stealing the oscar: or who/what should have won the academy award
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Oscar nights are never without surpises, pleasant or otherwise. But other than which actress wore what outfit (ok, the one with the "swan" thingy was Bjork), the intriguing and most argued about part is, of course, the results. Never mind the snubs or the oversights during nominations, they do not hurt as much as actually getting to THE night itself only to lose the golden naked man that according to all media outlets and your personal psychic you or your movie will definitely - if not obviously - bag. Oh well... Although this may bring back bitter memories, here are some unforgettable moments when the Oscar was stolen on Oscar night.
2005
Even if it was the most popular nominated film among critics and the most commercially successful (it ougrossed all the other films in the running for Best Picture), Brokeback Mountain lost the trophy to Crash. After winning all the major Guild awards and the Golden Globe for Drama, it was thought that homophobia in the industry was finally a dead issue. But that was not to be the case.
2002
2002 was supposedly the year that Martin Scorsese finally wins the Best Director nod that eluded him three times before. Moreover, his movie, Gangs of New York had already won for him the Golden Globe in the same category and had received 10 nominations from the Academy. But not yet said the Academy. They gave the award to an in absentia Roman Polanski (The Pianist)
1992
This one is serious. Eveybody (okay, most of my family anyway) fell from their chairs when Marisa Tomei's name was announced as Best Supporting Actress for My Cousin Vinny. She won the award over the more popular choice Vanessa Redgrave (Howards End). And if that night's shocker was not enough, a rumor that Jack Palance called out the wrong name promptly started circulating - and as to why or how it allegedly happened is another story.
marisa tomei in my cousin vinny
vanessa redgrave in howards end
2001
Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind) lost the 2001 Best Actor award to Denzel Washington (Training Day) after winning that year's Golden Globe for the same category. According to naysayers, this was the Academy's second act of transgression against the New Zealand-born actor. They gave him the trophy the previous year for Gladiator, despite raised eyebrows everywhere, because they failed to do so when he truly deserved it two years back for The Insider.
russell crowe in a beautiful mind
denzel washington in training day
1998
And now for the three-way debate. Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) won the Oscar for Best Actress but many believed then that her effervescent turn could hold no candle against the tour de force performance of Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth nor for the bravura rawness of Fernanda Montenegro in Central Station. When everybody settled down after the excitement caused by Paltrow's victory, Blanchett royally stood her ground but Montenegro had already left the building.
gwyneth paltrow in shakespeare in love
cate blanchett in elizabeth
fernanda montenegro in central station
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![Oscar's Greatest Moments - 1971 to 1991 [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AHGP6KHVL._SL75_.jpg){kind=small}
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Oscar's Greatest Moments - 1971 to 1991 [VHS]
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Central Station
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Elizabeth [HD DVD]
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Gangs of New York (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
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![The Pianist [HD DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Zkclt4gwL._SL75_.jpg)
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Howards End - The Merchant Ivory Collection
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My Cousin Vinny
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A Beautiful Mind (Full Screen Awards Edition)
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Training Day
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Comments
Gone swimming again? And in your fave spot too! LOL
The Academy wants to be popular not controversial so it was Crash that won!
I wish they'd show both Kate's movies here :C hotter than she was in Little Children? I'm a fan since seeing her in Heavenly Creatures :D
Brokeback Mountain should have won just for having the balls (pun intended!) to make a movie about gay cowboys. And you were right; there is no homophobia in Hollywood. If there was, everything would shut down. The only people who didn't know Rock Hudson was gay was everyone OUTSIDE of Hollywood.
I was glad Marisa Tomei won, and I loved My Cousin Vinny. The two lead characters took a stupid script and turned it into a thoroughly enjoyable flick. Bravo!
I hated Training Day. Washington is an awesome actor, but I just don't like those "very realistic" movies about so much ugliness. I know it's out there, but I watch movies to escape and enjoy the ride. Isn't that the whole idea?
I liked Elizabeth because Blanchett managed to make her somehow more "normal" when we all know Her Majesty is everything but.
I never saw little children or heavenly creatures but I tell you she makes some damn good movies.
A good swim is a good cure for hangovers.
I just read CW's comment, I disagree with the Training Day comment, I loved that movie as I like to see the grittiness of the streets, but I don't think that was Denzel's best role.
