# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![greenphan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@greenphan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenphan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/41 "2003-02-24T07:00:28Z")
I second Jeff Bridges for _The Big Lebowski_. John Goodman for that movie as well. Nicholas Cage in _Bringing Out the Dead_—a seriously underrated movie which I just love. I also second Brad Pitt for _Snatch_. Billy Bob Thornton for _The Man Who Wasn’t There_ um…what’s his name?..played Delmar in _O Brother Where Art Thou?_. He’s a director. Him. Whatitsname. Lee Marvin in this (it might actually be a made for TV movie, but still good) WW2 movie (I know what you’re thinking…Lee Marvin in a WW2 movie??? What gives, right? hehe) called _Hell in the Pacific_. It’s just ol’ Lee and a downed Japanese pilot on an island. Caught it on cable and fell in love with it. Tim Robbins in _The Shawshank Redemption_. Tim Robbins for writing _The Cradle Will Rock_ Nick Nolte in _Mother Night_ That’s good for now. –greenphan ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/42 "2003-02-24T08:25:39Z")
Marlon Brando for _A Streetcar Named Desire_ **(1951)**. His fellow cast members Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden all won Oscars for their roles, but Brando’s **Stanley Kowalski** , arguably one of the greatest performances in movie history, was passed over in favor of Bogart in _The African Queen_. Stupid Academy. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/43 "2003-02-24T10:51:35Z")
Marisa Tormey(sp) for In the Bedroom. Tim Roth for the character in Rob Roy O’Toole for Lawrence of Arabia ---
**Author:** ![Fish42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@Fish42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish42)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/44 "2003-02-24T16:19:27Z")
Some ones not yet mentioned (Asterisks to indicate performances that weren’t even nominated): Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman\* & Claude Rains in Casablanca (1943) Ingrid Bergman in Notorious (1946) Marilyn Monroe\* & Jack Lemon in Some Like It Hot (1959) River Phoenix\* in My Own Private Idaho (1991) Louise Brooks\* in Pandora’s Box (1927) Lilian Gish\* in The Wind (1928) Cary Grant & Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth (1937) Agnes Moorehead in The Magnificient Ambersons (Supporting Actress, 1942 ) Bill Murray\* in Rushmore (Supporting Actor, 1998) Morgan Freeman\* in Street Smart (Supporting Actor, 1987) Al Pacino in The Godfather (1972) Jack Nicholson in Chinatown (1974) Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking (1995) Robert Duvall in The Apostle (1997) Robert Forster in Jackie Brown (Supporting Actor, 1997) Bette Davis for “All About Eve” And/Or Gloria Swanson for “Sunset Blvd.” (Both 1950) Montgomery Clift in From Here to Eternity (1953) Valentina Cortese in Night for Day (Supporting Actress, 1974–Even the actual winner [Ingrid Bergman for Murder on the Orient Express] apologized to Cortese in her acceptance speech) Plus a few jillion more, I’m sure. ---
**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, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/45 "2003-02-24T18:39:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*My turn to nit-pick. Pitt wasn’t in _Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels_. He was in _Snatch_, \*\* \*\*Crunchy \*\* I bow to your superior Frog wisdom. I meant \*\*Snatch \*\* but typed the other title. I sit here corrected. Ohhh, \*\*Bill Murray \*\* in \*Rushmore \*. Good choice. How about Bill in the \*Ed Wood \* Which is such an under appreciated film. ---
**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, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/46 "2003-02-24T19:00:04Z")
\*\*Gary Busey \*\* in a great little surfer flick \*Big Wednesday \*. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/47 "2003-02-24T21:24:45Z")
Ian Holm’s brilliant performance in _The Sweet Hereafter_ wasn’t even nominated. One of the greatest screen performances of all time, in my opinion. Top fifty, certainly. And I don’t say that lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/48 "2003-02-24T23:06:51Z")
Liam Neeson and Tim Roth - Rob Roy Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind Kevin Spacey - L.A. Confidential ---
**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 25, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/49 "2003-02-25T13:17:57Z")
Jason SchwartzmanWas great as Max Fischer in Rushmore as well. That was his first role too. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/50 "2003-02-25T13:26:25Z")
I was going to say Val Kilmer in _Tombstone_, but someone already did. I was going to say Leonardo DiCaprio in _What’s Eating Gilbert Grape_, but someone already did. So I’ll settle for saying Kevin Spacey in basically anything, and John Cusack in basically anything. _High Fidelity_ comes to mind. Anyone who’s ever been dumped knows what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/51 "2003-02-25T16:18:25Z")
**Cate Blanchett** as the title role in the film _Elizabeth_. I’ll second **Russell Crowe** in _A Beautiful Mind_. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/52 "2003-02-25T17:53:46Z")
More nitpicking: > [@](#): > > 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.) Done. > [@](#): > > um…what’s his name?..played Delmar in O Brother Where Art Thou?. He’s a director. Him. Whatitsname. [Tim Blake Nelson](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Nelson,+Tim+Blake) > [@](#): > > Valentina Cortese in Night for Day (Supporting Actress, 1974–Even the actual winner [Ingrid Bergman for Murder on the Orient Express] apologized to Cortese in her acceptance speech) The film is actually called **Day for Night**. Also in that post, Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant _weren’t_ nominated in '46 & '37, respectively, but Morgan Freeman most certainly was for _Street Smart_. My picks? I’ll just throw out 2: Barbara Stanwyck in _The Lady Eve_ and Robert Mitchum for _Night of the Hunter_ ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/53 "2003-02-25T19:25:42Z")
Another vote for Brad Pitt, but this one for his performance in _Twelve Monkeys_. Robin Williams in _The World According to Garp_ and _Dead Poets Society_ John Lithgow in _The World According to Garp_ Holly Hunter in _Home for the Holidays_ and _Always_; I just love her. Richard Dreyfuss in _Let It Ride_; God, I love the man and the movie. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/54 "2003-02-25T20:35:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by notcynical \* > \*\*Peter O’Toole as Alan Swann in _My Favorite Year_. \*\* OH yeah! Mr. Beckwall and I were just discussing that one recently. Brilliant stuff. From the 70s - **Jill Clayburgh** in _An Unmarried Woman_. And when is Ed Harris gonna get his Oscar? Good God, he deserved one for _Pollack_. IIANM, Mercedes Ruehl did win supporting actress for _The Fisher King_. A wonderful performance. ---
**Author:** ![quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quasar)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/55 "2003-03-06T02:17:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by New & Improved Scott \* > \*\*Harrison Ford in _Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade_ \*\* I’ll second that, and I’ll add his role as Han Solo. He made both characters. The roles weren’t particularly challenging as far as requiring a complete immersion in the character’s mind, but his portrayal was so vividly perfect that I can not for a second imagine Indy or Han being played by another actor. And let’s not forget Wilson in Cast Away. That round fella is a natural histrion. And you know what, Tom Hanks wasn’t that bad either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/56 "2003-03-06T02:37:01Z")
Plenty of people have gone for Russell Crowe in _A Beautiful Mind_. I actually thought he gave a great performance in _The Insider_. But i’m not going to feel too sorry for him, because there’s no way in hell that he deserved one for _Gladiator_. I generally don’t care who wins the Oscar, but one performance i was rooting for a couple of years ago was Laura Linney in _You Can Count on Me_. I thought that was a great performance in a beautifully understated film, but Julia Roberts picked up the statue for _Erin Brockovitch_. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/57 "2003-03-06T21:38:10Z")
Doris Day in _Love Me or Leave Me_ Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman in _Moulin Rouge!_ - Ewan wuz robbed - not even a nomination! Susan ---
**Author:** ![quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quasar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/58 "2003-03-07T02:53:41Z")
Got another one. **Natalie Portman** should have been best supporting actress for “Beautiful girls.” And Anthony Hopkins for Meet Joe Black. Brad Pitt as well. They should have shared it: They gave soul to their characters. God, I love that movie. And since it’s currently playing on the tube… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bindrah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Bindrah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bindrah)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/59 "2003-03-07T03:02:52Z")
steve buscemi in trees lounge another for pitt in snatch gary oldman in meantime johnny depp blow willem dafoe in animal house ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893/60 "2003-03-07T03:10:39Z")
Nicol Williamson in _Excalibur_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-non-oscar-winning-performances/156893.md?page=2)