The 71st Academy Awards: Shakespeare vs. Saving Private Ryan | Retrospective 

Thought that you gave up on retrospective content. Glad that it's back

Also Fernanda Montenegro would have been my choice for the win with Cate Blanchett as my runner up. Montenegro's performance in Central Station is simply heartbreaking 😭 😭 😭

Continuing to love these Oscar retrospectives. Have some ideas of years that I thought be interesting to cover. 2009- The Dark Knight getting snubbed for Best Picture and was the last time the Oscars nominated 5 movies for Best Picture. The impact of Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker. Slumdog Millionaire VS The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. 2010- The Hurt Locker VS Avatar 2014- 12 Years A Slave VS Gravity 2004- The Return of the King swept the Oscars

haven’t watched this yet but I already know this video is a banger

2003 is and interesting year with Chicago, The Pianist, The Hours, Two Towers, Almodóvar winning Screenplay, etc

You guys should do 2002/2003 (Chicago, Gangs of New York, The Hours) the acting categories that year all split and it was insane

I’m from Brazil and Fernanda Montenegro’s nomination for best actress is like a HISTORICAL thing here, pretty sure it’s the only acting nomination for a brazilian actor/actress ever! I’m 22 years old, so I wasn’t around for that oscar season obviously, but I literally grew up hearing about how Fernanda is the greatest brazilian actress because of that nomination and she’s really incredible even today with 90 years old (she’s in the movie that we pushed for the international feature film category in the last Oscar called “Invisible Life” - really great brazilian movie if anybody wanna check it out).

Fernanda Montenegro should have won. A master of the craft. Brazilians still hold a grudge on Gwyneth to this day.

On a technical level, SPR is a masterpiece, but it's so patriotic that I think it's not to win Best Picture. I think The Truman Show was the most different, purposeful, cinematic and with the most suggestive themes of that year. Criminally underrated and Jim Carrey deserved a place.

Good rundown. You guys should keep in mind that pre-2001 the BAFTAs were held after the Oscars and were less of an Oscar precursor and more of an award show for regional accomplishments, so looking at them the way you'd look at SAG or the globes is probably misleading.

You should do a retrospective of the 1995 oscars (the one with Forrest Gump vs Shawshank Redemption vs Pulp Fiction)! I'd really like to hear your thoughts!

that impression of Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love killed me lmao 😂😂

The Thin Red Line was my pick actually.

The reason, why Shakespeare in Love shocked as an Oscar Winner for Best Picture: It didn't. It wasn't a shock. Not even remotely like the people would think today. This was my 2nd Academy Awards and the first one, where I got interested in seeing the nominees just because they were.... yes... THE nominees! And I clearly remember two things: 1)The surprising Best Picture nominee wasn't Elizabeth but Thin Red Line above The Truman Show (which was my favorite movie of the year, so I was quite furious about that XD) 2)It was a very, very, VERY tight race between Shakespeare in Love und Saving Private Ryan from the beginning. You already mentioned the facts: Shakespeare had a whopping 13 nominations. It got the SAG ensemble, it got the BAFTA, it got every major Guild nomination. It also got the most awards at the Golden Globes (together with The Truman Show!!!): Picture Comedy/Musical, Actress Comedy/Musical and Screenplay. The later one was a very strong win (similar like Green Book a couple of years ago), because the Globes has only one writing category. And, by the way: Shakespeare in Love had also the most GG nominations: six... together with... again... The Truman Show! On the other side, Saving Private Ryan had one major advantage: it's director. Spielberg nearly got every award, except the BAFTA. The picture itself nabbed the very, very, VERY strong DGA-PGA-combo. But, to be honest... that's it! Statistically speaking, that was the only pro-argument for the win. I also really believe, that the Best Picture nomination of Thin Red Line hurt Saving Private Ryan. I, for myself, would have never seen the movie before the ceremony, if it wouldn't have been nominated. And even if I was a little bit too young to admire it (for an 21 year old boy, it seemed quite slow paced ;) ), I was absolutely stunned about the cinematography - and was even disappointed, when Ryan won that category at the oscars. So, I can imagine some older oscar voters, who already saw Private Ryan, wanted to award it and then, after seeing Thin Red Line, thought „Hm... I like Malick's movie more...“. Because they are quite similar and opposite at the same time, if you understand what I mean. Of course, you could make a similar argument about Shakespeare in Love compared to Elizabeth: both costume films but one is clearly a comedy and the other one a drama. But again: Elizabeth wasn't the surprise nominee. It was more a surprise, that the director wasn't nominated. The people already saw that movie, so they couldn't suddenly fall in love with it and wouldn't drop Shakespeare for it. And yes, you said it: Shakespeare in Love is clever. It isn't a perfect film, but it was kinda unique - and still is, if you think about it. It's also about a writer and the theater - and the oscars love films about themselves. So, there are really a lot of reasons, why Shakespeare won over Ryan - even without the Harvey-factor (which was already a known „thing“ in 1999). I for myself had no clear preference that year, because my „horse“, The Truman Show, wasn't in the race. And as an „outsider“, I really have the urge to defend Shakespeare. Not because it was the best choice. But it was a worthy one. And it's reputation just sank, because it got the oscar - and not because it's a bad movie in any way.

