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Shakespeare in Love

(Best Picture, 1998)

What Should Have Won: Saving Private Ryan

"The Official Story": "Spielberg is 'Best Director.' He just didn't direct the best movie all year." 

What We Think Happened:  When it comes to clout, publicity hype, and all around media spin, you can't help but be impressed at the juggernaut that was Disney-backed Miramax. It was like a game they played with the theater patrons; they'd release a totally unique film idea, and we'd be led to believe that this film idea was "great," if just because nobody tried it before. But as in every game, it's only fun until somebody loses an eye...or the Oscar.

The intrigue here is that I really don't believe that anybody felt that Shakespeare in Love would win, when they put it on the ballot that year. Throughout 1990, The Academy had this little trick they played, where the fifth Best Picture nominee was not a great movie, as much as the popcorn flick; the "pop favorite." To give you an idea; one of the nominees the prior year was The Full Monty. Let me repeat: The Full Monty was a nominee for "Best Picture" of 1997. In 1998, The Academy felt the Best Pictures were Elizabeth, Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, Life is Beautiful, and...Shakespeare in Love. While the latter was no "Full Monty," it was hardly in the same league as any nominee that year, including, particularly, Saving Private Ryan.

Some have said that this film won, because fans of other genres "divided" their votes. Would the war film fan vote for Red Line, or Ryan? Would an "art film" buff choose foreign film Life is Beautiful, or the stylish epic about Queen Elizabeth? The fans of the feel good comedy drama had only one choice to choose from, and we all know how smart their choices are.

What Makes It So Embarrassing "Today":  What really evokes confusion in the Oscar history buff, is how this film won Best Picture, but could not earn the Best Director Oscar. Most films on this list were able to win the whole game, but not this. I don't know if that is a "win," but it shows how close Oscar came to making the right choice here.

Next Up: If She Made You Watch This, Your Wife Really Hates You.

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