The 1998 Academy Awards recognized the best films and performances released in the previous year, 1997. That year brought movie-goers films like Fools Rush In, Dante's Peak, My Best Friend's Wedding, and Picture Perfect. But none of these films were nominated for any Academy Awards this year.
The films that were nominated for the Best Picture category this year were: Titanic, which won the coveted award, L.A. Confidential. A few of these movies on this list have gone down in history as some of the best movies of the year, but a couple of others maybe didn't deserve the nomination. There are even a few others that the Academy may have overlooked.
Should Have Been: Selena
This biographical feature film tells the story of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and stars Jennifer Lopez in feature film debut as the title character. This film has gone on to become a classic and was very well-received by fans and critics alike upon its release. The film was nominated for a handful of award, including a Golden Globe nomination for Jennifer Lopez, but was shockingly snubbed by Academy voters that year.
Should Have Been: The Rainmaker
This legal drama is based on the John Grisham novel by the same name. The film stars Matt Damon, Danny Devito, Danny Glover, and Claire Danes. The film wasn't as successful as filmmakers had hope it would be at the box office, but received a lot of praise from critics, which normally would have set it up to be a contender for awards ceremonies that year, however, the film was completely snubbed by the Academy, earning zero nominations.
Should Have Been: In & Out
The Academy Awards rarely vote in favor of a mainstream comedy, especially in the Best Picture category, but if there was a ever a film made that could be the exception to that rule, it was In & Out, starring Kevin Kline as a small town teacher thrust into the spotlight when a former students publicly claims the teacher is gay on national television as he accepts an Academy Award for Best Actor.
The Academy missed a big opportunity here to honor not only a fantastic funny feature, but also have a little more fun with their award ceremony.
Nominated: L.A. Confidential
This Neo-noir feature film was directed, produced, and co-written by Curtis Hanson. The film is based on James Ellroy's novel with the same name and stars Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, and Danny Devito. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, but only received two, including Best ing Actress for Kim Basinger. The lack of awards it actually received could make some wonder if the nomination for Best Picture should have gone elsewhere.
Should Have Been: Donnie Brasco
This crime drama stars Al Pacino and Johnny Depp and was directed by Mike Newell. The film based on a novel by Joseph D. Pistone, who was an FBI undercover agent and infiltrated the Bonnano crime family in 1970's New York City.
The film did well at the box office and received a lot of critical acclaim, posting an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite receiving good reviews the phone was only nominated for one Oscar, which was Best Adapted Screenplay.
Should Have Been: Seven Years In Tibet
Seven Years in Tibet is a biographical war drama based on the novel by the same name. The film, starring Brad Pitt as Heinrich Harrer, who was a mountaineer living in Tibet during World War II. This film seems to have everything the Academy looks for when voting for award season, yet the film was completely snubbed by the Oscars in the year is was eligible.
Nominated: As Good As It Gets
As Good as it Gets, is a romantic comedy, direct by James L. Brooks and starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. This film was a major box office success and received mixed reviews from critics.
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, which surprised a lot of people considering the Academy rarely votes for such a commercially successful film. Some critics argued with the film's praise stating that is was a little too formulaic.
Should Have Been: Miss Evers' Boys
This war drama starring Alfre Woodard and Laurence Fishburne is based on the true story of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which was a clinical trial done between 1932 and 1972. The Black men who participated in the study were only told they were getting free government-funded healthcare. This deception created a massive controversy, which is addressed in this film. The film most likely would have received multiple nominations, but it was not eligible at the time because it did not receive a theatrical release, but was aired as television movie.
Should Have Been: Boogie Nights
Paul Thomas Anderson's widely well-received period piece about a nightclub dishwasher turned porn star garnered three Academy Award nominations the year it was eligible. Paul Thomas Anderson received a Best Original Screenplay nomination, Julianne Moore received a Best ing Actress nomination, and Burt Reynolds received a Best ing Actor nomination. None of those nominations turned into wins and fans and critics were surprised by this film's lack of praise from the Academy voters.
Should Have Been: Amistad
Amistad is a historical feature film by Steven Spielberg based on the true story of the 1839 slave ship La Amistad, where the Mende tribesmen on the ship gained control of their captors, causing a legal battle which was eventually resolved by the Supreme Court in 1841. The film received a handful of award nominations by the Academy, but was left out of the major categories, much to the surprise of movie-goers and critics.