The only reason Shakespeare In Love won is because Harvey Weinsten used bullying tactics to get votes and said that Saving Private Ryan wasnt even that good. Saving Private Ryan is a masterpiece that should have won

I recommend a retrospective from 1976 with Rocky, Network, Taxi Driver, All the President's Men, etc.

absolutely love this series...it's literally my favorite series on RU-vid.

Funniest (and most true) line. "Meryl Streep. Cancer" That's all that needed to be said. That lady farts on screen and she gets a nom.

Finally, I love the retrospective videos, keep em coming!

Wasn’t Fernando Montenegro the critics’ favourite to win Best Actress? I believe she won more Best Actress awards than Cate and Gwyneth

You should do the 82nd Academy Awards next, where 10 movies were nominated for best picture.

The Truman Show is a better film than all 5 best picture nominations imo.

Unpplar opinions: Thin Red Line is a better war movies then SPR

Fernanda Montenegro should have won :( (and I'm not saying this just because I'm brazilian)

i clicked so fast i almost broke my finger love this concept and your channel !! here a fan from spain 😜

Some other retrospective years that could be interesting: 1996 ( Fargo vs English Patient), 1994 (Forrest Gump vs Pulp Fiction vs Shawshank), 2014 (Boyhood vs Birdman), 1990 (Goodfellas vs Dances with the wolves)

Pan's Labyrinth won 3 Oscars and was nominated for other 3 and didnt win Best Foreign Film

My favorite part of saving private Ryan was Matt Damon’s improv story to Tom hanks. It was so genuine and it was just perfect. Although that opening is amazing too.

I know its quite recent, but a retrospective on 2016 would be great because there were so many incredible movies that year. Also the Oscars with Forrest Gump v Pulp Fiction v Shawshank Redemption would be good.

The best movies of that year are The Big Lebowski, american history x and truman show

the last time i was this early the oscars were still in february next year 😳

How about a total domination year like The Return of The King, please do that

I'd like a 2013 Academy Awards retrospective

I think it would be interesting to do a retrospective in the 1969 Academy Awards (as in the year films from 1968 were celebrated). It was just such a great year for movies!

Do a retrospective of 1980 Ordinary People vs Raging Bull

Amazing video!! I would love to see Million Dollar Baby vs. Sideways vs. The Aviator next!

Shakespeare In Love is one of my favorite movies of all time. Surprisingly, the more I watch it the more I enjoy it and love it. Saving Private Ryan becomes tiresome after the stunning opening act and plunges me into a depressed mood every time I watch it. Geoffrey Rush and Judi Dench are sublime in it. I’d watch Shakespeare every weekend and I would have a good time. The Truman Show was my favorite film of that year though.

Would you guys ever consider releasing retrospectives and other longer things as podcasts in addition to the videos? Me and my 40 minute commute would love it! Keep up the great work 👍

Excellent video guys!

