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Inside Oscar 2
FINALLY, A SEQUEL AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL!
Enlivened by humorous incidents, brewing controversies, and deeply moving personal dramas, Inside Oscar 1995-2000 offers the complete lowdown on six more years of Academy Awards glory . . . from Braveheart in 1995 through Gladiator in 2000, with the Titanic phenomenon and the Saving Private Ryan / Shakespeare in Love feud in between. There is also complete coverage of the awards ceremonies?with delicious anecdotes on the presenters and performers, the producers and egos, the fashion stars and fashion victims. And, of course, a complete list of all the nominees and winners, as well as a list of notable non-nominees.
Picking up where the classic Inside Oscar leaves off, this must-have guide treats us to a behind-the-scenes look at one of America?s most beloved annual traditions!
Enlivened by humorous incidents, brewing controversies, and deeply moving personal dramas, Inside Oscar 1995-2000 offers the complete lowdown on six more years of Academy Awards glory . . . from Braveheart in 1995 through Gladiator in 2000, with the Titanic phenomenon and the Saving Private Ryan / Shakespeare in Love feud in between. There is also complete coverage of the awards ceremonies?with delicious anecdotes on the presenters and performers, the producers and egos, the fashion stars and fashion victims. And, of course, a complete list of all the nominees and winners, as well as a list of notable non-nominees.
Picking up where the classic Inside Oscar leaves off, this must-have guide treats us to a behind-the-scenes look at one of America?s most beloved annual traditions!
- GenresFilmMedia Tie In
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 3, 2022
“Whoopi Goldberg came out dressed as Queen Elizabeth wearing elaborate frockery ... ‘Good evening, loyal subjects. I am the African Queen.’”
“Bill Conti’s orchestra joined Celine Dion for Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Only once did Dion do her signature mannerism—hitting her chest, as if trying to jump-start herself.”
“Entertainment Weekly reported that a security guard standing near where Harvey Weinstein was positioned told a comrade, ‘We have to watch this area. That fat guy is the head of this whole thing, and everybody wants to hang around him.’”
If any of these past Oscar stories brings a chuckle, you’d probably enjoy “Inside Oscar 2.” If you think the Academy Awards and all the hoopla leading up to it is a huge waste of time and money, it’s not for you. But like its predecessor “Inside Oscar: An Unauthorized History of the Academy Awards,” this is about as enjoyable as a reference book can be. It details the Academy Awards from the years 1995 to 2000, picking up where the expanded edition of its predecessor ended. What set both apart from dry retellings are a welcome eye for the irreverent or ironic detail. You get to relive the Miramax-DreamWorks ad wars, which added an openly commercial intensity to Oscar campaigning which had mostly been assigned to industry only parties and screenings in the past. And the juggernaut that was “Titanic” is also relived, even though author Damien Bona isn’t shy about his low opinion of it—and other films for that matter, such as “American Beauty.” This sequel expands on the Red Carpet coverage; you get to shake your head over not only the late Joan Rivers’ quips but the comments of formerly happy star couples headed for inevitable breakups. Not only covering the months leading up to Oscar selection but detailing the productions themselves as well as providing a thorough list of nominees and winners, “Inside Oscar2” is a welcome addition to a film lover’s bookshelf.
“Bill Conti’s orchestra joined Celine Dion for Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Only once did Dion do her signature mannerism—hitting her chest, as if trying to jump-start herself.”
“Entertainment Weekly reported that a security guard standing near where Harvey Weinstein was positioned told a comrade, ‘We have to watch this area. That fat guy is the head of this whole thing, and everybody wants to hang around him.’”
If any of these past Oscar stories brings a chuckle, you’d probably enjoy “Inside Oscar 2.” If you think the Academy Awards and all the hoopla leading up to it is a huge waste of time and money, it’s not for you. But like its predecessor “Inside Oscar: An Unauthorized History of the Academy Awards,” this is about as enjoyable as a reference book can be. It details the Academy Awards from the years 1995 to 2000, picking up where the expanded edition of its predecessor ended. What set both apart from dry retellings are a welcome eye for the irreverent or ironic detail. You get to relive the Miramax-DreamWorks ad wars, which added an openly commercial intensity to Oscar campaigning which had mostly been assigned to industry only parties and screenings in the past. And the juggernaut that was “Titanic” is also relived, even though author Damien Bona isn’t shy about his low opinion of it—and other films for that matter, such as “American Beauty.” This sequel expands on the Red Carpet coverage; you get to shake your head over not only the late Joan Rivers’ quips but the comments of formerly happy star couples headed for inevitable breakups. Not only covering the months leading up to Oscar selection but detailing the productions themselves as well as providing a thorough list of nominees and winners, “Inside Oscar2” is a welcome addition to a film lover’s bookshelf.
March 26, 2019
Even though the author is deceased, I'd love for somebody to pick this back up and release a sequel
September 11, 2016
Inside Oscar 2 by Damien Bona (2002) chronicles the Academy Awards from 1995 to 2000. It is an excellent film reference source because it provides a useful guide in gaining an appreciation for the amount of money that is spent on advertising and publicity as part of the Oscar competition. Bona also discusses the campaigning strategy employed by the studios to win an Oscar and describes how the Academy Awards represent “The collective judgment at a particular point in time of several thousand people who work in, used to work in, or have some ties to, the film industry” (p. xii). Since demographically, “The average Oscar voter is politically liberal, well educated, and much better off financially than most Americans, [the author states that the Academy voters] tend to be drawn to movies that are aesthetically conservative, but which contain humanistic or uplifting attitudes” (p. xii). As a result, their votes do not always serve as a “mirror that reflects social, cultural, and political trends” (p. xii) in America. Inside Oscar 2 is a valuable resource in providing summary level insight into recent Academy Awards history. It's an excellent read for anyone interested in the dynamic background and inner-workings of this significant, annual, Hollywood award event.
July 6, 2019
Great book. Extensively researched and full of detail. My only question is, why is this essentially titled Part 2, when Part 1 covers the period through 1985, and part 2 starts off with 1995 and ends at 2000? What happened to the 10 year period of 1986 to 1994???
The authors skipped an entire decade, which is a shame, because that's a randomly excluded 10 year period which would undoubtedly been just as fun to read. Otherwise, I would have given this 5 stars. I know have part 1, which-if it follows the same type of reporting and research-I will likely rate as 5 stars.
I think the authors should not only write another book covering that disappearing 10 year period, but also work on a follow up to cover the time frame after 2000, since this thorough review of the Oscars is really well done..
The authors skipped an entire decade, which is a shame, because that's a randomly excluded 10 year period which would undoubtedly been just as fun to read. Otherwise, I would have given this 5 stars. I know have part 1, which-if it follows the same type of reporting and research-I will likely rate as 5 stars.
I think the authors should not only write another book covering that disappearing 10 year period, but also work on a follow up to cover the time frame after 2000, since this thorough review of the Oscars is really well done..
February 28, 2008
What I enjoyed about this book were the stories, but overall it was a disappointment. Unlike its predecessor, this one is too bitchy and lacks the concise writing of the previous volume.
August 9, 2016
I'm such a sucker for books about award shows.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews