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It lost because it was originally released during summer, as opposed to the more viable release window of late December for Oscar bait films. By the time the voting began, people had forgot about it.
Also, Spielberg had won an Oscar for another WW2-related film (Schindler's List) only 5 years prior, and that was a superior film.
"You keep him in here, and make sure HE doesn't leave!"

The technical achievement of this movie was great. But the story was pretty pedestrian. I can see why it didn't win best movie.
Not that I'm the biggest fan of Shakespeare in Love. I didn't particularly like any of the 1999 nominees for best picture.
Working in the movie business since -92

Who the f* loves war?
Im more humble than you can understand-Donnie

Your original list is awesome. But I refused to see The Hurt Locker because of the camera work.

To recap, my list accidentally omitted The Hurt Locker (2009), released 11 years after Saving Private Ryan.

Wings 1927
All Quiet on the Western Front 1930
Best Years of Our Lives 1946
From Here to Eternity 1953
Bridge on the River Kwai 1957
Lawrence of Arabia 1962
Patton 1970
Deer Hunter 1978
Platoon 1986
Saving Private Ryan 1998
Seems like the libs haven't done much for the past 30 years.

Dang, how did I forget the Hurt Locker? That one really really would have shot movieman's argument to hell. Good catch.

I wouldn't take anything Movieman says too seriously.
Oh and you forgot The Hurt Locker.

Somebody forgot to tell the liberals not to vote for Best Picture winners Platoon, Patton, Bridge on the River Kwai, From Here to Eternity, Best Years of our Lives, The Deer Hunter, Lawrence of Arabia, Wings, and All Quiet on the Western Front

Your beanie is missing its propeller.

Because it's true, numb nuts. Also Shakespeare probably had a better media campaign.
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

That's why so many war movies get made, right? Why must every argument come down to political bloviating? What an idiotic statement.

Simple.
It lost because Hollywood is composed mostly of liberals who hate war (even noble ones like WW II) and who hate the military.
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

No complexity? You're kidding me. Saving Private Ryan is the best pro-soldier/anti-war movie ever made. It walks that thin red line better than it's WWII rival could ever dream of.
"Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a highway traffic cop."

I think 2 war films being up 4 best picture split the vote allowing Shakespeare In Love to win best picture.

I have to say I have a bias towards SPR. I think it's the greatest war movie ever made.
That said I thought SIL sucked. I tried watching it three times and only hated it more with each viewing. It's one of the most overrated Best Picture winners ever.

Yeah, but which of the two films is well-remembered and constantly shown on television over the years?

It isn't his flashback. It was just showing one scene from when Ryan was an old man and then the WWII story begins. But yeah it is confusing cos it sets it up as if it is his flashback, and Tom Hanks is his younger self. But then he becomes Matt Damon by the end haha. They should have set that up differently.

The writing is a little sloppy for a Best Picture nominee. If you think about it, the entire movie is a flashback of a character who isn't even in the first half of his own flashback!

You may be right about the writing of it. If it wasn't so well directed and acted, it would just be a shoot-em-up, bloodbath WWII movie aimed at teenagers. But Spielberg put so much into it that it became the most realistic depiction of World War II in movies, and it was a way of honouring what the vets went through. So I think it very much deserved the best director Oscar, but I can see why they didn't choose to award it best picture.

Have you gotten fitted for your Oscar gown yet? Or are you still boycotting the show because they aren't giving enough love to Caitlyn Jenner for you.

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ROTFLMAO - Still trying, aren't you. You just can't let it go. GTFU, you're like a little kid who someone kicked some sand in their face!