The Oscars have a long history of making controversial decisions, often snubbing great performances and films. Here are some of the biggest mistakes in Academy Award history.
Glenn Close and Annette Bening never won an Oscar
Glenn Close has been nominated 8 times but never won, despite giving incredible performances in her movies ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘Dangerous Liaisons, and ‘The Wife.’ Similarly, Annette Bening has also been overlooked, losing out despite standout roles in ‘American Beauty’ and ‘The Kids Are Alright’.
Austin Butler losing Best Actor in 2023
We all witnessed that Austin Butler’s transformation into Elvis Presley was incredible. He was trained perfectly and took care of every detail perfectly, yet lost to Brenden Fraser for ‘The Whale’. While Fraser’s win was heart warming, Butler’s performance arguably deserved the award.
‘Hoop Dreams’ snubbed for best documentary 1995
‘Hoop Dreams’ transformed the landscape of documentary filmmaking, despite not receiving a nomination. The controversy surrounding this oversight prompted alterations in the selection process for documentaries at the Oscars.
‘The Lego Movie’ left out of Best Animated Feature 2015
Although ‘The Lego Movie’ was innovative, humorous, and visually impressive, it did not receive a nomination for Best Animated Feature. Many considered it a strong contender, yet the award ultimately went to ‘Big Hero 6’.
Non-English performances have been overlooked
Numerous outstanding performances in foreign-language films have gone unrecognized. Notable instances include Song Kang-ho in ‘Parasite’, Penélope Cruz in ‘Parallel Mothers’, and Hidetoshi Nishijima in ‘Drive My Car’.
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ losing best picture
The iconic action film ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ was defeated by ‘Chariots of Fire’, a movie that has not maintained its appeal over time. Many believe that Spielberg’s adventure masterpiece deserved to win.
‘Selena’ completely ignored -1998;
Jennifer Lopez gave a career-defining performance in the film ‘Selena’; however, the movie did not receive any recognition at the Oscars. Considering its significant cultural influence, this oversight is regarded as a substantial snub.
Stephanie Hsu and Angela Bassett losing Best Supporting Actress (2023)
Jamie Lee Curtis received the award for her performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’; however, there was a prevailing sentiment among many that her co-star Stephanie Hsu or Angela Bassett, recognized for her role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ were more deserving of the honour.
The Oscars have had a history of missing out on some real talent and making some pretty questionable picks. Fingers crossed that future awards will finally recognize the films and performances that truly deserve it.
