# An Oscar for that? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907 "2003-07-12T04:45:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/21 "2003-07-12T11:55:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ddgryphon \* > \*\*Well, I’m an “American Beauty” detractor. I thought it was a simply awful film with some good performances in it. \*\* Me too. You are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/22 "2003-07-12T15:02:59Z")
Denzel Washington - Training Day! ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/23 "2003-07-12T15:08:46Z")
I thought Jennifer Connely was pretty bad in A Beautiful Mind. The film as a whole was OK but the far superior Gosford Park should have won Best Film as well as Best Director. ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/24 "2003-07-12T15:54:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Intaglio \* > \*\*Denzel Washington - Training Day! \*\* I thought he was terrific in that film. Possibly not the best performance of the year but not too far away. Whoever one best supporting actor when Val Kilmer made tombstone probably didn’t deserve it either. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/25 "2003-07-12T17:14:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CyberPundit \* > \*\*I thought Jennifer Connely was pretty bad in A Beautiful Mind. The film as a whole was OK but the far superior Gosford Park should have won Best Film as well as Best Director. \*\* I thought Jennifer Connelly was the best thing about _A Beautiful Mind._ ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/26 "2003-07-12T20:37:14Z")
I agree w/ the comments about Tomei, Dame Judy Dench, and Kim Bassinger. For the acting awards, it’s not uncommon for Oscars to be handed out to actors for less deserving roles as consolation prizes for when they truly deserved to win. For examples:[ul][li]Russel Crowe should have won for _The Insider_ instead of _Gladiator_. I don’t think he really deserved it for _A Beautiful Mind_, but then I hated that movie.[/li][li]Dame Judy Dench won the Oscar for her 7 line part in _Shakespeare in Love_ but really deserved it for her role in _Mrs. Brown_.[/li][li]Al Pacino deserved an Oscar for any number of movies (esp. _The Godfather_, _Dog Day Afternoon_ or _Glengarry Glenn Ross_) but he definitely did not deserve it for _Scent of a Woman_.[/li][li]Jennifer Connelly should have won for _Requiem for a Dream_, if only for the shear bravery of it, instead of _A Beautiful Mind_.[/ul]Sorry, I can’t think of any possible justifications for Kim Bassinger or Mariso Tomei.[/li] As for the category of Best Picture, I rarely think the most deserving movie wins in this category. There is no fucking way _Forrest Gump_ should have beaten _Pulp Fiction_. Or _A Beautiful Mind_ should have beaten _Gosford Park_. Or _Titanic_ should have beaten _LA Confidential_. etc, etc, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/27 "2003-07-12T20:37:34Z")
Jennifer Connelly - won the Oscar because of her being able to go toe-to-toe with Russell Crowe, I like him as an actor, but there had to be an actress who could stand up to him in scenes. You could not have a wimpy female acting with Russell Crowe. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/28 "2003-07-12T23:39:43Z")
I like Cuba Gooding, ALOT. But he won his Oscar for Jerry Maguire over Supporting Actors : William Macy in “Fargo”, Armin Mueller-Stahl in “Shine”, Edward Norton in “Primal Fear”, & James Woods in “Ghosts of Mississippi” Cuba was good but I’d put him 3rd on that list. Same year, GEOFFREY RUSH in “Shine” won best actor over Billy Bob Thornton in “Sling Blade” which isn’t THE WORST INJUSTICE EVER but I heartily disagree. Along those same lines, I felt very disappointed in a muted “you made a mistake” kind of way, rather than a shouting “THIS IS INSANE” kind of way when Shakespeare in Love won best pic over Elizabeth, Saving Private Ryan, Thin Red Line, & Its a Beautiful Life any of which I could make the case were more special and better films tha SiL ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/29 "2003-07-12T23:53:30Z")
**Shrek** winning Best Animated Movie; it should have been awarded to **Monsters Inc.** Drag out both movies in ten years and you’ll see which one stands the test of time better. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/30 "2003-07-13T00:39:04Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Jimmmy_ > Elizabeth, Saving Private Ryan, Thin Red Line, & Its a Beautiful Life any of which I could make the case were more special and better films tha SiL _Shakespeare in Love_ beating out _Saving Private Ryan_ almost restored my faith in the Academy. Almost. Of course, the very next year the Academy took my faith out back and shot it in the head when _Gladiator_ won Best Picture. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/31 "2003-07-13T01:51:31Z")
Hodge - I agree with you about “consolation” Oscars. Paul Newman was nominated for “the Verdict” (great role & great movie) and LOST. A year or 2 later he made “the Color of Money” and for THAT they gave him the Oscar? I thought the movie sucked and Tom Cruise played his usual bratty goofy character. HOWEVER, I still stand by my opinion of Marissa Tomei in “My Cousin Vinny”. She turned in a great performance and deserved the Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/32 "2003-07-13T03:49:27Z")
