ACCA 1991: Revisiting the Films of 1991, from 'Beauty and the Beast' to 'The Silence of the Lambs [1]
von Clayton Davis
The Awards Circuit Community Awards has become a staple and an ever-evolving popular visit to our readers of AwardsCircuit.com (You can take a look at ACCA history here). Monday, March 26 will see the official opening for voting for 1991. As we prepare, we take a look back to 27 years ago and what it had to offer.
The year was 1991. Operation Desert Storm mobilized to kick Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Police arrested serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nirvana ushered in the grunge era with the release of "Nevermind." And future Academy Award winners Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Leonardo DiCaprio made their feature film debuts.
Two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world was still changing. With the collapse of the wall came the symbolic and literal end of the decades-long Cold War. The Big Bad Soviets were no longer the faceless enemies in the war movies. The spy game had changed, too, and with it came the need to focus on new threats and new opportunities.
The 1990s also brought about a revolution in the entire experience of making and viewing movies. While 1993's "Jurassic Park" is heralded for introducing computerized graphics into visual effects, it was an earlier film that deserved credit for making that success possible. The decade would also bring many new women and people of color to the silver screen, as well as behind the camera.
As we prepare for ACCA 1991, today we look at many of the films that were vital to that year, and how their relevance has remained or faced.
Billy Crystal hosted the 64th Academy Awards for 1991. It was his third year hosting the big show, and he was a wildly popular staple throughout the nineties. That year's Best Picture lineup was quite an interesting collection. "Beauty and the Beast" became the first animated film ever nominated for the top prize. Warren Beatty and Annette Bening charmed their way through Barry Levinson's "Bugsy." Oliver Stone's "JFK" turned the Magic Bullet Theory into a punchline. Barbra Streisand starred in and directed "The Prince of Tides," which was only the third Best Picture nominee directed by a woman. And a certain horror-themed drama, "The Silence of the Lambs," won Best Picture of the Year.
"The Silence of the Lambs" still holds a secure place as a favorite of many Oscar fans. Jonathan Demme's drama/horror presents powerful, unforgettable performances from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. In fact, Hopkins' Dr. Hannibal Lecter is so impactful to the film, many don't realize his Oscar-winning lead performance took up 16 minutes of screen time. It went on to win 5 of its 7 nominations, including Director, Lead Actor and Actress, and Adapted Screenplay.
But beside the Best Pictures, there were many notable releases in 1991. Some you likely already love, and some you might have missed.
The year brought fun movies like Steven Spielberg's "Hook" about an all-grown-up Peter Pan. Billy Crystal met his match in "City Slickers" opposite Jack Palance. That film was also the debut of future Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. Steve Martin's remake of "Father of the Bride" was delightful and continues to be an audience favorite. A new generation met "The Addams Family." And Robin Hood gained new life when Kevin Costner took on the title role in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." But Alan Rickman stole the show as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
It was a big year for sequels. The list included "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "The Naked Gun 2 1/2," "The Neverending Story II," "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze," "F/X 2," "Problem Child 2," "House Party 2," "Highlander II," "Child's Play 3," and "Ernest Scared Stupid." Some were better than others.
"Terminator 2" was the aforementioned game changer for the world of visual effects. In fact, Academy Award nominated VFX master Joe Letteri recently cited this film as the one that kicked off the shift in the industry. One of the things that makes "Terminator 2" work so well is that nearly 30 years later, the graphics still hold up. Plus, it gave Sarah Connor much more to do than simply be a damsel in distress. The film won four Oscars for sound, Visual Effects and Makeup. It also scored nods for its top notch cinematography and editing. "Terminator 2" was such a great film overall that James Cameron has decided to ignore anything that came after this, and retraining the new sequels on a world where this was the last "Terminator" movie.
Sarah Connor wasn't the only standout lady of 1991. Ridley Scott gave the world "Thelma & Louise," and it seemed this was a whole new era for leading ladies. Scott earned his first nomination for Best Director. But the controversial film failed to make the Best Picture lineup. Callie Khouri won the Oscar for Original Screenplay. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon competed for Lead Actress. It was only the fifth time two lead actresses were both nominated, and it hasn't happened since. They lost to Jodie Foster for "Silence of the Lambs."
