71st Academy Awards

71st Academy Awards

Official poster
Date March 21, 1999
Site Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg
Preshow host(s) Geena Davis
Jim Moret[1]
Produced by Gil Cates
Directed by Louis J. Horvitz
Highlights
Best Picture Shakespeare in Love
Most awards Shakespeare in Love (7)
Most nominations Shakespeare in Love (13)
TV in the United States
Network ABC
Duration 4 hours, 2 minutes[2]
Ratings 45.51 million
28.63% (Nielsen ratings)

The 71st Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best of 1998 in film and took place on March 21, 1999, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, AMPAS presented Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories. The ceremony, televised in the United States by ABC, was produced by Gil Cates and directed by Louis J. Horvitz.[3][4] Actress Whoopi Goldberg hosted the show for the third time.[5] She first hosted the 66th ceremony held in 1994 and had last hosted the 68th ceremony in 1996.[6] Nearly a month earlier in a ceremony held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on February 27, the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host Anne Heche.[7]

Shakespeare in Love won seven awards including Best Picture.[8] Other winners included Saving Private Ryan with five awards, Life Is Beautiful with three, and Affliction, Bunny, Election Night, Elizabeth, Gods and Monsters, The Last Days, The Personals, The Prince of Egypt, and What Dreams May Come with one. The telecast garnered nearly 46 million viewers in the United States.

Winners and nominees

The nominees for the 71st Academy Awards were announced on February 9, 1999, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, by Robert Rehme, president of the Academy, and the actor Kevin Spacey.[9] Shakespeare in Love earned the most nominations with thirteen; Saving Private Ryan came in second place with eleven.[10]

The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on March 21, 1999.[11] Life Is Beautiful was the second film nominated simultaneously for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film in the same year.[12] Moreover, its seven nominations were the most for a foreign language film, to date.[13] Best Actor winner Roberto Benigni was the second person to direct himself to an acting Oscar win. Laurence Olivier first achieved this feat for his performance in 1948's Hamlet.[14] He also became the fourth individual to earn acting, directing, screenwriting nominations for the same film.[15] In addition, Benigni was the third performer to win an Oscar for a non-English speaking role.[16] By virtue of their nominations for portraying Queen Elizabeth I of England, Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett and Best Supporting Actress winner Judi Dench became the first pair of actresses to earn acting nominations in the same year for portraying the same character in different films.[17]

Awards

Headshot of a bearded and bespectacled Jewish male wearing a black tuxedo.
Steven Spielberg, Best Director winner
Portrait of a man holding a gold statuette. He is wearing a black coat over a red sweater and a red collared shirt.
Roberto Benigni, Best Actor winner and Best Foreign Language Film winner
Photo of a blonde haired female wearing a blue dress.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Best Actress winner
Headshot of a man holding a black telephone. He is wearing a checkered shirt and a dark brown suit.
James Coburn, Best Supporting Actor winner
Upper-torso of a female in her early seventies wearing a grey dress.
Judi Dench, Best Supporting Actress winner
Photo of Tom Stoppard at the premiere of The Coast of Utopia in 2007.
Tom Stoppard, Best Original Screenplay co-winner
Photo of a grey haired man wearing a navy blue bubble vest.
Chris Wedge, Best Animated Short Film winner
A photo of Janusz Kamiński wearing a white scarf and a black bubble vest.
Janusz Kamiński, Best Cinematography winner
Photo of Sandy Powell at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival.
Sandy Powell, Best Costume Design winner

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (double-dagger).[18]

Academy Honorary Award

Irving G. Thalberg Award

Films with multiple nominations and awards

Presenters and performers

The following individuals presented awards or performed musical numbers.[21][22]

