Actor/actress you thought should have gotten an Oscar (and the movie they were in)?

[scott1598]

I want to do a thread of the actors/actresses that you think should have gotten an Oscar for their outstanding performance in a particular movie.

List the actor/actress and the movie.

I just got done watching "Untitled: Almost Famous the Bootleg Cut" and I am simply in awe of this movie. I loved it (theatrical) when I saw it in theaters and I loved it again seeing the bootleg cut for the first time.

I said it then and confirmed it now...Kate Hudson as Penny Lane should have garnered an Oscar. She was just so magnificent. Not that everyone else wasn't. They were all fantastic. Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, and of course Frances McDormand. But, Kate just inhabited Penny. Her looks, her nuance, her subtlety, and her explosions were just incredible. She should have gotten the Oscar over Marcia Gay Harden for movie year 2000.

[Patman]

Tom Cruise - best supporting actor for "Rain Man", or Best actor for "Born on the Fourth of July"

[Matty-O]

Denzel Washington- Malcolm X
Russel Crowe- The Insider

Funny they would both go on to win ocsars for more commercial(but inferior) movies.

Ellen Burstyn- Requiem For A Dream

And I really wanted to see Burt Reynolds win supporting actor for Boogie Nights.

[PopcornTreeCt]

IMO....

Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind
Christian Bale - American Psycho
Natalie Portman - Leon
Tom Cruise - Magnolia
Leonardo DiCaprio - What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
Denzel Washington - Malcolm X
Robert DeNiro - Taxi Driver

[Matty-O]

Tom Cruise - best supporting actor for "Rain Man", or Best actor for "Born on the Fourth of July"

Thought he would get supporting actor for Magnolia.

[DieselsDen]

Christopher Reeve for SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN II.

In fact, even the late Gene Siskel once expressed his belief that Reeve should have received a nomination in 1981.

[Johnny Boy]

Denzel Washington - Best Actor - Malcolm X

A couple other people said this already, but I thought I'd repeat it because this was one of the biggest pimpings of all-time. Denzel really got pimped even more when they gave him an oscar for playing a straight up thug villain.

Patrick McGoohan - Best Supporting Actor - Braveheart

He was amazing in Braveheart.

[lotsofdvds]

Sean Penn in <b>She's So Lovely</b>. The movie itself isn't that great, particularly the third act, but Penn is AMAZING in this movie. The scene between him and Gina Rowlands is simply brillant.

[Legolas]

Denzel Washington should've gotten it for The Hurricane instead of Kevin Spacey for American Beauty. Then instead of giving it to Washington for Training Day, Russell Crowe could've received it for A Beautiful Mind.

Also, if they would've just given the Best Picture Oscar to LOTR for Fellowship instead of Return, then Mystic River could've gotten Best Picture (and also, Chicago would NOT have).

[Thrush]

Sam Jackson - Pulp Fiction

[Rockmjd23]

Patrick McGoohan - Best Supporting Actor - Braveheart

He was amazing in Braveheart.
I'll second that.

[SiberianLlama]

Brad Pitt for Fight Club. I don't know if he would have been best actor or best supporting actor.

Kate Blanchett for Elizabeth

Jim Carrey for the Truman Show

Tom Hulce for Amadeus

That's all I can think of right now.

[SINGLE104]

Jessica Lange for Frances
Ben Kingsley for House of Sand and Fog
Faye Dunaway for Mommie Dearest
Gena Rowlands for Gloria.

All three actresses, and actor, were brilliant, and superb. The Members of the Academy strictly overlooked these magnificent portrayals, which were highly worthy for their Oscar caliber performances.

[conscience]

Sissy Spacek - In The Bedroom (they awarded the wrong mother in grief role just because of the T&A exposed)

Edward Norton - American History X

Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray - Lost In Translation

Liv Ullmann - Scenes From A Marriage (biggest injustice of all time because of some little foreign film rule).

[scott1598]

yes! Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation"...i thought that was definite.

along with just about anything Paul Giamatti was in..."American Splendor", "Sideways"....maybe get it for "Cinderella Man".