Another women-led film that flew a little under the radar was "Fried Green Tomatoes." That film, which starred Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary Stewart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker, was a quieter film than "Thelma & Louise," and had a much less controversial ending. But it had strong messages about relationships and friendship, and womanhood. This is one of those films that is easy to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon. But don't be fooled by those sweet southern accents and gentle smiles. They mask a surprising amount of depth.
Other films about girls and women include the charming "My Girl," which made all the girls cry. Best Picture nominee "Beauty and the Beast" showed the world a Disney princess could be smart, funny, AND the hero of her own story.
Barbra Streisand's "The Prince of Tides" holds some lingering controversy. The film scored seven nominations in total, but zero for Streisand. It seemed to prove the Academy's ongoing disdain for female filmmakers. By 1991, Lina Wertmüller remained the only woman ever nominated for directing. And she was nominated in 1976. After Streisand's snub, it took two more years before another woman was finally considered. The film did earn seven nominations, though. Nick Nolte and Kate Nelligan—both of whom were nominated—as well as Blythe Danner and Melinda Dillon all do fantastic work. This doesn't turn up on television too often, but it is one that needs to be revisited and re-examined.
The tide seemed to be shifting, not only for women in film, but people of color, too. Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair accomplished both. Her film "Mississippi Masala" looks at issues of race and culture. When a Ugandan/Indian family relocates to Mississippi, their daughter Mina (Sarita Choudhury) falls in love with a local carpet cleaner (Denzel Washington). This film explores assimilation, interracial relationships, and holding fast to one's culture.
Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" was both celebrated and condemned for its depiction of marital infidelity. But, really, because of its depiction of interracial relationships. Lee's tendency to face the hard questions elevated this film. It wasn't just another movie about a guy having an affair. It was something much more important. Even if the story doesn't fully work, Lee presents these topics in ways meant to challenge convention. And in that aspect, this film really works.
John Singleton's "Boyz n the Hood" transformed discussions of race in Hollywood. Released one year before the infamous LA Riots of 1992, Singleton's debut feature explores social problems in LA's Crenshaw District. For those unfamiliar, Crenshaw is a South Los Angeles neighborhood that was ground zero for the riots. "Boyz n the Hood" launched the film careers of Singleton, but also Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, and Cuba Gooding Jr. Singleton's Best Director nomination made him the first African-American nominee. He was also the seventh director nominated for their first feature.
What are some of your favorite films of 1991? How well have they held up over the years? Share your thoughts below!
The year was 1991. Operation Desert Storm mobilized to kick Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Police arrested serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nirvana ushered in the grunge era with the release of "Nevermind." And future Academy Award winners Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Leonardo DiCaprio made their feature film debuts.
Two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world was still changing. With the collapse of the wall came the symbolic and literal end of the decades-long Cold War. The Big Bad Soviets were no longer the faceless enemies in the war movies. The spy game had changed, too, and with it came the need to focus on new threats and new opportunities.
The 1990s also brought about a revolution in the entire experience of making and viewing movies. While 1993's "Jurassic Park" is heralded for introducing computerized graphics into visual effects, it was an earlier film that deserved credit for making that success possible. The decade would also bring many new women and people of color to the silver screen, as well as behind the camera.
As we prepare for ACCA 1991, today we look at many of the films that were vital to that year, and how their relevance has remained or faced.
Billy Crystal hosted the 64th Academy Awards for 1991. It was his third year hosting the big show, and he was a wildly popular staple throughout the nineties. That year's Best Picture lineup was quite an interesting collection. "Beauty and the Beast" became the first animated film ever nominated for the top prize. Warren Beatty and Annette Bening charmed their way through Barry Levinson's "Bugsy." Oliver Stone's "JFK" turned the Magic Bullet Theory into a punchline. Barbra Streisand starred in and directed "The Prince of Tides," which was only the third Best Picture nominee directed by a woman. And a certain horror-themed drama, "The Silence of the Lambs," won Best Picture of the Year."The Silence of the Lambs" still holds a secure place as a favorite of many Oscar fans. Jonathan Demme's drama/horror presents powerful, unforgettable performances from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. In fact, Hopkins' Dr. Hannibal Lecter is so impactful to the film, many don't realize his Oscar-winning lead performance took up 16 minutes of screen time. It went on to win 5 of its 7 nominations, including Director, Lead Actor and Actress, and Adapted Screenplay.
But beside the Best Pictures, there were many notable releases in 1991. Some you likely already love, and some you might have missed.
