MovieChat Forums > Gods and Monsters (1998) Discussion > McKellen and Redgrave both should have w...

McKellen and Redgrave both should have won oscars for this.

posted 18 years ago by Joshf84
14 replies | jump to latest

I still can't figure out how both of these performances lost out at the 1999 Academy Awards. McKellen who lost to Roberto Benigni gave a riveting and powerhouse performance as Director James Whale. Lynn Redgrave also gave what I believe to be her best performance since Georgy Girl. While I thought that Judi Dench's six minute performance in Shakespeare in Love was flawless, Redgrave had the Scandinavian accent down to a T. I am still in disbelief that there were superior performances to these that year!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] rbddsl-1 17 years ago

I agree.......

[–] senseikrau 17 years ago

What about Brendan Fraser? Have you EVER seen a more honest and heart wrenching cry, than the one he gives during the "mask" scene? God... he is such a great dramatic actor!

[–] oskarft 17 years ago

I agree and further comment this: Ian Mckellen and Branden Fraser have always given their characters a certain attention grabbing power. They are the kind of actor that just grasps your attention. For me the best example of this is Tom Hanks, they just dont need to deliver over the top facial expressions like Tom Cruise, to deliver the emotions of the character. I hope i could explain my thoughts.

[–] Mickey77 17 years ago

The Miramax publicity machine went into overdrive in 1999 - spending millions on publicity campaigns for SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

The main casualities of this were McKellen and Redgrave whose beautiful nuanced deeply moving performances lost out in the Miramaz Tsunami.

I loved LIFE IS BEAUTFIL and SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE - but Benigni and Dench really were less "deserving". There was some compensation that the film won for adapted screenplay.

"Don't laugh! This ain't reality TV!

[–] dao54 17 years ago

1999 saw SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE win the Oscar for best picture when SAVING PRIVAT RYAN and THE THIN RED LINE were also in competition.
It just proves that Oscars are meaningless.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] srklondie 15 years ago

Well, I wouldn't feel too bad about it. The Oscars are bu-lsh-t, anyway. I do agree with you about their performances, though. You might check out the' Spirit Independent Awards ' in March. It's the only film awards show that I watch, anymore.

[–] moamg 15 years ago

I totally agree with you!

It's a shame two of the most inspired and absorbing performances of all times should go by without the proper appreciation from the Academy.

Anyways, we do appreciate them, right?

Gods & Monsters is a masterpiece. I've just watched it again, for the nth time. It never ceases to amaze me.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] unapologetic_mocker 15 years ago

I rather think Brendan Fraser's performance was the more notable of the two. I really think he should have been nominated but I would imagine the reason he wasn't was because he would have been in the same category as McKellen, i.e. the Best Actor as opposed to Best Supporting Actor category. It's like Leo Di Caprio not campaigning for an oscar for The Departed against the other male leads. Plus McKellen had the stronger chance given his reputation and repetoire.

But really I think Fraser was robbed of a nomination and win for this role. He was outstanding; I couldn't believe the level of talent he showed(I knew he was good but there's always that part of your brain that reminds you of George of the Jungle and Dudley Do-Right)

[–] arman0612 10 years ago

Redgrave was amazing but McKellen was simply on a different level compared to anything else released that year, one of the best performances of all time, simply a masterclass in acting.