Top 10 Tuesday: Biggest Best Picture Mistakes
January 23rd, 2007 | by Scott |I love Oscar, but he is an imperfect beast. Frankly, he often makes the wrong call. This is my list for the 10 biggest mistakes they have made through the years in handing out the statuette for picture:
10. Titanic over L.A. Confidential (1997)–Honestly, I got caught up in the hoopla just like everybody else. The movie that could have sank, instead floated on an Oscar tidal wave. But it was the adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel that stands the test of time. It is deeply reminiscent of the hard-boiled detective stories of yesteryear, full of layers of intrigue and mystery.
9. Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas (1990)–The Academy’s dismissal of Scorcese’s work has been going on for almost three full decades. There is no more glaring oversight than this one. Sure, this was the first of Costner’s overblown ego projects and we didn’t fully realize where that would end up. But come on. If you have both DVD’s in your hands right now, which one are you putting in? I thought so.
8. Lawrence of Arabia over To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)–Don’t get me wrong, Lawrence is a great film but it has none of the epochal virtue of Mockingbird. The adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel signified the beginning of a seismic shift in American culture.
7. Gladiator over Traffic (2000)–Sure, Crowe’s Maximus brings out the inner warrior in each of us. I get that. But Soderburgh weaves a complicated and intricate web of seemingly unrelated stories on the drug war in America that sends the viewer reeling. Seeking dialogue over resolution this is one of the important films of the 21st century. Oscar missed that.
6. Going My Way over Double Indemnity (1944)–Bing Crosby as a priest? No thanks. The definitive film noir? Yes, please.
5. Driving Miss Daisy over every other nominated picture (1989) This year brought us the following nominees: Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams and My Left Foot. There is no defense or excuse for this bone-headed of a pick. It’s the academy’s version of the BCS.
4. All About Eve over Sunset Boulevard (1950)–Both movies explore the theme of aging stars. Bette Davis and, especially, Anne Baxter are phenomenal in Eve. However, it is Gloria Swanson’s frightening, yet moving, portrayal of Norma Desmond that has become a cinematic touchstone.
3. A Beautiful Mind over Lord of the Rings (2001)–How many people did Russell Crowe have to threaten to throw a telephone at to score this upset? Peter Jackson created one of the most amazing visual feasts in cinematic history with a story that many thought was unfilmable. Sure, he was rewarded for the first entry, but he lost here to a joke of a movie.
2. How Green Was My Valley over Citizen Kane (1941)–Sure, Orson Welles had ticked off too many powerful people in the making of this film. And, granted, the Academy made many missteps during the World War 2 years. But this is one of the greatest crimes in its history. I’m not usually given to the build-up of hype over Kane and its overblown melodrama. But it is one of the greatest films ever made. How Green Was My Valley was not.
1. Forrest Gump over The Shawshank Redemption (1994)–Gump, and Hank’s cloying portrayal, make me want to hurl myself under a bus. The fact that this insufferable 2 and a half hour mess of a film beat out one of the true great depictions of redemption ever captured on celluloid is the greatest misstep in the Academy’s history. Treacle, I have met thee, and thy name is Forrest Gump.
Your thoughts or suggestions?
38 Responses to “Top 10 Tuesday: Biggest Best Picture Mistakes”
By len on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Anything with Kevin Costner should be avoided at all costs. Exception to the rule is Silverado.
Driving Miss Daisy should be higher. To Kill A Mockingbird is still one of the most powerful movies I’ve ever seen. I find it ironic that Citizen Kane is often listed as the greatest film of all time yet it didn’t receive the Oscar for best picture.
Neat list.
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Yeah, Daisy could be higher. It’s just such a light film. Inexplicable.
Citizen Kane losing was all politics. You hack off William Randolph Hearst and you are going to pay.
By jasonk on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
STOP THE PRESSES! WE AGREE!
Well, almost.
Titanic was girl trash.
Dances with Wolves was propoganda. Goodfellas was not only historical, it was flat good.
To Kill a Mockingbird is referenced in the Andy Griffith Show. Need I say more?
Never saw Traffic, but I show Gladiator to my students each semester, when we study the Roman Empire. It is a fantastic film, and IMO, deserved the accolades. But I can’t disagree with you on this, since I haven’t seen Traffic.
Dead Poets was a great film. Field of Dreams still gives me a lump in my throat. I liked Miss Daisy fine, but it came nowhere close to the others.
I thought there was too much hype over LOTR, but A Beautiful Mind was a great movie, and I think deserved the Oscar. Again, the Andy Griffith tie in, it was directed by Opie.
