Demanding a recount of the 1998 Oscar race

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Mike Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 02:30 PM EST

I agree that Helena Bonham Carter should have won the Best Actress Oscar for "The Wings of the Dove" in 1998. Her performance was simply stunning, and garnered much critical acclaim.

supergmen Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 10:38 PM EST

Joseph Fiennes should have been nominated for Shakespeare in love - he was even snubbed from EW's Biggest Oscar Snubs list! That Gwen won while he wasn't even nominated made no sense to me.

Gemma Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 08:08 AM EST

Gwyneth over Cate? I think that was the worst mistake in Oscar history. I mean, look at where Gywneth is now (in the shadows) and where Cate is (out in the deserving spotlight).

Cate should have won, and I think everyone knows that.

mnprincess Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 03:44 AM EST

Russel Crowe should have won for either "The Insidr" or "A Beautiful Mind" but not for "The Gladiator" Tom Hanks was by far the superior actor that year in "Castaway" I mean come on his co-star for most of the movie was a vollyball and he made it totaly believable but to give it to Russell for playing a brutish glatiator was an injustis

Janebird Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 05:26 AM EST

okay to the person who said Kate Winslet can't pull off Hilary Swank's roles. So what? It doesn't make her less of a great actress than Hilary Swank just because she's not going to play a boy. Please I'm tired of people thinking you have to do stunt performances to be considered a great actor. Sorry if Kate's a real woman and can't pass for a boy but last time I checked all the other great actresses in film history didn't either. Hilary pulled it off and did a great job but does she deserve to be considered better than other actresses just because they didn't try to pass for a boy? No.

Okay I love LA Confidential but I'm not mad that Titanic won.I knew it won because big epics like that especially history making epics often do. It's not like it won for screenplay or any acting so it's not a big deal to me. It was well made epic tragedy and that's why it won for film and director. Script might not have been great but it wasn't even nominated for screenplay so there you go.

It'sBull Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 08:38 AM EST

Dylan, lay off Reese, she was exemplary in the role.
Why are these stupid statues so important to these people? The winners are on top of the world for a few hours, then next year it's somebody else. You don't need this trinket to get respect for your craft. If you're good, you're good.

Dylan Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 05:14 AM EST

Yeah I know Fiorentino was ineligible but I think they should have changed the rules. And as far as lyp-synching goes Angela bassett was perfect in every way for What's Love. Besides, this ain't the damn Grammy's we're talking about. So as long as you sing that should give you extra points? That reminds me...How the hell does Reese Witherspoon have an Oscar? Especially for a lousy performance in a crappy, completely overrated movie.

kim in kentucky Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 09:42 PM EST

I meant -- NOT eligible

kim in kentucky Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 09:41 PM EST

The reason that Linda Fiorentino did not nominated for The Last Seduction was that it/she was eligible because the movie originally was shown on tv before it was released to the theaters.

Nix Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 06:49 PM EST

The point is, the Academy has come to signify, perhaps unrealistically, the happy medium between the picks of the elitists of academe, typified by the National Board of Review, and the choice of the masses, unfortunatey exemplified by the People's Choice Awards -- a survey. The AMPAS is supposed to be knowledgeable enough to avoid shallow popularity while democratic enough to award that popularity if it's deserved. That's why when it picks the most popular picture among its five -- 1994, 1997, 2005, arguably 2007 -- it feels like a coronation, and it's satisfying. Not to the 1.2% who reflexively hate anything the public embraces, but they don't count except in decade-past retrospectives. When the Academy makes a mistake due to studio marketing, as in 1999, or out of being plain divided, it's unsatisfying but understandable. But in 2006, the Academy did not vote for the winner, it voted against the loser, out of some irrational hatred. And that was utterly regrettable.

tom to mc Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 05:43 PM EST

I wasn't slamming Kate Winslet - she could probably pull off those roles - but I can't picture her in kansas as a boy/girl in boy's don't cry or duking it out in a boxing ring.
She could have played a boy - a won her own Oscar if she was in shakespeare in love - she could've pulled that off.
She definitely raised the titanic to a higher class with her aboard as young rose. the movie would of been quite different if that role was given to somebody like drew barrymore, winona ryder, mira sorvino, elisabeth shue--fill in the blank.

TEECEE Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 05:23 PM EST

Absolutely loved LA Confidential. It just isn't in the same class as Titantic. Also thought Russell Crowe was robbed for A Beautiful Mind and the Insider.

timewasted Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 04:01 PM EST

apples and oranges folks, apples and oranges.

