A great film but not the film of the '90s

Rating: 7/10 (8 November 1999)

"Titanic" is one great film that never falters in length, talent or action but is not ever to be considered THE #1 film of the '90s. It may come as ONLY a close second behind "Schindler's List". Kate Winslet is a promising character actress but Leo DiCaprio is destined to play only contemporary parts well. His take on Romeo in "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet" (1996) was very 90s despite the faithfulness to Will's original script and Jack in "Titanic" was very much the same. "The Man in the Iron Mask" was pretty much of a flop on his part also. Billy Zane, after playing dozens of supporting parts now has a chance of proving himself a good leading man (such as shown in tv's "Cleopatra" as Mark Antony last May). Gloria Stewart made a tremendous comeback after 45+ years with her portrayal of Old Rose but millions were shocked when she didn't win the Supporting Actress Oscar. Who did it go to? Miss Kim Basinger! Notorious for playing a prostitute in every movie she's made. Kathy Bates is a perfect choice to play the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown and Frances Fisher is a narrow-minded wretch of a woman as Rose's mother Ruth, one who only cared about herself and her position in society. Now for sheer spectacle and brilliant music, action and tension, "Titanic" may qualify as the best ACTION movie of the decade but not on a general "all-in-all" scale as a unique drama. "Ben-Hur" (1959) finally met it's match as the Oscar-winning champ when "Titanic" tied with it as the film with the highest number of Oscars (11 in all for both). And the ever-popular "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion is probably the greatest song written for a film since "Moon River" of "Breakfast at Tiffany's". But let's not get carried away and glorify "Titanic" as the best film of the decade!