Forrest Gump is one of my favorites. I show it to my philosophy class, because it shows in a very basic sense the difference between peoples’ philosophies. It is a timeless classic. But was it better than Shawshank? Not in a million years. I could watch Shawshank a thousand times, and never get tired of it.
The only thing I would add to your list is the one that should be at the top. La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful) over Saving Private Ryan. Both are WWII movies. Life is Beautiful caught flack from Jewish groups because Guido tried to hide the holocaust from his little boy, but I have no problem with that. I didn’t see it as a metaphor for trying to cover up the holocaust, as some did. I saw it in subtitles (much better that way), and I loved it.
But it was not better than Saving Private Ryan. Not only did it honor the veterans who saved the world and liberated Europe, but it was a great story of self sacrifice. It demonstrated to a new generation why these guys were the greatest generation.
Isn’t it amazing how time ratifies or fails to ratify the decisions of the Academy?
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Life is beautiful didn’t win best picture. It was Shakespeare in Love.
I hated the end of Ryan. The “earn this” line didn’t sit well with my understanding of grace. But, that’s just me.
You are right. Time enables us to place these movies in the proper context.
By jasonk on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Well I’ll be. You’re right. I just remember the injustic I felt watching Benigni jumping all over the seats, his speech going on and on, and Private Ryan didn’t win Best Picture.
I loved the end, because it gave me a sense of the need to live up to the sacrifice these men made. When he said, “earn this,” he was not saying it to Private Ryan, he was saying it to us. And I’m not sure we do a good job of living up to what those guys did. It would be the same as Jesus looking at us and saying, “I died for you, now you go and live like it.” In fact, it is a biblical principle that we should live as those who are redeemed. In our society, we should remember the sacrifice that they made for us, and live like we respect it. Great ending!
By greg on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I could watch Shawshank a thousand times, and never get tired of it.
Amen.
By Tracy on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
One of the first things I came to love about you was our mutual opinion on Forrest Gump while it seemed everyone else thought it was the greatest film of all time.
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
See, I disagree. I don’t think the “earn this” is like Christ at all. It’s works-based.
We live the life not to be saved as if there is something we do to merit favor.
We live the life because we are saved.
But this is all beside the point. Many people agree that Ryan was robbed. But by Shakespeare in Love. I can’t argue with that.
It brings up a major understanding of Oscar: backlash. If a movie is the frontrunner too far in advance (and Ryan was from before it was released in July) then the odds are high that Academy voters will vote the other way.
Case in point: Brokeback Mountain was the front-runner for months. Everyone was assured that it would walk away. Until the backlash among voters kicked in and Crash walked away with it. In that case the Academy got it right.
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Tracy, I thought it was my irrepressible wit and charm that first attracted you to me.
By jasonk on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
But how can it be works based if the event already occurred? This is really interesting to me, so I beg your indulgence. The deed had been done–the men died to save Pvt. Ryan. Now it is incumbent upon him to live up to the sacrifice they had made. Its like the faith without works is dead thing.
On a side note, did you know that the screen writer on Brokeback Mountain is Larry McMurtry, father of Texas singer-songwriter James McMurtry? James was on Austin City Limits last week, and man, he’s out there.
I don’t understand your vitriol toward Forrest Gump. I thought it was a great and beautiful story. The soundtrack was awesome.
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I understand your point, Jason. And maybe it’s just a reading on my own. But the life can’t match the sacrifice. It can’t be done.
At the end of the man’s life he’s still riddled with doubt of whether or not he earned it. But it can’t be earned.
That’s different than living a holy and grateful life. I don’t live after the fact seeking to earn the gift of salvation. I live in gratitude.
By Lachen on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Jason, as a GIRL, I take issue with the “Titanic being girl trash” comment.
Titanic was a sinking ship from the start - pun intended.
I find myself AGREEING with you (see, Scott, God still loves you even when we tag-team against your positions on other issues… LOL) on most of these - at least the ones I know. You and my husband may be tied with the most prolific, opinionated, learned, and appreciative movie wactchers of all time.
#10: LA Confidential continues to get playtime at my house even now. It is a slick, fantastic film.
#9: Goodfellas is clearly the superior movie, but I have a hard time watching it too many times because of the sheer violence factor. Setting that aside, the picture is pretty close to flawless.
#8: Never saw Lawrence of Arabia. Enough said.
#7: For me, this is a DEAD HEAT toss up. What a wonderful year it was to have such strong, substantive films competing for the honor.
#6: Never saw either. It was 1944, Scott. NINETEEN FORTY-FOUR. I was minus 29 years of age.
