The Oscars Do-Over 96 and 97: Some titanic match-ups (1 Viewer)

[Henry Ford]

As Good As It Gets is maybe the most underrated movie of all time. 

 

[Gr00vus]

I'll be honest Swingers was never in consideration. 

That's a shame. It's a zillion times better than The English Patient or Jerry McGuire.

 

[wikkidpissah]

As Good As It Gets is maybe the most underrated movie of all time. 

One could do worse than live in the Jim Brooks continuum.

 

[Ilov80s]

That's a shame. It's a zillion times better than The English Patient or Jerry McGuire.

To each their own. I find Swingers cringe-worthy bad. It doesn't hold up at all IMO. But I understand for many The English Patient is like melatonin. 

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Is the Wild Ones any good? That is one the famous Brando movies I haven't seen yet. 

Don't like the movie but, when Brando's having fun (i mean, the man seduced Richie Pryor) i'm having fun and he has a lot of fun in Wild Ones

Mildred: Ay Johnny - what are you rebell'in against? 

Johnny : Whatta ya got?

BRMC = Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 

Remember my biker story from the last movie thread? 

Well, since I weren't a member, I moc'd em by creating my own club... 

KRMC = Kelley Rebel Motorcycle Club

(painted on my garage wall - check) 

Kelley was da name of the company me and my BFF worked for (Frank's son).  

Bikers laughed - a little. 

Great movie imo. 

[voiceover] It begins here for me on this road. How the whole mess happened, I don't know. But I know it couldn't happen again in a million years. Maybe I coulda stopped it early. But once the trouble was on its way, I was just goin' with it. Mostly, I remember the girl. I - I can't explain it. Sad chick like that. But somethin' changed in me. She got to me. Well that's later, anyway. This is where it begins for me. Right on this road.

Keep the rubber side down, mi amigos. 

 

[Mr. Mojo]

As Good As It Gets is maybe the most underrated movie of all time. 

I thought it had a good 1st half, then went bad in the 2nd half.

Not to mention the fallacy of a young, attractive Helen Hunt falling for an old, weird and obnoxious Jack Nicholson character. 

 

[Major]

Slingblade was incredibly dumb. 

You ought not talk that way. You just a boy.

 

[Ilov80s]

I thought it had a good 1st half, then went bad in the 2nd half.

Not to mention the fallacy of a young, attractive Helen Hunt falling for an old, weird and obnoxious Jack Nicholson character. 

Funny because I saw the movie when I was a freshman or sophomore in HS and just thought they were both old people. I knew Jack was supposed to be older but when you are 15, anyone over like 25-30 just seems all the same.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Not to mention, Jack is Jack. 

I think he still may have a shot at me, if he keeps his nose hair trimmed.

Not to mention the fallacy of a young, attractive Helen Hunt falling for an old, weird and obnoxious Jack Nicholson character.  

And - no need to mention - but I'm damn more 'tractive than Ms. Hunt! 

O course, "weird & obnoxious" have no place in any vocabulary pertaining ta yous truly - but otherwise - seems logical.

 

[Ilov80s]

I’m surprised there’s no Jerry Maguire defenders here with it being a football move and all.

I’m open to being swayed from my original opinions. I was certain I was choosing Braveheart for 95 but the amount of votes Toy Story got made me rethink it.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

1996 was a toss up between Trainspotting, Fargo and Sling Blade.  All great films in their own right.   Went Trainspotting.  

If this was FBGals, I could see Titanic running away with 1997.  Here, not so much.  Boogie Nights was the easy choice for me and PTA's best work. LA Confidential and Good Will Hunting are definitely deserving but As Good As It Gets???  come on bruh 

Did you get into my brain? 

The three '96 films are among probably my 50 favorite movies of all time; Trainspotting is in the top 10. 

Re As Good as it gets, I went to see it with a friend at 10ish o clock show.  My buddy fell asleep about half way through, in a theater that was probably about 90% empty.  Rather than watch the rest of this boring BS, I literally wandered around the lobby for 15 -20 minutes looking at movie posters, which I deemed more enjoyable than watching As Good as it Gets.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Did you get into my brain? 

The three '96 films are among probably my 50 favorite movies of all time; Trainspotting is in the top 10. 

Bravo! Reaally Like! 