[Mr. Cinema]

Ian McKellen - "Gods and Monsters" (lost to Roberto Benigni)
Cate Blanchett - "Elizabeth" (lost to Gwyneth Paltrow)
Russell Crowe - "The Insider" (lost to Kevin Spacey)
John Malkovich - "In the Line of Fire" (lost to Tommy Lee Jones)
William H. Macy - "Fargo" (lost to Cuba Gooding, Jr.)
Geoffrey Rush - "Quills" (lost to Russell Crowe)
Juliette Binoche - "Chocolat" (lost to Julia Roberts)
Johnny Depp - "Pirates of the Caribbean" (lost to Sean Penn)

[dogmatica]

This one, I'm okay with...
Sam Jackson - Pulp Fiction
...Because the Oscar went to Martin Landau for playing Bela Legosi in Ed Wood. I didn't "get it" for a few years until I saw the flick, but now I see it was a perfect win.

This one, however, really pissed me off...
Ian McKellen - Gods and Monsters
...Especially since he lost to Roberto Benigni for playing himself. What a jackass. McKellen was amazing.

[the action]

Tim Robbins - Shawshank Redemption
Denzel Washington - The Hurricane, should of won it with this movie not training day.

[the action]

Sean Penn deserved the oscar over Johnny Depp. I'm not no big Sean Penn fan either.

[Coral]

Some more recent performances:

Sean Penn - Dead Man Walking
Ellen Burstyn - Requiem For A Dream
Gary Oldman - Immortal Beloved
Gary Oldman - The Contender
Ian Holm - The Sweet Hereafter
William H. Macy - Fargo
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth
Tom Cruise - Magnolia
Tom Wilkinson - In The Bedroom
Imelda Stanton - Vera Drake

[Hokeyboy]

The only REAL travesty of the last 10 years was Kate Blanchett losing out to Gwynetth Paltrow in 98. That was outright highway robbery.

I'd also say Pete Posthelwaite SHOULD have won for his 93 performance in IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, instead of Tommy Lee Jones in THE FUGITIVE. I mean, Jones was great in the role, but my god...

[William Fuld]

I wouldn't have voted for any of the winners from 1976.

[The Nature Boy]

Paul Giamatti for Sideways, tell me one other working actor who could have pulled that off with the subtle nuance of being such a lovable bastard.

McConalhey in Dazed and Confused(He or Linklater lacked the clout and it was too small a film, but an amazing supporting turn)

Depp and DelToro in Fear and Loathing(supporting and lead)

[onebyone]

Robert Duvall not winning for "The Apostle" still really, really bugs me. I also agree with Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray for "Lost In Translation."

[Doughboy]

Dylan Baker should've received a nomination and Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1998's Happiness. The man made you sympathize with a pedophile for God's sake. Talk about a challenge for an actor.

Also, John Malkovich should've at the very least received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1999's Being John Malkovich. Anyone who shrugs that off by saying he was just playing himself obviously never saw the movie. Michael Caine won that year for The Cider House Rules(my favorite film that year, incidentally), but Malkovich had a much tougher and ballsier role IMO.

[AnonomusBob15]

Sean Penn for Dead Man Walking
Denzel Washington for The Hurricane
Tom Cruise for Magnolia
Edward Norton for American History X

[Drexl]

Ralph Fiennes for Schindler's List

[johnnysd]

William H Macy in Fargo
Frances McDormand in Mississippi Burning

In fact, the two above are ALWAYS oscar worthy it seems.

Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction

[LiquidSky]

Cate Blanchett "Elizabeth"
Ellen Burstyn "Requiem For A Dream"
Jennifer Jason Leigh "Last Exit to Brooklyn"
Edward Norton "American History X"
Beverly D'Angelo (for supporting actress) "American History X"

[Mr. Cinema]

Sean Penn deserved the oscar over Johnny Depp. I'm not no big Sean Penn fan either.
The reason I had a problem with Penn winning was because his character was so plain. Meaning, anyone could play an upset father. It just felt like your typical father wanting revenge.

How cool would have been if the Academy gave the Oscar to an underappreciated actor (at the time) for playing a pirate? Of course, the Academy isn't cool and never will be. But it would have been a nice "change of pace" win.

[silentbob007]

I agree, Mr. Cinema. Penn's got to play an anguished father who lets his emotions spill out ... Penn did a good job, but it has been done befroe and I don't really think requires much of a workout in terms of acting.

As others have said, I really think Bill Murray should've won for LiT.