#5: Dead Poets, Dead Poets, Dead Poets!!!
#4 and #2: see commentary for #6.
#3: THAT IS JUST WRONG. I forgot how frustrated I was over this. What a crock. Don’t get me all riled up again…
#1: You and Forrest clearly have issues. Personally, I love both films and find them equally deserving for different reasons. Not every Oscar winner has to be a spectacle of life-altering emotion. Sometimes they can just be quality, well-written stories, with lovable characterd that are superbly entertaining.
By Matt on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
But they all pale when compared to the greatest film of our times - The Big Lebowski…
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I agree that “not every Oscar winner has to be a spectacle of life-altering emotion.”
But quality? No way.
I still have my favorite review of Forrest Gump from Michael Gebert:
“There are lots of reasons to dislike this feelgood historical fantasy, in which everything about the last 30 years that didn’t matter happens to Tom Hanks (I mean, who thinks of the invention of the “S— Happens” bumpersticker as a key cultural event, anyway?), while everything that did matter–the peace movement, feminism, etc–is turned into something bad that happens to Robin Wright. (Stripper-folksingers? Where the h— did they get that? About the only place in America that women weren’t treated as bimbos in 1965 was the folk-sing movement.) But say you could put its anti-counterculture politics aside. You’d still have a movie that wanders aimlessly for hours to no particular purpose, and then shamelessly drags in AIDS to give itself a tearjerk ending. I can see a sozzled Academy giving it Best Picture–but Best Editing? Yeah, I couldn’t have cut a minute from it.
As for Hanks, God knows whatever the movie has is in his performance, but I think the singsong accent and stupified look dampen down his natural charm, and the performance has grown monotonous by the time the damnable thing is (finally) over.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
By jasonk on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Lachen–sorry. All three of my daughters swooned at that movie, and Leo is such a patsy. And his comments this week about being more than just a cute piece of meat. Please. I just couldn’t get past that to enjoy the movie. Its not you, its me :>)
Scott, what you said about Pvt Ryan as an old man is the picture of a grace-oriented salvation. On Christ the solid rock I stand, but I know that I don’t deserve it, and when I look at my life, I feel like that old guy, asking myself, “did I live a life that was worthy of the sacrifice He made on my behalf?” Man, that just breaks me up every time!
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
“I feel like that old guy, asking myself, “did I live a life that was worthy of the sacrifice He made on my behalf?”
And the answer is no. You didn’t. The call of grace is NEVER to earn it. You can’t. And Jesus doesn’t require that.
By matt elliott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Can’t agree with you on “A Beautiful Mind.” It’s one of the few movies I’ve ever bothered to purchase. I could watch it again and again. Russell Crowe is fabulous, and it gives me a chance to sit through two hours of Jennifer Connelly (somebody’s gotta do it — may as well be me). Plus, I’m married to a mental health professional, so we were both intrigued by that element of it.
And while I might put SOME of those movies over “Daisy,” “Dead Poets” isn’t one of them. That movie still grates on my last nerve, and in my opinion, glorifies suicide.
I enjoyed “Forrest Gump,” but I agree that “Shawshank” is the better film.
Of course, I’m still hacked that “Raising Arizona” wasn’t even NOMINATED for best picture. Any film that includes the word “bipedal” (as in “anyone found bipedal in five wears his a– for a hat”) should win automatically. Besides, sometimes round IS funny.
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Actually I liked Beautiful Mind the first time around. But then I read the book and realized that the movie had no basis in reality.
If it wasn’t publicized as a biopic I’d have a better regard for it.
By Phil Wilson on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
There are quite a few people that think Rocky was undeserving in 1977. Here are the movies it was up against:
Network
All the President’s Men
Taxi Driver
Bound for Glory
There’s a good article on CNN.com today
And while I didn’t agree at the time, I totally agree with the Shawshank over Gump. In fact, Shawshank has become my favorite movie.
By Lachen on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Raising Arizona sets the bar for worst movie EVER made. Ever.
…ever.
By Scott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
uh oh.
By matt elliott on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Oh, Lachen, Lachen.
Oh, Lachen.
Lachen.
Oh.
By jasonk on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I know that grace can never be earned, ever. But don’t you ever feel like you have not lived a life that is worthy of the sacrifice Christ made? I think Paul in Romans 7 might be the closest example of what I’m trying to get across. We live this life of struggle, trying to live up to the salvation we have been given. I have a friend who was third runner up in the Miss America pageant. She won some great scholarship money, and has done really well in the twenty years or so since she competed. I asked her once why she was so committed, so devoted to doing well in school, excelling in her career, etc. She said that she had been given so much, that she did not want to waste a thing. Her college education was free, so she was going to work as hard as she could to make a 4.0 (she did) to show those who gave her the money for college that she was truly grateful for the gift. Her whole life has been lived that way.