Chelsea Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 03:46 PM EST

I love love love Tom Hanks, and he was fantastic in "Philadelphia" ,and when he won, he gave the most moving oscar speech, but still, Liam Neeson DESERVED that oscar for "Schindler's List"...

JGeorges Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 03:38 PM EST

Yes, let's re-examine the 1995 Best Picture travesty and give the rightful winner the statuette?

Forrest Gump? Nope
Pulp Fiction? Nope ::gasp::

And the winner is...

Shawshank Redemption

TO HA Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 02:46 PM EST

1993 was a stellar year for movies. And T.L. Jones also won a Globe for The Fugitive. So you know what you can do with your opinion. And Dances With Wolves is a masterpiece. Glad people like you don't have voting rights.

c.e. Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 02:42 PM EST

a weird win was in the 50's when Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday in a good but not great role role beat out, Bette Davis in All About Eve, Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard and Rosiland Russell. Russell also lost to Loretta Young for Farmer's Daughter while Half of LA had victory parties set for Russell. For 2008 Julie Christie may win and she was great, But Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose was the best performance...period.

HA Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 02:31 PM EST

Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) over Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List)????? Really??? That was injustice by a long shot. Dances with Wolves???? Abominable.
The rest, already mentioned below so I'm in great company:
Russell Crowe in The Insider,
Saving Private Ryan over Shakespeare in Love, anyone else should have won instead of Jessica Lange in Blue Sky (horrible, horrible performance), Shawshank over Forrest Gump (that felt like a bad mini-series).

HA Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 02:30 PM EST

Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) or Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List)????? Really??? That was injustice by a long shot. Dances with Wolves???? Abominable.
The rest, already mentioned below so I'm in great company:
Russell Crowe in The Insider,
Saving Private Ryan over Shakespeare in Love, anyone else should have won instead of Jessica Lange in Blue Sky (horrible, horrible performance), Shawshank over Forrest Gump (that felt like a bad mini-series).

Jennifer Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:47 PM EST

Rocky over Network??!! WTF!!! Network was and still is a masterpiece!!! I still have nightmares over Cuba Gooding Jr. winning. I don't think I will ever recover from that one.

Kacie Cavanaugh Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:34 PM EST

Elizabeth was just bad, too bad for Cate who was the only good thing in it. I love Shakespeare in Love, Saving Private Ryan turned in to the same old war movies and TV shows of the '60s as soon as they got off the beach. I loved both Crash and Brokeback and liked the split award though I might have given Brokeback Best Pic and Crash best director. It's unbelievable to me that, judging by the angry posts out there, I'm either homophobic or racist, depending on which one I liked. Shawhshank should have definitely won, but I had not seen it at the time so I didn't know any better. Same with LA Confidential, though I still like Titanic, LA was definitely the superior movie. And for Chelsea, fine give Joaquin his best supporting oscar, but only if you give Benicio the Best actor oscar he deserved for Traffic. And this year: WHERE ARE THE NOMINATIONS FOR ONCE! Most enjoyable movie of the year, buy far.

tad Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:23 PM EST

I'm going to stand by Titanic's win as it is a sweeping epic and historically those tend to win Oscars. It sweeps me up every time I watch it. For me, the biggest travesty (one for which I have yet to forgive the Academy) is picking A Beautiful Mind over Moulin Rouge for Best Picture. I absolutely despised ABM and thought Moulin Rouge was the most beautiful and heartfelt film of the year. To deny it and Nicole Kidman an Oscar is beyond shameful especially when the winners are A Beautiful Mind (which is on my list of the worst movies ever) and Halle Berry (who was good but by no means Oscar worthy). Seriously, wtf?? Plus, if Nicole Kidman had won that year then the Oscar she won for the Hours could have gone to Julianne Moore for Far From Heaven. That's how it should have played out. BTW, Crash blows Brokeback out of the water!!

Dominic Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:23 PM EST

I know I was in the minority, but I don't know if I quite understand Charlize Theron' win for "Monster". A great performance, but Naomi Watts, guys! NAOMI WATTS tore it up in "21 Grams".

Given that George Clooney isn't much of an actor, either, I'm almost certain he stole someone's Oscar when he won for Syriana..hold on. Yeah, Jake Gyllenhaal should hunt Clooney down and take that one back.

Babs Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:13 PM EST

The enduring wrong for me is the automatic dismissal of Meryl Streep. Sure, she gets nominated, but when was the last time she won? She so outclasses the competition it bugs the hell out of me. Case in point: "The Hours". Kidman puts on a fake nose and wins Best Actress. Streep is nommed for Supporting for a role the same size as Kidman's. But even stacked against each other, there is no contest. Streep's performance was the most moving and masterful of the three leads, but it seems she is now unofficially barred from ever winning another Oscar. I'm glad she realizes this and doesn't seem to care, but it annoys me.

Hio Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:01 PM EST

That year the Academy did pretty badly in picking the best of the year...but then they often do. Here's how I thought the big six races should have gone...

BEST PICTURE:
"Titanic"
Alternate: "The Full Monty"
VERY rarely do I agree with the Academy, but "Titanic" just can't be passed up. No, it isn't a landmark in scriptwriting, true, but I have never been captivated so fully for three hours in my entire life.

BEST DIRECTOR:
Curtis Hanson, "L.A. Confidential"
Alternate: Atom Egoyan, "The Sweet Hereafter"

BEST ACTOR:
Robert Duvall, "The Apostle"
Alternate: Jack Nicholson, "As Good As It Gets"

BEST ACTRESS:
Julie Christie, "Afterglow"
Alternate: Helena Bonham Carter, "The Wings of the Dove"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Burt Reynolds, "Boogie Nights"
Alternate: Robin Williams, "Good Will Hunting"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Joan Cusack, "In & Out"
Alternate: Julianne Moore, "Boogie Nights"

Dan TO Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:57 AM EST

I prefer LA Confidential but I'm going to defend Titanic. This was a movie about a terrible tragedy where everyone knew the ending. It also had to walk a fine line in not messing too much with historical accuracy. While the love story was admittedly cheesy it did an effective job of being able to tell the story from many different perspectives. It also made many people for the first time in their lives realize it was a tragedy and not just a morbid curiosity and a silly kid's song.

MC Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:54 AM EST

Tom -- I actually can see Kate Winslet pulling off both the Hilary Swank Oscar-winning roles. Little Children was a fantastic movie that was completely ignored last year(except for a nomination for Kate). It was ten times better than Crash or Brokeback.

Brokeback just wasn't that great. It was a mediocre, boring movie with some above average acting.

Ron Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM EST

I haven't seen this mentioned, but the first real disappoinment I had with the winner was Rain Man over Dangerous Liaisons. Complicated movie with brilliant performances (ignoring Keanu, of course). I just wasn't blown away by Rain Man. Of course, Shakespeare over Saving Private Ryan was a travesty too. Didn't mind Titanic's win. Dialogue clunky, but quite the achievement nonetheless.

Chelsea Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:45 AM EST

Benicio del Toro in Traffic over Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator? I'm still not over Joaquin's loss. He was beyond great in a role where he was to be weak ,yet treacherously creepy at the same time. Come on, who wasn't in awe when Commodus exclaimed "Am I not merciful???!"

Joaquin was robbed!

Tom Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:42 AM EST

1998 was the only year I've seen all five best picture noms before the awards ceremony and remember thinking LA Confidential was the best by far. It's still probably my favorite movie of the entire 90's.
As for the whole Crash-Brokeback thing, I found both movies to have flaws. Crash winning didn't deserve the backlash it got. If Brokeback was better, it wasn't by that much. Basically, a very actor-oriented movie won an award where the biggest chunk of the voters are actors.

Lauren Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:17 AM EST

Paul Giamatti for Sideways.

No love for Munich or Children of Men? GRRRRRR. I agree with everything that's been said here (good to know I wasn't the only one who loved Munich).

Best Song cheeses me off a LOT. My Heart Will Go On over Miss Misery in 1997...really? THEN we have Blame Canada (socially relevant and downright hilarious, performed really well by Robin Williams and a Mountie kick-line) losing to You'll Be in My Heart? However, I think the South Park guys had fun ripping Phil Collins a new one in the Timmy episode.

yo Tom Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:00 AM EST

Yeah, I totally agree about the lip- synch thing. I remember when Jessica Lang was nominated for Sweet Dreams. Her acting was great but her syncing was so blantantly obvious it ruined the pic for me. And the same with Angela Bassett. They go over the top with the synch.
No nominations for lousy lip-synchers!!