[Giantrobo]

Regina King .... "Margie Hendricks" in "RAY"

[Patman]

Kate Winslet for any of her nominated performances.

[RayChuang]

A couple of comments:

1. Gwyneth Paltrow's win for Shakespeare in Love was a bit of a surprise, but the more you think about it not really so given the influence of the Weinstein brothers back then (e.g., there's rumors they more or less "bought" the Best Picture and Best Actress Oscars, though it's hard to prove).

2. I personally think the biggest snub historically was Jimmy Stewart not winning Best Actor for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It's been said that Stewart's win for Best Actor in The Philadelphia Story one year later was a "makeup" award by AMPAS members who felt sorry Stewart didn't win the year before.

[Deadpool]

Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For A Dream

[Numanoid]

None of these were even nominated, but should have won:

Jeremy Irons for Dead Ringers.
Gary Oldman for Sid & Nancy.
Dennis Hopper for Blue Velvet.
Robert Shaw for Jaws.
Anthony Perkins for Psycho.

[cleaver]

Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For A Dream
ditto

[Mr. Cinema]

None of these were even nominated, but should have won:

Jeremy Irons for Dead Ringers.
Gary Oldman for Sid & Nancy.
Dennis Hopper for Blue Velvet.
Robert Shaw for Jaws.
Anthony Perkins for Psycho.
Gary Oldman should have also been nominated for Supporting in The Contender instead of Jeff Bridges.

[tommyp007]

Chiming in again for Denzel in "Malcom X". Everytime I watch this, I'm amazed even more at that performance.

[raven56706]

Jim Carrey.... for all of his performances.... at least a nomination

[auto]

Jim Carrey.... for all of his performances.... at least a nomination

Well, maybe not for all of his perfromances...

[SINGLE104]

Chiming in again for Denzel in "Malcom X". Everytime I watch this, I'm amazed even more at that performance.
I am really intrigued with this film for the numerous of recommendations from other members, which has been stated above for Denzel's performance. Now, I must see this movie! Denzel Washington is an overall superb actor, especially in Crimson Tide co-starring Gene Hackman, another tremendous, powerful actor as well.

[riley_dude]

Cate Blanchette for Elizabeth! And who won Gwenth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love. Ughhh. That still makes me angry to this day.

Count me in as another that should have thought Burstyn should have won!

[NatrlBornThrllr]

One that I'm surprised nobody has mentioned...

Edward Norton for his role in Primal Fear. Instead, the best supporting actor Oscar went to Cuba Gooding Jr. for his turn in Jerry Maguire. I realize it was Norton's first performance, and as such he didn't have a lot of pull with the Academy, but if that's not a great oversight then I don't know what is.

-JP

[Sweet Baby James]

Off of the top of my head-

Samuel L. Jackson(supporting)-Pulp Fiction
Anthony Hopkins-Remains of the Day
Burt Reynolds(supporting)-Boogie Nights
and I would have taken Clint from last year over Jamie Foxx.

Good topic-I'll have to give this more thought.:)

[FantasticVSDoom]

Kate Winslet for any of her nominated performances.
:up:...Also agree with everyone else who said Denzel Washington for Malcolm X.

[Johnny Boy]

and I would have taken Clint from last year over Jamie Foxx.

You thought Clint Eastwood was better in Million Dollar Baby than Foxx was in Ray? :hscratch: Do you care to elaborate as to how? All Clint did was walk around slowly with an angry look on his face and talked in a gruff voice. Foxx gets on my nerves sometimes off the camera when he's cocky, but in Ray he was unbelivably incredible.

[Legolas]

What's funny is that if the Academy doesn't give you an Oscar for much-deserved performances, they'll just give it to you later on for something like The Color of Money (Newman) or Good Will Hunting (Williams) or Training Day (Washington), The Untouchables (Connery) or Million Dollar Baby (Freeman) when there are much more deserving performances by the other nominees. So Tom Cruise will end up winning it for Iron Man.

[Sweet Baby James]

You thought Clint Eastwood was better in Million Dollar Baby than Foxx was in Ray? :hscratch: Do you care to elaborate as to how? All Clint did was walk around slowly with an angry look on his face and talked in a gruff voice. Foxx gets on my nerves sometimes off the camera when he's cocky, but in Ray he was unbelivably incredible.I thought that Clint gave a very moving performance in MDB and a lot of it came from his facial expressions. I must admit that I'm not a Jamie Foxx fan and that is probably clouding my judgment. However, I've always felt that actors receive more praise than they deserve when they portray real life figures.

[Johnny Boy]

I thought that Clint gave a very moving performance in MDB and a lot of it came from his facial expressions.

He had more than one facial expression? I need to watch that movie again. :D

[SINGLE104]

You thought Clint Eastwood was better in Million Dollar Baby than Foxx was in Ray? :hscratch: Do you care to elaborate as to how? All Clint did was walk around slowly with an angry look on his face and talked in a gruff voice. Foxx gets on my nerves sometimes off the camera when he's cocky, but in Ray he was unbelivably incredible.
Not only Jamie Foxx is an actor, but also a real secondary musician, and vocalist as well. He plays keyboards. Jamie actually played the piano in Ray, and the concert scenes in the movie, were not dubbed in with another musician double. He recorded an album approximately twenty-five years ago, which was quite good, but never received nationwide airplay.

[Numanoid]

Jim Carrey.... for all of his performances.... at least a nominationYes, his portrayal of Mark Kendall in the classic Once Bitten was a misfire by the Academy.

[Johnny Boy]

I know, exactly SINGLE104 baby! And Jamie Foxx's award was well-deserved.

[mrhan]

Rena Owen for her role in "Once Were Warriors". A very powerful performance that was all but ignored by the Oscars.

[Mr. Cinema]

Not only Jamie Foxx is an actor, but also a real secondary musician, and vocalist as well. He plays keyboards. Jamie actually played the piano in Ray, and the concert scenes in the movie, were not dubbed in with another musician double. He recorded an album approximately twenty-five years ago, which was quite good, but never received nationwide airplay.
He did everything but the actual singing.

I believe Phoenix sang in Walk the Line

[Legolas]

^ They should've let Fox sing, because he can.

[fmian]

I really honestly believe Leo should have won for the Aviator. I thought he gave an earth shaking performance. He's deserved one for a while I think.

[Kashmir]

De Niro Taxi Driver
Fiennes Schindlers List
Ellyn Bursten Requiem for a Dream
Crowe The Insider
Ford Witness
De Niro Cape Fear

[wnyx1440]

Daniel Day Lewis - Gangs of New York
Edward Norton - American History X
Bill Murray - Lost in Translation
Scarlett Johnansson - Lost in Translation
Kate Winslet - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Hmm, that's all I can think of....

[wnyx1440]

By the way... anyone know of a website that lists not only the actors/actresses that won the Oscar, but everyone who was nominated too?

[tommyp007]

www.oscars.com

[RayChuang]

What's funny is that if the Academy doesn't give you an Oscar for much-deserved performances, they'll just give it to you later on....

Hence my description of Jimmy Stewart's win for The Philadelphia Story as a "makeup" for not winning one year earlier in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

[PopcornTreeCt]

Good choices so far. I'm gonna throw in some more:

Joaquin Phoenix - Walk The Line (We shall see)
Al Pacino - The Godfather I and II, Donnie Brasco, Dog Day Afternoon
Naomi Watts - 21 Grams
Benicio Del Toro - 21 Grams
Johnny Depp for just about everything. (Ed Wood, Fear & Loathing, Dead Man, Finding Neverland, Pirates, Donnie Brasco)

[Charlie Goose]

Al Pacino for The Godfather II.

Sam Jackson for Pulp Fiction.

Robert Shaw for Jaws.

William H. Macy, Maria Bello, & Alec Baldwin for The Cooler.

Paul Newman for The Hustler.

James Cagney for Angels with Dirty Faces and White Heat.

Peter Greene for Laws of Gravity.

Morgan Freeman for just about anything he was in.

Jim Carrey for The Truman Show.

[Johnny Boy]

Al Pacino - The Godfather I

Over Brando?

[pelenor]

Val Kilmer for TOMBSTONE or THUNDERHEART, a great, underrated movie

[SINGLE104]

Glenn Close for Fatal Attraction. She was nominated, but didn't win, which was an immense disappointment to me, and for others. Cher won the Oscar that year, over Glenn Close for Moonstruck.Cher's performance in that movie was just mediocre, and strictly not Oscar material to be a winner.

