All of these follow up options are arguably better than the prior best picture winner. Certainly Broadcast News and The Revenant. Maybe even The Conversation, which is most definitely the best of the lot, and one of the best films ever.
Tom Morris - 5 years ago
The English Patient is a terrible movie. It’s the worst example of Harvey Weinstein over marketing to get an Oscar. It’s boring and the Talented Mr Ripley is better but also not a complete film. It doesn’t stick the landing.
Daniel Camacho - 5 years ago
Atlanta, GA.
Damien Chazelle's recent follow-up to La La Land, First Man.
Oh wait...never mind!
Brad in West Milwaukee - 5 years ago
This is the first time I've ever voted for "Other" in a poll, but I have to second the vote for Contact (following Forrest Gump from Robert Zemeckis). My second place vote would go to Clint Eastwood's A Perfect World (following Unforgiven). These are two of my favorite movies to come out of the 90's, and it's downright criminal that they aren't part of the original poll, especially with the unworthy options of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Revenant being in there (Yeah Josh, I said it).
Tom Morris - 5 years ago
Robert Zmeckis followed up Forrest Gump with CONTACT. Easily one of the best sci-fi films of the 1990s. Based on Carl Sagan’s novel and his screeenplay it’s incredible! Criminally overlooked by a lot of people.
Keith Durnford - 5 years ago
I did wonder why the 1970 date, and then realized that David Lean would most probably have won with Lawrence of Arabia followed by Bridge on the River Kwai.
For me the option that should have been on your list (and my favorite option), would be Oliver Stone's 1986 Platoon followed up by Wall Street. I think if this had been an option it would score pretty heavily. I love your site, long may you continue.
Daniel Carin - 5 years ago
127 Hours is such an odd follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire that it gets my vote. A film with song and dance, bright colours and non-stop movement ... then two years later, a guy stuck under a rock.
Derek Carter - 5 years ago
I would have put Philadelphia on this list before the Talented Mr Ripley or even Zero Dark 30 - this is the movie in which Hanks earned his second best actor Oscar - it was Demme attempting to atone for an unintentional injury to the LGBT community for adding to the history of trans gender people being portrayed as villains and freaks with the Buffalo Bill character in Silence of the Lambs - and it has an under appreciated performance from Denzel Washington representing the public view of the AIDS epidemic and the people suffering from it, A performance which starts with repulsion and fear that is turned to compassion when he sees the human being and not just the disease. A much more impact full and more worthy movie for consideration than Mr Ripley
Wade McCormick - 5 years ago
Kansas City, MO
David Lean followed up his best picture Bridge on the River Kwai with another best picture in Lawrence of Arabia. My vote is for The Conversation, but there's hardly a better way to follow up a best picture than with another best picture.
Andy Mitchell, the production assistant - 5 years ago
Bosses, you two are really gonna vote for The Revenant and The Exorcist, as if The Conversation isn't an option? ;)
The Conversation (while not his best) is my personal favorite Coppola film. In this film Coppola shrinks down the scope of his ideas and really explores the story of a single character. While the humanity of his characters shines through in films like The Godfather and Apocolypse Now, The Conversation is the only time (at least that I've seen) where Coppola puts some of these ideas under a microscope. The result is a thrilling and ultimately haunting story that ranks among the best films of the decade.
Mike Hailer - 5 years ago
I'm of the opinion that not only does THE CONVERSATION stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best films of the 1970's but also contains Gene Hackman's (my favorite actor) best performance.
It is every bit the masterpiece that Coppola's GODFATHER films are that bookend it.
Mike Hailer - 5 years ago
I'm of the opinion that not only does THE CONVERSATION stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best films of the 1970's but also contains Gene Hackman's (my favorite actor) best performance.
It is every bit the masterpiece that Coppola's GODFATHER films are that bookend it.
Dylan Dam - 5 years ago
Law student in Lincoln, Nebraska.