That’s all I’m sayin.
By KS on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Great choices. I’d say Forrest Gump is a great movie, but Shawshank is an outstanding pick. Lawrence of Arabia was good as well, but not the best that year. The only two I’d be against were Beautiful Mind was a great movie and I am not a Lord of the Rings kind of guy, and Gladiator is better than Traffic.
By Mike the Eyeguy on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I liked Shawshank a lot, but sheez, better than Gump? It wants to make you hurl yourself under a bus?
What are you smoking?
I’m betting you’re a Sling Blade kind of guy.
By Lachen on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Oh wait, no - you’re right. I forgot the other two cinematic masterpieces: Snakes On A Plane and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Those two have usurped Raising Arizona on my list of movies that blow. They were just so memorable I forgot about them.
The appreciation for Raising Arizona must be a guy thing. When I openly defame that deserving movie, my husband looks at me like I ran over his dog.
By Matt W on Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Son, you got a panty on your head
By Scott's Sis on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
Lachen, I am right with you on Raising Arizona; I absolutely hated it, but my husband loved it.
Like Scott, I never got the attraction to Gump. My biggest disappoint would also be #3. LOTR was awesome.
By matt elliott on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
MY wife loves “Arizona”. And my sister.
But not my mom. She’s one of YOU, apparently.
By richie on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
I would have moved titanic to the number 1 greatest injustice. I HATED that movie. I loved LA Confidential, and would have put it or Good Will Hunting (or even As Good As It Gets) over the sinking ship movie.
Also, completely agree about Traffic. One of my favorite movies of all times and thought it was robbed.
I’d add Shakespeare In Love over American History X, which wasn’t even nominated that year. Such a powerful movie.
also add Million Dollar Baby over Ray, Sideways, or Neverland. I HATED Million Dollar Baby. I wanted to jump out a window after it ended.
By Scott on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
Richie, great choices. I, too, would have included American History X but I only dealt with nominated pictures.
And I know Lachen didn’t just diss Snakes on A Plane.
By greg on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
I don’t usually pay a great deal of attention to the Oscars, so I didn’t realize Gump beat out Shawshank. I’m fine with Gump, but Shawshank was just outstanding. No way it should have finished anywhere but first.
Didn’t care for Titanic. But I’ve never liked DiCrapio, so maybe that’s why. L.A. Confidential was outstanding and much better.
I really liked Gladiator, but agree that Traffic was better.
Rings all the way. I love Tolkien’s books, and Jackson did an amazing job putting them on screen. I thought A Beautiful Mind was fine, but not better than Rings.
I can’t think of many more deserving films than Mockingbird, one of my favorites. Maybe Monty Python & The Holy Grail, the greatest film of all time.
By Lachen on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
Scott, the tales of my reaction to Snakes on a Plane are legend of blogger-dom. Well, at least on my own blog. I still have nightmares. Snakes. Going. Psycho. On. A. Plane. *shiver*
I wanted to hand the whole crew of that plane cans of Raid and some serious flyswatters.
By R-Liz on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
I haven’t read all the comments, so I’m not sure if this has been mentioned, but I’d also include “Ordinary People” over “Raging Bull.”
By Scott on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
No, it hasn’t been mentioned. I thought about that then I decided that I liked the choice. Ordinary People is a tremendous film that will preach. I could go either way.
By R-Liz on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
As I was typing it out, I was thinking that I need to see Ordinary People again. The last and only time I saw it I was about 13-years-old and I remember thinking it was yawnsville. An older and more “mature” pov may have me thinking differently if I see it again. Maybe I can talk Darren into adding it to our Netflix list.
But Raging Bull IS a cinematic masterpiece.
P.S.– I see you’re reading my latest favorite book. Tell me what you think of it when you’re done. I thought it touched on SO many different parts of life. And Michael Lewis is a fabulous story-teller.
By Scott on Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
Ordinary People is an absolute must-see. One of the most gut-wrenching family dramas I’ve ever seen.
I love Blind Side, so far. Great stuff.
By Chris Campbell on Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
I know it’s already been said several times…but you’d give an award to “Field of Dreams” over “Driving Miss Daisy”?!?!?! Sure, I cry every time I watch “Field of Dreams”…but c’mon!!! Costner?!?!?!? Really?!?!?!?
Why am I commenting on this? I know as much about movies as I do about raising children.
Scary!