Re As Good as it gets, I went to see it with a friend at 10ish o clock show.  My buddy fell asleep about half way through, in a theater that was probably about 90% empty.  Rather than watch the rest of this boring BS, I literally wandered around the lobby for 15 -20 minutes looking at movie posters, which I deemed more enjoyable than watching As Good as it Gets.

Heya Ned...

...here's as good as gets for ya on this little gem! 

Oh - be sure to PM me bout my insurance plans - due date approachin' fast... 

 

[krista4]

I’m surprised there’s no Jerry Maguire defenders here with it being a football move and all.

I’m open to being swayed from my original opinions. I was certain I was choosing Braveheart for 95 but the amount of votes Toy Story got made me rethink it.

As I've sheepishly admitted on this board previously, Jerry Maguire is a huge guilty pleasure for me, and I find myself watching it every time I scroll through stations and come upon it.  That said, it's not a Best Picture-type movie to me; it's a nice, fun diversion.

 

[The General]

Slingblade was incredibly dumb. 

Hush your mouth. 

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

I already mentioned 12 Monkeys as a '96 personal fav - for' 97, I got three that don't deserve an Oscar for the year, but will always pull me in for another watch:

1) Grosse Pointe Blank - love the dark comedy, soundtrack and 80s feel to it. Many of the scenes feel too personal to ignore. 

2) Seven Years in Tibet - absolutely gorgeous cinematography. The 14th Dalai Lama is a rock star & Brad Pitt is dreamy! 

3) Contact - honestly, nothin' special about the movie, but the Sagan story is special. If you like the movie, try the book - much better. But, I still will watch this over and over. 

 

[Major]

I already mentioned 12 Monkeys as a '96 personal fav - for' 97, I got three that don't deserve an Oscar for the year, but will always pull me in for another watch:

1) Grosse Pointe Blank - love the dark comedy, soundtrack and 80s feel to it. Many of the scenes feel too personal to ignore. 

2) Seven Years in Tibet - absolutely gorgeous cinematography. The 14th Dalai Lama is a rock star & Brad Pitt is dreamy! 

3) Contact - honestly, nothin' special about the movie, but the Sagan story is special. If you like the movie, try the book - much better. But, I still will watch this over and over. 

Love Grosse Pointe.  Think I mentioned it in the other thread.  

Seven Years in Tibet was terrible for me.  Almost walked out.  Felt like seven years in the cinema 

Chasing Amy and In The Company of Men would probably make my 1997 Top 10.  

 

[krista4]

I thought it had a good 1st half, then went bad in the 2nd half.

Not to mention the fallacy of a young, attractive Helen Hunt falling for an old, weird and obnoxious Jack Nicholson character. 

Funny because I saw the movie when I was a freshman or sophomore in HS and just thought they were both old people. I knew Jack was supposed to be older but when you are 15, anyone over like 25-30 just seems all the same.

I'm strongly with Mr. Mojo on this.  Helen Hunt is several years older than I am, but close enough in age that I remember being absolutely grossed out by that pairing and how unattractive I found him.  She was ~33 when it was filmed, and he was nearly 60.  That age difference might work if you're Cary Grant, but mostly the idea of an old, disgusting, irascible man being attractive to a lovely, much younger female is the product of old-guy Hollywood screenwriters.  Blech.

The highlight for me of this movie was Greg Kinnear, whom I found outstanding.

 

[krista4]

Love Grosse Pointe.  Think I mentioned it in the other thread.  

Seven Years in Tibet was terrible for me.  Almost walked out.  Felt like seven years in the cinema 

Chasing Amy and In The Company of Men would probably make my 1997 Top 10.  

+another1 on Grosse Pointe Blank.    

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Felt like seven years in the cinema 

Touche! 

But...entirely WRONG! 

... is product of old-guy Hollywood screenwriter

Xcellent point. As an old-guy, it's easy for me to overlook. But, I still says Jack is prime rib! 

The highlight for me of this movie was Greg Kinnear, whom I found outstanding.

Yeah. Totally surprised me. Was this his 1st major role - cause I never saw that performance coming? 

 

[krista4]

Yeah. Totally surprised me. Was this his 1st major role - cause I never saw that performance coming? 