I think that The Conversation is the "right" answer here, but to me, the choice has to be Demme's follow up to The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the film is as relevant today as it was when it was released, if not more so. Demme masterfully handled what was undoubtedly a difficult subject to tackle at the time, and did so with grace and respect, while still being clear and forceful about the prejudices that existed in America. On top of that, you had a pairing of two of the great actors of our time, Denzel and Hanks. Hanks gives one of, if not the, best performances of the year, playing a man we can all admire, who faced hate and bigotry with class and dignity. Denzel gave a great performance himself, countering Hanks' more subdued character with one who was demonstrative and unabashed about tackling the injustice that he saw. The Silence of the Lambs has been my favorite movie since the first time I saw it, on cable late one night when I was in high school. I caught with Philadelphia more recently in a quest to view Hanks' body of work and was blown away by the film and its message. While it may not be the "right" pick, for me the answer to this question is an easy one.
Brett from Newton, Mass. - 5 years ago
My "Other" vote is for A Perfect World, Clint Eastwood's masterful follow-up to Unforgiven. It is, in my opinion, a masterpiece and woefully underrated, and in my personal Top 10 of all time and the best film of the decade. I do realize that perhaps nobody shares that placement, but I have yet to meet someone who has seen it and had anything other than a strong positive reaction. When I taught a high school film class, I would show it every year (basically because it was a non-R film that likely none had seen), and every year it would be the overall highest-rated film I showed. (Beating things like Casablanca, Jaws, Dr. Strangelove, On the Waterfront, and others.)
Stuart Feldstein - 5 years ago
I love the Conversation, but I have to vote Other and give it to Clint Eastwood who at age 76 after winning the best picture Oscar for Million Dollar Baby turned around with not one but TWO films released simultaneously, Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, the latter of which was entirely in Japanese! Tell me that's not the greatest follow up to a best picture Oscar of all time.
Adam Grossman - 5 years ago
‘The Conversation’ is probably the right answer… well, it is the right answer… but let me be what may be a lone voice in the wind for ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ which, in my mind is both superior to the also marvellous ‘The Hurt Locker’ and also simply one of the finest political thrillers of the century. The final act – the raid on Bin Laden’s compound – is a technical masterpiece which replicates the first person tension to such a high degree that, at one point, I’m not sure I breathed for a couple of minutes. Kathryn Bigelow is a treasure.
Adam Grossman
Vancouver, B.C.
Lisa Nelson - 5 years ago
There are some great options on this list, but I absolutely love Barry Levinson's follow-up to his best picture win for Rain Man: his 1990 multi-generational saga, Avalon.
Anderson Penix - 5 years ago
I would have said First Man after Chazelle’s La La Land ????
I kid, I kid. It's gotta be "The Conversation." I agree with Filmspotting friend Scott Tobias in that, not only is "The Conversation" an amazing follow-up to "The Godfather," it is Francis Ford Coppola's best film.
I kid, I kid. It's gotta be "The Conversation". I agree with Filmspotting friend Scott Tobias in that, not only is "The Conversation" an amazing follow-up to "The Godfather", it is Francis Ford Coppola's best film.
Michael Murphy - 5 years ago
Sam Mendes' seemingly underappreciated "Road to Perdition" came three years after his Best Picture-winning "American Beauty." Following the domestic discourse of "Beauty," which has sadly become tainted in the wake of the Kevin Spacey's accusations, "Perdition" was a more genre-based turn adapted from a graphic novel and casting Tom Hanks against type as a mourning gangster who goes after his own following the murder of his wife and youngest child. With his older son in tow, Hanks' Michael Sullivan tears through targets and pursuers, desperate to get his surviving child to safety and aware that his personal redemption is impossible. It's a beautiful and melancholy period piece with a powerful performance from Hanks. It also features Paul Newman as Hanks' adoptive father, Jude Law as a vile henchman, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Hanks' late wife, as well as Tyler Hoechlin, Stanley Tucci, Ciarian Hinds, Dylan Baker, and Daniel Craig (who would later reteam with Mendes for two James Bond films). It was the final film photographed by Conrad L. Hall, and it actually earned him a posthumous Academy Award. It's the kind of stately picture that would become expected from Mendes, and also a somber tale of familial woes. Mendes continues to lack easy categorization in the decade-plus since, but "Road to Perdition" is one of those prestige followups that has been unfairly left by the wayside.