Gave up on Shakespeare in love after 20 minutes, saving private Ryan and thin red line are way better and I’m not even a Terrence malick fan

1992 Oscars (Silence of the Lambs) and 2003 Oscars (Chicago) would be interesting

I would love to see y’all do a retrospective of an academy awards from like the 50s

Please do 1999 with American Beauty, Green Mile and Sixth Sense

Great video! Can you guys add the 2013 Oscars for the 2012 movies to your list? The Life of Pi vs. Lincoln vs. Argo, and Jennifer Lawrence has a great fall. Also, Daniel Day Lewis and Tarantino gets new toys

You should do the 2000 Oscars. For the movies that came out in 1999. Such an amazing year for films

Nice summary. I'd like you to do some 1970's. It was a great decade for movies.

First, love those, thank you guys for making them, they brighten my day. Second, 1997 would be my year of choice. Titanic swallowed so much of both the conversation and the actual Oscars that year, but a bunch of my favorite movies from the 90s came out at the same time. Let's give them some spotligt! Third, oh my god, you should bump The Celebration up on your watch-list. It is strange in many ways, but also a bit of a masterpiece. It has a scene that is quite the showstopper, a distinctly scandinvian temprament, and I think at least the Oscar Expert would like it a lot.

Cate Blanchett really should have won the Oscar, or Fernanda Montenegro. But Cate has 7 nominations and 2 Oscars now...Patrol, well...she has her "goop"

A rundown of the ‘77 Oscars would be fascinating. Rocky won Best Picture, but it was one of the most stacked years ever with Taxi Driver, Network, and All the President’s Men (my personal pick) all running against it. I think there’s an interesting conversation to be had about it.

First, you guys are too cute and funny. Second, did you know Sound will only be one category again? Third, Weinstein was HUGE reason why Shakespeare in Love won so many categories. He's power back then cannot be understated. Maybe do 2005 next?

The demon in my sleep paralysis dreams : 37:07

People always say Saving Private Ryan. But I actually think that Elizabeth was the best film that year.

Let me pour one out for The Truman Show..my favorite from the bunch

I feel like 1994 would be a great year to do a retrospective, with Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump and Léon: The Professional in the same year...

u guys need more love

These are so good

Fernanda Montenegro should have won 🇧🇷

im really interested to see your takes on 2002, 2004 (aviator etc) and 2008 (the season of kate winslet)

Pi deserve nomination for Cinematography , Actor , Editing & Screenplay .

Just shows how powerful Weinstein was back in the day

I’d love to see one on the 1995 ceremony- Gump/Shawshank/Pulp Fiction!

1998 was in my opinion the worst and most infuriating year of the Oscars (1999 Oscars). Saving Private Ryan was the most realistic and gory war movie ever, with good themes to live on today. Shakespeare in Love wasn’t bad, but there is no way the Academy should choose nothing but a charming love story over SPR. Also, the Truman Show deserved a nomination for best picture, instead of Life is Beautiful. Also, Jim Carrey had a great performance in the movie. But the real best actor should have gone to Edward Norton, who delivered the performance of a lifetime in American History X. In conclusion, 1998 had lots of great contenders, but the Academy wasted their gold on movies we didn’t want to win over others. Also, please do a retrospective on 1994 (Forrest Gump, Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction).

Maybe you could do it for the 2015s Oscars. There was a pretty interesting race between Birdman and Boyhood (and maybe The Grand Budapest Hotel too)!

I honestly think they should’ve put John Goodman in for Supporting Actor for Lebowski.

Biggest BS: How could Shakespeare in Love win Best Original Score for Musical/Comedy, if The Prince of Egypt was the best score out of every film nominated?

Trust me... As someone who enjoys Shakespeare's works, I LOATHED Shakespeare in Love. I remember having to watch it for a class to understand a bit of theatre etiquette/Shakespearen theatre history... I literally was in the most rotten mood after the credits rolled 😂 😂 😂

Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line are my favourite films in that year (1998). I added both films in my "Great Movie" list. 👍👍

Need more of these!!!!! Once Oscar season is over!!!

You should do the 2001 Academy awards! That year was very crazy!!