Presenters

Name(s) Role
Thomas, RandiRandi Thomas Announcer for the 71st annual Academy Awards
Rehme, RobertRobert Rehme (AMPAS President) Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony
Basinger, KimKim Basinger Presenter of the award for Best Supporting Actor
Paltrow, GwynethGwyneth Paltrow Presenter of the award for Best Art Direction
Stewart, PatrickPatrick Stewart Presenter of the films Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love on the Best Picture segment
Myers, MikeMike Myers Presenter of the award for Best Makeup
Ricci, ChristinaChristina Ricci Introducer of the performance of Best song nominee "When You Believe"
Fraser, BrendanBrendan Fraser Presenter of the award for Best Live Action Short Film
Flik Flik the ant (voiced by Dave Foley)
Heimlich the caterpillar (voiced by Joe Ranft) 		Presenters of the award for Best Animated Short Film
Williams, RobinRobin Williams Presenter of the award for Best Supporting Actress
Rock, ChrisChris Rock Presenter of the award for Best Sound Effects Editing
Tyler, LivLiv Tyler Introducer of the performance of Best Song nominee "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
Huston, AnjelicaAnjelica Huston Presenter if the award for Best Sound
Hanks, TomTom Hanks Introducer of presenter John Glenn
Glenn, JohnJohn Glenn Presenter of the "Historical Figures in Cinema" montage
Loren, SophiaSophia Loren Presenter of the film Life Is Beautiful on the Best Picture segment and the award for Best Foreign Language Film
Garcia, AndyAndy Garcia
Andie MacDowell 		Presenters of the award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score
Davis, GeenaGeena Davis Introducer of the special dance number to the tune of the Best Original Dramatic Score nominees
Presenter of the award for Best Original Dramatic Score
Travolta, JohnJohn Travolta Presenter of the Frank Sinatra tribute montage
Heche, AnneAnne Heche Presenter of the segment of the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement and Gordon E. Sawyer Award
Carrey, JimJim Carrey Presenter of the award for Best Film Editing
Zellweger, RenéeRenée Zellweger Introducer of the performance of the Best Song nominee "A Soft Place to Fall"
Cage, NicolasNicolas Cage Presenter of the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to Norman Jewison
Neeson, LiamLiam Neeson Presenter of the award for Best Visual Effects
Kilmer, ValVal Kilmer Presenter of the Gene Autry and Roy Rogers tribute montage
Hunt, HelenHelen Hunt Presenter of the award for Best Actor
Kudrow, LisaLisa Kudrow Introducer of the performance of Best Song nominee "That'll Do"
Affleck, BenBen Affleck
Matt Damon 		Presenters of the awards for Best Documentary Short Subject and Best Documentary Feature
De Niro, RobertRobert De Niro
Martin Scorsese 		Presenters of the Honorary Academy Award to Elia Kazan
Goldberg, WhoopiWhoopi Goldberg Presenter of the award for Best Costume Design
Zeta-Jones, CatherineCatherine Zeta-Jones Introducer of the performance of Best Song nominee "The Prayer"
Lopez, JenniferJennifer Lopez Presenter of the award for Best Original Song
Benning, AnnetteAnnette Benning Presenter of the In Memoriam tribute
Valenti, JackJack Valenti Introducer of presenter Colin Powell
Powell, ColinColin Powell Presenter of the films Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line on the Best Picture segment
Thurman, UmaUma Thurman Presenter of the award for Best Cinematography
Nicholson, JackJack Nicholson Presenter of the award for Best Actress
Spielberg, StevenSteven Spielberg Presenter of the Stanley Kubrick tribute montage
Hawn, GoldieGoldie Hawn
Steve Martin 		Presenters of the awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay
Costner, KevinKevin Costner Presenter of the award for Best Director
Ford, HarrisonHarrison Ford Presenter of the award for Best Picture

Performers

Name(s) Role Performed
Conti, BillBill Conti Musical arranger Orchestral
Carey, MariahMariah Carey
Whitney Houston 		Performers "When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt
Aerosmith, Aerosmith Performers "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" from Armageddon
Cortés, JoaquínJoaquín Cortés
Savion Glover
Tai Jiminez
Desmond Richardson
Rasta Thomas[23] 		Performers Performed dance number synchronized with selections from Best Original Dramatic Score nominees
Moorer, AlisonAlison Moorer Performer "A Soft Place to Fall" from The Horse Whisperer
Gabriel, PeterPeter Gabriel
Randy Newman 		Performers "That'll Do" from Babe: Pig in the City
Dion, CelineCeline Dion
Andrea Bocelli 		Performers "The Prayer" from Quest for Camelot

Ceremony information

Photo of an African-American woman with braided hair who is wearing a grey scarf and a denim jacket.
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the 71st Academy Awards.

Riding on the success of the previous year's ceremony which garnered record-high viewership figures and several Emmys, AMPAS sought changes to the festivities that would help build upon this recent success. In June 1998, Academy president Robert Rehme announced that the show would be held on a Sunday for the first time in history.[24] AMPAS and network ABC hoped to capitalize on the high television ratings and viewership that benefit programs airing on that particular day of the week.[25] The Academy also stated that the move to Sunday would ease concerns about traffic gridlock and transportation that are significantly lower on weekends.[26]

The following January, Gil Cates was selected as producer of the telecast.[27] He immediately selected Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg as host of the 1999 ceremony.[28] Cates explained his decision to bring back Goldberg as host saying, "The audience adores Whoopi and that affection, plus Whoopi's extraordinary talent makes her a terrific host for the show."[29] In a statement, Goldberg expressed that she was honored and excited to be selected to emcee the telecast commenting, "I am thrilled to escort Oscar into the new millennium. Who would have thought that I would be hosting the last Oscar telecast of the century? It's a huge deal."[29]