All of these follow up options are arguably better than the prior best picture winner. Certainly Broadcast News and The Revenant. Maybe even The Conversation, which is most definitely the best of the lot, and one of the best films ever.
The English Patient is a terrible movie. It’s the worst example of Harvey Weinstein over marketing to get an Oscar. It’s boring and the Talented Mr Ripley is better but also not a complete film. It doesn’t stick the landing.
Atlanta, GA.
Damien Chazelle's recent follow-up to La La Land, First Man.
Oh wait...never mind!
This is the first time I've ever voted for "Other" in a poll, but I have to second the vote for Contact (following Forrest Gump from Robert Zemeckis). My second place vote would go to Clint Eastwood's A Perfect World (following Unforgiven). These are two of my favorite movies to come out of the 90's, and it's downright criminal that they aren't part of the original poll, especially with the unworthy options of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Revenant being in there (Yeah Josh, I said it).
Robert Zmeckis followed up Forrest Gump with CONTACT. Easily one of the best sci-fi films of the 1990s. Based on Carl Sagan’s novel and his screeenplay it’s incredible! Criminally overlooked by a lot of people.
I did wonder why the 1970 date, and then realized that David Lean would most probably have won with Lawrence of Arabia followed by Bridge on the River Kwai.
For me the option that should have been on your list (and my favorite option), would be Oliver Stone's 1986 Platoon followed up by Wall Street. I think if this had been an option it would score pretty heavily. I love your site, long may you continue.
127 Hours is such an odd follow-up to Slumdog Millionaire that it gets my vote. A film with song and dance, bright colours and non-stop movement ... then two years later, a guy stuck under a rock.
I would have put Philadelphia on this list before the Talented Mr Ripley or even Zero Dark 30 - this is the movie in which Hanks earned his second best actor Oscar - it was Demme attempting to atone for an unintentional injury to the LGBT community for adding to the history of trans gender people being portrayed as villains and freaks with the Buffalo Bill character in Silence of the Lambs - and it has an under appreciated performance from Denzel Washington representing the public view of the AIDS epidemic and the people suffering from it, A performance which starts with repulsion and fear that is turned to compassion when he sees the human being and not just the disease. A much more impact full and more worthy movie for consideration than Mr Ripley
Kansas City, MO
David Lean followed up his best picture Bridge on the River Kwai with another best picture in Lawrence of Arabia. My vote is for The Conversation, but there's hardly a better way to follow up a best picture than with another best picture.
Bosses, you two are really gonna vote for The Revenant and The Exorcist, as if The Conversation isn't an option? ;)
AVATAR
Lawrence, KS
The Conversation (while not his best) is my personal favorite Coppola film. In this film Coppola shrinks down the scope of his ideas and really explores the story of a single character. While the humanity of his characters shines through in films like The Godfather and Apocolypse Now, The Conversation is the only time (at least that I've seen) where Coppola puts some of these ideas under a microscope. The result is a thrilling and ultimately haunting story that ranks among the best films of the decade.
I'm of the opinion that not only does THE CONVERSATION stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best films of the 1970's but also contains Gene Hackman's (my favorite actor) best performance.
It is every bit the masterpiece that Coppola's GODFATHER films are that bookend it.
I'm of the opinion that not only does THE CONVERSATION stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best films of the 1970's but also contains Gene Hackman's (my favorite actor) best performance.
It is every bit the masterpiece that Coppola's GODFATHER films are that bookend it.
Law student in Lincoln, Nebraska.