He had been in that remake of Sabrina (coincidentally another older-yucky-guy/younger-beautiful-woman "love story"), but I don't recall anything else but that.  I was totally surprised, too.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

He had been in that remake of Sabrina (coincidentally another older-yucky-guy/younger-beautiful-woman "love story"), but I don't recall anything else but that.  I was totally surprised, too.

Yeah. I remember now. Thnx.

Harrison Ford ain't no Jack - so - ima with ya here. 

 

[Ilov80s]

Original Sabrina had the same vibe as As Good As It Gets. Hepburn was even younger than Hunt. Bogey was very Jack like. Super cool but not very physically attractive...though he also pulled it off in real like with Bacall.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

...Jack like...not very physically attractive...

Speak fer yourself, 0-for-80s-on-this-not-hot-take!

<buncha blindness beleaguer'n this topic>

 

[Ilov80s]

I just calculated out of curiosity 

Bogart was 30 years older than Audrey Hepburn, Bogart was 25 years older than Lauren Bacall and Jack is 26 years older than Helen Hunt. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

Different levels of goodness, but some from 1996 that stood out for me that I love were:

Scream, Sleepers, Shine, When We Were Kings, Romeo + Juliet, Birdcage, Kingpin, Hard Eight, The Cable Guy, A Time to Kill, People vs. Larry Flynt, The Ghost and the Darkness

 

[krista4]

I just calculated out of curiosity 

Bogart was 30 years older than Audrey Hepburn, Bogart was 25 years older than Lauren Bacall and Jack is 26 years older than Helen Hunt. 

Cary Grant was 25 years older than Audrey Hepburn, and yet I completely understood why she was attracted to him in Charade.  Like I said, when you're Cary Grant, it's different.    

 

[KarmaPolice]

1997 - aka maybe KP's favorite year for movies (minimum in the top 5 favorite year for movies)

Boogie Nights

Jackie Brown

The Sweet Hereafter

The Ice Storm

(these 4 are some of my favorite movies)

L.A. Confidential

Gattaca

The Game

Chasing Amy

Austin Powers 

Grosse Pointe Blank

Cube

Lost Highway

Men in Black

Good Will Hunting 

Titanic

Princess Mononoke

Contact

4 Little Girls 

Affliction

Donnie Brasco

Event Horizon

Funny Games

The Boxer (any DDL is good DDL)

 

[krista4]

Princess Mononoke

Had forgotten to mention this one.    

 

[McJose]

Cary Grant was 25 years older than Audrey Hepburn, and yet I completely understood why she was attracted to him in Charade.  Like I said, when you're Cary Grant, it's different.    

Agreed.  It’s a curse sometimes.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

The Game

Here's one I forgot. I always had a hard time ranking this one. It's a hella fun ride, for sure, but - man - talk about needing a LOT to go right to fall thru that glass roof at the end. 

I'll watch again, if I come across it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Here's one I forgot. I always had a hard time ranking this one. It's a hella fun ride, for sure, but - man - talk about needing a LOT to go right to fall thru that glass roof at the end. 

I'll watch again, if I come across it.

Yeah, I will go to bat for those top 4 I listed, but will admit that the others have varying degree of quality.  I love me some Fincher, but that is definitely a flawed movie.  

 

[Ilov80s]

Cary Grant was 25 years older than Audrey Hepburn, and yet I completely understood why she was attracted to him in Charade.  Like I said, when you're Cary Grant, it's different.    

Cary Grant is my role model, love that guy. 

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Agreed.  It’s a curse sometimes.

I can understand. 

My Jack love carries a lotta burden, I can only imagine how you carry you Grant torch. 

But - no curse - you wants Cary - undastandable!

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Yeah, I will go to bat for those top 4 I listed, but will admit that the others have varying degree of quality.  I love me some Fincher, but that is definitely a flawed movie.  

That’s a really great point. 

Some of my very favorite movies are flawed. In some, the flaws are even elevated to assets. A good example of this, from my perspective, would be Erik the Viking, which I mentioned earlier - I think - maybe another thread. 

Anyways - I get it.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

1997 - aka maybe KP's favorite year for movies (minimum in the top 5 favorite year for movies)

Jackie Brown

Cannot believe I forgot this one from '97.  On any given night, I like it better than PF.

And I just realized that Waiting For Guffman is from '96.  Easily top 5 for me from such a great year.  