Several other people participated in the production of the ceremony and its related events. Bill Conti served as musical director for the festivities.[30] In addition to supervising the Best Song nominee performances, choreographer Debbie Allen produced a dance number featuring five dancers from around the world showcasing the nominees for Best Original Dramatic Score.[31] For the first time, the Academy produced its own pre-show that preceded the main telecast. Produced by Dennis Doty, the half-hour program was hosted by actress Geena Davis and CNN reporter Jim Moret.[32] Similar to coverage of red carpet arrivals on networks such as E!, the pre-show featured interviews with nominees and other guests, recaps of nominations, and segments highlighting behind-the-scenes preparations for the telecast.[33]

Box office performance of nominees

At the time of the nominations announcement on February 9, the combined gross of the five Best Picture nominees was $302 million with an average of $60.4 million per film.[34] Saving Private Ryan was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $194.2 million in domestic box office receipts. The film was followed by Shakespeare in Love ($36.5 million), The Thin Red Line ($30.6 million), Elizabeth ($21.5 million), and finally Life is Beautiful ($18.4 million).[34]

Of the top 50 grossing movies of the year, 36 nominations went to 13 films on the list. Only Saving Private Ryan (2nd), The Truman Show (11th), A Civil Action (40th), and Primary Colors (50th) were nominated for Best Picture, directing, acting, or screenwriting.[35] The other top 50 box office hits that earned nominations were Armageddon (1st), A Bug's Life (5th), Patch Adams (12th), Mulan (13th), The Mask of Zorro (17th), The Prince of Egypt (18th), The Horse Whisperer (24th), What Dreams May Come (37th), and Pleasantville (49th).[35]

Critical reviews

The show received a mixed reception from media publications. Columnist Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly quipped that "Whoopi bombed last night, she knew it—and yet, crassly, she took it as a sign of her own outrageousness."[36] The Washington Post television critic Tom Shales bemoaned that Goldberg "spent a great deal of time laughing at her own jokes, many of which were dirty, a few dirty." He also lambasted the host's presentation of the five Best Costume Design nominees saying calling it time-consuming and tasteless.[37] Film critic John Hartl of The Seattle Times lamented that the telecast "was the longest and possibly the dullest Oscar show of the century, clocking in at four hours."[38]

Other media outlets received the broadcast more positively. Television columnist Robert Bianco of USA Today commended Goldberg's hosting performance writing that he liked "the sharper, more socially conscious edge Goldberg brings."[39] The Boston Globe television critic Matthew Gilbert commented, "It was the perfect year with more than enough Hollywood intrigue and a battle for her to play off."[37] Joanne Ostrow of The Denver Post raved that "Whoopi definitely was on, more so than in her two previous hosting stints." She added that "the show was exceptionally smooth."[40]

Ratings and reception

The American telecast on ABC drew in an average of 45.51 million viewers over its length, which was an 18% decrease from the previous year's ceremony.[41][42] An estimated 78.10 million total viewers watched all or part of the awards.[42] The show also drew lower Nielsen ratings compared to the previous ceremony with 28.63% of households watching over a 47.79 share.[43] In addition, it also drew a lower 18–49 demo rating with an 18.85 rating over a 37.31 share among viewers in that demographic.[44]

In July 1999, the show received seven nominations at the 51st Primetime Emmy Awards.[45] Two months later, the ceremony won two of those nominations for Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program (Roy Christopher and Stephen Olson) and Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special (Robert Dickinson, Robert T. Barnhart, Andy O'Reilly, Matt Ford).[46]

In Memoriam

The annual In Memoriam tribute was presented by actress Annette Bening. The montage featured an excerpt of the main title from Ever After composed by George Fenton.[47]