tom Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 10:32 AM EST

Sure, everyone has sour grapes when their favorite doesn't win. You scream and protest when they don't win, then complain when they do. Anyways, from past posts -
Angela Bassett for What's love---over Holly hunter in the piano. Um - no, Oscars for lip-synching. See Cabaret, West Side Story, Coal Miner's Daughter, Walk the line,Mary poppins for people who did their own signing and won. Same with Dreamgirls, and JH deserved it. I'm sure that Linda Blair at that time, would have won for the exorcist if her demon voice wasn't synched.
Leo Di for Gilbert Grape _ not over Ralph Fiennes in Schlinders.
People complain that Hilary Swank has 2 already. She deserved it for each of her roles. Would Kate Winslet pass as a boy in boy's don't cry or a boxer in MBBaby. I doubt it. You get the right person and you get magic.
Cate Blachett - elizabeth gave me the yawns, i found her grating in the aviator, but great in i'm not there.

Josh Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 10:30 AM EST

I agree that Crash did not deserve the Oscar in 2006, but neither did Brokeback Mountain. Give a nomination and the award to A History of Violence - a study of violence in society two years before the Coen Brothers (who are my favorite director(s)) did No Country for Old Men.

How about also giving a nomination, and then the award, to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind over the mawkish Million Dollar Baby? I thought Clint Eastwood got his lifetime achievement award from the Academy with Unforgiven.

Continuing with Charlie Kaufman-related snubs, how does Adaptation not even get nominated for Best Picture, let alone Chicago receive the award?

Fargo over The English Patient. L.A. Confidential definitely over Titanic. William H. Macy for Fargo (or, even, Edward Norton for Primal Fear) over Cuba Gooding, Jr. for Jerry Maguire.

drella66 Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 10:05 AM EST

Shakesphere in Love is SO NOT a best picture winner, especially over Saving Private Ryan

Alex Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 09:49 AM EST

You gotta love the hypocracy here. With one breath critics blast the Oscars for failing to reflect public interests by so frequently nominating movies no one has gone to see, yet one of the few years where the most popular film of the year was also the Oscar choice, they get it in the neck. I assume in a few years folks will be demanding a "recount" of Return of the King's sweep, too.

moi Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 09:28 AM EST

The Golden Globe Awards have more on the ball when it comes to these nominations. The Academy Awards have become way too self-important and elitist.
Go Globes!!

thomas Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 09:16 AM EST

I still can't stomach the fact that Scorsese didn't get Best Director for Goodfellas." His "Departed" award was just an "we're all very sorry for that incident - here, take this." Dances with Wovles? Best Director and Picture?
Though I like Whoopi in Ghost, I would have voted for Annette Bening in The Grifters. 1990 (Jeremy Irons/Kathy Bates/Pesci - okay)

Kevin Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 08:54 AM EST

Grindhouse got robbed...BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!!! (OK, third best movie of the year, but it was still a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience).

Goldenager Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 08:46 AM EST

Crowe was robbed for "A Beautiful Mind", "The Insider", "L.A. Confidential", "Master & Commander", "Cinderella Man" and this year at least for "American Gangster" and probably "3:10 to Yuma"! And, look at the marvelous roles of Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Christian Bale, Paul Giamatti, etc. who should have at least been nominated for their outstanding roles in these great films which will surely stand the test of time!

Dave B. Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:37 AM EST

Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Hillary Swank, Helen Hunt, Gwynneth Paltrow... and the list goes on. Very undeserved winners all. Have to take exception to whomever dissed Cher though. Cher showed her versatility in Mask and Moonstruck. She deserved the Oscar because she made it look easy. Glenn Close's performance was very over the top and obvious.

Alan Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:25 AM EST

there are so many films and perfs that should have even been nominated that year--Sarah Polley, Bruce Greenwood, and Ian Holm for The Sweet Hereafter, which should also have gotten nods for picture and score; Debbi Morgan and Kasi Lemmons for Eve's Bayou; Aaron Eckhart and Stacey Edwards for In the Company of Men; Katrin Cartlidge, Lynda Steadman, and Mike Leigh for Career Girls; Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen, Christina Ricci, Jamie Sheridan, and Ang Lee for The Ice Storm, which should also have gotten a best pic nod; Kate Nelligan and Helena Bonham Carter for Margaret's Museum; Hope Davis and Ann Meara for The Daytrippers; Eugene Levy for Waiting for Guffman; Robin Wright Penn for She's so Lovely; Seanna McKenna and Peter MacNeill for The Hanging Garden; john hurt in Love and Death on Long Island; Ma vie en rose for foreign film; Vanessa Redgrave in Mrs. Dalloway; and Robin Tunney in Niagara, Niagara

CC Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:20 AM EST

Just because it needs to be stated, as it has been noted in both the printed and web pages of this magazine, many academy members admit to either voting against 'Brokeback' for homophobic reasons or of knowing others who voted in kind against the film. You can ignore the proof all you want, but it's just a larger example of how prominent homophobia still is, even in the entertainment community.

And Titanic RULES. But so does LA Confidential.

Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:46 AM EST

denzel over crowe. boooo. and crowe for gladiator....wtf?!

Dylan Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:21 AM EST

Also...Jude Law shoulda won for the Talented Mr Ripley and Christina Ricci shoulda at least been nominated by now.

Dylan Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:10 AM EST

Julianne Moore shoulda won for Boogie Nights
Linda Fiorentino shoulda been nominated and won for The Last Seduction over Jessica Lange in some crappy lifetime movie

Angela Bassett in What's Love Got To Do With It shoulda beat Holly Hunter for the ridiculous Piano

Brokeback shoulda beat Crash
Anybody shoulda beat Halle Berry
Diane Lane in Unfaithful shoulda beat whoever won that year

How have Ashley Judd, Mary-Louise Parker and Christian Bale never even been nominated while actors such as cuba gooding jr have won?!

Bruce Kleinhans Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 11:50 PM EST

I haven't wasted one minute of time watching the Oscars since Shakespeare in Love beat Saving Private Ryan and this year will be no exception. I already have my Saving Private Ryan and LA Confidential DVD's polished and ready to watch instead of the Academy of Idiot Awards.

Erik B Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 11:28 PM EST

Titanic deserved it then and it still deserves to be thought of as a great movie.

Evita Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 11:23 PM EST

And I threw a shoe at the TV when "Pan's Labyrinth" lost. And to whoever mentioned "Children of Men", you're absolutely right. The film was moving, beautiful, heartbreaking, intelligent, culturally resonant without being self-righteously political, and the acting was spectacular. I challenge anyone to watch the attack scene in the car, with the mind-blowing 360degree single-shot camera movement: how can you not at least throw them a bone for cinematography?!?!

And hurray to all the Kate Winslet supporters out there (especially "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"- another film that was highly under appreciated).

Melissa Church Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 11:20 PM EST

vitobonespur --- Richard Burton was a BRILLIANT actor. He was phenomenal in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Night of the Iguana (to name a few).

Seriously though... Cary Grant never won an Oscar. Enough said.

Sarah Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 10:33 PM EST

Crash over Munich, Jennifer Hudson over ANYONE ELSE, and Tommy Lee Jones over Ralph Fiennes are the most egregious mistakes I can think of.

Sarah Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 10:33 PM EST

Crash over Munich, Jennifer Hudson over ANYONE ELSE, and Tommy Lee Jones over Ralph Fiennes are the most egregious mistakes I can think of.

heidi Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 10:05 PM EST

Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire beating Edward Norton in Primal Fear.... still bugs me to this very day! Crash winning was also a total fluke. Regarding the Pulp Fiction-Forrest year.... I would have picked SHAWSHANK.. hands down

xmen1963 Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:54 PM EST

The Color Purple would have won awards if the NAACP and others have not whine about the images of blacks in the movie and jealously of Steven Spielberg for having more money, fame, and critical acclaim than any director should have.

Lisa M Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:50 PM EST

How about E.T. losing Best Picture to Gandhi? Who remembers the movie Gandhi? Nobody. Who remember E.T.? Everybody.

vitobonespur Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:48 PM EST

I've always felt that Richard Burton got screwed back in 1966. His performance as George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf was incredible, In fact, WAVW was a much more touching film than A Man for All Seasons. Paul Scofield (who???) got a gift!

xmen1963 Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:39 PM EST

I guess all you guys forgot about how the press turn Titanic into the biggest underdog in film history of it's souring budget, delay summer release date, and how this film would ruin 20th. century fox. Oscar loves to reward people and films that overcame the naysayers.

Nix Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:34 PM EST

Corliss is the one critic who has always hated Titanic, unlike the ones who now follow the groupthink and say it was embarrassing. It's only become embarrassing due to (a) Celine Dion and (b) teenage girls -- both of whom "don't count" as tastemakers.

