I thought Martin Landau was pretty great in Ed Wood, also. I don't think it falls into the category of "undeserved".

Don't understand why Crowe won anything for Gladitor.
Don't understand what the appeal of 'A Beautiful Mind' was.
That's my two cents.

a beautiful mind was definately not deserving....for the millionth time.

I think Chicago wins because it's the very type of movie AMPAS members like: a good musical. The problem with the other candidates for Best Picture this year are:

Gangs of New York--the violence and somewhat confusing plot hurts the movie.

The Hours--it's a quite polarizing movie with female viewers loving it and many males viewers just confused by it all.

About Schmidt--it's too personal a movie to win, despite Jack Nicholson's excellent acting performance.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers--AMPAS voters would rather wait till The Return of the King comes out this December before really giving the accolades to Peter Jackson's magnum opus.

Another thing that hurts About Schmidt's chances is that it's not nominated.

Dispite it's weakness's I was always bugged that the Delorentis Flas Gordon didn't at least get nominated for Costume or Set design. Incredible use of spandex and sequins.

So how's THAT for pulling a title outta left field?

Jason Robards winning the supporting actor Oscar in 1976 for "All The President's Men" over such notables as Burgess Meredith ("Rocky"), Burt Young ("Rocky"), and Ned Beatty ("Network").

I watched "All The President's Men" and while it was a good film, didn't feel that Robards added that much to it.

yeah maybe he should assess The Pianist.

Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan.

This is the only one for me at least that really sticks out.

There's an awful lot of Shakespeare in Love bashing on this forum. Don't get me wrong, I was very much rooting for Saving Private Ryan to win but to say Shakespeare's Oscar was "undeserved" is a bit of a stretch. It's a wonderful movie with one of the best screenplays in recent memory.

I don't mean to bash Shakespear In Love, I was amazed at how good it was the first time I saw it... but I do think it's Oscar was "undeserved". "Undeserved" because it beat out a movie, Saving Private Ryan, that "deserved" it more. A much, much better movie. The only thing that made SIL better than SPR was the naked Gwyneth boobies, but that doesn't make it Oscar worthy, it makes it boner worthy!

"BTW", all of the above comments are "IMO", or "IMHO" in case anybody's checking. Try not to get your panties in a bunch.

Just in case I didn't post it already...

Kim basinger didn't deserve an Oscar for LA CONFIDENTIAL.

Kim Basinger received the film's only acting nomination over three strong lead male actors (Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, & Kevin Spacey) and one strong supporting actor (James Cromwell) - so by honoring her, they honor the whole ensemble? Noooo. So why did she win again?!

I don't know how Kim Basinger beat out Julianne Moore in Boogie Nights. She was not good at all.

Robin Williams, either. He was okay. And I loved Good Will Hunting but he was the weakest thing in that film. Even under Casey Affleck. Burt Reynolds, on the other hand, was excellent.

The thing about PTA is that he is an actor's director. And he directs his actors very, very well.

That's Paul Thomas Anderson to all of you.

Even though i agree with everything lookslikeme says, I still think we should take him out and spank him in the street!!!!

I have some:

Julia Roberts for "Erin Brockovich".
Russell Crowe for "Gladiator".
"Shakespeare In Love" over "Saving Private Ryan"
"Annie Hall" over "Star Wars".
"Cabaret" over "The Godfather" (best director).

If Star Wars would have beat out Annie Hall it would be near the top of my list of undeserving Oscars. Annie Hall winning was one of the few bright spots in the Academy's history.

All of them. There hasn't been one Oscar in the entire history of the awards that I agree with.

Wow, are u kidding? Starship Troopers special effects looked very cheesy!!! I mean dont get me wrong, i used to watch the movie everytime it was on cable (have no clue why, just entertaining i guess) but man did those special effects suck!

just my .02

I'm sorry, but I fell asleep when I saw Annie Hall. I guess I'd have to see it again though.



ARE YOU KIDDING!!! F. Murray Abraham gave the best performance in movie history in Amadeus and won Best Actor (a latino I might add).

Abraham did indeed give a great performance, but the award that year should have rightfully gone to Richard Gere for The Cotton Club. He wasn't even nominated, and was snubbed again this year by the academy.

If Richard Gere was to be recognized at any point in his career for an Oscar, I feel it should have been in 1982 for An Officer & A Gentlemen" as Best Actor.

Richard Gere is one of the few widely known actors who have never been nominated for an Oscar. While I feel its never too late (look at James Coburn), it may come to pass that Gere will never become "the Oscar-nominated Richard Gere."

Pity.

I think that the Acadamy sometimes gives people the right oscars at the wrong time, and they discriminate against Hanks for winning 2 straight.

Crowe should have won for A Beautiful Mind, NOT Gladiator, and if Denzel was going to win, it should have been for The Hurricanr...not Training Day.

Of course, the Oscar that year should have went to Hanks for Cast Away.