Should Have been a Best Picture Contender.

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2001)

Why should have Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" been a Best Picture contender? Simply because it is one of the best looking, beautiful pictures ever made.

It also had great performances and a clever, humorous, and twisty script written by Kevin Yagher and Andrew Walker based on the story by Washington Irving.
The costumes, cinematography and sets were among the best looking in history. The movie was nominated in all of those categories, but the people who put the film together should have been nominated too (those being the producers)as well as director Tim Burton who put his unmistakable stamp on the movie and put everything to good use.
Emmanuel Lubezki shot some of the best looking scenes in history. The scenes with Lisa Marie as Lady Crane are magnificent, they are literally breathtaking. Other scenes include the flashbacks with Christopher Walken as the Hessian, the scene in the church, the last scene in New York City, and many others.

The costumes by Colleen Atwood were the best in her long career. She has been nominated for Oscars for the films "Beloved" and "Little Women" but her costumes in "Sleepy Hollow" were her best ever. Especially good were her costumes for Miranda Richardson. There is one scene near the end of the movie (in a flashback)where she wears possibly the best looking costume ever designed.

The Art Direction and set decoration did win an Oscar for Rick Heinrichs and Peter Young. The entire movie was shot indoors but their sets are so realistic and great looking that you would think the movie was shot outside. Especially good is the twisted tree.

The actors are also very good. Johnny Depp gives a very funny, convincing performance that ranks among his best. Christina Ricci also gives a very good performance as does Miranda Richardson. Also good in supporting roles are Michael Gambon, Jeffrey Jones, Richard Griffiths, and Christopher Walken. Walken creates a truly horrifying character and is excellent in the small role as the horseman.

Overall "Sleepy Hollow, is one of the best looking films ever shot, and is funny and well acted, hugely underrated.