Every Best Picture Oscar Winner Ranked Worst To Best

Anthony Minghella's epic adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel has become the quintessential "award-bait drama" since it release, easily mocked and labelled pretentious since it was ridiculed by Seinfeld's Elaine Benes.

None of this feels entirely fair, though. Old-fashioned, slow-burning and romantic, The English Patient makes for enrapturing entertainment, bringing to life a doomed love story with two never-better stars (Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas) and beautiful cinematography.

It's admittedly not hard to see why some don't take to it, but if you're willing to ignore Elaine and watch it with an open mind, it's impossible for anyone with a heart not to be swept away by its gorgeous tragedy.