Constant
so what makes a good movie for you? and if it's not too realistic, what are movies for? :D
Toady
Now I'm really interested! But try to catch Little Children and Heavenly Creatures and maybe we can go swimming together! LOL
Yes, I believe Denzel was waaaay (notice the a's? for emphasis) better in Malcolm X :D
I agree, Malcolm X, Crimson Tide, Mo Betta Blues, Devil in a Blue Dress, the Hurricane, the list goes on and on.
But he was so deserving in Glory - i'm not ashamed to admit that he made me cry bitter tears in that one!
Yeah, he was a bad mofo in that one, very deserving.
LOL you really have a bad streak in you, don't you! :D
Very bad. But right now, I'm burnt out as I am watching someone become a fan of everyone, and making the whole hubtivity thing suck. It is one of the more annoying features of hubpages. I don't know what yours read, but all I see is "become a fan of"
Great hub, Cris. I mostly agree with you:
I didn't see Brokeback, but Crash sucked.
Scorcese was ripped off.
Maybe Audrey Hepburn should have run, but Mary Poppins meant alot to me as a kid and because of that remains one of my favorite films of all time, so it's hard for me to be objective on this one.
Marissa Tormei is hawt though!
Russell Crowe should have won, no question.
I could see Blanchette winning. Didn't see Central Station.
Man, you really are informed on the film industry! Nice support with the videos too. Fun to read. Thanks!
Toady
Overcome the glitches, that's what a Jedi would do! LOL it's the same with mine, I just turn a blind eye and thank God for little distractions - i don't want perfection all the time - it's numbing and boring :D
I think he ran out and is moving to the next list. That's something a whore would do.
Hi Christoph
There are more "contentious" results but that would make up for a longer read - even longer than the ceremonies. Thanks for dropping by :D
Toady
Now that's a nice metaphor there "fanning is whoring" - hmmm good subject for a poem :D
Yeah, well, he's going at it again!
Are you talking about bobin baldwin? as he's the only one I see making a bee line to all clubs
That was a great list Cris. And your predictions for this year sound good too.
I agree with Christoph - a toss up between Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady - though Audrey Hepburn looked sooo much better :) - would have been hard.
Russell Crowe should really have won it I think!
Thanks Shalini, actually I'm pretty good at predicting the Oscar turnout - always was winning the "oscar lottery" in the office I used to work for. LOL
I always thought that Audrey should won - guess it was the fact that she did not use her own singing voice!
And I agree with your take on Russel Crowe's loss - although many believe so, without a trophy, it's not just the same thing :D
Hi Cris,
A very interesting list you have here! Agree with you that Slumdog Miliionaire might just not make as the best pic, but may win the best director award. Another thing that goes against the SM is that it has no nominations in the "biggy" categories, best actor/supporting actor. It has a good chance of winning in the best score though, with two of three nominations.
Hi Sidd
But who knows Sidd, seems like the air of change is all around the US right now. So SM just might... :D
I have no problem with realistic. Pulp Fiction was incredible. I, personally, simply do not enjoy seeing the extreme ugliness man is capable of shown to me in a very realistic way. I don't need to see it, and I don't consider that "entertainment." A movie can portray Truth - even about an ugly reality - without being brutally ugly.
But that's just me. Many other people enjoys those kind of movies.
I do not.
Constant,
I think I understand where you're coming from. I think they call that kind of filmmaking cinema verite, but I'm not sure. :D
Really? I appreciate the bravery required to make a film like that. I just don't enjoy watching it. Scarface was incredibly realistic and pretty much soured me on the genre.
Constant
I think filmmakers who go that way want their viewers to experience that kind of reality vicariously. But then again, there's a fine line between "realistic" and "glamourized" depiction of violence. :D
Beauty and Beasthead over Robin Hood Prince of Thieves for best song was an upset.
Every Thing I Do was no.1 in the pop charts for 15 whole weeks. That should have won instead of that Disneyfied piece of shit.
sometimes the Oscars are a real headscrather :D
goldentoad says:
11 months ago
I never saw Brokeback Mountain but I don't know if the homophobia played a role in it losing to Crash. Gays and Jews run Hollywood and I'm not even trying to be controversial by saying that. I worked in a major studio and had no idea it was like that before setting my foot through the door. They are the Academy Members too, so they have all the vote on this.
I saw both Revolutionary Road and the Readers and both roles for Kate Winslet were equally hot and interesting.