 

[Ilov80s]

We have 2 more years for the 90s but from there should we go 80s or aughts? 

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

We have 2 more years for the 90s but from there should we go 80s or aughts? 

I know less and less, the later (more recent) the year.

Thus, if ya want me helpful - go 80s    -----   if ya want me ever stupier - go aughts.

Now, I'll be here regardless - so - pick your poison!

 

[Major]

For foreign films in 1996, I'd definitely recommend PUSHER.  You'll have to deal with subtitles (Danish) but it's up there with Trainspotting if you're into that type of drug/gangster genre.  They turned it into a trilogy but I have yet to see parts 2 and 3.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLEaPB9UBWM

 

[Mr. Mojo]

We have 2 more years for the 90s but from there should we go 80s or aughts? 

Sure, let's tackle some of the 80s.

 

[Gr00vus]

Different levels of goodness, but some from 1996 that stood out for me that I love were:

Scream, Sleepers, Shine, When We Were Kings, Romeo + Juliet, Birdcage, Kingpin, Hard Eight, The Cable Guy, A Time to Kill, People vs. Larry Flynt, The Ghost and the Darkness

Man, that really was an awesome year for movies.

 

[Buckychudd]

Love Grosse Pointe.  Think I mentioned it in the other thread.  

Seven Years in Tibet was terrible for me.  Almost walked out.  Felt like seven years in the cinema 

Chasing Amy and In The Company of Men would probably make my 1997 Top 10.  

I love/hate this movie. It’s the best representation of casual evil I’ve seen. 

 

[Buckychudd]

Gattaca

One of my favorite movies. Top 5 for sure. 

 

[Ilov80s]

Sure, let's tackle some of the 80s.

Looking at the 80s, it is going to be tough to decide what to do with all the comedies and 80s popcorn films. I am looking at 80 and we the3 groups

the locks: Shining, Empire and Raging Bull

the comedy classics that are still popular: Caddyshack, Blues Brothers and Airplane

the serious dramas that aren't all that popular: The Elephant Man, Ordinary People and Atlantic City

And Atlantic City is another movie where it came out in 79 but not in the US until 80 so it was up for all the awards in 81. Although I think I set my precedent for how we will be gauging the year. 

 

[McJose]

One of my favorite movies. Top 5 for sure. 

So underrated.

 

[Scott Tenorman]

I’m surprised there’s no Jerry Maguire defenders here with it being a football move and all.

Greatest Rom-Com ever.  Prove me wrong.

 

[Ilov80s]

Greatest Rom-Com ever.  Prove me wrong.

It definitely wouldn't be my top choice but it's probably top 15 for me. I wouldn't put it on the level of It Happened One Night, Roman Holiday, When Harry Met Sally, etc. 

 

[krista4]

And I just realized that Waiting For Guffman is from '96.  Easily top 5 for me from such a great year.  

  How did I miss this?  Top two for me for the year.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

It definitely wouldn't be my top choice but it's probably top 15 for me. I wouldn't put it on the level of It Happened One Night, Roman Holiday, When Harry Met Sally, etc. 

My fav rom-coms must include the Grant - Hepburn duo. It has been a long time since I have seen them, so, I'm not sure if they are sooo dated to be considered offensive in any way - if so, that's not what I liked bout em.

Holiday

Bringing Up Baby

The Philadelphia Story

All these, I would watch in a heartbeat if they came on.

 

[Ilov80s]

My fav rom-coms must include the Grant - Hepburn duo. It has been a long time since I have seen them, so, I'm not sure if they are sooo dated to be considered offensive in any way - if so, that's not what I liked bout em.

Holiday

Bringing Up Baby

The Philadelphia Story

All these, I would watch in a heartbeat if they came on.

They all hold up fine. Hepburn gets some real sexist advice from her ex and dad in The Philadelphia Story but it doesn't hurt the quality of the movie IMO. Cary Grant also shoves Hepburn over in the first scene of the movie. It is treated as comedy but  they do acknowledge that Grant had a drinking problem and behaving badly. The Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby are 2 of the movies I probably rewatch the most. 

 

[Ilov80s]

For the best film of 1996 the Academy chose The English Patient and as much as I love that movie, they got it wrong. Here, the FBG got it right. However, when finding the movie deserving the Oscar for 1997, the FBG and Academy missed.