Actually, the 6th sense over American Beauty every day of the week and twice on Sunday sounds about right!

I actually would've picked The Sixth Sense but I like all three.

There were so many good movies, epic ones, in 1999 that it just shows how far the critical mass has fallen since then
"American Beauty" and "The Green Mile" are both excellent movies but they are totally differentin tone, point of view, purpose
It is like eating the best version of lasagna and the next night the best chicken fried steak meal you can imagine
Not the same foodeven if both reached the same level of excellenceand people likely respond to each meal from personal and critical insightsjust as they might respond to the movies
That level of quality is driven by uniqueness and individuality
You can appreciate both for how each reaches that level of exceptionality
I can't find anything to like about "Fight Club" but I know my opinion is in the minority
"That's the beauty of argument, Joeyif you argue correctly, you are never wrong"

I have to say, with a LOT of perspective, because 1999 was a pretty good year for movies, I think
The Green Mile
was totally robbed of Best Picture. Many times, I don't even think the real best film even gets nominated, but this one actually did. This is the real best film of '99.

Both Green Mile and American Beauty are masterpieces.

I'be seen all three films and everyone will have their differing opinions about which was best. And all three films were great but I prefer TGM to AB and CHR. But no one could convince me that TGM didn't have the best actors of all time. And Doug Hutchinson and Michael Clarke Duncan should have taken home awards as well as Sam Rockwell.
"I have nipples, Greg. Could you milk me?"

You could try to make a case and argue that The Green Mile is better than American Beauty, but to call it one of the worst movies you've ever seen only tends to imply you haven't seen that many movies. I also liked The Green Mile better, but American Beauty is a great movie, too. Maybe you should watch it again.

1999 had probably 3 of the 5 best movies of the 1990's in The Green Mile, American Beauty & Fight Club. (why Fight Club not nominated for best picture??)
I have not seen The Cider House Rules so I can't judge that one, but losing to American Beauty is just a case of bad luck to have a top rate movie in your same year

Very well put!!!

Back in like 2007 when I first saw American Beauty, I would've disagreed with you. I was fifteen when I saw it, and it deeply affected me Now in my 20s, I feel like the film truly is very ham-fisted and self-important as a lot of the people in agreement with you are saying. It's a good film, but it's definitely not a masterpiece and has not stood the test of time.
The Green Mile is an absolute masterpiece. It's a film that can make me cry every single time I watch it. Every actor in the film delivers fully and brilliantly, which is more than I can say for American Beauty (Sorry, Wes Bentley).
American Beauty is definitely an Oscar-bait film. It's pretentious, self-important, and acts deeper than it is. In 1999, I'm sure most people thought it was as deep as it pretended to be, but so many better films have gone on to do the exact same things but better And more deeply.
This is gonna beep do for him what "Jade" did for David Caruso.

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And I don't think AMERICAN BEAUTY had a cute little mouse in it either!

I wouldn't say American Beauty sucked, but I will agree that The Green Mile was a better film overall.
I don't think the academy wanted to give Stephen King another oscar-winning property.

TGM has too much “magical negro-ness”, AG is somewhat more forward thinking and fatalistic.

You clearly have no idea…lol. TGM definitely test of time over American Beauty.

Both are only been around for 14 years. Lets wait 50 years before we talk about standing the test of Time. What is perceived to be relevant today might not be in 50 years time. Frankly I find American Beauty to a lot more irritating and overly important even when it first came out. I don't see it as a masterpiece of any kind. Its just a hodge podge of PC B.S.. A lot people talk about how 2001 has lasted the test of time. But most of the time people just debate about how overrated it is.

I think it is unusually interesting that what Michael Clarke Duncan tells Paul (Tom Hanks) is true for "American Beauty's" as much as "The Green Mile":
"He kill them wi' their love. Wi' their love fo' each other. That's how it is, every day, all over the world."
"That's the beauty of argument, Joeyif you argue correctly, you are never wrong"

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American Beauty has probably stood the test of time better than the Green Mile.
But I still like TGM.
Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.

Frankly American Beauty was just self important pretentious drivel. The Fact anyone think it was worthy of an Oscar is mind boggling.

LolI see what you did there!
** Everyone will see my oddly shaped uvula **

I totally agree! Jason Biggs is one of the greatest actors of his generation, but nowhere near Tom Hanks

I could not possibly agree with the OP more. This is a GREAT MOVIE. Where as American Beauty is trying so hard to be a great movie that it just comes of as silly and pretentious. Like the guy is having a mid life crisis so he's sees the beauty in life. That's been done. But the Green Mile, there was really nothing like it.
i told you not to stop the boat. Now lets go. Apocaylpse Now

Very well said! The Green Mile is clearly the better movie (imo). I've watched American Beauty several times and scratch my head on how it was even nominated. Again, well said!