The most egregious was still Crash over Brokeback; not even because of superiority of filmmaking of one or the other. It's simply that it seemed that the voters of the Academy that year chose "Crash" out of PIQUE. It was "You're not going to tell US what the best picture is, we're the ACADEMY! *footstomp*" It was pure backlash, not against gays or even against Brokeback, but against the expectations of the movie-watching world. And thus was and remains utterly childish.

donner Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:32 PM EST

I'm glad to see ya'll agree with me about Cate Blanchett losing to Gwyneth Paltrow - what a travesty!! That STILL bugs me to this day...And Shakespeare over Saving Private Ryan? Are you kidding me? Crash over Brokeback? I used to enjoy the Oscars, but I really don't give a flying flip about them any more...bah humbug...good day to you, sir...I said good day...

Kent Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:27 PM EST

Gwenyth Paltrow over Cate Blanchette still bothers me.

Dale Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:11 PM EST

Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan? Titanic over LA Confidential? Are you kidding me? The Oscars are a joke!

G-Man Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:08 PM EST

What about the worst travesty in the history of the Oscars?? Namely, Denzell Washington (Training Day) beating Russel Crowe (Beautiful Mind) for best actor! Are you kidding me?? Denzell was basically playing himself. Thanks for nothing, you honk, Julia Roberts, for raising such a fuss about a black man never winning a best actor oscar! This was nothing more than oscar panderding.

Kimberly Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 08:55 PM EST

THANK YOU! Titanic is a piece of garbage. Fine, special effects, whatever - but Kim in Kentucky is right. The screenplay is awful. I've hated the movie since it came out. Kate Winslet is the only good part. And speaking of - I totally agree with Evita. How does Kate Winslet, who is brilliant, have 0 Oscars and the dreaded Hilary Swank have 2??! Ugh.

I also agree with all the Crash haters.

Rebekah Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 08:11 PM EST

My husband and I have discussed this Oscar year MANY times. He would have picked "LA Confidential" and I would have picked "Good Will Hunting." Looking back "Titanic" was not that great. The only movie I would have picked it over was "The Full Monty."
I also agree that "Brokeback Mountain" should have beaten "Crash."

David Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 07:40 PM EST

L.A. Confidential was the best movie of 1997 so it should have swept the 1998 awards and not Titanic! And Dame Judi should have won over that TV actress and Robert Duvall should have gotten his second Best Actor Oscar for The Apostle! In 1998, Queen Cate should have won over that skinny blonde who only won because her parents were well-respected or admired actors. And Bette Davis and Gloria Swanson should have tied in 1950. And Montgomery Clift and Deborah Kerr should have won in 1953 for From Here To Eternity! And of course Brokeback should have won over that silly condescending race-relations movie. Oscar should also have a portion wherein the Academy and even text viewers can rescind the Oscars they have given out to undeserving winners so Gwyneth, get ready to hand that Best Actress Oscar to Cate, and also you Helen Hunt to Dame Judi. Bwahahaha!

BilliamE Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 07:32 PM EST

rober j - You're the only one so far that I totally agree with! The Color Purple won NO Oscars?!! That is hard to even comprehend. And the Joy Luck Club should have been recognized for something...

As for Titanic winning over LA Confidential...it doesn't bother me that much. True, LA Confidential is far superior, but Titanic made a bigger impact on American cinima a la Gone With The Wind. And since when have the Oscars awarded the best films, actors, etc.? I think of the Oscars more of a record of how people were feeling at the time and Titanic was huge (no pun intended).

kim in kentucky Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 07:26 PM EST

okay, one GOOD reason that Titanic should not have won - it wasn't even nominated for best screen play!

most heinous award - Helen Hunt over Judi Dench! And the movie itself - Good as it Gets - hoo hum!

Chicago over Gangs of New York??

Yes, Russell Crowe was great in The Insider, but Kevin Spacey - brillant

Pacino got his cause he had been nominated so many times and had not won

and United 93 - best film of 2006 - shame on the Academy for not nominating it!!

and no Paul Giamatti for Sideways?

JP Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 07:13 PM EST

In 1983, Tender Mercies should have won over Terms of Endearment and how is it possible that BLADERUNNER was not even nominated for best picture nor best director still completely baffles me to no end...