A separate tribute to actor, singer, and former Oscar host Frank Sinatra was presented by John Travolta.[48] Later, actor Val Kilmer presented one to actors Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.[49] After the In Memoriam segment was shown, host Goldberg and director Steven Spielberg eulogized film critic Gene Siskel and director Stanley Kubrick respectively.[50][51]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Geena Davis to Do Pre-Oscar Telecast". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. January 12, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ Richmond, Ray (March 21, 1999). "The 71st Annual Academy Awards". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 231
  4. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 233
  5. ↑ "Whoopi Goldberg to host Oscars". BBC News. BBC. January 13, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Wallace, Amy (January 13, 1999). "Whoopi Goldberg Gets Tapped to Host 71st Oscar Ceremony". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ Graser, Marc (February 28, 1999). "Avid has fan in Oscar at Sci-tech ceremony". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ Rosen, Steven (March 22, 1999). "'Love,' not war Best-picture Oscar goes to 'Shakespeare'". The Denver Post. MediaNews Group. p. A1.
  9. ↑ Munoz, Lorena (February 10, 1999). "It's the Early Birds That Get to Squirm". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ Anthony, Todd (February 10, 1999). "71st Academy Awards". Sun-Sentinel. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Oscar loves 'Shakespeare' Bard's film takes 7 Academy Awards; Benigni, Paltrow named best actors". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. March 22, 1999. p. 1D.
  12. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 401
  13. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 209
  14. ↑ Osborne 2013, p. 423
  15. ↑ Welkos, Robert W. (March 19, 1999). "Benigni Rising Has Hollywood Gushing". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ O'Neil, Tom (September 22, 2010). "Quiz: Who won Oscars for foreign-lingo roles?". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  17. ↑ Kinn & Piazza 2002, p. 299
  18. ↑ "The 71st Academy Awards (1999) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. AMPAS. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  19. ↑ Goldstein, Patrick (January 15, 1999). "Film Director Elia Kazan to Receive Oscar, Forgiveness". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  20. ↑ Higgins, Bill (January 10, 1999). "Jewison will receive Thalberg memorial". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  21. ↑ "The Scheduled Oscar Lineup". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. March 20, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  22. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 228
  23. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 234
  24. ↑ Madigan, Nick (June 26, 1998). "Sunday officially Oscar's". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  25. ↑ Welkos, Robert W. (March 13, 1999). "Cinema's Super Sunday". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  26. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 213
  27. ↑ Madigan, Nick (January 4, 1999). "Cates to produce Oscars". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  28. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 214
  29. 1 2 "Whoopi! Goldberg to host Oscars". CNN. Time Warner. January 13, 1999. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Morning Report: Arts And Entertainment Reports From The Times, News Services And The Nations's Press". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. January 23, 1999. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  31. ↑ Pond 2005, p. 199
  32. ↑ Shister, Gail (March 18, 1999). "CNN's Jim Moret Working Swing Shift On Oscar Night". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  33. ↑ Pond 2005, p. 211
  34. 1 2 "1998 Academy Award Nominations and Winner for Best Picture". Box Office Mojo. Amazon.com. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  35. 1 2 "1998 Domestic Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Amazon.com. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  36. ↑ Schawrzbaum, Lisa (March 22, 1999). "Vulgar disfavors". Entertainment Weekly. Time Warner. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  37. 1 2 Bona 2002, p. 244
  38. ↑ Hartl, John (March 22, 1999). "`Love' Conquers All–Oscar Gets Fickle In Night Of Close Calls And Upsets". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  39. ↑ Bianco, Robert (March 22, 1999). "Show makes lead of Hollywood gold". USA Today. Gannett Company. p. D1.
  40. ↑ Ostrow, Joanne (March 22, 1999). "The African Queen trumps Billy Crystal". The Denver Post. MediaNews Group. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  41. ↑ Gorman, Bill (February 24, 2012). "With No Blockbusters Up For Best Picture, Expect 'Academy Awards' Viewership To Fall; Ratings History + Your Guess For This Year (Poll)". TV by the Numbers. Tribune Media. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  42. 1 2 Lowry, Brian (March 23, 1999). "Oscars Draw Big Numbers, Though Not as Big as Hoped". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  43. ↑ Bierbaum, Tom (March 22, 1999). "Oscars don't push aud envelope". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Academy Awards ratings" (PDF). Television Bureau of Advertising. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Primetime Emmy database". Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. ATAS. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  46. ↑ "51st Annual Emmy Awards: Creative Arts Emmy Winners". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. September 13, 1999. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  47. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 237
  48. ↑ Carter, Bill. "After the Oscars, The Complaints". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  49. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 235
  50. ↑ Warren, Ellen (March 23, 1999). "Oscar Night Salute To Siskel Was All Whoopi". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  51. ↑ Bona 2002, p. 238

Bibliography

  • Bona, Damien (2002), Inside Oscar 2, New York, United States: Ballantine Books, ISBN 0-345-44970-3 
  • Kinn, Gail; Piazza, Jim (2002), The Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History, New York, United States: Workman Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1579123963 
  • Osborne, Robert (2013). 85 Years of the Oscar: The Complete History of the Academy Awards. New York, United States: Abbeville Publishing Group. ISBN 0-7892-1142-4. 
  • Pond, Steve (2005), The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards, New York, United States: Faber and Faber, ISBN 0-571-21193-3 

External links

Official websites
News resources
Analysis
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