington in THE HURRICANE: Yes, he was one of my choices too.
For the best performance by an actor in a supporting role:
Michael Caine in THE CIDER HOUSE RULES: He was very good but there were more stronger performances.
Tom Cruise in MAGNOLIA: He was good but gets bumped in my estimation by others.
Michael Clarke Duncan in THE GREEN MILE: Excellent portrayal but others in the film were equal if not better in the complexity of their performances. This is a “obvious” nomination for a well-liked character.
Jude Law in THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY: Good serviceable performance
Haley Joel Osment in THE SIXTH SENSE: One of my picks too.
For the best performance by an actress in a leading role:
Annette Bening in AMERICAN BEAUTY: Yes, I chose her too.
Janet McTeer in TUMBLEWEEDS: No – the only reason she got nominated is because she’s British playing an American southerner.
Julianne Moore in THE END OF THE AFFAIR: Yes, very good complex performance.
Meryl Streep in MUSIC OF THE HEART: No, nothing special here – studying violin six hours a day for this role does not make an academy award performance, sorry.
Hilary Swank in BOYS DON’T CRY: Absolutely, without a doubt the best of the bunch!
(The fact that every award committee ignored Milla Jovovich for her role in Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc is a travesty!)
For the best performance by an actress in a supporting role:
Toni Collette in THE SIXTH SENSE: I’d have to rethink this possibility.
Angelina Jolie in GIRL, INTERRUPTED: Definitely
Catherine Keener in BEING JOHN MALKOVICH: Good performance
Samantha Morton in SWEET AND LOWDOWN: Yes, She was terrific and didn’t even say a word!
Chloe Sevigny in BOYS DON’T CRY: Think she was nominated because she did nude, lesbian type scene – otherwise there was nothing spectacular about her performance.
(think they left out a few good possibilities)
For the best achievement in cinematography:
AMERICAN BEAUTY (DreamWorks) Conrad L. Hall: Very good
THE END OF THE AFFAIR (Columbia) Roger Pratt: Very Good
THE INSIDER (Buena Vista) Dante Spinotti: No way! It was one of my criticisms about the film in fact!
SLEEPY HOLLOW (Paramount and Mandalay) Emmanuel Lubezki: Great mood.
SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS (Universal) Robert Richardson – Unsure.
(think they missed a good bunch of possibilities here – where’s The Legend of 1900? The Matrix?)
For the best achievement in costume design:
ANNA AND THE KING (20th Century Fox) Jenny Beavan – Probably will win.
SLEEPY HOLLOW (Paramount and Mandalay) Colleen Atwood: Excellent choice
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (Paramount & Miramax) Ann Roth and Gary Jones: So-so.
TITUS (Fox Searchlight) Milena Canonero: Unsure.
TOPSY-TURVY (USA Films) Lindy Hemming: Authentic
For the best achievement in directing:
AMERICAN BEAUTY (DreamWorks) Sam Mendes: Good pick
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (USA Films) Spike Jonze: Loved the film; but don’t think so.
THE CIDER HOUSE RULES (Miramax)Lasse Hallstrom: Liked film very much but don’t agree
THE INSIDER (Buena Vista) Michael Mann: Mann is not that great; didn’t like his direction here with respect to the camera work/angles.
THE SIXTH SENSE (Buena Vista) M. Night Shyamalan: Loved film. But since I don’t agree with many of the Best Film choices, hard to agree with these choices either)
For the best achievement in film editing:
AMERICAN BEAUTY (DreamWorks) Tariq Anwar: Good
THE CIDER HOUSE RULES (Miramax)Lisa Zeno Churgin: Okay
THE INSIDER (Buena Vista) William Goldenberg, Paul Rubell and David Rosenbloom: Okay
THE MATRIX (Warner Bros.) Zach Staenberg: Undoubtedly the best in this selection!
THE SIXTH SENSE (Buena Vista) Andrew Mondshein: Good
For the best screenplay based on material previously produced or published:
THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, Screenplay by John Irving: Excellent
ELECTION , Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor: Okay
THE GREEN MILE, Written for the screen by Frank Darabont: Excellent
THE INSIDER, Written by Eric Roth & Michael Mann: Very Good
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, Screenplay by Anthony Minghella: Not very impressive – story had many holes.
(they missed The Legend of 1900!)
For the best screenplay written directly for the screen:
AMERICAN BEAUTY (DreamWorks) Written by Alan Ball: Excellent
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (USA Films) Written by Charlie Kaufman: Excellent
MAGNOLIA (New Line) Written by Paul Thomas Anderson: This was a colossal piece of trash!
THE SIXTH SENSE (Buena Vista) Written by M. Night Shyamalan: Excellent
TOPSY-TURVY (USA Films) Written by Mike Leigh: This was a huge snore.