[Legolas]

Morgan Freeman for just about anything he was in.



Hard Rain or Dreamcatcher? :)

[SPiRAL]

Ellen Burstyn -- Requiem For a Dream

Samuel L. Jackson -- Pulp Fiction

[Rockmjd23]

Hard Rain or Dreamcatcher? :)
I was thinking The Big Bounce.

[paulringodaman]

Ed Norton - Fight Club/American History X

[SINGLE104]

By the way... anyone know of a website that lists not only the actors/actresses that won the Oscar, but everyone who was nominated too?
Here it its! click on the link, and scroll down. This has all the complete Academy Award catagories, winners, and nominees from 1928 - 2005

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_awards

[NatrlBornThrllr]

When will people realize that the IMDB has every bit of information a film fan could ever ask for?

-JP

[Charlie Goose]

Hard Rain or Dreamcatcher? :)
Actually the Dreamcatcher Oscar should've gone to Donnie Wahlberg.
"I DUDDITS!" -ptth-

[Quake1028]

Just since 1990:

Tom Hanks should have won for CAST AWAY over Crowe for GLADIATOR (both excellent performances)
Johnny Depp should have won for PIRATES over Penn for MYSTIC RIVER, but Paul Giamatti should have been nominated and won for AMERICAN SPLENDOR

Diane Lane should have won for UNFAITHFUL over Kidman for THE HOURS
Kate Winslet should have won for ETERNAL SUNSHINE over Swank for MILLION DOLLAR BABY

William H. Macy should have won for FARGO over Gooding, Jr. for JERRY MAGUIRE
Tom Cruise should have won for MAGNOLIA over Caine for CIDER HOUSE RULES
Ken Watanabe should have won for THE LAST SAMURAI over Robbins for MYSTIC RIVER
Thomas Haden Church should have won for SIDEWAYS over Freeman for MILLION DOLLAR BABY

Kate Hudson should have won for ALMOST FAMOUS over Marcia Gay Harden for POLLOCK

Ang Lee should have won for CROUCHING TIGER over Soderbergh for TRAFFIC

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL should have won over TITANIC
CROUCHING TIGER should have won over GLADIATOR

There, I feel better :p.

[Numanoid]

By the way... anyone know of a website that lists not only the actors/actresses that won the Oscar, but everyone who was nominated too?Here's a site that has these fine categories (like this thread topic):Academy Awards®-Nominated Great Films
That Didn't Win a Single Oscar®

Great Films That Weren't Nominated
For A Single Academy® Award

'Best Pictures' Not Nominated for Best Picture

Great Acting Performances That Weren't Nominated
For Academy Awards®

Great Actors, Great Actresses, and Great Directors
Who Have Not Won Actor, Actress, and Best Director Academy Awards® http://www.filmsite.org/noawards.html

[dunno260]

Just to second some of the ones mentioned:

Oldman for the Contender. Wilkinson for In the Bedroom. Definately, definately Hate Hudson for ALmost Famous. Crowe for the insider as well.

Pacino in Insomnia was outstanding.

[BillSD]

Whoopi Goldberg - The Color Purple
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth

[Giantrobo]

Regina King .... "Margie Hendricks" in "RAY"

I agree Giantrobo. Even if everyone else ignores your pick. :(

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Edward Norton for his role in Primal Fear. Instead, the best supporting actor Oscar went to Cuba Gooding Jr. for his turn in Jerry Maguire. I realize it was Norton's first performance, and as such he didn't have a lot of pull with the Academy, but if that's not a great oversight then I don't know what is.

-JP

Good call, mang. Tell it like it is, and fuck the haters.

...oh god I'm so lonely.

-JP

[joeydaninja]

Renee Zelweger for Jerry Maguire
Johnny Depp for Pirates of the C

and

Ellen Burstyn, again, for Requiem for a Dream

[iggystar]

Denzel Washington should've gotten it for The Hurricane instead of Kevin Spacey for American Beauty. Then instead of giving it to Washington for Training Day, Russell Crowe could've received it for A Beautiful Mind.


I'll second that!

[conscience]

I can't believe people actually thought Kate Hudson was better than Marcia Gay Harden. She was absolutely fantastic in Pollock.

[Red Dog]

Totally with William H. Macy-Fargo. Cuba Gooding/Jerry McGuire is one of the most overated performances/movies of all time.

I'd also go with Morgan Freeman-Shawshank.

[Michael Corvin]

Robin Williams for Dead Poets Society NOT Good Will Hunting

Ron Howard for Apollo 13 NOT A Beautiful Mind

[Matty-O]

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL should have won over TITANIC


AMEN!!!!!!!!!

[H8nXTC]

Bill Murrey (male supporting actor) for Rushmore (1998)

[kitkat]

Just last year:

Don Cheadle -- Hotel Rwanda (instead of Jamie Foxx -- Ray)
Imelda Staunton -- Vera Drake (instead of Hilary Swank -- Million Dollar Baby)

[scott1598]

Here's a site that has these fine categories (like this thread topic): http://www.filmsite.org/noawards.html
i can't believe "Gangs on New York" got 10 nods and didn't win any.

and "Shawshank" got 7 nods without any. i would have rather seen Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman win for this one than "Mystic River" and "Million Dollar Baby" as I thought "Shawshank" was much more powerful in sheer performances and overall story.

[Mr. Cinema]

Don't forget "The Insider" got 7 noms, 0 wins. Same for "The Thin Red Line", even though I don't think it deserved any wins.

[mike7162]

Kathy Bates - Dolores Claiborne
James Woods - Salvador

[mrflix]

The only real travesty in my mind is that Shakespeare in Love beat out Saving Private Ryan for best picture. Damn Miramax! All of the prior actors will get their due (so long as they continue to act and not go the route of Nicolas Cage after he won). Back to Private Ryan thought it continues to amaze me at how great this film is. Truly one of Spielberg's best.

[thegingerbreadm]

jeff bridges fearless
and i agree on Tom Cruise Magnolia!
gena rowlands in Gloria (she makes the movie all by herself)

[matome]

Winona Ryder for <i>Little Women</i>

[reubs82]

Jim Carrey for Man on the Moon

[Cartload]

Over Brando?

Unless I'm mistaken, Pacino was up for Best Supporting Actor in The Godfather, so if he won that year that wouldn't have meant Brando (or that woman who dressed up as an Indian and went onstage to get the award) would have gone home empty handed.

Pacino definitely should have gotten an Oscar for at least one of his first two performances as Michael Corleone.

[baracine]

Elijah Wood for The Return of the King (as a nod for the whole trilogy)
Gary Oldman for Immortal Beloved
and, of course,
Norma Shearer for Marie Antoinette (1938)

[Khan]

Paul Newman should have won in 1994 for Nobody's Fool, rather than Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. But act dumb or handicapped and the academy will fall over themselves to award you.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110684/usercomments

[scott1598]

Elijah Wood for The Return of the King (as a nod for the whole trilogy)
I think I would have gone with Sean Astin over Elijah.

[jchamoun]

Best Director

1990 - Martin Scorsese for GOODFELLAS over Kevin Costner for DANCES WITH WOLVES
2001 - Robert Altman for GOSFORD PARK over Ron Howard for A BEAUTIFUL MIND


Best Picture

2002 - ADAPTATION (which wasn't even nominated) over CHICAGO


Best Actress

2002 - Julianne Moore for FAR FROM HEAVEN over Nicole Kidman for THE HOURS

[jchamoun]

Hmm...just read the thread title.

Guess I shouldn't have included Best Director and Best Picture.

Sigh...

[Mr. Cinema]

The only real travesty in my mind is that Shakespeare in Love beat out Saving Private Ryan for best picture. Damn Miramax! All of the prior actors will get their due (so long as they continue to act and not go the route of Nicolas Cage after he won). Back to Private Ryan thought it continues to amaze me at how great this film is. Truly one of Spielberg's best.
I clearly remember this year in particular. This was the same year they gave Begnini Best Actor and Gwyneth Paltrow Best Actress (2 of the worst choices of all time). My jaw dropped to the floor when Harrison Ford announced that Shakespeare in Love won. From his announcement, it appeared he didn't vote for it. This is easily one of the worst decisions by the Academy. SPR is referenced all the time when movies come up but you never hear anything about the winner. At least it got Director for Spielberg, which is the "2nd place" trophy.

[mllefoo]

Johnny Depp - Benny and Joon or Finding Neverland
Peter O'Toole - My Favorite Year (nominated, lost to that Ghandi feller)
- Lawrence of Arabia (lost to some other dude)
I always thought Rutger Hauer turned in a great performance as Roy Batty in Bladerunner.
Tom Hulce - Amadeus (I don't know if he was even nominated)
Geoffrey Rush - Quills
Kate Winslet - Quills (she's incredible in this movie)
Roselind Russell - Auntie Mame
Edward Norton - Fight Club
Audrey Hepburn - My Fair Lady (lost to Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins)

[mllefoo]

The following also got robbed:

Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff and Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes in Double Indemnity (1944)

Henry Fonda as Lt. Doug Roberts in Mister Roberts (1955)

Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther (1964)

Malcolm McDowell as Alex in A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth in Blue Velvet (1986)


Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988) (he's so deliciously bad)

[Mowork]

ok... gotta jump on Denzel's Malcolm X snub also....

But.. for me the biggest Oscar miss was Pacino in The Godfather Part 2. Every single time I watch his performance in it (and trust me, I've lost count it's been so many times) I'm completely BLOWN away!!

[scott1598]

Sigourney Weaver in "Aliens". I think she got the nod, but lost to Marlee Matlin.

Just as Ripley and Newt stumble into the lair for the first time towards the end...SW looks at the Alien Queen with this crooked neck as if to say you dare open an egg on me you bitch...was so classic. i could watch that scene over and over again.

[Mr. Cinema]

The following also got robbed:

Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff and Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes in Double Indemnity (1944)

Henry Fonda as Lt. Doug Roberts in Mister Roberts (1955)

Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther (1964)

Malcolm McDowell as Alex in A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth in Blue Velvet (1986)


Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988) (he's so deliciously bad)
Hopper could've won for Hoosiers. That year had a solid group of nominees for supporting actor though.

[Mysteryfan]

Another vote for Whoopi in Color Purple and Paul Newman in The Verdict

[H8nXTC]

Kevin Bacon (as Henri Young) for Murder in the First (1995)!

[baracine]

Rob Schneider in The Hot Chick (2002)

[dom56]

Russell Crowe - L.A. Confidential
Gene Hackman - Mississippi Burning
Kelly McGillis - Witness
Ed Harris - The Right Stuff
Al Pacino - Heat
Jeff Bridges - Fearless
Rosie Perez - Fearless
Liam Neeson - Schindler's List
Henry Fonda - The Grapes of Wrath

[AJAX]

Tim Robbins or Morgan Freeman for "Shawshank"
Daniel Day Lewis for "Gangs of New York"
Ellen Burstyn for "Requiem for a Dream"
Tom Hanks for "Road to Perdition"

And while we're at it, for Best Director....
Martin Scorcese for "Raging Bull"
Fred Zimmemann for "High Noon"

[Daytripper]

Kathy Bates most definitely for "Dolores Claiborne". Along with Judy Parfitt who played Vera.

[SINGLE104]

Kathy Bates most definitely for "Dolores Claiborne". Along with Judy Parfitt who played Vera.
I liked Kathy Bates ever since her well deserved Oscar winning performance for: Misery. She's a very good actress.

[tdirgins]

3 pages and no love for Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross? One scene but people are STILL talking about it.


I would also add

Ellen Burstyn for Requiem for a Dream--she got completely hosed.
Kevin Bacon for Murder in the First
Dennis Hopper in Hooisers

[Joeboo835]

Probably get ripped for this, but I always thought Val Kilmer in the Doors was amazing. I read somewhere that the guy that produced all hte doors albums was there while he was doing some filming and he had to leave because Val was freaking him out because he was so much like Morrison. I thought he was great.

[H8nXTC]

Burt Reynolds as supporting male actor in Boogie Nights (1997)

[QuikSilver]

Naomi Watts in 21 Grams for Best Actress

[darkhawk]

Michael Clark Duncan - The Green Mile
John Malkovich - In the Line of Fire

Edna 'E' Mode - The Incredibles for Best Costumes

[Mr. Cinema]

Amy Adams could be added to this list after March 5th.

[shill66]

Top pick has to be Robert Shaw in JAWS.

I disagree with the 29,422,471 people who say Cate Blanchett should have won over Gwyneth Paltrow. Their performances are so close in quality that I'd call it a draw. But in fact, since you can't have a draw, I'd side with Paltrow.