Along with agreeing with most of the opinoins already put forward, I was surprised that **Jeremy Irons** won for _Reversal of Fortune_. At the end of the film I thought to myself, “_That’s_ what gets a Best Actor Oscar?” partly because he gave a solid, but not altogether memorable performance and partly because it didn’t seem like a large enough role. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/33 "2003-07-14T01:31:40Z")
_cough_Titanic_cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Zander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecb155/32.png) [@Zander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zander)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/34 "2003-07-14T03:39:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\ ***Shrek** winning Best Animated Movie; it should have been awarded to **Monsters Inc.** > > Drag out both movies in ten years and you’ll see which one stands the test of time better. \*\* Amen to that. I’m a cartoonist, so everybody I know had to tell me how much they liked Shrek, “and it’s a cartoon!!” I just kept referring them to Monsters, Inc, to which they said “Aw, but that’s for kids.” Sigh. Yes, it is. And it’s infinitely better, with no “Farquaad” jokes. I liked Shrek fine, I just thought it was the most overrated movie that year. But hey, if that gets more animated movies made, more power to it. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/35 "2003-07-14T03:41:21Z")
Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. It was a good performance, typical Jones, but nothing special. I liked Malkovich in In the Line of Fire. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/36 "2003-07-14T04:02:57Z")
Speaking of Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons anybody (won three oscars I believe, but none for best actor)? Also I thought he put in an outstanding performance in a lesser known film called Jennifer Eight. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/37 "2003-07-14T16:20:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*Along with agreeing with most of the opinoins already put forward, I was surprised that **Jeremy Irons** won for _Reversal of Fortune_. At the end of the film I thought to myself, “_That’s_ what gets a Best Actor Oscar?” partly because he gave a solid, but not altogether memorable performance and partly because it didn’t seem like a large enough role. \*\* Jeremy Irons _was_ Claus von Bulow. That was an amazing perfromance and well deserving of an Oscar. I think Ron Silver did a fabulous job of portraying Alan Dershowitz as well. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/38 "2003-07-14T16:34:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zander \* > **I just kept referring them to Monsters, Inc, to which they said "Aw, but that’s for kids."** My wife gave that the highest compliment she could manage, “It was the first Disney movie that made me laugh, even if only once,” and then jumping to the scene with the line she found so funny. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/39 "2003-07-14T16:42:23Z")
The song that beat out “Blame Canada” for the Oscar was “You’ll Be In My Heart,” which Phil Collins wriote as a lullaby for Disney’s “Tarzan.” Trey Parker didn’t take that loss well. In his words, “If I’d lost to Aimee Mann, that would’ve been cool, but Phil Collins? I mean, some day, my grandchildren are going to say to me, 'You suck, Granddad- you lost to PHIL COLLINS!!! '” As a consolation, his co-composer, Marc Shaiman, just won a bunch of Tony Awards for “Hairspray.” - Personally, I don’t have a huge beef with MOST Oscars. There have beens dozens of times when films and performances I greatly admired didn’t win awards, but very rarely have the awards gone to movies or performances I thought were absolutely AWFUL. The only Oscar-winning films that I really HATED were: “American Beauty” “The Last Emperor” “Out of Africa” (ESPECIALLY “Out of Africa”) My main beef with the Oscars is not so much that they reward bad films or performances,- it’s more that they’re too often conferred on the same basic TYPES of films and performances. Best Picture goes FAR too often to long, historical epics with lush landscapes and lavish period costumes. I’ve always thought that if you could combine the visuals of David Lean with the preachy earnestness and politcal correctness of Stanley Kramer, you’d have the perfect formula for an OScar-winning film. Best Actor and Best Actress go too often to showy and/or gimmicky performances. Look, Dustin Hoffman and Geoffrey Rush are both superb actors… but they got their Oscars for gimmicky, one-note performances (in “Rain Man” and “Shine”). I think both men would acknowledge that it’s far more difficult to play an ordinary man with an ordinary range of emotions than to play an autistic savant or a schizophrenic. To play Raymond Babbit or David Helfgott, all you have to do is adopt a certain tone of voice and a certain set of mannerisms, and stick with them. That’s EASY! But that’s the kind of performance that wins Oscars, too often. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907/40 "2003-07-14T17:03:50Z")
In, what 1969?, “Oliver!” beat out “2001”. Talk about a travesty… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-oscar-for-that/187907.md?page=1)