My Take on Best Picture is a series of posts that focus on my personal opinion on Oscar’s picks for Best Picture Nominees each year. My intent is to work my way backwards until I cover each Oscar year. I make it a point to watch every movie nominated for best picture.
1989 Nominees:
Driving Miss Daisy
Wins: Picture, Actress - Jessica Tandy, Adapted Screenplay
Noms: Actor - Morgan Freeman, Sup. Actor - Dan Aykroyd, Film Editing, Costume Design, Art Direction
Born on the Fourth of July
Wins: Director, Film Editing
Noms: Picture, Actor - Tom Cruise, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound, Score
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
Wins: Actor - Daniel Day Lewis, Sup. Actress - Brenda Fricker
Noms: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay
Dead Poets Society
Wins: Original Screenplay
Noms: Picture, Director, Actor - Robin Williams
Field of Dreams
Noms: Picture, Original Screenplay, Score
My take: 1989 was a controversial year for Oscars because Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (one of the biggest critical hits of the year) was snubbed while Driving Miss Daisy ended up dominated the categories. It doesn’t bother me because I enjoy both films, but I can see why people get so worked up. Spike Lee’s film was an innovative take on racism, while Daisy was just your typical Oscar-centric drama.
Aside from the controversy, it was a very solid year with a nice variety of great films in the drama, action, romance, and action genres. Popular films of the year included The Abyss, Batman, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Do the Right Thing, Drugstore Cowboys, Enemies: A Love Story, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Glory, Henry V, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Kiki’s Delivery Service, The Killer, The Little Mermaid, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Roger & Me, Say Anything, Sex Lies and Videotape, Steel Magnolias, and When Harry Met Sally.
Like I said above, I really like Driving Miss Daisy. Sure, it’s a slow paced drama about two old people, but it’s very well made, features great performances from Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, and has a really cool story about dealing with racial tension and old age. All the fuss was made about it not deserving to win when Do the Right Thing wasn’t even nominated, but I personally don’t think either film is better than the other. They’re both really good in their own way.
Born on the Fourth of July is an Oliver Stone film from the high point of his career, coming out between Wall Street and JFK, so you know it’s well made. The direction, cinematography and editing are top notch, and Tom Cruise gives his best performance outside of Magnolia. I find the three hour run-time a little on the slow side, and it’s a depressing story to sit through, but there’s no denying it was one of the year’s best films.
My Left Foot probably would’ve gotten my vote for Best Picture, as it’s my favorite biopic. I’ve always been a fan of Jim Sheridan’s films, and I believe My Left Foot (his first film) is still his greatest. Daniel Day Lewis’ performance as a man who’s only controllable limb is his left foot is a tour de force in acting. It’s so believable that you’d swear they’d gotten the real person to play himself in the movie. The film might not work if you took away the lead actor, but there’s still a lot to like. Brenda Fricker is great in a supporting role, and the story is very touching.
I loved Dead Poets Society when I first saw it years ago, but revisiting it now I found it a little underwhelming. I’m not sure why, as I still enjoyed Robin Williams and the rest of the cast. My problem might be that the story doesn’t connect with me at this point in my life. Period stories that are centered around private schools generally disinterest me.
Field of Dreams is one of those movies people either love or hate. If you don’t care for baseball or fantasy then you probably aren’t a fan. Personally, I love both baseball and fantasy, so I’ve always had an appreciation for the movie. It’s just a warm-hearted tale that is made even better thanks to the wonderful performances from James Earl Jones and Kevin Costner. And that James Horner score is so moving.
If I chose the nominees:
My Left Foot
The Little Mermaid
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Field of Dreams
Say Anything