Monday Movie Meme – Best Picture Snubs at the Oscars
For every Oscar winning film, there is often one or more that we wish took home the gold instead. So let’s celebrate these films in the theme for this week’s Monday Movie Meme: Best Picture Snubs at the Oscars.
Share on your blog or in the comments section, the movies you’d wish had won an Oscar for Best Picture.
Meaning, films that were obviously nominated but still lost to another (better or worse) motion picture. I’m drawing a blank for picks, so, courtesy of some mentions by Herman at Terrible Analogies, here is a selection of Oscar nominees for Best Picture that were snubbed at the Academy Awards. He picked the movies. I’m just elaborating on them in the descriptions.
Goodfellas
Of the six Oscar nominations this crime drama received in 1991, it lays claim to one – Joe Pesci’s win for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. It’s almost hard to imagine such a favorite gangster flick being snubbed, but alas, “Goodfellas” was upstaged by the adventure movie “Dances with Wolves.” Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part III” was also in the running for best picture. Maybe it wasn’t a good year for mob movies, as far as awards season goes. It’s a damn shame.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s crime thriller is a cult favorite and arguably one of the best films ever made; nominated for seven Oscars in 1995. It took home one golden statue for Best Writing (basically, Best Screenplay!) but was snubbed in the Best Picture category, where it was up against another goodie – crime drama “The Shawshank Redemption.” However, the romantic drama “Forrest Gump” scored the win for Best Picture that year.
Saving Private Ryan
The Academy could not deny this war movie by Steven Spielberg -- or could they? The World War II film did win five of its eleven Oscar nominations in 1999. Those wins just didn’t include Best Picture, an honor that went to the romantic comedy drama “Shakespeare in Love”.
What Best Picture nominees would YOU say were wrongly snubbed at the Oscars?
Reader Comments (6)
It's funny how we can look back in time and marvel at the movies that didn't receive that Oscar nod. Pulp Fiction is the one that most bothers me. That was on of those rare movies that I went to the theater twice to go see.
Herman,
Tell it like it is, man! When looking up those movies you mentioned, I couldn't believe learning about the handful of other films that were also in the running and lost. I remember you once saying it's tragic. For sure! It goes to show that oftentimes, the public has a very different view of what makes a Best Picture than the voting members of the Academy do. It's been said that to know who's going to win in a given category...all you have to do is look at the other awards such as SAG, Golden Globe's, etc. to have a good idea of the movie or actor that will end up winning the Oscar. The thought might not be far off in many instances.
I think of Dune. While it wasn't critically acclaimed it holds it's place as a pivotal film in movie history. It opened the door to a lot of speculative science fiction and should have at least gotten a technical award.
I have to say I draw a blank here Nicole, however your visit was a very pleasant surprise and I am glad you took the time to say Hello :-)
of the films nominated for best picture: the lord of the rings: the two towers; the sixth sense; saving private ryan; good will hunting; apollo thirteen; the color purple; network; becket; giant.
steel magnolias should've gotten it, too. it didn't even get best picture nomination. that year, the choices were driving miss daisy (which won), born on the fourth of july (which was AWFUL), dead poets society (which was pretty good, too... i had it in my list of should've's but had to take it out because i would've preferred steel magnolias to have gotten it), field of dreams (which was alright, but it had nothing on magnolias or poets), and my left foot (which was also awful).
Maurice,
To be snubbed in a category that celebrates the very genre that the film represents is a huge blow to the efforts of those involved in "Dune." Although familiarity with this particular movie escapes me, if it's among those that lead the way for future Sci-Fi movies in terms of what is possible within the genre like you say, it's a shame that The Academy didn't honor that. For what it's worth, "Dune" received a nomination for Best Sound.
Anyes,
It's funny how I wouldn't take you as someone who watches or follows the Oscars much but there are a lot of introspective films and movies involving the exploration of nature/outdoors that you might know about. I've been wondering what you've been up to and am glad you're still snapping photos and blogging about the inspirations connected to them. Thanks for stopping by over here :)
Jenn,
As much as I love the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, movies that are in the fantasy/adventure genre seem to get less recognition in the major Oscar categories but make up for it in the categories that cater to the craft departments such as editing, costume design and visual effects. Historically, it's been unlikely that fantasy films -- even if nominated, would score Best Picture over talky, artsy, or emotionally driven films. For some reason I'm not in the least bit surprised that "The Color Purple" didn't win Best Picture but am disappointed that "Saving Private Ryan" lost to "Shakespeare in Love."
Your picks for this week's meme are great, as I haven't heard of some of them such as "Becket" and others I still have yet to watch including "Dead Poets Society." We're on slightly opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to "Fourth of July" though, because I thought it wasn't too shabby. There are reasons why I'm glad I watched that movie; don't get me wrong though -- a Best Picture it does not make, lol. Thanks for visiting.