The Miramax name was never meant to go on without Harvey and Bob Weinstein. Once it was sold out from under them, they went on to form The Weinstein Co. and Miramax went on releasing great movies. There is a rumor that the Weinsteins want to buy back the Miramax name. That would return things back to the way things used to be, and might make Miramax once again a force to be reckoned with.
Either way, let’s pay tribute to Miramax’s Oscar reign.
We’ll start with 1992 and The Crying Game that started off their Best Picture nomination run (My Left Foot was their first in 1989 – but here is when they hit their stride):
1992-The Crying Game – 6 nominations, won screenplay
1993-The Piano – 8 nominations, won screenplay, actress, supporting actress
1994-Pulp Fiction – 7 nominations, won screenplay
1995-Il Postino – 5 nomination, won score
1996-The English Patient-12 nominations, won 9, including Picture and Director
1997-Good Will Hunting-9 nominations, won screenplay, supporting actor
1998-Life is Beautiful — 7 nominations, won actor, score, foreign language film
AND Shakespeare in Love — 13 nominations, 7 wins, including Picture, Actress
1999-The Cider House Rules — 7 nominations, won screenplay and supporting actor.
2000-Chocolat – 5 nominations, zero wins
2001 – In the Bedroom – 5 nominations, zero wins
2002 – Chicago – 13 nominations, 6 wins AND Gangs of New York – 10 nominations, zero wins; AND The Hours (shared with Paramount) 9 nominations, 1 win for Best Actress.
2003 – Cold Mountain fails to make the Best Pic cut.
2004 – The Aviator – 11 nominations, 5 wins AND Finding Neverland – 7 nominations, 1 win for score.
And that is, pretty much, the end of Miramax under the Weinsteins. What I remember about the time, though, was that they changed the way the Oscars rewarded films. Looking at the independents, which Miramax was, gave rise to the mini studios that all but took over the awards market – Focus Features, Sony Pictures Classics, etc.
And that’s only part of the story – there is also the new era, with The Queen and No Country for Old Men.
Let’s drink a toast to Miramax – and all of the great movies they helped bring to the Oscars, and the public.
