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Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

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#1

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

That thread on the main board about the Tonys made me think about this. For me, the two that immediately come to mind are Leonardo DiCaprio in WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE and Rosie Perez in FEARLESS (Same year). Man, I was pissed the night those awards were handed out. Those are two brilliant performances that lost to, in my opinion, two far lesser ones (Tommy Lee Jones for THE FUGITIVE and Anna Paquin for THE PIANO).

What are yours?
#2

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Angela Bassett in What's Love Got to do With It?
Sissy Spacek in Carrie (Sissy Spacek is an underrated actress to me, she's one of my favorites and I think that she's one of the best of our time.)
Whoopi in The Color Purple

I also think that Bryce Dallas Howard should have been nominated for The Help, and that Mila Kunis should have been nominated for Black Swan, and of course Sally Field for Steel Magnolias.

I want Rachel McAdams to snag at least a nomination soon.

Updated On: 8/5/13 at 12:28 AM

#3

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

I don't want to turn this into a war between favorites and those nominated but I will stick up for the non-nominated roles:

Naomi Watts, Mulholland Drive

Denis Lavant, Holy Motors

Dirk Bogarde, The Servant

Robert Walker, Strangers on a Train

John Malkovich, Being John Malkovich (One of the most perplexing non-nominations)

Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter

Paul Giamatti, Sideways

Reese Witherspoon, Election

Edward Norton, 25th Hour

Holly Hunter, Raising Arizona

Robert DeNiro and Sandra Bernhard, The King of Comedy

"I want Rachel McAdams to snag at least a nomination soon."

She can never surpass her characterization of Regina George and has not come off well in even her more hi-brow turns in Midnight in Paris. That was painful.
#4

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Based only on those who were nominated and didn't win, as I don't even want to try to rack my brain for those who weren't even nominated.

Ellen Burstyn for The Exorcist

Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth (Gwyneth Paltrow? Really?)

Jack Nicholson for A Few Good Men

Glenn Close for Dangerous Liaisons

Annette Bening for American Beauty (though that's definitely a case of in any other year, because Hilary Swank absolutely deserved the win that year for Boys Don't Cry)

Toni Collette for The Sixth Sense

#5

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

She can never surpass her characterization of Regina George and has not come off well in even her more hi-brow turns in Midnight in Paris. That was painful."

I too was disappointed in her performance in Midnight in Paris.

She really was quite terrific in Mean Girls. It would have been nice if she were nominated for that. She played the hell out of that part.
#6

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

I'm still really bummed that Viola Davis did not win for The Help. A truly outstanding performance and such a powerful actress!
#7

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Robert Walker, Strangers on a Train

Yes! Criss-cross!

Definitely agree with Viola Davis for The Help.

Peter O'Toole and Cary Grant have honorary Oscars, but I just think that they should have gotten a competitive one at some point. Hell, Cary should have gotten one for the ending of An Affair to Remember.

Gary Oldman... Like I said in a different thread, the man has the same number of nominations as Jonah Hill

This will seem like a crazy choice, but Ted Levine was amazing as Buffalo Bill and is such a big reason why Silence of the Lambs works so well, even with his few scenes. Not discrediting Anthony's or Jodie's wins, but Ted should have been awarded


Updated On: 8/5/13 at 01:50 AM

#10

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Natalie Wood - Love with the Proper Stranger

Patricia Neal - The Subject was Roses

Annette Bening - The Kids Are Alright

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

George Clooney - The Descendants

Elizabeth Hartman - A Patch of Blue

Diana Ross - Lady Sings the Blues

Dyan Cannon - Heaven Can Wait

William Hurt - Children of a Lesser God

Leonardo DiCaprio - What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

Rosie Perez - Fearless

Minnie Driver - Good Will Hunting

...to name a few
#11

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Not taking away from the people who won, but these were all Oscar-worthy performances, and some weren't even nominated:

Andy Griffith - A Face In the Crowd
Kathy Bates - Dolores Claiborne
Judy Parfitt - Dolores Claiborne
Haley Joel Osment - The Sixth Sense
Morgan Freeman - Driving Miss Daisy
Bert Lahr - The Wizard of Oz
Jean Hagen - Singin' in the Rain
Lew Ayers - All Quiet On the Western Front
May Robson - Lady For a Day
James Stewart - It's a Wonderful LIfe
Sara Allgood - How Green Was My Valley
Bette Davis - All About Eve
Jose Ferrer - Moulin Rouge
Judy Garland - A Star Is Born
Rosalind Russell - Picnic
Deborah Kerr - The King and I
Burl Ives - Cat On a Hot Tin Roof
Eleanor Parker - The Sound of Music
Richard Burton - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Spencer Tracy - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Dustin Hoffman - Midnight Cowboy
Genevieve Bujold - Anne of a Thousand Days
Topol - Fiddler On the Roof
Norma Crane - Fiddler On the Roof
Clark Gable - Gone With the Wind
Ellen Burstyn - The Exorcist
Marsha Mason - The Goodbye Girl
Mary Tyler Moore - Ordinary People
Jane Fonda - On Golden Pond
Diane Keaton - Reds
Warren Beatty - Reds
Henry Thomas - E.T.
Dustin Hoffman - Tootsie
Deborah Winger - Terms Of Endearment
Tom Hulce - Amadeus
Whoopi Goldberg - The Color Purple
Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple
Helena Bonham Carter - Howards End
Jack Nicholson - A Few Good Men
Anthony Hopkins - Remains of the Day
Emma Thompson - Sense and Sensibility
Alan Rickman - Sense and Sensibility
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth
Annette Bening - American Beauty
Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind
Nicole Kidman - Moulin Rouge!
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Aviator
Paul Dano - There Will Be Blood
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious
Kirk Douglas - Lust For Life
Giulietta Masina - Nights of Cabiria
Albert Finney - Scrooge
Joan Allen - Pleasantville
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 8/5/13 at 07:19 AM

#12

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Toni Collette - The Sixth Sense (so subtle but so wonderful. The scene in the car towards the end gets me every time).

Viola Davis - The Help

Gabourey Sidibie (sp?) - Precious

Bryce Dallas Howard should have been nominated for The Help. Her role was disgusting and I loved it!
#13

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

First thing that came to mind was Judy Parfitt in Dolores Claiborne, already mentioned by B12B. I'd also add Annette Bening in The American President.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson
#15

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Most recently for me was Maggie Smith in QUARTET. Or at least a nomination.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#16

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

I agree about The American President.

Annette Bening, Michael Douglas, and Michael J. Fox could have all been nominated and/or won. Martin Sheen, too.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#17

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

And I'll also add

Jeff Bridges - THE CONTENDER (and almost anything that he does)
Sigourney Weaver - THE ICE STORM
Kevin Kline - THE ICE STORM
Joan Allen - THE ICE STORM
Joan Allen - THE UPSIDE OF ANGER
Joan Allen - NIXON
Joan Allen - THE CRUCIBLE
Joan Allen - THE CONTENDER
Kathleen Turner - PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED
Bradley Cooper - SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Robert DeNiro - SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

#19

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Erik, when I spoke to her after PICNIC, she said that Aronofsky and her were going to do another film soon. That's exciting!
#20

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Malcolm McDowell in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
Sally Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Gwen Welles in NASHVILLE

Three that were shockingly not even nominated.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#21

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Bette Davis, ALL ABOUT EVE
William Holden, NETWORK
Shelley Winters, LOLITA
Annette Bening, AMERICAN BEAUTY (love this performance so much more than Hillary Swank's)
Matt Damon, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY
Naomi Watts, MULHOLLAND DR.
Nicole Kidman, MOULIN ROUGE
Edward Norton/Brad Pitt, FIGHT CLUB
Jamie Bell, BILLY ELLIOT
Dennis Quaid, FAR FROM HEAVEN
Uma Thurman, KILL BILL
Kirsten Dunst, MELANCHOLIA
Charlize Theron, YOUNG ADULT
Penelope Cruz, VOLVER

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#22

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Oh good call ray-andallthatjazz86: Dennis Quaid was grossly overlooked for his work in FAR FROM HEAVEN. Thanks for reminding me. God, I love that film!
#23

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Forgot about Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley! Absolutely. And Dennis Quaid in Far From Heaven.

Great choices.

Also Edward Norton in Primal Fear.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#24

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

I'm going to throw in Dennis Haysbert who gave strong performances in LOVE FIELD and FAR FROM HEAVEN.

Ditto Michelle Pfeiffer in both LOVE FIELD and THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS
#25

Performances That Should Have Won An Oscar

Most of these are not in relation to whoever actually won that year, but the first one absolutely is:

Albert Brooks - BROADCAST NEWS

Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Brad Pitt - 12 MONKEYS
Cate Blanchett - I'M NOT THERE
Charlie Chaplin - CITY LIGHTS
Corey Stoll - MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Denzel Washington - MALCOLM X
Ed Harris - APOLLO 13
Holly Hunter - BROADCAST NEWS
Jason Robards - MAGNOLIA
Jim Carrey - THE TRUMAN SHOW
Jim Carrey - MAN ON THE MOON
Ralph Fiennes - SCHINDLER'S LIST
Shirley MacLaine - THE APARTMENT
Shohreh Aghdashloo - HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
Viola Davis - DOUBT

And in the dept. of unpopular opinions, Amy Adams was better than Melissa Leo in THE FIGHTER.
Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

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