Best Film: Shakespeare In Love
Best Director: Steven Spielberg, Saving Private Ryan

Private Ryan was as Oscar a film as they get, but as the Academy had (after a long wait) bestowed the top prizes on Spielberg for Schindler's List a couple of years ago, they might have felt they were being too generous.

Plus, as Shakespeare director John Madden and Best Actress winner Gwyneth Paltrow will merrily testify, the Academy loves a British accent.