Jason Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 06:55 PM EST

-I don't remember anything about Rachel Weiss in "The Constant Gardener," but Amy Adams gave a performance for the ages in "Junebug."
-I respect both Julia Roberts and Ellen Burstyn, but "You Can Count On Me" is my favorite movie of all time, and Laura Linney gave one of my favorite performances by anyone ever.
-What kind of screwed-up world is it that Phil Collins can best Aimee Mann in a songwriting competition?
-"LOTR: Return Of The King" is a great film. Annie Lennox's "Into The West" is not a great song. It's not particularly melodic. The songs from "A Mighty Wind," "The Triplets Of Belleville," and the 2 from "Cold Mountain" were all superior, each sounding like they existed inside their repective worlds.
-Was there some reason the song "La Festin" from "Ratatouille" was ineligible? I don't understand a single word of it, but I could listen to it over and over.

jpressman Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 06:53 PM EST

SUBJECTIVITY AND THE MOVIES.I'M GLAD Y'ALL LIKED WHAT YOU DID ,BUT FOR EVERY MOVIE YOU LIKED ANOTHER PERSON CAN BE FOUND WHO DIDN'T LIKE THE MOVIE.

mumblo Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 06:39 PM EST

ITA with Dan: Kate Hudson was ROBBED. Marcia Gay Hardin for Pollack? Seriously? Obviously, it still haunts me to this day...

yssys Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 06:39 PM EST

I'm still mad that Pan's Laberynth and Children of Men were snubbed in the Best Picture Race of Last Year!!!and I got nothing to say about the class of '08 because they showcase a really great year in film...sure now you hear people complaining that they're not blockbusters but they will pass the test of time and will stand up to posterity...

anonymous Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 06:18 PM EST

What about the fact that Alfred Hitchcock never actually won a best diector oscar? That speaks VERY poorly of the academy. VERY poorly.

robert j Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 06:11 PM EST

The Color Purple. Not only Oprah and Whoopi should have won but Danny Glover should have been nominated. A great motion picture that got slapped in the face at the Oscars.
Also The Joy Luck Club, a bueatiful movie with some great Asian American actresses who should've at least received a couple of acting noms.

Melissa Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:45 PM EST

Have to agree with Evita. It is absolutely astounding that Kate Winslet does not have an Oscar. She's hands down the best actress working today.

Also, Leonardo Dicaprio was horribly horribly horribly robbed by not winning for "What's Eating Gilbert Grape".

Ames Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:41 PM EST

This is a fun game, but I think Jeff has won by identifying the worst travesty in Oscar voting -- John William's Empire Strikes Back score not winning. I am now officially disturbed.

Dan Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:31 PM EST

Kate Hudson losing for Almost Famous. Frances McDormand Losing for Almost Famous (yeah yeah, can't have your cake and eat it too...)
And while we're on the subject, Can we go back and at least NOMINATE Eternal Sunshine for Best Picture?

Why Bother Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:29 PM EST

All of you dissing Titanic...come on! It was a good movie. So was LA Confidential. You all sound like kids on a playground fighting about 'my movie's BETTER! No..MY movie's better!'
And the fruitless arguments will continue.

jambajim Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:22 PM EST

juno will feel dated in 9 months. (how appropriate!)

CArunchy Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:22 PM EST

LOL, Oscars 2008 Spoof:

http://digitalfuntown.squarespace.com/dft-blog/2008/2/19/offbeat-oscars-mash-up.html

Ben Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:17 PM EST

Yes, the snubbing of LA Confidential is one of the biggest Oscar tragedies. To compound the best picture mistake, the voters tried to overcome their guilt by giving Basinger the Oscar.

Beyond the "Titanic" massive buzz, LA's issue was lack of mainstream box office appeal. Sure, we now look at it as Crowe/Pierce/Spacey, but the two Aussie's were essentially unknown or at best up and coming and Spacey is in a supporting role.

Also agree that Pulp Fiction would be next on my list of snubs to fix. The Oscar voters that year should have listened to the advice of Marcellus Wallace when he said "you'll feel a slight sting. F*ck pride, it doesn't help, only hurts".

Matthew Lingo Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:17 PM EST

The fact that Gladiator beat Traffic isn't only shameful, it's astonishing. I was only in 7th Grade at the time, so I didn't follow things that closely, but I don't understand at all how that movie became so beloved. Was it the front-runner?

Ian Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:07 PM EST

Looking at 1989 ("Driving Miss Daisy"), don't forget about the fact that "Do the Right Thing" wasn't even nominated. What were they thinking?

