When you step aboard the scariest, most violent roller coaster, the one that everyone is talking about, you know you’re about to undergo some self-inflicted terror under the auspices of amusement.
In “Saving Private Ryan,” Steven Spielberg has created a cinematic roller coaster, a carefully designed non-stop ride through the horrors of World War II that is so much more explicit than anything we’ve ever seen before that you couldn’t help but have a profound emotional reaction. That a movie could evoke such strong feelings probably means it will win as best picture in this year’s Academy Awards, but should the biggest and the boldest equal the best? That’s the question for this year’s Salute to Siskel Oscar-picking contest. (A print ballot appears on a promotional page in the Friday section.)
Far more understated is this year’s dark horse nominee, “Life Is Beautiful,” starring Roberto Benigni as a father who attempts to shield his young son from the grim realities of the Holocaust. It’s not star-studded, it’s not flashy, but it is a lovely, touching story, beautifully acted and well told.
My Salute to Siskel picks are:
Best Picture: “Life Is Beautiful.”
Best Actor: Ian McKellen, in “Gods and Monsters.”
Best Actress: Gwyneth Paltrow, in “Shakespeare in Love.”
Best Supporting Actor: Ed Harris, in “The Truman Show.”
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates, in “Primary Colors.”
———-
Richards tackles entertainment topics during “Dean Richards Sunday Morning,” from 8 a.m. to noon on WGN Radio 720-AM.