JAMES CAMERON

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBB.5. 

USA, 1997.  Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Lightstorm Entertainment.  Screenplay by James Cameron.  Cinematography by Russell Carpenter.  Produced by James Cameron, Jon Landau.  Music by James Horner. Production Design by Peter Lamont.  Costume Design by Deborah Lynn Scott.  Film Editing by Conrad Buff IV, James Cameron, Richard A. Harris.   

James Cameron’s expansive version of the Titanic story takes A Night To Remember and adds two fictional protagonists, a poor little rich girl (Kate Winslet) trapped in an unwanted engagement and a poor drifter (Leonardo DiCaprio) who ends up on the ship thanks to a lucky poker game.  Cameron creates a story that brings history to the forefront and involves you emotionally thanks to how personal it is, though the historical significance is not worth ignoring:  the ship is meticulously recreated by production designer Peter Lamont, and Deborah L. Scott’s gorgeous costume designs evoke the early teens without a doubt to authenticity.  Winslet is stunning in a performance that deservedly made her a star, capped off beautifully by Gloria Stuart as an aged version of the same character recounting her experiences on the ship and during its tragic sinking.   State-of-the-art visual effects, beautiful music by James Horner and an all-around epic feel add up to a great night at the movies, and if you’re the one person left in the world who hasn’t seen it yet, catch up to the rest of us.

Academy Awards:  Best Picture; Best Director (James Cameron); Best Cinematography; Best Visual Effects; Best Art Direction; Best Costume Design; Best Film Editing; Best Sound; Best Sound Effects Editing; Best Original Score-Drama; Best Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”)
Nominations: Best Actress (Kate Winslet); Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart); Best Makeup

European Film Award Nomination:  Outstanding European Achievement in World Cinema (Kate Winslet)

Golden Globe Awards:  Best Picture-Drama; Best Original Score; Best Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”)
Nominations: Best Actor-Drama (Leonardo DiCaprio); Best Actress-Drama (Kate Winslet); Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart); Best Screenplay

Screen Actors Guild Award:  Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart) (tie)
Nomination:  Best Ensemble Cast; Best Actress (Kate Winslet)