1998

Best Picture Nominees:

Elizabeth
Life Is Beautiful
Saving Private Ryan
Shakespeare in Love *
The Thin Red Line

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Elizabeth - A nice period piece with Cate Blanchett in the title role.  This picture marked her breakout role.  It wasn't my top choice for 1998, but I enjoyed it and own it on VHS.

Life Is Beautiful - One of the few Foreign Films to also be nominated for Best Picture.  It is an interesting take on how a prisoner dealt with being in a concentration camp through humor.  I found it a bit over the top.

Saving Private Ryan - Another excellent outing from Steven Spielberg, including a visceral opening scene portraying D-Day.  An amazing film which should have won Best Picture.

Shakespeare in Love - A fictional romp about what might have happened while Shakespeare was writing Romeo & Juliet.  While this was an enjoyable film, it wasn't nearly as impressive as Saving Private Ryan, but the Oscars aren't about what is deserving; it's about who campaigns the best.

The Thin Red Line - This was an overlong story about a battle in the Pacific Theater during WWII.  While it was a good portrayal of war, comparing it side-by-side with Saving Private Ryan, it fell a bit short in terms of being a Best Picture winner.

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My rankings of the Best Picture Nominees:

1.  Saving Private Ryan
2.  Elizabeth
3.  Shakespeare in Love
4.  The Thin Red Line
5.  Life Is Beautiful