The year brought fun movies like Steven Spielberg's "Hook" about an all-grown-up Peter Pan. Billy Crystal met his match in "City Slickers" opposite Jack Palance. That film was also the debut of future Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. Steve Martin's remake of "Father of the Bride" was delightful and continues to be an audience favorite. A new generation met "The Addams Family." And Robin Hood gained new life when Kevin Costner took on the title role in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." But Alan Rickman stole the show as the Sheriff of Nottingham.It was a big year for sequels. The list included "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "The Naked Gun 2 1/2," "The Neverending Story II," "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze," "F/X 2," "Problem Child 2," "House Party 2," "Highlander II," "Child's Play 3," and "Ernest Scared Stupid." Some were better than others.
"Terminator 2" was the aforementioned game changer for the world of visual effects. In fact, Academy Award nominated VFX master Joe Letteri recently cited this film as the one that kicked off the shift in the industry. One of the things that makes "Terminator 2" work so well is that nearly 30 years later, the graphics still hold up. Plus, it gave Sarah Connor much more to do than simply be a damsel in distress. The film won four Oscars for sound, Visual Effects and Makeup. It also scored nods for its top notch cinematography and editing. "Terminator 2" was such a great film overall that James Cameron has decided to ignore anything that came after this, and retraining the new sequels on a world where this was the last "Terminator" movie.Sarah Connor wasn't the only standout lady of 1991. Ridley Scott gave the world "Thelma & Louise," and it seemed this was a whole new era for leading ladies. Scott earned his first nomination for Best Director. But the controversial film failed to make the Best Picture lineup. Callie Khouri won the Oscar for Original Screenplay. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon competed for Lead Actress. It was only the fifth time two lead actresses were both nominated, and it hasn't happened since. They lost to Jodie Foster for "Silence of the Lambs."Another women-led film that flew a little under the radar was "Fried Green Tomatoes." That film, which starred Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary Stewart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker, was a quieter film than "Thelma & Louise," and had a much less controversial ending. But it had strong messages about relationships and friendship, and womanhood. This is one of those films that is easy to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon. But don't be fooled by those sweet southern accents and gentle smiles. They mask a surprising amount of depth.Other films about girls and women include the charming "My Girl," which made all the girls cry. Best Picture nominee "Beauty and the Beast" showed the world a Disney princess could be smart, funny, AND the hero of her own story.
Barbra Streisand's "The Prince of Tides" holds some lingering controversy. The film scored seven nominations in total, but zero for Streisand. It seemed to prove the Academy's ongoing disdain for female filmmakers. By 1991, Lina Wertmüller remained the only woman ever nominated for directing. And she was nominated in 1976. After Streisand's snub, it took two more years before another woman was finally considered. The film did earn seven nominations, though. Nick Nolte and Kate Nelligan—both of whom were nominated—as well as Blythe Danner and Melinda Dillon all do fantastic work. This doesn't turn up on television too often, but it is one that needs to be revisited and re-examined.The tide seemed to be shifting, not only for women in film, but people of color, too. Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair accomplished both. Her film "Mississippi Masala" looks at issues of race and culture. When a Ugandan/Indian family relocates to Mississippi, their daughter Mina (Sarita Choudhury) falls in love with a local carpet cleaner (Denzel Washington). This film explores assimilation, interracial relationships, and holding fast to one's culture.
Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" was both celebrated and condemned for its depiction of marital infidelity. But, really, because of its depiction of interracial relationships. Lee's tendency to face the hard questions elevated this film. It wasn't just another movie about a guy having an affair. It was something much more important. Even if the story doesn't fully work, Lee presents these topics in ways meant to challenge convention. And in that aspect, this film really works.
John Singleton's "Boyz n the Hood" transformed discussions of race in Hollywood. Released one year before the infamous LA Riots of 1992, Singleton's debut feature explores social problems in LA's Crenshaw District. For those unfamiliar, Crenshaw is a South Los Angeles neighborhood that was ground zero for the riots. "Boyz n the Hood" launched the film careers of Singleton, but also Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, and Cuba Gooding Jr. Singleton's Best Director nomination made him the first African-American nominee. He was also the seventh director nominated for their first feature.What are some of your favorite films of 1991? How well have they held up over the years? Share your thoughts below!
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Clayton Davis
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