Some things, even the best things, sink in with the inevitability of Meryl Streep getting a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. So, hoorah for Sam, his win can only extend Hollywood's crush on British directors whose surnames begin with M. But, well, we all knew he was going to win, and wouldn't it be great if the criminally ignored Michael Mann picked up something for the criminally brilliant Insider. The Matrix garnered four awards, and Insider & John Malkovich got nothing. Hollywood's a funny old place. Anyway, it was a great night for us brits, with Kevin MacDonald cleaning up best doc for One Day In September, two statues for Mike Leigh's 'totally british' Topsy Turvey, and then Mr Mendes himself. Not forgetting of course, the 'talents' of Phil Colins, rewarded with an Oscar as well.

So yes, the Oscar for best film of 1999 went to Sam Mendes' American Beauty on Sunday night. Kevin Spacey won best actor and Mendes won best director. Other winners included Hilary Swank, for best actress (Boys Don't Cry), Angelina Jolie for best supporting actress (Girl, Interrupted), and Michael Caine for best supporting actor (The Cider House Rules). With the exception of the Spacey win, all had been predicted in a controversial Wall Street Journal poll published on Friday (the paper gave Denzel Washington a slight edge). Academy voters generously spread their votes around, bestowing just five awards on Beauty and four on the runner up, The Matrix, which was not even nominated in any of the major categories. (The Matrix did manage to knock off Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace in the technical categories, however, helping to deny the most successful film of the year even a single award.) The biggest loser of the evening was The Insider, which although nominated in seven categories, lost out. Incidentally, and I know you all have your own opinions but, Tom Shales in the Washington Post commented that despite Crystal's "futile efforts at relief," the show itself "remains not an entertainment spectacular but a unique form of national punishment." Glorious! These are the final results. As if you don't already know them.

Best Picture

American Beauty

Director

Sam Mendes for American Beauty

Actor in a Leading Role

Kevin Spacey for American Beauty

Actor in a Supporting Role

Michael Caine for The Cider House Rules

Actress in a Leading Role

Hilary Swank for Boys Don't Cry

Actress in a Supporting Role

Angelina Jolie for Girl, Interrupted

Foreign Language Film

Todo sobre mi madre from Spain

Original Score

John Corigliano for The Red Violin

Original Song

Tarzan - "You'll Be in My Heart" - Phil Collins

Screenplay - Original

Alan Ball for American Beauty

Screenplay - Adaptation

John Irving for The Cider House Rules

Art Direction

Rick Heinrichs; Peter Young for Sleepy Hollow

Cinematography

Conrad L. Hall for American Beauty

Costume Design

Lindy Hemming for Topsy-Turvy

Documentary Feature

Kevin MacDonald for One Day in September

Documentary Short Subject

William A. Whiteford for King Gimp

Film Editing

Zach Staenberg for The Matrix

Makeup

Christine Blundell and Trefor Proud for Topsy Turvy

Short Film - Animated

Aleksandr Petrov for The Old Man and the Sea

Short Film - Live Action

Barbara Schock for My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York

Sound

The Matrix

Sound Effects Editing

The Matrix

Visual Effects

The Matrix