Thank You!!!

You guys rock! Can you do a 1995 Oscars retro?

Waking Ned Devine (pronounced like the word 'devine') is a great, fun flick full of Irish accents, I love it. It's a movie about an isolated, tiny village and an outsider visiting them, that ISN'T horror! Except for one part where they stumble upon a dead body, I guess. Mulan's Reflections was the song of the year, hands down. I sang that song to death back in 1998/1999.

please review the 2009 oscars,would love to hear your opinion on the dark knight!

These are soooo good. Not a big Truman fan but I wouldve liked The Thin Red Line to win. I would like to see a retrospective on 2009! Hurt Locker v Avatar for pic. Hurt Locker v Basterds for Original Screenplay. Interesting nominations like District 9. Super interesting year-

If there is any Oscar I think should be revoked, it’s Shakespeare in Love’s win for Best Picture. Not just because I think it’s the inferior movie (I actually haven’t seen it), but because of the notorious bribing involved. For those unaware, a certain someone wanted very much to force the Academy into awarding Shakespeare. So he did a heavy undermining campaign, such as forcing news publications to promote the movie, that at the time was considered unfair competition. Everyone thought Spielberg should pretty much sue him, but Spielberg didn’t want any drama so he let the debacle slide, allowing Shakespeare to cruise to victory. And unfortunately, everyone has since done the exact same kind of campaign, effectively ruining the Oscars forever, even after the someone was finally incriminated. Also, the someone was Harvey Weinstein.

The Thin Red Line > all the others

Shakespeare in Love winning Best Picture over Saving Private Ryan is still one of the great embarrassments of Oscar history. And it's not like it's a bad movie. It's not. But just a lackluster choice for a Best Picture win.

do the 75th oscars next please, its interesting to think how many of the nominees would not be nominated if it happened today

Central do Brasil poderia estar em Melhor Filme e Melhor Trilha Sonora de Drama. Mas definitivamente merecia o prêmio de Melhor Atriz para a Fernanda.

I'd also vote for the 2002 Oscars (75th): Chicago winning, controversial best Director win, huge Best Actor upset, Lose Yourself winning best song.

You should do a retrospective for 1999. The quality of films from that year are insane.

Love ya'll's content. FYI: Globes have a rule that foreign language films are ineligible for their main BP prizes (RE: Life is Beautiful).

do the year with lost in translation!!!

Could y’all do the 1998 Oscars for films released in 1997? I think it would be interesting to learn how much Titanic had engulfed the award season. Plus that Oscars is still the most watched in history

pls do the 2014 retrospective or 2004 retrospective

You guys are the best I agree 100%

Waking Ned Devine is such a hidden gem 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

These are the thoughts of my soul.

Saving Private Ryan is an awesome movie and so is The Thin Red Line.

You should do a retrospective of the 2016 Academy Awards

good fellas and saving private ryan, i mean...

Cate Blanchett and Saving Private Ryan, the real winners of 1999 Oscar's. End of the fucking conversation ❗

Coming in late with the opinion that Waking Ned Divine is fantastic, I scrolled for far too long looking for comments mentioning it. From when I saw it as a child, it has stuck in my brain. It's hilarious and fun and the fact it got nominated is some top quality stuff that I didn't know. An entire town working to impersonate someone to be able to claim the dead guys lottery winnings? Hell yes

Would you do 2012 or 2004 please?

To me, the best film of 1998 was "El Milagro de P. Tinto", by Javier Fesser (unique). From the nominees, The Thin Red Line and Life is Beautiful were masterpieces, and Elizabeth was pretty good, as Shakespeare in Love. I loathe Saving Private Ryan.

Hey Guys! Can you please retrospec the year Titanic won best picture (97) and the year Argo won (for 2012). Thank you.

guys its pronounced BENINEE not BENIJEE

i'm surprised you guys didn't have much to say about "Hillary & Jackie"... what a totally bonkers performance from Emily Watson! I've always felt that she should have won.

Out of Sight was edited by Oscar-winner Anne V. Coates (Lawrence of Arabia)

Retrospective of 2001 oscars, you should do it