The Poster Memorabilia blog

The Best Picture that Didn't Get the Oscar

One closing-night gala, one grudge held since 1999, and a poster that outgrew the Academy.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

The 71st Academy Awards will always be notorious for not giving Saving Private Ryan the Best Picture Oscar. It had everything it needed to win the top prize. The movie won Best Director for Steven Spielberg, Best Cinematography for Janusz Kamiński, and was nominated for Best Actor for Tom Hanks and Best Original Screenplay for Robert Rodat.

All the signs pointed to total victory, until it was announced that the actual winner was Shakespeare in Love. Harvey Weinstein's aggressive campaigning helped carry the period drama to the top prize, creating one of the most shocking upsets in Oscar history.

I definitely would've voted for it if I were an Academy member. I've never seen a better film than Saving Private Ryan. From the performances to the screenplay and cinematography, everyone really did their best here. I'd dare say that Steven Spielberg peaked here, almost as if Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Schindler's List were all leading up to this masterpiece.

“We really are lucky to be living in the same timeline as such a genius.”

We really are lucky to be living in the same timeline as such a genius. I don't even think we fully realize how good we have it. And I'm sure glad he's still making films despite how old he is. I will watch just about anything that man will direct.

I'm such a big fan that I even got his autograph when I moved to Los Angeles. I originally moved here for work, but as I got closer and closer to Hollywood, I became obsessed with getting autographs. And out of every famous person here, I wanted to get Steven Spielberg's autograph the most.

I finally got it when I saw him in person at the Lincoln premiere that closed AFI Fest in 2012. He appeared on the red carpet alongside Daniel Day-Lewis at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I was so starstruck by both of them that I almost missed my chance.

Perhaps I have to thank the photographers for screaming me back to life. If they hadn't shouted at both of them to pose for their cameras, I never would've asked Spielberg to sign my Saving Private Ryan poster.

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That moment opened the floodgates. Once I got Spielberg's autograph, I sought to get the cast to sign the same poster too. I then went to various red-carpet premieres, conventions, and other events where I heard that the cast members would appear.

Even if it meant traveling to a different state, I'd go there without a second thought. I actually met a good chunk of the cast in New York City because many of their movies premiered there. As someone who used to live in D.C., I almost regretted moving to the West Coast since my autograph-hounding had me traveling back to the East Coast multiple times a year.

I eventually met the movie's biggest stars when they turned up at the Oscars. Tom Hanks and Matt Damon were at that ceremony plenty of times through the 2010s, whether they were nominated or presenting, so I got their autographs there. I actually found it pretty ironic because I'm still pretty sore at the Academy for not giving the movie the awards it deserved.

For me, Saving Private Ryan will always be the best picture. No award can ever quantify just how great it is. I'd even say that the movie is above the Oscars, especially considering how it was treated back then.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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