My Take on the 1998 Academy Award Nominations…
Okay, so I was way off the mark this time around. In hindsight and in light of everything that went on during the past year, it should have been obvious that Hollywood would shower its highest honors on a movie about a likable, world-famous, talented married guy who decides to have a little fling. But the real question is: does this represent a triumph of skill and charm or just effective campaign financing? (Boldface indicates actual winners.)
Category Most Likely to Win Most Deserving to Win Actual Winners I Missed Best Picture Best Actor Edward Norton (American
History X) Ian McKellen (Gods and
Monsters) Roberto Benigni (Life
Is Beautiful) Best Actress Emily Watson (Hilary and
Jackie) Fernanda Montenegro (Central Station) Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) Best Supporting Actor Ed Harris (The Truman
Show) James Coburn (Affliction) Best Supporting Actress Kathy Bates (Primary
Colors) Rachel Griffiths (Hilary
and Jackie) Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love) Best Director Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan) Steven Spielberg (Saving
Private Ryan) Original Screenplay Robert Rodat (Saving
Private Ryan) Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love) Adapted Screenplay Terrence Malick (The
Thin Red Line) Scott Frank (Out of
Sight) Bill Condon (Gods
and Monsters) Foreign Film Central Station
(Brazil) Life Is Beautiful
(Italy) My Scores 1 accurate prediction 3 cases of sanity 5 total misses