Several points to pick up on here.

I can't say agree the rest of Saving Private Ryan beyond the opening is mawkish, for reasons I discuss in the article, except for perhaps the graveside bookends.

Shakespeare in Love is perfectly fine on its own terms, but just not a worthy film to beat Saving Private Ryan or The Truman Show to Best Picture. Not that romantic dramas aren't Best Picture material, I hasten to add. I appreciate all genres, and I have many favourite romantic comedies (and indeed romantic tragedies). As for The Thin Red Line, it's clearly a labour of love for Terrence Malick, so I can't imagine the film directed by anyone else.

Finally, I cannot possibly agree with you about Powell and Pressburger. The Battle of the River Plate is good, but did you honestly not enjoy The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp? Black Narcissus? A Matter of Life and Death? I Know Where I'm Going? The Red Shoes? I have a near religious reverence for those films. They are singular and sacred cinematic texts. :)