I think that The Conversation is the "right" answer here, but to me, the choice has to be Demme's follow up to The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the film is as relevant today as it was when it was released, if not more so. Demme masterfully handled what was undoubtedly a difficult subject to tackle at the time, and did so with grace and respect, while still being clear and forceful about the prejudices that existed in America. On top of that, you had a pairing of two of the great actors of our time, Denzel and Hanks. Hanks gives one of, if not the, best performances of the year, playing a man we can all admire, who faced hate and bigotry with class and dignity. Denzel gave a great performance himself, countering Hanks' more subdued character with one who was demonstrative and unabashed about tackling the injustice that he saw. The Silence of the Lambs has been my favorite movie since the first time I saw it, on cable late one night when I was in high school. I caught with Philadelphia more recently in a quest to view Hanks' body of work and was blown away by the film and its message. While it may not be the "right" pick, for me the answer to this question is an easy one.
My "Other" vote is for A Perfect World, Clint Eastwood's masterful follow-up to Unforgiven. It is, in my opinion, a masterpiece and woefully underrated, and in my personal Top 10 of all time and the best film of the decade. I do realize that perhaps nobody shares that placement, but I have yet to meet someone who has seen it and had anything other than a strong positive reaction. When I taught a high school film class, I would show it every year (basically because it was a non-R film that likely none had seen), and every year it would be the overall highest-rated film I showed. (Beating things like Casablanca, Jaws, Dr. Strangelove, On the Waterfront, and others.)
I love the Conversation, but I have to vote Other and give it to Clint Eastwood who at age 76 after winning the best picture Oscar for Million Dollar Baby turned around with not one but TWO films released simultaneously, Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, the latter of which was entirely in Japanese! Tell me that's not the greatest follow up to a best picture Oscar of all time.
‘The Conversation’ is probably the right answer… well, it is the right answer… but let me be what may be a lone voice in the wind for ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ which, in my mind is both superior to the also marvellous ‘The Hurt Locker’ and also simply one of the finest political thrillers of the century. The final act – the raid on Bin Laden’s compound – is a technical masterpiece which replicates the first person tension to such a high degree that, at one point, I’m not sure I breathed for a couple of minutes. Kathryn Bigelow is a treasure.
Adam Grossman
Vancouver, B.C.
There are some great options on this list, but I absolutely love Barry Levinson's follow-up to his best picture win for Rain Man: his 1990 multi-generational saga, Avalon.
I would have said First Man after Chazelle’s La La Land ????
No "Heaven's Gate" option??
I kid, I kid. It's gotta be "The Conversation." I agree with Filmspotting friend Scott Tobias in that, not only is "The Conversation" an amazing follow-up to "The Godfather," it is Francis Ford Coppola's best film.
No "Heaven's Gate" option??
I kid, I kid. It's gotta be "The Conversation". I agree with Filmspotting friend Scott Tobias in that, not only is "The Conversation" an amazing follow-up to "The Godfather", it is Francis Ford Coppola's best film.
Sam Mendes' seemingly underappreciated "Road to Perdition" came three years after his Best Picture-winning "American Beauty." Following the domestic discourse of "Beauty," which has sadly become tainted in the wake of the Kevin Spacey's accusations, "Perdition" was a more genre-based turn adapted from a graphic novel and casting Tom Hanks against type as a mourning gangster who goes after his own following the murder of his wife and youngest child. With his older son in tow, Hanks' Michael Sullivan tears through targets and pursuers, desperate to get his surviving child to safety and aware that his personal redemption is impossible. It's a beautiful and melancholy period piece with a powerful performance from Hanks. It also features Paul Newman as Hanks' adoptive father, Jude Law as a vile henchman, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Hanks' late wife, as well as Tyler Hoechlin, Stanley Tucci, Ciarian Hinds, Dylan Baker, and Daniel Craig (who would later reteam with Mendes for two James Bond films). It was the final film photographed by Conrad L. Hall, and it actually earned him a posthumous Academy Award. It's the kind of stately picture that would become expected from Mendes, and also a somber tale of familial woes. Mendes continues to lack easy categorization in the decade-plus since, but "Road to Perdition" is one of those prestige followups that has been unfairly left by the wayside.