Uh, correction...The last finest Best Picture winner was American Beauty!

Rating: Null/10 (1 November 2003)

This was a good movie I have to admit. I think Russell Crowe gave one of the best performances of the year, and he (or Tom Wilkinson) deserved the Oscar when they were nominated. And Jennifer Connelly's performance really deserved the attention it got. But the movie as a whole just seems not cinematically important as some other movies released the same year and didn't get 10% the praise that this did. The fact that Ron Howard made this film says a lot. If this was a director's debut movie than he would forever be marked as a manipulative white-washer (meaning that he takes out details that would either enrich the story or add an edge to it if it didn't conform to the general public taste. In other words he rather be a follower than a leader. A leader wouldn't be afraid to push the film experience a bit.) I'm not in love with Moulin Rouge but I must commend Lurhmann for really giving his film life, energy, and color. He really change the way I look at how to make a movie. This movie is the exact opposite of Moulin Rouge. It did have life,but had little energy, and barely any color. This film could of been made in black and white (at least that would of given this film an artistic edge). This film did not affect movie history to the effect that Fellowship of the Ring had. It didn't changed the way we look at a genre as Moulin Rouge had. It has not shocked us with performances that stir our thoughts and feelings after the credits like In The Bedroom. It didn't build up to a powerful and intriguing conclusion as Godsford Park. What I am trying to say is that somehow the Academy voted for the most unimportant film of the nominees. The performances can't change that in my opinion.