# Favorite non-Oscar winning performances **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 23, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893 "2003-02-23T02:53:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/21 "2003-02-23T19:47:48Z")
I third or fourth Ellen Burstyn and second Leonardo Dicaprio in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape– one of the only portrayals of a mentally challenged person on film that didn’t make me wince in embarrassment (the other being William H. Macy in the made-for-TV movie Door to Door). Half the cast of **JFK**. Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi for **Ghost World**. I also think Sam Rockwell deserved a nomination for **Confessions of a Dangerous Mind**. More to come, I’m sure… ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/22 "2003-02-23T21:25:13Z")
**Paul Dooley** (as the Dad) in Breaking Away **John Wayne** in The Cowboys **Robin Williams** in Awakenings ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/23 "2003-02-23T21:25:32Z")
Peter O’Toole as Alan Swann in _My Favorite Year_. ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/24 "2003-02-23T21:36:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mahaloth \* > \*\*Ian McKellan in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. \*\* Hear, hear! 😉 Also McKellen in _Richard III,_ Kenneth Branagh in _Henry V_ (okay, pretty much _everybody_ in _Henry V_), Derek Jacobi in _Hamlet,_ Orson Welles and John Gielgud in _Chimes at Midnight_ (why, yes, I do watch too many Shakespeare movies, thanks for asking ;)) and Jim Broadbent in _Topsy-Turvy_… ---
**Author:** ![plastic\_conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@plastic\_conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plastic_conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/25 "2003-02-23T22:49:13Z")
Isabelle Huppert: _The Piano Teacher_ Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges and Mercedes Ruehl: _The Fisher King_ Jeff Bridges: _The Big Lebowski_ I second Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi: _Ghost World_ Ethan Hawke: _Tape_ Ralph Fiennes: _Schindler’s List_ Ben Kingsley: _Betrayal_ and _Sexy Beast_ John Turturo: _Quiz Show_ Philip Seymour Hoffman: pretty much everything he’s ever been in. Barry Pepper: _25th Hour_ Adam Sandler: _Punch-Drunk Love_ The cast of _Reservoir Dogs_ ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/26 "2003-02-24T00:19:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plastic conspiracy \* > > Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges and Mercedes Ruehl: _The Fisher King_ Gosh, I hope Ruehl didn’t have to give back the Oscar she won for that film! ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/27 "2003-02-24T00:25:27Z")
**Jon Voight – "Midnight Cowboy"** Mia Farrow – “Rosemary’s Baby” Glenn Close – “Fatal Attraction” Laura Linley – “Yuo Can Count On Me” ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/28 "2003-02-24T00:51:19Z")
Richard Burton in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Liz Taylor won, and she was fabulous, but Richard went above and beyond and **was** George. Mike Myers in “54”. I think he’s actually better in dramatic movies than comedy, and I love his comedies. The movie was “eh”, but I think Tommy Lee Jones was outstanding as Ty Cobb in “Cobb”. Whew…what an bastid! And although Jack Nicholson has won many an Oscar, I thought he deserved to win in “Terms of Endearment”. (If he did win, and my mind is the sieve it usually is, please ignore this entry.) I also third the vote for Jim Carrey in “The Truman Show”, and while we’re at it, Carrey was also screwed with his clothes on for his portrayal of Andy Kaufman in “Man On the Moon”. Everybody else might have hated it, but it’s one of my favorite movies, and he. was. great. So there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/29 "2003-02-24T02:47:13Z")
I second and third \*\*Peter O’Toole \*\* in My Favorite Year. Just a delightful movie \*\*Angelica Huston \*\* in Everafter. Best Villianess. \*\*Billy Elliot \*\* The entire cast, but mostly the kid and his dad and Julie Walters and…hell, everyone else. \*\*Secrets and Lies \*\* Julie Walters and whomever played her long lost daughter. \*_Julie Walters \*\*\* Educating Rita_. ( God, I just love that movie.) \*\*Peter O’Toole \*\* in _Lion in the Winter_. Simply outstanding. Peter, if you wander in here, I just love you. \*\*Brad Pitt \*\* in _Lock, stock and two smoking barrels_. Best Indecipherable Accent and Best Body. \*\*Office Space \*\* Best word of mouth film. (tie) \*\*Best in Show \*\* Best Word of mouth film (tie) \*\*Chris Farley \*\* in \*Tommy Boy \* and the scene with him and his girlfriend on the boat stuck in the water, and she yells at the kids teasing him. _CLASSIC_ Which gets a vote for Best Scene Screaming at Kids Award. ---
**Author:** ![lethean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@lethean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lethean)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/30 "2003-02-24T03:01:52Z")
Noah Taylor in _Shine_ ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/31 "2003-02-24T03:12:50Z")
Ray Liotta in Goodfellas. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/32 "2003-02-24T03:15:34Z")
Bob Saget in **Half Baked**. It’s not really good, but after growing up to his sickeningly clean character on **Full House** , it’s really fun to hear him scream: “I used to suck dick for coke! Did you ever suck dick for pot?” Ahh, the classics. ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/33 "2003-02-24T03:21:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Clint in Wichita \* > \*\*Ray Liotta in Goodfellas. \*\* Oh yes! And Paul Sorvino! Thanks for reminding me! Add these to my list…definite shoulda-beens. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/34 "2003-02-24T04:04:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\* > > \*\*Secrets and Lies \*\* Julie Walters and whomever played her long lost daughter. > \*\* [The mom was Brenda Blethyn](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0117589) She sure does look like Walters though. My vote goes to Dexter Gordon in _'Round Midnight._ Still pissed that no-good Newman guy stole the Oscar right out from under Dexter, I tellya there’s no justice in this world grumble grumble ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/35 "2003-02-24T04:23:12Z")
Oh, that’s right, \*\*Annie \*\* thanks. Another vote for\*\*Paul Dooley \*\* in \*\*Breaking Away \*\*. \*\*Bruno Kirby \*\* in \*When Harry Met Sally \*. Best Best Friend in a Movie Award. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/36 "2003-02-24T04:49:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plastic conspiracy \* > **Adam Sandler: _Punch-Drunk Love_** I know, he did a great job. ---
**Author:** ![Donut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Donut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donut)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/37 "2003-02-24T05:05:16Z")
**Robert DeNiro** in _Taxi Driver_. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/38 "2003-02-24T06:17:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\*Brad Pitt \*\* in _Lock, stock and two smoking barrels_. Best Indecipherable Accent and Best Body. My turn to nit-pick. Pitt wasn’t in _Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels_. He was in _Snatch_, and I can’t believe I left that off my list too. BTW, have you watched the DVD where you get an option to wathc the film with subtitles for Pitt’s character only? Also, another thread just reminded me of Robert Preston in _Victor/Victoria_, a film which actually puts the whole cast on my list, but no matter how many times I watch the finale of Preston singing “Lady of Spain” I laugh my ass off. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/39 "2003-02-24T06:26:40Z")
Billy Bob Thorton in _Sling Blade_. Fred Willard in _Best In Show_. ---
**Author:** ![scablet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@scablet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scablet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/40 "2003-02-24T06:34:51Z")
Additions: Steve Buscemi and Thora Birch in _Ghost World_! Forced me to coin the term “un-chemistry,” in a good way. Guy Pearce in _Memento_ The male cast of _LA Confidential_ Tim Roth in _Reservoir Dogs_ Kevin Spacey in _Se7en_ **Andy Serkis.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893.md?page=3)