The Academy Awards are the most coveted awards in the film industry. However, the Academy does not all get the nominations right, with annual snubs and surprises that shock audiences and industry pundits alike. Every year, there are films and performances that fly under the radar and get completely overlooked by the Oscars.
But what is even more confusing is when the Academy nominates a performance from a movie but ignores a better performance from that very same film. However, this has occurred numerous times throughout the years, resulting in many high-profile snubs for some of Hollywood's most talented performers.
10 The Departed
After several decades of waiting, director Martin Scorsese finally broke through and won the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars with the 2006 crime thriller The Departed. The film is filled with A-list actors who all give excellent performances, but Mark Wahlberg was the only one to receive an Oscar nomination.
Wahlberg is great in the movie, but it is surprising that the Academy chose to recognize his performance over outstanding work from Oscars favorites Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Nicholson in particular gives a memorable performance in a flashy role that should have earned him at least a nomination.
9 Star Wars
Before the Star Wars franchise became a mainstream blockbuster, the original film was a surprise phenomenon that earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Additionally, Alec Guinness earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Guinness was a well-respected veteran actor who brought legitimacy to the film, so his nomination is not a surprise. But Harrison Ford's performance as Han Solo is far more iconic and one of the best aspects of the movie. His charm and charisma turn Han Solo into the best character in the entire Star Wars trilogy and should have gotten some recognition from the Academy.
8 A History Of Violence
Directed by David Cronenberg, A History of Violence is an underrated R-rated graphic novel adaptation many people have not seen. The thriller earned a couple of Oscar nominations including one for William Hurt's supporting performance.
While Hurt is very good in the film, star Viggo Mortensen gives the best performance and helps put the film over the top. After being overlooked for his iconic performance as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he deserved to be acknowledged for his work in this smaller film.
7 Creed
Nearly 40 years earning a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Rocky Balboa in the first Rocky, Sylvester Stallone was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his reprisal of the character in Creed.
Stallone is a sentimental choice who is great in the film and was rewarded for the cinematic legacy of the character. But Michael B. Jordan is electrifying as Adonis Creed. He is the standout of the movie and successfully takes the torch from Stallone as the face of the franchise.
6 Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
The classic dramatic comedy Guess Who's Coming to Dinner received 10 Oscar nominations, including nominations in each of the acting categories. While the posthumous nomination for screen icon Spencer Tracy is understandable, Cecil Kellaway's nomination over Sidney Poitier is harder to accept.
Poitier gives a great performance that demonstrates his incredible range. He was an outstanding actor and would eventually become the first Black man to win Best Actor, but he should have received a nomination for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
5 Singin' In The Rain
Singin' in the Rain is an enduring classic that has become one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time. Despite being one of the best movies of the 1950s, the film only received two Oscar nominations including a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Jean Hagen.
While Hagen gives a funny performance in the movie, the main trio of Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds all give far more impressive performances with higher degrees of difficulty due to the song and dance sequences.
4 Titanic
Titanic was a rousing success with both critics and audiences, earning a whopping 14 Oscar nominations. The movie received two acting nominations, Kate Winslet for Best Actress and Gloria Stuart for Best Supporting Actress, both for playing the main character Rose.
While Winslet's nomination is clearly deserved, it is hard to understand how the Academy nominated Stuart for her performance but chose to ignore Leonardo DiCaprio's work in the film as Jack. He certainly gives the more memorable performance, bringing something to the role that no other actor considered for Jack could have, and many think he made a far more significant contribution to the film's success.
3 Philadelphia
Released in 1993, Philadelphia was one of the first major films to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in America. Dramatic, important, and well-acted, it earned several Oscar nominations, including recognition for Tom Hanks' work with a nomination and win in the Best Actor category.
Hanks is certainly great and this role gave him the first of back-to-back Oscars, but Denzel Washington is equally great in the film. His character undergoes more of an arc as he confronts his own prejudices throughout the movie. Both actors give powerful performances it does not make sense to recognize one without the other.
2 Forrest Gump
1994's Forrest Gump is a beloved classic that cleaned up at the Academy Awards, earning an impressive 13 nominations and 6 wins. One of those nominations was a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan Taylor.
Gary Sinise gives a great performance and his chemistry with Tom Hanks is undeniable, but actress Robin Wright gives a moving and complicated performance as Jenny. She carefully balances the character's rougher edges with the endearing qualities that cause Forrest to love her.
1 Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
The unique and visually stunning sci-fi romance Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for 2 Oscars including a Best Actress nomination for Academy favorite Kate Winslet.
Winslet does an excellent job playing against type as Clementine, but Jim Carrey gives arguably the best performance of his career as Joel. The character is far more dramatic and tortured than Carrey's other roles. He is compelling and convincingly convey's pain and heartbreak. Jim Carrey is a beloved actor who deserved to receive recognition for his excellent performance.
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August 08, 2021 at 12:23AM