Kevin Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:04 PM EST

I agree with most of what has already been said. With these exceptions:
Crash over Munich?(sorry, but Brokeback wasn't that great)
Million Dollar Baby over The Aviator?
A Beautiful Mind over Fellowship of the Ring? (what were they thinking!?)

Now let's reach back farther:
Driving Miss Daisy over Field of Dreams?
Kramer vs. Kramer over Apocalypse Now?
Rocky over Network?
In the Heat of the Night over The Graduate/Bonnie and Clyde?
Greatest Show on Earth over High Noon?
An American in Paris over A Streetcar Named Desire?
You Can't Take It with You over Grand Illusion?

And the biggest travesty in the history of the Oscars goes to:
How Green Was My Valley over The Maltese Falcon, Suspicion, and Citizen Kane

Pamela Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:59 PM EST

Crash winning two years ago was a crying shame. It's the year I'd like a re-do on most of all. Like many others, I wanted a win for Brokeback Mountain. Heck even Good Night and Good Luck, Capote and Munich were better films. And, I think, history is likely to agree with that.

Others that have made me mad over the years:

Russell Crowe not winning for The Insider over Kevin Spacey. Yes, they gave it to him the following year for Gladiator but his Jeffrey Wigand was the stronger role. And talking about Gladiator, I thought Traffic the more interesting Best Pic choice that year.

I agree with Richard Corliss on Helena Bonham Carter for Wings of a Dove.

Cate Blanchett should have won for Elizabeth against the lighterweight Gwyneth(Shakespeare in Love).

As for what we might forget (or be embarrassed by) from the current crop of nominees in years to come: I'd have to say Juno. It's fun but to my mind a little too clever and self-conscious.

Martha Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:51 PM EST

Wait a minute, Ian, what aspects of American life that "American Beauty" dared to explore haven't already been done to death by Hollywood? The notion of dissatisfaction, moral decay and ennui in the suburbs has featured in movies since, oh, I don't know, the 60s?

Kevin Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:33 PM EST

LA Confidential over Titanic is the one that always bothered me the most...because it just doesn't make any sense. And it just bothers me so much that STILL, to this day, there are people like EW's own Lisa Schwarzbaum that insist Titanic is a great movie. Titanic isn't even a GOOD movie, let alone a great one. Goodfellas losing was disappointing, Raging Bull losing was a travesty. I wanted Pulp Fiction to win but I knew it didn't stand a chance (would have been happy if Shawshank won, though).

Ian Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:22 PM EST

Also, I will eagerly defend "American Beauty" any day. I've seen it so many times and still doesn't grow old. It is and will always, stay in my mind. Also, it explores the aspects of American life few people dare to explore. For the Academy to reward this over a large, forgettable epic I say is a well-deserved victory.

Troy Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:19 PM EST

Halle Berry over Sissey Spacek;
Catherine Zeta Jones over Meryl Streep;
Hilary Swank of Annette Bening x2
I still lose sleep over these picks.

Ian Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:18 PM EST

1)Forrest Gump over Pulp Fiction/Shawshank Redemption
2)Dances with Wolves over Goodfellas
3)Shakespeare in Love or Saving Private Ryan
4)Ordinary People over Raging Bull
5)English Patient over Fargo
6)I know everyone is gonna kill me for this one-Rocky over Taxi Driver/Network/All the President's Men

Mike Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:14 PM EST

Evita-I completely forgot about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. If they had released the movie in December instead of March, Kate might have gotten her Oscar.

Evita Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:09 PM EST

How about Kate Winslet getting robbed for EVERYTHING SHE'S EVER BEEN NOMINATED FOR?????

aaa Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:05 PM EST

I think 10 years from now (or sooner) people are going to be scratching their heads over the noms for 'Juno'.

Mike Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 04:01 PM EST

Crash over Brokeback
Shakespeare over Saving Private Ryan!!
Titanic over L.A Confidential
English Patient over Fargo, no ones mentioned that
Forest Gump over Pulp Fiction
Last year, I was shocked that they got it right for once, The Departed was miles better than the others.
My biggest award robbery though was the 1992 Grammies. Natalie Cole, co-opting her fathers voice and legend beating out REM for Album and Record oftheYear. It steams me to this day.
The lastscene of TWBB easily made No Countrythe better movie this year.
The Coens deserve it. see Fargo above.

RCrowe Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 03:52 PM EST

I guess I'm one of the few old enough to remember that there's no way "Ordinary People" should have won Best Picture over "Raging Bull"