And the Oscar Went to…

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In all its record-breaking magnificence, this week’s film Titanic also has the privilege of being the 70th film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture–which means a bit of agonizing for me as I update my BP rankings list. The films bringing up the rear of my list haven’t changed too much with the addition of the 1990s movies, but several of those ’90s films have managed to crack my top ten. As far as which film is, in my opinion, the best film we’ve seen so far…well, let me give you a bit of insight into my thought process.

Ever since we delved into the 1960s BPs, The Sound of Music has been sitting at the top of my list as the best Best Picture winner. But in my mind, Gone with the Wind is right there as well. Throw in the movies of the ’90s, and the best BP contest gets a lot tighter. Schindler’s List is an amazing film, and Braveheart is very good as well–but Titanic is on a whole other level.

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Titanic is almost two films in one. The first half introduces the characters and the ship in all its beauty, while attempting to attach us emotionally to Jack and Rose, the two main characters (who, under the circumstances, should never have met, let alone fallen in love…). The first half of James Cameron’s blockbuster comes up a bit short. The screenwriting is weak in quite a few places, and the acting is painful to watch at times. But the second half of the film, from the ship’s striking of the iceberg to its bittersweet end, nears movie-making perfection as the ship in its tragic demise takes over our attentions. Here is where Titanic‘s supporting cast most shines. They are impeccable. And the sweeping shots of the ocean liner, half-submerged and going down fast as desperate souls fight for their lives, are unbelievable. Add to that James Horner’s unforgettably brilliant score, and there are not a lot of films that can compete in scope or emotional impact.

That being said, when Titanic is held up to the likes of The Sound of Music and Gone with the Wind, it’s pretty much like comparing apples and oranges (hence, my struggle with ranking these BPs). As far as visuals, Titanic wins this three-way competition every time. If great acting is the measure of a great film, then Gone with the Wind has the edge. And if we’re looking at what movie comes the closest to having it all–acting, music, cinematography, art direction, and plot–then I think The Sound of Music still wins.

Here’s my full list of rankings for the first 70 Best Picture winners. As always, friendly disagreement and/or debate is welcome!

  1. The Sound of Music (1965)
  2. Gone with the Wind (1939)
  3. Titanic (1997)
  4. Schindler’s List (1993)
  5. Ben-Hur (1959)
  6. All Quiet on the Western Front (1929/30)
  7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  8. The Godfather (1972)
  9. One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
  10. Braveheart (1995)
  11. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
  12. West Side Story (1961)
  13. You Can’t Take It with You (1938)
  14. Forrest Gump (1994)
  15. Amadeus (1984)
  16. Chariots of Fire (1981)
  17. Out of Africa (1985)
  18. All About Eve (1950)
  19. Gandhi (1982)
  20. Casablanca (1943)
  21. My Fair Lady (1964)
  22. It Happened One Night (1934)
  23. Rebecca (1940)
  24. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
  25. In the Heat of the Night (1967)
  26. The Godfather, Part II (1974)
  27. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  28. The Deer Hunter (1978)
  29. Unforgiven (1992)
  30. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
  31. On the Waterfront (1954)
  32. Oliver! (1968)
  33. The French Connection (1971)
  34. Ordinary People (1980)
  35. The Last Emperor (1987)
  36. All the King’s Men (1949)
  37. The Lost Weekend (1945)
  38. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
  39. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
  40. Hamlet (1948)
  41. How Green Was My Valley (1941)
  42. Patton (1970)
  43. Mrs. Miniver (1942)
  44. Rocky (1976)
  45. A Man for All Seasons (1966)
  46. Gigi (1958)
  47. The Sting (1973)
  48. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
  49. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
  50. Platoon (1986)
  51. Wings (1927/28)
  52. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
  53. Dances with Wolves (1990)
  54. The English Patient (1996)
  55. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
  56. Rain Man (1987)
  57. Marty (1955)
  58. Going My Way (1944)
  59. Cavalcade (1932/33)
  60. Gentlemen’s Agreement (1947)
  61. Grand Hotel (1931/32)
  62. Cimarron (1930/31)
  63. Terms of Endearment (1983)
  64. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
  65. The Apartment (1960)
  66. From Here to Eternity (1953)
  67. An American in Paris (1951)
  68. The Broadway Melody (1928/29)
  69. Annie Hall (1977)
  70. Tom Jones (1963)

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