Can't believe this beat both "Sling Blade" AND "Fargo" for best picture!

Rating: 2/10 (29 June 2005)

Two of my very favorite movies were released in 1996, "Sling Blade" and "Fargo".
When "The English Patient" won the Oscar for best picture, my expectations were naturally very high, I mean, the academy selected it over two of the most transcendental movies I had ever had the pleasure to experience.
To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.
Unlike many others here, I have no real complaints about the length of the move, and, I agree that the cinematography is beautiful. Really eye-candy there.
But I had no sympathy for either of the main characters. Why should I? By their own actions they brought on their own destruction, and, worse, the destruction of others who trusted them.
When Ralph Fiennes stumbles out of that cave at the end, blubbering like a baby, I knew I was SUPPOSED to empathize with him, but I only felt he got what he deserved.
I'm not normally a 'moralist', but I had to wonder why the academy would pass over two movies that had highly moral characters attempting to defend the innocent and defenseless for a movie that glorified immoral people experiencing instant karma while ruining the lives of other innocent people. I guess Hollywood is trying to tell us, hey, if you get the serious hots for someone, it's okay to have an affair.
If you want to see a movie with characters you can believe in and empathize with, watch "Sling Blade". If you want to see a movie you can watch over and over and continue to find new twists & turns, watch "Fargo".
If you want to watch a beautifully filmed grade B soap-opera, watch "The English Patient"
I give it 2/10 for beautiful cinematography.