Anna and the King
User Comments

1 September 2000

Can you tell me why Anna and the King was not even nominated for any awards? I was appalled to see American Beauty as the picture of the year. What a statement of our ideals of "good." That dysfunctional family is a far cry from my home. Please let me know if there is a reason about Anna and the King so my faith in Hollywood will not be eternally shattered.

Jim C.

Well, Anna and the King was nominated in two categories, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration and Best Costume Design. But I assume you mean the major categories. My impression is that Anna and the King is the sort of film that would have easily won the award for Best Picture... twenty years ago. It's a very traditional-style Hollywood epic, and the Academy has been slowly moving away from those films in recent times. Anna was a beautiful and enjoyable movie, but it wasn't particularly challenging thematically–certainly not as challenging as American Beauty.

Like you, I had a bit of a problem with elements of American Beauty. I dislike the idea of rich Hollywood folks who live in Malibu and Bel Air commenting on ordinary people in the suburbs, and I didn't care for a couple of the stereotypes. But I still loved the film. Amazingly, it pulls a moving message about reconnecting with the joy of being alive out of a seemingly negative, nihilistic story. That's why it won the Oscar–not because it was some amazing satire about suburban living. It wasn't. It was much more than that.

I don't expect you to agree, but I hope that answers your question.

Carlo

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28 January 2001

You rating this movie with a big "B" is reason to get you fired......are you by now??

Just kidding... everybody has the right to his/her opinion but we enjoyed this movie as a classic A actor movie... Sorry you couldn't.

kind regards,
Tim and Yvonne L.
(The Netherlands)

Thanks for your feedback. The acting was probably the best thing about Anna and the King, next to the art direction.

Anyway, a B is quite a good grade at AboutFilm.com. We sort of look at the scale like a bell curve. Most films are bunched up in the C- toC+ range... A C means so-so, and anything C+ or higher is a recommended film. (Take a look at our key to the ratings.)

Unfortunately, I can't be fired unless I shut down the whole site... I'm also the founder and Web Master. Hope you like some of my other reviews and those of our other critics better.

Regards,
Carlo

29 January 2001

Dear Carlo,

We enjoyed your site and the critisism, but hey beauty still is in the eye of the beholder. We are glad you are not fired (even though you can't) because you are a movie-lover just like us. Keep up the (good) work....

greetings,
Tim and Yvonne L.

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