1997 Academy Awards – Actor in a Leading Role Winner
![Shine Geoffrey Rush](https://www.awardsarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/shine-scott-hicks-image.jpg)
Shine
Geoffrey Rush
Pianist David Helfgott, driven by his father and teachers, has a breakdown. Years later he returns to the piano, to popular if not critical acclaim.
1997 Academy Awards – Actor in a Leading Role Nominees
![Jerry Maguire Tom Cruise](https://www.awardsarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/jerry-maguire-cameron-crowe-image.jpg)
Jerry Maguire
Tom Cruise
![Sling Blade Billy Bob Thornton](https://www.awardsarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/sling-blade-billy-bob-thornton-image.jpg)
Sling Blade
Billy Bob Thornton
![The English Patient Ralph Fiennes](https://www.awardsarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/the-english-patient-image.jpg)
The English Patient
Ralph Fiennes
![The People vs. Larry Flynt Woody Harrelson](https://www.awardsarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/the-people-vs.-larry-flynt-milos-forman-image.jpg)