Maybe I should say I think Cate should have had a nomination - or even a win - for THE GIFT. Just phenomenal.

[The_Cube]

Here is my list of snubs:

Bill Murray: Groundhog Day
Nicolas Cage: The Family Man
John Candy: Planes, Trains, & Automobiles
Jim Carey: The Truman Show
Chris Farely: Beverly Hills Ninja

Comedies seem to get no respect at the Oscars which leads to many actors getting snubbed out of an award. Does anyone know why comedies rarely get nominated for best picture? I think just about every best picture nominee has been a drama. Oh, and the one comedy I can think of that did get respect was about obnoxious people tasting wine.

[Khan]

Wow The Cube Groundhog Day is my favourite movie too. Bill was brilliant in it but the academy takes itself too seriously to give an oscar to the guy who did stripes and ghostbusters.

Now he's doing all these 'subtle' characters in 'serious' movies he's in with a chance of a nom, but for my money there's no chance he'll ever be in anything as life changing and affirming as Groundhog Day again.

I love Family Man too, which is unsurprising given the obvious parallels to GD but thought that Tea Leoni would be the one deserving a nomination from that. She was awesome in a very tricky role(s).

[Jack Straw]

Val Kilmer in "The Doors". I just re-watched this movie again last night and again I was blown away by how awesome Kilmer's likeness and performace as Jim Morrison was. The guy was absolutely channeling Morrison from the beyond as far as I'm concerned. Kilmer was definitely robbed blind by not even being nominated.

[J-Dubya]

Tom Cruise and Julianne Moore in Magnolia

[DIVX Rulz]

John Goodman for the Big Lebowski

[Buttmunker]

Val Kilmer was good in The Doors, but he absolutely personified Doc Holliday in Tombstone. Great acting!

[mwbmis]

Gene Hackman in the Royal Tennenbaums

Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive

[riley_dude]

Another vote for Cate Blanchette for "Elizabeth". She was robbed by Gweneth Paltrow. How can anyone say that Paltrow's performance was anywhere near Blanchette's??!!!???

I also though Mimi Rogers should have gotten tons of awards for "The Rapture." Very powerful movie.

[Buttmunker]

The Poseiden Adventure (1972): Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine (both of which, including the picture itself, were never even nominated).

This film was a merging with old school actors with new school - Borgnine representing the "old school" (formerly winning the Best Actor Oscar in 1955 for Marty - if you watched Quiz Show, you'd know that and never forget it), and Hackman representing the "new school" (his first Best Actor Oscar-nomination occurred only five years prior).

The film displayed these two fine actors, and they both acted their asses off, and while the film went on to be one of the better disaster films, it was still an insult to not be recognized by the Academy (the film received only one - ONE - acting nomination: for Shelley Winters in the supporting category. She deserved it, just like the whole ensemble deserved it, Red Buttons and Jack Albertson included).

O well. Goes to show that not all the great films in our lives have Oscars hanging all over them.

[Buttmunker]

Bill Murray deserved to be nominated in the supporting category for his brilliant role in 1996's Kingpin.

[DVDpackrat]

I always thought Sally Field should have won an Oscar for Steel Magnolias.

Edward Norton for American History X or Primal Fear.

Leonardo Dicaprio for What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Basketball Diaries, The Aviator, The Departed.

Johnny Depp for Finding Neverland.

Gerard Butler for Dear Frankie.

Billy Elliot should have won Best Picture.

If A Beautiful Mind wins for best picture and the movie is pretty much Russell Crowe's performance, I don't understand how Denzel Washington won instead? I have yet to see Malcolm X, so maybe Denzel has done a performance that I would consider good.

This year the guy nominated for supporting actor in Blood Diamond should win.

Nicole Kidman for The Hours was wrong, and Cuba Gooding Jr. should have never even been nominated, his post Oscar career proves that.

Joaquin Phoenix must win someday for something, he should have won for Gladiator.

[DVDpackrat]

I forgot to add Memento should have gotten a best picture win.

[Buttmunker]

Edward Arnold and Lee J. Cobb are fantastic actors, and steal the scenes they're in, but neither have won an Oscar, and have passed from this world without being honored. (For the fresh daisies on this forum, Edward Arnold and Lee J. Cobb were popular actors from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's.)