Working Title (Polygram)
Oscar nominations: 7
Picture, produced by Ethan Coen
Director: Joel Coen
Screenplay (Original): Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
Actress: Frances McDormand
Supporting Actor: William H. Macy
Cinematography: Roger Deakins
Film Editing: Roderick Jaynes (pseudonym for the Coen brothers)
Oscar Awards: 2
Screenplay (Original)
Actress
Oscar Context
Sweeping most (nine) of the Oscars in 1996, “The English Patient” easily beat out the other four contenders: The American studio movie “Jerry Maguire” (the only Hollywood movie, and a comedy at that, in competition), the American indie “Fargo,” the British “Secrets and Lies,” and the Aussie biopic “Shine.”
The winner of the Supporting Actor Oscar was Cuba Gooding Jr. for the comedy, Jerry Maguire.
Impact
TV Series
In 1997, a pilot was filmed for an intended TV series based on the film. Set in Brainerd shortly after the events of the film, it starred Edie Falco as Marge Gunderson and Bruce Bohne reprising his role as Officer Lou. It was directed by Kathy Bates and featured no involvement from the Coens. The episode aired in 2003 during Trio’s Brilliant But Cancelled series of failed TV shows.
A follow-up TV series inspired by the film, with the Coens as producers, debuted on FX in April 2014. The first season received acclaim from critics and audiences.
Existing in the same fictional continuity, each season features different story, cast, and timespan. The episode “Eating the Blame” from the first season reintroduced the buried ransom money for a three-episode subplot.
The second season was released on October 12, 2015; the third, on April 19, 2017; the fourth, on September 27, 2020; and the fifth season premiered on November 21, 2023.
